| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08094909B2 |
Apparatus and method for remotely controlling in real time measurement parameters of a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner
Apparatus for remotely controlling parameters of an image scanning apparatus includes a software interface for translating commands from an external application for providing scanner control commands to a scanner control machine for control of the parameters; and the software interface includes syntax software for translating the commands from the external application into a given syntax for providing the scanner control commands. |
| US08094905B2 |
System for providing information to a user
The present invention relates to a system for providing information to a user, said system comprising a screen for showing the information to the user, information generating means for generating at least one graphical and/or textual information, first selecting means for enabling the user to select at least one of said graphical and/or textual information, first generating means for generating first data which are related to said selected information, wherein said first data are grouped according to a criterion, changing means for changing said criterion to at least one further criterion, and triggering means which are adapted to trigger said changing means upon activation by the user of the system. |
| US08094898B2 |
Functional image quality assessment
A computer-implemented method of assessing the quality of a functional image for an object includes causing a computer to execute instructions for providing a signal distribution of values N generating a transformed distribution by calculating, for each value N, a transformed value X=√{square root over (N+¼)}, reconstructing the functional image from the signal distribution, deriving an expected distribution of expected values λ from the functional image, generating a residual distribution by calculating, for each value N, a residual values ΔX=X−√{square root over (λ)}, and outputting the residual distribution. |
| US08094897B2 |
Method for the processing of images in interventional radioscopy
A method for the processing of images in interventional radioscopy to produce a sequence of de-noised images in which elongated objects of guiding instrumentation equipment are preserved and enhanced. The method of the invention uses a tool for indicating the confidence to be placed in a given pixel as regards its belonging to a piece of guidance equipment. This tool is used to create a combination algorithm capable of re-injecting the pixels having a low contrast-to-noise ratio into the de-noised image. This combination algorithm enables the enhancement solely of the pixels of the guidance equipment with a high confidence value so as not to produce artifacts with the enhancement of false positives. |
| US08094895B2 |
Point subselection for fast deformable point-based imaging
A method for selecting vertices for performing deformable registration of imaged objects is provided. The selected vertices form corresponding pairs, each pair including a vertex from a first imaged object and a vertex from a second imaged object. The corresponding vertex pairs are sorted in order of distance between the vertices making up the corresponding vertex pair. The corresponding vertex pair with the greatest distance is given top priority. Corresponding vertex pairs that lie within a selected distance from the selected corresponding vertex pair are discarded. In this manner, the number of vertex pairs used for deformable registration of the imaged objects is reduced and therefore allows for processing times that are clinically acceptable. |
| US08094894B2 |
Radioactive-emission-measurement optimization to specific body structures
Systems, methods, and probes are provided for functional imaging by radioactive-emission-measurements, specific to body structures, such as the prostate, the esophagus, the cervix, the uterus, the ovaries, the heart, the breast, the brain, and the whole body, and other body structures. The nuclear imaging may be performed alone, or together with structural imaging, for example, by x-rays, ultrasound, or MRI. Preferably, the radioactive-emission-measuring probes include detectors, which are adapted for individual motions with respect to the probe housings, to generate views from different orientations and to change their view orientations. These motions are optimized with respect to functional information gained about the body structure, by identifying preferred sets of views for measurements, based on models of the body structures and information theoretic measures. A second iteration, for identifying preferred sets of views for measurements of a portion of a body structure, based on models of a location of a pathology that has been identified, makes it possible, in effect, to zoom in on a suspected pathology. The systems are preprogrammed to provide these motions automatically. |
| US08094893B2 |
Segmentation tool for identifying flow regions in an image system
An ultrasound system and method that identify flow regions within a volume. The system comprises: a survey system for collecting motion data from a target image; a segmentation system for mapping a region of flow within the image based on the motion data; and a flow acquisition system that automatically limits the collection of flow image data within the image to the region of flow. |
| US08094892B2 |
Automatic photo orientation detection
A method determining image orientation includes determining if an image includes an orientation tag and if the tag indicates the image is rotated +90 or −90 degrees. When the image does not include the tag or the tag does not indicate the image is rotated, the method includes determining if a face is detected in the original image and displaying the original image when a face is detected. When a face is not detected, the method includes rotating the image +90 and −90 degrees and detecting a face in the rotated images. When a face is not detected, the method includes applying a classifier to determine the image's proper orientation. When a face is detected in one rotated image, the method includes displaying the rotated image. When a face is detected in both rotated images, the method includes applying the classifier to determine the image's proper orientation. |
| US08094891B2 |
Generating music playlist based on facial expression
A method may include playing a first song on a device, capturing an image of a user, performing facial expression recognition of the user based on the image, and selecting a second song based on a facial expression of the user. |
| US08094890B2 |
Biometric authentication apparatus, biometric authentication system, IC card and biometric authentication method
A biometric authentication apparatus for identifying a subject person by using biometric information of a user has memories and a processing unit for performing biometric authentication. The memories and store a remaining trial number whose value is reduced each time biometric authentication fails. The processing unit generates a lower limit value smaller than the remaining trial number at the start of biometric authentication, performs biometric authentication until the reduced remaining trial number becomes equal to or smaller than the lower limit value, and generate alarm data for issuing alarm to the user when the reduced trial number becomes equal to or smaller than the lower limit value. |
| US08094888B2 |
Image processor and image processing method to sense an object and the distance to object
An image processor, includes: an image pickup part configured to pick up a pickup image of a certain area; an irradiator configured to irradiate at least a part of the certain area for the pickup image picked up by the image pickup part; an extractor configured to extract, as an irradiation image, a light irradiated from the irradiator, the irradiation image being extracted from the pickup image picked up by the image pickup part; an image generating part configured to generate an irradiation removed image which is obtained by removing the irradiation image from the pickup image; an object recognizer configured to recognize an object in the certain area, based on the irradiation removed image generated by the image generating part; and a distance sensor configured to sense a distance to the object sensed by the object recognizer. |
| US08094884B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting object
A disparity profile indicating a relation between a perpendicular position on time series images and a disparity on a target monitoring area based on an arrangement of a camera is calculated. Processing areas are set, by setting a height of each of the processing areas using a length at the bottom of the image obtained by converting a reference value of a height of an object according to the profile, while setting a position of each bottom of processing areas on the image. An object having a height higher than a certain height with respect to the monitoring area, unify an object detection result in each processing area according to the disparity of the object, and detect the object of the whole monitoring area from each processing area is detected. Position and speed for the object detected by the object primary detection unit are estimated. |
| US08094882B2 |
Image display method and system thereof
The present invention relates to an image display method and system thereof. When displaying an image, a picture is captured. A calculated number of human eyes is determined from the picture to quantify the attraction of the image for the crowd. And then, a reasonable charged fee is calculated. |
| US08094881B2 |
Action recognition apparatus and method, moving-object recognition apparatus and method, device control apparatus and method, and program
An action recognition apparatus includes an input unit for inputting image data, a moving-object detection unit for detecting a moving object from the image data, a moving-object identification unit for identifying the detected moving object based on the image data, a state detection unit for detecting a state or an action of the moving object from the image data, and a learning unit for learning the detected state or action by associating the detected state or action with meaning information specific to the identified moving object. |
| US08094876B2 |
Personalized marking for protecting digital audiovisual streams
A process for distributing a video stream to a multitude of destinations including marking by adding to the video stream at least a visual element such that the marking is applied to an original video stream common to selected recipients, and personalized for a least portion of the recipients by addition of a visual element specific to destination equipment. |
| US08094875B1 |
Performing optical recognition on a picture of a remote to identify an associated codeset
A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remotes. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset. |
| US08094874B2 |
Material context analysis
A process for contextual analysis of radiographic image data can be embodied as a method, system, and computer software program, among other things. The process can include receiving a radiographic image and performing a region analysis including identifying a region within the radiographic images having an estimated atomic number within a predetermined range and determining if the region is in an expected location. The process can also include performing a material feature analysis to identify whether a feature present in the radiographic image is associated with an obscuration characteristic. The process can include providing context information and generating, as output, a region of interest in the radiographic image, the region of interest being determined based upon a set of rules and the region analysis, the material feature analysis, and the context information. |
| US08094872B1 |
Three-dimensional wavelet based video fingerprinting
A method and system generates and compares fingerprints for videos in a video library. The video fingerprints provide a compact representation of the spatial and sequential characteristics of the video that can be used to quickly and efficiently identify video content. Because the fingerprints are based on spatial and sequential characteristics rather than exact bit sequences, visual content of videos can be effectively compared even when there are small differences between the videos in compression factors, source resolutions, start and stop times, frame rates, and so on. Comparison of video fingerprints can be used, for example, to search for and remove copyright protected videos from a video library. Further, duplicate videos can be detected and discarded in order to preserve storage space. |
| US08094869B2 |
Fragile and emerging digital watermarks
This disclosure describes methods for using embedded auxiliary signals in documents for copy detection. In one implementation we embed an auxiliary signal with a first color that is out of gamut with process color inks or with a particular range of printers. A process color approximation of the first color yields a relatively different contrast when, e.g., viewed with an interference filter. A copy is determined based on the relative presence or absence of the auxiliary signal. In another implementation, we provide a first auxiliary signal with a first color and a second auxiliary signal with a second color. A filter is matched according to the spectral response of the first color. The second color preferably includes a spectral response that is inversely related to the matched filter. The first signal is then detectable in a process color copy, but less so in the original. However, the second signal is detectable in the original, but less so in the copy. In still other implementations we compare relative contrast of a signal to determine an original from a copy. |
| US08094868B2 |
Non-directional transducer
A transducer for the creation of acoustic energy omni directionally in a horizontal plane. The transducer includes a base plate, the base plate supporting a centrally located voice coil motor assembly and a hemi-toroidal diaphragm having a proximal edge and a distal edge. The proximal edge is appended to the centrally located voice coil motor assembly and the distal edge is appended to the base plate. |
| US08094863B2 |
Separate support structure for loudspeaker diaphragm
A support structure for supporting and protecting the diaphragm of loudspeaker includes a first elastomer which has a first interface with a camber shape, a second elastomer which has a second interface with a complemental shape of the first interface, the first elastomer and the second elastomer combine together from both sides of the support part of the loudspeaker diaphragm. The separate support structure in the present invention is fit for many kinds of loudspeakers and propitious to increase the technical characteristics of loudspeakers. |
| US08094860B2 |
Portable sound box assembly
The present invention generally relates to stereo sound boxes, and more particularly to a sound box assembly containing micro stereo sound boxes joined magnetically together. The sound box assembly contains at least a pair of sound boxes with magnets of opposite polarities, respectively, so that the sound boxes could be magnetically attracted together for convenient transportation and then later could be easily detached for placing apart to achieve superior stereo sound. |
| US08094857B2 |
Sing-along stand with performance interface configured to display a music storage/playback device
A microphone speaker system includes a base having a speaker, a stand extending between a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the base, a performance interface coupled to the second end of the stand, and a microphone support coupled to the performance interface. The performance interface is configured to removably retain a music storage/playback device that electrically connects with the speaker through the base. The microphone support is coupled to the performance interface and configured to adjustably support a microphone that electrically connects with the speaker through the base. |
| US08094849B2 |
Sound channel for a hearing apparatus and corresponding production process
A mechanically more stable and more complexly molded sound channel is to be provided for a hearing apparatus. Provision is made to this end for a sound channel, which has three sections in the longitudinal direction, the middle section of which has a different curvature or a larger internal circumference than the two outer sections, to be produced by injection molding. Here a negative of the sound channel is fixed within the injection molded form, with the negative consisting of a first material. The injection molded form with a second material, which has a higher melting point than the first material, is then extruded. The negative is then melted or burnt out of the cast sound channel. Very complex sound channel forms, for instance also with cavities and branching, can be realized in this way. |
| US08094845B2 |
Mobile terminal with at least two transducers
The invention concerns a mobile terminal with at least two transducers (LSm, LSs1, LSS2) used simultaneously as loudspeakers for stereophonic effect. According to the invention, one of said transducers is a main transducer (LSm) with a main working frequency band (Bm) corresponding to at least the phone frequency band, while the other transducer is a secondary transducer (LSs1; LSs2) with a secondary working frequency band (Bs1; Bs2) band different from said main frequency band, the lowest frequencies of said secondary working frequency band (Bs1; Bs2) being greater than the lowest frequencies of said main working frequency band. |
| US08094844B2 |
Micro acoustic transducer and manufacturing method therefor
A micro acoustic transducer and manufacturing method are provided. Firstly, a substrate having one first and second cavities is provided. Then, a backplate with a plurality of acoustic holes is formed on the substrate, and a diaphragm is formed on the backplate. An air gap is formed between the backplate and the diaphragm. The air gap, second cavity, and first cavity are communicated with each other through the acoustic holes. A plurality of rings is formed around the diaphragm. These rings are used to hitch pillars formed on the substrate or fasteners can be formed on the substrate for fastening the diaphragm on fastener holes. Through the arrangement of the rings or fasteners used as the boundary structure of the diaphragm, the mechanical sensitivity of the diaphragm is improved. Moreover, the backplate is supported by a single crystal structure formed by etching the substrate such that the stability is promoted. |
| US08094843B2 |
Low-profile piezoelectric speaker assembly
A low-profile speaker assembly comprises a substrate and a substantially plan piezoelectric element disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the substrate and mechanically connected to the substrate at one or more edges. A tuning mass is attached to a face of the piezoelectric element, to improve low-frequency performance of the speaker assembly. In some embodiments, the tuning mass is disposed on the surface of the piezoelectric element facing the substrate. The substrate, which may comprise a printed circuit board, may include a cut-out region arranged to allow movement of the tuning mass within the cut-out region. |
| US08094842B2 |
Loudspeaker system and loudspeaker enclosure
A loudspeaker system includes a loudspeaker enclosure having an inside space, a loudspeaker provided on the loudspeaker enclosure, a first diaphragm which has one of ends fixed to a surface of the loudspeaker enclosure and the other end, a second diaphragm which has one of ends fixed to the surface of the loudspeaker enclosure and the other end, a coupling portion having an elasticity, and coupling the other end of the first diaphragm to the other end of the second diaphragm, an opening structure provided in the surface of the loudspeaker enclosure, and a sealing member provided to a portion among the first and second diaphragms, the coupling portion and an edge part of the opening structure, and closing the inside space to hold an airtightness of the loudspeaker enclosure in a state that the first and second diaphragms can be vibrated. |
| US08094839B2 |
Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device with senstivity trimming circuit and trimming process
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a diaphragm capacitor, connected between a capacitor biasing voltage source and a ground. A source follower circuit is coupled to the diaphragm capacitor. An amplifier is coupled to the source follower circuit to amplify the voltage signal as an output voltage signal. A programmable trimming circuit is implemented with the amplifier to trim a gain or implemented with the capacitor biasing voltage source to trim voltage applied on the diaphragm capacitor. Whereby, the output voltage signal has a target sensitivity. |
| US08094836B2 |
Multi-channel decoding systems capable of reducing noise and methods thereof
A multi-channel decoding method includes: receiving an input signal to generate a first channel output signal and a second channel output signal, wherein the input signal is mixed with a specific clock signal; and gradually changing an amplitude of the specific clock signal from a first value to a second value when switching from a first mode corresponding to a first number of channels to a second mode corresponding to a second number of channels. Systems utilizing the method and another method further comprising calibration are also disclosed. |
| US08094834B1 |
Remote auditory spatial communication aid
The present invention provides a means for two or more remotely-located individuals to communicate information about the spatial coordinates of a location of mutual interest in a more rapid, robust, and intuitive manner than is possible with any current voice communication system. |
| US08094824B2 |
Encrypting device, decrypting device, information system, encrypting method, decrypting method, and program
An encryption processing part of a controller of each of user devices specifies components of content as encryption target parts, creates an encryption key creation key by reading out a public key, for each of the encryption target parts, of a second user who is allowed to view the encryption target part, raising a secret key of an administrator of the content data to the power of the public key thus read out, and calculating a remainder, encrypts random numbers each corresponding to each of the encryption target parts by using the encryption key creation key, creates an encryption key for each of the encryption target parts, and encrypts, by using the encryption key created for each of the encryption target parts, each of the encryption target parts corresponding to the encryption key. |
| US08094821B2 |
Key generation in a communication system
A communication system generates a Master Session Key (MSK) for accesses to a system entity that does not provide encryption to traffic. Both the home server and the user generate the same MSK. The MSK is used to generate encryption keys for traffic. In one embodiment the MSK is generated using a hashing function and information specific to the requestor. The home server determines the need to generate the MSK based on information contained in an access request message. Once generated, the MSK is provided to the system entity to enable the entity to encrypt communications. |
| US08094817B2 |
Cryptographic key management in communication networks
An authentication server and a system and method for managing cryptographic keys across different combinations of user terminals, access networks, and core networks. A Transformation Coder Entity (TCE) creates a master key (Mk), which is used to derive keys during the authentication procedure. During handover between the different access types, the Mk or a transformed Mk is passed between two nodes that hold the key in the respective access networks when a User Equipment (UE) terminal changes access. The transformation of the Mk is performed via a one-way function, and has the effect that if the Mk is somehow compromised, it is not possible to automatically obtain access to previously used master keys. The transformation is performed based on the type of authenticator node and type of UE/identity module with which the transformed key is to be utilized. The Mk is never used directly, but is only used to derive the keys that are directly used to protect the access link. |
| US08094812B1 |
Updating stored passwords
A device may include an authentication server and a server. The authentication server may receive a first form of a password from a client device in accordance with an authentication protocol, and authenticate the client device based on a comparison of the first form to a value derived from a second form of the password stored in a password database, where the comparison fails when the first form is not comparable to a value derived from the second form. The server may establish a secure connection to the client, receive a plain-text password from the client device over the secure connection, authenticate the client device by comparing a value derived from the plain-text password with a value derived from the second form, and update the password database with a third form of the password that permits the authentication server to successfully authenticate the client device when the authentication server receives the first form. |
| US08094810B2 |
Unidirectional proxy re-encryption
A method for performing unidirectional proxy re-encryption includes generating a first key pair comprising a public key (pk) and a secret key (sk) and generating a re-encryption key that changes encryptions under a first public key pka into encryptions under a second public key pkb as rkA→B. The method further includes performing one of the group consisting of encrypting a message m under public key pka producing a ciphertext ca, re-encrypting a ciphertext ca using the re-encryption key rkA→B that changes ciphertexts under pka into ciphertexts under pkb to produce a ciphertext cb under pkb, and decrypting a ciphertext ca under pka to recover a message m. The method also includes encrypting a message m under a public key pk producing a first-level ciphertext c1 that cannot be re-encrypted, and decrypting a first-level ciphertext c1 using secret key sk. |
| US08094808B2 |
Unpowered twisted pair loopback circuit for differential mode signaling
A method and apparatus provide an IP telephone or similar device with a mechanism to receive and at least briefly loop back discovery signals received from a telecommunications device such as an Ethernet switch while not permitting the loop back of data packet signals. No mechanical relays are required and the circuitry can be fully integrated on an integrated circuit using commonly available techniques, if desired. |
| US08094807B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, methods, program and recording medium
A true person can be verified with ease and a high degree of reliability. An ATM communicates with a server installed in a data center to carry out a true-person verification such as an organism authentication on the basis of an operation carried out by a user prior to a transaction process to be carried out on an account assigned to the user. When the user touches a predetermined contact area provided on an operation panel of the ATM, the ATM communicates with a portable device attached to the body of the user by using the body of the user as a communication medium. The transaction process is carried out only if the true-person verification such as an organism authentication is successful and a communication with the portable device can be performed. |
| US08094802B2 |
Multiple queuing and servicing of a contact
A contact originator is given a choice to enqueue the contact in multiple contact queues, to serve multiple needs or interests of the originator. If the contact reaches the head of the queue for the primary need while the contact is being serviced from a queue for a secondary need, the contact either remains at the head of the primary-need queue until the servicing at the secondary-need queue is completed, or a resource of the primary-need queue is conferenced in with the contact and the resource of the secondary-need queue so that the resources can serve both needs simultaneously. |
| US08094800B1 |
Call treatment based on user association with one or more user groups
A method is described for call treatment based on user association with one or more user groups. The method includes receiving a phone call from a call source that is directed to a call recipient, identifying a user group associated with the call recipient, and determining a number of received indications assigned to the user group. The received indications are assigned to the user group by users associated with the user group, and the received indications reflect a desire by the users for a special treatment of future calls from the call source. The method also includes distinguishing treatment of the phone call from the call source based on the number of received indications. |
| US08094795B2 |
Method for handling accounts in a network
A method for operating a computer system to handle switch over between several accounts at account selection in a real time charging system, wherein at a charging rating of a session, a first account is selected from a set of accounts, to be used and rated with its charging interval; the cost of a first charging interval is calculated for the first account; it is determined if the cost for the first charging interval is covered by the balance of the first account; if the cost for the first charging interval is not covered, a second account is selected to be used from the set of accounts; the cost for a next charging interval is determined; it is determined if the cost for the next charging interval minus the residue money left on the first account is covered by the balance of the second account; and if so, continue with the next charging interval, wherein the residue money left on the first account is used before the selected second account is used. |
| US08094792B2 |
Transmission apparatus and method for transmission apparatus to transfer received data
A facsimile apparatus is disclosed that includes a register unit that registers transmission destination information in an internal address book. The register unit receives a number input at least a first time and a second time, and upon determining that a number input the first time and a number input the second time correspond to a same input number, registers the same input number as a valid facsimile number. |
| US08094777B2 |
Digital mammography scanning system
An apparatus for use in imaging an area of interest within a patient's body, including a stationary frame; a rotating assembly mounted on the stationary frame, the rotating assembly including an axle assembly having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, an X-ray source having a focal spot that coincides with the horizontal axis of rotation; a collimator from which a fan-shaped X-ray beam exits towards a detector assembly, and a rotating frame mechanically coupled to the detector assembly and pivoting about the horizontal axis of rotation. The detector assembly includes a linear X-ray detector for detecting radiation of the fan-shaped X-ray beam after the beam passes through the area of interest, and is mechanically coupled to a motor that enables arcuate movement of the detector assembly in a transverse direction. The motor is mechanically coupled to the rotating assembly to enable rotational movement of the rotating assembly. |
| US08094772B2 |
Reconstruction unit for reconstructing a fine reproduction of at least a part of an object
A reconstruction unit is provided for receiving a sequence of data sets, the data sets representing structural information of the object. The reconstruction unit performs receiving scheduling information related to the data sets of the sequence of data sets. Then reconstructing a sequence of coarse reconstructions of the object by using the sequence of data sets and the scheduling information. Afterwards a sequence of adapted models of the object is generated by adapting a respective model to each of the coarse reconstructions. Then a motion of a predetermined portion of each of the adapted models is determined and a specific data set of the sequence of data sets is selected, wherein the specific data set corresponds to the adapted model with the minimum motion of the predetermined portion. Finally the reconstruction unit performs reconstructing a fine reconstruction of at least the part of the object using the specific data set. |
| US08094769B2 |
Phase-locked loop system with a phase-error spreading circuit
A phase-locked loop (PLL) system including a phase-frequency detector for generating an up signal or a down signal based on a phase difference between a reference clock and a feedback clock is provided. The PLL system further includes a phase-error spreading circuit for generating phase-spread pulses based on a relationship between a first time attribute of the up signal or the down signal and a second time attribute of the phase-spread pulses. The PLL system further includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) for generating a VCO clock based on the phase-spread pulses. The PLL system may also include a charge pump that generates a pumping signal based on the phase-spread pulses. |
| US08094764B2 |
Variable time delay control structure for channel matching
A cosite interference cancellation system is provided for improved rejection of a signal coupled from a transmission antenna into a local receive antenna in the presence of local multipath. The cosite interference cancellation system and associated method advantageously provide improved signal rejection by continuously controlling (adjusting) a matching time delay to reduce cosite interference. |
| US08094758B2 |
Ephemeris download from weak signals
The present invention provides systems and methods for downloading navigation data to a satellite receiver under weak signal conditions. In an embodiment, the receiver uses a tracking algorithm to estimate the Doppler frequency and rate of change of the Doppler frequency to compensate the phases of the I/Q samples from the received signal to reduce the effect of the Doppler frequency. In an embodiment, differential detection based data bit decoding is provided. In another embodiment, phase compensation based data bit decoding is provided, in which the phase of samples are rotated to compensate for phase error. In an embodiment, a multiple frame strategy is provided to increase signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and improve sensitivity, in which similar placed samples in consecutive frames are coherently summed over the consecutive frames. In an embodiment, the samples are weighted to reduce the impact of noise in the multiple frame strategy. |
| US08094751B2 |
System and method for encoding and decoding of space-time block codes in data communication
A wireless data communication system. The system includes: a transmitter having a unitary rotation matrix processor for processing incoming information data stream and outputting a plurality of transmission symbols; an encoder for encoding the plurality of transmission symbols; M number of mapper units for mapping the symbols outputted from the encoder into a two dimensional constellation having M data symbols, where M is an integer greater than 1; M number of pulse shaper units to modulate the respective signals from the two dimensional constellation; and M number of antennas to transmit the M data symbols in M time slots. Each antenna transmits a respective symbol from the M symbols in a respective time slot of the M time slots and the encoder is configured to determine which symbol to be transmitted from each antenna in each time slot. |
| US08094748B2 |
Transceiver architecture with combined smart antenna calibration and digital predistortion
A method, apparatus, and electronic device for using digital predistortion are disclosed. A first transmitter 212 may send a first signal. A second transmitter 212 may send a second signal. A multipurpose calibration transceiver 902 may execute a first distortion observation of the first signal to be a basis for a first digital predistortion on the first signal and execute a second distortion observation of the second signal to be a basis for a second digital predistortion on the second signal. The multipurpose calibration transceiver may execute a first calibration observation of the first signal and a second calibration observation of the second signal to calibrate the first transmitter and the second transmitter. |
| US08094744B1 |
System and method of selecting a data detection technique for a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system
A system and method of selecting a data detector alternately implement different data detection techniques such as maximum likelihood, zero forcing, and minimum mean square error. Selection of a particular technique may depend upon various factors. In some implementations, a decision whether to employ a specific strategy may be based upon a modulation and coding scheme utilized by the multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) system. |
| US08094738B2 |
Radio communication base station apparatus and report channel signal transmission band setting method
Provided is a base station capable of effectively transmitting BCH data. The base station (100) includes: an encoding unit (101) for encoding the BCH data; a modulation unit (102) for modulating the BCH data after being encoded; a transmission band setting unit (103) for setting a BCH data transmission band in one of sub carriers constituting an OFDM symbol; encoding units (104-1 to 104-N) for encoding user data (#1 to #N), modulation units (105-1 to 105-N) for modulating user data (#1 to #N) after being encoded; and an IFFT unit (106) for mapping the BCH data and the user data (#1 to #N) to each of the sub carriers (#1 to #K) and performing IFFT to generate an OFDM symbol. Here, the IFFT unit (106) maps the BCH data to the sub carrier existing in the transmission band set by the transmission band setting unit (103) among the plurality of sub carriers (#1 to #K). |
| US08094737B2 |
Adaptive pilot structure to assist channel estimation in spread spectrum systems
The present invention relates generally to methods for generating a dynamic pilot symbol structure in spread spectrum communication systems, and in particular to the use of pilot symbols by user equipment in channel estimation. In one form, the method includes, allocating basic pilot symbols (402) at the beginning of each data chunk (404, 406) and spread over the plurality of sub-carrier frequencies; and selectively replacing data symbols (408) in each data chunk (400) with adaptive pilot symbols (410) according to the speed of the user equipment. |
| US08094735B2 |
Methods and apparatus for maximum ratio combining for duplicated signals in OFDMA systems
In accordance with a method for processing a received orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signal that comprises a duplicated signal, sub-carriers within the OFDMA signal may be arranged into a duplicated format. The OFDMA signal may be equalized and combined after the sub-carriers have been arranged into the duplicated format. The equalizing and combining may be performed in accordance with a maximum ratio combining (MRC) scheme. The OFDMA signal may be demapped after the equalizing and combining is performed. |
| US08094734B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
Interference of multiplexed signals is reduced in an MC-CDMA communication system.A wireless communication apparatus performing a wireless communication by combining a multicarrier transmission system with a spread spectrum includes: a rearrangement control part that ranks each subcarrier in accordance with a magnitude of received power based on received power information indicating received power of each subcarrier received from a communicating apparatus and groups subcarriers in descending or ascending order of the rank in accordance with a spreading factor; and a rearrangement part that distributes a spread code to each of the groups. |
| US08094727B2 |
DTV transmitter and method of coding data in DTV transmitter
A DTV transmitter includes an encapsulation unit which encapsulates enhanced data having an internet protocol (IP) format into a plurality of addressable sections. The encapsulation unit inserts burst time information into each addressable section. The DTV transmitter further includes a first multiplexer multiplexing the encapsulated enhanced data with program and system information, a pre-processor pre-processing the multiplexed enhanced data, a data formatter generating enhanced data packets including the pre-processed data and inserting the known data into the enhanced data packets, and a second multiplexer generating one or more bursts of data by multiplexing the enhanced data packets. |
| US08094721B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for selecting a mode within a compression scheme
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect a current macroblock and an adjacent macroblock within the scene; detect a mode of the adjacent macroblock; and select a skip mode as a mode for the current macroblock based on the mode of the adjacent macroblock. |
| US08094720B2 |
Mode decision for inter prediction in video coding
A method for inter-mode prediction in video coding, the method comprising checking a data block of an image for zero motion; computing frame difference of the data block based on the checking for zero motion; and making an inter-mode prediction selection based on the computed frame difference. |
| US08094719B2 |
Streaming methods and systems
Various embodiments provide methods and systems for streaming data that can facilitate streaming during bandwidth fluctuations in a manner that can enhance the user experience. In one aspect, a forward-shifting technique is utilized to buffer data that is to be streamed, e.g. an enhancement layer in a FGS stream. Various techniques can drop layers actively when bandwidth is constant. The saved bandwidth can then be used to pre-stream enhancement layer portions. In another aspect, a content-aware decision can be made as to how to drop enhancement layers when bandwidth decreases. During periods of decreasing bandwidth, if a video segment does not contain important content, the enhancement layers will be dropped to keep the forward-shifting of the enhancement layer unchanged. If the enhancement layer does contain important content, it will be transmitted later when bandwidth increases. |
| US08094715B2 |
Video signal encoding device and video signal encoding method
Included are: a prefilter (101) for outputting, based on filter characteristics control data, predetermined frequency components in an input video signal as current image data; encoding means (116) for subjecting the current image data to an encoding process, and outputting encoding parameters together with a bit stream corresponding to current image data as a result of the encoding process; and filter control means (117) for outputting the filter characteristics control data that is set based only on one or two of the encoding parameters. |
| US08094714B2 |
Speculative start point selection for motion estimation iterative search
A speculative start point selection for motion estimation iterative search improves the efficiency and quality of the integer-pel motion estimation iterative search by speculatively selecting the start position of the iteration. The start position is selected by comparing the Sum of Absolute Differences (SAD) value of a 0 motion vector, a predicted motion vector and a global motion vector (GMV) and selecting the position with the smallest SAD value. A refinement scheme with a threshold improves the efficiency and quality of the motion estimation iterative search by performing several comparisons to ensure the proper motion vector is selected. Applications of this improved motion estimation search include stabilizing an image as well as many other applications where motion vectors are used. |
| US08094713B2 |
Method and system for viewer quality estimation of packet video streams
A method and system for the estimation of the effect of packet loss on a viewer's subjective perception of a packet video stream. The method involves estimating a quality metric for every frame in the video stream, accumulating such metrics over time, and transforming the result into a Mean Opinion Score (“MOS”) which represents the viewer's subjective perception of the video stream. The method takes into account various factors such as frame rate, frame types and sizes, decoding algorithms, propagated error rates, and the effect of video content on viewer perception. The method can be used for both encrypted and unencrypted video streams. |
| US08094707B1 |
List-based detection in fading channels with long intersymbol interference
An apparatus, computer software, and method for data detection in channels suffering from intersymbol interference comprising receiving a signal representative of a binary digit of data, computing a reliability score for that binary digit of data via windowed Chase equalization, and based on the reliability score, causing a signal to be output that the binary digit is a zero or a one. |
| US08094706B2 |
Frequency-based, active monitoring of reliability of a digital system
Method, system and article of manufacture are provided for continually monitoring reliability, or aging, of a digital system and for issuing a warning signal if digital system operation degrades to or past a specified threshold. The technique includes periodically determining a maximum frequency of operation of the digital system, and generating a warning signal indicative of a reliability degradation of the digital system if at least one of: (i) a measured or estimated maximum frequency of operation of the digital system is below a warning threshold frequency of operation of the digital system, wherein the warning threshold frequency is greater than or equal to a manufacturer specified minimum frequency of operation for the digital system; or (ii) a rate of change in the difference between measured maximum frequencies of operation of the digital system exceeds an acceptable rate of change threshold for the digital system. |
| US08094705B2 |
Fast SERDES I/O characterization
A system and method to perform automatic testing of a device using Design-for-Test functionality built-in a pair of serializer/deserializer (SERDES) of the device to perform I/O characterization with respect to clock jitter in a self-test mode. Performance of a SERDES operating with jitter injected clock signal is characterized by forming a self-test loop-back configuration with another SERDES operating with a clean clock signal where the clean clock signal and the jitter injected clock signal are supplied by a simplified tester. |
| US08094703B2 |
Systems and methods for loop length and bridged tap length determination of a transmission line
Through the use of a least squares minimization concept, the loop length, the number of bridged taps and length of the bridged taps on a transmission line can be determined from readily available modem data. In particular, the loop length, the number of bridge taps and the length of bridged taps can be estimated by comparing a measured frequency domain channel impulse response of the transmission line to a model of a loop that is comprised of multiple sections and multiple bridge taps. |
| US08094699B2 |
Methods and systems for demodulating a multiuser signal using channel decoders for a multiple-access communication system
Methods and systems for demodulating a multiuser signal using channel decoders for a multiple-access communication system are disclosed. According to one method, a signal containing information for a plurality of users in a multiple-access communication system employing spreading sequences is received. The received signal is despread using a signature sequence for each user to produce individual user signals having multiple-access interference (MAI). Channel estimates associated with each of the individual user received signals are determined. Each of the individual user signals are decoded using a channel decoder with a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) that accounts for the time-varying variance of the MAI in the individual user signals based on a model of the MAI including the channel estimates of the received signals of other users. |
| US08094695B2 |
Current drive circuit
A current drive circuit according to the present invention includes: a first current source and a second current source (I101, I102); a first current mirror (CM103) for generating a first mirror current of a current (I2) generated by the second current source (I102); a second current mirror (CM106) for generating a second mirror current of the current (I2) generated by the second current source (I102); and a third current mirror (CM101) for generating a mirror current (IOUT1) of a current which is generated by the first current source (I101) and which is corrected according to a difference between the first mirror current and the second mirror current, to supply the current to a load (LD101). |
| US08094694B2 |
Operating a pulse laser diode
Circuit arrangements for the operation of a pulse laser diode and methods for operating a pulse laser diode include a current source to supply a direct current to the pulse laser diode. The circuit arrangement can provide operation of the pulse laser diode that can be stable and without unintentional shifts in wavelength. |
| US08094692B2 |
Modulation method, modulation program, recording medium, modulation device, and optical transmitter
A modulation method according to the invention is applied to a modulation device in which a light source is driven by a differential signal while a modulation circuit and the light source are capacitively coupled. In the modulation method of the invention, when an average potential fluctuates at an input terminal of the light source, a potential fluctuation is externally provided using a control circuit such that a normal phase side and a reverse phase side become equal to each other in a time constant of the fluctuation in average potential, and transient states of the average potentials at the normal phase side and reverse phase side are equalized and cancel each other as in-phase components of a signal input to the light source, which allows an optical signal to be normally transmitted from the light source. The optical signal can normally be transmitted from the light source even before the average potentials at a normal phase input terminal and a reverse phase input terminal of the light source are stabilized. |
| US08094688B2 |
Voltage supply unit for diagnosing electrical disconnection occurring in communication system and apparatus using the voltage supply unit
A voltage supply unit is provided for a communication system provided with a network including a transmission path that consists of a main line and plural branch lines, which are formed as a differential two-wire type of transmission line consisting of first and second communion lines. This unit comprises a DC voltage source and an application device. The DC voltage source outputs a specified voltage different from a reference voltage of the transmission path. The application device applies, to the transmission path, the specified voltage in response to a command to be given. The unit is provided in a fault diagnosis apparatus or a node connected to the communication system. The specified voltage disables communication of only a certain node and to allow the remaining nodes to communicate with each other. In the certain node, an electrical disconnection is caused in either the first and second communications. |
| US08094686B2 |
Method and apparatus for simulating packet delay variation of a multi-switch network
A packet delay variation simulation system has a packet generator, a packet delay variation generator, and a packet delay analyzer to analyze delayed packets. The packet delay variation generator has multiple delay distribution modules that use both a deterministic delay process and a statistical delay process packet for determining a packet's delay. The packet delay variation generator may utilize different probability density functions to describe various portions of measured packet data. That is, measured packet delay information is analyzed and information from this analysis is used to construct a total delay model for a network. The delay may include a pre-determined deterministic delay offset as well as one or more variable statistical delay offsets. |
| US08094684B2 |
Link training scheme for displayport source repeaters
A system and a method for configuring communication between a source device and a sink device using captured configuration data are described. The source device communicates with a repeater, which modifies received data to facilitate transmission to the sink device, using a communication channel. The communication channel transmits video and/or audio data from the source device to the sink device. An auxiliary communication channel is used to communicate configuration data between the source device and sink device to optimize transmission and receipt of data through the communication channel. The repeater is coupled to the auxiliary communication channel and passively captures configuration data from the auxiliary communication channel. The repeater uses a subset of the captured configuration data (e.g., data rate, voltage swing, pre-emphasis, etc.) to modify how the repeater transmits data to the sink device using the communication channel. |
| US08094682B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating radio link control protocol data units
A method and apparatus are used to generate radio link control (RLC) protocol data units (PDUs). A data request for a logical channel is received as part of an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transport format combination (E-TFC) selection procedure in a medium access control (MAC). Upon determining the data field size, an RLC PDU is generated such that it matches the requested data from the E-TFC selection. The size of the RLC PDU generated can be greater than or equal to the minimum configured RLC PDU size (if data is available) and less than or equal to the maximum RLC PDU size. The data is then transmitted in the RLC PDU in a current transmission time interval (TTI). |
| US08094676B2 |
Flexible upstream PHY burst profile parameters to improve performance of short bursts in impulse noise
A single carrier cable modem can be initialized on multiple channels. By initializing a cable modem on more than one channel, the error rate performance of short data packets in cable modems in an impulsive noise environment is improved. The advantage of low symbol rate transmission for short packets in an impulse noise environment is achieved without sacrificing burst capacity at a cable modem and without the complexity of transmitting multiple symbol waveforms simultaneously at a cable modem. |
| US08094674B2 |
Method and system for implementing network device access management
A method and system for implementing network device access management. The system includes at least one device domain storage unit and at least one Access Server (AS), and the method groups all network devices into at least one device domain managed by at least one AS; sets a uniform communication attribute for each device domain; determines, by the AS, whether a communication device belongs to the device domain managed by the AS according to information carried in a service request from the communication device, and if so, the communication attribute set for the network device is obtained, and a correspondence relationship between an identifier of the network device and the obtained communication attributes is created and stored; otherwise, access management on the communication device served as a user device is performed. |
| US08094672B2 |
Method of packet mode digital communication over a transmission channel shared by a plurality of users
A first aspect of the invention is a method of transmitting data packets over a transmission channel shared by a plurality of users, based on the time and/or frequency diversity slotted Aloha technique, in which at least two replicas of each packet to be transmitted are sent over said transmission channel, wherein each replica transports signaling information enabling the other replica(s) of the same packet to be located in the time and/or frequency domain. A second aspect of the invention is a method of recovering packets in the receiver, the method exploiting said signaling information to execute an interference cancellation algorithm for recovering packets corrupted by collisions caused by access conflicts. Other aspects of the invention are a transmitter equipment and a receiver packet recovery equipment adapted to use said methods. |
| US08094671B2 |
Base station apparatus and packet scheduling method
The object can be achieved by providing a base station apparatus with: priority calculation means configured to calculate priority of a user in packet scheduling; priority correction means configured to correct priority calculated by the priority calculation means according to a discontinuous reception state; and a scheduler configured to determine a user to which data should be transmitted based on the priority corrected by the priority correction means. |
| US08094668B1 |
Physical layer device including a serial media independent interface (SMII)
A physical layer device includes a serial media independent interface (SMII). The SMII includes a first terminal configured to receive a first data stream. The first data stream is received at the first terminal in accordance with a first frequency. The SMII further includes a transmit circuit configured to (i) sample, on a rising edge of a clock, the first data stream received at the first terminal to generate a second data stream to be transmitted from the physical layer device, and (ii) sample, on a falling edge of the clock, the first data stream received at the first terminal to generate a third data stream to be transmitted from the physical layer device. Each of the second data stream and the third data stream has a second frequency, and the first frequency is twice the second frequency. |
| US08094663B2 |
System and method for authentication of SP ethernet aggregation networks
A Service Provider (SP) authentication method includes receiving a message from a subscriber-premises device, the message being compatible with an authentication protocol and being transported from the subscriber-premises device to a u-PE device operating in compliance with an IEEE 802.1x compatible protocol. Access to the SP network is either allowed or denied access based on a logical identifier contained in the message. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b). |
| US08094660B2 |
VLAN server
A method for processing data received from at least one of VLANs, the method including: obtaining, based on a VLAN tag included in a MAC header of a MAC frame received from the VLAN and a first destination IP address included in an IP header of the MAC frame, a second destination IP address, changing the first destination IP address of the IP header to the second destination IP address, and generating an IP packet by deleting the MAC header from the MAC frame. |
| US08094659B1 |
Policy-based virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) assignment
A method for increasing resolution of virtual router assignment in a computer network. An incoming packet may be parsed to obtain its source and destination IP addresses. With the obtained IP addresses, and in some cases other information about the packet, a classification engine may perform a multi-field classification in a memory such as a TCAM (Ternary Content-Addressable Memory). The classification result may point to an action entry in an action table in a memory, e.g., an SRAM (Static random access memory). The action entry may indicate policy-based setting of the virtual router, and the VRF-ID. A virtual router is then assigned according to the VRF-ID. A group based classification in layer 3 of the present invention may avoid using a table to define segregation policies between hosts pair by pair. |
| US08094658B2 |
System and method for providing premium transport in a DOCSIS-compliant cable network
A system and method for providing premium transport in a DOCSIS-compliant cable network. An edge server in a DOCSIS-compliant cable network maintains a list of preferred content providers (PCPs). For each PCP, the PCP list comprises matching criteria. The edge server monitors the header of incoming packets for the matching criteria. A packet that matches the matching criteria is modified by the edge server causing the packet to be associated with a “premium” downstream service flow. Packets sent in response to a “preferred” packet are parsed by a cable modem and routed upstream according to a “premium” upstream service flow. |
| US08094657B2 |
Method for transmitting information from a source via a first network unit and a network and a second network unit to a destination
Methods for transmitting information from sources (7) via first network units (1) and networks (8) and second network units (2) to destinations (9) and using service identifiers such as service virtual local area network identifiers for routing the information through the networks (8) get a reduced complexity by making the service identifiers dependent on destination properties such as destination addresses and by making the service identifiers independent from source properties such as source addresses or customer identifiers. Network units (1,2) comprising customer parts (5) with customer access ports (10) and customer interface ports (11-13) and comprising service parts (6) with service interface ports (21-23) coupled to the customer interface ports (11-13) and service network ports (20) coupled to the service interface ports (21-23) and comprising taggers (62) are provided with detectors (52) for detecting destination properties in the information and selectors (53) for selecting the service identifies in response to detections of the destination properties. |
| US08094649B2 |
Network architecture and billing method of the packet switch data service for the CDMA intelligent network (IN) users
The present invention relates to the network architecture and billing method of the packet switch data service of the CDMA Intelligent Network (IN) user. Because the CDMA mobile switch uses the 3G1x packet switch data service, the billing of the service bypasses the MSC calling control layer, the billing can only be implemented by the PCF. In the PCF, there are only two billing methods: by amount of data method and the post service method. The non-real time post billing methods are not suitable for the IN prepaid users. Thus, the present invention illustrates new network architecture and billing method of the packet switch data service. The billing interface (PCF-SCP) is provided between the PCF and the SCP. The billing interface transfers at least three messages between the PCF and the SCP, to implement the real time or periodic billing for packet switch data service. |
| US08094643B2 |
Dynamic power management for time division multiplexing devices
A method of dynamic power management in a time division multiple access (TDMA) system. The method comprising comparing each of a plurality of streams; grouping each of the plurality of streams into a plurality of powergroups, wherein each of the plurality of powergroups may comprise multiple streams, scheduling a burst transmission based on the plurality of powergroups; and adjusting the power stage based on the plurality of powergroups, wherein the system is configured to turn off selected components based on the power stage and the scheduled burst transmissions. |
| US08094638B2 |
Adaptive selection of transmission parameters for reference signals
An embodiment of the present invention uses estimates of delay spreads of transmissions from user equipments (UEs) to a NodeB to determine a set of transmission parameters for the UEs reference signals. In an exemplary embodiment, the transmission parameters for reference signals include cyclic shifts. Thus, embodiments include a set of allocated cyclic shift values that are tailored to the delay spreads. The set of allocated cyclic shift values are used by a corresponding set of UE being served by a NodeB to form references signals. Each UE uses the allocated cyclic shift to form its reference signal by applying the cyclic shift to a modified reference sequence. The modified reference sequence can be generated from a Constant-Amplitude-Zero-Auto Correlation (CAZAC) sequence. The set of allocated cyclic shift values can be updated periodically to account for changes of delay spreads, which can be caused by physical movements of the set of UEs. |
| US08094633B2 |
Adaptive paging area
Techniques for determining a paging area of a paging group in a wireless communications network based on a value of one or more dynamically changing communication characteristics. In various embodiments, a paging area may be determined to reduce resource use in a wireless communication network supporting an idle mode of a mobile station. In one embodiment, the paging area may be determined based on a speed of a mobile station. |
| US08094625B2 |
Resource allocation for MIMO-OFDM communication systems
Techniques to schedule terminals for data transmission on the downlink and/or uplink in a MIMO-OFDM system based on the spatial and/or frequency “signatures” of the terminals. A scheduler forms one or more sets of terminals for possible (downlink or uplink) data transmission for each of a number of frequency bands. One or more sub-hypotheses may further be formed for each hypothesis, with each sub-hypothesis corresponding to (1) specific assignments of transmit antennas to the terminal(s) in the hypothesis (for the downlink) or (2) a specific order for processing the uplink data transmissions from the terminal(s) (for the uplink). The performance of each sub-hypothesis is then evaluated (e.g., based on one or more performance metrics). One sub-hypothesis is then selected for each frequency band based on the evaluated performance, and the one or more terminals in each selected sub-hypothesis are then scheduled for data transmission on the corresponding frequency band. |
| US08094620B2 |
System and method for providing voice service in a multimedia mobile network
User Equipment (UE) receiving non-voice packet switched services in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) cell undergoes handover to a circuit switched GSM/Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN)/UTRAN cell in response to a voice service page. An eNodeB of the active eUTRAN cell uses a measurement report history for the UE to select an available circuit switched cell for handover. The voice service is established in the circuit switched domain of a GERAN/UTRAN cell to ensure service continuity regardless of UE mobility that would otherwise not be possible if the voice service was established in the eUTRAN cell. A Gs-like interface between a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the CS Core Network and the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the Evolved Packet Core provides an interface for page requests and location update procedures to be performed. |
| US08094614B2 |
System and method for adaptive queuing for discontinuous wireless channels
A method and system for data transmission on wireless discontinuous channels. The method and system include adjusting ordering of a plurality of transmission units in a queue to be transmitted in a wireless discontinuous channel to reduce unusable channel access time; determining transmission eligibility of each of the transmission units in the queue; and servicing the queue by transmitting the transmission units responsive to the adjusted order. |
| US08094613B2 |
Enhanced high traffic density CDMA wireless systems
A method of assigning calls to a hot cell site. A hot cell site is a cell site for carrying highly concentrated traffic, which cell site supports only a proper sub-set of the frequencies supported by other (basic) cells. It is surrounded by hot zones of other (basic) cell sites. When mobile stations enter the hot zone, an extra percentage of powered-on, but idle mobile stations is tuned or re-tuned to one of the frequencies supported by the hot cell. Advantageously, this increases the traffic carried by the hot cell. In accordance with one feature of the invention, if a hot cell is approaching the limit of its call carrying capacity, it will hand-off calls to a neighboring cell. Advantageously, the hot cell usage is optimized. |
| US08094611B2 |
Methods and apparatus for signal transmission and reception in a broadband communication system
In a broadband wireless communication system, a spread spectrum signal is intentionally overlapped with an OFDM signal, in a time domain, a frequency domain, or both. The OFDM signal, which inherently has a high spectral efficiency, is used for carrying broadband data or control information. The spread spectrum signal, which is designed to have a high spread gain for overcoming severe interference, is used for facilitating system functions such as initial random access, channel probing, or short messaging. Methods and techniques are devised to ensure that the mutual interference between the overlapped signals is minimized to have insignificant impact on either signal and that both signals are detectable with expected performance by a receiver. |
| US08094609B2 |
Communication apparatus, transmitting method and receiving method
A communication apparatus that performs receiving processing of data transmitted at timings of a predetermined interval, the communication apparatus having a transmitting unit configured to transmit a signal indicating that a data is successfully received when the data transmitted at Mth timing according to the predetermined interval is successfully received and a control unit configured to perform a control for providing a period in which other receiving processing different from the receiving processing is at least performed or a receiving process is not performed until when next M+1th timing comes according to the predetermined interval after the transmission of the signal. |
| US08094606B1 |
Adjusting transmission power under changing conditions
A communication system includes a hub, a repeater, and a remote. The hub is configured to adjust a transmission power of the remote depending on an external condition based on (i) a measured carrier-to-noise ratio CNHubsignal1 of data transmitted from the hub to the repeater and back to the hub using a first signal, (ii) a measured carrier-to-noise ratio CNHubsignal2 of data transmitted from the remote to the hub via the repeater using a second signal, (iii) a predetermined carrier-to-noise ratio CNHubSCPCCS of data transmitted from the hub to the repeater and back to the hub using the first signal under a clear sky condition, and (iv) a predetermined carrier-to-noise ratio CNHubTDMACS of data transmitted from a reference remote to the repeater and back to the hub using the second signal under a clear sky condition. |
| US08094603B2 |
Apparatus and method for modulating of on-channel repeater
Provided is a modulating apparatus and method of an on-channel repeater. An object of the present invention is to provide a modulating apparatus of an on-channel repeater for reducing time delay by configuring and up-sampling a baseband signal, filtering the up-sampled baseband signal with an Equi-Ripple (ER) filter or in a window method, and converting the filtered baseband signal into an RF signal. The modulating apparatus includes: a baseband signal configuring unit for configuring a baseband. signal by combining an input field and a segment sync signal; a pilot adding unit for adding a pilot signal to the baseband signal; a filtering unit for filtering the baseband signal with the pilot signal; and an RF up-converting unit for up-converting the filtered signal into an RF signal. The present invention is used to form an on-channel repeating network in a transmitting system including a digital TV broadcasting system. |
| US08094602B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing multicast groups
A method for managing multicast traffic in a data network, and devices using said method. The hosts store for each multicast group an included source record and an excluded source record, and the network interfaces of the hosts send to the router a message containing information about the included source record and information about the excluded source record. The router also stores for each multicast group an included source record and an excluded source record, and updates them when it receives through its network interface a message from the hosts containing information about an included source list and/or information about an excluded source list. The devices are a router, host equipment and network equipment compatible with the method. |
| US08094601B2 |
Base station and mobile station
Problems can be solved by a base station to which a location of a mobile station is registered and which performs a radio communication with the MS, and when receiving distribution information, divides the distribution information into N pieces, and incorporates the divided distribution information in N pieces of reception channels to successively transmit them to the MS. It can be achieved by a MS which is in a waiting state of a BS and which performs a radio communication with the BS, and when receiving distribution information which is incorporated in reception channels and divided, stores the distribution information, and when determining completion of the distribution of the distribution information, constructs the N pieces of divided information and displays it. |
| US08094600B2 |
Radio communication apparatus
A radio communication system including: ANs (Access Networks) for wirelessly communicating with an AT (Access Terminal); and a communication control apparatus for controlling the AN, wherein the communication control apparatus includes: a control unit for sending transmission cycle information and control information to the AN, and wherein the AN includes: a memory for storing information necessary for transmitting the communication information to the AT; a control unit for transmitting the transmission cycle information received from the communication control apparatus to the AT, calculating a transmission slot number necessary for sending the communication information in the transmission cycle, determining a transmission timing indicating a period in the predetermined transmission cycle allocated for the communication information, and transmitting the communication information in the determined transmission timing to the AT. |
| US08094598B2 |
Method of operating a radio station
When a radio station terminates a first service on a first radio frequency channel and selects a second radio frequency channel for engaging in a second service, a time delay is inserted after the termination of the first service and before selecting the second radio frequency channel or before engaging in the second service. The time delay is dependent on the state of the radio station and/or a characteristic of the second service. |
| US08094597B1 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining a wireless local area network connection during a bluetooth inquiry phase or a bluetooth paging phase
A beginning of a Bluetooth inquiry phase or a Bluetooth paging phase is determined. In response to determining that the Bluetooth inquiry phase or the Bluetooth paging phase is beginning, a power save (PS) mode signal is sent from a first device to a second device via a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication link, wherein the PS mode signal indicates that the first device is in a WLAN PS mode. A PS poll signal is sent from the first device to the second device via the WLAN communication link in a gap between Bluetooth inquiry phase message transmissions during the Bluetooth inquiry phase or between Bluetooth paging phase message transmissions during the Bluetooth paging phase. |
| US08094595B2 |
Method and apparatus for packet communications in wireless systems
Techniques for transmitting and receiving data in an efficient manner to potentially improve capacity for a wireless network and achieve power savings for a wireless device are described. The techniques utilize a Continuous Packet Connectivity (CPC) mode comprised of multiple (e.g., two) discontinuous transmission (DTX) modes and at least one (e.g., one) discontinuous reception (DRX) mode. Each DTX mode is associated with different enabled uplink subframes usable for transmission from the wireless device to the network. Each DRX mode is associated with different enabled downlink subframes usable by the network for transmission to the wireless device. The wireless device may send signaling and/or data on the enabled uplink subframes and may receive signaling and/or data on the enabled downlink subframes. The wireless device may power down during non-enabled subframes to conserve battery power. Mechanisms to quickly transition between the DTX and DRX modes are described. |
| US08094594B2 |
Method for creating a peer-to-peer immediate messaging solution without using an instant messenging server
A messaging method in a system including a wireless network, a routing server, and a plurality of mobile stations. A first mobile station has first communications applications and a first PIN and a second mobile station has second communications applications and a second PIN. The method includes sending an invitation including the first PIN from the first mobile station to the second mobile station using one of the first communications applications, and sending an acceptance including the second PIN from the second mobile station to the first mobile station using one of the second communications applications. The method further includes creating first messages including the second PIN and sending them to the second mobile station through the wireless network, and creating second messages including the first PIN and sending them to the first mobile station through the wireless network. The routing server routes the messages based on the PINS. |
| US08094592B2 |
Communications system providing adaptive polling based upon positive and negative polling events and related methods
A communications system may include at least one data storage device for storing messages for respective users, and a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices each associated with a respective user for accessing the messages stored on the at least one data storage device. Moreover, the communications system may further include an adaptive polling engine for polling the at least one data storage device for stored messages and providing the polled messages to mobile wireless communications devices of respective users. The adaptive polling engine may advantageously learn respective user usage patterns for each mobile wireless communications device, and change a respective rate of polling for each mobile wireless communications device based thereon. |
| US08094589B2 |
Method and apparatus for multimedia messaging service using Parlay X web service
Provided is a method and apparatus for providing a multimedia message service based on a Parlay X Web service to easily check the status of a multimedia message which is requested to be transmitted in a multimedia messaging application server. The apparatus activates a delivery status informing function for each application server upon receipt of a delivery status information activation request, receives a process result for the multimedia message requested by the application server from an MMS server, and transmits the delivery status information for the requested multimedia message to the application server, for which the status informing function is activated, through a status informing message in real-time. |
| US08094588B2 |
Information transmission method, information transmission apparatus, information recording or reproducing method, information recording or reproducing apparatus and recording medium
An information transmission method capable of reproducing the atmosphere of a concert hall or a live performance hall, wherein bio-information of a speaker, player, actor or conductor, who serves as a source of speech, sounds or music and/or bio-information of a performer included within an image are multiplexed with respect to information of speech or music and/or information of the image for transmission thereof. At the receiving side, sense stimulation based on the bio-information is provided to the viewer, or information of speech or music and/or information of the image are controlled on the basis of the bio-information to thereby reproduce presence or live appeal. |
| US08094586B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring services in a mobile terminal of a mobile radio network
A method and apparatus for configuring services in a mobile terminal of a mobile radio network. Configuration data for services in the mobile terminal is updated by means of a data-switching network element and a data-storage network element, data being transmitted by means of existing signalling or system messages of the mobile radio network. |
| US08094576B2 |
Integrated switch tap arrangement with visual display arrangement and methods thereof
An arrangement in a network device for monitoring network traffic is provided. The arrangement includes a set of network ports, which includes a set of input network ports for receiving the network traffic and a set of output network ports for outputting the network traffic from the network device. The arrangement also includes a switch chip, wherein the switch chip is configured at least for analyzing the network traffic. The arrangement further includes a set of monitoring ports, which is configured to receive the network traffic from the set of network ports. The arrangement yet also includes a tap module, which is configured at least for intercepting at least part of the network traffic flowing through the network device and forwarding at least part of the network traffic to at least one of the set of monitoring ports. |
| US08094575B1 |
Routing protocol extension for network acceleration service-aware path selection within computer networks
In general, techniques are described by which a path through a network may be selected based on service information. For example, a network device may include one or more interfaces, a control unit, and an integrated network acceleration device that provides a first set of services. The interfaces may receive service information that describes a second set of services provided by another network device. The control unit then determines, based on the service information, whether the other device shares any services in common with the integrated device. If so, the control unit selects a path through the network that includes the other device and causes the integrated device to apply the shared service to a portion of the traffic. The interfaces forward this portion along the determined path to the other device such that the other device applies the shared network acceleration services to the portion of the network traffic. |
| US08094574B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless receiving
Aspects of the disclosure provide a wireless user equipment that can receive and demodulate a paging indicator with a reduced time duration. Therefore, the wireless user equipment may have a reduced wake-up time. The wireless user equipment can include a receiving module configured to receive signal components including a first signal transmitted over a common pilot channel (CPICH) and a second signal transmitted over a paging indicator channel (PICH) during a time duration. The second signal can include a paging indicator in the time duration. Further, the wireless user equipment can include a processor module configured to select a plurality of correlations in the second signal received during the time duration based on correlations in the first signal received during the time duration, and to extract the paging indicator from the plurality of correlations in the second signal. Additionally, the wireless user equipment can include a controller module configured to control the wireless user equipment according to the paging indicator. |
| US08094573B2 |
Method of managing transmission within a wireless communications network
The method includes sending a request for permission to transmit by each ready node in the wireless network. Each ready node is a node of the wireless network ready to transmit, each request identifies a node in the network that is the destination, and each request is sent over a control channel. An iterative process based on priorities determined for the ready nodes is then performed to determine which ready nodes to block from transmission and which ready nodes to clear for transmission. Transmissions are sent over a payload channel from ready nodes in the clear to transmit state. |
| US08094568B1 |
Method and apparatus for enabling auto-ticketing for endpoint devices
A method and system for transmitting data corresponding to at least one endpoint device problem in a packet communications network is described. Specifically, an endpoint device detects at least one problem that pertains to the endpoint device. The endpoint device then generates data pertaining to the endpoint device problem. Lastly, the endpoint device then transmits the data detailing that endpoint device problem to the packet communications network. |
| US08094567B2 |
Method for transferring test messages and network element device
A method for transferring test messages includes a Network Element (NE) A and NE B negotiating and determining a logical channel type. The Link Management Protocol (LMP) entity of NE A constructs a test message packet which includes the local Ethernet data interface ID, and transfers the test message packet to the local packet control module. The packet control module of NE A encapsulates the test message packet according to the logical channel type determined through negotiation, and transfers the encapsulated packet to the local transmitting interface. The receiving interface of NE B identifies and receives the packet. The packet control module of NE B obtains the packet from the local receiving interface and then encapsulates the packet. Next the packet control module of NE B transfers the test message packet obtained after decapsulation to the local LMP entity. Therefore, the test message can be transferred on the Ethernet data interface, and the auto discovery of the Ethernet physical link of the NE device succeeds once the test message is transferred successfully. |
| US08094564B2 |
Communication system, method and apparatus for providing mirroring service in the communication system
A mirroring apparatus for providing a mirroring service includes an Internet protocol (IP) address sniffing module for monitoring whether an Internet service provided to a predetermined terminal exists; an IP address converting module for duplicating a packet transmitted to the predetermined terminal according to the Internet service and changing a destination IP address of the duplicated packet to an IP address of other terminals; and a routing module for routing the packet by determining a route of the packet based on the IP address of the packet. |
| US08094563B2 |
Method and system for integration of trunking and conventional land mobile radio systems
An integrated Land Mobile Radio (LMR) system enables communication between a trunking land mobile radio (trunking LMR) system and a conventional land mobile radio (conventional LMR) system. The trunking LMR system includes a trunking site controller including a first network gateway router. The trunking LMR system includes at least one trunking control channel and a plurality of trunking traffic channel. The trunking traffic channels each are assigned to a specific trunking LMR subscriber by the trunking site controller to enable the trunking LMR subscribers to communicate with one another. The conventional LMR system includes a conventional site controller including a second network gateway router connected to the first network gateway router by a data network. The conventional LMR system includes a plurality of conventional traffic channels. The conventional traffic channels are each assigned to a specific conventional LMR subscriber by the conventional site controller to enable the conventional LMR subscribers to communicate. |
| US08094562B1 |
Transmission of a continuous datastream through a re-clocked frame-based transport network
A network interface to transport a continuous datastream over a frame-based transport network. The network interface includes a data input, an egress buffer circuit, a phase locked loop, and a data output. The data input receives frames carrying the continuous datastream from the frame-based transport network. The egress buffer circuit is coupled to buffer the continuous datastream and to generate a feedback signal based at least in part on a fill-level of the egress buffer. The phase locked loop is coupled to receive the feedback signal from the egress buffer and to recover a clock signal from the continuous datastream. The data output is coupled to output the data of the continuous datastream from the egress buffer circuit based on the clock signal. |
| US08094560B2 |
Multi-stage multi-core processing of network packets
Techniques for multi-stage multi-core processing of network packets are described herein. In one embodiment, work units are received within a network element, each work unit representing a packet of different flows to be processed in multiple processing stages. Each work unit is identified by a work unit identifier that uniquely identifies a flow in which the associated packet belongs and a processing stage that the associated packet is to be processed. The work units are then dispatched to multiple core logic, such that packets of different flows can be processed concurrently by multiple core logic and packets of an identical flow in different processing stages can be processed concurrently by multiple core logic, in order to determine whether the packets should be transmitted to one or more application servers of a datacenter. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08094558B2 |
Packet transfer apparatus for storage system
To control a bandwidth without the need for a large-capacity buffer. This invention provides a packet transfer apparatus connected to first device and second device, with a network therebetween, including: an input unit that receives a packet from the first device; a packet storage unit that stores the packet; a packet processing unit that stores the packet in the packet storage unit; a packet checking unit that checks whether the packet is related to data request; a packet analyzing unit that analyzes the amount of data requested by the data request; a transfer control unit that controls transfer of the packet on the basis of the analyzed amount of data; and an output unit that sends the received packet to the second device. |
| US08094556B2 |
Dynamic buffering and synchronization of related media streams in packet networks
Mechanisms are disclosed for using two or more buffers, at a common receiving node, to reduce the effects of jitter, packet loss, and/or packet latency and/or synchronize different types of packets. Specifically, the two or more buffers can be used to temporarily store packets from different media streams that have a common timestamp and/or sequence number. Characteristics of the two or more buffers can then be independently controlled to accommodate the different media streams. |
| US08094555B2 |
Dynamic weighted-fair load-balancing
In one embodiment, a node identifies a plurality of equal cost best paths to a destination, the best paths having one or more associated links. The node receives dynamic link utilization information for the associated links, and determines an amount of traffic to the destination to forward over each of the equal cost best paths, the amount being dynamically dependent upon the dynamic link utilization of the associated links for each equal cost best path. |
| US08094554B2 |
Compressed mode operation and power control with discontinuous transmission and/or reception
Techniques to support operation in a compressed mode and/or a continuous packet connectivity (CPC) mode are described. In an aspect, a user equipment (UE) may obtain an assignment of enabled subframes for the CPC mode and an assignment of transmission gaps for the compressed mode. The transmission gaps may be aligned with idle times between the enabled subframes. The UE may exchange data during enabled subframes not overlapping the transmission gaps and may skip data exchanges during enabled subframes overlapping the transmission gaps. The UE may make cell measurements during the transmission gaps. In another aspect, the UE may obtain enabled subframes and skipped subframes, exchange data during enabled subframes not corresponding to the skipped subframes, and skip data exchanges during the skipped subframes. In yet another aspect, the UE may receive orders on a shared control channel to quickly enable and disable the compressed mode. |
| US08094552B1 |
Adaptive buffer for frame based storage communications protocols
Methods of managing a receive buffer in a receiving communications terminal are disclosed, the receive buffer including a data memory organized into a plurality of individually addressable data words and into a plurality of segments, each of which is larger than one addressable data word but smaller than a maximum frame size. The methods include receiving a frame of data from an originating communications terminal, storing the received frame of data in the receive buffer beginning at a selected segment of a group of reserved segments, and releasing a number of the reserved segments equal to the number of segments in a maximum frame size less an actual number of segments occupied by the received frame. A frame buffer available notification is sent to the originating communications terminal in response to a determination that a number of unreserved segments available in the receive buffer after storing the received frame is larger than the maximum frame size, and a number of segments in the receive buffer equal to the maximum frame size are reserved. |
| US08094549B2 |
Apparatus and method for classifying quality-of-service of packet in portable internet system
In a portable Internet system, packets are classified into a first packet classified as a transport connection identifier (CID) and a second packet that is not classified as a transport CID by using an established packet classification rule. An application program of the second packet is searched from a plurality of application programs by using the header information of the second packet in the portable Internet system. QoS parameter information for the searched application program is obtained from a plurality of QoS parameter informations corresponding to the plurality of application programs. |
| US08094546B2 |
Device and method for compensating crosstalk in transmission links
In an embodiment, a method of compensating crosstalk on a plurality of transmission links is disclosed. The method includes providing first values depending on crosstalk among a plurality of transmission links. Each first value corresponds to one of a plurality of crosstalk channels, and each crosstalk channel represents signal transfer from one of the plurality of the transmission links to a different one of the plurality of transmission links. Second values specific to the transmission links are provided. A number of crosstalk channels are selected from a plurality of crosstalk channels interfering with signal transmission on transmissions links. The selecting depends on quotients of the first values and the second values. |
| US08094541B2 |
Optical pickup and optical disc apparatus
An optical pickup free from tracking error signal variation when playing back a double-layered disc, and coping with incompatible optical discs, such as BDs and HD DVDs, includes a laser light source, a first polarization rotation element for rotating a polarization direction of an optical beam from the source, an optical branching element disposed in a position after the polarization rotation element to reflect or transmit an optical beam according to polarization of the beam, first and second object lenses for focusing the reflected and transmitted optical beams onto first and second optical discs, respectively, a photodetector for sensing reflected light from the first and second optical discs, and a second polarization rotation element disposed after reflection or transmission of the reflected light from the first and second optical discs conducted by the branching element, to rotate a polarization direction of the reflected light. |
| US08094538B2 |
Data recording method in holography optical memory system
According to an aspect of the present invention, a data recording method in a holography optical memory system, for recording a two-dimensional pixel data page in a recording medium can be provided. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the data recording method in a holography optical memory system can include recording sequentially the signal beams carrying one-dimensional pixel data lines, included in the original two dimensional pixel data page, in the recording medium by using the same reference beam. Here, the pixel data page can be recorded such that any two adjacent pixel data lines are partially overlapped with each other in an area of the recording medium. |
| US08094535B2 |
Optical disk device
A write type optical disk device with the PRML mode allows accuracy in the trial writing to be improved accompanied with the high speed processing while assuring the readout compatibility. A readout signal that has been A/D converted at timing that interposes the edge has its phase compensated with the even numbered FIR filter. The level at the edge point and the absolute values thereof are accumulated respectively so as to provide a circuit for detecting the edge shift and jitter. Coping with the high speed processing, the edge shift of the readout signal is detected at the position where the edge shift is around zero, thus improving the accuracy in learning of trial writing. |
| US08094534B2 |
Information reproducing apparatus and method, and computer program
An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: a waveform shaping device (14) for performing waveform shaping on a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100), on the basis of a reference amplification factor; a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to at least a long mark, of the read signal on which the waveform shaping is performed; and a waveform equalizing device (15) for performing a waveform equalization process on the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected, the waveform shaping device arbitrarily increases the reference amplification factor. |
| US08094532B2 |
Interlayer movement apparatus, and integrated circuit for interlayer movement apparatus
In an interlayer movement apparatus for moving the focal point of the laser light to an arbitrary layer, there are provided an objective lens which collects the laser light from an optical source, a focus actuator which makes the objective lens move in its optical axis direction, a focus error detection means for detecting the convergent state of the laser light on the information layer of the optical disc, and an interlayer movement control system for making the focal point of the laser light move to an information layer two or more layers apart by controlling the focus actuator according to a relative speed between the information layer of the optical disc and the focal point which was calculated using the time required for the focal point of the laser light passing through the respective layers which was measured on the basis of the output signal of the focus error detection means and the respective interlayer distances which are specified by the optical disc specifications. |
| US08094530B2 |
Optical disc read/write apparatus and alternative write processing method
When data is to be written on an optical disc in the unit of a sector, an attempt is made to read a block A to which a write sector belongs for the purpose of judging whether the block can be normally read. If the block A is not successfully read, it is judged to be a defective area, and an alternative write is performed in an alternative area in the unit of a sector. The alternative write may be performed so that a plurality of sectors belonging to the same block are dispersively written in different blocks d, E. When new data is to be written in a new sector in such a situation, data is acquired from the dispersed other sectors, merged with the new data, and collectively rewritten in the same block E. |
| US08094525B2 |
Information recording method and information recording apparatus
In an information recording method, information is recorded to semiconductor memory when at least a specified amount of free space exists in the semiconductor memory. Information is recorded to magnetic memory when the free space in the semiconductor memory is insufficient but at least a specified amount of free space exists in the magnetic memory. Information is recorded to optical memory when the free space in both the semiconductor memory and the magnetic memory is insufficient. When retrieving recorded information, an access count is incremented, and information with a comparatively high access count is moved to the semiconductor memory, while information with a comparatively low access count is moved to the optical memory. Information is thus recorded to a recording medium suitably selected from among semiconductor memory, magnetic memory, and optical memory, thereby making effective use of each memory type. |
| US08094524B2 |
Apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing data to/from recording medium
An apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing data to/from a recording medium are disclosed. The recording medium includes at least one physical access control (PAC) cluster, the at least one PAC cluster including information for managing recording to and/or reproducing from the recording medium, wherein each PAC cluster includes a PAC header, common to each PAC cluster, and a PAC specific information area, which includes information specific to each PAC cluster, wherein the PAC header includes a segment information identifying at least one segment area in a user data area of the recording medium by a position information of the each segment area. |
| US08094520B2 |
Sonar mount
A sonar mount allows accurate and precise alignment of a sonar head to a boat. A tilt mechanism allows the sonar head to be lifted to a position that is substantially parallel to the boat's deck, thus facilitating placement of the boat on a trailer without the need to remove the sonar head from the boat. |
| US08094516B2 |
Method and device for the time-serial transmission of reception signals of electroacoustic transducers
A method for the time-serial transmission of received signals of electroacoustic transducers (11), which are placed at different transducer locations (13) of a spatially spread receive arrangement (10), to a signal processing unit (12), in which at each transducer location (13) the received signals are digitized by an electronic module (20), and the digitized received signals are switched onto a data line (14, 15, 16) leading to the signal processing unit (12) in the timing pattern of a synchronization clock. To obtain a high data rate with undisturbed data transmission, the intrinsic switching-time errors of the electronic modules (20) are measured with respect to the switching times defined by the timing pattern, and compensated for at the transducer locations (13) by individual time delay of the signals to be switched. |
| US08094512B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with individual and selective refresh of data storage banks
A conventional semiconductor memory device may be in need of a special refresh sequence if it is desired to reduce the current consumption in connection with a refresh operation. With this in view, there is disclosed a semiconductor memory device 1 that has a recording area 30 formed by a plurality of memory banks 31 to 3n. The refreshing operation for this semiconductor memory device 1 may be performed on the memory bank basis. The semiconductor memory device 1 includes refresh control circuits 21 to 2n and holding circuits 11 to 1n in association individually with the memory banks 31 to 3n. The holding circuits 11 to 1n are set when data has been written in associated ones of the memory banks 31 to 3n following resetting of the semiconductor memory device. The refresh control circuits 21 to 2n set the associated memory banks 31 to 3n to a refresh enabling state in case the associated holding circuits 11 to 1n are in a set state (FIG. 1). |
| US08094510B2 |
Memory array incorporating noise detection line
A memory array includes a sensing circuit for sensing bit line current while keeping the voltage of the selected bit line substantially unchanged. The word lines and bit lines are biased so that essentially no bias voltage is impressed across half-selected memory cells, which substantially eliminates leakage current through half-selected memory cells. The bit line current which is sensed arises largely from only the current through the selected memory cell. A noise detection line in the memory array reduces the effect of coupling from unselected word lines to the selected bit line. In a preferred embodiment, a three-dimensional memory array having a plurality of rail-stacks forming bit lines on more than one layer, includes at least one noise detection line associated with each layer of bit lines. A sensing circuit is connected to a selected bit line and to its associated noise detection line. |
| US08094506B2 |
Method and apparatus for timing adjustment
A strobe signal from a memory is delayed through delay circuits of a strobe delay selection section, thus obtaining a plurality of delayed strobe signals. A strobe latch section produces check data in synchronism with each of the delayed strobe signals, and a system latch section latches, with a system clock, check data latched by the strobe latch section. Based on a comparison by an expected value comparison section and a determination by a delay determination section, the optimal strobe signal with the optimal delay is selected from among the delayed strobe signals produced in the strobe delay selection section. Then, data from the memory is delayed through delay circuits in a data delay selection section, thus obtaining a plurality of delayed data, and the optimal data with the optimal delay is selected from among the plurality of delayed data based on the comparison by the expected value comparison section and the determination by the delay determination section. |
| US08094501B2 |
Semiconductor memory device which includes memory cell having charge accumulation layer and control gate
A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, a source line, a word line, a bit line, and a driver circuit. The memory cells are formed on a semiconductor layer and have a charge accumulation layer and a control gate on the charge accumulation layer. The word line is connected to gate of the memory cell. The bit line is electrically connected to a drain of the memory cell. The source line is electrically connected to a source of the memory cell. The driver circuit varies potential of the semiconductor layer in conjunction with potential of the source line. |
| US08094500B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method with write cache partitioning
A portion of a nonvolatile memory is partitioned from a main multi-level memory array to operate as a cache. The cache memory is configured to store at less capacity per memory cell and finer granularity of write units compared to the main memory. In a block-oriented memory architecture, the cache has multiple functions, not merely to improve access speed, but is an integral part of a sequential update block system. Decisions to write data to the cache memory or directly to the main memory depend on the attributes and characteristics of the data to be written, the state of the blocks in the main memory portion and the state of the blocks in the cache portion. |
| US08094499B2 |
Method using a one-time programmable memory cell
A one-time programmable device includes a controller, a protection system, a static storage element and a latch, which can be referred to as a latch-based one-time programmable (OTP) element. In one example, the static storage element includes a thin gate-oxide that acts as a resistance element, which, depending on whether its blown, sets the latch into one of two states. |
| US08094497B2 |
Multi-gate bandgap engineered memory
Memory cells comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a source region and a drain region disposed below a surface of the substrate and separated by a channel region; a tunnel dielectric structure disposed above the channel region, the tunnel dielectric structure comprising at least one layer having a hole-tunneling barrier height; a charge storage layer disposed above the tunnel dielectric structure; an insulating layer disposed above the charge storage layer; and a gate electrode disposed above the insulating layer are described along with arrays and methods of operation. |
| US08094496B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and control method thereof
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a multi-layer insulating film having at least charge storage layers and formed on bottom surfaces and both side surfaces of a plurality of trench portions respectively formed in portions between the plurality of active areas formed in a first direction, a plurality of gate electrodes filled in internal portions of the plurality of trench portions with the multi-layer insulating film, a plurality of first metal interconnections formed in a second direction and each functioning as a bit line or source line, and a plurality of first conductivity-type diffusion layer regions arranged in a staggered form in corresponding portions of the plurality of active areas which intersect with the plurality of first metal interconnections. The device further includes a plurality of connection contacts form to respectively connect the plurality of first conductivity-type diffusion layer regions to the plurality of first metal interconnections. |
| US08094491B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a memory cell including a thyristor element with a gate having a pnpn structure formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of access transistors formed on the semiconductor substrate and each connected at a first terminal thereof to a storage node at one terminal of the thyristor element such that a potential at the storage node can be transmitted to bit lines different from each other, the gate of the thyristor element and the gates of the plurality of access transistors of the memory cell being connected to word lines different from one another. |
| US08094490B1 |
Nonvolatile loop magnetic memory
A nonvolatile loop magnetic memory having a magnetically writeable nonvolatile magnetic memory element and a loop magnetic shunt. The loop magnetic shunt has a slot through a loop of the loop magnetic shunt, the slot forming first and second ends in the loop magnetic shunt, the first and second ends arranged to focus a magnetic field on the magnetically writeable nonvolatile magnetic memory element. The magnetically writeable nonvolatile magnetic memory element is located between the first and second ends of the loop magnetic shunt. A magnetic write coil is wrapped around the loop magnetic shunt. |
| US08094485B2 |
Variable resistance nonvolatile storage device with oxygen-deficient oxide layer and asymmetric substrate bias effect
The variable resistance nonvolatile storage device includes a memory cell (300) that is formed by connecting in series a variable resistance element (309) including a variable resistance layer (309b) which reversibly changes based on electrical signals each having a different polarity and a transistor (317) including a semiconductor substrate (301) and two N-type diffusion layer regions (302a, 302b), wherein the variable resistance layer (309b) includes an oxygen-deficient oxide of a transition metal, lower and upper electrodes (309a, 309c) are made of materials of different elements, a standard electrode potential V1 of the lower electrode (309a), a standard electrode potential V2 of the upper electrode (309c), and a standard electrode potential Vt of the transition metal satisfy Vt |
| US08094483B2 |
Semiconductor device including bit line groups
A semiconductor device includes: a first read/write amplifier; a second read/write amplifier; a first group of bit lines belonging to the first read/write amplifier; a second group of bit lines belonging to the second read/write amplifier and mixed with the first group of bit lines. One of the first group of bit lines and one of the second group of bit lines are selected in parallel. A reference potential is supplied to at least one of the first non-selected bit lines adjacent to the first selected bit line selected from the first group of bit lines, and to at least one of the second non-selected bit lines adjacent to the second selected bit line selected from the first group of bit lines. At least one of remaining ones of the first and second non-selected bit lines is set into a floating state. |
| US08094480B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a plurality of memory cells including memory elements to store information by varying resistance values of the memory elements. The semiconductor device further has a reference system circuit enables measurement of distribution of the resistance values for the plurality of memory cells. |
| US08094478B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device having a plurality of memory blocks
A nonvolatile memory device 1 capable of preventing interference between a read operation and a rewrite operation, and capable of preventing malfunctions that may occur in the event the read operation and the rewrite operation are performed simultaneously between memory blocks is provided. The nonvolatile memory device 1 is provided with a plurality of banks, a rewrite control unit 2 to which a first power source line VCC1 and a first ground line VSS1 are connected and which is adapted to control a rewrite operation with respect to a bank i, and a read control unit 5 to which a second power source line VCC2 and a second ground line VSS2 are connected and which is adapted to control a read operation with respect to a bank j, wherein the rewrite control unit 2 and the read control unit 5 are arranged so as to be spaced from each another. |
| US08094476B2 |
Content addressable memory match signal test device and methods thereof
A content addressable memory (CAM) of a data processing device can operate in a normal mode or a test mode. In the normal mode, the CAM provides a match value in response to determining that a received data value matches one of a plurality of values stored at memory locations of the CAM. In a test mode of operation, a plurality of test signals are applied to the CAM, and the CAM provides a match value in response to assertion of one of the test signals. The match value is applied to a functional module associated with the CAM to determine a test result. Accordingly, the test signals applied to the CAM provide a flexible way to generate match values and apply those values to the functional module during testing of the data processing device. |
| US08094475B2 |
Inverter with asymmetric clocking and thermally isolated modules
On an inverter for feeding power of a direct voltage source, in particular of a photovoltaic generator (PVG), into an alternating voltage mains (N), with an asymmetrically clocked bridge circuit with at least two first switches (S1, S2) clocked at mains frequency and with at least two second switches (S3, S4) clocked at a higher clock frequency, the efficiency is intended to be improved at low cost. This is achieved in that slow speed switches (S1, S2) of equal temperature stability are utilized for the mains frequency and that fast speed switches (S3, S4) with steeper switching slopes and higher temperature stability are utilized for the higher clock frequency, the fast speed switches (S3, S4) being locally separated from the slow speed switches (S1, S2). |
| US08094473B2 |
Bridgeless power factor correction circuit
There is provided a bridgeless power factor correction circuit that corrects a power factor by complementarily switching two switches according to phase of input power without using rectifier bridge diodes. A bridgeless power factor correction circuit according to an aspect of the invention may include: a switching unit having a plurality of switches and alternately switching input AC power; a stabilizing unit rectifying and smoothing the power switched by the switching unit; and a control unit controlling an alternate switching operation between the plurality of switches according to phases of the input power. |
| US08094470B2 |
Current balanced push-pull inverter circuit with snubber and discharge circuitry
This current balanced push-pull type inverter circuit includes first and second switching elements, and an output transformer which includes a first primary winding and a second primary winding connected in series between said first and second switching elements, and also includes a secondary winding for obtaining an output voltage. This inverter circuit also includes a first voltage supply capacitor, a second voltage supply capacitor, and a control unit. A first snubber circuit, in which a first free wheel diode and first and second snubber capacitors are connected in series, is connected in inverse parallel to the first switching element. A first discharge resistor is connected between the first snubber capacitor and a first power supply capacitor, and a second discharge resistor is connected between the second snubber capacitor and a third power supply capacitor. And a second snubber circuit and discharge resistors are connected to the second switching element as well, in a similar manner. |
| US08094469B2 |
Current balanced push-pull inverter circuit
This inverter circuit includes first and second switching elements and an output transformer which has a first primary winding connected in series between the first switching element and the second switching element and a second primary winding for obtaining an output voltage. The inverter circuit also includes a first voltage source, a second voltage source, and a control unit. The first voltage source is connected between a first connection point at which the first primary winding is connected to the second switching element, and the first switching element, and applies a voltage to the first switching element via the first primary winding. And the second voltage source is connected between a second connection point at which the first primary winding is connected to the first switching element, and the second switching element, and applies a voltage to the second switching element via the first primary winding. The control unit alternately turns the first switching element and the second switching element ON and OFF. And this inverter circuit also may include first and second recovery snubber circuits for recovering electrical charge in snubber capacitors. |
| US08094464B2 |
Portable terminal
Disclosed is a portable terminal, including a first circuit board coupled to a main body and having a first connection terminal mounted on a surface thereof; a second circuit board coupled to the main body so as to cover at least a portion of the first circuit board, having a first area where an intermediate connection terminal contacting the first connection terminal is mounted on a surface thereof, and a second area where a second connection terminal electrically connected to the intermediate connection terminal is mounted on a surface thereof; and an electronic component having at least a portion thereof contacted by the second connection terminal, and for being electrically connected to the first circuit board. |
| US08094463B2 |
Crystal oscillator for surface mounting
A crystal oscillator for surface mounting comprising: a case main body including concave portions on both principal surfaces; a crystal element hermetically encapsulated in one concave portion; an IC chip housed in the other concave portion; mounting terminals provided on four corner portions of an opening end face of the other concave portion; and a protrusion serving as identifying marks along a direction of sides of the case main body and provided in some of the mounting terminals. The mounting terminals, to which the protrusions are provided, are provided on both corner portions on one end side of the case main body. The protrusions extend in a same direction from the mounting terminals at an inner or outer circumference side of the opening end face. The mounting terminals including the protrusions are symmetric with respect to a center line between both corner portions on the one end side. |
| US08094461B2 |
Printed board and bus bar assembly
A printed board includes a printed board body having a first side, a second side opposing the first side, and a through-hole; a printed conductor disposed on the first side of the printed board body; and a bus bar disposed on the second side of the printed board body, the bus bar including a terminal that extends through the through-hole. The terminal includes a plurality of branched terminal portions at a position corresponding to an interior of the through-hole, and at least one of the branched terminal portions is bent and attached to the printed conductor. |
| US08094459B2 |
Microelectronic substrate including embedded components and spacer layer and method of forming same
A microelectronic substrate, a method of forming the same, and a system including the same. The microelectronic substrate comprises: a conductive layer; a spacer layer disposed onto the conductive dielectric layer; a dielectric build-up layer disposed onto the spacer layer, the spacer layer being made of a material that has a lower shrinkage than a material of the embedding dielectric-build-up layer during curing, and a higher viscosity than a material of the embedding dielectric build-up layer in its pre-cure form and during curing; and active or passive microelectronic components embedded within the dielectric build-up layer. |
| US08094455B2 |
High-density integrated circuit module structure
A high-density integrated circuit module structure comprises a substrate and a heat sink at least wherein the substrates form a reversely-staggered contacting stack structure by electrically contacting heat sinks and heat conductors on the heat sink have a non-flat structure at least to realize the present invention which extends the product's functions within an electronic product's restricted height and has a better vibration resistance capability, heat dissipation effect, and no steps involving junctions between solder balls and a carrier in an assembling procedure to simply an assembling procedure with improved functions, increased capacity, and reduced manufacturing costs. |
| US08094442B2 |
Display
A display includes: a display panel including a display surface; a frame including a cover part which partially faces the display surface; and a film whose fixing area is fixed to the cover part and which is arranged between the display surface and the cover part. The cover part includes a flat part and a stepped part which projects toward the display surface, and the film comes in contact with the display surface to be bent. |
| US08094437B2 |
Electronic device and operative push button thereof
An electronic device includes a shell defining a space and an opening therein. A fixing pole extends into the space from an inner surface of the shell adjacent to the opening. A circuit board is received in the space, and defines a through hole corresponding to the fixing pole. A push button is arranged in the shell, and includes a button body extending into the opening of the shell and being exposed to the outside, a fixing member, and a connecting member interconnecting the fixing member and the button body. The fixing member defines a fixing hole receiving the fixing pole therein. Two opposite sides of the fixing member abut against an inner surface of the shell and the circuit board, respectively. A locking member extends through the through hole and the fixing hole into the fixing pole to assemble the circuit board, the push button to the shell. |
| US08094436B2 |
Plug-in circuit breaker assembly
A circuit breaker assembly includes a housing, an electrical bus structure coupled to the housing, and a number of first plug-in members coupled to the electrical bus structure. A number of circuit breakers include a first surface and a second plug-in member disposed opposite the first surface. The second plug-in member of each of the number of circuit breakers is mated with a corresponding one of the number of first plug-in members. A plate member is removably coupled to the housing. The plate member includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first surface of the number of circuit breakers engages the opposite second surface of the plate member in order to maintain mating of each of the number of circuit breakers with the corresponding one of the number of first plug-in members. |
| US08094434B2 |
Hermetically sealed capacitor assembly
A capacitor assembly that includes a conductive polymer electrolytic capacitor that is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a ceramic housing in the presence of an inert gas is provided. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the ceramic housing is capable of limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the conductive polymer of the capacitor. In this manner, the conductive polymer is less likely to oxidize in high temperature environments, thus increasing the thermal stability of the capacitor assembly. |
| US08094433B2 |
Supercapacitor
A supercapacitor having a main energy storage form that is based on the electrode reaction of electrochemical active materials in a thin liquid layer near the inner and outer surfaces of porous electrodes. |
| US08094428B2 |
Wafer grounding methodology
An apparatus for increasing electric conductivity to a wafer substrate, when exposed to electron beam irradiation, is disclosed. More specifically, a methodology to breakdown the insulating layer on wafer backside is provided to significantly reduce the damage on the wafer backside while proceeding with the grounding process. |
| US08094427B2 |
System for precisely controlling the operational characteristics of a relay
A system for precisely controlling the operational characteristics of a relay is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a relay having performance characteristics that vary with a temperature of the relay, where the relay comprises a plurality of operational phases including a switching phase and a holding phase, and a relay control circuit configured to provide a preselected current to the relay at least during the switching phase and the holding phase, where the preselected current remains substantially constant despite a change in the temperature of the relay, where the relay is configured to transition from a non-energized position to an energized position during the switching phase, and where the relay is configured to maintain the energized position during the holding phase. |
| US08094426B2 |
Electrical switching apparatus providing coordinated opening with a circuit interrupter and method of operating the same
An electrical switching apparatus includes a number of separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a number of sensors structured to sense at least current flowing through the separable contacts, and a processor structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism to open and close the separable contacts. The processor determines a fault from the sensed current flowing through the separable contacts. The processor further responsively opens the separable contacts if the sensed current associated with the fault is less than the interrupting rating of the electrical switching apparatus. The processor keeps the separable contacts closed and waits for another circuit interrupter to interrupt the fault if the sensed current associated with the fault is greater than the interrupting rating. |
| US08094420B2 |
Magnetoresistive device of the CCP (current perpendicular to plane) type with single-domain control of magnetization, and associated magnetic disk system
The invention provides a magnetoresistive device of the CCP (current perpendicular to plane) structure comprising a magnetoresistive unit sandwiched between soft magnetic shield layers with a current applied in the stacking direction. The magnetoresistive unit comprises a nonmagnetic intermediate layer sandwiched between ferromagnetic layers. A planar framework positions the soft magnetic shield layers and comprises a combination of a nonmagnetic gap layer with a bias magnetic field-applying layer constructed by repeating the stacking of a multilayer unit comprising a nonmagnetic underlay layer and a high coercive material layer. The nonmagnetic gap layer is designed and located such that a magnetic flux given out of the bias magnetic field-applying layer is efficiently directed along a closed magnetic path around the framework to form a single domain of magnetization. |
| US08094419B2 |
Optimized write pole flare angle for side shield or semi side shield PMR writer application
Improved writability and a reduction in adjacent track erasure are achieved in a PMR writer with a large flare angle of 45 and 90 degrees in the main write pole and a full side shield or partial side shield configuration around the narrow write pole section and write pole tip. A trailing shield is formed above the write pole's top surface and a full or partial side shield section is spaced a certain distance from each side of the write pole. The partial side shield has a thickness less than that of the write pole and a top or bottom surface about coplanar with the pole tip's top or bottom edge, respectively. The partial side shield may include two sections on each side of the write pole wherein the bottom surface of a top section is separated by a certain distance from the top surface of a bottom section. |
| US08094413B1 |
Disk drive head suspension flexure with stacked traces having differing configurations on gimbal and beam regions
An integrated lead head suspension component comprising a spring metal layer, a first conductor layer, a first dielectric layer between at least portions of the spring metal and the first conductor layers, a second conductor layer and a second dielectric layer between at least portions of the first and second conductor layers. The head suspension component includes stacked traces having first and second traces in the first and second conductor layers, respectively. The stacked traces comprise base sections having first widths and gimbal sections having second widths that are less than the first widths. The second dielectric layer can have a generally constant thickness on the base and gimbal sections or, alternatively, a gimbal section thickness that is less than a base section thickness. |
| US08094411B2 |
Slider with pockets in front of air bearing surface
A slider for use with disk drive data storage devices includes a topography that defines features of the slider. The features facilitate in controlling peak pressure, providing stiffness, and/or inhibiting lubricant accumulation on the slider. For example, the features include an air bearing surface and a cavity disposed in front of the air bearing surface. The cavity is closed on all sides by sidewalls. |
| US08094409B2 |
Method and system for monitoring gas in sealed hard disk drives with feedback
A system and method for monitoring the helium content of a disk cavity of a hard disk drive is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, an oxygen sensor is placed in the disk cavity to monitor the level of oxygen in the cavity. With the measurement of oxygen in the disk cavity, the level of helium in the cavity is inferred. In one embodiment, if the amount of helium inferred from the oxygen level fell below 90%-95% of the gaseous content of the disk cavity, a user is automatically notified in order to maintain the hard disk drive in a timely manner. |
| US08094407B2 |
Servomechanism with adjustable predictor filter
A digital control system, and in particular a tape drive system having a track-following servomechanism with a predictor (also referred to herein as a predictor filter), is described. In certain embodiments, the servomechanism includes an actuator, a servo channel, and a predictor coupled to the servo channel. The predictor receives from the servo channel a lateral position estimate signal and determines a modified lateral position estimate signal that reduces a difference, introduced by a tape velocity-dependent delay, e.g., introduced by the servo channel, between the modified lateral position estimate signal and an actual lateral position. The modified lateral position estimate may be used to modify a control signal sent to the actuator. |
| US08094406B2 |
Apparatus and method to adjust the positions of a write element and read element disposed on a read/write head
A method to adjust the positions of a write element and read element disposed on a read/write head comprising a first assembly independently moveable along a first axis and comprising a first servo element, a second servo element, and the write element disposed between the first servo element and the second servo element and a second assembly independently moveable along the first axis and comprising a third servo element, a fourth servo element, and the read element disposed between the third servo element and the fourth servo element. The method moves a sequential information storage medium adjacent to the read/write head along a second axis, wherein the second axis is substantially orthogonal to the first axis, and determines a dynamic skew for the sequential information storage medium with respect to the read/write head using the first servo element and the second servo element. The method then positions the first assembly with respect to the second assembly to correct for that dynamic skew angle. |
| US08094403B2 |
Correcting errors in position of an HDD write-head
A hard-disk drive (HDD) with a current adjustment component is provided. The current adjustment component changes an amount of current to a magnetic-recording head of the HDD to cause a change in the strength of a magnetic write field produced by the magnetic-recording head in response to a determination that a present position of the magnetic-head head is not in a desired position. To illustrate, in response to a determination that the present position of the magnetic-recording head is further away from an edge of a current track being written than a desired position of the magnetic-recording head, the current adjustment component increases the current to the magnetic-recording head to cause an increase in the strength of the magnetic write field. The change in the strength of the magnetic write field causes data, written by the magnetic-recording head, to be located at a desired location on the magnetic-recording disk. |
| US08094401B1 |
Writing high frequency pattern over a DC background to detect skip track erasure for a disk drive
A method of detecting skip track erasure for a head and disk of a disk drive is disclosed. N tracks are DC erased, and a periodic pattern is written to the disk at a target track within the DC erased tracks. The periodic pattern is substantially comprised of a high frequency component greater than 450 MHz. After writing the periodic pattern to the target track at least twice, at least two of the DC erased tracks other than the target track are read to generate respective read signals. The read signals are processed to detect a skip track erasure event. |
| US08094398B2 |
Arrangement method of servo pattern of patterned medium, patterned medium, and information storage device
According to one embodiment, address information is expanded on a bit map in order to generate original address information which is divided in a direction of the abscissa to form groups. The demodulated values of the original address information are obtained as original intra-group demodulated values. New address information is obtained and an arrangement pattern of bits in the servo area determined based on the new address information on a bit map formed by integrating obtained new address information items of the groups. |
| US08094397B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for characterizing media associated with data storage channels
A system in one embodiment includes multiple analog inputs for receiving readback signals, an analog to digital converter coupled to each of the analog inputs for converting the readback signals to digital signals, a buffer coupled to outputs of the analog to digital converters for at least temporarily storing the digital signals, and a digital processing section also coupled to outputs of the analog to digital converters for processing the digital signals for reconstructing data therefrom. A method in one embodiment includes receiving multiple channels of analog readback signals from a magnetic head, converting the analog signals in each channel to digital signals, buffering the digital signals, and outputting the buffered digital signals. A method in another embodiment includes receiving a readback waveform from a magnetic storage device, reducing a frequency offset of the readback waveform, and generating a synchronized, oversampled waveform from the readback waveform. |
| US08094396B1 |
Media defect scan
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head for writing data to the disk, and control circuitry coupled to the head. The control circuitry is operable to write data to the plurality of data tracks, read a first data area of a first data track to generate a first read back signal, determine a first quality metric and a channel flag in response to the first read back signal, determine that the first quality metric exceeds a first threshold, apply additional stress to the first data area, reread the first data area to generate a second read back signal, determine a second quality metric in response to the second read back signal, and determine whether the second quality metric exceeds a second threshold. |
| US08094395B2 |
Magnetic transfer method and magnetic recording medium
A magnetic transfer method includes a conjoined body formation step of stacking a transfer master storing transfer information on a transfer receiving body. Air between contact surfaces of the transfer master and transfer receiving body is pushed out in the direction of a non-pressurized area by pressurizing the stacked transfer master and transfer receiving body, to form the conjoined body. The method further includes a transfer step of, by bringing a magnetic field generating module close to the conjoined body, and applying a magnetic field, carrying out a magnetic transfer of the transfer information from the transfer master to the transfer receiving body. A surface roughness of smooth portions of the transfer master in which no transfer information is formed, and the surface roughness of the transfer receiving body, is 1 nm or less. |
| US08094392B2 |
Driving device for optical component and lens barrel
A driving device for an optical device comprising: an operation ring 3 to which a driving force from an operation member 4 is transmitted; a driving ring 9 to which a driving force from an actuator 20 is transmitted; an output ring 5 which transmits a driving force to an optical component 8a; and a planetary roller 6 which slides on one end face 3b of said operation ring 3 and one end face 9b of said driving ring 9, said planetary roller 6 being rotatably attached to said output ring 5 so as to selectively transmit the driving force from any one of said operation ring 3 and said driving ring 9 to said output ring 5. A sliding face 3b of said operation ring 3 with said planetary roller 6 consists of a lower friction member than the operation ring body. |
| US08094387B2 |
Compact imaging lens assembly
This invention provides a compact imaging lens assembly in order from an object side toward an image side including a first lens with positive refractive power having at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric, a second lens with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface with at least one of both surfaces thereof being aspheric, and an aperture stop positioned between the first lens element and the second lens element. There are two lens elements with refractive power in the compact imaging lens assembly. |
| US08094381B2 |
Electronic image pickup system
The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system whose depth dimension is extremely reduced, taking advantage of an optical system type that can overcome conditions imposed on the movement, of a zooming movable lens group while high specifications and performance are kept. The electronic image pickup system comprises an optical path-bending zoom optical system comprising, in order from its object side, a 1-1st lens group G1-1 comprising a negative lens group and a reflecting optical element P for bending an optical path, a 1-2nd lens group G1-2 comprising one positive lens and a second lens group G2 having positive refracting power. For zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 moves only toward the object side. The electronic image pickup system also comprises an electronic image pickup device I located on the image side of the zoom optical system. |
| US08094377B2 |
Head-mounted optical apparatus using an OLED display
A see-through head-mounted optical apparatus for a viewer has at least one display module, each display module having a display energizable to form an image and a positive field lens optically coupled to the surface of the display and disposed to direct imaged light from the display toward a first surface of a prism. A curved reflector element is in the path of the imaged light through the prism and disposed at a second surface of the prism, opposite the first surface. The curved reflector element has a refractive surface and a curved reflective surface disposed to collimate imaged light received from the display and direct this light toward a beam splitter that is disposed within the prism and that is at an oblique angle to the collimated reflected light. The beam splitter redirects the incident collimated reflected light through the prism to form an entrance pupil for the viewer. |
| US08094374B2 |
Beam shaping module
A beam shaping module capable of receiving a polarized beam from a light source is disclosed including a beam splitter for splitting the polarized beam into a first beam and a second beam wherein the polarization directions of the first beam and the second beam are perpendicular to each other, and a beam combiner for shaping and combining the first beam and the second beam, where the beam combiner is configured to reverse the energy distribution pattern of one of the first beam and the second beam. |
| US08094371B2 |
Microscope
The microscope comprises a first phase-contrast objective including a first phase film shaped like a ring and having a 20-fold magnification or lower, a second phase-contrast objective including a second phase film shaped like a ring and having a 60-fold magnification or higher; and a ring slit shared and used by the first and second phase-contrast objectives. |
| US08094369B2 |
Regulatable optical amplifier, and method for regulating an optical amplifier
The invention relates to a regulatable optical amplifier which has at least two series-connected amplifier groups, each amplifier group having a regulating device. Connected upstream of the optical amplifier is a power monitor device for detecting changes in the input power, whose electrical output is connected both to the first regulating device and to the second regulating device. In line with the invention, the first and second regulating devices have a control line inserted between them which comprises a series circuit containing a high-pass filter, a delay and signal-shaping unit and a feed-forward control unit for generating a correction signal for the second regulating device. In this arrangement, the high-pass filter has a cut-off frequency which corresponds approximately to the cut-off frequency of the first amplifier group. The inventive control line optimizes the regulating response such that power transients in the output signal from the optical amplifier are reduced particularly after an abrupt change in the input power. |
| US08094367B2 |
Optically locked photon echo apparatus and method
Disclosed herein is an optically locked photon echo apparatus and method, which can solve the problem of limited echo efficiency and can overcome constraints on the conventional storage time being limited to the spin dephasing time. The optically locked photon echo apparatus of the present invention includes a nonlinear optical medium and an optical pulse generation unit. The nonlinear optical medium is provided with three energy levels |1>, |2>, and |3>, and is configured to receive optical pulses from an optical pulse generation unit and generate output light (E) which satisfies a phase matching condition. The optical pulse generation unit is configured to generate five or more optical pulses which resonate between the energy levels of the optical medium. |
| US08094364B2 |
Optical film for display apparatus using electrophoresis and filter for display apparatus having the same
An optical film for a display apparatus using electrophoresis includes a transparent base having partition walls dividing the transparent base into cells, an electrophoresis dispersion which fills the cells and contains a dielectric medium and charged pigment particles dispersed throughout the dielectric medium, a front electrode provided in front of the cell, first and second in-plane electrodes provided behind the cell, and a rear electrode provided behind the cell in such a manner that the rear electrode is disposed between the first and second in-plane electrodes. |
| US08094363B2 |
Integrated imods and solar cells on a substrate
Embodiments of the present invention relate to interferometric display devices comprising an interferometric modulator and a solar cell and methods of making thereof. In some embodiments, the solar cell is configured to provide energy to the interferometric modulator. The solar cell and the interferometric modulator may be formed above the same substrate. A layer of the solar cell may be shared with a layer of the interferometric modulator. |
| US08094359B1 |
Electro-optic whispering-gallery-mode resonator devices
Devices and techniques for forming devices based on electro-optic whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators by using spatially modulated electrodes and electro-optic whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators that effectuate coupling between light in an optical whispering gallery mode in the TE mode and light in another optical whispering gallery mode in the TM mode. |
| US08094358B2 |
Dimming mirror
A dimming mirror comprises an array of interferometric light modulators is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the dimming mirror comprises a plurality of interferometric light modulators and a control circuit adapted to configure the plurality of interferometric light modulators to at least one of a plurality of predefined states, including a first state having a substantially reflective appearance and a second state having a dimmed visual appearance as contrasted with the first state. Additional features may include additional states having an appearance with a dimmed visual appearance as contrasted with the first state and a reflective appearance as contrasted with the second state. |
| US08094352B2 |
Mirror assembly with recessed mirror
A mirror device and a method for manufacturing the mirror device are presented. The mirror device includes a mirror formed from a first substrate and a hinge/support structure formed from a second substrate. The hinge/support structure includes a recessed region and a torsional hinge region. The mirror is coupled to the hinge/support structure at the recessed region. Further, a driver system is employed to cause the mirror to pivot about the torsional hinge region. |
| US08094351B2 |
Fibrous micro-composite material
Fibrous micro-composite materials are formed from micro fibers. The fibrous micro-composite materials are utilized as the basis for a new class of MEMS. In addition to simple fiber composites and microlaminates, fibrous hollow and/or solid braids, can be used in structures where motion and restoring forces result from deflections involving torsion, plate bending and tensioned string or membrane motion. In one embodiment, fibrous elements are formed using high strength, micron and smaller scale fibers, such as carbon/graphite fibers, carbon nanotubes, fibrous single or multi-ply graphene sheets, or other materials having similar structural configurations. Cantilever beams and torsional elements are formed from the micro-composite materials in some embodiments. |
| US08094346B2 |
Image reading apparatus with document cover including a pressing portion
An image reading apparatus includes an image pickup element that emits an electrical signal based on received light, a document table including a reading window, a document cover, a base plate including a flat portion that opposes the reading window, the base plate being displaceable in a direction of separating from the document cover and a direction of approaching the document cover, a spring portion that is integrally formed with the base plate, and a document presser that presses the document placed on the document table toward the reading window and includes an elastic member that is elastically deformable and is adhered to a reading window side of the base plate. The document cover includes a first pressing portion that conveys force due to a weight of the document cover acting to press the spring portion toward the reading window when the document cover covers the reading window. |
| US08094341B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and recording sheet
An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit, a positional information reader, and a first controller. The printing unit performs printing on a recording sheet based on print information. The positional information reader reads positional information with regard to a first storing medium from a second storing medium. The first and the second medium are provided to the recording sheet. The first controller controls the printing unit based on the positional information, read by the positional information reader, so as to print an image, corresponding to the print information, in a position on a recording sheet according to the positional information. |
| US08094340B2 |
Printing system and method of operating same
Disclosed herein is a method of operating a printing system including determining a time of a print problem, accessing a database containing a timeline of print-related attribute changes, modifying one or more print-related attributes, and resubmitting print jobs. In another embodiment, a method of operating a printing system involves storing sets of print-related attributes in a settings repository, the stored sets being available for use in processing future print jobs. Corresponding printing systems also are disclosed. The methods and systems can be used to improve the efficiency and/or quality of high volume printing operations. |
| US08094339B2 |
Digital camera and printing method thereof
A digital camera includes a printing system including an image receiving module for receiving a first image, a selection module, a availability, a comparison module, a size module, an image forming module, and an image output module. The selection module can allow selection of a desired print size for the first image. The availability module can determining available paper sizes of a printer connected to the digital camera. The comparison module can determine whether the printer supports the desired print size input to the selection module. The size module is capable of selecting a paper size from the available paper sizes bigger than the desired print size, if the printer doesn't support the desired print size. And then, the image forming module resizes the first image to form a second image. The image output module is capable of outputting the second image to the printer. |
| US08094338B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device which can be connected to a document management device storing documents to be managed together with status information representing a status of individual document is provided with a connecting unit configured to connect the image processing device to the document management device, a current status information acquiring unit configured to acquire current status information of a target document, which is to be printed, from the document management device, a print condition setting unit configured to set print condition based on the current status of the target document acquired by the current status information acquiring unit, a printing unit configured to print documents according to a print condition, and a print executing unit configured to make a printing unit to print the target document according to the print condition set by the print condition setting unit. |
| US08094332B2 |
Print processing utilizing multiple printer drivers
It is analyzed on the basis of received print data whether the print data is print data generated via a process path formed from a combination of the first application and first printer driver, or print data generated via a process path formed from a combination of the second application and second printer driver. Settings associated with the process of print data are made for each process path. The process of the received print data is controlled on the basis of the analysis result and setting contents. |
| US08094330B2 |
Image forming apparatus that can launch external applications selectively after shipment of the apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes service modules for performing system side processes on image formation, wherein applications can be added to the image forming apparatus separately from the service modules, and the image forming apparatus includes an application launch part for referring to launch selection information indicating at least a location that stores one or more applications, and launching the one or more applications from the at least a location according to the launch selection information. |
| US08094328B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image forming apparatus and a method to control the same. The image forming apparatus determines whether the object to be printed is real money. If the object is real money, the image forming apparatus prints a variety of counterfeit money discrimination information (e.g., the counterfeit money preventing pattern, the warning message, or the unique number of the image forming apparatus used for printing the money) on the back side of the copy of the money, and prints the original image of the money on the front side of the copy of the money without any change. Therefore, the image forming apparatus can color-print the original image of the money without any change, and can prevent the copied money from being used as counterfeit money. |
| US08094327B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, computer readable recording medium stored with image processing program, image processing system, and image forming device
An image processing device manages data for each object transmitted for each image forming device with respect to a plurality of image forming devices, which are transmission destinations of data for each object, and controls transmission of data for each object which has not been transmitted to each image forming device based on the management contents. |
| US08094315B2 |
Methods for making and using SPR microarrays
An article, process, and method for surface plasmon resonance plates are described. A substrate is covered with a thin metal film onto which a second thin metal film is deposited. The surface of the second thin metal film is converted to the metal oxide which is used to covalently bond organosilanes to the surface. Reactive organosilanes containing terminal bonding groups are arranged in a plurality of spots that are surrounded by inert organosilanes. Biomolecule attachment to the binding group is detected or measured from surface plasmon signals from the first thin metal film. |
| US08094313B2 |
Wavelength modulation spectroscopy method and system
A method and system for measuring the concentration of a gas component in a measuring gas a provided. The wavelength of a light source is modulated with a modulation signal at a modulation frequency, while the wavelength is swept over an interaction feature of a sample. The intensity of the light source is further modulated at a wavelength outside the interaction feature with a burst signal, where an N-th harmonic of the burst frequency coincides with an M-th harmonic of the modulation frequency. The light is passed to the sample and thereafter to a detector. The detector output is demodulated at the M-th harmonic, and the demodulated detector output is normalized by calculating the ratio between a demodulated detector output portion derived from the light modulated with the modulation signal and another demodulated detector output portion derived from the light modulated with the burst signal. |
| US08094311B2 |
Spectroscopic method of determining the amount of an analyte in a mixture of analytes
The invention relates to a multivariate calibration which can be used when the optical system used for that method does not comprise a multi-channel detector such as a CCD sensor or a line array of photodiodes. An optical system without a multi-channel detector doesn't allow to carry out preprocessing steps. Thus there is the need to carry out these preprocessing steps in another way. It is suggested to partially replace the preprocessing step by a measurement of the optical signal, whereby the measurement comprises transmitting or reflecting the optical signal by an optical element, thereby weighing the optical signal by a spectral weighing function. The advantage of the invention is to teach how such an optical system without a bulky and expensive CCD sensor can be used to carry out a multivariate calibration and preprocessing steps. |
| US08094308B2 |
Spectrometric analyzing device and spectrometric analyzing method
A spectrometric analyzing device is capable of analyzing a thin film with high accuracy by using light having an arbitrary wavelength, such as not only infrared light but also visible light, ultraviolet light and X-ray, and using whatever refractive index of a supporting member of the thin film. A spectrometric analyzing device comprises a light source (1), a polarizing filter (2), a detection unit (3), a regression operation unit (4) and an absorbance spectrum calculation unit (5). The light source (1) emits light at n different angles of incidence (θn) to a measurement portion. The polarizing filter (2) shields an s-polarized component. The detection unit (3) detects transmitted spectra (S). The regression operation unit (4) uses the transmitted spectra (S) and a mixing ratio (R) to obtain an in-plane mode spectrum (sip) and an out-of-plane mode spectrum (sop) through a regression analysis. The absorbance spectrum calculation unit (5) calculates an in-plane mode absorbance spectrum (Aip) and an out-of-plane mode absorbance spectrum (Aop) of the thin film, based on the results from a state in which the thin film is on the supporting member and a state in which no thin film is on the supporting member. |
| US08094299B2 |
Transducer module
Transducer modules for use in a blood analysis instrument and methods for analyzing a blood sample. The transducer modules presented generally include a light source, a focus-alignment system, a flow cell, and a light scatter detection system. Electrodes within the flow cell allow for the measurement of the DC impedance and RF conductivity of cells passing through a cell-interrogation zone in the flow cell. Light scatter from the cells passing through the cell-interrogation zone is measured by the light scatter detection system. The light scatter detection system measures the light scatter parameters of upper median light scatter, lower median angle light scatter, low angle light scatter, and axial light loss. The presented methods for analyzing a blood sample generally include aspirating a whole blood sample into a blood analysis instrument, preparing the blood sample for analysis, passing the blood sample through a flow cell in a transducer system, and measuring axial light loss, multiple angles of light scatter, DC impedance and/or RF conductivity. |
| US08094297B2 |
Laser-based maintenance apparatus for inspecting flaws
A surface inspecting method for inspecting a flaw of a test object using a surface wave and estimating a depth of the flaw of the test object from an attenuation ratio of a frequency of a generation wave, the surface inspecting method including calculating a power spectrum of generation wave generating the flaw of the test object; integrating the power spectrum of the generation wave passing the flaw of the test object and calculating an integration value thereof; converting the integration value into a flaw depth based on a calibration created beforehand and calculating the flaw depth of the test object; and displaying the calculated flaw depth of the test object. |
| US08094295B2 |
Inspection method and inspection apparatus
The present invention provides an inspection apparatus and inspection method. The inspection apparatus includes a stage mechanism for supporting an object under inspection. A spatial filter is provided in the detection optical system to inspect the object. A printer is used to print the results of the spatial filter. The spatial filter can be provided in the form of a Fourier transformed image. |
| US08094292B2 |
Cross-chirped interferometry system and method for light detection and ranging
An interferometric method and system enabling light echoes-to-spectrum mapping, applicable for laser rangefinder, biomedical imaging including surface 3D mapping and tomography, vehicle position identification, and spectrum analysis. The direct mapping into spectrum allows a time-of-flight detection without using any timing pulse modulation. The sensitivity of the detection can be as high as that of the conventional low coherence interferometry, thereby an eye-safe and low-cost solution not compromising performance. In a practical implementation, high accurate range detection can be easily achievable with the level of accuracy equivalent to the laser rangefinder using a 20 ps Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum (FWHM) timing pulse. The system and method comprise applying dispersion-unbalanced interference (referred to as ‘cross-chirp interference’) and gating a phase matched spectral component. The dispersion unbalance used to induce linear one-to-one correspondence between the relative time delay and the spectral component, the performances in terms of range and resolution of the system and method increase with the increase in dispersion unbalance. |
| US08094281B2 |
Substrate for a liquid crystal display device and liquid crystal display device
The present invention relates to a substrate for a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal display device which are used as, for example, a display unit of an electronic apparatus, and an object of the present invention is therefore to provide a substrate for a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal display device capable of providing high transmittance, high luminance, and good display characteristics as well as a high production yield. A substrate for a liquid crystal display device is provided with a storage capacitor bus line formed approximately parallel with a gate bus line, a first pixel electrode connected electrically to the source electrode of a transistor, a second pixel electrode formed so as to be opposed to part of the source electrode of the transistor via an insulating film and to be separate from the first pixel electrode, and a slit formed between the adjoining end portions of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode and having a slit width which is greater than a shortest width in a region over the storage capacitor bus line. |
| US08094277B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device used as a display part of an electronic apparatus which exhibits high brightness and favorable display quality. The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates which are arranged to face each other in an opposed manner; vertical-alignment type liquid crystal which is sealed between the pair of substrates; a plurality of pixel regions, each pixel region including a sub pixel having a pixel electrode on one substrate and a sub pixel having a pixel electrode on one substrate, a slit formed between the pixel electrodes; and a singular point control part which includes projecting portions which are formed on end portions of the pixel electrodes on the slit-side and controls singular points of the liquid crystal. |
| US08094271B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and color film plate, and processes for producing the same
A novel liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, liquid crystal held between the first substrate and the second substrate, patterned layers divided into fine areas, disposed on the first substrate, comprising at least a patterned color filter layer and a patterned first optically anisotropic layer laminated in the direction of the normal line of the substrate, and a barrier wall disposed at a boundary portion of the adjacent fine areas of the patterned layers. |
| US08094269B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, manufacturing method thereof, and color filter substrate
In a transflective liquid crystal panel having an in-cell retarder, for improving a layer structure of poor adhesion, an alignment film for the retardation layer is not applied to a portion of disposing a sealing material at the main surface of a substrate of the liquid crystal panel in the step of applying the alignment film to the main surface. |
| US08094267B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, methods for manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal display device whose sub-pixel region has a reflective display region that displays an image in a reflective mode and a transmissive display region that displays an image in a transmissive mode includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposing the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer has a smaller thickness in the reflective display region than in the transmissive display region. One of the first substrate and the second substrate includes a reflection layer in the reflective display region, and the other substrate includes on the liquid crystal layer side a functional resin layer having a first functional resin sub layer in the reflective display region and a second functional resin sub layer in the transmissive display region. The first functional resin sub layer and the second functional resin sub layer serve as retardation layers with different optical axes from each other. |
| US08094265B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, comprising a lower alignment film formed on a lower substrate; an upper alignment film formed on an upper substrate; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the lower and upper substrates; a phase compensation film adhered on the outer surface of the upper substrate; and a polarizer adhered on the phase compensation film wherein the lower alignment film has an alignment angle of −10 to 20° with respect to a horizontal line, the upper alignment film has an alignment angle of 40 to 55° with respect to a horizontal line, the liquid crystal layer has a phase delay value (dΔn) of 0.24-0.27 μm, the phase compensation film has a phase compensation function of λ/4 and also has an optical axis making 140-146° with a horizontal line, and the polarizer has a absorption axis making 120 to 122.5° with a horizontal line. |
| US08094264B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, comprising a lower alignment film formed on a lower substrate; an upper alignment film formed on an upper substrate; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the lower and upper substrates; a phase compensation film adhered on the outer surface of the upper substrate; and a polarizer adhered on the phase compensation film wherein the lower alignment film has an alignment angle of −10 to 20° with respect to a horizontal line, the upper alignment film has an alignment angle of 40 to 55° with respect to a horizontal line, the liquid crystal layer has a phase delay value (dΔn) of 0.24-0.27 μm, the phase compensation film has a phase compensation function of λ/4 and also has an optical axis making 140-146° with a horizontal line, and the polarizer has a absorption axis making 120 to 122.5° with a horizontal line. |
| US08094258B1 |
Illumination apparatus for display device, display device using the same, and television receiver apparatus comprising the display device
In a backlight apparatus, laminated optical sheets are housed in a tray such that a wall portion thereof surrounds their circumferences so that the optical sheets receive light from fluorescent lights. Tips of one corner portion A of optical sheets preferably have a shape in which the tips are trimmed by line segments extending between two edges defining the corner portions. At the wall portion of the tray, an opposing surface is formed along the line segments of the corner portions so as to correspond to the shape of the corner portions having tips trimmed off. The opposing surface restrains the line segments. |
| US08094252B2 |
Display apparatus and method for driving the same
A method of driving a display apparatus formed by arranging display devices each having a driving circuit and a current-driven type light emitting portion, the method comprising the steps of: performing a threshold voltage cancelling process in units of a display device row in which a predetermined reference voltage is applied to a gate electrode of a driving transistor of Q×N display devices configuring groups of display device rows and a predetermined driving voltage is applied to one source/drain region of the Q×N display devices so as to change the electric potential of the other source/drain region toward an electric potential calculated by subtracting a threshold voltage of the driving transistor from the reference voltage during a period TQ; and sequentially performing a writing process, in which video signals are applied to the gate electrodes of the driving transistor of N display devices configuring the display device row, Q times. |
| US08094250B2 |
Wide viewing angle liquid crystal display with high response speed
A liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first field generating electrode with a plurality of cutouts. A thin film transistor is connected to the first field generating electrode. An auxiliary electrode is overlapped with one or more of the plurality of cutouts of the first field generating electrode, and is floated during the period of image display. A second field generating electrode faces the first field generating electrode and a liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first and second field generating electrodes. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and photo-polymers. |
| US08094242B2 |
Object management apparatus, mobile terminal, and object management method
An object management apparatus comprising an image photographing unit, a storage unit, and a control unit communicably connected to at least one operation target device and a mobile terminal including a displacement detecting unit that detects a displacement of a physical quantity caused when the mobile terminal moves and a display unit via a network, wherein the storage unit includes, a display object storing unit, an operation target object storing unit, and a processing command storing unit, and the control unit includes, a display object transmitting unit, a mobile terminal position acquiring unit, an region determining unit, an operation target object determining unit, a processing command determining physical quantity displacement receiving unit, a display object acquiring unit, a processing command searching unit, and a processing command executing unit. |
| US08094241B2 |
Digital broadcast reception device and related method to determine programs included in receivable programs
There is disclosed a digital broadcast reception device capable of acquiring a broadcast wave at a current position with a high probability without using position information even when moving over a broadcast area. In this device, when reservation of recording or viewing is inputted from an input unit (104), a broadcast wave which can be received by the frequency channel for which the frequency channel station selection unit (123) is specified is selected. When it is impossible to select a broadcast wave which can be received by the specified frequency channel, a station selection control unit (122) controls the frequency channel station selection unit (123), a broadcast analysis unit (124), and a service channel station selection unit (125) so as to perform channel search and acquire a broadcast wave which can be received. |
| US08094238B2 |
Video signal processing device and video signal processing method
A video signal processing device is a video signal processing device for converting an input first video signal to a second video signal, and inputting to a display panel, the video signal processing device including an input unit for receiving an input of a set value of the second video signal to be converted and output in correspondence to a signal level for each of a plurality of sample points of the signal level of the first video signal; a calculating unit for interpolation calculating the signal level of the second video signal to be converted and output for the signal level between each sample points; and a control unit for transferring a conversion table including a set value of the second video signal for each sample point of the first video signal and an interpolation calculated interpolation value between each sample points to a memory unit; wherein the memory unit converts to the second video signal of a corresponding signal level based on the conversion table according to the signal level of the input first video signal, and outputs the second video signal. |
| US08094237B2 |
Signal separation apparatus applied in image transmission system and related method
A signal separation apparatus applied in an image transmission system for extracting a chrominance signal from an analog composite video signal and a related method are disclosed. The signal separation apparatus includes an analog-to-digital converter for generating a digital composite video signal by sampling the analog composite video signal; a median filter, coupled to the analog to digital converter, for generating a reference luminance signal according to the digital composite video signal; and a subtractor, coupled to the analog to digital converter and the median filter, for generating the chrominance signal according to a difference between the digital composite video signal and the reference luminance signal. |
| US08094235B2 |
Image signal processing method for de-interlacing based on offset processing
An image signal processing method is disclosed for maintaining high image display quality by avoiding signal-mode misjudgment. The image signal processing method includes generating a first threshold based on a plurality of motion values generated prior to a first time when an image input signal is detected to be of a film mode, generating a second threshold based on the first threshold and a first offset, generating a third threshold based on the first threshold and a second offset, and determining whether the image input signal between the first time and a second time is the film mode or a video mode based on the second and third thresholds. |
| US08094232B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor with imaging pixels and focus detection pixels arrayed on a plane, which captures an image via an optical system; and a correction unit that corrects image data output from an imaging pixel based upon output data from a focus detection pixel present near the imaging pixel. |
| US08094231B2 |
Photographing optical lens assembly
This invention provides a photographing optical lens assembly comprising, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a second lens element with positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, both of the two surfaces being aspheric; a third lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface on which at least one inflection point is formed, both of the two surfaces being aspheric; and a stop disposed between an imaged object and the second lens element; wherein there are only three lens elements with refractive power. Such an arrangement of optical elements can effectively reduce the size of the lens assembly, mitigate the sensitivity of the optical system and enable the lens assembly to obtain a higher resolution. |
| US08094230B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
The present invention is an image processing apparatus for converting an original image into an enlarged image on which enlargement processing has been performed with respect to a reference point. |
| US08094229B2 |
Display device
The present invention provides a display device which has a display unit on a main body, comprising a cover member that can be deformed into a first shape for covering the display unit and a second shape for forming a grip in order to solve the problems in the conventional cameras. The problem is such that the size of the camera becomes large by the size of the grip, which impairs portability of the camera because the conventional camera provides a fixed grip on the camera body on which a display unit with a large screen is mounted. In addition, another conventional camera has a space for accommodating the cover members within the grip, so that the size of the grip becomes accordingly large and thus the camera itself becomes large. |
| US08094225B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, with each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit, a charge accumulating unit, an amplifying unit, and a transfer electrode. The apparatus further includes a light shielding portion covering the charge accumulating unit, and a connecting unit for electrically connecting the control electrode and the light shielding portion, and wherein the light shielding portion of a pixel in one row is electrically connected to the other light shielding portions of other pixels in the same one row and adjacent to the pixel in the one row, and is electrically insulated from other light shielding portions of pixels in rows different from the one row. |
| US08094219B2 |
Image-sensing module for digital optical device
An image-sensing module. A base includes a plurality of sidewalls and an accommodation hole encompassed by the sidewalls. A flexible printed circuit board includes an installation portion and a through hole formed on the installation portion. A heat-dissipation board is fixed to a bottom surface of the installation portion of the flexible printed circuit board and is aligned with the through hole. An image sensor is fixed to a top surface of the installation portion of the flexible printed circuit board and is aligned with the through hole. The heat-dissipation board, flexible printed circuit board, and image sensor are accommodated in the accommodation hole of the base. |
| US08094218B2 |
Image sensor circuit having differential signal path, differential analog-to-digital converter and differential signal offsetting means
An image sensor circuit comprises at least one pixel cell for providing an output signal which is variable according to illumination of said pixel cell between a maximum and a minimum level, an analogue-to-digital converter for converting output signals from said pixel cell into digital data, and an offset signal source for providing an offset signal having a level between said maximum and minimum levels. The analogue-to-digital converter is fully differential and is connected to said pixel cell and to said offset signal source. |
| US08094216B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method for controlling image processing apparatus, and storage medium
Foreign substance information including information on a position and size of a foreign substance in an imaging unit is acquired. When correcting a shadow of the foreign substance of the moving image data using the acquired foreign substance information and playing back the corrected moving image data, a selection is made whether to perform processing for correcting the shadow of the foreign substance of a frame based on the data size of the frame of the moving image data to be played back. |
| US08094215B2 |
Digital column gain mismatch correction for 4T CMOS imaging systems-on-chip
Systems and methods are provided that facilitate mitigating column gain mismatch in a CMOS imaging System-on-Chip (iSoC) sensor. Tunable voltages that mimic presence of photo-charge can be provided to test pixels in one or more rows of a pixel array. Moreover, column-specific digital gain corrections can be calibrated based upon input data received from the test pixels. During calibration, actual data can be compared to a target expected to be obtained via an analog readout architecture. The calibrated, column-specific digital gain corrections can be utilized to correct for column gain mismatch to yield output data. Further, correction values corresponding to the column-specific digital gain corrections can be retained in and retrieved from memory. The correction values, for example, can be a function of a scaling parameter that is tuned to match an available memory dynamic to a range of uncorrected gain mismatch. |
| US08094214B2 |
Image sensor and related CDS circuit and CDS layout method
An image sensor capable of reducing noises includes a pixel array, a control circuit and a correlation double sampling (CDS) circuit array. The CDS circuit array is coupled between the pixel array and the control circuit, and includes a plurality of CDS circuit units, of which each CDS circuit unit includes a silicon substrate, a MOS device formed on the silicon substrate and connected to a voltage floating node of the CDS circuit unit, and a plurality of metal layers placed on the MOS device for providing electrical connection for the CDS circuit unit and for blocking light illumination on the MOS device. |
| US08094212B2 |
Audio-based attention grabber for imaging devices
A digital imaging device such as a digital camera or a video camera may include the capability to store audio files. These audio files may be generated under user control when the user wishes to take a picture or capture video. The audio files may be played back as attention grabbers to attract the attention of the imaging subjects. After attracting the attention of the subjects by playing back a recorded audio sound, an image may be automatically captured. |
| US08094211B2 |
Method and apparatus for obtaining image using entropy
An image obtaining method and apparatus are provided. The method of obtaining an image by an image obtaining apparatus includes calculating entropy of an input image, determining an optimal exposure time at which the entropy reaches a maximum value, and obtaining an image based on the determined optimal exposure time. |
| US08094207B2 |
Imaging system, imaging apparatus, portable terminal apparatus, onboard apparatus, and medical apparatus, and method of manufacturing the imaging system
An imaging system is provided and includes: an imaging lens; an imaging device; a coefficient storage section; and a signal processing section. When a maximum diameter of an effective region of a point image projected onto a light receiving surface of the imaging device through the imaging lens is a size covering three or more pixels, a restoration coefficient corresponding to a state of the point image expressed by first image data output from the imaging device is stored in the coefficient storage unit. The signal processing section executes restoration processing on the first image data output from the imaging device by utilizing the restoration coefficient stored in the coefficient storage unit, the restoration processing being executed to generate second image data equivalent to the first image data output from the imaging device when the resolving power of the imaging lens is higher. |
| US08094206B2 |
Endoscope processor executing gamma correction on image signals using gamma coefficients
An endoscope processor including a light source controller, an imaging device driver, and a gamma-correction block, is provided. The light source controller can order first and second light sources to alternately emit first and second lights, respectively. The imaging device driver orders an imaging device to generate first and second image signals by capturing an optical image of a subject while the firs and the second light are shone on the subject, respectively. The gamma-correction block carries out gamma correction on the first and second image signals using first and second color gamma coefficients, respectively. The first and second color gamma coefficients are predetermined according to the wavelength band of the first and second lights. |
| US08094205B2 |
Imaging apparatus, image processing method and computer program for smoothing dynamic range of luminance of an image signal, color conversion process
An imaging apparatus include an imaging unit configured to capture an object image, a smoothing unit configured to smooth a dynamic range of luminance of an image signal generated based on the object image captured by the imaging unit, and a color conversion unit configured to perform a color conversion with respect to a color of the image signal whose dynamic range is smoothed by the smoothing unit and is specified by a user. |
| US08094204B2 |
Image movement based device control method, program, and apparatus
An information processing apparatus of the present invention includes a shot image obtaining portion, an image processing portion, a data conversion portion and a control portion. The shot image obtaining portion includes an imaging element and obtains a shot image in a time-series from the imaging element. The image processing portion performs image processing on the shot image and analyzes movement of the shot image resulting from movement of the information processing apparatus. The data conversion portion converts the analyzed movement of the shot image into control data, and the control portion controls functions based on the control data. |
| US08094201B2 |
Picture delivery remote control apparatus, picture delivery system and picture delivery method
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to receive delivery of pictures from desired picture delivery equipment as necessary, and select and enjoy a desired picture from the pictures obtained at various positions. As a result, according to a picture delivery remote control apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to select a desired piece of picture delivery equipment from which delivery of a picture is to be requested, by selecting information specific to the piece of picture delivery equipment displayed on the first display section and request the desired piece of picture delivery equipment to deliver a picture, in an instinctive and understandable way, and thereby it is possible to easily enjoy pictures delivered from various positions. |
| US08094200B2 |
Lens apparatus and imaging apparatus
In a lens apparatus, light entering a lens barrel from an external source is incident to an optoelectric converting element for image recording. The light passing through an optical path of the lens apparatus is filtered by a filter that absorbs a specific range of optical wavelengths and is provided in a filter frame. The filter frame is moved to position the filter at a first position that is on the optical path or at a second position that is away from the optical path. A filter housing structure is provided establishing a frame moving region in which the filter frame is arranged and moves, and blocking the incidence of light from a source other than the optical path to the filter frame moving region. |
| US08094197B2 |
Image recording system having a conversion apparatus
An image recording system includes an image supply apparatus compatible with a first image recording service standard, an image recording apparatus compatible with a second image recording service standard, and a conversion apparatus connected, as a pseudo image recording apparatus compatible with the first standard, to the image supply apparatus via a communication medium compatible with the first standard and connected, as a pseudo image supply apparatus compatible with the second standard, to the image recording apparatus via a communication medium compatible with the second standard. The conversion apparatus converts a command received from the image supply apparatus into a command complying with the second standard before transmitting it to the image recording apparatus, and converts a command received from the image recording apparatus or event information relating to an image recording process into a message complying with the first standard before transmitting it to the image supply apparatus. |
| US08094195B2 |
Digital camera calibration method
A method of calibrating a digital camera includes dispersing white light through a test device to generate a color dispersion image including a plurality of different wavelengths of light; capturing a test image of the color dispersion image; obtaining intensity values corresponding to at least two of the different wavelengths of light from the test image; and comparing the intensity values to expected intensity values. The test device may include a color dispersion medium, e.g., a variable band pass filter, and/or a light transmission medium. The method may further include obtaining at least two different values corresponding to an intensity pattern image containing a plurality of intensities of undispersed light transmitted through a light transmission medium. |
| US08094194B2 |
Display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus having a displaying part, includes a video processing part to process an input video signal into a format which can be displayed on the displaying part, and a controlling part to determine whether a video image displayed on the displaying part is a still image, and if it is determined that the video image is the still image, to control the video processing part to display the video image according to the input video signal and a predetermined after-image prevention image alternately on the displaying part. Thus, the present general inventive concept provides a display apparatus which is capable of removing an after-image effect occurring in a display panel effectively, and a control method thereof. |
| US08094193B2 |
Presentation video control system
The present invention is a camera control system designed for video capture of a presentation made in a lecture hall or similar place. The system combines preset views triggered by presence-sensing devices at fixed locations with views tracking the motion of the presenter elsewhere. A tracking camera displays a preset view when the presenter steps on a switch mat or enters into the region of detection of some other presence sensor such as an infrared sensor. At other times, the tracking camera is guided by motion detection logic that uses a wide field of vision provided by a reference camera. The reference camera, the tracking camera, and the presence-sensing devices are integrated by a controller. Various parameters can be configured by a user through a graphical user interface on a computer, manual controls on the box housing the controller, or a hand-held remote control device. |
| US08094187B2 |
Method of placing a component by means of a placement device at a desired position on a substrate holder, and device suitable for performing such a method
A method places a component at a desired position on a substrate by means of a placement device. The component is transported to an intermediate position above the desired position and a position difference between the intermediate position and the desired position is determined by means of a camera and a processor. Subsequently, the component is transported to the desired position on the substrate, making use of the position difference. The camera, which is arranged at the side of the component opposite the component's side facing the substrate, takes an image of at least the portion of the substrate that includes the desired position as well as the placement device. |
| US08094174B2 |
Systems for thermal patterning
Systems for thermal patterning are presented. The system includes a thermal print head module. The thermal print head module includes at least one point heater. An elastic adjustable device is used for adjusting the flatness of the thermal print head module. A rotation adjustable device is used for controlling the thermal print head module to rotate with a predetermined angle. |
| US08094169B2 |
Imaging model and apparatus
A system and method for making an imaging model and an imaging apparatus. An apparatus for image processing may include an optical element having a field of view, and image sectoring element coupled to the optical element, the image sectoring element configured to sector the field of view in a plurality of areas, and an image processor coupled to the image sectoring element, the image processor configured to process an image in accordance with the plurality of areas. Methods to make the foregoing apparatus are also described. |
| US08094165B2 |
Color reproduction evaluation apparatus and program storage medium
An evaluation apparatus includes an image reproduction section, which obtains a reproduction image by reproducing an original image with a plurality of color elements visually mixed for defining colors, and which obtains a plurality of reproduction images respectively corresponding to twelve types of color element groups having different types of color elements and/or different numbers of color elements from one another. The apparatus also includes a calculation section which calculates a level of a difference between colors of each of the plurality of reproduction images and colors of the original image; and a display section which displays the level of the difference calculated by the difference calculation section. |
| US08094164B1 |
Decompression of block encoded texture data
Systems and methods that decompress block compressed texture data may decompress the texture data while simplifying computations to reduce die area while maintaining the required accuracy. Reducing the die area permits more texture data to be decompressed in the same die area compared with a more accurate decompression, thereby increasing texture decompression throughput. Computations are simplified by combining denominators for linear interpolation with format conversion to decompress texture data components compressed using conventional block compression formats. |
| US08094162B2 |
Method and device for adjusting preferred color and liquid crystal display device with the same
Method and device are disclosed for adjusting a preferred color which enables a user to set a preferred color conveniently and a liquid crystal display device with the same. The method and device for adjusting a preferred color includes displaying a menu selection image and setting a variety of optional information, making successive display of at least one selection image which shows a plurality of selection images having information on preferred colors different from one another to set information on the preferred colors in succession, and storing the information on the preferred colors set and generating an image having preferred colors adjusted according to the information on the preferred colors stored. |
| US08094161B2 |
Virtualization of graphics resources
Graphics resources are virtualized through an interlace between graphics hardware and graphics clients. The interface allocates the graphics resources across multiple graphics clients, processes commands for access to the graphics resources from the graphics clients, and resolves conflicts for the graphics resources among the clients. |
| US08094159B2 |
Method and apparatus for frame buffer management
Methods and apparatuses for dynamic virtual frame buffer management. At least one embodiment of the present invention dynamically enables or disables the use of a virtual frame buffer, which is not under control of graphics hardware of a data processing system, without restarting the graphical user interface system (e.g., the window system) of the data processing system. For example, in response to the addition or removing of a frame buffer that is under control of a graphics controller (e.g., due to the activation or deactivation of the graphics controller, or the hot plug-in or hot disconnection of the graphics controller), the virtual frame buffer is disabled or enabled respectively. |
| US08094154B1 |
Intelligent leading indicator display
According to typical inventive practice, a baseline describing a statistical distribution is established for a set of historical occurrences of an event. Comparison is made between the baseline and at least one current occurrence of the same event. Any current occurrence that is anomalous vis-à-vis the baseline is considered a possible leading indicator. According to some inventive embodiments of graphical presentation of such comparison, at least one graphical baseline comparative display component is rendered that includes a “bar” (describing a historical statistical distribution with respect to a criterion pertaining to occurrence of an event) and a “slider” (describing one or more current occurrences of the event). The bar includes at least one band representing a statistical mean range, and at least one band representing a statistical outlier range. Situation of the slider along the bar indicates whether and to what extent the current occurrence(s) is/are anomalous vis-à-vis the baseline. |
| US08094144B2 |
Electronic circuit, optoelectronic device, method for driving optoelectronic device, and electronic apparatus
An electronic circuit, an electronic device, and an electronic apparatus are provided that are capable of display with good quality and reducing operation delay, and a method to drive the electronic circuit. First and second switching transistors are turned on and an operation voltage Vdx and a data-current Idata are transmitted to a holding capacitor. The conduction state of a driving transistor is set according to an electrical-charge amount corresponding to the data-current Idata held in the holding capacitor and a current that passes the driving transistor is transmitted to an organic EL element. Then, a first switch is turned off, a second switch and the second switching transistor are turned on, and a reset voltage Vr is transmitted to the holding capacitor, whereby the driving transistor is turned off and the organic EL element stops emitting light. |
| US08094142B2 |
Display device
A display device includes pixels, each including a switching element; a shift register comprising stages coupled with the switching elements and sequentially generating output signals; clock signal lines transmitting clock signals; at least a control signal line transmitting a control signal; and terminal lines connecting the clock signal lines and the control signal with the stages, wherein the terminal lines comprise at least one common terminal line commonly connected with at least two stages. |
| US08094140B2 |
Position input device and computer system
A position input device is provided in which signals are transmitted from a position indicator, and signals transmitted from the position indicator are received by a position detector device. According to certain embodiments, an electrical double-layer capacitor, a charging circuit which charges the electrical double-layer capacitor, and a power transmission unit which relays and supplies to the charging circuit power supplied from a power supply unit external to the position indicator, are provided in the position indicator. In other embodiments the position input device has a built-in power supply unit, transmitting units, and a control unit for switching the transmitting units between energized and de-energized states. Also provided are position input systems and computer systems including the position input device, and methods of operating the position input device and the systems. |
| US08094135B2 |
Touch screen measurement circuit and method
A touch screen digitizing system comprising a touch screen unit and an analog to digital converter. The touch screen unit includes a first resistive sheet with opposing first and second terminals and a second resistive sheet with opposing third and fourth terminals. The first and second resistive sheets are alternatively energized through the first, second, third, and fourth terminals. The analog to digital converter has an input coupled to the third terminal when the first resistive sheet is energized and the second resistive sheet is not, and coupled to the first terminal when the second resistive sheet is energized and the first resistive sheet is not, a first reference terminal dynamically coupled to a first reference voltage, a second reference terminal dynamically coupled to the second reference voltage, and an output terminal providing digital output data. |
| US08094134B2 |
Touch panel having press detection function and pressure sensitive sensor for the touch panel
An object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel having a press detection function, which makes it possible to suppress degradation of visibility of a display unit of a display device even when mounted on an electronic device, and also to improve a pressure measuring precision. For this purpose, the touch panel of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed oppose to the first substrate, a pair of electrodes disposed on either one of opposed surfaces of the respective substrates or disposed separately on both of the surfaces, pressure sensitive ink members disposed with a gap from at least one of the pair of electrodes, each of the pressure sensitive ink members having an electrical characteristic varied by a pressing force applied thereto, and a gap retaining member for bonding the first and second substrates to each other and for retaining a gap between each of the pressure sensitive inks and at least one of the pair of electrodes, wherein the pair of electrodes are disposed in a frame shape along an edge portion of the first or second substrate, and the pressure sensitive ink members are scattered along the edge portion of the first or second substrate so that, when the first or second substrate is deformed upon an application of an external force, at least one of them is made in contact with both of the pair of electrodes so as to make the two electrodes conductive to each other. |
| US08094128B2 |
Channel scan logic
A device that can autonomously scan a sensor panel is disclosed. Autonomous scanning can be performed by implementing channel scan logic. In one embodiment, channel scan logic carries out many of the functions that a processor would normally undertake, including generating timing sequences and obtaining result data; comparing scan result data against a threshold value (e.g., in an auto-scan mode); generating row count; selecting one or more scanning frequency bands; power management control; and performing an auto-scan routine in a low power mode. |
| US08094126B2 |
Mobile apparatus including input sections capable of displaying one or more images
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile apparatus including: a plurality of input sections each configured to display at least one image that corresponds to an input value assigned thereto; a plurality of label areas provided correspondingly to the plurality of input sections, each of the label areas labeled with at least one characters associated with the input value that is assigned to a corresponding one of the plurality of input sections; a photosensor configured to measure ambient illuminance; and a display controller configured to control turn-off and turn-on of image-display at the plurality of input sections based on the ambient illuminance. |
| US08094124B2 |
Pointing device with customization options
A pointing device that can interface with a graphical user interface of a computer or other electronic device. The pointing device includes a body having an upper portion and an underside. Also included is a tracking assembly having at least one sensor to detect movement and output a control signal responsive to the detected movement. The pointing device further includes several customization features. The customization features include mechanical customization features and software customization features. At least some of the mechanical customization features are configured to be replaceable. Such replaceable customization features are releasably mechanically coupled to the pointing device body. |
| US08094121B2 |
Multi-axis joystick and transducer means therefore
The invention relates to improved multi-axis joysticks and associated multi-axis optical displacement measurement means. The joystick may comprise elements movable with respect to each other in at least, e.g., three degrees of freedom and comprise ionically conductive elements that are utilized to generate a position signal in, e.g., at least three, or at least six degrees of freedom. Various ergonomic configurations of six axis joystick embodiments which may be facilitated by the compact design of the transducer means are disclosed. Means for dynamically adjusting coordinate transformations for construction machinery control are also disclosed. |
| US08094120B2 |
System and method for operating in virtual 3D space and system for selecting an operation via a visualizing system
The system for performing ala operation in a virtual three dimensional space comprises a visualizing system for visualizing the virtual three dimensional space; a 3D position tracking system for marking, in the real three dimensional space, the real space position of the operation to be performed in the virtual three dimensional space; and a means for mapping the position of the real three dimensional space into the virtual three dimensional space and performing the operation in the mapped position. The 3D position tracking system comprises a positioning means provided with at least one signal source; at least two image sensors for detecting the signals emitted by the at least one signal source of the positioning means; and a first means for determining the real space position of the positioning means relative to the image sensors, based oil the signals generated by the image sensors and the spatial location of the image sensors relative to each other. |
| US08094115B2 |
Circuit device and related method for mitigating EMI
In order to mitigate electromagnetic interference (EMI), the present invention provides a circuit device for an electronic device including a signal generating unit, a phase adjusting unit and an output interface. The signal generating unit generates a plurality of in-phase signals. The phase adjusting unit is coupled to the signal generating unit and is used for adjusting the plurality of in-phase signals to generate a plurality of output signals, where all or some of the output signals have different phases. The output interface is coupled to the phase adjusting unit and is used for outputting the plurality of output signals to a plurality of signal processing units for image processing. |
| US08094114B2 |
Display apparatus and method for transmitting control signals thereof
A display apparatus and a method for transmitting control signals are disclosed. The display apparatus comprises comparatively a fewer number of control signal lines between the timing controller and the gate driver and/or between the timing controller and the source driver to transmit control signals. Thus, problems due to system complexity, noise and electromagnetic interference may be reduced, and the overall fabrication cost may be effectively reduced. |
| US08094110B2 |
Active matrix display device
A plurality of pixel units are arranged in a matrix, each pixel unit including a display element and a pixel circuit which supplies a driving current to the display element. Each pixel circuit includes a first memory section which stores, in a write period of the pixel unit, a first driving current corresponding to a first signal current and then outputs the stored first driving current, and further stores a second driving current corresponding to a second signal current, and a second memory section which stores the first driving current output from the first memory section in the write period of the pixel unit. The pixel circuit outputs, in a light emission period of the pixel unit, a difference current between the second driving current stored in the first memory section and the first driving current stored in the second memory section to the display element as the driving current. |
| US08094109B2 |
Data driver with multilevel voltage generating circuit, and liquid crystal display apparatus including layout pattern of resistor string of the multilevel generating circuit
A multilevel voltage generating circuit includes first and second input nodes provided on a first resistance element and supplied with first and second reference voltages. A current substantially flows in a first specific area for a line between the first and second input nodes based on a difference between the first and second reference voltages. A first group of output nodes are provided for the first resistance element to output a portion of a plurality of level voltages. A first one of the first group of output nodes for one of the plurality of level voltages which is closest to the first reference voltage is provided outside the first specific area. The first output node, the first input node, and the second input node, are arranged on a line on the first resistance element in this order. |
| US08094104B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit, liquid crystal drive device, and liquid crystal display system
A liquid crystal drive device having a differential-type input circuit including a differential amplification stage for receiving a differential signal and a buffer stage for generating an output signal on the basis of an output of the differential amplification stage, the liquid crystal drive device for receiving a signal of display data via the input circuit and outputting a signal for driving a liquid crystal panel on the basis of the display data, wherein a liquid crystal driving voltage VLCD larger than a power supply voltage VCC for logic to be supplied to the operation voltage buffer stage is supplied to the differential amplification stage of the input circuit. A standby function of interrupting an operation current of the differential amplification stage in a period where no display data is received is provided. |
| US08094100B2 |
Laser light source device, video display device
A laser light source device which is used for a video display device displaying video by using plural image frame data inputted from an image generating device includes a laser light source emitting laser light, a drive circuit driving the laser light source, a target light amount acquisition unit that acquires a target light amount which is a light amount necessary for displaying the image frame data, an output light amount detecting unit that detects an output light amount of the laser light source device, a control unit that controls the drive circuit so that the output light amount will be the target light amount, and a determination unit that determinates deterioration of the laser light source by using drive conditions of the drive circuit with respect to at least two different target light amounts at the time of control. |
| US08094097B2 |
Data line driving circuit, electro-optical device, data line driving method, and electronic apparatus
A data line driving circuit connected to data lines includes a bit shift unit that outputs input digital data composed of a plurality of bits for defining the brightness of pixels or bit-shifts the plurality of bits to lower levels to output them, based on a control signal, and a supply unit that supplies the output digital data of the bit shift unit to a D/A conversion unit. The D/A conversion unit supplies gray-scale signals obtained by D/A converting the output digital data of the supply unit to the data lines. |
| US08094095B2 |
Current drive circuit and drive method thereof, and electroluminescent display apparatus using the circuit
A current drive apparatus for an active matrix display operates a plurality of loads, e.g. organic or inorganic EL elements, by applying a current thereto. The apparatus includes a plurality of output terminals to which the loads are respectively connected. A single current generation circuit comprising e.g. a digital to analogue converter and a current mirror, outputs an operating current having a predetermined current value. A plurality of current storage circuits are provided in accordance with the respective output terminals, sequentially sample and hold the operating current and then simultaneously output the drive currents based on the sampled operating currents to the respective output terminals. The operating current has a current value according to an input signal. The current storage circuit includes a voltage component holding section which samples the operating current outputted from the current generation circuit and holds a voltage component for driving a drive control current corresponding to a current value of the operating current for driving a second current mirror. |
| US08094087B2 |
Portable navigational antenna system
A portable navigation apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a multi-antenna assembly configured for including an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The antenna assembly includes a master antenna, and at least two auxiliary antennas. The at least two auxiliary antennas are radially distributed about the master antenna. Furthermore, the master antenna and auxiliary antennas are substantially coplanar when the antenna assembly is in the expanded configuration. |
| US08094080B2 |
Antenna and radio communication apparatus
An antenna includes linear electrodes disposed on a surface of a substrate. A surface-mount antenna element including a capacitor is disposed in a non-ground region of a mount board. The capacitor is arranged such that portions of at least one of two linear electrodes face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. The non-ground region includes a first radiation electrode and linear electrode portions of a second radiation electrode. The linear electrodes of the surface-mount antenna element are individually connected to the radiation electrodes. A chip reactive element is disposed at the first radiation electrode and the linear electrode portions of the second radiation electrode as appropriate. |
| US08094079B2 |
Handheld electronic devices with isolated antennas
Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry having at least first and second antennas. An antenna isolation element reduces signal interference between the antennas, so that the antennas may be used in close proximity to each other. A planar ground element may be used as a ground by the first and second antennas. The first antenna may be formed using a hybrid planar-inverted-F and slot arrangement in which a planar resonating element is located above a rectangular slot in the planar ground element. The second antenna may be formed from an L-shaped strip. The planar resonating element of the first antenna may have first and second arms. The first arm may resonate at a common frequency with the second antenna and may serve as the isolation element. The second arm may resonate at approximately the same frequency as the slot portion of the hybrid antenna. |
| US08094071B2 |
Method of reception and receiver for a radio navigation signal modulated by a CBOC spread wave form
Disclosed is a method for receiving a radionavigation signal modulated by a composite waveform, the composite waveform comprising a linear combination with real-valued coefficients of a BOC(n1,m) component and a BOC(n2,m) component, n1 differing from n2; in which a correlation is performed between a local waveform and the composite waveform over a time interval of duration T, wherein the local waveform is a binary waveform, formed over the time interval by an alternating succession comprising at least one BOC(n1,m) waveform segment and at least one BOC(n2,m) waveform segment, the at least one BOC(n1,m) segment having a total duration of αT, α being strictly between 0 and 1, the at least one BOC(n2,m) segment having a total duration of (1−α)T. |
| US08094068B2 |
Process for improving the continuity in the case of a two-frequency navigation satellite system
A process for improving continuity in a two-frequency navigation satellite system includes steps of i) observing the ionosphere by measurements in the two or more frequency bands; and ii) transmitting an alert message which informs user systems of a change of the ionosphere when at least one measurement indicates a change of the ionosphere that deviates from one or more predefined conditions. |
| US08094067B2 |
Method and system for determining a position of a mobile communication device
A GNSS enabled mobile device transmits to a location server a combination of GNSS-based location data and non-GNSS based location data used to determining reference positions at the location server. The GNSS mobile device receives the determined reference positions from the location server to calculate an associated GNSS position fix. The transmitted GNSS-based location data comprises GNSS position fixes associated with the GNSS enabled mobile device. The transmitted non-GNSS-based location data comprises a serving Cell-ID, neighbor Cell-IDs, neighbor cell fingerprinting, timing advance parameters, and/or a mobile country code. Reference positions associated with the serving Cell-ID are determined and/or refined based on location information acquired from each of associated mobile devices. To respond to a reference position request from the GNSS enabled mobile device without an associated serving Cell-ID, the location server determines corresponding reference positions by combing subscriber population density with an associated MCC. |
| US08094061B2 |
Multiband transceiver and positioning system using the transceiver
The present invention comprising: a first local oscillator for generating a first frequency; a second local oscillator for generating a second frequency; phase-difference setting means for setting a first phase difference between a transmission signal and an output of the aforementioned first local oscillator; phase-difference detection means for detecting a second phase difference which is the phase difference between a reception signal and an output of the aforementioned second local oscillator, and calculation means for calculating a distance to a communication counterpart from a third phase difference and a fourth phase difference which are notified by the communication counterpart, and from the aforementioned first phase difference and second phase difference, wherein the third phase difference is set to the second frequency by the communication counterpart, and the fourth phase difference is set to the first frequency by the communication counterpart. |
| US08094058B2 |
Analog digital converters and image sensors including the same
The analog-digital converter (ADC) includes a modulator and a digital integrator. The modulator is configured to modulate an input signal and output a modulated signal. The digital integrator includes a plurality of accumulators serially connected to one another. The digital integrator is configured to integrate the modulated signal to output an integration result. |
| US08094056B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter
A lookahead pipelined ADC architecture uses open-loop residue amplifiers with calibration. This approach is able to achieve a high-speed, high-accuracy ADC with reduced power consumption. In one aspect, an ADC pipeline unit includes a plurality of lookahead pipeline stages (i.e., an ADC lookahead pipeline) coupled to a calibration unit. The ADC lookahead pipeline uses open-loop residue amplifiers. The calibration unit compensates for non-linearity in the open-loop amplifiers. |
| US08094055B2 |
Compact digital-to-analog converter
A digital-to-analog converter is disclosed. An example digital-to-analog converter circuit includes a reference scaling circuit coupled to receive a first reference current. The reference scaling circuit is coupled to generate a second reference current in response to the first reference current. The digital-to-analog converter circuit also includes a first plurality of binary-weighted current sources coupled to a summing node. A current of a first one of the first plurality of binary-weighted current sources is proportional to the first reference current. The digital-to-analog converter circuit also includes a second plurality of binary-weighted current sources coupled to the summing node. A current of a first one of the second plurality of binary-weighted current sources is proportional to the second reference current. |
| US08094054B2 |
Transmitter with delay mismatch compensation
A transmitter device comprises a digital part and an analog part. The digital part comprises a digital modulator for receiving bits and for digitally modulating the received bits. The transmitter device includes first and second digital-to-analog converters. The transmitter device furthermore comprises at least one filter unit arranged in the digital part and coupled between at least one of the first and second digital-to-analog converters and the digital modulator. A table unit is coupled to the at least one filter unit and is used to store pre-defined compensation filter values for the at least one filter unit to compensate different delay mismatches in the analog part of the transmitter device. The filter values of the at least one filter unit are set to those compensation filter values as stored in the table unit (TU) which correspond to a determined delay mismatch. |
| US08094051B2 |
Sigma-delta-based analog-to-digital converter
An analog to digital converting device is proposed for generating a digital output signal of an RF analog input signal. The device comprises a first analog to digital converter stage, a mixer, a second analog to digital converter stage and a digital filter. The first analog to digital converter stage generates a first and a second output signal. The first output signal is inputted in the filtering means. The second output signal is being down-converted to a signal with an intermediate frequency or DC. Thereafter, this down-converted signal is being fed to the second analog to digital converter stage. The digital output signal of this second stage is further processed together with the first digital output signal in the digital filter to a digital signal representative of the analog input signal. |
| US08094046B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method
Disclosed herein is a signal processing apparatus including: a first decimation processing section for generating, based on a digital signal in a first form, a digital signal in a second form; a second decimation processing section for generating, based on the digital signal in the second form, a digital signal in a third form; a first signal processing section for processing the digital signal in the third form; an interpolation processing section for converting a digital signal in the third form outputted from the first signal processing section into a digital signal in the second form; a second signal processing section for processing the digital signal in the second form outputted from the first decimation processing section; and a combining section for combining the digital signals in the second form outputted from the interpolation processing section and the second signal processing section. |
| US08094033B2 |
Apparatus to monitor process-based parameters of an integrated circuit (IC) substrate
A process monitor measures the absolute value of unit sample resistors and transistors on a common Integrated Circuit (IC) substrate. This information can be used to adjust the gain of an amplifier assembly to a desired value, or to determine the true, corrected gain of such the amplifier assembly. Also, process information about process variations corresponding to the common IC substrate can be collected from the process monitor. Gain correction factors are derived and applied to the amplifier assembly to compensate for the process variations using the gain value and the process information. |
| US08094032B2 |
Voltage detecting circuit
The present invention relates to a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a voltage range of a power source. The voltage detecting circuit includes a micro controlling unit, a boost circuit and a plurality of divider resistors. The micro controlling unit includes a general input/output port and a controlling input/output port. The boost circuit provides a constant voltage. A judgment voltage is obtained according to the divider resistors, the constant voltage and a voltage of the power source. A digital level signal is issued by the general input/output port according to the judgment voltage. In response to the digital level signal, the micro controlling unit generates a corresponding prompt associated with the voltage status of the power source. |
| US08094031B1 |
Device and method for detecting leaks and protecting surfaces from water damage due to leaks
An air freshening device is provided for detecting water leaks and protecting surfaces from water damage due to leaks. The device includes: a tray, configured for being placed upon a surface located under a water pipe; a removable and replaceable liner placed upon the tray, the liner comprising a material configured for releasing an air freshening substance into air, and for increasing the release rate of the substance upon contact with water. The increase of the release rate of the substance leads to an intensifying of the scent of the substance in air, and indicates the presence of a leak from the water pipe. The tray prevents water leaking from the water pipe from touching the surface. |
| US08094024B2 |
Amplitude shift keying demodulator and radio frequency identification system using the same
An exemplary amplitude shift keying (ASM) demodulator and a radio frequency identification (RFID) system using the same are provided. The ASM demodulator is adapted to demodulate an alternating current input signal and generate a demodulated envelope signal. The ASM demodulator includes a signal input terminal group, an input rectifier circuit, a current mirror circuit electrically coupled to the input rectifier circuit, an output stage electrically coupled to the current mirror circuit, and a low pass filter electrically coupled to the output stage. The input rectifier circuit is electrically coupled to the signal input terminal group and adapted to perform a rectifying operation applied to the alternating current input signal. The input rectifier circuit includes a plurality of electrically coupled transistors and a gate electrode of each of the transistors is unconnected with a source electrode and a drain electrode itself. |
| US08094020B2 |
Data center server location and monitoring system
A data center server location system includes both hardware and software to provide for location and identification of servers and other equipment in equipment racks. The system provides a wired alternative to the wireless RFID tag system by using electronic ID tags connected to each piece of equipment, each electronic ID tag connected directly by wires to a equipment rack controller on the equipment rack. The equipment rack controllers then link over a local area network to a central control computer. The central control computer provides an operator interface, and runs a software application program that communicates with the equipment rack controllers and stores relationship information to enable locating servers associated with each of the ID tags. |
| US08094016B2 |
Status determination method and image forming apparatus
A plurality of weak discriminators output determinations results about a status of an apparatus. Weight values are individually assigned to the determination results. By performing majority vote of the weighted determination results, the status of the apparatus is determined. The determination results are displayed on a single status indicating screen such that portions corresponding to a normal status are indicated in white while portions corresponding to an anomalous status are indicated in one or more colors other than white. The areas of the portions differ from one another depending on magnitudes of weight assigned to the determination results corresponding to the portions. |
| US08094013B1 |
Baby monitoring system
A baby monitoring system for remotely monitoring a child's breath rate and body orientation is disclosed. The system comprises, in one embodiment, a parent unit retained by a supervisor, a sensor unit removably engaged around the child's abdomen, and a nursery unit positioned proximal the child, preferably in the same room. The sensor unit provides at least two tri-axial accelerometers positioned and configured such that each is independently capable of measuring both the child's breath rate and body orientation, even where the child's body is oriented such that movement of at least one of the accelerometers is restricted. The sensor unit then wirelessly transmits this information to the nursery unit, which performs necessary calculations and transmits this data to the parent unit, which displays the data on a display screen. Additionally, the system is capable of recording and reproducing a heart beat sound of the child's mother. |
| US08094011B2 |
Transceiver device for cell phones for tracking of objects
A system for tracking objects includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver device integrated in a wireless handheld personal electronic device (e.g., cell phone, BLACKBERRY, iPHONE) having a visual display, a battery power source and a selection of distinct audible ringtones. The transceiver device communicates via RF signals with transponders installed within or attached to personal objects such as, but not limited to: keys; wallets; laptops; handbags; handheld electronic devices; cameras; video cameras; MP3 players; sunglasses and pens. The tracked objects are programed into the wireless handheld electronic device and are viewable on the display, identifying the object by name, transponder number and identifying ringtone. The transceiver device is pre-programed to trigger alarm functions (e.g., distinct ringtone, vibration and/or visual indicator) of the wireless handheld device upon any one or more of the tracked objects becoming separated from the transceiver device beyond a predetermined distance. |
| US08094005B2 |
Asset performance optimization
Included are embodiments for asset management. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving, at a performance assessment and optimization center, data from at least one asset, the asset being configured to service an environment and performing at least one calculation, from the received data, to determine whether the asset is operating properly. Some embodiments include in response to a determination that the at least one asset is not operating properly, providing an indication related to operation of the asset. |
| US08094001B2 |
Vehicle lane departure warning system and method
A vehicle lane departure warning system and method are provided. The system includes a position sensor for sensing position of a vehicle and memory storing learned vehicle path data. The system further includes a controller for processing the position data and determining a stored learned vehicle path that the vehicle is travelling on. The controller comprises logic for comparing the sensed position data to the stored learned vehicle path and determining if the vehicle is sufficiently departing from the stored learn vehicle path. The system further includes an output for providing a warning signal indicative of the vehicle departing from the stored learned vehicle path. The stored learned vehicle path is updated as the vehicle repeatedly travels on the path. |
| US08093997B2 |
System and apparatus for silent pulsating communications
A system and apparatus for wireless communications directly between a sender and a receiver using a sending unit and a receiving unit. The sending unit is formed as a glove having a pulse triggering mechanism. The glove is wearable by a user who is the source of a communications signal. The pulse triggering mechanism is motion activated by a finger tip to trigger an electrical signal transmitted wirelessly to the receiving unit. The receiving unit is in the form of a patch worn by a user that receives a tactile message for silent communications. |
| US08093996B2 |
Label incorporating a RF anti-theft antenna and an UHF RFID transponder
The present invention associates on one and the same label a UHF antenna and an RFID integrated circuit with an EAS antenna operating in RF mode, thus avoiding the addition of a second label on a product to be protected and/or traced. An aspect of the invention consists in using a loop antenna to which an integrated circuit which can operate by capacitive induction with the UHF antenna will be connected. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a label, and to a method of using the label. |
| US08093994B2 |
Animal warning device
An animal warning device for emitting a sound that is loud and consistent enough to cause animals to avoid oncoming vehicles. The present invention accomplishes this objective by electrically connecting a speaker to a wind-powered generator. The wind-powered generator is driven by air current striking an impeller. The device is mounted onto a vehicle such that oncoming air current strikes the impeller causing the impeller to rotate. Rotation of the impeller causes the generator to produce a current which powers the speaker. As such, it is unnecessary to connect the animal warning device to an external power source, such as the vehicle's alternator or battery. |
| US08093991B2 |
RFID detection and identification system for implantable medical devices
An RFID tag is disposed within a hermetically sealed housing of an IMD. Low frequency RFID interrogators and tags are used, and the housing walls are made of materials, and/or are reduced in thickness, to facilitate RF communication between the RFID tag and an RFID reader/interrogator programmer. An RFID reader/interrogator may be used which has a limited transmit time and time-out period to avoid interference with the operation of the IMD. |
| US08093990B2 |
Far field RFID reader with blocking
A far field radio frequency identification (RFID) reader includes a baseband processing module, a transmitter section, and a receiver section. The receiver section includes a low noise amplifier module, a down conversion module, and a current mode blocking circuit. The low noise amplifier module amplifies an inbound RF signal to produce an amplified inbound RF signal. The down conversion module converts the amplified inbound RF signal into the inbound baseband signal. The current mode blocking circuit substantial compensates for a blocking current component of the baseband inbound signal and passes, substantially unattenuated, a signal current component of the baseband inbound signal. |
| US08093989B2 |
Method and system for scheduling multi-radio-frequency-identification-tag-reader networks to increase interrogation efficiency
Methods and systems of the present invention employ perturbation techniques for configuring RFID-tag-reader networks in order to achieve increased overall efficiency of a network of RFID-tag readers. According to described embodiments of the present invention, individual RFID-tag readers within a multi-RFID-tag-reader network may be removed or shut down, or RFID-tag readers may be displaced relative to one another, in order to remove interferences between RFID-tag readers and to increase the interrogation efficiency of the multi-RFID-tag-reader network. A method embodiment of the present invention schedules a multi-RFID-tag-reader network as a cycle of power-on/power-off intervals. |
| US08093988B2 |
Entry control system and entry control method
To provide an entry control system as well as an entry control method allowing for an easy entry of user, permitting a restriction to persons who have a legitimate right to enter a facility, an illuminating device (1) emits a modulated visible light signal 13 modulated by use of a door ID code into a preset illumination range, the modulated visible light signal 13 from the illuminating device (1) is received by a mobile terminal (2) portable by the user, where it is demodulated for wireless signal transmission, and the door ID code transmitted from the mobile terminal (2) is received by an authentication device (3), which judges whether or not the door ID code is legitimate, and generates an unlock command when the door ID code is judged to be legitimate, and a door (4) for a facility controlled of entry receives the unlock command from the authentication device (3), whereby it is unlocked. |
| US08093986B2 |
Self-powered electronic lock
A self-powered electronic lock is provided having a housing, a lock element mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position, a code input device operating with a first set of electronics, and an electric actuator operating with a second set of electronics. The electric actuator is operatively coupled with the lock element to allow movement of the lock element from the locked position to the unlocked position. A first electric power generator is operative by a user to supply electrical power for operating the code input device and the first set of electronics. A second electric power generator is operative to supply electrical power for operating the electric actuator and the second set of electronics. The first and the second set of electronics are electrically isolated and are synchronized to generate a common number for a combination code. |
| US08093984B2 |
Installation switchgear
An installation switching device includes a housing, a main contact point having an arc quenching chamber, an input terminal, an output terminal, an impact-style armature system configured to move the main contact point to an open position, a latching mechanism having a latching point and configured to open an isolating contact point disposed in a secondary current path parallel to a main current path, a main thermostatic bimetallic strip configured to act on the latching point to as to cause the main contact point to remain in the open position, a current limiting resistor disposed in the secondary current path, a selective thermostatic bimetallic strip disposed in the secondary current path and configured to act on the latching mechanism, a handle configured to act on the latching mechanism so as to open and close the main contact point, and a phase connecting rail. |
| US08093981B2 |
Laminated inductor with enhanced current endurance
A laminated inductor includes a plurality of magnetic plates, each having a surface to which a high-permeability magnetic body is attached, and at least one spacer assembly interposed between the magnetic plates. The spacer assembly includes two magnetic boards having moderate magnetic permeability and a magnetic board having low magnetic permeability interposed between the two moderate-permeability magnetic boards. Both moderate-permeability and low-permeability boards are provided, at a surface of each board, with a magnetic body having high permeability. A magnetic top lid and a magnetic bottom lid are respectively set on outside surfaces of the topmost and bottommost ones of the magnetic plates. The high-permeability magnetic bodies mounted to the magnetic plates and the arrangement of the spacer assembly help improve the characteristic of DC superimposition of the laminated inductor thereby enhancing current endurance thereof. |
| US08093978B2 |
Coil component
A coil component 1 includes: a pot core 2; a coil 10 for generating magnetic flux when a predetermined electric current is supplied; a piezoelectric actuator 15 for changing the position of a movable core portion 11 with respect to the coil 10 in response to a control signal supplied from the outside and for passing the movable core portion 11 through the magnetic flux of closed magnetic-path, which is generated by the coil 10. Also, the piezoelectric actuator 15 includes: a piezoelectric device 9 for creating displacement in parallel with the thickness direction caused by the control signal, a moving body 11 connected to the piezoelectric device 9 and the movable core portion 11 for moving the movable core portion 11 in response to the displacement which occurred for the piezoelectric device 9, and a friction-drive rod 13 for rendering the moving body 11 moved by the displacement which occurred for the piezoelectric device 9 to be stationary at a predetermined position. |
| US08093972B2 |
Electromechanical device and electrical device with the electromechanical device
When a high power signal is input to an electromechanical device, electrostatic force can automatically and unintentionally drive the movable electrode. A high reliability electromechanical device that prevents this is achieved. The electromechanical device of the invention is an electromechanical device formed on a substrate, and having a signal electrode and a drive electrode formed across a gap from a movable electrode. Applying an attraction force between the movable electrode and the drive electrode enables the movable electrode to contact the signal electrode. A high electrostatic capacitance is formed by disposing the movable electrode and drive electrode in opposition with a dielectric layer therebetween on the RF signal input port side. As a result, the potential difference between the movable electrode and drive electrode is reduced even when a high power signal is input, and a high reliability electromechanical device can be achieved. |
| US08093970B2 |
Braided electrical contact element based relay
A relay including a coil or solenoid, at least one fixed substrate and a moving substrate, a plurality of braided electrical contact element contacts making contact with pads on the fixed and moving substrates, returning springs mounted on alignment pins, and an optional cover for hermetical sealing. A further embodiment presents a horizontally-moving armature actuated by one or more solenoids. |
| US08093969B2 |
Low-power numerically controlled contactor and control system made of the contactors
The invention deals with a kind of switchboards, especially involving contactors, cores and driving circuits. The invention has solved three problems of high driving power, high consumption and short service life in current contactors, and has provided a LCDC contactor inlaid with driving circuit and controlling port. LCDC contactor in this invention consists of field coils, movable and fixed cores. The fixed core is folded with silicon-steel sheets, and the permanent magnet laid in the fixed core. LCDC contactor includes driving circuit inside, the field coils are connected with driving circuit and the circuit connecting external power is used to control signal of driving coils. This invention provides a controlling system constituted of the LCDC contactors. Low power consumption, effortless driving, long service life are the main beneficial effects. The LCDC contactor can directly employ nominal voltage DC 24V switching power with a remarkably energy-saving effect. |
| US08093954B1 |
High-frequency input circuit
A high-frequency input circuit. The input circuit includes an input node, a bond pad, and a signal conversion resistor coupled in series between the input node and the bond pad to convert substantially all of a signal voltage at the input node to a signal current at the bond pad. |
| US08093951B1 |
Pulse-width modulated (PWM) audio power amplifier having output signal magnitude controlled pulse voltage and switching frequency
An audio switching power amplifier having an output pulse voltage selected in conformity with an indication of the output signal amplitude provides lower electromagnetic interference (EMI) in class-D amplifier implementations, in particular, in inductor-less designs. The output pulse voltage may be selected by providing multiple switching circuits, such as half or fully bridge switches, with each switching circuit connected to a different power supply. One of the switching circuits is activated by the switching controller, while the others are disabled, providing selection of the output pulse voltage. Selection of a lower pulse voltage, when the maximum voltage is not required, reduces the generated EMI. The switching frequency of the class-D amplifier may also be controlled in conformity with the output signal amplitude, so that at higher output levels a lower switching rate is selected, reducing the generated EMI. |
| US08093946B2 |
Joint optimisation of supply and bias modulation
There is disclosed a technique for controlling at least one amplification stage, comprising: selecting a linearity objective for the amplification stage; in dependence on an input signal to said amplification stage, determining a combination of supply input and bias input for the amplification stage in order to meet said linearity objective; and in dependence on there being more than one combination of supply input and bias input for meeting the linearity objective, selecting the combination that optimizes a further system performance objective for the amplification stage. The further system performance objective may be one or more of: an efficiency objective; an envelope signal bandwidth objective; or a robustness to production tolerance objective. |
| US08093944B2 |
Line driver capable of automatic adjustment of output impedance
A line driver includes an output terminal set for outputting an output signal, a differential amplifier for amplifying an input signal, a series resistor set coupled between the differential amplifier and the output terminal set, a negative-feedback resistor set coupled to the differential amplifier, a feedback variable resistor set coupled between the differential amplifier and the output terminal set, and an adjusting unit coupled to the feedback variable resistor set. The adjusting unit is operable to adjust resistances of the feedback variable resistor set according to the output signal. |
| US08093939B2 |
Level shift circuit and switching circuit including the same
The level shift circuit that converts a level of an input signal into a level between a first and a second voltage, which is higher than the first voltage includes a select circuit that generates an oscillation signal, where at least a frequency or an amplitude of the oscillation signal changes according to an input signal, a filter circuit that removes a DC component of the oscillation signal output from the select circuit and outputs an AC component, a detect circuit that operates between the first voltage and an output side voltage of the filter circuit, and generates a control signal including a signal voltage that changes according to at least a frequency or an amplitude of the AC component of the oscillation signal, and an output circuit that generates an output signal having a level between the first voltage and the second voltage according to the control signal. |
| US08093936B2 |
Semiconductor device and control method thereof
According to an aspect of the embodiment, a skew detecting unit includes at least one over delay path or racing path for detecting skew. A clock adjusting unit sets a set value of delay based on the skew detected by the skew detecting unit. A clock cell adjusts delay in a first clock according to the set value of the delay, and outputs the result as a second clock. |
| US08093934B2 |
Timing adjustment circuit, solid-state image pickup element, and camera system
A timing adjustment circuit includes at least one data line; a phase synchronization circuit that includes a plurality of oscillation delay elements which oscillate an oscillation signal, and that is configured to oscillate the oscillation signal by synchronizing a phase of a feedback clock with a phase of a reference clock; at least one delay circuit that includes a delay element which is disposed on the data line and which is equivalent to one of the plurality of oscillation delay elements, and that is configured to delay data which is to be transmitted on the data line; and a delay adjustment unit configured to adjust an amount of delay of the delay element of the delay circuit in accordance with a signal associated with oscillation of the phase synchronization circuit. |
| US08093933B2 |
Method of fast tracking and jitter improvement in asynchronous sample rate conversion
A method for fast tracking and jitter improvement in an asynchronous sample rate conversion includes a digital phase locked loop (DPLL) for an asynchronous sample rate conversion (ASRC) device. A control apparatus in the DPLL includes a gain controller that sets and maintains gains (Ki, Kp) of two branches of the control apparatus at a fixed value, which enables searching of a desired value by the DPLL to determine a neighborhood of the desired value, and reduces the gains when the number of samples reaches a predetermined number. Processing units in the DPLL generate and process first and second input signals based on an input clock, an output clock, and a system clock. The second input signal is processed using two branches. Signals resulting from the two branches are re-aligned according to a changed status of the first processed input signal such that the signals resulting from the two branches are sampled in the same input clock interval. |
| US08093930B2 |
High frequency fractional-N divider
A divider can include a phase selection circuit that switches between a plurality of phase-separated clock signals in response to a fractional control signal to form a selected clock signal, the selected clock signal being utilized to generate a second clock signal; and a counter that receives the second clock signal and generates the fractional control signal and a transition control signal, the transition control signal indicating when the second clock signal should switch states in response to a transition of the selected clock signal, the counter generating a feed-back clock signal. |
| US08093926B2 |
Physical quantity detection circuit and physical quantity sensor device
A physical quantity detection circuit (12) is used for a physical quantity sensor (10) that outputs a sensor signal according to a physical quantity given externally. In the physical quantity detection circuit (12), an analog-to-digital converter (104) converts an analog sensor signal (Ssnc) to a digital sensor signal (Dsnc). A digital filter (100) attenuates a frequency component of the digital sensor signal (Dsnc) that is higher than a predetermined cutoff frequency. A multiplier (106) multiplies a digital sensor signal (Dps) having passed the digital filter (100) by a digital detection signal (Ddet) to detect a digital physical quantity signal (Dphy). |
| US08093922B2 |
Configurable IC having a routing fabric with storage elements
Some embodiments provide a configurable IC that includes a configurable routing fabric with storage elements. In some embodiments, the routing fabric provides a communication pathway that routes signals to and from source and destination components. The routing fabric of some embodiments provides the ability to selectively store the signals passing through the routing fabric within the storage elements of the routing fabric. In this manner, a source or destination component continually performs operations (e.g., computational or routing) irrespective of whether a previous signal from or to such a component is stored within the routing fabric. The source and destination components include configurable logic circuits, configurable interconnect circuits, and various other circuits that receive or distribute signals throughout the configurable IC. |
| US08093921B2 |
Monitoring of interconnect reliability using a programmable device
In one embodiment, the reliability of the L2 power and/or ground sub-arrays of contacts of a functional integrated circuit device is verified by applying a reference voltage to a selected contact in sub-array and sequentially measuring the voltage at other contacts in the sub-array. If the voltage levels are greater than a threshold voltage level then the functional integrated circuit device is verified as being reliable. |
| US08093920B2 |
Accurate measuring of long steady state minority carrier diffusion lengths
Surface photo-voltage measurements are used to accurately determine very long steady state diffusion length of minority carriers and to determine iron contaminant concentrations and other recombination centers in very pure wafers. Disclosed methods use multiple (e.g., at least two) non-steady state surface photovoltage measurements of diffusion length done at multiple (e.g., at least two) modulation frequencies. The measured diffusion lengths are then used to obtain a steady state diffusion length with an algorithm extrapolating diffusion length to zero frequency. The iron contaminant concentration is obtained from near steady state measurement of diffusion length at elevated frequency before and after iron activation. The concentration of other recombination centers can then be determined from the steady state diffusion length and the iron concentration measured at elevated frequency. |
| US08093919B2 |
Test circuit, method, and semiconductor device
It is possible to provide a circuit and method for carrying out a parallel test using BOST (Built Out Self Test). The circuit includes first transfer circuits (11-1, 11-2, . . . ) that extract a data pattern supplied to a complete operating article chip (10) in a BOST (3) from the BOST and that successively transmit the data pattern in response to a clock signal, and second transfer circuits (12-1, 12-2, . . . ) that extract output data from the complete operating article chip (10) as an expectation value pattern and that successively transmit the expectation value pattern in response to the clock signal. The data pattern supplied to the complete operating article chip (10) is applied to one chip to be measured (10-1) and the data pattern from a corresponding stage of the first transfer circuits (11-1, 11-2, . . . ) is applied to each of other chips to be measured (10-2, . . . ). A comparator (14-1) compares output data from the one chip to be measured (10-1) to the output data from the complete operating article chip (10) to decide whether or not they coincide. Corresponding to the other chips to be measured (10-2, . . . ), a comparator (14-2, . . . ) compares respective output data from the other chips to be measured to the expectation value pattern from the corresponding stage of the second transfer circuits (12-1, 12-2, . . . ) to decide whether or not they coincide. |
| US08093918B2 |
Electronic device identifying method and electronic device comprising identification means
An electronic device that includes an actual operation circuit that operates during an actual operation of the electronic device, a second test circuit and a third test circuit that operate during a test of the electronic device, and a power supply section. The power supply section, during the actual operation of the electronic device, does not apply a power supply voltage to the second test circuit and applies power supply voltages to the actual operation circuit and the third test circuit. The power supply section, to obtain identification of the electronic device, applies a power supply voltage to the second test circuit. |
| US08093917B2 |
Sampling apparatus
A sampling apparatus for sampling a fluid from a fluid source includes a first fluid passage device, a second fluid passage device and a fluid by-pass. The first fluid passage device is disposed downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid source. The second fluid passage device is disposed downstream of and is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage device. The fluid by-pass is disposed downstream of the fluid source and upstream of the second fluid passage device. The fluid by-pass being in fluid communication with and disposed between the fluid source and the second fluid passage device is operative to cause a first portion of the fluid to flow through the first fluid passage device and to cause a second portion of the fluid to by-pass the first fluid passage device and to flow to the second fluid passage device. |
| US08093916B2 |
Method of characterizing a semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A method of characterizing semiconductor device includes providing a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate with at least a body-tied (BT) SOI device and a BT dummy device for measurement, respectively measuring tunneling currents (Igb) and scattering parameters (S-parameters) of the BT SOI device and the BT dummy device, subtracting Igb of BT dummy device from that of the BT SOI device to obtain Igb of a floating body (FB) SOI device, filtering characteristics of the BT dummy device out to extract S-parameters of the FB SOI device, and analyzing the S-parameters of the FB SOI device to obtain gate-related capacitances of the FB SOI device. |
| US08093914B2 |
Compensation circuit for a TX-RX capacitive sensor
A capacitive sensor may include a transmit electrode and a receive electrode capacitively coupled with the transmit electrode. A capacitance sensing circuit senses a capacitance between the transmit and receive electrodes by applying a signal to the transmit electrode and rectifying a current waveform induced at the receive electrode. A compensation circuit reduces the effect of a mutual and parasitic capacitances of the transmit and receive electrode pair by adding a compensation current to the rectified current. |
| US08093913B2 |
Film thickness measurement device and method
A film thickness measurement device, which measures the film thickness of an oil film of lubricating oil, formed in a gap between a piston ring and an electrode provided flush with a piston ring sliding surface of a cylinder liner, by detecting the electrostatic capacitance across the gap, employs an electrostatic capacitance detection portion, which charges the electrostatic capacitance by supplying a constant current to the electrode, detects the electrostatic capacitance based on changes in the charging voltage accompanying the charging, and outputs a detection signal indicating the electrostatic capacitance, and a film thickness computation portion, which calculates the film thickness of the oil film based on the electrostatic capacitance indicated by the detection signal input from the electrostatic capacitance detection portion. |
| US08093911B2 |
Time-of-flight measurement based on transfer function and simulated exponential stimulus
Systems and methods are described for transmitting a waveform having a controllable attenuation and propagation velocity. An exemplary method comprises: generating an exponential waveform, the exponential waveform (a) being characterized by the equation Vin=De−ASD[x−vSDt], where D is a magnitude, Vin is a voltage, t is time, ASD is an attenuation coefficient, and vSD is a propagation velocity; and (b) being truncated at a maximum value. An exemplary apparatus comprises: an exponential waveform generator; an input recorder coupled to an output of the exponential waveform generator; a transmission line under test coupled to the output of the exponential waveform generator; an output recorder coupled to the transmission line under test; an additional transmission line coupled to the transmission line under test; and a termination impedance coupled to the additional transmission line and to a ground. |
| US08093908B1 |
Method and apparatus for measuring electrical impedance of thin fluid films
According to typical inventive practice, the relative positioning of two press members is mechanically adjustable so that their respective flat surfaces remain parallel at selectively closer or further distances apart. During immersion or partial immersion of the two press members in a fluid of interest, a fluid sample is bounded by the two opposing flat surfaces. The present invention can thus achieve small thicknesses of its fluid samples, which represent “thin fluid films” suitable for measurement of one or more electrical characteristics (e.g., impedance, or impedance-related characteristics such as permittivity). Data acquisition can be performed by generating electrical pulses and receiving data signals from probes contiguous with the fluid sample. Measurements can be taken of fluid samples characterized by varying thicknesses and/or varying pressures. As distinguished from conventional methodologies, which are beset with “bubble-bursting” transience and fragility, the inventive methodology provides thin fluid films that are stable and robust. |
| US08093899B2 |
Magnetic field probe and method for manufacturing the same
A magnetic field probe comprises a sample that exhibits magnetic resonance at an operating frequency, an electrically conductive structure surrounding the sample for receiving a magnetic resonance signal therefrom, and a solid jacket encasing the sample and the conductive structure. The jacket is made of a hardened two-component epoxy system containing a paramagnetic dopant dissolved therein, with the concentration of the dopant being chosen such that the jacket has a magnetic susceptibility that is substantially identical to the magnetic susceptibility of the conductive structure. |
| US08093898B2 |
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device, and imaging system and method using the same
A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device 1A is configured by a substrate, a magnetic field applying electrode group 20 provided being integrated on a measurement surface of the substrate, for setting a local measurement position in a measurement region 12 of nuclear magnetic resonance by applying a magnetic field to the region 12, and an RF antenna 15 provided at a predetermined position with respect to the substrate for irradiating the measurement region 12 with an RF pulse. Further, the electrode group 20 is configured so as to have a uniform magnetic field electrode 25 that applies a uniform magnetic field to the region 12, first gradient magnetic field electrodes 30, 35 that apply a gradient magnetic field in the x-axis direction, and second gradient magnetic field electrodes 40, 45 that apply a gradient magnetic field in the y-axis direction. As a result, a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging device capable of image acquisition of a measurement object with a high resolution, and an imaging system and imaging method using the same can be realized. |
| US08093897B2 |
Method of detecting carrier spin polarisation and apparatus for the same
A method of detecting spin polarization in a subject material comprises applying a potential difference across the subject material causing an electrical current to flow across the material, thereby inducing carrier polarization within the material in a direction perpendicular to the direction of current flow, carriers of one spin orientation concentrating at a first edge of the subject material and carriers of the opposite orientation concentrating at a second edge of the material, opposite to the first edge under the action of the Spin Hall Effect (SHE); allowing spin polarized carriers to tunnel into a ferromagnetic material from the subject material in at least a portion adjacent one of the first or second edges of the subject material; and measuring the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) between the ferromagnetic material and the subject material at the first or second edge. An apparatus for analyzing carrier spin polarization comprises a subject material; means for applying an electric field to the subject material so as to induce a current to flow through the subject material, thereby inducing spin polarization of carriers at opposing first and second edges of the subject material in a direction perpendicular to the electric field under the action of the spin Hall effect (SHE); a ferromagnetic material in contact with at least a portion adjacent one of the first or second edges of the subject material; and means for measuring the tunneling magnetoresistance between the ferromagnetic material and the subject material at the first or second edge. |
| US08093888B2 |
Head assembly drive mechanism, head holder, magnetic head tester and magnetic disk tester
A head holder includes a first and second blocks connected each other with a predetermined gap between the blocks by a flexible coupling portion. The second block supports the first block swingably by increasing a width of either one of spaces of the predetermined gap on opposite sides of the coupling portion and narrowing the other space by bending the coupling portion by a piezo actuator. A magnetic head is dynamically moved in a direction crossing a track by swinging a head assembly fixed to the first block. |
| US08093885B2 |
Residual magnetic flux determining apparatus
A residual magnetic flux measurement apparatus measures residual magnetic fluxes by using a transformer-voltage measurement means for measuring transformer voltages; a voltage delay means for delaying the measured signals; a DC-voltage-component calculation means for calculating DC voltage components from the latest transformer-voltage signals for a predetermined time period based on calculation-control signals; a voltage integration means for calculating voltage-integration signals by performing voltage integration of signals obtained after separating the DC voltage components from present transformer-voltage signals; a magnetic-flux DC-component calculation means for calculating magnetic-flux DC-components from the latest voltage-integration signals for a predetermined time period based on the calculation-control signals; a magnetic flux calculation means for obtaining magnetic flux signals in which the magnetic-flux DC-components are separated from present voltage-integration signals; and a control means for obtaining residual magnetic fluxes based on contact signals, an interruption mode, the transformer-voltage signals, and the magnetic flux signals. |
| US08093883B2 |
Ion current measurement device
The invention provides an ion current measurement device for a tool having an ion source. The ion current measurement device comprises an ion collecting cup and a replaceable liner. The ion collecting cup is disposed in the tool and the ion collecting cup possesses a cup opening facing the ion source. The replaceable liner is disposed in the ion collecting cup and the replaceable liner entirely covers a continuous inner sidewall of the ion collecting cup. |
| US08093878B2 |
Switching power supply device
A switching power supply device for a ripple control system that can obtain the ripple component with the necessary amplitude without using discrete elements. On capacitor Ci of CR integrator 11, a voltage is generated corresponding to the integration value of the voltage applied to inductor Lo. The ripple voltage generated on capacitor Ci has a waveform similar to that of the ripple current flowing through inductor Lo. The voltage of capacitor Ci is converted into current Iq by voltage/current converter 12, and the current is injected in resistor R3 arranged on the transmission path of output feedback voltage VFB in comparator 2. Resistor R3 generates ripple voltage (Iqxr3) corresponding to the ripple current flowing through inductor Lo. The synthetic voltage of the ripple voltage and output feedback voltage VFB is compared to reference voltage Vref. |
| US08093876B2 |
Power control circuit to prevent a malfunction of a protection circuit
A control circuit 10 according to the present invention transits to a first current limiter mode when an output current of a DC-DC converter circuit reaches an upper limit current or greater in a normal mode; transits to the normal mode when the output current falls below the upper limit current in the first current limiter mode; transits to a second current limiter mode when a first predetermined period elapses without a transition to the normal mode in the first current limiter mode; and transits to the normal mode when a second predetermined period elapses in the second current limiter mode. |
| US08093875B2 |
System and method for cable resistance cancellation
A method for cable resistance cancellation. A single remote sense line and a simple cable resistance cancellation network are leveraged in a power supply unit to compensate for the total cable voltage drop, while maintaining tight output accuracy. By completely compensating for the voltage drops, the wire gauge for the main power wires can be reduced, thereby allowing the use of smaller diameter cables. |
| US08093871B2 |
Power distribution system control and monitoring
In one example embodiment, a power control system includes one or more stages, a plurality of primary busbars operatively coupled to the one or more stages, and an intelligent controller operatively coupled to the one or more stages. Each of the one or more stages is configured to generate a lead current when coupled in parallel to a power distribution system, and at least one of the one or more stages comprises a notch filter and a power tank circuit. Each of the plurality of primary busbars is configured to carry one phase of a multiple phase power signal. The controller is configured to determine when to switch each of the one or more stages one and off, to count a number of times each stage is switched on, and to track one or more electrical parameters of the power distribution system, power control system, or both. |
| US08093864B2 |
Battery with electronic compartment
An electronic containment battery includes a battery section and an electronic section that together form a standard battery form factor that allows insertion into conventional electronic devices. The electronic section can include Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry that enables electronic operations in the electronic containment battery to be communicated or controlled wirelessly. |
| US08093863B2 |
Battery pack for cordless power tools
A battery pack which includes a battery pack electronic control circuit adapted to control an attached power tool and/or an attached charger. The battery pack includes additional protection circuits, methodologies and devices to protect against fault conditions within the pack, as the pack is operatively attached to and providing power to the power tool, and/or as the pack is operatively attached to and being charged by the charger. |
| US08093861B2 |
Power transfer system for a rechargeable battery
An apparatus and method for transferring energy between a rechargeable battery and a power distribution network. The minimum final energy level may be determined at least in part from the historical energy levels and usage of the rechargeable battery. The time of day of charging the battery may be determined at least in part from information provided by the energy provider. |
| US08093860B2 |
Ceiling fan motor with generator winding
A ceiling fan motor with a generator winding is disclosed. A stator is fixed on a motor axle. It is surrounded with several first magnetizing coils, each of which is winded with a second magnetizing coil with a generator winding. A rotor is mounted on the motor axle. The rotor has several magnetic objects around the stator. Each first magnetizing coil is affected by an input voltage to generate an inducing magnetic field for rotating the rotor with respect top the stator. The second magnetizing coil on the stator detects and receives a back electromotive force produced because the rotor rotates and cuts through the magnetic lines, thereby generating electrical power. |
| US08093858B1 |
AC line voltage conditioner and controller
A voltage or power conditioning and control device may be used in line with a source of AC line power and a reactive load such as a single-phase induction motor. The device operates to absorb some of the power reflected by the AC load and generate a synthetic power wave to supplement and correct the applied power in level and phase. The device employs a pair of power capacitors, and a pair of electronic switch devices each with a diode in parallel. Gating or command signals are generated based on the line voltage and timing, e.g., zero crossings. The phase or timing of the command signals is selected for a normal or no-boost mode, a voltage boost mode, or a voltage reduction mode. The capacitors are considered in series with the load, and improve the power factor to the load. A variation of this device may be used in conjunction with a solar array or other local power source. |
| US08093853B2 |
Device-positioning pedestal and handler having the device-positioning pedestal
A device-positioning pedestal capable of positioning devices of different sizes. The device-positioning pedestal comprises a plurality of guide members corresponding to the sides of the device and coming in contact with the sides of the device to position the device, at least one guide member includes a slide mechanism that supports the guide member so as to slide relative to the device-positioning pedestal member and a fixing mechanism that fixes the guide members at desired positions. The guide members are set to be adapted to the size of the device by the guide member-adjusting means separate from the device-positioning pedestal. The guide member-adjusting means adjust the position of the guide members based on the size of the device measured by device size-measuring means separate from the guide member-adjusting means or based on the data of data-recording means attached to the device-positioning pedestal. |
| US08093844B2 |
Braking function for brushless DC motor control
A motor control circuit that features a smart, two-phase braking operation is presented. The motor control circuit includes a motor drive circuit to apply a brake current to a coil of an external motor for active braking of the motor. The motor control circuit further includes a braking control circuit, coupled to the motor drive circuit and responsive to an externally generated control signal, to control the active braking by the motor drive circuit so that the active braking occurs in two phases. The two phases include a first phase that includes a first portion of the active braking and a second phase that includes back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage sensing and a second portion of the active braking. |
| US08093840B1 |
Use of off-axis injection as an alternative to geometrically merging beams in an energy-recovering linac
A method of using off-axis particle beam injection in energy-recovering linear accelerators that increases operational efficiency while eliminating the need to merge the high energy re-circulating beam with an injected low energy beam. In this arrangement, the high energy re-circulating beam and the low energy beam are manipulated such that they are within a predetermined distance from one another and then the two immerged beams are injected into the linac and propagated through the system. The configuration permits injection without geometric beam merging as well as decelerated beam extraction without the use of typical beamline elements. |
| US08093835B2 |
Light emitting driver circuit with compensation and method
A light emitting driver circuit, system, and method are provided. The driver circuit system and method can be implemented in various ways. An embodiment includes a bypass circuit which diverts current from the LEDs whenever a switch coupled to the LEDs incurs residual current when turned off. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the residual current can be sensed and the amount of residual current used to trigger fetching of a compensation value. That compensation value can change a dimming function forwarded to the switch in order to compensate for, offset, or substantially eliminate the residual current through that switch. |
| US08093833B2 |
Method for controlling an electrical light source by pulse width modulation
Disclosed is for controlling a light source by pulse width modulation of a supply voltage. The supply voltage, or a parameter dependent thereon, is measured and the pulse width is controlled as function of the measured value. The supply voltage or parameter is measured at least twice during the pulse and may be cyclically measured. The pulse width of the current or a subsequent pulse is matched to the recorded value of the supply voltage or the parameter. A total value is generated from all of the measured values and compared with a given value and the pulse width of subsequent pulses are matched as function of the difference between the total value and the given value. |
| US08093832B2 |
Backlight unit with reduced inverter noise and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same
In a backlight unit and an LCD apparatus having the backlight unit, in which the backlight unit includes a plurality of lamps and an inverter, the inverter provides the lamps with current. The inverter reduces current provided to the lamps to turn off the lamps. Therefore, currents are gradually decreased to reduce noise generated by the transformer when the lamps are turned off. |
| US08093831B2 |
Voltage converter with first push
A boost DC/DC power converter is disclosed that has a low voltage source, an inductor and a switching device that forms a series loop, a diode in series with a capacitor coupled across the switching device, a voltage divider coupled across the capacitor and a pulse width modulator that is coupled to the voltage divider. The boost converter includes a first push controller coupled across the switching device to provide a first push voltage of sufficient magnitude to turn the switching device on where the low voltage source by itself is not capable of generating a voltage of sufficient magnitude to operate the switching device. |
| US08093827B2 |
Light source module, light source assembly having the same and display device having the light source module
A light source module includes a power transmission substrate and a plurality of point light sources. The power transmission substrate has a plurality of dimming areas disposed along a first direction. The point light sources are spaced apart from each other in each dimming area along the first direction and receive driving power applied to each dimming area through the power transmission substrate and generate light. A spatial interval between the point light sources in the first direction is greater in dimming areas more distant from the center of the power transmission substrate than in dimming areas closer to the center of the power transmission substrate. |
| US08093824B2 |
Backlight driving system
A backlight driving system comprises an inverter module, a current balance module, a feedback module and an open-lamp protection detection module. The inverter module provides electrical signals to a plurality of lamps. The current balance module balances currents flowing through the plurality of lamps. The feedback module detects the current of the backlight and generates a feedback signal to the invert module accordingly. The open-lamp protection detection module detects voltage variations of the feedback transformer and generates a detection signal to the inverter module accordingly. The inverter module regulates the currents flowing through the plurality of lamps according to the feedback signal and determines one or more of the plurality of lamps are faulty according to the detection signal generated by the open-lamp protection detection module, and stops providing the electrical signals to the plurality of lamps. |
| US08093823B1 |
Light sources incorporating light emitting diodes
A light source including at least one light emitting diode and, optionally, a housing portion surrounding the light emitting diode. The at least one light emitting diode can be an organic light-emitting diode sheet. The at least one light emitting diode is preferably enclosed in a housing portion comprising a hollow bulb-shaped portion formed of glass, plastic, etc. The housing portion can be filled partially or completely by a potting material. Alternatively, the housing portion can be formed of a potting material or a conformal coating material. At least one connector is coupled to the end of the housing portion. A power supply circuit supplies electrical current to the at least one light emitting diode through the connector. |
| US08093820B1 |
Fluorescent ballast with isolated system interface
A ballasting circuit is configured with a circuit having a capability of providing an isolated power supply to various external ballast accessories that interface with a circuit or device for determining the amount of illumination. The ballasting circuit also has a capability of providing isolated power for circuitry within itself such that they can be connected to communication wires external to a lighting fixture without the need of an additional power supply. The ballasting circuit includes one or more gas discharge lighting devices, a source of input power, an electronic ballasting circuit having a regulated direct current requirement and coupled between the one or more gas discharge lighting devices and the source of input power, a heater transformer, a low voltage direct current power supply, a switching device, a regulator circuit, a full wave rectifier, and windings. |
| US08093813B2 |
Plasma display panel
A plasma display panel enhancing an emission efficiency of a green phosphor layer by increasing an excitation efficiency of a green phosphor layer using visible light emitted from a dielectric layer or barrier ribs, the plasma display panel including a first substrate and a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate. A plurality of display electrodes are formed on the first substrate. A first dielectric layer is formed on the first substrate to cover the display electrodes. A plurality of address electrodes are formed on the second substrate in a direction crossing the display electrodes. A second dielectric layer is formed on the second substrate to cover the address electrodes. Barrier ribs are disposed in a space between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer to form a plurality of discharge cells. The second dielectric layer and the barrier ribs comprise a short wavelength phosphor material. |
| US08093804B2 |
Organic electroluminescent display device having a novel concept for luminous efficiency
An organic electroluminescent display device includes: a first substrate having an active area displaying images and a non-active area surrounding the active area; a switching thin film transistor and a driving thin film transistor connected to the switching thin film transistor in the active area on the first substrate; an organic electroluminescent diode connected to the driving thin film transistor; a dummy metal pattern at a corner portion of the non-active area on the first substrate; a second substrate facing and spaced apart from the first substrate, the second substrate including a groove; and a seal pattern attaching the first and second substrates, wherein the dummy metal pattern overlaps a residue at a corner portion of the groove. |
| US08093797B2 |
Electroluminescent displays
An electroluminescent layer for a light. The light includes a phosphor with a fluorescent pigment or dye. |
| US08093796B2 |
Electron beam apparatus and image display apparatus
An electron beam apparatus 11 comprises a substrate 1, a first electrode wiring 2 formed on the substrate 1, an insulating layer 4 covering the first electrode wiring 2, a second electrode wiring 3 formed on the insulating layer 4 so as to cross the first electrode wiring 2, and on the substrate 1, an electron emitting device 6 located distant from an electrode wiring crossing region 9 where the first electrode wiring 2 and the second electrode wiring 3 cross each other, and connected to both the first electrode wiring 2 and the second electrode wiring 3 so as to receive drive energy from the first electrode wiring 2 and the second electrode wiring 3, wherein a void 5 is formed between the first electrode wiring 2 and the second electrode wiring 3 in at least a part of the electrode wiring crossing region 9. |
| US08093794B2 |
Anode cap, and voltage supply unit and image display apparatus utilizing the same
An image display apparatus includes a display panel having an anode and an anode terminal, wherein the anode is disposed at an inside of the display panel, the anode terminal applies a voltage to the anode from an outside of the display panel and includes a portion disposed inside of the display panel and a portion disposed outside of the display panel, and an anode cap attached on an external surface of the display panel for holding an electroconductive wire applying a voltage to the anode terminal. In addition, a fixing member detachably fastens the anode cap, wherein the fixing member has a through hole in which the portion of the anode terminal disposed outside of the display panel is inserted, and the fixing member is fixed to an external surface of the display panel. The anode cap has inside thereof a fastening portion to be detachably fastened by the fixing member. |
| US08093792B2 |
Headlight lamp
A headlight lamp with at least one incandescent filament, which is surrounded by a lamp vessel. The at least one incandescent filament is constructed in such a way that during lamp operation it generates a luminous flux, the value of which is greater than a predetermined permissible maximum value for the luminous flux of the lamp. The lamp vessel has a region of reduced transparency, with the aid of which the luminous flux emerging from the headlight lamp during lamp operation is reduced to a value of less than or equal to the predetermined permissible maximum value. |
| US08093791B2 |
Spark plug having particular insulator
An object of the invention is to provide a spark plug including an insulator which is difficult to cause breakdown and exhibits higher withstand voltage characteristics. This invention relates to a spark plug 1 including a center electrode 2, an insulator 3 and a grounding electrode 6, wherein the insulator is formed by an alumina-based sintered body which has a theoretical density ratio of 95.0% or more, which contains a rare earth element component, Si component, and at least two kinds of Group 2 element (2A) components, and in which the rare earth element being dispersed so as to satisfy the following condition: |
| US08093789B2 |
Light output device
A light output device comprises a substrate arrangement with a light source device integrated into the structure of the substrate arrangement. The substrate arrangement comprises first and second optically transmissive substrates, an insulating layer in which the light source device is embedded and provided between the substrates, and a thermally conductive layer provided on at least on of the substrates. |
| US08093787B2 |
Tuning-fork-type piezoelectric vibrating piece with root portions having tapered surfaces in the thickness direction
Tuning-fork-type crystal vibrating pieces are disclosed that have a base and a pair of vibrating arms extending from one side of the base in a designated longitudinal direction. A root portion is situated between the vibrating arms, and includes a first taper surface. Extending outboard of the vibrating arms from respective sides of the base are respective supporting arms that extend in the designated direction. Between each supporting arm and the respective vibrating arm is a respective supporting-arm root portion. Each supporting-arm root portion has a second taper surface in the thickness direction of the base. |
| US08093778B2 |
Electric machine, particularly asynchronous three-phase hydrogenerator
An electrical machine, in particular a three-phase asynchronous hydrogenerator, includes a rotor and a stator, wherein one of the rotor and the stator include a core with a plurality of winding slots. The machine has a winding having a plurality of axially extending winding bars, wherein each of the plurality of winding slots receives two winding bars disposed one on top of the other, and wherein the plurality of winding bars emerge from the plurality of winding slots at an end side of the machine, and wherein each of a majority of the plurality of winding bars is electrically connected to another winding bar in an end winding so as to form a pair of winding bars according to a predetermined scheme. |
| US08093777B2 |
Group of three stator windings for a stator of an electric machine, a stator arrangement, a generator, and wind turbine
In one aspect, a stator is provided having a first cylindrical surface with a plurality circumferentially spaced winding slots, each winding slot extending along an axial length of the first cylindrical surface and formed to embed a segment of a single stator winding, Each stator winding is pre-formed as a closed loop and two substantially parallel segments of each stator winding formed to be embedded in a first and a second winding slot of the stator, with the second winding slot being the third adjacent winding slot to the first winding slot. Each of the three stator windings has a first winding head segment leaving the winding slots in axial direction of the stator, the first winding head segment of a first winding of the three stator windings describing in space in parts a combination of a rotation about an axis and a translation along that axis. |
| US08093772B2 |
Controller for AC generator
A control system that can accommodate the wide variations in the output of a generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator, while providing an output with relatively uniform phase ripple. The control system includes a zero crossing detector and variable ramp generator for generating control signals to a switching rectifier to generate a regulated DC signal. |
| US08093769B2 |
Cooling structure for rotating electric machine
A rotating electric machine including an edgewise coil formed of a rectangular wire is efficiently cooled. The edgewise coil is formed by winding the rectangular wire around a tooth. In order to wind the rectangular wire around the tooth of rectangular shape, supporting portions determining the position of the edgewise coil relative to the tooth are provided. A coolant flows through a cooling water channel provided between the tooth and the edgewise coil formed of the rectangular wire and positioned by the supporting portions. |
| US08093766B2 |
Cylindrical linear motor armature, cylindrical linear motor field pole, and cylindrical linear motor using them
A cylindrical linear motor capable of solving the problem that a leak flux links an aluminum frame at both ends of an armature of a conventional cylindrical linear motor, which causes a viscous braking force as a motor brake force, is provided. The cylindrical linear motor armature 20 includes a plurality of cylindrical coils 20a arranged in the axial direction in a cylindrical yoke 20b formed by a magnetic material and frames 20d and 20e covering the outside of the cylindrical yoke 20b. Only in the axial direction region of the frame 20d where the cylindrical yoke 20b exists, the frame 20d is formed by an aluminum frame 20d, and the axial direction both end portions are formed by a resin cap 20e. |
| US08093759B2 |
Regulated energy supply for a rapidly cycling integrated circuit with reduced electromagnetic radiation
A device (12) supplies energy to a rapid cycling and/or rapidly cycled integrated circuit (13, 52) which includes a circuit load (17) and an internal capacity (15) connected parallel to the circuit load (17). The integrated circuit (13, 52) has a high cycle frequency (f1) especially at least in the MHz range. A supply unit (14) especially designed as a current source is directly connected to the internal capacity (15). The supply unit (14) has an internal resistance, the impedance level of which is so high at the cycle frequency (f1) that a current (ID2) supplying the circuit load (17) originates to a greater degree from the internal capacity (15) than from the supply unit (14). At least one auxiliary load, current sink or load controller is provided as an integral component of the integrated circuit and is connected to the circuit load to smooth load fluctuations. |
| US08093758B2 |
Method and apparatus for control of inductively coupled power transfer systems
A power pick-up for an Inductively Coupled Power Transfer (ICPT) system is provided having a resonant pick up circuit. The natural frequency of the pick-up circuit may be varied by controlling the conductance or capacitance of a variable reactive in the resonant circuit. The load being supplied by the pick-up circuit is sensed, and the effective capacitance or inductance of the variable reactive component is controlled to vary the natural resonant frequency of the pick-up circuit to thereby control the power flow into the pick-up to satisfy the power required by the load. |
| US08093756B2 |
AC power systems for renewable electrical energy
Renewable electrical energy is provided with aspects and circuitry that can harvest maximum power from an alternative electrical energy source (1) such as a string of solar panels (11) for a power grid (10). Aspects include: i) controlling electrical power creation from photovoltaic DC-AC inverter (5), ii) operating photovoltaic DC-AC inverter (5) at maximal efficiency even when MPP would not be, iii) protecting DC-AC inverter (5) so input can vary over a range of insolation and temperature, and iv) providing dynamically reactive capability to react and assure operation, to permit differing components, to achieve code compliant dynamically reactive photovoltaic power control circuitry (41). With previously explained converters, inverter control circuitry (38) or photovoltaic power converter functionality control circuitry (8) configured as inverter sweet spot converter control circuitry (46) can achieve extraordinary efficiencies with substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic capability at 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. |
| US08093753B2 |
Sequential control master-slave socket device
A sequential control master-slave socket device includes at least one master socket, a plurality of slave socket, a plurality of switches, a load judgment device and a controller. Each master socket is coupled to an input power source. Inlet terminals of the switches are coupled to the input power source commonly and outlet terminals of the switches are respectively correspondingly coupled with the slave sockets for controlling whether the input power source is provided for each of the slave sockets. The load judgment device is coupled with each master socket for outputting a control signal according to an electrify state of a load connected with each master socket. The controller is coupled with the load judgment device and each switch to drive the switches one by one in a preset sequence under the control of the control signal. |
| US08093752B2 |
Synchronization of plural DC-DC voltage converters
The present disclosure relates to circuits and methods for improving the performance of plural DC-DC voltage converters. |
| US08093745B2 |
Sensing current flowing through a power line
There is provided a method for measuring a parameter of a power frequency current being carried by a power line. The method that includes (a) transducing a power frequency current flowing through a power line, into a power frequency voltage, via an inductive coupler that couples a communications signal from the power line, (b) separating the power frequency voltage from the communications signal, and (c) determining a value of a parameter of the power frequency current from the power frequency voltage. There is also provided a system and an apparatus for measuring the parameter. |
| US08093742B2 |
Method for operating a power dissipating unit in a wind turbine
A variable speed wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a generator, a power converter for converting at least a portion of electrical power generated by the generator, a power dissipating unit operatively coupled to the DC link, and a controller. The power converter includes a generator side converter, a grid side converter, and a DC (direct current) link therebetween. The controller is adapted to determine a DC link voltage error signal, the DC link voltage error signal being the difference between a function of an actual DC link voltage and a function of a predefined reference DC link voltage, determine a DC link error power based on the DC link voltage error signal, determine a feed forward power, and generate a duty ratio for operating the power dissipating unit based on the DC link error power and the feed forward power. |
| US08093737B2 |
Method for increasing energy capture in a wind turbine
A method for operating a wind turbine. The method includes providing a wind turbine having a variable speed control system, the control system having an initial rotational speed set point. At least two operational parameters are obtained from one or more sensors. An adjusted rotational speed set point greater than the initial rotational speed set point is determined in response to the operational parameter. The control system is configured with the adjusted rotational speed set point. A wind turbine and wind turbine plant are also disclosed. |
| US08093736B2 |
Wave energy harnessing device
A hydrokinetic device having a water surface float tethered to a submerged buoyant housing is provided with mechanisms for optimizing the amount of wave energy extracted from the waves by the device. Based on wave conditions, the optimization functionalities include controlling the depth of the housing to produce wave shoaling or storm avoidance, as well as to perform continuous phase control and load control for the purpose of matching the response frequency of the device to the frequency of the incident waves. |
| US08093735B1 |
Sea wave electrical power generation system
A power generation system that converts energy associated with ocean waves into electrical energy includes a plurality of floats positioned on a body of water. Each float includes an actuator arm that, when reciprocated, drives an oil piston positioned within an oil chamber. Each piston pumps oil into a supply header that fills a load cylinder with pressurized oil. Each load cylinder includes a weighted member superimposed on a plunger that is lifted by the pressurized oil; automated control valves release the oil causing the weighted member to fall rapidly. A geared rack at a lower end of the plunger engages a pinion that drives a generator. Accordingly, the rapid descent of the heavy member drives the pinion and thus the generator thereby producing electrical power. |
| US08093733B2 |
Cogeneration system
In a cogeneration system having a generation unit equipped with a generator and an internal combustion engine, there is installed with a hot water unit including a first flow channel connecting a water supply source with a thermal load, a heat exchanger exchanging heat between water flowing the first flow channel and engine coolant, a first electromagnetic solenoid regulating flow rate of the water heated by the heat exchanger, a second flow channel connected to the first flow channel, a boiler heating water flowing through the second flow channel, and a second electromagnetic solenoid regulating flow rate of the water to be heated by the boiler. The temperatures of the engine coolant and water at the first and second flow channel joint are detected and operation of the first and second valves is controlled based on the detected temperatures, rendering hot water tank unnecessary, thereby achieving the compact structure. |
| US08093732B2 |
Engine-driven power generator with gas-liquid separation unit
Engine-driven power generator includes: a power generation section having a drive shaft connected to a crankshaft; a gas-liquid separation unit provided upstream of the power generation section and having an air inlet port for taking in cooling air, the inlet port being disposed immediately under a fuel tank, the separation unit separating moisture from the taken-in air; and a cooling fan rotatable by the drive shaft to direct the taken-in air into the power generation section. |
| US08093729B2 |
Electrically conductive interconnect system and method
An electrically conductive interconnect system has a post, extending above a supporting surface, the post including a rigid material, a coating on the rigid material, wherein the post and has a first width at the supporting surface and a second width at a distance removed from the supporting surface, and the post narrows from the first width to the second width. A method of electrically connecting a portion of a first supporting surface to a portion of a second supporting surface involves bringing a post on the first supporting surface into contact with an electrically conductive material located on the second supporting surface, softening the electrically conductive material, causing a separation distance between the first supporting surface and the second supporting distance to decrease so that a portion of the post will be surrounded by the electrically conductive material, and allowing the temperature of the electrically conductive material to decrease. |
| US08093727B2 |
Integrated circuit package-in-package system with side-by-side and offset stacking and method for manufacturing thereof
A method for manufacturing of an integrated circuit package-in-package system includes: mounting a first integrated circuit device over a substrate; mounting an integrated circuit package system having an inner encapsulation over the first integrated circuit device with a first offset; mounting a second integrated circuit device over the first integrated circuit device and adjacent to the integrated circuit package system; connecting the integrated circuit package system and the substrate; and forming a package encapsulation as a cover for the first integrated circuit device, the integrated circuit package system, and the second integrated circuit device. |
| US08093725B2 |
High aspect ratio contacts
A contact formed in accordance with a process for etching a insulating layer to produce an opening having an aspect ratio of at least 15:1 by first exposing the insulating layer to a second plasma of a second gaseous etchant comprising Ar, Xe, and combinations thereof to form an opening having an aspect ratio of less than 15:1. Secondly, the insulating layer is exposed to a first plasma of a first gaseous etchant having at least fifty percent helium (He) to etch the opening having an aspect ratio of at least 15:1, thereby increasing the aspect ratio to greater than 15:1, where the first gaseous etchant has a lower molecular weight than the second gaseous etchant. |
| US08093723B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device
In a semiconductor integrated circuit device having plural layers of buried wirings, it is intended to prevent the occurrence of a discontinuity caused by stress migration at an interface between a plug connected at a bottom thereof to a buried wiring and the buried wiring. For example, in the case where the width of a first Cu wiring is not smaller than about 0.9 μm and is smaller than about 1.44 μm, and the width of a second Cu wiring and the diameter of a plug are about 0.18 μm, there are arranged two or more plugs which connect the first wirings and the second Cu wirings electrically with each other. |
| US08093722B2 |
System-in-package with fan-out WLCSP
A system-in-package includes a package carrier; a first semiconductor die having a die face and a die edge, the first semiconductor die being assembled face-down to a chip side of the package carrier; a second semiconductor die mounted alongside of the first semiconductor die; a rewiring laminate structure comprising a re-routed metal layer between the first semiconductor die and the package carrier. At least a portion of the re-routed metal layer projects beyond the die edge. A plurality of bumps are arranged on the rewiring laminate structure for electrically connecting the first semiconductor die with the package carrier. |
| US08093720B2 |
Device, method of manufacturing device, board, method of manufacturing board, mounting structure, mounting method, LED display, LED backlight and electronic device
A mounting structure and a mounting method which are capable of securely electrically connecting wiring on a board and a device to each other in the case where the device is mounted on the board, and are capable of forming a finer bump, and increasing the number of pins are provided. A device includes at least one projection having a structure in which a surface of at least a tip part of a projecting section made of an elastic body is coated with a conductive film. |
| US08093716B2 |
Contact fuse which does not touch a metal layer
The present invention provides a semiconductor device fuse, comprising a metal layer and a first semiconductor layer that electrically couples the metal layer to a fuse layer, wherein the fuse layer is spaced apart from the metal layer. The semiconductor device fuse further comprises a second semiconductor layer that forms a blow junction interface with the fuse layer. The blow junction interface is configured to form an open circuit when a predefined power is transmitted through the second semiconductor layer to the fuse layer. |
| US08093713B2 |
Module with silicon-based layer
The invention concerns a module comprising a carrier element, a semiconductor device mounted on said carrier element and a silicon-based insulating layer. The silicon-based insulating layer is arranged on the side of the carrier element opposite to the semiconductor device. The invention further concerns a module comprising a semiconductor device, a mold compound at least partly covering the semiconductor device and a silicon-based passivation layer. The silicon-based passivation layer covers at least partly the periphery of the mold compound. |
| US08093711B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having a through-connection extending between a first main face of the semiconductor chip and a second main face of the semiconductor chip opposite the first main face, encapsulation material at least partially encapsulating the semiconductor chip, and a first metal layer disposed over the encapsulation material and connected with the through-connection. |
| US08093708B2 |
Semiconductor package having non-uniform contact arrangement
A semiconductor package has a non-uniform contact arrangement in which clustered contacts (e.g., a group of ground contacts, a group of power contacts, and/or a group of heatslug contacts) are placed closer together than I/O contacts. In one embodiment, I/O contacts near a cluster have a pitch in at least one direction that is larger than other I/O contacts. A local increase in the pitch of I/O contacts may be used to increase the line width and/or spacing of traces that fan out from corresponding pads on a printed circuit board. |
| US08093707B2 |
Leadframe packages having enhanced ground-bond reliability
Various semiconductor package arrangements and methods that improve the reliability of wire bonding a die to ground or other outside contacts are described. In one aspect, selected ground pads on the die are wire bonded to a bonding region located on the tie bar portion of the lead frame. The tie bar is connected to an exposed die attach pad that is downset from the bonding region of the tie bar. In some embodiments, the bonding region and the leads are at substantially the same elevation above the die and die attach pad. The die, bonding wires, and at least a portion of the lead frame can be encapsulated with a plastic encapsulant material while leaving a contact surface of the die attach pad exposed to facilitate electrically coupling the die attach pad to an external device. |
| US08093704B2 |
Package on package using a bump-less build up layer (BBUL) package
In some embodiments, package on package using a bump-less build up layer (BBUL) package is presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced comprising a microelectronic die having an active surface, an inactive surface parallel to said active surface, and at least one side, an encapsulation material adjacent said at least one microelectronic die side, wherein said encapsulation material includes a bottom surface substantially planar to said microelectronic die active surface and a top surface substantially planar to said microelectronic die inactive surface, a through via connection in said encapsulation material extending from said top surface to said bottom surface, a first dielectric material layer disposed on at least a portion of said microelectronic die active surface and said encapsulation material surface, a plurality of build-up layers disposed on said first dielectric material layer, and a plurality of conductive traces disposed on said first dielectric material layer and said build-up layers and in electrical contact with said microelectronic die active surface. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08093702B2 |
Stacked microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing stacked microelectronic devices
Stacked microelectronic devices and methods of manufacturing stacked microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a microelectronic device includes forming a plurality of electrically isolated, multi-tiered metal spacers on a front side of a first microelectronic die, and attaching a back-side surface of a second microelectronic die to individual metal spacers. In another embodiment, the method of manufacturing the microelectronic device may further include forming top-tier spacer elements on front-side wire bonds of the first die. |
| US08093694B2 |
Method of manufacturing non-leaded integrated circuit package system having etched differential height lead structures
A non-leaded integrated circuits package system is provided including etching differential height lead structures having inner leads at a paddle height, providing mold locks at the bending points of the differential height lead structures, etching an elevated paddle at a same height as the inner leads, mounting a first integrated circuit on the elevated paddle, and electrically connecting first electrical interconnects between the first integrated circuit and the inner leads. |
| US08093691B1 |
System and method for RF shielding of a semiconductor package
A semiconductor device has a substrate having a plurality of metal traces. At least one electronic component is electrically coupled to a first surface of the substrate. A mold compound is used for encapsulating portions of the electronic component and the first surface of the substrate, wherein a portion of the mold compound is removed around at least one side of the electronic component. A conductive coating is applied to the mold compound and an area where the portion of the mold compound is removed. |
| US08093688B2 |
Device comprising an ohmic via contact, and method of fabricating thereof
Device comprising an ohmic via contact, and method of fabricating thereof. A preferred embodiment comprises forming a metal layer over a substrate, forming a conductive barrier layer over the metal layer, depositing an insulating layer over the conductive barrier layer, creating an opening in the insulating layer to expose the conductive barrier layer, and forming a via contact in the opening. The conductive barrier layer protects the metal layer by preventing the formation of an oxide layer, which could reduce conductivity. |
| US08093686B2 |
Process for obtaining a hybrid substrate comprising at least one layer of a nitrided material
A process for obtaining a hybrid substrate that includes at least one active layer of Group III/N material for applications in the field of electronics, optics, photovoltaics or optoelectronics. The method includes selecting a source substrate of Group III/N material having a hexagonal single crystal crystallographic structure; carrying out an implantation of He+ helium ions into the source substrate through an implantation face which lies in a plane approximately parallel with the “c” crystallographic axis of the material, at an implantation dose equal to or greater than 1×1016 He+/cm2 and 1×1017 He+/cm2, to form therein a number of nanocavities defining a weakened zone which delimits the active layer; and transferring the active layer by applying an overall energy budget capable of causing detachment of the layer from the source substrate, wherein the budget also causes the nanocavities to grow into cavities. |
| US08093685B2 |
Nitride compound semiconductor element
A nitride compound semiconductor element according to the present invention is a nitride compound semiconductor element including a substrate 1 having an upper face and a lower face and a semiconductor multilayer structure 40 supported by the upper face of the substrate 1, such that the substrate 1 and the semiconductor multilayer structure 40 have at least two cleavage planes. At least one cleavage inducing member 3 which is in contact with either one of the two cleavage planes is provided, and a size of the cleavage inducing member 3 along a direction parallel to the cleavage plane is smaller than a size of the upper face of the substrate 1 along the direction parallel to the cleavage plane. |
| US08093678B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device. The device includes an active region isolated by an isolation structure on a substrate, and a dielectric layer overlying the active region and the isolation structure. The dielectric layer comprises a lower part overlying the active region beyond the boundary of the active region and the isolation structure, and a protruding part overlying the boundary of the active region and the isolation structure. |
| US08093668B2 |
Magnetoresistive random access memory including reference cells
A magnetoresistive random access memory includes first and second magnetoresistive effect element. A shape of the first magnetoresistive effect element has a first length in a first direction and a second length in a second direction. The second length is equal to or greater than the first length. A ratio of the second length to the first length is a first value. The second magnetoresistive effect element is used to determine a resistance state of the first magnetoresistive effect element. A shape of the second magnetoresistive effect element has a third length in a third direction and a fourth length in a fourth direction. The fourth length is equal to or greater than the third length. A ratio of the fourth length to the third length is a second value which is greater than the first value. |
| US08093667B2 |
Flexible gate electrode device for bio-sensing
Briefly, disclosed is an apparatus and method for detecting an analyte wherein a flexible gate electrode may respond to mechanical stress and/or electrostatic changes induced by bonding of a biomolecular probe and an analyte. |
| US08093665B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device is described, which includes a substrate, a gate structure, doped regions and lightly doped regions. The substrate has a stepped upper surface, which includes a first surface, a second surface and a third surface. The second surface is lower than the first surface. The third surface connects the first surface and the second surface. The gate structure is disposed on the first surface. The doped regions are configured in the substrate at both sides of the gate structure and under the second surface. The lightly doped regions are configured in the substrate between the gate structure and the doped regions, respectively. Each lightly doped region includes a first part and a second part connecting with each other. The first part is disposed under the second surface, and the second part is disposed under the third surface. |
| US08093662B2 |
Semiconductor memory
Borderless contacts for word lines or via contacts for bit lines are formed using interconnect patterns, a part of which is removed. A semiconductor memory includes: a plurality of active regions AAi, AAi+1, . . . , AAn, which extend on a memory cell array along the column length; a plurality of word line patterns WL1, WL2, . . . , extend along the row length and are non-uniformly arranged; a plurality of select gate line patterns SG1, SG2, . . . , are arranged parallel to the plurality of word line patterns; borderless contacts are formed near the ends of the word line patterns on the memory cell array, and are in contact with part of an interconnect extended from the end of the memory cell array, but are not in contact with interconnects adjacent to that interconnect; and bit line contacts are formed within contact forming regions provided by removing part of the plurality of word line patterns and select gate line patterns through double exposure. |
| US08093661B2 |
Integrated circuit device with single crystal silicon on silicide and manufacturing method
A silicide element separates a single crystal silicon node from an underlying silicon substrate, and is capable of acting as a conductive element for interconnecting devices on the device. The single crystal silicon node can act as one terminal of a diode, and a second semiconductor node on top of it can act as the other terminal of the diode. The single crystal silicon node can act as one of the terminals of the transistor, and second and third semiconductor nodes are formed in series on top of it, providing a vertical transistor structure, which can be configured as a field effect transistor or bipolar junction transistor. The silicide element can be formed by a process that consumes a base of a protruding single crystal element by silicide formation processes, while shielding upper portions of the protruding element from the silicide formation process. |
| US08093657B2 |
Circuit and methods to improve the operation of SOI devices
According to the present invention, a circuit and methods for enhancing the operation of SOI fabricated devices are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pulse discharge circuit is provided. Here, a circuit is designed to provide a pulse that will discharge the accumulated electrical charge on the body of the SOI devices in the memory subarray just prior to the first access cycle. As explained above, once the accumulated charge has been dissipated, the speed penalty for successive accesses to the memory subarray is eliminated or greatly reduced. With a proper control signal, timing and sizing, this can be a very effective method to solve the problem associated with the SOI loading effect. Alternatively, instead of connecting the bodies of all SOI devices in a memory circuit to ground, the bodies of the N-channel FET pull-down devices of the local word line drivers can be selectively connected to a reference ground. This would enable the circuit to retain most of the speed advantages associated with SOI devices while overcoming the loading problem described above. With this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the major delay caused by the bipolar loading effect is minimized while the speed advantage due to providing a lower, variable Vt effect is preserved. The overall body resistance of the individual devices has a minimal effect on the device body potential. |
| US08093649B2 |
Flash memory cell
A flash memory cell includes a substrate, a source, a drain, a first oxide, a second oxide, a floating gate and a control gate. The source and a drain are formed in the substrate separately, and are doped with N-type ions. The first oxide is formed on the substrate. The floating gate is formed on the first oxide, wherein the floating gate is doped with P-type ions. The second oxide formed on the floating gate. The control gate formed on the second oxide. |
| US08093648B2 |
Method for manufacturing non-volatile memory and structure thereof
A method for manufacturing a non-volatile memory and a structure thereof are provided. The manufacturing method comprises the following steps. Firstly, a substrate is provided. Next, a semiconductor layer is formed on the substrate. Then, a Si-rich dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor layer. After that, a plurality of silicon nanocrystals is formed in the Si-rich dielectric layer by a laser annealing process to form a charge-storing dielectric layer. Last, a gate electrode is formed on the charge-storing dielectric layer. |
| US08093643B2 |
Multi-resistive integrated circuit memory
A capacitor for use in integrated circuits comprises a layer of conductive material. The layer of conductive material including at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged in a predetermined pattern relative to one another to provide a maximum amount of capacitance per semiconductor die area. |
| US08093638B2 |
Systems with a gate dielectric having multiple lanthanide oxide layers
Electronic systems and methods of forming the electronic systems include a gate dielectric having multiple lanthanide oxide layers. Such electronic systems may be used in a variety of electronic system applications. A dielectric film having a layer of a lanthanide oxide and a layer of another lanthanide oxide provides a reliable gate dielectric with an equivalent oxide thickness thinner than attainable using SiO2. |
| US08093637B2 |
MIM capacitor and associated production method
An MIM capacitor includes a first capacitor electrode, which is formed in the surface of a first intermediate dielectric, a second intermediate dielectric, which is formed on the first intermediate dielectric and has an opening that exposes the first capacitor electrode, and a first electrically conducting diffusion barrier layer, which is formed on the surface of the exposed first capacitor electrode. On the diffusion barrier layer and on the side walls of the opening there is also formed a capacitor dielectric and a second capacitor electrode on top. |
| US08093636B2 |
CMOS image sensor
A complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor includes a photodiode, a gate pattern of a transfer transistor contacting one side of the photodiode, a gate pattern of a drive transistor disposed to have a predetermined spacing distance from the gate pattern of the transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion node disposed between the gate pattern of the transfer transistor and the gate pattern of the drive transistor. |
| US08093631B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
A non-volatile memory device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The method includes: forming a gate structure on a substrate, the gate structure including a first insulation layer, a first electrode layer for a floating gate and a second insulation layer; forming a third insulation layer on the gate structure covering predetermined regions of the substrate adjacent to the gate structure; and forming a second electrode layer for a control gate on the third insulation layer disposed on sidewalls of the gate structure and the predetermined regions of the substrate. |
| US08093629B2 |
Semiconductor chip and semiconductor device having a plurality of semiconductor chips
The present invention comprises a semiconductor chip, and a semiconductor device having a plurality of semiconductor chips, that enables ESD protection from another semiconductor chip without increasing the chip area in case the semiconductor chip is Multi-Chip-Packaged, without wasting chip area in case the semiconductor chip is not Multi-Chip-Packaged. The exemplary semiconductor chip of the present invention includes an internal circuit and a first electrode pad electrically connected to a ground bus line of the first semiconductor chip in a region where an electrode pad, which gives and receives electric signals required for an operation of the internal circuit, cannot be provided. |
| US08093628B2 |
Fluidic nanotubes and devices
Fluidic nanotube devices are described in which a hydrophilic, non-carbon nanotube, has its ends fluidly coupled to reservoirs. Source and drain contacts are connected to opposing ends of the nanotube, or within each reservoir near the opening of the nanotube. The passage of molecular species can be sensed by measuring current flow (source-drain, ionic, or combination). The tube interior can be functionalized by joining binding molecules so that different molecular species can be sensed by detecting current changes. The nanotube may be a semiconductor, wherein a tubular transistor is formed. A gate electrode can be attached between source and drain to control current flow and ionic flow. By way of example an electrophoretic array embodiment is described, integrating MEMs switches. A variety of applications are described, such as: nanopores, nanocapillary devices, nanoelectrophoretic, DNA sequence detectors, immunosensors, thermoelectric devices, photonic devices, nanoscale fluidic bioseparators, imaging devices, and so forth. |
| US08093626B2 |
Normally-off field effect transistor using III-nitride semiconductor and method for manufacturing such transistor
Provided is a normally-off field effect transistor using a III-nitride semiconductor. The transistor is provided with a III-nitride semiconductor layer grown on a substrate by including an acceptor and a donor; a gate insulating film which is formed on the III-nitride semiconductor layer to have a thickness to be at a prescribed threshold voltage based on the concentration of the acceptor and that of the donor; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; a first source/drain electrode formed on the III-nitride semiconductor layer to one side of and separate from the gate electrode, directly or via a high dopant concentration region; and a second source/drain electrode formed away from the gate electrode and the first source/drain electrode, on or under the III-nitride semiconductor layer, directly or via a high dopant concentration region. |
| US08093624B1 |
High fill-factor avalanche photodiode
A photodiode is provided by the invention, including an n-type active region and a p-type active region. A first one of the n-type and p-type active regions is disposed in a semiconductor substrate at a first substrate surface. A second one of the n-type and p-type active regions includes a high-field zone disposed beneath the first one of the active regions at a first depth in the substrate, a mid-field zone disposed laterally outward of the first active region at a second depth in the substrate greater than the first depth, and a step zone connecting the high-field zone and the mid-field zone in the substrate. |
| US08093623B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor integrated circuit including a protected circuit; and a protection element formed on the same semiconductor substrate as the protected circuit and adapted to protect the protected circuit, wherein the protection element includes two diodes having their anodes connected together to form a floating node and two cathodes connected to the protected circuit, the two diodes are formed in a well-in-well structure on the semiconductor substrate, and the well-in-well structure includes a P-type well forming the floating gate, an N-type well which surrounds the surfaces of the P-type well other than that on the front side of the substrate with the deep portion side of the substrate so as to form the cathode of one of the diodes, and a first N-type region formed in the P-type well so as to form the cathode of the other diode. |
| US08093619B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device, which can be efficiently manufactured and maintain a stable light emitting property for a long period, is provided. The light emitting device comprises a first resin forming body including a periphery that forms a recess to house a light emitting element and a bottom that forms a bottom portion of the recess, and a second resin forming body which covers the light emitting element. The first resin forming body is composed of a thermosetting epoxy resin composite whose essential component is an epoxy resin. The bottom covers surfaces of lead frames excluding mounting regions of the light emitting element and wires. A thickness of the bottom is formed thinner than a thickness from the surface of the lead frames to a leading end of the light emitting element. |
| US08093618B2 |
Multi-layer ohmic electrode, semiconductor light emitting element having multi-layer ohmic electrode, and method of forming same
There are provided an ohmic electrode, which includes a contact layer made of an Al alloy and formed on a nitride-based semiconductor layer functioning as a light emitting layer, a reflective layer made of Ag metal, formed on the contact layer and having some particles in-diffused to the semiconductor layer, and a protective layer formed on the reflective layer to restrain out-diffusion of the reflective layer; a method of forming the ohmic electrode; and a semiconductor light emitting element having the ohmic electrode. The present invention has strong adhesive strength and low contact resistance since the reflective layer and the light emitting layer directly form an ohmic contact due to the interface reaction during heat treatment, and the present invention has high light reflectance and excellent thermal stability since the contact layer and the protective layer restrain out-diffusion of the reflective layer during heat treatment. |
| US08093617B2 |
Bare microelectronic chip provided with a recess forming a housing for a wire element constituting a flexible mechanical support, fabrication process and microstructure
A microelectronic chip comprises two parallel main faces and side faces. At least one of the faces comprises a recess provided with at least one electrical connection element and forming a housing for a wire element. The wire element simultaneously constitutes both an electrical connection between the chip and the outside via said connection element and a flexible mechanical support for said chip. |
| US08093613B2 |
LED lamp for light source
Whereas incandescent light bulbs and other similar light sources known in the related art emit light in all directions, LED lamps can emit light in a single direction, and this is manifested in the problem of being unable to achieve light distribution characteristics satisfied by conventional headlamp designs. In accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter, an LED lamp for a light source of a headlamp can include an LED chip in the vicinity of the focus of a projection means and a shielding member covering a portion of the LED chip in a formation allowing a light distribution characteristic suitable for a vehicle front-illumination light to be obtained when light from the LED chip is magnified and projected in an illumination direction by a projection lens or the like constituting the projection means. Accordingly, accurate light distribution characteristics can be obtained in a simple manner by projecting in the illumination direction using the projection lens. |
| US08093608B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device
A semiconductor light-emitting device including a substrate, an n-type semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, an active layer laminated on the n-type semiconductor layer and capable of emitting a light, a p-type semiconductor layer laminated on the active layer, an n-electrode which is disposed on a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate or on the n-type semiconductor layer and spaced away from the active layer and p-type semiconductor layer, and a p-electrode which is disposed on the p-type semiconductor layer and includes a reflective ohmic metal layer formed on the dot-like metallic layer, wherein the light emitted from the active layer is extracted externally from the substrate side. |
| US08093606B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device
There is provided a nitride semiconductor light emitting device having a light reflection layer capable of preventing reflectivity from lowering and luminance from lowering due to deterioration of quality of an active layer. A nitride semiconductor laser includes at least a light emitting layer forming portion (3) provided on a first light reflection layer (2) provided on a substrate (1). The first light reflection layer (2) is formed with laminating a low refractivity layer (21) and a high refractivity layer (22) which have a different refractivity from each other, and the low refractivity layer (21) of the first light reflection layer is formed with a single layer structure of an AlxGa1−xN layer (0≦x≦1), and the high refractivity layer (22) of the first light reflection layer is formed with a multi layer structure formed by laminating alternately an AlyGa1−yN layer (0≦y≦0.5 and y |
| US08093605B2 |
Gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device with an electrode covered by an over-coating layer
A gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and a p-type semiconductor layer of gallium nitride-based compound semiconductors which are formed in this order on a substrate, the negative electrode and the positive electrode being provided in contact with the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, respectively. The positive electrode includes a first electrode and an over-coating layer covering the side surfaces and upper surface of the first electrode, and the area where the over-coating layer comes into contact with the p-type semiconductor layer is greater at the corner portions of the positive electrode than at the side portions thereof, per unit length of the outer edge of the first electrode. |
| US08093604B2 |
Engineered structure for solid-state light emitters
An engineered structure of a light emitting device comprises multiple layers of alternating active and buffer materials disposed between AC or DC electrodes, which generate an electric field. The active layers comprise luminescent centers, e.g. group IV semiconductor nanocrystals, in a host matrix, e.g. a wide bandgap semiconductor or dielectric material such as silicon dioxide or silicon nitride. The buffer layers are comprised of a wide bandgap semiconductor or dielectric material, and designed with a thickness, in the direction of an applied electric field, that ensures that electrons passing therethrough picks up enough energy to excite the luminescent centers in the adjacent active layer at an excitation energy to emit light efficiently at a desired wavelength. |
| US08093603B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate, a pixel electrode, a pixel defining film, a light absorbing layer pattern, an organic light emitting layer and a common electrode. The pixel electrode is formed on the substrate, and the pixel defining film formed on the substrate has an opening to expose the pixel electrode. The light absorbing member divides the opening into a plurality of sub-emitting areas within the opening of the pixel defining film. The organic light emitting layer is formed on the pixel electrode, and the common electrode is formed on the organic light emitting layer. |
| US08093602B2 |
Stacked organic light-emitting device and imaging apparatus and image display apparatus having the same
A stacked organic light-emitting device having a first organic compound layer and a second organic compound layer stacked on a substrate includes: a first light-emitting device in which the first organic compound layer is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode; and a second light-emitting device in which the second organic compound layer is sandwiched between the second electrode and a third electrode. An electrode of a TFT circuit which is electrically connected to the third electrode is formed on the substrate in a region different from a region in which the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device emit light. In order to prevent the third electrode which extends to the electrode of the TFT circuit from being electrically connected to the second electrode, the second organic compound layer is formed so as to cover an end portion of the second electrode. |
| US08093600B2 |
LED packaging structure
A light emitting diode packaging structure includes a package body, a red LED chip, a blue LED chip, a green LED chip, a package material and a yellow phosphor. Three LED chips are disposed within an accommodating room of the body package and covered by the package material. The yellow phosphor is uniformly mixed with the package material. A white light is formed by a mix of three types of light from the LED chips. Additionally, a yellow light which is generated from the excitement of the yellow phosphor with the blue light is mixed with a part of the blue light to further form the white light. |
| US08093598B2 |
Power semiconductor device
A power semiconductor device less prone to cause a reaction between a metal material for interconnection and an electrode or the like connected to a semiconductor region during the high-temperature operation thereof and less prone to be strained during the high-temperature operation thereof. The power semiconductor device can be an SiC power device or the like in which a first metal layer containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ti, Mo, W and Ta is formed on a source electrode formed on the semiconductor region, such as a source region or the like. A second metal layer containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Mo, W and Cu is formed on the first metal layer. A third metal layer containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Pt, Mo and W is formed on the second metal layer. |
| US08093597B2 |
In situ dopant implantation and growth of a III-nitride semiconductor body
In one embodiment a method enabling in situ dopant implantation during growth of a III-nitride semiconductor body, comprises establishing a growth environment for the III-nitride semiconductor body in a composite III-nitride chamber having a dopant implanter and a growth chamber, growing the III-nitride semiconductor body in the growth chamber, and implanting the III-nitride semiconductor body in situ in the growth chamber using the dopant implanter. A semiconductor device produced using the disclosed method comprises a III-nitride semiconductor body having a first conductivity type formed over a support substrate, and at least one doped region produced by in situ dopant implantation of the III-nitride semiconductor body during its growth, that at least one doped region having a second conductivity type. |
| US08093596B2 |
Pixel structure
A pixel structure includes a patterned semiconductor layer disposed on a transistor region of the substrate, a first capacitor electrode disposed on a capacitor region of the substrate, a gate dielectric layer disposed on the first capacitor electrode, a gate disposed on a channel region of the patterned semiconductor layer, a second capacitor electrode, a dielectric layer, and an aluminum capacitor electrode sequentially disposed on the gate dielectric layer of the capacitor region, a first dielectric layer disposed on the gate and the aluminum capacitor electrode, at least one first wire disposed in the first dielectric layer for electrically connecting source/drain region of the patterned semiconductor layer and the aluminum capacitor electrode, a second dielectric layer disposed on the first wire, and a first transparent conductive layer disposed on the second dielectric layer and connected to the first wire. |
| US08093589B2 |
Semiconductor device with an active layer containing zinc oxide, manufacturing method, and electronic device
In a thin film transistor (1), a gate insulating layer (4) is formed on a gate electrode (3) formed on an insulating substrate (2). Formed on the gate insulating layer (4) is a semiconductor layer (5). Formed on the semiconductor layer (5) are a source electrode (6) and a drain electrode (7). A protective layer (8) covers them, so that the semiconductor layer (5) is blocked from an atmosphere. The semiconductor layer (5) (active layer) is made of, e.g., a semiconductor containing polycrystalline ZnO to which, e.g., a group V element is added. This allows practical use of a semiconductor device which has an active layer made of zinc oxide and which includes an protective layer for blocking the active layer from an atmosphere. |
| US08093586B2 |
Hybrid organic light-emitting transistor device and manufacturing method thereof
A hybrid organic light-emitting transistor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The hybrid organic light-emitting transistor device includes at least one organic light-emitting diode device and at least one organic thin-film transistor device placed on the same substrate. The organic light-emitting diode device has a first organic layer placed between an anode and a cathode, and the organic thin-film transistor device has a second organic layer placed on a source electrode and a drain electrode. The first organic layer and the second organic layer are spatially isolated from each other, and an organic material forming the second organic layer is identical to an organic material forming the first organic layer. The hybrid organic light-emitting transistor with a reduced pixel size and an improved aperture ratio can be easily obtained. |
| US08093585B2 |
Organic electro-luminescent display apparatus
Each TFT for driving each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix-like configuration is configured using a stagger-type polycrystalline-Si TFT. A gate electrode, which is composed of a high-heat-resistant material capable of resisting high temperature at the time of polycrystalline-Si film formation, is disposed at a lower layer as compared with the polycrystalline-Si layer that forms a channel of each TFT. A gate line, which is composed of a low-resistance material, is disposed at an upper layer as compared with the polycrystalline-Si layer. The gate electrode and the gate line are connected to each other via a through-hole bored in a gate insulation film. Respective configuration components of each organic electro-luminescent element are partially co-used at the time of the line formation, thereby suppressing an increase in the steps, processes, and configuration components. |
| US08093581B2 |
Optical semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
There is provided an optical semiconductor device having a first optical semiconductor element including an InP substrate, a lower cladding layer formed on the InP substrate, a lower optical guide layer which is formed on the lower cladding layer and is composed of AlGaInAs, an active layer which is formed on the lower optical guide layer and has a multiple quantum well structure where a well layer and a barrier layer that is formed of AlGaInAs are alternately stacked, an upper optical guide layer which is formed on the active layer and is composed of InGaAsP, and an upper cladding layer formed on the upper optical guide layer. |
| US08093580B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device has a structure in which a light-emitting layer of an organic material or the like is sandwiched between a work function controlled single-wall carbon nanotube cathode encapsulating a donor having a low ionization potential and a work function controlled single-wall carbon nanotube anode encapsulating an acceptor having a high electron affinity. A semiconductor device represented by an organic field-effect light-emitting element and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device and the method of manufacturing the same make it possible to improve characteristics and performance, such as reduction in light-emission starting voltage and a high luminous efficiency, to improve reliability, such as an increase in life, and to improve productivity, such as reduction in manufacturing cost. |
| US08093575B2 |
Memristive device with a bi-metallic electrode
A memristive device having a bimetallic electrode includes a memristive matrix, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is in electrical contact with the memristive matrix and the second electrode is in electrical contact with the memristive matrix and an underlying layer. At least one of the first and second electrodes is a bimetallic electrode which includes a conducting layer and a metallic layer. |
| US08093574B2 |
Shielding for ionizing radiation
A shielding (11) for reducing the amount of radiation passing through the shielding comprises a first part (111) and a second part (112), wherein the first part is arranged for being withdrawn from the second part and wherein said first and second parts comprise abutments. At least one pair of corresponding abutments of said first and second parts has a transverse section which is curvilinearly shaped along a portion of at least half of said transverse section. |
| US08093567B2 |
Method and system for counting secondary particles
An apparatus for visualizing an ion beam editing operation of a sample. The apparatus comprises a charged particle beam column for producing an charged particle beam and for directing the charged particle beam onto the sample and beam rastering electronics (BRE) for controlling a movement and a dwell time of the charged particle beam. The apparatus further comprises a detector for detecting charged particles stemming from the sample as a result of the charged particle beam impinging on the sample and a multi-channel scalar (MCS) coupled to the detector and to the IBRE, and time-correlated with the BRE, the MCS for binning events detected at the detector as a function of time duration from a start event. Finally, the apparatus comprises an analysis module connected to the MCS for processing data from the MCS into a display signal, and a display module connected to the analysis module for displaying the display signal. |
| US08093565B2 |
Wind and temperature spectrometer with crossed small-deflection energy analyzer
A wind and temperature spectrometer (WTS) may detect the angular and energy distributions of neutral atoms/molecules and ions in two mutually perpendicular planes. The measured energy distribution at a known angle near the peak may be used to infer the full wind vector W. A WTS having a single ion source may be used in conjunction with a crossed small-deflection energy analyzer (SDEA). The crossed SDEA may combine the angular and energy distributions in the two mutually perpendicular planes into a single spectrometer with a single optical axis. A WTS having a single ion source may use less energy and occupy less space than a WTS with two ion sources. |
| US08093559B1 |
Methods and apparatus for three-color infrared sensors
The present invention provides a two-terminal infrared detector capable of detecting a plurality of bands, such as three bands, over the visible and short-wave infrared bands. Detection of three colors enables one to construct composite imagery that provide significantly added contract in comparison to typical grayscale images. In some variations, the device includes multiple absorber and barrier layers that consist of distinct engineered semiconductor alloys which are closely lattice matched to InP. |
| US08093556B2 |
Device and method for analyzing a sample
A device and method for analyzing a sample, in particular a sample which contains low-density materials, is provided. Ions of a predefined mass and/or a predefined elementary charge are selected from a plurality of ions. The selected ions are directed onto the sample for sample preparation. An electron beam is then directed onto the prepared sample and a spatial distribution of scattered electrons is measured. |
| US08093552B2 |
Electric field separator device and process
A process and device is provided for the separation of electronegative molecules from non electronegative molecules using electric fields. The molecules are ionized in a non thermal discharge plasma which produces negative and positive ions of the electronegative and non electronegative molecules. The ions are spatially separated by an average DC electric field. A means to filter is disposed in the path of the separated ions and it allows ions to pass through more easily than uncharged molecules. After the ions pass through the filter they are electrically neutralized back to uncharged molecules. |
| US08093551B2 |
Self-aligning floating ion-optics components
A mass spectrometry system includes an ion-optics and a housing for the ion-optics. A panel is movable between an open and closed position relative to the housing. A first section of the ion-optics is within the housing, while a second section of the ion-optics is mounted to the panel. The ion-optics is surrounded by the housing and the panel when the panel is in the closed position. An alignment mechanism aligns the first and second sections of the ion-optics into a pre-determined alignment upon closing the panel. |
| US08093550B2 |
Determining downhole fluid flow
Tool for drilling a borehole and method for using such tool. The tool has an apparatus for determining a change in a drilling environment around the borehole that includes a source for generating neutrons to produce a radioactive isotope in a fluid flowing down inside the tool; a detector for detecting a change in gamma-ray radiation created from decay of the radioactive isotope when the fluid flows back up outside the tool; and means for relating the detected change in the gamma-ray radiation to the change in the drilling environment that includes borehole enlargement, fluid loss from the borehole and/or fluid entry into the borehole. |
| US08093540B2 |
Method of focus and automatic focusing apparatus and detecting module thereof
A method of focus and a focusing apparatus and a detecting module are provided. The detecting module includes an ellipse curved-surface reflection device and a light detector. The ellipse curved-surface reflection device has a beam gate, a first focus and a second focus. A light beam is focused by a light focusing device, and is projected on a surface of an object to be detected through the beam gate. The ellipse curved-surface reflection device reflects the light beams reflected or scattered by the object. The light detector is disposed on the second focus for receiving the light beam reflected by the ellipse curved-surface reflection device to generate a detecting result, by which a distance between the light focusing device and the surface of the object to be detected is adjusted, so that the light beam is correctly focused on the surface of the object. |
| US08093537B2 |
Process and apparatus for the production of short cooking time rice
A process for the production of short cooking time rice is characterized by that hulled rice of at least 10% moisture content, if required in packaging suitable for ready cooking, is heat treated for 1 to 30 minutes continuously or interrupted by equal or alternating capacity microwave radiation, to reach maximum 130° C. An apparatus for the production of short cooking time rice has a microwave furnace with a tunnel made from a suitable material, wherein the rice packed into packages is movable within the tunnel by a conveyor. Regarding the easy and short process, a remarkable energy saving is possible. |
| US08093536B2 |
Drying apparatus and method for controlling the same
Provided is a drying system capable of determining if the number of on/off switching unitings of a heating mechanism exceeds a preset number over a preset duration, and reducing the amount of heat that the heating mechanism radiates, in order to extend the service life of the heating mechanism and a switching uniting mechanism |
| US08093534B2 |
Cooking device
There is provided a cooking device capable of preventing heating operations from being unintentionally turned on and off and the setting of heating operations from being changed even when water droplets are scattered around touch switches or the vicinity of the touch switches is wiped with a damp cloth or the like. Left and right cancel electrodes (5a, 5b) are provided near the key electrodes between the positions of left and right heating coils (3a, 3b) and the positions of the key electrodes (4a1, 4a2, 4a3, 4b1, 4b2, 4b3). A control unit (6) changes over between validity and invalidity of inputting through the key electrodes based on whether or not a change of capacitances of the left and right cancel electrodes (5a, 5b) is equal to or more than a predetermined amount. |
| US08093533B2 |
Modular pizza oven kit, pizza oven finger assembly support, and a method of operating a pizza oven at different speeds and a control arrangement for performing the method
A modular pizza oven kit, pizza oven finger assembly support, and a method of operating a pizza oven at different speeds and a control arrangement for performing the method. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. |
| US08093531B2 |
Method of energy beam welding aluminum to titanium
A joining of a titanium material with an aluminium material, wherein the parts made of the two substances are connected with each other in a substance-to-substance manner. Preferably, the joining is effected by a laser beam or an electron beam. |
| US08093529B2 |
Control method of a temperature of a sample
A method of stably controlling the temperature of a sample placed on a sample stage to a desired temperature by estimating a sample temperature accurately, the sample stage including a refrigerant flow path to cool the sample stage, a heater to heat the sample stage, and a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the sample stage. This method comprises the steps of: measuring in advance the variation-with-time of supply electric power to the heater, temperature of the sample, and temperature of the temperature sensor, without plasma processing; approximating the relation among the measured values using a simultaneous linear differential equation; estimating a sample temperature from the variation-with-time of sensor temperature y1, heater electric power u1, and plasma heat input by means of the Luenberger's states observer based on the simultaneous linear differential equation used for the approximation; and performing a feedback control of sample temperature using the estimated sample temperature. |
| US08093523B2 |
Supporting structure, keyswitch and keyboard
This invention discloses a supporting structure for supporting a keycap of a switch. The supporting structure includes a first supporting member and a second supporting member. The first supporting member has a first arm, and the first arm forms a first shaft is perpendicularly protruded from the first arm. The second supporting member has a second arm including a first hook part. The first hook part forms a first containing space and a first opening connected to the first containing space. The first shaft can pass through the first opening and be rotatably contained in the first containing space by the first hook part. Accordingly, the first supporting member and the second supporting member can rotate relative to the first shaft. |
| US08093522B2 |
Press-button for electronic device
An exemplary press-button for an electronic device, includes a button cap, a support member connected to the button cap, and a resilient member positioned between the button cap and the support member. The button cap includes a pressing portion extending from a middle portion. The resilient member includes a main portion abutting the support member and a plurality of extending pieces uniformly extending from an edge of the main portion. Each extending piece includes a resisting portion for abutting the button cap and a deformable portion connected between the resisting portion and the main portion. |
| US08093518B2 |
Switching element relying on nanogap electrodes
A switching element 100 includes an insulating substrate 10, a first electrode 20 provided on the insulating substrate 10, a second electrode 30 provided on the insulating substrate 10, and an interelectrode gap 40 provided between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30, a distance G between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 being 0 nm |
| US08093517B2 |
Arrangement for influencing device functions by means of a foot movement
An apparatus for triggering, changing or ending device functions by means of foot movements can include a resting surface for the sole of a foot and at least one switch, arranged in the region of the resting surface and at a fixed distance from the resting surface, for closing or opening an electrical or control circuit. An actuating element can be associated with the switch to initiate its switching functions. The apparatus can also include a means for transmitting foot movements to the actuating element. The switch can be a proximity switch and the actuating element can be mounted such that it can move in a direction following the respective foot movement, with the result that, owing to the foot movement, the actuating element can be brought closer to the proximity switch therefore triggering the switching function. |
| US08093515B2 |
Fishing net
A fishing net is described incorporating an electronic weighing device to weigh a fish whilst the fish is still in the net. The fishing net comprises a handle connected to a frame and a water permeable bag coupled to the frame. An electronic weight measuring device measures the weight of a fish or any other marine creature in the water permeable bag. The weighing action requires the user to lift the fishing net out of the water keeping the fishing net in a substantially horizontal position and read the weight from the display. |
| US08093514B2 |
Mixing-weighing combination weigher using an all-kind combination process
A mixing-weighing combination weigher of the present invention comprises a plurality of kind-based groups (G1-G8) each of which is made up of a plurality of combination hoppers (4, 5) fed with objects to be weighed, the kind-based groups being fed with different kinds of objects to be weighed; and a control means (11); and the control means (11) is configured to carry out a process in which combination calculation is performed to find combination weight values for each of the kind-based groups, and combination weight values of a selection number predetermined for each kind are selected from the combination weight values based on a predetermined kind-based combination selection condition; a process in which combination calculation is performed in such a manner that one combination weight value is selected for each kind from the combination weight values selected in this process and selected combination weight values are combined to find one all-kind combination total value within an allowable range; and a discharge process for discharging the objects to be weighed from the combination hoppers (4, 5) corresponding to that all-kind combination total value. |
| US08093511B2 |
Ceiling suspension assembly
A ceiling suspension assembly for suspending an object in a cable, cord or string (51) from a ceiling includes a ceiling fitting, cover or casing (25) and a suspension device (1). The suspension device is adapted to be attached to the ceiling such as fastened to a hook, ring or shackle. The suspension device and the ceiling fitting, cover or casing have cooperating threadings which allow them to be screwed to each other and thereby take varying vertical positions in relation to each other. The suspension device can includes a projecting elongated portion that extends downwards, has an axial channel for receiving the cable, cord or string and an exterior threading. The ceiling fitting, cover or casing can includes a portion having a through-hole with an interior threading for cooperation with the exterior threading of the projecting elongated portion to give the ceiling fitting, cover or casing a desired position such as being in tight engagement with the ceiling. The ceiling cover, casing or fitting can be composed of two separate parts, one (33) of which has at its bottom a large aperture (37) in which a connector plug (53) can be introduced and the other part (35′, 35″) can be divided along an axial plane. |
| US08093509B2 |
Flexible thin image-sensing module with anti-EMI function and flexible thin PCB module with anti-EMI function
A flexible thin image-sensing module with anti-EMI function includes a flexible substrate unit, an electronic element unit, an anti-EMI unit, and a conductive structure. The electronic element unit has a plurality of electronic elements disposed on a top surface of the flexible substrate unit, and the electronic elements at least include an image sensor, a low dropout regulator and a backend IC. The anti-EMI unit is disposed on a bottom surface of the flexible substrate unit. The conductive structure passes through the flexible substrate unit and is electrically connected between the electronic element unit and the anti-EMI unit in order to guide electromagnetic waves generated by the electronic element unit to the anti-EMI unit. |
| US08093504B2 |
Circuit board structure employing ferrite element
A circuit board structure includes a dielectric layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer and a first ferrite element. The first metal layer is disposed on an upper surface of the dielectric layer and has a first circuit area, a second circuit area and a first metallic neck connecting the first circuit and the second circuit areas. The second metal layer is disposed on a lower surface of the dielectric layer and has a third circuit area, a fourth circuit area and at least a second metallic neck connecting the third circuit and the fourth circuit areas. The orthogonal projections of the first and the second metallic necks on the upper surface are not overlapped. The first ferrite element is disposed on the upper surface and overlays at least one of the orthogonal projections of the first and the second metallic necks on the upper surface. |
| US08093503B2 |
Multilayer wiring board
A coreless wiring board has no core board but a laminated structure in which a conductor layer and resin insulating layers are alternately laminated into a multilayer. Each of the resin insulating layers is formed to contain a glass cloth in an epoxy resin. A plurality of via holes taking a shape of an inverse truncated cone and having steps on internal wall surfaces is formed to penetrate each of the resin insulating layers, and a filled via conductor for electrically connecting the conductors is formed in each of the via holes. |
| US08093502B2 |
Flex-rigid wiring board and manufacturing method thereof
A flex-rigid printed wiring board is proposed which includes rigid substrates each formed from an insulative base material and a conductor circuit provided on the insulative base material, and a bendably flexible substrate formed from an insulative base material, conductor circuit provided on the insulative base material and a cover lay to cover the conductor circuit, the rigid and flexible substrates being connected to each other. As the insulative base material of the flexible substrate, there is adopted a bendable base material formed by impregnating a glass cloth with a resin and drying it. An conductor circuit is formed on one side of the flexible substrate while a dummy pattern is formed on the other side near a portion thereof where the flexible substrate is to be bent. Thus, the proposed flex-rigid printed wiring board is excellent in connection reliability, permitting to prevent the base material from being easily deformed near the bending portion, conductor circuit from being broken and the flexible substrate from being waved. The similar effect can also be attained with the wiring patterns of the conductor circuit on the flexible substrate being formed wide or curved in the width direction at the bending portion. |
| US08093500B2 |
Microwave cable cooling
A cable cooling apparatus, for dissipating heat generated by a cable, includes a housing disposed on a portion of a cable and defining a fluid-tight cavity therewithin. The housing is configured to cool at least a portion of the cable. The housing also includes one or more inlets, configured to receive fluid in the housing, and one or more outlets in fluid communication with an inlet for discharging the fluid from the housing. The fluid enters the housing through an inlet, circulates through a portion of the housing and absorbs thermal energy from a portion of the cable. |
| US08093499B2 |
Cable management system
A cable management system for cable management in an equipment rack includes a support bracket having a body extending between a mounting end and a distal end. The mounting end is configured to attach to the equipment rack, and the body has a tie down slot configured to receive a cable tie down. A cable bar is coupled to the distal end of the support bracket, wherein the cable bar has a tie down slot configured to receive a cable tie down. |
| US08093498B2 |
Busbar assembly
A busbar assembly is disclosed. The busbar assembly includes a conducting bar. The conducting bar includes a port adapted to retain and conduct electricity to a cable. The busbar assembly additionally includes a cover adapted to allow the cable to be inserted and removed from the port in a first position and to retain the cable in the port in a second position. |
| US08093493B2 |
Volume compensation within a photovoltaic device
A photovoltaic device having (i) an outer transparent casing, (ii) a substrate, the substrate and the outer transparent casing defining an inner volume, (iii) at least one solar cell on the substrate, (iv) a filler layer sealing the at least one solar cell and (v) a container within the inner volume is provided. The container decreases in volume when the filler layer expands, and increases in volume when the filler layer contracts. In some instances, the container is sealed and has a plurality of ridges. In some instances, the container has an opening that is sealed by a spring loaded seal. In some instances, the container has a first opening and a second opening, where the first opening is sealed by a first spring loaded seal and the second opening is sealed by a second spring loaded seal. In some instances, the container has an elongated asteroid shape. |
| US08093492B2 |
Solar cell receiver for concentrated photovoltaic system for III-V semiconductor solar cell
A solar cell module comprises an array of lenses, corresponding secondary optical elements and corresponding solar cell receivers. The solar cell receiver includes a solar cell having one or more III-V compound semiconductor layers, a diode coupled in parallel with the solar cell and connector for coupling to other solar cell receivers. The module includes a housing that supports the lenses such that each lens concentrates solar energy onto its respective solar cell. |
| US08093487B2 |
Removable protective nose cover
A removable protective nose cover for a submersible structure having a nose section is disclosed. The removable protective nose cover can include a plurality of shell members, each of the shell members having a forward end and an aft end. Each shell member can also be dimensioned to fit adjacent to and around the nose section of the submersible structure and thereby form a protective shell. A central nose member having a locking member can also be included, the locking member being operable to attach the central nose member to each of the forward ends of the shell members. The aft ends of the shell members can be attached to each other using a plurality of attachment clips such that the attachment of the central nose member to each of the forward ends of the shell members and the attachment of the adjacent aft ends of the shell members form the removable protective nose cover for the submersible structure. The attachment clips can be operable to release the plurality of shell members from being held adjacent to the submersible structure when the structure moves through a liquid at a predefined speed. |
| US08093486B2 |
Touch screen guitar
A synthetic guitar includes a body, a neck extending from the body, and at least one touch sensor at the neck for indicating finger position of a user. The body has a receptacle for removably securing a tablet computer to the body. The tablet computer has a touch screen for indicating finger position of the user. A processor of the tablet computer is programmed to receive input signals from the touch sensor and the touch screen and to produce an output signal based at least partially on the input signals. The software can enable the synthetic guitar to be used as a music synthesizer or to be used as a video game controller. The synthetic guitar can also include a retainer for removably securing a portable media player to be used as an additional video display while playing the guitar. |
| US08093485B2 |
Method and system for prefetching sound data in a sound processing system
A method and system for prefetching sound data in a sound processor system. The method includes integrating a prefetching function into at least one voice engine by, providing a setup phase, a data processing phase, and a cleanup phase, and prefetching sound data from a memory during the cleanup phase. As a result, the prefetching of sound data is optimized. |
| US08093484B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for regenerating audio performances
Methods for generating a new recording of a past musical performance of a musician from a recording of the past musical performance include obtaining a high-resolution data record representing actions of the musician while playing the past musical performance that is generated based on the recording of the past musical performance and positioning an automated musical instrument in a selected acoustic context and a sound detection device at a selected sound detection location in the selected acoustic context. The high-resolution data record is provided to the musical instrument to cause the musical instrument to re-produce the actions of the musician while playing the past performance. Sound waves generated by the musical instrument are recorded while the actions of the musician are being re-produced to generate the new recording of the past musical performance. |
| US08093483B2 |
Interactive water fountain and a method of interacting with water to provide an auditory or visual effect
An interactive water fountain comprising means for providing at least one column or jet (1) of water, means for applying an electrical signal each column or jet (1), detector means (2) for detecting changes in electrical impedance of said water column or jet (1) caused by human interaction therewith and means for activating an electronic device capable of providing an auditory or visual effect upon detection of a change in electrical impedance. |
| US08093477B1 |
Modular tongue drum
A tongue drum percussion instrument comprises a cylindrical shell, a circular tone plate and a plurality of fasteners. The cylindrical shell has a plurality of mounting posts extending from one edge surface. The circular tone plate is a flat metal plate provided with a plurality of tongues having a specific angle between the edges. The plurality of tongues are different in length and extend inwardly from an outer peripheral edge of the flat metal plate. The tongues are separated by radial slits and have mounting holes arranged at the ends of the slits. Different lengths of open space is created between oppositely facing end faces of the tongues. |
| US08093473B1 |
Maize variety PHGC2
A novel maize variety designated PHGC2 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHGC2 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHGC2 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHGC2 or a trait conversion of PHGC2 with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGC2, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGC2 and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US08093468B2 |
Soybean cultivar 81180925
A soybean cultivar designated 81180925 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 81180925, to the plants of soybean 81180925, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 81180925, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 81180925 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 81180925, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 81180925, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 81180925 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08093466B2 |
Soybean cultivar 8615185
A soybean cultivar designated 8615185 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 8615185, to the plants of soybean 8615185, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 8615185, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 8615185 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 8615185, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 8615185, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 8615185 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08093464B1 |
Soybean variety RJS38003
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS38003. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS38003, to the plants of soybean RJS38003 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS38003 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS38003 with another soybean plant, using RJS38003 as either the male or the female parent. |
| US08093456B2 |
Transgenic cover plants containing hemicellulase and cellulase which degrade lignin and cellulose to fermentable sugars
The present invention provides transgenic cover crop plants which after harvest degrade the hemicellulose and cellulose therein to fermentable sugars which can further be fermented to ethanol or other products. In particular, the transgenic plants comprise cellulase, hemicellulase and optionally ligninase genes from microbes operably linked to a DNA encoding a signal peptide which targets the fusion polypeptide produced therefrom to an organelle of the plant, in particular, the chloroplasts. When the transgenic plants are harvested, the plants are ground to release the hemicellulase and cellulase which then degrade the hemicellulose and cellulose of the transgenic plants to produce the fermentable sugars. |
| US08093455B2 |
Tomato plants having higher levels of resistance to Botrytis
The present invention relates to a method for detecting a quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with resistance to Botrytis cinerea in tomato, comprising the steps of crossing a Botrytis-resistant donor tomato plant with a non-resistant, or Botrytis-susceptible, recipient tomato plant, contacting one or more offspring plants with an infective amount of Botrytis, quantitatively determining the disease incidence and/or the rate of lesion growth in said one or more offspring plants, establishing a genetic linkage map that links the observed disease incidence and/or rate of lesion growth to the presence of chromosomal markers of said donor tomato plant in said one or more offspring plants, and assigning to a QTL the contiguous markers on said map that are linked to a reduced disease incidence and/or a reduced lesion growth rate. |
| US08093454B2 |
Transgene assay using stable agrobacterium rhizogenes transformation
A novel method is described for the screening of gene elements of interest using hairy roots of chimeric plants transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes. |
| US08093452B2 |
Reduced RDM-1 gene expression in plants
We describe a plant lipase polypeptide and nucleic acids that encode said polypeptide which has homology to a patatin and which has phospholipase and/or triacylglycerol lipase activity. |
| US08093450B2 |
Non-aggregating fluorescent proteins and methods for using the same
Nucleic acid compositions encoding non-aggregating chromo/fluoroproteins and mutants thereof, as well as the proteins encoded by the same, are provided. The proteins of interest are polypeptides that are non-aggregating colored and/or fluorescent proteins, where the non-aggregating feature arises from the modulation of residues in the N-terminus of the protein and the chromo and/or fluorescent feature arises from the interaction of two or more residues of the protein. Also provided are fragments of the subject nucleic acids and the peptides encoded thereby, as well as antibodies to the subject proteins and transgenic cells and organisms. The subject protein and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of different applications. Finally, kits for use in such applications, e.g., that include the subject nucleic acid compositions, are provided. |
| US08093432B2 |
Processes for epimerizing cyclohexenyl ketones with subsequent aldol condensation to produce fragrance compounds
The present disclosure describes processes for the epimerization of a cyclohexene comprising the steps of providing to a reactor a first isomer of a 1-(2-alkyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)-alkanone compound according to Formula I wherein R1 ad R2 are each independently C1-C4 alkyl, and R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1-C4 alkyl; and epimerizing the first isomer of the 1-(2-alkyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)-alkanone with a metal alkoxide base to form a second isomer of the 1-(2-alkyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)-alkanone. |
| US08093430B2 |
Methods of inhibiting ethylene responses in plants using cyclopropene amine compounds
Methods of applying cyclopropene amine derivatives and compositions thereof to inhibit ethylene receptors in plants and plant material are disclosed. Methods include applying to the plant an effective ethylene response-inhibiting amount of at least one cyclopropene amine compound or composition thereof. Cyclopropene amine compounds, enantiomers, stereoisomers or salts thereof are also provided. |
| US08093429B2 |
Fluoroamine having perfluoroalkyl group, process for producing the same, method of fluorination therewith, and method of recovering amide having perfluoroalkyl group
Provided are a fluorous-tag-introduced fluoroamine of a general formula (I), its production method, a method of fluorination of a substrate having functional group containing oxygen with the fluoroamine serving as a fluorinating agent, and a method of recovering a fluorous-tag-introduced amide after the fluorination. The fluoroamine and its production method, as well as the fluorination method with the fluoroamine and the method of recovery of a fluorous-tag-introduced amide are ecological and advantageous in industrial use, as the load for separating and collecting the product after the fluorination with the fluoroamine serving as a fluorinating agent is small. (In the formula, R0 is an alkyl group or an aryl group having substituent(s) of Rf—(CH2)m—; Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group; m is from 0 to 2; R1 and R2 each are an alkyl group or an aryl group.) |
| US08093423B2 |
Pharmaceutical-grade ferric organic compounds, uses thereof and method of making same
The present invention discloses a pharmaceutical-grade ferric organic compounds, including ferric citrate, which are soluble over a wider range of pH, and which have a large active surface area. A manufacturing and quality control process for making a pharmaceutical-grade ferric citrate that consistently complies with the established Manufacture Release Specification is also disclosed. The pharmaceutical-grade ferric organic compounds are suitable for treating disorders characterized by elevated serum phosphate levels. |
| US08093420B2 |
Functionalized amino acids and absorbable polymers therefrom
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I and II, which are functionalized amino acids, and polymers formed from the same. Polymers formed from the functionalized amino acids are expected to have controllable degradation profiles, enabling them to release an active component over a desired time range. The polymers are also expected to be useful in a variety of medical applications. |
| US08093417B2 |
Lipoxin analogs and methods for the treatment of periodontal disease
This invention provides new lipoxin analogs, compositions containing analogs, and methods of using these compounds and compositions for treating and preventing oral inflammation, including gingivitis, periodontitis, and other forms of periodontal disease. The invention also provides for methods of treating and preventing oral inflammation, including gingivitis, periodontitis, and other forms of periodontal disease with compositions containing COX-2 inhibitors. Further, the invention provides methods for preventing systemic diseases beyond theoral cavity that are related to periodontal disease using the composition containing lipoxin analogs, COX-2 inhibitors, or both. |
| US08093410B2 |
Intermediates and methods for the synthesis of halichondrin B analogs
Methods of synthesizing intermediates useful for the synthesis of halichondrin B analogs are described. |
| US08093407B2 |
Crystalline duloxetine hydrochloride
Crystalline duloxetine hydrochloride, compositions containing the same and methods for the production thereof. |
| US08093406B2 |
Cyclic sulfones with aminobenzyl substitution useful as BACE inhibitors
The invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds of the formula in which all of the variables are as defined in the specification, in free form or in salt form, to their preparation, to their use as medicaments and to medicaments comprising them. |
| US08093404B2 |
Macrocyclic dyes having aryl moieties
Chemically reactive carbocyanine dyes that are intramolecularly crosslinked between the 1-position and 3′-position, their bioconjugates and their uses are described. 1,3′-crosslinked carbocyanines are superior to those of conjugates of spectrally similar 1,1′-crosslinked or non-crosslinked dyes. The invention includes derivative compounds having one or more benzo nitrogens. |
| US08093403B2 |
Process for producing fused imidazole compound, reformatsky reagent in stable form, and process for producing the same
The present invention provides an industrially advantageous process for producing a steroid C17,20 lyase inhibitor represented by the general formula (I); and a Reformatsky reagent in a stable form suitable for the process. In the present invention, a compound represented by the general formula (I) is produced by reducing a specific β-hydroxy ester compound derivative or a salt thereof obtained from a specific carbonyl compound in a Reformatsky reaction in the presence of a metal hydride complex and a metal halide, and then subjecting it to a ring-closing reaction. In the above Reformatsky reaction, it is useful to use a stable solution of a compound represented by the general formula BrZnCH2COOC2H5 or a crystal of the compound which is represented by the formula (BrZnCH2COOC2H5.THF)2. |
| US08093401B2 |
Sirtuin modulating compounds
Provided herein are novel sirtuin-modulating compounds and methods of use thereof. The sirtuin-modulating compounds may be used for increasing the lifespan of a cell, and treating and/or preventing a wide variety of diseases and disorders including, for example, diseases or disorders related to aging or stress, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, blood clotting disorders, inflammation, cancer, and/or flushing as well as diseases or disorders that would benefit from increased mitochondrial activity. Also provided are compositions comprising a sirtuin-modulating compound in combination with another therapeutic agent. |
| US08093399B2 |
Benzoxazole derivative, and light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and electronic device using benzoxazole derivative
Disclosed is a novel benzoxazole derivative which has high excitation energy, particularly high triplet excitation energy, and is a bipolar substance. A benzoxazole derivative represented by the following General Formula (G1) is provided. In the formula, R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group with 6 to 13 carbon atoms, substituents of the substituted aryl group may be bonded to form a ring which may form a spiro ring structure, R11 to R14 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen, an alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an unsubstituted aryl group with 6 to 10 carbon atoms, a bond formed between any two of α, β, and γ forms a carbazole skeleton, and n is 0 to 3. |
| US08093395B2 |
Sphingosine compound, method for producing the same, and sphingomyelinase inhibitor
An object of the invention is to provide a novel sphingosine compound with an inhibitory activity against sphingomyelinase, and a method for producing the sphingosine compound.The novel sphingosine compound or a salt thereof according to the invention is represented by Formula (1): wherein one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, and the other is a group represented by Formula (G): wherein n is 0 or 1; and R3 is hydrogen, C1-23 alkyl, C3-8 cycloalkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, C1-6 alkoxy, C3-8 cycloalkyloxy, phenyl, or furil. |