最新美国发明专利第2012-04-17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
US08160676B2	Method for planning a surgical procedure A method for planning a procedure, which can include determining anatomical landmarks is disclosed. The anatomical landmarks can be used to determine anatomical targets of a patient. The plan can include a path or trajectory to reach a selected target.
US08160675B2	Retrospective sorting of 4D CT into breathing phases based on geometric analysis of imaging fiducials A respiratory marker (40, 140, 240, 340, 440) includes an elongated detectable portion (42, 342, 442) that is operatively coupled with respiration of an imaging subject such that the elongated detectable portion moves with the respiration. The elongated detectable portion is arranged to intersect images acquired by an imaging scanner (10) at different times and at different positions along a scanner axis (20), and is detectable as a marker feature in the images. A marker position finder (52, 54) is configured to determine positions of the marker features in the images.
US08160672B2	Method and system for data communication in human body and sensor therefor The present invention provides method and system for data communication in the human body and a sensor therefor. The method and system transmit information through the human body to a receiver located outside the human body using low current and voltage polarity, so that they cause no damage to the human body and achieve low power consumption and better receiving sensitivity. In addition, the sensor contains a CMOS image sensor on which all circuits are integrated without radio transmitter and antenna, so that it achieves a low-priced and small-sized capsule type endoscope.
US08160666B2	System for determining the concentration of an analyte A system for determining the concentration of an analyte in at least one body fluid in body tissue comprises an infrared light source, a body tissue interface, a detector, and a central processing unit. The body tissue interface is adapted to contact body tissue and to deliver light from the infrared light source to the contacted body tissue. The detector is adapted to receive spectral information corresponding to infrared light transmitted through the portion of body tissue being analyzed and to convert the received spectral information into an electrical signal indicative of the received spectral information. The central processing unit is adapted to compare the electrical signal to an algorithm built upon correlation with the analyte in body fluid, the algorithm adapted to convert the received spectral information into the concentration of the analyte in at least one body fluid.
US08160662B2	Slide device and electronic equipment A slide device includes a base, a slider provided at the base and slidable along an axis serving as a y-axis with respect to the base, a cam provided at the base and having a surface undulating in an x-axis direction orthogonal to the y-axis, a cam follower provided at the slider and capable of moving from a position corresponding to one end of the cam in the x-axis direction to a position corresponding to the other end, and an urging mechanism urging the cam follower towards the cam such that the cam follower slides around the cam in one direction in accompaniment with the sliding of the slider with respect to the base. Further, electronic equipment includes a front casing, a rear casing facing a rear surface of the front casing, and the slide device described above.
US08160661B2	Slide mechanism for slide-type portable terminal devices An exemplary slide mechanism (100) includes a rear cover (10), a front cover (20), and a magnetic assembly (80) connected to the rear cover and the front cover. The front cover is slidably attached to the rear cover. Each of the at least one magnetic assembly includes a first magnetic member (44) and a second magnetic member (74). A magnetic force created between the first and second magnetic members forces the front cover sliding relative to the rear cover. The magnetic members are arranged such that the height of the space occupied by the magnetic members is less than an arithmetic sum of the height of each of the magnetic members.
US08160660B2	Dual slide portable terminal A dual slide portable terminal includes a first housing having a surface and a rear surface; a second housing having a surface; and a dual slide coupling mechanism coupling the first and second housings to each other. The coupling mechanism includes: a first translation mechanism coupling the first housing to the second housing in a manner allowing longitudinal translation movement of the first housing relative to the second housing between a first posture in which the surface of second housing is covered by the rear surface of first housing and a second posture in which the surface of the second housing is exposed; and a second translation mechanism coupling the first housing to the second housing in a manner allowing lateral translation movement of the first housing relative to the second housing between the first posture and a third posture in which the surface of second housing is exposed.
US08160659B2	Portable device including a transparent cover usable as an electrostatic capacity switch electrode and an antenna A portable device including a transparent cover (1) having a light transmittance of not less than 50%. A circuit pattern of a conductive material is provided in the cover between two sheet-like transparent substrates (5a). A device main body (2) is coupled to the transparent cover 1 thereto in an openable/closable manner such that members provided on a surface thereof are concealed or exposed by the transparent cover (1) being opened or closed. An open/close determination part (7) is provided for determining whether the transparent cover is open or closed, and function switching parts (22, 23) are provided for switching functions of the circuit pattern based on the determination of the open/close determination part as to whether the transparent cover is open or closed.
US08160658B2	Cellular phone To aim to provide a mobile telephone capable of reducing a physical space necessary for providing a reflector compared with that in conventional mobile telephones, and reducing the SAR by securing a distance between an antenna and a passive element operating as a reflector. A cabinet of a top housing 2 includes a passive element 22 in an overlap region overlapping between the top housing 2 and the bottom housing 3 in an unfolded state, and the bottom housing includes an antenna in the overlap region. This can suppress the thickness of the mobile telephone in a folded state and secure a distance between the antenna 31 and the passive element 22 operating as a reflector.
US08160654B2	Power reception control device, power reception device, and electronic instrument A power reception device utilizing non-contact power transmission causes a PMOS transistor as a switch circuit to be turned ON when a secondary battery is in a heavy-load state to form a path which bypasses a series regulator (LDO) as a power supply circuit, and supplies a charging current to the secondary battery through the bypass path. An offset may be provided between ON/OFF control threshold values of the PMOS transistor. The series regulator (LDO) may be entirely or partially set in a non-operating state when forming the bypass path.
US08160653B2	Portable phone having electro optic image projection system and orientation sensing device A portable phone includes a handset and a data projection system configured to form a visual image of data, such as caller waiting ID data, on a viewing surface viewable by a user during a two way conversation. The handset also includes a speaker, a microphone, conventional phone circuitry and a keyboard. The data projection system is configured to receive signals from the phone circuitry, to generate a pattern representative of the data, to process the pattern into a mirror image of the visual image, and to project the mirror image from a bottom end surface of the handset. The projection system includes an electro optic system for generating the pattern, and an optics system for projecting the mirror image onto the viewing surface. A method for projecting data in a portable phone includes the steps of: providing the handset with the data projection system, conducting a two way conversation with the handset held against the head of the user, and forming the visual image on the viewing surface during the two way conversation with the handset held against the head. The method can also include the steps of manipulating the handset and a body part to locate and focus the visual image, sensing an orientation of the handset during the two way conversation, and orienting the visual image as a function of the sensing step.
US08160650B2	Bidirectional slide-type mobile communication terminal and method of providing graphic user interface thereof A bidirectional slide-type mobile communication terminal for providing a user interface that changes in real time according to input includes a sensor-equipped lower body and an upper body that slides with respect to the lower body. A method of providing such a graphic user interface includes sensing a sliding movement of the upper body, switching the terminal to an operation mode corresponding to the direction of the sliding movement, displaying the graphic user interface corresponding to the operation mode to which the terminal is switched, receiving input from a sensor, and changing the displayed graphic user interface in real time corresponding to the received input.
US08160642B1	Communication device The communication device comprising the voice communicating implementer, the sound caller ID implementer, the calculation implementer, the word processing implementer, the stereo audio data output implementer, the digital camera implementer, the multiple language displaying implementer, the caller's information displaying implementer, the icon software implementer, the voice dialing implementer, the email implementer, the video phone implementer, and the simultaneous implementer.
US08160639B2	Communication terminal A communication terminal optimally switches between the use of multicast reception and unicast reception, in consideration of the mobile radio environment of each terminal. For example, received signal strength indicator information is acquired at a received signal strength indicator information acquisition time calculated using a content reception time. Either multicast reception or unicast reception is selected according to the acquired received signal strength indicator information and content reception is performed. An optimal reception system can be selected and reception failure can be reduced. In addition, by performing a dynamic switching of reception methods as such, the base station-end can perform multicast delivery rather than unicast delivery when possible to communication terminals in favorable mobile radio environments, thereby significantly reducing the traffic load placed on communication paths.
US08160637B2	Input management in a mobile terminal device A mobile terminal device includes an input unit, an input detection unit for detecting input information at a predetermined interval from starting to the end of the input reception, and an application control unit which allows the application to execute the process preliminarily allocated corresponding to the input information upon reception of the input information detected by the input detection unit. The application control unit allows the application to execute the preliminarily allocated process corresponding to the input information indicating the end of the input reception when the input information before elapse of the predetermined time is not received, and generates the signal indicating the end of the input reception for transmission to the input detection unit to finish input information detection.
US08160636B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device is provided, which comprises a first circuit including a variable resistance element, a second circuit electrically connected to the first circuit, and an antenna circuit configured to supply power to the first circuit. A resistance value of the variable resistance element is changed in accordance with the power supplied from the antenna circuit, and the variable resistance element is electrically connected in series between the second circuit and the antenna circuit.
US08160635B2	Communication network system and communication method thereof Disclosed is a communication network system, which includes a cluster and a base station. The cluster includes plural communication devices installed underwater and a wired connection connecting at least two of the plural communication devices. The base station performs acoustic communication with at least one of the plural communication devices.
US08160633B2	Transmitted power control method and mobile terminal device A control section 100 measures a DPCH_RSCP and a DPCH-ISCP of every path, and calculates a DPCH_RSCP and a DPCH-ISCP for every wireless link. The control section 100 then calculates a DPCH_SIR for every wireless link, and calculates a difference in the DPCH_SIR between wireless links. In the case where the calculated difference in the DPCH_SIR is smaller than a preset threshold value of the DPCH_SIR difference, received TPC data are discarded, and the control section 100 does not execute transmitted power control based on the TPC data. On the other hand, in the case where the calculated difference in the DPCH_SIR is larger than the preset threshold value of the difference in the DPCH_SIR, the control section 100 carries out the transmitted power control based on the TPC data with the wireless link whose DPCH_SIR is larger.
US08160630B2	Method and arrangement for controlling transmission power and a network element This invention relates to a method and arrangement for controlling transmission power in a mobile communications system, and to a network element. In the method according to the invention a certain target level is defined for a value representing the quality of a signal, which target level should be reached by the received signal. According to the invention this target level is advantageously limited so as to be smaller than or equal to a first predetermined limit value and/or greater than or equal to a second predetermined limit value. In accordance with the invention the quality of the signal may be measured e.g. by means of an SIR value. In the method according to the invention the quality of the received signal is checked and, based on the check, a first SIR target level is given to a comparing element (21). By means of the comparing element (21) it is ensured that the said first SIR target level falls within predetermined limits. Based on the comparison, a final SIR target level is given to a power control element (12) which produces a power control signal in order to adjust the transmission power.
US08160625B1	Method and system for mobile club opt-in A method and system for qualifying and transmitting an invitation to a mobile phone number to receive digital communications is disclosed herein. A customer profile stored at a CRM database is analyzed and processed to determine if the data capable phone carrier and data capable communication device is associated with a phone number in the customer profile that has opted-in to receive digital communications such as for a mobile marketing campaign.
US08160623B1	Redirection of SMS messages to satellite radio for delivery Methods, media, and systems are provided for delivering short messaging service (SMS) messages via a satellite radio network are provided. A cellular-satellite gateway (CSG) server is coupled to both the network of a terrestrial cellular telecommunications provider and to the network of a satellite radio provider. Once a requisite number of unsuccessful attempts for delivery have been made by the elements of the cellular network, the SMS message is forwarded to the CSG server. The CSG sends the text message to a specified satellite radio network. The satellite radio network broadcasts the text message so that it may be received by a satellite radio enabled device. Messages are filtered at the mobile device to ensure only the intended recipient receives the text message. Acknowledgment is sent the next time the mobile device connects to its cellular network.
US08160620B2	Determining mobile phone number assignment The present invention detects whether an initial mobile number assignment is suboptimal, resulting in excessive roaming. If excessive roaming is encountered, the telematics service provider determines the effective home area of the telematics unit and assigns an appropriate replacement number to the unit. In this way, the disclosed principles allow a telematics service provider to decrease its roaming charges, and/or those of its users, and more optimally manage its mobile phone number assignments.
US08160618B2	Method for increasing system capacity and wireless device battery life by selection of delay gap between QPC message and page message A method in a wireless communication system (100) dynamically updates paging gap times (314, 324) associated with a plurality of addresses (312, 322) of at least one wireless device (110) in a two phase paging system included in the wireless communication system (100). The method includes updating a first paging gap time (314) associated with a first address (312) of the at least one wireless device (110) in a two phase paging system, and updating a second paging gap time (324) associated with a second address (322) of the at least one wireless device (110), the second paging gap time (324) being different than the first paging gap time (314).
US08160615B1	Method and system for generating associations between a user profile and wireless devices A method is provided for generating associations between a user profile and a wireless device. The method comprises storing information about a location of a first wireless device associated with a first user profile and storing information about a location of a second of wireless device associated with a second user profile. The method also comprises determining the second wireless device is substantially collocated with the first wireless device based on the information about location of the first wireless device and the information about the location of the second wireless device. The method also comprises generating an association between the first user profile and the second wireless device based on the determining and displaying on a screen of the second wireless device a content selected based on the first user profile.
US08160609B2	System and method for multiple range estimation location A system and method of determining the location of a mobile station by determining the time of transmission of a signal by a mobile station and determining range rings at a plurality of reference stations receiving the transmitted signal, where the range rings represent the distance f the mobile station from the plurality of reference stations.
US08160606B2	Mobile location sharing system A mobile location sharing system comprising: enabling a sender wireless device to send a payload including a location descriptor and a list of target identifiers to a group of targets; identifying a preferred communication mode for each in the group of targets; selecting a transmission format for the preferred communication mode; and sending the location descriptor in the transmission format selected for each in the group of targets for audio-visual output.
US08160605B2	Wireless terminal and user interface method Communications is executed between users through wireless terminals thereof without fear of being located by each other. On terminal 1x, area 4 in which wireless communication is enabled with terminal 1x is divided into proximity area 6 and external area 7 and the radius (distance between boundary 5 and terminal 1x) is temporally varied by random number. A control block of terminal 1x detects terminals located in side the communicable area 4 and in the communication enabled state and processes the other terminals located inside proximity area 6 as out-of-service-area among the detected other terminals, not displaying the users of these other terminals located inside proximity area 6 onto display screen 2x. The control block processes only other terminals located inside external area 7 as in-service area and displays the users of these other terminals onto display screen 2x.
US08160603B1	Method and system for providing streaming media content to roaming mobile wireless devices A mobile device requests streaming media content while being served by a first radio access network in a market area. A content streaming system obtains the requested media content, adapts the media content using a first total bandwidth availability curve (TBAC) to provide adapted media content, and streams the adapted media content to the mobile device. The first TBAC is determined from actual or projected network conditions in the market area. While receiving the media content, the mobile device roams to a second radio access network in the market area. The mobile device provides a roaming indication to the content streaming system. In response to the roaming indication, the content streaming system adapts the media content using a second TBAC to provide roaming-adapted media content and streams the roaming-adapted media content to the mobile device. The second TBAC indicates reduced bandwidth availability relative to the first TBAC.
US08160600B2	Method and apparatus for resource allocation A method and apparatus for allocating resources to a node in an ad-hoc communication system is provided herein. During operation, nodes of the system will receive resource allocations from their parent node. The resource allocation comprises a portion of available resources that may vary in size. Each node will determine the resource needs for its children nodes only and then dynamically assign resources to them. The resources assigned to the children nodes comprise a portion of the resources assigned to the node by its parent node. Additionally, knowledge as to how the children further allocate resources to their own children is not known by the parent, however, the children nodes must allocate a portion of their resource to their children nodes.
US08160599B2	System and method for managing spectrum allocation A registration system for secondary radio systems that use spectrum that is interleaved with spectrum used by primary radio systems may include an interface to communicate with the secondary radio systems over a network. The registration system also may receive a registration request from a requesting one of the secondary radio systems and generate a spectrum certificate for the requesting secondary radio system. The spectrum certificate may contain a channel map identifying available channels that may be used for wireless communications activity of the requesting secondary radio system and may contain, for each available channel, a guidance indicator that identifies relative channel desirability to the requesting secondary radio system.
US08160594B2	Radio propagation estimating method and radio propagation estimating apparatus A radio propagation path from a transmitting point to a receiving point is estimated accurately with a relatively small amount of calculation. A predetermined-size receiving area including the receiving point is set, radio propagation paths from the transmitting point to the receiving area is estimated by a ray launching method, object surfaces existing in the paths are extracted, and a radio propagation path from the transmitting point to the receiving point is estimated by an imaging method using only the extracted object surfaces.
US08160587B2	Radio access terminal, base station controller, and handoff control method in radio communication system In a radio communication system wherein radio frequencies for communicating with a radio terminal are different in radio base stations, a table in which positional information, information on the frequency used for transmission/reception to/from the terminal, and a decision condition in a handoff operation are stored as to each base station is prepared in a base station controller beforehand. When the positional information is received from the radio terminal, the base station controller selects the base station being a handoff candidate, on the basis of the positional information of the radio terminal, the positional information of each base station and the decision condition of the handoff operation with reference to the table, and it transmits a handoff request message which contains the information on the frequency of the base station being the handoff candidate, to the radio terminal through the base station communicating with the radio terminal.
US08160584B2	Cellular communications system providing mobile cellular device battery saving features while accommodating user access requests and related methods A cellular communications system may include at least one base station and at least one mobile cellular communications device. More particularly, the at least one mobile cellular communications device may include a controller, at least one user input device connected to the controller, and a wireless transceiver cooperating with the controller for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station, and if the wireless communications link cannot be established, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Moreover, if a user provides a request to access the at least one base station via the at least one user input device, then the controller may continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link based upon a second attempt rate greater than the first attempt rate.
US08160583B2	Method and apparatus for best service rescan scheduling for mobile device operating in an EVDO hybrid mode A method and apparatus for best service rescan scheduling on a mobile device operating in an EVDO hybrid mode, the method comprising the steps of: blocking a best service rescan on the mobile device if the mobile device in an EVDO traffic state, the mobile device characterized by blocking means, the blocking means enabled to block a best service rescan on the mobile device if the mobile device in an EVDO traffic state.
US08160582B2	Method, system and device for called party recovery in mobile switch center pool A method for called party recovery in an MSC Pool, applied in a system that comprises an HLR and an MSC Pool including multiple MSC/VLRs, includes configuring a backup server for each MSC/VLR in the MSC Pool; if an MSC/VLR serving a user is down, the user has not initiated any calling service or location update and the user is called, further includes: the HLR sending a call signaling to the backup server of the MSC/VLR that is down; the backup server of the MSC/VLR initiating a paging request to the user and initiating a location update for the user to the HLR; the HLR registering user data of the user at the backup server and switching the MSC/VLR serving the user to the backup server. The present invention also discloses other methods, systems and devices, which can solve the problem of called party recovery in the MSC Pool.
US08160580B2	Systems and methods for home carrier determination using a centralized server Systems and methods for determining the home network carrier associated with a mobile station and authorizing the provision of services to the mobile station using centralized storage of mobile station and home network information. In one embodiment, when a roaming mobile station attempts to access services, identifying information for the mobile station is used by a local server to query a centralized DNS server that stores a mapping of mobile station identifying information to corresponding home networks. The centralized DNS server returns an identification of the home network of the roaming mobile user, and the home network then determines whether to grant or deny the mobile station access to the local network. The mobile station identifying information may comprise an MSID such as an MIN, IRM or IMSI, which may serve as part of the address for the query to the centralized DNS server.
US08160579B1	Performing deep packet inspection for a communication session Performing deep packet inspection (DPI) includes facilitating a communication session for an access terminal. The access terminal is associated with a home network. A DPI policy is installed at an edge router. The DPI policy includes one or more DPI facets, where a DPI facet comprises a packet classifier. Packets that match the packet classifier are detected and inspected in accordance with the DPI facets.
US08160574B1	Wireless architecture utilizing geo-referencing A wireless communication system for use in a process control environment includes a reference node adapted to determine geographic positions of at least some of the reference node, a base node, and a field node and determine RF power settings of transceivers attached to the reference node, the base node, and the field node based on the position of determined geographic positions. Additionally, the reference node is adapted to determine RF noise level at a plurality of locations within the process control environment at a plurality of times and to adjust the RF power settings based on the determined RF noise levels. The reference node may be implemented on a hand-held device.
US08160572B2	Platform test environment and unit test framework for a telecommunications gateway A platform test environment is described for testing the functionality of a gateway. The platform includes a number of clients that simulate the functionality of a service provider application and a number of simulators that simulate the functionality of a telecommunications network component. These clients and simulators can be used to test functionality within a gateway that manages request traffic between the application(s) and the telecommunications network component(s). Once the platform test environment is configured, it can be used to execute a series of testing operations on the gateway by transmitting requests between the clients and simulators via the gateway. Furthermore, a unit test framework is provided that can be used to generate unit tests for the platform environment. These unit tests can be used to input data into the system, obtain a set of results and compare the results to expected values.
US08160571B2	Mobile device and method for collecting location based user quality data A mobile device executes software. The software collects realistic and accurate user quality information without degrading the user experience of the mobile device during the data collection process. The software operates as a background application, and may have a user interface, and the software is remotely controllable and updatable by an external server.
US08160568B2	Mobile terminal and method for remote-controlling thereof A mobile terminal may be remote controlled by setting a condition for the mobile terminal to enter a remote-control mode, receiving a call connection request, and entering the remote-control mode when the call connection request is received at the mobile terminal and the call connection request corresponds to the set condition. A function control signal may be received by the mobile terminal while the mobile terminal is in the entered remote-control mode, and a remote-control function may be performed that corresponds to the received function control signal.
US08160567B2	Inbound phone control A method, including receiving at a network element, from a first telecommunications enabled device, a control connection request directed to a second telecommunications enabled device, connecting a control connection to the second telecommunications enabled device wherein the control connection is connected without requiring user input at the second telecommunications enabled device to answer the control connection request, and providing access to one or more functionalities of the second telecommunications enabled device to the first telecommunications enabled device through the control connection.
US08160566B2	Message sender controllable messaging system The present invention relates to a mobile phone and a method for its operation and control. The mobile phone is capable of receiving the message sent by other mobile phones through a message transmission system. The method comprises: receiving the message from another mobile phone, wherein the received message comprises a presentation part and an associated control part, the control part being used for the control and management of the processing of the received message; extracting the control part from the received message; and executing the operation related to the message based on the extracted control part. According to an embodiment, if the control part received by the mobile phone comprises the notification mode control command, the mobile phone issues a message notification according to the notification mode control command, disregarding the message notification mode pre-configured on the mobile phone. Thus the requirement of the sender personalized message service can be satisfied.
US08160563B2	Method and apparatus for controlling response to service notifications in a network environment Methods and apparatus for providing service notifications in a network environment. In an aspect, a method is provided that operates to provide a notification system. The method includes obtaining notification information, determining a response factor, generating a notification message comprising selected notification information, wherein the notification message is generated to produce a response based on the response factor, and broadcasting the notification message. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided that operates to provide a notification system. The apparatus includes a notification interface configured to obtain notification information, processing logic configured to determine a response factor and generate a notification message comprising selected notification information, wherein the notification message is generated to produce a response based oil the response factor, and broadcast logic configured to broadcast the notification message.
US08160562B2	Mobile terminal device and program selection method A portable terminal apparatus which can select terminal operations such as the activation of programs, the switching of the programs and the ending of the programs with a reduced number of times of operation of the operation buttons is provided. The portable terminal apparatus includes link information storage means 14 for storing therein a linkage table containing information about the linkage between operation buttons to be selected by a user and programs to be activated by the selection of the operation buttons, and an activation program monitor part 14 for dynamically monitoring the operation states of two or more programs activated at a terminal end, wherein the operation button having emitted its backlight according to the monitoring result obtained by the activation program monitor part 14 can be selected by the user, so that the programs linked to the respective operation buttons can be easily activated, switched and ended.
US08160560B2	Management of mobile device communication sessions to reduce user distraction Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions.
US08160558B2	Cellphone extensions Extensions are provided for mobile electronic devices including cellphones, wherein different extensions may correspond to different communication contexts. In an exemplary embodiment, a call is answered using an automated answering system. The caller is requested to enter an extension number. In response to the extension number, a call alert (such as a ring tone) unique to that extension is activated.
US08160555B2	System and method for determination of network and conditional execution of applications and promotions System and method for determining whether an incoming call originates from inside or outside of a mobile carriers network. An example system performs a GTT (global title translation) on an incoming number to determine the hosting carrier of any mobile phone number. After the result of the matching determination is made, a message is generated and sent to a caller associated with the call page. The generated message includes any of directory information associated with the subscriber, information associated with cost savings or comparisons associated with in-network calling, information regarding promotions for calling plans, mobile devices or device upgrades, requests to join a network, requests to join a social call plan, information regarding instant savings or call rebates, offers for online services or software, offers for reduced cost or free phone service in exchange for adoption of a predefined product or entering into a social network group.
US08160554B2	System and method for enhanced display of in-network caller information on a mobile device System and method for determining reporting to a subscriber whether an incoming call originates from inside or outside of a mobile carrier's network. An example system performs a GTT (global title translation) on an incoming number to determine the hosting carrier of any mobile phone number. When the result matches the subscriber's carrier, the mobile device then indicates to the subscriber (i.e. mobile device) that the call is an “in network call.”
US08160545B2	Premium SMS for prepaid service An exemplary system and method are directed at the selective delivery of communications messages. The selective delivery may comprise receiving a communications message from a network device; determining an identifier associated with the communications message; determining whether a subscriber is blocked from receiving the communications message based at least in part on the identifier; and selectively delivering the communications message to the subscriber based on the determination.
US08160544B2	Methods and platforms for refreshing a pre-paid account upon detecting the occurrence of a refresh triggering event Methods and pre-paid platforms are provided to detect the occurrence of a refresh triggering event as specified by a refresh trigger rule and to then refresh the pre-paid account in accordance with a refresh completion rule. The refresh triggering event may be one or more of a variety of event types, such as depletion of a remaining usage to a pre-defined level or a target date and/or time for a refresh. The refresh completion rule may be one or more of a variety of actions to take, such as increasing the remaining usage by a default amount to complete the refresh or requesting authorization for a refresh by generating a message to an entity in control of the pre-paid account. The pre-paid platform may charge a monetary account for the amount of the refresh that is applied.
US08160543B2	Methods and apparatus for use in processing disconnected emergency calls and other communications involving mobile communication devices and the remote monitoring thereof Techniques in a mobile communication device configured to operate using a wireless communication network are described. The mobile device operates to establish an emergency call with a public safety answering point entity, and subsequently monitors to receive an incoming call message which indicates whether the incoming call message is for emergency call back. If data indications in the data fields indicate that the incoming call message is for emergency call back, then the mobile device causes the emergency call back to be answered automatically.
US08160541B2	Terminal apparatus and communication system A terminal apparatus for communicating with an information center via a network includes: a memory for storing current and new connection destination information when the apparatus receives the new connection destination information from the center; a first trial element for trying communication connection to the center based on the new connection destination information after the center switches from the current connection destination information to the new connection destination information; and a second trial element for trying communication connection to the center based on the current connection destination information when the first trial element fails to perform the communication connection. The memory maintains to store the current connection destination information until the first connection trial element succeeds to perform the communication connection.
US08160540B2	Telephony services in mobile IP networks An emergency telephone call is supported and routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in an IP based packet switched wireless communications network. An activate PDP context request is sent from a user equipment to the network. A parameter in said activate PDP context request indicates that the PDP context will be used to transfer an emergency call. An activate PDP context accept message is returned from said support node to said user equipment. Said activate PDP context accept message acknowledges said activate PDP context request message and provides the address of a call state control function. A call setup request transferred to the call state control function includes the Service Area Identity (SAI). The call state control function selects a PSAP based, at least in part, on the SAI included in the call setup request and forwards the emergency call to the selected PSAP.
US08160532B2	Community interaction using mobile communication devices Techniques are provided for delivering content to mobile communication devices related to interactions of members with a user community. The method involves detecting a communication session involving a mobile communication device; determining one or more context parameters associated with the communication session; and delivering content related to the context parameters to one or more mobile communication devices. Data is stored at a central computing entity that indicates association or membership of a plurality of mobile communication device users in a user community. The central computing entity detects when an action is taken by one mobile device user that is a member of the user community, and sends a notification to members of the social circle based on the detected action. These techniques allow individuals who are involved in a user community to maintain their interaction with the user community using their mobile communication devices.
US08160530B2	Multi-beam active phased array architecture In an exemplary embodiment, a phased array antenna comprises multiple subcircuits in communication with multiple radiating elements. The radio frequency signals are adjusted for both polarization control and beam steering. In a receive embodiment, multiple RF signals are received and combined into at least one receive beam output. In a transmit embodiment, at least one transmit beam input is divided and transmitted through multiple radiating elements. In an exemplary embodiment, the phased array antenna provides multi-beam formation over multiple operating frequency bands. The wideband nature of the active components allows for operation over multiple frequency bands simultaneously. Furthermore, the antenna polarization may be static or dynamically controlled at the subarray or radiating element level.
US08160527B2	Automatic gain control in multi-carrier wireless systems Methods and apparatus for providing automatic gain control (AGC) for received multi-carrier signals are disclosed. A receiver circuit comprises a common analog signal path, which includes an analog variable-gain circuit and an analog-to-digital converter, and further comprises first and second carrier-specific, digital variable-gain circuits corresponding to first and second carriers of the received multi-carrier signal, respectively. The receiver circuit further includes a gain control circuit configured to control the analog and digital variable-gain circuits and to allot gain adjustments to the analog variable-gain circuit based on a difference between carrier signal levels for the first and second carriers. In some embodiments, the gain control circuit selectively operates in an all-carrier mode, in which analog gain adjustments are calculated from both of the carrier signal levels, or in an unequal-priority mode, in which analog gain adjustments are calculated from only one of the first and second carrier signal levels.
US08160522B2	Apparatus and method for receiving signal in multiple input multiple output system A receiving apparatus and method of a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system are provided. The receiving apparatus includes a clock generation/delay compensation unit for generating a clock, an antenna switching unit for temporally dividing signals received through multiple antennas by performing switching according to the clock, a radio frequency (RF) chain to be shared for converting the temporally divided signals into baseband signals, and an analog to digital converter (ADC) to be shared for converting the converted signals into digital signals and for outputting the converted signals according to the clock. Accordingly, the number of RF chains used to implement a MIMO RFIC is reduced.
US08160518B2	Multi-mode transceiver having tunable harmonic termination circuit and method therefor A transceiver includes a harmonic termination circuit that receives a tunable harmonic voltage from a power amplifier control. The harmonic termination circuit includes a variable capacitor that is capable of adjusting its capacitance in response to the tunable harmonic termination voltage to achieve at least two modes of operation. The at least two modes of operation may be EDGE mode and GSM mode. In this embodiment, the harmonic termination circuit allows for linearity specifications of EDGE to be met, while not degrading the efficiency of the transceiver when operating in GSM mode. In one embodiment, the harmonic termination circuit further includes an inductive element in series with the variable capacitor.
US08160517B2	Control of switcher regulated power amplifier modules Various embodiments described herein relate to a power management block and an amplification block used in the transmitter of a communication subsystem. The power management block provides improved control for the gain control signal provided to a pre-amplifier and the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier which are both in the amplification block. The power expended by the power amplifier is optimized by employing a continuous control method in which one or more feedback loops are employed to take into account various characteristics of the transmitter components and control values.
US08160516B2	Low flicker noise active mixer and method thereof A low flicker noise active mixer comprises a trans-conductance section, a switching quad, and a load section. The trans-conductance section converts a voltage signal pair into a first current signal pair. The switching quad converts the first current signal pair into a second signal pair in a manner controlled by a LO (local oscillator) signal pair. The load section provides a loading to the second current signal pair using a pair of commutative active loads to convert the second current signal pair into an output voltage signal pair.
US08160513B2	Methods and apparatus for implementing phase rotation at baseband frequency for transmit diversity An apparatus for implementing phase rotation at baseband frequency for transmit diversity may include a primary transmit signal path and a diversity transmit signal path. Both the primary transmit signal path and the diversity transmit signal path may receive a primary transmit signal. A signal selector within the diversity transmit signal path may perform phase rotation with respect to the primary transmit signal while the primary transmit signal is at a baseband frequency, thereby producing a diversity transmit signal.
US08160510B2	Transmitter/receiver circuit and transmission/reception method There are provided a transmitter/receiver circuit and a transmission/reception method that can reduce the insertion loss of a circuit in a hybrid operation and are suitable for reducing the cost, size, and power consumption. An antenna switch 119 includes attenuation filters 201 to 203 for attenuating the frequency bands corresponding to a plurality of receiving systems, e.g., the frequency band of an 800 MHz band system, the frequency band of a 2 GHz band system, and GPS reception frequency components. These filters 201 to 203 are connected between a primary (main) antenna connection terminal T204 and a first switch group SWG201 through connection switches 204 to 206.
US08160507B2	Transceiver single cable protocol system and method A single-cable protocol and associated methods and systems enable improved communication efficiency and/or reduced cost. Transmit information, receive information, telemetry information, and/or DC power may be multiplexed onto a single cable, eliminating the need for multiple cables between a satellite transceiver and a corresponding modem while reducing and/or eliminating spurious emissions. Additionally, telemetry features enable improved diagnostics and/or repair of communication systems, for example satellite communication systems.
US08160506B2	Method and system for transmission and/or reception of signals up to extremely high frequencies utilizing a delay circuit Aspects of a method and system for transmission and/or reception of signals up to EHF utilizing a delay circuit are provided. In this regard, a transceiver may comprise at least one delay circuit which may, in turn, comprise a plurality of delay elements and a variable capacitance. The delay circuit may be enabled to delay a first signal, via at least a portion of the delay elements and via the variable capacitance, to generate a second signal that is 90° phase shifted relative to said first signal. Additionally, the delay circuit may be enabled to mix the first signal with the second signal to generate a third signal that is twice a frequency of the first signal. The third signal may be utilized for up-conversion and/or down-conversion of signals to and/or from baseband, intermediate frequencies, and/or RF frequencies of up to EHF.
US08160505B2	Wireless communication apparatus, program, wireless communication method and wireless communication system A wireless communication apparatus includes a transmitting portion to transmit a data signal to other wireless communication apparatus, a receiving portion to receive a reception confirmation signal indicating reception of the data signal by the other wireless communication apparatus from the other wireless communication apparatus during a specified period, a determination portion to determine that a predetermined requirement is satisfied if the receiving portion receives a given signal during the specified period, and a control portion to control the transmitting portion to request the other wireless communication apparatus to retransmit the reception confirmation signal if the receiving portion does not normally receive the reception confirmation signal and the determination portion determines that the predetermined requirement is satisfied.
US08160501B1	Test device for gain level determination of wireless repeater systems What is disclosed is a test device for a wireless repeater system in a wireless communication network. The test device includes a transmitter configured to establish a call with the wireless communication network through the wireless repeater system and determine a number of probes required to establish the call. The test device also includes a receiver configured to receive the call from the wireless communication network through the wireless repeater system and determine a signal strength of the received call. The test device also includes a control processor configured to process the number of probes required to establish the call and the signal strength of the received call to determine a gain level for the wireless repeater system. The test device also includes a control interface configured to transfer the gain level to the wireless repeater system.
US08160486B2	Blade for electrophotographic apparatus, and method of producing the same A blade for an electrophotographic apparatus is provided which is prevented from turning up, achieves wear resistance, and has excellent cleaning properties. The blade is composed of a support member and a blade member formed of a thermosetting polyurethane elastomer, which are joined together. The blade member has a structure in which a nitrogen concentration continuously increases from the inside of a contact part coming into contact with a counterpart member toward the surface of the contact part.
US08160477B2	Process cartridge and image forming apparatus A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus in which a charging roller is separated from a photosensitive drum by a predetermined distance and in which the separation between the charging roller and the photosensitive drum is released at the time of use without involving an increase in the burden on the user and erroneous releasing of the separation by user is prevented prior to use. The process cartridge, which is detachably mountable to the apparatus main body having an acting portion, includes a process cartridge frame, a locking portion locked with the frame to separate the charging roller from the photosensitive drum, a separation holding member having an acted portion which penetrates the frame and on which the acting portion can act, and a protruding portion provided on the frame and protruding beyond the acted portion at the position where the separation holding member is locked with the frame.
US08160476B2	Latent image carrier having pairs of first and second positioning protrusions and image forming apparatus There is disclosed an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier; a latent image writing unit; a development unit; a latent image carrier unit having the latent image carrier; a first positioning protrusion disposed on the latent image carrier unit, the first positioning protrusion being engaged with a groove or a slit of an image forming apparatus body; an abutted portion disposed on the groove or the slit, the abutted portion abutting the first positioning protrusion in order to position the latent image carrier unit in an installation and removal direction; and a second positioning protrusion shifted in the installation and removal direction and disposed on the latent image carrier unit, the second positioning protrusion positioning the latent image carrier unit at a position different from a position of the first positioning protrusion in order to engage the groove or the slit.
US08160472B2	Image forming device having a structure capable of facilitating positioning of an image forming unit provided in the image forming device An image forming device having a frame, a door, and a movable image forming unit to be assembled in the frame when the door is open. Positioning of the image forming unit relative to the frame and a closing position of the door are maintainable when the door is closed. When the door is closed, a hook at the door side is engaged with a hook of a lock unit at the frame side. The lock unit is movable in association with the movement of the door to its closed position to move a pressure portion, so that a part of the image forming unit is pressed by the pressure portion for positioning.
US08160469B2	Information processing apparatus, method for controlling the information processing apparatus, and storage medium An apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set binding processing for binding a part of the document data including data of plurality of pages as a partial binding set for the document data, and a display control unit configured to display a setting verification image for verifying a status of setting of the binding processing by using a binding mark, which indicates that the binding processing is set, on a display apparatus in a display state in which the plurality of partial binding sets is discriminable.
US08160466B2	Fixing device having control unit for detecting pressure cancellation failure of pressure roller against heating roller In one embodiment of the present invention, a fixing apparatus that causes a recording material to pass through a nip portion formed by a rotating heat roller and a rotating pressure roller being in contact so as to perform a fixing operation is configured including a pressing mechanism that can switch between a pressure applied state in which the pressure roller presses against the heat roller using a bias and a pressure cancelled state in which the pressure is cancelled, a pressure state detection unit, and a control unit that performs a pressure cancelation operation and a pressure application operation. If the pressure state detection unit does not detect the pressure cancelled state even when the control unit has performed pressure cancellation control for a certain time period with respect to the pressing mechanism in the pressure applied state, the control unit permits a fixing operation in only the pressure applied state after performing pressure application control for a certain time period with respect to the pressing mechanism.
US08160460B2	Image forming apparatus for storing information in memory on removable cartridge An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body; a plurality of cartridges removably mounted to the apparatus main body and accommodating developer of respective colors, each of the cartridges including a nonvolatile memory; and a storing control unit provided in the apparatus main body. The storing control unit is configured to store, in each of the nonvolatile memories, given information on all of the cartridges and identification information of the cartridges in response to a use of at least one of the cartridges, such that the given information on each of the cartridges is associated with identification information of a respective one of the cartridges.
US08160455B2	Method and apparatus for generating signals with increased dispersion tolerance using a directly modulated laser transmitter An optical transmitter is disclosed wherein a signal processor receives a data stream and outputs a drive signal for a laser, where the drive signal encodes each bit of the data stream according to the values of adjacent bits effective to compensate for spreading of bits within the fiber. The output of the laser is input to an optical spectrum reshaper that outputs a signal having an enhanced extinction ratio.
US08160452B1	Rapid acquisition, pointing and tracking optical system for free space optical communications An acquisition, pointing and tracking system for free space optical communications systems performs the pointing and tracking function internally by way of translating an internal optical fiber in the focal plane of the transceiver telescope with a reflecting mirror in the telescope focal plane of each linked transceiver. The beam reflected from the mirror records the exact direction of the reflected beam at the transmitting beam's transceiver terminal, providing the transmitting source to lock on to the receiving telescope, allowing for the link to be acquired.
US08160446B2	Methods and systems to stabilize an optical network against nodal gain changes The present invention provides methods and systems to stabilize an optical network against nodal gain changes through two nested control loops for controlling node gain and node output power. The present invention includes two nested control-loops running at different update speeds including: an inner, faster, control-loop which sets the gains and losses within a node to achieve a node-gain target, and a node-gain target for the inner loop is set by an outer, slower, control loop that whose target is the node output power. Advantageously, the present invention reduces the problem of concatenated overshoot by minimizing the control-loop response to events that occur at other nodes.
US08160445B2	Digital cross-connect A digital cross-connect (DXC) (10) comprises: a plurality of ports (30-100) for receiving/outputting signals and switching and switching means (20) for selectively cross-connecting signals applied to one port to one or more other ports. The cross-connect (10) is characterized in that the switching means (20) comprises a single switching matrix which is arranged to be capable of switching Optical Data Units (ODU). Alternatively or in addition the switching matrix is arranged to be capable of transparently switching complete Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) synchronous transport modules STM-N and/or complete SONET synchronous transport transport signal STS-N derived from optical carriers OC-N and/or SDH vitual containers VC-3, VC-4, and/or concatenated virtual containers VC4-nc where n=4, 16, 64 or 256 as defined in ITU-Recommendation G.707 and/or SONET synchronous transport system STS-1s, STS-nc where n=3, 12, 48, 192 or 768 as defined in Telcordia GR253.
US08160444B2	Apparatus and method for selecting and passing an optical wavelength from an aggregate optical signal Apparatus, systems and methods for separating a selected optical signal wavelength component from a plurality of optical signal wavelength components of an aggregate optical signal, and for passing the selected optical signal wavelength component while suppressing the remaining wavelength components are provided. Generally, the apparatus provides an optical signal wavelength selective element enabling output of a selectable optical signal wavelength component. The system contains a fiber optic cable carrying an optical signal, an optical signal measurement apparatus to measure optical signal characteristics, and an optical wavelength selector to pass the selected optical signal wavelength component to the optical signal measurement apparatus.
US08160440B2	Three-dimensional image pickup apparatus and three-dimensional image pickup method A three-dimensional image pickup apparatus for capturing a three-dimensional image which includes a left-eye image and a right-eye image includes: a first imaging unit having a first optical system and operable to take the left-eye image; a second imaging unit having a second optical system and operable to take the right-eye image; and a controller operable to control the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit. The first optical system and the second optical system individually include a convergence angle changing unit capable of optically changing a convergence angle and a focal length changing unit capable of optically changing a focal length. The controller, when controlling the focal length changing unit to change the focal length, controls the convergence angle changing unit based on a predetermined constant convergence angle tracking curve to keep the convergence angle constant before and after the change of the focal length.
US08160438B2	Imaging device An imaging device disclosed herein is a device for acquiring image data about a subject, comprising an image acquisition section, a housing, a flash device, and a flash controller. The image acquisition section is configured to continuously acquire a plurality of image data from an optical image of a subject. The housing holds the image acquisition section. The flash device is configured to emit a flash of light, with which the emission angle of the flash light with respect to the housing can be varied. The flash controller is configured to control the flash device so that the emission angle of the flash light when the plurality of image data are being continuously acquired will differ for at least two image data out of the plurality of image data.
US08160429B2	Video image data compression archiver and method for video image data compression A video image data compression archiver is composed of an encoder and an encoder controller. The encoder compresses non-compressed video image data to generate compressed video image data. The encoder controller is connected to said encoder to control a frame size, a frame rate, and an average bit rate of said compressed video image data in response to at least one parameter selected from a group consisting of a number of frames of said non-compressed video image data, a recording time of said non-compressed video image data, and a free area of a recording medium for recording said compressed video image data.
US08160428B2	Video player and playing method and play system utilizing the same A video player provides a video signal to a display device. A selection unit outputs a first signal of an interlaced format or outputting a second signal of a progressive format according to a state of a selection signal. A frequency generator outputs a first frequency or a second frequency according to the state of the selection signal. An adjuster executes a first operation with the signal output from the selection unit for generating a process signal according to the frequency output from the frequency generator. A processor executes a second operation with the process signal for generating the video signal.
US08160427B2	Recording method, recording apparatus, and computer-readable medium A program extraction engine 421 of an automatic recording module 42h extracts recommended programs, recording of which is recommended, out of programs scheduled to be broadcasted. A scheduling program 423 of the automatic recording module 42h does not store the recommended programs in the storage medium when a provisional free capacity of the storage medium does not exceed a first threshold or when a provisional total data amount exceeds a second threshold even if the provisional free capacity exceeds the first threshold.
US08160425B2	Storing video data in a video file A method of storing different video data in a video file is disclosed. The method processes a display of video windows (eg 621) each for displaying the different video data in an arrangement, and a user interface (eg 601) for selecting a period of the different video data to be stored for display in the video windows (eg 621) The method stores a portion of the different video data, corresponding to the selected period, in the video file. The video file maintains the arrangement of the video windows (eg 621) for displaying the portion of video data.
US08160423B2	Audio copy protection system An apparatus for applying an anti-copy protection signal for use with switchable head recorders, such as Video Hi-Fi recorders, is described. A high frequency pulsed signal is added to an original signal. The pulses interfere with the compensator circuitry such that the switching of the record head cannot adequately be masked on recording of a signal. On playback, the switching of the recording heads can subsequently be heard. In Video Hi-Fi recorders, the effect of the high frequency signals also interferes with the compressor-expander circuits to worsen the sound of the head switching.
US08160421B2	Audio routing for audio-video recording Systems and methods for routing audio for audio-video recordings allow a user to record desired audio with captured video at the time the video is being captured. Audio from one or more sources may be routed to the video capture application and recorded with the video. In one or more examples, audio may be routed from another application, e.g., an audio playback application, running on the same device as the video capture application. In another example, audio may be received from a remote device through a wireless connection. Multiple streams of audio content may be mixed together prior to storing with video. The audio, upon reception, may then be routed to the video capture application for recordation. An audio progression bar may also be provided to indicate duration and elapsed time information associated with the audio being recorded.
US08160416B2	Optical device An optical device wherein an optical waveguide is formed on a dielectric substrate, the optical device includes an input part and an output part where the optical waveguide and corresponding optical fibers are connected. A stress layer is provided for at least one of the input part and the output part. The stress layer applies a stress to the optical waveguide so that an index of refraction of the optical waveguide is reduced.
US08160413B2	Fiber optic coupler with variable coupling ratio and manufacturing method thereof A fiber loop formed by bending of a connection section between the first fiber and the second fiber includes a coupling region and an upper taper region as well as a down taper region arranged symmetrically on two sides of the coupling region. Then the fiber optic splitter with the fiber loop is assembled with a splitting ratio modulation mechanism. Thus the manufacturing of the fiber optic power splitter with variable splitting ratio is simplified and this favors production and applications of the device. Moreover, the splitting and modulation quality of the splitter are stable and are controlled precisely. Thus the economic benefits of the device in manufacturing, operation quality and product competitiveness are all improved.
US08160412B2	Microhole-structured long period fiber grating An optical fiber with long period fiber gratings includes an optical fiber axis, a core region extending along the fiber axis, the core region having a core refractive index, a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding having a cladding refractive index, and a plurality of microholes perpendicular to the fiber axis with a portion of the core region removed, the plurality of microholes are spaced apart by a grating period.
US08160403B2	Image transmitting apparatus and image transmitting program A game apparatus functioning as an image transmitting apparatus includes a CPU. The CPU performs an edit of at least one image with a controller according to an instruction by a user, transmits image data of the image through a wireless communication module to a network during execution of the edit, and further transmits layout information indicating a layout of the image after completion of the edit.
US08160400B2	Navigating images using image based geometric alignment and object based controls Over the past few years there has been a dramatic proliferation of digital cameras, and it has become increasingly easy to share large numbers of photographs with many other people. These trends have contributed to the availability of large databases of photographs. Effectively organizing, browsing, and visualizing such .seas. of images, as well as finding a particular image, can be difficult tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate that knowledge of where images were taken and where they were pointed makes it possible to visualize large sets of photographs in powerful, intuitive new ways. We present and evaluate a set of novel tools that use location and orientation information, derived semi-automatically using structure from motion, to enhance the experience of exploring such large collections of images.
US08160397B1	Method for automatic alignment of raster data with vector data in a geographic information system The present invention relates to methods for aligning raster and vector data.In an embodiment, a raster/vector aligner receives raster data and an approximate vector of a feature within the raster data. The raster/vector aligner generates an edge signal by edge filtering the raster data along a direction of the approximate vector and a smoothness signal by smoothness filtering the raster data along a direction of the approximate vector. The raster/vector aligner combines the edge signal and the smoothness signal into a combined signal which is used to generate a translation vector or a signal weight for the feature within the raster data.
US08160396B2	Method and apparatus for touching-up images A method and camera apparatus touches up a source image to produce a target image. The source image is partitioned into non-overlapping tiles of pixels. Each tile is labeled. A probability distribution of the labels is inferred, in which the probability distribution is a conditional random field. Weights are determined from the conditional random field. Then, each tile of the source image is transformed according to the weights to produce a corresponding tile of a target image. The transforming maximizes a conditional likelihood of the target image given the source image, while marginalizing over all possible labelings of the source image.
US08160394B2	Real-time capture and transformation of hemispherical video images to images in rectilinear coordinates A method of transforming an input image from a hemispherical source to an output image in rectilinear coordinates is disclosed. The method includes receiving data representative of an input image originating from a hemispherical camera and having a size defined by an input image height and an input image width. Once the data is received, an output image width and output image height representative of a size of a rectilinear output image is calculated based on the size of the input image. A rectilinear output image is then generated by mapping input image pixels to locations within the width and height of the output image, without reference to the optical characteristics of the hemispherical camera.
US08160391B1	Panoramic image fill Systems and methods for filling panoramic images having valid and invalid pixel regions are provided. An invalid region is identified in an initial panoramic image. Pixel data of invalid pixels in the initial panoramic image are replaced with pixel data of pixels from a valid region in at least one nearby panoramic image to obtain a valid fill region.
US08160384B2	Methods of suppressing ringing artifact of decompressed images A suppression method that provides adaptive (i.e., selective) processing of an input picture to generate an enhanced output picture with ringing-like areas of the input picture suppressed. For each window in the input picture, if the window is detected as around a ringing-like area in the picture, then the output pixel for the position of the window comprises the low-pass filtered (i.e., smoothed) pixel in the input picture. If the window is not detected as around a ringing-like area, then the output pixel for the position of the window comprises essentially the unchanged window in the input picture. No blurring is introduced in areas where ringing-like patterns are not detected. The output picture is an enhanced version of the input picture comprising portions of the input picture where ringing-like patterns were not detected, and portions of the input picture with suppressed (i.e., smoothed) ringing-like patterns where detected.
US08160383B2	Tone correcting apparatus providing improved tone correction on image A tone correcting apparatus includes: a first determination unit that determines which one of first brightness levels that are previously defined a focused region corresponds to, the focused region being selected from among a plurality of block regions that are set to cover an entire area of the image; a second determination unit that determines which one of second brightness levels that are previously defined an adjacent block region corresponds to, the adjacent block region being at least one of the block regions that is adjacent to the focused region; and a correction unit that corrects a brightness of pixels included in the focused region based on a combination of the first brightness level determined by the first determination unit and the second brightness level determined by the second determination unit.
US08160381B2	Method and apparatus for image noise reduction using noise models A method and apparatus for processing imager pixel signals to reduce noise. The processing includes receiving a target pixel signal, receiving at least one neighboring pixel signal, formulating a dynamic noise signal based at least in part on a value of the target pixel signal, and controlling a noise reduction operation using the dynamic noise signal.
US08160378B2	Apparatus, method and system for image processing An apparatus, method, and system for image processing are provided, each capable of consecutively capturing a plurality of images of an object, and selecting a mostly focused image from the plurality of images while compensating for the shift in the position of the object among the plurality of images.
US08160377B2	Image compression apparatus A symbol generation part serially inputs a data string of quantization data. If quantization data of non-zero coefficient is inputted, respective information on an absolute value, a zero run and a sign of the non-zero coefficient are stored in registers. When quantization data of the next non-zero coefficient is inputted, the respective information on the absolute value, the zero run and the sign stored in the registers are updated. At that time, the contents of the registers which have been stored immediately before the input are outputted as symbol data of the immediately preceding non-zero coefficient.
US08160373B2	Recording medium having recorded thereon coded information using plus and/or minus rounding of images Image decoder including: a memory to store a reference image which is a previously decoded image; and a synthesizer to receive an encoded bitstream including information of I and P frames, and execute motion compensation by synthesizing a predicted image of a current frame using motion vector information included in the encoded bitstream and the reference image. The motion compensation includes calculating intensity values at points where no pixels actually exist by bilinear interpolation performable using a positive and negative rounding method, and is performed using the rounding method specified by rounding method information included in the encoded bitstream of the current frame when the current frame is a P frame. Such specifies one of two values specifying a positive or a negative rounding method. The rounding method information is not received from the encoded bitstream of the current frame when the current frame is an I frame.
US08160365B2	Methods and systems for identifying digital image characteristics Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for determining image characteristics in a digital image.
US08160363B2	Device and method for inputting characters or drawings in a mobile terminal using a virtual screen Disclosed is a device and method for inputting characters or drawings on a mobile terminal using a virtual screen. To input characters or drawings through a virtual screen, the mobile terminal includes an electronic pen, a virtual screen generator, a position detector for detecting the electronic pen position, and a character recognition algorithm for recognizing a trail as a character. When a signal is input from the electronic pen, the mobile terminal detects the originating position of the signal and its trail. The mobile terminal recognizes the detected trail as a character and generates a virtual screen with the recognized character.
US08160361B2	Method for the detection of marks and printing machine The object of the invention is to achieve a correctly positioned print in duplex-printing mode. A method for the detection of marks (1, 1′, 1″) by a sensor array (10) for a printing machine has been provided, whereby the marks (1) on the first (recto) printing side (5) of a sheet (3) are detected, the sheet is turned over and shifted in a direction transverse to the transport direction, and the marks (1′) on a second (verso) printing side (6) of said sheet are detected. Furthermore, a printing machine is provided with an alignment device (40) for shifting a sheet (3) in a direction transverse to the transport direction for the detection of marks (1′) on the second printing side, said marks being offset relative to the marks (1) on the first printing side, after said sheet (3) has been turned over.
US08160359B2	Information storage medium storing graphic data and apparatus and method of processing the graphic data An information storage medium including graphic data and presentation information, and an apparatus and method of processing the graphic data are provided. The information storage medium includes the graphic data, page composition information which defines page composition of the graphic data, and the presentation information indicating when graphic screen data, which is composed with reference to the page composition information of the graphic data, is output to a display screen. Therefore, a graphic object is reusable in graphic data processing, and accordingly, a time taken to process the graphic data is reducible and memory area may be saved.
US08160352B2	Surface inspection method and surface inspection apparatus A surface inspection apparatus capable of acquiring scattered light intensity distribution information for each scattering azimuth angle, and detecting foreign matters and defects with high sensitivity. A concave mirror for condensation and another concave mirror for image formation are used to cope with a broad cubic angle. Since mirrors for condensation and image formation are used, a support for clamping the periphery of a lens is unnecessary, and an effective aperture area does not decrease. A plurality of azimuth-wise detection optical systems is disposed and reflected light at all azimuths can be detected by burying the entire periphery without calling for specific lens polishing. A light signal unification unit sums digital data from a particular system corresponding to a scattering azimuth designated in advance in the systems for improving an S/N ratio.
US08160350B2	Method and system for evaluating a variation in a parameter of a pattern A method and system are presented for evaluating a variation of a parameter of a pattern. The method includes processing data indicative of an aerial intensity image of at least a portion of a patterned article, and determining values of a certain functional of the aerial image intensity for predetermined regions within the at least portion of the patterned article. The values of the aerial image intensity functional are indicative of a variation of at least one parameter of the pattern within the at least portion of the patterned article or are indicative of a variation of at least one parameter of a pattern manufactured by utilizing the patterned article.
US08160348B2	Methods and system for validating sample images for quantitative immunoassays A method and system for automatically evaluating quality of a slide-mounted tissue sample includes receiving a digital image of a magnified portion of the slide-mounted tissue sample. At least one quantitative quality indicator is automatically determined for at least one of the samples, and the digital image of the magnified portion of the sample. Each of the quantitative quality indicators is automatically compared to a respective minimum acceptable quality threshold. The quantitative quality indicators and associated quality thresholds are selected for suitability with an automated quantitative immunoassay. Failure of one or more of the quantitative quality indicators to meet its respective minimum acceptable quality threshold suggests that the sample is unsuitable for subsequent automated pathological evaluation. Results can be examined at a user interface allowing for user inspection of samples determined to be unsuitable, the user interface also having provisions for manual override of the determination.
US08160347B2	System and method for intelligent CAD processing A computer implemented method for automatically selecting an algorithm for image analysis in a computer-aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) system includes receiving image data for a study involving a patient, querying a radiology information system (RIS) for an IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise)-worklist for the study of the patient, receiving the IHE-worklist from the RIS, analyzing the worklist to select one or more CAD algorithm for analyzing the image data, executing the selected one or more CAD algorithms to analyze the image data, and outputting results of the analysis of the image data.
US08160345B2	System and method for image segmentation in generating computer models of a joint to undergo arthroplasty A custom arthroplasty guide and a method of manufacturing such a guide are disclosed herein. The guide manufactured includes a mating region configured to matingly receive a portion of a patient bone associated with an arthroplasty procedure for which the custom arthroplasty guide is to be employed. The mating region includes a surface contour that is generally a negative of a surface contour of the portion of the patient bone. The surface contour of the mating region is configured to mate with the surface contour of the portion of the patient bone in a generally matching or interdigitating manner when the portion of the patient bone is matingly received by the mating region. The method of manufacturing the custom arthroplasty guide includes: a) generating medical imaging slices of the portion of the patient bone; b) identifying landmarks on bone boundaries in the medical imaging slices; c) providing model data including image data associated with a bone other than the patient bone; d) adjusting the model data to match the landmarks; e) using the adjusted model data to generate a three dimensional computer model of the portion of the patient bone; f) using the three dimensional computer model to generate design data associated with the custom arthroplasty guide; and g) using the design data in manufacturing the custom arthroplasty guide.
US08160343B2	Efficient features for computer-aided detection A technology for facilitating computer-aided detection (CAD) includes in one implementation, receiving an enhancement pattern (602) generated from image data. The enhancement pattern is pre-processed to produce an alert level (604, 606, 608). Computationally-intensive analysis may be performed on a region of interest if it corresponds to an enhancement pattern with a high alert level.
US08160342B2	System and method for processing data signals A signal processing method include steps initializing a residual data signal representative of an acquired data signal, determining a significant coefficient corresponding to the residual data signal, updating the residual data signal using the significant coefficient to generate updated residual data signal, iteratively determining significant coefficients to generate a plurality of significant coefficients using the updated residual data signal, updating the plurality of significant coefficients by using a successive approximation technique, to improve the numerical accuracy of the significant coefficients and reconstructing a data signal using the updated plurality of significant coefficients.
US08160340B2	Reconstructing a tomographic image Tomographically reconstructing a 3D image object corresponding to a data set includes for each step in a series of iteration steps, determining an updated object by performing a combined operation, which includes performing an update operation for updating an input object and performing a pixon smoothing operation, and following a last iteration, outputting one of the updated objects as the 3D image object.
US08160337B2	Imaging system for the generation of high-quality X-ray projections The invention relates to an imaging system and a method for generating high-quality X-ray projections (24) of a patient (1). The system comprises a rotational X-ray device (10), for example a cone-beam CT-gantry (12), and an associated data processing unit (20). During a medical intervention, low-dose raw projections (22) of the patient (1) are continuously generated from different directions. A volume of interest (23) is then reconstructed from said projections (22), from which high-quality virtual projections (24) can be calculated for a display on a monitor (25). The number and direction of said virtual projections (24) can be arbitrarily chosen by the user.
US08160335B2	Computer aided diagnosis using derived images Computer-aided diagnosis techniques may be combined with techniques to obtain derived images from radiographic images to provide enhanced computer-aided diagnosis of, for example, lung nodules.
US08160332B2	Model-based coronary centerline localization The invention relates to a system (100) for registering a vessel model with an image data set based on a joined model comprising a reference object model and the vessel model, the system comprising: a placement unit (110) for placing the joined model in a space of the image data set, thereby creating a placed joined model comprising a placed reference object model and a placed vessel model; a computation unit (120) for computing a deformation field based on a landmark displacement field comprising displacements of landmarks of the placed reference object model relative to corresponding landmarks in the image data set; a transformation unit (130) for transforming the placed joined model using the deformation field, thereby creating a transformed joined model comprising a transformed reference object model and a transformed vessel model; and a registration unit (140) for registering the transformed vessel model with the image data set based on modifying the transformed vessel model and optimizing an objective function of the modified transformed vessel model, wherein the objective function comprises a location-prior term based on a localization of the modified transformed vessel model relative to the transformed joined model. Hence, the system is arranged to model a vessel taking into account the localization of a vessel model relative to a reference anatomical structure described by a reference model.
US08160330B2	Texture quantification of medical images based on a complex-valued local spatial frequency distribution of a stockwell transform A method for texture quantification is provided. Data indicative of a complex-valued local spatial frequency distribution in space-frequency domain are determined by processing a multi-dimensional image data set based on a Stockwell transform with a phase term corresponding to spatial locations of respective frequency components being expressed in terms of radial distance and angle of orientation. The complex-valued local spatial frequency distribution is indicative of a feature of the object. Data indicative of a low frequency energy distribution are determined by filtering the data indicative of a complex-valued local spatial frequency distribution using a band-pass filter having a predetermined low frequency energy bandwidth.
US08160318B2	Method for processing images in interventional radioscopy to detect guiding instrumentation equipment A method for processing images in interventional radioscopy for detecting guiding instrumentation equipment. The method of the invention enables objects of longilinear or very curved shapes to be detected within the radioscopic image having very low contrast to noise ratios. In one embodiment, an algorithm enables the measured contrast to noise ratio of long or curved structures in the image to be considerably improved. To do this, an embodiment of the invention uses oriented, separable, recursive and rapid steerable detection filters. Said detection filters have a low calculation cost, even for long filters having several orientations.
US08160316B2	Medical image-processing apparatus and a method for processing medical images The extraction processor of the medical image-processing apparatus sets landmarks of each medical image based on volume data of two medical images. The positional relationship information-generating part generates positional relationship information that indicates positional relationship of the landmarks for each of the two medial images. The landmark-coordinating part eliminates one or more landmarks from each medical image based on the positional relationship information. Further, the landmark-coordinating part coordinates the landmarks of two medical images that remained after the elimination. The image-aligning part aligns the two sets of volume data based on the result of the coordination of landmarks.
US08160313B2	Apparatus and method of input and fingerprint recognition on a handheld electronic device An apparatus for input and fingerprint recognition comprises a touch surface, a processor coupled to the touch surface, and instructions stored on the apparatus. The touch surface comprises a first region and a second region. The first region has a first sensor resolution, and the second region has a second sensor resolution that is greater than the first sensor resolution. The instructions configure the processor to selectively operate the touch surface in one of a touch input mode and a fingerprint mode. In the touch input mode, the processor detects a touch input anywhere on the touch surface by sampling the first and second regions at the first sensor resolution. In the fingerprint mode, the processor reads a fingerprint on the second region by sampling the second region at the second sensor resolution.
US08160312B2	Perfecting the effect of flash within an image acquisition devices using face detection Within a digital acquisition device with a built in flash unit, the exposure of an acquired digital image is perfected using face detection in the acquired image is provided. Groups of pixels that correspond to plural images of faces are identified within a digitally acquired image, and corresponding image attributes to the group of pixels are determined. An analysis is performed of the corresponding attributes of the groups of pixels. It is then determined to activate the built-in flash unit based on the analysis. An intensity of the built-in flash unit is determined based on the analysis. Alternatively based on similar analysis, a digital simulation of the fill flash is performed on the image.
US08160309B1	Method, apparatus, and system for object recognition and classification A method of face recognition includes generating a recognition database for at least one identified face by obtaining multiple images for each identified face; selecting a subset of distinctive features for each identified face from a set of features, where each of the distinctive features in the subset have at least one calculated value representative of that distinctive feature of the identified face that exceeds a threshold level of distinction from at least one corresponding calculated value for a reference set of faces, and, for each identified face, recording in the recognition database the selected subset of distinctive features. To recognize an image of an unidentified face, a comparison metric is calculated for at least one identified face in the recognition database comparing at least a portion of the selected subset of distinctive features of that identified face with corresponding features for the unidentified face. The comparison metric for that identified face is used to determine if there is a correlation between the unidentified face and the identified face.
US08160308B2	Two stage detection for photographic eye artifacts An image acquisition device includes a first speed-optimized filter for producing a first set of candidate red-eye regions for an acquired image; and a second analysis-optimized filter for operating on the first set of candidate red eye regions and the acquired image.
US08160304B2	Interactive systems and methods employing wireless mobile devices A user gestures with a wireless mobile phone device to control some aspect of its operation, or the operation of a remote system with which the device communicates. (The gestures may be sensed by tracking movement of a feature across a field of view of a mobile phone device camera.) The resultant operation may additionally depend on other data obtained by the wireless device, e.g., obtained from an electronic or physical object, or sensed from the environment. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US08160302B2	Image processing apparatus and method for estimating orientation Method of estimating orientation of objects disposed on a plane from video images of a scene taken by a video camera. Includes receiving for each object, object tracking data, providing a position of the object on the plane in the image with respect to time, determining from the object tracking data basis vectors associated with an objects, each basis vector corresponding to a factor, which can influence the orientation of the object and each basis vector being related to the movement or location of the one or more objects, and combining the basis vectors in accordance with a blending function to calculate an estimate of the orientation of the object on the plane, the blending function including blending coefficients which determine a relative magnitude of each basis vector used in the blending function.
US08160300B2	Pedestrian detecting apparatus A first pedestrian judging unit judges, on the basis of the size and motion state of a target three-dimensional object, whether the object is a pedestrian. A second pedestrian judging unit judges, on the basis of shape data on the object, whether the object is a pedestrian. A pedestrian judging unit finally determines that the object is a pedestrian when both the first and second pedestrian judging units judge the object as a pedestrian, when the second pedestrian judging unit judges the object as a pedestrian, when the first pedestrian judging unit judges the object as a pedestrian and a result of this judgment is held for a preset period, or when the first pedestrian judging unit judges the object as a pedestrian in a current judgment operation and the second pedestrian judging unit judged the object as a pedestrian in the previous judging operation.
US08160299B2	Image processing apparatus An image processing apparatus includes a moving image file storage unit operable to store a moving image file; an area selection receiving unit operable to receive a selection of a predetermined area corresponding to one of a plurality of frames forming the moving image file; a template image generating unit operable to generate as a template image an image of the selected area; an image matching unit operable to obtain the frames from the moving image file storage unit, and to match each of the frames against the template image to search for a matching frame containing an image similar to the template image; and a scene change detecting unit operable to detect a start and an end of a scene containing the matching frame.
US08160298B2	Display device A display device includes a display panel and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control a display condition of the display panel by successively switching a plurality of frames, thereby to display a pointer image indicating a pointer and a path image indicating a path of motion of the pointer image. The path image of a first frame, which is any one of the plurality of frames, is provided continuously from a second location where the pointer image of a second frame, which is another one of the multiple frames and immediately before the first frame, is displayed to a first location where the pointer image of the first frame is displayed.
US08160296B2	Change analyst A method of determining change in a state of an object using images of the object, the method including providing a first image and a second image of the object, the first image and the second image being spaced apart in time, performing a plurality of pixel-based change detection algorithms to obtain a plurality of output difference products/images containing change information and pseudo change information, combining the plurality of output difference products to form a hybrid output difference product and thresholding the output difference product to detect changes in the object.
US08160295B2	Image-processing device and image-processing method for embedding code patterns in image information For facilitating detecting the position of additional information embedded in image information shown on a printed matter, an input unit configured to input image information and an embedding unit configured to embed a plurality of code patterns in the image information according to additional information are provided. The additional information includes direction-determination information used to detect the direction in which the additional information is embedded in the image information. When one of the code patterns is rotated, the rotated code pattern corresponds to one of the code patterns that are not yet rotated.
US08160292B2	Loudspeaker and electronic apparatus using the same In a loudspeaker, three magnets are disposed to provide magnetic gaps therebetween and a voice coil is fit therein. The magnets disposed at both sides are magnetized so that their opposing poles exhibit the same magnetic polarity. The magnet in the middle has its magnetic poles in the direction perpendicular to the line connecting the poles of the side magnets. The side magnets are fixed to a plate made of non-magnetic material. Those magnetic poles of the side magnets and the middle magnet not facing the magnetic gaps are magnetically coupled by a magnetic member.
US08160287B2	Headset with adjustable headband A headset includes an element to be held to the head of a wearer and a headband coupled to the element and configured for engaging a head of a wearer to hold the element thereon. The headband includes a plurality of headband arms coupled to pivot with respect to each other. A torsion spring is positioned between the arms and portions of the torsion spring are coupled to the arms for acting on the arms with a torsion force. An adjustment member is coupled between the torsion spring and a headband arm and is operable for adjusting the torsion force of the torsion spring to adjust the torsion force on the arms.
US08160285B2	Waveguide unit The present invention concerns a waveguide unit, for use with a transducer unit, and in particular transducer of the dome type, where the wave guide unit is substantially circular, and suitable to be arranged around the transducer, where the wave guide unit has a front side on which front side means are provided for reflecting the sound waves from the transducer, and a substantially flat backside, and where substantially centrally in the unit an aperture is provided which aperture is suitable for accommodating a transducer unit, and the side of said aperture connects the front and back sides, where said waveguide comprises one or more diffraction edges arranged concentric with the circular shape of the unit on said front side of the unit, and where adjacent on both sides of said one or more diffraction edges, substantially flat conical surfaces are provided.
US08160283B2	Hearing aid receiver with vibration compensation In order to reduce feedback in a hearing aid, a hearing aid receiver is provided that comprises a housing having an inside surface and an outside surface, a motor, an active armature that is attached to the motor and attached to the inside surface of the housing, the active armature being driven in a vibrational manner by the motor, and an external passive component that is attached to the outside surface of the housing, the external passive component designed to vibrate in a direction opposed to vibrations of the active armature. A corresponding method for operating such a hearing aid receives is also provided.
US08160282B2	Sound system equalization An automatic sound system equalizer adjusts a sound system to a target sound, where the sound system includes at least two groups of loudspeakers supplied with electrical sound signals to be converted into acoustical sound signals. The equalizer sequentially supplies each group with the respective electrical sound signal; sequentially assesses the deviation of the acoustical sound signal from the target sound for each group of loudspeakers, and adjusts at least two groups of loudspeakers to a relatively small, preferably minimum deviation from the target sound by equalizing the respective electrical sound signals supplied to the groups of loudspeakers.
US08160274B2	System and method for digital signal processing The present invention provides for methods and systems for digitally processing an audio signal. Specifically, the present invention provides for a headliner speaker system that is configured to digitally process an audio signal in a manner such that studio-quality sound that can be reproduced.
US08160273B2	Systems, methods, and apparatus for signal separation using data driven techniques Methods, apparatus, and systems for source separation include a converged plurality of coefficient values that is based on each of a plurality of M-channel signals. Each of the plurality of M-channel signals is based on signals produced by M transducers in response to at least one information source and at least one interference source. In some examples, the converged plurality of coefficient values is used to filter an M-channel signal to produce an information output signal and an interference output signal.
US08160270B2	Method and apparatus for acquiring multi-channel sound by using microphone array Provided are a method and an apparatus for acquiring a multi-channel sound by using a microphone array. The method estimates positions of sound sources corresponding to sound source signals, which are mixed together, from the sound source signals input via a microphone array; and generates a multi-channel sound source signal by compensating for the sound source signals, based on differences between the estimated positions of the sound sources and a position of a virtual microphone array substituting for the microphone array. By doing so, the multi-channel sound having a stereoscopic effect can be acquired from a plurality of distant sound source signals which are input via the microphone array from a portable sound acquisition device.
US08160267B2	Car audio equipment In order to enable a driver to obtain traffic jam information or to listen to a navigation guidance voice from a car navigation system without interrupting the reproduction of music when a passenger enjoys music reproduced by a CD player and the like through cabin loudspeakers, the present invention provides car audio equipment in which a pair of loudspeakers is disposed on both sides of a headrest of a driver's seat. The equipment processes at a decoder thereof a sound signal from a radio tuner, a car navigation device, a mobile phone and the like selected by a selector using a changeover switch, and the sound signal is reproduced through the loudspeakers.
US08160264B2	Transfer function estimating device, noise suppressing apparatus and transfer function estimating method A transfer function estimating device for estimating a transfer function of a sound, includes: a sound receiving module receiving a sound from a given sound source and converting the sound into a tone signal; a storage module storing first transfer functions of the sound propagating from the given sound source to the sound receiving module and transformation coefficients for converting the first transfer functions into given second transfer functions so as to associate with each other; a reference tone signal acquiring module acquiring a reference tone signal of the sound source; an acquiring module acquiring a transfer function of the sound received by the sound receiving module on the basis of the tone signal and the reference tone signal; a specifying module acquiring a cross-correlation value between the transfer function acquired by the acquiring module and each of the first transfer functions stored in the storage module.
US08160263B2	Noise reduction by mobile communication devices in non-call situations In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a mobile communication device having a digital signal processor (DSP), a speaker output node, a local audio source, and an analog front-end (AFE), wherein: (1) the DSP receives a first audio signal corresponding to sound captured by a microphone near a user of the device, (2) if the device is operating in a call mode, the DSP derives a background noise signal from the first audio signal, for subtraction from the first audio signal before transmission to the AFE, and (3) if the device is operating in a non-call mode, then the DSP (i) generates a speaker output signal which substantially corresponds to the first audio signal subtracted from a local audio signal provided by the local audio source and (ii) provides the speaker output signal to a speaker via the speaker output node.
US08160258B2	Apparatus and method for encoding/decoding signal An encoding method and apparatus and a decoding method and apparatus are provided. The decoding method includes extracting a down-mix signal and down-mix identification information from an input bitstream, determining, based on the down-mix identification information, whether the down-mix signal is a 3D down-mix signal obtained by performing a three-dimensional (3D) rendering operation, and if the down-mix signal is not 3D down-mix signal, generating a 3D down-mix signal by performing a 3D rendering operation. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently encode multi-channel signals with 3D effects and to adaptively restore and reproduce audio signals with optimum sound quality according to the characteristics of an audio reproduction environment.
US08160256B2	Key calculation method and key agreement method using the same A key calculation method and a shared key generation method, the key calculation method including: generating two keys to perform a key calculation; calculating a first value based on coefficients having an identical coefficient value among coefficients included in each of the two keys; and performing a coordinates operation or an exponentiation operation based on the first value, wherein the calculating of the first value is performed with respect to each of coefficient values included in the two keys, excluding 0.
US08160253B2	Method, transponder, and system for rapid data transmission A method for wireless data transmission between a base station and a transponder is provided, whereby a message, comprising at least one command and one data sequence, is transmitted by the base station, the message is received and evaluated by the transponder, at least one key is provided in the transponder after receipt of the command and before complete receipt of the message and the key is transmitted to the base station, the key is detected by the base station, and parts of the message, still to be transmitted, and/or subsequent messages are encoded by the base station with the key.
US08160247B2	Providing local storage service to applications that run in an application execution environment Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for providing local storage service to applications that run in an application execution environment. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from one of the applications, wherein the request triggers local storage of information; obtaining an encryption key based on identifiers including a first identifier corresponding to the application execution environment, a second identifier corresponding to the one application, and a third identifier corresponding to the computing apparatus; encrypting the information using the encryption key; and storing the encrypted information in the computing apparatus.
US08160245B2	Methods and apparatus for performing an elliptic curve scalar multiplication operation using splitting For an Elliptic Curve Scalar Multiplication (ECSM) operation to be performed on a scalar and a base point, a given previous set of parameters that was used to split the scalar for a previous ECSM operation and a selected random integer are used to determine a new set of parameters for splitting the scalar. By basing the new set of parameters on the previous set of parameters, repeated use of the scalar to determine key-splitting parameters is avoided and susceptibility to a Differential Power Analysis Side Channel attack is minimized.
US08160241B2	Communication terminal device with echo canceller and its echo canceling method An uncomfortable feeling due to lack of the speech of a far end speaker and a convergence signal voice (sound) is prevented, and the echo of the far end speaker is removed. A pseudo signal generating circuit has a phase inverter (10) for inverting the phase of a signal, a pseudo hybrid circuit (11) for generating a pseudo echo having the same or substantially the same characteristic as that of the true signal, and a pseudo telephone set (5-2). By generating a pseudo echo having the phase opposite to that of the true signal and having the same or substantially the same characteristics as that of the true signal, the uncomfortable signals (echo, etc.) are cancelled out. When a telephone set is connected to a caller or when an extension transfer occurs, an adaptive filter convergence signal is generated for a predetermined constant time only during “no-voice (sound) (silence)” of the far end speaker's signal.
US08160240B2	Echo cancellation balance using noise generator and average power detection A communication system includes transmit and receive paths, a balancing filter, a noise generator, a detector, and an interface. The transmit path is operable to generate data for communication on a communication network. The receive path is operable to receive data from the communication network. The balancing filter is coupled between the transmit path and the receive path. The noise generator is operable to inject a noise signal on the receive path. The detector is operable to measure reflected power in the transmit path associated with the noise signal. The interface is operable to receive a plurality of sets of coefficients for configuring the balancing filter, wherein the detector is operable to measure the reflected power for each of the sets of coefficients.
US08160235B2	Controlling hold queue position adjustment A method, system, and program for allowing callers to adjust in position within a hold queue are provided. An advancement token earned by a caller while waiting in a hold queue is detected. The advancement token is stored for redemption in a future call by the caller according to an authenticated identifier for the caller, wherein future redemption of the advancement token will cause adjustment of a waiting position. In particular, a caller in the call hold queue may earn advancement tokens by answering questions posed by other callers in the call hold queue, where the questions are answered in a manner such that the other callers do not need additional aid from a representative. In addition, a caller may redeem advancement tokens earned in a previous hold queue while waiting in current hold queue, where the redeemable advancement tokens are accessible across multiple call centers according to the caller identification.
US08160228B2	Private-branch exchange that provides incoming calling extended to an off-premises terminal in the presence of a third-party application A telecommunications system is disclosed that enables a user to pair a desk set that is an extension of a private-branch exchange with a cell phone that is accessible via the Public Switched Telephone Network. One feature of the telecommunications system enables an incoming call that is directed to the user's desk set to be automatically forwarded to the user's cell phone, while in the presence of third-party call control. This is advantageous to the user because it provides the illusion to the caller that the user is physically in his or her office when she is not necessarily there. The third-party call control can be part of a computer-telephony integration (CTI) application—for example, in a telephone telemarketing center, which handles many incoming telephone calls.
US08160227B1	System and method for establishing roaming line numbers A method is provided for establishing a roaming line number in a communication network. The method includes receiving information from a telephony device indicating a desire to program a roaming line number for the telephony device. The method also includes associating the roaming line number with a packet network address of the telephony device such that calls placed to the roaming line number will be directed to the telephony device.
US08160226B2	Key word programmable caller ID Methods and systems are disclosed for providing Key Word Programmable Caller ID Screening services. One method monitors a telephone call for a key word call screening request. The telephone call is from a calling telephone number to a called telephone number. An action is taken in response to the key word call screening request. The action could be playing an announcement, terminating the connection, forwarding to voice mail, storing, adding, updating, and or blocking incoming communications matching the ICLID information and/or subscriber identified alphanumeric information. The call screening request may comprise a Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency, a softkey entry, and/or a data message. Subsequent incoming calls from the calling telephone number are characterized as undesirable and are screened from alerting or otherwise establishing a communications connection to the called telephone number.
US08160225B1	Call initiation via calendar A system and method for initiating calls via electronic calendar is disclosed. A call list is associated by a user to a particular time and day within the electronic calendar. When the particular day and time arrives, the call list is forwarded to a service which executes the call list, and subsequently contacts the members of the call list. The system may initially query the callees through a prerecorded voice messaging system to determine which callees are present, and then establish a telephone connection based on responses to the queries. Once a connection is established, the user and the members of the list are linked to a conference bridge.
US08160222B2	Enhanced caller ID with recipient-selected caller information display Enhanced caller ID display functionality is linked to Photo or image and/or address book or other database information elements associated with the caller by the call recipient to provide a richer Caller ID Display experience. The enhanced ID caller information is displayed on the call recipient's television via, for example, a television set-top box. Advantageously, the call recipient selects the information to associate with the caller. This is advantageous because it is the recipient that is in the best position to know which information, including which image or images, is most useful to the recipient in relation to the caller.
US08160221B2	Cellular telephone with the ability to display and store picture and video messages and caller ID received from a message originator A cellular telephone receives a wireless signal containing Caller ID and a picture or video message. The picture or video message may be encrypted, compressed or encoded. The received Caller ID may be used to establish the identity of the originator of the picture or video message.
US08160218B2	Event driven call generation A system, method, and computer readable medium for event driven call generation, comprises, monitoring a database transaction, detecting a suspect pattern in the monitored database transactions, and generating a telephone call based upon the detected suspect pattern.
US08160214B1	Mixed protocol multi-media provider system incorporating a session initiation protocol (SIP) based media server adapted to operate using SIP messages which encapsulate GR-1129 advanced intelligence network based information A system and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services received at a Private Service Exchange (PSX) defined on the system from a plurality of IP-communication devices. The system includes a Network Gateway Controller (GSX) coupled to the PSX and to a media sever (MS). The PSX is coupled to at least one IP Service Control Point (IP-SCP), which is operative to process the plurality of requests for the plurality of multi-media services. The IP-SCP further selectively directs the requests to the media server, via the PSX and GSX. The media server operates to form a preliminary multi-media communication path with a calling communication device. The MS further operates to play a plurality of announcements to the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path, as well as to collect caller-entered data from the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path.
US08160213B2	Instant messaging and voice mail integration A method of enabling a user of an instant messaging client to forward an audio recording to another person via his or her instant messaging client is disclosed. The recipient's instant messaging client then inquires whether the recipient would like to hear the audio recording immediately. If the recipient answers yes, then the audio recording is played for the recipient through the instant messaging client. In contrast, if the user answers no, or is “unavailable,” or does not answer at all, the instant messaging client forwards the audio recording a voice mailbox associated with the recipient for later retrieval in well-known fashion via a telephone. This invention is particularly advantageous when the recipient is engaged in a telephone call when the audio recording arrives because it enables the recipient to hear the message immediately and without having to access the voice mail system while engaged in call.
US08160212B2	Voicemail filtering and transcription Systems and methods for voicemail filtering and transcription are described herein. According to various embodiments, an integrated communication system performs filtering and transcription of voicemail messages (“voicemails”) and forwards the voicemails via email to a user's email-capable device. Filtering includes generating a priority flag based on a word search of the voicemail. The integrated communication system further performs a rough transcription of the voicemail, either automatically or on demand as specified by the user. According to embodiments, the rough transcription is entered as text in an email that is sent to the user. In an embodiment, a user may request a refined transcription of the voicemail by pressing a button on the user's device. In an embodiment, the rough transcription is replaced by the refined transcription in the original email and the original is marked “unread” in the user's email inbox on the user's device.
US08160209B2	IVR call routing testing A call routing test and verification system for an interactive voice response (IVR) system including an automated test driver (ATD) for connecting to a IVR system over a public switched telephone network (PSTN) configured to provide signals representative of content of utterances appropriate for responding to prompt signals of an IVR menu and a test module to enable a test mode of the IVR system in response to the connection by ATD, wherein the test mode allows the IVR system to transmit a call routing string to the ATD prior to transfer of the connection to one of a plurality of agent terminals in response to reaching a call routing point of the IVR menu, where the ATD is further configured to compare at least a portion of the transmitted call routing string to an expected routing string for the call routing point.
US08160206B2	Dual-energy imaging at reduced sample rates The present disclosure relates to the generation of dual-energy X-ray data using a data sampling rate comparable to the rate utilized for single-energy imaging. In accordance with the present technique a reduced kVp switching rate is employed compared to conventional dual-energy imaging. Full angular resolution is achieved in the generated images.
US08160204B2	Method and device for IMRT verification The present invention relates to a method and device for verification of the quality of a radiation beam in conformal radiation therapy, and in particular for IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) applications.
US08160203B2	Calculation of probable accumulated dosages based on patient movement A stochastic patient movement model and a dosage delivery plan are used to determine probabilities of dosages received by a target volume during a radiation treatment. The stochastic patient movement model is created by identifying possible sequences of patient positions during the treatment with probabilities specified for each. The dosage delivery plan specifies dosage levels and radiation locations over time. Accumulated dosages are calculated for each sequence of patient positions and the dosage delivery plan. The specified probability for each sequence is then correlated to the accumulated dosage for that sequence.
US08160201B2	Non-destructive characterization method, especially for characterizing particles of nuclear fuel for a high-temperature reactor The aim of the method is to characterize an element (21) comprising a plurality of superposed layers separated from one another by interfaces. It comprises at least the following steps: The element (21) is illuminated with radiation (15) emitted by a source (13); radiation (23) transmitted through the element (21) is collected on a detector (17), this transmitted radiation forming an experimental image of the element (21) on the detector (17), the detector (17) being placed at such a distance from the element (21) that interference fringes appear on the experimental image at the interfaces between the layers; and an approximate value of at least one physical characteristic of at least one given layer is determined by calculation from the experimental image, the determination step being implemented by minimizing the difference between the experimental image and a simulated image of at least part of the experimental image of the element (21).
US08160200B2	Method and system for image data acquisition A technique for acquiring desired image data in an imaging system comprising at least one radiation source and a detector is described. Initially, preliminary image data corresponding to an object may be acquired. Further, at least one parameter associated with the radiation source and corresponding to a particular view angle of the radiation source may be determined based on the preliminary image data and a priori information. Similarly, at least one parameter associated with the detector and corresponding to the particular view angle may be determined based on a priori information and the preliminary image data. Efficient operating modes of the radiation source and the detector corresponding to the particular view angle may be selected based on the determined parameters to achieve a desired system performance. Subsequently, the final image data may be acquired using the selected operating modes of the radiation source and the detector.
US08160198B2	Shift register circuit and gate signal generation method thereof A shift register circuit includes a plurality of shift register stages for providing plural gate signals to plural gate lines. Each shift register stage includes an input unit, a first pull-up unit, a second pull-up unit, a pull-down unit and an auxiliary pull-down unit. The input unit inputs a first gate signal generated by a preceding shift register stage to become a driving control voltage. The first pull-up unit pulls up a second gate signal according to the driving control voltage and a first clock signal. The second pull-up unit pulls up a third gate signal according to the driving control voltage and a second clock signal. The auxiliary pull-down unit is employed to pull down the driving control voltage according to a fourth gate signal generated by a subsequent shift register stage. The pull-down unit pulls down the first and second gate signals according to the driving control voltage.
US08160194B2	Sampling method, reconstruction method, and device for sampling and/or reconstructing signals Reconstruction method for reconstructing a first signal (x(t)) regularly sampled at a sub-Nyquist rate, comprising the step of retrieving from the regularly spaced sampled values (ys[n], y(nT)) a set of weights (cn, cnr, ck) and shifts (tn, tk) with which said first signal (x(t)) can be reconstructed.The reconstructed signal (x(t)) can be represented as a sequence of known functions (γ(t)) weighted by the weights (ck) and shifted by the shifts (tk). The sampling rate is at least equal to the rate of innovation (ρ) of the first signal (x(t)).
US08160193B2	Spread spectrum clock generator A delay-type phase adjusting circuit including a first variable delay circuit for receiving a reference clock signal and adding a delay to the reference clock signal, for output a phase comparator for receiving an output of the first variable delay circuit and the reference clock signal and detecting a phase difference therebetween a control circuit for generating a control signal for variably controlling a delay value of the first variable delay circuit based on a result of phase comparison by said phase comparator a second variable delay circuit for receiving an input signal and adding a delay to the input signal, for output a computation circuit for receiving a predetermined value and the control signal and variably controlling a delay value of the second variable delay circuit.
US08160192B2	Signal interleaving for serial clock and data recovery A clock and data recovery (CDR) system and method for recovering timing information and data from a serial data stream. The CDR system includes a sampling circuit that produces a recovered clock/data signal and an interleaving feedback network that provides feedback to the sampling circuit. The feedback network includes a logic circuit that produces control signals based on the recovered clock/data signal, a first multiplexer that selects from four phases of a global clock signal based on a control signal, a first delay-locked loop having a first set of delay cells coupled to a second multiplexer that produces a delayed signal based on the selected global clock signal, and a second delay-locked loop having a second set of delay cells that produces a set of phase-shifted feedback signals that are applied to the sampling circuit to phase-align the sampling circuit with the transitions in the received serial data stream.
US08160191B2	Correction of quadrature errors Embodiments of the invention are concerned with correction of quadrature errors associated with digital communications systems, and in particular in a wireless transmit chain in which an up-converter and a down-converter both have a direct conversion architecture. One embodiment comprises a correction network for correcting a difference between a transmission characteristic of an in-phase signal path and a transmission characteristic of a quadrature signal path, said quadrature signal path being for the transmission of in-phase and quadrature parts of a signal and the signal comprising frequency components within a base band, wherein the correction network comprises an in-phase input port, a quadrature input port, an in-phase output port and a quadrature output port, wherein each input port is connected to each output port by a digital filter network, the digital filter network comprising a set of filter tap coefficients and configuration means for configuring values of said set of filter tap coefficients. Since each input port is connected to each output port by a digital filter network comprising a set of filter tap coefficients and having configuration means for configuring values of said set of filter tap coefficients, frequency dependent quadrature impairments, for example due to the analogue components of a quadrature up-converter or down-converter, may be corrected by suitable control of the coefficients.
US08160190B2	IIR receive filter for OFDM baseband processor A receive filter for a stream of OFDM symbols has an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter which receives packets having a preamble part followed by a data part, the data part having a succession of cyclic prefixes followed by OFDM symbols. The packet is provided to the IIR filter, and the registers of the IIR filter are reset before or during each cyclic prefix. The IIR filter may be formed from registers which are coupled to return a value to a predecessor register, or as an array of registers, such as in a BIQUAD configuration, where the registers are reset by a shared reset signal.
US08160189B2	Method and system for communication channel characterization In accordance with the present invention, a method of processing a signal is described that includes receiving a signal having an encoded digital packet, wherein the digital packet includes packet data and a packet frame, wherein the packet frame includes a common digital signal that is common to each one of a plurality of digital packets. The method further includes sampling a signal associated with the received signal to provide a sampled signal. The method further includes performing a channel characterization by contrasting a signal representative of the sampled signal with a signal representative of the common digital signal. A corresponding system is also described.
US08160184B2	Radio clock and method for extracting time information A method for extracting time information from a received, amplitude-modulated time signal is provided. The method provides that the time signal is demodulated, the analog signal thus obtained is digitized by a comparator, and the digital signal thus obtained is analyzed to extract the time information. In addition, a characteristic value of the time duration of at least one signal phase of a specific signal level of the digital signal is compared to a target value, and a comparator threshold of the comparator is altered as a function of a result of the comparison such that the time duration of at least the applicable signal phase of the digital signal approaches the target value. In this way, an improved system sensitivity is achieved according to the invention in a receiver for receiving time signals. In particular, the frequency of occurrence of errors due to misreading of pulse lengths is reduced here, and distorted received signals are better detected as being distorted on account of their temporal deviation from the applicable target value. In addition, compensation of manufacturing tolerances of the various components in the described circuit arrangement is possible.
US08160182B2	Symbol detector and sphere decoding method A symbol detector with a sphere decoding method implemented therein. A baseband signal is received to determine a maximum likelihood solution using the sphere decoding algorithm. A QR decomposer performs a QR decomposition process on a channel response matrix to generate a Q matrix and an R matrix. A matrix transformer generates an inner product matrix of the Q matrix and the received signal. A scheduler reorganizes a search tree, and takes a search mission apart into a plurality of independent branch missions, wherein the search tree defines a full search depth Nfull. A plurality of Euclidean distance calculators are controlled by the scheduler to operate in parallel, wherein each has a plurality of calculation units cascaded in a pipeline structure to search for the maximum likelihood solution based on the R matrix and the inner product matrix.
US08160181B1	Nonlinear detectors for channels with signal-dependent noise A non-linear detector for detecting signals with signal-dependent noise is disclosed. The detector may choose a data sequence that maximizes the conditional probability of detecting the channel data. Since the channel may be time-varying and the precise channel characteristics may be unknown, the detector may adapt one or more branch metric parameters before sending the parameters to a loading block. In the loading block, the branch metric parameters may be normalized and part of the branch metric may be pre-computed to reduce the complexity of the detector. The loading block may then provide the branch metric parameters and any pre-computation to the detector. The detector may then calculate the branch metric associated with the input signal and output the channel data.
US08160176B2	Compensating pre-filter for an OFDM transmitter A method and apparatus for reducing group delay and/or amplitude errors applied to a transmission signal by one or more transmission filters is described herein. The present invention characterizes the errors introduced by one or more transmission filters relative to a desired frequency response, e.g., the group delay and/or amplitude errors relative to a flat group delay and flat amplitude, respectively. Based on the errors, the present invention pre-compensates the digital frequency domain samples used to generate the transmission signal. In so doing, the present invention reduces the errors in the filtered transmission signal without placing limits on the design of the transmission filters.
US08160175B2	Quasi-pilot symbol substitution To improve the reliability of channel estimation, data symbols at determined positions of the transmitted data stream are replaced by quasi-pilot symbols. The quasi-pilot symbols carry data modulated onto the carrier with a different modulation scheme than the original symbols. The modulation scheme for the quasi-pilot symbols has a lower amplitude and/or phase ambiguity than the modulation scheme for the original data symbol.
US08160174B2	Signal detection method and receiver Disclosed is a method of detecting signals at a receiver of a communication system with a multiple input multiple output antenna. With the signal detection method, a square of the distance between a received signal vector and a channel status-considered transmission symbol vector is calculated first, and the square of the distance is then classified into first and second components. The first component is minimized to calculate a plurality of first soft symbol estimates. A solution set of the first component is calculated on the basis of the plurality of first soft symbol estimates. The second component is minimized to calculate a plurality of second soft symbol estimates. A solution set of the second component is calculated on the basis of the plurality of second soft symbol estimates. A final solution set is calculated by doing the sum of the first component solution set and the second component solution.
US08160173B2	Communication system At the transmitter side, carrier waves are modulated according to an input signal for producing relevant signal points in a signal space diagram. The input signal is divided into, two, first and second, data streams. The signal points are divided into signal point groups to which data of the first data stream are assigned. Also, data of the second data stream are assigned to the signal points of each signal point group. At the receiver side, the first and/or second data streams can be reconstructed from a received signal. Furthermore, a communication system based on an OFDM system is utilized for data transmission of a plurality of subchannels, wherein the subchannels are differentiated by changing the length of a guard time slot or a carrier wave interval of a symbol transmission time slot, or changing the transmission electric power of the carrier.
US08160171B2	DTV receiver and method of processing broadcast signal in DTV receiver A DTV receiver includes a tuner tuning to a channel to receive a broadcast signal, and a demodulator demodulating the broadcast signal. The receiver further includes a first decoder which decodes main and enhanced data included in the demodulated signal by calculating soft decision values for the enhanced data and hard decision values for the main data. The receiver further includes a second decoder for decoding the main and enhanced data for first forward error correction, and a third decoder for decoding the FEC-decoded enhanced data for second forward error correction.
US08160166B2	Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communications device and method that incorporates low PAPR preamble with circuit for measuring frequency response of the communications channel A communications device includes a demapping and demodulation circuit and processes an OFDM communications signal that includes modulated subcarriers carrying communications data forming a data payload and modulated subcarriers carrying a training sequence forming a preamble. Those OFDM subcarriers carrying the training sequence have a sample for each subcarrier at a frequency bin using evenly spaced, equal amplitude subcarriers that have a set phase of each sinusoid to a specific angle with quadratic phase to form a low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) preamble with about a PAPR value of 2.6 decibels (dB). A channel estimate circuit is operative for measuring fluctuations within a flat-top spectrum of the received OFDM communications signal corresponding to the preamble to reflect the frequency response of the communications channel.
US08160160B2	Bit-rate reduction for multimedia data streams Systems and methods for reducing a bit-rate in a multimedia data stream while maintaining high image quality. Two consecutive frames of the multimedia data stream are spatially filtered, temporally filtered, and combined into a pre-processed frame. In one embodiment, the two consecutive frames are consecutive fields of an interlaced data stream that are deinterlaced by the spatial and temporal filtering process. The pre-processed frame is encoded multiple times using different quantization values to produce a plurality of encoded frames. One of the encoded frames is selected based on its image quality and/or size for inclusion in an encoded data stream. In one embodiment, the pre-processed frame undergoes a motion estimation method that performs an integer level search of overlapping locations around a co-located macroblock in a reference frame followed by a sub-pixel level diamond pattern search.
US08160158B2	Scalable video coding method and apparatus and scalable video decoding method and apparatus Provided are a scalable video coding method and apparatus, and a scalable video decoding method and apparatus. The coding method generates a base layer bitstream of video by using one of a plurality of codecs, determines whether the used codec supports enhancement layer coding, decodes the base layer bitstream according to the result of the determination in order to extract coded information used for the generation of the base layer bitstream, and generates an enhancement layer bitstream of the original video based on the extracted information. Accordingly, it is possible to provide high-quality video and increase coding efficiency while using the various existing codecs.
US08160156B2	System and method for controlling the long term generation rate of compressed data The present invention comprises a system and method for controlling the rate a data encoder generates compressed data. The system and method are preferably implemented as program code stored and executed by a processor or computer that is interfaced to standard variable or constant bit rate encoders known in the art. The system preferably encodes and compresses video signals received from a camera, and controls the rate at which the compressed data is generated by the encoder so that storage capacity reserved for the compressed data will not be exceeded. The device preferably takes advantage of periods when the data generation rate is low to increase the quality of video data generated during periods of high activity.
US08160155B1	Apparatus for encoding and decoding header data in picture signal transmission A picture decoding method and apparatus for decoding a bit stream, the bit stream being compatible with MPEG 1 moving picture video standard. The method includes receiving, via an input terminal, from the bit stream that includes extension data added in a header of a picture layer of the bit stream when the header includes control data newly added in MPEG 2 standard format, a picture coding type and the extension data of an anterior header of the picture layer. The bit stream in the picture layer is decoded using the picture coding type and the extension data of an anterior header of the picture layer when an extension start code indicating the beginning of the extension data of the current header is not received from the bit stream.
US08160152B2	Moving image decoding apparatus and moving image coding apparatus A data storage unit (103) stores an image frame in which an image frame which consists of coded data having a data loss or error received by a receiving unit (100) and complementary coded data which is received by receiving unit at a later time are rearranged into normal sequence. A redecoding unit (105) decodes the image frame stored in the data storage unit (103) with reference to one or more already-decoded image frames required for the decoding, and stores the decoded image frame in a frame additionally-storage unit (104). A decoding unit (101) decodes an image frame with reference to an image frame stored in either a frame storage unit (102) or the frame additionally-storage unit 104 according to a command from a control unit (106).
US08160146B2	Video coding method and apparatus for calculating motion vectors of the vertices of a patch of an image and transmitting information of horizontal and vertical components of the motion vectors A method and apparatus for coding an image includes calculation of motion vectors of vertices of a patch in an image being encoded and transmitting information of horizontal and vertical components of the motion vectors of the vertices and information specifying that values of the horizontal and vertical components of a motion vector for each pixel in the patch are integral multiples of 1/d of a distance between adjacent pixels, where d is an integer not less than 2.
US08160137B2	Image data compression apparatus for referring to at least one characteristic value threshold to select target compression result from candidate compression results of one block and related method thereof An exemplary image data compression apparatus includes a compression circuit, a characteristic value extracting circuit, and a selecting circuit. The compression circuit is utilized for applying a plurality of different compression approaches to a first block, and accordingly generating a plurality of first candidate compression results of the first block. The characteristic value extracting circuit is coupled to the compression circuit, and utilized for deriving a plurality of first characteristic values from the first candidate compression results, respectively. The selecting circuit is coupled to the compression circuit and the characteristic value extracting circuit, and utilized for selecting a target compression result of the first block from the first candidate compression results according to the first characteristic values and at least one characteristic value threshold.
US08160135B2	Video-information encoding method and video-information decoding method A video-information encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus with a guarantee of a fixed processing time. By limiting the amount of data to be input into/output from a CABAC encoding unit and decoding unit on a unit-of-encoding basis, such as one picture, slice, macroblock or block, and by encoding uncompressed video data, it is possible to provide a video-information encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus with a guarantee of a fixed processing time. Thereby, an apparatus with a guarantee of the processing time can be mounted.
US08160133B2	Method and apparatus for encoding video streams A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an encoder having a controller adapted to receive a Digital Video (DV) stream with metadata, retrieve from at least a portion of the metadata a native video format, configure encoding of at least a portion of the DV stream according to the retrieved native video format, generate from at least the portion of the DV stream an encoded video stream conforming to a Moving Picture Experts Group format and the native video format, and submit the encoded video stream to an Acquisition server for multicast distribution. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08160132B2	Reducing key picture popping effects in video Techniques and tools are described for reducing key picture popping effects. In some embodiments, an encoding system filters a video picture that is to be encoded as a key picture using intra-picture compression. The filtering reduces detail in the picture relative to other video pictures that are to be encoded using inter-picture compression. In many cases, the filtering reduces key picture popping effects by selectively attenuating detail in the picture that is to be encoded as a key picture. The encoding tool can use a key picture filter strength parameter to control strength of the filtering. The tool encodes the filtered video picture using intra-picture compression and encodes the other video pictures using inter-picture compression.
US08160128B2	Equalizer in a wireless communication system Techniques for performing equalization at a receiver are described. In an aspect, equalization is performed by sub-sampling an over-sampled input signal to obtain multiple sub-sampled signals. An over-sampled channel impulse response estimate is derived and sub-sampled to obtain multiple sub-sampled channel impulse response estimates. At least one set of equalizer coefficients is derived based on at least one sub-sampled channel impulse response estimate. At least one sub-sampled signal is filtered with the at least one set of equalizer coefficients to obtain at least one output signal. One sub-sampled signal (e.g., with largest energy) may be selected and equalized based on a set of equalizer coefficients derived from an associated sub-sampled channel impulse response estimate. Alternatively, the multiple sub-sampled signals may be equalized based on multiple sets of equalizer coefficients, which may be derived separately or jointly. The equalizer coefficients may be derived in the time domain or frequency domain.
US08160117B1	Line rate spread spectrum clock generator for use in line imaging systems A method of generating a spread spectrum clock signal for a line imaging device including receiving a line length value of the line imaging device, receiving a first clock signal indicative of a system timing signal in the line imaging device, generating a spreading waveform having a frequency as a function of the line length value and having a total number of clock cycles matching the line length value, and modulating the first clock signal using said spreading waveform to generate the spread spectrum clock signal where the spread spectrum clock signal is used for driving the imaging, data sampling and digitizing, and data transfer operation of the line imaging device. The spread spectrum clock has the same clock frequency variation for each scan line of the line imaging device.
US08160116B2	Semiconductor laser and method for manufacturing the same The present invention provides a semiconductor laser including a first conductive type of a lower clad layer 12, an active layer 14 provided on the lower clad layer 12, the active layer 14 including a plurality of quantum dots, and a second conductive type of an upper clad layer 18, the upper clad layer 18 being provided on the active layer 14 so as to have an isolated ridge portion 30 such that W1≦Wtop+0.4 μm where Wtop is the width of a top of the ridge portion 30 and W1 is the width of the ridge portion 30 at a height of 50 nm from a bottom of the ridge portion 30. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing such a semiconductor laser.
US08160114B2	Single longitudinal mode laser diode A single-mode, etched facet distributed Bragg reflector laser includes an AlGaInAs/InP laser cavity, a front mirror stack with multiple Fabry-Perot elements, a rear DBR reflector, and a rear detector. The front mirror stack elements and the rear reflector elements include input and output etched facets, and the laser cavity is an etched ridge cavity, all formed from an epitaxial wafer by a two-step lithography and CAIBE process.
US08160111B2	Optical transmission device, optical transmission system, and bandwidth control method A system and method of transmitting client data encoded according to an 8B/10B encoding between a client side and an optical communication network side, including inserting padding signals in an amount corresponding to a rate difference between a clock on the client side and a clock in the optical transmission device and controlling a clock to be used as a reference in transmitting the client data to synchronize with a clock having been used as a reference in transmitting the client data on the basis of a ratio of padding signals having been inserted in the client data.
US08160108B2	Apparatus and method for managing schedule of user A method and apparatus for managing a user schedule, the method including: receiving a reservation message from a service provider with which a service reservation by a user is registered; updating the user schedule by adding an entry to the user schedule according to information included in the reservation message; and providing the updated schedule of the user. According to the apparatus and method, the user can conveniently manage the schedule even when the user schedule information is not input manually.
US08160106B2	Method, device and system for transmitting Ethernet packets Technique for transmitting Ethernet packets from an Ethernet source point to an Ethernet destination point via a communication link, comprising compression of the packets in such a manner that the source point transmits complete Ethernet packets, the communication link carries shortened information blocks (SIB) obtained from said complete Ethernet packets, while the destination point receives complete Ethernet packets essentially identical to those transmitted from the source point.
US08160101B2	Method for communicating data between mobile station and base station, and mobile communication terminal thereof A method for transmitting and receiving data by a mobile station (MS), a method for transmitting and receiving data by a base station (BS), and a mobile communication terminal are provided. The method for transmitting and receiving data by an MS includes generating an uplink subframe by placing an uplink control channel so as to have a margin with a time allocated to a MAP of a downlink subframe and transmitting the uplink subframe to a BS. A new frame structure compatible with a full duplex FDD MS is applied in a mobile communication system.
US08160100B2	Mobile station apparatus and method for receiving data It is an object to provide a wireless communication base station device that can prevent the decline of a system throughput due to the degradation of a utilization efficiency of a communication resource of a channel for carrying out a frequency diversity transmission when a frequency scheduling transmission and a frequency diversity transmission are concurrently carried out in multiple carrier communication. In the wireless communication base station device, a modulation unit (12) carries out modulation processing for Dch data after coding to generate a Dch data symbol. A modulation unit (22) carries out modulation processing for Lch data after coding to generate an Lch data symbol. An allocation unit (103) allocates the Dch data symbol and Lch data symbol to each sub-carrier composing an OFDM symbol and outputs the allocated sub-carrier to a multiplex unit (104). In this ease, the allocation unit (103) allocates the Dch data symbol to a plurality of resource blocks where one Dch is arranged at an interval equal to integral multiples of the number of resource blocks composing a resource block group.
US08160091B2	System and method for synchronising a data processing network A data processing system according to the invention comprising a group of at least a first and a second module, wherein each module has a data processing facility, a clock for timing data transmissions from the module to another module, a time-slot counter for counting a number of time slots which are available for transmission of data. The modules have a first operational state wherein the counted number of time slots is less than or equal to a predetermined number, in which operational state data transmission is enabled, and a second operational state wherein the number is in excess of the predetermined number, in which second operational state data transmission is disabled, Each module has a notifying facility for notifying when it is in the second operational state. The data processing system has at least one detecting facility that detects whether the other modules have notified that they are in the second operational state and the modules each have an initialization facility for resetting the time-slot counter when the module is in the second operational state and each of the other modules has notified that it is in the second operational state.
US08160082B2	Data distribution by proxy A communication device communicates with an originating device during an originating session and receives originating data from the originating device over a wireless communication link and then communicates with a receiving device during a receiving session and sends the originating data to the receiving device over a wireless communication link, such that the originating session and the receiving session occur at different times, and at least one of the sessions is an ad hoc communication session.
US08160080B1	Implementation of reliable synchronization of distributed databases A method of controlling a plurality of forwarding databases provided in an Ethernet bridge having a plurality of devices. The method includes aging a first set of entries in a first forwarding database maintained by a first one of the plurality of devices. The first set of entries are owned by the first one of the plurality of devices. The method also includes transmitting one or more new address messages from the first one of the plurality of devices to a second one of the plurality of devices. The method further includes aging a second set of entries in the first forwarding database. The second set of entries are owned by the second one of the plurality of devices.
US08160077B2	Peer-to-peer communication pipes A system and method for establishing communications channels between and among peers in a peer-to-peer networking environment. Pipes may be used as communication channels for sending and receiving messages and other data between services or applications over input and output endpoints. Pipes may be asynchronous, unidirectional, stateless and unreliable. Bidirectional pipes may also be supported. Pipes may have ends that may be moved around and bound to different peers at different times. Point-to-point and propagate pipes may be supported. Pipes may connect peers that have a direct physical link and peers that do not have a direct link. Peers may communicate through pipes without knowing on which peer a pipe endpoint is bound. A message is sent to all peer endpoints currently connected (listening) to the pipe. The set of connected endpoints may be obtained from a pipe service using a pipe binding protocol.
US08160075B2	Downlink out of sync detection in continuous packet connectivity Although described herein in terms of UE out-of-sync detection, those of skill in the art will readily recognize that embodiments of the present invention improve in-sync detection for currently out-of-sync UEs 22. That is, if an out-of-sync UE 22 detects sufficiently good channel conditions, it may announce this fact to the network and re-acquire in-sync status. For example, if the UE 22 receives F-DPCH signal transmissions and determines that, e.g., the TPC command error rate is less than a threshold, which is preferably much lower than 30%, over a measurement interval of, e.g., 240 slots (or 160 ms), the UE 22 may conclude that it is in-sync and announce this fact to the network 10. The restrictions of only valid F-DPCH transmissions during the UL DTX gated period will obviously enhance the reliability of this determination, just as is the case in determining out-of-sync status. Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment, the UE 22 may disregard the DTX UL DPCCH state, and transmit a scheduling request during a UL DTX gated period to announce to the network 10 its in-sync status.
US08160070B2	Fibre channel proxy A fibre channel proxy proxies storage operations in a fibre channel storage network. A first set of fibre channel proxy ports are configured to receive storage operations from one or more initiators. A second set of fibre channel proxy ports are configured to forward the storage operations to one or more storage targets. Fibre channel port identifiers for the storage targets are used to communicate with the initiators during the storage operations over the first set of fibre channel proxy ports. Fibre channel port identifiers for the initiators are used to communicate with the storage targets during the storage operations over the second set of fibre channel proxy ports. This scheme allows the fibre channel to operate transparently in the fibre channel network.
US08160069B2	System for forwarding a packet with a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier One embodiment provides a system that receives a packet with a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier (HSVLI). An HSVLI indicates a piece or collection of content and may be hierarchically structured, comprising contiguous components ordered from a most general level to a most specific level. The length of a respective identifier is not fixed. During operation, the system converts the HSVLI into a fixed-length key. Subsequently, the system obtains forwarding information based on one or more longest-prefix matches with a longest-prefix-match lookup engine using the fixed-length key. Next, the system forwards the packet to an output port based on the forwarding information.
US08160066B2	Method for mobile IPv6 data traversing state firewall A method for mobile IPv6 data traversing a state firewall includes: creating an entry item of a firewall including a source HoA, a source CoA, a destination HoA, a destination CoA, a source port, a destination port and a protocol number; matching the source CoA, destination CoA, source port, destination port and protocol number of the data packet with those in the entry item; if unsuccessful, matching the source HoA or CoA, destination CoA or HoA, source port, destination port and protocol number of the data packet with those in the entry item; if successful, replacing the source CoA or destination CoA in the entry item by those of the data packet, and allowing the data packet to traverse the firewall, which improves the efficiency of a data packet traversing a firewall and guarantees that the data packet passing the filtering of firewall is able to traverse the firewall normally.
US08160064B2	Systems and methods for providing a network link between broadcast content and content located on a computer network The invention relates, in various aspects, to systems and methods for linking content stored on a computer network with content broadcast over a television network. The system includes a database, a trigger mechanism, a communications interface, and a packet generator. The database stores tokens representative of links to the stored content and delivery information representative of at least a duration for delivering the token. The trigger mechanism indicates an instruction to deliver a token over the television network, generating a signal indicating a respective one of the stored tokens and a time for starting the delivery of the respective token. The communications interface has a channel in communication with a television set top box device for transferring the respective token to the television set top box device. The packet generator generates packets within a stream of television content to be broadcast over the television network.
US08160061B2	Redundant network shared switch In one embodiment, a computer cluster network includes at least three switches communicatively coupled to respective at least one client nodes. At least one of the at least three switches communicatively couples together at least two other ones of the plurality of switches. In a method embodiment, a method of networking client nodes includes communicatively coupling each switch of at least three switches to respective at least one client nodes. The method also includes communicatively coupling together at least two switches of the at least three switches through at least one other switch of the at least three switches.
US08160050B2	Mobile communication terminal having multicasting function and multicasting method using the same A mobile communication terminal and multicasting method using the same are disclosed, by which an inter-multiuser multicasting function can be performed without using an access point. The present invention includes a user interface unit, a multicast group management module managing subscriber information based on information delivered via the interface unit, the multicast group management module playing a role in generating and transferring a multicast packet, an internet multicast protocol module delivering a message for joining or leaving a specific group according to a control signal provided by the multicast group management module, and a wireless LAN driving unit performing a multicast traffic action of transmitting the message provided by the internet multicast protocol module in a packet format to a joining group terminal by an ad-hoc system and delivering a packet received from a group terminal to the internet multicast protocol module.
US08160044B2	Method of improving continuous packet connectivity in a wireless communications system and related apparatus In order to enhancing system efficiency of radio resource control, the present invention provides a method for a user equipment in a wireless communications system for improving functions of continuous packet connectivity. The method includes configuring a first HS-PDSCH code of a user equipment according to a variable “HS-PDSCH Code Index” of an information element “HS-SCCH Less Information” before the user equipment activates an HS-SCCH less operation, and configuring a second HS-PDSCH code of the user equipment according to a Boolean variable of the information element “HS-SCCH Less Information”, wherein the Boolean variable is indicated by one bit and the second HS-PDSCH code is an adjacent channel code of the first HS-PDSCH code.
US08160041B2	Radio communication terminal and radio communication system A radio communication terminal and a radio communication system which can avoid an obstacle that is caused by a malicious wormhole while using a harmless wormhole. There are provided: a radio communication terminal in which a relay route about a certain node is stored as a backup route about the node and the backup route is changed and set as a relay route about the node in accordance with a detection of an obstacle caused by application data; and a radio communication system in which a sink node transmits a transfer destination change command in association with the change setting and a node which received the command sets a node of a transferring source of the command as a transfer destination node.
US08160037B2	System and method for reinforcing wireless communication capability within wireless network group A method and system is provided to reinforce wireless communication capabilities between multiple network nodes of an wireless network group. The method and system first detects a wireless transmission capability between a first network node and a second network node. When the wireless transmission capability is lower than a threshold value, one set of reinforcing coordinates will be derived by introducing the first geographic information and the second geographic information. Afterwards, move a third network node to a position with the set of reinforcing coordinates to establish an alternative wireless transmission route between the first network note and second network node. Therefore, when an original wireless transmission route between any two network nodes is abnormal, the alternative wireless transmission route will be available in time and reduce the risks of losing transmission signals.
US08160036B2	Access point in a wireless LAN A wireless access device in a local area network (LAN) having a plurality of transceivers. Each transceiver has a directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector. Each sector defines a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device. The wireless access device has a network interface to a data network, and an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface.
US08160035B2	Method and system for mobile network nodes in heterogeneous networks The invention relates to a method and a system for creating an optimized communications link (SC/DC) between at least two mobile network nodes (10, 11), whereby corresponding interface management modules (40, 41) create lookup tables (401, 411) of available network interfaces (30, 31), whereby configuration data are transmitted between the mobile network nodes via an available signaling channel (sSC), whereby at least one signaling channel (SC) is created via one of the available network interfaces (30, 31) based on the configuration data by means of corresponding signaling router modules in order to transmit configuration data, and whereby at least one data channel (DC) is created via one of the available network interfaces (30, 31) based on the configuration data by means of corresponding data router modules 60, 61.
US08160032B2	Coordinating communications among wireless personal area network devices Embodiments of a multi-radio wireless communication device having two or more radio modules are generally described herein. In some embodiments, an initiating link manager may generate and transmit messages to a responding link manager. The messages may include a desired slot offset value and a desired point in time to perform slot adjustment. The responding link manager may return with a message indicating acceptance or nonacceptance of the desired slot offset value. If the responding link manager accepts the desired slot offset value, the message may also include whether the slot adjustment may be implemented at the desired point in time or incrementally. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08160026B2	System and method for performing handover in a broadband wireless access communication system Disclosed is a system and a method for controlling a handover of a mobile subscriber station in a broadband wireless access communication system. When serving base station determines to perform a handover of the mobile subscriber station, neighbor base stations to which the mobile subscriber station can be handed over, from among neighbor base stations of the mobile subscriber station, are determined based on a service quality level of service being currently provided to the mobile subscriber station. A handover request signal containing information related to the determined neighbor base station to which the mobile subscriber station can be handed over is transmitted to the mobile subscriber station. The serving base station receives from the mobile subscriber station in response to the request of the handover information about one neighbor base station to which the mobile subscriber station will be handed over, and informs the neighbor base station that the mobile subscriber station will be handed over to the neighbor base station.
US08160023B2	Apparatus and method for supporting handover in broadband wireless communication system An apparatus and method for supporting a handover from a macro Base Station (BS) to a micro BS in a broadband wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a user layer for requesting scanning information on micro BSs among neighbor BSs and an MIH function for obtaining the scanning information on the micro BSs by interoperating with an MIH server according to the request and for transmitting the obtained information to the user layer. Accordingly, the handover from the macro BS to the micro BS can be achieved.
US08160019B2	Method and system for in-band wireless backstretch Disclosed are a method and system for transmitting and receiving traffic, by a plurality of backhaul collector sites, to and from transceivers associated with sectors of a backhaul frequency reuse plan using a backhaul portion thereof. The method and system further transmit and receive traffic, at a backstretch super collector site of a backstretch cell, to and from alternate or a subset of backhaul collector sites of the plurality of backhaul collector sites surrounding the backstretch collector site.
US08160018B2	Methods of uplink channelization in LTE Methods of a slot-level remapping physical uplink control channels into two resource blocks respectively located at two slots of a subframe, are generally adapted to a 3GPP LTE physical uplink where ACK/NAK resource blocks may be applied by the extended cyclic prefix, adapted to a complex 3GPP LTE physical uplink where mixed resource blocks (where the ACK/NAK and CQI channels coexist) may be applied by the normal cyclic prefix, and adapted to a complex 3GPP LTE physical uplink where mixed resource blocks (where the ACK/NAK and CQI channels coexist) may be applied by the extended cyclic prefix.
US08160016B2	Control signaling for transmissions over contiguous and non-contiguous frequency bands Methods and apparatus are provided for constructing scheduling assignments for transmission, by a User Equipment (UE), of data signals over a single contiguous bandwidth and multiple non-contiguous clusters of contiguous bandwidth. The scheduling assignments for each transmission structure are designed to always result into the same maximum number of decoding operations the UE needs to perform to receive the scheduling assignments. The data signal transmission over the single contiguous bandwidth can be with or without frequency hopping and the data signal transmission over the multiple non-contiguous clusters of contiguous bandwidth may always be without frequency hopping.
US08160010B2	Scheduling method for a given transmission time slot A scheduling method for a time division multiplex time slot including: establishing a first list of terminals to transmit and connected to one or more stations; while the first list contains one or more terminals: selecting a terminal from the first list; adding the selected terminal to a second list; determining two or more stations to which the selected terminal is connected, and if the first list contains one or more other terminals also connected to the determined stations, deleting the other terminal(s) from the first list; when the first list is empty, commanding transmission during the time slot to terminals of the second list; and if a terminal from the second list is connected to at least two stations, commanding transmission from the two stations.
US08160008B2	Techniques for channel sounding in a wireless communication system A technique of operating a wireless communication device includes receiving an assigned starting point index and an assigned reference signal bandwidth for a reference signal. The reference signal is then transmitted multiple times, beginning at an initial resource block that is associated with the assigned starting point index and in accordance with the assigned reference signal bandwidth, across a shared channel.
US08160007B2	Opportunistic uplink scheduling Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate scheduling uplink transmissions. For instance, a time sharing scheme can be utilized such that differing mobile devices can be scheduled to transmit during differing time slots; however, it is also contemplated that a static scheme can be employed. Pursuant to an illustration, an interference budget can be combined with a time varying weighting factor associated with a base station; the weighting factor can be predefined and/or adaptively adjusted (e.g., based upon a load balancing mechanism). Moreover, the weighted interference budget can be leveraged for selecting mobile devices for uplink transmission (e.g., based at least in part upon path loss ratios of the mobile devices). Further, disparate interference budgets can be utilized by differing channels of a sector at a particular time. Also, for example, a base station can assign a loading factor to be utilized by wireless terminal(s) for generating channel quality report(s).
US08159995B2	Method and facility for selecting satellite channels A method for selecting satellite channels in a transmission system consisting of a data source, a data sink, satellite modems and a satellite radio link with a general channel and at least one dedicated channel is provided. The data sink prompts the data source, as a function of the transmission characteristics of the general channel, to set up a dedicated channel for further data transmission.
US08159993B2	Multi-user detection in satellite return link Use of multi-user detection (MUD) with a frequency-multiplexed satellite return link (scheduling algorithms, etc) is described. The satellite return link may utilize multi-frequency time division multiple access (MF-TDMA). The satellite return link may include a plurality of return sub-channels, wherein one or more of the return sub-channels may operate in a contention mode during some time periods and a non-contention mode at different time periods.
US08159991B1	Mobile WLAN repeater system A wireless local area network module including an input configured to receive a control signal, wherein the control signal indicates whether a vehicle is in a parked position. The wireless local area network module further includes a wireless local area network transceiver associated with the vehicle. The wireless local area network transceiver is configured to i) receive data packets via a first wireless communication channel, and ii) in response to the control signal indicating that the vehicle is in a parked position, repeat the data packets over the first wireless communication channel.
US08159990B2	Wireless audio data distribution using broadcast and bidirectional communication channels Embodiments include a method of communicating an audio stream from an audio source terminal to a plurality of speaker terminals. A broadcast channel is established for communication from an audio source terminal to a plurality of speaker terminals. A plurality of bidirectional point-to-point control channels are established for controlling wireless communications between the audio source terminal and the speaker terminals, where each of the point-to-point control channels interconnect the audio source terminal and a different one of the speaker terminals. An audio stream is transmitted as a sequence of blocks of audio data in messages from the audio source terminal through the broadcast channel for receipt by all of the speaker terminals. A quality of reception feedback message is received at the audio source terminal from individual ones of the speaker terminals through respective ones of the point-to-point control channels. The audio data messages are adapted for transmission from the audio source terminal through the broadcast channel in response to the quality of reception feedback message.
US08159985B2	Registering access device multimedia content via a broadband access gateway A system and method of registering or exchanging information about the availability of multimedia information and services is disclosed. Access devices in a wireless local area network (WLAN) and/or personal area network (PAN) may register, with a wireless broadband access gateway, selected information about multimedia information and services that they have and may share. Information about the available multimedia information and services may be shared by the wireless broadband access gateway with other access devices within the coverage area of the WLAN or PAN. Access devices may then access the multimedia information and services of other access devices via the wireless broadband access gateway, based upon information identifying and authenticating the recipient. A broadband connection permits the gateway to pass multimedia information and service activity to and from the access devices within the coverage area of the WLAN or PAN.
US08159984B1	Apparatus and method for detecting hidden nodes in a wireless network A wireless network comprises a plurality of nodes. An access point wirelessly communicates with the plurality of nodes, generates a table comprising a list of the plurality of nodes, and transmits the table to a first node of the plurality of nodes. The first node determines a hidden status of a second node in the table relative to the first node.
US08159983B2	Communicating packets in a wireless multi-user multi-hop relay networks A method communicates packets in a relay network. Multiple packets are communicated between a set of mobile stations and a relay station using a set of connections. There is one connection between each mobile station and the relay station. The multiple packets are aggregated on single connection between the relay station and a base station.
US08159981B2	Determining transport block size using channel quality indicator value and block error rate In a TBS (Transport Block Size) determination apparatus, a CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) value setting section sets a CQI value which is transmitted from a UE (User Equipment) which communicates based on a packet transmission standard HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access). A TBS acquiring section acquires a TBS by referring to a CQI mapping table based on the set CQI value. A BLER (BLock Error Rate) setting section sets a BLER before, simultaneously, or after the setting a CQI value, and before, simultaneously, or after the acquiring a TBS. A TBS changing section changes the TBS based on the BLER.
US08159977B2	Point-controlled contention arbitration in multiple access wireless LANs A power management method that divorces multicast frames for power save stations from DTIM beacons. An access point associates power save stations with a multicast group. Each station has an associated power save interval, the station being in a power save state during the interval, otherwise in an active state. The access point maintains a timer for each station in order to determine whether the station is in an active or power save state. The timer can be reset whenever the station sends an inbound frame. When the access point receives a multicast frame for the group, it buffers the frame until the timer for each member of the group expires, thereby ensuring each member of the group is in an active state, and broadcasts the multicast frame.
US08159975B2	Self-configured network system and self-configuration method of same A self-configured network system includes a server including a plurality of columns. Each column records therein correlation of a domain name to a corresponding network addressing information. An internet protocol device is built therein a preset domain name and acquires an updated network addressing information in the internet. The preset domain name is previously recorded in a specified column of the server. The internet protocol device transfers the preset domain name and the updated network addressing information to the server via the internet so as to locate the specified column and replace the corresponding network addressing information with the updated network addressing information. A user's node is capable of linking to the internet and accessible to the server to acquire the updated network addressing information of the internet protocol device via the internet in response to input of the preset domain name.
US08159974B2	Method of configuring interfaces between a plurality of communication nodes One embodiment includes monitoring, for each communication node, at least one factor of interest and a plurality of potential influencing factors associated with the factor of interest. The factor of interest characterizes an operating condition of the communication node, and the plurality of potential influencing factors each have a potential influence on the operating condition. For each factor of interest for each communication node, a predictor coefficient for one or more of the potential influencing factors associated with the factor of interest is determined. The predictor coefficient indicates a predicted level of influence the potential influencing factor has on the factor of interest. For each communication node, interfaces are configured between the communication node and other communication nodes based on the determined predictor coefficients.
US08159970B2	Method of transmitting image data in video telephone mode of a wireless terminal Disclosed is a method of communicating image data to a second communications device from a first communications device while the first communications device is in an image communications mode of operation. The method includes the steps of checking the codecs of the second communications device when receiving an image communication; storing the codecs of the second communications device if the codecs of the first communications device do not match with the codecs of the second communications device; and encoding selected image data using one of the codecs of the second communications device when the encoded selected image data is to be transmitted to the second communications device.
US08159968B2	Measuring encapsulation overhead and transport bandwidth in frame-based transport A system measures, at a network device, a first frame rate of frame-based transport based on a first frame size, and measures, at the network device, a second frame rate of the frame-based transport based on a second frame size, where the second frame size is different than the first frame size. The system determines per frame encapsulation overhead in the frame-based transport using the first frame rate, the first frame size, the second frame rate, and the second frame size. The system further determines total transport bandwidth associated with the frame-based transport using the first frame rate, the first frame size, the second frame rate, the second frame size, and the determined per frame encapsulation overhead.
US08159964B2	Distribution of routing tables for satellite with reference terminal functionality Satellite communications systems, methods, and related devices are described. A satellite communications system may include routing and switching functionality onboard the satellite. Such a system may include a satellite in communication with terminals (e.g., subscriber terminals or gateways) either directly, or via one or more other satellites through an inter-satellite link. The satellite may be configured with different beams which each provide service to a coverage area. A ground-based network control center (NCC) may dynamically allocate bandwidth and process data measured on the satellite. A novel partition of functionality between the satellite and the NCC is described. Routing paths on the satellite, and the distribution of routing tables within the system, are described as well.
US08159960B2	Content processing device monitoring A system, method, and apparatus for monitoring performance of a content processing device are disclosed. A system may include a content processing device and a customer premises management system (CMS) in communication with the content processing device. The CMS generally monitors hardware performance, network performance, and video quality parameters of the content processing device. The CMS may determine an operating status of the content processing device from at least one of the hardware performance,network performance, and video quality parameters.
US08159956B2	Diagnostics for serial communication busses The serial communication device includes a first module coupled to a second module via a serial cable. Each of the first and second modules comprise one or more of: a power interface, a controller, memory, a first interface, and a second interface. The power interface is configured to receive operating power for the respective module from an external power source. The controller is configured to obtain digital diagnostic data representative of operational characteristics of at least the respective module. The memory is configured to store the digital diagnostic data. The first interface is configured to allow an external host to read the digital diagnostic data from the memory. The second interface, which is distinct and separate from the first interface, is configured to serially communicate data to the second module via the serial cable.
US08159949B2	Linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer system and method for optimizing throughput speed and preventing data starvation A system and method is described for formulating a linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-network that analyzes capabilities of a plurality of nodes, and creating at least two linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-networks by forming a first group of nodes of the plurality of nodes having similar capabilities and establishing serial connections between nodes of the first group of nodes to form a first linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-network.
US08159945B2	Sensor network system and data processing method for sensor network An overload on a communication path in a sensor network system is prevented while transferring information from a sensor node as close to real time as possible. When the transfer rate of events transferred from a boundary node (DR) toward a gateway (GW) exceeds a limit transfer rate (VL), one of nodes on the sensor node (S) side whose transmission rate meets a preset condition is identified as an excess transmission rate node. The excess transmission rate node, or a node that is not the excess transmission rate node and whose transmission rate should be reduced, is chosen as a deceleration node. A node that reduces the transmission rate of events from the deceleration node, or the transfer rate of the events, is chosen as a deceleration processing executing node. The deceleration processing executing node is instructed to execute preset processing.
US08159936B2	Network convergence in response to a topology change In response to a network topology change, packets are initially flooded on ports of a network device. In addition, a bit array is cleared in response to the topology change. Each bit in the bit array is associated with a particular forwarding entry on the network device. In connection with the clearing of the bit array, the flooding of packets on ports of the network device is made conditional, reducing failover time of the network.
US08159935B1	Failover system and method for IP telephony A failover system includes a plurality of configuration controllers and a plurality of switches. The switches include a site proxy, a failover module and a routing table. A first site proxy of a first switch is designated as the active proxy and controls failover in the event a switch fails or otherwise becomes unavailable. A second site proxy of a second switch is designated as the backup proxy and controls failover in the event the first switch fails or otherwise becomes unavailable. In the event a switch fails or otherwise becomes available, the active proxy interacts with the configuration controller and reassigns the extensions associated with the failed switch to a different switch of the plurality of switches. In the event a configuration controller fails or otherwise becomes unavailable, another configuration controller becomes active and establishes communication with the plurality of switches to maintain the operational status of the IP telephony system.
US08159930B1	Scalable space-frequency coding for MIMO systems Systems, devices, and techniques for MIMO (Multiple-In-Multiple-Out) based space-frequency coding can include, in at least some implementations, techniques that include receiving a selected spatial multiplexing rate M, the spatial multiplexing rate corresponding to a number of data streams for transmission on two or more antennas; for a first data tone, applying a first mapping to map a first number of data streams to a first portion of the antennas; and for a second data tone, applying a different second mapping to map a second number of data streams to a different second portion of the antennas. The first number and second number correspond to the spatial multiplexing rate.
US08159926B2	Information recording medium, and recording method and reproducing method thereof An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.
US08159925B2	Limited use memory device with associated information Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, methods of retrieving information from a data storage device previously deactivated by modification or degradation of at least a portion of the data storage device are disclosed.
US08159919B1	Method and apparatus for optimizing optical recording Aspects of the disclosure can provide a method to optimize optical recording. The method can include recording a pre-defined pattern on an optical medium according to a first write strategy, measuring edge timings corresponding to the pre-defined pattern recorded on the optical medium, determining a second write strategy including at least timing modifications to the first write strategy, and recording data on the optical medium according to the second write strategy. The timing modifications can be determined based on the measured edge timings, edge timing targets for desired edge timings and edge timing sensitivities to the timing modifications.
US08159917B2	Wobble signal detector including the signal processor, optical disk apparatus including the wobble signal detector and read-write optical disk drive including the wobble signal detector A signal processor includes an operational amplifier performing an operation on first and second signals, and amplifying a signal resulting from the operation based on an amplification control signal to remove an offset voltage, a buffer buffering an output signal of the operational amplifier and outputting a result of the buffering as differential signals, an automatic gain amplifier automatic gain amplifying the differential signals output from the buffer and outputting an automatic gain amplified signal as a single ended signal, a level shifter level shifting a level of the single ended signal including the offset voltage and outputting a level shifted signal as level shifted differential signals, and an offset voltage compensation unit converting a difference between the level shifted differential signals to a digital signal, detecting the offset voltage based on the digital signal, and outputting the amplification control signal to compensate for the detected offset voltage.
US08159916B2	Format determining apparatus A pick-up of a format determining apparatus irradiates light to an optical disk to generate a reproduction signal. A signal processing unit decodes the reproduction signal to generate main data. A CD-ROM decoder decodes the main data. A CD-ROM determining unit determines whether or not the main data is in a CD-ROM format, based on the decoded main data. A reproduction signal determining unit determines whether or not the reproduction signal is normal when the main data is not in the CD-ROM format. A system control unit determines that the main data is in a CD-DA format, when the main data is not in the CD-ROM format, and when the reproduction signal is normal.
US08159915B2	Method of and apparatus for recording data on write-once disc, method of and apparatus for reproducing data from write-once disc, and write-once disc therefor A write-once disc includes: a plurality of update areas in which a predetermined kind of updated information is recorded; at least one main access information area in which main access information is recorded, the main access information indicating a final update area in which finally updated information is recorded among the plurality of update areas; and at least one sub access information area in which sub access information is recorded, the sub access information indicating a location of the finally updated information recorded in the final update area. Accordingly, an access time for reading a predetermined kind of information required to use the write-once disc can be reduced.
US08159914B2	Information-recording system including error detection and a data recording position adjustment unit and method, program-storing medium, and program [Object] To Reduce Read Errors.[Solving Means] Where new data recording is started from LRA (old) and a record error is detected, at position P0, an extent is closed and the record position is made to jump from the position P0 to position P1. Further, a new extent is set, at the position P1 so that the data recording is continued. Further, a range from the position P0 where the record error was detected to the position P1 where the new data recording was started is registered, as a defect sector. The present invention can be used for a Blu-Ray-Disc-capable recording-and-reproducing system.
US08159912B2	Recording parameter setting device, program thereof, computer-readable recording medium containing the program, information recording medium, recording/reproducing device, and recording parameter setting method A recording parameter setting device including a trial recording parameter setting section and a reproduced signal quality judging section. The reproduced signal quality judging section judges whether or not a reproduced signal obtained by reproduction of the trial recording carried out in accordance with the trial recording parameter satisfies a predetermined reproduced signal quality. If no, the recording parameters of the predetermined recording mark length or longer are further classified into detailed groups and trial recording is carried out again. If the reproduced signal satisfies the predetermined reproduced signal quality, the reproduced signal quality judging section sets the trial recording parameters as a recording parameter. This makes it possible to form a recording mark capable of surely providing a good reproduced signal quality while the number of recording parameters to be used is reduced.
US08159910B2	Apparatus and method for controlling tracking error balance in optical disc apparatus A method of controlling a tracking error balance in an optical disc apparatus, and the optical disc apparatus are discussed. In an embodiment of the present invention, when a tracking error balance for writing is controlled, a beam power that is appropriate for the writing characteristics of an optical disc is applied. The beam power can be determined based on the Manufacturer Identifier (MID) of the optical disc and writing power information for different MIDs. The beam power can be determined to be a value of 20 to 50% of the prestored writing power for the MID of the optical disc.
US08159904B2	Force-feedback seismometer A broadband weak-motion seismometer includes: a frame, a mass, a suspension means for movably connecting the mass to the frame, a sensing transducer for measuring displacement of the mass with respect to the frame and for generating a sensing transducer output signal, which is a function of the measured displacement, a forcing transducer for applying a feedback force in a predetermined direction to the mass, and a control circuit. The control circuit receives the sensing transducer output signal and generates a forcing transducer input signal that includes a self-noise component. The forcing transducer input signal is processed by the forcing transducer to apply the feedback force to maintain the mass at rest with respect to the frame. The feedback force is sufficient to counterbalance a constant acceleration of the frame of at least 0.2 m/s2 in the predetermined direction of the feedback force. The self-noise component of the forcing transducer input signal, when processed by the forcing transducer, produces variable acceleration of the mass with spectral density less than −150 dB with respect to 1 m2/s3 at 0.01 Hz.
US08159901B2	System and method for discriminating a subsurface target in the water from a surface target in the water A computer-implemented method of discriminating a surface from a subsurface sound-generating target in the water includes identifying an arrival angle of sound generated by the sound-generating target and received by a sound receiver at a known depth in the water. The method also includes generating a probability density function about the measured arrival angle having a corresponding plurality sound arrival angles and mapping the probability density function about the measured arrival angle to a probability density function of vertex depths. The method also includes calculating a probability that the depth of the sound-generating target is greater than a threshold depth by integrating the probability density function of vertex depth. A computer readable storage medium has instructions for implementing the above method and a system has modules for implementing the above method.
US08159897B2	Two levels of voltage regulation supplied for logic and data programming voltage of a memory device Systems and methods involve the use of a flash memory device having multiple flash memory cells. A first interface is adapted to receive power for selectively programming each flash memory cell. A second interface is adapted to receive power supplied to logic level circuitry to perform the selection of flash memory cells to be supplied with power from the first input during a write operation.
US08159896B2	Local power domains for memory sections of an array of memory Memories, memory arrays, and methods for selectively providing electrical power to memory sections of a memory array are disclosed. A memory array can be operated by decoupling row decoder circuitry from receiving electrical power while the memory array is not being accessed. Portions of the memory array to be accessed are determined from external memory addresses and the row decoder for the portions of the memory array to be accessed are selectively provided with electrical power. The section of memory is then accessed. One such array includes memory section voltage supply rails having decoder circuits coupled to receive electrical power, and further includes memory section power control logic. The control logic selectively couples the memory section voltage supply rail to a primary voltage supply to provide electrical power to the memory section voltage supply rail in response to being selected based on memory addresses.
US08159894B2	One time programmable memory A one-time programmable memory. The one-time programmable memory has an antifuse and a read circuit configured to read the antifuse. An isolation transistor couples the antifuse to the read circuit. The read circuit and the isolation transistor have different power domains.
US08159887B2	Clock synchronization in a memory system A system and method for synchronizing a strobed memory system 10. During memory read and/or memory write operations the corresponding data strobe is sampled at the data destination 50/55 according to a local clock signal 71/73. Based on the results of the sampling, the data strobe and local clock signal are synchronized. In this manner, the data is synchronized to the local clock signal so that sampling of data at the data destination can be performed according to the local clock signal rather than the data strobe.
US08159879B2	Reducing effects of program disturb in a memory device A method for programming that biases a selected word line with a programming voltage. An unselected word line on the source side and an unselected word line on the drain side of the selected word line are biased at a pass voltage that is less than the normal pass voltage. These unselected word lines are both located a predetermined distance from the selected word line. The remaining word lines are biased at the normal pass voltage.
US08159872B2	Magnetic random access memory An MRAM has: a memory cell including a first magnetoresistance element; and a reference cell including a second magnetoresistance element. The first magnetoresistance element has a first magnetization fixed layer, a first magnetization free layer, a first nonmagnetic layer sandwiched between the first magnetization fixed layer and the first magnetization free layer, a second magnetization fixed layer, a second magnetization free layer and a second nonmagnetic layer sandwiched between the second magnetization fixed layer and the second magnetization free layer. The first magnetization fixed layer and the first magnetization free layer have perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and the second magnetization fixed layer and the second magnetization free layer have in-plane magnetic anisotropy. The first magnetization free layer and the second magnetization free layer are magnetically coupled to each other. Center of the second magnetization free layer is displaced in a first direction from center of the first magnetization free layer in a plane parallel to each layer. Whereas, the second magnetoresistance element has: a third magnetization free layer whose magnetization easy axis is parallel to a second direction; a third magnetization fixed layer whose magnetization direction is fixed in a third direction perpendicular to the second direction; and a third nonmagnetic layer sandwiched between the third magnetization fixed layer and the third magnetization free layer. The third magnetization fixed layer and the third magnetization free layer have in-plane magnetic anisotropy.
US08159870B2	Array structural design of magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) bit cells Spin Transfer Torque Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (STT-MRAM) bit cells are disclosed. The bit cells include a source line formed in a first plane and a bit line formed in a second plane. The bit line has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the source line, and the source line overlaps at least a portion of the bit line.
US08159865B2	Information storage element and method of writing/reading information into/from information storage element In a method of writing information into and reading information from an information storage element which includes a strip-shaped ferromagnetic material layer, a first electrode disposed at an end of the ferromagnetic material layer, a second electrode disposed at another end of the ferromagnetic material layer, and an antiferromagnetic region composed of an antiferromagnetic material and disposed in contact with at least a part of the ferromagnetic material layer, the method includes the steps of applying a current between the first electrode and the second electrode to cause a current-induced domain wall motion; in the ferromagnetic material layer, writing a magnetization state into a magnetization region as information or reading a magnetization state from a magnetization region as information; and eliminating or decreasing exchange coupling between the ferromagnetic material layer and the antiferromagnetic region at the time of the motion of a domain wall.
US08159862B2	Recycling charges A circuit includes a first node; a second node; a first PMOS transistor having a source coupled to the first node, a drain coupled to a first control transistor, and a gate driven by a first voltage; and a first NMOS transistor having a source coupled to the second node, a drain coupled to the first control transistor, and a gate driven by a second voltage. The first PMOS transistor is configured to automatically turn off based on the first voltage and a first node voltage at the first node. The first NMOS transistor is configured to automatically turn off based on the second voltage and a second node voltage at the second node. When the first PMOS transistor, the control transistor, and the first NMOS transistor are on, the first node voltage is lowered while the second voltage is raised.
US08159852B2	Semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device includes first and second driving transistors; first and second load transistors; and first and second transmission transistors. Their respective drain diffusion layers of the transistors are isolated from one another. The semiconductor memory device also includes a bit cell in which the first and second driving transistors, the first and second load transistors, and the first and second transmission transistors are arranged; a first wiring for connecting their respective drains of the first driving transistor, the first load transistor, and the first transmission transistor; and a second wiring for connecting their respective drains of the second driving transistor, the second load transistor, and the second transmission transistor.
US08159844B2	Full-wave rectifying device A full-wave rectifying device includes a first rectification module and a second rectification module. The first rectification module includes one or a plurality of first rectification units. The second rectification module includes one or a plurality of second rectification units. In each of a plurality of transistors, the substrate is connected to the source so as to reduce the body effect of the rectifying circuit efficiently and enable generation of a dc voltage signal through rectification by a plurality of capacitors. A multistage rectifying circuit architecture including a plurality of first rectification units and second rectification units is provided, so as to reduce the body effect of transistors of a conventional rectifier and significantly stabilize the voltage output level, thereby allowing the rectifying circuit to generate a dc voltage level of designed value.
US08159843B2	Method and apparatus to regulate an output voltage of a power converter at light/no load conditions An example apparatus to regulate an output voltage of a power converter at light/no load conditions includes a driver circuit, a feedback circuit, and an adjustable voltage reference circuit. The driver circuit is coupled to output a drive signal to switch a power switch between an ON state and an OFF state to regulate an output of the power converter. The feedback circuit is coupled to the driver circuit and is further coupled to output an enable signal to switch the power switch to an ON state in response to an output voltage signal. The adjustable voltage reference circuit is coupled to adjust a voltage reference such that a bias winding voltage of the power converter is adjusted nonlinearly in response to a load that is to be coupled to the output of the power converter.
US08159841B2	Low harmonic rectifier circuit A method, device, and plurality of circuit enhancements for a rectifier system that enable reduction in lower order and higher order harmonics, without substantially reducing the rectifier's direct current output voltage. The rectifier system comprises a phase shifting primary transformer subsystem and a multi-pulse rectifier. At least one series impedance path is coupled to one of three input terminals/leads of the transformer subsystem and conducts one phase of three phase currents from a power supply to the transformer subsystem. The series impedance path provides low impedance to the 1st harmonic and substantially higher, inductive impedance to higher harmonics of the power supply frequency. The impedance of the series impedance path at a selected frequency above a third harmonic of the power supply's fundamental frequency divided by the impedance at the fundamental frequency of the three phase power supply is substantially greater than the selected frequency divided by the fundamental frequency of the power supply.
US08159838B2	Flyback converter system capable of preventing two side switches from being turned on simultaneously A flyback converter system prevents a primary side switch and a secondary side switch from being turned on simultaneously through a controller. The controller includes a turning on switch module, a turning off switch module, and an enabling switch module. The turning on switch module is for turning on the secondary side switch. The turning off switch module switches off the secondary side switch according to the impedance of a load and the switch cycle of the secondary side switch. The enabling switch module enables the secondary side switch according to the impedance of the load.
US08159837B2	Integrated bias and standby power supply circuit An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for efficiently providing bias voltages. A first switching regulator stage that includes an inductor receives an input voltage and provides as an output an intermediate regulated output voltage. A second switching regulator stage receives as input the intermediate regulated output voltage and outputs a regulated main output voltage. The second switching regulator stage includes at least one switch controller that provides one or more signals to one or more switches in the second switching regulator stage to regulate the main output voltage of the second regulator stage. A secondary bias module utilizes a secondary winding coupled with the inductor of the first regulator stage to provide a secondary bias output voltage to the switch controller of the second switching regulator stage. The secondary bias output voltage is referenced to the main output voltage of the second switching regulator stage.
US08159836B2	Multi-layer conductor body and method for the production thereof Conductor body comprising a first outer component extending in the longitudinal direction and provided with at least one tooth projecting in the transverse direction from the inner surface, the tooth having an inner recess; at least one middle component having a mating recess and tooth, the same as the outer component; a closing component provided with at least one opening able to engage with the at least one tooth of the middle component, wherein each of the components are packed together in a transverse direction so as to form a multi-layer body.
US08159834B2	Magnetic hinge electronic mobile device An electronic mobile device comprises a base forming an inner surface and having a base hinge end. A cover having a cover hinge end is engaged with the base hinge end, and the cover is pivotable about a hinge axis that is substantially parallel to the inner surface of the base. The cover is movable from a closed position to an open position and vice versa relative to the base. In the closed position the cover is disposed proximate the base, and in the open position the cover is disposed away from the base. A base magnet having a first magnetic axis is supported at the base hinge end, and a cover magnet is supported at the cover hinge end so as to move with the cover relative to the base. The cover magnet has a second magnetic axis and interacts with the base magnet. Interaction of the base magnet and the cover magnet tends to align the first magnetic axis and the second magnetic axis and thereby bias the cover towards at least one of the closed position and the open position.
US08159832B2	Electromagnetic band gap structures and method for making same A folded EBG structure has a plurality of cells arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each of the cells has an electrically conductive patch and an electrically conductive via coupled between the patch and a ground plane. In one dimension of the folded EBG structure, at least one patch in that dimension is folded into three sections located in different planes. In general, both ends of the folded EBS structure have folded patches. Via walls having electrically conductive vias are provided on both ends of a folded EBG structure for connecting the cell vias to the ground plane. The distance between each via wall and the folded EBGs is substantially equal to the length of the vias connected to patches.
US08159829B2	Relay substrate, method for manufacturing the relay substrate and three-dimensional circuit device using the relay substrate Relay substrate (1) connecting between at least a first circuit board and a second circuit board, including housing (10) having recess (10a) provided in the outer circumference and hole (22) provided in the inner circumference; plural connecting terminal electrodes (12a, 12c) connecting between the top and bottom surfaces of housing (10); shield electrode (11) provided in recess (10a); and ground electrode (13) provided on a part of the top and bottom surfaces of housing (10).
US08159821B2	Diffusion bonding circuit submount directly to vapor chamber A method for providing a high in-plane and through-plane thermal conductivity path between a heat producing electronic device and a heat sink is described. A vapor chamber, or other type of heat spreader, is provided that has a substantially flat top copper surface and a substantially flat bottom copper surface. A ceramic submount is also provided, where the submount has a top copper metallization layer patterned for connection to electrodes of a heat-producing die, and where the submount has a bottom copper metallization layer. Prior to a working fluid being introduced into the vapor chamber, and prior to a die being mounted on the submount, the top copper surface of the vapor chamber is diffusion bonded to the bottom copper metallization layer of the ceramic submount under heat and pressure. The working fluid is then introduced into the vapor chamber, and the chamber is sealed. Dies are then mounted on the submount. The bottom of the vapor chamber is then affixed over a heat sink.
US08159819B2	Modular thermal management system for graphics processing units A modular thermal management system that allows one or a few heat sink and fan combinations to transfer heat away from a heat zone of a variety of graphics processing cards is provided. The thermal management system includes a mounting bracket configured to attach to the graphics processing card in thermal contact with the heat zone, the mounting bracket having a first opening that corresponds to a processor in the heat zone, a heat sink configured to attach to the mounting bracket, wherein the heat sink overlies the first opening and is in thermal contact with at least a portion of the processor through the first opening, and a fan configured to attach to the mounting bracket adjacent the heat sink.
US08159817B2	Slide rail mechanism and hard disk device having the slide rail mechanism A hard disk device includes a hard disk having two opposite first sides, a second side interconnecting the first sides, and two corner portions defined by the first and second sides, and a slide rail mechanism including two first plates to be disposed slidably in a housing, and a second plate. Each first plate has a first section connected to the second plate, and a second section connected to the first section. The first section is spaced apart from the respective first side and is provided with a first support element for abutting against the corresponding corner portion. The second section abuts against the corresponding first side and is provided with positioning pins for engaging positioning holes in the corresponding first side. The second plate is spaced apart from the second side and is provided with second support elements for abutting against the second side.
US08159814B2	Method of operating transistors and structures thereof for improved reliability and lifetime Embodiments of the present invention provide a semiconductor device that includes a transistor device having a first, a second, and a third node; and an interconnect structure having at least one wire and the wire having a first and a second end with the first end of the wire being connected to one of the first, the second, and the third node of the transistor device. The wire is conductive and adapted to provide an operating current in a first direction during a normal operating mode, and adapted to provide a repairing current in a second direction opposite to the first direction during a repair mode of the semiconductor device. In one embodiment the transistor device is a bipolar transistor with the first, second, and third nodes being an emitter, a base, and a collector of the bipolar transistor. The wire is connected to one of the emitter and the collector. Method of operating the semiconductor device and current supplying circuit for the semiconductor device are also disclosed.
US08159811B2	Metal capacitor and manufacturing method thereof A metal capacitor in which an electric conductivity is significantly improved by applying a metal material for an electrolyte and a manufacturing method thereof is provided. The capacitor includes a metal member comprising a groove forming portion where a plurality of grooves is formed, an electrode withdrawing portion formed on the groove forming portion, and a sealing portion; a metal oxide layer being formed on the metal member; an insulating layer being formed on the metal member to expose the electrode withdrawing portion of the metal member; a plurality of main electrode layers, each main electrode layer being formed on the metal oxide layer that is formed on the groove forming portion of the metal member; and a conductive connecting layer being formed on the plurality of main electrode layers and the insulating layer to face the electrode withdrawing portion of the metal member and connect the plurality of main electrode layers, wherein a lead terminal is connected to the electrode withdrawing portion of the metal member and each of the main electrode layers.
US08159809B2	Reconfigurable system that exchanges substrates using coulomb forces to optimize a parameter A reconfigurable system is described that can optimize the performance of the system. Substrates can be detached, levitated, moved, dropped and reattached as desired by the use of Coulomb forces generate between Coulomb islands. Thus, a system using a first set of substrates for a given frequency range can be exchanged with a second set of substrates operable at a different frequency range by the use of Coulomb forces. Making this exchange in an RF system can improve the selectivity and decrease the power dissipation of the system. One of the exchanges can involve inductor to shift the frequency of oscillation, for example. A control unit can be used to control the movement and replacement of all substrates. The formation of minimal energy potentials of Coulomb forces are determined to move a substrate over an underlying substrate.
US08159808B2	+28V aircraft transient suppression An apparatus and method for suppressing voltage fluctuations across a relay coil is disclosed. The method includes the steps of monitoring a voltage drop across a relay coil by a difference amplifier; providing an output of a reference source and an output of the difference amplifier to an integrator amplifier; providing an output of the integrator amplifier to a transistor; and driving the relay coil by controlling an output of the transistor based on the output of the integrator amplifier, wherein the output of the reference source is selectively applied to the integrator amplifier in response to a monitored undesired voltage fluctuations across the relay coil.
US08159803B2	Heat actuated interrupter receptacle Apparatus for detecting an overheating condition at an electrical power device and automatically breaking the circuit when the temperature exceeds a setpoint value. In various configurations the device is a receptacle adapted to be used in a wall mounted box or a receptacle unit that is plugged into an existing receptacle and supported in place by the existing receptacle. A temperature switch is wired parallel to a normally open test switch on a ground fault circuit interrupter or other circuit interrupting device. The temperature switch is responsive to the temperature local to the receptacle, such as is caused by poor connections to or in the receptacle. The temperature setpoint is less than the melting temperature of the insulation of the electrical wiring. Upon actuation of the temperature switch, the circuit interrupting device is latched in a tripped position until the device is reset for reuse.
US08159802B2	3-phase power factor corrected AC to DC filtered switching power supply This invention relates to a power supply apparatus and method for converting three-phase delta AC power to DC power using EMI filters and PFC circuits to maintain balanced AC current loading and reduce radiated and conducted emissions. Overcurrent and temperature protection are also provided in conjunction with a novel optocoupler latch circuit for improving maintenance of the power supply.
US08159801B2	Switched hot swap controller The invention describes an electric circuit (100), a method and a computer program for hot-swapping an electronic board in a telecommunication system, where the increase in current in the electric circuit is controlled by a microcontroller (130) switching a power transistor in a switching circuit (150) so as to gradually increase the capacitor voltage for the electronic board. The current level is measured either in the microcontroller (130) itself or in an external current sense circuit (140) and compared to a maximum current level.
US08159793B2	Arc detection using detailed and approximate coefficients from discrete wavelet transforms An apparatus for facilitating interruption of current in an electrical circuit is provided and includes a current sensing device in the electrical circuit to service an electrical load, the current sensing device being productive of an output signal representative of a load current passing therethrough, a detection unit, in signal communication with the current sensing device such that the output signal is received by the detection unit, the detection unit being configured and disposed to output a secondary signal based on the output signal, and a microcontroller to receive and to decompose the secondary signal into detailed and approximate coefficients, and to generate a trip signal for use in interrupting an operation of the electrical circuit when a current of the sensed load is above a predetermined threshold and the detailed and approximate coefficients cooperatively indicate that threshold conditions for trip signal generation are satisfied.
US08159789B2	Suspension for supporting a magnetic head slider It is an object to achieve prevention of lowering resonant frequency and improved production efficiency while achieving reduction in weight of a supporting part with a boss portion and reduction in thickness at area at which the boss portion is located. In the present invention, the supporting part includes a first supporting member with which a load bending part is connected, and a second supporting member with the boss portion and a main body region extended radially outward from the boss portion. At least one of the inner periphery of the mount hole and the outer periphery of the main body region is integrally provided with a rib region. The first and second supporting members are connected to each other by a restoring force of the rib region that has been elastically and/or plastically deformed by the other one of the inner periphery of the mount hole and the outer periphery of the main body region with the main body region being located at least partially in the mount hole in a through-thickness direction.
US08159788B2	Actuator latch system of hard disk drive including a latch lever having two offset hooks at an end of the latch lever An actuator latch system of a hard disk drive (HDD) retains a rotatable swing arm of the HDD in place when a magnetic head of the HDD is parked. The actuator latch system includes a portion of the swing arm that defines a notch at an end portion of a swing arm, and a latch lever that has first and second hooks at one end thereof. The latch lever is disposed on the base member adjacent the end portion of the swing arm and is supported so as to be rotatable. The first hook is disposed to contact the swing arm within a short period of time after a shock transmitted to the swing arm while the magnetic head is parked causes the swing arm to rotate in one direction. Thus, the impulse on the swing arm is minimized and the reliability of the actuator latch system is enhanced.
US08159787B2	Actuator latch system of hard disk drive including magnetically levitated latch lever An HDD includes a base, a swing arm, a VCM coil disposed on the rear end portion of the swing arm, a lower yoke and an upper yoke disposed below and above the VCM coil, at least one magnet attached to the yokes, and a latch lever levitated by the at least one magnet. The latch lever includes a hook at one end and a counterbalance at another end. A first magnetic retractor is installed on the counterbalance to apply torque to the latch lever. The first retract member is disposed such that the vertical component of the net magnetic force applied to the first retractor by the magnet(s) is about 0 when the latch lever is located at a position at which a first air gap and a second air gap exist, respectively, immediately below and above the latch lever.
US08159786B2	Suspension with locally strengthened integrated trace connections A head gimbal assembly may comprise a slider, a micro-actuator attached to the slider, a flexure to mount the slider and the micro-actuator, and a suspension comprising a support region, a main portion, and a moving portion, wherein the flexure comprises a plurality of trace sets to electrically couple the micro-actuator and the slider, and wherein the plurality of trace sets are laminated generally parallel to each other.
US08159784B2	Magnetic recording medium and production method thereof The magnetic recording medium of the present invention has a pattern formed using a pattern-forming agent in a laminate of multiple layers including a base material and a magnetic recoding layer, wherein the pattern is recognized on the surface of the laminate opposite to the base material, and the pattern-forming agent is distributed through the thickness of the laminate, wherein a region between the center of the magnetic recording layer and a magnetic recording-reading side of the laminate has an area having a density gradient of the pattern-forming agent which gradually declines in the direction from the center of the magnetic recording layer to the magnetic recording-reading side.
US08159782B2	Thin film magnetic head having heating element A thin film magnetic head is provided, in which the amount of protrusion in the periphery of an element portion can be reduced or a local temperature increase of electrode leads of a heating element can be prevented. The thin film magnetic head includes a playback element disposed between lower and upper shield layers, a recording element laminated on the upper shield layer, a heating element which is disposed below a coil layer and which generates heat to allow the playback element to protrude toward the recording medium side through thermal expansion, and a pair of electrode leads including overlapping regions, which are in contact with rear ends of the heating element and which overlap with the upper shield layer, and heat dissipation regions. Furthermore, connection wiring portions of the pair of electrode leads are disposed in a region sandwiched between the upper shield layer and a magnetic layer.
US08159778B2	Hard disk drive contamination control A method and system of controlling contamination within an HDD with a surface modified MCM 41/48 material. The method includes encasing the hard disk drive and a mesoporous material in an enclosure of the hard disk drive, wherein the mesoporous material sorbs contaminants within said enclosure.
US08159769B2	Heat-assisted magnetic recording with shaped magnetic and thermal fields to minimize transition curvature Devices and methods are provided for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). In an illustrative example, a device includes a magnetic write pole having a convex pole tip; a magnetic opposing pole longitudinally displaced from the magnetic write pole; and a thermal-source component disposed proximate to the magnetic write pole and comprising a laterally elongated thermal-source peg disposed proximate to the convex pole tip.
US08159768B1	Detecting a servo address mark (SAM) in a servo field sync-up operation A method for detecting a servo address mark (SAM) of a servo sector of a disk of a disk drive during a servo field sync-up operation is disclosed. The method includes: detecting a start of a preamble; opening a SAM search window to detect the SAM; and continuing to detect the presence of the preamble during a SAM search time period. Further, the method discloses that: if the preamble is detected, the SAM search window is continued; and if the preamble is not detected, and the SAM is not detected, the SAM search window is closed.
US08159766B2	Data processing system having data reproduction independent of data processing An information-processing apparatus includes a processing unit that compresses inputted data to produce compressed data of a first compressed format. The information-processing apparatus also includes a storage unit that stores the compressed data in a storage medium. The processing unit decompresses data, stored in the storage medium, of a second compressed format to produce decompressed data. Further, the processing unit controls the storage unit to store the compressed data of the first compressed format in the storage medium while the processing unit simultaneously decompresses the data, stored in the storage medium, of the second compressed format and reproduces the decompressed data. The first compressed format is different than the second compressed format.
US08159761B2	Optical concentrator Apparatus for concentrating light rays arriving from at least one external source onto a receiver, individual beams of the light rays each arriving at the apparatus substantially collimated, the apparatus including a respective Fresnel lens assembly for each of a plurality of openings, the Fresnel lens assembly including a first Fresnel lens, and a second Fresnel lens, the first Fresnel lens being located between a respective one of the openings and the receiver, the second Fresnel lens being located between the first Fresnel lens and the receiver, the first Fresnel lens for making the light rays arriving from the respective one of the openings parallel with an optical axis of the first Fresnel lens, the second Fresnel lens converging the collimated light rays onto the receiver, each opening being located in front of the Fresnel lens assembly, on the focal plane of the first Fresnel lens, centered on the focal point of the first Fresnel lens, and the receiver being located behind the Fresnel lens assembly, on the focal point of the second Fresnel lens.
US08159759B1	Zoom lens and photographing apparatus having the same A zoom lens and a photographing apparatus having the zoom lens including a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power; a third lens group having a positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group, the second lens group, the third lens group, and the fourth lens group are arranged sequentially from an object side, wherein the second lens group includes a first aspherical lens having a negative refractive power, and a second aspherical lens having a positive refractive power.
US08159756B2	Variable focal length lens system image pick up apparatus A vari-focal length lens system includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power. In the second lens group, each of the object-side surface of the negative lens arranged on the object side and the object-side surface of the positive lens is formed in an aspherical shape and satisfies the following conditional expression: 2.0
US08159755B2	Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus using the same A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having two lens components including a negative lens component of negative refractive power and a positive lens component of positive refractive power; a second lens group including a negative lens, a first positive lens and a second positive lens; a fourth lens group having one lens component including a negative lens component having a concave surface directed to the object side; the negative lens components in the first and fourth lens groups satisfying conditional formula (1): −0.80
US08159752B2	Wide field of view coverage head-up display system Head-up display scenery alignment system, the head-up display being mounted in an aircraft and including an image projector and a combiner. The combiner is optically located between a user and a scenery of interest, optically transmitting a scene image of the scenery of interest to the user. The image projector projects an image toward the combiner, and the combiner reflects the image toward the user. The aircraft includes a heading angle sensor, determining the heading angle of the aircraft. The HUD scenery alignment system includes a moving mechanism coupled with the combiner; and a processor coupled with the heading angle sensor, with the moving mechanism and with the projector. The processor receives heading angle information from the heading angle sensor, and the processor determines the deviation of the heading of the aircraft from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft according to the heading angle information. The processor directs the moving mechanism, according to the deviation, to move the combiner to a position which is located between the scenery of interest and the user and which aligns the reflection of the image toward the user, with the scene image.
US08159749B2	Antireflection coating and display device An antireflection coating is formed on a transparent substrate and includes an Al film having a transmittance of lower than 10% at a wavelength of 550 nm with a thickness of 25 nm and predominantly composed of aluminum (Al), and an Al—N film formed in at least one of an upper layer and a lower layer of the Al film, having a transmittance of equal to or higher than 10% at a wavelength of 550 nm with a thickness of 25 nm, predominantly composed of Al and at least containing a nitrogen (N) element as an additive. A specific resistance of the antireflection coating is equal to or lower than 1.0×10−2 O·cm, and a reflectance of a surface of the Al—N film is equal to or lower than 50% in a visible light region.
US08159747B2	Diffractive optical element and optical system including the same A diffractive optical element includes at least one element portion including a base, a diffraction grating, a substrate, and an intermediate layer. The base and the diffraction grating are disposed above the substrate through the intermediate layer, and are formed of a same material. An extinction coefficient for the d-line of the material of the diffraction grating and an extinction coefficient for the d-line of a material of the intermediate layer are properly set to satisfied conditional expressions.
US08159742B2	Glass large-core optical fibers Embodiments of optical fiber may include cladding features that include a material (e.g., fluorine-doped silica glass) that may produce a very low relative refractive index difference with respect to cladding material in which the cladding features are disposed. This relative refractive index difference may be characterized by (n1−n2)/n1, where n1 is the index of refraction of the cladding material in which the cladding features are included, and n2 is the index of refraction of the cladding features. In certain embodiments, the relative refractive index difference may be less than about 4.5×10−3. In various embodiments, the configuration of the cladding features including, for example, the size and spacing of the cladding features, can be selected to provide for confinement of the fundamental mode yet leakage for the second mode and higher modes, which may provide mode filtering, single mode propagation, and/or low bend loss.
US08159741B2	Electronic paper display device and manufacturing method thereof An electronic paper display device and a method of manufacturing the electronic paper display device are disclosed. The method can include forming a plurality of relievo patterns on a lower board, in which the relievo patterns are formed to be independent and separated from one another, disposing a display unit in between the plurality of relievo patterns, and attaching an upper board on the plurality of relievo patterns such that the display unit is covered. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method can improve the freedom of disposing the display units by allowing partition walls to form only at areas to fix the display units.
US08159739B2	Display apparatus A display apparatus comprises a spatial light modulator and optical elements in series therewith. The optical elements provide a first parallax element being a parallax barrier capable of directing light output from the display apparatus into a first plurality of viewing windows, and a second parallax element capable of directing light output from the display apparatus into a second plurality of viewing windows. In a first mode, the first and second parallax elements have substantially no directional effect on the light output from the display apparatus. In a second mode, the first parallax element directs light output from the display apparatus into the first plurality of viewing windows and the second optical element has substantially no directional effect. In a third mode, the second optical element directs light output from the display apparatus into the second plurality of viewing windows and the first parallax element has substantially no directional effect.
US08159737B2	Controlling the phase of optical carriers A system and method for locking the relative phase of multiple coherent optical signals, which compensates for optical phase changes induced by vibration or thermal changes in the environment.
US08159736B2	Tunable single sideband modulators based on electro-optic optical whispering gallery mode resonators and their applications Photonic devices and techniques based on tunable single sideband (SSB) modulation in whispering gallery mode resonators formed of electro-optic materials to effectuate coupling between whispering gallery modes of different polarizations.
US08159735B2	Laser projector A two-dimensional image is displayed on a screen (SC) by scanning the screen (SC) two-dimensionally with light beams from a laser light source (1) that are deflected to orthogonally-intersecting first and second scanning directions by means of a mirror (10) in a deflection apparatus (3). The deflection apparatus (3) is arranged to incline obliquely in the second scanning direction (e.g. vertical direction) lower in a scanning speed than the first scanning direction (e.g. horizontal direction), and performs an oblique projection onto the screen (SC). Assuming a direction in which the incidence angle of a light beam deflected by the deflection apparatus (3) and entering the screen (SC) increases in the second scanning direction is positive side, the light beam from the laser light source (1) impinges on the deflection apparatus (3) from the negative side in the second scanning direction, and the normal to the mirror (10) in the deflection apparatus (3) in a state where the center of the screen is displayed inclines to the negative side in the second scanning direction with respect to the normal to the screen (SC).
US08159732B2	Apparatus and method for scanner skew adjustment in an image forming device An apparatus and methods of use for adjusting a sliding guide rod for an imaging device of a flatbed scanner to improve scanner skew misalignment comprising an attachment member movably mounting the sliding guide rod at one end thereof to one side of the flatbed scanner so as to allow skew-adjusting movement of the sliding guide rod at an opposite end thereof relative to the flatbed scanner and a skew adjustment assembly attached to an opposite side of the flatbed scanner and movably coupling and supporting the opposite end of the sliding guide rod to the opposite side of the flatbed scanner and being actuatable to cause the sliding guide rod to undergo skew adjustment relative to the flatbed scanner to correct scanner skew misalignment of the imaging device. The skew adjustment assembly includes a skew adjustment bracket mounted to the opposite side of the flatbed scanner and movably coupled to and supporting the opposite end of the sliding guide rod to the opposite side of the flatbed scanner and a tension spring and a plurality of bracket locking fasteners coacting with the skew adjustment bracket and movably actuatable relative thereto to move the sliding guide rod to undergo the skew adjustment relative to the flatbed scanner.
US08159728B2	Image reading apparatus, image reading method, and sheet processing apparatus An image reading apparatus, in which sheets being transported are illuminated by an illuminating unit, one after another, and a sensor having an imaging elements arranged in a line photographs the sheets, one after another. A white-reference part is provided in a part of the photographing region of the sensor. A black-reference part guides the light reflected by the illuminating unit to the sensor when a sheet lies in the photographing region of the sensor, and to restrict application of the light reflected by the illuminating unit to the sensor when no sheets lie in the photographing region of the sensor.
US08159724B2	Image processing apparatus, method, and program for applying security processing relating to a selected image A processing apparatus, method, and medium storing a computer program that combine two or more designated images (S1254), and input the type of security process to be performed for the combined image (S1253). The security process is performed for the combined image using the information associated with the input type of security process (S1255).
US08159723B2	Print control device and recording medium containing program for controlling printing device A print control device capable of controlling a printer to execute a printing operation is provided with a data converting module configured to convert job data output by an application and print setting data set by the control device into print data, a search condition defining module configured to define a search condition, a searching module configured to search the print setting data based on the search condition set by the search condition setting module, and an executing module configured to execute a predetermined operation when the print setting data meets the search condition.
US08159721B2	Scanning apparatus and method calculates distortion boundary of distortion area based on shadow values to correct scanned image A scanning apparatus which scans an image of a document to generate an image data, the scanning apparatus includes: a boundary sensing unit to sense a boundary of the image, and a distortion area, a distortion boundary of which is not sensed; a shadow calculating unit to calculate a shadow value of the image data; and a control unit to calculate the distortion boundary of the distortion area according the shadow values of the distortion area so as to correct distortion of an image caused by variations in focal distances between the image and the lenses within the scanning apparatus.
US08159716B2	Image processing device performing image correction by using a plurality of sample images An image processing device includes a first image inputting unit, a comprehensive first characteristic quantity data determining unit, a second image inputting unit, a second characteristic quantity data determining unit, and an image correcting unit. The first image inputting unit is configured so as to be capable of inputting a plurality of first images. The comprehensive first characteristic quantity data determining unit determines comprehensive first characteristic quantity data based on the plurality of first images inputted by the first image inputting unit. The second image inputting unit is configured so as to be capable of inputting a second image. The second characteristic quantity data determining unit determines second characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the second image inputted by the second image inputting unit. The image correcting unit corrects the second image based on the comprehensive first characteristic quantity data and the second characteristic quantity data.
US08159715B2	Method, apparatus and systems to retrieve GCRS from historical database This disclosure provides methods, apparatus and systems for generating a profile for a printing device. Specifically, the profile is generated by selecting a GCR profile from a plurality of GCR profiles and mapping a plurality of nodes to a device dependent color space as a function of the selected GCR profiles.
US08159709B2	Method for canceling a print job submitted to a printer A print job canceling method for a printer is described and is especially useful in a printer with relatively small buffer memory. When a print job is cancelled by the user using the printer's control panel, this method allows the printer controller to receive additional print jobs while the current job is being cancelled, without having to notify the host to stop sending the current print job. The printer controller reduces the memory allocated to the job being cancelled. The printer controller continues to accept data for the current job from the host, but does not print the received data. The data is subsequently flushed from the memory. The printer controller also assigns a lower priority to the print job being cancelled. Meanwhile, the remaining memory can be used to receive and print additional print jobs.
US08159707B2	Method and system for unified batch job processing A more holistic approach to batch job processing simplifies batch job creation, improves user understanding of batch job status and prevents unwanted batch job printing outcomes. In the approach, before printing any print element (e.g. file, document) in a batch job that includes supported print elements and unsupported print elements, a support status indication is outputted for each of the print elements and the user is required to input a group print instruction before the approach proceeds to print the supported print elements. The approach in some embodiments also allows the user to input a group cancel instruction instructing to cancel the batch job without printing any of the print elements and allows the user to input a change instruction requesting modification of one or more unsupported print elements in an attempt to convert them into supported print elements.
US08159705B2	Communication device and storage medium storing control program for communication device A communication device includes a receiving unit, a printing unit, a writing unit, and a control unit. The receiving unit receives incoming data including first image data created based on a first image on a document and additional data indicating transmitting source of the first image data. The control unit controls the printing unit to print on a first recording paper a second image based on the first image data and controls the writing unit to write the additional data in a wireless tag provided on the first recording paper.
US08159698B2	Information processing apparatus with code generation and transfer to file to be printed A print instruction apparatus includes a selecting unit which selects an attached file to be printed on a sheet together with a base file designated in advance as a print target. The print instructing apparatus includes a generating unit which generates code information for the selected attached file, and a transmitting unit which transmits a print instruction of the base file and the code information of the attached file to the printing apparatus.
US08159695B2	Data processing apparatus, system control method and system If a user specifies shutdown of the power supply of an apparatus from a console, another apparatus connected to the same network is notified so as not to issue a request for a new shared job, and it is determined whether a scheduled shared job exists. The display on a display screen is changed in accordance with the result of the determination. If it is determined that a shared job exists, shutdown of the power supply is controlled in accordance with the status of execution of the shared job.
US08159694B2	Image processor and image processing method processing an image that includes a semi-transparent object or an image with periodically varying density An image processor and an image processing method which can minimize variation of color tone or density in an image after screen processing, even if semi-transparency has been specified. The image processor generates semi-transparent image data by overlaying a semi-transparent object on the PDL data to be rendered semi-transparent. Subsequently, screen processing is performed on the semi-transparent image data, by dither processing. Subsequently it is determined whether or not to define the screen processed semi-transparent image data as the image data for printing. If the result of determination is No, the halftone value of the semi-transparent object is modified to be larger than the current value.
US08159693B2	Printing system, printing apparatus, and job control method A printing system adapted to be able to successively process a plurality of jobs by a printing apparatus has a designation unit adapted to designate, from the plurality of jobs, a job that processing by the printing apparatus is to be suspended; and a controller adapted to control the printing apparatus to suspend the processing of the job designated by the designation unit, wherein the controller controls the printing apparatus so as to suspend processing of another job in accordance with a suspension factor of the job designated by the designation unit.
US08159692B2	Automatic and transparent document archiving An automatic archiving system makes document archiving largely transparent to the user. In one embodiment, documents scanned in or printed during the course of office equipment operation are automatically archived. When a document is copied, printed, or faxed, a document image is archived by the document management workstation without further user intervention. A single user command results in the document being copied and archived, printed and archived, or faxed and archived. In accordance with a first aspect, an image processing device includes a receiving means for receiving a single input, a printing means, a memory device, and a communication means for communicating with said memory device. Responsive to receiving said single input requesting the printing of a document by said receiving means, said printing means prints the document and said communication means sends image data representing said document to said memory device.
US08159686B2	Image processing job scheduler To keep track of which process each process job currently exits and when it comes in own charge or which job must be processed, it is necessary to use a workflow system on a PC, and this necessitates to move back and force between the PC and the apparatus, thereby leading to the deterioration of the operational efficiency. An object of the invention is to provide a system in which the apparatus and the workflow server are connected, and by moving forward the processing by using the operation unit of the apparatus, the workflow of the operator in the centralized copy room and the print center of the company can be smoothly moved forward.
US08159684B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product each to process a plurality of printer languages An image processing apparatus can process a plurality of printer languages having respectively different ROP calculation rules, and inputs a drawing command written in any one of the printer languages and performs rasterization into drawing data corresponding to the drawing command. An interpreter converts a target ROP code and ROP calculation rule of the print data into another ROP code and ROP calculation rule that produce substantially the same drawing data.
US08159683B1	Reflective piano keyboard scanner A scanner for a keyboard device having a reflective surface for each key has a sensor associated with each key that includes an LED and a photo-transistor. The LED is turned ON for a first measurement, followed by a second measurement with the LED turned off, and a subtraction of the second measurement from the first yields an illumination value for a key x. The LEDs and associated photo-transistors are sequentially enabled in groups of n, thereby eliminating optical interference. Each key x has associated correction parameters of LinRest(x) associated with illumination value with the key in the rest (up) position, LinDown(x) associated with illumination value with the key in the down position, TrebErr(x) associated with the reflectivity effect of one adjacent key(x+1), and BassErr(x) associated with the reflectivity effect of another adjacent key(x−1). By reading a single illumination value in combination with these correction parameters, the key position may be accurately extracted and the effect of ambient light and surrounding key interference removed.
US08159682B2	Lens system A fragmented lens system for creating an invisible light pattern useful to computer vision systems is disclosed. Random or semi-random dot patterns generated by the present system allow a computer to uniquely identify each patch of a pattern projected by a corresponding illuminator or light source. The computer may determine the position and distance of an object by identifying the illumination pattern on the object.
US08159680B2	Single-transducer, three-dimensional laser imaging system and method Disclosed herein are a system and method for three-dimensional imaging using a single transducer. A laser in a transmitter emits a sequence of short pulses, each of which is at a different center wavelength (frequency). A dispersive element in the transmitter spatially separates the pulses according to wavelength, with different pulses mapped to different spatial locations in a target volume via a lens. The pulses travel to the target, which scatters or back-reflects the pulses towards the dispersive element via the lens. The lens collects the returned pulses and transmits them to a single transducer via the dispersive element. The transducer measures the time of arrival for each returned pulse. Because the arrival time depends on the range to the object in the portion of the target illuminated by the corresponding emitted pulse, the measured arrival time can be used to reconstruct a 3D (angle-angle-range) image of the object.
US08159677B2	Optical coherence tomography device and method having improved boundary control and distortion correction Variants of an interferometric device are developed for examining internal structures of objects by means of optical coherence tomography, which allow for controlling a boundary location of the observation range. The device also allows for correcting a distortion of the tomographic image of the object under study, caused by lateral scanning, due to aberrations of the optical path length for the low-coherence optical radiation directed towards the object. Embodiments of the device include either one, or two fiber-optic controlled scanners, which in different combinations perform a function of in-depth scanning of the coherence window of low-coherence optical radiation within the observation range, a function of controlling a boundary location of the observation range, and a function of compensating the optical path length aberration for the low-coherence optical radiation directed towards the object, caused by lateral scanning.
US08159675B2	Observation device and wavelength limiting filter An observation device observing a sample cultured in a culture vessel includes an illuminating unit including an illumination optical system and illuminating the sample, an image-capturing unit including an imaging sensor and generating an image by capturing an image of the sample illuminated by the illuminating unit, and a wavelength limiting filter being placed on an optical axis of the illumination optical system and between the illuminating unit and the image-capturing unit, and limiting a part of wavelengths of an illumination light from the illumination optical system in accordance with optical absorption properties of an additive contained in a culture medium used for culturing the sample. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a change of the image resulting from the additive and to enable to generate an appropriate image in an automatic observation.
US08159674B2	Exposure method and exposure device An exposure method capable of performing accurate exposure without using a large photomask. The exposure method performs exposure while relatively moving a photomask above a substrate and includes a step of performing position correction of the photomask by performing, on a front side of the photomask relatively moved in a moving direction, image recognition of a pattern prearranged on the substrate such as a line and a black matrix and by correcting deviation of the photomask with respect to the pattern, and a step of checking the position correction of the photomask by performing image recognition of a reference mark arranged on the photomask and by determining whether or not the position correction of the photomask is accurately performed in the step of performing the position correction of the photomask.
US08159673B2	Light amount detector, misalignment amount detector, and image density detector A light amount detector includes a light emitter, a light receiver, and a light amount detection unit. The light emitter emits light on a detection pattern formed on a detection surface of an image carrier. The light receiver detects diffused light reflected from the detection pattern. The light amount detection unit detects an amount of light received by the light receiver based on detection output of the light receiver. One of the light emitter and the light receiver is provided at a position directly opposite to the detection surface, such that a distribution of sensitivity of the light receiver detecting the diffused light is substantially symmetrical with respect to a detection output peak when the detection surface is substantially parallel to a hypothetical line connecting the light emitter with the light receiver.
US08159669B2	Space radiation detector with spherical geometry A particle detector is provided, the particle detector including a spherical Cherenkov detector, and at least one pair of detector stacks. In an embodiment of the invention, the Cherenkov detector includes a sphere of ultraviolet transparent material, coated by an ultraviolet reflecting material that has at least one open port. The Cherenkov detector further includes at least one photodetector configured to detect ultraviolet light emitted from a particle within the sphere. In an embodiment of the invention, each detector stack includes one or more detectors configured to detect a particle traversing the sphere.
US08159665B2	Apparatus and methods for fluorescence subtraction in Raman spectroscopy An improved apparatus and method for fluorescence subtraction in Raman spectroscopy, where a narrow band light source and a broad band light source are utilized to stimulate Raman scattering and fluorescence emission from the same subject to produce two Raman/fluorescence spectra. The two light sources, with matched output power, produce similar level of fluorescence emission, yet the Raman scattering signal produced by the broad band light source has much lower spectral intensity than that produced by the narrow band light source. By subtracting the two Raman/fluorescence spectra, the weak Raman signal can be extracted from a strong fluorescence background.
US08159663B2	Laser microscope apparatus having a frequency dispersion adjuster To enable both observations of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering light and multiphoton fluorescence in a same apparatus so as to observe a specimen by various observation methods. There is provided a laser microscope apparatus comprising: two optical paths for guiding pulsed laser beams having two different frequencies whose frequency difference is approximately equal to a specific molecular vibration frequency in a specimen; a multiplexer for combining the pulsed laser beams guided through these two optical paths; and a frequency dispersion adjuster which is provided on at least one of these two optical paths, and is capable of adjustment to approximately equalize frequency dispersion quantities of the pulsed laser beams guided through the two optical paths.
US08159661B2	Hyper-spectral imaging and analysis of a sample of matter, and preparing a test solution or suspension therefrom Method for hyper-spectral imaging and analysis of a sample of matter, for identifying and characterizing an object of interest therein. Preparing test solution or suspension of the sample, including adding thereto a spectral marker specific to object of interest, such that if object of interest is in test solution or suspension, object of interest becomes a hyper-spectrally active target which is hyper spectrally detectable and identifiable; adding to test solution or suspension a background reducing chemical, for reducing background interfering effects caused by presence of objects of non-interest in test solution or suspension, thereby increasing hyper spectral detectability of hyper spectrally active target in test solution or suspension; generating and collecting hyper-spectral image data and information of test solution or suspension; and, processing and analyzing thereof. Exemplary objects of interest are biological agents—bacteria (Bacillus anthracis), viruses, fungi, toxins, or, chemical agents—nerve agents (sarin, tabun, soman), and chemical poisons.
US08159659B2	Optical device inspecting apparatus [PROBLEMS] To provide an optical device inspecting apparatus which can be set to take many objects at one time more freely compared with conventional apparatuses, and furthermore, can accurately inspect even an optical device wherein an optical sensor is offset from a microlens. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Provided is an optical device inspecting apparatus having a probe card unit and a lens unit. The probe card unit is provided with a main substrate, a guide plate and a probe. Openings are made on the main substrate and the guide plate. The guide plate is fixed at a prescribed position from the main substrate, and is provided with a plurality of probe inserting holes. The probe is inserted into the probe inserting hole on the guide plate and fixed. The leading end portion of the probe protruding from the inserting hole has a shape of a cantilever. The lens unit using a pupil lens is arranged at the opening on the main substrate, and makes light applied to an inspecting object incline as the light goes further from the center of the optical system.
US08159658B2	System and method for the automated analysis of samples The present invention pertains to a system for the automated analysis of samples, comprising: a first optical device including at least one receptacle for receiving at least one of said samples and a receptacle-associated optical unit including at least one receptacle-associated light source for emitting light adapted for determining a color of said sample and generating a light beam for irradiating said sample contained in said receptacle and at least one receptacle-associated light detector for detecting light transmitted through said sample and generating a receptacle-associated detection signal; a second optical device including at least one test element provided with at least one test zone for applying said sample, said test zone being subject to an optically detectable change in response to at least one characteristic of said sample being different from said color and a test element-associated optical unit.
US08159655B2	Optical blind-guide apparatus and method thereof An optical blind-guide apparatus for detecting an object is provided. The optical blind-guide apparatus includes an illuminant module illuminating the object to form a reflection light from the object; a sensor sensing the reflection light to generate a digital message; a system module receiving and processing the digital message to obtain a blind-guide information; and an output device coupled with the system module and outputting the blind-guide information.
US08159646B2	Active device array substrate with particular test circuit An active device array substrate is provided. The active device array substrate includes an active matrix device, first bonding pads electrically connected to the active matrix device, second bonding pads electrically insulated from the first bonding pads, test bonding pads disposed between the first and the second bonding pads and separated from the second bonding pads, switch devices disposed between the test bonding pads and the first bonding pads and electrically connected to the test bonding pads, a test signal pad, a switch device control pad, and at least one driving chip electrically connected to the first bonding pads, the second bonding pads, and the test bonding pads. Each test bonding pad is corresponding to one of the second bonding pads. Both the test signal pad for inputting/outputting a test signal and the switch device control pad for turning on/off the switch devices are electrically connected to the switch devices.
US08159644B2	Non-rectangular pixel array and display device having same There is provided a display area made up of a pixel array with a non-rectangular shaped outer circumference and the pixel array is made up of a plurality of non-rectangular pixels wherein a first conductor line group including a plurality of first conductor lines and a second conductor line group including a plurality of second conductor lines, and a third conductor line group including a plurality of third conductor lines are arranged so as to intersect with one another. Thus, without sacrificing brightness, viewability, and fidelity of an image, pixel array (display device) with the non-rectangular outer circumferential shape being excellent in design characteristics is realized.
US08159643B2	Electric field driving device and electronic apparatus An electric field driving device, in which a plurality of pixels, each of which is formed of two or more sub-pixels that respectively correspond to different colors from one another, are arranged in a matrix in a pixel region on a substrate, includes pixel electrodes, a common electrode, an insulating layer, and a material. Each of the pixel electrodes is formed in correspondence with the sub-pixel on the substrate. The common electrode is formed above the pixel electrodes on the substrate so that at least part of the common electrode overlaps each of the pixel electrodes in plan view. The insulating layer is formed on the substrate between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode. The material is driven by an electric field that is generated on the basis of a difference in electric potential between each of the pixel electrodes and the common electrode. The common electrode has a plurality of slits that at least partly overlap the pixel electrodes in plan view. At least a portion of the slits are respectively provided continuously over a plurality of the sub-pixels. Each of the sub-pixels corresponding to the same color includes the same numbers of end portions of the plurality of slits.
US08159637B2	Liquid crystal display and substrate thereof A liquid crystal display and a substrate thereof are provided. The substrate of the liquid crystal display has a plurality of first pixel areas, second pixel areas, and third pixel areas. The substrate of the liquid crystal display has a plurality of first insulating films disposed on the first pixel areas, a plurality of second insulating films disposed on the second pixel areas, and a plurality of third insulating films disposed on the third pixel areas. The dielectric coefficient of the first insulating film is greater than the dielectric coefficient of the second insulating film, and the dielectric coefficient of the second insulating film is greater than the dielectric coefficient of the third insulating film.
US08159630B2	Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display A backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display which may provide improved reliability are disclosed, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The backlight assembly includes, in one embodiment, a light guide plate guiding light, and a lamp unit positioned on one side of the light guide plate. The lamp unit includes first and second lamps extending in parallel to each other in a first direction, and a first holder having a body fixing the first and second lamps and a projection part projected from the body and between the first and second lamps. The backlight assembly includes a lower receptacle accommodating the light guide plate and the lamp unit therein.
US08159623B2	Remote control dock system and method A vehicle entertainment system and method to prevent a mechanical connection between certain components of an entertainment system for a vehicle can include an entertainment system housing containing a plurality of entertainment components and a remote control module. The remote control module can include a user interface on a surface of the remote control module. In addition, the remote control module can be configured to prevent secure mounting of the remote control module to the entertainment system housing when the remote control module is not the appropriate remote control module for the particular vehicle entertainment system.
US08159617B2	Universal, highly configurable video and graphic measurement device An apparatus and method for processing a video signal includes means for receiving the video signal, means for analyzing the video signal based upon a user supplied set of instructions, means for processing the video signal in accordance with the analysis, and means for outputting the processed video signal.
US08159615B2	System and method of geometrical predistortion of overlaying graphics sources A system and method of geometrical predistortion of a graphical source signal is provided in which the graphical source signal is merged with an input video signal for display on a display device. The input video signal is received at a hardware scaler device and a predistorted video signal is generated there from. A warping map is calculated using a programmed processor and a graphics source signal is then predistorted, in software, using the warping map to generate a warped graphical overlay signal. The predistorted video signal from the hardware scaler is then merged with the warped graphical overlay signal from the programmed processor.
US08159614B2	Image display apparatus and channel information display method thereof An image display apparatus and a channel information display method thereof are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes displaying an image from a selected channel on at least one region of a screen; sequentially receiving, by a tuner, images from a plurality of channels; storing the received images in a storage unit; and displaying the stored images from the plurality of channels simultaneously on at least multiple regions of the screen in response to a channel information function.
US08159612B1	Apparatus, system, and method for processing digital audio/video signals Apparatus, system, and method for processing digital audio/video signals are described. In one embodiment, a decoder is configured to process an input signal having an analog television format. The decoder includes a signal detector, and the signal detector is configured to determine whether the input signal incorporates a digital television signal. The decoder also includes a signal extractor connected to the signal detector, and the signal extractor is configured to extract the digital television signal from the input signal based on determining that the input signal incorporates the digital television signal.
US08159607B2	Video signal display system, video signal reproducing apparatus, and video signal display method A video signal display system includes: a reproducing apparatus including a decoder that decodes input video data to produce a video signal, an IP converter that, when the video signal produced by the decoder is an interlaced video signal, converts the interlaced video signal into a progressive video signal, a pseudo-interlacing unit that performs pseudo-interlacing in which the progressive video signal converted by the IP converter undergoes pseudo-interlacing so that the progressive video signal is converted into a pseudo-interlaced signal, and a first controller; and a display apparatus including a display processor that carries out a display process for displaying a video signal, and a display that can at least display the video signal that has undergone the display process in the display processor.
US08159605B2	Frame interpolating apparatus and method A motion vector is searched for each block of the current video frame by using a previous average motion vector within a screen as a reference motion vector, and whether or not interpolation is effective is determined by using the obtained motion vector. If the interpolation is determined to be effective, an interpolation frame is generated between the current video frame and a preceding video frame by using the obtained motion vector.
US08159600B2	Auto-focus image system An auto focus image system that includes a pixel array coupled to a focus signal generator. The pixel array captures an image that has at least one edge with a width. The focus signal generator may generate a focus signal that is a function of the edge width and/or statistics of edge widths. A processor receives the focus signal and/or the statistics of edge widths and adjusts a focus position of a focus lens. The edge width can be determined by various techniques including the use of gradients. A histogram of edge widths may be used to determine whether a particular image is focused or unfocused. A histogram with a large population of thin edge widths is indicative of a focused image. The generator may eliminate an edge having an asymmetry of a gradient profile of an image signal. The generator may also eliminate an edge that fails a template for an associated peaking of the gradient.
US08159598B2	Distance estimation apparatus, distance estimation method, storage medium storing program, integrated circuit, and camera Attempts to achieve a higher resolution and a higher frame rate of a distance image when a distance to an object within a target space is estimated using the TOF method would cause CCD saturation due to shot noise or environment light, and lower distance precision. A distance estimation apparatus illuminates an object with illumination light for distance estimation emitted from a light source that can emit light (electromagnetic wave) having a predetermined illumination frequency, receives reflected light of the illumination light, obtains information about the distance from the apparatus to the object, generates distance image data based on the distance information, extracts edge information of a color image formed using a visible light component obtained in synchronization with the reflected light, and corrects distance information of a target part of the distance image using distance information of a neighboring part of the target part based on the edge information.
US08159593B2	Display apparatus with a single detection object for determining open/close and inversion of the display A display apparatus includes a hinge unit that couples a display unit to an apparatus body rotatably around first and second rotational axes along different directions. When the display unit and the hinge unit are rotated together around the first rotation axis, the display unit is opened or closed with respect to the apparatus body. When the display unit is rotated with respect to the hinge unit, the display unit inverted or not inverted. A single detection object is provided in the hinge unit. An open/close detection sensor at a position deviated from the first rotation axis detects an open/close state of the display unit in accordance with a positional relationship relative to the detection object. An inversion detection sensor at a position deviated from the second rotation axis detects whether the display unit is inverted or not in accordance with a positional relationship relative to the detection object.
US08159591B2	Apparatus and method for capturing and viewing images A dual sided viewing panel and a method of capturing and displaying images, is disclosed. The dual sided viewing panel includes a first viewing panel and a second viewing panel. The first and second viewing panels are controllable by a control device to capture an image and display an image. The first and second viewing panels are positioned in an aligned back to back relationship to each other. In a method, a first image is captured by the first viewing panel and a second image is captured by the second viewing panel. The first captured image is displayed on the second viewing panel and the second captured image is displayed on the first viewing panel. The viewing direction of the first viewing panel is opposed to the viewing direction of the second viewing panel.
US08159589B2	Image sensor for high-speed data readout An image sensor for high-speed data readout is provided. The image sensor includes a line memory block temporarily storing a digital signal in unit of lines which is generated based on an analog signal output from a pixel array. The line memory block includes a plurality of line memories, a plurality of data line pairs respectively connecting the line memories to a sense amplifying unit, and a plurality of data line prechargers each including at least two precharge units separately connected with a corresponding one of the data line pairs to precharge the corresponding data line pair with a predetermined precharge voltage. Accordingly, the image sensor performs high-speed digital signal readout based on precharge operation of the data line prechargers.
US08159588B2	Exposure control for image sensors An imaging system utilizes an exposure control circuit to control the length of an exposure in full frame mode. The exposure control circuit receives as an input the antiblooming current from at least a representative sample of pixels and determines when to end an exposure based on the amount of current received.
US08159586B2	Solid-state imaging apparatus A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having unit pixels arranged into a two-dimensional matrix, each unit pixel containing a photoelectric conversion section for effecting a photoelectric conversion and an amplification section for amplifying and reading signal charges generated at the photoelectric conversion section; a current supply provided for each column for flowing a bias current to the amplification section; a column processing section provided for each column for processing a signal from the amplification section column by column; an output section for sequentially reading signals processed column by column at the column processing section and outputting them to an external signal processing circuit; and a bias current controlling section for controlling the bias current of the current supply in accordance with a gain setting at the external signal processing circuit.
US08159584B2	Solid-state imaging apparatus and camera A solid-state imaging apparatus including a plurality of sensors that are formed on a substrate on a pixel basis and photoelectrically convert the light incident from a first surface side of the substrate, and a readout circuit that is formed on a second surface side of the substrate, which is the opposite side to the first surface side, and processes a signal from the plurality of sensors. The readout circuit includes a plurality of transistors and the transistors are disposed in a region between the pixels in an aligned manner.
US08159581B2	Photoelectric conversion device and image pickup system using the photoelectric conversion device It is a principle object of the present invention to reduce a voltage drop of a common power supply wiring in a plurality of amplification circuits to suppress crosstalk generated in other signal output lines. A photoelectric conversion device includes: a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion area; a plurality of signal output lines through which electrical signals are to be read out from the plurality of pixels; and a plurality of amplification circuits provided in correspondence to the plurality of signal output lines for amplifying the electrical signals, respectively, the plurality of amplification circuits including at least one constant current circuit portion and being disposed in a predetermined direction of repetitive dispersion, in which a constant current circuit portion includes at least a source grounded field effect transistor (the gate electrode is designated by reference symbol 124G), and a direction (X-axis direction) of a channel length of the source grounded field effect transistor is different from the direction of repetitive disposition of the amplification circuits.
US08159577B2	Solid-state imaging apparatus with decoders for controlling reset switches A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel region including a plurality of pixels, each including a photoelectric conversion element, arranged in matrix, and a reset switch for discharging electric charge of the photoelectric conversion element; and a first scanning circuit for supplying a reset control signal for controlling an operation of the reset switch, the pixel region and the first scanning circuit being formed on a semiconductor substrate, in which the pixel region includes a first pixel region and a second pixel region, and the first scanning circuit includes a first decoder for controlling the operation of the reset switch arranged in the first pixel region, and a second decoder for controlling the operation of the reset switch arranged in the second pixel region.
US08159576B2	Solid state imaging device A solid state imaging device 1 includes a photodetecting section including M×N pixel portions P1,1 to PM,N two-dimensionally arrayed in M rows and N columns, a signal readout section including integrating circuits S1 to SN and holding circuits H1 to HN, and an initialization section including initialization switches SWI,1 to SWI,N. In response to a discharging control signal Reset, discharge switches SW2 in the integrating circuits Sn are temporarily closed and then opened, and thereafter, in response to an m-th row selecting control signal Vsel(m), the readout switches SW1 of the pixel portions Pm,n of the m-th row are closed for a first period. In this first period, in response to a hold control signal Hold, the input switches SW31 of the holding circuits Hn are switched from a closed state to an open state, and thereafter, in response to an initializing control signal Init, the initialization switches SWI,n are closed for a second period.
US08159573B2	Photoelectric conversion device and imaging system A photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit are arrayed, a first storage unit and second storage unit which store pixel signals read out from the pixel array, a first read switch which reads out the pixel signal stored in the first storage unit to a first common signal line, a second read switch which reads out the pixel signal stored in the second storage unit to a second common signal line, and a third read switch which has an input terminal electrically connected to the output terminal of the second storage unit, and an output terminal electrically connected to the output terminal of the first read switch, and reads out the pixel signal stored in the second storage unit to the first common signal line.
US08159571B2	Method of generating HDR image and digital image pickup device using the same A method of generating a high dynamic range (HDR) image and a digital image pickup device using the same are described. The digital image pickup device is employed to generate an HDR image according to a single digital image. The method includes the steps of obtaining an original image; performing a gray-scale processing to convert the original image into an original gray-scale pattern, in which each pixel in the original gray-scale pattern is assigned with a gray-scale value; performing a conversion procedure according to a gradient and a compensation value of the gray-scale value of each pixel in the original gray-scale pattern, and generating a high dynamic gray-scale pattern by using the gradients and the compensation values; and compensating the original image with the high dynamic gray-scale pattern, so as to generate the HDR image.
US08159565B2	Zoom optical system and electronic imaging apparatus having the same An electronic imaging apparatus includes a zoom optical system having, in order from the object side, a first lens unit with positive power, a second lens unit with negative power, and an aperture stop, in which the first lens unit is composed of a single positive power unit and the second lens unit has a single negative lens element located at the most object-side position, both surfaces of which are concave, and a positive lens component located at the most image-side position; an electronic image sensor located on the image side of the zoom optical system; and an image processing section electrically processing image data obtained by the electronic image sensor to change the form thereof.
US08159563B2	Digital photographing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and recording medium storing computer program for executing the method Provided are a digital photographing apparatus having a zoom function, which may easily obtain still images having various viewing angles, a method of controlling the same, and a recording medium storing a computer program for executing the method. The digital photographing apparatus obtains data regarding a first still image at a first zoom ratio, and then automatically obtains data regarding a second still image at a second zoom ratio that is different from the first zoom ratio.
US08159559B2	Image pick-up apparatus with synchronization, image pick-up method and recording medium Image light from an object is dispersed by a light dispersing device. When a plurality of image sensors are used for picking up images, an image in which a moving object is stopped is picked up with a high shutter speed, and at the same time, a motion-blurred image in which the moving object is picked up at a slow shutter speed. The obtained images are synthesized. The synthesized image has a slow synchronized flash effect. Accordingly, an image having a slow synchronized flash effect can be obtained without using a flash.
US08159557B2	Method of generating a gain of an image frame A method of generating a gain of an image frame according to a look up table of gain which is set up based on luminance sensitivity of human eyes is proposed. The method includes setting a gain of an image frame to 1, scanning images of a plurality of front rows of the image frame, averaging the images of the plurality of the front rows of the image frame to generate an average value of the images of the plurality of the front rows of the image frame, finding a gain from the look up table of gain according to the average value of the images of the plurality of the front rows of the image frame, and adjusting remaining rows of the image frame according to the gain to generate images of the remaining rows of the image frame.
US08159551B2	Portable electronic equipment with automatic control to keep display turned on and method Apparatus and method provide a hold on function in a mobile phone or other portable electronic equipment keeps the display thereof turned on in spite of a screensaver or other power saving feature while a user is reading or watching the display and allows activating of power saving facilities of the mobile phone or equipment only when a user no longer is reading or watching the display. Also, a computer program product stored in a storage medium, includes a storage medium, a computer program including face recognition software to recognize whether an input image represents that of a human face, and a control program to control operation of portable electronic equipment depending on whether or not an input image represents a human face.
US08159548B2	Modular architecture having reusable front end for processing digital video data A device is described that includes an encoder/decoder (CODEC) in which functionality is partitioned between a video front end (VFE) and a video back end (VBE). The VFE encapsulates functionality and image processing operations to support a variety of applications, and presents a flexible inter-processor by which an external master device can easily control these operations. The video back end (VBE) operates as an encoder and/or a decoder to generate encoded and/or decoded video sequences. The VFE and VBE may execute within an operating environment provided by a slave device.
US08159540B2	Semiconductor device and imaging capturing apparatus A MCP semiconductor device with an “anti-shake” function includes a driver chip and a logic chip. The logic chip includes a correction signal processing unit which obtains a value for vibration of apparatus based on a vibration detection signal to generate a correction signal and a control signal output unit having a plurality of types of signal output sections which output a vibration control signal in accordance with the correction signal to a vibration correction control unit which executes vibration correction control for an optical component. The logic chip further includes a driver output terminal which outputs the vibration control signal to the driver chip, an external output terminal which outputs the control signal to an external circuit other than the driver chip, and also an output switch unit which connects one of the plurality of signal output sections with the driver output terminal or the external output terminal.
US08159539B2	Smoke detecting method and system A smoke detecting method and system are provided. The smoke detecting method and system capture a plurality of images; determine whether a moving object exists in the plurality of images; select the images having the moving object to be analyzed; analyze whether the moving object is moving toward a specific direction and a displacement of a base point of the moving object; and determine the moving object as a smoke when the moving object is moving toward the specific direction and the displacement is less than a threshold value.
US08159538B2	Monitoring apparatus, filter calibration method, and filter calibration program A monitoring apparatus includes a filter setting unit configured to store filter setting information for analyzing the video data, a filtering unit configured to determine whether the video data satisfies a filter condition of a filter stored in the filter setting unit and, when the video data satisfies the filter condition, perform filtering in which the number of detected objects is counted and output, and a filter calibrating unit configured to perform filter calibration in which at least one virtual filter is arranged with respect to a predetermined filter or a newly set filter, filtering is performed using the predetermined filter or the newly set filter and the virtual filter, a mode of values obtained as results of the filtering is calculated, and when the mode is determined to be equal to or approximate to a true value, the virtual filter is stored as a primary filter.
US08159537B2	Video surveillance equipment and video surveillance system A video surveillance equipment for detecting a change of an object in a monitoring area based on input images captured by an image capturing device, the equipment comprising: an area detection apparatus for detecting a second image area being stationary for a predetermined time in a first image area which is an area differing between a reference image used as a reference in image processing and the input images; a memory apparatus for storing image of the detected second image area; and an image comparison apparatus for performing comparison processing a plurality of times between the stored image and image in the second image area included in the input images.
US08159535B2	Communication system, communication terminal and information processing device A communication system has a communication terminal and information processing device that can be mounted on a movable body. The information processing device includes a request transmission part that transmits to a communication terminal within a predetermined range a request signal, the request signal requesting the transmission of an image, through broadcast communication for transmitting information to a plurality of transmitting partners. The request signal contains a positional information indicative of a position. The communication terminal includes: an image shooting part that shoots an image around the communication terminal; a position acquisition part that obtains a position at which the image is shot; a recording part that associates and records the shot image and the position; and a receiving part that receives the request signal; and an image transmission part that transmits an image.
US08159532B2	Electronic image pickup apparatus An electronic image pickup apparatus includes a zoom lens system which is a taking optical system, an electronic image pickup element which is disposed at an image side of the taking optical system (zoom lens system), and which converts an image formed by the taking optical system (zoom lens system) to an electric signal, and an image restoring section which restores electrically a photographed image according to a difference in occurrence of an aberration by the taking optical system (zoom lens system) in an air environment photography and in a underwater environment photography.
US08159529B2	Image outputting apparatus and program An operation unit switches the operating mode between a 3D display output mode in which the images of the 3D image file are displayed as a stereoscopic images and a 2D display output mode in which one of the images of the 3D image file is displayed as an ordinary planar image. The 3D image file is composed of stereoscopic image data which represents a plurality of monocular images constituting a multi-ocular stereoscopic image and information which is added to the stereoscopic image data and which indicates that the data is stereoscopic data. In the 2D display output mode, a control unit makes an output unit display an image of the 3D image file read from a medium by a media reader and also display a mark on the same screen, indicating that the image displayed in the 2D display output mode is based on the 3D image file.
US08159525B2	Portable multispectral imaging systems Multiport multispectral portable imaging systems having at least two cameras with charge-coupled device sensors, a front lens unit, at least two rear lens units, a beamsplitter, and at least two bandpass filters is used to detect contaminants on food.
US08159513B2	Image forming apparatus and control method for same An image forming apparatus includes a light beam generation unit, a light deflector having a resonance frequency and deflecting a light beam, a photosensitive member to which the deflected light beam is irradiated, and a driving control unit driving and controlling the light deflector. The driving control unit can measure a difference between a frequency of a light-deflector driving signal and the light-deflector resonance frequency and a non-drawing time during which an image is not formed by the light deflector. When the difference between the frequency of the driving signal and the light-deflector resonance frequency is equal to or larger than a predetermined value and the non-drawing time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the driving control unit produces the driving signal having a frequency corresponding to the resonance frequency of the light deflector and supplies the produced driving signal to the light deflector.
US08159508B2	Electro-luminescence display An electroluminescent display comprises a substrate with a plurality of pixel regions, wherein each pixel region has a first sub-pixel region, a second sub-pixel region, and a third sub-pixel region. Pluralities of first color light-emitting layers, second color light-emitting layers, and third color light-emitting layers are formed on the substrate. Each first color light-emitting layer is disposed in one first sub-pixel region, and each second color light-emitting layer is disposed in two adjacent second sub-pixel regions. The area of the first sub-pixel region is larger than the area of the second sub-pixel region in a single pixel region.
US08159502B2	Image input unit and image input method The invention is characterized by the fact that an area sensor for outputting an analog signal responsive to the light reception amount of light of CMYG is used and when CMYG image data is converted into RGB image data, RGB image data having a domain also in negative values is generated without performing processing of putting the RGB image data into values of 0 or more, without decreasing the information amount of the CMYG image data. Further, the invention is characterized by the fact that when the image data is recorded in a file section 16 finally as a JPEG file, the pixel data of each color of YCbCr is represented as data type of eight bits and the information amount per pixel is 24 bits for recording more color information without increasing the memory capacity.
US08159498B2	Gamut mapping and subpixel rendering systems and methods In a first embodiment, a display system comprises a display panel with 4 or more colored subpixels. The display system receives input image data specified in a first color space and outputs image data specified in a second color space. The display system further comprises a gamut mapping module for mapping the input image data specified in the first color space to image data specified in the second color space. The gamut mapping module clamps out-of-gamut colors using at least a first clamping system and a second clamping system. The first and second clamping systems yield first and second clamped values. A weighting module produces a resulting clamped value from the first and second clamped values. A final output image value is derived from the resulting clamped value. Other embodiments of the display system include pre-reduction modules and adjustable GMA modules.
US08159495B2	Remoting sub-pixel resolved characters Remoting sub-pixel defined text. Text is remoted at sub-pixel precision in a computing environment including a terminal server and a terminal client. At a terminal server text definitions are generated. The text definitions include character definitions defining character boundaries with colors so as to be able to define character boundaries using sub-pixel precision by defining colors at the boundaries so as to make use of sub-pixel color components of LCD pixels when the characters are rendered on an LCD screen. At the terminal server glyphs of individual characters are generated. The glyphs include the character definitions including definitions of colored character boundaries. At the terminal server, the glyphs are sent to a terminal client. At the terminal client, the glyphs are blended with background color information and rendered on an LCD screen.
US08159493B2	Adaptive grand tour A system and method of generating a dynamic visualization of a multi-dimensional dataset of data-points are disclosed. The method is an adaptation of the Grand Tour approach, but instead of using all possible projections comprising at least one data point, some of which may not be useful, the method includes generating a set of candidate projections from the space of all possible projections. The set of candidate projections is approximated with a one dimensional smoothed curve and the dynamic visualization is generated, based on a sequence of projections taken along the smoothed curve.
US08159492B2	Method for simulating optical components for the stereoscopic production of spatial impressions The invention relates to a simulation method, especially to a method for simulating spatial impressions which are produced by means of an image generator and one or several filter arrays.The method according to the invention essentially comprises the following steps: a) Specification of the geometry of the image generator, b) specification of the geometry of the filter array, c) specification of a spatial arrangement geometry in relation to the image generator and the filter array in a three-dimensional coordinate system (X,Y,Z), d) specification of two monocular positions of observation in front of the said arrangement geometry, e) specification of a combined image containing bits of partial information from several views Ak (k=1 . . . n) of a scene, f) determination of a first and a second secondary image containing image elements of the specified combined image which are visible to the eye of an observer in the specified first and second monocular position of observation on the basis of the specified filter array geometry in conjunction with the specified image generator geometry and the spatial arrangement geometry, and g) stereoscopic visualization of the first and second secondary images as a left and right stereoscopic image, respectively.
US08159487B2	Plasma display device A plasma display device includes a scan electrode drive circuit including a sustain pulse generating circuit, which includes an electric power recovery capacitor, a first recovery switch and a first recovery inductor connected in series so as to form an electric current passage in which an electric current is allowed to flow from the electric power recovery capacitor to a scan electrode, a second recovery switch and a second recovery inductor connected in series so as to form an electric current passage in which an electric current is allowed to flow from the scan electrode to the electric power recovery capacitor, a first damper capacitor connected to a node between a diode of the first recovery switch and the first recovery inductor, and a second damper capacitor connected to a node between a diode of the second recovery switch and the second recovery inductor.
US08159485B2	Customer pole display and interface A method of using a customer pole display, point-of-sale pole display, point-of sale display, or pole display includes connecting a Universal Serial Bus, inputting a power signal from the Universal Serial Bus, translating the power signal to a display power signal, and connecting the display power signal to the display. A Universal Serial Bus-compatible interface adapted to provide power to a point-of-sale display includes a connector adapted to be coupled to a Universal Serial Bus and a converter operatively coupled to the connector and adapted to translate a power signal input from the Universal Serial Bus to a display power signal. A point-of-sale display assembly includes a display, a connector adapted to be coupled to a Universal Serial Bus, and a converter operatively coupled to the connector and adapted to translate a power signal input from the Universal Serial Bus to a display power signal.
US08159483B2	Electrolytic deposition display apparatus and drive method thereof A plurality of pixels, each including first and second electrodes and an electrolytic solution, are arranged. When a voltage between the first and the second electrodes increases into a precipitation critical value or more, the precipitation of electroplating starts. When the voltage decreases into a value smaller than the deposition overvoltage value, the precipitation ends. A control unit controlling the voltage between the first and second electrodes repeats a subfield operation including a first operation of selectively supplying any of first, a second voltage and third voltages to the plurality of pixels, and a second operation of collectively supplying the second voltage value to the plurality of pixels after the first operation, at least two times or more, to control the gradation of each pixel based on a timing of supplying the third voltage.
US08159482B2	Drive circuit, display apparatus using drive circuit, and evaluation method of drive circuit For making outputs of a drive circuits accurate, the drive circuit is composed of a plurality of current signal generation circuits for outputting a current signal to each of a plurality of output units, a current signal output line to which outputs of the plurality of current signal generation circuits are commonly connected, a correction value output circuit for outputting a correction value obtained by evaluating the output of one or more specific circuits of the plurality of current signal generation circuits on a basis of current values output through the current signal output line, and a correction circuit for correcting an image signal supplied to the current signal generation circuits by means of the correction value.
US08159478B2	Display device and electronic device using the same According to the invention, a compact and inexpensive with low power consumption memory and low access speed can be used for a panel controller and a deterioration compensation circuit of a display device. In a display device of a digital gray scale method, a plurality of pixels of a display panel are divided into first to n-th pixel regions (n is 2 or more) and a format converter portion of a panel controller converts the format of only video data corresponding to one of first to n-th pixel regions and writes the data to one of first and second video memories in each frame period. A display control portion reads out video data that is converted in format and corresponds to one of first to n-th pixel regions in which video data is written to the other of the first and second video memories in the preceding frame period, and transmits the data to the display panel.
US08159477B2	Apparatus for shielding electromagnetic interference of display module and a manufacturing method thereof An electromagnetic interference shielding apparatus and method for manufacturing an electromagnetic interference apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a frame mounting a display module, a conductive rear cover mounted to a rear side of a frame, a shielding member disposed on a front side of the display module and comprising a conductive layer, a conductive member conductively connecting the shielding member with the rear cover, and a conductive adhesive member conductively connecting the conductive member with the shielding member.
US08159475B2	Device for providing a vehicle user with information In a device for providing information to a vehicle user about various functional elements using a display screen system, having an overview image to display the functional elements, having a rotating actuator, which is assigned to the functional elements, rotatable arbitrarily around its axis for the individual selection of the functional elements, and having the property of displaying further information about the particular functional element using an axial movement of the actuator, the functional elements are marked in the overview image. The functional elements are individually selectable by a rotational movement of the actuator and an enlarged detail of the overview image containing the particular functional element is displayable as the information.
US08159474B2	Untethered stylus employing multiple reference frequency communication An untethered stylus is configured to cooperate with a location sensing device that generates a drive signal. The stylus includes transceiver circuitry disposed in a housing, which is configured to receive the drive signal and transmit a stylus signal for reception by the location sensor. Energy circuitry is disposed in the housing and energized by the drive signal. A reference frequency generator, disposed in the housing and coupled to the transceiver circuitry and energy circuitry, is configured to generate a number of reference frequencies based on a source frequency of the drive signal, the reference frequencies indicative of a number of stylus states and synchronized to the source frequency of the drive signal. The transceiver circuitry is configured to mix the reference frequencies with the stylus signal.
US08159473B2	Method for detecting touch point and touch panel using the same The present invention relates to a method for detecting touch points and a touch panel using the same. The method includes the steps of: providing a resistive pressure-sensing matrix includes M X-axis sensing lines and N Y-axis sensing lines, wherein the ith X-axis sensing line and the jth Y-axis sensing line are short-circuited when a preset range covering an overlapped region between the ith X-axis sensing line and the jth Y-axis sensing line is pressed; applying a scanning voltage to the pth Y-axis sensing line in a pth scanning period; detecting the M X-axis sensing lines to judge whether the scanning voltage is detected; and determining a touch coordinate as (q, p) when the qth X-axis sensing line receives the scanning voltage in the pth scanning period, wherein M, N, i, p and q are positive integers, 0
US08159466B2	Touch panel and portable electronic device thereof A touch panel and a portable electronic device thereof are provided. The present invention can accurately determine a position touched by a user on the touch panel by judging whether or not a potential voltage value between a reference capacitor and a sensing capacitor of a pixel having a sensing area being changed, or to determine whether a switch of a pixel having the sensing area being conducted.
US08159465B2	Zooming techniques for touch screens A device may include a touch-sensitive display, a memory to store a group of instructions, and a processor. The processor may execute the instructions in the memory to detect that a circular motion is being made on or near a surface of the touch-sensitive screen, detect a location on the touch-sensitive screen at which the circular motion is being made, and zoom in or zoom out on an item, being displayed on the touch-sensitive screen at the detected location, based on detecting that the circular motion is being made on or near the surface of the touch-sensitive screen.
US08159464B1	Enhanced flight display with improved touchscreen interface An enhanced flight display system for an aircraft, including primary display controls, a flight display, and processing elements. The primary display controls provide a primary capability for performing defined display functions. The flight display includes a touchscreen input device being partitioned into a plurality of fixed touch regions that are responsive to touch so as to provide a secondary capability for performing defined flight display functions. The processing elements are operatively associated with the primary display controls and the flight display for implementing the defined flight display functions in response to utilization of the primary display controls or the touch of one of the touch regions, wherein operation of the fixed touch regions is configured to be independent of the primary display controls. This system provides an intuitive, aircraft optimized touchscreen interface to an aircraft flight display with no or minimal display design changes.
US08159462B1	Reference voltage offset for capacitive touch-sensor measurement Apparatus and methods for offsetting the reference voltage range of a relaxation-type oscillator decreases sensing time and reduces noise-induced jitter.
US08159459B2	Coordinate positioning system and method with in-the-air positioning function A coordinate positioning system with in-the-air positioning function includes an illuminator and an image sensor. The illuminator produces a directional light. The image sensor receives the directional light produced by the illuminator and produces an image corresponding to the directional light to accordingly analyze the image and obtain a rotating angle corresponding to the directional light.
US08159455B2	Methods and apparatus for processing combinations of kinematical inputs Methods and apparatus for processing combinations of force and velocity data generated over a given period of time. In one embodiment, an input device comprising one or more force sensors and one or more motion sensors is manipulated relative to a surface. A receiving system is adapted to receive input sequences or “gestures” which are triggered upon the occurrence of one or more conditions detected by the input device. An application executing in the receiving system may be implemented such that the system responds differently to each specific gesture provided by the user.
US08159451B2	Light-emission control device and liquid crystal display apparatus According to one embodiment, a light-emission control device controls light emission of light sources of a light emitter including a plurality of light source areas each corresponding to one of the light sources, and includes a virtual light-value calculator, a light-value calculator, and a light controller. The virtual light-value calculator calculates a virtual light value for each virtual light source area including a light source area and a virtual area obtained by virtually dividing the light emitter into areas different in size from the light source areas. The light-value calculator calculates a light value of a light sources corresponding to the light source area based on the virtual light value. The light controller lights the light source based on the light value.
US08159437B2	Liquid crystal display device with influences of offset voltages reduced A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first register which latches display data, a second register which latches the display data of the first register in accordance with a first clock, a gray scale voltage generator which outputs a plurality of gray scale voltages, a decoder which selects a gray scale voltage in accordance with the display data of the second register from the plurality of gray scale voltages, and an amplifier including a first transistor, and a second transistor. A first terminal of the first transistor and a first terminal of the second transistor are connected to a first voltage line, and the gray scale voltage outputted from the decoder is supplied to one of input terminals of the first transistor and the second transistor in accordance with a control signal. A phase of the control signal is reversed at intervals of two frame periods.
US08159431B2	Electrooptic device and electronic apparatus An electrooptic device including a plurality of scanning lines; a plurality of m image signal lines; m connecting signal lines provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the m image signal lines; a plurality of data lines blocked by m lines, m data lines in one block being provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the m image signal lines; a scanning-line driving circuit; a block selecting circuit; a sampling switch provided for each of the plurality of data lines; and pixels provided at the intersections of the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of data lines. Each pixel becomes a gray level corresponding to the data signal sampled to the data line when the scanning line is selected.
US08159427B2	Image display An image display is provided with a display area including pixels, each including illuminating means. A control circuit turns the illuminating means of the pixels on and off. A capacitance is provided having a first node connected to an input terminal of the control circuit. A display signal voltage generation circuit generates display signal voltages for the pixels, while a pixel drive voltage generation circuit generates pixel drive voltages for the pixels. In addition, a connector is provided for connecting either one of the display signal voltages or the pixel drive voltages to a second node of the capacitance.
US08159425B2	Method and apparatus for driving an electro-luminescence display panel with an aging voltage The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for driving an electro-luminescence display panel capable of doing an aging operation upon driving.A method of driving an electro-luminescence display panel according to the present invention includes: a scan period when electro-luminescence cells formed at a cross of both a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines are line-sequentially emitted; and an aging period when an aging is performed in the electro-luminescence cells at the same time by applying a reverse bias, wherein the scan period and the aging period are repeated for each frame.
US08159420B2	Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus An electro-optical device that includes: a first scanning line; a first data line; and a first unit circuit. The first unit circuit includes a driving transistor that sets a driving current in accordance with a voltage of a gate of the driving transistor, an electro-optical element that is driven by the driving current, a first capacitative element that has a first electrode and a second electrode, and a second capacitative element that has a third electrode and a fourth electrode. The first electrode is connected to the gate of the driving transistor, whereas the third electrode is connected to either the first electrode or the second electrode. At least a part of the second capacitative element is arranged between the first data line and the first capacitative element in a layout of the first unit circuit.
US08159416B1	Synthetic vision dynamic field of view The present disclosure is directed to a dynamic field of view (FOV) for a synthetic vision system (SVS) scene. The FOV within the SVS scene may switch between a FOV conformal to the real world outside of a vehicle and a wider FOV when beneficial. In an aircraft, for example, generating the SVS scene with the narrower FOV may be optimal during flight, while on the ground a wider FOV may improve situational awareness during taxiing. Determination of the airborne or grounded status of the aircraft may be based on speed, altitude, user input, or a received signal. Although the foregoing has been described within a particular context, the present disclosure is not limited to this scenario and may be applied to any vehicle in any situation where dynamically changing between a narrower FOV and a wider FOV is beneficial.
US08159413B2	Double-stacked EBG structure In a double-stacked electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure, a first conductive plane and a second conductive plane are spaced apart in parallel. At least two EBG layers are embedded in parallel between the first conductive plane and the second conductive plane. The at least two EBG layers have different stopband characteristics. A plurality of vias connect the at least two EBG layers respectively to one of the first and second conductive planes. At least the vias connecting one of the EBG layers pass through via holes in cells of another EBG layer.
US08159408B2	Method and system for software defined antenna control Methods and systems for reducing AM/PM and AM/AM distortion are disclosed and may comprise selectively coupling and impedance matching one of a plurality of tunable antennas to a single programmable output stage comprising a single power amplifier in a transmitter. A programmable matching circuit comprising adjustable inductance and capacitance may be used to impedance match the antenna to the output stage. The selected tunable antenna may be coupled to the output stage utilizing a programmable switch array, which may comprise at least one transistor integrated on an integrated circuit including the output stage, for example. The tunable antennas may be designed to operate in different frequency bands and to be tuned within one or more frequency bands. The programmable matching circuit may be integrated on the chip or external to the chip. The matching circuit capacitance may be integrated on-chip, and the inductance may be located off-chip.
US08159407B2	Radome with integrated plasma shutter Radome with an integrated plasma shutter covering an antenna and method for selectively shielding an antenna. The radome includes a honeycomb core formed to contain a plasma-guiding layer, and coverplates arranged to sandwich the honeycomb core. Electrodes are structured and arranged for plasma excitation, the electrodes being high frequency (HF)—transparent at least in an operating frequency range of the antenna. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08159406B2	Phased-array antenna radiator for a super economical broadcast system A phased-array antenna radiator for a super economical cellular communication system is provided. The phased-array antenna radiator comprises two dipole radiators. The first dipole radiator includes a first monopole radiating element supported by a first outer conductor, a second monopole radiating element supported by a second outer conductor, a first inner conductor, disposed within the first outer conductor and extending therethrough, having an upper termination, a first feed strap, attached to the upper termination of the first inner conductor, and a first stub, disposed within the second outer conductor and attached to the first feed strap. The second dipole radiator includes a third monopole radiating element supported by a third outer conductor, a fourth monopole radiating element supported by a fourth outer conductor, a second inner conductor, disposed within the third outer conductor and extending therethrough, having an upper termination, a second feed strap, attached to the upper termination of the second inner conductor, and a second stub, disposed within the fourth outer conductor and attached to the second feed strap.
US08159405B2	Magnetic antenna and board mounted with the same A magnetic antenna, suitable for use in an RFID tag and an RFID tag reader/writer, which operates stable even if brought close to a metallic object and suitable for mass-production, and a board mounted with the magnetic antenna. The magnetic antenna has a coil with a magnetic layer and a conductive layer provided on the magnetic layer via an insulating layer or has a plurality of coils each with a magnetic layer having a square or rectangular shape and arranged radially.
US08159399B2	Antenna diversity systems for portable electronic devices Antenna diversity systems are provided for portable electronic devices that have wireless communications circuitry and environment sensors. The wireless communications circuitry may include multiple redundant antennas that operate in one or more overlapping radio-frequency communications bands. The environment sensors and redundant antennas may be used in implementing an antenna diversity system. For example, an electronic device may use environment sensors to select an antenna for use in handling wireless communications. The electronic devices may monitor the wireless performance of an active antenna. When the wireless performance of the active antenna degrades, the electronic devices may select a new antenna for wireless communications using the antenna diversity system and environment sensors. Antenna selection may also be made based on which features are being used in the electronic device.
US08159397B2	System for determining position using two way time transfer signals A system for enhancing location estimates by movable rovers including one or more base stations that engage in two way time transfer (TWTT) with the rovers. Each TWTT operation between a given base station and a given rover provides range measurements and clock differences between the base station and rover. The range measurements are based on the travel time of return TWTT signals and the clock differences are based on a phase offset of a code in the return TWTT signal and/or timing information included in the return TWTT signals.
US08159390B2	Temporal CW nuller A temporal nuller for removing or minimizing narrow band interference/jamming power from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver's input includes a first signal path having a first input and a first output, at least one time delay device and an adjustable phase shift device located within the first signal path, and a second signal path having a second input and a second output. The first signal input is connected to the second signal input, and the first signal output is connected to the second signal output. Further, the at least one time delay device is operative to introduce a time delay between a signal at an output of the at least one time delay device relative to a signal at an input of the at least one time delay device.
US08159388B2	Method for filtering sea clutter in a radar echo using a hydrographic model There is disclosed a method for filtering sea clutter in a radar echo using a hydrographic model. The method comprises the steps of determining parameter values of the hydrographic model using the radar echo, estimating the sea clutter corresponding to the sea surface as deduced from the hydrographic model and filtering of the estimated sea clutter from the radar echo.
US08159387B1	Multi-transmitter interferometry Systems and methods for obtaining target elevation information are disclosed. The systems and methods use multiple vertical transmitters and one or more receivers to infer changes in the elevation plane and the height of objects. Changes in elevation and heights of objects are inferred from path length differences between the transmitters and a particular backscattering point. Using known geometric information regarding the configuration of the transmitters, propagation time differences can be estimated via time delay estimation methods in either the time or frequency domain. Appropriate modulation schemes are used such that the multiple signals transmitted are separable upon reception.
US08159380B2	Continuous-time sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter with non-invasive filter(s) for immunity preservation against interferers A continuous-time sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (CV) comprises i) a signal path (SP) which includes at least one combiner (C1) for combining analog signals to be converted with analog feedback signals, at least one integrator (H1) for integrating the combined analog signals, a quantizer (Q) for converting the integrated signals into digital signals, and ii) a feedback path (FP) comprising at least a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for converting the digital signals outputted by the quantizer (Q) into analog feedback signals intended for the combiner (C1). It also comprises at least one non-invasive filter (N1) associated to the integrator (H1), connected in parallel to the signal path (SP) at a chosen location and arranged to introduce a notch into its signal transfer function by suppressing unwanted analog interference signals having a chosen frequency band that corresponds to this notch.
US08159379B2	Fast readout method and switched capacitor array circuitry for waveform digitizing A method relates to a technique for reducing the readout time of switched capacitor array circuitries. An implementation is a SCA chip capable of sampling 12 differential input channels at a sampling speed of 10 MSPS to 5 GSPS. The analog waveform can be stored in 1024 sampling cells per channel, and can be read out after sampling via a shift register. The write signal for the sampling cells is generated by a chain of inverters. The domino wave runs continuously until stopped. A read shift register clocks the contents of the sampling cells to outputs, where it can be digitized. It is possible to read out only a part of the waveform for reducing the digitization time. The high channel density, high analog bandwidth of 450 MHz, and low noise of 0.35 mV makes this chip suited for low power, high speed, high precision waveform digitizing.
US08159374B2	Unicode-compatible dictionary compression A character data set is compressed with a compression algorithm module of a computer system to generate one or more streams of encoded values. A code point mapper assigns the encoded values to code points reserved for private use in a Unicode format. An encoder encodes the streams of assigned encoded values using a Unicode Transformation Format (UTF). A dictionary of the compression algorithm initially includes code points assigned by the Unicode format. New entries are successively assigned to private use code points.
US08159371B2	Systems and methods for semi-automatic dialing from a mixed entry sequence having numeric and non-numeric data A system and method for semi-automated dialing is provided. The system includes a display, and a standard keyboard upon which some keys have both a numeric and alphabetic interpretation. An input is received from the keyboard. A determination is made if the input consists only from the keys that have both numeric and alphabetic interpretation. If this is the case, then a numeric analysis is performed. Otherwise, a word analysis is performed. The numeric analysis includes determining if the input has an alternate interpretation, and if so then displaying them so that the user may select the intended input. Determining alternate interpretations includes comparing the input with a dictionary. The word analysis includes searching for word matches between the received input and words in a dictionary, and then converting the matched words into numbers using telephone convention. Results from the analyses may be dialed.
US08159370B2	System and method for control of medical equipment using multiple wireless devices A system and method for controlling a body-scanning device using multiple wireless devices is disclosed. The method includes communicating a secure wireless signal from a footswitch enclosure to a footswitch receiver coupled to the body scanning device in response to an actuation of a substantially flat footswitch zone carried on a footswitch enclosure. Additionally, a wireless signal is communicated from a handswitch enclosure in response to an actuation of a handswitch zone and communicated to a handswitch receiver located in the footswitch enclosure. The wireless signal is then communicated from the footswitch enclosure to the footswitch receiver coupled to the body-scanning device to enable an operator to control the body-scanning device using the handswitch or the footswitch.
US08159365B2	Distributed databases for a well control drilling system An apparatus to update data in a well control system includes a central control unit in communication with a communications network, the central control unit comprising a first display database, an end device in communication with the communications network, the end device comprising a local hardware database, and an operator's panel in communication with the communications network, the operator's panel comprising a second display database, wherein the local hardware database is configured to automatically update data to a primary display database designated from one of the first and the second display databases, wherein the primary display database is configured to automatically update the data to the other of the first and the second display databases.
US08159364B2	Wireless power transmission system The wireless power transmission is a system for providing wireless charging and/or primary power to electronic/electrical devices via microwave energy. The microwave energy is focused to a location in response to receiving a beacon signal from a beacon device by a power transmitter having one or more adaptively-phased microwave array emitters. Rectennas within the device to be charged receive and rectify the microwave energy and use it for battery charging and/or for primary power.
US08159362B2	Method of detecting faults using graduated fault detection levels A faulted circuit indicator utilizes digitized fault indication curves to determine if a fault has occurred in a monitored conductor. Fault indication curves are intended to be similar to trip curves of common power protection devices, and consist of a plurality of associated fault current levels and fault times. The faulted circuit indicator only displays a fault when the current within the monitored conductor exceeds one of the fault current levels for its associated fault time. This results in more accurate fault detection through the ability to distinguish between small and large amplitude faults coupled with the flexability of a fault indicator suitable for use on many different power systems.
US08159361B2	Methods and apparatus for providing power to a notification appliance circuit An arrangement for use in a safety notification system includes primary and secondary power sources and a voltage converter. The primary power source provides power to a notification appliance circuit of a notification system. The secondary power source includes at least one battery. The voltage converter is coupled between the battery and the notification appliance circuit of the notification system, and is configured to generate a regulated DC voltage from an output voltage generated by the second power source. In general, the secondary power source is employed when the primary power source is not available or otherwise is not functioning. However, the secondary power source may also be employed in other circumstances.
US08159360B2	Faulted circuit indicator with fault characteristic detection and display A display for a faulted circuit indicator is disclosed. A plurality of light-emitting diodes is arranged so that at least two diodes are visible to a person approaching the faulted circuit indicator from a determined angle of approach. When a fault is detected, the faulted circuit indicator flashes the plurality of light-emitting diodes in a progression pattern to indicate the direction to the fault relative to the faulted circuit indicator.
US08159358B2	Apparatus and method for storage tank hatch monitoring in an inventory management system A method includes receiving information associated with a level of material in a tank, where the tank has a hatch. The method also includes determining whether the level of material in the tank experiences a specified variation within a critical zone associated with the hatch. The specified variation is indicative of the hatch being open while the tank is being filled. In addition, the method includes generating an alarm when the level of material in the tank experiences the specified variation. Determining whether the level of material in the tank experiences the specified variation could be based on an entrance level speed of the material, which identifies a rate at which the level of material in the tank is increasing when the material level crosses a lower bound of the critical zone. Also, no alarms could be generated when the level of material in the tank is outside the critical zone.
US08159357B1	Means to prospect for water ice on heavenly bodies Apparatus and a method are described for prospecting for water ice on heavenly bodies with the apparatus consisting of site preparation tools and a water ice detector unit. The apparatus is attached at the end of any robotic arm equipped lander or rover spacecraft; for instance, lander designs such as Mars Phoenix or rover designs such as Mars Spirit and Opportunity. Supported on an internal, moveable carriage, the apparatus is also incorporated into smaller, dedicated water ice detection rover spacecraft. The water ice detection unit inserts electrodes into or against a potential water ice deposit and confirms the presence of water ice by making combination impedance and thermal conductivity measurements.
US08159356B2	Flame detection and suppression system using a thermoelectric generator Apparatus and methods for protecting process equipment from a fire and/or an explosion are provided. In particular, the apparatus and methods utilize Seebeck sensors or thermoelectric generators to detect the propagation of a flame front or deflagration wave within the process equipment. Upon detection of the deflagration wave, the system controller activates mitigation apparatus which may be in the form of a chemical suppressant or isolation valves in order to protect the process equipment from damage.
US08159355B2	Multi-option communication methods of fault notification in pet containment systems An animal confinement system including at least one transmitter, a loop antenna associated with each transmitter, a loop monitor associated with each loop antenna, a remote communication device and a communication device. The transmitter sends a signal to the loop antenna. The loop monitor senses at least one attribute of the signal. The communication device is communicatively connected with the loop monitor. The communication device communicates at least one attribute to the remote communication device.
US08159352B2	Personal care implement having a display A personal care implement or toothbrush includes a display for providing content to a user. The display may be configured to present content in a mirror-image format. The personal care implement may be configured to operate in one or more modes of operation. In a clock mode, the display displays a clock reading and/or calendar reading. In a timer mode, the display displays a countdown or count Up timer. In a counter mode, the display displays a number of strokes to be counted up to or down from. One or more components may be included for setting variables associated with the modes of operation, for changing an orientation of the displayed content between a mirror-image format and forward-facing format, and for changing the particular mode of operation.
US08159351B2	Dual use RFID/EAS device A radio frequency identification (RFID) device has multiple modes of operation. One of the modes of operation is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) mode, which is used to allow use of the RFID device as an EAS device. Another mode of operation is an RFID mode, which allows normal function of the RFID device in RFID communications. The EAS mode has greater sensitivity than the RFID mode, requires less power than the RFID mode to operate the device, and requires less current and/or voltage for operation. The EAS mode may achieve these different characteristics by one or more of: switching off some digital blocks in the circuitry of the RFID device; reducing power storage required to respond to incoming signals; reducing the length of response to incoming signals; reducing modulation required for a response; changing chip input impedance; and having multiple chip ports with different impedances.
US08159344B2	Microwave motion detectors utilizing multi-frequency ranging and target angle detection A method of detecting a moving target within a predefined protected region with a microwave motion detector, by transmitting microwave frequency signals and receiving the microwave frequency signals reflected by a target. A target distance is then determined from the received microwave frequency signals, and a target angle is determined from the received microwave frequency signals. Then, a target location is determined from the target distance and the target angle, and an alarm condition is set if the target location is within the predefined protected region.
US08159337B2	Systems and methods for identification of locations A viewing apparatus provides a user with a view of his or her surroundings and enables the user to select a location from the view of the surroundings for identification. The viewing apparatus transmits location information regarding the selected location to a location identification device. In response to receipt of the location information, the location identification device uses the location information to determine identification information for the location. The location identification device transmits the identification information to the viewing apparatus, which displays the identification information on the view of the surroundings, preferably in association with the selected location. The identification information may include an address, a telephone number, and/or other information.
US08159334B2	System and method of communicating emergency alerts A tangible computer readable medium includes instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to communicate with a multicast alert server to receive a multicast emergency alert message via a multicast-enabled network of an Internet Protocol television system. The multicast emergency alert message includes data related to a location code and data related to a set-top box action. The computer program further includes instructions to execute the set-top box action when the location code matches location information stored at a set-top box device.
US08159331B2	Method and system for radiated power control for short range RFID tag reading A method and system for power control for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reading is provided. The system includes a power amplifier for providing an RF transmit signal for the RFID tag reading. The RF transmit signal is provided to an antenna for radiating the transmit signal. The power of the radiated transmit signal defining a read range for the RFID tag reading. The system includes an attenuator provided between the power amplifier and the antenna for controlling the power of the radiated transmit signal to adjust the read range. A handheld RFID reader may include the system. The method includes calibrating the output power of a reader having a power amplifier and an attenuator provided between the power amplifier and an antenna. The step of calibrating includes at least one of controlling power of the power amplifier in its linear region, and controlling attenuation level of the attenuator.
US08159324B2	Portable electronic device for controlling and managing functions and/or data of a vehicle The portable electronic device (1) allows functions and/or data of a vehicle to be controlled and managed. In order to do this, the portable device comprises, in a casing having an upper part (10) fixed, for example, in a removable manner on a lower part (11), means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals for short range personalised communication with the vehicle. It further comprises a microprocessor unit for processing functions and/or data of the device and of the vehicle, at least one display screen (3) having a portion which is visible from outside the casing for displaying different menus or data of the device or of the vehicle, and manual control means (5, 6) for controlling the execution of functions of the microprocessor unit. A power source, such as a battery, is provided in the casing for supplying electric power to all the electronic components of the device. The manual control means comprise control keys (5) each having a touch-sensitive pad arranged on an inner face of the upper part (10) of the casing. Each control key may be individually activated by a finger of a user placed on the casing in a specified region of the touch-sensitive pad to be activated. The control means further comprise at least one control button (6) which can be pressed, in particular to make the control keys (5) and the display screen (3) switch from an idle mode to an operating mode.
US08159317B2	Variable impedance adapter for tuning system performance A variable impedance adapter that has a value of characteristic impedance that is responsive to changes in the configuration of the adapter. In one embodiment, the variable impedance adapter includes an elongated section and a telescoping section that surround a center conductor that transmits an electrical signal across the adapter. A pair of tuning elements is disposed on a portion of the center conductor, one or more of the elements being shaped and configured to move along the center conductor amongst a plurality of positions in response to relative movement between the elongated section and the telescoping section. The first position and the second position correspond to different values of characteristic impedance of the variable impedance adapter.
US08159313B2	Systems, methods, and apparatus for electrical filters and input/output systems An electronic filtering device includes continuous trace on a dielectric substrate and a dissipation layer communicatively coupled to the trace. The dissipation layer may include disconnected metal particles, which may be embedded in a substrate, for example in an epoxy. The continuous trace may be meandering, for example crenulated, coil or spiral signal path. At least a second continuous trace may be spaced from the first by the substrate, and conductively coupled by a via. The electronic filtering device may be used in one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) that form stages of an input/output system.
US08159304B1	Apparatus and method for feed-forwarding in a current-feedback amplifier A current-feedback amplifier with at least one feed-forward capacitor at the input stage of the current-feedback amplifier is provided. In one embodiment, the current-feedback amplifier and feed-forward capacitor(s) are arranged as follows. The input stage includes two translinear loops, where each translinear loop includes a translinear element that is connected to the non-inverting input of the current-feedback amplifier. One feed-forward capacitor is in parallel with each translinear element that is connected to the non-inverting input of the current-feedback amplifier. In other embodiments, the feed forward capacitor(s) are arranged in a different manner.
US08159301B1	Differential amplifier with hysteresis An amplifier circuit having a differential input and an amplifier output is provided. In some examples, the amplifier circuit includes a first input stage having a first complementary transistor pair providing a first input and a first output, the first input being a first half of the differential input; a second input stage having a second complementary transistor pair providing a second input and a second output, the second input being a second half of the differential input; an output stage coupled to the first input stage and the second input stage and providing the amplifier output; and a transistor coupled in parallel to one transistor in one of the first complementary transistor pair or the second complementary transistor pair.
US08159294B2	Multi-voltage headphone drive circuit The present invention discloses a multi-voltage headphone driver circuit comprising: at least one operational amplifier having an output supplied to a headphone speaker, the operational amplifier receiving a first power supply as its high operation voltage; a charge pump receiving a second power supply to generate a negative voltage corresponding to the second power supply in magnitude; and an m-fold circuit multiplying the negative voltage by m and providing the result to the operational amplifier as a low operation voltage thereof, wherein m is a real number.
US08159292B2	Amplifying circuit To efficiently obtain two outputs including one at a normal level and the other at an excessive level. An input signal input to the negative input terminal of an operational amplifier (14) having a negative feedback path is amplified to output an output signal. Signal combining units (18, 20, 22) are provided for adding in a weighted manner a negative input terminal side signal obtained by combining the input signal input to the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier (14) and a feedback signal from the negative feedback path and the output signal from the operational amplifier to output a combined signal, so that two signals, namely the output signal from the operational amplifier (14) and the combined signal, are obtained.
US08159288B2	Low power BPSK demodulator A low power BPSK demodulator having a simple architecture, compact design and reliable is provided. The BPSK demodulator includes a first branch (210) having a first mixer (212) and a first low pass filter (214), a second branch (220) coupled to the first branch at the output of the first low pass filter (214) and input of the first mixer (212) and having a second mixer (222), and a third branch (230) coupled to the second branch at the input and output of the second mixer (222) and having a third mixer (232) a second low pass filter (234) and a voltage control oscillator (236), wherein the third branch and the second branch form a charge pumped based phase lock loop that locks onto a carrier frequency of the BPSK demodulator.
US08159287B2	Transistor device and method A field-effect transistor device, including: a semiconductor heterostructure comprising, in a vertically stacked configuration, a semiconductor gate layer between semiconductor source and drain layers, the layers being separated by heterosteps; the gate layer having a thickness of less than about 100 Angstroms; and source, gate, and drain electrodes respectively coupled with said source, gate, and drain layers. Separation of the gate by heterosteps, rather than an oxide layer, has very substantial advantages.
US08159284B2	Method for regulating temperature and circuit therefor A method and circuit for managing thermal performance of an integrated circuit. In accordance with an embodiment, a thermal limit circuit and a semiconductor device are manufactured from a semiconductor material, wherein the thermal limit circuit is configured to operate at a temperature level that is different from a threshold temperature in response to the thermal sensing element sensing a temperature at least equal to the threshold temperature.
US08159276B2	Method for using digital PLL in a voltage regulator A circuit comprises a digital phase locked loop for generating a synchronization signal and a voltage regulator for providing regulated output voltage responsive to the synchronization signal from the digital phase locked loop.
US08159273B2	Transmission circuit A transmission circuit including a first circuit outputting a first signal based on an input data, a second circuit outputting a second signal based on the input data, where each of the first signal and the second signal functions as a differential signal, a correction circuit generating a correction signal for correcting variation in current drive capabilities of two transistors of a first buffer included in at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit, and a second buffer coupled in parallel with the first buffer and reducing, based on the correction signal, the variation in the current drive capabilities of the two transistors.
US08159270B2	Circuitry and methods minimizing output switching noise through split-level signaling and bus division enabled by a third power supply Disclosed herein are circuitry and methods for transmitting data across a parallel bus using both high common mode and low common mode signaling. The transmitter stages are configured to work with two of three possible power supply voltages: a high Vddq voltage, a low Vssq voltage, and an intermediate Vx voltage. In one embodiment, the odd numbered transmitter stages, that drive the odd numbered outputs to the bus, use the Vddq and Vx supplies, such that the odd numbered outputs comprise high common mode signals. The even numbered transmitter stages, that drive the even numbered outputs to the bus, use the Vx and Vssq supplies, such that the even numbered outputs comprise low common mode signals. With the transmitter and power supplies so configured, no one of the three power supplies must source or sink current to or from more than half of the transmitters at any given time, which reduces power supply loading and minimizes switching noise. As a result, use of the technique may dispense with the need to provide power supply isolation at the transmitters.
US08159262B1	Impedance compensation in a buffer circuit A compensation circuit for controlling a variation in output impedance of at least one buffer circuit includes a monitor circuit having a pull-up portion comprising at least one PMOS transistor and a pull-down portion comprising at least one NMOS transistor. The monitor circuit is configured to track an operation of an output stage in the buffer circuit and is operative to generate a first control signal indicating a status of at least one characteristic of corresponding pull-up and pull-down portions in the output stage over variations in PVT conditions to which the buffer circuit may be subjected. The compensation circuit further includes a control circuit generating first and second sets of digital control bits for compensating the pull-up and pull-down portions in the output stage over prescribed variations in PVT conditions. The second set of digital control bits is generated based at least on the first set of digital control bits and the first control signal.
US08159256B2	Probe needle, method for manufacturing the probe needle and method for constructing a three-dimensional structure A method for manufacturing a probe needle having beams and a contactor placed on tips of the beams comprises preparing a Si wafer 20, forming a seed layer 21 on the Si wafer 20, and forming grooves in a desired shape of the beams on the seed layer 21 by patterning a photoresist 23. Subsequently, the grooves are filled up with metal-plated layers 24a, 24b to form the desired shape of beams.
US08159247B2	Yield enhancement for stacked chips through rotationally-connecting-interposer A set of first substrate and second substrate are manufactured with a built-in N-fold rotational symmetry around the center axis of each substrate, wherein N is an integer greater than 1. A set of N different interposers is provided such that an i-th interposer provides electrical connection between the first substrate and the second substrate with a rotational angle of (i−1)/N×2π. The first and second substrates are tested with each of the N different interposers therebetween. Once the rotational angle that provides the highest stacked chip yield is determined, the first and the second substrates can be bonded with an azimuthal rotation that provides the highest stacked chip yield.
US08159241B1	Method and apparatus for on-chip adjustment of chip characteristics Systems and methods are provided for optimizing operation of an integrated circuit. In one implementation, a system is provided for optimizing operation of an integrated circuit by adjusting an operational parameter of the integrated circuit based on a reference count stored in non-volatile memory fabricated on the integrated circuit. In another implementation, a method is provided for optimizing operation of an integrated circuit by generating, during operation of the integrated circuit, a first oscillator count of an oscillator, comparing the first oscillator count with at least one reference count stored on the integrated circuit, and activating, a control circuit to adjust an operational parameter of the integrated circuit based on a result of the comparison.
US08159240B2	Bulk current injection (BCI) probe with multiple, symmetrically spaced feeds A Bulk Current Injection (BCI) transformer is provided herein with a magnetic core and a plurality of windings. The magnetic core is configured for encircling one or more electrical conductors under test. Each of the plurality of windings are wrapped, at least in part, around a longitudinal dimension of the magnetic core and spaced apart around an azimuthal dimension of the magnetic core. During injection tests, a power source may be coupled for supplying current to each of the windings at a respective “feed point.” Arranging multiple feed points around the magnetic core enables current flow through the windings to generate an azimuthally-uniform magnetic flux density in the magnetic core. The uniform magnetic flux density enables the BCI transformer to excite only common mode currents in the electrical conductors under test. BCI test methods, including injection tests and current sensing tests are also provided herein, along with a test setup for characterizing BCI transformers.
US08159239B2	Testing apparatus for testing electronic system with 5-wire resistive touch panel and the method therefor The invention relates to a testing apparatus for testing a 5-wire resistive touch panel of an electronic system. The testing apparatus comprises a voltage control unit, a signal control unit, an electronic unit and a determining unit. The electronic unit is used for generating at least one output signal corresponding to a first voltage level and a second voltage level generated by the voltage control unit and a detecting signal generated by the signal control unit. The determining unit coupled to the electronic unit is used for determining the status of the electronic unit according to the at least one output signal.
US08159233B2	Passive capacitively-coupled electrostatic (CCE) probe arrangement for detecting in-situ arcing events in a plasma processing chamber An arrangement for detecting in-situ arcing events within a processing chamber of a plasma processing system during substrate processing is provided. The arrangement includes a probe arrangement, which is disposed on a surface of the processing chamber and is configured to measure at least one plasma processing parameter. The probe arrangement includes a plasma-facing sensor and a measuring capacitor, wherein the plasma-facing sensor is coupled to a first plate of the measuring capacitor. The probe arrangement also includes a detection arrangement that is coupled to a second plate of the measuring capacitor, wherein the detection arrangement is configured for converting an induced current flowing through the measuring capacitor into a set of digital signals, which is processed to detect the in-situ arcing events.
US08159231B2	Method for manufacturing a sensor supporting member An opening and closing apparatus is disclosed. The opening and closing apparatus includes an opening and closing body, a capacitance sensor, and a sensor support member. The dynamic capacitance sensor has a conductive sensor electrode, and outputs a detection signal that corresponds to the capacitance between the sensor electrode and a conductive object located close to the sensor electrode. The sensor support member includes a guard electrode, a holding portion, an attaching portion, and a conductive reinforcing member. The reinforcing member is embedded in the main body. At least a part of the reinforcing member is embedded in the guard electrode such that the reinforcing member is integrated with the guard electrode.
US08159221B2	Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method using SSFP having non-zero first moment gradients within the repetition time A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires MR data according to an imaging condition for obtaining a SSFP in flowing matter by applying excitation pulses having a same flip angle with a constant TR and gradient magnetic fields to an object. The image generating unit generates an image of the flowing matter based on the MR data.
US08159210B2	System for automatically detecting power system configuration There is disclosed a method of detecting the configuration of a network having a feeder line with a plurality of feeder meters and distribution transformer meters (DTMs) coupled thereto and with one or more customer meters and/or customer configuration modules coupled to the distribution transformers. The method includes the steps of having each of the feeder meters transmit a uniquely identifiable signal through the feeder line. The DTMs then identifying the phase of each of the uniquely identifiable signals and then transmitting the phase of each of the uniquely identifiable signals to a data collector along with a unique DTM identifier. The connectivity relationship between the feeder meters and distribution transformer meters is then extrapolated by comparing the phase information transmitted by the DTMs. The relationship of the customer meters relative to the DTMs can also be plotted by having each DTM transmit the DTM identifier to all of their respective customer meters, who then transmit this to the data collector along with their customer meter identifier. The method also permits the determination of which phase the DTM is connected to by analyzing the phase angle of a demodulated feeder meter signal.
US08159209B2	Digital signal delay measuring circuit and digital signal delay measuring method A digital signal delay measuring circuit for measuring a delay time of a digital signal of a scan-testable digital circuit inside a device to be tested is provided. The circuit includes: outputting means for outputting a delay time measuring signal as a digital signal; delay means for delaying a timing when a state of the delay time measuring signal is changed; and at least two signal holding means, each receiving the delay time measuring signal and holding the state of the delay time measuring signal at a holding-command input timing.
US08159203B2	DC-DC converter with switchable estimators A DC-DC converter is provided with a first estimator unit (RAE, RLPF, RHPF) for performing an accurate control signal estimation and a second estimator unit (FEU, ΔVEU) for performing a fast control signal estimation. In addition, a switching unit (SU) is provided for switching to an output of the first estimator unit (RAE, RLPF, RHPF) during almost constant control signal conditions and for switching to an output of the second estimator unit (FEU, ΔVEU) during changing control signal conditions to provide an estimation on the required control signal.
US08159202B2	Quasi-continuous voltage regulator with dual polarity outputs A controller includes a hysteretic circuit that provides a first ON level pulse when a corresponding first negative regulated voltage rises above a respective first voltage threshold. Similarly, a second ON level pulse is provided when a corresponding second positive regulated voltage falls below a respective second voltage threshold. The hysteretic circuit provides an OFF level pulse when one of first and second switch currents increases above a current threshold. A switch control circuit receives the first and second ON level pulses and the OFF level pulse, and provides first and second switch control outputs to separately regulate the first and second regulated voltages.
US08159200B2	DC-DC converter circuits, and methods and apparatus including such circuits Electrical power from an input voltage supply is converted to first and second output voltages of opposite polarities using a single inductor (L) and only four principal switches (S1, S2, S4, S6). In contrast to known circuits, none of the switches is exposed to voltages greater than the input voltage (V1). In a first type of charging cycle (FIG. 5(a)-(c)), the first output voltage (V2+) is obtained from the input voltage supply through the inductor. In a second type of charging cycle (FIG. 5 (d)-(f)), the second output voltage (V2−) is obtained from the first output voltage via the intermediate step of storing energy in the same inductor as is used in the first type of charging cycle. Auxiliary switches (S7a, S7b) can be operated in wait states between cycles of the first and second type.
US08159193B2	Wireless communication device A semiconductor device which can operate normally even when the communication distance is extremely short, and which stores excess electric power which is not needed for circuit operation of the semiconductor device when a large amount of electric power is supplied thereto. The following are included: an antenna; a first AC/DC converter circuit which is connected to the antenna; a second AC/DC converter circuit which is connected to the antenna through a switching element; a detecting circuit which controls operation of the switching element in accordance with the value of a voltage output from the first AC/DC converter circuit; and a battery which stores electric power supplied from the antenna through the second AC/DC converter circuit. When the switching element is operated, electric power supplied from outside is at least partly supplied to the battery through the second AC/DC converter circuit.
US08159192B2	Method for charging a nickel-metal hydride battery A method for charging a nickel-metal hydride storage battery comprising a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide, a negative electrode containing a hydrogen absorbing alloy, an alkaline electrolyte, and an alkali conducting separator provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The alkali conducting separator may be a solid alkali metal ion super ion conducting material, wherein the alkali metal is Na, K, or Li.
US08159188B2	Vehicle and method for managing power limits for a battery A method for managing power limits for a battery includes the step of increasing a minimum operating state of charge after an initial power capability has decreased to the point where a predefined full discharge power is not available at an initial minimum operating state of charge. The increased minimum operating state of charge can be chosen such that the full discharge power is available. The increased minimum state of charge may not be chosen to provide the full discharge power if the increased minimum state of charge is greater than a maximum low limit state of charge.
US08159187B2	Charging circuit for secondary battery An operational amplifier connects to a midpoint between a plurality of serially connected battery cells constituting a secondary battery to provide a charging circuit for inhibiting a charge/discharge current from flowin to the midpoint and an input/output current from flowing from the midpoint to each battery cell. The charging circuit includes excess voltage detectors for detecting whether the voltage is an excess voltage, and a charging controller for determining an overcharge state of each battery cell on the basis of the voltages detected and controlling an ON/OFF of a charging switch. Voltage followers include an operational amplifier, NPN transistor, and the like, connected to a midpoint between a first battery cell and a second battery cell and a midpoint between the second battery cell and the third battery, respectively. The outputs of the voltage followers are configured as the grounds of the excess voltage detectors, respectively.
US08159185B2	Battery charger and control method therefor A battery charger capable of correcting the deterioration of a secondary battery left unattended in a charge state and capable of accurately grasping a residual capacity. A battery pack having a nonvolatile memory and a secondary battery cell is attached to the battery charger. Full charge capacity data indicating a chargeable capacity of the battery pack at full charge and a left-charged battery deterioration correcting table to correct the full charge capacity data in accordance with the number of charge cycles are read out from the nonvolatile memory. The charged state data is counted each time it is stored in the nonvolatile memory. A battery cycle deterioration correcting value is specified based on the number of charge cycles, and full charge capacity data is corrected using the specified correcting value. The full charge capacity stored in the nonvolatile memory is rewritten.
US08159182B2	Contactless power transferring coil unit, mobile terminal, power transmitting apparatus, and contactless power transferring system A contactless power transferring coil unit is provided. The contactless power transferring coil unit includes a flat coil, a magnetic film, and a leaking flux detecting coil. The flat coil is formed by winding a conductive wire into a spiral on a substantially flat plane. The magnetic film is disposed so as to cover one entire flat surface of the flat coil. The leaking flux detecting coil is disposed in a periphery outside an outer edge of the flat coil and the magnetic film and detects leaking magnetic flux from the flat coil.
US08159181B2	Combining two or more DC to DC converters to limit external coils This disclosure relates to a voltage converter including a control circuit, a converter sub-circuit, and a single coil, where when the voltage converter can perform bi-directional voltage conversion using the single coil. In other words, the voltage converter can generate one or more regulated output voltages in both directions from one or more input voltages using the same coil.
US08159180B2	Battery charging device and delay angle control method for battery charging device A battery charging device of the present invention has a rectifier portion that is formed by switching elements, and performs advance angle/delay angle control. An advance angle/delay angle amount in the advance angle/delay angle control is determined based on a differential voltage between the voltage of a battery and a predetermined target voltage. In this case, when a determined delay angle amount exceeds a delay angle limit value, delay angle control is performed using the delay angle limit value. Moreover, the power generation amount of an alternating current generator is detected, and the delay angle amount and power generation amount are stored. If the current delay angle amount is greater than the previous delay angle amount, and the previous power generation amount is greater than the current power generation amount, then the previous delay angle amount is set as the delay angle limit value.
US08159179B2	Battery charging device, three-phase voltage generating circuit, three-phase voltage generation method and delay angle control method In the battery charging device of the present invention, a U, V, W phase voltage generating circuit detects a voltage signal of a U phase sub-coil of a three-phase alternating current generator, and generates a signal of a triangular wave that is in synchronization with the U phase. Moreover, a first triangular wave is generated in synchronization with a phase from 0° to 180° of the U phase rectangular wave, and a second triangular wave is generated in synchronization with a phase from 180° to 360° of the U phase. In addition, a V phase rectangular wave is generated in which the level is inverted at a voltage point of two thirds the peak voltage of the first triangular wave, and in which the level is inverted at a voltage point of two thirds the peak voltage of the second triangular wave, and a W phase rectangular wave is generated in which the level is inverted at a voltage point of one third the peak voltage of the first triangular wave, and in which the level is inverted at a voltage point of one third the peak voltage of the second triangular wave.
US08159177B2	System for realizing rotor variable frequency speed control asynchronously and simultaneously by driving multiple motors via one inverter A system for realizing rotor variable frequency speed control asynchronously and simultaneously is disclosed. Multiple motors are driven via one inverter, which consists of a motor group, a rectifier group, a chopper group, an isolator group, an amperite group, a power capacitor group, a full-bridge or a half-bridge, a speed feedback voltage detector group, and a current feedback voltage detector group. Using inversion control theory, the voltage outputs by a full or half-bridge inverter are an inverse electromotive force of each functional motor, and each motor operates asynchronously and simultaneously. This system may be used in crane operations. As a crane rises, redundant electricity is fed back to the motor via an inverter; and as the crane lowers, the motor will generate electricity, and the electricity is fed back to the motor via the inverter.
US08159170B2	Integral type air conditioner When cooling operation or dehumidifying operation is started, a blower fan for an evaporator and an exhaust fan for a condenser are driven at an initial rotational number. A compressor is driven at a fixed rotational number. Due to load variation, an operating current supplied from a power source is changed. When the operating current exceeds a reference value, the rotational number of the blower fan is gradually reduced. When an endothermic quantity by the evaporator decreases, a temperature of a gas refrigerant flowing through the evaporator is lowered. Since the load applied on the compressor is reduced, the operating current decreases. In this way, when the compressor is loaded, the operating current increased, however, by controlling operation of the fans as described above, it is possible to prevent that the power source is shut off due to overcurrent and operation is stopped.
US08159169B2	Parking brake control device In a parking brake control device, the minimum value of a motor current is set as an idle current after a motor begins to be driven, specifically, in a period during which the idle current is being sampled. As a result, the idle current is set to a value which reflects the temperature of an electric parking brake and the dispersion of individual units of the motor. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a parking brake control device, which can set a target current value capable of coping with the dispersion of the individual units of the motor by calculating the target current value by adding a target effective current necessary to generate an actuation force to the idle current set as described above.
US08159168B2	Rotor position estimator for an electrical machine A method for estimating a rotor position in an electrical machine is provided. The method is applicable to electrical machines that have magnetic saliency. The method includes extracting the rotor position from a demodulated output signal generated in response to an injected high frequency carrier signal and determining a position error compensation based upon a demodulation delay and a velocity or rotational frequency of the electrical machine. The method also includes estimating the rotor position by applying the position error compensation to the extracted rotor position.
US08159165B2	Motor drive circuit A first semiconductor switching element connects to a high side of a motor and includes a diode whose cathode faces the high side. A second semiconductor switching element having a diode resides on a low side of the first semiconductor switching element. A third semiconductor switching element having a diode resides on a low side of the motor. A fourth semiconductor switching element is connected in parallel to the motor and configures a return current circuit that includes a return current element and causes a return current that arises when the first semiconductor switching element turns off to flow through the return current element. A control portion controls on-off states of the first to the fourth semiconductor switching elements and performs return current circuit failure detection based on a first monitor voltage that is an electric potential of a connecting point between the first semiconductor switching element and the motor.
US08159159B2	Controlling tension in roll-based print media An apparatus, method and computer program for controlling the tension in roll-based print media. The apparatus comprises: a motor arranged to apply torque to the roll of print media to create tension in the print media; and processing means arranged to detect first and second electrical drive parameters applied to the motor when the print media is displaced at a substantially constant velocity with a substantially zero tension and a predetermined tension created therein, respectively, and to determine a print media tension value based on a difference between the first and second detected electrical drive parameters.
US08159157B1	Nanotubes as linear accelerators According to certain embodiments, a linear accelerator comprises a nanotube, a particle, and an energy source. The nanotube has a cylindrical shape, and the particle is disposed within the nanotube. The energy source is configured to apply energy to the nanotube to cause the particle to accelerate.
US08159151B2	Control circuit for inverter A reference voltage source generates a reference voltage for adjusting an electric current for a dimming operation. The first current source generates a first current. A first current mirror circuit includes multiple output terminals, duplicates the first current, and outputs multiple first duplicated currents via the multiple output terminals. Multiple first switches are provided on paths for the respective multiple first duplicated currents. A converting resistor, with one terminal set to a fixed electric potential, is provided on a path for the multiple first duplicated currents output from the first current mirror circuit. A decoder circuit receives a control signal from an external circuit, and controls the ON/OFF operations of the multiple first switches. The reference voltage source outputs, as the reference voltage, a voltage that corresponds to a voltage drop that occurs at a converting resistor.
US08159150B2	Method and apparatus for light intensity control The present invention provides a method and apparatus for optical feedback control for an illumination device, wherein the control signal for each array of one or more light-emitting elements corresponding to a particular color, is independently configured using a modification signal whose frequency is different for each color. Electronic filters whose center frequencies are substantially equal to the modification signal frequencies of the drive currents for the light-emitting elements are used to discriminate between the radiant flux corresponding to each of the different colors of light-emitting elements, from a sample of the mixed radiant flux output collected by one or more optical sensors. The output of an individual electronic filter is substantially directly proportional to the radiant flux output of the light-emitting elements of the associated color, which together with the desired luminous flux and chromaticity of the output light, the controller can use to adjust the control signals.
US08159148B2	Light emitting diode light source module A light emitting diode (LED) light source module includes plural voltage converters to convert an input voltage into plural corresponding different operation voltages. A plurality of sets of different color LEDs are provided in the light source module, where each set receives a corresponding one of the operation voltages.
US08159146B1	Apparatus and method for pulsed L.E.D. illumination An illumination source for a camera includes one or more LEDs, and an electrical circuit that selectively applies power from the DC voltage source to the LEDs, wherein the illumination source is suitable for handheld portable operation. In some embodiments, the electrical circuit further includes a control circuit for driving the LEDs with electrical pulses at a frequency high enough that light produced has an appearance to a human user of being continuous rather than pulsed, the control circuit changing a pulse characteristic to adjust a proportion of light output having the first characteristic color spectrum output to that having the second characteristic color spectrum output. Some embodiments provide an illumination source including a housing including one or more LEDs; and a control circuit that selectively applies power from a source of electric power to the LEDs, thus controlling a light output color spectrum of the LEDs.
US08159142B2	Ballast being capable of saving the use of internal connection terminals A ballast comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a switch circuit, and a plurality of lamp sets is provided. The switch circuit comprises a first switch and a second switch connected with the first one. The switches are connected with the first and second input terminals respectively. The lamp sets are connected in parallel with each other and have an arrangement sequence. Each of the lamp sets is coupled to the first and second switches and comprises a first lamp having a first filament. The filaments are connected in series according to the arrangement order so that at least one junction is formed in the at least one connection point. The first one of the first filaments is coupled to the first switch. The last one of the first filaments is coupled to the second switch. Thereby, the ballast can be implemented by less internal connection terminals and leads.
US08159141B2	Methods and apparatus for driving discharge lamps Methods and apparatus for driving discharge lamps are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for driving a discharge lamp includes generating a switching signal to drive a discharge lamp, monitoring a working status of the discharge lamp, and determining whether the discharge lamp is operating abnormally based at least in part on the monitored working status. The method also includes decreasing a duty cycle of the switching signal when the discharge lamp is determined to operate abnormally.
US08159138B2	LED driving topology, light source module based thereon, and digital camera having the same A LED driving topology includes a LED array and a current source connected in series between two power inputs receiving a positive voltage and a negative voltage respectively. This topology increases the voltage difference across the LED array and hence has the capability of lighting up more serially connected LEDs, without requiring an additional boost circuit or a high voltage. In addition, the circuit of the current source can be made by a low-voltage manufacturing process.
US08159135B2	Electrode for high pressure discharge lamp, high pressure discharge lamp, and method for manufacturing electrode for high pressure discharge lamptechnical field Provided is an electrode for a high pressure discharge lamp, which prevents spring-back of an electrode coil, and which has high productivity and high accuracy in positioning the coil. The electrode for the high pressure discharge lamp includes: an electrode core bar (30); and a coil (35) mounted on the electrode core bar, and is configured as follows. The electrode core bar (30) includes: a small-diameter section (31) on a power supply side; and a large-diameter section (32) on a leading end side. The large-diameter section (32) has: a large-diameter portion (32a) on the small-diameter section side; a small-diameter portion (32b) having a smaller outer diameter than the large-diameter portion, the small-diameter portion forming a step (s) with the large-diameter portion therebetween; and a leading end portion (32c). The coil (35) covers a portion between the step (s) and the leading end portion.
US08159133B2	Plasma display panel comprising noise reducing barrier rib structure A plasma display panel is disclosed. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate, a rear substrate positioned opposite the front substrate, and a barrier rib that is positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate to partition discharge cells. The barrier rib includes a transverse barrier rib and a longitudinal barrier rib crossing each other. Depressions are positioned to be spaced apart from each other at a barrier crossing of the transverse barrier rib and the longitudinal barrier rib.
US08159131B2	Light emitting device having a transparent thermally conductive layer A light emitting device and method of producing the same is disclosed. The light emitting device includes a transparent thermally conductive layer, a phosphor layer provided on the transparent thermally conductive layer, and at least one light emitting semiconductor arranged to emit light toward the transparent thermally conductive layer and the phosphor layer.
US08159123B2	Light emitting device, light-emitting module, lighting apparatus, and image projection apparatus In a light emitting module arranging therein a plurality of LEDs, each LED includes: an LED chip; and an anode connected to the LED chip. The anode includes: a support surface supporting the LED chip; and an extending part extending with respect to the support surface, and the extending parts in the plurality of LEDs separate from each other.
US08159121B2	Field effect electron emitting apparatus A field effect electron emitting apparatus comprising a substrate, a plurality of wires embedded in the substrate, at least a portion of each wire being exposed from the substrate and extending generally perpendicularly therefrom and including magnetic material, wherein the average wire spacing is less than 30 μm, the average spacing height ratio is between 1 and 3 and the average wire aspect ratio is greater than 3. Also a method of manufacturing an electron emitting apparatus, a field effect display having such a field effect electron emitting apparatus, an illumination apparatus having such a field effect electron emitting apparatus, and a backlight apparatus for a liquid crystal display having such a field effect electron emitting apparatus.
US08159116B2	Piezoelectric device, electronic device using the same, and automobile A piezoelectric device according to the present invention includes lead wires (12) each having one end electrically connected to a circuit pattern, and a piezoelectric oscillator (13) having terminals (13a) electrically connected to the other ends of the lead wires (12), wherein the piezoelectric oscillator (13) is retained in suspension by the other ends of the lead wires (12), and a support member (14) is provided on surfaces (12b) opposite to connecting surfaces (12a) of the lead wires (12) connected to the piezoelectric oscillator (13) at the other ends thereof.
US08159115B2	Stacked crystal resonator An object of the present invention is to provide a crystal resonator capable of maintaining its resonating characteristic and ensuring electrical connections between end surface electrodes using a simple method. Provided is a stacked crystal resonator including: a framed crystal plate, a frame section of which surrounds a resonating section, and to which both of these resonating section and frame section are connected by connecting sections; a first metallic film and second metallic film formed on both of the principle surfaces of the frame section of the framed crystal plate; and a base and cover stacked on both of the principle surfaces of the framed crystal plate. A crystal plate end surface electrode, which is electrically connected to the first metallic film, is electrically connected to a crystal plate auxiliary electrode; the crystal plate auxiliary electrode is electrically connected by a eutectic alloy while facing a base auxiliary electrode; the width of the frame section of one side on one end side of the framed crystal plate where the crystal plate auxiliary electrode is formed, differs from the width of the frame section of at least one other side; and a blocking film which blocks flow of the eutectic alloy to exciting electrodes, is provided on the conducting paths.
US08159110B2	Fluid actuator, and heat generating device and analysis device using the same A fluid actuator includes a piezoelectric body (31), a fluid channel (2) having the piezoelectric body (31) on a part of the inner wall thereof and enabling a fluid to move inside, and a surface acoustic wave generation portion (101) for driving the fluid in the fluid channel by surface acoustic waves generated from a interdigital electrode formed on the surface of the piezoelectric body (31) facing the fluid channel (2). The surface acoustic wave generation portion (101) is arranged at the position offset from the center of the fluid channel (2). The fluid actuator can perform drive with a low voltage and drives the fluid in a narrow fluid channel in a single direction.
US08159109B2	Microresonator A microresonator comprising a single-crystal silicon resonant element and at least one activation electrode placed close to the resonant element, in which the resonant element is placed in an opening of a semiconductor layer covering a substrate, the activation electrode being formed in the semiconductor layer and being level at the opening.
US08159106B2	Motor and electronic apparatus using the same A stator 13 on whose outer circumference a plurality of magnetic poles 13a are arranged is mounted on a substrate 11, and a rotor 14 is rotatably disposed around the stator. The inner circumferential face of the rotor is provided with a magnet 15 magnetized to have alternately opposite polarities in a direction opposing the stator, and magnetized to have alternately opposite polarities in a direction opposing the substrate. The outer circumferential ends of the magnetic poles of the stator are provided with a first extended portion 13c that extends from a magnetic pole base 13d to the substrate side, and a second extended portion 13b that extends from the magnetic pole base to a side opposite the substrate side. A face of the substrate opposing the rotor is provided with a FG pattern 19 outside the outer circumferential face of the stator such that the FG pattern opposes the magnet. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the precision in detecting the rotational speed by reducing noise superimposed on the FG signal, while securing a high driving efficiency.

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