最新美国发明专利第2012-02-21期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08121674B2	Method and system for characterizing a representative cardiac beat using multiple templates A method and system for characterizing one beat of a patient's supraventricular rhythm are described. A plurality of templates is provided and updated using a plurality of qualified beats. Updating occurs by temporally aligning the shock channel waveforms of the template beats using rate channel fiducial points. The template beats are combined by point-by-point addition of the shock channel waveforms. The resultant updated template characterizes one of the patient's supraventricular conducted cardiac beats.
US08121662B2	Virtual FM antenna An apparatus and method for receiving wireless signals couples an antenna input of a receiver to a human body and receives a signal conducting from said body. Impedance matching circuitry lessens signal power loss at the antenna input. Parameters of the impedance matching circuitry can be adjusted based on a detected impedance, a detected signal strength, or the frequency of the signal.
US08121661B2	Mechanism for radio communication terminal The present invention relates to a radio communication terminal comprising a first casing, a second casing, a slider mechanism and a hinge mechanism, wherein the slider mechanism is adapted to movably connect the first and the second casing, the hinge mechanism is connected to the first and the second casing and adapted to move the first casing in relation to the second casing in at least a first direction between at least an open and a closed position, and the hinge mechanism is adapted to operate in a first space that is expanded when the first casing is moved in relation to the second casing.
US08121660B2	Semi-automatically sliding mobile terminal A semi-automatically sliding mobile terminal includes a first main body, a second main body, a hinge unit, and a guide line. The second main body slides on the upper side of the first main body. The hinge unit includes a coupler coupled to the first main body and a spring unit compressing and expanding in a lateral direction. The guide unit includes a curved line having an ascending curved line, a crest, and a descending curved line that are formed in a longitudinal direction. When the second main body moves, the spring unit compresses or expands along the guide line. The spring unit compresses before passing over the crest and expands after passing over the crest. After the crest, the second main body moves semi-automatically due to elastic force of the spring unit.
US08121658B2	Torsion spring, elastic device and sliding apparatus and portable appliance utilizing the device Disclosed is an elastic device which is suitable for a sliding opening/closing apparatus of a portable appliance. The elastic device includes a first torsion spring including a first spiral part which is wound as a spiral shape without a vertical overlapping portion and a first extension arm extending from an outer portion of the first spiral part; a second torsion spring including a second spiral part which is wound as a spiral shape without a vertical overlapping portion thereof and a second extension arm extending from an outer portion of the second spiral part. The elastic device also includes a connection member connecting one of both ends of the first torsion spring and one of both ends of the second torsion spring with each other. The elastic device may have a smaller thickness in comparison with that of a conventional torsion spring having a vertical overlapping portion thereof.
US08121657B2	Portable electronic device A portable electronic device is provided that reduces resonant frequency fluctuation of an antenna caused changes in the state of bodys thereof, thereby enabling the communication signal quality to be stabilized. A cellular telephone device 1 has an antenna 41 installed in an operation unit side body 2 thereof, and an electronic component 51 and an adjusting circuit 52, which is electrically connected to the electronic component 51 and adjusts the resonant frequency of the antenna 41, are installed in a display unit side body 3. A hinge portion 4 connects the operation unit side body 2 and the display unit side body 3 so as to freely change between a first state (closed state) in which the antenna 41 and electronic component 51 are capacitively coupled, and a second state (opened state) in which the antenna 41 and electronic component 51 are not capacitively coupled or capacitively coupled to a low degree.
US08121656B2	Mobile apparatus, power saving control method in mobile apparatus, and computer-readable medium A mobile apparatus including: a wireless communication module that receives a signal transmitted via a base station; a display that displays character; an input module that inputs the character or operation data; a first operating mode in which electric power is supplied to the display; a second operating mode in which electric power is not supplied to the display; an information reception module that receives information received via the wireless communication module or power saving monitoring information; an input monitoring module that monitors an unoperated state; a display controller that switches the first operating mode to the second operating mode when the unoperated state is detected; and a power saving controller that reduces information reception frequency at the information reception module when the unoperated state is detected by the input monitoring module.
US08121655B2	Method and device for improving battery life of a mobile station A method (150) and device (200) for conserving energy in a power storage device of a mobile station (102, 110), including: selecting (155) an alert mode associated with a mobile station, the alert mode including at least one of: silent alert, vibrate and manual answer; detecting (160) the alert mode of the mobile station; and increasing (165) a length of a paging cycle in order to conserve power of an energy storage device associated with the mobile station (102, 110), in response to the detected alert mode. The method provides a useful compromise for energy conservation of a power storage device on one hand, while also accommodating a user's demand for a short paging interval when desired, on the other.
US08121651B2	Content personalization of personal cellular telecommunications devices Content personalization on personal cellular telecommunications devices includes determining subscriber personalization profiles each including at least one personalization parameter, determining universal Level 0 IDMs for display on all subscribers' personal cellular telecommunications devices irrespective of their location and their subscriber personalization profiles, and determining a set of at least two different personalized Level 1 IDMs for each universal Level 0 IDM for display on subscribers' personal cellular telecommunications depending on their location and subscriber personalization profiles. Personalization of Level 1 interactive display messages can take place either network side or handset side. Network side personalization requires a personalization server with subscribers' personalization profiles. Handset side personalization requires handset subscriber personalization filters.
US08121649B2	Voice-controlled communications system and method having an access device A communication system has a control computer, one or more concentrators and one or more computing device communicates wirelessly with the one or more concentrators is provided. The computing device is an access device to the communications system that permits the user to interact with the communication system in order to, using voice commands, initiate telephone calls and conferences, receive telephone calls, receive pages and be located within a particular environment.
US08121648B2	Adaptive beamforming configuration methods and apparatus for wireless access points serving as handoff indication mechanisms in wireless local area networks In one illustrative example, a technique for use in operating a wireless access point (AP) for serving as a handoff indication mechanism in a first wireless network is described. The handoff indication mechanism is configured to communicate handoff indications in response to mobile devices leaving coverage of the first wireless network, via an RF coverage region of the AP, for mobile device handoff to a second wireless network. The AP is provided in an ingress or egress region of the first wireless network, where it receives RF signals from one or more communication devices and determines and sets wireless transceiver parameters for adjusting boundaries of its RF coverage region. The AP also operates with the adjusted RF coverage region to serve as part of the handoff indication mechanism in the first wireless network, so that the handoff indications are communicated in response to the mobile devices leaving coverage of the first wireless network, via the adjusted RF coverage region, for mobile device handoff to the second wireless network.
US08121645B2	Software defined radio base station and configuration method The present invention relates to a method for configuring a base station (10) of a mobile communication network over a software defined radio module (12), that base station (10) serving at least one mobile terminal (20, 30, 40) over an air interface (52, 53, 54) served by that software defined radio module. When selecting the communication standard for the configuration of the base station (10) the characteristics of the air interface (52, 53, 54) are taken into account. The invention also relates to a base station (10) of a mobile communication network, that base station (10) serving at least one mobile terminal (20, 30, 40) over an air interface (52, 53, 54), that base station (10) comprising a configurable software defined radio module (12). The configurable software defined radio module (12) is adapted to take into account the characteristics of the air interface (52, 53, 54) when selecting the communication standard for the configuration of the base station (10).
US08121644B2	Mobile phone capable of automatically handling smart card A mobile phone capable of automatically handling smart card is provided. The phone includes a card holder for holding a smart card. The card holder includes a sheet responsive to magnetic forces. The phone further includes a plurality of electromagnets mounted in a cover of the phone. When the electromagnets are electrified one by one according to a first order, the sheet is attracted by the electromagnets one by one according to the first order, thus the card holder is drawn into the phone. When the electromagnets are electrified one by one according to a second order, the sheet is attracted by the electromagnets one by one according to a second order, thus the card holder is ejected from the phone.
US08121639B2	Local phone number lookup and cache A system and method for wirelessly connecting a computer device to a server. The system includes a computer device and a phone number look-up device. The computer device generates location data, retrieves a server phone number from memory based on the generated location data, and generates a request that includes the generated location data if no server phone number corresponds to the generated location data. The computer device wirelessly sends the generated request to a default phone number. The phone number look-up device is associated with the default phone number. The phone number look-up device receives the request from the computer device, retrieves a server phone number from a local memory based on the received request, and sends the retrieved server phone number to the computer device. The computer device wirelessly connects to a server based on the sent server phone number.
US08121638B2	System and method for security on a mobile device using multiple communication domains A mobile device and a method for providing security to a mobile device having two or more communication domains is provided. The mobile device receives a communication service request. The communication domain of the communication service request is determined, the request domain being one of the two or more communication domains of the mobile device. A set of applicable restrictions is then determined from a list of communication restrictions comprising restrictions on use of services of the mobile device for each of the two or more communications domains. These applicable restrictions are then applied to the communication service request by the mobile device.
US08121637B2	Method and system for maintaining a wireless data connection A system and method for establishing and maintaining an “always-on” data connection to a wireless network through the use of a back off timer and a service check timer is disclosed. The back off timer is initialized to a determined value when a connection is not established. When the timer expires, a connection attempt is made. As further connection attempts are made, the back off timer is set to ever-increasing values. When the data connection is established, the service check timer is initialized. The data connection status is determined at the expiry of the service check timer. When, at the expiry of the service check timer, the data connection is determined to be lost, the connection method is employed.
US08121636B2	Portable communication device for responding to incoming call A portable communication device includes a receiving module, a pulse signal generating module, a timer module, and detection module. The receiving module is configured for receiving incoming signals sent to the portable communication device. The pulse signal generating module is configured for generating pulse signals when a portable communication device body is tapped. There is a first predetermined limit and a second predetermined limit, and the timer module is configured for starting timing when the pulse signal generating module generates the pulse signals, and stopping timing at the second predetermined limit. The detection module is configured for starting to detect if the pulse signal generating module generates pulse signals at the time between the first predetermined limit and the second predetermined limit. The detection module directs the receiving module to refuse or accept the incoming signals according to detecting results.
US08121633B2	Operator configurable preferred network and radio access technology selection for roaming multi-rat capable devices A multi-RAT capable wireless device and a method for execution in a multi-RAT capable wireless device are provided. The wireless device maintains a registration history of all wireless network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted to register with data communication service registration point. Upon an event triggering network registration, the wireless device identifies a set of available wireless network,RAT combinations, selects an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations having regard to the registration history and a preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device and attempts to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected. If the attempt is successful, the wireless device receives an update to the preferred network,RAT combination list and updates the preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device.
US08121630B2	Device to sense frequency band to share operating frequency bands in heterogeneous communication systems and method thereof A cognitive radio communication device and method are provided. The cognitive radio communication device includes a reception unit to receive reference signals from a first communication device, a frequency division unit to divide operating frequency bands of the first communication device into a plurality of sub frequency bands, a first sensing unit to sense each of the plurality of sub frequency bands using the reference signals to estimate whether the first communication device uses each of the plurality of sub frequency bands, and to determine an unused frequency band group including at least one sub frequency band not used by the first communication device based on the estimated result, and a transmission unit to transmit data to a second communication device using the sub frequency band included in the unused frequency band group.
US08121629B2	Radio device Radio devices (31 to 43) receive a prescribed number of Hello packets from each of n radio devices existing within one hop from each radio device, detects six pairs of maximum and minimum values MAX[1] and MIN[1] to MAX[6] and MIN[6] based on the plurality of reception signal strengths of the plurality of received Hello packets, detects two adjacent maximum values having the largest difference among six pairs of maximum and minimum values D_MAX[1] and D_MIN[1] to D_MAX[6] and D_MIN[6] when the six maximum values MAX[1] to MAX[6] are in descending order, and determines the average of two minimum values corresponding to the detected two maximum values as a threshold. The radio devices (31 to 43) each produce a routing table including routes having reception signal strengths equal to or more than the threshold.
US08121621B2	Position estimation system A position of a mobile communication terminal in an environment where the terminal cannot communicate with a GPS is defined more narrowly than a sector area of a base station in which the mobile communication terminal is located so that the position of the mobile communication terminal can be estimated more accurately. Even if a mobile communication terminal is in an environment where the terminal cannot communicate with a GPS, the latitude and longitude of the center of a sector of the wireless base station in which the mobile communication terminal is located is obtained according to a predetermined calculation by a base station database device, and the obtained latitude and longitude is sent back as an estimated latitude and longitude of the mobile communication terminal to the mobile communication terminal via the wireless base station.
US08121619B1	Geographic location information updates A method, computer program product, and system are provided to update geographic location information for an electronic device. The method can include transmitting the geographic location information for the electronic device to a server device at a first time interval. A determination can be made regarding whether the electronic device is in communication with a third-party device. If the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, then updated geographic location information for the electronic device is transmitted to the server device at a second time interval, where the second time interval is shorter than the first time interval.
US08121617B1	Method of remotely locating a mobile device equipped with a radio receiver A method of remotely locating a mobile device equipped with a radio receiver by remotely and securely activating the device's ringer and location system, and communicating such location to the device owner.
US08121616B2	Set initiated area event triggered positioning method in mobile communication system A SET-initiated area event triggered positioning method in a session-based service system is disclosed. The method is variously performed according to a proxy mode or a non-proxy mode, and further according to which SLP (SUPL location platform) has a positioning procedure.
US08121614B2	Apparatus and method using radio signals A method of using radio signals transmitted for reception by mobile user equipment that includes receiving, with mobile user equipment (UE), radio signals having at least one format; monitoring, with the mobile user equipment, at least one property of the received radio signals; identifying a pattern in said monitored property or properties; and in response to identifying said pattern, triggering at least one action according to the identified pattern, and/or providing the UE with an indication of a location of the UE based at least part of the identified pattern.
US08121608B2	Method for dynamically monitoring a group of mobile entities A method for dynamically monitoring a group of wirelessly communicating mobile entities, characterized in that it comprises: assigning each entity a unique identifier; saving within a referring entity the list of the identifiers of all of the entities in the group; determining, for each entity, a vicinity with a predetermined radius; repeatedly, for each entity in the group: detecting the other entities located in its vicinity; transmitting a message to the detecting entities, said message containing at least the identifier of the entity, to be relayed to the referring entity; collecting, within the referring entity, the messages relayed to it; creating a list of identifiers contained within the messages; comparing this list to the saved list; if the lists are identical, determining the cohesive group; otherwise, determining the non-cohesive group.
US08121607B2	Mobile station initiated load balancing in wireless communication networks Techniques for load balancing across different access networks based on procedures initiated by a wireless terminal or mobile station and examples of using load balancing within the same access network to hand off a mobile station from one base station to another based on procedures initiated by the mobile station.
US08121604B1	Systems and methods for operating wireless networks Systems and methods for wireless networks with inner and outer cells are provided. A base station determines an amount of traffic on an inner and outer cell. When the traffic exceed a predetermined threshold value, traffic is adjusted on the inner or outer cell. Traffic can be adjusted by handing off some of the traffic from the inner cell to the outer cell, from the outer cell to the inner cell, between sectors of the inner or outer cells and/or by handing off traffic to a proximately located base station.
US08121603B2	Method for mobile communication handover and system and base station thereof A method for mobile communication handover and a system and a base station thereof are disclosed in the embodiments of present invention, wherein the method includes steps: on the basis of first link which only bears DCH service and has already existed, adding a second link bearing DCH and E-DCH services and a third link bearing any service; making softer combining for the DCH service of the first link and the second link; in the case of failing to add the third link, informing radio network controller by carrying the DCH softer combining information and E-DCH service addition information which are not in a same diversity indication choice field in link addition failure message. The embodiment of present invention could enhance the successful ratio of communication handover, and maintain communication continuously.
US08121598B2	Scrambling code allocation and hand-in for wireless network radio access points Techniques are provided herein to allow more than a fixed number of radio access point devices to be deployed within a macro cell. At a controller apparatus, a registration request is received from a radio access point device configured to operate in a wireless network to serve one or more wireless client devices in the wireless network in respective relatively small coverage areas. The registration request comprises a macro cell identifier associated with a macro base station apparatus configured to operate in the wireless network to serve one or more wireless client devices in a relatively large coverage area, a radio access point cell identifier associated with the radio access point device, and a particular primary scrambling code selected for use by the radio access point device. When the particular primary scrambling code is not available for use, methods are provided to allocate it in a shared manner but without degrading handover service.
US08121595B2	Adaptive polling of wireless devices In a wireless network, the decision of when and whether to send unsolicited polls to a particular mobile wireless device may be made by monitoring communications conditions affecting the ability of the particular device to gain channel access, and sending unsolicited polls if the ability to gain channel access is below a threshold value. Such conditions may include one or more of channel load, device transmission load, collision rate, and number of mobile wireless devices contending for access.
US08121593B2	System and method for air-to-air communications using network formed between aircraft A system and method for aircraft communications is provided. The system includes a first wireless base station deployed in a first aircraft and configured to establish one or more wireless links, and a second wireless base station deployed in a second aircraft and configured to establish one or more wireless links. At least one ground-based wireless base station is configured to operatively communicate with the first wireless base station or the second wireless base station while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight. During flight, the first and second wireless base stations establish one or more wireless links with each other to create a wireless network for air-to-air communication. When one of the first or second aircraft is out of range with the ground-based wireless base station and the other aircraft is in range with the ground-based wireless base station, the aircraft that is out of range can send a message to the ground-based wireless base station through the aircraft that is in range.
US08121587B1	Communication device The communication device which implements a voice communicating function, an attached file emailing function, a geographic location function, a dictionary function, a schedule notifying function, a multiple type TV program function, a multiple TV screen displaying function, a touch panel function, a communication device finding function, and a voice message displaying function, independently or simultaneously.
US08121583B2	Methods and apparatus for push to talk and conferencing service A method is provided for use in a push to talk or conferencing type service involving a terminal and a controller, comprising, in response to the controller deciding to grant a talk request received from the terminal, sending to the terminal an indication of an allowed talk time for a granted talk burst, the indication being for use at the terminal to monitor the remaining allowed talk time during the granted talk burst. There is also provided a method for use in a push to talk or conferencing type service involving a terminal and a controller, comprising, in response to the controller deciding to grant a talk request received from the terminal, monitoring the remaining allowed talk time at the controller using an allowed talk timer and starting the allowed talk timer at the controller in response to receipt of talk burst data from the terminal.
US08121582B2	Apparatus and method of wireless instant messaging A wireless communication device declares one of a plurality of extended instant messaging states and transmits the declared states to a presence information server. Declared extended instant messaging states for destination devices are received, and an enhanced instant message based on declared extended instant messaging states is generated.
US08121577B1	Controllable input impedance radio frequency mixer The present invention is a controllable input impedance RF mixer, which when fed from a high impedance source, such as a current source, provides a high quality factor (Q) impedance response associated with an impedance peak. The high-Q impedance response may be used as a high-Q RF bandpass filter in a receive path upstream of down conversion, which may improve receiver selectivity and replace surface acoustic wave (SAW) or other RF filters. The present invention uses polyphase reactive circuitry, such as capacitive elements, coupled to the down conversion outputs of an RF mixer. The RF mixer mixes RF input signals with local oscillator signals to translate the impedance of the polyphase reactive circuitry into the RF input impedance of the RF mixer. The RF input impedance includes at least one impedance peak. The local oscillator signals are non-overlapping to maximize the energy transferred to the polyphase reactive circuitry.
US08121574B2	Loop-type directional coupler A loop directional coupler having a first waveguide, particularly a hollow, planar, or a coaxial conductor in the form of a half loop antenna having first and second antenna branches for the contact-free extraction of an incoming signal “a” on a second waveguide and a returning signal “b” on the second waveguide. The first antenna branch is connected to a first input of a first network and the second antenna branch is connected to a second input of the first network, the first network having a first power splitter at the first input and a second power splitter at the second input for dividing the signal present at each antenna branch, the first network having a first adder adding the signals of the first and second power splitters to each other, and a first subtractor subtracting the signals of the first and second power splitters from each other.
US08121573B2	Method and system for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops Methods and systems for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) are disclosed. Aspects may include determining one or more desired frequencies of operation of a transceiver, determining a frequency of unwanted signals such as spurs, intermodulation, and/or mixing product signals, and configuring the PLLs to operate at a multiple of the desired frequencies while avoiding the unwanted signals. The desired frequencies may be generated utilizing integer, which may include multi-modulus dividers. The wireless standards may include LTE, GSM, EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or WCDMA, for example. The frequencies may be configured to mitigate interference. PLLs may be shared when operating in TDD mode, and used separately operating in FDD mode. One or more digital interface signals, zero exceptions on a transmitter spur emission mask, and sampling clocks for ADCs and/or DACs in the transceiver may be generated utilizing the PLLs.
US08121567B2	Double search algorithm of user group selection for multiuser MIMO downlink transmission A method and system for a double search algorithm of user group selection for multiuser MIMO downlink transmission are provided. The use of optimal brute-force user group selection may require high computational expense. A first search operation may be based on a first user having a channel gain greater than that of other users, while a second search operation may be based on a second user having a channel gain greater than that of the remaining users. A maximized system capacity may be determined based on the maximized system capacities determined in the first and second search loop. A receiver pair associated with the maximized system capacity may be selected as the user group. The double search algorithm may reduce the computational complexity while achieving performances that may exceed the TDMA scheme and be similar to that of systems with ideal CSI at the transmitter.
US08121563B1	Configurable patch panel system A patch panel system (100) includes interface units (120) and radio units (130). The interface units (120) connect to user devices (110) via corresponding ports. The radio units (130) are associated with radio channels. Combinations of the interface units (120) and the radio units (130) provide conversion of constant bit rate communication to packetized communication and reconversion of the packetized communication to the constant bit rate communication.
US08121558B2	Local oscillator generator architecture using a wide tuning range oscillator A local oscillator (LO) generator architecture using a wide tuning range oscillator is disclosed. In one embodiment, a wide tuning oscillator based LO generator system includes a wide tuning range oscillator for generating a signal with a first initial frequency or a second initial frequency in response to a control voltage, a first frequency controlling circuit for converting the first initial frequency of the signal into a final frequency, and a second frequency controlling circuit for converting the second initial frequency of the signal into the final frequency.
US08121556B2	Active load isolator and wireless speaker for mixed signal environments An isolation circuit includes a low dropout operational current control loop and a shunt regulator. The current control loop is configured to drive the shunt regulator to result in a high dynamic impedance ratio between a voltage source and a load. The current control loop may include a series-pass transistor, a current sensing resistor, and a high side current sensor.
US08121551B2	GSM mobile terminal and noise suppression method for the same A TDMA mobile terminal and noise suppression method for the same are provided. The mobile terminal includes a storage unit for storing a gain control table. The gain control table contains gain control values used for controlling gains of at least one of an outgoing audio signal and an incoming audio signal in order to suppress frequency dependent noise in the at least one signal. The mobile terminal also includes an audio processing unit for processing an audio signal by amplifying the audio signal according to applied gain control values. The mobile terminal further includes a control unit for measuring, during call processing, at least one of a transmit power level and a receive power level, determining corresponding gain control values from the gain control table, and applying the determined gain control values to the audio processing unit.
US08121550B2	Satellite interference canceling A satellite interference canceling system cancels the interference between two or more signals received by a satellite receiver. The signals can be two signals experiencing cross polarization interference or signals that experience interference from other satellite signals. Gain and phase are applied to the received signals and then combined with the other signals to result in cancellation by subtraction. The gain and phase values needed to cancel the interference are derived from measurements of carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) as an indication of the interference level. The C/N can be measured in the set-top box indoor unit. Coherency restoration is performed in receivers that downconvert the signals before performing interference cancellation.
US08121548B2	Communication system A radio communication system includes a plurality of Bluetooth radio devices. Each device has a microphone, an audio output, such as a loudspeaker, and a short range radio transceiver capable of communicating digital data with a plurality of compatible neighboring radio devices. Each radio device is configured to receive outgoing audio data from a first neighboring radio device, to mix an input audio signal received at the microphone with the received outgoing audio data, and to transmit the combined audio data to a second neighboring radio device. Each radio device is further configured to receive incoming audio data from the second radio device, to output an output audio signal corresponding to the received incoming audio data to the audio output, and to re-transmit the received incoming audio data to the first radio device. The radio devices form a communication chain, and each radio device is in communication with a maximum of one first radio device and one second radio device. A start radio device which has no first neighboring radio device is configured to transmit to the second radio device audio data corresponding to only the input audio signal. An end radio device which has no second neighboring radio device is configured to re-transmit the combined audio data to the first radio device. The system provides an audio network that can include a large number of participant devices.
US08121545B2	Wireless network awareness in appliances A household appliance, such as a microwave oven or cordless phone, reduces interference with a wireless network by requesting control of the network's channel during a period of time when the appliance will be emitting signals that may interfere with network communications on that channel. Some embodiments contend for the channel before transmitting the request by using standard protocols, while other embodiments simply transmit the request during a detected idle period. Some embodiments don't bother sending a request if no activity is detected on the channel.
US08121543B2	Power management An apparatus, a method and a computer program, the apparatus including: an interface configured to detect a first electrical signal, the first electrical signal being provided by a transceiver; secure transaction circuitry having a first power state and a second power state, the secure transaction circuitry being configured, when in the second power state, to perform a transaction, using the transceiver, with a further apparatus; memory circuitry having power states; and control circuitry configured, in response to detecting the first electrical signal, to control the secure transaction circuitry to switch from being in the first power state to being in the second power state, without changing a power state of the memory circuitry.
US08121541B2	Integrated circuit with intra-chip and extra-chip RF communication An integrated circuit includes a first integrated circuit die having a first circuit and a first intra-chip interface and a second integrated circuit die having a second circuit and a second intra-chip interface and a remote interface, wherein the first intra-chip interface and the second intra-chip interface electro-magnetically communicate first signals between the first circuit and the second circuit, and wherein the remote interface is coupled to engage in electromagnetic communications with a remote device. In an embodiment of the present invention, a shielding element shields the electromagnetic communications with the remote device from the electromagnetic communication of the first signals. In other embodiments, antenna beam patterns or differing polarizations are used to isolate the electromagnetic communications with the remote device from the electromagnetic communication of the first signals.
US08121535B2	Configuration of a repeater Methods and systems are provided to configure a frequency repeater. The frequency repeater is configured with an identity of a service provider and receives a message that defines a set of frequencies to be repeated, the frequencies are associated with a service provider that matches the preconfigured identity. A digital filter receives an incoming signal from the service provider, and filters and repeats the frequencies defined in the received message. The frequency receiver can also determine a set of frequencies to be filtered and repeated based on a cell search procedure performed with a modem that resides in the repeater. A policy established by the service provider can also be utilized to facilitate defining the set of figures to be repeated. By utilizing a signal quality metric and an isolation metric associated, with the performance of a receive and transmit antenna utilized by the repeater, the set of frequencies to be filtered and repeated can be adapted in real time.
US08121533B2	Wireless local loop antenna A wireless local loop system is provided that includes a wireless base station that communicates with a subscriber station via a wireless link. The wireless link can carry a voice service, such as telephone calls, or a data service, such as internet browsing. The subscriber station includes a steerable antenna. A presently preferred steerable antenna for use with the subscriber station includes a driven element mounted on a base plane that is surrounded by a plurality of parasitic elements also mounted to the base plane. The parasitic elements can be optionally grounded or floated in order to reflect the wireless link towards the driven element. The antenna can be oriented in a desired direction during the transception of a voice or data service. A method of transceiving between a wireless local loop subscriber station and a wireless local loop base station is also provided.
US08121529B2	Sheet transport apparatus and fixing apparatus A sheet transport technique of clamping and transporting a sheet by a roller and a belt abutted against the roller, the technique capable of suppressing shift of the belt in the rotation axis direction of the roller without hindering downsizing of the apparatus is provided. A sheet transport apparatus is made up of a roller 101 being formed with a tubular cavity having a predetermined length in a rotation direction and covered with an elastic body on the outer periphery in the rotation radius direction of the cavity and a belt unit 102 for abutting a belt 102c of a width narrower than the width of the cavity in the rotation axis direction of the roller 101 against the roller face of the roller 101 so that it is positioned inside the range in which the cavity is formed in the rotation axis direction of the roller 101, and sandwiching a sheet 7 between the belt 102c and the roller 101 and transporting the sheet.
US08121525B2	Method and toner bottle for image forming apparatus capable of effectively supplying toner to image forming apparatus The toner bottle exchangeably used in an image forming apparatus. The toner bottle includes a bottle body having a substantially cylindrical shape and configured to contain toner, a gear configured to rotate a part of the toner bottle, a cap attached to the bottle body and including an opening arranged in a circumferential surface of the cap and configured to output toner to a development apparatus of the image forming apparatus, a toner conveyance mechanism arranged in the bottle body and configured to convey the toner to the opening.
US08121523B2	Developer station with tapered auger system A developer station and method for an electrographic printer is provided that reduces developer agitation. The developer station includes a sump for holding a reservoir of magnetic developer including a toner and carrier and a magnetic auger mounted above the sump and including a rotatable magnetic core surrounded by a substantially cylindrical rotatable toning shell rotatably mounted with respect to the core, the shell being adjacent to the photoconductor member and defining a nip and a conveyance device for transporting developer in the developer station in a flow direction. The conveyance device has a tapered auger including a shaft and one or more blades such that the developer volume in the flow direction is controlled to maintain a uniform developer level in the sump as well as a conveyance controller for controlling the conveying device, including the tapered auger such that the tapered auger preferentially creates an uniform layer of developer on the toning shell.
US08121519B2	Process cartridge having cartridge positioning portion and image forming apparatus mounting said process cartridge A process cartridge is provided detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a process device actable on the drum. The process cartridge also includes a cartridge positioning portion for engaging a main assembly positioning portion to position the cartridge with respect to a direction crossing the direction of the axis of the drum when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly in a direction parallel with the axis of the photosensitive drum. Further, a movable member is provided movable between a first position contacting the main assembly in the process of mounting of the cartridge to the main assembly, and a second position contacting a main assembly urging member and receiving a force in the crossing direction to contact the cartridge positioning portion to the main assembly positioning portion to position the cartridge in the crossing direction.
US08121517B2	Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and electrographic photosensitive drum unit A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion by moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a coupler engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the drum and taking transmitting, pre-engagement, and disengaging positions, and a regulator regulating an inclination angle of the coupler. During cartridge mounting, the coupler moves from the pre-engagement to the transmitting position to oppose the driving shaft, and during cartridge dismounting, the coupler moves from the transmitting to the disengaging position to disengage from the driving shaft.
US08121516B2	Processing cartridge having a retractable handle A processing cartridge includes at least a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a casing containing the photosensitive drum and the developing roller. The photosensitive drum is fixed to the casing to form an electrostatic latent image, and the developing roller develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. The processing cartridge also includes a handle, and the handle is retractably fixed to the casing, which has an extending status and a shrinking status opposite to the extending status.
US08121514B2	Developing device and image forming apparatus employing the same A developing device has a housing including a toner container containing toner, and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a developing roller and a photoconductive drum, and a barrier member including a toner supply window. The barrier member is combined with the housing to separate the toner container and the developing unit from each other. The developing unit also includes a blocking film that is attached to the barrier member to block the toner supply window. An end of the blocking film is exposed outside the housing through an opening formed in a sidewall of the housing. A bottom surface and first and second side surfaces of the barrier member are attached to a bottom surface and first and second side surfaces of the housing by using a welding process, and a distance between the first and second side surfaces of the barrier member and a distance between the first and second side surfaces of the housing increase from bottom to top.
US08121507B2	Image forming apparatus preventing sheet transfer deviation or slippage through fine detection of loop amount An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image without transfer deviation or rumples by detecting the loop amount of the sheet material with a plurality of thresholds at multiple stages through a loop amount detecting portion detecting the loop amount of a sheet passing between conveyance guide members. The loop amount finely detected at the multiple stages through the loop amount detecting portion is reflected in a control and drive system, and, as a result, the sheet material can be conveyed while keeping the loop of the sheet material passing between the conveyance guide members at an appropriate amount.
US08121506B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries a developed image that has been developed on a surface thereof using a developer; a transfer member that transfers the developed image from the image carrier to a belt-shaped member; an electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the transfer member; a measurement unit that measures a combined resistance value of the image carrier, the belt-shaped member, and the transfer member; and a controller that controls the electric power supply unit. The controller controls the electric power supply unit such that the electric power supplied to the transfer member is changed from a predetermined first supply value to a second supply value, the second supply value being larger than the first supply value, when the combined resistance value measured by the measurement unit is lower than a predetermined combined resistance value.
US08121505B2	Hybrid printing system A hybrid printing system includes (a) a media path assembly having an image transfer/transport unit for receiving and moving media to a fusing apparatus; (b) a process color image output terminal (IOT) assembly including first imaging components for forming and transferring color images onto the intermediate image receiving member, the color IOT assembly being mounted for forming a first image transfer nip with one of a first side and a second and opposite of the image transfer/transport unit; and (c) a monochrome image output terminal (IOT) assembly mounted opposite the process color image output terminal (IOT) assembly for forming a second image transfer nip with the other of the first side and the second and opposite of the image transfer/transport unit, the monochrome image output terminal (IOT) assembly including a moveable image bearing member and second imaging components for forming monochrome images on the image bearing member.
US08121502B2	Fixing unit including heating regulator to adjust a heating width of a heating member An image forming apparatus for forming an image includes a first control table and a second control table. The first control table includes information on widths of a recording sheet, categorized into a plurality of groups of different widths thereof in a direction perpendicular to a sheet transport direction. The second control table includes information on timing of the recording sheet transported to the fixing device based on the group to which a preceding recording sheet, belongs and the group to which a subsequent recording sheet belongs. When a certain width of the recording sheet belongs to the plurality of the groups in the first control table, the group to which the preceding recording sheet belongs is the group to which the subsequent recording sheet belongs.
US08121500B2	Image forming apparatus, method of determining amount of developer supply, and program of determining amount of developer supply To provide a technology that can realize appropriate developer supply processing according to conditions within a developing unit by a simple method. In an image forming apparatus that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor with a developing unit, information on an amount of consumption of a developer in the developing unit is acquired, first developer supply information indicating an amount of developer to be supplied to the developing unit is calculated based on the acquired information, information on concentration of the developer contained within the developing unit is acquired, second developer supply information indicating an amount of developer to be supplied to the developing unit is calculated based on the acquired information, and information indicating an amount of developer to be supplied to the developing unit is determined based on the calculated first and second developer supply information.
US08121497B2	Image forming apparatus, MFP and method of displaying jam removal guidance An image forming apparatus may include an image forming device to form and fix an image on a paper, a paper conveyer to convey the paper from a sheet feeder through the image forming device to a finisher, at least one door configured to uncover and cover a part of the paper conveyer, a jam detector to detect whether a jam occurs in the paper conveyer, at least one door sensor to detect whether each door is open or closed, a display, a memory, and a controller to control the jam detector, the door sensor and the display. The controller may be configured to execute control to display a jam detection result detected by the jam detector and jam removal guidance, corresponding to the jam detector which detects the jam occurring in the paper conveyer, based on the information of preset display orders of the jam removal guidance.
US08121496B2	Image forming apparatus operating in a power saving mode as long as possible An image forming apparatus operates in a power saving mode or in the normal printing mode. An image forming section forms an image in accordance with print data received from an external apparatus. A state detecting section detects a state of the image forming apparatus. A controller causes the image forming apparatus to enter into a power saving mode where the controller terminates supply of electric power to a section of the image forming apparatus that consumes a large electric power. A data detecting section detects whether the print data exists in the image forming apparatus. When the state detecting section detects a change in the state of the image forming apparatus and the data detecting section fails to detect print data in the image forming section, the controller causes the image forming apparatus to enter the power saving mode.
US08121495B2	Current mirror circuit and optical receiver circuit using the same A current mirror circuit and an optical receiver circuit implementing with the current mirror circuit are disclosed. The current mirror circuit provides two MOSFETs and two differential amplifiers. The MOSFETs are operated under the same bias condition even the power supply voltage decreases due to the virtual short-circuit characteristic between two inputs of the differential amplifier. One of the differential amplifiers provides a variable gain and output impedance characteristic to stabilize the feedback loop formed by this differential amplifier and one of the MOSFETs.
US08121494B2	System and method for receiving high spectral efficiency optical DPSK signals Apparatus and methods are provided for receiving differential phase-shift keyed (DPSK) optical signals subjected to tight optical filtering, such as may be experienced by 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s channels in a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) communications system with 50 GHz channel spacing. An optical DPSK receiver is described which employs an optical delay interferometer (ODI) demodulator having a free spectral range (FSR) that is larger than the symbol rate (SR) of the DPSK signal to be demodulated. The receiver includes means for introducing an additional power imbalance between the outputs of the ODI demodulator, and the additional power imbalance may be related to the ratio of FSR to SR. The additional power imbalance increases the signal tolerance to tight optical filtering, thereby achieving high spectral efficiency in applications such as DWDM.
US08121493B2	Distortion compensation circuit and method based on orders of time dependent series of distortion signal A distortion compensation circuit compensates for distortion generated by one or more non-linear elements such as a laser device. The distortion compensation circuit may be used in an optical transmitter, such as a laser transmitter used for forward path CATV applications. The distortion compensation circuit may include a primary signal path and a secondary signal path that receive an input signal. The secondary signal path produces distortion of a magnitude corresponding to the magnitude of, but at an opposite phase to, the distortion generated by the non-linear amplifier. The secondary signal path includes a plurality of distortion sub-paths with each of the distortion sub-paths configured to produce intermodulation distortion products of the same distortion order but for different frequency dependent orders in a time dependent series representative of the distortion produced by the non-linear amplifier.
US08121486B2	Optical transmission apparatus An optical transmission apparatus is arranged by: means for demultiplexing monitoring light for received wavelength-multiplexed signal light so as to detect optical intensity of the monitoring light; means for detecting optical intensity of wavelength-multiplexed signal light after the monitoring light has been demultiplexed therefrom; a gain controlling type optical amplifier for amplifying the wavelength-multiplexed signal light; an optical attenuating unit for adjusting optical intensity of the amplified wavelength-multiplexed signal light; and a monitoring control unit for controlling the gain controlling type optical amplifier in such a manner that the gain of the optical amplifier becomes constant, and for controlling an attenuating amount of the optical attenuating unit in such a manner that the optical intensity of the wavelength-multiplexed signal light becomes a predetermined target value.
US08121485B2	RF-photonic transversal filter method and apparatus A method and apparatus for implementing an RF photonic transversal filter that utilizes tap apodization and wavelength reuse to obtain a high side lobe suppression together with narrow and configurable passbands. Several taps are obtained from one wavelength by using dispersive optical delay lines such as chirped fiber gratings that introduce a delay between successive wavelengths. A selected subset of the input wavelengths is utilized to generate multiple taps per wavelength. Some of the taps are apodized to generate various filter transfer functions that yield a high side lobe suppression ratio.
US08121479B2	Optical network terminal management and control interface (OMCI) containing a description of the OMCI A network component is disclosed that includes a memory comprising a data structure comprising an optical network terminal management and control interface (OMCI) comprising a plurality of managed entities (MEs), wherein one of the MEs is a description of the OMCI. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting the sending of an OMCI Description to an optical line terminal (OLT), wherein the OMCI Description comprises an OMCI Object, whose instance describes the types of MEs supported by an OMCI, a plurality of Managed Entity Objects, whose instances describe each ME supported by the OMCI, and a plurality of Attribute Objects, whose instances describe each attribute supported by the OMCI.
US08121475B2	Optical signal quality monitor for a high-bit rate signal An optical signal quality monitor includes a splitter splitting an input optical signal into two signals; a low-frequency converter converting one split optical signal to a low frequency signal by modulating the optical signal with a frequency offset signal; and an intensity ratio calculator calculating an intensity ratio between the low frequency signal and the other split optical signal, thereby appropriately confirming the quality of a high-bit rate optical signal. The monitor includes plural processing lines, each line including the splitter, the low-frequency converter, and the intensity ratio calculator. At least one line includes an optical noise superimposer superimposing optical noise on the one split signal before inputted to the converter or an optical band-pass filter transmitting the one split signal before inputted to the converter. The monitor includes a polarization state changer changing the polarization state of the input signal before inputted to the splitter.
US08121468B2	Wireless communication system and method for photographic flash synchronization A system and method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera body. Wireless functionality within a camera body provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and an external antenna to one or more remote flash devices for triggering the one or more remote flash devices.
US08121463B2	Recording medium, recording method, reproduction apparatus and method, and computer-readable program An AV Clip generated by multiplexing video and graphics streams is recorded on a BD-ROM. The graphics stream includes an interactive graphics stream. PTS(DSn[ICS]), which is a presentation time stamp of a packet containing an ICS (Interactive Composition Segment) in a n-th display set DSn, designates an end time of an active period of the ICS, and DTS(DSn+1[ICS]), which is a decoding time stamp of a packet containing an ICS in an immediately succeeding display set DSn+1, designates a start time of an active period of the ICS. PTS(DSn[ICS]) and DTS(DSn+1[ICS]) satisfy a relation PTS(DSn[ICS])≦DTS(DSn+1[ICS]).
US08121453B2	Optical fiber Provided is an optical fiber including: a first core at a center thereof; a second core adjacent to the first core to cover a circumference of the first core; a third core adjacent to the second core to cover a circumference of the second core; and a cladding adjacent to the third core to cover a circumference of the third core, where conditions of 0.28%≦Δ1≦0.4%, −0.05%≦Δ2≦0.05%, −1.0%≦Δ3≦−0.5%, 3.8 μm≦a≦4.5 μm, 12 μm≦b≦21 μm, and 1.5 μm≦c-b≦10 μm hold, and loss increase resulting when the optical fiber is wound on a mandrel having a diameter of 20 mm is 0.1 dB/turn or smaller at a wavelength of 1625 nm, where Δ1 is a specific refractive index difference of the first core from the cladding refractive index, Δ2 is a specific refractive index difference of the second core from the cladding refractive index, Δ3 is a specific refractive index difference of the third core from the cladding refractive index, “a” is a radius of a boundary between the first core and the second core with respect to a center of the first core, “b” is a radius of a boundary between the second core and the third core with respect to the center of the first core, and “c” is a radius of a boundary between the third core and the cladding with respect to the center of the first core.
US08121452B2	Method for fabricating a hollow fiber A hollow fiber has a hollow tube, a reflecting film formed on an inner wall of the hollow tube, and the reflecting film is a first metal film formed by baking a first metal nano particle solution including a first metal nano particle. The hollow fiber may have a transparent film on the first metal film. The transparent film is formed by baking or chemically reacting from a second metal nano particle included in a second metal nano particle solution.
US08121447B2	Integrated transceiver with lightpipe coupler A transceiver comprising a plurality of CMOS chips may be operable to communicate an optical source signal from a semiconductor laser into a first CMOS chip via optical couplers. The optical source signal may be used to generate first optical signals that are transmitted from the first CMOS chip to optical fibers coupled to the first CMOS chip via one or more optical couplers. Second optical signals may be received from the optical fibers and converted to electrical signals via photodetectors in the first CMOS chip. The optical source signal may be communicated from the semiconductor laser into the first CMOS chip via optical fibers in to a top surface and the first optical signals may be communicated out of a top surface of the first CMOS chip. The electrical signals may be communicated to at least a second of the plurality of CMOS chips comprising electronic devices.
US08121440B2	Imaging apparatus having imaging assembly There is described in one embodiment an imaging apparatus having an image sensor, and a plurality of operating states. Operation of the imaging apparatus can be differentiated between the operating states. In one operating state, the imaging apparatus can capture a frame of image data having image data corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels of the image sensor. The operating states of the imaging apparatus can be user selectable. There is described in one embodiment an apparatus having an image sensor operative to capture a relatively smaller sized frame, wherein a characteristic of light directed by an illumination assembly for capture of a relatively larger sized frame is determined utilizing the relatively smaller sized frame.
US08121432B2	System and method for semantic video segmentation based on joint audiovisual and text analysis System and method for partitioning a video into a series of semantic units where each semantic unit relates to a generally complete thematic topic. A computer implemented method for partitioning a video into a series of semantic units wherein each semantic unit relates to a theme or a topic, comprises dividing a video into a plurality of homogeneous segments, analyzing audio and visual content of the video, extracting a plurality of keywords from the speech content of each of the plurality of homogeneous segments of the video, and detecting and merging a plurality of groups of semantically related and temporally adjacent homogeneous segments into a series of semantic units in accordance with the results of both the audio and visual analysis and the keyword extraction. The present invention can be applied to generate important table-of-contents as well as index tables for videos to facilitate efficient video topic searching and browsing.
US08121427B2	Breakpoint determining for hybrid variable length coding and encoding the determined breakpoint A method, and apparatus, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible medium to carry out a method of determining a breakpoint position in an ordered sequence of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data for a hybrid variable length coding the ordered sequence. The breakpoint location in the sequence is between a low-frequency region and a high-frequency region. The hybrid variable length coding method includes coding the low-frequency region using a selected low-frequency variable length coding method; coding the high-frequency region using a selected high-frequency variable length coding method; and coding the position in the sequence of the breakpoint. The breakpoint location is determining uses a relatively simple and fast method based on pre-defined cost criteria. A method is included that instead of coding the breakpoint separately, codes the breakpoint jointly with coefficient events.
US08121420B2	Systems and methods of inter-frame compression A system and method for rendering images, and performing operations such as windowing and leveling, when the parameters of a client appliance are known and rendering images when the parameters of a client appliance are unknown. The invention also considers the rendering from the client appliance perspective and the server appliance perspective.
US08121419B2	Systems and methods of inter-frame compression A system and method for rendering images, and performing operations such as windowing and leveling, when the parameters of a client appliance are known and rendering images when the parameters of a client appliance are unknown. The invention also considers the rendering from the client appliance perspective and the server appliance perspective.
US08121416B2	System and method for determining inflection points in an image of an object A system and method for determining inflection points in an image of an object includes obtaining the image of the object, performing binary image processing on a border of the image to obtain border points, selecting a predetermined number of the border points to fit a straight line, calculating a vertical distance between each selected border point and the straight line, and obtaining a total distance. The method further includes adding a new border point to the selected border points if the total distance is less than a predetermined value, so as to fit a new straight line and do a loop cycle, otherwise, regarding a last border point of the selected border points as an inflection point, and sequentially selecting the predetermined number of other border points to fit another new straight line.
US08121415B2	Combining feature boundaries A method of forming a combined feature boundary based on boundaries of first and second overlapping features includes dividing the boundaries of the first and second overlapping features into line segments of known shape, identifying crossing points formed by the line segments, calculating parametric coordinates of the crossing points, and determining a sequence of crossing point evaluation based on the parametric coordinates. The method also includes calculating a first cross product based on the line segments forming a first crossing point in the determined sequence, and choosing a first path of the combined feature boundary according to a mathematical sign of the first cross product, the first path extending from the first crossing point to the second crossing point in the determined sequence. The method further includes calculating a second cross product based on the line segments forming a second crossing point in the sequence, and choosing a second path of the combined feature boundary extending from the second crossing point according to a mathematical sign of the second cross product, wherein the combined feature boundary includes the first and second crossing points and portions of at least one of the first and second feature boundaries defining the first and second paths.
US08121408B2	Image processing method and apparatus for face image An image processing method for a face image is provided. A skin area of a face is segmented from the face image. A brightness histogram of the skin area is generated. A skin shadow point and an eyeball point of the face are extracted from the skin area, the shadow point having a lowest brightness in the skin area. A modified histogram is generated by modifying the brightness histogram so as to correct a specific area having a lower brightness level than the eyeball point at a brightness level of the eyeball point, and to correct a specific portion in the skin area having a higher brightness level than the shadow point at a brightness level of the shadow point. The face image is thresholded in consideration of the modified histogram to produce a binary image or N-level encoded image.
US08121407B1	Method and apparatus for localized labeling in digital images Methods and apparatus for localized labeling in digital images. A region is obtained within which a global labeling solution for an image lies. The region is covered with a set of multiple overlapping tiles. A labeling function is applied to each tile in two or more subsets of the tiles to generate a local labeling for each of the tiles in the subsets. The local labeling for tiles in a first subset are input as a boundary condition to the labeling function when applied to overlapping tiles in a second subset. The local labelings for all of the tiles in all of the subsets are merged to form a global labeling for the image. The labeling function may be executed in parallel on two or more of the tiles.
US08121403B2	Methods and systems for glyph-pixel selection Aspects of the present invention are related to methods and systems for detecting glyph pixels in a digital image.
US08121397B2	Method and its apparatus for reviewing defects A method for reviewing a defect on a sample involves the steps of imaging a defect image containing the defect in first magnification by using an image acquisition unit, synthesizing a reference image not containing the defect from the defect image, comparing the defect image acquired with the reference image synthesized to detect a defect applicant, executing a processing for classifying the defect applicant into a defect and a normal portion and imaging only the portion identified as the detect in second magnification. The method makes it possible to specify a defect position without error from the image taken in the first magnification and to image the defect in the second magnification when a large number of defects are observed within a short time by using the image acquisition unit.
US08121394B2	Method for manufacturing electronic device A method for manufacturing an electronic device is provided. The method includes: pressure-bonding a plurality of terminals of an electronic component to a plurality of electrodes formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, respectively, via an anisotropic conductive film to mount the electronic component on the transparent substrate; obtaining an image of the electrodes by imaging the transparent substrate with the electronic component mounted thereon from backside of the transparent substrate; measuring the number of indentations for each said electrode using the image of the electrode, the indentation being formed when the electrode is pressed by a conductive particle in the anisotropic conductive film; calculating an average and a standard deviation of the number of indentations per electrode throughout the transparent substrate; and calculating a probability that the number of indentations per electrode is less than a reference value on basis of the average and the standard deviation.
US08121393B2	Pattern defect analysis equipment, pattern defect analysis method and pattern defect analysis program A data processing unit acquires a review image including a pattern defect on a substrate, compares the review image with a reference image thereby to extract a defect image, the reference image including no pattern defect, and performs an alignment between the review image and a self-layer design pattern image which is generated from design data belonging to the identical layer in a region corresponding to the review image. The data processing unit, then, based on result of the alignment, generates an another-layer design pattern image which is generated from design data belonging to another layer in the region corresponding to the review image, and, based on a synthesized image of the defect image and the another-layer design pattern image, determines the relative position relationship between the pattern defect and a pattern belonging to another layer, and judges the criticality based on the relative position relationship.
US08121391B2	Device for measuring the thickness of printed products An apparatus for measuring a thickness of a printed product conveyed in a conveying direction at a conveying speed. The apparatus includes a conveying device having a guide arrangement along which the printed product is conveyed at the conveying speed in the conveying direction, the guide arrangement including a measuring region that extends in the conveying direction of the guide arrangement. The apparatus further includes a measuring element operative to act on printed sheets of the printed product to measure the thickness of the printed product while the printed product is conveyed across the measuring region and through a measuring gap located between the measuring element and the guide arrangement. The measuring element is arranged to move toward the guide arrangement with a process timing and to move synchronously with the printed product at the conveying speed across the measuring region of the guide arrangement. The apparatus additionally includes an evaluation unit connected to the measuring element.
US08121390B2	Pattern inspection method, pattern inspection apparatus and semiconductor device manufacturing method A pattern inspection method includes scanning a substrate on which patterns are formed with a charged beam, detecting a charged particle generated from the surface of the substrate, and then acquiring an image of the patterns; comparing the image of the patterns with CAD data for the patterns to inspect the patterns; measuring the dimensions of an arbitrary pattern using the image; calculating a statistic of a dimensional value of the arbitrary pattern obtained by the measurement; judging the necessity of a correction on the basis of the calculated statistic; and performing correction processing when the correction is judged to be necessary.
US08121389B2	System, apparatus, method and computer program product for optical position recognition A system, apparatus, method, and computer program product for evaluating an object disposed on an upper surface of an object holder. At least one first frame representing a captured portion of the object is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of a plurality of locations. At least one second frame representing a captured portion of at least one other surface of the object holder besides the upper surface is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of the plurality of locations. At least one spatial characteristic associated with the captured portion of the object is determined, based on at least one of the acquired frames. A three-dimensional representation of the object can be formed based on the first frames and at least one spatial characteristic.
US08121388B2	Device and method for automatically determining the individual three-dimensional shape of particles A method for automated determination of an individual three-dimensional shape of particles includes: a) dosing, alignment, and automated delivery of the particles; b) observation of the aligned particles and image acquisition, and c) evaluation of the images. A device for automated determination of the individual three-dimensional shape of particles includes: a) a mechanism for dosing, alignment, and automated delivery of the particles; b) at least two cameras for observation of the aligned particles, and c) a mechanism for evaluation of the images. The device can be used for automated determination of individual three-dimensional shape of particles.
US08121387B2	Mask pattern verifying method A mask pattern verifying method include obtaining first information about a hot spot from design data of a mask pattern, obtaining second information about the mask pattern actually formed on a photo mask, and determining a measuring spot of the mask pattern actually formed on the photo mask, based on the first and second information.
US08121386B2	Secure article, notably a security and/or valuable document A secure article, notably a security and/or valuable document, comprising at least one substrate, at least one visible authenticating structure, at least one inspection zone defined at least partly by the authenticating structure, the authenticating structure delimiting at least partly the outline of the inspection zone and/or serving to locate the inspection zone, in the inspection zone at least one identifying element different from the authenticating structure, the inspection zone enabling an identification information to be supplied with at least one feature, notably spatial or physical, of the identifying element.
US08121385B1	System and method for generating magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) testing documents A system and method for accessing data to generate documents for use in MICR line testing. The system comprises a MICR testing station for testing MICR processing. The MICR testing station comprises a MICR line testing module for generating at least one MICR testing document for use in testing MICR processing. The MICR line testing module further comprises: (1) an application determination module for determining an application based on a bank selection provided by a tester, (2) a routing/transit number determination module for determining a routing/transit number based on the bank and the application determined, and (3) a tran code determination module for determining a tran code based on the routing/transit number determined; and at least one client station connected to the MICR testing station via a communications network, the at least one client station being used by at least one tester to provide particulars about at least one MICR line.
US08121383B2	Automated method and system for setting image analysis parameters to control image analysis operations A method and system for setting image analysis parameters to control image analysis operations. The method and system include collecting set of digital training images including a set of states for the set of digital training images. An objective function is defined to determine a relative quality of plural different parameter sets used for digital image analysis. Values for the plural different parameter sets that maximize (or minimize) the objective function are determined. The method and system increases a usability of high content screening technologies by reducing a required level of expertise required to configure digital image processing.
US08121378B2	Fast hierachical tomography methods and apparatus Pixel images {circumflex over (f)} are created from projections (q1 . . . qp) by backprojecting selected projections to produce intermediate images (Il,m), and performing digital image coordinate transformations and/or resampling on selected intermediate images. The digital image coordinate transformations are chosen to account for view angles of the constituent projections of the intermediate images and for their Fourier characteristics, so that the intermediate images may be accurately represented by sparse samples. The resulting intermediate images are aggregated into subsets, and this process is repeated in a recursive manner until sufficient projections and intermediate images have been processed and aggregated to form the pixel image {circumflex over (f)}. Digital image coordinate transformation can include rotation, shearing, stretching, contractions. Resampling can include up-sampling, down-sampling, and the like. Projections can be created from a pixel image ({circumflex over (f)}), by performing digital image coordinate transformation and/or resampling and/or decimation re-projecting the final intermediate image.
US08121377B2	Method and tomography scanner for normalizing image data with respect to a contrast in the image data produced by a contrast agent A method and a correspondingly configured tomography scanner are disclosed for normalizing image data with respect to a contrast in the image data produced by a contrast agent, the image data illustrating a tissue structure to be examined and at least part of a blood vessel system of an examination region connected to the tissue structure, which are at least in part permeated by the contrast agent. In an embodiment of the method, image data of the examination region is provided with the aid of the tomography scanner. At least one section of a reference vessel permeated by contrast agent is selected in the image data. The image data is normalized on the basis of image data from the section of the reference vessel such that the contrast in the image data as a result of the contrast agent is almost independent of patient-specific and examination-specific parameters in order to ensure that image data from different times can be compared.
US08121376B2	Diagnostic imaging support processing apparatus and diagnostic imaging support processing program product A diagnostic imaging support processing apparatus includes a nodular region determination unit which determines a nodular region included in an image showing the inside of a subject, a polygonal line approximation processing unit which obtains a plurality of nodes constituting a polygonal line that approximates a contour of the nodular region, a reference position determination unit which determines a position of a reference point, and a circularity computation unit which computes the degree of circularity by using areas of a plurality of regions determined based on the plurality of nodes and the reference point.
US08121370B2	Method of performing measurements on digital images A first and a second image are expressed in a common coordinate system by applying a geometric transformation to the second image so as to map a structure in the second image onto a corresponding structure in the first image in a common coordinate system. Starting from initial values, the parameters of the geometric transformation are updated taking into account the result of an evaluation of a cost function.Measurements are performed in the common coordinate system.
US08121369B2	Medical image processing apparatus and medical image processing method The medical image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a three-dimensional model estimating section that estimates a three-dimensional model based on a two-dimensional image; a local region setting section that sets a plurality of local regions around a target pixel in the two-dimensional image; a shape feature value calculating section that uses three-dimensional coordinate data corresponding to the plurality of local regions and calculates shape feature values of respective voxels corresponding to the target pixel; a shape feature value selecting section that selects, as a shape feature value of a voxel corresponding to the target pixel, a shape feature value calculated according to one local region including an optimum three-dimensional coordinate data amount among the plurality of shape feature values; and an elevated shape detecting section that detects an elevated shape existing in the two-dimensional image based on a selection result of the shape feature value selecting section.
US08121361B2	Motion tracking system for real time adaptive imaging and spectroscopy Current MRI technologies require subjects to remain largely motionless for achieving high quality magnetic resonance (MR) scans, typically for 5-10 minutes at a time. However, lying absolutely still inside the tight MR imager (MRI) tunnel is a difficult task, especially for children, very sick patients, or the mentally ill. Even motion ranging less than 1 mm or 1 degree can corrupt a scan. This invention involves a system that adaptively compensates for subject motion in real-time. An object orientation marker, preferably a retro-grate reflector (RGR), is placed on a patients' head or other body organ of interest during MRI. The RGR makes it possible to measure the six degrees of freedom (x, y, and z-translations, and pitch, yaw, and roll), or “pose”, required to track the organ of interest. A camera-based tracking system observes the marker and continuously extracts its pose. The pose from the tracking system is sent to the MR scanner via an interface, allowing for continuous correction of scan planes and position in real-time. The RGR-based motion correction system has significant advantages over other approaches, including faster tracking speed, better stability, automatic calibration, lack of interference with the MR measurement process, improved ease of use, and long-term stability. RGR-based motion tracking can also be used to correct for motion from awake animals, or in conjunction with other in vivo imaging techniques, such as computer tomography, positron emission tomography (PET), etc.
US08121357B2	Coefficient determining method, feature extracting method, system, and program, and pattern checking method, system, and program [PROBLEMS] To provide a feature extracting method for quickly extracting a feature while preventing lowering of the identification performance of the kernel judgment analysis, a feature extracting system, and a feature extracting program.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Judgment feature extracting device (104) computes an interclass covariance matrix SB and an intraclass covariance matrix SW about a learning face image prepared in advance, determines optimum vectors η, γ which maximizes the ratio of the interclass covariance to the intraclass covariance, derives a conversion formula for converting an inputted frequency feature vector x into a frequency feature vector y in a judgment space, and extracts judgment features of a face image for record and a face image for check by using a restructured conversion formula. Similarity computing device (105) computes the similarity by comparing the judgment features. Check judging device judges whether or not the persons are the same by comparing the similarity with a threshold.
US08121355B2	Brain shape as a biometric The invention provides a method, system, and program product for identifying an individual using biometric data based on the individual's brain. In one embodiment, the invention includes constructing a biometric signature based on at least one of: features within a two-dimensional scan of the individual's brain and a difference in features between at least two two-dimensional scans of the individual's brain.
US08121354B2	Personal authentication device A compact authentication device that prevents user from feeling pressure and is strong against external light, when capturing an image of a finger blood vessel pattern with transmitted light. The device includes a guidance part for determining the finger position, a light source disposed on at least one side of the guidance part to emit light to be transmitted though the finger, an image capture part for capturing the transmitted light, a shading unit for limiting an irradiation region of the light, a finger thickness measuring unit, a unit for controlling a light amount of the light source based on a result of the measurement, a unit for recording registered image patterns of the finger, a unit for collating a captured image pattern from the image capture part with the registered patterns, and a unit for controlling different processing according to the collation result.
US08121351B2	Identification of objects in a 3D video using non/over reflective clothing A method includes generating a depth map from at least one image, detecting objects in the depth map, and identifying anomalies in the objects from the depth map. Another method includes identifying at least one anomaly in an object in a depth map, and using the anomaly to identify future occurrences of the object. A system includes a three dimensional (3D) imaging system to generate a depth map from at least one image, an object detector to detect objects within the depth map, and an anomaly detector to detect anomalies in the detected objects, wherein the anomalies are logical gaps and/or logical protrusions in the depth map.
US08121349B2	Electronic apparatus and video processing method According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes an image extraction module, a display control module, and a file processing module. The image extraction module extracts face images including a plurality of face images of persons in a video obtained by playing back a video data file from each of video data files. The display control module displays a selection screen which allows a user to select one or more video data files from the video data files, and displays the extracted face images on the selection screen to lay out the face images in correspondence with the video data files. The file processing module executes a process for the one or more video data files selected on the selection screen.
US08121347B2	System and method for detecting and tracking features in images A system and method for tracking features, e.g., facial features, is provided, which allows for the tracking of features which move in a series of images and whose shape changes nonlinearly due to perspective projection and complex 3D movements. A training set of images is processed to produce clustered shape subspaces corresponding to the set of images, such that non-linear shape manifolds in the images are represented as piecewise, overlapping linear surfaces that are clustered according to similarities in perspectives. A landmark-based training algorithm (e.g., ASM) is applied to the clustered shape subspaces to train a model of the clustered shape subspaces and to create training data. A subsequent image is processed using the training data to identify features in the target image by creating an initial shape, superimposing the initial shape on the target image, and then iteratively deforming the shape in accordance with the model until a final shape is produced corresponding to a feature in the target image.
US08121346B2	Target tracking A method and system are disclosed for tracking a target imaged in video footage. The target may, for example, be a person moving through a crowd The method comprises the steps of: identifying a target in a first frame; generating a population of sub-templates by sampling from a template area defined around the target position; and searching for instances of the sub-templates in a second frame so as to locate the target in the second frame. Sub-templates whose instances are not consistent with the new target position are removed from the population and replaced by newly sampled sub-templates. The method can then be repeated so as to find the target in further frames. It can be implemented in a system comprising video imaging means, such as a CCTV camera, and processing means operable to carry out the method.
US08121343B2	Optimization methods for the insertion, protection, and detection of digital watermarks in digitized data The implementations of digital watermarks can be optimally suited to particular transmission, distribution and storage mediums given the nature of digitally-sampled audio, video and other multimedia works. Watermark application parameters can be adapted to the individual characteristics of a given digital sample stream. Watermark information can be either carried in individual samples or in relationships between multiple samples, such as in a waveform shape. More optimal models may be obtained to design watermark systems that are tamper-resistant given the number and breadth of existent digitized sample options with different frequency and time components. The highest quality of a given content signal may be maintained as it is mastered, with the watermark suitably hidden, taking into account usage of digital filters and error correction. The quality of the underlying content signals can be used to identify and highlight advantageous locations for the insertion of digital watermarks. The watermark is integrated as closely as possible to the content signal, at a maximum level to force degradation of the content signal when attempts are made to remove the watermarks.
US08121340B2	Method for decoding an encoded point matrix image and an electronic device implementing the same A method is provided for decoding an encoded point matrix image including a first set of real grid points aligned along a first axis, a second set of real grid points aligned along a second axis intersecting the first axis, and a plurality of encoded data points distributed throughout the encoded point matrix image. The method includes: locating the first and second axes according to a first predetermined principle; finding a set of virtual grid points according to a second predetermined principle, each of the virtual grid points being located at an intersection of a corresponding first virtual line parallel to the first axis and a corresponding second virtual line parallel to the second axis; and decoding each of the encoded data points based on positional relation thereof with a closest one of the virtual grid points so as to obtain information encoded in the encoded point matrix image.
US08121334B2	Bluetooth earphone having semi-automatic receiving function A Bluetooth earphone having a semi-automatic receiving function includes a housing, an earphone, a first flexible portion, a button, and a fastening mechanism. The housing has a receiving slot. The earphone is pivoted with the housing and received in the receiving slot that can be rotated to the outside of the housing. The first flexible portion located between the housing and the earphone provides a force to eject the earphone. The button is located on the housing and connected with the earphone. The fastening mechanism is located between the button and the housing to fasten the earphone in the receiving slot. The user presses the button to eject the earphone by utilizing the flexible force of the first flexible portion. Thereby, the earphone can be received in the housing to prevent the earphone from being broken due to the impacts of external forces.
US08121328B2	Hearing device with a connecting piece fastened to the housing frame A hearing device which is simple to assemble and to which a wearing hook can be fastened in a stable fashion is provided. The hearing device includes a receiver, which has a sound outlet, a wearing hook, which has a sound channel, a connecting piece for connecting the sound outlet of the receiver to the sound channel of the wearing hook and includes a housing frame, in which the receiver and to which the wearing hook are fastened respectively. The connecting piece may be formed largely of metal or ceramic and may be directly fastened to the housing frame.
US08121327B2	Hearing aid A hearing aid includes a circuit board having a battery affixed thereon and a switch that utilizes a portion of the circuit board as a portion of the switch. The battery is permanently affixed to the circuit board in at least one location and at least a portion of the battery is spaced away from the circuit board. The circuit board further includes at least one pair of printed switch traces. The switch is integrated into the circuit board in a way that utilizes the circuit board to form a rotary switch.
US08121325B2	Ear module for a personal sound system An ear module, which can be selectively worn on either left or right ear, comprises an interior lobe, adapted to fit within the concha, comprising a speaker and a compressive member/cover assembly. The compressive member/cover assembly is positionable, typically rotatable, relative to the remainder of the inner lobe between left and right ear orientations to permit the ear module to be worn on either the left or the right ear. A method for improving the quality of sound emanating from an ear module includes selecting the sound bore within the ear module to help improve the frequency response of the ear module so that the ear module has a resonant peak near 2.7 kHz and a maximum 20 dB decrease in high frequency response as measured at 5 kHz from the average frequency response as measured at 500 Hz, 800 Hz, and 1600 Hz.
US08121319B2	Tracking system using audio signals below threshold A tracking system may determine the orientation or position of a movable object. The tracking system includes a signal generator that generates a non-audible detection signal in an audible frequency range. A transmitting device transmits the detection signal to a detection device. The transmitting device or the detection device may be positioned on the movable object, and the other may be positioned at a remote location. A processor may determine an orientation or position of the moveable object based on the transmission time between the transmitting device and the detection device.
US08121317B2	Piezoelectric microphone Provided is a piezoelectric microphone. The piezoelectric microphone includes a plurality of cells each having a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode. The cells can be arranged on a protection layer in various patterns. Since the piezoelectric microphone includes the plurality of cells, the voltage level of a piezoelectric signal of the piezoelectric microphone can be easily increased to a desired level by adjusting the number of the cells. Thus, the sensitivity of the piezoelectric microphone can be increased.
US08121316B2	Phase plug A phase plug comprises a body having an input side for receiving acoustic waves and an output side for transmitting acoustic waves, the body including a plurality of channels extending from the input side to the output side for propagating acoustic waves through the body. The input side comprises an input surface which includes a plurality of slots constituting entrances for the channels, each slot being arranged in a substantially radial orientation on the input surface about a central axis extending through the input surface. Substantially the entire input surface situated between the slots is concave and substantially part of a sphere or an ellipsoid in shape.
US08121315B2	Condenser microphone chip Disclosed is a condenser microphone chip, comprising: a substrate (21); a diaphragm (26) spaced from the substrate; a curved beam (27) connected with the diaphragm (26) to anchor the diaphragm (26) to the substrate (21); a curved beam connecting part (29) having a shape of a substantially circular plate. The curved beam (27) is arranged in the diaphragm (26). The curved beam (27) includes a plurality of sub beams, each of the plurality of sub beams including a first sub beam portion extending in a substantially radial direction from a circumference of the curved beam connecting part (29); a second sub beam portion extending in a substantially circumferential direction from an end of the first sub beam portion away from the circumference of the curved beam connecting part (29) and having a shape of a substantial arc; and a third sub beam portion extending in the radial direction from an end of the second sub beam portion away from the first sub beam portion and connected to the diaphragm (26). The condenser microphone chip according to the present invention is high in sensitivity, low in noise, wide in frequency band, simple in manufacturing process, and high in reliability. In addition, the condenser microphone chip can be easily manufactured in mass production.
US08121313B2	Microphone made from a polymer waveguide An apparatus and method for making a microphone that is not susceptible to RF noise and that can be fabricated to be very thin. The microphone includes a light transmitter configured to generate light, a waveguide having optically aligned transmit, vibrating and receive sections, and a receiver. Light from the transmitter is configured to be transmitted through the transmit section, vibrating section and the receive section of the waveguide, and to the receiver. The vibrating section of the waveguide is configured to vibrate in response to received acoustic energy, so that the light received by the receive section is modulated in proportion to the acoustic energy. In response, the receiver converts the modulated light to an electrical signal that is indicative of the received acoustic energy. Since the microphone of the present invention uses a thin waveguide to modulate the acoustic energy, it is not susceptible to RF noise, and it can be made to have a very thin profile.
US08121309B2	Adapting a directional microphone signal to long-lasting influences The directional effect of a static directional microphone is to be improved. In particular shadowing effects of the head for a hearing device worn on the head of the user are to be taken into account when adjusting at the directional microphone. To this end it is proposed that—like the adaptation of an adaptive directional microphone—the energy or power of the directional microphone signal emitted by the directional microphone is minimized, with the difference that in this case extremely long adaptation times are predetermined.
US08121308B2	Arrangement structure of sound system in motorcycle To provide an arrangement structure of a sound system in a motorcycle which can ensure the operability of a sound operation unit while ensuring the visibility of a meter. In a motorcycle which arranges a meter indicating information on a vehicle and a sound operation unit for providing a reproduction operation or the like in a sound system in the vicinity of a steering portion, the meter and the sound operation unit are constituted as bodies separate from each other. The meter and the sound operation unit are arranged, as viewed in the axial direction of a head pipe which supports a steering portion, in front of and behind the head pipe.
US08121303B2	Stethoscope capable of eliminating unwanted sounds and method thereof A stethoscope capable of eliminating unwanted sounds and method thereof, the stethoscope and method thereof mainly use a stethoscope head containing a sensor and a signal processing circuit. By way of detecting and judging whether the stethoscope head arrives on correct stethoscopic position by the sensor, unwanted sounds generating by frictions, translations, or collisions during the stethoscopic process can be effectively eliminated such that the stethoscopic quality can be improved. Thus, a doctor can use less time and spirit to make a correct diagnosis for a patient with least unwanted interference sounds.
US08121302B2	Method of correction of acoustic parameters of electro-acoustic transducers and device for its realization A device and method for improving the performance of an electro-acoustic transducer. An acoustic test signal is generated through the electro-acoustic transducer. The acoustic test signal is measured at multiple points on an ambient surface around the electro-acoustic transducer to create measured acoustic data. Based on the measured acoustic data, an acoustic power frequency response of the electro-acoustic transducer is calculated. A correction impulse response for the electro-acoustic transducer is determined based on the acoustic power frequency response. A correction filter applies the correction impulse response to a sound signal input to generate a sound signal output for playback through the electro-acoustic transducer.
US08121301B2	Earpiece, electronic device and communication device An earpiece, an electronic device, and a communication device, capable of reducing the influence of leakage of sounds from a clearance between the earpiece and an ear not to need an addition of parts are provided. An earpiece (100) includes an electromechanical acoustic transducer (10) having a diaphragm and for generating a sound by vibrating the diaphragm in response to an electric signal, a case (11) on which a sound hole (12) is provided and in which the electromechanical acoustic transducer (10) is housed, and a holding member (13) for holding the electromechanical acoustic transducer (10) in the case (11). The electromechanical acoustic transducer (10) has a sound pressure-frequency characteristic that is compensated in advance such that the sound pressure-frequency characteristic is planarized in a condition that the generated sound is leaked from a user's ear (14) being covered with the case (11).
US08121299B2	Method and system for music detection Methods, digital systems, and computer readable media are provided for detection of music in an audio signal. Music is detected by partitioning the audio signal into overlapping frames, determining a fundamental frequency of a frame in the overlapping frames, including the fundamental frequency of the frame in a histogram of fundamental frequency values of frames occurring in the audio signal prior to the frame, and indicating that music is present in the audio signal when a number of occurrences of a fundamental frequency value in the histogram exceeds a threshold.
US08121297B2	Signal processing device and sound image orientation apparatus A signal processing device includes a filter that is set to frequency characteristics in which a dip existing in an intermediate and high frequency range is smoothed in the frequency characteristics of a virtual characteristic applying filter for applying transfer characteristics of a space transfer path to a sound signal, the space transfer path extending from a virtually set orientation of a sound image to an ear of a listener, an equalizer that forms the dip by cutting a part of the intermediate and high frequency range, and an adjusting unit that adjusts at least a central frequency of the dip. An input signal is passed through the filter and the equalizer.
US08121295B1	Method, apparatus, and system for controlling playout of media To manage playout of digital media by a media player, a wireless communication device (WCD) will include partitioned data storage including discrete partitions having distributor-modules corresponding with various media distributors, and including a digital rights management (DRM) controller. When the media player seeks to play media, it will request a DRM key from the WCD. The DRM controller may then identify the appropriate distributor-module and request the key from the distributor-module. If the distributor-module possesses the key, it will return it for transmission to the media player. Otherwise, the distributor-module may engage in secure communication with a provisioning system to obtain the DRM key and may then return the key. Upon receipt of the key, the media player may then play the media.
US08121292B2	Method and apparatus for scrambling information bits on a channel in a communications system A control channel in a communication system transmits messages in a one or multiple-slot format. To assure consistency of a message, a content quality indicator is included in the message. Because a terminal receiving the message does not know the number of slots comprising the message, the terminal performs blind format determination by testing hypothesis for all slot formats. Unfortunately, the content of certain control messages results in control messages that appear to be valid in a sense that, the computed CRC is equal to the interpreted CRC. Consequently, the mobile station declares a valid control message, and a false-alarm event occurs. Moreover, the same control messages always result in the same false-alarm events. To prevent such repetitive incorrect determination, the content of the message is scrambled by a time-dependent scrambling sequence before transmission. Re-generating the scrambling sequence, and performing inverse to the scrambling then unscrambles the received message.
US08121284B2	Information processing system, information processing method, and information processing program To provide an architecture information processing system having a small circuit size capable of reducing power consumption and cost, on which system a circuit simultaneously executing encryption processing and message authentication (falsification detection processing) can be mounted. An information processing system includes at least: a parameter storage section that retains an initialization vector used as a starting block of concatenation and an encryption key used for encryption; a one-way hash calculation section that executes a one-way hash calculation as a technique for realizing message authentication and functioning in place of the conventional common key block encryption (DES encryption) operation as an encryption operation section of a block encryption mode use section performing encryption processing and/or decryption processing as a CFB mode and/or an OFB mode; and a key overlay operation section that performs calculation for overlaying an encryption key retained in the parameter storage unit on data input to the encryption operation section.
US08121282B1	Call park/retrieve using SIP In one embodiment, a method can include: when performing a park operation: (i) receiving a first message from a park call phone; (ii) providing a second message having a park code to the park call phone; and (iii) receiving a third message having call information from the park call phone; and when performing a retrieve operation: (iv) receiving a fourth message having the park code from a retrieve call phone; (v) providing a fifth message having the call information to the retrieve call phone; (vi) forwarding a sixth message having the park code from the retrieve call phone to a parked device; (vii) forwarding a seventh message from the parked device to the retrieve call phone; and (viii) receiving an eighth message having the park code from the retrieve call phone.
US08121280B1	Expedited call setup An origination terminal initiates a call by providing a third party call control message in association with a traffic channel request. While the traffic channel is being established, the service node may initiate third party call control to initiate a call leg to the destination terminal on behalf of the origination terminal. As such, the destination call leg is initiated earlier. Since the destination call leg is initiated earlier, a corresponding ringback message indicating that a call is being presented to the called party is provided to the origination terminal sooner. When the ringback message is received quickly, a corresponding ringback indication may be presented to the caller in less time than was previously possible. The process is made even more efficient by waiting until the ringback message is received from the destination terminal before providing the SDP information, or communication information, for the origination terminal to the destination terminal.
US08121277B2	Catch-up playback in a conferencing system In one embodiment, a method includes receiving input indicating that an endpoint is dropping out of a real-time mode of attending an on-going conference session. A comment/question received from the endpoint is recorded along with a portion of the on-going conference session beginning at a time point when the endpoint dropped out of the real-time mode, The portion of the on-going conference session is then played back to the endpoint. At the point where the playback of the portion recorded catches up with the on-going conference session, the first endpoint is returned to the real-time mode of attending the on-going conference session. 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.
US08121272B2	Adapter for switching a telecommunication terminal, uses and method In one aspect, a device is provided. The device comprises at least one detection unit which generates an output signal in accordance with a status of a transmission path. Accordingly, switching of a telephone between two transmission paths is controlled in a simple manner in accordance with the output signal.
US08121266B2	Method for checking a ring-back signal The present invention relates to a method for checking a ring-back signal comprising the following steps, time synchronizing a first device and a second device, causing an event by requesting the configuration of a ring-back signal with and for the first device at a specific time stamp and capturing the time stamp and the event in a first log file, calling the first device with the second device at a specific time stamp, recording the ring-back signal of the first device, comparing the ring-back signal with at least one reference signal yielding a comparison result, and capturing the time stamp and the comparison result in a second log file, and comparing the second log file with the first log file.
US08121265B2	Retrieval of deleted voice messages in voice messaging system Apparatus and method to allow retrieval of voice messages deleted from the voice message memory of a voice messaging system. A voice messaging system such as a telephone answering device includes a deleted voice message memory for storing voice messages deleted from the voice message memory. The deleted voice messages stored in the deleted voice message memory are retrievable by the user for review subject to rules for permanent deletion of the deleted voice messages (e.g., after a period of time, when the deleted voice message memory approaches capacity, periodically, etc.).
US08121263B2	Method and system for integrating voicemail and electronic messaging When an electronic message with a voicemail attachment is received, an audio player object and a reply by chat object are displayed simultaneously along with the electronic message. A reply to the electronic message, whether by chat or by email, is associated with the same thread as the electronic message. The electronic message with the voicemail attachment is associated with a conversation thread that may also include chat messages and email messages. In a conversation view of a respective conversation thread, representations of an electronic voicemail message (an electronic message having a voicemail attachment), one or more chat messages and one or more email messages may be displayed simultaneously.
US08121262B1	Text feedback to an on-hold party A party to a call that has been put on hold is provided with textual, display, announcements while on hold, via the on-hold call. A facility of the party that put the call on hold transmits text-based status indicators that are then displayed on a display of the on-hold party's communications device.
US08121261B2	Systems and methods for providing interpretation services A communications platform provides communication services for parties communicating in different languages. The communications platform may receive a language interpretation request from a first party via a telephone device and identify first and second languages associated with the request. The communications platform may determine whether the first party is associated with an account, to which a fee associated with the language interpretation is to be debited, and may forward the language interpretation request based on the association of the first party with the account.
US08121260B2	Method and apparatus for retraining of echo cancellation A method of determining if an echo canceller comprised in a communication channel that is used to transmit at least one tonal signal and characterized by a model echo path of the channel, is acceptably adapted to cancel echoes in the channel, the method comprising: determining a performance measure how well the canceller cancels echoes of at least one test signal characterized by at least one frequency different from a frequency of the at least one tonal signal; and determining if the canceller is acceptably adapted responsive to the measure.
US08121258B2	Device for providing a high energy X-ray beam The invention relates to X-ray analytical instruments (RX), more precisely a device for providing a high energy X-ray beam, typically above 4 keV, for X-ray analysis applications. The device comprises an X-ray tube with a turning anode and an X-ray lens for shaping the beam.
US08121254B2	Optical element, exposure apparatus using this, and device manufacturing method On a multilayer film mirror, a protective layer is formed having a varied composition in the depth direction. The protective layer includes an interface side layer formed on a thin film layer, i.e., the outermost layer of a multilayer film, a surface side layer provided on the interface side layer as the outermost surface of an optical element, and an intermediate layer. The interface side layer has properties such as providing relative absorption of non-exposure light from a light source. The surface side layer suppresses oxidation of the surface of the multilayer film.
US08121251B2	Method for post-processing raw detector signals, a computer program product, a computer readible medium and a radiation detection device Methods for post-processing raw detector signals of an x-ray or gamma detector are disclosed. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, raw detector signals are filtered, an associated filtered signal is determined at least for a subset of the raw detector signals, and those filtered signals whose signal value is less than zero are then respectively replaced by a signal value greater than zero.
US08121248B2	X-ray detector methods and apparatus A method includes performing an x-ray focal spot deflection to generate two complete projections from two different channels of an x-ray detector, wherein the channels are purposefully different from each other in some respect other than being different channels.
US08121246B2	Radiographic apparatus and arithmetic processing program A radiographic apparatus according to this invention includes a back projection arithmetic processing unit which, when carrying out a back projection arithmetic process on projection data detected by a flat panel X-ray detector (FPD) 3 to reconstruct a sectional image, reconstructs the image using data R derived from an addition average according to a width L (of a range at which X rays for a thickness w arrive) determined by a point P, which is a reconstruction position, and a projection angle θ. Thus, image blurring due to the reconstruction position and projection angle θ can be reduced.
US08121245B2	Imaging system A method and apparatus for reconstruction of a region of interest for an object is provided. The reconstruction of the object may be based on chords which may fill a part, all, or more than all of the region of interest. Using chords for reconstruction may allow for reducing data acquired and/or processing for reconstructing a substantially exact image of the ROI. Moreover, various methodologies may be used in reconstructing the image, such as backprojection-filtration, and modified filtration backprojection.
US08121241B2	Method and apparatus for processing radio frequency signals A method and apparatus for processing a radio frequency (RF) signal is provided. The method includes generating a periodic square wave local oscillator (LO) signal of a first phase, a periodic square wave LO signal of a second phase, and a chopping signal. The method further includes coding the periodic square wave LO signal of the first phase and the periodic square wave LO signal of the second phase synchronously with the chopping signal to generate a first set of synchronized signals (116, 118) and a second set of synchronized signals (120, 122), respectively. A phase difference between the first phase and the second phase is a predefined value. The RF signal is processed with the first set of synchronized signals (116, 118) and the second set of synchronized signals (120, 122) to obtain an in-phase intermediate frequency (IF) signal (132) and a quadrature-phase IF signal (142), respectively.
US08121239B2	Unidirectional sweep training for an interconnect In one embodiment, the present invention includes a receiver having a delay lock loop (DLL) to receive a clock signal and to generate a plurality of clock phases therefrom, and an offset controller including a first register set for a first phase interpolator and a second register set for a second phase interpolator. At initiation of a track pre-tune process, both phase interpolators are controlled to generate sampling signals at a common clock phase. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08121237B2	Signaling system with adaptive timing calibration An integrated circuit device includes a delay circuit, sampling circuit and delay control circuit that cooperate to carry out adaptive timing calibration. The delay circuit generates a timing signal by delaying an aperiodic input signal for a first interval. The sampling circuit samples a data signal in response to the timing signal to generate a sequence of data samples, and also samples the data signal in response to a phase-shifted version of the timing signal to generate a sequence of edge samples. The delay control circuit adjusts the first interval based, at least in part, on a phase error indicated by the sequence of data samples and the sequence of edge samples.
US08121236B1	Communications system using adaptive filter circuit using parallel adaptive filters A communications system receives a modulated communication signal that carries encoded communications data. A signal input receives the communication signal. An adaptive filter circuit is connected to the signal input and comprises N number of parallel adaptive filters. Each adaptive filter has non-adaptive and adaptive taps with weighted coefficients that are different in number from the respective other parallel adaptive filters within the adaptive filter circuit. A selection output circuit is connected to each adaptive filter and selects for output the adaptive filter having the most suppression or least output power or other criterion which can indicate a best choice to use of the N parallel adaptive filters. A demodulator demodulates the signal and a decoder receives the filtered output signal from the demodulator and decodes the signal to obtain the communications data.
US08121235B1	Dimension reduction for codebook search Systems are provided for searching for a codeword from a plurality of codewords in a codebook for use in precoding, for example, as used in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission system. Dimension reduction techniques may be utilized to reduce the complexity and enhance the efficiency of the codebooks search. Null-spaces of an optimal codeword and codewords in a codebook may be computed. Distance values may be computed based on the null=spaces of the codewords. A codeword may be selected from the codebook based on a minimum distance value from the optimal codeword.
US08121233B2	Drift cancellation technique for use in clock-forwarding architectures A circuit includes a frequency synthesizer, N phase mixers coupled to the frequency synthesizer, a plurality of receivers, and a calibration circuit. The frequency synthesizer is to receive a reference clock signal and is to output a primary clock signal. A respective phase mixer in the N phase mixers is to output a respective secondary clock signal having a corresponding phase. A respective receiver in the plurality of receivers is coupled to two of the N phase mixers, and at a respective time is to receive data in accordance with the respective secondary clock signal from one of the two phase mixers coupled to the respective receiver. The calibration circuit is to calibrate a secondary clock signal output by a respective phase mixer in the N phase mixers by adjusting the phase of the secondary clock signal of the respective phase mixer.
US08121231B2	Method and device for channel response determination A method and a device for channel response determination for a wireless communication system. The method comprises generating a first vector of channel responses from channel estimations obtained by using a training signal. A second vector of regularized channel responses is generated by applying to the first vector a regularization algorithm. The algorithm is operative such that a second difference between consecutive regularized channel responses of the second vector is less than a first difference between consecutive channel responses of the first vector.
US08121229B2	Guard section length detection method and system A guard section length detection method detects whether a preamble signal is received. A short preamble boundary is then detected, then detecting a frame boundary and detecting a guard section length. In the step of detecting the guard section length a second matched filter capable of processing 128 point data sets is detected. Four different 128 point data sets have a distance of 8 points, 16 points, 32 points, and 64 points respectively from the frame boundary to the second matched filter. Four signal correlation values are calculated for determining the guard section length.
US08121226B2	Method of evaluating a readout signal, and optical disc apparatus A method and optical disc apparatus for evaluating a quality of a read signal adapted to the PRML method by evaluating a binary code decoded from the read signal obtained by a head, in which an error bit sequence having one bit edge shift from the binary code is generated, a Euclidian distance is calculated on both a correct bit sequence and the error bit sequence with respect to a predetermined target signal level, assuming that the binary code is the correct bit sequence, a Euclidian distance difference between the Euclidian distance on the correct bit sequence and the Euclidian distance on the error bit sequence is calculated, an average Euclidian distance from the target signal level is calculated, a normalized sequence error is calculated, the binary code is evaluated using the normalized sequence error.
US08121224B2	Systems and methods for filter based media defect detection Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for media defect detection. For example, a data receiving system is disclosed that includes a data signal provided from a medium that may include a defective portion. An absolute value circuit receives the data signal and provides an output corresponding to an absolute value of the data signal. The output corresponding to the absolute value of the data signal is input to a filter that filters it and provides a filtered output. In some cases, the filter is a digital filter operable to integrate the absolute value of the data signal. A comparator receives the output from the filter and compares it with a threshold value. The result of the comparison indicates a defect status of the medium.
US08121222B2	Systems and methods for construction of time-frequency surfaces and detection of signals Systems and methods for detecting and/or identifying signals that employ streaming processing to generate time-frequency surfaces by sampling a datastream according to a temporal structure that may be chosen as needed. The sampled datastream may be correlated with a set of templates that span the band of interest in a continuous manner, and used to generate time-frequency surfaces from irregularly sampled data with arbitrary structure that has been sampled with non-constant and non-Nyquist sampling rates where such non-constant rates are needed or desired.
US08121221B2	In-situ gain calibration of radio frequency devices using thermal noise An apparatus for calibrating gain of an radio frequency receiver (“Rx”) is disclosed to provide, among other things, a structure for performing in-situ gain calibration of an RF integrated circuit over time and/or over temperature without removing the RF integrated circuit from its operational configuration, especially when the gain of the RF integrated circuit is susceptible to variations in process, such as inherent with the CMOS process. In one embodiment, an exemplary apparatus includes a thermal noise generator configured to generate thermal noise as a calibrating signal into an input of an Rx path of an RF integrated circuit. The apparatus also includes a calibrator configured to first measure an output signal from an output of the Rx path, and then adjust a gain of the Rx path based on the thermal noise. In one embodiment, the thermal noise generator further includes a termination resistance and/or impedance.
US08121220B1	Apparatus and method for reduced complexity maximum likelihood MIMO detection In a multiple-input multiple-output communication system, a transmit symbol vector and a set of soft decision metrics may be estimated using a reduced complexity maximum likelihood (ML) detection method based on a receive symbol vector and a QR decomposition of a set of permuted channel matrices. The reduced complexity ML detection method may use a different permuted channel matrix to estimate each transmit symbol in a transmit symbol vector. A set of error distances may be calculated for the estimated transmit symbol vector, each error distance calculated choosing a different value from a signal constellation subset for a transmit symbol in the estimated transmit symbol vector. A soft decision metric may be calculated using the elements from the set of error distances. In some embodiments the transmit symbols of a transmit symbol vector and the soft decision metrics for each transmit symbol may be determined in parallel.
US08121218B2	Apparatus and method for mapping symbols to resources in a mobile communication system A method and apparatus for mapping coded data symbols to resources in a mobile communication system. An S/P converter converts a serial signal including user data or control information into a plurality of parallel signals. A DFT unit performs Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) on the parallel signals output from the S/P converter. A controller controls the DFT unit so that among the signals output from the S/P converter, a control channel is mapped in the maximum available resources to which the control channel can be mapped, among the resources included in a resource block, and data symbols are mapped to the remaining resources, except for the maximum available resources to which the control channel can be mapped. A subcarrier mapper allocates the signals output from the DFT unit to subcarriers. An RF processor converts a signal output from the subcarrier mapper into a radio signal.
US08121217B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting data in a time division duplexed (TDD) communication system Techniques to process data for transmission in a time division duplexed (TDD) communication system. In one aspect, the frequency response of a forward link is estimated at a base station based on reverse link transmissions (e.g., pilots) from a terminal. Prior to a data transmission on the forward link, the base station determines a reverse transfer function based on the pilots transmitted by the terminal, “calibrates” the reverse transfer function with a calibration function to derive an estimate of a forward transfer function, and preconditions modulation symbols based on weights derived from the forward transfer function. In another aspect, the terminal estimates the “quality” of the forward link and provides this information to the base station. The base station then uses the information to properly code and modulate data prior to transmission such that the transmitted data can be received by the terminal at the desired level of performance.
US08121216B2	Channel estimation device, equalization device, and radio system Provided are a channel estimation device and an equalization device capable of achieving high channel estimation accuracy with less amount of calculation processing. The equalization device includes: a channel estimation section including a ZF calculation/clipping processing section and correlation processing section; a weight calculation section; and an equalization filter. The ZF calculation/clipping processing section uses a signal obtained by converting a pilot code into a frequency domain to calculate a pilot reference signal according to a Zero Forcing (ZF) method and clips the gain of the calculated pilot reference signal to a predetermined value to generate a clipped pilot reference signal. The correlation processing section performs correlation between a pilot reception signal in the frequency domain and clipped pilot reference signal to estimate channel characteristics of the frequency domain. The weight calculation section calculates an equalization weight based on the channel characteristics of the frequency domain. The equalization filter performs equalization processing of a frequency domain reception signal using the equalization weight.
US08121215B2	Broadband self adjusting quadrature signal generator and method thereof Low noise phase quadrature signals are generated after receiving a clock signal and adjusting the clock signal in response to a feedback signal to generate a phase adjusted clock signal. The clock signal and the phase adjusted clock signal are exclusive-ored to generate a frequency doubled signal. An in-phase local oscillator signal and a quadrature local oscillator signal are generated from the frequency doubled signal such that the in-phase local oscillator and the quadrature local oscillator signal are out-of-phase with each other. In addition, a phase relationship between the in-phase local oscillator signal and the quadrature local oscillator signal are detected, and the feedback signal is generated based upon the phase relationship between the in-phase local oscillator signal and the quadrature local oscillator signal.
US08121214B2	Local oscillator with non-harmonic ratio between oscillator and RF frequencies using XOR operation A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. A synthesizer provides 4/3 the desired frequency fRF. This frequency is divided by two to obtain in-phase and quadrature square waves at ⅔ fRF. The in-phase signal is divided by two again to obtain in-phase and quadrature square waves at ⅓ fRF. The signals are then logically combined using XOR operations to obtain I and Q branch signals containing spectral spurs. Since the spurs are located in non-disturbing bands, they can be filtered out resulting in the desired output signal.
US08121212B2	Transmitting apparatus and method, and receiving apparatus and method in multple antenna system Respective codewords of quantization codebooks corresponding to a number of data streams are selected based on channel information estimated by a received training symbol. A stream mode is selected among stream modes to determine a modulation method applied to each data stream. The data stream is detected by using the codeword corresponding to the quantization codebook of the data stream corresponding to the selected stream mode as a precode matrix, and the detected data stream is modulated. In this case, a receiving apparatus performs a feedback operation so that indexes of the selected stream mode and the codeword used as the precode matrix may be transmitted to the transmitting apparatus. The transmitting apparatus selects the number of transmitted data streams and the modulation method based on the transmitted index of feedback streams by the feedback operation.
US08121209B2	Concatenation-assisted symbol-level combining for MIMO systems with HARQ and/or repetition coding Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors from the same transmitted vector. The receiver combines the received vectors by vector concatenation The concatenated vector may then be decoded using, for example, maximum-likelihood decoding. In some embodiments, the combined signal vector is equalized before decoding.
US08121206B2	Apparatus and method for estimating delay spread of multi-path fading channel in OFDM system Provided is an apparatus for estimating a delay spread of a multi-path fading channel in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system. The apparatus is applied to an OFDM receiver including a channel equalization unit compensating channel distortion by estimating channel distortion at pilot locations with respect to output signals of an FFT unit.
US08121204B2	OFDM receivers A method and apparatus for filtering a received Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) signal to reduce noise. The ODFM signal includes a plurality of symbols n in the time direction, each symbol including a plurality of sub-carriers k in the frequency direction, each a-th sub-carrier of each symbol being transmitted as a pilot sub-carrier with known amplitude and phase, and each symbol having its pilot sub-carriers spaced by b sub-carriers relative to the adjacent symbol. An m-tap filter is utilized for producing a filtered version of a selected pilot sub-carrier to be used in subsequent interpolation, by inputting into respective taps of the m-tap filter, m pilot sub-carriers surrounding the selected pilot sub-carrier. The m pilot sub-carriers each satisfy a relationship between n and k, wherein the relationship defines a diagonal line in the n-k plane.
US08121202B2	Power-line communication method, power-line communication device, and power-line communication system To provide a power-line communication method, a power-line communication device, and a power-line communication system, which can make communication with high communication efficiency even when the condition of a power line is changed. In step S101, a noise detection process is performed in correspondence to a time domain synchronized with a power source cycle of a power line. In step S102, a communication channel decision process of generating communication channels in the time domain is performed on the basis of the noise condition detected in step S101. In step S103, tone maps are prepared for the communication channels generated in step S102. When the preparation of the tone maps is ended, the tone maps are transmitted to a destination PLC and data are transmitted and received between a transmission-side PLC and a reception-side PLC by the use of the same tone map (step S104).
US08121201B2	Pulse transmitter, pulse receiver, pulse transmitting method, and pulse demodulating method A pulse transmitter having a relatively simple structure and generating a pulse modulating signal even at a high transmission rate. In the pulse transmitter, a symbol pulse generating part (103) generates a symbol pulse of amplitude level β when data S1 is “0,” and that of amplitude level &ggr; when data S1 is “1” in the first pulse slot section, the data pulse generating part (104) generates a data pulse of amplitude level 0 when data S2 to Sn is “0,” and that of amplitude level α when data S2 to Sn is “1” in a later pulse slot section. The relationship of the amplitude levels keep the relation α<β<&ggr. An adder (105) adds the symbol pulse and the data pulse and outputs the sum as a pulse modulating signal.
US08121193B2	Motion picture encoding device and motion picture encoding processing program The minimum Sum of Absolute Differences obtained by a motion vector search roughly judges the magnitude of quantization error by whether or not exceeding a predetermined threshold value. When the quantization error is lower, whether or not visually noticeable noise exists in some of the pixels of the current macroblock is judged based on the amount of flatness and noise detected in each of the 4x4 pixel blocks of the current macroblock partitioned into 16 sub-macroblocks. If there is visually noticeable noise, intra-frame coding is selected. When the quantization error is higher, whether or not visually noticeable noise exists in the current macroblock is judged while considering the magnitude of the motion vector. If there is visually noticeable noise, intra-frame coding is selected.
US08121185B2	Double equalizer for multi-path rejection An apparatus for improved reception of a signal is described. The apparatus includes an equalizer that has at least two cascaded maximum-likelihood detectors and an adjustable delay unit. The equalizer and the adjustable delay unit are configured for adaptation in accordance with one or more multi-path signals in a communication channel that conveys the signal.
US08121183B2	System for an adaptive floating tap decision feedback equalizer A method for adaptive selection of floating taps in a decision feedback equalizer including the steps of (A) determining values for a predefined metric for tap positions within a range covered by a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) and (B) setting one or more floating taps of the DFE to tap positions based upon the values of the predefined metric.
US08121182B2	High performance equalizer with enhanced DFE having reduced complexity An apparatus and method for implementing an equalizer which (1) combines the benefits of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) with a maximum-a-posterori (MAP) equalizer (or a maximum likelihood sequence estimator, MLSE) (2) performs equalization in a time-forward or time-reversed manner based on the channel being minimum-phase or maximum-phase to provide an equalization device with significantly lower complexity than a full-state MAP device, but which still provides improved performance over a conventional DFE. The equalizer architecture includes two DFE-like structures, followed by a MAP equalizer. The first DFE forms tentative symbol decisions. The second DFE is used thereafter to truncate the channel response to a desired memory of L1 symbols, which is less than the total delay spread of L symbols of the channel. The MAP equalizer operates over a channel with memory of L1 symbols (where L1<=L), and therefore the overall complexity of the equalizer is significantly reduced.
US08121179B2	Wireless relay device and wireless relay method A device and a process which enable use of transmission diversity in transmission to a receiving station when wirelessly relaying wireless signals from a transmitting station to the receiving station. A reception antenna RA in a wireless relay device (RS) receives from the transmitting station such as a base station (BS) a signal in which data signals are respectively allocated to carriers at adjacent radio frequencies. The wireless relay device performs space frequency block coding (SFBC) of the received signal. Then, the wireless relay device transmits SFBC-encoded signals through two transmission antennas SA0 and SA1 to the receiving station such as a mobile station (MS).
US08121178B2	Method and system for sending data using a very high bit rate digital subscriber line In a particular embodiment a VDSL repeater is disclosed. The VDSL repeater includes a first interface for receiving data from an IPTV network node; a second interface for sending data to an end user client device; and an amplifier in electrical communication with the first interface for amplifying data received on the first interface from the IPTV network node when a power supply voltage is present on the first interface, wherein the amplifier sends the amplified data received on the first interface to the second interface. In another aspect of a particular embodiment the VDSL repeater further includes a circuit that bypasses the amplifier when the power supply voltage is not present on the first interface. In another particular embodiment a method for amplifying a VDSL signal when a power supply voltage is present on the twisted pair using the power supply voltage is disclosed.
US08121177B2	Method and apparatus for interference suppression with efficient matrix inversion in a DS-CDMA system A receiver in a CDMA system comprises a front end processor that generates a combined signal per source. A symbol estimator processes the combined signal to produce symbol estimates. An S-Matrix Generation module refines these symbol estimates based on the sub channel symbol estimates. An interference canceller is configured for cancelling interference from at least one of the plurality of received signals for producing at least one interference-cancelled signal.
US08121175B2	Radio communication device and response signal diffusion method Provided is a radio communication device which can suppress inter-code interference between an ACK/NACK signal and a CQI signal which are code-multiplexed. In this device, a diffusion unit (214) diffuses the ACK/NACK signal inputted from a judgment unit (208) by using a ZC sequence. A diffusion unit (219) diffuses the CQI signal by using a cyclic shift ZC sequence. By using a Walsh sequence, a diffusion unit (216) further diffuses the ACK/NACK signal which has been diffused by using the ZC sequence. A control unit (209) controls the diffusion unit (214), the diffusion unit (216), and the diffusion unit (219) so that the minimum value of the difference between the CQI signals from a plurality of mobile stations and a cyclic shift amount of the ACK/NACK signal is not smaller than the minimum value of the difference between the cyclic shift amounts of the ACK/NACK signals from the plurality of mobile stations.
US08121169B2	Split control of front and rear DBR grating portions A method is provided for controlling a DBR laser diode wherein front and rear DBR section heating elements are controlled such that the reflectivity of the rear grating portion of the DBR section is lower than the reflectivity of the front grating portion of the DBR section. In this manner, lasing mode selection is dominated by the front grating portion and the front DBR section heating element can be controlled for wavelength tuning. In addition, the rear DBR section heating element can be controlled to narrow the spectral bandwidth of the DBR reflection spectra. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08121167B2	Dual wavelength laser device for optical communication A dual wavelength laser device including a cap, a header, a first laser chip and a second laser chip. The cap includes a cap body and a lens embedded on the cap body. The header forms an accommodating space with the cap. The first laser chip is arranged in the accommodating space and emitting a first laser beam toward the lens. The second laser chip is arranged in the accommodating space and emitting a second laser beam toward the lens.
US08121165B2	MQW laser structure comprising plural MQW regions Multi-quantum well laser structures are provided comprising active and/or passive MQW regions. Each of the MQW regions comprises a plurality of quantum wells and intervening barrier layers. Adjacent MQW regions are separated by a spacer layer that is thicker than the intervening barrier layers. The bandgap of the quantum wells is lower than the bandgap of the intervening barrier layers and the spacer layer. The active region may comprise active and passive MQWs and be configured for electrically-pumped stimulated emission of photons or it may comprises active MQW regions configured for optically-pumped stimulated emission of photons.
US08121164B1	Quantum cascade laser: bias-neutral design A quantum cascade laser (QCL) having a bias-neutral design and a semiconductor with multiple layers of AlxIn1-xAs/InyGa1-yAs. The first active region barrier has a thickness of less than fourteen angstroms, and the second active region barrier has a thickness of less than eleven angstroms. The lower active region wavefunction overlaps with each of the injector level wavefunctions. Also, the laser transition is vertical at a bias close to roll-over. The injector level 3′ is above a lower laser level 3, the injector level 2′ is below the lower laser level 3, and the active region level 2 is confined to the active region. The lower laser level 3 is separated from the active region level 2 by the energy of the LO phonon. The remaining active region states and the remaining injector states are either above the lower laser level 3 or significantly below the active region level 2.
US08121163B2	Semiconductor laser diode apparatus and method of fabricating the same A semiconductor laser diode apparatus capable of suppressing variation in an emission position and an emission direction of a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser diode element is obtained. This semiconductor laser diode apparatus includes a semiconductor laser diode element having warping along either a first direction in which a cavity extends or a second direction intersecting with the first direction and a base on which a convex side of the warping of the semiconductor laser diode element is fixed, wherein a distance between a first end of the semiconductor laser diode element in a direction of larger warping among the first and second directions and the base is smaller than a distance between a second end of the semiconductor laser diode element in the direction of the large warping among the first and second directions and the base.
US08121161B2	Laser diode driver driven in shunt mode by signals complementary to each other A laser driver to drive an LD in the shunt mode and driven with signals complementary to each other is disclosed. The driver includes two FETs of the enhancement and a terminator. Two FETs are connected in parallel with the LD and driven by the complementary signals but have sizes different from each other. The terminator is connected between respective gate terminals of the FET. The driver further includes a capacitor that compensates the difference in the size of two FETs, which is substantially equal to a magnitude of the junction capacitance of the FET. The capacitor is integrated with the FETs.
US08121160B2	Driver circuit for semiconductor laser diode driven in differential mode A driver circuit for a semiconductor laser diode (LD) is disclosed, in which the driver circuit drives the LD in the differential mode and lowers the power consumption thereof. The driver circuit includes a differential unit to provide the modulation current to the LD, a voltage converter to provide a positive power supply to the differential unit, a detector to detect the common mode voltage of the differential outputs of the unit, and a comparing unit to control the voltage converter dynamically such that the output common mode voltage is set in a preset reference level.
US08121159B2	Temperature compensation method for laser power of an optical disk drive A temperature compensation method for laser power in an optical disk drive is provided. A predetermined linear-fitting power curve and a temperature-changing slope curve are previously stored in the optical disk drive. Firstly, an output of laser power is controlled according to the predetermined linear-fitting power curve to read/write data. Next, the temperature of the disk drive is detected. Then, whether the temperature has changed is checked. If the temperature has not changed, the method continues to read/write data. If the temperature has changed, the method obtains a relative slope from the slope curve by use of the temperature of the disk drive, displaces the slope of the predetermined linear-fitting power curve with the obtained relative slope to form a new linear-fitting power curve for replacing the predetermined linear-fitting power curve, and controls the output of laser power.
US08121155B2	Fiber laser based production of laser drilled microvias for multi-layer drilling, dicing, trimming or milling applications Fiber lasers and methods for constructing and using fiber lasers for micro-/nano-machining with output beams including stacked pulses and combinations of continuous wave, pseudo-continuous wave and pulse sequence components.
US08121154B2	Thulium and/or holmium doped silicated glasses for two micron lasers A laser glass fiber with a core of the fiber composition, comprising a silicate glass host, one or more glass network modifiers, one or more glass network intermediators, and Thulium ions, Holmium ions, or a combination of Thulium ions and Holmium ions. The fiber emits laser light from 1.7 micron to 2.2 micron.
US08121153B2	Devices and system for fiber access Devices and a system for synchronizing time between a centralized controller device and at least one subscriber device on a fiber access network. The control layer of a network device is expanded, and additional messaging control is added via the transmission of data frames. The expansion prevents reliance on a physical layer signal. The time synchronization also allows a time stamp to be incorporated into a message. Thus, bandwidth is not wasted by simply transmitting a time stamp by itself. In an embodiment, the centralized controller device measures the time difference between the time at which a particular ranging request is transmitted and the time at which the particular ranging request is received. The time difference represents the time adjustment value for the particular subscriber device and allows the device to synchronize its time with that of the centralized controller device.
US08121148B2	Protocol stack using shared memory There are disclosed processes and systems relating to optimized network traffic generation and reception. Application programs and a protocol stack may share a memory space. The protocol stack may designate available bandwidth for use by an application program. The application programs may store descriptors from which the protocol stack may form payload data for data units.
US08121147B2	Context-sensitive multimedia message service response An apparatus and a method for context-sensitive multimedia message service (MMS) response. The provision of a response to a MMS UA originated MMS message (e.g. requesting to send a multimedia message (MM)) that is context-sensitive allows the network operator/service provider to provide value-added and potentially revenue generating content in the response. The content of the response can be context-sensitive based on one or more context parameters. The context parameters can be based on any of the information elements in the MMS UA originated MMS message, on fields in an associated MM, inputs provided by other external systems (e.g., accounting, presence and location information) and combinations thereof.
US08121144B2	Multi-function wireless terminal A method for communication includes allocating time intervals for a first communication session over a first connection between a wireless terminal and a base station of a long-range wireless data network, which operates in accordance with a first protocol defining time frames having downlink and uplink sub-frames. Time slots are allocated for a second communication session over a second connection between the terminal and a peripheral wireless device, which operates in accordance with a second, short-range time-slotted protocol, which is different from the first protocol and has a retransmission mechanism. The time slots are synchronized with the downlink and uplink sub-frames defined by the BS. Operation of the second connection is inhibited during some of the time slots that overlap the downlink sub-frames, so as to invoke the retransmission mechanism and cause the terminal to transmit only during the time slots that do not overlap the downlink sub-frames.
US08121137B2	Methods and apparatus for fibre channel interconnection of private loop devices Methods and apparatus for communicating Fiber Channel frames between a private loop device and an Ethernet link through a Fiber Channel private loop device interconnect system. In the preferred embodiments, the Fiber Channel private loop device interconnect system I a fabric or an intelligent bridging hub. In one aspect of this invention, a Fiber Channel private loop device is storage device which contains JBOSD or RAIDS. Preferably, the interconnect system includes routing filter incoming Arbitrated Loop physical addresses (ALPAs) to determine which Fiber Channel frames must attempt to be routed through the fabric. Numerous topologies of interconnect systems may be achieved.
US08121135B2	Discovering path maximum transmission unit size Intermediate network devices, such as routers, are configured to discover a maximum transmission unit (MTU) for a path between two network endpoints by removing data from packets when the packet size exceeds a link MTU to a next hop. An example intermediate network device includes a forwarding engine to determine an interface card through which to forward a received packet and to determine a link MTU for a link corresponding to the interface card, wherein the received packet comprises a header and a payload, the header indicating not to fragment the packet, and a PMTU determination module to determine whether a size of the received packet exceeds the link MTU, and to remove a portion of data from the payload of the packet, discard the removed portion, and adjust the header of the packet according to the removed portion when the size of the received packet exceeds the link MTU.
US08121133B2	Stream regulation in a peer to peer network Techniques for regulating streams in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network are provided. By establishing a priority of a stream, certain users may have some level of assurance that their stream will be received by other peers. The priority may be established based on a variety of parameters including, for example, an identification of the user, a communications channel used for a multicast session, and/or a role of the user.
US08121131B2	Transmission of a tributary in synchronous mode at the level of a link of a data network A method of transmitting a tributary in synchronous mode at the level of a link of a data network is disclosed. The tributary comprising at least one frame including at least one payload envelope area and one transport overhead area. The envelope area includes at least one payload and load supervision data related thereto. The transport overhead area includes transport supervision data related and an area of fixed patterns. The method comprises modifying a frame to create a modified frame and transmitting the modified frame. Modifying the frame comprises: part of the fixed patterns are deleted from the fixed pattern area; the positions of the part of the fixed patterns deleted are recorded; replacement data are inserted at the level of the positions. The method is characterized in that the replacement data comprise the transport supervision data of the frame of the tributary.
US08121124B2	Applying adaptive thresholds to multicast streams within computer networks In general, techniques are described for applying adaptive thresholds to multicast streams within computer networks. For example, an access node may implement the techniques to facilitate efficient delivery of multicast streams. The access node comprises an interface that couples to a subscriber network having a subscriber device. The access node also includes a control unit that determines a multicast stream count reflecting current delivery of multicast streams to the subscriber network and a threshold value based on historical multicast stream counts delivered to the subscriber. The interface receives a message requesting to join a multicast group in accordance with a multicast management protocol. In response to this message, the control unit determines a projected stream count based on the above current multicast count. The control unit then compares the projected stream count to the threshold value, and admits the subscriber device to the multicast group based on the comparison.
US08121123B2	Method for multicasting of packets in PON residential gateways A method for multicasting packets in a passive optical network (PON) residential gateway. The method comprises storing a payload portion of an input packet in a memory; duplicating a header of the input packet to create duplicate headers as the number of destination end-point devices; modifying each of the duplicated header to uniquely designate an output interface of an Ethernet medium access (MAC) adapter coupled to at least one of the destination endpoint devices; passing to the Ethernet MAC adapter its respective modified header together with a pointer to a location of the payload portion in the memory; generating a multicast packet by retrieving the payload portion from the memory and attaching the modified header to the payload portion; and transmitting the multicast packet to the destination endpoint device coupled to the Ethernet MAC adapter.
US08121121B2	Communication system, device, method for handing over a route and method for notifying a state of advertising a label The present invention relates to a field of communication technology, and more particularly to a communication system, a label switched router, a network device, a method for handing over a route, and a method for notifying a state of advertising a label so as to improve an accuracy occasion for handing over a route. A liberal LSP between an upstream LSR and a downstream LSR is established; it is confirmed that establishing the liberal LSP is accomplished; a handover notification is sent to the upstream LSR; and the upstream LSR hands over the route according to the handover notification. By adopting such technical solution, the accuracy occasion for handing over the route is improved so as to avoid label forwarding interruption, and reduce the influences on the convergence time of handing over the route.
US08121120B2	Packet relay apparatus In a packet relay apparatus equipped with a hierarchical bandwidth control function, a queuing unit of a bandwidth controller for controlling a bandwidth of a packet to be transmitted recognizes user information for identifying a user from VLAN ID of a received Tag-VLAN packet, acquires queue information representative of a queue position by referring to a priority mapping table by using a user priority order in the packet, and queues the packet to the queue identified by the user information and queue information. Bandwidth control can therefore be performed without searching a QoS information management table.
US08121107B2	Communication in dual protocol environments A radio transceiver comprising: a signal receiver for receiving signals in the form of bursts according to a first protocol; a transmitter for transmitting signals in the form of bursts according to a second protocol, the first and second protocols being such that signals of the first and second protocols are mutually interfering; a transmission scheduler for predicting, based on the timings of signal bursts of the first protocol received by the receiver, the timings of future bursts of the first protocol and arranged to influence the transmitter to transmit bursts according to the second protocol so as to avoid the signal bursts of the first protocol as predicted.
US08121106B2	Method and arrangement for managing a reference signal for uplink channel estimation in a communications system An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of measuring a reference signal that is less over head consuming and less time consuming. The object is achieved by a method for managing uplink channel estimation in a base station. The base station is comprised in a radio access network using Frequency Division Duplex (FDD). The base station is associated with a first cell of a number of cells within the radio access network. The base station is adapted to connect at least one mobile terminal, being situated in the first cell, to a network infrastructure. The method comprises the step of transmitting a redirected reference signal on an uplink band to the mobile terminal. The redirected reference signal is intended for uplink channel estimation.
US08121105B2	Pilot signal transmission method and radio communication apparatus In a radio communication system, transmission of CAZAC sequences as the pilot signal sequences by using code division multiplexing as at least one of user multiplexing schemes, is done by dividing a system band as a frequency band usable in the system into frequency blocks B1 and B2 having bandwidths W1 and W2, generating the pilot signals of the frequency blocks B1 and B2 with a single carrier, using the pilot signal sequences having sequence lengths L1 and L2 corresponding to frequency blocks B1 and B2 respectively; and, transmitting the generated pilot signals as the pilot signals corresponding individual users, with multicarriers using an arbitrary number of frequency blocks among the plural frequency blocks.
US08121103B2	Adaptive MAC fragmentation and rate selection for 802.11 wireless networks A method for setting and adjusting MAC fragmentation threshold for IEEE 802.11 networks operating at different data rates is presented. The fragmentation threshold is adjusted based on throughput performance, delay constraints and hidden node influence.
US08121101B2	Multichannel MAC in wireless networks A method of transmitting data over a plurality of channels, said channels forming a bonded channel comprising a bonded channel superframe, the bonded channel superframe comprising a bonded channel beacon period and a bonded channel data period; broadcasting a control message on a bonded channel superframe, said control message indicating that subsequent transmission will be over distinct channels, each of said channels comprising a distinct superframe comprising a beacon period and a data period, and transmitting in each of the distinct channels a sequence of superframes, each superframe comprising a distinct beacon period followed by a distinct data period.
US08121100B2	Radio resource allocation for cellular wireless networks Embodiments of the invention relate to cellular wireless networks and are particularly suited to networks including different types of base stations. So-called femtocell types of base stations are typically deployed within a subscriber's premises and operate at low transmit power, providing a very limited area of wireless coverage. A femtocell is typically deployed within the area of wireless coverage of a conventional macrocell, occupying the same frequency spectrum and timeslots as the macrocell. A problem can be presented to a user equipment terminal that is close to the femtocell but unable to gain access to it, because the transmissions from the femtocell may appear as interference to the user equipment terminal, preventing it from accessing the macrocell which it could otherwise access. A cellular wireless network according to an embodiment of the invention employs a method of allocating radio resource to femtocells so that the transmissions from femtocells do not occupy the same radio resource blocks as those used by the macrocell for signalling; embodiments of the invention thereby prevent interference associated with signalling to cause a connection to be lost, or prevent a connection being set up.
US08121099B2	Voice over internet protocol system and related wireless local area network device A voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system. The system includes a first device and a second device. The first device is disposed in a wireless local area network (WLAN) and connected to an Internet, for performing voice communication with a remote device through the Internet. Additionally, the first device processes audio information received during the voice communication to generate at least a playback audio packet, sends out the playback audio packet through the WLAN, receives at least a captured audio packet through the WLAN, and processes the captured audio packet to generate audio information to be sent out during the voice communication. The second device is disposed in the WLAN, for receiving the playback audio packet through the WLAN, playing audio information contained in the playback audio packet, capturing outside audio information to generate the captured audio packet, and sending out the captured audio packet through the WLAN.
US08121097B2	Transmission with hopping for peer-peer communication Techniques for transmitting signals using time hopping or time and frequency hopping are described. In one design, a terminal selects different slots to use for transmission in multiple frames with time hopping. Each frame includes multiple slots, and each slot covers a particular time duration. The selected slots are at different time locations in the multiple frames. In another design, a terminal selects different resource units to use for transmission in multiple frames with time and frequency hopping. The selected resource units are at different time and frequency locations in the multiple frames. For both designs, the terminal sends a signal (e.g., a peer discovery signal) in the selected slots or resource units in the multiple frames. The terminal may detect for signals (e.g., peer discovery signals) from other terminals in slots not used for transmission by the terminal.
US08121094B2	Method for managing cross-layer handover Provided is a method for managing a cross-layer handover. The method includes the steps of: managing a predetermined number of neighbor cells as a handover candidate set based on signal strength and route estimation; transmitting a Measurement Report message having the handover candidate set information to a source base station according to a reporting event; and performing a handover according to a Handover Command message received from the source base station.
US08121092B1	Methods and systems for selecting a low-cost internet base station (LCIB) for a macro-network-to-LCIB handoff of an active mobile station Methods and systems are provided for selecting a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) for a macro-network-to-LCIB handoff of an active mobile station. In one embodiment, a handoff request is received from a mobile station, the handoff request indicating that the mobile station is requesting that a first pseudorandom number (PN) offset be added to an active set for the mobile station, the active set comprising one or more macro-network sectors. It is determined that the first PN offset is associated with an LCIB pilot beacon, and a candidate set of LCIBs is responsively identified, the candidate set consisting of substantially all of the LCIBs that are located in the one or more macro-network sectors in the active set. It is determined whether the mobile station is an authorized mobile station of exactly one LCIB in the candidate set and, if so, the mobile station is directed to handoff to that LCIB.
US08121088B2	Method and apparatus for performing data communication in mobile communication terminal Disclosed are a method and apparatus for performing communication in a mobile communication terminal. The method includes determining the type of the communication when the mobile communication terminal exits from a WiBro service area while performing the communication using a WiBro network, receiving, if the communication is data communication, an input of a data communication method and continuing to perform or terminating the data communication according to the input data communication method.
US08121086B2	Wireless networking device and communication method using the same A wireless networking device and a communication method using the same. The wireless networking device includes an address generator to generate an address to be used in a predetermined wireless network, a router information setter to set router information of the wireless network, and a controller to control operation of the address generator and the router information setter according to the router information and perform hand-off to a wireless network that corresponds to the router information.
US08121085B1	Slot allocation method and apparatus for slot-based communication Communication between a base station and remote stations is partitioned into frames, each including a first frequency reuse zone having a number of slots. Slots are allocated by assigning a first data rate to each remote station for communication using the first frequency reuse zone. Each remote station is assigned a respective slot allocation comprising a first number of slots of the first frequency reuse zone and has a weighted data rate dependent on the first data rate and the respective slot allocation. The slot allocations are determined so as to maximize the minimum of the weighted data rates of the remote stations. Slots may be allocated using a data rate assigner to assign a first data rate to each remote station for communication using slots of the first frequency reuse zone, and using a slot allocation provider to provide a respective slot allocation for each remote station.
US08121082B2	DTX detection when ACK/NACK is transmitted with scheduling request A method for signaling between a mobile apparatus (10) and a network node (12) is described. The method includes generating a message that includes a scheduling request. Determining whether a second indication (e.g., an acknowledgment) is to be transmitted in a sub-frame with the first indication is also included. The method includes, in response to a determination that the second indication is not to be included, the message is configured in a first configuration and, in response to a determination that the second indication is to be included, the message also includes the second indication and the message is configured in a second configuration. The first configuration is distinct from the second configuration. The method also includes sending the message, via a wireless transmitter, in the sub-frame. Apparatus and computer-readable media are also described.
US08121080B2	Beacon scheduling system and method for preventing beacon overlapping Provided are a beacon scheduling system and method for preventing beacon overlapping in a ZigBee network including routers each with a beacon slot number according to a specific time slot. The system includes: a first router periodically transmitting beacons at a beacon interval according to a specific time slot; and a second router finding the beacon interval by scanning the beacons transmitted by the first router and transmitting beacons within the beacon interval in consideration of a superframe period for transmitting data. When a router in a sensor network operates, the router can efficiently select the beacon transmission time, and a sink node manages beacon overlapping between all the routers. Therefore, stable, low-energy consumption, and excellent performance sensor networking environments can be established in a beacon mode.
US08121074B1	Adaptive wireless network multiple access techniques using traffic flow A device includes a first transmit circuit to transmit first data, a first receive circuit to receive second data and an adaptive access control circuit to calculate a transmit delay interval based on a first amount of the first data transmitted by the transmit circuit during a predetermined monitoring interval and a second amount of the second data received by the receive circuit during the predetermined monitoring interval. The first transmit circuit transmits third data based on the transmit delay interval.
US08121073B2	Future forwarding zones in a network A method, system, and computer program product for enabling the transmission of data from a mobile device to a target device via one or more carrier mobile devices, in a communication network. A proxy mobile carrier (PMC) utility facilitates transmission of data from the originating mobile device to a target device in a network which is inaccessible to the originating mobile device. The PMC utility employs a collection of enhanced transmission enabling components (ETECs) to enable the data transfer via one or more carrier mobile devices. The ETECs include a message creation component, a network zone identification component, a future forwarding zone prediction component, a message acceptor component, a storage component, an inter-node communication component, and a message delivery component. By initiating specific interactions between the ETECs, the PMC utility facilitates the transmission of data from the mobile device to the target device via carrier mobiles.
US08121068B2	Techniques to improve co-existence among multiple radios Techniques are described that can be used to permit coexistence of different radios. Preambles of frames from a first radio are detected. If the preambles occur within a prescribed period of one another, then a frame synchronization signal is transmitted. Based on the timing of the frame synchronization signal, a second radio adjusts the timing of transmit and receive time slots.
US08121060B2	Protocol extensions in a display port compatible interface A computer can control a target device using a packet format described herein. In one example, an extension packet controls the target device in at least one of power consumption, image rendering, and register updating.
US08121052B2	Framework for internetworking between WMAN and WLAN networks According to one general aspect, a method of using a customer premises equipment (CPE) to represent a mobile station (MS) to a base station (BS) is described. Wherein the CPE and the BS are part of a first wireless network based upon a first networking standard, and the MS and the CPE are part of a second wireless network based upon a second networking standard. The method comprising associating the MS with the CPE. The method further comprising indicating to the BS that the CPE is acting as an agent for the MS on the second wireless network. Also comprising acting as an agent, on the second wireless network, for the MS. And comprising, storing context information related to the MS, wherein the context information includes MS context information related the first network and MS context information related the second network.
US08121051B2	Network resource teaming on a per virtual network basis A computer system teams its network resource ports on a per virtual network basis. The system configures one or more virtual networks. For each of the one or more configured virtual networks, the system establishes a team comprising two or more of the network resource ports. The system selects a layer2 address that is uniquely associated with one of the ports of the team. The system assigns the selected unique layer2 address to be the primary layer2 address for the team.
US08121043B2	Approach for managing the consumption of resources using adaptive random sampling An approach for managing the consumption of resources uses adaptive random sampling to decrease the collection of flow statistical data as the consumption of resources increases. When a packet is received from a network, a determination is made whether the packet belongs to an existing flow, for which flow statistical data is being collected, or to a new flow. If the packet belongs to an existing flow, then the flow statistical data for the existing flow is updated to reflect the packet. If the packet belongs to the new flow, then a sampling probability is used to determine whether the new flow is to be sampled. The sampling probability is determined, at least in part, upon a current usage of resources.
US08121041B2	Redundancy for point-to-multipoint and multipoint-to-multipoint ethernet virtual connections A method and system for redundancy in Ethernet Virtual Connections (EVCs) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting continuity check messages from a node in an Ethernet Virtual Connection connecting at least one root node and a plurality of leaf nodes in a point-to-multipoint or multipoint-to-multipoint connection, identifying a failure in a primary path between the root node and the leaf nodes, switching to a backup path, and advertising the switching to the backup path to at least one node.
US08121030B2	Network service monitoring Network devices, systems, and methods are described that perform network service monitoring. One method includes examining a number of packets received by a first network device to determine whether a protocol of a packet corresponds to a given network service, forwarding packet service type information and packet address information to a second network device in response to a determination that the protocol of the packet corresponds to the network service, comparing the packet service type information and an associated service type address to a list of service types and addresses on the second network device, and executing a remedial action if, based on the comparing, it is determined that the network service is an unauthorized service and that a provider of the network service is an unauthorized provider.
US08121029B2	Methods and systems for providing supported DSL communications features as selections A method of offering Digital Subscriber Link (DSL) communications features includes eliminating selections from a menu of features to be provided via a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) to a customer premises prior to allowing selections from the menu.
US08121028B1	Quality of service provisioning for packet service sessions in communication networks A communication system comprises an end system coupled to an access system and configured to transmit an invite message for a session wherein the invite message indicates a destination and an alias for the end system, a proxy system configured to receive the invite message and transfer a quality request wherein the policy request indicates the alias, a policy system configured to receive the quality request, determine a quality level for the session and transmit a quality message to the access system indicating the alias and the quality level, and the access system configured to receive the quality message, transmit a query to a database system indicating the alias, receive a network address for the end system in response to the query, identify traffic for the session using the network address, and apply the quality level to the traffic.
US08121026B2	Systems and methods for routing data in a communications network A network device includes a group of interfaces. Each interface is associated with at least one other interface of the group of interfaces and a group of network addresses. Each interface is configured to monitor at least one of the group of network addresses with which the each interface is associated or the at least one other interface with which the each interface is associated, and determine whether to logically shut down based on the monitoring.
US08121025B2	Method and system for switching multicast traffic and router A method for switching multicast traffic includes: entering, by a second router, a waiting state after receiving a packet indicative of recovery of a first router; and deleting, by the second router, the egress interface of MFIB entries on the second router after receiving a data packet or an Assert packet from the first router. A router and a system for switching multicast traffic are also provided herein.
US08121021B2	Data transmission method for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system A data transmission method for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system, specifically comprises sending M, which is greater than 1, OFDM symbols included in each data transmission unit with different bandwidth, wherein each data transmission unit with different bandwidth sends two kinds of OFDM symbols with different cyclic prefix lengths: OFDM symbols with the long cyclic prefixes and OFDM symbols with the short cyclic prefixes; and the data transmission units with different bandwidths transmit the identical number of OFDM symbols with the long cyclic prefixes and the identical number of the OFDM symbols with the short cyclic prefixes.
US08121015B2	Optical disk drive device and method An optical disk drive device has an RF equalizer configured to generate an equalized RF signal by controlling a frequency characteristic of a delay time of an RF signal read out from an optical disk based on a control input signal, a playback clock extractor configured to extract a playback clock for reproducing data recorded on the optical disk from the equalized RF signal, and an RF rate controller configured to generate the control input signal inputted to the RF equalizer, wherein the control input signal is a signal for correcting waveform distortion of the RF signal by controlling the delay time of the RF signal dependent on a frequency of the playback clock.
US08121014B2	Method and apparatus for determining the reading power of an optical reproducing device Since the conventional optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus cannot correctly measure a power of a main beam that is a part of the laser light outputted from an objective lens and is focused on a recording layer to contribute to recording/reproducing, it is difficult to accurately control a read power. A ratio of a proper read power to a threshold power of erasing is acquired beforehand. The read power is determined by measuring the threshold power of erasing and multiplying it by the ratio when learning of the read power is performed for each drive device. According to the read power learning method of this invention, it becomes possible to determine the proper read power regardless of performance variance of an optical pickup and sensitivity dispersion of a medium.
US08121013B2	Optical pickup apparatus and optical disc apparatus An optical pickup apparatus changes a propagation direction of luminous fluxes, out of a laser light reflected by a disc, in four luminous flux regions set about a laser optical axis so as to mutually disperse these luminous fluxes. A signal light region in which only a signal light is present appears on a detection surface of a photodetector. A plurality of sensors for a signal light are placed at positions irradiated with the signal light within the region. When an arithmetic process is performed on a detection signal outputted from each sensor, a DC component occurring in a tracking error signal is suppressed.
US08121010B2	Hologram device, tilt detection method, and tilt correction method A hologram device includes: a light source for applying light to a hologram recording medium having a recording layer in which information recording is performed by interference fringes between signal light and reference light; a spatial modulation unit that generates the signal light and/or the reference light and generates a marker light in a predetermined position within an incident surface of the light from the light source by performing spatial light modulation on the light from the light source; a light applying unit that applies the light subjected to spatial light modulation by the spatial light modulation unit to the hologram recording medium via an objective lens; a light receiving unit that receives the light applied via the objective lens through the hologram recording medium; and a tilt detection unit that obtains a tilt error signal representing an error from an ideal angle of a tilt angle as an incident angle of the applied light via the objective lens to an information recording surface of the hologram recording medium based on a result of detection of an error between an ideal light reception position of the marker light in the light receiving unit and a real light reception position of the marker light by the light receiving unit.
US08121009B2	Apparatus and method for recording data on holographic storage medium An apparatus and method to record data on a holographic storage medium, the apparatus including: a light processing unit to record the data on the holographic storage medium using a reference beam and a signal beam, the light processing unit including a light modulator to modulate the signal beam; and a control unit to control the light processing unit to record the data on the holographic storage medium, wherein the light modulator modulates the signal beam so that an image formed on a surface of the light modulator is shorter in a radial direction that is a scanning direction of the reference beam than in a tangential direction that is perpendicular to the radial direction.
US08121003B2	Optical recording/reproducing apparatus The present invention provides an optical recording/reproducing apparatus which can record information on the whole plane of the optical disk with a stable quality, even when the temperature has largely changed during a recording standby period in an intermittent recording process. The present optical recording/reproducing apparatus reproduces the information from a recorded portion on which the information has been already recorded, to evaluate the signal quality of the reproduced information, and simultaneously detects a temperature in the apparatus to correct a recording power of a laser beam when restarting the recording, on the basis of the evaluation result and the detected temperature in the apparatus, during the recording standby period in the intermittent recording process.
US08121000B2	Optical disk apparatus In an optical disk apparatus, an optical pickup includes an actuator for driving an object lens, and a sensed signal output part for making it possible to generate a tracking error signal and a lens error signal by addition/subtraction, and a signal processor includes a servo signal generator for generating a tracking error signal and a lens error signal on the basis of a signal supplied from the sensed signal output part, and a tracking offset correction quantity signal generator supplied with the lens error signal to output a tracking offset correction quantity signal. DC (direct current) offset correction is conducted by conducting addition/subtraction between the tracking error signal and both the lens error signal and the tracking offset correction quantity signal.
US08120998B2	Optical disk drive and method for driving the optical disk drive in relation to a velocity switching point An optical disk drive includes: an objective lens for converging a light beam onto an optical disk with an information storage layer; an actuator for moving the lens perpendicularly to the storage layer; an actuator driver for moving the lens at a predetermined velocity by controlling the actuator's operation; and a disk position detector for detecting the position of the lens, when the focal point of the beam is located on the storage layer, as a disk position. While the lens is being moved toward the disk to perform a focus finding operation, the moving velocity of the lens is set high until the lens reaches a velocity switching point, determined by reference to the disk position, and is set low once the lens has passed the point. The switching point is set farther away from the disk than the position of the lens is when the focal point of the beam is located on the storage layer of the disk.
US08120995B2	Electronic timer with graphic time scale display panel An electronic timer graphically displaying programmed ON/OFF settings includes a microprocessor; a time setting unit electrically connected to the microprocessor for a user to set at least one programmed ON/OFF setting for at least one selected day; a memory unit electrically connected to the microprocessor for storing the programmed ON/OFF setting; a clock signal generating unit electrically connected to the microprocessor for generating a clock signal to the microprocessor; and a graphic time scale display unit electrically connected to the microprocessor and including a plurality of time scale segments, each of which represents a predetermined time period. The microprocessor calculates based on the programmed ON/OFF settings to derive all the time scale segments that are corresponding to the programmed ON/OFF settings, and drives the graphic time scale display unit to show the time scale segments corresponding to the programmed ON/OFF settings.
US08120994B2	Digital transcription system utilizing acoustical detectors having apertures with a vertical orientation relative to the work surface A pen transcription system and method for using the same are disclosed. The pen transcription system includes a receiver having first and second acoustical sensors mounted on a planar base and separated from one another, an EM detector, and a controller. The first and second acoustical sensors detect an acoustical signal emitted by a moveable signal source. The EM detector detects an EM signal that is synchronized with the acoustical signal. The controller measures the difference in time of detection between the EM signal and the acoustical signals detected by the first and second acoustical sensors. The acoustical sensors include a detector and a housing surrounding the detector, the housing having an aperture defined by an axis. The acoustical sensor has a reception function that is symmetrical about the axis and the axis is substantially perpendicular to the base surface.
US08120993B2	Acoustic treatment apparatus and method thereof An acoustic treatment apparatus obtains a first output signal by performing filtering for forming a directivity in a first direction for received sound signals of sound receivers, obtains a second output signal by performing filtering for forming a directivity in a second direction different from the first direction for received sound signals of sound receivers, obtains a strength ratio between a strength of the first output signal and a strength of the second output signal, and estimates a sound source direction on the basis of the strength ratio.
US08120992B2	Method for finding range and bearing to underwater object A method for localizing the range and bearing of a distant underwater object includes firing a preselected number of supercavitating projectiles sequentially from a firing location such that each projectile tracks along substantially the same trajectory. Supercavitating pellets are dispersed from a projectile at a pre-selected range. Acoustic signals are sensed to detect acoustic signals caused by supercavitating pellet impact with an object. These signals can be processed to determine the range and bearing to the object. In further steps the range and bearing can be used to aim the projectiles.
US08120991B2	System and method for full azimuth angle domain imaging in reduced dimensional coordinate systems Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for converting coordinate systems for representing image data such as for example seismic data, including accepting a first set of seismic data, mapping the first set of seismic data to a second set of seismic data, where the dimensionality of the second set of seismic data is less than the dimensionality of the first set of seismic data, and generating image data by processing the second set of seismic data.
US08120989B2	Concurrent multiple-dimension word-addressable memory architecture An N-dimension addressable memory. The memory includes an N-dimension array of bit cells and logic configured to address each bit cell using N-Dimension Addressing (NDA), where N is at least two and the array of bit cells is addressable by N orthogonal address spaces. Each bit cell of the N-dimension addressable memory includes a bit storage element, N word lines, and N bit lines.
US08120982B2	Semiconductor device, control method for semiconductor device, and electronic device A semiconductor device including a first switch coupled to a first power supply line, a second switch coupled to the first switch and to a second power supply line, and a storage part provided in a path which is between the second power supply line and the first switch, and having a high resistance state and a low resistance state, and wherein the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off when a resistance state of the storage part is in a high resistance state.
US08120981B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit device with fuse elements and control method therefore A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a first block, a second block, and a control section. The first block includes a first fuse, a first switching configured to write data to the first fuse, a first holding portion capable of holding a first instruction, and a first instruction portion configured to turn on the first switching when a second instruction is given thereto with the first instruction. The second block includes a second fuse, a second switching configured to write data to the second fuse, a second holding portion capable of holding the first instruction, and a second instruction portion configured to turn on the second switching when the second instruction is given thereto with the first instruction. The control section issues the second instruction at a point in time when the first instruction is held in the first and second holding portions.
US08120978B2	Semiconductor memory device having auto-precharge function To provide a semiconductor memory device including: a first clock generation circuit and a second clock generation circuit that generate a first internal clock and a second internal clock, respectively; a latency counter that counts latency synchronously with the first internal clock; and a recovery counter that counts a write recovery period synchronously with the second internal clock. The second clock generation circuit activates the second internal clock when auto-precharge is designated, and deactivates the second internal clock when the auto-precharge is not designated. With this configuration, the recovery counter does not perform any counting operation when an auto-precharge function is not operated, and thus unnecessary power consumption can be prevented.
US08120973B2	Write driver of semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory bank and a second memory bank and a common write driver configured to drive write data to an activated memory bank of the first memory bank and the second memory bank. The common write driver of the semiconductor memory device includes a common write control block configured to generate common drive control signals corresponding to write data, and a common write drive block configured to drive transmission lines of a first memory bank or transmission lines of a second memory bank that are selected by a bank selection signal in response to the common drive control signals.
US08120972B2	Semiconductor memory apparatus and test circuit therefor A test circuit for a semiconductor memory apparatus of an open bit-line structure includes a compression part configured to, in response to test data read from a plurality of memory cells included in a test target cell mat and a compression control signal generated from a compression control signal generating part, compress the test data that are read from the memory cells that share a sense amplifier block and sequentially output compression test signals.
US08120967B2	Semiconductor memory device and related method of programming A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device comprises applying a program voltage to a selected wordline to program selected memory cells, and performing a verify operation by applying a verify voltage to the selected wordline to determine the programming status of the selected memory cells. The verify operation applies the verify voltage to the selected wordline at least two different times to divide the selected memory cells into at least three regions corresponding to different threshold voltage ranges.
US08120966B2	Method and apparatus for management of over-erasure in NAND-based NOR-type flash memory A method and apparatus for operating an array block of dual charge retaining transistor NOR flash memory cells by erasing the dual charge retaining transistor NOR flash memory cells to set their threshold voltage levels to prevent leakage current from corrupting data during a read operation. Erasure of the array block of NOR flash memory cells begins by selecting one of block section of the array block and erasing, erase verifying, over-erase verifying, and programming iteratively until the charge retaining transistors have their threshold voltages between the lower limit and the upper limit of the first program state. Other block sections are iteratively selected and erased, erased verified, over-erase verified, and programmed repeatedly until the charge retaining transistors have their threshold voltages between the lower limit and the upper limit of the first program state until the entire block has been erased and reprogrammed to a positive threshold level.
US08120960B2	Method and apparatus for accessing a non-volatile memory array comprising unidirectional current flowing multiplexers A non-volatile memory (NVM) having an array of memory cells and a unidirectional multiplexer (UMUX), the UMUX may be comprised of two or more address line ports adapted to receive addressing signals corresponding with elements in the memory array, and a set of switching transistors adapted to switch a supply voltage in accordance with the addressing signal such that current only flows into the array.
US08120956B2	Single-transistor EEPROM array and operation methods An integrated circuit structure includes an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) array, which includes EEPROM cells arranged as rows and columns; a plurality of word-lines and a plurality of drain-lines extending in a column direction, and a plurality of source-lines extending in a row direction. Each of the plurality of word-lines is connected to control gates of the EEPROM cells in a same column. Each of the plurality of drain-lines is connected to drains of the EEPROM cells in a same column, wherein none of the plurality of drain-lines are shared by neighboring columns of the EEPROM cells. Each of the plurality of source-lines is connected to sources of the EEPROM cells in a same row.
US08120955B2	Array and control method for flash based FPGA cell A push-pull non-volatile memory array includes memory cells with an n-channel non-volatile pull-down transistor in series with a p-channel volatile pull-up transistor. A non-volatile transistor row line is associated with each row of the array and is coupled to the control gates of each n-channel non-volatile pull-down transistor in the row. A volatile transistor row line is associated with each row of the array and is coupled to the control gates of each p-channel volatile pull-up transistor in the row with which it is associated. A column line is associated with each column in the array and is coupled to the source of each p-channel volatile pull-up transistor in the column with which it is associated.
US08120950B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes: a first magnetic random access memory including a first memory cell and a second magnetic random access memory including a second memory cell operating at higher speed than the first memory cell and is provided on the same chip together with the first magnetic random access memory. The first memory cell is a current-induced domain wall motion type MRAM and stores data based on a domain wall position of a magnetization free layer. A layer that a write current flows is different from a layer that a read current flows. The second memory cell is a current-induced magnetic field writing type MRAM and stores data based on a magnetic field induced by a write current.
US08120948B2	Data writing method for magnetoresistive effect element and magnetic memory A data writing method for a magnetoresistive effect element of an aspect of the present invention including generating a write current in which a falling period from the start of a falling edge to the end of the falling edge is longer than a rising period from the start of a rising edge to the end of the rising edge, and flowing the write current through the magnetoresistive effect element which comprises a first magnetic layer having an invariable magnetizing direction, a second magnetic layer having a variable magnetizing direction, and a tunnel barrier layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, to change the magnetizing direction of the second magnetic layer.
US08120944B2	Control circuit for forming process on nonvolatile variable resistive element and control method for forming process A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device can carry out a forming process simultaneously on the nonvolatile variable resistive elements of memory cells and make the forming time shorter. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device has a forming detection circuit provided between the memory cell array and the second selection line (bit line) decoder. The forming detection circuit detects the completion of the forming process for memory cells by measuring the fluctuation in the potential of second selection lines or the current flowing through the second selection lines when applying a voltage pulse for a forming process through the second selection lines simultaneously to the memory cells on which a forming process is to be carried out connected to the same first selection line (word line), and prevents a voltage from being applied to the second selection lines connected to the memory cells where the completion of the forming process is detected.
US08120938B2	Method and apparatus for arranging multiple processors on a semiconductor chip A method and apparatus for connecting multiple cores to form a multi core processor. Each processor is connected to at least two other processors, each of which is a mirror image of the first processor. The processors are connected to form a two dimensional matrix connected by one drop busses.
US08120935B2	Power converter with dual ring network control A method for providing electric power to a power system includes receiving, at a slave node of a power converter having a plurality of slave nodes, a first synchronization signal via a first communication channel, the first synchronization signal purporting to represent a master timing characteristic of a master control node of the converter; receiving, at the slave node of the converter, a second synchronization signal via a second communication channel, the second synchronization signal purporting to represent a master timing characteristic of the master control node of the converter; synchronizing an internal timing characteristic of the slave control node with the master timing characteristic of the master control node using the first synchronization signal; determining that the first synchronization signal is invalid; and synchronizing an internal timing characteristic of the slave control node with the master timing characteristic of the master control node using the second synchronization signal.
US08120934B2	Voltage converter and method for voltage conversion A voltage converter comprises a first, a second and a third capacitor (11, 12, 13) which are switched in series in at least one operating state, an input (1) for supplying an input voltage (VIN), an output (2) for providing an output voltage (VOUT), and a compensation circuit (5). The input (1) of the voltage converter is coupled to a capacitor from a group comprising the first, the second and the third capacitor (11, 12, 13). The output (2) of the voltage converter is coupled to a capacitor from the group comprising the first, the second and the third capacitor (11, 12, 13). The compensation circuit (5) is coupled to the first, the second and the third capacitor (11, 12, 13) and adapts a first voltage (V1) of the first capacitor (11), a second voltage (V2) of the second capacitor (12) and a third voltage (V3) of the third capacitor (13) to one another.
US08120931B2	Power converter with control circuit and related control method A control circuit for use in a power converter has a multi-function terminal, a current comparator circuit, and an under-voltage detection circuit. The current comparator circuit compares current flowing through a power switch of the power converter with a reference value through the multi-function terminal when the power switch is on, and turns the power switch off when the current reaches the reference value. The under-voltage detection circuit determines whether an input voltage of the power converter is less than a predetermined value through the multi-function terminal when the power switch is turned off.
US08120928B2	Electronic device with a fixing member An electronic device includes an enclosure and a fixing member to secure the enclosure to a fastener. The receiving member defines a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion in communication with the first receiving portion. The fixing member includes a control portion received in the receiving member and moving relative to the enclosure along a first axis of the first receiving portion, and a locking portion received in the receiving member and moving relative to the enclosure along a second axis of the second receiving portion perpendicular to the first axis. Movements of the control portion relative to the enclosure along the first axis of the first receiving portion and the locking portion relative to the enclosure along the second axis of the second receiving portion causes the electronic device to toggle in a locked or unlocked position.
US08120925B2	Circuit device A circuit device includes a dielectric substrate including a first face and a second face opposite side of the first face; a coplanar line including a first line, a second line and ground electrodes, the first line and the second line being decupled mutually, the ground electrodes formed around the first line and the second line, the first line, the second line and the ground electrodes formed on the first face of the dielectric substrate; a capacitor for connecting the first line and the second line; a termination resistor connecting the second line; a microstrip line formed on the second face of the dielectric substrate; and a conducting portion formed in the dielectric substrate and electrically connecting the first line and the microstrip line.
US08120923B2	Cover assembly for industrial computer A cover assembly for industrial computer has a cover arranged to a cover body of the industrial computer or a front surface of the cover body. The cover has wide opening and screw set arranged to the opening. The screw set includes a sleeve, retaining component, and screw component. The sleeve is placed into the opening and held by a stop portion formed to the sleeve outside the cover and by the retaining component buckled to the sleeve inside the cover. An end of the sleeve outside the cover is received by a nut of the screw component. The screw component has a screw rod extending inside the cover through a tunnel of the sleeve. The wide opening allows transverse adjustment of the sleeve to be aligned with the threaded hole.
US08120919B2	Adjustable mounting bracket for a computer component A bracket, computer component and method for connecting to connection points associated with a socket on a computer circuit board are provided. The bracket and computer component have a mounting device including a fastener connectable to one of the connection points and positioned on a mounting flange. The mounting device is adjustable relative to the mounting flange from a first position on the mounting flange to a second position to allow the bracket and computer component to be used in conjunction with a number of different types of sockets.
US08120911B2	Heat dissipation device A heat dissipation device positioned in a computer case, includes a fan, a plate positioned between the computer case and the fan, at least one motor contiguous with the fan, a motor driver, a fan driver, at least one temperature sensor sensing the temperature in the computer case, and a controller. The fan defines an air outlet facing the computer case. The plate is slidable relative to the air outlet to open or close the air outlet. The motor is configured for moving the plate. The motor driver is configured for driving the motor to work. The fan driver is configured for driving the fan to rotate. When the sensed temperature is higher than a preset threshold temperature, the controller controls the motor to move the plate from the air outlet, and controls the fan to rotate.
US08120903B2	Storage apparatus A storage apparatus including a circuit board, a first flash memory, a first golden finger, a control unit, and a supporting component is provided. The circuit board has a first surface and a second surface. The first flash memory is disposed on the circuit board. The first golden finger and the control unit are disposed on an end of the circuit board, in which the first golden finger is disposed on the first surface, and the control unit is disposed on the second surface, and the control unit is substantially on the backside of the first golden finger. The control unit is electrically connected with the first memory and the first golden finger. The supporting component is used for supporting the circuit board.
US08120902B2	Durable mass data storage device cartridge This disclosure includes an elastic shock mount for a mass data storage device cartridge comprising a shock mount body forming a void configured to receive a mass data storage device; and a set of elastic shock mount protrusions extending outward from the shock mount body. The elastic shock mount protrusions are configured to transfer shock forces experienced by the cartridge housing to durable portions of the mass data storage device.
US08120898B2	Electronic device An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a base, a first cover and a second cover. The first cover is rotatably disposed on the base between a first position and a second position. When the first cover is at the first position, the cover is closed relative to the base, and when the first cover is at the second position, the cover is open relative to the base. The second cover is movably disposed on the base between a third position and a fourth position. When the first cover is rotated from the first position to the second position, the second cover is pushed thereby from the third position to the fourth position.
US08120892B2	Electrode for supercapacitor having metal oxide deposited on ultrafine carbon fiber and the fabrication method thereof The present invention discloses an improved electrode for a supercapacitor and a method of preparation thereof. The inventive electrode comprises a collector, a carbon substrate disposed on the collector comprising ultrafine carbon fibers having a specific surface area of at least 200 m2/g (BET) and a d002 value of 0.36 nm or less, and a metal oxide thin layer formed on the carbon substrate. The electrode of the subject invention retains a high specific capacitance during high-speed charging and discharging cycles.
US08120891B2	Multilayer capacitor having low equivalent series inductance and controlled equivalent series resistance In a capacitor body of a multilayer capacitor, one second capacitor portion is sandwiched between two first capacitor portions. An ESR is controlled by setting a width of lead portions of third and fourth internal electrodes disposed in the second capacitor portion to be less than that of lead portions of first and second internal electrodes disposed in the first capacitor portions and by changing ratios between the first and second capacitor portions in the width of the lead portions and in the number of stacked internal electrodes. In the first capacitor portions, current paths from the internal electrodes to an external terminal electrode are widely distributed so that the first capacitor portions have a relatively low ESL, and accordingly, the ESL of the entire multilayer capacitor is reduced.
US08120887B2	MOS transistor triggered transient voltage suppressor to provide circuit protection at a lower voltage An electronic device formed as an integrated circuit (IC) wherein the electronic device further includes a transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit. The TVS circuit includes a triggering MOS transistor connected between an emitter and a collector of a first bipolar-junction transistor (BJT) coupled to a second BJT to form a SCR functioning as a main clamp circuit of the TVS circuit. The TVS circuit further includes a triggering circuit for generating a triggering signal for the triggering MOS transistor wherein the triggering circuit includes multiple stacked MOS transistors for turning into a conductive state by a transient voltage while maintaining a low leakage current.
US08120879B2	Head suspension, load beam, method of manufacturing load beam, and method of processing work A method of manufacturing a load beam directly improves the finishing accuracy of the surface of the load beam having a tab and/or a dimple, and the method includes a modifying process of preparing a flat plate work serving as the load beam and irradiating a part of a surface of the work where the tab and/or the dimple is formed with a laser beam, to form a modified layer in the irradiated part and a forming process of carrying out plastic working on the part where the modifies layer is present, to form the tab and/or the dimple in the part where the modified layer is present.
US08120876B2	Medium for use in a tape drive apparatus having identification segment and a segment identification pattern A tape medium has an identification segment located on a transparent leader segment of the tape medium for optical detection of the segment identification pattern. The segment identification pattern and the medium identification pattern have a predefined spatial relationship, enabling photo-optical detection of the segment identification pattern and reading of the medium identification pattern. The medium identification pattern carries various medium identification information, such as tape manufacturer, tape serial number and a tape medium property.
US08120872B2	Spindle motor and disk drive apparatus A stator portion of a spindle motor includes a substantially cup-shaped base member including a bottom portion expanding in a radial direction, and a wall portion extending upwards from an outer edge portion of the bottom portion. A circuit board is fixed to a lower surface of the base member in a position on the outer side in the radial direction and on the upper side than the bottom portion. Accordingly, the thickness of the spindle motor in the axial direction can be reduced. The base member has a through hole formed axially through the bottom portion. An opening edge portion of the base member is covered with the insulating layer. A conducting wire from a coil is drawn through the through hole, led out along the surface of the insulating layer, and connected to the circuit board positioned on the outer side in the radial direction than the bottom portion. Accordingly, the conducting wire can be led to the circuit board while the electric connection between the conducting wire and the opening edge portion can be prevented.
US08120871B1	Method and apparatus for reducing repeatable runout in storage systems A method and apparatus is described for reducing RRO in storage systems. A disc may be partitioned into a number of equally spaced sectors. An RRO profile may be individually obtained for each sector, a runout control algorithm may be applied to each sector to generate an RROC waveform for the sector to suppress the RRO, and sector RROC waveforms may be assembled into an RROC waveform for a whole revolution and saved in a memory buffer for feed-forward control. The RROC is performed in the time domain, and it may be adapted for each sector to reject the RRO disturbance.
US08120870B1	Asymmetry correction in read signal Systems and techniques associated with signal processing are described. A described technique includes generating asymmetry vectors that model asymmetry in a received analog signal, including an effect of asymmetry spreading in a read channel and selecting at least two different indicators of asymmetry based on the asymmetry vectors. The technique can include using the selected indicators of asymmetry to compensate for one or more asymmetries associated with the analog signal.
US08120868B2	Data storage medium having system data stored in a guard band between zones of consecutive data storage tracks A storage medium format is provided having a first band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having user data stored thereto, a second band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having other user data stored thereto, and a guard track medially disposed therebetween the first band and the second band and having system data stored thereto.
US08120866B2	Method for characterizing a magnetic-recording system for the presence of adjacent-track interference and far-track interference A method for characterizing a magnetic-recording system for the presence of adjacent-track interference and far-track interference. The method includes writing a plurality of repeating pulse-waveforms on a data track of a magnetic-recording disk at a write element of a magnetic-recording head. The method further includes reading a plurality of read-back signals from the magnetic-recording disk over a band of pseudo-data tracks offset from the data track by corresponding pseudo-data-track offsets in a radial direction of the magnetic-recording disk at a read element of the magnetic-recording head. In addition, the method includes displaying a magnetic-recording-signature map synthesized from the read-back signals from the magnetic-recording disk.
US08120865B2	Image degradation prevention optical apparatus An optical apparatus which is capable of preventing degradation of image quality caused by an ND filter. The optical apparatus incorporates an aperture stop having an aperture variable in size, and an ND filter movable with respect to the aperture of the aperture stop, an actuator that drives the ND filter, and a controller that controls the actuator. The ND filter includes a part having a size that can fully cover a first aperture that is the aperture with the aperture stop being narrowed. The controller controls the actuator so that the ND filter is moved without a halt between a first position where the part is retracted with respect to the first aperture with the aperture stop being narrowed, and a second position where the part fully covers the first aperture in any stop operation.
US08120864B2	Display filter, display device and method for forming display filter A display filter including a base portion having a recess, a first part disposed in the recess and having a first refractive index different from a refractive index of the base portion, and a second part disposed in the recess and having a second refractive index different from at least one of the first refractive index of the first part and the refractive index of the base portion.
US08120862B2	Camera module with focusing spring A camera module includes a lens barrel, a lens holder, and a focusing spring. The lens barrel includes an operation plate and a first body, and the outer diameter of the operation plate exceeds that of the first body, thereby a staging surface is formed facing the first body. The first body includes an outer surface, and defines an external thread on the outer surface. The lens holder includes a second body, and defining a second receiving hole therethrough. The second body includes an upper surface and an inner surface, and defines an internal thread on the inner surface. The lens barrel is received in the second receiving hole, and the external thread of the lens barrel is screwed and meshed with the internal thread of the lens holder. The focusing spring is compressively interposed between the staging surface and the upper surface.
US08120859B2	Viewing optical system and imaging apparatus using the same The invention provides a viewing optical system positioned between a viewing plane as a virtual plane and an eye point. The viewing optical system comprises, in order from the viewing plane side, a cemented lens and a positive lens component, and satisfies the following condition (1). 0.2
US08120858B2	Micro lens, method and apparatus for manufacturing micro lens, and camera module including micro lens Micro lens manufacturing apparatus, a micro lens manufacturing method, a micro lens, and a camera module employing the micro lens are provided. First mold is manufactured in correspondence with a first lens profile of a lens element. Second mold is manufactured in correspondence with a second lens profile of the lens element. Second mold is aligned on a surface of a lens substrate having a hollow hole formed thereon. Material for the lens element is supplied into the hollow hole of the lens substrate. First mold is aligned on the other surface of the lens substrate having the hollow hole and compressed to form the first and second profiles of the lens element. Formed lens element hardened. First and second molds are separated from each other. Therefore, time and cost for manufacturing the micro lens are reduced, and the accurate alignment between the first and second lens profiles is achieved.
US08120856B2	Method for manufacturing polymer miniature lens A method for manufacturing a polymer miniature lens on a substrate with the lens forming pattern, and the liquid polymer is dispensed therein. The lens forming pattern having a periphery area and an interior area, most portion of the periphery area having a property of confining liquid polymer, while the interior area having at least one portion exposing the surface of the substrate; depositing liquid polymer onto the lens forming pattern; and curing the liquid polymer after the liquid polymer reaches equilibrium shape and is confined to the periphery area. The invention also discloses a collimator including the polymer miniature lens.
US08120850B2	Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system Provided is a zoom lens system including a compact focusing lens unit and having a suppressed change in image magnification at the time of movement of the focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system of the present invention, in order from an object side to an image side, includes a first lens unit G1 having positive optical power, a second lens unit G2 having negative optical power, a third lens unit G3 having negative optical power, and a fourth lens unit G4 having positive optical power. At the time of zooming, at least the first lens unit G1 moves from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit. The fourth lens unit G4 includes a first sub lens unit having positive optical power and a second sub lens unit having negative optical power, the second sub lens unit being arranged at the image side relative to the first sub lens unit. At the time of compensating image blur caused by vibration applied to the zoom lens system, the first sub lens unit or the second sub lens unit moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
US08120846B2	Projector screen equipped with means for applying vertical and horizontal tensile forces A projection screen (1) has a projection surface (2), support elements (4) for supporting the projection surface in the suspended state, elements for exerting vertical traction forces (FV) including elements (5) for weighting the bottom longitudinal edge of the projection surface, and elements for exerting horizontal traction forces (FH) including firstly two deformable elongate elements (9, 10) each connected to one of the lateral edges of the projection surface and secondly elements (11) for weighting each deformable elongate element. According to the invention, the weighting elements for exerting horizontal traction forces and the weighting elements for exerting vertical traction forces are distinct and are mounted to perform independent weighting action in at least one position corresponding to the or one of the utilization positions.
US08120845B2	Collimated intensified vision system and method of collimating An optical system includes an optical assembly frame having an input portion, an output portion, and an objective lens assembly disposed at the input portion of the optical assembly frame. The objective lens assembly has an objective lens central optical axis. An eyepiece lens assembly is disposed at the output portion of the frame. The eyepiece lens assembly has an eyepiece lens central optical axis parallel to the objective lens central optical axis and offset from the objective lens central optical axis by a distance. An inverting image intensifier is disposed between the objective lens assembly and the eyepiece lens assembly. The image intensifier has an image intensifier optical axis parallel to the objective lens central optical axis and parallel to the eyepiece lens central optical axis. The image intensifier optical axis is offset from both the objective lens central optical axis and the eyepiece lens central optical axis by about half the distance.
US08120842B2	Wavelength conversion device, laser apparatus, image forming apparatus, and display apparatus A wavelength conversion device enabling the stable output of high-power harmonic light is disclosed. The wavelength conversion device includes MgO:LiNbO3 (PPMgLN) having a periodic polarization reversed structure, and the +Z and −Z surfaces of the PPMgLN are covered with thin chrome (Cr) film. In the PPMgLN, the incident surface and output surface are disposed on the −X side and +X side, respectively, in the longitudinal direction. Because of this structure, even when a high-power laser fundamental wave is incident, the PPMgLN can avoid destruction and damage due to the electric field, thereby enabling the stable output of high-power harmonic.
US08120841B2	Optical comb frequency source This invention relates to methods and apparatus for generating an optical frequency comb. In embodiments a passive mode locked optical waveguide comb uses electrical or optical tuning for the mode spacing frequency (df) and the carrier envelope offset frequency (fceo). We describe a passive mode locked optical comb frequency source comprising: an optical cavity having an optical driver and an optical output to provide an optical comb; an absorbing element coupled to said optical cavity for producing said optical comb; and an optically or electrically controllable element in said optical cavity; and wherein said optically or electrically controllable element has an optically or electrically controllable refractive index such that said refractive index is variable to vary one or both of a mode spacing and a carrier envelope offset frequency of said optical comb.
US08120840B1	Electrorheological fluid having properties of newtonian fluid An electrorheological fluid is provided. The electrorheological fluid includes polarizing particles and a dispersion medium in which the polarizing particles are dispersed. The polarizing particles may include silica particles. The dispersion medium may include silicon oil. The silicon oil may be modified silicon oil including at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group (—OH group), an amine group (—NH2 group), a mercapto group (—SH group), and a carboxy group (—COOH group).
US08120838B2	Electrophoretic display device The present invention in one aspect relates to a solar cell formed on a substrate, a bottom electrode member formed on the solar cell, an electrophoretic display panel formed on the bottom electrode member, having a plurality of electrophoretic cell structures spatially arranged in a matrix form, each electrophoretic cell structure containing a plurality of charged particles movable in the electrophoretic cell structure responsively to applied fields, and a top electrode member formed on the electrophoretic display panel, where at least one of the bottom electrode member and the top electrode member includes a plurality of in-plane switching (IPS) electrodes. Each IPS electrode is positioned in relation to a corresponding electrophoretic cell structure for controlling movements of the charged particles therein along a horizontal direction parallel to the electrophoretic display panel.
US08120836B2	Luminance enhancement structure for reflective display devices The present invention is directed to luminance enhancement structures for reflective display devices. The structure comprises columns and grooves, wherein each of said grooves has a cross-section comprising an apex angle and two edge lines. The structure increases the overall reflectance by reducing the total internal reflection, and as a result, the brightness of a display device is increased.
US08120835B2	Electro-phoresis device Provided is an electro-phoresis device that includes a light control layer, a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode. The light control layer may include a plurality of electro-phoresis particles. The first electrode and the second electrode may form an electric field to control of the electro-phoresis particles such that the electro-phoresis particles move towards at least one of the electrodes. The third electrode may be electrically connected to any one of the first and second electrodes and may have an electric polarity opposite to the other of the first and second electrode.
US08120833B2	Variable space shutter for LED display A variable space shutter includes: a first frame having vertically spaced slats forming vertical openings; a second frame having a horizontal indented channel, the second frame being affixed to the first frame around a periphery of the first frame; and a shutter part having vertically spaced slats forming vertical openings, the shutter part being sandwiched between the first and second frames such that a portion of the shutter part rests within the horizontal indented channel to permit selective sliding movement of the shutter within the channel between a first position, wherein the vertical openings of the first frame line up with the vertical openings of the shutter part, to permit light to pass through the variable space shutter, and a second position, wherein the vertical openings of the first frame line up with the vertical slats of the shutter part, to block light from passing through the variable space shutter.
US08120832B2	High speed electromechanical shutter An electromechanical shutter device comprising a base member and a shutter assembly comprising: an electrical current source member; a shutter member movable between a light beam blocked position and a light beam passed position; a light beam blocking member associated with the shutter member; a shutter coil associated with the shutter member which generates an electromagnetic force when energized; at least one magnet which generates a magnet flux directed towards and intersecting the shutter coil; electrically conductive means connecting the electrical current source member to the shutter member for passing electrical current to energize the shutter coil and to control movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked and passed positions; wherein when the shutter coil is energized, an electromagnetic force is generated that interacts with the magnetic flux to thereby cause movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked and light beam passed positions.
US08120825B2	Device, apparatus, and method of controlling optical scanning device A device, apparatus, and method of controlling operation of scanning performed by an optical scanning device are disclosed such that the color images are not shifted in the sub-scanning direction even when thinning processing is performed.
US08120824B2	Image forming apparatus and image forming method An image forming apparatus including: an image forming section which forms an image on a photosensitive drum based on a reference signal which being an image write control signal of a predetermined cycle; a measuring section which detects a rotational velocity of the photosensitive drum and measures a velocity fluctuation distribution in time period of one rotation of the drum; a storage section which stores a correction value as a correction data table for each type of recording sheets, wherein the correction value is obtained based on the velocity fluctuation distribution; and a control section which corrects the cycle of the reference signal by referring the correction data table corresponding to a selected type of recording sheets, and controls the image forming section to form the image on the photosensitive drum based on the reference signal with the corrected cycle.
US08120821B2	Image scanning device comprising a flatbed scanner unit and a casing with a stopper accommodating portion An image scanning device includes: a main body that has a box-shaped appearance having a front face and a back face; a flat bed scanner unit that is mounted on the main body to be rotatable around an axis provided near the back face along a width direction of the main body; and a stopper that supports the flat bed scanner unit in an opened state. The stopper includes: a base end that is rotatably attached to an upper portion of the main body; and a leading end that is slidably attached to the flat bed scanner unit. A casing of the flat bed scanner is provided with a stopper accommodating portion that is recessed from a bottom surface of the casing. The stopper accommodating portion accommodates the stopper above the bottom surface in a closed state where the flat bed scanner unit is closed.
US08120820B2	Method of scanning images larger than the scan swath using coded surfaces A method of swipe-scanning a graphic image printed on a surface. The surface has a position-coding pattern superimposed with the graphic image. The method comprises the steps of: (i) operatively positioning a swipe scanner relative to the surface; (ii) swiping the scanner across the surface; (iii) capturing, during said swipe, successive images of portions of the graphic image; (iv) imaging, during the swipe, successive parts of the position-coding pattern; (v) determining absolute positions of the scanner using the imaged parts of the position-coding pattern; and (vi) using the absolute positions to assemble the captured portions of the graphic image into a scanned graphic image.
US08120819B2	Image processing device and image forming device for generating corrected image data for a source image according to absorption wavelength characteristics of invisible coloring material An image processing device provided with an acquiring unit and a generating unit. The acquiring unit acquires invisible image data of an invisible image subject to forming on a recording medium with invisible coloring material and acquires source image data of a source image subject to forming on the recording medium with visible coloring material. The generating unit generates corrected-image-data of the source image data corrected according to the absorption wavelength characteristics of the invisible coloring material, such that the color of overlapping regions where both the invisible image and the source image are superimposed when formed on the recording medium approximates to the color of regions corresponding to the overlapping regions in the source image.
US08120814B2	Image processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing system An image processing apparatus has a printing function. A preview original-image creation part creates an original image for preview based on print data. A preview parts-image creation part creates a parts image for preview peculiar to each equipment. A preview image synthesis part synthesizes a preview image from the original image for preview and the parts image for preview. A preview image retaining part retains the preview image.
US08120810B2	Method and system for adjusting scanned images A system for adjusting scanned images for printing. In response to scanning one or more objects, one or more bounding boxes are calculated for the scanned image. The scanned image is cropped to a size of the one or more bounding boxes. The cropped image is rotated to align with a scanner bed and other cropped images if necessary. The cropped image is centered. It is determined if more scanned image data can fit within a selected page size. In response to determining that more scanned image data can fit within the selected page size, it is determined if more objects need to be scanned in a print job. In response to determining that more objects do not need to be scanned in the print job, a print layout is determined for the print job. Then, the print job is printed on the selected page size.
US08120809B2	Document creation method and document creation apparatus for reflecting a document structure of a paper document in an electronic document A document creation method according to this invention includes an image capturing step of capturing image data of each page, a boundary image specifying step of specifying a boundary image serving as the boundary between sets of pages from image data captured in the image capturing step, and a document creation step of creating, on the basis of the image data captured in the image capturing step, an electronic document divided into different chapters at the position of the boundary image specified in the boundary image specifying step. The electronic document created in the document creation step is divided into a plurality of chapters, and boundary pages are set between the plurality of chapters.
US08120807B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and recording medium An information processing apparatus stores therein selected to-be-transmitted image data and the predetermined transmission order of image data, and displays a list of the stored to-be-transmitted image data according to the predetermined transmission order. When receiving an instruction to edit the transmission order of a displayed list of image data, the information processing apparatus displays stored to-be-transmitted image data according to an edited transmission order, and stores the edited transmission order. When receiving an instruction to fax, the information processing apparatus combines to-be-transmitted image data into a single image data to transmit the combined image data to an image transmitting apparatus, based on the stored edited transmission order.
US08120805B2	Image forming apparatus to set parameter corresponding to driver version of host device, host device, and methods thereof A printing system includes an image forming apparatus and a host device. An image forming apparatus includes a printing part to perform a printing operation, a receiver to receive a parameter on a drive condition of the printing part from the host device, a storage part to store a parameter for each driver version, and a controller to update the stored parameter according to the received parameter. Accordingly, the quality of printing output can be improved by setting a parameter corresponding to a driver version of the host device and/or the satisfaction of and the convenience for a user can be improved by realizing a user desired/set color output.
US08120802B2	System and method for securely accessing downloaded print job resources A system and method are provided for securely accessing imaging job resources in a printing device. The method initially downloads a restricted software resource to a printing device. That is, the resource is restricted to use by a user group. As differentiated from factory installed software, or field upgrades, the restricted software resource is stored in a user-accessible memory, such as non-volatile storage (e.g., RAM). Subsequently, an imaging job is accepted for processing. The imaging job is verified to be associated with the user group. Subsequent to verification, access is permitted to the restricted software resource, and the imagining job is processed using the restricted software resource.
US08120796B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing system, image processing method, computer-readable medium and computer data signal An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, an image receiving unit, a detection unit and a control unit. The storage unit stores number of a plurality of information images included in a reference image. The information images represent data. The image receiving unit receives an image including one or more the information images. The detection unit detects the one or more information images from the image received by the image receiving unit. The control unit performs control relating to a copying operation of the image, based on number of the one or more information images detected by the detection unit and the number of the information images stored in the storage unit.
US08120794B2	Data-processing device, data-processing method, and computer program When an error occurs while a job flow including a plurality of steps is executed, an electronic signature is added to image data processed at a step that has already been performed, and the image data to which the electronic signature is added is stored. At that time, an electronic certificate expiring at the same date as the expiration date of the job flow is generated and added to the electronic signature. Before restarting execution of the job flow where the error occurred, the electronic signature added to the image data is verified and a user is notified of the verification result. A determination is then made whether execution of the job flow where the error occurred should be restarted according to an operation performed by the user in response to the notification.
US08120793B2	Methods and systems for displaying content on an imaging device Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for sending content to an imaging device display using a browser and an embedded application. Some aspects relate to an interruptive process whereby a browser process is interrupted in order to display new browser content. Some aspects relate to an interruptive process whereby alarm or error content is pushed to the browser.
US08120790B2	Method and system to allow printing compression of documents A print compression method and system reduces the amount of space required to print a document such that less paper is used during the printing of a document. A user defines criteria, which is used to perform document compression. However, the document compression only applies to the form of document being printed. This compression does not affect the document being edited.
US08120788B2	Image arranging device and image arranging program storage medium An image arranging device arranging an image in a predetermined region, includes: a regulation obtaining section that obtains an arrangement regulation of the image in the region; and a data obtaining section that obtains print image data which represents a print image to be printed on a print medium and in which a finish size of a printed matter is designated. The device further includes: a protrusion removal section that, regarding the print image represented by the print image data obtained by the data obtaining section, obtains an image portion protruding from the finish size designated by the print image data and removes the obtained image portion; and an image arranging section that, regarding the print image represented by the print image data, arranges an image portion remaining after the removal by the protrusion removal section in the region according to the arrangement regulation obtained by the regulation obtaining section.
US08120777B2	Temperature-stable interferometer This invention provides an interferometric detection device configured to maintain a temperature of a sensing area to within 20 m° C. of a first target temperature and to maintain a temperature of the medium within 500 m° C. of a second target temperature The device can do so under conditions in which ambient temperature changes from 0.1° C. to 5° C. over 5 minutes.
US08120776B1	Measuring characteristics of ultra-shallow junctions Carrier activation and end-of-range defect density of ultra-shallow junctions in integrated circuits are determined using modulated optical reflectance signals, DC reflectances of pump or probe laser beams, and in-phase and quadrature signal processing. A method for determining characteristics of an ultra-shallow junction includes periodically exciting a region of the substrate using a pump laser beam, and reflecting a probe laser beam from the excited region. A modulated optical reflectance signal is measured along with DC reflectance of the probe laser beam. The modulated optical reflectance signal and DC reflectance are compared with reference signals generated from calibration substrates to determine carrier activation and end-of-range defect density in the junction.
US08120775B2	Sensor device and for determining a physical value A sensor device for determining a physical value using a laser, whose emission behavior can be affected by the physical value is described. The laser is arranged to emit at least two concurrent modes lying above a laser threshold and the physical value is determined using a comparison of changes of the at least two modes occurring under the influence of the physical value.
US08120771B2	Configuration of a laser scanning microscope for raster image correlation spectroscopy measurement and method for conducting and evaluating such a measurement By means of an improved configuration method, mathematical transport models can be fitted to correlations determined by means of scanning fluorescence spectroscopy with few errors. With improved methods for carrying out or evaluating a raster image correlation spectroscopy measurement (RICS) measurement, the amount of data to be stored can be reduced and RICS correlations of high statistical quality can be determined within a short period of time. For a raster image correlation spectroscopy measurement, a best value for a sampling value is determined and is specified for a subsequent scanning process on a sample. In order to carry out or evaluate a RICS measurement, sampling values are acquired or a correlation is determined exclusively in a sample region within which a pixel time (ΔP) changes along a harmonically controlled scan axis (X) by less than, or at most by, a predetermined or predeterminable value.
US08120770B2	Three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic focusing using a microfluidic device A microfluidic device comprises inlets for a sample flow and an out-of-plane focusing sheath flow, and a curved channel section configured to receive the sample flow and out-of-plane focusing sheath and to provide hydrodynamic focusing of the sample flow in an out-of-plane direction, the out-of-plane direction being normal to a plane including the curved channel.
US08120767B2	Mask making decision for manufacturing (DFM) on mask quality control The present disclosure provide a method for making a mask. The method includes assigning a plurality of pattern features to different data types; writing the plurality of pattern features on a mask; inspecting the plurality of pattern features with different inspection sensitivities according to assigned data types; and repairing the plurality of pattern features on the mask according to the inspecting of the plurality of pattern features.
US08120766B2	Inspection apparatus Scattered light that originates from the surface roughness of silicon or other metallic films is distributed more strongly at positions closer to the starting position of the scattering. Of all scattered-light detection signals obtained during multi-directional detection, therefore, only a detection signal of forward scattered light can be used to detect micro-defects, and only a detection signal of backward scattered light can be used to detect the surface roughness very accurately.
US08120765B2	Observation device An observation device 1 comprises a light source unit 10, a biaxial scanning system 20, a wavefront modulation unit 30, an optical branching unit 40, a light detection unit 50, a wavefront detection unit 60, a control unit 70, and the like. The wavefront modulation unit 30 presents a compensating phase pattern for compensating for an aberration of input light and a branching phase pattern for splitting the input light into first and second beams. The wavefront detection unit 60 receives inputted light and detects a wavefront of the inputted light. The compensating phase pattern for compensating for the wavefront aberration is feedback-controlled in loop processing that includes the detection of a wavefront distortion of the light by the wavefront detection unit 60, the adjustment of the phase pattern by the control unit 70 according to the result of detection, and the presentation of the phase pattern by the wavefront modulation unit 30.
US08120758B2	Fast UV-VIS-NIR absorption spectrometer system and method A method and system for evaluating a colored gem stone which has been cooled to below a designated temperature are provided. The system includes a cooling unit configured to support and cool a gem stone to below a desired temperature, an electromagnetic radiation source, a spectrometer, an integrating sphere, and a processing unit. The method includes receiving a spectral response of the colored gem stone and sampling a noise component within a range of wavelengths in the spectral response so as to make a baseline determination. The method further includes ascertaining a presence of at least one designated peak within the range of wavelengths as a function of the baseline determination, and evaluating the presence of each of the at least one designated peaks so as to provide an indication of whether the colored gem stone requires further evaluation.
US08120757B2	Remote lens unit assembly for laser doppler velocimeter An assembly structure and method for housing a remote lens unit assembly of a laser Doppler velocimeter. The housing includes one or more transceiver telescopes and an optical window. The transceiver telescopes are aligned such that optical beams from the mounted optical transceiver telescopes cross paths at the optical window. The housing is mountable on a wind turbine.
US08120756B2	Laser doppler velocity system for variable beam focusing Disclosed is a laser doppler velocity system that can easily change a focal length of laser beam, in order to measure the velocity of fluid. As the fluid lens is used in order to focus the laser beam, the lens aperture is rapidly and accurately changed at a low power to easily measure the flow-velocity and shear stress of the boundary layer of the structure within the flow field. As the optical array including the fluid lens is integrated using a diode laser as a laser light source, the laser doppler velocity system can be made in small-size. Also, as the laser doppler velocity system is inserted into the surface of the structure, it can be used as a surface flow field measurement sensor.
US08120755B2	Method of correcting a volume imaging equation for more accurate determination of a velocity field of particles in a volume The subject matter of the invention is a method of correcting a volume imaging equation for more accurate determination of a velocity field of particles in a volume, said volume being captured from different directions by at least two cameras, a coarse calibration of the position of the cameras relative to each other and relative to the volume of concern being carried out first by determining an imaging equation that associates with the coordinates (X, Y, Z) of a point in the volume the corresponding camera picture coordinates xi, yi of each camera i, all the cameras then capturing simultaneously in the same unchanged position particles in a volume, the position (X, Y, Z) of a particle in the volume being approximated by means of a known triangulation method using the calculated position xi, yi of a particle in the camera pictures, this position (X, Y, Z) being imaged through the original imaging equation onto a position xi′, yi′ in the camera images of the at least two cameras, a correction factor for the imaging equation being calculated from the difference (dxi, dyi) between the coordinates (xi, yi) and (xi′, yi′) so that, thanks to the amended imaging equation, the point (xi, yi) becomes identical with the point (xi′, yi′) for all the cameras i, this correction occurring for many particles in the volume.
US08120754B2	Light detection and ranging apparatus A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that employs one or more additional reflectors to reflect and redirect the light beam transmission pulses from a scanning fan assembly to a given area of interest. The one or more additional reflectors provide additional resolution for detecting a detectable object. The one or more additional reflectors can be external or internal to the scanning fan assembly.
US08120750B2	Exposure apparatus and method of manufacturing device When a substrate stage is located in a first area, a first measurement device measures the same portion of the substrate at the plural measurement points both before and after the stage is horizontally driven. A controller calculates a first difference of the stage in the vertical direction in the first area accompanying driving of the stage horizontally, based on a first measurement result, calculates a value representing a surface shape of the substrate by subtracting the first difference from the first measurement result, calculates a second difference of the stage in the vertical direction in the second area accompanying driving of the stage horizontally by subtracting the value from a value representing a vertical position of the substrate when the stage is located in the second area, and controls a vertical position of the stage in the second area based on the second difference.
US08120749B2	Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method An immersion lithography apparatus is disclosed in which liquid is supplied to a space between a projection system and a substrate, and a plate structure is provided to divide the space into two parts. The plate structure has an aperture to allow transmission of the projection beam, has through holes in it to reduce the damping effect of the presence of the plate and optionally has one or more inlets and outlets to provide various flows around the aperture in the plate. An embodiment of the invention may reduce the transportation of contaminants, stray light, temperature gradients, and/or the effect of bubbles on the imaging quality.
US08120748B2	Lithographic processing optimization based on hypersampled correlations A method of optimizing lithographic processing to achieve substrate uniformity, is presented herein. In one embodiment, The method includes deriving hyper-sampled correlation information indicative of photoresist behavior for a plurality of wafer substrates processed at pre-specified target processing conditions. The derivation includes micro-exposing subfields of the substrates with a pattern, processing the substrates at the various target conditions, determining photoresist-related characteristics of the subfields (e.g., Bossung curvatures), and extracting correlation information regarding the subfield characteristics and the different target processing conditions to relate the target conditions as a function of subfield characteristics. The method then detects non-uniformities in a micro-exposed subsequent substrate processed under production-level processing conditions and exploits the correlation information to adjust the production-level conditions and achieve uniformity across the substrate.
US08120741B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display includes a display panel, a first data circuit board, a second data circuit board, and a clip. The first data circuit board has a portion of a plurality of conductors that are coupled to the display panel. The second data circuit board has a second plurality of conductors that are coupled to the display panel. A clip couples the first and the second circuit boards together. A method of assembling the liquid crystal display includes positioning a light source; coupling a clip to the first circuit board and the second circuit board that form a display panel; positioning the clip, the first circuit board, and the second circuit board below the light source; and coupling the clip to a ground plane.
US08120740B2	Active-matrix substrate and method for producing the same, electrooptical device and method for producing the same, and electronic apparatus A method for producing an active-matrix substrate including a board, pixels, thin-film transistors that switch the pixels, and source lines and gate lines electrically connected to the thin-film transistors includes forming a conduction portion that provides electrical connection between the source lines and the gate lines using an organic conductive material at the same time as forming either the source lines or the gate lines; and breaking the electrical connection provided by the conduction portion.
US08120737B2	Alignment treatment of liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device including a pair of spaced and opposed substrates, an electrode and a first alignment layer formed on one substrate, an electrode and a second alignment layer formed on the other substrate, and liquid crystal filled between the pair of substrates. The first alignment layer defines two regions of different alignment directions, within one pixel, with the two regions of the first alignment layer being separated by a first boundary, where the two different alignment directions of the first alignment layer are generally parallel to the first boundary, but extend in opposite directions, and where each region of the first alignment layer is treated to realize an alignment with a pretilt angle by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays. The second alignment layer defines two regions of different alignment directions, within the one pixel, with the two regions of the second alignment layer being separated by a second boundary, where the two different alignment directions of the second alignment layer are generally parallel to the second boundary, but extend in opposite directions, and where each region of the second alignment layer is treated to realize an alignment with a pretilt angle by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays. The first boundary crosses said second boundary.
US08120736B2	Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same A liquid crystal display is provided that includes first and second panels facing each other, an alignment layer disposed on at least one of the first and second panels, a fixing member disposed on the surface of the alignment layer to fix the alignment structure of the alignment layer, and liquid crystal materials disposed between the first and second panels. The liquid crystal materials include liquid crystal molecules that have a pre-tilt angle and are disposed on the alignment layer.
US08120733B2	Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines on the first substrate crossing each other to define pixel regions, a black matrix layer on the second substrate in regions corresponding to the gate lines and the data lines, color filter layers on the second substrate covering at least the pixel regions, a plurality of column spacers on respective portions of the black matrix layer excluding the color filter layers, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08120729B2	Optical film and method of manufacturing the same Disclosed is an optical film that is manufactured by using longitudinal and uniaxial stretching of an unstretched cycloolefin copolymer film and has an in-plane retardation of 100 to 150 nm and a thickness retardation of 0 to −30 nm at a wavelength of 550 nm, a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display including the same, and a method of manufacturing the optical film. The method includes longitudinally and uniaxially stretching the unstretched film while a ratio of a width to a length of a stretched portion of the film is controlled.
US08120728B2	Polarizing plate and liquid crystal display device using the same The invention relates to a polarizing plate comprising at least a polarizing layer having a K value as defined by the following expression of from 0.25 to 0.75; K=(kx−kz)/(kx−ky) wherein axes which are orthogonal to each other in a plane of the polarizing layer are an x-axis and a y-axis; an axis which is orthogonal to an x-y axis plane is a z-axis; and kx, ky and kz are an absorption coefficient along the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis directions, respectively.
US08120724B2	Liquid crystal display device having frames with a plurality of fasteners having openings and baffles A liquid crystal display device including a backlight module, a liquid crystal display device panel and a second frame is provided. The backlight module has a first frame. The first frame has a first body, first fasteners and baffles, wherein the first fasteners and the baffles are integrally formed on the first body, and the first fasteners have opening. The liquid crystal display device panel is arranged on the backlight module. The second frame is assembled with the first frame for fixing the liquid crystal display device panel. The second frame has a second body and second fasteners integrally formed on the second body, and the second fasteners lodge in the openings of the first fasteners to limit the relative displacement between the first and second body, and the baffles are adapted for limiting the relative displacement between the first body and second body.
US08120720B2	Pixel structure A pixel structure includes a scan line, a data line, a gate electrode electrically connected to the scan line, a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate electrode, a drain electrode, an extending electrode, and a pixel electrode. The scan line and the data line cross each other, and are insulated. The drain electrode includes a contact part disposed outside the gate electrode, an electrode part disposed on the semiconductor pattern and a connecting part extending from the contact part along a direction to connect the electrode part, and partially overlapping the gate electrode. The pixel electrode is connected to the contact part. The extending electrode is connected to the scan line. A first end of the extending electrode points to the semiconductor layer along the direction, and overlaps the drain electrode. A first width of the connecting part is equal to the second width of the extending electrode.
US08120719B2	Photo-addressable display medium and photo-addressable display device A photo-addressable display medium is provided, the photo-addressable display medium including: a pair of electrodes having transparency; a photoconductive layer disposed between the pair of electrodes and having a laminated structure of a first charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and a second charge generation layer in this order from an exposing light irradiation side; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between an electrode of the inverse side to the exposing light irradiation side and the second charge generation layer and having memory performance, wherein the first charge generation layer and the second charge generation layer contain a phthalocyanine compound, and the charge transport layer contains a stilbene compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein, R1 to R4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group.
US08120713B2	Television apparatus Disclosed herein is a television apparatus including: a thin display device; a mount section to be placed in a site; a support mechanism projecting upwardly from the mount section and supporting the display device in an upper portion spaced from the mount section in a manner to allow the display device to change an attitude thereof; a first speaker mounted on the display device; a second speaker mounted on the mount section; a signal supply section configured to supply a first audio signal to the first speaker and to supply a second audio signal to the second speaker; and a signal processor configured to adjust the time difference between the timing of the first audio signal output from the signal supply section and the timing of the second audio signal output from the signal supply section.
US08120712B2	Channel selection in a receiver for terrestrial digital television broadcasting Disclosed is a receiver for terrestrial digital television broadcasting including: a receiving circuit for receiving terrestrial digital television broadcasting to output a video signal and an audio signal of a predetermined channel and an information signal of information related to a channel being received; a data table in the receiving circuit on which channel data for selecting channels of the terrestrial digital television broadcasting is registered; and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured such that: first data for identifying a channel, second data for identifying a broadcast service area and third data for identifying a transport stream are taken out of the information signal to be supplied to the control circuit; if the first data is normally obtained, the receiving circuit selects a channel based on the first data with reference to the data table; and if the first data is not normally obtained, the receiving circuit selects a channel based on the second and the third data with reference to the data table.
US08120711B2	Display system and method of controlling a display system A display system and a method of controlling a display system are provided. The display system may include a receiving device to transmit a power control signal across a wireless communication link according to a power on/off command inputted from a user, to receive an audio/video (A/V) signal, to display the A/V signal, and to transmit an acknowledgment signal of the A/V signal. The display system may further include a transmitting device to turn on/off in response to a power control signal received from the receiving device, to transmit the A/V signal to the receiving device, and to control a power thereof according to whether the acknowledgement signal of the A/V signal has arrived.
US08120709B2	Method of and apparatus for utilizing video buffer in a multi-purpose fashion to extend the video buffer to multiple windows The present invention includes a method and device that allows efficient mixing of multiple video images with a graphics screen while utilizing only one video buffer. The present invention partitions the sole video buffer, pre-scales the plurality of video images and inserts them into the partitioned video buffer in a predetermined range of buffer addresses. The present invention mixes the partitioned video including the pre-scaled video images with the graphics screen to produce a video display including both a video screen and a graphics screen.
US08120708B2	Television control method A method is provided for controlling a television including a user input part for manipulating a channel adjusting item. The method includes displaying a channel map showing a predetermined number of channels including a tuned broadcast channel if the channel adjusting item is selected through the user input part, and a channel setting information menu corresponding to one of the channels shown in the channel map. Thus, the television control method not only allows a user to easily and simply recognize a channel setting state according to channels when the user wants to adjust channel-related functions, but also allows a user to conveniently and effectively adjust the channel setting state according to the channels.
US08120705B2	Television having a connecting terminal for connecting a player device The present invention discloses a television that includes a speaker; a display; a tuner for receiving television broadcasting signals and generates first sound signals and first image signals based on the television broadcasting signals; a connecting terminal for connecting to a player device having an operation panel generating operation commands according to user's operations; an operation macro outputting unit for outputting an operation macro same as a plurality of the operation commands to the player device in order to make the player device perform consecutive operations, through the connecting terminal.
US08120703B2	Source-adaptive video deinterlacer A method is described for deinterlacing an interlaced video stream. The method includes detecting an occurrence of groups of adjacent fields that are derived from a common original image frame source, and merging field pairs of the interlaced video stream to create a non-interlaced video stream output.
US08120698B2	Focus control apparatus useful for image pick up apparatuses equipped with an auto focus function and method therefor A focus control apparatus and method capable of shortening a focus adjustment time in focus control. The method includes extracting a first high frequency component depending upon a first cutoff frequency and a second high frequency component depending upon a second cutoff frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency from a video signal, generating first and second contrast signals of the video signal respectively based on the first and second high frequency components, using a quotient obtained by dividing a value of the first contrast signal by that of the second contrast signal as a parameter, exercising focus control based on the parameter, and setting the first and second cutoff frequencies so as to cause a value of the parameter to assume a peak when a focus lens in an image pickup apparatus is located in a position at a predetermined distance from an in-focus position.
US08120694B2	Lens barrel and imaging apparatus A lens barrel includes: a plurality of lenses disposed in an outer enclosure; and an imaging device that converts image light introduced as an image capturing signal through the plurality of lenses into an image signal. The outer enclosure has a unit assembling portion in which an imaging unit is disposed. The imaging unit includes a centering lens disposed in the bottom portion of the unit assembling portion, a pressing plate that presses the centering lens from the side opposite the bottom portion, a packing disposed on the opposite side of the pressing plate, and an imaging module having the imaging device and disposed on the opposite side of the packing to the pressing plate and pressing the packing against the pressing plate. A working hole through which an adjustment jig is inserted is formed in the peripheral side portion of the unit assembling portion.
US08120693B2	Imaging unit and mobile electronic device An imaging unit including an image sensor, an incident-side prism, an exit-side prism, and an intermediate optical system positioned therebetween, wherein light incident on the incident-side prism passes through the incident-side prism, the intermediate optical system and the exit-side prism to be incident on the image sensor, the imaging unit includes a housing supporting the incident-side prism, the exit-side prism and the intermediate optical system such that incident and exit optical axes of the incident-side prism, an optical axis of the intermediate optical system, and incident and exit optical axes of the exit-side prism all lie on a common plane; and a cover board, on which the image sensor is mounted, fixed to the housing so that the image sensor faces an exit surface of the exit-side prism, the cover board closing an opening of the housing.
US08120690B2	Imaging device An imaging device of the present invention includes a plurality of photosensors arranged in matrix on a light-receiving surface and a readout section for adding up photo signals on the photosensors for external output in each pixel block set on the light-receiving surface. The pixel blocks each consists of N (N≧2) photosensors assembled in an array direction of the matrix and the pixel blocks in even number arrays and those in odd number arrays in the matrix are shifted from each other by half a phase in the array direction. With or without execution of the adding-up operation, it is able to switch a pattern of readout pixels from the imaging device between a grid pattern and a diagonal grid pattern.
US08120685B2	CMOS image sensors and methods for outputting pixel data at high speeds A The CMOS image sensor includes a pixel array including pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and a row selection unit configured to generate selection signals for simultaneously or concurrently selecting at least two rows from the rows of the pixel array in response to a received row address. An analog-to-digital conversion unit is configured to convert pixel data output from the at least two rows selected from the pixel array into a digital video signal and output the digital video signal. The pixel array outputs the pixel data in response to the selection signals.
US08120682B2	Solid-state image pickup device and method of resetting the same A solid-state image pickup device comprises for each pixel a photoelectric converter PD, an input terminal FD of a signal amplifier and a transfer switch TX for transferring an optical signal from the photoelectric converter to the input terminal. The device additionally comprises means for resetting the photoelectric converter by opening the transfer switch TX under a condition of holding the voltage of the input terminal FD to a fixed high level before storing the optical signal in the photoelectric converter PD. With this arrangement, any residual electric charge in the photoelectric converter can be eliminated without paying the cost of reducing the manufacturing yield and degrading the chip performance.
US08120681B2	Image sensing apparatus, image sensing apparatus control method, and imaging system An image sensing apparatus includes a pixel array, a readout unit and an output unit having an output line group, a plurality of difference circuits, a first dummy line and a second dummy line. The output line group is interposed between the first dummy line and the second dummy line. The readout unit includes a plurality of memory circuits, each including a first holding capacitance and a second holding capacitance. A gain determined by a ratio of a capacitance value of the first holding capacitance and a capacitance value of a first output line is applied to the first signal output to the first output line, and a gain determined by a ratio of a capacitance value of the second holding capacitance and a capacitance value of a second output line is applied to the second signal output to the second output line.
US08120677B2	Imaging apparatus, adjustment method of black level, and program An imaging apparatus according to the present invention is arranged with an OB level difference correcting unit for performing a process by sectionalizing a vertical pre-stage OB unit to a first region positioned on a side opposite to an effective pixel unit along a vertical transfer direction and a second region positioned on the effective pixel unit side and read out after the first region, and calculating a correction amount for correcting the OB level difference using a signal corresponding to a dark current obtained from the first region, and a correction table described with a relationship of a signal corresponding to the dark current generated in the vertical pre-stage OB unit and an OB level difference which is a difference between a black level in the vertical pre-stage OB unit and a black level of an image signal.
US08120676B2	Image distortion correcting method, carrier medium carrying distortion correcting program, and optical apparatus A proposition is to provide a distortion correcting method, a carrier medium carrying distortion correcting program and an optical apparatus which can perform reliable and good distortion correction while suppressing the quantity of information in distortion correcting information. The distortion correcting method includes a preparing operation which expresses distortion aberration of an optical system for shooting in a function of a lens position thereof, optimizes coefficients of the function so that residual aberrations in two or more lens positions are controlled appropriately respectively, and prepares, in advance, information of optimized coefficients thereof as distortion correcting information of the optical system, and a correcting operation which performs a correction of distortion of an image picked up by the optical system based on the lens position at shooting time and the distortion correcting information prepared.
US08120674B2	Imaging apparatus By connecting to or mounting a first storage medium that stores image data as a retrieval object (e.g. first memory card 121) and a second storage medium that stores a retrieve condition (e.g. non-volatile memory 111 or second memory card 122), an imaging apparatus 100 can store image data as a retrieval object and a retrieve condition on different storage medium. By replacing the first storage medium with a third storage medium, image retrieval can be executed for a plurality of storage medium using the same retrieve condition.
US08120671B2	Digital camera for recording a still image while shooting a moving image In a digital camera, when snapshot shooting is instructed during recording of a moving image, a shot still image is temporarily pushed aside in a memory area for use in pushing aside (7a) in a frame buffer (7). A currently shooting motion image and a still image are displayed in parallel on a display (9), so that a user can confirm a content of a snapshot. The moving image continues to be recorded even during a push-aside operation. After a moving image processing is completed, the still image is processed by an image correcting circuit (4). The frame buffer (7) comprises a plurality of frame recording areas, and is shared on the occasions of a moving image processing and a still image processing. In a normal moving image processing, these areas are utilized in a cyclic manner, and when the still image is shot, any of areas will be utilized. Thereafter, the rest of areas are utilized in the cyclic manner for the moving images. The recording function for the moving image and still image is improved at low cost, it becomes easy to take a snapshot, and the merchandise size is not increased.
US08120668B2	Electronic camera for adjusting a parameter for regulating an image quality based on the image data outputted from an image sensor An electronic camera includes a pre-processing block. The pre-processing block fetches four partial images outputted in a parallel manner from an image sensor in response to a clock CLK1 having a frequency equal to or less than 432 MHz, and performs four pre-processes that have responded to a clock CLK2 having a frequency ¼ the frequency of the clock CLK1, on each of the fetched four partial images. An image based on the processed four partial images is outputted from an LCD monitor. An evaluation-image producing circuit responds to a clock CLK3 so as to create an evaluation image based on the processed four partial images. A frequency of the clock CLK3 is adjusted in a range in which ¼ of 432 MHz is the upper limit. A parameter for regulating a quality of an output image is adjusted based on the evaluation image thus created.
US08120665B2	Image processing method and apparatus, digital camera, and recording medium recording image processing program A technology for recognizing one or more quadrangles from an input image is disclosed. Edge areas are detected from the input image, lines corresponding to the edge areas are extracted, a line pair selected from the extracted lines is categorized according to a positional relationship between two lines included in the line pair, a line pair evaluation value is calculated for the line pair, a combination of two line pairs is selected, a quadrangle is generated from four lines included in the two line pairs selected, a quadrangle evaluation value is calculated for the quadrangle based on the categories and the line pair evaluation values of the two line pairs forming the quadrangle, and a quadrangle is selected based on the calculated quadrangle evaluation value.
US08120663B2	Image sensing apparatus and correction method An image sensing apparatus comprises an image sensor, a driving unit that drives the image sensor so as to output electrical signals through multiple readout modes including at least a full pixel readout mode and a thinning readout mode, an acquisition unit that acquires lens magnification chromatic aberration correction information, a correction coefficient calculation unit that obtains a coefficient for a first magnification chromatic aberration correction method during full pixel readout and a coefficient for a second magnification chromatic aberration correction method during thinning readout, and a digital signal processor that corrects the electrical signals using the obtained coefficients. In the second magnification chromatic aberration correction method, the thinned and read-out electrical signals are corrected based on positions in the image sensor of pixels corresponding to the electrical signals.
US08120659B2	Method and system for motion estimation in digital imaging applications A method and system for estimating global motion in digital imaging applications with confidence level filtering. Motion search yields a plurality of vectors describing the movement of feature blocks from one frame to another. A confidence level is assigned to each motion vector. Based on the confidence levels, vectors are given more or less weight when estimating global motion. High-confidence vectors are given more weight than low-confidence vectors. Embodiments for estimating both the magnitude of global motion and the magnitude and direction of global motion are disclosed.
US08120657B2	Image acquiring device with positioning assisting functionality An image acquiring device with positioning assisting functionality is for acquiring an image of an object to be captured, and includes a positioning assisting unit and an image acquiring unit. The positioning assisting unit emits light toward a planar surface. The light forms at least one positioning mark on the planar surface. The image acquiring unit is for acquiring an image of an image acquiring region associated with the positioning mark.
US08120656B2	Assembly module having a video transmission element This invention is to provide an assembly module comprising a board, a frame disposed on a surface of the board, and a circuit board disposed on another surface of the board, wherein the circuit board includes a power line and an image transmission line for directly connecting to a camera power line and a video cable of a surveillance camera respectively. A hollow padding is added into a wire passing hole disposed in the board, and a size of the hollow padding may be adjusted according to the width of a wire of the surveillance camera, which passes through the hollow padding. Therefore, problems such as needing to make enough space in a wall or a ceiling for receiving a video transmitter, requiring an additional device for connecting to power supply, and having gaps being left between the wire and the wire passing hole may be resolved simultaneously.
US08120655B1	Interactive theatrical performance A theatrical performance for relaying data from at least one performer to at least one member of the audience, including a processor; at least one data collector positioned on the at least one performer and remotely connected to the processor; and at least one display device remotely connected to the processor to display processed data from the processor.
US08120653B2	Video monitoring system for school buses A video camera system for a school bus to replace one or more of the mirror systems typically utilized on school buses today. One or two cameras can be positioned on the sides of the school bus in place of the rearview mirrors presently utilized. A pair of cameras with wide-angle lenses can be positioned on the front fenders of the school bus to replace the cross view mirrors currently used today. One or more cameras can also be positioned on the rear of the school bus to display the environment immediately behind the school bus. Video monitors displaying the images from the cameras can be positioned in the cab of the school bus for viewing by the driver. The monitors from the cameras positioned on the sides of the school bus can be positioned on the A-pillars of the school bus approximately in the locations presently occupied by the rearview mirrors outside of the school bus. The monitors for the cross-view mirrors can be positioned on the dashboard or instrument panel of the school bus, preferably to the right side of the driver and adjacent the egress door. The monitor for the camera(s) on the rear of the bus can be positioned on the windshield of the vehicle. A portable computer could also be provided in place of the stationary monitors, and a central recording system can be utilized to retain the images from all of the cameras for subsequent monitoring purposes.
US08120650B2	Video fishing rod with underwater observation gear A video fishing rod with underwater observation gear as fishing equipment, allowing surveillance of the bait and fish around it, and includes a video monitor attachable to the fishing pole, miniature submersible video camera attached close to the end of the fishing line for transmitting video images up to the monitor via the same fishing line without the use of a video cable.
US08120647B2	3-dimensional display device having divided regions 3-dimensional display device includes a display panel for displaying image; a backlight for supplying light to the display panel; and a switching liquid crystal panel between the display panel and the backlight to display 2-dimensional image and 3-dimensional image by blocking and transmitting the light from the backlight in part area, the switching liquid crystal panel being divided a plurality of regions to display respectively the 2-dimensional image and the 3-dimensional image in each regions.
US08120642B2	Optical fingerprint acquisition A swept distance between a subject and a plurality of cameras provides a plurality of raw images. Focused portions of the raw images are fused to generate a synthetic image and a distance image. A projection of the synthetic image and the distance image yields a panoramic image.
US08120641B2	Panoramic photography method and apparatus An apparatus may take a panoramic photograph without the need to set the order in which panoramic images. The method includes taking a reference image that is a portion of the panoramic photograph, generating a plurality of guide images using portions of the reference image, detecting movement of an image-taking device and displaying a guide image selected according to the detected movement of the image-taking device, and taking a connected image to be stitched to the most recently taken reference image using the guide image.
US08120639B2	High-definition video conference system and method The invention provides a high-definition video conference system and method. The high-definition video conference system, according to the invention, uses an encoding module for compressing a plurality of usable digital signals under a high-definition compression standard into a plurality of compressed digital signals, and an instant-messaging application for transmitting the compressed digitals to a second terminal apparatus. The second terminal apparatus uses a decoding module for decompressing the plurality of compressed digital signals under the high-definition compression standard to obtain a plurality of image signals, and a displaying module for displaying the image signals. Therefore, the high-definition video conference system of the invention can achieve high-definition video conference applications even under limited hardware performance and network transmission bandwidth.
US08120637B2	Virtual theater system for the home In one embodiment, a system includes a mixer that creates customized mixed audio streams by synchronously mix audience reaction data packets received from a plurality of virtual theater nodes with a soundtrack of a movie. The audience reaction data packets are produced by viewers watching the movie. The mixer transmits each customized mixed audio streams to a corresponding one of the virtual theater nodes. A video streamer streams video data packets to each of the virtual theater nodes, the video data packets being synchronized with each of the customized mixed audio 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.
US08120636B2	Method for performing recording operation in video communication mode of wireless terminal and wireless terminal implementing the same A method for performing a recording operation in a video communication mode of a wireless terminal are provided, where the video communication mode of the wireless terminal is switched to a recording mode for performing the recording operation, and video data are evaluated to determine if received in the recording mode of video communication. When the video data are not received, although a predetermined time passes, the recording mode of the video communication is performed while inserting preset substitution image data. When the video data are received before the predetermined time passes, the received video data is checked to determine if an error is included, and when the received video data includes abnormal video data, the recording mode of the video communication is performed while inserting preset substitution image data.
US08120630B2	Image shift adjusting apparatus of image forming apparatus First patterns for setting a first adjustment value and second patterns for setting a second adjustment value are formed on a transfer belt running at a first process speed. By this, an image shift adjustment value in a sub-scanning direction is made common to the first process speed and a second process speed. Image shift adjustment values in a main scanning direction are set for the first process speed and the second process speed, respectively.
US08120629B2	Display device A signal converter to make a display module conduct an n-ply display operation divides one frame period of input display data into n subframes to obtain n-ply display data, shifts the sampling position for each n-ply display data, samples the data to convert resolution thereof, rearranges in n ways a combination of subpixels included in each pixel of output display data resultant from the sampling, and varying the sampling position and the combination of subpixels for each subframe in a cooperative fashion.
US08120628B2	Method for driving a display A method for driving a display is provided. According to the driving method, a display panel is divided into a plurality of bright regions and a plurality of dark regions, wherein the dark regions and the bright regions are alternately arranged so that the bright regions within the display panel are not adjacent to each other. Next, a full-color frame is divided into four sub-frames, wherein the sub-frames are matched with the four color-orders one by one. In this way, the display randomly displays the sub-frames in a frame period.
US08120627B2	Redistribution of N-primary color input signals into N-primary color output signals A method of redistributing an N-primary color input signal (IS) having a particular number≧4 (N) of input components (I1, . . . , IN) into N-primary color output signal (OS) having the particular number (N) of output components (P1, . . . , PN) under a constraint (CON2). The method comprises defining (MPRC) three functions (F1, F2, F3) representing three (P1, P2, P3) of the output components (P1, . . . , PN) as a function of the remaining N-3 output components (P4, . . . , PN). Substituting (MPRC) the values of the input components (I1, . . . , IN) into the three functions (F1, F2, F3) to determine unknown coefficients (P1′, P2′, P3′) of the three functions (F1, F2, F3). And, determining (MPRC) optimal values of the output components (P1, . . . , PN) by applying the constraint (CON2) to the three functions (F1, F2, F3).
US08120616B2	Color sampler A method for selecting a desired color from a screen display using a color selection tool that may appear as an eyedropper. Rather than independently choosing pixels or a matrix of pixels, the user blends a color by selecting pixels using a mouse cursor. In response, the color of each selected pixel is incrementally blended into the current color at a constant rate. That is, each selected pixel is blended with the current color according to a constant blending factor. In this manner, the current color changes at a constant rate with the contribution of each successive pixel. This approach allows the user to gradually blend colors from the screen display, much as a painter would gradually mix colors on a palette.
US08120610B1	Methods and apparatus for using aliases to display logic A system traverses a directed cyclic graph to discover a relationship between a first object and a second object, and creates an alias. The alias represents the second object. The system replaces the relationship between the first object and the second object with the created alias, and creates a reference from the first object to the alias.
US08120609B2	Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for light energy accounting in ray tracing For ray tracing systems, described methods, media, apparatuses provide for accounting of light energy that will be collected at pixels of a 2-D representation without recursive closure of a tree of ray/primitive intersections, and also provide for adaptivity in ray tracing based on importance indicators of each ray, such as a weight, which may be carried in data structures representative of the rays. Examples of such adaptivity may include determining a number of children to issue for shading an identified intersecting primitive, culling rays, and adding rays to achieve more accurate sampling, if desired. All such adaptivity may be triggered with goal-based indicators, such as a threshold value representative of rendering progress to a time-based goal, such as a frame rate.
US08120604B2	Object editing system, object editing method and object editing program product The present invention provides a snap function that can move an object smoothly, without deteriorating the user operability. According to the present invention, there is provided an object editing system, including: an arrangement system for arranging an object and a snap target in a given display area; a moving system for moving the object in the display area; a snap system for causing the object to snap the snap target on a basis of a distance between the object and the snap target; and a restriction system for inhibiting the object from snapping the snap target on a basis of a direction in which the object is moving. According to the object editing system of the invention, the snap system causes the object to snap the snap target once the distance between the object and the snap target has become smaller than a predetermined threshold value.
US08120597B2	Mapping pixel values The present invention provides a device comprising: a backplane controller including means for sequencing a series of instructions, wherein the instructions control memory accesses to data that is used to control one or more pulse widths that drive one or more mirrors/electrodes on a spatial light modulator that control one or more outputs of the spatial light modulator.
US08120593B2	Method of positioning coordinate A method of positioning a coordinate suitable for a touch panel includes following steps. When a touch event occurs, the touch panel generates a corresponding detection coordinate periodically until the touch event ends. When the touch event occurs, the detection coordinate generated by the touch panel is sequentially stored. The touch event is ignored until the number of coordinates generated by the touch panel is greater than or equal to N, and N is a positive integer. When the number of coordinates generated by the touch panel is greater than or equal to N, a touch coordinate corresponding to the touch event is generated according to the last generated N detection coordinates. The above-mentioned step of generating the touch coordinate is repeated according to a cycle of generating the detection coordinate by the touch panel so as to renew the touch coordinate until the touch event ends.
US08120591B2	Detection of low noise frequencies for multiple frequency sensor panel stimulation The identification of low noise stimulation frequencies for detecting and localizing touch events on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a separate sense line in a touch sensor panel and can have multiple mixers, each mixer using a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency, phase and delay. With no stimulation signal applied to any drive lines in the touch sensor panel, pairs of mixers can demodulate the sum of the output of all sense channels using the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals of a particular frequency. The demodulated outputs of each mixer pair can be used to calculate the magnitude of the noise at that particular frequency, wherein the lower the magnitude, the lower the noise at that frequency. Several low noise frequencies can be selected for use in a subsequent touch sensor panel scan function.
US08120589B2	Touch panel A touch panel disposed on a display panel includes a substrate, a plurality of first sensing strings and second sensing strings, and a plurality of assistant lines. The first sensing strings and the second sensing strings include sensing pads, a plurality of first connecting lines and a plurality of second connecting lines. The first connecting lines are parallel to a first direction and electrically connected to portions of the sensing pads in series to construct the first sensing strings. The second connecting lines are parallel to a second direction and electrically connected to the other portions of the sensing pads in series to construct the second sensing strings. The first and the second sensing pads are coplanar. The first connecting lines are electrically insulated from the second connecting lines. The assistant lines are positioned within an area of the sensing pads. The assistant lines directly contact with the sensing pads.
US08120585B2	Method, apparatus, and computer program product providing vibration control interface A method includes defining a plurality of parameters for a vibration control pulse comprising a start pulse and a stop pulse, and outputting the vibration control pulse to a vibration element to provide tactile feedback.
US08120583B2	KVM switch capable of detecting keyword input and method thereof Disclosed is a keyboard-video-mouse switch capable of detecting keyword input and recording video data from a computer and keyboard input data from a console and method thereof. The keyboard-video-mouse switch includes a keyword filter and a capture unit. The keyword filter detects whether a predetermined keyword is inputted from the console into the computer and the capture unit records video data if the predetermined keyword is detected. Moreover, the capture unit may record keyboard input data for a complete monitor. The keyboard-video-mouse switch of the present invention further includes an alarm and a keyword database. The alarm will alarm an administrator when the predetermined keyword is detected. The keyword database stores data of keystroke combinations, which is defined as predetermined keyword data for at least one input method.
US08120580B2	Electronic apparatus with display screen The present invention provides an electronic apparatus including a display screen having a first menu display area and a second menu display area, and a direction key provided on a side; first menu items arranged in a right-left direction are displayed in the first menu display area, and second menu items arranged in an up-down direction are displayed in the second menu display area, the direction key and the first menu display area are positioned substantially on a straight line extending in the right-left direction, the first menu items can be selected when a front portion/back portion of the direction key is pressed, the second menu items corresponding to the selected first menu items can be selected when an upper portion/lower portion of the direction key is pressed, and the selected menu items can be confirmed when a center portion of the direction key is pressed.
US08120577B2	Eye tracker with visual feedback The present invention relates to entry of control commands into a computer in response to eye-tracker detected movement sequences of a point of regard over a graphical display, which is associated with the computer. A processing module in the computer causes the display to present graphical feedback information in the form of a data-manipulating window, which visually confirms any entered control commands. The data-manipulating window is presented at a position relative to an active control object on the display, such that a center point of the window is located within a relatively small offset distance from a center point of the active control object. The window includes graphical information, which symbolizes and activity portion of the display presently being the object of an eye-tracker-controlled entry of control commands. Moreover the information in the window is repeatedly updated in response to the eye-tracker-controlled entry of control commands.
US08120571B2	LED driver and display device using the same An LED driver 5 includes current sources (52R, 52G, 52B) for generating drive current of LED (4R, 4G, 4B); and a black insert control section (54) for generating a black insert signal (BK) for determining a black insert period in one frame from a frame synchronizing signal (such as vertical synchronizing signal VS). The current sources (52R, 52G, 52B) stop current supply to the LEDs (4R, 4G, 4B) during the black insert period according to the black insert signal (BK). With this configuration, it is possible to enhance the moving image visibility of a liquid crystal display device without increasing the load on display control means or significantly lowering the light source brightness.
US08120567B2	Shift register, and solid state image sensor and camera using shift register The present invention provides a solid state image sensor and a camera using such a solid state image sensor, in which all of stage registers of the shift register can be reset efficiently without increasing the number of pads and/or sensor pins. The solid state image sensor comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 31 arranged in a two-dimensional array, a vertical shift register 503 disposed in a column direction and a horizontal shift register 504 disposed in a row direction and is characterized in that a timing for controlling resetting means for a first stage register of the shift register differs from a timing for controlling a second stage register and subsequent stage registers. Further, as a concrete example, the second stage register and subsequent stage registers are rest by a pulse for driving the shift register and the first stage register is reset by a pulse in which a high level is reached only upon power ON.
US08120565B2	Method and apparatus to enhance contrast in electro-optical display devices Display contrast in electro-optical display devices is improved using a drive circuit including pixel drive circuits and a common drive circuit. The pixel drive circuits are connected to pixel electrodes of the display device, and are operable to generate respective pixel drive signals that alternate between a first high voltage and a first low voltage differing in voltage by less than or equal to a process-limited maximum. The common drive circuit is connected to a common electrode of the display device, and is operable to generate a common drive signal alternating between a second high voltage and a second low voltage differing in voltage by more than the process-limited maximum. The common drive signal is asymmetrically bipolar with respect to the first low voltage of the pixel drive signal.
US08120562B2	Liquid crystal device, active matrix substrate, and electronic apparatus A liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal element having a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode which control alignment of liquid crystal molecules by applying an electric field in a direction parallel to a surface of a substrate to a liquid crystal layer, a memory circuit which is disposed in a pixel circuit and which serves as a voltage source of a first voltage and a second voltage, and an application voltage inverting circuit which is disposed in the pixel circuit and which inverts voltages applied to the liquid crystal element by controlling each of the first voltage and the second voltage so as to be supplied to either the first pixel electrode or the second pixel electrode of the liquid crystal element.
US08120560B2	Image displaying method, image displaying device, and contrast-adjusting circuit for use therewith A system provides an image displaying technique that provides stable high contrast even in an area having high brightness. Based on information about an average brightness level of a digital luminance signal, black-correction processing which decreases a brightness level by offsetting the brightness level to the minus side, and increase processing which increases a contrast gain within a dynamic range, are performed for an analog luminance signal or a digital luminance signal, enabling improvement in contrast even where brightness is intense.
US08120559B2	Liquid crystal device and driving method thereof A liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof is presented in which a first liquid crystal cell is provided at one side of the data line, and a second liquid crystal cell is provided at the other side thereof. A first switching part is provided for each first liquid crystal cell positioned at an ith horizontal line (wherein i is an integer) to be controlled by the (i−1)th gate line and the ith gate line. A second switching part is provided for each second liquid crystal cell positioned at an ith horizontal line to be controlled by the ith gate line.
US08120556B2	Organic light emitting display having longer life span An organic light emitting display, including a driving transistor electrically coupled to a first power line, a first switch electrically coupled to the driving transistor and an emission line, a second switch electrically coupled to the driving transistor and a previous scan line, a third switch electrically coupled to the first switch and a data line, a fourth switch electrically coupled to the data line and the third switch, a fifth switch electrically coupled to the driving transistor and a scan line, a first capacitor electrically coupled to the second switch and the third switch, a second capacitor electrically coupled to the third switch and the fifth switch, and an organic light emitting diode electrically coupled to the driving transistor and a second power line.
US08120554B2	Pixel and organic light emitting display comprising the same, and driving method thereof An OLED pixel, an organic light emitting display comprising the same, and a driving method thereof in which a uniform image is displayed regardless of differences among transistor characteristics are disclosed. The organic light emitting display comprises a plurality of pixels connected to a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of power source lines. Each pixel comprises a frequency supplying line to supply a frequency signal having a frequency corresponding to a sub-frame, a pixel circuit to supply current from the power source line on the basis of a data signal and the frequency signal, and an organic light emitting diode configured to emit light depending on the output current from the pixel circuit.
US08120551B2	Active-matrix display device, and active-matrix organic electroluminescent display device An active-matrix display device that employs current-programmed-type pixel circuits and performs the writing data to each of pixels on a line-by-line basis. The active-matrix display device has a matrix of current-programmed-type pixel circuits includes a data line driving circuit formed of a plurality of current driving circuits (CD) arranged so as to correspond to respective data lines. The data line driving circuit (CD) holds image data (luminance data herein) in the form of voltage, and then converts the voltage of the image data into a current signal. The current signal is then fed to the data lines at a time. The image information is thus written on the pixel circuits.
US08120549B2	Method for driving a plasma display panel The present method is to drive a plasma display panel which displays a frame composed of a plurality of sub-fields having different weights of luminance. The method comprises using plural kinds of application voltage waveforms different in light emission luminance, as pulse voltages for sustain discharges in display of each sub-field, and adjusting the number of waves in each of the plural kinds of application voltage waveforms according to the weight of luminance set for each sub-field, thereby performing gradation display.
US08120547B2	Information display A method displaying information for viewing by a user characterised by the steps of: peripherally displaying primary information (5) on a first focal plane (3), and displaying secondary information (6) on at least a second focal plane (2) to said primary information (5), wherein said secondary information (6) exhibits at least one characteristic capable of augmenting the effect of the primary information (5) on the viewer.
US08120542B2	Notch antenna and wireless device A notch antenna includes a ground conductor having a slit and a reactance circuit containing a capacitive reactance element and an inductive reactance element, the reactance circuit being placed at an open end of the slit so as to bridge the slit and being connected to the ground conductor. The slit has a closed end to which power is supplied, and the capacitance of the capacitive reactance element and the inductance of the inductive reactance element are set so that the reactance circuit has a capacitance desired to obtain a first antenna resonance point at a first frequency and a capacitance desired to obtain a second antenna resonance point at a second frequency.
US08120541B2	Antenna system for tracking satellite Provided is an antenna system for tracking a satellite which includes a fixed body and a rotating body. The antenna system includes a transmitting/receiving unit having a transmitting channel and a receiving channel for signal power, a driving unit for enabling mechanical motion of the rotating body for satellite tracking, and a control unit for monitoring and controlling the operation of the driving unit. Accordingly, the various kinds of the components of the antenna system mounted and operated on the movable body can be minimized and the output of the transmitted signal required in the antenna system can be simply replaced, thereby simplifying the configuration of the system and reducing the production cost of the system. In addition, the STR having the tracking signal processing function in the digital mode as well as the general analog mode is mounted on the antenna system, thereby improving accuracy of satellite tracking. Moreover, the posture of the antenna system can be stably maintained regardless of the motion of the movable body in the moving environment by using the driving unit and the control unit which are designed for stably controlling the elevation, azimuth and antenna rotating angle, thereby improving communication performance that is the intrinsic object of the antenna system.
US08120538B2	Wireless chip The invention provides a wireless chip which can secure the safety of consumers while being small in size, favorable in communication property, and inexpensive, and the invention also provides an application thereof. Further, the invention provides a wireless chip which can be recycled after being used for managing the manufacture, circulation, and retail. A wireless chip includes a layer including a semiconductor element, and an antenna. The antenna includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and has a spherical shape, an ovoid shape, an oval spherical shape like a go stone, an oval spherical shape like a rugby ball, or a disc shape, or has a cylindrical shape or a polygonal prism shape in which an outer edge portion thereof has a curved surface.
US08120530B2	Method and device for using GNSS satellite trajectory extension data in mobile apparatus A method and device for using satellite trajectory extension data in a mobile apparatus. The device in accordance with the present invention comprises an I/O interface and a microprocessor. The input/output (I/O) interface is used for obtaining at least one satellite navigation message for a satellite. The microprocessor is used for determining a propagating condition according to the satellite navigation message, estimating a plurality of parameters of a satellite trajectory prediction model according to the propagating condition to establish an estimated satellite trajectory predication model, propagating a set of satellite trajectory extension data by using the estimated satellite trajectory prediction model, computing acquisition assistance data according to the satellite trajectory extension data and acquiring signals of the satellite by using the acquisition assistance data.
US08120526B2	Methods, apparatuses and systems for locating non-cooperative objects Measurements of the differential and/or absolute time-of-arrival of separable signals transmitted from a set of spatially-distributed (SD) transmitters are obtained by one or more receivers. The signals transmitted by each transmitter are made separable by encoding them in a manner that enables each signal to be distinguished from the others by the receiver or receivers. An accurate time-of-arrival of each signal at the receiver is determined, from which the path lengths from the transmitters to the receiver and from the receiver to the object are determined based on the known propagation speed of the signals. Any Doppler frequency shifts in each signal can also be determined from this information. From all of this information, the receiver is able to determine its own position, motion and orientation (roll, pitch and yaw), as well as the position and motion of the moving object being tracked by the receiver.
US08120525B2	Systems and methods for obtaining aircraft state data from multiple data links Systems and methods are delineated that may provide for a system for use in a merging and spacing application for an aircraft. An exemplary system may comprise a TCAS and a processor for executing the merging and spacing application using ADS-B data and data received by the aircraft in response to an interrogation of another aircraft from the TCAS. In a disclosed embodiment, a lead aircraft responds to the TCAS interrogation from a following aircraft to provide EHS heading and/or speed of the lead aircraft to the following aircraft, which uses the received EHS data as well as ADS-B data to determine merging and spacing control parameters for the following aircraft.
US08120524B2	Motion detection systems using CW radar in combination with additional sensors Whether or not the CW radar is utilized for through-the-wall detection, additional one or more sensors are used with the CW radar to confirm the motion detection result or to in fact turn on the CW radar once motion or the physical presence of an individual has been sensed, thereby to provide confirmation of a less-reliable sensor with the use of the more reliable CW radar. Thus, the addition of other sensors provides lower power consumption, lower false alarm rates and better discrimination and classification of moving objects.
US08120520B2	Successive approximation analog/digital converter and time-interleaved successive approximation analog/digital converter A successive approximation analog/digital converter includes a sample & hold part sampling and holding an intensity of an analog input signal using a single clock cycle of a clock signal; a first comparator comparing the intensity of the analog input signal with comparison voltages determined according to estimated digital values per clock cycle following an operating clock cycle of the sample & hold part; a second comparator comparing the intensity of the analog input signal with a value equal to ½ of a preset reference voltage in the latter half of the operating clock cycle of the sample & hold part; a successive approximation register determining a value of an MSB of a digital value to be converted according to the comparison result of the second comparator and values of bits successive to the MSB according to the comparison result of the first comparator, and generating the estimated digital values by applying estimated values to undetermined bits; and a digital/analog converter generating the comparison voltages using the estimated digital values and the reference voltage.
US08120518B2	Digital feedforward sigma-delta modulator in analog-to-digital converter and modulation method thereof A digital feedforward sigma-delta modulator in an analog-to-digital converter and its modulation method are disclosed. The modulator changes a feedforward path from an analog domain to a digital domain and processes it. The modulator integrates an analog input by using a plurality of integrators, weights them, quantizes them by using a plurality of quantizers in a digital domain to output digital signals, and then adds up the thusly outputted digital signals by using a digital adder. In case of a continuous time digital feedforward sigma-delta modulator (SDM), a digital signal outputted from the digital adder is weighted and then immediately inputted to the digital adder in the digital domain so as to be subtracted, allowing for digital feedforwarding. Because the feedforward signal is processed in the digital domain, the area occupied by an analog circuit and power consumption can be reduced. Also, because signals are added up in the digital domain, a digital output signal can be immediately used when an excess loop delay needs to be corrected. Thus, because there is no need to convert the digital output signal into an analog signal by using a DAC, the DAC can be omitted.
US08120509B2	MWD data transmission An MWD data transmission system and method for determining and transmitting the environmental properties of the downhole borehole assembly (BHA) to surface data receivers via mud pulse telemetry, EM telemetry, or both mud pulse telemetry and EM telemetry based on one or more determined properties of the downhole environment.
US08120505B2	Emergency ingress/egress monitoring system A base computer that, under normal conditions receives and stores individual ingress/egress data transmitted from at least one card reader and that maintains a current occupancy census of a facility. Under emergency conditions, individual exit from the facility is registered at a plurality of card readers located at evacuation assembly areas and such egress data are transmitted by wireless means to a portable computer that is in communication with the base computer thereby allowing a real time, current occupancy census to be generated and displayed. Egress can also be registered by telephone to a preestablished phone number.
US08120504B2	Circuit for indicating operating status of computer hardware devices A circuit for indicating operating status of a plurality of hardware devices of a computer includes a detecting module, a decoding module, and an indicating module. The indicating module includes a dual color indicator and two electronic switches connected to a first input and a second input of the dual color indicator respectively. The detecting module detects an operating status of the plurality of hardware devices, and outputs state signals of each hardware device during power on self test of the computer. The decoding module decodes the state signals, and outputs level control signals to turn on or off the two electronic switches. The dual color indicator indicates operating status of the plurality of hardware devices by shifted to be at different indicating states by the two electronic switches correspondingly.
US08120500B2	Acoustic fluid presence/absence detection An acoustic sensor detects presence and/or absence of fluid in a fluid delivery medium. The acoustic sensor detects fluid absence based on the difference of the speed of sound between air and a fluid. For example, the acoustic sensor may detect fluid absence based on a phase shift between acoustic signals transmitted through the fluid delivery medium when fluid is present as compared to acoustic signals transmitted through the fluid delivery medium when fluid is absent, e.g., when air or bubbles are present in the fluid delivery medium.
US08120498B2	Capturing body movement related to a fixed coordinate system Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a kinematic sensor may be carried by or on one or more body segments of a user to obtain one or more kinematic variables based at least in part on movement of the user with respect to a fixed, global reference system. The kinematic sensor comprises a tri-axial accelerometer sensor, a gyroscope sensor, and a magnetometer sensor to define the global reference system and to obtain kinematic data. The kinematic data may be transmitted via a wireless link to a remote information handling system or device, for example to monitor a health status of the user based at least in part on movement of the user with respect to the fixed, global reference system.
US08120495B2	RFID system An RFID system according to the present invention includes an RFID antenna system including: a first antenna that can communicate with an external reader/writer; an antenna selector for connecting with the first antenna; and a plurality of second antennas that can connect with the first antenna in order via the antenna selector, each of the second antennas can communicate with an IC tag that is attached to an article placed in a region defined by the second antenna.
US08120494B1	RFID readers and systems with antenna switching upon detecting too few tags and methods RFID readers, reader systems, and methods are provided that utilize smart antenna switching. A first signal is transmitted from a first antenna estimating presence of tags within the antennas field of view. If fewer than a predefined number of tags are estimated, the system switches to a second antenna. Otherwise, the tags found in the field of view of the first antenna are inventoried before switching to the second antenna.
US08120492B2	Blister package with integrated electronic tag and method of manufacture A blister package with an integrated RFID tag is provided. The conductive lidding material is modified to serve not only to seal some contents within some formed blister film, but also to act as an RFID tag antenna. An IC chip is electrically connected to the lidding film antenna. Methods of manufacture which integrate with conventional blister package manufacturing processes are also provided.
US08120490B2	RFID tag information system An RFID tag information system comprises a transmission/reception antenna configured to carry out information transmission/reception via radio communication with a RFID circuit element. An access information processing device configured to carry out predetermined processing relating to information for access that accesses the RFID circuit element or access acquisition information. And a selection processing portion for select and process one transmission path among a plurality of transmission paths that transmit the information for access from the access information processing device or that transmit the access acquisition information to the access information processing device.
US08120474B2	Communication system for vehicle A communication system for a vehicle includes a portable identification device including a portion for receiving an interrogation signal and a portion for transmitting an indication indicative signal responsive to the interrogation signal, multiple tire sensor devices each of which includes a portion for receiving an initiation signal and a portion for transmitting a condition indicative signal responsive to the initiation signal, multiple transmitting devices each of which emits the interrogation signal and the initiation signal for different conditions within a communication area, a receiving device for receiving the indication indicative signal and the condition indicative signal, and a central controller for unlocking a door lock device when the portable identification device is determined to be in an overlapped area based on a condition of the portable identification device, the overlapped area being defined between two adjacent communication areas and in which the door lock device is involved.
US08120468B2	Security system for inventory A security system for inventory automatically detects removal of inventory items from an area or areas protected with security sensors. A person removing the item then scans an identifying code of the item, such as its bar code or radio-frequency identification (“RFID”) tag, with a device such as a portable shopping assistant device; if the item is not scanned in an appropriate manner, such as within a particular a time period, then theft of the item may be suspected. Information for completing a purchase transaction can be sent from the portable shopping assistant device. In this manner, items can be purchased directly from the protected areas.
US08120465B2	RFID tag, interrogator and system with improved symbol encoding and decoding An improved RFID Tag, Interrogator, and system wherein at least one tag modulates a radio frequency signal by modulated backscatter operations.
US08120461B2	Automatic data collection device, method and article A radio frequency identification system comprises a radio-frequency identification substrate and an interrogator. In one embodiment, the radio-frequency identification substrate comprises a plurality of radio-frequency identification devices. In one embodiment, a first radio-frequency identification device on the substrate monitors an indication of a response of a second radio-frequency identification device on the substrate to an interrogation signal and selectively responds to the interrogation signal based on the monitoring of the indication.
US08120460B1	Electronic key provisioning A method for method of initializing an electronic lock is disclosed. The method comprises a point-of-sale terminal reading electronic lock identification information from the electronic lock and the point-of-sale terminal receiving confidential information from a mobile electronic device. The method also comprises an inventory control system that is coupled to the point-of-sale terminal and that transmits an electronic lock registration message, wherein the registration message contains at least some of the confidential information and at least some of the identification information. When the inventory control system receives an electronic access code in response to the electronic lock registration message, the point-of-sale terminal transmits the electronic access code to the mobile electronic device. The electronic access code is operable to lock and unlock the electronic lock when transmitted, using near-field-communication technology, to the electronic lock.
US08120459B2	Access authentication system and method using smart communicator Disclosed is an intelligent access authentication system and method. The intelligent access authentication system includes a door lock that can be locked and released in a predetermined manner, a door phone for communicating with the visitor; a smart communicator which configures access approval levels of expected visitors and access authentication information for each access approval level, communicates with the visitor, and controls the door lock, and a home network server which stores the access approval levels of expected visitors and access authentication information for each access approval level received from the smart communicator, checks the access approval level of the visitor attempting to release the door lock by referring to previously stored information, and transmits a door lock operating command to the door lock according to the access approval level of the visitor. In the present invention, the resident can check the visitor and control the door lock to be released according to the access approval level of the visitor, even at a remote location.
US08120452B2	Mechanical interlock for circuit breaker to prevent relatching of the breaker An apparatus and method for restricting auxiliary latch movement within a tripped circuit breaker. An auxiliary latch is held in a closed state and is biased into an open state. When the trip bar is activated in response to an overload condition, it releases the auxiliary latch which pivots to the open state. The cradle is released and pivots to disengage the breaker contact. Tabs on the cradle and auxiliary latch cooperatively interlock to limit auxiliary latch movement until the latch is properly reset.
US08120448B2	High frequency nanotube oscillator A tunable nanostructure such as a nanotube is used to make an electromechanical oscillator. The mechanically oscillating nanotube can be provided with inertial clamps in the form of metal beads. The metal beads serve to clamp the nanotube so that the fundamental resonance frequency is in the microwave range, i.e., greater than at least 1 GHz, and up to 4 GHz and beyond. An electric current can be run through the nanotube to cause the metal beads to move along the nanotube and changing the length of the intervening nanotube segments. The oscillator can operate at ambient temperature and in air without significant loss of resonance quality. The nanotube is can be fabricated in a semiconductor style process and the device can be provided with source, drain, and gate electrodes, which may be connected to appropriate circuitry for driving and measuring the oscillation. Novel driving and measuring circuits are also disclosed.
US08120440B2	Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with simultaneous switching of frequency band, oscillation core and varactor size The invention relates to a voltage controlled oscillator for generating a variable frequency. The oscillator comprises an oscillator core and a transconductive portion for compensating current losses in the oscillator core. The oscillator core comprises an inductive portion with at least one inductive element and a capacitive portion whose capacitance can be continuously varied by means of a control voltage for varying said frequency. The capacitive portion comprises multiple variable capacitive elements whose capacitance is continuously variable by means of said control voltage, each variable capacitive element being switchable for being added to or removed from the capacitive portion.
US08120437B2	Oscillator with little deterioration capable of outputting clock pulses with target frequency An oscillator includes: a vibrator having a first electrode and a second electrode disposed with a gap with the first electrode; a reference voltage supply circuit adapted to supply a reference voltage; and a voltage adjustment circuit having a step-up circuit operating in response to input of clock pulses and adapted to convert the reference voltage into a voltage of a predetermined level and to output the voltage of the predetermined level, wherein the vibrator is configured so as to apply the voltage of the predetermined level, which is output from the voltage adjustment circuit, between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the clock pulses to be input into the step-up circuit are obtained using the vibrator as a source.
US08120435B2	PLL circuit and semiconductor device having the same A PLL circuit includes a phase detector, a loop filter (LF), a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), and a frequency divider. The phase detector compares a phase of a signal Fs which is input from outside with a phase of a signal Fo/N which is input from the frequency divider. The loop filter generates a signal Vin by removing alternating current components from a signal input from the phase detector. The voltage-controlled oscillator outputs a signal Fo based on the signal Vin input from the loop filter. The frequency divider converts the signal Fo output from the voltage-controlled oscillator into Fo/N (frequency division by N), and outputs it to the phase detector.
US08120431B2	Variable loop bandwidth phase locked loop An apparatus comprising a voltage controlled oscillator, a first charge pump, a second charge pump, a switch circuit and a comparator circuit. The voltage controlled oscillator may be configured to generate an output signal oscillating at a first frequency in response to a control signal. The charge pump circuit may be configured to generate a first component of the control signal in response to a first adjustment signal and a second adjustment signal. The second charge pump may be configured to generate a second component of the control signal in response to a first intermediate signal and a second intermediate signal. The switch circuit may be configured to generate the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal in response to the first adjustment signal and the second adjustment signal. The comparator circuit may be configured to generate the first and second adjustment signals in response to a comparison between (i) an input signal having a second frequency and (ii) the output signal.
US08120423B2	OP-AMP sharing with input and output reset An operational amplifier with two pairs of differential inputs for use with an input switch capacitor network. The operational amplifier has reset devices for resetting the second pair of differential inputs while amplifying the first pair of differential inputs, and for resetting the first pair of differential inputs while amplifying the second pair of differential inputs for reducing memory effect in electronic circuits. In an embodiment, the amplifier has an additional reset device for resetting the outputs during a prophase of amplifying the first pair of differential inputs and a prophase of amplifying the second pair of differential inputs.
US08120421B2	Circuit structure free from test effect and testing method thereof A circuit structure free from test effect is provided. The circuit structure includes a first test terminal and a second test terminal. A symmetric circuit unit is coupled between the first test terminal and the second test terminal. The symmetric circuit unit includes a plurality of transistors, wherein the transistors are symmetrically disposed to form a first part circuit and a second part circuit. A switch control unit alternatively connects the transistors of the first part circuit and the transistors of the second part circuit between the first test terminal and the second test terminal according to a control signal.
US08120417B2	Transfer-function control in an active filter A filter circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit to provide a number of poles including a dominant pole, and a feedback circuit to feed a portion of an output of the differential amplifier circuit to an input of the differential amplifier circuit. The feedback circuit includes a feedback resistor and a feedback capacitor to provide a controllable increase in an order of a transfer function of the filter circuit along with non-dominant poles of the differential amplifier circuit coupled in parallel with the feedback resistor. Coefficients of a transfer function of the differential amplifier circuit are forced to substantially depend solely on one or more of a plurality of passive circuit elements, the feedback resistor, and the feedback capacitor to control a dependence of the transfer function of the filter circuit on a gain of the differential amplifier circuit and poles of the differential amplifier circuit.
US08120411B1	Charge pump with ramp rate control A charge pump circuit is provided that has a controllable ramp rate. The charge pump circuit may receive a control signal from a control circuit. The control signal may be asserted by the control circuit to turn on the charge pump circuit. When the charge pump circuit is turned on, the charge pump circuit produces an output voltage. The output voltage ramps up from an initial value to a desired target value. During the ramp up process, a ramp rate regulation circuit monitors the output voltage and ensures that the ramp rate does not exceed a desired maximum value. A capacitor may be charged at a desired ramp rate to use as a time-varying reference voltage. A feedback circuit may be used to maintain the output voltage at the desired target value once the ramp-up process is complete.
US08120410B2	Adaptive control of power supply for integrated circuits The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement and method for controlling power supply in an integrated circuit wherein at least one working parameter of at least one electrically isolated circuit region (10) is monitored, and the conductivity of a variable resistor means is locally controlled so as to individually adjust power supply for each of said at least two electrically isolated circuit regions (10) based on the at least one monitored working parameter. Thereby, a fast and simple control functionality with low area overhead can be provided.
US08120407B1	Techniques for varying phase shifts in periodic signals A circuit includes a phase detection circuit and a phase change circuit. The phase detection circuit compares a phase of a first periodic signal to an input signal to generate a gain signal. The phase change circuit provides phase shifts to the first periodic signal in first and second directions when the gain signal has a first value. The phase change circuit increases phase shifts provided to the first periodic signal in the first direction in response to the gain signal changing from the first value to a second value. The phase change circuit provides phase shifts to the first periodic signal in the second direction when the gain signal has the second value that are smaller than the phase shifts provided to the first periodic signal in the first direction when the gain signal has the second value.
US08120406B2	Sequential circuit with dynamic pulse width control A pulsed latch circuit with conditional shutoff prevents an input node, such as a node receiving data, of the pulsed latch circuit, from latching data based on a delayed input control signal, such as an internal clocking signal, and based on a feedback latch state transition detection signal indicating that a current state of input data is stored in the latch. As such, two control conditions are used to shut down the latch. In one example, a condition generator detects when the latch has captured data correctly and outputs a signal to disable the input node. In addition, a variable delay circuit is used to adjust the width of the allowable input signal to set a worst case shutoff time. If data is latched early, a feedback latch state transition detection signal causes the input node to be disabled. If data is not latched early, the maximum allowable latch time is set by the variable delay circuit.
US08120404B2	Flip-flop circuit with internal level shifter A flip-flop circuit with an internal level shifter includes an input stage, a clock input stage, an output stage and a level shifting stage. The output stage generates an output signal based on an input signal received by the input stage and a clock signal received by the clock input stage. The level shifting stage shifts-up the voltage level of the output signal.
US08120403B2	Duty detection circuit A semiconductor device includes a first duty determining circuit (20) and a second duty determining circuit (30). The first duty determining circuit (20) determines a duty correction condition for an input signal in a first predetermined cycle longer than a cycle of the input signal to obtain a first determination result and updates the duty correction condition for the input signal on the basis of the first determination result. The second duty determining circuit (30) determines the duty correction condition for the input signal in a second predetermined cycle shorter than first predetermined cycle to obtain a second determination result and updates the duty correction condition for the input signal only when the second determination result is fixed during a predetermined period.
US08120398B2	Delay locked loop circuit A delay locked loop (DLL) circuit has a first delay line that delays a received external clock signal for a fine delay time and then outputs a first internal clock signal; a duty cycle correction unit that corrects a duty cycle of the first internal clock signal and then outputs a second clock signal; a second delay line that delays the second clock signal for a coarse delay time and then outputs a second internal clock signal; and a phase detection and control unit that detects the difference between the phases of the external clock signal and the fed back second internal clock signal, and controls the fine delay time and the coarse delay time. The DLL circuit performs coarse locking and fine locking by using different type delay cells, and thus consumes a small amount of power and robustly withstands jitter and variation in PVT variables.
US08120397B2	Delay locked loop apparatus A delay locked loop (DLL) apparatus includes a first delay unit converting a reference clock into a rising clock. A second delay unit converts the reference clock into a falling clock, and a replica delay unit replica-delays the rising clock. A first phase detector compares the phases of the reference clock and the delayed rising clock to output a first detection signal corresponding to the compared phases. A controller synchronizes the rising edge of the rising clock with the rising edge of the reference clock according to the first detection signal of the first phase detector. A second phase detector compares the phases of the synchronized rising clock and the synchronization clock to output a second detection signal corresponding to the compared phases. The DLL apparatus compensates for a skew between an external clock and data and between external and internal clocks by employing a single replica delay unit.
US08120390B1	Configurable low drop out regulator circuit A low drop out voltage regulator (LDO) is capable of operating in one of two different modes based on externally connected components. In one mode, the LDO directly generates a regulated output voltage. In a second mode, the LDO drives an external PNP transistor to generate a regulated output voltage. In both modes, a relatively large bypass capacitor may be connected to the output voltage node to bypass high-frequency loading on the output voltage node. However, the bypass capacitor creates a low frequency pole in the frequency response of the LDO, which can diminish phase margin and reduce overall stability. An on chip compensation network beneficially counteracts the low frequency pole with an appropriately placed zero, thereby resulting in improved phase margin and greater stability.
US08120387B2	Receiving circuit, electronic apparatus and method for controlling receiving circuit A receiving circuit includes a comparing circuit, a first storage circuit, a second storage circuit, and a voltage controlling circuit. The comparing circuit compares an input signal with a reference voltage and outputs a signal with either a first level when the input signal is larger than the reference voltage or a second level when the input signal is smaller than the reference voltage as a comparison result. The first storage circuit stores an output level of the comparing circuit for a next one cycle. The second storage circuit stores an output level of the first storage circuit for a next one cycle. The voltage controlling circuit controls a level of the reference voltage in each cycle on the basis of output levels of the first storage circuit and the second storage circuit.
US08120384B2	Multivalued logic circuit In a bridge adder circuit, a first and a second complementary pair of current mirrors is connected between the input terminals and a positive and a negative supply voltage bus, respectively, to control a first and a second push-pull output stage. The outputs of the push-pull output stages are connected to the respective inputs through first resistors and to a common output node through second resistors. As a result, a universal circuit element for a multivalued logic element, such as ternary logic or 5-valued logic is provided.
US08120382B2	Programmable integrated circuit with mirrored interconnect structure A programmable integrated circuit (IC) with mirrored interconnect structure. The IC includes a plurality of arrangements, which are horizontally arranged. Each arrangement includes a first logic column, an interconnect column, and a second logic column. Each interconnect column includes programmable interconnect blocks (148), and each of the first and second logic columns includes programmable logic blocks. Each programmable interconnect block provides a plurality of first input and output ports on a first side and a plurality of second input and output ports on a second side. The first ports and the first side of each of the programmable interconnect blocks physically mirror the second ports and the second side of the programmable interconnect block. The ports of the programmable interconnect blocks are coupled to the ports of the programmable logic blocks in the first and second logic columns.
US08120381B2	Impedance adjusting device An impedance adjusting device includes a calibration unit configured to generate an impedance code for adjusting a termination impedance value, a plurality of termination units configured to be enabled by resistance selection information and terminate an interface node in response to the impedance code, a resistance providing unit coupled in parallel to the plurality of termination units and configured to provide a resistance in response to the resistance selection information, and a selection signal generation unit configured to generate the resistance selection information according to a target impedance value.
US08120374B2	Inspection circuit and display device thereof An inspection circuit is used for inspecting signal wires of a display area. The inspection circuit includes a shorting bar, plural first shorting switches, and plural second shorting switches. The plurality of the first and the second shorting switches are disposed at different sides of the display area for increasing space between each adjacent shorting switch so as to reduce coupling effect. In the inspection circuit, a first shorting switch is electrically connected between the shorting bar and first end of one signal wire, and a second shorting switch is electrically connected between the second end of that signal wire and second end of another signal wire.
US08120369B2	Dielectric characterization of bituminous froth A method of determining a permittivity of a substance may include providing a probe having a planar end surface, providing a signal source and a signal receiver coupled to the probe, and physically contacting the substance with the planar end surface of the probe defining an interface. The method may further include measuring a reflection coefficient of the substance by at least transmitting a signal through the probe to the interface, receiving a reflected signal from the interface, and comparing the transmitted and reflected signals. The method may further include calculating the permittivity of the substance based upon the reflection coefficient.
US08120362B2	Surveying a subterranean structure using electromagnetic measurements and microorganism content data A survey apparatus for surveying a subterranean structure includes an electromagnetic (EM) sensing element to measure an EM field received from the subterranean structure, and a sample collector activatable to collect a sample of soil.
US08120360B2	System and method of angular elliptic centric view ordering for 3D MR acquisitions A method of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging includes segmenting a ky-kz plane comprising a plurality of encoding points into a plurality of annular segments. For each annular segment, a view ordering is defined based on a polar angle associated with each encoding point contained within the annular segment. MR data is acquired for the plurality of encoding points based on the view ordering for each annular segment and at least one MR image is generated using the acquired MR data.
US08120354B2	Self-calibrating magnetic field monitor A self-calibrating magnetic field monitor is disclosed. In one embodiment, a magnetic field sensor repeatedly generates an electronic signal related to the magnetic field. In addition, a calibration module generates a relative baseline signal based on an average value of the electronic signals for a given time period. A comparator compares the electronic signal with the relative baseline signal and generating an output signal if a difference in the comparing is greater than or equal to a threshold.
US08120353B2	Methods for detecting damage to magnetoresistive sensors A method for detecting a damaged magnetoresistive sensor in one embodiment includes measuring a resistance of a first sensor upon application thereto of a positive bias current; measuring the resistance of the first sensor upon application thereto of a negative bias current; determining a difference in the measured resistances at positive and negative currents of the first sensor; measuring a resistance of a second sensor upon application thereto of a positive bias current; measuring the resistance of the second sensor upon application thereto of a negative bias current; determining a difference in the measured resistances at positive and negative currents of the second sensor; and outputting at least one of the differences, or a derivative of the at least one of the differences. Additional methods are also presented.
US08120351B2	Magnet sensor arrangement for sensing the movement of element moving in linear or rotary fashion A magnetic sensor arrangement (1), having magnetically sensitive sensor elements (7, 8) whose electrical properties are changeable as a function of a magnetic field that a moving, passive transmitter element (11) is able to influence. The magnetic sensor arrangement (1) has two sensor elements (7, 8) in a gradiometer arrangement that are each respectively associated with one of two magnetic regions (4, 5) of a permanent magnet embodied in the form of a gap magnet (2; 20; 23), which regions are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance (sa). The regions (4, 5) and the gap magnet (2; 20; 23)—in terms of the for example wedge-shaped embodiment, the dimensions (h, b, t), the gap width (sa), the gap depth (st), and their positions in relation to the sensor elements (7, 8)—are situated so as to minimize the offset of the output signal of the sensor elements (7, 8) in the gradiometer arrangement.
US08120345B2	Semiconductor device and power supply using the same A semiconductor device for control applied to a constant-voltage power supply device includes a digital-analog converter circuit which outputs a reference voltage corresponding to a value of a first register with taking an output voltage of a reference voltage source as a criterial reference voltage, and generates a control signal for driving a power semiconductor device based on an output voltage of an error amplifier which differentially amplifies a feedback voltage obtained by resistive-dividing on an output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply device and the reference voltage. An analog-digital converter circuit which converts the feedback voltage to a digital value with taking the output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply device as a reference voltage is provided, and based on the output, a value of a first register is corrected so as to offset an effect of an error in voltage dividing ratio of a voltage dividing resistor circuit.
US08120338B2	Dropper-type regulator A dropper-type regulator capable of providing a soft start function using a simple circuit configuration. An exemplary regulator includes a first FET having a relatively high current driving capability and a second FET having a relatively low current driving capability are provided in parallel between an input terminal and an output terminal. For a predetermined time immediately after power activation, only the second FET is driven, thereby preventing a large rush current. A switch circuit connected to the gate of the first FET is operated after the predetermined period of time, thereby supplying a driving voltage to the gate of the first FET.
US08120337B2	Inverter driver and load driver including the same, and driving method thereof A load driver includes an inverter and an inverter driver. The inverter converts an input voltage into a driving voltage of a discharge lamp using at least one first switch for switching according to a duty ratio, and the inverter driver controls the inverter. The inverter driver controls the duty ratio using a voltage of a capacitor and a control signal having a waveform that is repeated with a predetermined frequency. The capacitor is charged and discharged by a current corresponding to a difference between a feedback voltage corresponding to a current flow to the discharge lamp and a reference voltage. Such inverter driver controls to gradually increase the output voltage of the inverter in the soft start period by setting the voltage of the capacitor as a voltage corresponding to the control signal.
US08120336B2	Switching regulator circuit, system, and method for providing input current measurement without a dedicated input current sense element A synchronous regulator includes a controller coupled to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal from the regulator and being operable to provide a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal at its output. The regulator includes at least one gate driver coupled to receive the PWM signal and includes a synchronous output switch having a phase node therebetween controlled by the gate driver, and also including regulator input current measurement circuitry. The regulator input current measurement circuitry includes a circuit that provides a signal representative of at least one phase node timing parameter. A sensing circuit is operable to sense inductor or output current provided by the regulator. A calculation circuit is coupled to receive the signal representative of the phase node timing parameters and the inductor or output current and is operable to determine the input current from the phase node timing parameters and the inductor or output current.
US08120334B2	System and method for phase management in a multiphase switching power supply A system and method for managing phases in a multiphase switching power supply turns off a phase in light load conditions and turns on a phase in heavier load conditions. The increase or decrease in the number of phases changes the efficiency of the power supply in response to operating conditions. The phases of the power supply may be synchronized and interleaved. Input current or power representing power supply loading provides a criteria for switching phases on or off. The input current can be taken from an input current sense resistor. The input power can be determined based on a control for managing phases. Turning a phase off causes remaining phases to have an increased on-time or gain to smooth the transition between differing numbers of active phases.
US08120332B2	Method and system for shot tracking The present invention is a method for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving battery power of a circuit. The method comprises charging a capacitor using a battery. The battery is in electrical communication with a resistor and the resistor is in electrical communication with a capacitor and a load switch. The load switch is in electrical communication with an enabler and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is in electrical communication with a radiofrequency component. The load switch is closed, allowing power drawn from the capacitor to flow to the radiofrequency component.
US08120329B2	Apparatus for controlling power generated by on-vehicle generator on the basis of internal status of on-vehicle battery An apparatus for controlling power generation of a generator mounted on a vehicle, the generator charging a on-vehicle battery, comprising a detecting device that detects information indicating the internal status of the battery that includes temperature of the battery, a power supply circuit that supplies power to the detecting device, a calculator for calculating the internal status of the battery using the information detected by the detecting device, a circuit board on which the calculator, the power supply circuit, and the detecting circuit are mounted and a controller that controls the power generation of the generator based on the internal status of the battery. The temperature sensing element is arranged on a bus bar that is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the battery, and the bus bar and the temperature sensing element are coupled thermally to each other.
US08120328B2	Charging system, charging control program, and portable terminal A charging system of the present invention is a charging system for charging a battery mounted on a portable telephone 100, and includes a charging control unit 174 that performs supply and control of the charging electric current and the charging voltage to the battery, a device temperature monitoring unit 170 that monitors the device temperature inside the portable telephone 100, and a battery temperature monitoring unit 172 that monitors the battery temperature of the battery. The charging control unit 174 controls the charging electric current to be supplied to the battery according to the device temperature monitored by the device temperature monitoring unit 170 and controls the charging voltage to be supplied to the battery according to the battery temperature monitored by the battery temperature monitoring unit 172.
US08120327B2	System and method for using stored electrical energy to quiet power sensitive measurement circuits The present invention is a system and method for temporarily storing electrical energy to power sensitive measurement circuits. In one embodiment, a switch-mode power converter is operable to charge an energy storage device. After the energy storage device is sufficiently charged, the switch-mode power converter is powered off so that sensitive measurements may be made without being affected by noise or interference caused by the switch-mode power converter. Once the measurement has been made, the switch-mode power converter is powered on and provides power to the energy storage device to recharge the energy storage device so that a subsequent measurement may be made.
US08120323B2	High efficiency charging circuit and power supply system having such high efficiency charging circuit A charging circuit includes a main power circuit, a DC-to-DC converting circuit, a detection circuit and a controller. The main power circuit is electrically connected to a power source for converting an input voltage from the power source into a first voltage. The DC-to-DC converting circuit is electrically connected to the main power circuit for converting the first voltage into a second voltage to charge the energy storage element. The detection circuit is electrically connected to the main power circuit and the DC-to-DC converting circuit for detecting a terminal voltage of the energy storage element and the first voltage from the main power circuit, thereby generating a feedback signal. The controller is electrically connected to the detection circuit and the main power circuit for controlling operations of the first switching element in response to the feedback signal, so that the first voltage is adjustable according to the second voltage.
US08120317B2	Wireless charger and wireless charging method thereof A wireless charger for charging an electronic device includes a holder with a primary coil and a number of holding coils fixed thereon and a resilient member sleeved thereon. The wireless charger further includes a sensing module, a storing module, a comparing module and an adjusting module. The sensing module detects each current value of the holding coils when the wireless charger is powered on. The storing module stores each current value of the holding coils from the sensing module and predetermines a reference current value for each holding coil. The comparing module compares the current value with the reference current value to determine whether the current value equals to the reference current value. The adjusting module changes the current values to the reference current values when the current value is not equal to the reference current value to adjust an angle of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil.
US08120315B2	Battery charger with mechanism to automatically load and unload batteries A mechanism is disclosed for loading/unloading one or more rechargeable batteries. The mechanism includes one or more charging compartments configured to receive one or more rechargeable batteries and a first actuator configured to cause the one or more rechargeable batteries to be displaced from a first position to a second position.
US08120313B2	Battery charger for portable devices and related methods A battery charger may include a charger connector to be coupled to a corresponding device connector of a portable device including a rechargeable battery. The battery charger may also include a charging circuit connected to the charger connector, and a controller connected to the charger connector and the charging circuit. The controller may be for causing a portable device connected to the charger connector to identify its corresponding portable device type and its corresponding rechargeable battery type from among a plurality of different portable device types and different battery types, and for causing the charging circuit to charge the rechargeable battery based thereon.
US08120312B2	Power management topologies to control power between a DC power source and one or more batteries to a system load A power supply topology according to one embodiment includes a first path coupled to a controllable DC power source, a second path coupled to a rechargeable battery, and a third path coupled to a system load, the three paths coupled to a common node. The topology may further include a unidirectional switch coupled to the first path and a selectively unidirectional switch coupled to the second path. The topology may further include a power management control circuit including a wake up circuit having a comparison circuit and an output decision circuit. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US08120308B2	Solar panel charging system for electric vehicle that charges individual batteries with direct parallel connections to solar panels A connection system is provided to charge a high voltage battery (42) in an electric vehicle with multiple low voltage solar panels (21-n). The connection system includes sets of transmission lines (94) to individually connect each one of the solar panels (21-n) to each individual one of the battery cells (341-n) making up the battery (42). With the connection system the high voltage battery (42) can be charged by the lower voltage solar panels (21-n) without using a lossy DC-DC converter system that converts the DC solar panel output to AC for transforming to the much higher voltage across the primary terminals of battery (42) before converting back to DC to connect to the battery (42).
US08120302B2	Servo control apparatus A servo control apparatus capable of suppressing adverse effects of disturbance, load variation and the like, and realizing robust and high-performance speed control. The apparatus includes both of the following observers: a disturbance observer for adding a disturbance compensation torque Tf, calculated from a torque command T* and an electric motor rotational speed ωm, to a torque command basic signal T0, calculated on the basis of a deviation between a speed command ω and a feedback speed ωf by a PI control section, thus outputting the torque command T; and a phase advance compensation observer for generating, from the torque command basic signal T0 and the electric motor rotational speed ωm, an output of a nominal plant serving as an element in which no delay occurs, thus outputting the output as the feedback speed ωf.
US08120301B2	Ergonomic surgeon control console in robotic surgical systems A control console to remotely control medical equipment is disclosed having a base with an ergonomically adjustable pedal system. The base further has an opening to receive the pedal system. The pedal system includes a moveable pedal tray with a pedal base. The tray includes a first left pedal assembly and a first right pedal assembly, and an upper tier having a second left pedal assembly and a second right pedal assembly respectively in alignment with and elevated above the first left pedal assembly and the first right pedal assembly. Rollers are rotatable coupled to the moveable pedal tray to allow it roll over a floor. A drive assembly is coupled between the moveable pedal tray and the base. The drive assembly applies a force to the to roll the moveable pedal tray over the floor within the opening of the base.
US08120300B2	Fault tolerant cooling in a redundant power system An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for fault tolerant cooling in a redundant power system. The apparatus receives power from a common power bus to power one or more power supply fans. The apparatus detects a non-functioning redundant power supply. The apparatus receives a fan control signal within a non-functioning redundant power supply. In addition, the apparatus uses the received fan control signal to synchronize a fan speed of a power supply fan within the non-functioning redundant power supply. The fan speed is synchronized with at least one fan control signal of a power supply fan within a functioning redundant power supply. Thus, the power supply fans of a non-functioning power supply continue to operate and are synchronized with power supply fans in functioning power supplies.
US08120299B2	Motor controller of air conditioner The present invention relates to a motor controller of an air conditioner, including an inverter including a plurality of switching elements and adapted to convert a DC voltage, input through switching operations of the switching elements, into an AC voltage and supply the converted voltage to a motor, a power calculation unit that calculates electric power applied to the motor, an angle calculation unit that calculates an optimal phase angle of a current command value based on the calculated electric power; and a microcomputer that outputs a switching control signal to control the switching elements of the inverter based on the optimal phase angle.
US08120298B2	Control unit for an electric motor, in particular for a fan motor The invention provides a control unit for at least one electric motor, wherein the control unit performs open-loop or closed-loop control of the motor speed of the electric motor in such a way that in the case of control values in specific ranges which are typical of a fault when the setpoint value is being predefined, such a fault being, for example, a line break, a voltage failure or a short circuit, the control unit drives the motor with a predefined setpoint value which differs from the current control value.
US08120295B2	Vehicle power controller A power controller alleviating change of braking feeling caused by reduced regenerative braking force is provided. Energy generated by regenerative braking is used for charging a capacitor. The charging power P(C) is calculated and whether P(C) has reached a maximum value WMAX of predetermined limit control value WIN(C) or not is determined. If P(C) is determined to have reached WMAX, WIN(C) is regulated to be smaller from that time point.
US08120294B2	Power transducer The performance of a power transducer is improved while efficiently using a power semiconductor also by managing the permissible duty factor of the power semiconductor in the regenerative braking circuit provided in the power transducer. The user is allowed to set, through an operation panel provided on the power transducer, the resistance value of the regenerative braking resistor for thermally consuming the rotational energy generated during motor deceleration. The power transducer performs the steps of: calculating the current which flows in the regenerative braking circuit from the resistance value setting; obtaining the generation loss of the power semiconductor in the regenerative braking circuit with the calculated current value; and determining the permissible duty factor of the power semiconductor from the obtained generation loss.
US08120291B2	Drive system for electrically operated vehicle A drive system is provided for a utility vehicle and includes an alternating-current (AC) motor for providing a drive torque. An AC motor controller receives a battery voltage signal, throttle pedal position signal, brake pedal position signal, key switch signal, forward/neutral/reverse (FNR) signal, and run/tow signal indicative of the utility vehicle being configured to be driven and being configured to be towed. The AC motor controller generates an AC drive signal for the AC motor, wherein the AC drive signal is based on the battery voltage signal, throttle pedal position signal, brake pedal position signal, key switch signal, FNR signal, and run/tow signal.
US08120288B2	Light emitting diode (LED) driving circuit A light emitting diode (LED) driving circuit is provided. The LED driving circuit includes a voltage adjusting unit, a switch unit, and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the voltage adjusting unit and the switch unit. The voltage adjusting unit outputs a driving voltage to a first end of each of a plurality of load units. The switch unit is coupled to a second end of each of the load units. When one LED string in the load units is coupled to a current source, the voltage adjusting unit adjusts the voltage level of the driving voltage so that the voltage level of the driving voltage of the driving voltage corresponds to the driven LED string. Thereby, a driving problem caused by the variation in electrical characteristics of the LEDs is alleviated.
US08120287B2	High efficiency power system for a LED display system A LED display system includes multiple LEDs, a power converter to produce a supply voltage for the LEDs, and multiple drivers to drive the LEDs. According to the maximum one of the forward voltages of the LEDs, the drivers provides a feedback signal for the supply voltage control, and the feedback signal is amplified or digitized to reduce the voltage drop in the global power line.
US08120283B2	LED device and LED driver A LED device having a LED array, LED driver ICs, DC-DC converter, a first feedback circuit consisting of voltage dividing resistors, and a headroom voltage monitoring circuit having controller and second feedback circuit. In second feedback circuit, headroom voltages obtained at output current terminals of the LED driver ICs, are fed back to DC-DC converter.
US08120280B2	Circuits and methods for controlling a light source A driving circuit for controlling a light source includes a frequency controller and a switch module. The frequency controller is operable for receiving a first dimming signal for controlling the light source to achieve a predetermined brightness, and for generating a second dimming signal having a frequency out of one or more predetermined ranges according to the first dimming signal when the frequency of the first dimming signal is within the predetermined ranges. The switch module coupled to the frequency controller is operable for switching on and off alternately to achieve the predetermined brightness of the light source according to the second dimming signal when the frequency of the first dimming signal is within the predetermined ranges and according to the first dimming signal when the frequency of the first dimming signal is out of the predetermined ranges.
US08120269B2	Circuit arrangement and method for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp A circuit arrangement for operating a high-pressure discharge lamp (12) with an electronic ballast, which is designed to provide an AC feed signal for the high-pressure discharge lamp (12). The AC feed signal comprises, in the time range as modulation period (T), a serial sequence of at least one first signal section (Sa1), one second signal section (Sa2) and one third signal section (Sa3), which are associated with a first, a second and a third color. The AC feed signal is an amplitude-modulated RF signal (IRF) with a frequency (f) of at least 500 kHz. The following applies for the envelope (E) of the signal components with a positive and/or negative amplitude: the absolute value of the envelope (E) has a mean amplitude (M); and the first signal section (Sa1) and/or the second signal section (Sa2) and/or the third signal section (Sa3) has/have at least one temporal range in which the absolute value of the envelope (E) is between 5% and 100% greater than the mean amplitude and/or in which the absolute value of the envelope (E) is between 5% and 90% less than the mean amplitude (M).
US08120264B2	Discharge lamp lighting circuit A discharge lamp lighting circuit for supplying an AC power to a discharge lamp includes first and second converters for receiving a DC voltage and stepping up the voltage. A controlling circuit drives the first and second converters CON1, CON2 alternately at a first frequency and stops an operation of a side that is not driven such that the AC power is supplied to the discharge lamp to execute a lighting operation.
US08120256B2	Direct-current discharge lamp A direct current discharge lamp with an anode (10) and a cathode (12) that are arranged opposite one another at a predetermined distance (r) inside a discharge vessel (14) filled with a filling gas, it being possible to apply electric power (P) to the anode (10) and the cathode (12) in order to produce a gas discharge. At least the predetermined distance (r) between the anode (10) and the cathode (12), the electric power (P) and a geometry of the anode (10) are adapted to one another in such a way that a region (22) of a surface (24) of the anode (10) facing the cathode (12) is free flowing in the heated state of the direct current discharge lamp.
US08120254B2	Plasma display panel comprising sputtering prevention layer A plasma display panel (PDP) includes a front panel (2) having a front glass substrate (3) on which display electrodes (6) are formed, a dielectric layer (8) covering the display electrodes (6), and a protective layer (9) formed on the dielectric layer (8). The PDP panel also includes a rear panel (10) facing the front panel (2) to form a discharge space therebetween, and including address electrodes formed along a direction intersecting with the display electrodes (6) and barrier ribs partitioning the discharge space. The protective layer (9) includes a primary film (91) made of MgO and formed on the dielectric layer (8), and aggregated particles (92) formed of several crystal particles of MgO aggregated together and at least one type of particles (93) made of non-organic material and different from aggregated particles (92). The particles (92) and (93) are distributed on the primary film (91).
US08120249B2	Organic light emitting display and method of fabricating the same Provided are an organic light emitting display and a method of fabricating the same that are capable of preventing an element from being damaged due to a large amount of heat generated when the laser irradiates a glass frit for sealing a substrate. The organic light emitting display includes: a first substrate comprising a pixel region and a non-pixel region; an array of organic light emitting pixels formed over the pixel region; a conductive line formed over the non-pixel region; a second substrate placed over the first substrate such that the array and the conductive line are interposed between the first and second substrates; and a frit seal interposed between the first and second substrates and surrounding the array, the frit seal interconnecting the first and second substrates, the frit seal comprising a portion overlapping the conductive line, wherein when viewed from the second substrate, the portion of the flit seal substantially eclipses the conductive line.
US08120248B2	Light-emitting device, electronic apparatus, and film-forming method A light-emitting device includes a substrate, and a light-emitting element including a lower electrode, a light-emitting function layer, and an upper electrode that are formed on the substrate in that order. At least one auxiliary electrode in a strip shape extends in a first direction on and in contact with the upper electrode. The auxiliary electrode has a cross section taken along the direction intersecting the first direction, having a shape including a tapered portion. The light-emitting device also includes a barrier layer covering the auxiliary electrode and the upper electrode. The barrier layer prevents water and oxygen from penetrating into the light-emitting element.
US08120245B2	Interdigitated electrode dual electroemissive/electrochromic devices A dual electrochromic/electroluminescent (EC/EL) device of at least one pixel includes an interdigitated electrode where an electroactive layer is dispersed on and between the digits of the two electrodes of the interdigitated electrode. The electroactive layer is in contact with an electrolyte layer that also contacts a third electrode. The device acts as an electroluminescence device when an electrical bias between the two electrodes of the interdigitated electrode is established. The device acts as an electrochromic device when the electrical bias is established between the combined electrodes of the interdigitated electrode and the third electrode.
US08120240B2	Light emission device and method utilizing multiple emitters A light emission device includes multiple electrically activated solid state emitters (e.g., LEDs) having differing spectral output from one another; and/or phosphor material including one or more phosphors arranged to receive spectral output from at least one of the solid state emitters and to responsively emit a phosphor output, to provide spectral output. In one arrangement, at least four electrically activated solid state emitters each have different spectral outputs in the visible range, with the emitters arranged in an array positioned on a single reflector cup or other support, with at least two solid state emitters differing substantially in size. Aggregated output may include white light having a color temperature in any of several desired ranges.
US08120233B2	Piezoelectric devices and methods for manufacturing same Methods are disclosed for manufacturing piezoelectric vibrating pieces and devices including such pieces. According to an embodiment of the method, a piezoelectric vibrating piece is produced from a piezoelectric wafer. To form the piece, a profile of the piezoelectric vibrating piece is formed in a piezoelectric wafer. A first metal film (chromium; Cr) is formed on the surface of the piezoelectric piece. The chromium film is surface-oxidized to form a film having Cr foundation layer and an oxidized surface. A second metal film (gold; Au) is formed on the oxidized surface. Then, in selected regions not destined to become electrodes, the second metal film is removed, leaving electrode patterns at designated regions of the piezoelectric vibrating piece.
US08120232B2	Sensors and actuators using piezo polymer layers A device has a substrate, a piezo polymer layer arranged adjacent the substrate, a first electrode in contact with a first side of the layer, and a second electrode arranged adjacent the first electrode, such that when the piezo layer flexes, the first and second electrodes are arranged to detect one of a change in voltage or resistance, wherein at least one of the piezo polymer layer or the electrodes are deposited by printing. A method including depositing a spacer layer onto a substrate, depositing a piezo polymer layer onto the substrate, patterning an array of first electrodes in contact with the piezo polymer layer, and patterning an array of second electrodes adjacent the array of first electrodes, wherein depositing includes one of printing and laminating and pattering includes one of printing and etching. A method including laminating a piezo polymer layer onto a substrate, such that the layer forms at least one cantilever beam, forming a first electrode on one side of the layer, arranging a second electrode adjacent the first electrode, printing a polymer layer on the cantilever beam, and printing a proof mass on the cantilever beam.
US08120229B2	Middle spring supported micro-electro-mechanical transducers A micro-electro-mechanical transducer (such as a cMUT) is disclosed. The transducer has a substrate, a top plate, and a middle spring layer therebetween. The substrate and the middle spring layer define cavities therebetween sidewalled by standing features. The middle spring layer is anchored by the standing features to create cantilevers over the cavities to enable a vertical displacement of connectors placed on the middle spring layer. The connectors define a transducing space between the middle spring layer and the top plate. The top plate is transported by the vertical displacement of the connectors in a piston-like motion to change the transducing space and to effectuate energy transformation. Various configurations of cantilevers, including single cantilevers, back-to-back double cantilevers and head-to-head double cantilevers (bridges) are possible.
US08120225B2	External split field generator A generator includes a coil disposed about a core. A first stationary magnetic field source may be disposed on a first end portion of the core and a second stationary magnetic field source may be disposed on a second end portion of core. The first and second stationary magnetic field sources apply a stationary magnetic field to the coil. An external magnetic field source may be disposed outside the coil to apply a moving magnetic field to the coil. Electrical energy is generated in response to an interaction between the coil, the moving magnetic field, and the stationary magnetic field.
US08120220B2	Fluid dynamic bearing device and manufacturing method therefor To provide a fluid dynamic pressure bearing device that achieves high rigidity against moment without degradation in assembly precision and bearing performance, bearing sleeves are arranged in an axial direction and coaxiality of radial bearing surfaces formed on inner peripheral surfaces of the bearing sleeves is set to 3 μm or less. This secures width precision between the radial bearing gaps to prevent a degradation in bearing performance and a failure such as wear etc. caused by contact between a shaft member and the bearing sleeves. Further, a first radial bearing surface and a second radial bearing surface are provided on at least one sleeve, and this allows a sleeve assembly constructed from the bearing sleeves to be supported at least three positions in the axial direction in a process of assembling the sleeve assembly. As a result, assembly work can be carried out with two bearing sleeves prevented from being bent at a midway thereof, and highly accurate coaxiality between both the bearing sleeves is secured.
US08120217B2	Spindle motor having recess for accomodating terminal A spindle motor includes a stator unit and a rotor unit. The stator unit includes a stator, a base portion, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has a connection portion and an extending portion extending from the connection portion. The base portion is provided on its lower surface with a recess portion arranged to accommodate the connection portion of the printed circuit board and a groove portion in which the extending portion is arranged, the groove portion communicating with the recess portion. The groove portion has a bottom surface on which the extending portion is arranged and a slant surface gradually sloping downwards as it extends away from the bottom surface in a circumferential direction. The region in the recess portion extending from the connection portion to a boundary between the recess portion and the groove portion is covered with a cured flowable resin material.
US08120216B2	Electric motor and electric pump unit with busbars integrally formed with driving circuit connecting terminals The invention provides an electric motor including a tubular insulator that insulates coils of each of U, V, and W phases that makes a rotor rotated by an electromagnetic force, and a stator core around which the coils are wound; and a plurality of busbars that are fixed to the insulator to relay feed of power to the coils that constitute each phase. Ring-shaped terminals directly connected to an external driving circuit board for controlling a driving current leading to each phase of the coils, without via separate connecting members, are integrally formed in the busbars, respectively.
US08120214B2	Linear vibrator with improved damping function The present invention provides a linear vibrator comprising a weight having an auxiliary magnet which is provided in a lower end of the weight and generates magnetic force with respect to the bracket. Therefore, a magnetic attractive force between auxiliary magnet and the bracket prevents undesirable fine vibrations and prevents the vibration unit from coming into direct contact with the casing.
US08120207B2	Nanosecond pulse generator with a protector circuit 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.
US08120206B2	Method of detecting a sustained parallel source condition A method of detecting a parallel source condition includes calculating a reactive power, comparing the reactive power to a predetermined threshold, and determining a parallel source condition in response to the reactive power exceeding the predetermined threshold.
US08120205B2	Adding and dropping phases in current sharing A distributed power management system may include a digital communication bus and a plurality of POL (point-of-load) regulators coupled to the communication bus and configured in a current sharing arrangement in which each POL regulator of the plurality of POL regulators has a respective output stage coupled to a common load and configured to generate a respective output current. Each POL regulator may have a respective phase in the current sharing configuration, and each POL regulator may transmit and receive information over the bus according to a bus communication protocol corresponding to the bus. Each POL regulator may autonomously add and drop its phase as required by the system, by sequentially manipulating a pulse width of a couple of gate signals configured to respectively control a high-side field effect transistor (FET) and low-side FET in the POL regulator's output stage.
US08120199B2	Trailer hitch plug power inverter Disclosed is a power inverter for use in converting 12VDC to 115VAC, the power inverter is adapted for securement to a conventional trailer hitch connector. The power inverter provides remote power to 115 volt accessory items by use of a conventional 115 volt output receptacle positionable at the rear of a vehicle by use of the trailer hitch connector so as to eliminate the need for extension cords commonly used when powering 115 volt accessories from a conventional vehicle.
US08120197B2	Water turbine for generating electricity An array 22 of water turbine assemblies 10 is positioned between two I-beams driven into the bed of a flowing water system. Each water turbine assembly 10 comprises a modular box-shaped housing 12 having an inlet and outlet for accelerating the flow of water therethrough. Turbine 14 has a ring gear 18 positioned about the periphery thereof in mechanical communication with a plurality of generators 20 for converting the kinetic energy of flowing water into electricity. Receiving means 16 are positioned and attached to the inlet and outlet of the housing 12 for collecting, concentrating, directing and accelerating water through the turbine 14 in the throat section 19 of each water turbine assembly 10. Each box-shaped modular housing 12 is structurally communicated with other housings 12 by interlocking mating surfaces 26.
US08120194B2	System, device, and method for wind turbine load reduction in a cold weather environment A method for controlling an operation of a wind turbine. A meteorological condition is received from a meteorological sensor. An operating threshold value is calculated at least in part by applying a continuous function to the meteorological condition. An operation of the wind turbine is controlled based at least in part on the calculated operating threshold value. For example, the wind turbine may be disabled if a current wind speed exceeds a maximum wind speed that is calculated based on an ambient air temperature or ambient air density.

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