| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08116473B2 |
Output phase modulation entrainment containment for digital filters
Method and apparatus for entrainment containment in digital filters using output phase modulation. Phase change is gradually introduced into the acoustic feedback canceller loop to avoid entrainment of the feedback canceller filter. Various embodiments employing different output phase modulation approaches are set forth and time and frequency domain examples are provided. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents. |
| US08116469B2 |
Headphone surround using artificial reverberation
A surround experience for headphones can be created using various techniques and tools. The described techniques and tools can be applied separately or in combination. For example, a surround experience can be created by splitting input audio channel signals into high-pass and low-pass signals. The low-pass signals can undergo cross-mixing and artificial reverberation. The artificial reverberation can apply different delay profiles to the low-pass audio signals. The high-pass and low-pass audio signals can be combined to generate output audio channel signals. A surround experience can be crated using a system comprising an input module, a crossover module, a channel cross-mixing module, a reverberation module, and an adder module. |
| US08116465B2 |
Measuring apparatus and method, and recording medium
A sound measuring apparatus includes an impulse response obtaining section obtaining an impulse response, a positive transform section performing a positive transform on the impulse response obtained by the impulse response obtaining section, a filter low-pass filtering the response waveform on which the positive transform was performed by the positive transform section, a frequency characteristic obtaining section obtaining a frequency characteristic of the impulse response obtained by the impulse response obtaining section, a filter characteristic setting section setting a filter characteristic of the low-pass filter so as to be variable depending upon the frequency characteristic obtained by the frequency characteristic obtaining section, and a measurement result obtaining section obtaining a measurement result about a predetermined measurement item, based on the waveform obtained by the low-pass filter. |
| US08116461B2 |
Sound volume automatic adjustment method and system
A control method to automatically adjust the volume of a sound transmitter based on the measurement and the computation of the acoustic statistics of the room where the sound is emitted. The system comprises at least one sensor, a calculator determining statistics of the signal collected by the at least one sensor and a controller using these statistics provided by the calculator to adjust the volume of the transmitter in the room. |
| US08116458B2 |
Acoustic image localization apparatus, acoustic image localization system, and acoustic image localization method, program and integrated circuit
An acoustic image localization apparatus according to the present invention that outputs sound from a plurality of speakers so as to localize an acoustic image at a predetermined position on a space as viewed from a listener, the acoustic image localization apparatus comprising: amplitude characteristic adjusting means for adjusting an amplitude frequency characteristic of an inputted acoustic signal such that the acoustic image is localized at a position rotated by a first angle about a position of a listener toward an upper direction from a facing position of the listener; and a plurality of level adjusting means, provided so as to respectively correspond to the plurality of speakers, for adjusting a level of the acoustic signal outputted from the amplitude characteristic adjusting means and for outputting, to a corresponding speaker, the acoustic signal whose level has been adjusted, wherein each of the level adjusting means adjusts the level of the acoustic signal, which is outputted from the amplitude characteristic adjusting means, to a level of the corresponding speaker such that the acoustic image is localized at the predetermined position rotated by a second angle about the position of the listener toward one of directions orthogonal to the rotated directions from the position rotated by the first angle. |
| US08116452B2 |
Content playback device
To provide a content playback device capable of protecting content according to DRM, when decrypting encrypted content recorded on a recording medium and playing the decrypted content. If key generation information is “00”, a key control unit 104 concatenates a decrypted media key and content information in this order, and applies a one-way function to the concatenation result to generate a content key. If the key generation information is “10”, the key control unit 104 sets a rights key as the content key. If the key generation information is “01”, the key control unit 104 concatenates the decrypted media key and the rights key in this order, and applies a one-way function to the concatenation result to generate the content key. |
| US08116451B2 |
Key validation scheme
A system and method for validating digital information transmitted by one correspondent to another in a data communication system. The method comprising the steps of generating a public key in accordance with a predetermined, generating a public key in accordance with a predetermined cryptographic scheme having predetermined arithmetic properties and system parameters. The verifying said public key conforms to said arithmetic properties of said scheme, transmitting said verified public key to a recipient. |
| US08116449B2 |
Cost-effective, multichannel digital logger
A digital logger system includes a multichannel interface circuit that: 1. concurrently and continuously-receives audio telecommunication signals for at least two telephone calls from a digital hybrid telephone line; and 2. continuously transmits linearly encoded digital audio data representing the received audio signals. A Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) hub of the system receives the transmitted digital data for retransmission to a USB root hub. A USB root hub of personal computer (“PC”) receives transmitted digital data, and executes PC software which continuously monitors the digital data for embedded line status and signaling information including a telephone line “going off hook.” When a telephone line goes “off hook,” the software records both: 1. an audio header that stores information about a telephone call; and 2. an audio file that stores compressed digital data for the telephone call. Jul. 2, 2009. |
| US08116440B2 |
Transmitting apparatus and transmitting method
When a transmission of image data to a destination has not been completed, retransmission processing in which the image data is repeatedly transmitted to the destination is performed and the number of times the transmission has been performed is counted. When the number is higher than a predetermined value, the sender is informed about the occurrence of transmission error and whether the modification of destination information has been requested is determined. When the modification has been requested, the destination information is modified; when the modification has not been requested, the destination information is deleted and then the deletion of the destination information is informed. When stored destination information including destinations of data is wrong, the use of the destination information is inhibited, which prevents users as recipients from feeling displeasure. |
| US08116439B1 |
Call intrusion
A computational system is provided that includes: (a) a boundary analyzer 164, 168, and 216 operable to identify a next boundary in a predetermined activity; and (b) an interrupt handler 160 operable to (i) determine that a notification is to be provided to a user, (ii) determine that the user is currently engaged in the predetermined activity on a computational device, and (iii) provide the notification to the user in temporal proximity to the identified next boundary. |
| US08116438B2 |
System for providing telephonic voice response information related to items marked on physical documents
A system to telephonically access information related with items printed on a physical document. Items marked on the physical document or on any other physical surface is touched with a finger. The system includes a touch foil placed over (or under) the document, for reading the coordinates of selected marked items, a telephone set for receiving the coordinates of the items selected by the user and for dialing to an interactive voice response (IVR) service used for accessing and retrieving selected hyperlinked documents from the web through a documents proxy server, for converting retrieved documents to synthesized speech, and for providing to the user through the telephone network, the selected documents that have been converted into speech. |
| US08116434B2 |
Telecommunications patching system that facilitates detection and identification of patch cords
A telecommunications patching system includes a patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports and a plurality of patch cords configured to selectively interconnect pairs of the connector ports. Each patch cord has opposite ends and a respective connector secured to each end that is configured to be removably secured within a connector port. The connectors of a respective patch cord have the same unique identifier associated therewith. A first sensor is located at each connector port and detects when a patch cord connector is inserted within, and removed from, a respective connector port. A second sensor is located at each connector port and reads the identifier of a patch cord connector inserted within a respective connector port. The first and second sensors are in communication with a controller that monitors and logs patch cord interconnections with the connector ports. |
| US08116432B2 |
X-ray tube target brazed emission layer
A target for generating x-rays includes a target substrate comprising at least one layer of a target material, a track comprising at least one layer of a track material, the track configured to generate x-rays from high-energy electrons impinging thereon, and a braze joint attaching the target substrate to the track. |
| US08116429B2 |
Diagnostic delivery service
Systems, methods, and other modalities are described for (a) obtaining an indication relating to an emission module (which may be dangerous, e.g.) or its user (who may be untrained, e.g.) and for (b) configuring the module or causing an irradiation (for imaging, e.g.) in response to the indication. |
| US08116425B2 |
Shift register
A shift register includes a first flip-flop group composed of a plurality of cascaded first flip-flops, each first flip-flop having a first master latch and a first slave latch and having first and second transmission paths for transmitting a master clock and a slave clock, a second flip-flop group composed of a plurality of cascaded second flip-flops, each second flip-flop having a second master latch and a second slave latch which are each composed of a transistor with a relatively small transistor size and having a third transmission path connected to the first transmission path and a fourth transmission path connected to the second transmission path, and a transfer portion configured to transfer pieces of data held in the second flip-flops to one of the first master latches and the first slave latches of the first flip-flops. |
| US08116422B2 |
LWR flow channel with reduced susceptibility to deformation and control blade interference under exposure to neutron radiation and corrosion fields
A zirconium alloy suitable for forming reactor components that exhibit reduced irradiation growth and improved corrosion resistance during operation of a light water reactor (LWR), for example, a boiling water reactor (BWR). During operation of the reactor, the reactor components will be exposed to a strong, and frequently asymmetrical, radiation fields sufficient to induce or accelerate corrosion of the irradiated alloy surfaces within the reactor core. Reactor components fabricated from the disclosed zirconium alloy will also tend to exhibit an improved tolerance for cold-working during fabrication of the component, thereby simplifying the fabrication of such components by reducing or eliminating subsequent thermal processing, for example, anneals, without unduly degrading the performance of the finished component. |
| US08116420B2 |
Clock-forwarding technique for high-speed links
A repeater circuit, such as a clock regeneration and multiplication circuit, is described. In this repeater circuit, a clock multiplier unit (CMU) generates an internal clock signal based on a forwarded clock signal, which is received on a link. Furthermore, a phase interpolator (PI) in the repeater circuit provides the output clock signal based on the forwarded clock signal and the internal clock signal. Note that the CMU and the PI filter reduce the cycle-to-cycle jitter in the forwarded clock signal and the internal clock signal, and that the output clock signal has a phase that is a weighted average of the phases of the forwarded clock signal and the internal clock signal. In addition, the relative weights of the forwarded clock signal and the internal clock signal (i.e., the amount of phase averaging and jitter filtering) may be adjusted based on a position or location on the link. |
| US08116417B2 |
Deskewing method and apparatus, and data reception apparatus using the deskewing method and apparatus
An up/down detection unit samples a received data signal and determines in which of first through third areas of the data signal the logic level of the data signal transitions, wherein the data sampling clock signal, the first edge sampling clock signal, and the second edge sampling clock signal are sequentially activated. A lower limit detection unit detects a lower limit of the first area if the logic level of the data signal transitions in the first area. An upper limit detection unit detects an upper limit of the third area if the logic level of the data signal transitions in the third area. A phase detection unit determines a delay amount indicating the amount by which the data signal is to be delayed according to the upper limit and lower limit detected. A buffer unit delays the data signal by the delay amount determined by the phase detection unit. |
| US08116412B1 |
Modulation division multiple access
The present invention employs hierarchical modulation to simultaneously transmit information on different modulation layers using a carrier RF signal. Initially, first data to be transmitted is assigned to a first modulation layer and second data is assigned to a second modulation layer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second data are assigned based on reliability criteria. The first and second modulation layers are hierarchical modulation layers of the carrier RF signal. Once assigned, the first data is transmitted using the first modulation layer of the carrier RF signal and the second data is transmitted using the second modulation layer of the carrier RF signal. In one embodiment of the present invention, information may be transmitted to one end user using one modulation layer, and information may be transmitted to a different end user using a different modulation layer. |
| US08116411B2 |
Method to detect data transmitted from multiple antennas and system thereof
A method to detect data transmitted from multiple antennas, said method comprising steps of: selecting a starting data block and calling it as previous data block; defining a set of indices of bits to be checked for possible flip in the previous data block as a check candidate set; applying update rule to obtain updated data block using the previous data block and the check candidate set, wherein the update is made in such a manner that change in likelihood is positive; checking if the updated data block and several consecutive previous data blocks are the same; if yes, declare the updated data block as the detected data block; if no, make updated data block as previous data block and repeat updation of data block. |
| US08116410B1 |
Communication signal decoding and soft demapping methods and systems
Symbol detection and soft dempapping methods and systems are provided. Individual subset symbol detection according to an embodiment of the invention involves identifying a search subset of a transmission symbol set for a transmission symbol. For each other transmission symbol in communication signals, multiple search subsets of the transmission symbol set are identified. The multiple search subsets include respective search subsets based on each transmission symbol in either the search subset for the first identified one of the transmission symbols or each of the multiple search subsets identified for a different one of the other transmission symbols. Symbol detection errors may be detected by identifying competing symbols and computing competing distances. Soft demapping may be provided by calculating soft decision results based on detected symbols and weighting the soft decision result. |
| US08116406B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating soft bit metric and M-ary QAM receiving system using the same
Provided are an apparatus and method for generating a soft bit metric and a multi-level (M-ary) Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) receiving system using the same. The apparatus includes an analog to digital converter for converting an analog symbol signal of a demodulated I (Inphase) or Q (Quadrature) channel into a digital signal, a scaler for scaling the converted digital signal based on a reference value used for determining a space between symbols, a positive integer converter for calculating a positive integer of the scaled digital I or Q channel symbol signal, a sign determinator for determining a sign of the scaled digital I or Q channel symbol signal, and a bit information converter for converting the scaled digital I or Q channel symbol signal into soft bit metric information per bit on the basis of the calculated positive integer and the determined sign value. |
| US08116405B2 |
Method and apparatus for time synchronization using GPS information in communication system
A method and apparatus for time synchronization (TS) method using GPS information in a communication system synchronizing the time of slave nodes, which do not have a GPS receiver, by using GPS information of a node having a GPS receiver. The method includes the steps of extracting 1PPS, TOD, 1PPS_en, and clocks using GPS signals by a grand master node having a GPS receiver, stabilizing the signals, generating a sync message for TS, and transmitting the sync message to a slave node; receiving the sync message by the slave node and conducting a TS operation using OFCC synchronization technology extracting 1PPS, TOD, and 1PPS_en signals using the modified TOD information by the block and delivering to a stabilization block of the slave node for stabilization; and redelivering to the TS block to update TOD information and generate a sync message for TS of a second slave node. |
| US08116403B2 |
Wireless transmission device and wireless transmission method
A wireless transmission device of the present invention includes n (where n is an integer of two or more) transmission antennas and a delay imparting section for delaying transmission signals supplied to the n transmission antennas by a maximum delay time (n−1)T or less based on a delay time T dependent upon a communication signal, which indicates whether to transmit the transmission signals by way of frequency diversity or multiuser diversity. |
| US08116402B1 |
Method and system for cognitive radio
Systems and methods for cognitive radio are disclosed herein. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention may provide systems, methods and apparatuses for a cognitive radio which is operable to tailor its operation based on one or more criteria, which may pertain to the operating environment of the radio. In one embodiment, a cognitive radio may be operable to determine criteria associated with potentially interfering signals in the operating environment and determine corresponding transmission properties corresponding to protocol, power level, frequency, coding or timing of transmissions, so that these potentially interfering signals may be avoided or otherwise accounted for by transmitting according to these transmission properties. |
| US08116399B2 |
Multiple-input multiple-output signal detectors based on relaxed lattice reduction
System and methodologies for reduced-complexity signal detection and decoding in a wireless communication system are provided herein. Systems and methodologies presented herein can utilize a relaxed form of the Lenstra-Lenstra-Lovasz (LLL) lattice reduction algorithm to reduce the complexity of lattice reduction operations in the context of MIMO detection. Additional systems and methodologies presented herein can apply lattice reduction in the context of a maximum likelihood (ML) detector for spherical or elliptical lattice space-time (LAST) codes. |
| US08116395B2 |
MB-OFDM receiver that weights a quality of each subcarrier
An exemplary aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is a receiver comprises a subcarrier unit combination section that performs weighting corresponding to quality of each subcarrier with respect to each subcarrier relating to a received symbol, a symbol unit combination section that performs common weighting based on quality of the symbol with respect to each subcarrier, and a combination system switching unit that switches between use of the symbol unit combination section and the subcarrier unit combination section. |
| US08116393B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating channel state information
An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver includes a n average power calculation unit and an output unit. The average power calculation unit calculates and outputs a first average power of a null symbol section of each transmitted frame output from an OFDM transmitter and calculates and outputs second average powers of sub-carriers that correspond to each null symbol section. The output unit compares the first average power and the second average powers, to perform a reciprocal transformation on difference values of the first average power and each of the second average powers based on results of the comparisons, and to store and output reciprocally transformed values as channel state information. |
| US08116390B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating resources and performing communication in a wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method for allocating resources in a base station of a wireless communication system that performs communication using frequency resources. The method includes dividing subcarriers into subcarrier sets each including a predetermined number of consecutive subcarriers, and generating a resource index table mapped to consecutive indexes such that a distance between subcarriers in the subcarrier sets is maximized; and determining an amount of resources to be transmitted through a downlink according to a channel condition, for data to be transmitted to each terminal, and allocating resources to the terminal using the index value in the resource index table. |
| US08116384B2 |
Filtering strength determination method, moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus includes an inter-pixel filter having filters for filtering decoded image data so as to remove block distortion which is high frequency noise around block boundaries. The inter-pixel filter includes filters having different filtering strengths. The coding apparatus also includes a filter processing control unit for determining a filtering strength of the inter-pixel filter. |
| US08116383B2 |
Efficient adaptive mode selection technique for H.264/AVC-coded video delivery in burst-packet-loss networks
A method of an efficient adaptive mode selection for H.264/AVC-coded video delivery in burst-packet-loss networks to generate the image data of the missing macroblocks in the decoded current frame by using the information related to the spatial redundancy in the same frame and the temporal redundancy in the inter frames is disclosed. The method first employs the Intra High-Speed Spatial Error Concealment (SEC) method for the initial frame. For the succeeding inter frames, the Temporal Error Concealment (TEC) method is used when the Adjacent External Boundary Matching Error (AEBME) of the surrounding macroblocks is not more than the dynamic threshold (DTα). The Intra High-Speed SEC is used when AEBME is more than (DTα) and the surrounding macroblocks are all coded intra-method, otherwise the task proceeds by employing Normal SEC. |
| US08116380B2 |
Signaling for field ordering and field/frame display repetition
A decoder processes a first bitstream element (e.g., a pull-down flag) in a first syntax layer (e.g., sequence layer or entry point layer) above frame layer in a bitstream for a video sequence, the bitstream comprising encoded source video having a source type (e.g., progressive or interlace). The decoder processes frame data in a second syntax layer (e.g., frame layer) of the bitstream for a frame (such as an interlaced frame or progressive frame, depending on source type, or a skipped frame) in the video sequence. The first bitstream element indicates whether a repeat-picture element (e.g., a repeat-frame element or a repeat field-element) is present or absent in the frame data in the second syntax layer. |
| US08116378B2 |
Variable length decoding method
The present invention is to provide a variable length decoding method for decoding complete binary tree code, which is implemented to an entropy coding module for executing the process comprising the steps of: procuring a TabIndex to calculate a value T=└log2(TabIndex)┘; reading T bits from a bitstream to obtain a first result M; determining whether or not the result M is smaller than (TabIndex-(1< |
| US08116377B2 |
Low cost video compression using fast, modified Z-coding of wavelet pyramids
An entropy efficient video coder for wavelet pyramids approaches the entropy-limited coding rate of video wavelet pyramids, is fast in both hardware and software implementations, and has low complexity (no multiplies) for use in ASICs. It uses a modified Z-coder to code the zero/non-zero significance function and Huffman coding for the non-zero coefficients themselves. The encoding unit includes a significance function generator that receives coefficients and outputs a single significance bit. A zero coefficient eliminator receives coefficients in parallel with the significance function generator and outputs coefficients if non-zero. Output from the significance function generator is coded using the modified Z-coder. Output from the zero coefficient eliminator is coded using Huffman coding. Both outputs are combined to form the resulting compressed stream. The modified Z-coder is similar to a standard Z-coder but uses a different technique for the LPS (least probable symbol) case during encoding and decoding that results in a Z-coder that functions appropriately. |
| US08116375B2 |
Method for obtaining motion vector and image reference block in a code mode of fixed reference frame a number
A method for obtaining an image reference block in a code mode of fixed reference frame number includes the steps of: performing motion estimation for each block of a current B frame and obtaining a motion vector MV of a corresponding block of a backward reference frame; discriminating whether the motion vector is beyond a maximum forward reference frame which is possibly pointed by the B frame, if not, then calculating the forward and backward motion vectors in a normal way; if yes, then using the motion vector of the forward reference frame that the B frame can obtain in the same direction to replace the motion vector of the corresponding block in the backward reference, and calculating the forward and the backward motion vectors of the B frame; finally, two image blocks pointed by the final obtained forward and backward motion vectors as the image reference blocks corresponding to the macro block. The present invention solves the possibly appeared problem of un-matching motion vectors, and can guarantee the coding efficiency to the largest extent. |
| US08116373B2 |
Context-sensitive encoding and decoding of a video data stream
Disclosed are methods and devices for compressing and decompressing video data streams, according to which the statistical relationship between image symbols and the context assigned thereto is used for compression. Particularly disclosed is a context-sensitive encoding unit in which the image symbols filed in an image storage are assigned to different encoding branches via a context switch, where they are encoded and compressed by a Golomb encoder and a run length encoder. |
| US08116370B2 |
Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding video data
According to aspects of embodiments of the invention, a method of encoding a sequence of frames of image data, each frame including a number of lines of pixels equal to a frame height, and each line having a number of pixels equal to a line length, comprises: encoding as an encoded symbol stream a sequence of pixels of a frame without including an end-of-line code after each line; identifying as a run having a run length, a sequence of pixels having values less than a threshold; and encoding the run using digit encoding. According to other aspects, the digit encoding may further comprise: identifying a set of most frequently used symbols; assigning a symbolic digit to each of the set of most frequently used symbols; assigning a start symbol; and encoding using digit encoding may include: inserting in the encoded symbol stream the start symbol; and inserting in the encoded symbol stream after the start symbol a sequence of symbolic digits identifying the run length of the run. The method may yet further comprise: assigning an end symbol; and inserting the end symbol in the encoded symbol stream after the sequence of symbolic digits. According to yet another variation, the method may further comprise: defining the assigned start symbol to include a field indicating how many of the symbolic digits are required to identify the run length of the run. |
| US08116369B2 |
Multi-display supporting multi-view video object-based encoding apparatus and method, and object-based transmission/reception system and method using the same
Provided are a multi-display supporting multi-view video object-based encoding apparatus and method, and an object-based transmission/reception system and method using the encoding apparatus and method. The encoding apparatus includes: a shape abstracting means for receiving right/left-eye image object video and abstracting right/ left object image, respectively, to abstract the shape information of a multi-view video; a data separating means for receiving the right/left-eye image object video, and the right/left shape information, and separating them into odd-field objects and even field objects to transmit only the essential bit streams for a user display mode; a shape compensation means for compensating for the distortion of the shape information separated into odd and even fields; and an object-based encoding means for receiving the object-based information from the shape compensation means and the object-based information from the data separating means, forming four layers, and performing motion and disparity estimation to encode object-based data that are separated into odd and even lines. |
| US08116368B2 |
PWM signal generator, PWM signal generating device, and digital amplifier
In a full digital amplifier for an audio amplifier or the like, it is possible to suppress the concentration of an electromagnetic noise emission spectrum at a specific frequency. A sampling period variation type digital filter is realized by varying the coefficient of a noise shaping filter for the delta-sigma modulator of the full digital amplifier depending on a sampling period. This allows the variation in the carrier frequency of the pulse width modulation. |
| US08116367B2 |
Multidimensional decision-directed trained adaptive equalization
An embodiment of the invention is a technique to equalize received samples. An equalizer to equalize a multidimensional signal transmitted over a communication channel and having a dimensionality of four or higher. The equalizer is adaptively decision directed trained. |
| US08116362B2 |
Traffic shaping between the DMT processor and data link layer processor of a line-card
A line card is proposed in which one or more DMT processing modules 1 communicate with a data link layer platform, such as an ATM, POSPHY or Ethernet processor. The data relating to a single symbol is transmitted between the data link layer platform and a given one of DMT processing modules in a plurality of data portions spaced apart in time. The data portions relating to different channels of a given DMT processing module (or to different DMT processing modules) are interleaved in time. Since the data portions of a given symbol are spaced apart in time, the data relating to a single symbol is transmitted over a longer time period than in conventional devices which reduces the effective burstiness of the traffic, and thus reduces the memory requirements of the data link layer platform. |
| US08116359B2 |
Single oscillator transceiver
A frequency plan is provided for particular use in a transceiver. Advantageously, a single oscillator may be used to generate desired frequency signals. One or more power splitters receive the signal and equally divide the signal into first and second signals having a frequency substantially equal to the original. Multipliers on each arm of the transceiver receive a signal and increase the frequency of the signal. In one exemplary embodiment, multiple signals having different frequencies may be transmitted over the same cable due in part to the generated frequency separation between the signals. In another exemplary embodiment, multiple signals may be transmitted over multiple cables. Additionally, multiple signals over one or more cables may be transmitted at or below 3 GHz. |
| US08116357B2 |
Methods and circuits for power management in a transceiver
A transceiver circuit having 10 mb and 100 mb transmit and receive circuitries using the power saving methods of the present invention is disclosed. The power consumption of the transceiver circuit can be significantly reduced by providing each defined subcircuit with its own power supply and means of activation and deactivation. However, the method for activating and deactivating digital subcircuits and analog subcircuits are different and therefore different types of control signals and methods are provided. Furthermore, there are two general types of power-saving situations. The first type is near total circuit power-down and the second type is partial circuit power-down. The present invention in yet another embodiment discloses a method for minimizing energy usage during idle period. |
| US08116354B2 |
Sync detection device and method for GNSS
A sync detection device and method for a GNSS receiver. In modernized GNSS, each satellite transmits a data signal and a pilot signal. Correlations are performed between a data symbol stream converted from the data signal with possible hypotheses to find a leading edge of a frame of the data signal (i.e. frame sync detection) and between a pilot symbol stream converted from the pilot signal with possible hypotheses to find a leading edge of a code sequence of the pilot signal (i.e. pilot sync detection). The possible hypotheses for the frame sync detection are selected according to a result of pilot sync detection when pilot sync is done. Frame sync can be efficiently achieved since a range of the selected possible hypotheses is quite limited. |
| US08116352B2 |
Method for direct chaotic communications with predetermined spectral mask
Methods and apparatuses for chaotic communication in a wireless personal area network, A chaotic information carrier is generated for a first predetermined frequency range using a ring-structure oscillator. The ring structure oscillator includes a non-linear element. Chaotic pulses are generated by modulating the chaotic information carrier for the first predetermined frequency range with a data signal. A shape of a spectral density envelope of the chaotic information carrier for the first predetermined frequency range is determined based on a set of parameters which include a first set of values. |
| US08116351B2 |
Downlink power control with limit to dynamic range using detection of downlink transmit power
An apparatus and method is provided for dynamic range power control of a wireless downlink communication signal, such that target signal quality adjustments are held temporarily when it is apparent that transmit power control commands will not produce the desired response at the transmitting station. Comparisons of measured received signals to thresholds are performed to determine whether the transmitting station has either reached the maximum or minimum transmit power, in which case the target signal quality adjustment is controlled accordingly. When normal transmit power is detected, the target signal quality adjustments are allowed to resume as usual. |
| US08116345B2 |
Surface emitting laser and image forming apparatus
A surface emitting laser includes first mirror, a second mirror, and an active layer formed between the first mirror and the second mirror. A third mirror is formed between the first mirror and the active layer. A first cavity is constituted by the first mirror and the second mirror, and a second cavity is constituted by the first mirror and the third mirror. |
| US08116343B2 |
Method of driving a laser diode
An ultrashort pulse/ultra-high power laser diode with a simple structure and configuration. The laser diode can be driven by a pulse current which is 10 or more times higher than a threshold current value. The width of the pulse current is preferably 10 nanoseconds or less, and the value of the pulse current is specifically 0.4 amperes or over. |
| US08116342B2 |
Variable attenuator device and method
A new and useful attenuating device and method for attenuating a polarized laser beam is provided. At least one attenuating optic is located along, and is rotatable about, a polarized laser beam axis, and is configured to transmit and to reflect portions of the polarized laser beam. The attenuating optic provides predetermined attenuation of the polarized laser beam by changing the ratio between transmission and reflection of the polarized laser beam as a function of the incidence of the polarized laser beam on one or more partially reflective surfaces of the attenuating optic. The attenuating optic is rotatable about the polarized laser beam axis to control the incidence of the polarized laser beam on the one or more partially reflective surfaces of the attenuating optic, thereby to control the ratio between transmission and reflection of the polarized laser beam and provide a range of attenuation of the polarized laser beam. |
| US08116340B2 |
Quadratic nonlinearity-based high-energy pulse compressor for generating few-cycle pulses
A pulse compressor for compressing many-cycle femtosecond-duration high-energy pulses to near-single-cycle durations uses a single quadratic nonlinear crystal. A pulsed laser beam is controlled and its passage is aligned through the quadratic nonlinear crystal such that the detrimental effects of group-velocity mismatch are avoided, while still allowing enough nonlinear phase accumulation for compression to near-single-cycle pulse durations. To do so, the perturbation to nonlinear Schrödinger-type soliton compression due to group-velocity mismatch is minimized which requires that the soliton order must not exceed an optimal value set by the amount of group-velocity mismatch. |
| US08116339B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing metazones across dissimilar networks
A system and method for creating and enforcing meta-zones that cross the interface between different network protocols are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of enforcing meta-zones comprises: (a) receiving an Infiniband (IB) packet destined for a Fiber Channel (FC) target device; (b) comparing a partition key in the IB packet to a partition key associated with the FC target device; and (c) converting the IB packet to a FC frame only if the partition keys match. The method may further comprise receiving FC frames destined for an IB target device and converting the FC frame into an IB packet having a partition key associated with the source of the FC frame. Also disclosed are a gateway configured to create and enforce meta-zones, and computer networks having such a gateway. |
| US08116337B2 |
Bandwidth requests transmitted according to priority in a centrally managed network
Systems and methods are disclosed for a managed access network device that generates and transmits a schedule map for requesting bandwidth to a plurality of network devices. The managed access network device then broadcasts a request time where the request time is broken down into a plurality of periods. When a network device generates a packet having a priority, the schedule map is then consulted to determine one of a plurality of periods in which to transmit the request for bandwidth, where each period corresponds with at least one priority. The network device then subsequently transmits the request for bandwidth during the determined period within the request time. |
| US08116332B2 |
Switch arbitration
A method of providing switch arbitration for the passing of packets between transmitters and receivers in a switch having a plurality of transmitters and receivers, comprises globally distributing information about buffer contents and packet requests between transmitters and receivers. |
| US08116330B2 |
Bridge apparatus and methods for coupling multiple non-fibre channel devices to a fibre channel arbitrated loop
Apparatus and methods for an enhanced bridge device for coupling multiple non-Fiber Channel storage devices to a Fiber Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) communication medium. Features and aspects hereof provide for FC-AL enhanced circuits for processing loop port bypass (LPB) and loop port enable (LPE) primitive sequences addressed to any target arbitrated loop physical address (T-ALPA) associated with a storage device coupled with the bridge regardless of the present bypassed/non-bypassed status of other T-ALPAs processed by the bridge device and associated with other storage devices coupled with the bridge device. |
| US08116327B2 |
Communications network and management arbitrator
A method, information processing system, and network that expands safety network coverage for first responder safety within a building environment. Activity of at least one independent network (106) is monitored. The independent network (106) includes at least a safety network. An emergency signal is received from the at least one independent network (106). Communication between at least the safety network (106) and a First responder network (110) is automatically bridged in response to receiving the emergency signal so as to manage data control and bandwidth allocation between the safety network and the first responder network. Other networks that may also be bridged with the first responder network so as to manage data control and bandwidth allocation among the various networks include IT networks and building automation networks in order to expand first responder network coverage. |
| US08116326B2 |
Revenue management system and method
A revenue management system and method for telecommunication network use is disclosed. The revenue management system can be integrated with the internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS). The revenue management system and method can have a hardware and/or software revenue generation module or architecture, revenue capture module or architecture, revenue collection module or architecture, revenue analysis module or architecture, or combinations thereof. |
| US08116323B1 |
Methods for providing peer negotiation in a distributed virtual environment and related systems and computer program products
Methods are provided that include recursively negotiating a boundary between a first virtual space controlled by a first peer and a second virtual space controlled by a second peer in a distributed virtual environment responsive to profile data of the first peer and the second peer. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed. |
| US08116316B1 |
Method and apparatus for scheduling in a packet buffering network
A system and method that can be deployed to schedule links in a switch fabric. The operation uses two functional elements: to perform updating of a priority link list; and then selecting a link using that list. |
| US08116314B2 |
Apparatus for processing packets and method of doing the same
An apparatus for processing a packet includes a packet processor operating in accordance with a clock signal having a predetermined frequency, to process a packet, and a clock-signal generator producing the clock signal and transmitting the clock signal to the packet processor, wherein the clock-signal generator generates a clock signal having a frequency defined in accordance with a time interval at which packets are input into the apparatus. |
| US08116313B2 |
Data communication system, backup server and communication control apparatus
In order to distribute multicast packets, using different multicast addresses and avoiding fault points, a backup server is installed close to a master and converts backup multicast packets and sends them as master multicast packets to the client. At this time, backup multicast packets are delayed and sent while the delay is determined from an allowable retransmission time, a one-direction delay to the client, a time required to detect linkage problems, and a time required to establish backup paths and so on. |
| US08116312B2 |
Method and apparatus for multicast packet reception
Roughly described, incoming data packets are delivered by the NIC directly to at least two user level endpoints. In an aspect, only filters that cannot be ambiguous are created in the NIC. In another aspect, the NIC maintains a filter table supporting direct delivery of incoming unicast and multicast data packets to one user level endpoint. Additional requests to join the same multicast group cause replacement of the NIC filter with one in the kernel. In another aspect, a NIC has limited capacity to maintain multicast group memberships. In response to a new multicast filter request, the kernel establishes it in the NIC only if the NIC still has sufficient capacity; otherwise it is established in the kernel. |
| US08116307B1 |
Packet structure for mirrored traffic flow
Network traffic associated with a user is lawfully intercepted by mirroring data packets flowing to and from the user for which interception has been designated. A unique packet structure enables analysis of mirrored data packets of any network type. In one implementation, a packet structure comprises routable packets that encapsulate the mirrored packet stream. The routable packet structure may be formed by prepending a correlation header to each mirrored packet. The correlation header includes a routing header to allow the mirrored packets to be transportable across the public Internet. In addition, an intercept header may be embedded within the correlation header to easily support various analyzer-specific implementations. The intercept header may include a version field that is extensible for the various analyzer implementations. |
| US08116297B2 |
Routing data packets from a moving network to a home network
A system, method, and router for routing data packets from a moving network to an associated home network. A data packet originating from a mobile network node in the moving network is routed over any of a number of external accesses accessible from different mobile routers, which advertise different address prefixes to mobile network nodes. A first mobile router advertising a first address prefix receives a data packet with a source address with the first address prefix, and selects an external access for routing that is accessible from a second mobile router advertising a second address prefix. The first mobile router detects that the source address of the packet is different from the second address prefix and provides the packet with a different source address with the second address prefix. The first mobile router then transmits the packet to the second mobile router for transmission to the home network. |
| US08116289B2 |
Internetworking nodes based on connections, membership, and location
Methods and apparatus for inter-networking nodes are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a node arrangement includes a services engine, a communications engine, and a transport engine. The services engine includes at least a first service domain that provides at least one service associated with a first community of interest. The communications engine provides at least a first forwarding table which is associated with the first community of interest and arranged to support reachability for the first service domain. The transport engine manages the zero or more exterior connections associated with the node arrangement. |
| US08116288B2 |
Method for distributing data, adapted for mobile devices
A method for distributing data in a heterogeneous network. The method operates on a private mobile network, which includes a mobility server, mobile components and fixed components, on which the mobility server includes data storage units that store data on behalf of network members, at least some of such data being stored in multiple data formats. The distribution method includes transmitting upon request selected said data to addressees, each such transmission being formatted for acceptance by each respective addressee. |
| US08116286B2 |
Combined user agent for packet-based communication clients
The present invention provides a combined user agent, which acts on behalf of multiple packet-based communication clients that may have different media capabilities. The combined user agent allows the different communication clients to cooperate with one another and participate in the same multimedia session. Different ones of the communication clients may support different types of media sessions. The combined user agent may present a single interface, which is associated with a single identification, on behalf of the supported communication clients to remote communication clients. As such, the combined user agent may appear to remote communication clients as a single communication client having the combined capabilities of the supported communication clients. |
| US08116285B1 |
Intelligent wireless access point selection
A method or system of enabling a wireless client device to select an access point based on at least two performance related parameters. A performance related parameter is a measurement of how efficiently a particular access point transfers data. By selecting an access point based on more than one performance related parameter, a wireless client device is more likely communicate with the most efficient access point. In addition, the wireless network as a whole will be more balanced and have a greater capacity if each of the wireless client devices is connected to the access point that provides the most efficient communications. |
| US08116282B2 |
Method and apparatus for mapping 3GPP service primitives to media independent handover event services
A Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) media independent handover (MIH) service access point (SAP) is configured to provide MIH event services, (e.g., IEEE 802.21 event services), by mapping service primitives to the MIH event services. The service primitives may be 3GPP service primitives which originate from at least one of a radio resources (RR) layer, a logical link control (LLC) layer, a general packet radio service (GPRS) mobility management (GMM) layer, a session management (SM) layer, a non-access stratum (NAS), an access stratum (AS) and an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA)/evolved core network (E-CORE) system. The event services may include a link parameter change event service, a link up event service, a link going down event service, a link down event service, a handover complete event service and a link detected event service. |
| US08116281B2 |
Network gateway and method for relocating the same
A method for relocating network gateways comprises the steps of obtaining a moving average of drop ratios and setting the duration of the next detection interval based on the moving average of drop ratios, and requesting at least one mobile station to perform a CSN mobility management procedure when the moving average of drop ratios exceeds a high drop ratio. |
| US08116273B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting hybrid automatic repeat request in a broadband wireless communication system
A broadband wireless communication system using a plurality of Frequency Allocations (FAs) is provided. A method for packet transmission of a packet of a transmitting end includes dividing one encoded packet into a plurality of parts, mapping a plurality the plurality of parts of the packet to the FAs through the plurality of different FAs transmission, when a re-transmission request is received, re-mapping the plurality of parts of the packet to the FAs such that at least one of the at least one of the plurality of parts is re-mapped to an FA that is different than an FA previously mapped thereto. Retransmitting the encoded packet by at least one of a number of subunits. |
| US08116272B2 |
Method for dealing with the packet domain gateway support node errors
A method for dealing with the packet domain gateway support node errors, including: a Radio Network Controller (4) sends a notification message to a Serving GPRS Support Node (2) according to an error indication message; in the case of a direct tunnel, the Serving GPRS Support Node initiates a process of deactivating a packet data protocol context to a user equipment (1) according to the received notification message, so as to make the states of the packet data protocol contexts in the user equipment, the Serving GPRS Support Node and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (3) consistent. |
| US08116271B2 |
Methods and apparatus to allocate acknowledgement channels
A method and apparatus allocate acknowledgement channels in a communication network. A linking scheme is established between indices of physical hybrid automatic repeat-request indicator channels (PHICHs), and a combination of indices of control channel elements (CCEs) or indices of physical resource blocks (PRBs) and indices of demodulation reference signals (DMRSs). A scheduling grant is transmitted to a user equipment (UE) by using a plurality of CCEs. In response to receiving a data packet and a DMRS from the UE, an index of a PHICH within the plurality of PHICHs is determined based on at least one index of the CCEs used to transmit the scheduling grant or at least one index of the PRBs used to transmit the data packet, and an index of the DMRS in accordance with the linking scheme established. The BS transmits an acknowledgement signal to the UE using the PHICH indicated by the determined index. |
| US08116270B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving channel quality indicator in communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) in a communication system are provided. It is determined whether there is any uplink data to transmit, when a CQI transmission time arrives according to a predetermined CQI transmission period. If there is uplink data to transmit, a part of the uplink data is punctured to insert the CQI therein, and the inserted CQI is multiplexed with the uplink data before transmission. It is determined whether there is any uplink data to receive from a terminal, when a CQI reception time arrives according to a predetermined CQI transmission period. If there is uplink data to receive, the uplink data is received from the terminal, and the received uplink data is demultiplexed to extract the CQI. |
| US08116264B2 |
Femtocell architecture in support of voice and data communications
Methods and systems for providing voice and date services in a femtocell wireless network. The proposed approach integrates IWLAN architecture into femtocell architecture by introducing a gateway to serve both IWLAN and femtocell users. The proposed approach handles the voice and data in a different way so that it enhances the data handling efficiency while re-using existing MSC investment. The proposed approach carries the data traffic from a femtocell base station to the gateway in native IP packet, instead of encapsulating them in 3G data, thus enhancing the efficiency and performance for the data traffic. The data traffic can then be sent to GGSN or directly to packet data network. The approach tunnels voice traffic to MSC through the gateway as in conventional Iu-CS approach. |
| US08116263B2 |
Radio communication apparatus
An AN (Access Network) controlled by a communication control apparatus and communicating with a AT Access Terminal), wherein the AN receives control information including information for allocating communication information from the communication control apparatus, and the AN transmits transmission cycle information for transmitting the communication information in a predetermined transmission cycle to the AT and allocates the communication information in the predetermined transmission cycle based on the control information received from the communication control apparatus to send the communication information to the AT. |
| US08116258B2 |
Self-configuring, adaptive, three-dimensional, wireless network
A network for wireless transmission of a media data in a building includes a plurality of access points. A first access point receives the media data from a source and transmits the media data downstream at a first data rate. A plurality of additional access points is distributed about the building, each of which includes an upstream transceiver to receive the media content on a first channel and a downstream transceiver to re-transmit the media content at substantially the first data rate on a second channel. 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. |
| US08116256B2 |
Wireless data frame structure among nodes
The embodiments provide transmitting at same time first and relay second node preambles aligning data frames among the first node and the relay second node wirelessly communicating in a channel and transmitting by the first node one or more radio resource control parameters managing radio resources of the wireless communicating in the channel among the aligned first node and the relay second node. A relay resynchronization amble sequence managing synchronizing in the channel the first node frames with the relay second node frames is periodically transmitted to the relay second node. |
| US08116254B2 |
Wireless repeater with smart uplink
An over the air repeater for enhancing wireless communication is provided. The repeater employs a system and method by which strong signals can be prevented from exceeding the repeater's uplink output limits while still providing full operational gain to any concurrently amplified weak signals, while adapting to time slot variations and optionally to frequency hopping variations. Power measurements are performed on each channel with resultant gain changes being performed on delayed versions of those same signals. Digital delay buffers are used to provide adequate processing time to make an accurate determination of the uplink signal levels of each RF carrier. The repeater alternatively monitors the downlink path from the donor base station to determine the frequencies to be processed on the uplink communication. |
| US08116248B2 |
Apparatus and method for power-saving in multiple antenna communication system
A multiple-antenna transceiver in the present invention includes a frame controller and circuitry for transmitting and receiving. The transmitting component includes a sequence selection circuit, a MIMO modulation and coding circuit, and numerous TX RFE and AFE circuits. The receiving component includes a MIMO demodulation and decoding circuit, a sequence separation circuit, and numerous RX RFE and AFE circuits. The frame controller can enable and disable the TX and RX RFE and AFE circuits individually so as to reduce power consumption of the whole system. |
| US08116246B2 |
System and method for data transmission/reception based on an operational state of a mobile station in a communication system
Disclosed is a system and method for transmitting data based on an operational state of a mobile station in a communication system. The method includes, when detecting a low battery state of the mobile station, storing one or more data packets to be transmitted to the mobile station, extracting at least one data packet, which has a transmission delay time larger than a difference between a maximum delay time and preset margin, from the one or more stored data packets, and transmitting at least a part of the extracted at least one data packet to the mobile station by using a resource allocated to the mobile station. |
| US08116239B2 |
Use of a filterbank in an adaptive on-channel repeater utilizing adaptive antenna arrays
A repeater environment is provided operative to deploy a feedback cancellation loop that is adaptively coupled with an antenna array such that a selected metric can be derived by deploying a selected filter bank operative to process the signal on a bin by bin basis and the derived metric can be applied to the antenna array and feedback cancellation loop combination to improve signal integrity and amplification. In an illustrative implementation, an exemplary repeater environment comprises, a transmitter, a receiver, an equalized feedback cancellation loop circuitry comprising a filter bank, the cancellation loop being operatively coupled to an antenna array. In the illustrative implementation, the feedback cancellation loop can receive signals as input from a cooperating antenna array and provide output signals such as a feedback leakage signal to a cooperating antenna array. |
| US08116238B2 |
Plural network protocol wireless transmit/receive unit
A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) communicates in a system which includes plural network protocols. The WTRU includes a circuit configured to make an initial communication request. A communication circuit establishes a communication link in response to the initial communication request in a first direction of communication and a second direction of communication. Circuitry determines a protocol preference for the first direction of communication and to establish communication in the first direction according to the protocol preference separately from communication in the second direction of communication. Circuitry determines a protocol preference for the second direction of communication and to establish communication in the second direction according to the protocol preference separately from communication in the first direction of communication. A circuit determines the availability of communication services optimal for communicating the user data in a different protocol from the protocol used as the communication link. |
| US08116236B2 |
Audio conferencing utilizing packets with unencrypted power level information
In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving a plurality of packet streams input from different endpoints, packets of each stream including encrypted and unencrypted portions, the unencrypted portion containing audio power level information. The audio power level information contained in the packets of each of the packet streams is then compared to select N packet streams with loudest audio. The N packet streams are then decrypted to obtain audio content, and the audio content of the N packet streams mixed to produce one or more output packet streams. 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. |
| US08116228B2 |
Network path control system, path control device, and path control method
A path control device includes a TE database and a local database for storing topology information showing states of use of links in a network, a topology information collection unit collecting the topology information of the respective communication nodes therefrom and updating the TE database by the topology information, a path solution unit determining a path of the network referring to the local database, an internal update unit recognizing a link included in the determined path and updating a local database by information as to said link, and an update determination unit matching the topology information of both the databases by comparing both the databases. |
| US08116227B1 |
Optimal automated exploration of hierarchical multiprotocol label switching label switch paths
Optimal automated exploration of hierarchical MPLS LSPs is disclosed. A path verification message (PVM) is transmitted from an initial router. Each label in the PVM's label stack corresponds to a hierarchy layer and is associated with a time-to-live (TTL) field. The TTL field for the label of a current layer is set so the PVM travels one hop from the initial router. In response, a reply message indicating that the PVM reached its destination is received. These steps are then repeated. For each successive PVM transmitted, the TTL field associated with a label corresponding to the current hierarchy layer is incremented. For any reply message including information describing a non-current layer, modify the next PVM's label stack and increment the TTL field of the label for the described different layer; any other TTL fields are unchanged. If any received reply message indicates a destination router was reached, the process terminates. |
| US08116226B1 |
Method and apparatus for broadcast primitive filtering in SAS
Broadcast primitive filtering in a SAS expander using virtual domains. The virtual domains can be non-overlapping or overlapping logical subsets of the physical topology, or a logical construct based on the membership of a device within a group. Broadcast event propagation is handled in accordance with predetermined policies associated with the virtual domains. These policies can, for example, include limiting the broadcast traffic within the boundaries of the logical zones defined by the subsets, or routing the broadcast events in accordance with access policies, or privileges, associated with the group. |
| US08116225B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating channel bandwidth
A bandwidth estimation algorithm detects peaks and/or average per-user bandwidth of data communication networks, such as narrowband and broadband wide-area radio access networks. Estimation can be performed at the TCP/IP layer with no lower layer (PHY, MAC, etc.) information assumed to be available. However, the bandwidth estimation algorithm can be applied to anywhere bandwidth needs to be estimated as well. |
| US08116222B1 |
Methods and systems for embedding traffic state information within ethernet trailers
Methods and systems for creating a back channel between two network nodes using a packet trailer. The sending node establishes a communication channel between itself and the destination node. A packet is prepared having a header and a payload. Data associated with the tasks of the back channel from a lower data link layer is written into a trailer on the header. The packet is received at the second node and the data in the trailer is read. The trailer is stripped out prior to sending the packet to a higher layer of the destination node. |
| US08116218B2 |
Method and module for acquiring digital subscriber line parameter, and line management system
The present disclosure includes a method for acquiring DSL parameters, a module for acquiring Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) parameters, and a line management system. The method includes: obtaining the priority of a DSL; and acquiring parameters of the DSL in an acquisition period corresponding to the obtained priority, in accordance with a preset corresponding relationship between the priority of the DSL and the acquisition period. The system includes: a module for acquiring DSL parameters, configured to obtain the priority of a DSL and acquire parameters of the DSL in an acquisition period corresponding to the obtained priority in accordance with a preset corresponding relationship between the priority of the DSL and the acquisition period; a database configured to store the parameters acquired by the module for acquiring DSL parameters; a line management module configured to manage the DSL using the DSL parameters. |
| US08116213B2 |
Tracing routes and protocols
A computer-readable medium may include computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions including instructions for receiving a request to trace a route, in a network, from a source device to a target device and to identify protocols that are associated with the route, sending at least one test packet toward the target device, receiving at least one reply packet from the network, examining payload of the reply packet to determine the route and to identify the protocols, and outputting description of the route and identities of the protocols. |
| US08116212B2 |
Line status monitoring circuit, node, communication system, and failure occurrence determining method
A line status monitoring circuit receives a frame through one of a number of lines from another node connected through a redundant transmission channel which is made redundant by the lines. The line status monitoring circuit includes a line-specific check frame monitoring unit. If a line-specific check frame having an added dedicated header corresponding to each of the plurality of lines is received through one of the lines from another node, the line-specific check frame monitoring unit determines whether or not a further line-specific check frame corresponding to a frame for checking which is identical to a frame for checking to which the line-specific check frame corresponds is received through at least a predetermined number of lines within a predetermined time. If the further line-specific check frame is not received in this manner, the line-specific check frame monitoring unit discards the frame. |
| US08116211B2 |
Test method and test device
A test method according to the present invention includes: a first step of determining whether or not the mobile station detects the problem in a radio link state, when a radio quality is changed from a first state where the radio quality is equal to or more than a first threshold value to a second state where the radio quality is equal to or less than the first threshold value; and a second step of determining whether or not the mobile station does not detect the problem in a radio link state, when the radio quality is changed to a third state where the radio quality is equal to more than a second threshold value, after a lapse of a first time interval from a time point at which the radio quality is changed from the first state to the second state. |
| US08116210B2 |
System and program product to recover from node failure/recovery incidents in distributed systems in which notification does not occur
Epoch numbers are maintained in a pair wise fashion at a plurality of communication endpoints to provide communication consistency and recovery from a range of failure conditions including total or partial node failure and subsequent recovery. Once an epoch state inconsistency is recognized, negotiation procedures provide an effective mechanism to reestablish valid communication links without the need to employ global variables which inherently possess greater transmission and overhead requirements needed to maintain communications. Renegotiation of recognizably valid epoch numbers occurs on a pair wise basis. |
| US08116205B2 |
Vehicle active network
A vehicle active network (12) communicatively couples devices (14-20) within a vehicle (10). Device operation is independent of the interface (22-28) of the device (14-20) with the active network (12). Additionally, the architecture of the active network (12) provides one or more levels of communication redundancy. The architecture provides for the total integration of vehicle systems and functions, and permits plug-and-play device integration and upgradeability. |
| US08116200B2 |
Source routing approach for network performance and availability measurement of specific paths
In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first packet that has a first payload. The first payload identifies a first path between endpoints traversed by the first packet, and identifying information associated with a first node associated with the first path traversed by the first packet. The identifying information includes an arrival time that identifies approximately when the first packet arrived at the first node and a leaving time that identifies approximately when the first packet left the first node. A first service level agreement (SLA) parameter of the first path is determined by analyzing the arrival time and the leaving time, comparing the first SLA parameter with a second SLA parameter associated with a second path traversed by a second probe packet, and selecting the first path for sending packets if the first SLA parameter indicates a higher SLA level than indicated by the second SLA parameter. |
| US08116199B2 |
Method and system for monitoring network communication
A method for monitoring communication on a network. The method includes configuring a classifier using a monitoring rule, receiving a plurality of packets from the network; analyzing each of the plurality of packets by the classifier to determine to which of the plurality of packets satisfies the monitoring rule; forwarding any of the plurality of packets that satisfy the monitoring rule to a first hardware receive ring (HRR) located on a first physical network interface (NI), forwarding any of the plurality of packets that do not satisfy the monitoring rule to a second HRR, and transmitting a first number of packets from the first HRR directly to user level memory, wherein the user level memory resides on a host operatively connected to the first physical NI. |
| US08116195B2 |
Transmission and reception of reference preamble signals in OFDMA or OFDM communication systems
Techniques for generating preamble sequences for OFDM and OFDMA communication systems based on CAZAC sequences with desired properties of constant amplitudes (CA) and zero autocorrelation (ZAC). Such preamble sequences may be used for synchronization and identification of individual transmitters. For example, the OFDMA symbol is constructed using a CAZAC sequence in the frequency-domain and the resulting time-domain waveform is a near-CAZAC sequence. |
| US08116190B2 |
Recording/reproducing apparatus
A recording/reproducing apparatus (100) is provided with: a first substrate (41) on which a recording medium (43) is mounted; and a second substrate (21) to which a recording/reproducing head (23), which performs information recording and information reproduction on the recording/reproducing medium is fixed, wherein the second substrate is relatively displaced in a predetermined direction substantially parallel to the first substrate with respect to the first substrate, a particulate (30) is placed in a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, the particulate can be displaced with displacement of the second substrate, the particulate has a substantially circular cross section in a direction that the second substrate is displaced when the second substrate is displaced. |
| US08116187B2 |
Design method of optical element and optical element through which a plurality of light beams having different design wavelengths pass
A method of designing an optical element to be used for an optical system in which each of a plurality of light beams having different design wavelengths passes through the optical element is provided. The method includes determining at least two types of optical path difference functions including first and second optical path difference functions in such a manner that proportion, brought by the first optical path difference function, between diffraction orders at which diffraction efficiencies of the plurality of light beams are maximized is different from proportion, brought by the second optical path difference function, between diffraction orders at which diffraction efficiencies of the plurality of light beams are maximized, and obtaining a shape defined by combining the at least two types of optical path difference functions so as to apply the obtained shape to at least one surface of surfaces of the optical element. |
| US08116186B2 |
Collinear holographic storage method and apparatus
In the specification and drawings, a collinear holographic storage method is described and shown with a controlling step to control the temperature of the collinear holographic storage media such that the writing temperature of the collinear holographic storage media is from between about 5° C. to about 50° C. higher than the reading temperature of the collinear holographic storage media. |
| US08116185B2 |
Holographic storage medium with integrated phase mask
A holographic storage medium is proposed, and more specifically a holographic storage medium with an integrated phase mask layer. The holographic storage medium has a phase mask layer on top of a holographic storage layer, wherein the phase mask layer has one or more phase pattern areas for coupling-in a reference beam and imprinting a phase pattern on the reference beam, and one or more neutral areas for coupling-in an object beam and/or coupling-out a reconstructed object beam. |
| US08116174B2 |
Near field light generating device, optically assisted magnetic recording head, optically assisted magnetic recording device, near field optical microscope and near field light exposure apparatus
Disclosed is a near field light generating device comprising a first medium layer which transmits light from a light source. This near field light generating device generates near field light by using light irradiating a plasmon probe through the first medium. This near field light generating device is characterized in that a second medium layer having a refractive index lower than that of the first medium layer is formed between the first medium layer and the plasmon probe. |
| US08116173B2 |
Heat-assisted magnetic recording head with laser diode
A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a slider, and an edge-emitting laser diode fixed to the slider. The slider has a waveguide and an overcoat layer that covers the waveguide. The laser diode has an emitting end face including an emission part for emitting laser light, and a bottom surface. The laser diode is arranged so that the bottom surface faces the top surface of the slider. The waveguide has an incident end face opposed to the emission part of the laser diode. The overcoat layer has an end face that faces the emitting end face of the laser diode. As viewed from above, the end face of the overcoat layer has a convex shape protruding toward the emitting end face of the laser diode so that a part of the end face of the overcoat layer lying over the incident end face of the waveguide comes closest to the emitting end face of the laser diode. |
| US08116171B1 |
Method and system for providing energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive using a vertical surface emitting laser
A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive are described. The EAMR disk drive includes a media, a slider having a trailing face, at least one EAMR head on the slider, and at least one vertical surface emitting laser (VCSEL). The VCSEL(s) includes a plurality of quantum wells and an extended resonance cavity. The VCSEL(s) provides energy to the EAMR disk drive. The extended resonance cavity extends into the slider and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the trailing face of the slider. The EAMR head(s) include grating(s), waveguide(s), a write pole, and coil(s) for energizing the write pole. At least a portion of the grating(s) reside in the extended resonance cavity and couple energy from the VCSEL to the waveguide(s). The waveguide(s) direct the energy from the grating(s) toward the media. |
| US08116163B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
The present invention provides a semiconductor memory device that includes: a fuse circuit having multiple fuse elements; and a fuse selection circuit connected to an internal address signal line that receives an address signal externally inputted. The fuse circuit is connected to the fuse selection circuit to receive an output from the fuse selection circuit, is supplied with an externally inputted trigger signal that permits nonvolatile recording of the fuse elements, and, in response to the output and the trigger signal, records the fuse element corresponding to the internal address signal line among the plurality of fuse elements while recording at least one of the plurality of fuse elements other than the fuse element thus recorded. |
| US08116162B1 |
Dynamic signal calibration for a high speed memory controller
Within an integrated circuit comprising a memory controller, a method can include, responsive to determining that the memory controller is performing a refresh operation, calculating a new tap setting according to a new maximum value and an old tap setting of the delay circuit. The new maximum value specifies a number of taps of the delay circuit that approximates a predetermined time span. The method can include dynamically adjusting a delay applied to a signal by a delay circuit according to the new tap setting. The delay circuit generates a delayed signal that is provided to the memory controller. |
| US08116159B2 |
Using a bit specific reference level to read a resistive memory
A voltage derived from accessing a selected bit using one read current may be utilized to read a selected bit of an untriggered phase change memory after the read current is changed. As a result, different reference voltages may be used to sense the state of more resistive versus a less resistive selected cells. The resulting read window or margin may be improved in some embodiments. |
| US08116158B2 |
Semiconductor device guaranteeing stable operation
A semiconductor device includes a data line pair formed of a data line and a complementary data line; a first sensing amplification unit including a first sensing amplifier and a second sensing amplifier that are cross-coupled with the data line and the complementary data line; a first variable current source supplying or flowing out a first variable current to the first sensing amplifier; and a second variable current source supplying or flowing out a second variable current to the second sensing amplifier. A current amount of the first variable current is different from a current amount of the second variable current. |
| US08116156B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
There are provided a row predecoder that predocodes an address irrespective of whether the address to which access is requested is a defective address, a row main decoder that controls a sub-word driver, based on a predecode signal generated by the row predecoder, and a repair determining circuit that determines whether the address is a defective address. The row main decoder, the row predecoder, and the repair determining circuit all have a shape in which a column direction is set to be a longitudinal direction. The row predecoder and the repair determining circuit are arranged adjacent to each other in the column direction, and are arranged in parallel with the row main decoder. |
| US08116155B2 |
Apparatus for measuring data setup/hold time
An apparatus for measuring data setup/hold time is capable of effectively measuring a setup/hold time of data, and includes a data generating unit for delaying an external clock signal according to counting signals and generating an internal clock signal and data signals from the delayed external clock signal in response to test signals, a data latch unit for latching buffered data signals in synchronization with the internal clock signal, wherein the buffered data signals are produced by buffering the data signals, a flag signal generating unit for generating flag signals from the latched data signals latched in the data latch unit in response to the test signals, and a counter for producing the counting signals in response to the flag signals. |
| US08116154B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with a write control circuit commonly provided for a plurality of pages
To provide a plurality of write amplifiers that perform a data write operation upon memory cells and a write control circuit that controls a timing of a data write operation performed by the write amplifiers. When a data write operation using another write amplifier is requested while a data write operation using a predetermined write amplifier is performed, the write control circuit suspends the data write operation using the predetermined write amplifier. The suspended data write operation is performed again simultaneously with the data write operation using the other write amplifier. Accordingly, random column access like that of a DRAM can be realized by simple control. |
| US08116153B2 |
Read only memory and method of reading same
A Read Only Memory (ROM) device includes a ROM array, a row address decoder, a column address decoder, a column multiplexer, and a control circuit. Data is stored in bit cells in the ROM array. The control circuit generates control signals for reading the ROM. The row address decoder selects a word line. The column address decoder enables a bit line. The data is sensed from a bit cell corresponding to the selected word line and the enabled bit line by a corresponding sense amplifier and delivered on a data output pin of the ROM. The control signals for enabling the bit line and the sense amplifier operate at a higher voltage than supply voltage of the ROM. This reduces the ROM read time. |
| US08116150B2 |
Resistance change memory with current control and voltage control during a write operation, and write method of the same
A resistance change memory includes a resistance change element having a high-resistance state and a low-resistance state in accordance with write information, and a write circuit configured to supply a write current that the write current flowing through the resistance change element is held constant before and after the resistance change element is changed from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state, and apply a write voltage that the write voltage applied to the resistance change element is held constant before and after the resistance change element is changed from the low-resistance state to the high-resistance state. |
| US08116149B2 |
Circuit and method for small swing memory signals
Circuits and methods for transmitting and receiving small swing differential voltage data to and from a memory are described. A plurality of memory cells is formed in arrays within a plurality of memory banks. Each memory bank is coupled to a pair of small swing differential voltage global bit lines that extend across the memory. A small signal write driver circuit is coupled to the global bit lines and configured to output a small signal differential voltage on the global bit lines during write cycles. A global sense amplifier is coupled to the global bit line pairs and configured to output a full swing voltage on a data line during a read cycle. Methods for providing small swing global bit line signals to memory cells are disclosed. The use of small swing differential voltage signals across the memory reduces power consumption and shortens memory cycle time. |
| US08116145B2 |
Method and apparatus for programming auto shut-off
A method and system for enabling auto shut-off of programming of a non-volatile memory cell is disclosed. The system includes a memory array having a plurality of memory cells, each cell storing one bit of data. During the programming process, programming signals are applied to the target memory cells. A predefined period of time after the programming signals are applied, the auto shut-off system begins sensing an output signal from the memory cell. After the system detects an output signal from the memory cell, the system waits for a second predefined period of time before turning off the programming voltages. The system may be configured to sense an output voltage from the memory cell. The system then compares the output voltage to a reference voltage in order to detect when the cell is programmed. Alternatively, the system may sense an output current from the memory cell. The system then compares the output current to a reference current to detect when the cell is programmed. |
| US08116144B2 |
Memory module having a memory device configurable to different data pin configurations
A memory module includes a memory device having a plurality of data pins and conductive lines electrically connected to the plurality of data pins. The memory device is configurable, using at least one input to the memory device, to a data pin configuration selected from among a plurality of different data pin configurations. The plurality of different data pin configurations include a first data pin configuration that uses a first number of data pins of the memory device, and a second data pin configuration that uses a second, different number of data pins. |
| US08116142B2 |
Method and circuit for erasing a non-volatile memory cell
The present invention is a method, circuit and system for erasing a non-volatile memory cell. A shunting element (e.g. transistor) may be introduced and/or activated between bit-lines to which one or more NVM cells being erased are connected. The shunting element may be located and/or activated across two bit-lines defining a given column of cells, where one or a subset of cells from the column may be undergoing an erase operation or procedure. The shunting element may be located, and/or activated, at some distance from the two bit-lines defining the given column of cells, and the shunting element may be electrically connected to the bit-lines defining the column through select transistors and/or through global bit-lines. |
| US08116141B2 |
Method analyzing threshold voltage distribution in nonvolatile memory
A distribution analyzing method for a nonvolatile memory device having memory cells exhibiting overlapping first and second threshold voltage distributions includes; detecting a degree of overlap between the first and second threshold voltage distributions by reading data stored in the memory cells and determining read index data from the read data, and estimating a distribution characteristic for at least one of the overlapping threshold voltage distributions using the read index data. |
| US08116138B2 |
Memory device distributed controller system
A memory device distributed controller circuit distributes memory control functions amongst a plurality of memory controllers. A master controller receives an interpreted command and activates the appropriate slave controllers depending on the command. The slave controllers can include a data cache controller that is coupled to and controls the data cache and an analog controller that is coupled to and controls the analog voltage generation circuit. The respective controllers have appropriate software/firmware instructions that determine the response the respective controllers take in response to the received command. |
| US08116137B2 |
Memory cell operation
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for programming memory cells. One method includes determining a quantity of erase pulses used to place a group of memory cells of the array in an erased state, and adjusting at least one operating parameter associated with programming the group of memory cells at least partially based on the determined quantity of erase pulses. |
| US08116135B2 |
Non-volatile memory cell read failure reduction
The present disclosure includes various method, device, and system embodiments for reducing non-volatile memory cell read failures. One such method embodiment includes performing a first read operation, using an initial read potential, to determine a state of a selected memory cell in a string of non-volatile memory cells. This method includes determining whether the state of the selected memory cell is an incorrect state by performing a first check using a data checking technique, and if the incorrect state is determined, performing a number of subsequent read operations using read potentials stepped to a higher and a lower read potential to a particular count of read operations. |
| US08116126B2 |
Measurement method for reading multi-level memory cell utilizing measurement time delay as the characteristic parameter for level definition
A memory system includes a memory cell configured to represent at least two binary values, a bit line coupled to the memory cell, and first and second comparators coupled to the bit line that, respectively, compare a first and second reference value to a value of a parameter of the bit-line. The system also includes a first and second timers configured to measures a time for the parameter of the bit line to decay. The system also includes a logic unit coupled to the first and second timers that selects the time for the parameter of the bit line to decay from to a first value or a second value. |
| US08116124B2 |
Compound cell spin-torque magnetic random access memory
A compound magnetic data storage cell, applicable to spin-torque random access memory (ST-RAM), is disclosed. A magnetic data storage cell includes a magnetic storage element and two terminals communicatively connected to the magnetic storage element. The magnetic storage element is configured to yield any of at least three distinct magnetoresistance output levels, corresponding to stable magnetic configurations, in response to spin-momentum transfer inputs via the terminals. |
| US08116121B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing methods with using non-planar type of transistors
Static random access memory cells and methods of making static random access memory cells are provided. The static random access memory cells contain two non-planar pass-gate transistors, two non-planar pull-up transistors, two non-planar pull-down transistors. A portion of a fin of the non-planar pull-up transistor is electrically connected to a portion of a fin of the non-planar pull-down transistor by an assist-bar. The methods involve forming an assist-fin between fins of a non-planar pull-up transistor and a non-planar pull-down transistor and between gate electrodes, and widening a width of the assist-fin to form the assist-bar so that a portion of the fin of non-planar pull-up transistor is electrically connected to a portion of the fin of non-planar pull-down transistor via the assist-bar. |
| US08116120B2 |
Depletion-mode MOSFET circuit and applications
Positive logic circuits, systems and methods using MOSFETs operated in a depletion-mode, including electrostatic discharge protection circuits (ESD), non-inverting latches and buffers, and one-to-three transistor static random access memory cells. These novel circuits supplement enhancement-mode MOSFET technology and are also intended to improve the reliability of the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC) products. |
| US08116117B2 |
Method of driving multi-level variable resistive memory device and multi-level variable resistive memory device
Disclosed is a method of driving a multi-level variable resistive memory device. A method of driving a multi-level variable resistive memory device includes supplying a write current to a variable resistive memory cell so as to change resistance of the variable resistive memory cell, verifying whether or not changed resistance enters a predetermined resistance window, the intended resistance window depending on the resistance of reference cells, and supplying a write current having an increased or decreased amount from the write current supplied most recently on the basis of the verification result so as to change resistance of the variable resistive memory cell. |
| US08116114B2 |
Semiconductor memory and system
A pair of access control circuits having bit line pairs wired corresponds to a same data terminal and is assigned different addresses. During a test mode, a data swap circuit prohibits swapping of connections between a pair of data terminals and a pair of data lines when one of the access control circuits is used, and swaps the connections between a pair of data terminals and a pair of data lines when the other one of the access control circuits is used. Accordingly, it is possible to give a data signal at the same logic level to bit lines with different logics from each other. Stress can be given between a contact arranged between a pair of the access control circuits and bit lines adjacent to both sides of the contact. Consequently, designing of a test pattern can be simplified, and test efficiency can be improved. |
| US08116112B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a bit line; a word line; a local bit line; a first switch unit provided between the local bit line and the bit; a memory cell connected to the bit line and the word line; a memory cell array including the memory cell; a first sense circuit connected to the bit line and configured to amplify a signal read out from the memory cell; and a second sense circuit connected to the local bit lines and configured to amplify a signal amplified by the first sense circuit, wherein the first switch unit disconnects the local bit line from the bit line when the first sense circuit amplifies the signal, and connects the local bit line to the bit line when the second sense circuit amplifies the signal amplified by the first sense circuit. |
| US08116110B1 |
Array architecture including mirrored segments for nonvolatile memory device
A memory device including nonvolatile memory cells arrayed in a first direction and in a second direction, a plurality of first lines extending in the first direction for coupling memory cells arrayed in the first direction, and a plurality of second lines extending in the second direction for coupling memory cells arrayed in the second direction. The memory device includes a plurality of decoders, including i) first decoders coupled to the first lines and ii) second decoders coupled to the second lines, for accessing any one or more of the memory cells in any order. The memory device includes a plurality of segments. Each segment includes different ones of the nonvolatile memory cells. A first one of the segments is juxtaposed to, in the second direction, a second one of the segments. The second one of the segments mirrors, in the second direction, the first one of the segments. |
| US08116106B2 |
Method and apparatus to select a parameter/mode based on a measurement during an initialization period
Techniques are disclosed to select functional parameters and/or operating modes of a circuit based on a measurement during an initialization period. In one aspect an integrated circuit includes a threshold detection circuit coupled to measure during an initialization period of the integrated circuit a signal from a first external circuit comprising one or more components coupled to a first external terminal of the integrated circuit. A selection circuit is coupled to the threshold detection circuit to select a parameter/mode of the integrated circuit in response to the signal from the first external circuit during the initialization period of the integrated circuit. The first external terminal is further coupled to one or more additional external circuits, each of which comprising one or more components. The one or more additional external circuits are coupled to provide one or more signals at the first external terminal to be used by the integrated circuit during normal operation at times other than the initialization period to provide at least one additional function for the integrated circuit after the initialization period of the integrated circuit is complete. |
| US08116103B2 |
Device for feeding electric energy into a power grid and DC converter for such a device
The device is for feeding electricity into a power grid (8) with a DC generator (1), a DC converter (2) and an inverter (3), and particularly to a DC converter (2) suited for the device. The DC converter (2) comprises a choking coil (15) having two windings (w1, w2) that are magnetically coupled and conductively connected to each other, two switches (S5, S6) and three diodes (D6, D7, D8), and is configured such that grounding of the direct current generator (1) at the negative output (5) thereof is possible and the power load of the switches (S5, S6) is kept small. |
| US08116101B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device including a housing, a circuit board, a first non-metal conductive cushion and a fastening element is provided. The circuit board is disposed in the housing. The first non-metal conductive cushion is disposed between the circuit board and the housing. A potential of the first non-metal conductive cushion is equal to a potential of the housing. The fastening element fastens the circuit board and the non-metal conductive cushion to the housing. |
| US08116097B2 |
Apparatus for electrically coupling a semiconductor package to a printed circuit board
An apparatus for coupling an integrated circuit (IC) package to a printed circuit board. The apparatus includes an interposer an interposer having a plurality of connections suitable for surface mounting on corresponding pads of a printed circuit board (PCB). The plurality of connections is arranged in a grid array. The interposer further includes a plurality of plated through holes. The apparatus further includes a substrate having a plurality of pins. The substrate is coupled to the interposer by inserting each of the plurality of pins into a corresponding one of the plurality of plated through holes of the interposer. An IC package including an IC is mounted on the substrate. |
| US08116095B2 |
Conversion module and chassis arrangement, and related methods
A telecommunications arrangement including a chassis, at least one power supply, and a plurality of conversion modules that provide an electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical signal conversion. The chassis includes a separate back plane made up of individual back panels. The back panels are attached to the chassis by a tab and swell latch. The conversion modules include a printed circuit board, an input/output arrangement of connectors, and a radius limiter mounted to the printed circuit board. |
| US08116094B2 |
Printed circuit board and mounting structure for surface mounted device
The present invention provides a printed circuit board capable of sufficiently ensuring joint strength and joint reliability when mounting a surface mounted device, and a mounting structure for a surface mounted device using the printed circuit board. A BGA package as a surface mounted device includes a plurality of solder balls arranged thereon and a printed circuit board includes a plurality of mounting pads corresponding respectively to the plurality of solder balls. The BGA package is connected to the mounting pads on the printed circuit board due to melting of the solder balls, thereby mounted on the printed circuit board. A concave via hole is formed on each of the mounting pads having a circular surface shape and a part of the solder ball is in the convex via hole. Here, the center of the convex via hole is apart from the center of each of the mounting pads by at least the diameter of the concave via hole. |
| US08116093B2 |
Printed circuit board and semiconductor module having the same
A printed circuit board (PCB) includes a substrate having a first group of at least two via holes and a second group of at least two via holes formed therein, a first pad set of terminal pads and a second pad set of terminal pads formed on the substrate, and a first group of conductive connection members and a second group of conductive connection members formed in the substrate. The first group of the via holes are surrounded by the first pad set of the terminal pads and the second group of the via holes are surrounded by the second pad set of the terminal pads. The first and the second groups of conductive connection members fill up the first and second groups of the via holes. The first group of the conductive connection members are connected to the first pad set of the terminal pads and the second group of the conductive connection members are connected to the second pad set of the terminal pads. |
| US08116092B2 |
Circuit board and method of manufacturing same
A circuit board includes a substrate, a conductive pattern arranged on the substrate that includes an interconnecting circuit. The circuit board also includes a plurality of land pads having a pair of first land pads on which no electronic components are mounted and electrically connected to each other through the interconnecting circuit. The circuit board further includes an insulating layer on the substrate. The insulating layer has first openings that allow the pair of the first land pads to be exposed through the insulating layer. |
| US08116085B2 |
Electronic device and sliding mechanism thereof
A sliding mechanism is provided for movably connecting a display module and an input module of an electronic device. The sliding mechanism includes a first member and a second member reciprocally movable with respect to each other. The first member has a longitudinal slot, and the second member has a through hole. A flexible wire of the electronic device is extended through the longitudinal slot and the through hole for electrically connecting the display module and the input module. |
| US08116080B2 |
Container-based data center having greater rack density
A container includes first and second long sides parallel to the container's length. Racks are organized in rows parallel to the container's width. Each rack is receptive to installation of equipment along a height of the data rack parallel to the container's height. Openings are defined within the first and/or second long sides of the container. Heat exchangers may be installed, where each exchanger is installed on a rack to cool air exhausted by any equipment installed on this rack. Each row may include as many of the racks positioned side-to-side, length-wise, and parallel to the width of the container as can fit within the container. The racks of each row may be slidable in unison back and forth along the length of the container, between a first position at which the racks block an opening and a second position at which the racks block another opening. |
| US08116075B2 |
Disk-drive systems that move data to spare drives from drives about to fail and method
A system and method for an improved multiple hard-disk-drive data-storage enclosure. Some embodiments position drives in counter-rotating pairs, each simultaneously accessing half the data, such that seek-caused actuator rotational-acceleration vibration cause simultaneous canceling rotational torque. Some embodiments position the edge of a first drive (or drive pair) at an angle to the actuator midpoint of a nearby second drive (or drive pair), such that rotational-acceleration vibration from a seek-caused actuator rotation in the first drive does not cause a rotational movement into the second drive that affects the tracking or seek operation. Some further embodiments position drives in a herringbone pattern to redirect air flow in addition to reducing rotational-acceleration vibration interaction. Other embodiments include a printed wire circuit board mounted to reduce the rotational-acceleration vibration interaction. |
| US08116074B2 |
Removable mechanism for drawing an object and removable device thereof
A removable mechanism for drawing an object from a housing is disclosed. The removable mechanism includes a first rail disposed inside the housing and on a side of the object for guiding the object to move inside the housing. The removable mechanism further includes a driving rod installed on the first rail in a movable manner for driving the object to move in a first direction, and a pull rod pivoted to the driving rod for pulling the driving rod to drive the object to move in the first direction so as to eject from the housing when being rotated out of the housing and being pulled. |
| US08116073B2 |
Display structure of slip-cover-hinge electronic device
A display structure of a slip-cover-hinge electronic device, which includes a housing, a display module, two track modules and a flexible-printed-circuit module, is disclosed. The housing has an accommodated cavity formed with a bottom wall, two parallel slots formed respectively at two opposite ends of the bottom wall, and a passageway formed between the two slots and on the bottom wall. The display module is connected within the cavity. Each track module has a track disposed on the opposite ends of the bottom wall and a skid slidably arranged onto the corresponding tracks for gliding in corresponding slots. The flexible-printed-circuit module has at least a flexible-printed-circuit member, which includes an electrical connection portion and a resilient portion flexibly extending from the electrical connection portion. The resilient portion extends out of the passageway of the housing, and the resilient portion is partially self-overlapped to be capable of stretching outwardly. |
| US08116069B2 |
Electrolytic capacitor
Provide is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor exhibiting low specific resistance and low impedance property and realizing high reliability. An electrolytic capacitor has a structure in which: a capacitor element which is formed by rolling an anode foil and a cathode foil each connected with an electrode extraction lead through a separator and which is impregnated with a drive electrolytic solution is included in a cylindrical outer case having a closed-end; and an open end of the outer case is sealed with an elastic sealing body, in which: the drive electrolytic solution contains a tricyanomethide salt represented by the below-indicated chemical formula (1); and the drive electrolytic solution has a water content of 3.0 wt % or less: where, R represents a cation pairing with a tricyanomethide ion in formation of a tricyanomethide salt. |
| US08116066B2 |
Method of manufacturing electronic component built-in substrate
In a method of manufacturing an electronic component built-in substrate of the present invention, a mounted body including a first insulating layer, a stopper metal layer formed under the first insulating layer of a portion corresponding to a component mounting region and a second insulating layer formed on a lower surface of the first insulating layer and covering the stopper metal layer is prepared, and a concave portion is obtained by penetration-processing a portion of the first insulating layer, which corresponds to the component mounting region to form an opening portion, while using the stopper metal layer as a stopper. Also, the stopper metal layer in the concave portion is removed, then an electronic component is mounted on the concave portion, and then a third insulating layer is formed on the electronic component. |
| US08116058B2 |
Signal distribution and surge detection and protection module and method
The present invention contemplates systems and methods for distributing RF and DC signals and detecting, logging and suppressing surge energy associated with surge events such as lightning and power line surges. The detection and logging is provided in order to determine possible causes of a failure and who might be responsible for the repair. The suppression is provided in order to protect electrical equipment such as split mount wireless radio systems from catastrophic failure due to surge events. |
| US08116047B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protective circuit having rise time detector and discharge sustaining circuitry
Methods and devices of the invention include an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit. This circuit includes rise time dependent activation circuitry capable of detecting a slew rate of an input signal and capable of determining whether the slew rate of the input signal is greater than a threshold value. For an ESD event said activation circuitry generates a trigger signal. Additionally, the activation circuitry is coupled with the ESD dissipation duration control circuitry which is further coupled with an ESD dissipation circuit. This arrangement enabling the duration control circuit to be activated by the trigger signal which responds by producing an activation signal that activates the ESD dissipation circuitry and that controls the length of time the dissipation circuit remains active. The ESD dissipation circuitry includes a shunt that redirects the ESD energy away from the protected internal circuit. The ESD dissipation duration circuitry further configured to maintain shunting of the energy for a period of time sufficient to discharge of the ESD energy without damaging the protected circuitry. |
| US08116046B2 |
Circuit arrangement that includes a device to protect against electrostatic discharge
Circuitry includes a terminal for a high-frequency signal, at least two signal lines, a switching unit for connecting the terminal to a signal line, and a primary protection device for protecting against electrostatic discharges. The primary protection device is between the terminal and the switching unit. The primary protection device includes a first element that diverts voltages having a pulse height greater than 200V relative to a reference potential. |
| US08116041B2 |
Flexible printed circuit holding mechanism of hard disk drive including FPC holder and FPC clip clipped to the holder, and actuator assembly including the same
An FPC holding mechanism of an actuator assembly of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes an FPC holder protruding from an arm-mold of the actuator assembly, and an FPC clip mounted to the FPC holder so as to be rotatable. The FPC holder defines a guide groove into which the FPC is inserted and a first side support plate facing one side surface of the FPC. The FPC clip includes a second side support plate juxtaposed with the first side support plate and facing the other side surface of the FPC, and at least two clip arms extending in a horizontal direction over upper and lower edges of the FPC, respectively. At least one of the clip arms has a hook hooked onto the first side support plate. The FPC holding mechanism thus prevents a portion of the FPC from moving in vertical and horizontal directions. |
| US08116039B2 |
Disk drive suspension
A disk drive suspension is provided with a load beam and a flexure including a tongue portion on which a slider is mounted. A pair of bent edge portions are formed by bending regions which extend along opposite side edges of the load beam in a thickness direction. A pair of limiters are formed on those parts of the load beam where the bent edge portions are provided. The limiters each include an arm portion and a retainer portion. An aperture for defining a contour of each limiter is formed in a region which extends along each side edge of the load beam. Each limiter is bent in a direction opposite to that of each corresponding bent edge portion. |
| US08116038B1 |
Depopulated disk drive head stack assembly having a necked dummy mass with relief alcoves
A novel disk drive head stack assembly (HSA) includes a first head gimbal assembly attached to a first actuator arm. A dummy mass is attached to a second actuator arm. The dummy mass includes a mounting plate portion defining a mounting plate width. The mounting plate portion includes first and second projections. The dummy mass also includes a neck portion defining a neck width and a neck length. A root portion of the neck portion is disposed between the first and second projections, and defines first and second alcoves between the root portion and the first and second projections, respectively. The dummy mass also includes a distal mass portion defining a distal mass width and a distal mass length. The neck width is less than the mounting plate width, and the neck width is less than the distal mass width. |
| US08116037B2 |
Disk drive including head-slider configured to suppress lubricant droplet accumulation
A disk drive. The disk drive includes a disk and a head-slider. The head-slider includes an air-bearing surface. The air-bearing surface includes a trailing-edge rail surface, an inner trailing-edge pad, and an outer trailing-edge pad. The pad surface of the outer trailing-edge pad includes a straight outer edge slanting outward; and, the angle of the outer edge with respect to the longitudinal direction of the head-slider is β1. The pad surface of the inner trailing-edge pad includes a straight inner edge slanting inward; and, the angle of the inner edge with respect to the longitudinal direction of the head-slider is β2. For absolute values of skew angles at an outermost data track position and an innermost data track position on the disk that are denoted by α1 and α2, respectively, the following conditions are satisfied: α2≦β1,α1+β1≦90°, and α1≦β2,α2+β2≦90°. |
| US08116036B2 |
Corrosion inhibitor incorporated in carbon overcoats
Recording heads for a data storage system include a first side having at least a portion of a metal component. A carbon overcoat is on the first side and covers the at least a portion of a metal component. A corrosion inhibitor is incorporated in the carbon overcoat. The corrosion inhibitor is illustratively located between the carbon overcoat and the at least a portion of a metal component, on top of the carbon overcoat, or within the carbon overcoat. In an embodiment, the carbon overcoat includes diamond-like carbon. |
| US08116034B2 |
Thermally assisted magnetic head having main pole arranged between near-field light-generating portions and manufacturing method of same
When first and second near-field light-generating portions are irradiated with laser light or other energy rays, near-field light is generated at the tips of both the near-field light-generating portions. By means of the near-field light thus generated, a magnetic recording medium opposing the medium-opposing surface is heated, and the coercivity of the magnetic recording medium is lowered. Since at least a portion of the main magnetic pole is positioned within the spot region including the region between the first and second near-field light-generating portions, the tips of both the near-field light-generating portions and the main magnetic pole can be brought extremely close together, and high-density recording can be performed. |
| US08116032B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording system with auxiliary coil and circuitry for fast switching of write pole magnetization
A perpendicular magnetic recording system has a write head having a main coil (the write coil) and main pole (the write pole) that directs write flux in a direction perpendicular to the recording layer in the magnetic recording medium, and an auxiliary coil and auxiliary pole that injects magnetic flux into the write pole at an angle to the primary or perpendicular axis of the write pole. The additional flux from the auxiliary pole, which is injected non-parallel to the primary magnetization of the write pole, exerts a relatively large torque on the magnetization of the write pole, thereby facilitating magnetization reversal of the write pole. Electrical circuitry is connected to the main coil and the auxiliary coil to generate the auxiliary flux simultaneous with the switching of the magnetization of the write pole. |
| US08116030B2 |
Locating feature for mounting a component to a base
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for mounting an object to a base. In one example, the apparatus includes a base and a protuberant feature extending from the base. The protuberant feature includes a datum surface sized to matingly engage a corresponding surface of an object to precisely position the object with respect to the base. |
| US08116027B2 |
Library apparatus, and insertion and ejection mechanism
A library apparatus includes a housing, an insertion and ejection mechanism that is provided in an opening formed in the housing and that is configured to insert and eject a magazine, the magazine being arranged to accommodate a cartridge that includes a storage medium, a drive mechanism configured to access the storage medium and a transporting mechanism configured to transport the cartridge to a predetermined position. The insertion and ejection mechanism includes a magazine receiving section having an engagement section configured to be engaged with a portion of the magazine, a guide rail configured to slidably support the magazine receiving section, and a wall member configured to move together with the magazine receiving section along the guide rail and to close the opening upon an ejection of the magazine from the insertion and ejection mechanism. |
| US08116025B1 |
Disk drive executing retry operation after adjusting jog value in response to gain control
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having a plurality of tracks, wherein each track comprises a plurality of data sectors. A head is actuated radially over the disk for generating a read signal. A first read of a data sector is performed while adjusting an amplitude of the read signal in response to a gain control setting. When an error occurs while attempting to first read the data sector, a first jog value is generated in response to the gain control setting. The head is served over the data sector in response to the first jog value, and a second read of the data sector is performed. |
| US08116024B2 |
Timing recovery detector
A timing detector adapted for timing recovery on a read-channel is disclosed to improve signal quality of an input signal and maintain a small loop latency. The timing detector selects bits within the input signal that are high quality for timing recovery and discards bits that are low quality. The selected bits are used to synchronize phase and frequency of a bit sampler with a read-back analog signal. High-pass and low-pass analysis filters may split the input signal into high-frequency and low-frequency sub-bands and equalizers may re-shape the sub-bands. High-pass and low-pass synthesis filters may construct an output signal from the high-frequency and low-frequency sub-bands. Scaling factors may correct for signal and disturbance variations in the sub-bands. A comparator may eliminate sampled bits within the detector signal that have a magnitude less than a threshold and assign a common magnitude to sampled bits that meet or exceed the threshold. |
| US08116021B2 |
Synchronized rewriting of data
A hard disk drive (HDD) including a magnetic disk, the magnetic disk including a data track. The HDD also includes a synchronized rewrite controller for synchronizing a plurality of rewrites of a data pattern on a location of the track of the magnetic disk and the HDD includes a write head controlled by the synchronized rewrite controller for writing the data pattern on the location of the data track and rewriting the data pattern a plurality of times on the location in synchronization with a prior writing of the data pattern on the data track. |
| US08116020B1 |
Disk drive mapping entries of a defect list into clusters
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a first and second disk surfaces. A defect list is generated comprising a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a track number comprising a defect. A first cluster across the first and second disk surfaces is identified, wherein a maximum data track number X1 in the first cluster on the first disk surface is less than a maximum data track number Y1 in the first cluster on the second disk surface. A second cluster across the first and second disk surfaces is identified, wherein a maximum data track number X2 in the second cluster on the first disk surface is less than a maximum data track number Y2 in the second cluster on the second disk surface. An entry from the defect list is selected in response to X1, and the entry of the defect list is mapped into the second cluster. |
| US08116016B2 |
Lens module socket
A lens module socket for receiving a lens module having a base portion includes an insulating housing, a plurality of conductive terminals received in the insulating housing, a shielding shell encircling the insulating housing, and a plurality of rotatable latches pivotally assembled to the insulating housing by a plurality of shaft pins. The insulating housing has a bottom base and side walls extended upwardly from the bottom base to surround a receiving chamber therebetween for receiving the lens module. The insulating housing defines a plurality of slits at the side walls for receiving the rotatable latches and a plurality of insertion holes extended downwardly from top portions of the side walls for receiving the shaft pins. The rotatable latches have press portions passing through the slits into the receiving chamber for pressing against the base portion of the lens module when the rotatable latches are rotated to a closed state. |
| US08116011B2 |
Membrane deformable optical device having improved actuation
An optical device including: at least one deformable membrane; a first support; and actuating unit for loading the membrane to deform it, the membrane being provided with a anchoring zone for anchoring to the support which surrounds a part of the membrane including a substantially central zone that is reversibly deformable, the support and the membrane contributing to imprison a constant volume of a first fluid in contact with a face of part of the membrane, wherein the actuating unit includes control-activated main actuating unit for loading the membrane in a peripheral zone and control-activated supplementary actuating unit anchored at least to the membrane for loading the membrane in the central zone. |
| US08116010B2 |
Projection variable focus lens and projection display device
A projection variable focus lens includes seven lenses. The seven lenses include first to seventh lenses in order from a magnification side. The first and second lenses are provided closest to the magnification side and have a negative composite refractive power. The third lens has a positive refractive power. The fifth lens has a negative refractive power. The sixth lens has a positive refractive power. The seventh lens has a positive refractive power. A reduction side of a lens system is telecentric. The seven lenses are classified into three or more lens groups. Three or less lens groups among the three or more lens groups are moved to change a focal length. When the focal length varies from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, at least the third lens is moved from the reduction side to the magnification side along an optical axis. |
| US08116009B2 |
Far-field sub-diffraction optical lenses (FaSDOL)
Far-field sub-diffraction optical lenses “FaSDOLs” comprise an anisotropic crystal having special dispersion characteristics such that it supports diffraction free propagation. An image with subwavelength features on the input surface is transferred through a propagation function to the output surface with effectively no, or minimal, loss in information. These special properties may be exploited in several ways, including but not limited to, magnification of an image at the input surface through the use an oblique cut at the output surface, magnification of an image at the input surface through use of a curved crystalline structure, and more generally near-field optical processing. |
| US08116007B2 |
Optical sight for maintaining diopter adjustment
An optical sight includes a main barrel unit, an objective lens unit, an ocular lens unit, and a magnification unit. The main barrel unit extends about an axis. The objective lens unit is mounted to a front end of the main barrel unit. The ocular lens unit is mounted to a rear end of the main barrel unit, and includes an outer barrel securely connected to the main barrel unit, an inner barrel coupled threadedly with the outer barrel, a lens disposed in the inner barrel, an adjusting barrel disposed on the inner barrel and movable in a direction along the axis, and a release device disposed between the inner barrel and the adjusting barrel. The magnification unit is rotatably disposed in the main barrel unit between the objective lens unit and the ocular lens unit. |
| US08116005B2 |
Light combiner
For combining light from different light sources in a light source, dichroic filters are displaced individually according to the physical arrangement of the light sources such that the reflected light from the dichroic filters is coincident in angle and space. |
| US08116001B2 |
Optical pipe intended for producing an electronic display arrangement
A light pipe is provided for transmitting light signals from one of its ends to its other end facing toward the eye of a user for viewing a virtual image. The light pipe includes a diffractive component formed directly in the inlet surface. The diffractive component is an element satisfying the equation of an aspherical component of revolution of the “kinoform” type, where the diffractive component of the pipe has power situated in a range D (Thresh, X) defined by D(Thresh, X)=DOPTDIF(Thresh) INTERSECTION DXT(X). |
| US08116000B2 |
Tandem polarization beam splitters for real-time polarization difference sensing
A tandem beam splitter for real-time polarization difference sensing, with at least one body having two faces that isolate two orthogonal planes of information from a common stimulus input in series, with a first of the two faces isolating a first plane of information and a second of the two faces isolating a second plane of information which is orthogonal to the first plane. |
| US08115996B2 |
Screen fabric and screen
A screen fabric includes a stack of a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers include: a first layer that forms a surface layer on which a three-dimensional portion is to be formed; and a second layer that is different from the first layer. The first layer is made of a vinyl chloride resin, and the second layer has a lower hardness than the first layer. |
| US08115994B2 |
Scanning wide field telescope and method
A scanning wide-field telescope includes a primary reflecting mirror and a corrector assembly. The corrector assembly corrects light beams for spherical aberration imposed on the light beams by the primary reflecting mirror. The corrector assembly is located between the primary reflecting mirror and a viewing end of the telescope, and is configured to move to multiple optical focal points of the primary reflecting mirror. |
| US08115993B2 |
Stereo-examination systems with image rotation
A stereo-examination system including an objective arrangement configured to receive an object-side beam bundle emanating from the object plane and to convert the object-side beam bundle into an image-side beam bundle and a selection arrangement configured to select at least one pair of partial beam bundles from the image side beam bundle. The system also includes an image transmission apparatus configured to generate stereoscopic images of an object positionable in the object plane from the at least one pair of partial beam bundles and an illumination arrangement. The illumination arrangement includes a light source, a beam coupler to superpose a beam cross-section of the illumination beam with the image-side beam bundle, and a field of a plurality of state-changing elements. The elements are selectively switchable between a first state directed and a second state in which light of the illumination beam is and is not directed to the object plane. |
| US08115992B2 |
Structural illumination and evanescent coupling for the extension of imaging interferometric microscopy
In accordance with the invention, there are imaging interferometric microscopes and methods for imaging interferometric microscopy using structural illumination and evanescent coupling for the extension of imaging interferometric microscopy. Furthermore, there are coherent anti-Stokes Raman (CARS) microscopes and methods for coherent anti-Stokes Raman (CARS) microscopy, wherein imaging interferometric microscopy techniques are applied to get material dependent spectroscopic information. |
| US08115990B2 |
Display device and pixel structure thereof
A pixel structure of a display device disposed on a substrate includes a plurality of sub-pixel structure. Each sub-pixel structure includes a light-absorption region, a reflection region, a first electrode disposed in the light-absorption region, a second electrode disposed in the reflection region, and a plurality of charge-carrying balls disposed over the first electrode and the second electrode. Each of the charge-carrying balls includes a white portion and a black portion. The white portion has a first conductivity type, and the black portion has second conductivity type. |
| US08115988B2 |
System and method for micro-electromechanical operation of an interferometric modulator
An interferometric modulator is formed by a stationary layer and a mirror facing the stationary layer. The mirror is movable between the undriven and driven positions. Landing pads, bumps or spring clips are formed on at least one of the stationary layer and the mirror. The landing pads, bumps or spring clips can prevent the stationary layer and the mirror from contacting each other when the mirror is in the driven position. The spring clips exert force on the mirror toward the undriven position when the mirror is in the driven position and in contact with the spring clips. |
| US08115983B2 |
Method and system for packaging a MEMS device
A MEMS-based display device is described, wherein an array of interferometric modulators are configured to reflect light through a transparent substrate. The transparent substrate is sealed to a backplate and the backplate can contain electronic circuitry for controlling the array of interferometric modulators. The backplate can provide physical support for device components, such as electronic components which can be used to control the state of the display. The backplate can also be utilized as a primary structural support for the device. |
| US08115981B2 |
Scanning optical apparatus
A scanning optical apparatus includes a light source, a deflecting element for deflecting a beam of light emitted from the light source, an optical device for causing the beam of light emitted from the light source to be imaged into a linear shape long in the main scanning direction on the deflecting surface of the deflecting element. The optical device is comprised of a first optical element and a second optical element, and a third optical element for causing the beam of light deflected by the deflecting element to be imaged into a spot-like shape on a surface to be scanned. The third optical element includes a single lens, the opposite lens surfaces of which both include a toric surface of an aspherical surface shape in the main scanning plane, the curvatures of the opposite lens surfaces in the sub scanning plane being continuously varied from the on-axis toward the off-axis in the effective portion of the lens. |
| US08115980B2 |
Light scanning unit, image forming apparatus having the same, and synchronizing signal calibrating method of the light scanning unit
A light scanning unit includes: a light source; a beam deflector to form forward direction and reverse direction scanning lines on an image section and first and second non-image sections respectively disposed at opposite sides of the image section; a reflecting member to reflect the light beam input from the beam deflector; a light detector to receive a first light beam directly input from the beam deflector and a second light beam input via the reflecting member; a control unit to determine whether the scanning line is a forward direction scanning line or a reverse direction scanning line based on signals respectively corresponding to the first and second light beams detected in the light detector, and to control the light source so that a light beam including image information corresponding to a scanning direction of the scanning line can be emitted; and a synchronization adjusting unit to correct an alignment error between the forward direction scanning line and the reverse direction scanning line due to at least one of respective disposition tolerances of the light detector and the reflecting member and a resonance frequency change of the beam deflector correlating to a surrounding environment change. |
| US08115978B2 |
Information processing method and information processing apparatus for simulating a result output from a first output device based on input data represented in a color space that is dependent on the input device by a second output device
Input data in a color space dependent on input device is converted into first data in a device-independent color space based on input viewing condition. Through forward conversion based on a perception model corresponding to the input viewing condition, the first data is converted into second data in a color perception space in accordance with specified color-space compression mode. The second data is converted into third data through color-space compression based on a gamut of first output device. The third data is converted into fourth data through color-space compression based on a gamut of second output device. Through inverse conversion based on a perception model of the second output device, the fourth data is converted into fifth data in a device-independent color space based on viewing condition of the second output device. The fifth data is converted into output data in a color space dependent on the second output device. |
| US08115977B2 |
Document color and shades of gray optimization using monochrome patterns
Methods, apparatus, software, and systems of the present invention allow for optimization of color and shades of gray documents prior to their conversion to a monochrome format. If color/gray elements are identified in the document, the distance between them and their intensity is determined. If there are elements with the same or similar intensity in close proximity to each other, colors of some of the elements may be replaced with solid monochrome colors, and/or dithered surfaces, and/or monochrome patterns. Further, the elements may be outlined. These improvements make elements in the document more distinguishable after its conversion to a monochrome format. The described color optimization and outlining may have wide applicability in the Internet Fax technology. |
| US08115976B2 |
Image formation apparatus
A disclosed image formation apparatus includes: a manual paper feed unit supplying a recording material; an image formation unit receiving the recording material from the manual paper feed unit; an image removal device removing an image recorded on the recording material; an installation unit detachably installing the image removal device on the image formation apparatus; and a switching unit switching whether the recording material fed from the manual paper feed unit is supplied to the image removal device installed using the installation unit or to the image formation unit. |
| US08115964B2 |
Image processing method for printing gray objects
An image processing apparatus is disclosed that includes an image processing part configured to perform image processing for causing a printer to print document data, the printer having a nozzle head having a first nozzle group and a second nozzle group, the first nozzle group having multiple K nozzles and multiple nozzles whose positions coincide with positions of the K nozzles in a sub scanning direction, the second nozzle group having multiple nozzles offset in the sub scanning direction from the K nozzles. The image processing part is configured to perform the image processing so that K is prevented from being applied to and one or more colors related to the second nozzle group are applied to multiple dots corresponding to the second nozzle group in a single movement of the nozzle head in a main scanning direction with respect to a gray drawing object contained in the document data. |
| US08115960B2 |
Overlay printer that stores form data
A printer is provided which is capable of shortening time required to complete overlay printing. The printer includes a job controlling section to divide received data into a printer language-dependent portion being dependent on a printer language and print job information being not dependent on a printer language, a form controlling section to produce form bit-mapped data based on form information, and a bit-mapped controlling section to produce bit-mapped data representing non-form based on a result from analysis of a printer language-dependent portion and to perform overlay printing on a form and a non-form by overlaying bit-mapped data on form bit-mapped data. Since control on overlay printing is performed in accordance with form information in printing job information, the printer can be free from constraint of a printer language. |
| US08115958B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus to which a user can login, a management unit that manages login information of a user, a storage unit that stores print data of a print job received from an external device, and a control unit are provided. When a print job is introduced from the external device while the control unit recognizes a state of a user being logged in the login management unit, the control unit temporarily stores the print data of the print job received from the external device in the storage unit and then when the control unit detects a logout with the termination of the login state in the login management unit, starts printing of the print job that is received from the external device and stored in the storage unit. |
| US08115950B2 |
Image reading system, information processing apparatus, and scanner, with specification of number of pages to be scanned and created into a file
An image reading system includes an information processing apparatus and a scanner connected to the information processing apparatus via a network. Upon receiving input of information that specifies the number of pages to be included in a file through an input unit and a web browser, the information processing apparatus transmits the information through a first communication unit to the scanner. The scanner reads image data through a reading unit, and divides the image data into files based on the information through a data management unit. The scanner transmits the files to the information processing apparatus through a second communication unit. The information processing apparatus displays images of the files on a monitor. |
| US08115949B2 |
Image forming system, printing apparatus, image processing apparatus, control method therefor, and program
An image processing apparatus inputs print data from an external device, and analyzes the input print data. The image processing apparatus rasterizes the print data into first image data on the basis of the analysis result. The image processing apparatus receives status information representing the status of a printing apparatus, temporarily saves the first image data in a holding unit on the basis of the received status information and the analysis result, interrupts a transfer process for the first image data to the printing apparatus, starts the transfer process for second image data to the printing apparatus, and transfers, to the printing apparatus, setting information of the print data that corresponds to the first image data. The printing apparatus determines whether corresponding image data has been received within a predetermined period after reception of the setting information of the print data from the image processing apparatus. The printing apparatus manages a print job based on the setting information as a reservation job on the basis of the determination result. Upon reception of image data of the managed reservation job, the printing apparatus starts a printing process for the image data. |
| US08115945B2 |
Methods and systems for imaging device job configuration management
Some aspects of the present invention relate to a method whereby an image device may communicate its job configuration properties to a remote computing device, which may then communicate with the imaging device to modify those configuration properties for a particular imaging job. Some aspects relate to methods whereby job configuration properties are transmitted to a remote application that generates an optimized job definition list that defines an imaging job based on the values of the job configuration properties. |
| US08115942B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus detects whether a sub board, which performs image processing, is in a processing-disabled state. If it is detected that the sub board is in the processing-disabled state, the image forming apparatus activates a virtual environment on a main board, which performs information processing, to allow an image processing unit configured to perform the image processing to run on the virtual environment. The image forming apparatus transfers data processed by the image processing unit to the sub board when the sub board comes into a processing-enabled state and then prints and outputs the data via a print engine. |
| US08115936B2 |
Laser ultrasonic detection device including a laser oscillating device which includes a seed laser oscillating element
A laser maintenance apparatus including a laser system which includes an optical system for emitting, in a first irradiation condition, a generation laser beam for generating an ultrasonic wave in a portion of an object on which maintenance is to be performed, and including a laser source configured to generate and detect a detection laser beam which interacts with the ultrasonic wave generated by the laser light beam in the first condition. The laser maintenance apparatus also includes a light transmitting device for transmitting laser light emitted from the laser system, a laser irradiation device for irradiating laser light transmitted by the light transmitting device to the object portion, and a transporting/scanning mechanism for transporting the light transmitting device and the laser irradiation device to a portion near the object portion, and scanning over an arbitrary range at the object portion. |
| US08115933B2 |
Interferometer for optically measuring an object
An interferometer for optically measuring an object (10), including a light source (1), at least one beam splitter (2) and at least one detector (12a, 12b), with the beam splitter being arranged in the beam path of the light source such that a light beam created by the light source is split into a working beam (3) and a reference beam (4). The interferometer is embodied such that the working beam impinges on the object (10) to be measured and the working beam is at least partially reflected by the object and interfered with the reference beam on the detector (12a, 12b). Here it is essential that the interferometer is provided with a spatial light modulator, which comprises a hologram control unit (9) and a hologram reconstruction unit (8) connected thereto, with the hologram reconstruction unit being arranged in the beam path of the working beam between the beam splitter (2) and the object (10) and the hologram control unit (9) controlling the hologram reconstruction unit (8) such that the hologram reconstruction unit creates an optionally predetermined hologram such that the working beam is deflected and/or split by the hologram reconstruction unit. |
| US08115932B2 |
Methods and apparatus for measuring ion implant dose
Methods and apparatus for measuring ion implant dose in a material provide for: measuring a reflection spectrum through an implantation surface of the material, the implantation surface having been subjected to an ion implantation process to create a material layer from the implantation surface to a depth within the material and a layer of weakness below the material layer; storing magnitudes of the reflection spectrum as a function of respective wavelengths of incident light on the implantation surface; and computing an ion implant dose used during the ion implantation process based on comparisons of at least two magnitudes of the reflection spectrum at least two corresponding wavelengths of the incident light. |
| US08115930B2 |
Methods and apparatus for analyzing samples and collecting sample fractions
Methods and apparatus for analyzing a sample using at least one detector are disclosed. |
| US08115929B2 |
Thread lateral movement sensor
A system for detecting the lateral movement of thread includes an optical device configured to emit an optical signal. The optical device includes a resonant cavity. The system further includes a driver configured to drive the optical signal. A mechanical guide is configured to receive a moving thread that scatters the optical signal such that a portion of the optical signal is reflected back into the resonant cavity of the optical device; causing a change in the optical signal. An optical detector is configured to detect the changed optical signal. Lateral movement detection circuitry is configured to detect lateral movements such as vibrations. |
| US08115923B2 |
Measuring arrangement for spectroscopic examination and throughput acquisition of a crop flow
A measuring arrangement for spectroscopic examination and throughput acquisition of a crop flow is provided, the arrangement having a spectrometer which comprises a light source, a window, a dispersive element and a detector, the light source is positioned to illuminate the crop flow during operation through the window, and positioned such that light reflected by the crop flow passes through the window and onto the dispersive element, which is positioned to deflect the reflected light onto the detector in different directions as a function of wavelength, a throughput-determining device cooperating with the crop flow, and a recording device for recording the measured values of the spectrometer and of the throughput determining device. |
| US08115910B2 |
Apparatus and method for the optical examination of value documents
An apparatus for optical analysis of at least one value document (12) in a recording area (38) of the apparatus has an illumination device (36) for illuminating the value document (12) in the recording area (38) and possessing at least one surface emitting laser diode (50), a control device (42) for driving the laser diode (50), and a detection device (40) for recording optical radiation from the recording area (38). |
| US08115907B2 |
Container and exposure apparatus having the same
A method of forming a container having a lid and a container body which define an inside space, and a material containing an organic compound provided in the inside space. The method includes forming a groove and a communication member for communicating the groove with an outside space, in at least one of the lid and the container body, providing the material in the inside space, welding the lid and the container body to each other, and exhausting the organic compound vaporized by welding heat to the outside space through the groove and the communication member. |
| US08115905B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus for immersion lithography is disclosed in which a seal between different parts of the substrate table may be arranged to reduce the transmission of forces between the different parts. |
| US08115904B2 |
Illumination system for sizing focused spots of a patterning system for maskless lithography
An optical system for producing a pattern of focused spots, such as a maskless lithographic projection system, includes an illuminator, a pattern generator, and an imager. The illuminator includes a light source for generating a light beam, a homogenizer for evenly dispersing light within the light beam, and a condenser for coupling the light source to the homogenizer. The pattern generator has individually addressable elements illuminated by the light beam from the illuminator. The imager images the addressable elements of the pattern generator onto corresponding focusing elements for forming focused spots that are conjugate to aperture stops in both the imager and the illuminator. The illuminator underfills the imager aperture stop for reducing the size of the focused spots. The condenser underfills the illuminator aperture stop for further controlling the size and shape of the focused spots. |
| US08115903B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithographic apparatus has adaptations to prevent or reduce bubble formation in one or more gaps in the substrate table by preventing bubbles escaping from the gap into the beam path and/or extracting bubbles that may form in the gap. |
| US08115900B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus is arranged to project a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate is disclosed. The lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system and an outlet connected to a pumping system to pump away gas from between an inner wall and outer wall of the illumination system or, if a radiation source is present, between the inner wall of the illumination system and an inner wall of the radiation source. |
| US08115899B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A method and apparatus for cleaning the inside of an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed. A cleaning device may be provided in the substrate table and an ultrasonic emitter may be provided to create an ultrasonic cleaning liquid. |
| US08115896B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display including an active device array substrate, an opposite substrate disposed above the active device array substrate and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the active device array substrate and the opposite substrate is provided. The active device array substrate has a plurality of signal lines, a plurality of active devices electrically connected with corresponding signal lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes electrically connected with corresponding active devices, and an auxiliary electrode. The auxiliary electrode is disposed between the pixel electrodes. Besides, the opposite substrate has a common electrode. The voltage difference applied between the common electrode and the pixel electrode is smaller than that applied between the auxiliary electrode and the pixel electrode. Additionally, a driving method for the above-mentioned liquid crystal display is also provided. |
| US08115895B2 |
Optical compensation film and liquid crystal display device using the same
An optical compensation film comprising a light absorbing layer capable of absorbing at least light of wavelength λ nm in the visible light region is disclosed. The light absorbing layer has absorption anisotropy, light absorption coefficient kz(λ) in the direction normal to the surface of layer (in the direction of z-axis), with respect to light of wavelength λ nm in the visible light region, being larger than in-plane (x-y plane) light absorption coefficients kx(λ) and ky(λ); and the light absorbing layer has the larger degree of absorption anisotropy at the light of longer wavelength. A liquid crystal display device employing the film is also disclosed. |
| US08115892B2 |
Display that emits circularly-polarized light
One embodiment of the present invention provides a display that emits circularly-polarized light. This display includes a display mechanism that emits linearly-polarized light and a layer placed in the path of the linearly-polarized light. The layer receives the linearly-polarized light on one surface, converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light, and then emits the circularly-polarized light from another surface. By emitting circularly-polarized light, the display reduces the perceived distortion found at some angles when the display is viewed through a linearly-polarizing filter. |
| US08115891B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight device which supplies light to a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The backlight device includes a diffusion plate, a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps, and a reflection plate on which light is reflected. Assuming arrangement intervals of the plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps in the direction from a center portion to a peripheral portion as “a”, “b”, “c”, “d”, “e”, and “f” respectively, the plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps is arranged to satisfy the relationship of a>b≧c≧d≧e≧f. Such a liquid crystal display device can control the brightness distribution due to the arrangement of the cold cathode fluorescent lamps within the backlight device thus obtaining a high-quality image display without generating brightness irregularities. |
| US08115888B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a light source, at least one optical member having a periodic structure of 75 μm or more, pixels disposed in a matrix state, and at least one optical member with light scattering properties. |
| US08115885B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and active device array substrate thereof
An active device array substrate including a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixel units, each of the pixel units formed between every neighboring two of the scan lines and data lines is provided. Each of the pixel units includes a first active device, a first pixel electrode electrically connected to a corresponding scan line and a corresponding data line through the first active device, a second active device, a second pixel electrode electrically connected to a corresponding scan line and a corresponding data line through the first active device, a second active device and a second pixel electrode electrically connected to a corresponding scan line and a corresponding data line through the second active device. The first pixel electrode has a surface area different from that of the second pixel electrode. |
| US08115881B2 |
Voltage pull-down circuit
A voltage pull-down circuit electrically connected between two scan lines and a bus line includes a transistor and an electrostatic discharge protection device. Each transistor comprises a source, a drain, and a gate electrically connected to one of the scan lines. Each gate is connected to another scan line, the source, and the drain through the electrostatic discharge protection device. |
| US08115879B2 |
Liquid crystal display with slitted pixel electrodes to orient liquid crystal material
A liquid crystal display has a driving substrate on which transparent pixel electrodes are formed; a counter substrate on which a counter electrode is formed; and a liquid crystal material disposed between the driving and counter substrates. Liquid crystal material molecules are oriented orthogonally to the substrates. The driving substrate has pixel capacitors and pixel transistors formed thereon, with the pixel capacitors disposed under the pixel electrodes. The pixel transistors act to write signal voltages to the pixel electrodes and pixel capacitors. The pixel electrodes have slits formed over the pixel capacitors to orient the the liquid crystal material molecules orthogonally and in a split manner. Each of the pixel capacitors has an electrode for reflecting light and forms a reflective region. Liquid crystal material portions in the reflective regions have a thickness greater than half the thickness of liquid crystal material portions in other transmissive regions. |
| US08115878B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate and liquid crystal display
A TFT array substrate includes a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel region includes a pixel electrode, a first TFT, a pull alignment electrode, a second TFT, a first and second push alignment electrodes, so that when a voltage is applied to the TFT array substrate, a transverse pull electric field is formed between the pixel electrode and the pull alignment electrode, and transverse push electric fields are formed respectively between the first push alignment electrode and the pixel electrode and between the second push alignment electrode and the pixel electrode. Accordingly, liquid crystal molecules of the TFT array substrate can respond quickly and it is not necessary to configure bumps on a color filter substrate, thereby improving contrast ratio, simplifying manufacture process and reducing costs. |
| US08115874B2 |
Memory optimization for video processing
Memory storage requirements for digital signal processing operations, for example, motion-compensated video scan rate conversion, that produce intermediate output data, which is then used as an input to the operation, are reduced by reordering operations and organizing memory allocations in a special manner to allow intermediate output at a particular execution time, to substantially share the same memory space as the intermediate output of a previous execution time. Such a reduction in the amount of memory required for processing operations advantageously reduces cost and power consumption. |
| US08115869B2 |
Method and system for extracting relevant information from content metadata
A method and system for extracting relevant information from content metadata is provided. User access to content is monitored. A set of extraction rules for information extraction is selected. Key information is extracted from metadata for the content based on the selected extraction rules. Additionally, a type for the content can be determined, and a set of extraction rules is selected based on the content type. The key information is used in queries for searching information of potential interest to the user, related to the content accessed. |
| US08115868B2 |
Data recovery device and data recovery method for television signals
A data recovery device and a method thereof for processing a television signal having a plurality of horizontal scan signals are disclosed. The data recovery device includes a reference level processing unit and a data processing circuit. The method for data recovery is by means of the reference level processing unit to generate a plurality of reference levels according to a reference component of each of the horizontal scan signals. And the data processing circuit is used to process the N+1th horizontal scan signal in accordance with the Nth reference level. |
| US08115867B2 |
Image processing device
The present invention provides an image processing device that converts an interlace image signal into a progressive signal so as not to cause degradation of image quality in edge parts of letters or the like, when performing an IP conversion with respect to an image that is mixed with an OSD such as a caption and a telop. The image processing device includes: an OSD mix part that mixes an on-screen display with an input interlace image signal; a motion detecting part that detects a motion by comparing pixel data between different fields; and an interpolation pixel generating part that generates a new pixel between lines of the interlace image signal by interpolating calculation with an interpolation method that depends on an OSD mix ratio of the OSD mix part and a result of the motion detection by the motion detecting part. |
| US08115866B2 |
Method for detecting film pulldown cadences
Given an incoming stream of interlaced video, data for each field is analyzed to detect a progressive frame cadence. If a progressive frame cadence is detected, a set of instructions is generated to instruct a de-interlacing unit which fields were mastered from the same progressive frame. The similarity in motion between two consecutive fields and the correlation between two consecutive fields is used to detect the presence of cadences and breaks in cadences. Breaks in cadences are continuously detected in order to characterize the source as video and prevent false detection of cadences. |
| US08115863B2 |
Video de-interlacer using pixel trajectory
A method of de-interlacing interlaced video information including determining functional equations which estimate trajectories of corresponding pixel locations based on statistical information, updating each functional equation with sampled pixel values from the interlaced video information of corresponding pixel locations, and evaluating the functional equations at a time point of a progressive frame and providing corresponding progressive pixel values. A video de-interlace system including a trajectory estimator and a component estimator. The trajectory estimator provides functional equations estimating trajectories of tracked pixel locations based on statistical information. The component estimator receives the functional equations and the interlaced video information and provides progressive pixel values. The component estimator updates each functional equation with sampled pixel values from the interlaced video information, and evaluates the updated functional equations at selected time points to provide progressive frames. |
| US08115862B2 |
Electronic camera that wirelessly transfers data, which includes a power save mode
An electronic camera comprises a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a computer or a printer, and a power save mode changeover unit that changes over a power save mode to either an ON or an OFF state according to the operational state of the electronic camera, if the power save mode is changed over to ON by the power save mode changeover unit, the wireless communication unit stops its operation when radio waves are not being transmitted, and if the power save mode is changed over to OFF, the wireless communication unit operates in a standby state when radio waves are not being transmitted. |
| US08115860B2 |
LED flash control
An image recording apparatus with a solid state light emitting device is provided that controls one or more exposure settings for an image recording in low light conditions in response to a level of light reflected from a scene illuminated with the solid state light emitting device. |
| US08115859B2 |
Method for controlling auto-exposure
An auto-exposure control method includes: creating an exposure table and an analog gain table including an exposure time and an analog gain of an image sensor set according to an index, respectively; calculating an average luminance value of an image frame obtained by the image sensor; checking whether or not the average luminance value is within a pre-set range including a prescribed final target value; if the average luminance value is not within the pre-set range, determining a shift step from indexes which have been applied to a current image frame according to the difference between the average luminance value and the final target value in order to determine indexes of the exposure table and the analog gain table to be applied to a next image frame; and repeatedly performing of reading an exposure time and an analog gain corresponding to the indexes shifted by the shift step determined from the indexes applied to the current image frame, from the exposure table and the analog gain table, applying the same to the image sensor, obtaining a next image frame, and calculating an average luminance value. |
| US08115858B2 |
System and method for acquiring moving images
A system and a method for acquiring a moving image are provided. The system includes an image capturing unit capturing two images having different exposure times at a predetermined time slot, an image storing unit storing at least one of two images which were captured at a time slot previous to the predetermined time slot and which have different exposure times, an output image generating unit generating an output image by synthesizing the two images captured at the predetermined time slot or by synthesizing any one of the two images captured at the predetermined time slot and any one of the two images captured and stored at the previous time slot, an exposure time calculating unit receiving the images captured at the predetermined time slot and setting exposure times for a next time slot, and an exposure time storing unit storing the exposure times for the next time slot. |
| US08115856B2 |
Camera module
A camera module includes a circuit board of a grounding pad, a lens module, and a voice-coil motor. The voice-coil motor for receiving and driving the lens module automatically focus comprises a main body, a metallic casing and a grounding structure. The metallic casing covers the main body. After electrically grounding by connecting with the grounding pad of the circuit board, the grounding structure connects with the metallic casing and the circuit board. With the grounding structure, the metallic casing can be grounded. Thereby, prevent external electro-magnetic waves from affecting electrical signals communicated between the camera module and the circuit board. |
| US08115852B2 |
Contrast control for use in image display apparatus and image pickup apparatus
An image display apparatus includes a display which displays an image based on an image signal. An ambient light measuring unit measures the intensity of ambient light around the display. A brightness distribution measuring unit measures a brightness distribution in a scene when the image signal is obtained. A parameter calculator calculates a correction parameter for correcting a partial contrast of the image based on the ambient light intensity and brightness distribution in the scene. A contrast correction unit corrects a partial contrast of the image by correcting the image signal by using the calculated correction parameter. |
| US08115850B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus and driving method for the same
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of pixels generating pixel signals; color filters above the photoelectric conversion elements; a row selecting unit for selecting a plurality of rows of the pixels; a signal line receiving the pixel signal from the pixels of the row selected by the row selecting unit; a plurality of capacitors for accumulating the pixel signal outputted to the signal line; and a plurality of selecting switches connected between the signal line and the plurality of capacitors. During a first adding operation, the row selecting unit adds pixel signals accumulated in a part of the capacitors on the signal line. And, during a second adding operation, the row selecting unit adds pixel signals accumulated in other part of the capacitors with the pixel signals from the pixels of a row different from the row of which pixel signals are added in the first adding operation. |
| US08115847B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus and driving method suppressing a pseudo signal originated from an amplifying transistor and having less fixed pattern noises and shading
A solid state imaging apparatus of less fixed pattern noises and less shading comprises an imaging area wherein a plurality of pixel circuits are arranged in two dimensionally, and each of the pixel circuits includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements each for generating an electric charge by a photoelectric conversion and for accumulating the electric charge, a single floating diffusion portion for accumulating the charge, a plurality of transfer switches for transferring the electric charges respectively from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements to the single floating diffusion portion and an amplifying transistor for amplifying a voltage corresponding to the electric charge accumulated by the floating diffusion portion, wherein the plurality of transfer switches transfers the electric charges from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements sequentially to the floating diffusion portion while maintaining the amplifying transistors at the activation state. |
| US08115845B2 |
Counter array and image sensor including the same
A counter array and an image sensor including the same may be provided. The counter array may include a controller and a plurality of counter units. The controller may output an operation control signal and a direction indication signal. The counter units hold previous output values or may perform a counting operation in response to the operation control signal and may perform an up-count operation or a down-count operation in response to the direction indication signal when performing the counting operation. |
| US08115843B2 |
Photographing apparatus with random trigger operation
A photographing apparatus includes: a synchronizing signal generation portion (6); an imaging portion (1) that is operated based on a synchronizing signal to pick up an image and generate image data; a trigger input portion (18) operable to input a trigger signal for commanding a start of a photographing operation; and a control portion (5) that controls the operation of the imaging portion based on the synchronizing signal and the trigger signal. The control portion controls synchronous processing that is performed in synchronization with the synchronizing signal to pickup a moving image. When the trigger signal is input, the control portion immediately stops the generation of the synchronizing signal by the synchronizing signal generation portion when the synchronous processing is not being performed, while the control portion initializes the synchronous processing and then stops the generation of the synchronizing signal when the synchronous processing is being performed. Thereafter, the control portion resumes the generation of the synchronizing signal, and starts imaging for recording by the imaging portion. A time period between the generation of the trigger signal and the start of imaging is reduced, and a large variation therein is suppressed regardless of the state of the synchronous processing. |
| US08115842B2 |
Method of reading an image sensor signal and image sensor
The invention relates to matrix-array image sensors with MOS-technology active pixels, comprising a matrix-array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. To read the signal from a pixel, the reset potential present on a column conductor is sampled in two capacitors. The first capacitor is linked to an input of a comparator; the other input receives, through the second capacitor, a linear voltage ramp varying in a first direction for a first duration, then a linear voltage ramp in the reverse direction; a digital value N of the time between the start of this second ramp and the switching over of the comparator is counted; the useful potential present on the column conductor and representing the lighting of the pixel is sampled again, but in the first capacitor only; two ramps identical to the preceding ones are applied to the second input, through the second capacitor; a digital value N′ of the time between the start of the second reverse ramp and the switching over of the comparator is counted, the difference between the two counts N and N′ representing a measurement of the lighting of the pixel. |
| US08115838B2 |
Signal processing device for solid-state imaging device, imaging apparatus having the signal processing device, signal processing method, and program which allow inter-pixel color mixing to be properly corrected even when color mixing ratios re two-dimensionally distributed in a pixel array surface
A signal processing device for a solid-state imaging device correcting inter-pixel color mixing in the solid-state imaging device in which color filters having a color component constituting a primary component among luminance components and other color components are disposed on a surface of a two-dimensional array of pixels including a photoelectric conversion element is disclosed. The signal processing device includes a parameter distribution unit two-dimensionally distributing correction parameters in a pixel array surface on which a plurality of pixels are arranged and a signal correcting unit correcting a signal for a pixel of interest using each of signals for a plurality of surrounding pixels adjacent to the pixel of interest in the pixel array surface and using two-dimensionally distributed correction parameters for each of the signals. |
| US08115836B2 |
Image reproducing apparatus
An image reproducing apparatus is operative in accordance with multiple display modes. The image reproducing apparatus includes a data reproducing unit that reproduces an image on a display based on high dynamic range image data acquired from an object and stored in memory, and a dynamic range control unit that controls the dynamic range of the image to be reproduced on the display using one of different types of dynamic range control schemes in accordance with one of the display modes. |
| US08115830B2 |
Image processing apparatus
There is provided an image processing apparatus capable of properly setting a photographing condition in consideration of time allowable for each processing; the image processing apparatus capable of properly setting the photographing condition while referring to an actually generated composite image; the image processing apparatus capable of properly setting the photographing condition even by a user who has no background knowledge; and the image processing apparatus capable of determining whether or not image composition processing is properly executed even by the user who has no background knowledge. A setting mode screen displays a composite image based on generated output image data, together with “processing time”, being expected time required for generating one output image data. The composite image is updated every time the output image data is generated. |
| US08115825B2 |
Electronic device with two image sensors
An electronic device for producing an image of an object is disclosed. The electronic device may include a black-and-white camera having a first sensor area configured to receive luma data pertaining to the object. The first sensor area may correspond to a first pixel array, the luma data associated with the first pixel array. The electronic device may also include a color camera having a second sensor area configured to receive chroma data pertaining to the object. The second sensor area may correspond to a second pixel array. The chroma data may be associated with the second pixel array. The electronic device may also include first logic configured to correlate pixels in the first pixel array with locations on the second sensor area. |
| US08115823B2 |
Image processing system capable of reducing image data needed to be transmitted and method thereof
An image processing system includes a first image processing unit and a second image processing unit. The first image processing unit is utilized for receiving a plurality of images, and the first image processing unit divides a (K+N)th image into a plurality of regions according to a Kth image and a (K+M)th image, where K, M and N are positive integers and N is greater than M. The first image processing unit further transmits image data corresponding to a first region of the plurality of regions to the second image processing unit. |
| US08115821B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting a region of interest in image data
An ROI setting apparatus including an ROI recognition unit and an ROI control unit is provided. In one embodiment, the ROI recognition unit contains multiple ROI recognition modules for recognizing an ROI of image data according to various methods to obtain a recognition result. The ROI control unit selects one ROI recognition module out of the ROI recognition modules and sets ROI information based on the recognition result. The ROI recognition module may be selected according to an instruction from a user input via an operation unit, or a scene type selected by a scene selection switch of an image capture unit. The ROI control unit may perform operations such as selecting, enlarging, or reducing the ROI recognized by the ROI recognition module, or changing the ROI recognition conditions according to the respective instructions from the user input via the operation unit. |
| US08115820B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus configured to perform a process to reduce a color blur in a color motion picture image utilizing a first frame image and a second frame image that has been obtained after the first frame image includes a memory configured to store a first color blur reduction amount used for the process to the first frame image, an estimator configured to calculate a color blur estimation amount in the second frame image through a spatial operation to the second frame image, and a determination part configured to calculate a second color blur reduction amount used for the process to the second frame image so that a difference between the first color blur reduction amount and the color blur estimation amount can fall within a predetermined range. |
| US08115819B2 |
Systems and methods for configuring a camera for access across a network
A camera for connection to an authorised user via a network. The camera has a processor arranged to execute a communications client program and an image data decoding program. The camera further has means for capturing image data including encoded login data, the image data being supplied to the image data decoding program, the image data decoding program being arranged to decode the image data and to supply the login data decoded from the image data to the communication client program to set up the camera as an authorised device accessible by the user via the network. |
| US08115815B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and time correction method
An image pickup apparatus that records a picked-up image and time information indicating when the picked-up image was picked up includes a unit that obtains location information and UTC and generates positioning information indicating the obtained result, a unit that determines the time difference between the time corresponding to the location information and UTC using the location information, a unit that calculates the local time of a location indicated by the location information using UTC and the time difference, and a unit that performs correction of a system time of the image pickup apparatus when the time difference between the system time and the local time exceeds a predetermined time period and that causes the correction of the system time to be delayed until after the completion of a recording operation of the picked-up image when the recording operation is being performed. |
| US08115814B2 |
Mobile tracking system, camera and photographing method
An apparatus and method to track and to photograph a mobile object over a wide range, by a cooperative operation of multiple cameras. In addition, a mobile tracking system is provided for tracking the mobile object by the cooperation of multiple cameras, in which each camera includes a photographing device which photographs and recognizes the mobile object, a changing device which changes a view angle of the photographing device, a position deriving device which derives a position of the camera, a distance deriving device which derives the distance between the camera and the mobile object, and a communication device which transmits an identifier of the camera, a position of the camera, a moving direction of the mobile object and the distance between the camera and the mobile object to another camera and receives an identifier of the other camera, a position of the other camera, a moving direction of the mobile object and a distance between the other camera and the mobile object from the other camera. |
| US08115810B2 |
Vehicle-periphery viewing apparatus
A vehicle-periphery viewing apparatus comprises an imaging device, an electronic control unit, and a display device. The imaging device captures an image of a surrounding area of the vehicle and comprises a field of view larger in a horizontal direction than in a vertical direction. An electronic control unit comprises: a mask image storage section: and a photomontage section merging a video captured by the imaging device and the mask image read from the mask image storage section, to generate a merged video. The mask image comprises: an upper mask displayed along an upper side of the display screen; and a lower mask displayed along a lower side of the display screen; and an interval between the upper mask and the lower mask in a first direction, becomes narrower toward a center area and wider toward both ends in a second direction. |
| US08115807B2 |
Apparatus and method for mapping hair metric
Apparatus for determining the status of hair bulk in an area of a scalp is operative to provide a metric over a sufficiently large area to permit revisiting with only negligible misalignment error. Accurate re-measurement of hair status in accurately identified areas produces a reliable metric for determining degree of hair loss and or the effectiveness of treatment. |
| US08115793B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus using the same
An optical scanning device includes at least one scanning unit having a deflector for scanningly deflecting a light beam from a light source, and an imaging optical system for imaging the light beam scanningly deflected by the deflector upon a plurality of photosensitive drums, wherein, at each of a plurality of light paths extending from the deflector to the plurality of photosensitive drums, at least one reflection member for turning the light path into a sub-scan direction is provided, wherein the plurality of light paths are different in the number of the reflection members, wherein a polarization direction of a light beam incident on each reflection of the plurality of light paths is S-polarized at an optical axis of the imaging optical system, wherein the reflection surfaces of all the reflection members of the plurality of light paths have the same film structure, and wherein the difference among the plurality of light paths of a total turn angle defined by the reflection surface or surfaces of the reflection member or members in the sub-scan direction at the optical axis of said imaging optical system, is not greater than 40 degrees. |
| US08115787B2 |
Device, system and method of data conversion for wide gamut displays
A method and system for converting color image data (data outputting from element 202) from a, for example, three-dimensional color space format to a format usable by an n-primary display (206), wherein n is greater than or equal to 3. The system (converter 204) may define a two-dimensional sub-space having a plurality of two-dimensional positions, each position representing a set of n primary color values and a third, scaleable coordinate value for generating an n-primary display input signal (signal inputting toi display 206). Furthermore, the system may receive a three-dimensional color space input signal including out-of range pixel data not reproducible by a three-primary additive display, and may convert the data to side gamut color image pixel data suitable for driving the wide gamut color display. |
| US08115786B2 |
Liquid crystal driving circuit
The liquid crystal driving circuit for converting pixel values into driving voltages on a plurality of channels includes a reference voltage generating circuit, a plurality of buffer amplifiers, an output selection circuit coupling, and a plurality of switch circuits. The reference voltage generating circuit generates a plurality of grayscale reference voltages. Each buffer amplifier corresponds to one of the grayscale voltages and is powered by a supply voltage. The output selection circuit couples to the channels to outputs of the buffer amplifiers selected according to the pixel values. The switch circuits couples inputs of the selected buffer amplifiers to receive the corresponding grayscale reference voltages, and couples inputs of the unselected buffer amplifiers to receive the supply voltage. |
| US08115784B2 |
Systems and methods for displaying multi-energy data
Systems, methods and computer instructions for displaying multi-energy data are provided. Certain methods include: receiving multi-energy data from an operably connected data source; displaying the multi-energy data as an image via a graphical user interface; selecting a region of interest in the displayed image; and displaying information regarding the region of interest via the graphical user interface. Certain methods include: (1) displaying a graph that includes an attenuation line depicting radiodensity versus energy level; (2) displaying a material density graph of a region of interest and/or of results of segmenting a region of interest; and/or (3) displaying information in a window configured to be movable about an interface. Certain methods include: receiving multi-energy data from an operably connected data source; and displaying the multi-energy data as a fused image via a graphical user interface. |
| US08115782B2 |
Assisted adaptive region editing tool
Properties of pixels of a digital image are sampled within different subdivisions of an editing tool impression to produce different pixel property distributions. The property distributions from each region may be automatically classified to identify different edit classes within the property space, which are then used to apply an edit effect to the digital image within the tool impression. The edit classes are represented by an edit profile, the generation of which may be completely automated based on selection of a tool impression, or partially automated using the selection of the tool impression and receipt of classification guidance input, such as one or more parameters received from user input or a configuration file. The edit classes may also be generated without reference to the pixel property distributions, such as via user input. |
| US08115781B2 |
Systems and methods of image processing including removal of discontinuous ramp and/or smoothing features
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing image data to provide adjusted pixel information that achieves smoothed output discontinuities. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of processing image data including analyzing first display information including pixel data indicative of pixel display on a graphical user interface, detecting one or more ramp steps in the pixel data, and assigning, in association with random number generation and/or threshold setting functionality, a carry possibility for a pixel adjacent the one or more ramp steps. Other exemplary implementations may include generating second display information included adjusted pixel data for pixels adjacent the ramp steps. Consistent with certain implementations, the second display information may include pixel values adjusted according to the carry possibility in one or both of the temporal domain and/or spatial domain. |
| US08115779B2 |
Color control of white LED lamps
The invention relates to a method and a system for translating a three value color space signal, preferably given in a CIE scale, to an n primary color space signal, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 4, thus providing color controlling of a white light source comprising an array of colored light emitting diodes with respect to maximum CRI and maximum luminous efficiency. |
| US08115778B2 |
System and method for selecting a pixel output format
A method for selecting a pixel output format includes selecting a first pixel to be output, and determining whether the first pixel to be output overlaps with a second pixel. The second pixel is available in the first format from a first source, and in a second format from a second source. The method further includes converting the second pixel in the second format to the first format to produce a converted second pixel. The converted second pixel is compared to the second pixel having the first format, and the second pixel having the first format or the second pixel having the second format is selected for output based upon the comparison. |
| US08115775B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for encoding information in texture maps to enhance texturing
A method comprises encoding information in a texture map, and enhancing texturing utilizing the information, where the information identifies at least one region in at least one texture. Additionally, a texture data structure is embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprises a texture map with encoded information that identifies at least one region in at least one texture. In addition, an apparatus comprises a processor for encoding information in a texture map to enhance texturing, where the information identifies at least one region in at least one texture. |
| US08115772B2 |
System and method of customizing animated entities for use in a multimedia communication application
In an embodiment, a method is provided for creating a personal animated entity for delivering a multi-media message from a sender to a recipient. An image file from the sender may be received by a server. The image file may include an image of an entity. The sender may be requested to provide input with respect to facial features of the image of the entity in preparation for animating the image of the entity. After the sender provides the input with respect to the facial features of the image of the entity, the image of the entity may be presented as a personal animated entity to the sender to preview. Upon approval of the preview from the sender, the image of the entity may be presented as a sender-selectable personal animated entity for delivering the multi-media message to the recipient. |
| US08115771B2 |
System and method for multilevel simulation of animation cloth and computer-readable recording medium thereof
A system for multilevel simulation of an animation cloth is provided. The system includes a multilevel area generation module, a curvature calculation module, a curvature comparison module, and a dynamic simulation module. The multilevel area generation module divides a plurality of grid units of the animation cloth into a plurality of level sub-areas based on a multilevel technique, wherein each of the level sub-areas is generated by dividing an upper level sub-area. The curvature calculation module calculates the curvatures of the level sub-areas according to the plane vectors of the grid units in a frame. The curvature comparison module compares the curvatures of the level sub-areas with a flatness threshold. The dynamic simulation module calculates the plane vector of each grid unit in a next frame through different method according to the comparison result of the curvature comparison module. |
| US08115770B2 |
Pincer parametric intersector
A system, method, and computer program for a finding an intersection for geometrically coincident curves, comprising selecting a curve pair where at least one curve in said curve pair is a parametric curve; determining a curve parameter for each curve in said curve pair; splitting each of said curves into a plurality of candidate segments; recursively subdividing each of said candidate segments into a pair of finalized segments that are sufficiently straight; intersecting an approximation for each of said finalized segments; obtaining a plurality of next parameter values from said intersecting step; and testing for a terminating condition and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions. |
| US08115764B2 |
Map display system, map data processing apparatus, map display apparatus, and map display method
Map display systems, map data processing apparatuses, map display apparatuses, and map display methods for general navigation systems are provided. A map data processing section categorizes original three-dimensional map data into scene graph data representing a data structure of a three-dimensional map using a tree structure and rendering data for rendering an object included in the three-dimensional map and processes the scene graph data and the rendering data. A map data display section specifies a display area by referring to the scene graph data and reads and displays the rendering data in accordance with the specified display area. |
| US08115752B2 |
Image display device
An image display device includes: a source wiring; a first gate wiring intersecting the source wiring to scan a first pixel electrode corresponding to a first scanning period; a second gate wiring adjacent to the first gate wiring to scan a second pixel electrode corresponding to a second scanning period consecutive to the first scanning period; a read signal line disposed in parallel to the source wiring; a light sensing element connected to the second gate wiring and the read signal line; and a light detection circuit configured to detect the presence or absence of light directed at the light sensing element upon receiving an output of the light sensing element. The first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are AC driven in the same polarity. The output of the light sensing element is connected to the light detection circuit for a predetermined interval during the second scanning period. |
| US08115748B2 |
Electronically capturing handwritten data
A method and apparatus are provided for electronically capturing handwritten data using a computing device having a handwriting capture interface. The method includes detecting a position associated with an actuation of the handwriting capture interface to define a handwritten input, and defining a bounding box encompassing at least a portion of individual strokes of the handwritten input. In addition, the method includes storing the handwritten input and the bounding box. |
| US08115747B2 |
Energy-efficient touch panel device and related method
An energy-efficient touch panel control device includes a touch panel, a buffer memory, an interrupt initiation unit, for outputting an interrupt signal, an analog to digital conversion unit, for converting analog output voltage to digital trace data and storing the digital trace data in the buffer memory, and according to a control signal, switching an operating mode, an operation unit, generating a detecting result according to the digital trace data, switching the operating mode according to the control signal, a mode control unit, for generating the control signal according to the interrupt signal, and a host interface unit. |
| US08115745B2 |
Apparatus and method for interactive display with tactile feedback
An electronic device including an interactive display having an interactive mode and a non-interactive mode. The interactive display includes an image display device that displays a user-interactive imaged keypad in at least a portion of the image display device when the interactive display is in the interactive mode and that displays other image data in the at least a portion of the image display device when the interactive display is in the non-interactive mode, and a substantially transparent physical keypad that provides tactile feedback to a user indicating location of one or more imaged keys within the imaged keypad in response to one or more actuators disposed below the image display device. |
| US08115743B2 |
Terminal with touch screen and method for inputting message therein
A terminal with a touch screen and a method for inputting a message therein are provided. The method includes: arranging at least two letters allocated to a key area of the touch screen in a message input mode and displaying the letters in the key area; determining whether a touch-flick is sensed in the key area of the touch screen; and displaying, if a touch-flick is sensed, a letter arranged in the key area in a direction of the touch-flick, in a message display area. Accordingly, a user can compose a message by inputting a desired letter without requiring multiple touches. |
| US08115742B2 |
Touch panel and display device using the same
A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive layer located on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive layer located on an upper surface of the second substrate. At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes at least two stacked carbon nanotube layers. Each carbon nanotube layer comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially aligned in a single direction. The carbon nanotubes in two adjacent carbon nanotube layers are substantially aligned along the same direction. A display device adopting the touch panel includes the touch panel and a display element. |
| US08115741B2 |
Device for providing improved access to the functions of human machine interfaces
A bezel positionable adjacent the outer periphery of a computer touch screen is provided. The bezel includes an elongated rim having a first side adjacent the computer screen and a surface. An identification marker positioned on the surface of the rim and identifying a predetermined area of the touch screen. A tactile indicium structure is on the surface at a location between the identification marker and the predetermined area of the touch screen. The tactile indicium structure includes an upper surface having tactile indicium thereon. |
| US08115739B2 |
Touch screen device and operating method thereof
A touch screen device and an operating method thereof are provided. More specifically, a touch screen device is provided which allows a user to selectively restrict input through a touch screen. The touch screen device includes a screen that includes a display configured to display images thereon and a detector configured to detect a touch on the display and convert the touch into an electrical signal, and a controller configured to cause images to be displayed on the display and receive and process signals from the detector. Further, a user may determine whether the controller is operated according to the signal input into the detector. The determination may be made either by a switch separately installed on an earphone or by inputting a signal into the detector by a user. |
| US08115738B2 |
Position detecting apparatus, position inputting apparatus, and computer including the same
A position detecting apparatus includes a display apparatus having a screen for displaying images by changing states of a plurality of display elements arrayed in the screen along a predetermined direction which is parallel to a side boundary of the screen, and at least one detecting conductor disposed on the display apparatus to detect a position indicated on the display apparatus. The at least one detecting conductor is a loop coil having short sides and long sides, the long sides of the loop coil being arranged so as to cross the predetermined direction of the display elements. |
| US08115736B2 |
Ball mouse
A ball mouse includes a ball, two metallic encoder disks each defining a plurality of through holes, two drive rollers engaged with the ball and transferring motion of the ball to respective encoder disks, two electromagnetic signal generators for generating two electromagnetic signals, and two induced signal generators for generating two induced signals according to respective electromagnetic signals. One of the two electromagnetic signals is transmitted to one of the induced signal generators through the plurality of through holes of one of the encoder disks. The other of the two electromagnetic signals is transmitted to the other of the induced signal generators through the plurality of through holes of the other of the encoder disks. |
| US08115730B2 |
Inputting device which has keys within finger's movement and inputting method
Disclosed are an input device in which an input key is located within the movement radius of a user's fingers, and a method for inputting a command using the input device. To this end, the input device according to the present invention comprises: an input key located within the movement radius of a user's fingers to be moved in the front, rear, left and right directions within the movement radius of the fingers, for inputting the variety of commands therethrough; a plurality of sensing means regularly arranged within the movement radius of the fingers, for sensing approach of the input key thereto or contact of the input key therewith to send a sensing signal; and a controller for receiving the sensing signal from the plurality of the sensing means, determining which one of the plurality of sensing means has sent the sensing signal thereto, extracting an inputted command based on the received signal, and instructing corresponding execution means to execute the extracted command. According to the present invention, desired input commands can be inputted only by moving at least one input key in the front, rear, left and right directions. This method can reduce the size of the input device to the extent of the movement radius of a user's fingers. It is thus possible to provide an input device of an electronic device that can follow a current trend toward miniaturization of the device. |
| US08115727B2 |
System for displaying image
Systems for displaying images are provided. A representative system incorporates a digital data sampling circuit with N stage data inputs. The first stage flip-flop outputs a first output signal. The second stage flip-flop outputs a second output signal. The first stage sample latch circuit receives digital data according to a first control signal. The first stage logic circuit comprises a first converter for inverting the second output signal and generating a first inverse logic signal, and generates the first control signal according to the first output signal and the first inverse logic signal. |
| US08115724B2 |
Driving circuit for display panel
The present invention relates to a driving circuit for a display panel, and comprises a switching module, a buffer circuit, and a plurality of resistive devices. The switching module is coupled to a first power supply and a second power supply. The voltage of the first power supply is smaller than that of the second power supply. The buffer circuit is coupled to the switching module, and is used for buffering a data signal and producing a buffer signal. The plurality of resistive devices is connected in series and coupled to the buffer circuit, and produces a plurality of driving signals between the plurality of resistive devices according to the buffer signal. The driving circuit switches between the first power supply and second power supply sequentially to supply power to the buffer circuit. Thereby, one of the plurality of driving signals charges a capacitor of the display panel for saving power of the driving circuit. Accordingly, the power of the display can be saved. |
| US08115722B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display having reduced power consumption. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of pixels and a plurality of pixel memories. A pixel voltage is stored in a pixel memory in an on screen display (OSD) region of the liquid crystal display panel for displaying a still image for a long period of time and driving a liquid crystal cell by the stored pixel voltage. Also, the power consumption of the liquid crystal display can be reduced by using a NAND gate or a NOR gate as a circuit element for alternating a voltage between low level and high level so as to store a pixel voltage in a pixel memory of the liquid crystal display. |
| US08115719B2 |
Electro-optical device
Provided is an electro-optical device including: pixel electrodes provided in intersections of gate lines and data lines; counter electrodes provided to face the pixel electrodes with an electro-optical material interposed therebetween; and storage capacitors each of which one end is connected to each of the pixel electrodes, wherein, if data line signals supplied to the pixel electrodes via the data lines correspond to writing of a positive polarity with respect to the potential of the counter electrodes, the potential of the other end of each of the storage capacitors is changed to a high potential side after the data line signals are written and, if the data line signals correspond to writing of a negative polarity with respect to the potential of the counter electrodes, the potential of the other end of each of the storage capacitors is held at a constant level before and after the data line signals are written. |
| US08115714B2 |
Display device and method of driving the same
In one embodiment of the present invention, an active-matrix type display unit, and a drive method thereof are disclosed. Gate-bus lines are provided at both top and bottom sides of each row. Two sub-pixels are formed at a region surrounded by two adjacent source-bus lines and two adjacent gate-bus lines. At the odd-numbered rows, for the left-side sub-pixel of those two sub-pixels, a scanning signal is supplied from the top-side gate-bus line, while a video signal is supplied from the left-side source-bus line. For the right-side sub-pixel, on the contrary, a scanning signal is supplied from the bottom-side gate-bus line, while a video signal is supplied from the right-side source-bus line. At the even-numbered rows, the gate-bus line from which a scanning signal is supplied is reversed to the case of the odd-numbered rows. The gate-bus lines are sequentially selected one by one, and all the video signal polarities are made the same during each horizontal scanning period. |
| US08115708B2 |
System and method for the prevention of display burn-in
A system and method for the prevention of display burn-in in Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and non-MPEG environments. In one environment, a system may include an image sampler to sample images from a decoded video stream; a static area detector to successively compare the sampled images using a pixel-wise XOR operation, where the static area detector marks an area in the compared images that appear as zero brightness; and a burn-in prevention module to apply a burn-in preventative technique for a period of time to the marked area. |
| US08115705B2 |
Display device
An active matrix type display device includes array having pixel circuits arranged in rows and columns matrix form, each pixel circuit includes a current-driven diode type light-emitting element and a plurality of thin-film transistor for controlling the diode type light-emitting element; a data line provided for each column of the matrix for supplying a data signal to the pixel circuits on the corresponding column; data driver for controlling the supply of the data signal to the data line; a gate line provided for each row of the matrix for supplying a selection signal to pixel circuits on the corresponding row; a gate driver for supplying a selection signal to the gate line; and a control circuit for controlling the data driver and gate driver, wherein the data driver switches a plurality of sets of video signals alternately and supplies the video signals to the data line. |
| US08115702B2 |
Plasma display device and driving method thereof
A plasma display device and a method of driving the same, capable of reducing or preventing the deterioration of components such as a switching device, due to an overcurrent. In a reset period, in order to cause the voltage of a scan electrode to ramp down from a first voltage to a second voltage, a panel driver includes a falling ramp switch that repeats turn-on/turn-off operations, alternately coupling and de-coupling a low-level power supply to the scan electrode, resulting in a gradually falling ramp waveform. A switch controller generates a switching pulse to control the falling ramp switch. Each turn-on time of the switching pulse for the initial falling ramp waveform following a power-on of the plasma display device is controlled to be shorter than each turn-on time of the switching pulse for other falling ramp waveform. |
| US08115698B2 |
Methods and systems for image processing and display
Methods and systems for displaying or projecting images that may be implemented to provide the ability for a user of an information handling system to view a selected image on a display or projection screen privately, while allowing other images to appear on the display or projection screen which are publicly viewable to other users who cannot see the privately-displayed image. With appropriate intervening polarization, a user may be allowed to view the private image as well as any displayed or projected publicly viewable images, and the private image and publicly viewable images may be optionally simultaneously displayed or projected if so desired. |
| US08115696B2 |
Phased-array antenna panel for a super economical broadcast system
A phased-array antenna panel for a super economical broadcast system is provided. The phased-array antenna panel system includes an antenna panel support member, a first pair of striplines and a second pair of striplines. The antenna panel support member includes a front reflector surface to support first and second columns of constantly-spaced, crossed-dipole radiators, a first pair of signal ground cavities disposed beneath the first column of crossed-dipole radiators, a second pair of signal ground cavities disposed beneath the second column of crossed-dipole radiators, and a rear surface including first and second pairs of signal distribution cable connectors. The first pair of striplines are respectively disposed within the first pair of signal ground cavities and are coupled to the first pair of signal distribution connectors and the first column of crossed-dipole radiators. The second pair of striplines are respectively disposed within the second pair of signal ground cavities and are coupled to the second pair of signal distribution connectors and the second column of crossed-dipole radiators. |
| US08115695B2 |
Print dipole antenna and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention discloses a print dipole antenna and manufacturing method thereof. The print dipole antenna has a plurality of resonance frequencies, which comprises a substrate, a ring microstrip line and a ground plane. The ring microstrip line is disposed on one side of the substrate, and the interior of the ring microstrip line is symmetrically disposed with a plurality of parasitic metals. The ground plane is disposed on the other side of the substrate, and has a hollow portion corresponding to the central area of the ring microstrip line. The ring microstrip line has a plurality of end ports including input end ports and output end ports, which may further comprise an open circuit end. The plurality of parasitic metals may be of linear shape or bended in arbitrarily windings. A normal mode signal is fed from the end points of the plurality of parasitic metals. |
| US08115693B2 |
Sensor for detecting high frequency signals
A sensor that senses incident RF signals is provided. The sensor is capable of sensing signals in the Gigahertz (GHz) and Terahertz (THz) range. The sensor may utilize one or more cantilevers, an interferometer, or may be formed in a box-type configuration. |
| US08115689B2 |
Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device is provided with the following an antenna, a first radio module configured to perform wireless communications by use of the antenna, a second radio module configured to perform wireless communications by use of the antenna, a first printed circuit board with reference to which the second radio module is attachable or detachable, a first cable which connects the antenna and the second radio module together, a second cable which connects the second radio module and the first radio module together, and a connection mechanism which connects the first and second cables together in a state where the second radio module is detached from the first printed circuit board. |
| US08115687B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device with human interface diversity antenna and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable handheld housing, and a wireless transceiver carried by the housing. A pair of an antennas are positioned in side-by-side relation preferably in the upper portion of the portable handheld housing. A human interface diversity controller is connected to the wireless transceiver to preferentially operate with the plurality of antennas based upon a relative position of the portable handheld housing with respect to a hand of a human user. The device can select or weight the antennas based upon the position of the device when being held by a user. |
| US08115683B1 |
Rectenna solar energy harvester
A rectenna is a combination of an antenna and a rectifier (diode). Because of limitations in nanotechnology fabrication, it has not been possible to develop rectennas that can operate in the visible frequency range. Current work has gone to producing rectennas that operate in the far infrared (thermal emission) frequency range. To harvest solar energy with rectennas to produce electric power and since rectennas cannot operate at such high frequencies, the present invention provides rectenna configurations to overcome this problem. |
| US08115678B1 |
Generating an array correlation matrix using a single receiver system
According to one embodiment, generating an array correlation matrix includes interfacing with an antenna system that has antenna elements. The antenna elements receive incoming signals, and each antenna generates a response signal in response to receiving the signals. The following is performed for a number of iterations to yield summed signals: controlling weights of the antenna elements to weight the response signals; and receiving a summed signal comprising a sum of the weighted signals. An array correlation matrix is generated from the summed signals. |
| US08115676B2 |
Communications system and method of communicating data
A communications system and method thereof are provided, wherein the system includes a first receiver. The first receiver includes at least one antenna element configured to receive the first signal having a first polarization, and a combiner in communication with the at least one antenna element, wherein the combiner enhances the first signal and minimizes a second signal having a second polarization that is different than the first polarization of the first signal, such that an output is emitted by the first receiver based upon the received first signal. The first receiver further includes a beam steerer in communication with the combiner, wherein the beam steerer is configured to steer an antenna beam of the at least one antenna element in order to minimize reflection of the second signal, such that the second polarization of the second signal remains different than the first polarization of the first signal. |
| US08115675B2 |
Method and system for integrated GLONASS and GPS processing
An integrated global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver may be operable to decompose GNSS IF signals associated with GPS satellites and/or GLONASS satellites into a constituent narrowband GPS data stream and/or a plurality of constituent narrowband GLONASS data streams utilizing, for example, a GPS IF tuner and/or one or more GLONASS IF tuners. The narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the narrowband GPS data stream may be processed at reduced sampling rates utilizing a shared sample memory in the integrated GNSS receiver. The narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the narrowband GPS data stream may be stored in allocated sections of the shared sample memory. The stored narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the stored narrowband GPS data stream may be processed using a correlation such as a fast Fourier transform (FFT) correlation. |
| US08115674B2 |
Method of detecting target object and target object detection device
This disclosure provides a target object detection device for detecting different areas by different pulse-shaped signals detecting an area from an antenna position to a given distance. The device includes a transmission module for transmitting different pulse-shaped transmission signals at predetermined timings, a reception module for receiving their reflection signals to generate a reception signal, a saturation detection module for comparing a level of each of the reception signals with a predetermined threshold to detect saturation of the reception signal, and an image forming module for forming a detection image based on the reception signals. The transmission module generates an alternative pulse-shaped signal that is different from the transmitted pulse-shaped transmission signal when the saturation detection module detects the saturation of the reception signal. The image forming module replaces the saturated reception signal with a reception signal obtained by using the alternative pulse-shaped signal to form the detection image. |
| US08115670B2 |
Method of verifiably detecting the speed of a vehicle
A method of measuring the speed of a vehicle wherein the speed and the distance of the vehicle from a radar system and/or the measuring angle of the vehicle relative to the radar axis is determined by means of a radar measurement so as to characterize or determine the vehicle lane of the vehicle by means of the distance and/or the measuring angle. Knowledge of the vehicle lane makes it possible to unequivocally identify the detected vehicle in a group of vehicles unequivocally. |
| US08115669B2 |
Vehicular radar device
Provided is a vehicular radar device which is capable of reducing an operation resource quantity necessary for a process of estimating an axis deviation angle in a radar measurement coordinate system, to thereby reduce a device size. The vehicular radar device includes: a measurement unit that measures an azimuth angle and a relative Doppler velocity; an extraction/accumulation unit that extracts target information satisfying conditions related to the relative Doppler velocity, a travel speed and a turning velocity, and accumulates the azimuth angle and a velocity ratio obtained by dividing the relative Doppler velocity by the travel speed of the subject vehicle among the extracted target information; and an axis deviation angle estimate unit that reads the target information accumulated in the extraction/accumulation unit, and estimates an axis deviation angle of the measurement coordinate system of a radar based on a second-order polynomial expression of the azimuth angle of the target. |
| US08115666B2 |
Ground penetrating synthetic aperture radar
A method and system for examining subsurface targets utilizing an elevated or airborne platform. A broad spectrum of frequencies is transmitted from the platform and is directed at the various subsurface targets. A plurality of chirp signals would be utilized to transmit the entire frequency range. These signals are reflected from the various subsurface targets and are received by the platform. The received chirp signals are combined in a manner to allow the visualization of the subsurface target. |
| US08115661B2 |
Automatic power control system for optical disc drive and method thereof
A method and system for calibrating an initial driving signal for driving an optical pick-up head of an optical disk drive is provided. On one embodiment, said optical disk drive is utilized for reading or writing data on an optical disk, the optical disk includes a plurality of auto power control areas (APC areas) and a plurality of data areas, and the APC areas and the data areas are interleaved in between. In at least one of the APC areas that before the data areas for a normal data writing, an initial driving signal is used for the normal data writing to drive the optical pick-up head to emit laserbeam. A detected level of the laserbeam is then obtained. An update initial driving signal is then calibrated according to the detected level and a target level. |
| US08115654B2 |
Small vehicle detection system
A small vehicle detector for determining a size of a vehicle entering a particular area and assigning a rate of charge based on the determined size of vehicle including an entrance for a vehicle to enter the area. The small vehicle detector further includes a vehicle size detector system for determining size of the vehicle. The small vehicle detector also includes a ticket dispenser for dispensing a ticket with the assigned rate of charge based on the size determined by the vehicle size detector. |
| US08115653B2 |
Method and device for outputting parking instructions
In a method and a corresponding device for outputting parking instructions to a driver of a vehicle, the parking process is divided into a multiplicity of sections each having a constant specified steering angle, and there being situated between each two sections a stopping point that is to be approached after a corresponding stop instruction within a stopping path. A respective tolerance band is defined for the stopping path and/or for the steering angle, a corresponding stop instruction, corresponding to a specified stopping path, and/or a corresponding specified steering angle being defined for each section, taking into account the respective tolerance band. |
| US08115651B2 |
Drill string telemetry methods and apparatus
A method is provided which transmits information using a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along a drill string. In this method, a first node obtains a transmission status of a second node. When the transmission status of the second node indicates that the second node meets a selected performance threshold, information is sent from the first node to the second node. When the transmission status of the second node indicates that the second node does not meet its performance threshold, then the first node obtains a transmission status of a third node. When the transmission status of the third node indicates that the third node meets a selected performance threshold, information is transmitted from the first node to the third node for relaying along the drill string. |
| US08115647B2 |
Reducing HDD failure caused by electromagnetic interference from wireless devices
A system to reduce electromagnetic interference caused damage. The system includes a signal detector operably coupled to a wireless network. The system further includes a warning activator coupled to the signal detector. The warning activator activates a warning upon detection of a wireless signal in the network by the signal detector. The system further includes a warning apparatus coupled to the warning activator. The warning apparatus generates the warning in response to a detected wireless signal. |
| US08115644B1 |
Water skiing training device
an apparatus comprising a sensor system and a controller. The sensor system may be configured to provide information about an angle of a ski rope relative to a ski pylon. The controller may be configured to provide (i) a first indication if the sensor indicates the ski rope reaches a target angle within a target time and (ii) a second indication if the sensor does not indicate the ski rope reaches the target angle be within the target time. |
| US08115643B2 |
Excrement detection sensor
An excrement detection sensor in which two pairs of conductors 1, 2 and 3, 4 are formed between a carrier body 6 and a coating body 7 both having water-proof property and insulating property, wherein the cover body is formed with an urine introduction port 8 correlating the paired conductors and with a faeces introduction port 9 correlating the other paired conductors, and when urine enters into the urine introduction ports, the one pair of the conductors are short-circuited and when faeces enters into the faeces introduction ports, the other one pair of the conductors are short-circuited, whereby the urination and the evacuation can be distinctively detected. |
| US08115641B1 |
Automatic fall detection system
A system and a method for detecting if a person has fallen down is provided. The system includes at least two sensors which remotely detect energy in at least two zones. The output of the sensors are analyzed and compared to characteristics which are determined to be representative of a fall. If the sensor outputs match the particular characteristics, the system concludes that a fall has occurred and outputs this result. An alarm may be generated if the system detects a fall. |
| US08115637B2 |
Systems and methods to selectively connect antennas to receive and backscatter radio frequency signals
Systems and methods to selectively attach and control antennas via diodes and current sources. In one embodiment, a system includes: an RFID reader having a plurality of reader antennas of different polarizations to transmit radio frequency signals; and at least one RFID tag. The RFID tag includes: a plurality of tag antennas of different polarizations; a plurality of diodes coupled to the plurality of tag antennas respectively; a receiver coupled to the plurality of diodes to receive the radio frequency signals from the tag antennas when the diodes are forward biased; and a set of one or more current controllers coupled to the plurality of diodes. In a receiving mode the controllers selectively forward bias the diodes to receive the signals from the RFID reader. In a transmitting mode the controllers selectively change the state of the tag antennas to transmit data via backscattering the radio frequency signals. |
| US08115633B2 |
Tracking system
A method for tracking objects includes providing each of at least two different objects with a transmitter having individualized identifier data; logically connecting the objects to each other by connecting the identifier data of the transmitters to each other; recording the identifier data of the transmitters of the objects in a memory; connecting contact information of the object in question to the identifier data; detecting the transmitter of the object with a receiver of an identification point when the object comes close to the identification point; determining based on the identifier data contained in the memory whether at least two objects logically connected to each other have traveled past the identification point inside a pre-defined time window; and performing one or more pre-defined feedback actions when at least two of the objects logically connected to each other have not traveled past the identification point inside the pre-defined time window. |
| US08115632B1 |
RFID tag capable of modifying internal operations for a sensed environment
A semiconductor chip for an RFID tag is described. The semiconductor chip including wireless transceiver and processing block circuitry to receive and put into effect a wirelessly received instruction encoded in a TUNE command. The instruction commanding the semiconductor chip to perform at least one specific act. The semiconductor chip having circuitry to perform the at least one specific act. The circuitry being coupled to the processing block. The circuitry and its corresponding specific act identified by at least one of the following: enablement circuitry to turn a sub-circuit within the semiconductor chip on; disablement circuitry to turn a sub-circuit within the semiconductor chip off; current bias circuitry to alter a bias current within a sub-circuit of the semiconductor chip; voltage bias circuitry to alter a bias voltage within a sub-circuit of the semiconductor chip; threshold adjustment circuitry to adjust a threshold within a sub-circuit of the semiconductor chip. |
| US08115629B2 |
Collective objects management system using R.F. object identification with multiple crystals
A collective objects management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has a pair of crystals which are responsive to R.F. signals of specific frequencies, the frequencies of each pair being different for each folder circuit. An associated computer operates an R.F. signal generator to produce R.F. signals at the frequencies of the particular folder circuit of the file folder selected for retrieval. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer. The invention can be applied to a wide variety of collective objects management systems, such as supermarkets, automobile parts distributors, and various manufacturing operations. |
| US08115618B2 |
RFID antenna for in-body device
RFID antennas for ingestible devices, such as ingestible event markers, are provided. Aspects of the ingestible devices of the invention include RFID signal transmission antennas with a battery that is activated upon being exposed to fluid in the body. Embodiments of the RFID antennas are configured to emit a detectable signal upon contact with a target physiological site. Also provided are methods of making and using the devices of the invention. |
| US08115615B2 |
Status indicator and reminder system for vehicle temporary mobility kit
A status indicator and reminder system for use with a vehicle having a tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit is provided. The system includes a signal provided for viewing by the operator which indicates that the temporary mobility kit requires servicing. The need for servicing can be based on certain variables, including the passage of a pre-determined period of time or on changes in temperature which may impact the effective life of the sealing compound. In addition, the need for servicing can be based on a sensed of the temporary mobility kit from the vehicle. |
| US08115613B2 |
Tire pressure monitoring system auto learn algorithm
A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system on a vehicle comprising tracking number of burst transmissions sent by a sensor, building a pareto of potential sensor identifications based on the greatest number of burst transmissions received from the sensor associating a potential sensor identification to a respective tire location on the vehicle and storing the associated sensor identification in memory. A tire pressure monitoring system comprising a plurality of tires in respective locations, each of the plurality of tires having a sensor, at least one sensor capable of burst mode transmission, and an auto learn function in a controller coupled to the sensors in the plurality of tires, the controller receiving and counting burst transmissions from the sensor for a predetermined time, the controller creating a pareto of received sensor identifications, filtering the pareto of potential sensor identifications and assigning the potential sensor identifications to a respective tire in the plurality of tires. |
| US08115612B2 |
Display device for vehicle
A display device for a vehicle that display an amount of a particulate matter collected in a filter device for exhaust gas purification. A vehicle 1 includes distance storage apparatus 46 for storing a travel distance, a filter device 5 for exhaust gas purification for trapping a particulate matter contained in an exhaust gas, and collected amount detection apparatus 25 for finding an amount of the particulate matter collected in the filter device 5 for exhaust gas purification. A display control unit 42 normally acquires a travel distance from the distance storage apparatus 46 and displays the travel distance as a numerical value on a segment display unit 41, and when instructed to display a collected amount of the particulate matter, the display control unit 42 acquires a collected amount from the collected amount detection apparatus 25 and lights up the number of segment groups 61 corresponding to the collected amount, thereby displaying the collected amount. |
| US08115611B2 |
Vehicle-installed obstacle detecting system and method using image capturing and scanning
An object detecting device scans an image captured by a camera from one side close to the vehicle to the other side remote from the vehicle for detection of an obstacle through pattern matching, so that an obstacle that is close to the vehicle and is likely to collide with the vehicle can be detected in a short time. Thus, the driver is informed of the presence of an obstacle having a high risk of collision, earlier than other obstacles located ahead of the vehicle. |
| US08115610B2 |
RFID enabled tire control system and method
A tire control system for a vehicle is provided includes an RFID tag mounted to the tire and having a unique tire serial number stored within tag memory accessible to an external reader; a pass-through portal operatively entered and exited by the vehicle; one or more tire-directed antenna positioned within the portal for operatively receiving one or more one data transmissions of the unique tire serial number from the tire-based RFID tag; and one or more tire-directed RFID reader coupled to the tire-directed antennas for operably reading and storing within a tire-based database the unique tire serial number data. A vehicle-based RFID tag is mounted to the vehicle having a unique vehicle serial number stored within tag memory and transmitted to an external reader as the vehicle moves through the portal. A data processing computer is coupled to receive the portal-read unique tire serial number and vehicle serial number and conducts of the portal-read unique tire serial number data and the unique vehicle serial number data against prestored reference tire serial number data and prestored reference vehicle serial number data, respectively. |
| US08115609B2 |
Multi function bluetooth apparatus
A method and apparatus for secure access to data, to application and to systems and for providing an alarm to users upon detecting that a monitored device is not within a desired proximity using a multi-function BLUETOOTH apparatus are described. The multi-function BLUETOOTH apparatus can also provide voice and location functionality. |
| US08115608B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a hazardous material alert
System for providing a hazardous materials hazardous material alert. The system includes a method for transmitting a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material. The method comprises steps of detecting a hazard event, and transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert includes information relating to the hazardous material. |
| US08115606B2 |
Matching a transmitter and a receiver supplied by the same power module
A transmitter and a receiver are paired that use the same power line and power module. The transmitter associates an identification number with a command message so that a receiver can ascertain that a command message is intended for the receiver. The transmitter uses the time from the power up to the first zero crossing of the AC signal to generate a matching seed for both transmitter and receiver. The transmitter generates an identification number by incrementing a counter each incremental time interval between power up and the occurrence of the first zero crossing of the AC signal and sends the generated identification number to the paired receiver after power up but before a predetermined time interval. The receiver stores the generated identification number and compares the stored identification number with a received identification number that is received in a subsequent command message. |
| US08115602B2 |
Tag estimation method and tag identification method for RFID system
Provided are a tag estimation method and a tag identification method using the same in a RFID system. In the tag estimating method, a reader divides tags in an identifiable area into a predetermined number of groups. Tags are identified by applying a pilot frame Lp to a first group among the divided groups. The reader calculates a collision probability Pcoll of tags after the pilot frame ends. Then, unidentified tags of the first group, which are not identified for the pilot frame, are identified by allocating an additional pilot slot Ladd at an end of the pilot frame or generating a new frame L1 according to the collision probability Pcoll. |
| US08115600B2 |
RFID detection and identification system including an RFID reader having a limited transmit time and a time-out period to protect a medical device against RFID-associated electromagnetic interference
A system is provided for identifying implanted medical devices, leads and systems, as well as objects in close proximity to a patient having an implanted active medical device, using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having retrievable information relating to the AIMD, lead system and/or patient. An RFID tag communicator includes a circuit for limiting the total continuous transmit time of an interrogation signal, and a time-out circuit for delaying a second and any subsequent interrogation of the RFID tag. |
| US08115594B2 |
Tag communication device, tag moving direction detecting system and tag moving direction detecting method
The invention provides a tag communication device, a tag moving direction detecting system and a tag moving direction detecting method able to detect the moving direction of a moving body attaching a RFID tag thereto by simple processing, and able to easily detect the moving direction even when its moving speed is increased. A scan antenna scans a beam of a transmitted radio wave toward a belt conveyer for conveying baggage with a RFID tag. ID is read from the RFID tag, and reading NO. and a scan angle are related and recorded to a measuring data table, and plot data are generated. These plot data are plotted in an XY coordinate system, and a plot graph is generated. Further, a linear approximate straight line is calculated from this plot graph, and a moving direction of the baggage is detected from an inclination value of the linear approximate straight line. |
| US08115593B2 |
Adaptive network and method
A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module for analyzing proximity responses to transmit through the adaptive network control signals to a selectively-addressed module to respond to computer analyses of the data accumulated from modules forming the adaptive network. Interactions of local processors in modules that sense an intrusion determine the location and path of movements of the intruding object and control cameras in the modules to retrieve video images of the intruding object. Multiple operational frequencies in adaptive networks permit expansions by additional networks that each operate at separate radio frequencies to avoid overlapping interaction. Additional modules may be introduced into operating networks without knowing the operating frequency at the time of introduction. Remote modules operating as leaf nodes of the adaptive network actively adapt to changed network conditions upon awaking from power-conserving sleep mode. New programs are distributed to all or selected modules under control of the base station. |
| US08115591B2 |
Electrical control system
An electrical control system includes one or more battery-powered RF switches capable of acting as a master or slave or both within the electrical control system. The battery-powered RF switch includes a top housing and a bottom housing. The battery-powered RF switch also includes a printed circuit boar assembly that includes switch sensors, a dimmer button, and an LED indicator. The battery-powered RF switch also includes a manually-operated on/off switch, battery receptacles within the housing, batteries positioned within the battery receptacles and a battery retaining bracket for removably holding the batteries in place within the battery receptacles. The battery-powered RF switch is capable of being mounted to a vertical surface by applying double-sided adhesive to the back side of the housing and pressing the housing against the vertical surface. |
| US08115586B2 |
Variable resistance element, and its manufacturing method
Provided are a variable resistive element having a configuration that the area of an electrically contributing region in a variable resistor body is smaller than the area defined by an upper electrode or a lower electrode, and a method for manufacturing the variable resistive element. The cross section of a current path, in which an electric current flows through between the two electrodes via the variable resistor body at the time of applying the voltage pulse to between the two electrodes, is formed with a line width of narrower than that of any of the two electrodes and of smaller than a minimum work dimension regarding manufacturing processes, so that its area can be made smaller than that of the electrically contributing region in the variable resistive element of the prior art. |
| US08115584B2 |
Induction device
An induction device for association with high voltage electric transmission systems having at least one core frame and at least one winding arranged around said core frame. The induction device has at least one magnetic core leg arranged in said core frame. The core frame includes a stack of core segments of a magnetic material being cooled by cooling medium, arranged in compression in the core frame, core gaps being arranged to separate the core segments, and a plurality of spacers, arranged in the core gaps between the core segments, with a cross section of hexagonal shape, having an upper and a lower end-face being in contact with the core segments. The spacers in at least one of the core gaps are arranged densely packed so as to form a compact filling in the core gap. |
| US08115572B2 |
Tunable matching network circuit topology selection
Tunable matching network topologies are disclosed. A network in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one inductor, and at least one tunable capacitor, in parallel with the inductor, wherein the at least one tunable capacitor tunes the at least one inductor self-resonant frequency. |
| US08115570B2 |
Phase shifter
A coaxial phase shifter for very high RF-powers includes an optionally-cooled housing which forms the outer conductor and in which a substantially U-shaped inner conductor made of a tube is arranged which comprises at each of its ends a cooling medium connection for guiding through a cooling medium. The U-shaped inner conductor is externally displaceable for changing its electrical length between a contact-making input-side inner-conductor connection piece and a contact-making output-side inner-conductor connection piece. The inner-conductor connection pieces are disposed coaxially in the outer connection flanges which make contact with the housing. |
| US08115565B2 |
Dual polarized waveguide feed arrangement with symmetrically tapered structures
A waveguide arrangement having a longitudinal extension, along which an electromagnetic wave may propagate, and comprising at least one waveguide part and a feeding arrangement which is arranged for feeding said waveguide part with a first polarization and a second polarization, said polarizations being mutually orthogonal. The feeding arrangement comprises a dielectric carrier material comprising a first feeding conductor, feeding the first polarization and a second feeding conductor, feeding the second polarization, where the first polarization is excited by means of first excitation means fed by said first feeding conductor and the second polarization is excited by means of second excitation means fed by said second feeding conductor, where at least one excitation means is a symmetrical structure with respect to the longitudinal extension. |
| US08115562B2 |
Oscillation circuit and method of controlling same
Disclosed is an oscillator in which current consumption relating to oscillation is reduced. The oscillator comprises: an amplifier to an input and output of which a piezoelectric oscillator and a feedback resistor are connected in parallel, and which is constituted by a CMOS logic inverter circuit; and a control circuit, which is constituted by a CMOS logic circuit, for clamping input/output levels of the amplifier and halting oscillation before oscillation start-up, unclamping the input/output levels at beginning of oscillation start-up and supplying a pulse signal to an output terminal of the amplifier a prescribed period of time after the beginning of oscillation start-up. |
| US08115560B2 |
Ring-shaped voltage control oscillator
In one embodiment, a circuit topology for use in an n-phase voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) or injection-locked frequency divider includes a transmission line ring having n transmission line delay segments connected at n junctions, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 3. Each transmission line segment provides a 1/n wavelength signal delay between adjacent junctions. The transmission line ring is coupled to a first power supply node. Each of the junctions has a respective transistor coupled thereto, each transistor having a first source/drain terminal coupled to its respective junction, a second source/drain terminal coupled to a second power supply node, and a gate terminal, wherein the gate terminal is coupled to a signal that is ½ wavelength out-of-phase with respect to a signal at the first source/drain terminal of the transistor. |
| US08115558B2 |
Digital PLL circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit
A digital PLL circuit includes: an oscillation circuit, wherein an oscillation frequency is controlled by changing the number of capacitance elements to be connected in parallel to an inductance element; and a phase comparator part configured to perform a digital phase comparison of a reference clock and a delayed clock thereof, with an oscillation circuit output; and based on the comparison result, to control the number of the capacitance elements so as to bring the phase of the oscillation circuit output closer to the reference clock phase, wherein the capacitance element includes: a coarse adjustment capacitor configured to have a predetermined capacitance; and fine adjustment capacitors configured to have a capacitance of 1/n of that of the coarse adjustment capacitor, wherein a predetermined number of the fine adjustment capacitors function as one coarse adjustment capacitor at the time of coarse adjustment. |
| US08115557B2 |
Variable inductance circuitry for frequency control of a voltage countrolled oscillator
An electronic device is made from a first substrate with device circuitry including an inductor and a second substrate with inductance adjustment circuitry including a number of other inductors. The substrates are assembled together to be opposite one another. The other inductors are arranged to provide a selection of different mutual inductance relationships relative to the inductor. These relationships are selectable during operation of the device to provide a variable inductance in the device circuitry. |
| US08115547B2 |
Reconfigurable power amplifier and use of such amplifier for making a multi-standard amplification stage for mobile phone communications
A reconfigurable power amplifier includes at least one amplification circuit (E1, E2), and a circuit (6) for controlling the amplification circuit so as to adapt its operation according to an applied input signal (RFin). The circuit for controlling includes a circuit (4, 5) for modifying the compression point of the amplification circuit and for adapting the gain of the amplification circuit in such a manner as to increase the power added efficiency of the circuit for the modified compression point. |
| US08115545B2 |
Automatic level control
Some embodiments regard a circuit comprising: a high voltage transistor providing a resistance; an amplifier configured to receive a current and to convert the current to a first voltage that is used in a loop creating the current; and an automatic level control circuit that, based on an AC amplitude of the first voltage, adjusts a second voltage at a gate of the high voltage transistor and thereby adjusts the resistance and the first voltage; wherein the automatic level control circuit is configured to adjust the first voltage toward the first reference voltage if the first voltage differs from a first reference voltage. |
| US08115541B2 |
Three-level half-bridge pulse-width modulation amplifier and method of driving the same
A three-level half-bridge PWM amplifier includes a PWM generator and an output stage. The PWM generator changes a width of a pulse at a first level or a second level according to amplitude of an input signal and outputs a three-level PWM output signal having the first level, the second level, and a reference level. The output stage drives an output node connected to a terminal of a load to a first power supply voltage, a second power supply voltage, or a third power supply voltage based on the three-level PWM output signal. Accordingly, unnecessary static current consumption is reduced, thereby increasing efficiency. |
| US08115540B2 |
Amplifying apparatus, method of output control and control program
To provide, for example, a pulse input type power amplifying apparatus that can be operated at low voltage and low power, effectively suppressing generation of harmonic component.The amplifying apparatus includes at least two amplification circuits, one and other amplification circuits, composed of multiple amplifiers whose output sides are connected to each other, driven at the same frequency. The multiple amplifiers forming the one amplification circuit are configured with a first inverting amplifier M12 inputting and amplifying a reference pulse, and a second inverting amplifier M11 to which an inverted pulse formed by shifting and inverting the phase of the reference pulse is inputted. The other amplification circuit is configured with the first inverting amplifier M14 and the second inverting amplifier M13 to each of which other wide pulse with a width greater than that of the reference pulse is commonly inputted. |
| US08115537B2 |
Method and apparatus for suppressing noise caused by parasitic capacitance and/or resistance in an electronic circuit or system
Reducing, suppressing or canceling parallel parasitic capacitance and/or resistive effects that affect the frequency response of components, elements and/or circuits in an electronic circuit or system that exhibit inductance is disclosed. Noise generated by parallel parasitic capacitance and/or parasitic resistance of the components, the physical orientation of the components, and/or the layout of components, devices and/or conductive tracks (board traces) on printed circuit boards within an electronic circuit or system is reduced, suppressed or canceled. The reduction, suppression or cancelation is achieved by adding a current source in parallel with a part or component of the electronic circuit or system that exhibits inductance, the current source being adapted to deliver a compensating current of roughly equal magnitude and roughly opposite phase to parasitic current associated with the part or component. |
| US08115536B2 |
Self-oscillating switch circuit for use in a switching DC-DC converter
A self-oscillating switch circuit for amplitude modulation dimming for dimming a LED load. The self-oscillating switch circuit comprises a high-power input terminal (S2) for supplying a first power to the load and a low-power input terminal (S1) for supplying a second power to the load. The switch circuit further comprises a power switch semi-conductor device (Q1) configured for controlling a load current from at least one of the high-power input terminal (S2) and the low-power input terminal (S1) to the output terminal. A control semi-conductor device (Q2) is configured to control the power switch semi-conductor device (Q1) in response to a sensing voltage. The sensing circuit comprises a first sensing resistor (R1A) and a second sensing resistor (R1B) for generating the sensing voltage such that a load current has a predetermined first peak current level corresponding to the first power, when power is supplied to the high-power input terminal, and the load current has a predetermined second peak current level corresponding to the second power when power is supplied to the low-power input terminal. |
| US08115535B2 |
Leakage current suppressing circuit and semiconductor chip
A leakage current suppressing circuit includes a bias generating unit and a switch unit. The bias generating unit is adapted to be coupled to a power source and an output terminal, and generates a bias voltage substantially equal to a voltage at the power source when the power source is turned on, and substantially equal to a voltage at the output terminal when the power source is turned off. The switch unit includes a first P-type transistor having a first terminal adapted to be coupled to the power source, a second terminal adapted to be coupled to the output terminal, a gate terminal, and a body terminal coupled to the bias generating unit for receiving the bias voltage therefrom. |
| US08115534B2 |
Analog switch controller
Methods and systems for implementing an analog switch controller to improve linearity of analog switches are described. |
| US08115533B2 |
Voltage level shifter and semiconductor device having the same therein
A voltage level shifter and a semiconductor device having the same are presented. The voltage level shifter includes a swing width transformer and a power supply controller. The swing width transformer receives an input signal that ranges between a first level power voltage and a ground voltage and is configured to generate a signal that ranges between a second level power voltage and that of the ground voltage. The power supply controller is configured to control power supply to the swing width transformer in response to an enable signal activated in an active mode. |
| US08115528B2 |
Method and apparatus for output data synchronization with system clock
A circuit, delay-locked loop, memory device, system and method of synchronizing a clock are described. A circuit generally includes a delay line configured to delay an external clock signal to produce a substantially in-phase output clock signal, a main loop configured to control delay through the delay line, and a secondary loop configured to adjust delay through the main loop. The clock synchronization method generally includes adjusting a delay along a delay line in response to a first phase difference between an input clock to the delay line and a shared clock signal delayed by a shared dynamic I/O model of an output driver. The method further includes adjusting the shared dynamic I/O model in response to a second phase difference between an output clock signal and the shared clock signal. |
| US08115524B2 |
Semiconductor device having auto clock alignment training mode circuit
A semiconductor device for applying an auto clock alignment training mode to reduce the time required for a clock alignment training operation. The semiconductor device adjusts the entry time of the auto clock alignment training mode to prevent the clock alignment training operation from malfunctioning. The semiconductor device includes a clock division block configured to divide a data clock to generate a data division clock, a phase multiplex block configured to generate a plurality of multiple data division clocks in response to the data division clock, a logic level control block configured to set a period, in which a division control signal is changeable, depending on the data division clock, and a first phase detection block configured to detect a phase of a system clock on the basis of the multiple data division clocks in the period, and to generate the division control signal corresponding to a detection result. |
| US08115523B2 |
Circuit to spread the spectrum of a PWM signal
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a first current source and a second current source that charge and discharge a capacitor. Coupled between the capacitor and the second current source is a switch that can be actuated and deactuated by a controller. Preferably, the controller is coupled to the capacitor and receives a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage so that it can actuate the switch if the voltage across the capacitor is greater than the first threshold voltage and deactuate the switch if the voltage across the capacitor is less than the second threshold voltage. Additionally, there is a comparator that is coupled to the capacitor that compares the voltage across the capacitor to a reference voltage, and there is a a multiplexer that is coupled to the capacitor and that is coupled to the comparator. The multiplexer outputs the voltage across the capacitor if the voltage across the capacitor is greater than the reference voltage and outputs the reference voltage if the voltage across the capacitor is less than the reference voltage. |
| US08115522B2 |
Flip-flop circuit and prescaler circuit including the same
A prescaler circuit according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a first flip-flop circuit that detects second output data and outputs the detected data as first output data, and a second flip-flop circuit that detects the first output data and outputs the data as the second output data. The first flip-flop circuit includes a master-side latch circuit that generates intermediate data, a slave-side latch circuit that detects the intermediate data and outputs the data as the first output data, and a control signal switching circuit that selects and outputs the first output data as a control signal in a mode where the frequency is divided by 3, and selects and outputs a predefined fixed signal as a control signal in a mode where the frequency is divided by 4. The master-side latch circuit generates the intermediate data based on the second output data and the control signal. |
| US08115521B2 |
Frequency error detecting circuit, frequency error detecting method, and frequency correcting circuit
A frequency error detecting circuit includes: an oscillator; a frequency converting unit for a received signal on the basis of the oscillation output and output the received signal; a time-to-frequency converting unit configured to convert the output of the frequency converting unit into a frequency domain signal; a frequency shift determining unit configured to determine presence or absence of a frequency shift between an output frequency of the frequency converting unit and a predetermined carrier frequency; and a control unit configured to repeat frequency conversion processing and time-to-frequency conversion processing while controlling an oscillation frequency of the oscillator on the basis of a determination result of the frequency shift determining unit and cause the output frequency of the frequency converting unit to converge on a predetermined value to thereby detect a frequency error between the frequency of the received signal and the predetermined carrier frequency. |
| US08115517B2 |
Circuit arrangement for identifying network zero crossings
A circuit arrangement for identifying network zero crossings of a network voltage of an alternating current network is provided. A measurement current generated by the network voltage is supplied to a zero crossing detector in order to produce a network zero crossing signal. A current sink is arranged between a live conductor and a neutral conductor of the alternating current network, the current sink allowing the path of a current value of the measurement current generated by the network voltage to be defined. |
| US08115516B2 |
Circuit arrangement for filtering unwanted signals from a clock signal, processing system and method of filtering unwanted signals from a clock signal
A circuit arrangement for detecting unwanted signals on a clock signal comprises an input for receiving the clock signal, and a Phase Lock Loop PLL circuit having a reference input coupled to the input of the circuit arrangement for receiving the clock signal and an output for providing a PLL output signal. The circuit arrangement further comprises a detector coupled to the output of the PLL circuit and to the input of the circuit arrangement. The detector is arranged to identify correct transitions in the clock signal using the PLL output signal, and to remove incorrect transitions due to unwanted signals from the clock signal so as to provide a filtered clock signal at an output of the circuit arrangement. |
| US08115514B2 |
Pre-charged high-speed level shifters
An integrated circuit structure includes a latch having a first output node and a second output node complementary to each other. A first pre-charge transistor has a source-drain path coupled between a positive power supply node and the first output node. A second pre-charge transistor has a source-drain path coupled between the positive power supply node and the second output node. The integrated circuit structure further includes a delay-inverter coupled between a signal input node and inputs of a first NMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor in the latch. The delay-inverter is configured to allow one of the first pre-charge transistor and the second pre-charge transistor to pre-charge a respective one of the first output node and the second output node before an input signal at the signal input node arrives at a gate of a respective one of the first NMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor. |
| US08115511B2 |
Method for fabrication of a semiconductor device and structure
A configurable integrated circuit (IC) system comprising: a first die comprising input/output cells; and a configurable logic second die connected by a first plurality of through-silicon-vias (TSVs) to the first die. |
| US08115507B2 |
Circuit and method for parallel testing and semiconductor device
Disclosed is a test circuit including a first transfer circuit, a second transfer circuit and comparators and performing parallel testing of a plurality of chips under test. The first transfer circuit includes flip-flops. A data pattern from a tester is supplied to the initial stage chip under test. To the remaining chips under test, output data from the corresponding stages of the first transfer circuit are supplied. The second transfer circuit sequentially transfers an output of the initial stage chip under test, as an expected value pattern, in response to clock cycles. The comparator compares output data of the chip under test with an expected value pattern from the corresponding stage of the second transfer circuit. |
| US08115506B2 |
Localization of driver failures within liquid crystal displays
Methods and apparatus for determining whether a malfunctioning pixel in a large area substrate, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, is due to the pixel itself or to the driver circuit for that pixel and for localizing any driver circuit defects are provided. In an effort to localize the driver circuit defects, test pads coupled to the input and/or output of certain driver circuits may be fabricated on the substrate. The voltage or charge of these test pads may be detected using any suitable sensing device, such as an electron beam, an electro-optical sensor, or an electrode in close proximity to the surface of the pixels and/or drivers capacitively coupled to the pixel or driver. For some embodiments, the defective driver circuits may be repaired in the same area as the test area or may be transported via conveyor or robot to a separate repair station. |
| US08115503B2 |
Device for measuring metal/semiconductor contact resistivity
A device for measuring the resistivity ρc of an interface between a semiconductor and a metal, including at least: one dielectric layer, at least one semiconductor-based element of a substantially rectangular shape, which is arranged on the dielectric layer, having a lengthwise L and widthwise W face in contact with the dielectric layer and having a thickness t, and at least two interface portions containing the metal or an alloy of said semiconductor and said metal, wherein each of two opposing faces of the semiconductor element, having a surface equal to t×W and being perpendicular to the face in contact with the dielectric layer, being completely covered by one of the interface portions. |
| US08115501B2 |
Electro-mechanical fluid sensor
A sensor system includes a sensor and a control module. The sensor includes an electrically actuated moving member. The sensor is in fluid communication with a reservoir of a separator that separates a first fluid from a fuel. The control module selectively causes current to be supplied to the sensor to actuate the member. The control module measures the current and determines a parameter of the current. The control module identifies one of presence and absence of the first fluid in the reservoir based on the parameter. |
| US08115497B2 |
Pixel sensing circuit with common mode cancellation
An improved biometric data sensing circuit, for example adapted for fingerprint sensing, uses a charge subtraction technique at the input of the circuit integrator to cancel the so called “common mode” signal from the circuit output. The result is an output signal that is (a) linear, (b) free from any amplification effect due to the presence of the detected object (e.g. a finger), and (c) indicative of the detected object's fine surface geometry (i.e., indicative of the fingerprint's ridges and valleys). |
| US08115496B2 |
Insulation coated conductor inspection method and inspection apparatus
In an insulation coated conductor inspection method for inspecting an electrical insulation characteristic of an insulation coated conductor in a coil formed by winding the insulation coated conductor, the coil is disposed in a test container, an internal pressure of the test container is reduced, an electrodes are provided so as to face the coil with a gap therebetween, an alternating-current voltage is applied between the electrodes and the coil, a generation frequency of a discharge that is generated between the coil and the electrodes upon application of the alternating-current voltage is measured, and the coil is determined to be a non-defective product having a superior electrical insulation property when the generation frequency of the discharge is higher than a reference generation frequency and determined to be a defective product having a defective electrical insulation property when the generation frequency of the discharge is lower than the reference generation frequency. A predetermined range is preferably set as a range in which a discharge charge amount is no greater than 100,000 (pc). |
| US08115494B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for rub detection in a machine
Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring rub detection in a machine are provided. An alternating current voltage signal may be transmitted or communicated to at least one component of the machine. The transmitted signal may be monitored in the at least one component and at least one characteristic associated with the monitored signal may be compared to an expected value for the at least one characteristic. Based at least in part on the comparison, a rub condition or potential rub condition may be identified between the at least one component and another component of the machine. |
| US08115493B2 |
Trainline integrity locomotive test device
A trainline integrity locomotive test device is provided that is configured to provide conventionally provided End-Of-Train (EOT) functionality required for a single locomotive test as well as functionality necessary for troubleshooting electrical problems in trainline electrical conductors, wherein the trainline integrity locomotive test device includes a reduced number of components in comparison with a conventional EOT device. Additionally, the test device is provided in more compact, durable and robust form relative to conventional EOT devices. As part of the transmission of trainline integrity data from the test device to the Head-End-Unit, a communications heartbeat signal is substituted for brake pipe pressure conventionally detected by EOT devices, so as to provide an indication of data communication reliability. |
| US08115490B2 |
Concentric return and transmitter electrodes for imaging and standoff distances compensation
A method of estimating a property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole includes: disposing into the borehole a sensor having a plurality of return electrodes and at least one transmitter electrode disposed in a concentric arrangement; injecting a first current of a first frequency into the formation by applying an alternating current voltage between first selected ones of the plurality of return electrodes and the at least one transmitter electrode; injecting a second current of a second frequency into the formation by applying an alternating current voltage between second selected ones of the plurality of return electrodes and the at least one transmitter electrode; measuring effective impedance for each of the currents; and estimating the property using the measurements of the effective impedance for each of the currents; wherein the estimating compensates for an influence of standoff distances of the sensor on the measurements. |
| US08115488B2 |
Tuning low-inductance coils at low frequencies
A method and apparatus for tuning and matching extremely small sample coils with very low inductance for use in magnetic resonance experiments conducted at low frequencies. A circuit is disclosed that is appropriate for performing measurements in fields where magnetic resonance is beneficially utilized. The circuit has a microcoil, an adjustable tuning capacitance, and added inductance in the form of a tuning inductor. The microcoil is an electrical coil having an inductance of about 25 nanohenries (nH) or less. Because additional inductance is purposefully added, the capacitance required for resonance and apparatus function is proportionally and helpfully reduced. The apparatus and method permit the resonant circuit and the magnet to be made extremely small, which is crucial for new applications in portable magnetic resonance imaging, for example. |
| US08115487B2 |
Apparatus and method for cryogenically cooling a coil on a magnetic resonance imaging system
A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a primary magnet and a secondary magnet operable to produce magnetic fields within a sample being imaged. The MRI system further includes at least one RF coil that is operable to receive electromagnetic frequencies from the sample. The RF coil is formed from tubing that serves as a cooling conduit through which flows a cooling fluid provided by a cooling source. The cooling fluid cools the RF coils to improve imaging of the sample. |
| US08115485B1 |
Method and apparatus for interactively setting parameters of an MR imaging sequence through inspection of frequency spectrum
A method of calibrating an imaging sequence includes the application of a pre-scan pulse sequence to acquire MR signals from a region-of-interest to be imaged with an imaging pulse sequence. The pre-scan pulse sequence is interrupted to acquire pre-scan data in a low bandwidth acquisition window. A frequency spectrum is generated from the pre-scan data and displayed to interactively allow a user to establish scan parameters for the imaging pulse sequence. |
| US08115484B2 |
Method and device to generate a measurement sequence for operating a magnetic resonance system that is adapted to the time raster of the system
In a method for producing a time raster-adapted measurement sequence that can be executed directly in the time raster of a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, for a measurement sequence composed of a series of time slices that in their entirety represent the measurement sequence, the predetermined time slices are not necessarily of a suitable length in order to be directly translated into the time raster of the MR scanner. The method according to the invention produces this conversion automatically and additionally ensures that global properties of the measurement sequence are maintained. The method simplifies the programming of measurement sequences for MR. Moreover, the method is a requirement for the direct use of timing values determined by a solver. The method can be executed by a computerized device and can be implemented in the form of programming instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium. |
| US08115481B2 |
Method of discerning water from hydrocarbon fluids using downhole NMR instruments in petroleum reservoirs with formation brine
A method for analytically separating properties of hydrocarbon materials from other materials in a downhole environment, the method including: performing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements downhole; determining a signal for sodium-23 (23Na) from the NMR measurements; and associating the 23Na signal with the other materials. A computer program product, an apparatus and additional methods are provided. |
| US08115479B2 |
Rotation-angle-detecting apparatus, rotating machine, and rotation-angle-detecting method
A rotation-angle-detecting apparatus comprising a magnet rotor having 4 or more magnetic poles on the surface, and sensor device for detecting magnetic flux from the magnet rotor, and an electronic circuit for outputting a signal representing the rotation angle of the magnet rotor using pluralities of signals obtained from the sensor device, the sensor device having pluralities of spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive devices for outputting two or more different phase signals from a rotating magnetic field near the rotating magnet, each spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive device having a pinned layer and a free layer, the magnetization direction of the pinned layer being fixed, and the magnetization direction of the free layer rotating depending on a magnetic field direction, pluralities of the spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive devices comprising a first spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive device having a reference magnetic-field-sensing direction, and a second spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive device having a magnetic-field-sensing direction different from that of the first spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive device. |
| US08115477B2 |
Shaft speed sensor with analog output
A 2-wire, loop-powered shaft rotational speed sensor device that outputs a 4-20 mA current in response to the shaft rotational speed. The device is comprised of a sensor (e.g., magnetic, optical) that senses an output from a sensor disk (e.g., magnetic, optical) and outputs a series of voltage pulses whose frequency varies with the shaft rotational speed. A microcontroller measures this pulse frequency and generates a digital code representative of that frequency. A digital-to-analog converter generates an analog waveform in response to the digital code. A loop-powered, voltage-to-current circuit generates the output current in response to the analog waveform. |
| US08115475B2 |
Manipulation assembly for online electrical system test probe installation
An apparatus for online partial discharge testing includes a split-core radio-frequency current transformer sensor, an actuation subassembly, and a biasing member. The current transformer sensor has a first portion, a second portion, and a sensor hinge operably engaged between the first portion and the second portion. The actuation subassembly includes an elongate first member secured to the first portion of the current transformer sensor, a second member secured to the second portion of the current transformer sensor and configured to be movable relative to the first member, and a third member engaged with the second member and configured to be movable relative to the first member. The biasing member is configured to pivotally bias the first portion and the second portion of the current transformer sensor toward each other relative to the sensor hinge, with the biasing member secured relative to the first member. |
| US08115473B2 |
Optical voltage transformer
An optical voltage transformer is connected with an external electric device and includes a primary electrode to which a measured voltage is applied by the external electric device, a first secondary electrode provided oppositely to the primary electrode, an insulation layer provided between the primary and first secondary electrodes and constituting an insulation cylinder integrally formed with the primary and first secondary electrodes, a ground layer provided on an outer circumference of the insulation cylinder and around the first secondary electrode for securing a capacitance by interposing the insulation layer between the ground layer and the first secondary electrode, and an electro-optic element for measuring a voltage between the first secondary electrode and the ground layer. According to the optical voltage transformer, measurement of the measured voltage can be done with high accuracy without affected by its surrounding environment and its downsizing can be achieved by reducing the number of its components. |
| US08115469B2 |
Driver circuit
A driver circuit raises an output transistor signal smoothly while suppressing decreases in voltage. A motor driver includes a transistor connected to a buffer of a pre-driver. An external terminal of the motor driver is connected to a regulator to supply first and second transistors with voltage. The gates of the first and second transistors are connected to the drain of the other one of the first and second transistors. The first transistor is connected to a third transistor, which receives an input signal. The second transistor is connected to a fourth transistor, which receives the inverted input signal. The external terminal is connected to the gate of a further transistor. The further transistor has a source connected via a fifth transistor to a buffer, and a drain connected to the regulator. |
| US08115468B2 |
Controller and driver communication for switching regulators
Pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers and output stage driver circuits and related methods of communicating switching regulator mode information. The controller includes circuitry that recognizes intervals when the load driven by the regulator is in a low power mode. Responsive to recognizing the low power mode, the controller generates a PWM mode signal having at least three (3) different levels including at least one intermediate level that is coupled to at least one driver. Based on the PWM mode signal, the regulator is switched into a power saving low power operational mode. |
| US08115466B2 |
Converter and driving method thereof
A converter is disclosed for using at least one switch to convert an input signal to a square wave signal, and using the square wave signal to generate an output voltage. The converter converts the square wave signal by a switching operation of a switch and generates the output voltage, and includes a switch controller for controlling the switching operation. The switch controller generates a first signal VCT having a first period that varies according to an output voltage, controls the switching operation of the switch by using the first signal, detects the output voltage, a first current Ids2 flowing through the switch, and a level of the first signal, and controls a burst mode according to the detection results. |
| US08115465B2 |
Method and apparatus for a high voltage power supply circuit
A power converter is disclosed. An example power converter includes an energy transfer element coupled between a power converter input and a power converter output. A power switch is coupled to the energy transfer element. A control circuit is coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of the power converter output during a feedback portion of an off time of the power switch. The control circuit is coupled to generate an output signal in response to the feedback signal. The output signal is coupled to be received by the power switch to control switching of the power switch to control a fraction of the feedback portion of the off time of the power switch that the feedback signal is above a threshold and another fraction of the feedback portion of the off time of the power switch that the feedback signal is below the threshold. |
| US08115464B2 |
Boost circuit and power supply device
The objective of this invention is to provide a boost circuit that reduces power consumption and prevents malfunctioning when the input voltage becomes greater than a target voltage for the output voltage. Control circuit module 5 sets both control signals HCNT2 and LCNT2 to low level “L” when the conditions “output voltage VBoost is higher than voltage OVREF” and “voltage (VIN+VOFFSET) is higher than output voltage VBoost” are satisfied. With this, in boost circuit module 7, switch SWH will be off and switch SWL will be on to forcibly switch to mode B. In mode B, because switch SWH is on, output voltage VBoost will be near input voltage VIN, and the power consumption can be reduced. |
| US08115462B2 |
Voltage regulator for an integrated circuit
A voltage regulator is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes a comparator for providing a gated output signal; and a state machine for receiving the gated output signal. The voltage regulator further includes at least one switch cell controlled by the state machine, for delivering charge to a load. Accordingly, a voltage regulator in accordance with the present invention yields N times (where N is an integer greater than one) the linear efficiency over typical linear regulators without requiring any external components. Therefore improved regulator efficiency is provided for low power devices. |
| US08115461B2 |
Power supply circuit and battery device
A power supply circuit with low noise and low power consumption and a battery device using the power supply circuit. If a voltage VDD is higher than a prescribed voltage, a charge pump circuit 140A is operated in “½ mode” (a step-down ratio of “2”), steps down the voltage VDD, and outputs an intermediate voltage VCPO. Since the voltage VDD is stepped down, the intermediate voltage VCPO being input into a first LDO 135 is about half the case where no step-down is carried out, and the power being consumed in a MOS transistor Q11 (FIG. 3) of the first LDO 135 is greatly reduced. Therefore, the increase in power consumption of the first LDO 135 due to a voltage increase in the voltage VDD can be suppressed. Also, since the heat sink of the first LDO 135 can be reduced in size or omitted by the suppression of power consumption, the size and weight of the device can be reduced. |
| US08115458B2 |
Driver
A driver includes a sensor sensing a driving current and a driving voltage for an external device including a capacitor, a PWM, a PFC, and a controller. The PFC includes a phase angle estimation unit estimating a phase angle variation of an input voltage to the PFC based on a parameter regarding the driving current, a voltage compensator compensating an error of the driving voltage, a first current estimation unit estimating a variation of a charge of the capacitor based on the charge current and the phase angle variation estimated by the phase angle estimation unit, a second current estimation unit estimating a driving current variation, and a calculator calculating a duty ratio for the PWM based on the variation of the charge current estimated by the first current estimation unit and the driving current variation estimated by the second current estimation unit. |
| US08115455B2 |
Power battery module, battery, module charging method, vehicle having the battery
The application relates to a power battery module, including rechargeable cells having a nominal operating charging temperature, greater than 20° C. According to the application, the module includes a circuit for managing charging of the cells which further includes: two external charging terminals for charging of the cells, wherein at least one, called second charging terminal, of the two external charging terminals is distinct from the external use terminals, first interruption/connector between the second charging terminal and one of the use terminals, second device between the charging terminals and the heating element to connect, at least in the first interruption position, the charging terminals to a heating element of the cells. |
| US08115448B2 |
Systems and methods for wireless power
The present invention is a wireless power system which includes components which can be recharged by harvesting wireless power, wireless power transmitters for transmitting the power, and devices which are powered from the components. Features such as temperature monitoring, tiered network protocols including both data and power communication, and power management strategies related to both charging and non-charging operations, are used to improve performance of the wireless network. Rechargeable batteries which are configured to be recharged using wireless power have unique components specifically tailored for recharging operations rather than for providing power to a device. A wireless power supply for powering implanted devices benefits from an external patient controller which contains features for adjusting both power transmission and harvesting provided by other components of the wireless power network. |
| US08115447B2 |
Battery pack with a secondary coil electromagnetically rechargeable by magnetic induction effect
A battery pack rechargeable by a magnetic induction effect incorporates a secondary coil electromagnetically coupled to a primary coil of a battery charger and a secondary battery rechargeable by electric power induced to the secondary coil. The secondary battery is in a form of a thin battery having a larger width than a thickness, and two opposing surfaces of the secondary battery are composed of a first flat surface and a second flat surface. The secondary coil is in a form of a planar coil with a wire material being spirally coiled in the plane. In the battery pack, the secondary coil in the form of the planar coil is fixedly layered on the first flat surface of the thin battery. |
| US08115446B2 |
Automotive vehicle power system
An energy storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of energy storage units electrically connected in series and a plurality of bi-directional energy converters each having first and second sides. Each of the first sides is electrically connected with one of the plurality of energy storage units. The system also includes another energy storage unit. The second sides of the plurality of bi-directional energy converters are electrically connected in parallel with the another energy storage unit. Each of the bi-directional energy converters is capable of transferring energy between the first and second sides. |
| US08115444B2 |
Common mode filter for motor controllers
A motor drive circuit has a converter for coupling to an AC voltage source and an inverter coupled to the converter for providing a drive current for a motor. A common mode circulation loop is coupled to the converter and to the inverter, and circulates common mode current from both the converter and the inverter. |
| US08115422B2 |
LED drive circuit
Provided is an LED drive circuit capable of using a switching regulator IC having low breakdown voltage even when a power supply voltage is high. The LED drive circuit includes a voltage clamp circuit for clamping the power supply voltage to an operating voltage of the switching regulator IC, converts an output voltage of a current detecting circuit for detecting a current flowing through an LED into the operating voltage of the switching regulator IC, and outputs the operating voltage. |
| US08115421B2 |
Discharge lamp lighting device, illumination device, and liquid crystal display device
A burst dimming signal to determine a ratio between an ON period and an OFF period is inputted. In the OFF period of the burst dimming signal, a lamp current Ila is stopped from flowing to a discharge lamp FL, while a lamp voltage Vla is applied to both ends of the discharge lamp FL, and preheating currents If1 and If2 are supplied to hot cathodes of the discharge lamp FL. In the ON period of the burst dimming signal, the discharge lamp FL is electrically broken down and is supplied with the lamp current Ila. |
| US08115419B2 |
Lighting control device for controlling dimming, lighting device including a control device, and method of controlling lighting
A lighting control circuit comprises a dimming level detection circuit, a waveform generator and a comparator circuit. The dimming level detection circuit is configurable to generate a first voltage level signal corresponding to a selected one of at least two different types of dimming signals selected from among an AC phase cut dimming signal, a DC voltage level dimming signal or a PWM dimming signal. The waveform generator is configured to output a periodic waveform. The comparator circuit is configured to compare the periodic waveform with the first voltage level signal to generate an output waveform having a duty cycle corresponding to a dimming level of the one of the at least two different input dimming signals and a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the periodic waveform. Also, methods of controlling lighting. |
| US08115415B2 |
Backlight unit, display device comprising the same, and control method thereof
A backlight unit includes a plurality of light source units arranged in a matrix form, a light source controller outputting a dimming signal to control a brightness of the light source units and a latch signal to control a light source unit row of the plurality of light source units to be sequentially driven according to a predetermined scanning period, and a plurality of light source driving units connected to light source unit columns of the plurality of light source units and supplying driving signals corresponding to the dimming signal to the light source units in the light source unit columns. |
| US08115414B2 |
LED driver with segmented dynamic headroom control
Techniques for dynamic headroom control in a light emitting diode (LED) system are disclosed. An output voltage is provided to drive a plurality of LED strings. A feedback controller monitors the tail voltages of the LED strings to identify the minimum tail voltage and adjusts the output voltage based on the lowest tail voltage. The LED strings grouped into subsets and the feedback controller is segmented such that, for a certain duration, a minimum tail voltage is determined for each subset. The minimum tail voltages of the subsets are used to determine the overall minimum tail voltage of the plurality of LED strings for the certain duration so as to control the output voltage in the following duration. The segments of the feedback controller can be implemented in separate integrated circuit (IC) packages, thereby facilitating adaptation to different numbers of LED strings by integrating the corresponding number of IC packages. |
| US08115412B2 |
Drive device for light-emitting element
A power converting unit supplies a predetermined current to each of light-emitting elements by controlling a duty ratio of a semiconductor switching element. A light-emitting-element selecting unit sequentially selects a light-emitting element to be supplied with the current from the power converting unit. A duty-ratio control unit controls the duty ratio of the semiconductor switching element based on a value obtained by multiplying a gain by a difference between an output current of the power converting unit and a target current. A gain selecting unit changes the gain according to selected light-emitting element. |
| US08115407B2 |
Address-free driving device and lighting fixture system
An address-free driving device and lighting fixture system are disclosed. The device is applied in controlling a lighting device, and includes a serial interface, a signal converter, a signal processor and a lighting driving unit. The signal converter converts an inputted signal from the serial interface into a digital signal. The signal processor then extracts a controlling data corresponding to the address-free driving device from the digital signal, and determines whether or not the inputted signal from the serial interface can be outputted to another address-free driving device. The lighting driving unit drives the lighting device to illuminate light based on the controlling data. Accordingly, when the lighting devices are electrically and serially connected, the address-free driving device then controls the lighting devices based on the order of series connection. |
| US08115400B2 |
Backlight module
Backlight module is disclosed. The backlight module includes a first lamp, a first voltage source, a second lamp, a second voltage source, a first external electrode, and a second external electrode. Both the first and the second voltage sources have a first terminal and a second terminal. The first voltage source is used to output a first voltage signal and electrically couples to the first terminal of the first lamp. The second voltage source is used to output a second voltage signal and electrically couples to the first terminal of the second lamp. Both the first external electrode and the second external electrode have a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the first external electrode electrically couples to the second voltage source and the first terminal of the second external electrode electrically couples to the first voltage source, wherein the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal are inverted. |
| US08115398B2 |
System and method for performing an illumination copy and paste operation in a lighting system
The invention relates to copying light conditions from one location and pasting into or providing similar light conditions to another location in a lighting system. A light detector (20) is provided which comprises a first sensor (50) configured to receive a first light directly from a first light source (14) and measure first light attributes of the first light, and a second sensor (52) configured to receive the first light influenced by reflections from surfaces (24) and measure second light attributes of the first light. Processing means (16) are adapted to process perceivable light attributes at the first location (22, 24) from the first light attributes and the second light attributes, and in conjunction with the specification of the second light source (15) to control the second light source (15) to provide the second light having light attributes at the second location (23, 25) that substantially match the perceivable light attributes at the first location (22, 24), whereby the illumination at the first location (22, 24) may be copied and pasted to the second location (23, 25). |
| US08115395B2 |
Self-dusting lamp device
A self-dusting lamp device includes a housing, a heat-dissipating module, a lighting element and a controlling unit. The housing has an air inlet portion and an air outlet portion on the outer periphery thereof. The heat-dissipating module has a heat-dissipating fan mounted in the housing. The lighting element is coupled to the heat-dissipating module for illumination. The controlling unit has a driving circuit electrically connected to the heat-dissipating fan and a direction controlling circuit electrically connected to the driving circuit. The direction controlling circuit controls the heat-dissipating fan to rotate in a normal direction for dissipating heat or to rotate in a dusting direction for dusting down the housing through the driving circuit. |
| US08115393B2 |
LED tubular lighting fixture
A tubular LED lighting fixture comprises: a heat sink shell; a printed circuit board supported on the shell and having an upper surface and a bottom surface, longitudinally extending laterally spaced wiring on the upper and bottom surfaces, and, transverse heat pipes running through the printed circuit board; a plurality of LEDs connected in series across the laterally spaced upper surface wiring and spacedly mounted along the printed circuit board; a high frequency electronic driver mounted in the shell and connected in series with the LEDs; voltage limiting devices mounted across the laterally spaced bottom surface wiring of the printed circuit board and in parallel with the LEDs; a lens bonded to the shell covering the printed circuit board for directing and delivering light from the LEDs, the shell and lens forming a tube for enclosing the LED bearing printed circuit board; the tube so formed having sealed ends to form a watertight fixture; and, input wires extending from the high frequency electronic driver through at least one of the tube sealed ends. |
| US08115391B2 |
Hermetic envelope and image display apparatus using the same
A hermetic envelope includes a first plate, a second plate, and a frame provided between the first plate and the second plate to form an interior space. A first bonding part is provided between the frame and the first plate to bond the frame and the first plate to each other, and a first abutting part is provided between the frame and the first plate, and positioned closer to the interior space than the first bonding part. A second bonding part is provided between the frame and the second plate to bond the frame and the second plate to each other, and a second abutting part is provided between the frame and the second plate and positioned closer to the interior space than the second bonding part. The second bonding part is positioned closer to the interior space than the first bonding part. |
| US08115390B2 |
High pressure discharge lamp
A high-pressure discharge lamp may include a ceramic discharge vessel and a longitudinal axis, with electrodes respectively being led out from the discharge vessel by means of a feed-through via capillaries, wherein a tubular cermet part, which consists of individual layers of different composition layered axially in succession, is fitted on the capillary, each layer containing Mo and Al2O3, the proportion of Mo in the first layer facing toward the capillary being from 3 to 15 vol. % and in the last layer being from 85 to 97 vol. %, and a molybdenum cover cap, the cover cap being welded to the feed-through and the cover cap being connected to the cermet part by means of solder containing metal, and the connection between the capillary and the cermet part being established by means of high-melting glass solder or sinter-active Al2O3 powder. |
| US08115388B2 |
Plasma display device
There is provided a plasma display panel device using phosphors to improve reliability and color reproductivity or color performance. A plasma display panel includes: a discharge gas for generating ultraviolet light as a result of electric discharge, and a phosphor layer containing a phosphor for emitting light as a result of excitation by the ultraviolet light, in which the phosphor contains an Eu activated silicate phosphor added with at least one element selected from Al, Ga, Y and Gd, represented by the following General Formula (1): M13-yM2Si2O8:Euy (1) wherein M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ba, Ca, and Sr; M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg and Zn; and y satisfies the condition of 0.001≦y≦0.2. |
| US08115386B2 |
Photomultiplier tube
Electrons are prevented from being made incident onto an insulation part of a casing between dynodes to improve a withstand voltage. The photomultiplier tube 1 is a photomultiplier tube which is provided with substrates 20, 40 arranged so as to oppose each other, with the respective opposing surfaces 20a, 40a made with an insulating material, a substrate 30 constituting a casing together with the substrates 20, 40, dynodes 31a to 31j arrayed on an opposing surface 40a on the substrate 40 so as to be spaced away sequentially from a first end side to a second end side, a photocathode 22 installed so as to be spaced away from the dynode 31a to the first end side, and an anode part 32 installed so as to be spaced away from the dynode 31j to the second end side, in which the opposing surface 20a of the substrate 20 is formed so as to cover the dynodes 31a to 31j, and a plurality of conductive layers 21a to 21j set equal in potential to dynodes 31a to 31j which are electrically independent from each other are installed at sites opposing individually the dynodes 31a to 31j on the opposing surface 20a. |
| US08115385B2 |
Multi-chip packaged LED light source
A light source having a lead frame, a body, and a plurality of dies, each die having an LED thereon is disclosed. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces. The lead frame includes first, second, and third sections, the first section includes a die mounting area having a first protrusion that passes through the body and terminates in a pad on the bottom surface. The second and third sections each include a protrusion that is bent to form first and second leads that run along one of the side surfaces. Each die is bonded to the die mounting area such that a first contact is electrically connected to the die mounting area, and a second contact is connected to one of the second and third sections. The first protrusion of the first section provides improved heat transfer. |
| US08115383B2 |
Electroluminescent area illumination with integrated mechanical switch
An electroluminescent lam including a lamp substrate; a first electrode formed over the lamp substrate device side, one or more layers having light-emitting material formed over the first electrode, and a second electrode formed over the one or more layers, a chiplet having a chiplet substrate separate and independent from the lamp substrate and adhered to the lamp substrate device side, one or more connection pads, a mechanical switch, and a control circuit for controlling the mechanical switch, the mechanical switch electrically connected to one or more connection pads and at least one connection pad electrically connected to the first or second electrode with one or more electrical connection(s); and an insulating and planarization layer formed over at least a portion of the chiplet and the electrical connections so that the chiplet is an embedded chiplet. |
| US08115382B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and electronic device, comprising controlled carrier transport
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting element with high light emission efficiency and with a long lifetime. A light-emitting device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a light-emitting layer, a first layer, and a second layer, wherein the first layer is provided between the light-emitting layer and the first electrode, the second layer is provided between the light-emitting layer and the second electrode, the first layer is a layer for controlling the hole transport, the second layer is a layer for controlling the electron transport, and light emission from the light-emitting layer is obtained when voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode so that potential of the first electrode is higher than potential of the second electrode. |
| US08115372B2 |
Spark plug for internal combustion engine and method of manufacturing the same
A spark plug for an internal combustion engine, includes: a cylindrical insulating body; a center electrode; a cylindrical metal shell; and a ground electrode, as defined herein, wherein the noble metal tip is bonded to the ground electrode via a molten bond, and when viewed in a cross-section including a center axis of the noble metal tip along a longitudinal direction of the ground electrode, a sum of a cross-sectional area of a base-end-side molten bond (A) positioned at a base end side of the ground electrode and a cross-sectional area of a front-end-side molten bond (B) positioned at a front end side of the ground electrode is equal to or greater than 4 mm2, and the cross-sectional area of the front-end-side molten bond (B) is 1.1 to 1.3 times greater than that of the base-end-side molten bond (A). |
| US08115367B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator provided with a displacement meter, piezoelectric element, and positioning device
By resistor attached by a piezoelectric element, measurement with high accuracy is possible by strain of the piezoelectric element. A piezoelectric actuator includes the piezoelectric element which is formed into an arbitrary shape, polarized in an arbitrary direction, and includes electrodes provided on at least two surfaces opposed in a thickness direction thereof. The piezoelectric actuator also includes a driver power supply for applying a voltage between the electrodes to generate strain in the piezoelectric element, a driver power supply for applying a voltage to generate strain in the piezoelectric element, resistors provided on the electrodes through intermediation of insulators, and a displacement detection device connected with the resistors. The electrodes of the piezoelectric element on which the resistors are provided are set at a ground potential. |
| US08115366B2 |
System and method of driving ultrasonic transducers
A transducer is optimally driven at or near its resonant frequency by a driver system that adapts to variations and/or changes to the resonant frequency of the transducer due to variations in piezo materials, manufacturing, assembly, component tolerances, and/or operational conditions. The system may include an output controller, a phase track controller, a frequency generator, a drive, circuitry to determine a phase angle between the transducer voltage and transducer current, and circuitry to obtain transducer admittance from the transducer voltage and transducer current. |
| US08115357B2 |
Motor
A motor is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the motor includes a rotational axis, a rotating body, which rotates together with the rotational axis as one unit, a hub having a ring-shaped body and a protruding part, in which the ring-shaped body is interposed between the rotational axis and the rotating body and the protruding part is protruded from the ring-shaped body towards the rotational axis and is in contact with the rotating body so as to extend an outer circumferential surface of the ring-shaped body coupled to the rotating body, and a housing, which supports and rotates the rotational axis, in which the housing having a supporting part is interposed between the rotational axis and the protruding part of the hub and supports the rotational axis. Thus, the rotor can be safely supported, providing the rotational stability of the rotor. |
| US08115354B2 |
Brushless vibration motor
The present invention provides a brushless vibration motor. A bracket has a burring part protruding upwards. A shaft is fitted at a first end thereof into the burring part. A stator comprises at least one coil which is provided on the upper surface of the bracket. The bearing is rotatably fitted over the circumferential outer surface of the shaft. The rotor has a rotor yoke fitted over the circumferential outer surface of the bearing, a magnet coupled to the rotor yoke, and a weight causing eccentric rotation. The stopper is provided on a second end of the shaft and is spaced apart from the upper end of the bearing to by a predetermined distance. The brushless vibration motor of the present invention has no a separate casing, thus enhancing spatial utilization. |
| US08115353B2 |
Connection line used for stator of electric motor, stator including that connection line, and method for bending the connection line
A connection line has a first bent portion bent toward a coil's main body in a vicinity of a stator core's axial length limit line. Furthermore, the connection line at a portion closer to the coil's main body than the first bent portion has a second bent portion bent away from the coil's main body. Furthermore, the connection line has a third bent portion bent away from the coil's main body to have a connection portion along an end surface of the terminal member in contact therewith generally parallel thereto. |
| US08115352B2 |
Dynamoelectric machine coil spacerblock having flow deflecting channel in coil facing surface thereof
A dynamoelectric machine includes a rotor having a plurality of adjacent coils; a spaceblock disposed between adjacent coils so as to define first and second cavities adjacent the spaceblock and between mutually adjacent coils; and the spaceblock includes a channel disposed in a coil facing surface of the spaceblock for intercepting and redirecting a circulating coolant flow to the first cavity. |
| US08115351B2 |
Hybrid transmission high voltage connector and terminal block cooling system and method
A cooling system for an electrically variable transmission includes an electric motor having a plurality of connectors. The plurality of connectors are each assembled within a plurality of connector openings in a terminal block. Fluid from within a passageway is supplied by a pressurized fluid source, and an orifice for the passageway is located adjacent to one of the plurality of connector opening. The fluid flowing from the passageway is directed onto one of the plurality of connectors. |
| US08115349B2 |
Magnetic levitation system
A magnetic levitation system includes a levitation-actuator movable element which generates a levitation force applied to a control object; and a levitation-actuator stator which receives a reactive force while the control object is being operated, the levitation-actuator stator being attached to a fixed or movable structure. The levitation-actuator stator includes levitation-actuator stator units connectable to each other in a travelling direction. Each levitation-actuator stator unit includes a coil and an iron core for generating a levitation force between the levitation-actuator stator unit and the levitation-actuator movable element. A length of an end portion of each iron core is equal to or larger than a length of each coil between the ends of the coil so that the cores are continuously arranged without gaps therebetween when the levitation-actuator stator units are connected to each other in the travelling direction. |
| US08115346B2 |
Electronic device and external power supply device control method applicable thereto
An electronic device and an external power supply device control method applicable to the electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device is electrically connected to an external power supply device that is able to switch between an ON state and an OFF state. The electronic device includes a switch module and an internal power module. The switch module, when being triggered, generates a switch signal. The internal power module receives the switch signal and accordingly generates a trigger signal to the external power supply device, so that the external power supply device is triggered to switch from the OFF state to the ON state and accordingly supplies electric power to the electronic device. |
| US08115345B2 |
Variable timing switching system and method
A low-EMI switched circuit comprises two or more switches, wherein impedance transitions of the switches are overlapped and the overlap is varied using variable switch timing based on an output power level of the switched circuit. The variable timing results in a variable impedance overlap between the switches. In one example, when one switch turns off (begins a low to high impedance transition) and a second switch turns on (begins a high to low impedance transition), a greater timing delay in beginning the second switch's transition results in a higher switch impedance overlap than a shorter delay does. If the variable timing is based on output power of the switched circuit, the variable delay can operate to reduce fly-back voltages at high power output levels and reduce shoot-through current at lower power levels, reducing EMI and quiescent current of the switched circuit. |
| US08115343B2 |
Nanosecond pulse generator
This invention relates to a pulse generator circuit for delivering a short high current pulse to a load. This pulse generator comprises a junction recovery diode, a switch, a first resonant circuit and a second resonant circuit. The diode may be configured to store charges in its depletion layer when there is a forward flow of a current and to rapidly switch open after the depletion layer is discharged by a reverse flow of a current. After the diode rapidly switch opens, the pulse generator may provide a reverse current to the load. This pulse generator may be configured to generate at least one pulse that is having a length of no more than 100 nanoseconds at the full-width-at-half-maximum and an amplitude of at least 1 kilovolt. Electrodes may be connected to the pulse generator to deliver one pulse or plurality of pulses to biological cells such as tumor cells. |
| US08115325B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit including plurality of bonding pads
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of bonding pads formed along an edge of a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of I/O cells arranged along the edge under the plurality of bonding pads; an upper layer wire mesh including a plurality of upper layer wirings; and a core region formed on the semiconductor substrate. In the semiconductor integrated circuit, the core region has an area larger than an area occupied by the upper layer wire mesh in a plane parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08115324B2 |
Semiconductor module
A semiconductor module may include a circuit substrate with a first die on the circuit substrate and a second die on the first die. The first die may include at least one first data input/output pad on a first peripheral portion of the first die and at least one first control/address pad on a third peripheral portion, the third peripheral portion being separate from the first peripheral portion of the first die. The second die may include at least one second data input/output pad on a second peripheral portion and at least one second control/address pad on a fourth peripheral portion. The second peripheral portion of the second die is not overlapped with the first peripheral portion of the first die in plan view. The fourth peripheral portion of the second die overlaps at least a portion of the third peripheral portion of the first die. |
| US08115322B2 |
Adhesive, method of connecting wiring terminals and wiring structure
This invention provides a wiring-terminal-connecting adhesive comprising a curing agent capable of generating a free radical upon heating, a radically polymerizable substance and silicone particles, and a wiring-terminal-connecting method and a wiring structure which make use of such an adhesive. |
| US08115321B2 |
Separate probe and bond regions of an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit includes a number of probe pads arranged in a staggered manner in a core region of the integrated circuit and a number of bond pads in an Input/Output (I/O) region surrounding the core region. The core region includes logic circuitry therein, and the I/O region is configured to enable the core region to communicate with one or more external circuit(s) through the number of bond pads. The integrated circuit also includes a die metal interconnect separating a bond pad area in the I/O region from a probe pad area in the core region. A dimension of the die metal interconnect and/or a position of the die metal interconnect between the probe pad area and the bond pad area is variable. |
| US08115315B2 |
Semiconductor chips having redistributed power/ground lines directly connected to power/ground lines of internal circuits and methods of fabricating the same
Provided are embodiments of semiconductor chips having a redistributed metal interconnection directly connected to power/ground lines of an internal circuit are provided. Embodiments of the semiconductor chips include an internal circuit formed on a semiconductor substrate. A chip pad is disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The chip pad is electrically connected to the internal circuit through an internal interconnection. A passivation layer is provided over the chip pad. A redistributed metal interconnection is provided on the passivation layer. The redistributed metal interconnection directly connects the internal interconnection to the chip pad through a via-hole and a chip pad opening, which penetrate at least the passivation layer. Methods of fabricating the semiconductor chip are also provided. |
| US08115296B2 |
Electronic device package
Various embodiments for molding tools for moisture-resistant image sensor packaging structures and methods of assembly are disclosed. Image sensor packages of the present invention include an interposer, a housing structure formed on the interposer for surrounding an image sensor chip, and a transparent cover. The housing structure may cover substantially all of the interposer chip surface. In another embodiment, the housing structure also covers substantially all of the interposer edge surfaces. The housing structure may also cover substantially all of the interposer attachment surface. An image sensor chip is electrically connected to the interposer with sealed wire bond connections or with sealed flip-chip connections. The housing structure may include runners that enable simultaneous sealing of the interior of the image sensor package and of the transparent cover. |
| US08115295B2 |
Semiconductor device
A miniaturized semiconductor device has a package substrate, a semiconductor chip mounted on the main surface of the package substrate and having plural LNAs each for amplifying a signal, an RF VCO for converting the frequency of the signal supplied from each LNA, and an IF VCO for converting the frequency of a signal supplied from a baseband. A plurality of ball electrodes are provided on the back surface of the package substrate. The package substrate is provided with a first common GND wire for supplying a GND potential to each of the LNAs, with a second common GND wire for supplying the GND potential to the RF VCO, and with a third common GND wire for supplying the GND potential to the IF VCO. The first, second, and third common GND wires are separated from each other. |
| US08115294B2 |
Multichip module with improved system carrier
A power semiconductor device has a first chip carrier part (11) and a second chip carrier part (12), the first chip carrier part (11) and the second chip carrier part (12) being spaced apart from one another and being electrically conductive in each case. A first chip with a power transistor is arranged on the first chip carrier part (11) and a second chip (14) is arranged on the second chip carrier part (12). The terminal for a first potential (DC−) of a supply voltage is electrically connected to the first chip (13) via the first chip carrier part and the terminal for the second potential of a supply voltage (DC+) is electrically connected to the second chip (14) via the second chip carrier part. |
| US08115290B2 |
Storage medium and semiconductor package
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip formed with a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a resin encapsulation that encapsulates the semiconductor chip, electrodes in a lattice (solder balls) formed and arrayed in a lattice on a bottom surface of the resin encapsulation. The solder balls include a signal electrode formed within the central region of the array and a dummy electrode formed outside the signal electrode. |
| US08115285B2 |
Advanced quad flat no lead chip package having a protective layer to enhance surface mounting and manufacturing methods thereof
A semiconductor package and related methods are described. In one embodiment, the package includes a die pad, multiple leads, a chip, a package body, and a protective layer. The die pad includes an upper sloped portion, a lower sloped portion, and a peripheral edge region defining a cavity with a cavity bottom. Each lead includes an upper sloped portion and a lower sloped portion. The chip is disposed on the cavity bottom and is coupled to the leads. The package body is formed over the chip and the leads, substantially fills the cavity, and substantially covers the upper sloped portions of the die pad and the leads. The lower sloped portions of the die pad and the leads at least partially extend outwardly from a lower surface of the package body. The protective layer substantially covers the lower sloped portion and the lower surface of at least one lead. |
| US08115284B2 |
Electronic component and semiconductor device, method of making the same and method of mounting the same, circuit board and electronic instrument
A semiconductor device with its package size close to its chip size has a stress absorbing layer, allows a patterned flexible substrate to be omitted, and allows a plurality of components to be fabricated simultaneously. There is: a step of forming electrodes on a wafer; a step of providing a resin later as a stress relieving layer on the wafer, avoiding the electrodes; a step of forming a chromium layer as wiring from electrodes over the resin layer; and step of forming solder balls as external electrodes on the chromium layer over the resin layer; and a step of cutting the wafer into individual semiconductor chips; in the steps of forming the chromium layer and solder balls, metal thin film fabrication technology is used during the wafer process. |
| US08115283B1 |
Reversible top/bottom MEMS package
A semiconductor device has a base substrate having a plurality of metal traces and a plurality of base vias. An opening is formed through the base substrate. At least one die is attached to the first surface of the substrate and positioned over the opening. A cover substrate has a plurality of metal traces. A cavity in the cover substrate forms side wall sections around the cavity. The cover substrate is attached to the base substrate so the at least one die is positioned in the interior of the cavity. Ground planes in the base substrate are coupled to ground planes in the cover substrate to form an RF shield around the at least one die. |
| US08115280B2 |
Four-terminal gate-controlled LVBJTs
An integrated circuit structure includes a well region of a first conductivity type, an emitter of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type over the well region, a collector of the second conductivity type over the well region and substantially encircling the emitter, and a base contact of the first conductivity type over the well region. The base contact is horizontally spaced apart from the emitter by the collector. At least one conductive strip horizontally spaces the emitter, the collector, and the base contact apart from each other. A dielectric layer is directly under, and contacting, the at least one conductive strip. |
| US08115275B2 |
Electrical antifuse
An antifuse having a link including a region of unsilicided semiconductor material may be programmed at reduced voltage and current and with reduced generation of heat by electromigration of metal or silicide from a cathode into the region of unsilicided semiconductor material to form an alloy having reduced bulk resistance. The cathode and anode are preferably shaped to control regions from which and to which material is electrically migrated. After programming, additional electromigration of material can return the antifuse to a high resistance state. The process by which the antifuse is fabricated is completely compatible with fabrication of field effect transistors and the antifuse may be advantageously formed on isolation structures. |
| US08115273B2 |
Deep trench isolation structures in integrated semiconductor devices
A integrated semiconductor device has a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type over the first layer, a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type over the second layer, an isolation trench extending through the entire depth of the second and third layers into the first layer, and a first region of the second conductivity type located next to the isolation trench and extending from an interface between the second and third layers, along an interface between the second layer and the isolation trench. This first region can help reduce a concentration of field lines where the isolation trench meets the interface of the second and third layers, and hence provide a better reverse breakdown characteristic. |
| US08115272B2 |
Silicon dioxide cantilever support and method for silicon etched structures
An apparatus includes a semiconductor layer (2) having therein a cavity (4). A dielectric layer (3) is formed on the semiconductor layer. A plurality of etchant openings (24) extend through the dielectric layer for passage of etchant for etching the cavity. An SiO2 pillar (25) extends from a bottom of the cavity to engage and support a portion of the dielectric layer extending over the cavity. In one embodiment, a cap layer (34) on the dielectric layer covers the etchant openings. |
| US08115266B2 |
MEMS device having a movable electrode
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a semiconductor substrate, a MEMS including a fixed electrode and a movable electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate through an insulating layer, and a well formed in the semiconductor substrate below the fixed electrode. The well is one of an n-type well and a p-type well. The p-type well applies a positive voltage to the fixed electrode while the n-type well applies a negative voltage to the fixed electrode. |
| US08115265B2 |
Interconnection system on a plane adjacent to a solid-state device structure
An interconnection system is provided for a solid-state device. The solid-state that includes, a first layer, multiple devices and a first face. A second layer is bonded to the first face at a bonded face of the second layer that faces the first face. Electrically conductive bonds are between the first and second faces. Conductive paths are on the bonded face of the second layer and connect two or more of the conductive bonds. |
| US08115255B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises including a insulating pattern and a silicon film over a SOI substrate, thereby increasing a reduced volume of a floating body after forming a floating body fin transistor so as to secure a data storage space. The method comprises: forming a insulating pattern and a first silicon film over an upper silicon film of a SOI substrate; and forming a fin structure in the first silicon film. |
| US08115251B2 |
Recessed gate channel with low Vt corner
A recessed gate FET device includes a substrate having an upper and lower portions, the lower portion having a reduced concentration of dopant material than the upper portion; a trench-type gate electrode defining a surrounding channel region and having a gate dielectric material layer lining and including a conductive material having a top surface recessed to reduce overlap capacitance with respect to the source and drain diffusion regions formed at an upper substrate surface at either side of the gate electrode. There is optionally formed halo implants at either side of and abutting the gate electrode, each halo implants extending below the source and drain diffusions into the channel region. Additionally, highly doped source and drain extension regions are formed that provide a low resistance path from the source and drain diffusion regions to the channel region. The recessed gate FET device suppresses short channel effects and exhibits improved threshold voltage (Vt) characteristics at corners of the trench bottom. |
| US08115240B2 |
CMOS integrated process for fabricating monocrystalline silicon micromechanical elements by porous silicon micromachining
A process for fabricating a monocrystalline silicon micromechanical element integrated with a CMOS circuit element within the CMOS technology, wherein a domain of second conducting property is formed within a substrate of first conducting property; the second conducting property is reverse with respect to the first conducting property. A domain of monocrystalline Si is formed within the substrate for fabricating a micromechanical element. A CMOS circuit element as well as a portion of the domain are covered with a protecting layer. Front-side isotropic porous Si-etching from the exposed surface of the domain continues until the portion that will carry the micromechanical element becomes underetched. A porous Si sacrificial layer is created which at least partially encloses the portion. Then the exposed surface of the porous Si sacrificial layer is passivated by applying a metallic thin film thereon. Finally, the metallic thin film that covers the exposed surface of the porous Si sacrificial layer is removed and the porous Si sacrificial layer is dissolved thereby forming the micromechanical element. |
| US08115239B2 |
Electric device comprising phase change material
The electric device according to the invention has a resistor comprising a layer of a phase change material which is changeable between a first phase with a first electrical resistivity and a second phase with a second electrical resistivity different from the first electrical resistivity. The phase change material is a fast growth material. The electric device further comprises a switching signal generator for switching the resistor between at least three different electrical resistance values by changing a corresponding portion of the layer of the phase change material from the first phase to the second phase. |
| US08115236B2 |
Solid state imaging device
A solid state imaging device in which γ characteristic is obtained and enlargement of dynamic range is provided. The solid state imaging device includes a vertical overflow function and has a feature in which potential of a semiconductor substrate is changed from a high potential to a low potential in a stepwise manner during a period from an exposure start to an exposure end. |
| US08115233B2 |
Field effect transistor having multiple pinch off voltages
A compound field effect transistor having multiple pinch-off voltages, comprising first and second field effect transistors, each field effect transistor comprising a semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer having an electrically conducting layer therein. An ohmic contact layer on the semiconductor layer, a source and a drain on the ohmic contact layer, at least one gate on the semiconductor layer between source and drain, at least one gate of the first transistor and one gate of the second transistor being matched gates, each gate having the same effective thickness of electrically conducting layer beneath it, but the gates having different gate lengths. |
| US08115230B2 |
Light emitting device, light emitting device package and lighting system
Disclosed are a light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device includes an oxide including gallium aluminum over a gallium oxide substrate, a nitride including gallium aluminum over the oxide including gallium aluminum, and a light emitting structure over the nitride including gallium aluminum. |
| US08115229B2 |
Arrangement for dissipating thermal energy generated by a light emitting diode
An arrangement for dissipating thermal energy generated by an LED includes an LED and a thermal energy dissipating medium. The LED includes an LED circuit, encapsulating material surrounding the LED circuit, and first and second electrical leads extending into the encapsulating material and electrically connected to the LED circuit. The thermal energy dissipating medium defines an opening therethrough sized to receive therein the LED such that the thermal energy dissipating medium defining the opening is in physical, thermally conductive contact with an exterior surface of at least one side portion of the encapsulating material of the LED. The thermal energy dissipating medium is not electrically connected to any of the LED circuit, the mounting surface, the first electrical lead and the second electrical lead. The thermal energy dissipating medium is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to 50 W/mK. |
| US08115228B2 |
Lighting device of LEDs on a transparent substrate
Proposed is a lighting device (100), comprising LEDs (130) mounted on a transparent substrate (110), provided with a transparent electrically conductive layer (120) and a contact pad (140). The contact pad has a second part (142), extending away from a first part (141), for further reducing the current density in the conductive layer (120). This is advantageous for making the lighting device robust to large power dissipation, especially under high current testing conditions. Moreover, as the voltage drop over transparent conductive layer is reduced, the efficiency of the lighting device is increased. |
| US08115227B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
Disclosed are a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a light emitting structure comprising a plurality of compound semiconductor layers, a passivation layer at the outside of the light emitting structure, a first electrode layer on the light emitting structure, and a second electrode layer under the light emitting structure. |
| US08115225B2 |
Light emitting diode package
Provided is an LED package. It is easy to control luminance according to the luminance and an angle applicable. Since heat is efficiently emitted, the LED package is easily applicable to a high luminance LED. The manufacturing process is convenient and the cost is reduced. The LED package includes a substrate, an electrode, an LED, and a heatsink hole. The electrode is formed on the substrate. The LED is mounted in a side of the substrate and is electrically connected to the electrode. The heatsink hole is formed to pass through the substrate, for emitting out heat generated from the LED. |
| US08115224B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device That includes a first photonic crystal structure having a reflective layer and non-metal pattern elements on the reflective layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer on both the reflective layer and the non-metal pattern elements, an active layer on the second conductive semiconductor layer, and a first conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer. |
| US08115212B2 |
Positive electrode for semiconductor light-emitting device
An object of the present invention is to provide a transparent positive electrode for use in a face-up-type chip which can emit intense light even using a low drive voltage.The inventive positive electrode for a semiconductor light-emitting device comprises a transparent electrode formed on a semiconductor layer and a bonding pad electrode formed on the transparent electrode, wherein the bonding pad electrode has a reflecting layer that is in contact with at least the transparent electrode. |
| US08115206B2 |
Semiconductor device
It is an object to provide a transistor having a new multigate structure in which operating characteristics and reliability are improved. In a transistor having a multigate structure, which includes two gate electrodes electrically connected to each other and a semiconductor layer including two channel regions connected in series formed between a source region and a drain region, and a high concentration impurity region is formed between the two channel regions; the channel length of the channel region adjacent to the source region is longer than the channel length of the channel region adjacent to the drain region. |
| US08115203B2 |
Photoconductors for mid-/far-IR detection
An infrared photodiode structure is provided. The infrared photodiode structure includes a doped semiconductor layer having ions of certain conductivity. An active photodetecting region is positioned on the doped semiconductor layer for detecting an infrared light signal. The active photodetecting region includes one or more amorphous semiconductor materials so as to allow for high signal-to-noise ratio being achieved by invoking carrier hopping and band conduction, under dark and illuminated conditions. |
| US08115202B2 |
Thin film transistor array substrate and electronic ink display device
A thin film transistor array substrate suitable for being applied in an electronic ink display device is provided. The thin film transistor array substrate includes a substrate, scan lines, data lines, thin film transistors, pixel electrodes and testing signal lines. The data lines and the scan lines are disposed and define a plurality of pixel regions on the substrate. Each thin film transistor is disposed in the respective pixel region and driven by the corresponding scan line and data line. In addition, each pixel electrode is disposed in respective pixel region and electrically connected to the thin film transistor corresponding thereto. Furthermore, the testing signal line connects to the scan lines and/or the data lines in series. The testing accuracy as well as the production yield of the electronic ink display device and the thin film transistor array substrate can be improved by the design of the aforementioned testing circuit. |
| US08115199B2 |
Electroluminescent devices
An electroluminescent device comprising: a first charge carrier injecting layer for injecting positive charge carriers; a second charge carrier injecting layer for injecting negative charge carriers; and a light-emissive layer located between the charge carrier injecting layers and comprising a mixture of: a first component for accepting positive charge carriers from the first charge carrier injecting layer; a second component for accepting negative charge carriers from the second charge carrier injecting layer; and a third, organic light-emissive component for generating light as a result of combination of charge carriers from the first and second components; at least one of the first, second and third components forming a type II semiconductor interface with another of the first, second and third components. |
| US08115195B2 |
Semiconductor wafer with a heteroepitaxial layer and a method for producing the wafer
A multilayer semiconductor wafer has a substrate wafer having a first side and a second side; a fully or partially relaxed heteroepitaxial layer deposited on the first side of the substrate wafer; and a stress compensating layer deposited on the second side of the substrate wafer. The multilayer semiconductor wafer is produced by a method including depositing on a first side of a substrate a fully or partially relaxed heteroepitaxial layer at a deposition temperature; and at the same temperature or before significantly cooling the wafer from the deposition temperature, providing a stress compensating layer on a second side of the substrate. |
| US08115188B2 |
Memory element and display device
Disclosed herein is a memory element, including a parallel combination of a thin film transistor; and a resistance change element, the thin film transistor including a semiconductor thin film in which a channel region, and an input terminal and an output terminal located on both sides of the channel region, respectively, are formed, and a gate electrode overlapping the channel region through an insulating film to become a control terminal, the resistance change element including one conductive layer connected to the input terminal side of the thin film transistor, the other conductive layer connected to the output terminal side of the thin film transistor, and at least one oxide film layer disposed between the one conductive layer and the other conductive layer. |
| US08115186B2 |
Phase change memory cell with reduced switchable volume
A memory cell is fabricated by forming a dielectric layer and patterning a hole in the dielectric layer. Patterning the hole is accomplished at least in part by contacting the dielectric layer with a catalytic material in the presence of a reactant under conditions effective to remove those areas of the dielectric layer in contact with the catalytic material. A phase change feature is then formed in contact with the dielectric layer such that a portion of the phase change feature at least partially fills the hole in the dielectric layer. At least a portion of the patterned dielectric layer remains in the ultimate memory cell. |
| US08115183B2 |
Method for maskless particle-beam exposure
For maskless irradiating a target with a beam of energetic electrically charged particles using a pattern definition means with a plurality of apertures and imaging the apertures in the pattern definition means onto a target which moves (v) relative to the pattern definition means laterally to the axis, the location of the image is moved along with the target, for a pixel exposure period within which a distance of relative movement of the target is covered which is at least a multiple of the width (w) of the aperture images as measured on the target, and after said pixel exposure period the location of the beam image is changed, which change of location generally compensates the overall movement of the location of the beam image. |
| US08115181B2 |
Luminescent glass element, producing method thereof and luminescing method thereof
The present invention relates to a luminescent glass element comprising a luminescent glass substrate, which a metal layer is positioned on a surface thereof. The metal layer is provided with a metal microstructure. The luminescent glass substrate has composite oxides represented as the following formula: aM2O.bY2O3.cSiO2.dSm2O3, wherein M represents alkali metal element, a, b, c and d are, by mol part, 25-60, 1-30, 20-70 and 0.001-10 respectively. The present invention also provides a producing method of the luminescent glass element and a luminescing method thereof. The metal layer is positioned on the luminescent glass substrate, thereby improving luminescence efficiency of the luminescent glass substrate. The luminescent glass element can be used in luminescent devices with ultrahigh brightness or high-speed operation. |
| US08115178B2 |
Large dynamic range radiation detector and methods thereof
According to one embodiment, a radiation detector comprises a scintillator and a photodiode optically coupled to the scintillator. The radiation detector also includes a bias voltage source electrically coupled to the photodiode, a first detector operatively electrically coupled to the photodiode for generating a signal indicative of a level of a charge at an output of the photodiode, and a second detector operatively electrically coupled to the bias voltage source for generating a signal indicative of an amount of current flowing through the photodiode. |
| US08115173B2 |
Implementation of wavelength shifters in phoswich detectors
A phoswich device for determining depth of interaction (DOI) includes a wavelength shifting layer between first and second scintillators of different scintillation materials and having different decay time characteristics. The wavelength shifting layer allows a true phoswich device to be constructed where the emission wavelength of one scintillator is in the peak excitation band of the other scintillator, by shifting the scintillation light outside of this excitation band to prevent scintillation light of one scintillator from exciting a response in the other scintillator, thus enabling unique identification of the location of a gamma photon scintillation event. The phoswich device is particularly applicable to positron emission tomography (PET) applications. |
| US08115170B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating time-resolved emission images of integrated circuits using a single-point single-photon detector and a scanning system
A Scanning Time-Resolved Emission (S-TRE) microscope or system includes an optical system configured to collect light from emissions of light generated by a device under test (DUT). A scanning system is configured to permit the emissions of light to be collected from positions across the DUT in accordance with a scan pattern. A timing photodetector is configured to detect a single photon or photons of the emissions of light from the particular positions across the DUT such that the emissions of light are correlated to the positions to create a time-dependent map of the emissions of light across the DUT. |
| US08115169B2 |
Method and apparatus of pattern inspection and semiconductor inspection system using the same
A pattern inspection apparatus can be provided, for example, in a scanning electron microscope system. When patterns of a plurality of layers are included in a SEM image, the apparatus separates the patterns according to each layer by using design data of the plurality of layers corresponding to the patterns. Consequently, the apparatus can realize inspection with use of only the pattern of a target layer to be inspected, pattern inspection differently for different layers, or detection of a positional offset between the layers. |
| US08115168B2 |
Layered scanning charged particle apparatus package having an embedded heater
A scanning charge particle apparatus includes a layered charged particle beam column package; a sample holder; and a heater, such as a resistive heater, in one of the layers of the package that conductively heats layers and/or components. |
| US08115167B2 |
Multi-beam ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry with multi-channel data recording
The content of the invention comprises a concept of multi-beam ion pre-selection from a single sample, coordinated mobility (against the gas flow) separation, cooling ions in supersonic gas flow and mass separation of thus low divergent ions by single or plural compact high-resolution orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometers both linear or reflectron type with controlled collision-induced dissociation (CID) and multi-channel data recording for the optimization of sample use in the analysis, and obtaining as much useful information about the sample as possible in a reasonably short time. |
| US08115165B2 |
Mass selector
A mass spectrometer and method for performing high resolution mass spectrometry are provided, the mass spectrometer comprising an electrostatic trap and mass analyzer. The electrostatic trap comprises entrance and exit ends, entrance and exit end ion mirrors, a central field-free region, and a longitudinal axis. The mass analyzer receives ions from the exit end. Ions are admitted into the electrostatic trap via the entrance end, trapping ions in the electrostatic trap, the ions oscillating between the entrance and exit end ion mirrors along the axis. The electrostatic trap waits for the ions to separate into bunches different m/z values via the oscillating, and then excites a given bunch of ions of a given m/z value along the axis until at least a portion of the given bunch overcomes a barrier field at the exit end ion mirror, exiting the electrostatic trap for analysis, leaving behind remaining ions. |
| US08115159B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device including a common phase feedback circuit, a method of driving the same, a signal processing method for the same, and image pickup apparatus
A solid-state image pickup device including: a pixel array portion; a differential circuit; a reset voltage supplying section; and a common phase feedback circuit. |
| US08115155B2 |
4 transistors 4 shared step and repeat unit cell and 4 transistors 4 shared image sensor including the unit cells
A 4T-4S step & repeat unit cell obtained by combining four image sensor unit cells each including four transistors and a 4T-4S image sensor including the 4T-4S step & repeat unit cell are provided. The 4T-4S step & repeat unit cell includes first and second shared image sensor unit cells. The first shared image sensor unit cell includes first and third photodiodes and five transistors. The second shared image sensor unit cell includes second and fourth photodiodes and five transistors. The second photodiode is disposed over the first photodiode. The third photodiode is disposed at a side of the second photodiode. A terminal of each of the fourth photodiode is connected to a first voltage source. Signals corresponding to images incident onto the first and third photodiodes are output through a first common detection line OUT1. Signals corresponding to images incident onto the second and fourth photodiodes are output through a second common detection line OUT2. |
| US08115152B1 |
Method of operating a photoconductor in an imaging system, and read-out circuit employing an AC-biased photoconductor
A photoconductor read out circuit includes a biasing signal generator connected to apply an alternating current biasing signal to a first terminal of the photoconductor. An input capacitance connected to a second terminal of the photoconductor stores charge applied to that terminal. A charge transfer amplifier included in the read out circuit receives a demodulating signal and functions to transfer charge to a summing node in response to the charge stored by the input capacitance and in coordination with the demodulating signal. A charge collection arrangement included in the read out circuit selectively resets the summing node to a base charge level, and stores charge applied to the summing node between resets to the base charge level. A sampling arrangement included in the read out circuit selectively applies a charge from the summing node to an output node, selectively presets the output node to a base output charge level, and stores charge applied to the output node between presets to the base output charge level. The charge stored at the output node between presets represents an output data signal from the read out circuit. |
| US08115144B2 |
Method for controlling the operation of a glow-plug in a diesel engine
A method is provided that includes, but is not limited to estimating the temperature (TGP,est) of the glow-plug (GP) in accordance with a first model of the glow-plug (GP) as a function of the detected values of the glow-plug voltage and current (VGP, IGP) and the sensed values of some input variables, such as the engine speed (ωE) and the engine temperature (TE), determining, in accordance with a second predetermined model of the glow-plug (GP), a desired value of the voltage (VGP,des) or power (PGP,des) to be supplied to the glow-plug (GP), as a function of a desired value of the glow-plug temperature (TGP,des), the estimated glow-plug temperature (TGP,est), and the sensed values of the input variables, and varying the duty-cycle of a pulse-width-modulated voltage (VPWM) applied to the glow-plug (GP), as a function of the calculated value of said desired voltage (VGP,des) or power (PGP,des). |
| US08115142B2 |
Plate, apparatus for adjusting temperature of substrate having the plate and apparatus for processing substrate having the plate
In a plate for adjusting a temperature of a substrate, a body of the plate supports the substrate. A first channel and a second channel are disposed within the body of the plate. The first channel has a first inlet and a first outlet and passes therethrough a first fluid to adjust the temperature of the substrate. The second channel has a second inlet adjacent to the first outlet and a second outlet adjacent to the first inlet and passes therethrough a second fluid to adjust the temperature of the substrate. Further, the first and second channels are disposed side by side. Thus, the temperature of the substrate may be adjusted uniformly as a whole. |
| US08115141B2 |
Heating element
There is disclosed a heating element 10 comprising: at least a heat-resistant base member 1; a conductive layer 3 having a heater pattern 3a formed on the heat-resistant base member; a protection layer 4 with an insulating property formed on the conductive layer; and a corrosion-resistant layer 4p having a nitrogen gas permeability of 1×10−2 cm2/sec or less or being made of a compound containing a dopant formed on the protection layer 4. There can be provided a heating element in which a corrosion-resistant layer whose nitrogen gas permeability, resistivity, or hardness are controlled is formed on a protection layer and through which the corrosive gas is difficult to be transmitted even under an environment of a high temperature and a corrosive gas and by which degradation due to corrosion of a conductive layer, particularly, a power-supply-terminal portion can be avoided and additionally which can fulfill a high function as an electrostatic chuck even when having a chuck pattern and which has a long operation life and is capable of being produced at a low cost. |
| US08115138B2 |
Comprehensive identification and designation of welding procedures
System(s) and method(s) that facilitates comprehensive identification and designation of welding procedures. A configuration component facilitates configuring the welding system with respect to pre-defined procedures and/or parameters and facilitates naming of the configured welding system. A storage component that stores the configured welding system in a readily accessible memory location. A remote access component can facilitate remotely accessing the welding system, the configuration of the welding system alterable by way of the remote access component. |
| US08115134B2 |
Arc extinguishing resin processed article and circuit breaker using the same
An arc extinguishing resin processed article having excellent flame retardancy is disclosed, in which the contribution to rise in inner pressure is small, a pyrolysis gas that can efficiently extinguish an arc generated upon the interruption of a circuit can be generated, and heat resistance withstanding the rise in temperature generated in such a case and pressure resistance withstanding the rise in inner pressure are provided, and a circuit breaker using the arc extinguishing resin processed article are disclosed. The arc extinguishing resin processed article comprises a resin composition comprising (A) a polyolefin resin containing a hydroxyl group in an amount of from 0.2 to 0.7 mol per mol of a methylene group, a part of hydrogen atoms in a methylene chain being substituted with a hydroxyl group, (B) microcapsules containing water as a core material, and (C) a reactive organophosphorus flame retardant having a terminal unsaturated bond, the resin composition being molded and then subjected to radiation crosslinking. |
| US08115132B2 |
Heavy-duty circuit breaker with a housing
A heavy-duty circuit breaker has a housing with a longitudinal housing axis and a contact arrangement disposed in the housing. The contact arrangement is conductively connected to a first electrical lead fed through the housing and a second electrical lead fed through the housing. The housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part. The first electrical lead is fed through the first housing part, and the second electrical lead through the second housing part. The two housing parts are connected together so as to be rotatable in opposite directions about the longitudinal housing axis. |
| US08115130B2 |
Electronic device
A switch-type electronic device adapted to be mounted on a circuit board is disclosed. A housing is made of an insulative material. The housing includes a first face adapted to oppose the circuit board and a second face intersecting with the first face and formed with a projection. A cover is made of a conductive material. The cover includes a first part covering a side of the housing opposite to the first face, at least one second part extending from the first part and opposing the second face, and a third part extending from each of the at least one second part and engaging with the projection. An operating member includes a first part disposed outside the housing and adapted to be operated by a user, and a second part disposed in the housing and configured to switch the electronic device between a first state and a second state when the first part is operated by the user. The first part of the operating member includes a portion opposing the second part of the cover, and is configured to abut against the second part of the cover when the electronic device is switched between the first state and the second state. |
| US08115129B2 |
Switching device
A switching device has an input terminal and an output terminal for connection to electrical conductors, and two switching contacts which, when closed, close a current path between the input terminal and the output terminal. A disconnect device for disconnecting the two switching contacts is operatively connected to a short-circuit trigger device which is arranged in the region of the input terminal and triggers the disconnect device. The short-circuit trigger device includes a U-shaped yoke and a movable hinged armature, which simplifies the design. |
| US08115124B2 |
Circuit breaker
A flexible conductor which connects the movable rod side of a circuit breaker and a movable side connection conductor is devised to miniaturize the circuit breaker. In the circuit breaker in which a fixed electrode and a movable electrode are arranged to be capable of being connected/disconnected, and a terminal provided on the movable rod of the movable electrode and the movable side connection conductor arranged in the vicinity of the terminal are connected by a flexible conductor, the flexible conductor is formed by laminating a plurality of sheets of a belt-like metal sheet and has connection portions on both ends; one end side of the connection portion is connected to the terminal by keeping a width direction parallel to a drawing direction of the movable side connection conductor and by keeping a longitudinal direction parallel to a connecting/disconnecting direction; and in a state where an intermediate portion is twisted and bent in a right angle direction toward the movable side connection conductor to invert the front and back, the other end side of the connection portion is connected to the movable side connection conductor by keeping the width direction parallel to the connecting/disconnecting direction. |
| US08115123B2 |
Configurable circuit breaker
A configurable circuit breaker is disclosed which is, for example, applicable for medium voltage range, with flexibility in configuration, based on the electrical and mechanical constraints. The circuit breaker can include multiple poles, which can be fitted on a shaft at desired positions, using clamping, dowelling, bolting or other types of connections. An epoxy frame can mount the circuit breaker on a truck horizontally or vertically, by mounting inserts and the clamping mechanism. Side sheets of the pole allow internal access. Flexible contacts and the vertical slots enable adjustability in the incoming and outgoing distances, as per design constraints. A tulip contact can be provided for mounting incoming/outgoing conductors. A common actuator can be mounted anywhere on the shaft, via the movable contact or on any of the poles, which are robust enough. |
| US08115118B2 |
Combination weigher with memory hoppers that calculates a first and second optimum combinations for discharge into two different chutes
A combination weigher of the present invention comprises a first combination weigher unit including a left inner chute, an outer chute, collecting hoppers, weighing hoppers and memory hoppers which are disposed above the left chutes, and a second combination weigher unit including a right inner chute, an outer chute, collecting hoppers, weighing hoppers and memory hoppers which are disposed above the right chutes, and a control unit configured to control the entire combination weigher. The control unit performs a combination process for each combination weigher unit and causes weighing hoppers and memory hoppers which make up of discharge combinations determined in respective combination processes to discharge the objects to be weighed in an inward direction and an outward direction alternately, and to cause the two collecting hoppers to alternately discharge the objects to be weighed according to the discharge, in each combination weigher unit. |
| US08115116B2 |
Casing with shielding function, method for manufacturing the same and electronic device using the same
A casing with a shielding function, a method for manufacturing the same and an electronic device using the same are disclosed. The electronic device has at least an electronic element and a casing. The casing includes a casing substrate and a film integrally formed with the casing substrate via an in-mold decoration process. The film includes a shielding layer for providing an electromagnetic shielding function for the electronic element and an adhesive layer for combining the casing substrate and the shielding layer. |
| US08115115B2 |
Methodology of co-interference reduction through cable separation and shielding within a gaming machine
According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine for conducting a wagering game comprises a gaming cabinet having a first member and a second member. The first member is located physically separate from the second member. The gaming machine further comprises a plurality of high-voltage wires generally located within the first member. The gaming machine additionally includes a plurality of low-voltage wires generally located within the second member. The first member and the second member shielding the respective plurality of high-voltage wires and low-voltage wires to reduce electrical interference between the plurality of high-voltage wires and the plurality of low-voltage wires. |
| US08115107B2 |
System and method for mounting shielded cables to printed circuit board assemblies
Methods and apparatus are provided for securely and cost effectively attaching one or more shielded cables to a planar substrate. A cable assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to a distal end of the one or more shielded cables. Perpendicular alignment of the distal cable ends promotes a dense array that is achieved using angular mounting brackets for coupling cable shields to electrical contacts on an engagement surface of the PCB. Mounting brackets are attached between the cable shield and shield contacts using electrically conductive attachment techniques including soldering and laser welding. The PCB also includes one or more signal contacts for each cable. Distal ends of the internal conductors are each bent about 90 degrees from the vertical cable axis to align with the horizontal engagement surface. Internal conductors are surface mounted to their respective signal contact using one or more of soldering and laser welding. |
| US08115106B2 |
Surface mount device
The disclosed subject matter includes a surface mount electronic device with high reliability and favorable optical characteristics. The surface mount electronic device can include a circuit board with at least one conductor pattern formed on an insulating board and an electronic component that is mounted on a die bonding pad located on the at least one conductor pattern with an adhesive material. The die bonding pad can include a plurality of cutout sections that expose the insulating board and extend towards a center from a circumference thereof. Therefore, the adhesive material can adhere to both the die bonding pad and the insulating board exposed in the plurality of cutout sections along with the electronic component. In this case, the plurality of cutout sections can be formed so as not to drag the adhesive material upwards on each of the side surfaces of the electronic component. Thus, the surface mount electronic device can improve reliability thereof while maintaining predetermined optical characteristics. |
| US08115100B2 |
Electrical and data outlet decommissioning arrangement
A temporary electrical or data outlet decommissioning arrangement includes: a generally rectangularly shaped receiving baseplate; a cover plate having a plurality of receiving baseplate engagement tabs thereon, wherein the baseplate has two side walls and two transverse end walls defining a cover plate receiving opening, the side walls each have a common plurality of tab-receiving slots therein, and wherein the cover plate has two side walls and two transverse end walls, wherein the cover plate has a pair of engagement tabs extending off of one side wall, and has a single locking tab on the side opposite the pair of engagement tabs, and the single locking tab has an adjacent recessed support wall to provide a recess in the side wall of the cover plate to permit a tool access for removal of the cover plate from the baseplate. |
| US08115094B2 |
Photovoltaic apparatus
A photovoltaic apparatus includes a first photoelectric conversion portion so formed on an insulating surface of a substrate as to cover a first substrate electrode and a second substrate electrode isolated from each other by a first groove, a second photoelectric conversion portion formed on the surface of the first photoelectric conversion portion through a conductive intermediate layer, a first back electrode and a second back electrode formed on the surface of said second photoelectric conversion portion and a connecting passage portion for electrically connecting the first substrate electrode and the second back electrode, provided at a prescribed interval from the side surface of said intermediate layer. |
| US08115091B2 |
Method and device for controlling vibrational and light effects using instrument definitions in an audio file format
An audio file format is provided, which includes definitions for one or more instruments, and definitions for one or more notes, that are associated with one or more vibrational element groupings, where each vibrational element grouping includes one or more vibration sources. Received commands present in the audio file, and associated with a note and an instrument definition, are compared to determine if the associated note and instrument definitions correspond to one of the one or more vibrational element groupings. If the associated instrument definition corresponds to a vibrational element grouping, then the commands are mapped to corresponding vibrational effects, and the actuation of the one or more vibration sources of the respective vibrational element grouping is controlled. If the associated instrument definition of the received command corresponds to an audio instrument, then an audible output is controlled in accordance with the received command. |
| US08115088B2 |
Cajon instrument
A cajon percussion instrument has an open rectangular box structure joined to a striking plate on one side, and to a truncated pyramid structure on the other side, providing a focusing resonating chamber with a rectangular mouth for sound emission. |
| US08115086B2 |
Wheat variety W990117E1
A wheat variety designated W990117E1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W990117E1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W990117E1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W990117E1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W990117E1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W990117E1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
| US08115085B2 |
Wheat variety W980118Q1
A wheat variety designated W980118Q1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W980118Q1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W980118Q1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W980118Q1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W980118Q1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W980118Q1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
| US08115083B2 |
Wheat variety W980281J1
A wheat variety designated W980281J1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W980281J1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W980281J1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W980281J1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W980281J1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W980281J1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
| US08115073B2 |
Soybean variety A1015662
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015662. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015662. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015662 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015662 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08115072B2 |
Soybean variety A1015645
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015645. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015645. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015645 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015645 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08115064B2 |
Watermelon line WAS146-4197
The invention provides seed and plants of the watermelon line designated WAS146-4197. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of watermelon line WAS146-4197, and to methods for producing a watermelon plant produced by crossing a plant of watermelon line WAS146-4197 with itself or with another watermelon plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of watermelon line WAS146-4197, including the fruit and gametes of such plants. |
| US08115063B2 |
Bacillus thuringiensis gene with coleopteran activity
The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding polypeptides having pesticidal activity against insect pests, including Coleoptera. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins, pesticidal compositions, DNA constructs, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the embodiments. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests. |
| US08115060B2 |
Means and methods of controlling plant seed germination
A method of controlling germination of seed is provided in which a nucleic acid encoding a protein which causes inhibition of germination is transformed into a plant, operably linked with a promoter that expresses during germination. The protein is one in which a restoring substance can be applied to the seed and restores germination. Also provided is an amylase germination preferred promoter. |
| US08115059B1 |
Gene expression modulation system for use in plants and method for modulating gene expression in plants
An EcR-based gene expression modulation system for use in plants includes an EcR gene expression cassette, a modified RXR gene expression cassette, and a gene-of-interest expression cassette, which can be expressed in a host plant cell. |
| US08115055B2 |
Down-regulation of gene expression using artificial microRNAs
Isolated nucleic acid fragments comprising precursor miRNA, and artificial miRNAs and their use in down-regulating gene expression are described. |
| US08115049B2 |
Dressing and an epidermal positioning mechanism and method for using same
An epidermal positioning mechanism for use with an application to a predetermined epidermal surface. The epidermal positioning mechanism comprises a strip of material having a first end portion of a predetermined shape, a second end portion of a predetermined shape, and middle portion coupling the first end portion to the second end portion. The first end portion and the second end portion each may include a side including an adhesive layer. An overlaying, non-adhesive barrier layer may be located between a portion of the adhesive layer and an end portion. |
| US08115048B2 |
Treatment or prevention of scars and/or keloids
Devices, bandages, kits and methods are described that can control or regulate the mechanical environment of a wound to ameliorate scar and/or keloid formation. The mechanical environment of a wound includes stress, strain, and any combination of stress and strain. The control of a wound's mechanical environment can be active, passive, dynamic, or static. The devices are configured to be removably secured to a skin surface in proximity to the wound site and shield the wound from endogenous and/or exogenous stress. |
| US08115047B2 |
Aqueous phase oxidation process
An improved oxidization process may be used to oxidize a wide variety of feedstocks. Oxidation takes place in a reactor where the feedstock is mixed with an oxidizing acid, such as nitric acid. The reaction mixture may also include a secondary oxidizing acid such as sulfuric acid as well as water and/or dissolved and mechanically mixed oxygen gas. The reactor may be maintained at an elevated pressure such as at least approximately 2070 kPa or desirably at least approximately 2800 kPa. The temperature of the reaction mixture may be maintained at no more than 210° C. In the various embodiments described herein, the process may include: combining recycled effluent from the reactor with the feedstock, combining one or more oxidizing acids with the feedstock, comminuting the feedstock to reduce the size of the particles, feeding the feedstock into the high pressure reactor at an approximately constant feed rate, dispersing oxygen gas from the headspace of the reactor into the reaction mixture, and/or removing all or almost all of the gas from the reactor through the liquid effluent. |
| US08115046B2 |
Micro encapsulation composition for hydrocarbons and detoxification of highly hazardous chemicals and substances
A two-component, water based micro encapsulation composition and method for the cleanup of hydrocarbon spills or contaminates on various surfaces and media. The two-part formulation includes a first solution including water in a predetermined ratio of a water soluble alkaline silicate solution having at least one alkali metal and a predetermined ratio of at least one water soluble surfactant; and a second solution including water, a predetermined ratio of water soluble acid, a predetermined ratio of water dispersible polymer, a predetermined ratio of water soluble hydrotrope, and a predetermined ratio of at least one water soluble flocculating agent. A method of using the two-part formulation includes preparing the two-part formulation, allowing the first solution to contact the hydrocarbon or chemical contaminate; allowing the second solution to contact the first solution and contaminate to form a homogeneous mixture; and removing the homogeneous mixture. |
| US08115045B2 |
Nuclear waste removal system and method using wet oxidation
Methods for removing nuclear waste from a component are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of supplying oxalic acid to the nuclear waste on the component to form an oxalic acid/waste solution, feeding the oxalic acid/waste solution from the component, feeding an oxidant to the oxalic acid/waste solution to form carbon-dioxide, water and a precipitate, and separating the precipitate from the water. A system for removing nuclear waste is also provided. |
| US08115043B2 |
Method for producing cyclic olefin compound
Disclosed is a method for producing a cyclic olefin compound having two or more cyclohexene rings per molecule via intramolecular dehydration of an alicyclic alcohol having two or more hydroxylated cyclohexane rings per molecule. The method includes the step (i) of heating the alicyclic alcohol at a temperature of 130° C. to 230° C. and a pressure greater than 20 Torr in an organic solvent in the presence of a dehydration catalyst, to carry out dehydration of the alicyclic alcohol while distilling off by-product water, which dehydration catalyst is liquid or soluble in a liquid reaction mixture under the reaction conditions; and the subsequent step (ii) of heating the resulting reaction mixture at a temperature of 50° C. to 220° C. and a pressure of 200 Torr or less to recover the cyclic olefin compound as a distillate. According to the method, side reactions such as isomerization are suppressed, and high-purity cyclic olefin compounds with less impurities can be simply and efficiently obtained in high yields. |
| US08115041B2 |
Pretreatment of a phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst for an aromatic alkylation process
This invention relates to a process for pretreating a zeolite catalyst, specifically a zeolite which has been modified with phosphorus. The catalyst may be used in a process for alkylation of aromatics, specifically toluene methylation. The pretreatment is first to contact the catalyst with the process reactants used in a process for alkylation of aromatics for at least two hours at conditions to produce an alkylated aromatic product and then with a gaseous stream containing oxygen at a temperature and for a time until there is no oxygen consumption. The zeolite may be a MFI zeolite. This pretreatment procedure for a phosphorus-modified zeolite catalyst produces a catalyst which has increased run time, i.e., decreased deactivation rate, compared to a fresh catalyst, even after successive regenerations. |
| US08115040B2 |
Composition of a superior lubricant or lubricant blendstock
A composition of a superior lubricant or lubricant component having a very high VI, a low cloud point, a difference between the T90 and T10 boiling points of at least 250° F. by SIMDIST, and a very low Bromine Number. |
| US08115038B2 |
Methods of making chlorinated hydrocarbons
Methods for the manufacture of 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane from 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane and chlorine are disclosed. Improved methods are provided for the manufacture of 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene from 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane. Methods are also disclosed for the manufacture of 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene from 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane and chlorine and for the manufacture of 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene from carbon tetrachloride ethylene, and chlorine. |
| US08115036B2 |
Fluorine-containing cyclic compound, fluorine-containing polymer compound, resist material using same and method for forming pattern
The present invention relates to a fluorine-containing cyclic compound of formula (5): wherein R2-R4 and R9-R15 are independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a C1-C25 straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl group, and may contain fluorine atom, oxygen atom, sulfur atom, or nitrogen atom. R10 and R11, R12 and R13, or R14 and R15 may be bonded together to form a ring. In such a case, it is a C1-C25 alkylene group that may contain a hetero atom such as oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, “a” is 0 or 1, “b” is an integer of 0-2 and “c” is an integer of 0-2. |
| US08115035B2 |
Synthetic navel orangeworm pheromone composition and methods relating to production of same
One or more embodiments of the invention are directed to the synthetic methods for making lepidopteran pheromones including navel orangeworm pheromones. The synthetic methods involve novel, efficient, and environmentally benign steps and procedures. |
| US08115031B2 |
Anti-inflammatory quinic acid derivatives for oral administration
Disclosed are compounds comprising analogs of quinic acids or shikimic acids having anti-inflammatory properties. The compounds are suitable for oral administration, stable, and demonstrate significant efficacy in inhibiting NF-kB, inhibiting leukocyte adhesion, and inhibiting other factors and cytokines known to be involved in inflammatory disease. |
| US08115028B2 |
Shortened synthesis using paraformaldehyde or trioxane
The present disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) wherein R is hydrogen, a formyl group, a straight, branched or cyclic C1-C6 alkylcarbonyl group or a phenylcarbonyl group, or a salt thereof, characterized by the steps of reacting a compound of formula (II) with a mixture of Grignard initiator and Mg in a solvent to form a Grignard reagent, reacting the Grignard reagent with paraformaldehyde or trioxane to obtain a compound of formula (III) and then further reacting the compound of formula (III) in a known manner to obtain a compound of formula (I) and optionally salt formation. |
| US08115024B2 |
Process for preparing porous metal-organic framework materials
The present invention relates to a method for producing a porous metal-organic framework material comprising the step reacting a reaction mixture in the liquid phase of at least one copper compound having at least one at least bidentate, organic compound which can bind by coordination to the copper in the presence of a nonaqueous solvent, the at least one at least bidentate, organic compound being derived from a polycarboxylic acid having at least three carboxyl groups, and the reaction proceeding at atmospheric pressure above 80° C. |
| US08115023B2 |
Benzo lipoxin analogues
Benzolipoxin analogs, methods of their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are provided. The compounds and compositions are useful in methods for treatment of various diseases, including, inflammation, autoimmune disease and abnormal cell proliferation. |
| US08115022B2 |
Methods of producing biofuels, chlorophylls and carotenoids
A method for producing biofuels along with valuable food and neutraceutical products is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids along with carotenoids and chlorophylls from the algal biomass, and separation of the carotenoids and chlorophylls using adsorption or membrane diafiltration or other methods. The remaining neutral lipids are esterified with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising omega-3 fatty acids esters and remaining carotenoids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock. |
| US08115018B2 |
Process for brominating alkylthiophenes
What is described is a process for brominating alkylthiophene, in which an alkylthiophene of the general formula (I) where R is a branched or unbranched alkyl radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms is contacted with stoichiometric amounts of HBr and H2O2, optionally in the presence of a solvent. |
| US08115016B2 |
Process for preparing 5-biphenyl-4-amino-2-methyl pentanoic acid
The present invention relates to pyrrolidin-2-ones according to the formula (1), or salts thereof, wherein R1 is hydrogen or a nitrogen protecting group, methods for their preparation and their use in the preparation of NEP-inhibitors, particularly in the preparation of N-(3-carboxyl-1-oxopropyl)-(4S)-(p-phenylphenylmethyl)-4-amino-(2R)-methyl butanoic acid ethyl ester or salt thereof. |
| US08115015B2 |
Process for the preparation of amorphous atorvastatin calcium
The present invention also provides the amorphous form of hemi-calcium salt of atorvastatin with high purity and processes for preparation thereof. |
| US08115013B2 |
Process for the preparation of amorphous fluvastatin sodium
The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, fluvastatin, more specifically to a process for the preparation of amorphous form of fluvastatin sodium. |
| US08115008B2 |
Method for producing optically active ester and method for producing optically active carboxylic acid
Disclosed is a method for producing an optically active ester by highly selectively esterifying one enantiomer of a racemic carboxylic acid, while producing an optically active carboxylic acid which is the other enantiomer. An optically active ester is produced while producing an optically active carboxylic acid at the same time by reacting a racemic carboxylic acid with a specific alcohol or phenol derivative in the presence of benzoic anhydride or a derivative thereof and a catalyst such as tetramisole or benzotetramisole, thereby selectively esterifying one enantiomer of the racemic carboxylic acid. |
| US08115007B2 |
Synthesis of diaminodinitropyridine
A process for the preparation of diaminodinitropyridine or diaminodinitrobenzene by contacting an aminopyridine or aminobenzene with oleum and nitric acid, wherein the improvement comprises adding at least about 1% molar excess of nitric acid, based upon the aminopyridine or aminobenzene with stirring for at least two hours to form first the intermediate sulfonic acid, and then diaminodinitropyridine or diaminodinitrobenzene, and use of such products in the preparation of rigid rod polymers is disclosed. |
| US08115000B2 |
Pyrazine derivatives and uses thereof in renal monitoring
The present invention relates to pyrazine derivatives such as those represented by Formulas (I) and (II) below. X1 to X4 of the compounds of Formulas I and II may be characterized as electron withdrawing groups. In contrast, Y1 to Y4 of the compounds of Formulas I and II may be characterized as electron donating groups. Pyrazine derivatives of the present invention may be utilized in assessing renal function. In particular, an effective amount of a pyrazine derivative of the invention may be administered into a body of a patient. The pyrazine derivative that is in the body may be exposed to visible and/or infrared light to cause spectral energy to emanate from the pyrazine derivative. This emanating spectral energy may be detected and utilized to determine renal function of the patient. |