最新美国发明专利第2012-05-01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
US08170680B2	Implantable multi-length RF antenna A system and method for wirelessly transferring information electromagnetically at a specified first operating frequency range in a first medium and at a specified second operating frequency range in a second medium using an implantable multi-length antenna. The implantable multi-length antenna can be configured to appear electrically as a first electrical length in the first medium and as a different second electrical length in the second medium. In other examples, the first operating frequency range can be specified using the first electrical length and the second operating frequency range can be specified using the second electrical length.
US08170679B2	Spectral contrast enhancement in a cochlear implant speech processor Psychophysical tests are administered to cochlear implant (CI) users to determine a spectral modulation transfer function (SMTF), smallest detectable spectral contrast as a function of spectral modulation frequency, for each individual CI user. The determined SMTF for individual CI user is compared against a SMTF of a normal hearing person to determine the specific enhancements needed. A profile of spectral enhancement achievable with variation of filter parameters, sigma and maximum that best fits the needed enhancements for the individual CI user is selected. Based on the corresponding sigma and maximum selected, a sound processing strategy is adjusted to provide customized spectral contrast enhancement for the individual CI user. The sound processing strategy implemented includes an outer hair cell model.
US08170674B2	Method of using spinal cord stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders or conditions The present invention involves a method and a system for using electrical stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead that is in communication with predetermined thoracic vertebral segments to cause spinal nervous tissue stimulation, thus treating a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders.
US08170672B2	Elongated implant having an external energy coupling Electrotherapeutic implant for stimulation of body tissue, comprising at least two electrode poles (14) which are connected to electric feeder lines, a demodulation unit (22), at least one electric feeder line (20), which is designed as an antenna and contacts the demodulation unit (22), wherein the implant (10) is fabricated from one piece, can be affixed (16) at the treatment site and is equipped with a biocompatible insulation, whereby the components of the implant (10) are designed so that a therapeutic energy which can be injected from the outside over the antenna (20) during the treatment is delivered to the therapeutic target region without intermediate storage.
US08170670B2	System and method for recovering from transient faults in an implantable medical device A system and method is disclosed for system fault recovery by an implantable medical device which employs a global fault response. The system enables the device to consistently recover from transient faults while maintaining a history of the reason for the device fault. Upon detection of a fault, the primary controller of the device signals a reset controller which then issues a reset command. All sub-systems of the primary device controller are then reset together rather than resetting individual sub-systems independently to ensure deterministic behavior.
US08170667B2	Implantable cardiac monitor upgradeable to pacemaker or cardiac resynchronization device An implantable cardiac monitor upgradeable to an implantable pacemaker or an implantable cardiac resynchronization device allows the use of a single implantable medical device for monitoring cardiac conditions and later, if needed, for cardiac pacing. The implantable medical device includes a circuit that can be configured, by programming through an external programmer, to either the implantable cardiac monitor or the implantable pacemaker. The implantable medical device is first configured to and used as the implantable cardiac monitor for acquisition of physiological data indicative of a need for a pacing therapy. If the pacing therapy is to follow, the implantable medical device is reconfigured from the implantable cardiac monitor to the implantable pacemaker, thus eliminating the need of using two implantable medical devices.
US08170665B2	Quantum dot labeled stem cells for use in providing pacemaker function The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to the labeling of target cells with nanometer scale fluorescent semiconductors referred to as quantum dots (QDs). Specifically, a delivery system is disclosed based on the use of negatively charged QDs for delivery of a tracking fluorescent signal into the cytosol of target cells via a passive endocytosis-mediated delivery process. In a specific embodiment of the invention the target cell is a stem cell, preferably a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). Such labeled MSCs provide a means for tracking the distribution and fate of MSCs that have been genetically engineered to express, for example, a hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (“HCN”) channel and administered to a subject to create a biological pacemaker. The invention is based on the discovery that MSCs can be tracked in vitro for up to at least 6 weeks. Additionally, QDs delivered in vivo can be tracked for up to at least 8 weeks, thereby permitting for the first time, the complete 3-D reconstruction of the locations of all MSCs following administration into a host.
US08170656B2	Wearable electromyography-based controllers for human-computer interface A “Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller” includes a plurality of Electromyography (EMG) sensors and provides a wired or wireless human-computer interface (HCl) for interacting with computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement of the user's muscles. Following initial automated self-calibration and positional localization processes, measurement and interpretation of muscle generated electrical signals is accomplished by sampling signals from the EMG sensors of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. In operation, the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is donned by the user and placed into a coarsely approximate position on the surface of the user's skin. Automated cues or instructions are then provided to the user for fine-tuning placement of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. Examples of Wearable Electromyography-Based Controllers include articles of manufacture, such as an armband, wristwatch, or article of clothing having a plurality of integrated EMG-based sensor nodes and associated electronics.
US08170655B2	Module and device for discerning therapeutic signals from noise in physiological data A data acquisition module for use in monitoring a plurality of physiological signals is disclosed herein. The data acquisition module may include a first signal processing path for biopotential data, a second signal processing path for therapeutic event data, and a processing unit that receives and processes the data from the first and second signal processing paths. The data acquisition module may further compare identified likely therapeutic events in each of a plurality of psychological signals.
US08170652B2	Method and apparatus for predicting acute response to cardiac resynchronization therapy A method and apparatus for predicting acute response to cardiac resynchronization therapy is disclosed. The method can comprise measuring a first interval during an intrinsic systolic cycle and measuring a second interval during a stimulated systolic cycle. The acute response can be predicted by comparing the percent change in duration between the first interval and the second interval against a pre-determined threshold value. The first and second time intervals can be measured using, for example, a surface ECG or, alternatively, an intracardiac electrogram. In one embodiment, the first interval can be the duration of an intrinsic QRS complex measured during a non-stimulated systolic cycle. Similarly, the second interval can be the duration of a stimulated QRS complex measured during a stimulated systolic cycle.
US08170646B2	Dynamic radiographic image obtaining method and apparatus A method and apparatus for obtaining a dynamic radiographic image with enhanced resolution, in which an electrocardiogram of a subject is obtained, and five time phases are allocated to each cardiac beat period (1 second). The initial X-ray irradiation is performed at 1st time phase of 1st beat to obtain a radiographic image. Thereafter, X-ray irradiations are performed sequentially at 2nd time phase of 2nd beat, at 3rd time phase of 3rd beat, at 4th time phase of 4th beat, and at 5th time phase of 5th beat to obtain respective radiographic images. The five radiographic images obtained are combined at the time interval of 0.2 seconds to be displayed as a motion image. The time interval between the irradiations of the X-ray is 1.2 seconds, so that image signals corresponding to 1st to 5th time phases may be obtained with high resolution.
US08170645B2	Fiducial marker and protective cap This document discusses, among other things, a fiducial marker kit. In one example, the kit includes a fiducial marker assembly that includes a bone screw base for receiving an imageable marker or locatable divot. A valved protective sleeve prevents debris from accumulating in a receptacle portion of the base, which may otherwise degrade the accuracy of patient registration in an image-guided surgical procedure. In one example, the valve automatically opens or closes upon insertion or removal of a screwdriver or other tool, or a shaft portion of the imageable marker or locatable divot. Various bone screw base and receptacle combinations are also discussed.
US08170644B2	Method for fast multi-slice mapping of myelin water fraction Mapping of myelin water content in white matter may provide important information for early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and the detection of white matter abnormality in other diseases. It is disclosed here that free induction decay (FID) of each voxel at multiple slice locations is acquired in the brain using an echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) pulse sequence. The multi-slice EPSI acquisition is designed to have a short first echo time (˜2 ms) and echo-spacing (˜1 ms) in order to acquire multiple sampling points during the fast decay of the myelin water signal. Multi-compartment analysis is then applied to the FID in each pixel using a 3-pool model of white matter to obtain quantitative maps of the myelin water fraction. Using this technique, the MR data for whole brain mapping of the myelin water can be acquired in less than 10 minutes, making this technique feasible for routine clinical applications.
US08170643B2	System and method for irradiating a target with electromagnetic radiation to produce a heated region A system and corresponding method for irradiating a target with electromagnetic radiation to produce a heated region. The system comprises a coupling device operable to couple electromagnetic radiation from a magnetic resonance imaging system. A plurality of energy radiator applicators are connected to the coupling device to receive electromagnetic radiation energy from the coupling device. Each of the radiator applicators is operable to emit a radio frequency heating signal using the electromagnetic radiation energy from the coupling device. A bolus filled with a dielectric fluid is positioned within the inner area of the MRI system. The bolus is operable to receive the radio frequency heating signals from the plurality of energy radiator applicators and direct the radio frequency heating signals into a section of the body to produce a heated region within the body.
US08170642B2	Method and system for lymph node detection using multiple MR sequences A method and system for detecting lymph nodes in multiple complementary magnetic resonance (MR) sequences is disclosed. Anatomical landmarks, such as blood vessels, are extracted in a first MR sequence, such as an MR angiography (MRA) image. A search area is defined in at least one second MR sequence, such as a T1 weighted VIBE image, based on the anatomical landmarks extracted the first MR sequence. Lymph nodes are then detected in the search area of the second MR sequence. The lymph nodes can be detected by segmenting the search area into homogenous regions and determining whether each region is a lymph node using feature analysis.
US08170636B2	Optical sensor confidence algorithm An implantable medical device system including an optical sensor monitors for the presence of overgrowth on the sensor by sensing light scattered by a measurement volume, the sensed light corresponding to a first wavelength, and deriving an overgrowth metric in response to the sensed light. The overgrowth metric is correlated to the presence of overgrowth on the sensor and is compared to a predetermined threshold. The presence of overgrowth on or near the sensor is detected in response to the overgrowth metric crossing the threshold.
US08170634B2	Polypod antenna Embodiments of the present invention include antennas for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals. The antennas are configured to transmit a first electromagnetic signal at full power via a first set of radiating elements and to transmit the first electromagnetic signal at an attenuated power via a second set of radiating elements to decrease side lobes associated with the transmission of the first electromagnetic signal. The antennas are configured to receive a second electromagnetic signal having an associated first power level via the second set of radiating elements and to form an aggregated electromagnetic signal having a second power level that is a multiple of the first power level. The antennas are configured to attenuate the aggregated signal to form an attenuated electromagnetic signal having a third power level to facilitate uniform reception of the second electromagnetic signal and tapered transmission.
US08170632B2	Electronic device and operation method thereof An electronic device and an operation method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a fixing element, a first main body and a second main body. The fixing element has a first arc-shaped groove, which passes through the fixing element. The second main body has a second arc-shaped groove and a first straight groove, wherein the second arc-shaped groove and the first straight groove are interconnected. The first main body has a first protrusion which passes through the first arc-shaped groove and lodges in the first straight groove. While the first protrusion is slid for a first predetermined distance from one end of the first straight groove, the first arc-shaped groove and the second arc-shaped groove are overlapped, so that the first protrusion is slid along the first arc-shaped groove which overlaps the second arc-shaped groove for driving the first main body.
US08170631B2	Folding electronic device with continuous display In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes an apparatus that includes two panels pivotally connected together. The panels can pivot from an open arrangement where the two panels lay side by side to a closed arrangement where the two panels lay one on top of another. The apparatus also includes a flexible display connected to the two panels and having a portion that is mechanically free from the two panels. The apparatus further includes a cavity to receive at least a portion of the free portion of the display when the panels are pivoted into the closed arrangement.
US08170628B2	Telephone communication device A telephone communication device having a sound generating portion, a sound receiving portion, a detecting portion for detecting a state of approach or contact of a region of a housing between sound output and input apertures of the sound generating and receiving portion, to or with the face of the user, a reference-state memory for storing a reference approach-contact state of the region detected in a standard position of the housing relative of the user's face, a state-change obtaining portion for obtaining a change of the state of approach or contact, with respect to the reference approach-contact state, an adjustment-amount determining portion for determining amounts of adjustment of the sound output level and sound input level according to the obtained change, and a control portion for adjusting the sound output level and sound input level according to the determined amounts of adjustment.
US08170627B2	Wireless communications system having reduced noise mode operation capability A wireless communication system having a terminal unit operates in a reduced noise state during receipt of a wireless transmission from a control unit. The terminal unit includes terminal circuitry, a radio and noise management circuitry. The noise management circuitry partially or fully disables operation of the terminal circuitry during a receipt by the radio. Noise management circuitry may disable a terminal processor, disable interrupts, buffer interrupts and otherwise modify operation of the terminal circuitry to reduce generated radio noise that would otherwise interfere with receipt of data by the radio. The wireless communication system includes noise management circuitry located in a control unit that operates in conjunction with noise management circuitry in a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit to schedule transmissions from the control unit. These scheduled transmissions allow the terminal units to perform required processing functions outside of the reduced noise period.
US08170626B2	Portable electronic device and display control method employed in the same Provided is a portable electronic device which can equalize deterioration of a display device and reduce a deterioration speed, even during a time when a user is performing input operation. When the user is continuously using (operating) keys other than call start and call end keys (14a, 14b), it can be estimated that the user is playing a game or editing on the portable telephone. Therefore, deterioration of a display device configuring a display section (30) is equalized and the deterioration speed is reduced by reducing luminance gradation of display of an area not related to the game and editing on the display section (30).
US08170624B1	Enhanced host sleep for WLAN devices In a method and apparatus for controlling operation of a wireless device, a host assembly of the wireless device enters into a handshaking procedure with firmware of the wireless device to initiate entry into or exit from a host sleep mode. Before such entry or exit, the handshaking procedure may require the host assembly to send an initiation handshake signal to the firmware, and require the firmware to send a confirmation handshake signal back to the host assembly. Entry or exit may be delayed until after the confirmation signal is received. The confirmation signal may vary depending on the handshaking configuration and activation data, and the confirmation signal may vary depending on whether the wireless device is in a power save mode or not.
US08170623B2	Charging arrangement for electronic accessories An arrangement for charging an electronic accessory (such as a wireless headset) using a docking station that obtains power from at least one of a power port and a data port of an attached electronic device (such as the pairing cellular phone). The docking station provides mechanical support and a convenient storage arrangement for the electronic accessory, as well as power conditioning. In another embodiment, the charging and storage functions for the electronic accessory are provided by a cigarette lighter plug employed to charge the electronic device.
US08170617B2	Extensions to adaptive beam-steering method A radio frequency (RF) transmitter is coupled to and controlled by a processor to transmit data. A physical layer circuit is coupled to the RF transmitter to encode and decode between a digital signal and a modulated analog signal. The physical layer circuit comprises a high rate physical layer circuit (HRP) and a low rate physical layer circuit (LRP). In a first embodiment, the LRP circuit generates a LRP packet comprising an LRP transmit power control feedback. In a second embodiment, the LRP and HRP circuit generate a packet comprising a beam-forming phase and magnitude feedback information. In a third embodiment, the LRP and HRP circuit supports up to 64 independent transmit antenna elements.
US08170616B2	Operation method and apparatus of mobile communication terminal supporting dual mode An operation method and apparatus of a mobile communication terminal supporting a dual mode are provided. The method includes determining if two Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards are inserted, searching for and registering with a cell of a first network supported by a first SIM card, and searching for and registering with a cell of a second network supported by a second SIM card during a non-paging duration of the first network.
US08170612B2	Communication apparatus A communication device communicates with another communication device via an information managing device. The communication device includes a transmitter unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The transmitter unit transmits presence information to the other communication device via the information managing device. The storage unit stores a program. If the communication device executes the program, the control unit judges whether the presence information currently registered needs to be changed based on executing the program. If the control unit judges that the presence information currently registered needs to be changed, the control unit changes the presence information based on executing the program. The control unit controls the transmitter unit to transmit the changed presence information as updated presence information to the other communication device via the information managing device.
US08170607B2	Communication system and method in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network A method for communication is disclosed and includes performing by one or more processors in a first access point, receiving a first messaging protocol message from a first switch. The first messaging protocol message is also communicated from the first switch to at least a second switch. A second messaging protocol message may be communicated to the second switch and/or a second access point based on the receiving of the first messaging protocol message. Operation of the first switch, the second switch, the first access point, the second access point, and/or at least one of a plurality of access devices may be controlled utilizing the first messaging protocol message and/or at least the second messaging protocol message. The first messaging protocol message may be generated by the first switch. The first messaging protocol message and the second messaging protocol message may be an access point status message.
US08170606B2	Dynamic thermal control for wireless transceivers Methods and apparatus for dynamic thermal management and control within, e.g., small form-factor wireless devices such as laptop computers or cellular “smartphones”. In one embodiment, a thermal management system monitors the temperature (or other relevant criteria) for one or more components, and implements different operating states within the wireless transceiver (e.g., Wi-Fi™ or WiMAX transceiver) so as to both reduce thermal output and minimize disruption to the wireless link and/or user experience. In another embodiment, a wireless client may communicate with other clients, and/or access points, so as to cooperatively provide more options for thermal management. In addition, methods and apparatus employing “high performance” (e.g., high power output or high data rate) radios within aggressively small industrial designs are also disclosed.
US08170605B2	Dual mode mobile terminal and data call processing method thereof An improved dual mode mobile terminal and data call processing method of the dual mode mobile terminal is provided for enabling a modem chip that is not associated or embedded with an application to process a data call. A data call processing method for a dual mode mobile terminal includes a first control unit associated with an application and a first data protocol stack, a second control unit associated with a second data protocol stack, and an input unit for receiving an input for selecting one of the first and second control units to process a data call, wherein when the second control unit is selected through the input unit, the second control unit opens a socket to couple the second data protocol stack to the application and processes the data call using the application and the second data protocol stack that are coupled with each other via the socket.
US08170604B2	Method and system for managing communications for a multi-mode communications device The invention concerns a method (200) and system (100) for managing communications for a multi-mode communications device (130). The method can include the steps of establishing (210) communications with at least a first wireless network (110) and advising (216) the first wireless network of the multi-mode nature of the multi-mode communications device. As such, the first wireless network can be made aware that the multi-mode communications device is capable of communicating with a second wireless network (120).
US08170600B2	Method and apparatus for allocating downlink power in wireless communication system A method and apparatus of allocating downlink power in a radio access station system are disclosed. The method of allocating transmission power to a plurality of terminals in a radio access station system according to the present invention includes (A-1) calculating an allocation power for the respective terminals based on downlink quality information of the respective terminals; (A-2) calculating a minimum requirement power for the respective terminals based on the downlink quality information; and (A-3) allocating the transmission power by distributing part of excess power of a first terminal group having the allocation power higher than the minimum requirement power to the second terminal group having the allocation power lower than the minimum requirement power, and the part of excess power is a sum of insufficient power of the second terminal group. As a result, the loss of the quantity of service transmission of the radio access station is reduced and service areas can be expanded.
US08170597B2	Method and apparatus for jointly controlling transmit power in cognitive radio communication system Provided is an apparatus and method for controlling power in a cognitive radio wireless communication system, the method comprising: performing channel scheduling and the first power control for at least one terminal; checking whether the at least one terminal exist within constraint area, and determining whether the at least one terminal within constraint area cause interference to incumbent system; and performing the secondary power control so that an allocating power may be less than the maximum tolerable interference.
US08170596B2	Secondary data transmission in a group communication transmission data stream A system, method, and wireless communication device that allow the transmission of secondary data in a group-communication data stream between wireless communication devices across a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device selectively transmits at least group-directed voice communication data to other members of a communication group, such as a push-to-talk (PTT) group, in a communication channel having a limited bandwidth thereof, and can selectively transmit secondary data in the same communication channel. A group-communication server preferably receives the voice communication data and secondary data and selectively transmits at least the voice communication data to other member wireless communication devices of the communication group. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device reduces the data size of the voice communication data to a second data size that is less than the bandwidth of the communication channel such that secondary data can be transmitted within the communication channel.
US08170595B2	Hands-free mode for a half-duplex communications system A half-duplex communication system is embodied in a push-to-talk cellular system such as a GPRS system. The system includes two or more terminals (1 A, 1 B, 1 C) one or more of which can operate in a hands-free mode. When in hands-free mode, a terminal (1 A) is offered the right-to-speak by a controller (11 A, 13 A, 15 A, 17 A) within the system without the need for a talk request from a user. This allows a hands-free user to participate safely in a communications session.
US08170593B2	Apparatus, method, and system for channel selection and allocation in mobile communications A mobile communication system (100) includes a plurality of mobile stations (104, 105), a serving base station (101) and, associated with the base station, a channel selector (220, 309) for selecting and allocating downlink wireless traffic communication channels, the selector being operable: (i) to obtain an estimate of a ready time when a downlink wireless traffic signal including traffic data received from a source remote to the base station to be sent to at least one of the served mobile stations will be ready for sending; and (ii) to select and allocate for sending the downlink traffic signal a downlink traffic channel which is the first downlink traffic channel available following the ready time.
US08170591B2	Proximity-based mobile message delivery Proximity-based mobile message delivery is described. In an embodiment, a first user stores a message intended for a second user on a first mobile terminal, while the first mobile terminal is located remote from a second mobile terminal of the second user. Subsequent to this, the first mobile terminal detects that it is now in proximity with the second mobile terminal, and this triggers the first mobile terminal to transmit the message to the second mobile terminal. In embodiments, authentication of the second mobile terminal can be performed before transmitting the message. In another embodiment, a mobile terminal comprises a short-range wireless transceiver that can detect that a further mobile terminal is in proximity, and trigger the transmission of a pre-stored message to the further mobile terminal.
US08170589B2	Mobile station and application server for providing a service to the mobile station and operation methods for the same A mobile station, application server and wireless communication system are disclosed to provide for improved service related information distribution. The application server provides a service to a group of mobile stations, wherein the mobile stations comprise applications associated with the service. A communicating unit of the application server communicates with an application active on a mobile station and a determining unit determines another mobile station with an inactive application and the address of the other mobile station is provided to the mobile station. The mobile station comprises a communication section to receive the address of the other mobile station and comprises an SMS mailer causing an SMS message to be addressed to the other mobile station to start on the other mobile station the inactive application.
US08170587B2	Method for operating a cellular telecommunication network, and method for operating a personal cellular telecommunication device For use in a cellular telecommunications network including a plurality of individually addressable Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) providing bidirectional signal coverage over a predefined geographical area, capable of transmitting Point-To-MultiPoint (PTMP) messages over a Point-To-MultiPoint Service (PTMPS) functionality, and capable of transmitting Point-To-Point (PTP) messages, streaming of a substantially continuous stream of mostly different content, at least some interactive display messages on at least one personal cellular telecommunications device prior to their automatic discarding irrespective of their having been displayed or not.
US08170586B2	Moving body communication system, moving body terminal, information providing apparatus, and information transmission method A moving body terminal is basically provided with a position information acquiring section, a receiving section and a control section. The position information acquiring section is configured to acquire position information indicating a current position of the moving body terminal. The receiving section is configured to receive from an information providing apparatus simple map information which includes information transmission determining information indicating an information transmission unnecessary region of the simple map information where the position information of the moving body terminal is not required to be transmitted from the moving body terminal to the information providing apparatus. The control section is configured to prohibit a transmission of the position information to the information providing apparatus when the position information acquired by the position information acquiring section is inside the information transmission unnecessary region contained in the simple map information that was received.
US08170584B2	Providing an actionable event in an intercepted text message for a mobile device based on customized user information A network device, method, and apparatus are directed towards intercepting a message, such as an SMS, EMS, MMS message, email message, or the like, from a source device directed towards a mobile device. The intercepted message's contents are analyzed. In addition, a mobile user profile is determined from characteristics of the mobile device and tracked usage of a mobile user of the mobile device. An actionable event may then be inserted into the intercepted message based, in part, on the analysis and the mobile user profile. The modified message is then provided to the mobile device, where the mobile user may select the actionable event to receive non-requested content.
US08170579B2	System and method for generating a location estimate using non-uniform grid points The location of a wireless mobile device may be estimated using, at least in part, one or more pre-existing Network Measurement Reports (“NMRs”) which include calibration data for a number of locations within a geographic region. The calibration data for these locations is gathered and analyzed so that particular grid points within the geographic region can be determined and associated with a particular set or sets of calibration data from, for example, one or more NMRs. Received signal level measurements reported by a mobile device for which a location estimate is to be determined may be compared with the data associated with the various grid points to estimate the location of the mobile device.
US08170575B2	Method and a device in a wireless communication system In a wireless communication system, a base station adaptively schedule CQI reports form mobile stations. By adaptively prioritizing the CQI report from the mobile station against the uplink traffic and control data, the CQI reporting rate avoids unnecessary overhead in the uplink while maintaining good performance. The CQI reports are requested in response to a calculated weighting factor which is based on channel coherence time that can be estimated by the base station. The adaptivity in the CQI reporting allows achieving an optimal tradeoff between uplink traffic data and downlink control feedback signaling.
US08170572B2	Methods and apparatus for supporting quality of service in communication systems An access node, e.g., base station, determines a configuration of an end node, e.g., wireless terminal, intended to support a specific traffic flow and sends a configuration command to the wireless terminal. A base station may determine one or more parameters associated with classification, queue management, scheduling, and/or automatic repeat request, and then send a configuration command to the wireless terminal instructing it to implement a configuration operation. In some embodiments, a wireless terminal sets the value of an internal parameter to a value directly provided by the base station in a configuration command. In some embodiments, a wireless terminal determines and sets the value of an internal parameter as a function of information included in the configuration command from the base station.
US08170570B2	Fast retry of transmitting random access preamble using bitmap information A fast retry of transmitting a random access preamble by determining an existence of a random access response during a random access procedure in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution System (LTE).
US08170561B2	Method and system for performing a handoff in a wireless communication system A system for maintaining wireless communication with a plurality of base stations in a communication network is disclosed. A portable terminal having a communication unit is configured to measure signal strength of a transmission signal for neighboring base stations in a frequency band being used by the communication unit, and create a first handoff candidate list in which one or more handoff candidates in a same frequency band are recorded. A handoff using the first handoff candidate list is performed by the portable terminal. Thereafter, the portable terminal measures signal strength of one or more base stations included in a second handoff candidate list. The result of the signal strength measurements are reported to the currently communicating base station, and a handoff is performed based on a response to the report at the portable terminal.
US08170560B2	Method and system for managing context of mobile station A method for managing the context of the mobile station (MS) is applied in an MS handover process of a wireless access network. The function entity identification information of acting on the MS is carried in the context of the MS, and the MS addresses based on the function entity identification information and handovers to the target base station. By adding the identifications of various logic entities acting on the MS to the context information of the MS, the correct addressing of these logic entities is ensured during the handover. The different local policies of the source and destination ends are considered during conveying the context of the MS, in which the destination end may update certain context of the MS according to its own local policy during conveying; and the hierarchy of the context conveying of the MS during the handover is also considered.
US08170558B2	Method and system for performing a handoff in a wireless communication system, such as a hard handoff A method for minimizing search time and disruption of current service on an originating frequency during a frequency search excursion to a target frequency as part of an inter-frequency hard handoff between cells on different RF CDMA channels. Disruption of service on the current frequency during the frequency search excursion to the target frequency is minimized by increasing the amount of power allocated to other symbols of two consecutive frames impacted by the search excursion as a function of the search excursion time. The mobile station tunes to a target frequency and collects chip samples, which are stored in a memory buffer. The mobile station returns to the originating frequency to process the collected samples.
US08170553B2	Cash card system interface module A wireless device, for each of a plurality of wireless networks, establishes communications with each wireless network and transmits SIM card information to the wireless network. The plurality of wireless networks transmit SIM card authentication information requests to a cash card SIM server computer and, if a service agreement exists with an operator of the cash card SIM server, receives SIM card authentication challenge information. At least two of the wireless networks then authenticate the wireless device and prepare and transmit wireless service terms to the wireless device. The wireless device selects a servicing wireless network from the at least two wireless networks based upon the corresponding received wireless service terms and receives wireless service from the selected wireless network. The wireless network and cash card SIM server coordinate billing for such service and deduct appropriate amount(s) from the account of the SIM card.
US08170551B2	Plus code dialing in a mobile device A mobile device include processes that allow the mobile device to make international calls using network-based plus code dialing even when the current network does not inherently support network-based plus code dialing. The mobile device obtains, via a set-up process, state information describing whether the network supports network-based plus code dialing. The mobile device transmits, in response to a request from a user and when the state information indicates the network supports network-based plus code dialing, a message to the network to initiate the international call based on a network-based plus code dialing scheme. The mobile device transmits, in response to the request from the user and when the state information indicates the network does not support network-based plus code dialing, a message to the network to initiate the international call using a handset-based plus code dialing scheme.
US08170550B2	Wireless mobile call location and delivery for non-geographic numbers using a wireline SSP+SCP/wireless HLR interface A system and method is provided for establishing a call to a wireless directory number which is either a non-geographic directory number or a non-dialable directory number. A call is initiated from a wireline telephone to a geographic-based local access directory number. A signaling node associated with the dialed local access DN sends a location request that includes the local access DN to an HLR. The HLR obtains the wireless DN from an internal database in which the wireless DN is associated with the local access DN. The HLR utilizes the wireless DN to receive a temporary local directory number (TLDN) from visitor location register, associates the TLDN with the local access DN and forwards the TLDN to the signaling node, which relays the TLDN to the originating switching node. The call connection is then established directly from the originating switching node to a visited cellular switch using the TLDN.
US08170548B2	User equipment terminal and radio communication system A user equipment terminal for selecting a standby cell based on a specified priority of cell selection includes a determining unit configured to receive a signal transmitted from a base station apparatus and determine whether priority information of cell selection is included in the signal; and a cell selecting unit configured to perform, based on the determination result by the determining unit, cell selection with a same priority for each cell, when the priority information is not included.
US08170543B1	Code domain power display A method for displaying multiple orthogonal code layers on a display device wherein a first axis is indicative of the identity of the code channel of a signal and a second axis is indicative of a measured value of the code channel signal. The method includes displaying a bar for each of a plurality of base code channel signals, the bar having a position on the first axis corresponding to the base code index of the base code channel signal and a height with respect to the second axis corresponding to a measured value of the base code channel signal; and displaying a tie line for each group of base code channels in an active channel, the tie line being located intermediately to the ends of the bars.
US08170537B1	Playing local device information over a telephone connection Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for playing local device information over a telephone connection. In one aspect, a method includes establishing, by a first electronic client communication device, an audio connection between the first electronic client communication device and a remote second electronic client communication device, determining that a user has selected a control of the first electronic client communication device, selecting, with a computer system and in response to determining that the user selected the control, text data that is associated with the user or the first client communication device, translating, with the computer system, the text data into a speech signal, and playing the speech signal to the remote second client device over the audio connection by electronically inserting the speech signal into the audio connection.
US08170535B1	System and method for providing content to portable devices The present disclosure introduces a system and method for distributing content. Content is stored on a server located on a vehicle prior to departure by the vehicle for a destination. A portable device is provided by a passenger on the vehicle. A communication link is established between the server and the portable device, and the content is transmitted to the portable device.
US08170531B2	Method for producing authentication information A method in a mobile station for a communication system includes determining if a security module installed in a mobile station is able to produce authentication information for use in a predetermined authentication procedure with a communication system. If not, the method includes generating key material using the security module, and generating the authentication information based on at least the key material for use in the predetermined authentication procedure with the communication system.
US08170529B1	Supporting multiple authentication technologies of devices connecting to a wireless network A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for determining connection needs of a mobile device connecting to a wireless network. In one aspect, the computer-readable media provide a method that includes receiving a request from a mobile device to access a wireless network, and performing an authentication phase related to the mobile device attempting to access the wireless network. Furthermore, the method includes evaluating signaling behavior of the mobile device during the authentication phase to determine which access technology from a plurality of types of access technologies to use to connect the mobile device to the wireless network. Moreover, the method includes connecting the mobile device to the wireless network using the determined access technology.
US08170519B2	System and method for radio signal reconstruction using signal processor A waveform reconstruction circuit receives an rf signal from an antenna, digitizes it, and then generates an undistorted reconstructed waveform. The reconstructed waveform can then be conventionally mixed and demodulated to extract useful signal information with enhanced receiver fidelity and sensitivity.
US08170514B2	Method for implementing continuous radio frequency (RF) alignment in advanced electronic warfare (EW) signal stimulation systems A method for using a “B” channel of a dual channel measurement receiver as a transfer standard for power measurement, which may include, in an exemplary embodiment, correlating a measurement made with an “A” channel of the dual channel measurement receiver to a measurement made with an RF Power Meter on one RF signal source, so that readings from the “A” channel are aligned to the RF Power Meter; aligning the “B” Channel to the “A” Channel, once the “A” channel has been aligned to read the same as the RF Power Meter; and using the “B” Channel as a transfer standard to measure all remaining RF signal sources in the system.
US08170513B2	Data detection and demodulation for wireless communication systems Techniques for detecting and demodulating data transmissions in wireless communication systems. In one aspect, a decision-directed detector detects for data transmissions in a received signal by utilizing received data symbols as well as received pilot symbols. The decision-directed detector may be designed to perform differential detection in the frequency domain or coherent detection in the time domain, and may be used with multi-carrier modulation (e.g., OFDM). In another aspect, an adaptive threshold is used to perform detection of received data transmissions. A threshold may be determined for each data transmission hypothesized to have been received. The threshold may be computed, for example, based on the signal plus noise energy of the hypothesized data transmission.
US08170510B2	Minimizing mutual coupling Disclosed herein are techniques, systems, and methods relating to minimizing mutual coupling between a first antenna and a second antenna.
US08170508B2	Pre-distortion for a radio frequency power amplifier Coefficients of a pre-distorter are determined for correction of distortion of a signal amplified by a radio frequency amplifier by sampling the signal at the input to the pre-distorter to generate a plurality of input samples and sampling the signal at the output of the amplifier to generate a plurality of output samples, each of the plurality of output samples corresponding to one of the plurality of input samples, calculating a figure of merit for one or more of said plurality of input samples on the basis of the one or more of said plurality of input samples, selectively updating a previously selected set of input samples with said one or more of said plurality of input samples on the basis of the calculated figure of merit, whereby to generate an updated selected set and determining the coefficients of the pre-distorter on the basis of the input samples in the updated selected set and the corresponding output samples.
US08170507B2	Predistortion methods and apparatus for transmitter linearization in a communication transceiver Predistortion methods and apparatus for transmitter linearization in a communication transceiver are disclosed. An example apparatus to linearize a digitally controlled pre-power amplifier included in a transmitter of a communication transceiver disclosed herein comprises a predistorter to predistort an input signal to be processed by the digitally controlled pre-power amplifier, a coupling path within the communication transceiver to couple an output of the digitally controlled pre-power amplifier to an input of a receiver included in the communication transceiver without enabling an output power amplifier stage of a multi-stage power amplifier coupled to an output of the digitally controlled pre-power amplifier, wherein no additional hardware components are required to implement the coupling path within the communication transceiver, and a predistortion evaluator comprising a predistortion calibrator and a predistortion compensator to process data demodulated by the receiver to generate and update predistortion values for use by the predistorter.
US08170503B2	Apparatus and method for transmitting data and apparatus and method for receiving data Provided are an apparatus and method for transmitting data and an apparatus and method for receiving data, in which beam forming is performed in consideration of the communication capabilities of antennas of stations that perform directional communication in a high-frequency band. The apparatus for transmitting data includes a communication-capability-determination module which determines the communication capability of a receiver (RX) antenna module of a receiving station based on communication-capability data transmitted by the receiving station; an antenna-control module which controls a transmitter (TX) antenna module according to a beam-forming mode determined based on the communication capability of the RX antenna module and the communication capability of the TX antenna module; and a communication module which transmits data through the TX antenna module, wherein the beam-forming mode determines whether to transmit a TX antenna weight vector (AWV) pattern, whether to receive a feedback response pattern and whether to transmit an RX AWV pattern.
US08170496B2	Transceiver with space hopping phased array antenna and methods for use therewith A wireless transceiver includes at least one phased array antenna, that transmits an outbound RF signal containing outbound data to at least one remote transceiver and that receives an inbound RF signal containing inbound data from the at least one remote RF transceiver, wherein the at least one phased array antenna is configurable based on a control signal. An antenna configuration controller generates the control signal to configure the phased array antenna to hop among a plurality of radiation patterns based on a hopping sequence. At least one RF transceiver section generates the outbound RF signal based on the outbound data and that generates the inbound data based on the inbound RF signal.
US08170495B2	Collaborative pairing transceiver with space hopping phased array antenna and methods for use therewith A wireless transceiver includes at least one phased array antenna, that transmits an outbound RF signal containing outbound data to a remote transceiver and that receives an inbound RF signal containing inbound data from the at least one remote RF transceiver, wherein the at least one phased array antenna is configurable based on a control signal. An antenna configuration controller generates the control signal to configure the phased array antenna to hop among a plurality of selected radiation patterns that are collaboratively selected by the wireless transceiver and the remote transceiver via a pairing procedure. At least one RF transceiver section generates the outbound RF signal based on the outbound data and that generates the inbound data based on the inbound RF signal.
US08170494B2	Synthesizer and modulator for a wireless transceiver A transceiver including a transmit modulator and a receiver. The modulator may accept a channel selection input, a first modulation input, a second modulation input, and an amplitude input. During transmit time slots, the modulator may generate a modulated output having a carrier frequency selected by the channel selection input. The carrier frequency may be frequency modulated by the first modulation inputs, phase modulated by the second modulation input, and amplitude modulated by the amplitude input. During receive time slots, the modulator may generate a carrier frequency selected by the channel selection input and offset by the first modulation input. The modulator may alternate between providing modulated transmit signals during transmit time slots and providing a local oscillator for the receiver during receive time slots.
US08170493B2	Transmission device, and wireless communication apparatus using the same A transmission device includes a transmitter for transmitting various signals to a reception device, a receiver for receiving a response signal emitted from the reception device in response to the transmission of the various signals from the transmitter to the reception device, a transmission/reception controller for performing control of the receiver and the transmitter, and a reception specifier for specifying the reception timing of the intermittent reception of the reception device when a response signal from the reception device has been received. The transmission/reception controller decides the timing at which the transmission of the various signals will begin, and how long the transmission will last, on the basis of the reception timing specified by the reception specifier.
US08170490B2	Method and apparatus for testing multiple data signal transceivers substantially simultaneously with common transceiver tester A method and apparatus for testing multiple data signal transceivers substantially simultaneously with a common transceiver tester by analyzing previously captured data signal transmissions from some of the data signal transceivers while continuing to capture further data signal transmissions from additional ones of the data signal transceivers.
US08170488B2	Mitigation of internetwork interference When a device in one wireless network receives interfering transmissions from an overlapping neighboring network, the neighboring network may be notified of the interference so that non-interfering schedules can be worked out. In one embodiment, the device receiving the interference may broadcast its own communications schedule. Device(s) in the interfering network may pick up that schedule, and pass it on to their controller, which can rearrange its own network schedule to be non-interfering. In another embodiment, the device receiving the interference may notify its own network controller with the pertinent information, and that controller may contact the controller of the interfering network to coordinate non-interfering schedules.
US08170487B2	Baseband transmitter self-jamming and intermodulation cancellation device Some embodiments provide a method, system, and apparatus for interference cancellation at the baseband of a receiver. A wireless communication device, having a transmitter and receiver, is provided with an adaptive circuit that cancels interference caused by transmit signals (or other signals) leaked or bled onto the receiver at baseband to facilitate detection of a received signal of interest. Some implementations provide for a circuit that approximately reconstructs the second and third order components caused by the nonlinear response of the down-conversion chain of a receiver. This reconstructed signal is then subtracted from the composite received signal to obtain a received signal of interest.
US08170482B2	Method and apparatus for receiving a transmission at a receiver An embodiment of the invention may include a method of receiving a transmission at a receiver. The method may include setting a receive window duration for receiving the transmission based on an elapsed time since last receiving a good transmission. The receive window duration may be a nonlinear function of the elapsed time. The method may further include opening a receive window to listen for the transmission for an amount of time equal to the set receive window duration.
US08170479B2	Apparatus and systems for electrically isolating multiple devices Various embodiments of apparatus and systems are provided for electrically isolating two devices while transferring power and RF signals therebetween. An electrical isolation apparatus includes an isolation transformer communicatively coupled to a first device. The isolation transformer operates to electronically isolate the first device from the second device and transfer power from the first device to the second device. A decoupling device of the apparatus transfers radio frequency (RF) signals between the first device and the second device.
US08170473B2	System and method for identifying the path or devices on the path of a communication signal A system and method of applying a known modification in the form of a distortion to a signal to enable a determination if a signal received by a first node is received directly from a second node or indirectly through a repeater. The repeater receives a primary signal and creates a secondary signal as a function of the primary signal and a known distortion, wherein the known distortion identifies the repeater. The primary signal is transmitted and injected with the secondary signal as the first signal to the primary receiver.
US08170472B2	Arrangement and a method in a telephony system A mobile telephone is easy to carry around but has a small keypad and a small display. A normal deskphone has a big keypad and display and has a convenient handset, but is stationary. A stationary communications terminal is described which is connected to a mobile telephony network via a mobile telephone. The mobile and the stationary terminal have each a BLUETOOTH radio transceiver and are interconnected via a BLUETOOTH link. The stationary communications terminal lacks identity in the mobile network. A subscriber, owning the mobile, can call on the stationary communications terminal and can move to another network having another stationary terminal, on which he can make a call. Another subscriber with a mobile can call on the communications stationary terminal. To prevent misuse the subscribers take an authentication code for his respective mobile on the stationary terminal, and the authentication can be made valid for a predetermined period by taking a service code.
US08170470B2	On-channel repeater and on-channel repeating method Provided are an on-channel repeater for repeating an output signal the same as an input signal on channel by removing feedback signals caused by low isolation of a transmission/reception antenna by converting a transmitted Radio Frequency (RF) signal into a signal of a predetermined band and subtracting a replica of the feedback signal from the converted signal, and by compensating for channel distortion of a reception signal by estimating an inverse of reception channel from a signal acquired by removing the feedback signal, and an on-channel repeating method.
US08170468B2	Method and system for presenting media content in a mobile vehicle communication system A method of presenting channels to the user of a multi-channel wireless media service is provided. A user input is received in a mobile unit, wherein the user input has an associated category. At least one channel of the multi-channel wireless media service responsive to the user input is determined based upon a relationship of the channel to the associated category. Access to the channel is provided to the user. Alternative methods as well as systems and programs for accomplishing the method are provided.
US08170466B2	System and method for automated assessment of constrained constructed responses A system and method for automated assessment of constrained constructed responses provides for automatic, e.g., programmatic, assessing of a test subject response to a constrained constructed response item or question. In one embodiment, paper test materials with test subject markings thereon are converted to electronic form. Test subject markings are further isolated, for example, by registration, sizing and removal of markings other than a graphic response. The subject markings are further compared with a baseline response, correctness deviation criteria and incorrectness deviation criteria (e.g., correctness, incorrectness, substantial correctness, substantial incorrectness, and so on) from which one or more of a score, further learning or other assessment results may be determined. Cluster analysis or other post-evaluation or post-assessment processing may also be conducted, or re-evaluation or re-assessment may also be conducted.
US08170462B2	Adjustable paper cassette An adjustable paper cassette is provided that may be expanded and contracted by sliding movable frames relative to a base frame and then coupling fixing protrusions to desired fixing holes. Therefore, paper sheets having various sizes may be loaded in the paper cassette, and the size of an image forming apparatus with the paper cassette and the packing size of the image forming apparatus may be reduced without limitation on the size of the paper cassette.
US08170460B2	Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and printing medium An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an adhesion processing device, an adhesion device, and a fixing device. The image forming device forms an image on a light-transmitting medium with image formation toner. The adhesion processing device sets whether or not to make the light-transmitting medium contact a light-reflecting medium for each of multiple areas of the image. The adhesion device adheres adhesive toner to an area of the light-transmitting medium. The fixing device aligns the light-reflecting medium with the light-transmitting medium such that the light-reflecting medium contacts a surface of the light-transmitting medium to which the adhesive toner adheres and fixes the light-reflecting medium to the light-transmitting medium.
US08170457B2	Fixing device and image forming apparatus A disclosed cleaning device for removing adhering matter from a surface of a member subject to cleaning includes a belt-shaped film member arranged in a stretched configuration capable of being wound or endlessly move in a direction opposite to a surface movement direction of the member subject to cleaning while being in contact with the surface of the member subject to cleaning, and a cleaning blade configured to abut on the surface of the member subject to cleaning via the belt-shaped film member at a position where the belt-shaped film member is brought into contact with the member subject to cleaning.
US08170456B2	Method and system for improving image on paper registration in an image printing system The present disclosure provides a method for improving image on paper registration in an image printing system. The method includes advancing a target media along a media path; placing a plurality of registration marks adjacent to a toner image on an image bearing surface moving in a process direction, wherein the toner image is configured to be transferred to the target media; detecting positions of the registration marks using one or more sensors adjacent the image bearing surface; determining a correction function using the positions of the registration marks to compensate for an error in a registration of the toner image and the target media; adjusting the advancement of the target media based on the correction function; and transferring the toner image to the target media.
US08170452B2	Developer supplying unit A developer supplying unit of the present invention includes a first driving mechanism which transmits rotational driving to a drive shaft by rotating a first rotational shaft in a normal direction and a second driving mechanism which reciprocates a bottle holding member as a support member to support a toner replenishment unit between a first position within an apparatus main body and a second position being different from the first position by rotating the first rotational shaft in a reverse direction.
US08170451B2	Developing apparatus including guide for preventing packing and leaking of developer and image forming apparatus provided with the same A housing of a developing apparatus is provided with a conveying member in a developer supplying and recovering portion, and with first and second agitating members rotating from the below to the above in portions opposed to each other in a developer agitating portion. A guide is provided in an inner bottom surface of the housing between the first and second agitating members. A discharge portion provided with a developer discharge port is provided on a downstream side of the developer agitating portion in a developer conveying direction of the first agitating member. A suitable amount of developer can be circulated while conveying a part of an excess amount of developer in a circulating conveying path to the discharge portion and discharging from the developer discharge port. Packing and leaking of the developer within the developing apparatus and breakage of the developing apparatus can be prevented and also a good image can be obtained even if high printing images are continuously provided.
US08170449B2	Image forming apparatus and process cartridge An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member which has an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer overlying the electroconductive substrate and a cross-linked resin surface layer overlying the photosensitive layer and bears a latent electrostatic image on the surface thereof, an application device to apply a solid lubricant to the image bearing member; a charging device to charge the surface of the image bearing member, an irradiation device to irradiate the surface of the image bearing member with light to form the latent electrostatic image thereon, a development device to develop the latent electrostatic with toner to obtain a developed image, a transfer device to transfer the developed image to a recording medium, and; a cleaning device to clean the surface of the image bearing member, wherein the cross-linked resin surface layer includes a cross-linked body of trimethylol propane triacrylate and particulates including silicon and an average diameter of agglomeration areas of the particulates containing silicon on the surface of the cross-linked resin surface layer is from 0.5 to 2.2 μm.
US08170446B2	Image-forming apparatus An image-forming apparatus includes: image-holding members each holding an image and being rotatable around a rotation shaft; a frame member that partially defines a space for accommodating the image-holding members; a cover that opens and closes the space, an inner side of the cover having rotation shaft insertion holes; a supporting shaft that supports the cover so the cover is pivotable with respect to the frame member; and a positioning mechanism that positions the cover when the cover closes the space. The positioning mechanism includes at least two projections that project from either the frame member or the cover and are spaced apart in a direction of an axis of the supporting shaft such that lengths of perpendicular line segments from the two projections to the axis of the supporting shaft are different from each other. Projection insertion holes receive the corresponding projections when the cover is closed.
US08170444B2	Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a positioning portion, a rotatable urging member taking an urging position for urging the cartridge to the positioning portion, and retracted and stand-by positions. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, a positionable portion, a displacing portion moving the urging member from the stand-by to the retracted position by contacting a portion-to-be-displaced disposed at a position remoter from the rotation axis of the urging portion than the urging portion when the cartridge advances along an axial direction of the drum in the main assembly, the displacing portion moving the urging member to the retracted position by contacting the urging member when the cartridge advances in the main assembly, and an urgable portion urgable by the urging portion when the cartridge is set in the main assembly.
US08170442B2	Developing cartridge and image forming apparatus A developing cartridge includes a first frame including a first wall at one end thereof, a second frame including a pair of second walls facing with each other and a third wall that connects the pair of second walls, an opening that is formed by the first wall, the pair of second walls and the third wall, and a support that is interposed between the third wall and the first wall so as to support the first wall by the third wall.
US08170441B2	Cleaning blade for electrostatographic apparatus A cleaning blade member including a polymer substrate and a fluorinated polyurethane ceramer coating surface layer. The polymer substrate may comprise polyurethane. The fluorinated polyurethane ceramer coating may comprise a fluorinated polyurethane silicate hybrid organic-inorganic network formed as a reaction product of a fluorinated polyurethane having terminal reactive alkoxysilane groups with a tetraalkoxysilane compound. The fluorinated polyurethane ceramer coating may be coated on the polymer substrate of the cleaning blade without any primer layer therebetween. Also described is an electrostatographic apparatus comprising a toner-contacting member and such a fluorinated ceramer coated cleaning blade for the toner-contacting member. The toner-contacting member may comprise an endless transport web. The fluorinated ceramer enhances the ability of particles to be released from the surface therefore reducing contamination generated due to particles attached to the surface. Coating of a cleaning blade made of polyurethane with such fluorinated ceramer resulted in improved cleaning performance.
US08170439B2	Voltage supplying unit of developing device and image forming apparatus having the same, and a method thereof An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices, a voltage generating part to generate a developing voltage, first switching parts to supply the voltage generated in the voltage generating part to a predetermined developing device out of the plurality of developing devices, a second switching part to selectively supply the developing voltage generated in the voltage generating part to the first switching parts, and a controller to control the first switching parts and the second switching part.
US08170437B2	Operation display device and image forming apparatus equipped therewith When displaying in the energy saving mode, an operation screen having operation buttons related to functions that can be used in the energy saving mode, control is carried out so that the operation buttons related to the functions that can be used in the energy saving mode are displayed in a form that is different from that of the operation buttons related to the functions that can be used only during the normal mode. For example, the operation buttons that can only be used in the normal mode are not displayed in the operation screen of the energy saving mode, or else, the operation buttons that can only be used in the normal mode and the operation buttons that can be used in the energy saving mode are displayed in different colors.
US08170436B2	Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of controlling a temperature of a surface in apparatuses useful for printing Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of controlling a temperature of a surface in an apparatus useful for printing are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses includes a first roll including a first outer surface and at least one first heating element for heating the first outer surface; a second roll including a second outer surface; a nip between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; a first temperature sensor for sensing a pre-nip temperature at a pre-nip location; and a first voltage modulator connected to each first heating element and the first temperature sensor. The first voltage modulator receives a temperature signal from the first temperature sensor indicative of the pre-nip temperature and modulates an AC voltage supplied to each first heating element to maintain each first heating element continuously ON at a power level ranging from partial power to full power to control the pre-nip temperature.
US08170425B2	Optical signal receiving circuit To solve problematic trade-off between a bandwidth and a in-band deviation in an optical signal receiving circuit of a gigabit order that is required to have a wide dynamic range, the optical signal receiving circuit has a current-voltage conversion circuit that receives as an input a current signal outputted from a photoelectric conversion circuit for receiving and converting an optical signal into a current signal and converts it into a voltage signal, and realizes the wide dynamic range by providing the current-voltage conversion circuit with an AGC function and a phase compensation function by MOS transistors and a capacitance. Further, by providing the current-voltage conversion circuit with a second phase compensation function by a MOS transistor and a capacitance, it is made possible for the optical signal receiving circuit to reduce the in-band deviation at the time of minimum gain while securing the bandwidth at the time of maximum gain.
US08170421B2	Method and apparatus for clock recovery A clock recovery method and apparatus is provided. The high-order demultiplexing-demapping unit (102) demultiplexes and demaps the high-order OTN frame (101) into N low-order ODTUjk frames (103), and transmits the N low-order ODTUjk frames (103) to the low-order demapping unit (104); the low-order demapping unit (104) respectively demaps the N ODTUjk frames (103) into N ODUj frames (105), and writes the ODUj frames from memory unit 1 (106) to memory unit n (108) into memory unit n+1 (109) to memory unit 2n (111) by using the clock signal whose gaps are uniformly distributed; and the ODUj frame clock generating unit (113) adjusts the read out clock in memory unit n+1 (109) to memory unit 2n (111), i.e. ODUj frame clock (114), according to the data volume stored in memory unit n+1 (109) to memory unit 2n (111). The embodiments of the invention effectively filter a great deal of jitter generated during the mapping and demapping process, and can recovery high quality clock signal from the high-order OTN frame (101), so as to meet the requirement of the OTN service on jitter.
US08170419B2	Image processing system and control method thereof Provided are an image processing system and method thereof which communicates with an external image source device, the image processing system including: a display device which receives a modulated remote control signal modulated by a modulation method and demodulates the modulated remote control signal to generate a demodulated remote control signal and transmits the demodulated remote control signal; and a relay device which receives the demodulated remote control signal and modulates the demodulated remote control signal according to the modulation method to output an output remote control signal to the external image source device.
US08170414B2	Burst mode digital diagnostic and control for passive optical network receiving Methods and systems for an optical line termination including instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, the instructions including a digital diagnostic table, and a plurality of entries within the diagnostic table, wherein a first entry is associated with a first optical network unit, the first entry including at least one setting for performing burst mode digital diagnostic processes using a first burst mode transmission received from the first optical network unit.
US08170412B2	Platform for stereoscopic image acquisition There is disclosed a method and apparatus for acquiring stereoscopic images. A first camera may be mounted to a first convergence plate, the first convergence plate coupled to a first plate via a first XY slide and a first pivot displaced from the first XY slide. A distance between the first plate and a second plate may be adjusted to set an interocular distance between the first camera and a second camera. The first convergence plate may be rotated about the first pivot to set, at least in part, an angle of convergence between the first camera and the second camera.
US08170409B2	Method and apparatus for controlling flash emission In a method and apparatus for controlling flash emission, the brightness during pre-emission may be accurately measured even when operating an image sensor using a rolling shutter. When pre-emission of flash light is performed, partial exposure during the pre-emission when operating an image sensor using a rolling shutter may be prevented by synchronizing an exposure time of the image sensor to a pre-emission time.
US08170406B2	Automotive water heater An automotive water heater having application to a windshield of an automobile, which is able to produce hot water that can be sprinkled on the windshield to melt accumulated snow and frost, in which a water heater is mainly structured from a laminated assembled heating unit side joined to a heat conducting surface of an exchange bed. Heat quantity produced by the heating unit forms a heat balance function, which transfers the heat to the exchange bed, and water flow paths are defined interior of the exchange bed. The face joining of the laminated heating units is used to facilitate maintenance of component members and allow changing of the number of heating units assembled to the exchange bed, thereby providing choice to accommodate different power requirements.
US08170399B2	Recording device and method To enable a recording device recording a video/audio signal and information necessary for utilizing the video/audio signal to copy the video/audio signal with the converted bit rate, encoding format, etc., to another recording device when utilizing the video/audio signal by the another recording device, and to move only the information necessary for utilizing the video/audio signal between the recording device and the another recording device. A recording device comprises: an input portion that inputs a video/audio signal; a recording portion that records the video/audio signal and information necessary for utilizing the video/audio signal; and a converting portion that converts the recorded video/audio signal. The recording device, leaving the original video/audio signal, copies the video/audio signal whose bit rate, encoding format, etc., have been converted at the converting portion to another recording device and moves the information necessary for utilizing the video/audio signal to the another recording device. After the video/audio signal is utilized by the another recording device, only the information necessary for utilizing the video/audio signal is moved again from the another recording device to the recording device.
US08170389B1	Optical waveguide, and thermally-assisted magnetic recording head including the same An optical waveguide includes a core and a clad. The core includes first to third propagation parts, and a coupling part that couples the first to third propagation parts together. The first propagation part has a first incidence end face on which part of incident light is incident, and a first emission part that emits first propagation light. The second propagation part has a second incidence end face on which another part of the incident light is incident, and a second emission part that emits second propagation light. In the coupling part, a first light wave resulting from the first propagation light and a second light wave resulting from the second propagation light occur, and the first and second light waves interfere with each other to generate third propagation light to be emitted from a third emission part. The third propagation part propagates the third propagation light.
US08170386B2	Optical pulse generating apparatus Optical pulse compressor having a chirp unit including a normal dispersion fiber that provides a positive chirp to an input pulse and having a dispersion compensator including an anomalous fiber is provided. The nonlinear coefficient and the absolute value of the second-order group-velocity dispersion of the anomalous fiber that forms the dispersion compensator is set such that a soliton order becomes one or more, and the fiber length of the anomalous dispersion fiber is made to be equal to or smaller than a length required for optical soliton formation.
US08170385B2	Light coupler and manufacturing method thereof The present invention provides a light coupler and a manufacturing method thereof. The light coupler of the invention includes a plurality of light input terminals, a plurality of light output terminals, a plurality of half mirrors, and an optical wave guide connecting the plurality of the light input terminals, the plurality of the light output terminals and the plurality of the half mirrors. The optical wave guide has kinked line shape and each of the plurality of half mirrors is placed at a respective corner of the kinked line shape. Especially, the kinked line shape includes a polygon network.
US08170382B2	Fiber-optic temperature sensor assembly A fiber-optic temperature sensor assembly comprises a cap with an inner cavity. A sensor member is received in the inner cavity of the cap. The sensor member has light-transmitting properties adapted to change with temperature variations. An optical fiber has a first end received in the inner cavity of the cap, and a second end of the optical fiber being adapted to be connected to a processing unit for transmitting light signals between the sensor member and the processing unit. A pressing device is received in the cap and pressing against the sensor member such that the sensor member is in operational contact with the first end of the optical fiber for transmission of light therebetween during operation of the fiber-optic temperature sensor assembly.
US08170381B2	Optical modulator In an optical modulator comprising substrate 1 having electro-optical effect, two optical waveguides 3a, 3b formed in the substrate, buffer layer 2 formed on the substrate, traveling-wave electrode 4 having center conductor 4a and ground conductors 4b, 4c above the buffer layer, and ridge sections formed with recessed sections 9a to 9c by carving at least a part of the substrate where an electrical field strength of high-frequency electrical signal propagating the traveling-wave electrode is strong, in which the ridge sections include center conductor ridge section 8a having the center conductor formed above and ground conductor ridge section 8b having the ground conductor formed above, and the center conductor ridge section has one of the two optical waveguides formed therein, the recessed sections are practically symmetrical to the center line between the two optical waveguides and the traveling-wave electrode is practically symmetrical to the center line of the center conductor.
US08170376B2	Super-resolution device and method A super-resolution device and method for setting at least one of a plurality of pixels included in image data as target pixels, the image data including pixels arranged in a screen and pixel values representing brightness, an area including the target pixel and peripheral pixels as a target area, and an area for searching pixel value change patterns in the target pixel area; calculating a difference between a first change pattern and second change pattern; comparing a difference between the first and second change patterns; calculating a pixel value of a super-resolution image having a number of pixels larger than a number of pixels included in the image data on the basis of a decimal-accuracy-vector, an extrapolated vector, and pixel values obtained from the image data.
US08170375B2	Image processing apparatus and method for controlling the same An image processing apparatus includes an input unit receiving an encoded image data stream; a decoding processor decoding the stream to obtain image data; a first storage storing the image data; a second storage storing the image data and having a storage area storing at least one picture whose size is the largest of image data to be decoded; a controller analyzing the stream and storing the image data in the first and second storages according to an analysis result; and an output unit reading and outputting the stored pictures in a display order. The controller sets storage areas in the first storage according to image size information, stores the image data in the storage areas, determines whether the image size changes according to the analysis result, and, when the image size changes, stores image data of a picture displayed immediately before the image size changes in the second storage.
US08170364B2	Image processing method, image processing device, and image processing program An image processing method includes the steps of: obtaining image data formed by signals of a plurality of pixels expressing a color image; discriminating a photographic scene of an image from the image data; determining a gradation correction method based on a result of discriminating a photographic scene; determining a first gradation correction amount based on a result of discriminating a photographic scene; detecting a face area in an image of the image data and calculating a face detection reliability; determining a second gradation correction amount based on an average luminance of the face area; determining a third gradation correction amount by weighted averaging the first gradation correction amount and the second gradation correction amount based on the face detection reliability; and applying a gradation correction process to the image data by using the third gradation correction amount and the gradation method.
US08170363B2	Image processing apparatus for performing deblocking filtering process According to the present invention, there is provided a image processing apparatus comprising: at least one memory which stores data of each of at least a first image and a second image having no dependence upon each other's data; a memory access unit which reads out the data from and writes the data in said memory; and a filtering processing unit which receives the data read out by said memory access unit, performs a deblocking filtering process on the received data, and supplies the processed data to said memory access unit, wherein said filtering processing unit alternately performs a deblocking filtering process on at least one block boundary of the first image, and a deblocking filtering process on at least one block boundary of the second image.
US08170357B2	Apparatus and method for generating coded block pattern for alpha channel image and alpha channel image encoding/decoding apparatus and method using the same An apparatus and a method generate a coded block pattern (CBP) of an alpha channel image. An apparatus and a method encode or decode the alpha channel image using the method. The alpha channel image encoding apparatus includes a CBP generator generating a CBP of a first block corresponding to an encoding unit in the alpha channel image by allocating CBPs to a plurality of second blocks that includes the first block; and a bitstream generator generating a bitstream by encoding the CBP or the CBP and pixel values of the second blocks based on the CBP of each of second blocks.
US08170353B2	Information processing apparatus and control method thereof The present invention provides an information processing apparatus and control method thereof and a storage medium that stores its control program capable of generating a code image with the optimum device in accordance with the amount and/or contents of the information to be encoded, and/or considering the load of the equipment. The information processing apparatus is electrically connected to an image processing apparatus, and includes: a deciding section for deciding on whether to generate a code image by encoding information or to issue a command for causing to generate the code image by encoding the information; and a processing section for generating, when the deciding section decides to generate, the code image by encoding the information and transmitting it to the image processing apparatus, and for transmitting, when the deciding section decides to issue, the command to the image processing apparatus.
US08170352B2	String searching facility In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for scanning a data set for the presence of a target string. The data set may be received at a computing facility and cause a scanning program to execute. A first character pair in the data set may be identified where each character making up the first character pair is identified in a vector map. It may then be confirmed that the first character pair matches a positive indicated bitmask in a bitmap matrix, and verify that the position of the first character pair matches a position of a matching character pair in the target string. An action may be caused to be taken as a result of the verification.
US08170349B2	Graphical rating conversion The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the processing of graphical rating images.
US08170347B2	ROI-based assessment of abnormality using transformation invariant features A method and apparatus of comparing the results of medical imaging by, for example, PET scanning dispenses with the need for intensity normalization. The relationships between features extracted from relevant regions of interest in the image are studied. In one example, mean intensities in the principle brain lobes are compared to each other and a short image ID is constructed and used to derive population statistics and diagnosis. The population statistics are compared with ‘reference’ statistics in order to assess abnormality. Comparison by a number of methods is possible, and the invention further provides concerns a novel voting mechanism which derives abnormality scores for each region.
US08170344B2	Image storage device, image storage system, method of storing image data, and computer program product for image data storing An image storage device includes a storing unit, a background recognizing unit, an attribute-information generating unit, and an image-data processing unit. The storing unit stores therein image data and first attribute information for each pixel. The background recognizing unit recognizes a background of the image. The attribute-information generating unit generates second attribute information for each pixel based on the background of the image recognized by the background recognizing unit. The image-data processing unit processes the image data based on the second attribute information generated by the attribute-information generating unit.
US08170339B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method For each image sensing device, an index in a sensed image is recognized, and layout information of the recognized index in a coordinate system based on an image sensing device that has acquired the sensed image is calculated. Index information including identification information unique to the index and the layout information of the index is managed. If recognition of a first index in a first sensed image acquired by a first image sensing device has failed, or the first index has erroneously been recognized, the index information of the first index is varied on the basis of the layout information of the first index calculated by the above process for a second sensed image acquired by a second image sensing device other than the first image sensing device.
US08170338B2	Information processing apparatus and method for correcting electronic information obtained from handwritten information A disclosed information processing apparatus includes an image data obtaining unit configured to obtain image data generated by scanning a confirmation/correction form on a recording medium; a workflow definition obtaining unit configured to obtain a workflow definition of a workflow that includes a workflow step corresponding to the recording medium; a form definition obtaining unit configured to obtain a form definition of the confirmation/correction form corresponding to the workflow step based on the workflow definition; a field image extracting unit configured to extract a field image of a field of the confirmation/correction form from the image data based on the form definition; and a handwriting image extracting unit configured to remove a previous handwriting image and extract a current handwriting image from the field image if the field image contains both the previous handwriting image and the current handwriting image.
US08170333B2	Image processing systems employing image compression A system for processing an image includes a an image data input port, a compressed image data output port or a compressed image data storage node, a non-transitory memory component storing a set of executable instructions, and a scalable tile processing device. The executable instructions cause the system to receive image data, partition the image data into tiles, transmit a tile to the scalable tile processing device, receive an encoded bit stream corresponding to the transmitted tile from the tile processing device, and output compressed image data including the encoded bit stream. The scalable tile processing device receives the tile including tile image data, wavelet transforms, quantizes, segments, and encodes the tile image data to generate a plurality of encoded code blocks, and transmits an encoded bit stream including the plurality of encoded code blocks to the system.
US08170332B2	Automatic red-eye object classification in digital images using a boosting-based framework Automatic red-eye object classification in digital images using a boosting-based framework. In a first example embodiment, a method for classifying a candidate red-eye object in a digital photographic image includes several acts. First, a candidate red-eye object in a digital photographic image is selected. Next, a search scale set and a search region for the candidate red-eye object where an eye object may reside is determined. Then, the number of subwindows that satisfy an AdaBoost classifier is determined. This number is denoted as a vote. Next, the maximum size of the subwindows that satisfy the AdaBoost classifier is determined. Then, a normalized threshold is calculated by multiplying a predetermined constant threshold by the calculated maximum size. Next, the vote is compared with the normalized threshold. Finally, the candidate red-eye object is transformed into a true red-eye object if the vote is greater than the normalized threshold.
US08170331B2	Apparatus and method for pattern interpolation Apparatus and method for pattern interpolation are disclosed. Horizontally interpolated green, red and blue pixel values, and vertically interpolated green, red and blue pixel values are generated according to the pixels received from a pattern color filter. Subsequently, a direction is selected for the green value interpolation according to the horizontally and vertically interpolated pixel values.
US08170330B2	Machine learning for tissue labeling segmentation A method for directed machine learning includes receiving features including intensity data and location data of an image, condensing the intensity data and the location data into a feature vector, processing the feature vector by a plurality of classifiers, each classifier trained for a respective trained class among a plurality of classes, outputting, from each classifier, a probability of the feature vector belong to the respective trained class, and assigning the feature vector a label according to the probabilities of the classifiers, wherein the assignment produces a segmentation of the image.
US08170329B2	Position measuring system, position measuring method and computer readable medium A position measuring system includes: an image capturing unit that captures reference points provided on an object, the reference points composed of at least four first reference points provided respectively at vertices of a polygon or at vertices and a barycenter of a polygon and at least one second reference point provided so as to have a specific positional relationship with respect to the first reference points; an identification unit that identifies images of the first reference points and the second reference point captured by the image capturing unit, on the basis of positional relationships between the images of the first reference points and the second reference point; and a calculation unit that calculates a three-dimensional position and three-axial angles of the object on the basis of positional relationships of the images of the first reference points identified by the identification unit.
US08170328B2	Image display method, apparatus, and program Extracting a luminal or line-like three-dimensional structure from a three-dimensional image of a target object, then generating a projection image by projecting a portion of the entirety of the three-dimensional structure on a cross-sectional image of the target object intersecting the three-dimensional structure, the portion being a portion located within a range of a predetermined thickness from a cross-section represented by the cross-sectional image or a portion located within a range of a predetermined distance from a position where the three-dimensional structure is intersecting the cross-sectional image, and displaying the generated projection image.
US08170319B2	Motion detection by direct imaging during radiotherapy An apparatus, method, system, and means to detect motion of a subject by direct imaging on a treatment plane during a radiotherapy treatment, the method includes delivering a radiotherapy treatment beam to a volume of interest of the subject during a treatment time, acquiring image data during the treatment time associated with the delivery of the radiotherapy treatment beam by a direct imaging of a projection of the treatment volume of interest, providing a real-time display of the acquired image data, determining the occurrence of a motion in the volume of interest during the treatment time, determining the motion exceeds a pre-determined threshold, and outputting an indication the determined motion exceeds the pre-determined threshold during the treatment time.
US08170315B2	Localized and highly constrained image reconstruction method An image reconstruction method includes reconstructing a composite image of a subject using a conventional reconstruction method. The composite image employs the best information available regarding the subject of the scan and this information is used to constrain the reconstruction of a highly undersampled image frames or improve the SNR of image frames. A blurred and normalized weighting image is produced from image frame data, and this normalized weighting image is multiplied by the composite image.
US08170310B2	Automatic outcome analysis using radiological images Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for analyzing a treatment of a patent including: an interactive image editor for allowing a user to interact with a first set image data corresponding to a pre-treatment radiological study of a patient, the first set of image data including an untreated clinical area of interest, such that the user is capable of interacting with the first set of image data to form a target outcome image for the clinical area of interest; a criterion determination module for allowing the user to determine a target outcome criterion; processing module for performing a comparison by comparing the first set of image data with a second set of image data corresponding to a post-treatment radiological study of the patient, the second set of image data including a treated clinical area of interest; and a criterion evaluation module for automatically evaluating the comparison to determine a post-treatment effect. In an embodiment, the criterion evaluation module is further for evaluating automatically a treatment effectiveness evaluation based on an extent to which the post-treatment effect satisfies the target outcome criterion.
US08170305B2	Quantitative tract-of-interest metrics for white matter integrity based on diffusion tensor MRI data The exemplary embodiments of this invention relate at least in part to a method, apparatus and system to characterize white matter, such as for detecting a presence of a white matter impairment. An exemplary method to characterize white matter includes identifying at least one tract of interest (TOI) in the brain of a subject of interest, the tract of interest having a set of streamtubes representing white matter fibers; determining a set of quantitative tractography metrics associated with the tract of interest, the set of quantitative tractography metrics having a plurality of members; and comparing at least one member of the determined set of quantitative tractography metrics to a corresponding member of a reference set of quantitative tractography metrics, or comparison of one TOI in a single subject or group of subjects and other TOI in the same subject(s).
US08170303B2	Automatic cardiac view classification of echocardiography A method for view classification includes providing a frame of an object of interest, detecting a region of interest within the object of interest for each of a plurality of detectors (e.g., binary classifiers), wherein each binary classifier corresponds to a different view, performing a global view classification using a multiview classifier for each view, outputting a classification for each view, fusing outputs of the multiview classifiers, and determining and outputting a classification of the frame based on a fused output of the multiview classifiers.
US08170301B2	Apparatus for inputting biometrical feature A biometrical feature inputting apparatus includes a 1-dimensional or quasi 1-dimensional image sensor. When a finger and the image sensor are relatively slid, a finger sliding guide keeps a finger and an effective pixel unit of the image sensor to a constant distance without any contact between them. An image processing section sequentially generates partial images by imaging emission light that is scattered inside the finger and then emitted from a skin surface of the finger by the image sensor during the relative motion of the finger and the image sensor and link the partial images to an image.
US08170299B2	Image output method, image output device, and image output program Provided is an image output method of outputting predetermined image data from plural pieces of image data, the method including: acquiring a group including plural pieces of image data which are similar to each other; detecting a face turning angle with respect to a face image plane included in an image indicated by each image data belonging to the same group and a face rotation angle indicating a rotation angle in the face image plane; and outputting image data, in which the face turning angle and the face rotation angle are smaller than those of other image data, among the image data belonging to the same group.
US08170298B2	Method for detecting facial expression and repairing smile face of portrait photo A method for detecting a facial expression and repairing a smile face of a portrait photo includes the steps of: detecting a location and a range of a mouth region in an inputted portrait photo; capturing a patch in the mouth region and a predetermined peripheral range thereof; executing a comparison process to a smile state or a stiff state of the mouth region in the patch by a mouth state classifier; executing a calculation process to a repaired region of the mouth region when the mouth region is determined to be in the stiff state, in order to calculate a location of a plurality of feature points in the repaired region of the mouth region; and executing an image warping process to the location of the feature points and adjacent pixels thereof, for generating a portrait photo showing a smile state.
US08170290B2	Method for checking an imprint and imprint checking device A method for checking an imprint reads an imprint, forms a data code from the imprint, and compares the data code with a predetermined number of check data codes of a stored data set. During a search for the data code in the data set, the method decides whether the data code is to be classified as acceptable or unacceptably faulty.
US08170287B2	Real-time self collision and obstacle avoidance A system, method, and computer program product for avoiding collision of a body segment with unconnected structures in an articulated system are described. A virtual surface is constructed surrounding an actual surface of the body segment. Distances between the body segment and unconnected structures are monitored. Responding to an unconnected structure penetrating the virtual surface, a redirected joint motion that prevents the unconnected structure from penetrating deeper into the virtual surface is determined. The body segment is redirected based on the redirected joint motion to avoid colliding with the unconnected structure.
US08170282B1	Technique for ship/wake detection An automated ship detection technique includes accessing data associated with an image of a portion of Earth. The data includes reflectance values. A first portion of pixels within the image are masked with a cloud and land mask based on spectral flatness of the reflectance values associated with the pixels. A given pixel selected from the first portion of pixels is unmasked when a threshold number of localized pixels surrounding the given pixel are not masked by the cloud and land mask. A spatial variability image is generated based on spatial derivatives of the reflectance values of the pixels which remain unmasked by the cloud and land mask. The spatial variability image is thresholded to identify one or more regions within the image as possible ship detection regions.
US08170281B2	Detecting and tracking objects in images According to one disclosed method, coordinates in a multi-dimensional space are determined for an image point characterizing a particular object. An equation describing a model in the space is provided. The model is characteristic of a set of training images of one or more other objects. The coordinates are applied to the equation to determine a distance between the image point and the model. Based on the determined distance, a determination is made as to whether the particular object matches the one or more other objects. A set of training images may be received. A multi-dimensional space (e.g., eigenspace) may be determined based on the set of training images. A set of training points may be generated by projecting the set of training images into the multi-dimensional space. An equation describing a model in the multi-dimensional space that is characteristic of the set of training points may be determined.
US08170280B2	Integrated systems and methods for video-based object modeling, recognition, and tracking The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for modeling, recognizing, and tracking object images in video files. In one embodiment, a video file, which includes a plurality of frames, is received. An image of an object is extracted from a particular frame in the video file, and a subsequent image is also extracted from a subsequent frame. A similarity value is then calculated between the extracted images from the particular frame and subsequent frame. If the calculated similarity value exceeds a predetermined similarity threshold, the extracted object images are assigned to an object group. The object group is used to generate an object model associated with images in the group, wherein the model is comprised of image features extracted from optimal object images in the object group. Optimal images from the group are also used for comparison to other object models for purposes of identifying images.
US08170272B1	Method for classifying vessels using features extracted from overhead imagery Methods for processing overhead imagery of a vessel include the step of determining an initial classification and classification probability based on the vessel length and length-to-width ratio. Next, mutually exclusive deck features can be extracted from the image. For several embodiments, the extracted deck features that can be spherical tanks, hatches and containers that are stored on deck. The initial classification probability is then weighted using the results of the deck feature extraction step to yield a posterior classification probability for the ship image. If the posterior classification probability is above a predetermined value, the image is assigned a posterior classification. If the posterior probability is below the predetermined value, the vessel image is classified as unknown, and the gross tonnage of the vessel is calculated using the length and width of the vessel.
US08170267B2	Speaker A speaker is disclosed. A speaker includes a fixing part (500) fastened to a base frame; a motion part moved (400) with respect to the fixing part by an electromagnetic force; a vibration plate (200) that vibrates in communication with the motion part; and a guide member (800) provided between the motion part (400) and the vibration plate (200). Therefore, according to the present invention, a speaker capable of reproducing a high quality sound and high power with a slim design may be embodied.
US08170265B2	Front facing electronic slave speaker An example vehicle instrument panel includes a speaker for producing alert and warning sounds. A membrane prevents water from intruding into the speaker assembly and instrument panel. The membrane is spaced apart from the speaker and over an open end of the speaker housing. Sound energy from the speaker travels through an open space against the membrane. The membrane possesses acoustic properties to receive and pass on the sound energy.
US08170264B2	Electronic device An electronic device suitable for disposing on a resonating surface is provided. The electronic device has a housing and a resonating speaker. The housing is disposed on the resonating surface. The resonating speaker is assembled onto a bottom of the housing and the resonating speaker contacts the resonating surface.
US08170260B2	System for determining the position of sound sources A system determines the position of a sound source with a microphone in a fixed coordinate system. The microphone measures audio signals that are analyzed and processed to determine the position of the sound source in the fixed coordinate system. The system may adjust the direction of the microphone in the fixed coordinate system based on the processed audio signals and the position of the sound source. The microphone direction may be identified through an optical source that may be adjusted based on the processed audio signals and the position of the sound source.
US08170259B2	Electronic device disposing structure An electronic device disposing structure includes a stand having a position limiting area, a sound receiving channel on the stand and including a sound inlet hole at a distal surface of the stand, a sound outlet hole at a bottom surface of the position limiting area, and a passage portion for interconnecting the sound inlet and outlet holes, and a sound emitting channel on the stand and including a sound outlet hole at the distal surface of the stand, a sound inlet hole at the bottom surface of the position limiting area, and a passage portion for interconnecting the sound outlet and inlet holes. The electronic device disposing structure combines a portable electronic device into the position limiting area, such that a microphone and a speaker respond to sound receiving and emitting channels respectively to achieve a hand-free effect and a sound amplification without requiring a circuit design.
US08170257B2	Apparatus for reducing background and wind noise to a microphone An apparatus for reducing background and wind noise to a microphone contained in a microphone casing comprises a clamshell enclosure. The clamshell enclosure has a top piece and a bottom piece held together by a hinge or a plastic membrane, wherein the clamshell enclosure is designed to encapsulate the microphone casing containing the microphone. The clamshell enclosure contains foam materials inside the clamshell enclosure, or the clamshell enclosure itself is made out of foam materials such as polyurethane, wherein the foam materials contribute to reduction of background and wind noises to the microphone. The clamshell enclosure may optionally incorporate one or more channels as electrical cord pathways between the microphone casing encapsulated in the clamshell enclosure and another object (e.g. electronic device, earphones, and etc.).
US08170253B1	Listening device cap An assistive listening device cap attaches to a headpiece of a cochlear implant behind-the-ear (BTE) unit, an other BTE unit, an earhook, or an external component unit to supplement or replace components thereof. The cap may receive signals from sources outside the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit. The cap communicates with the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit using direct, wired, or wireless technology.
US08170251B2	Battery compartment comprising several gripping arms and hearing equipped device therewith A battery compartment for a hearing apparatus and in particular for a hearing device is to be designed to be more compact. To this end, provision is made for a battery compartment with at least two gripping arms, which has an arm section on its one end and a gripping section on its other free end in each instance and for a sliding element which engages with the arm section of the gripping arms. In a first sliding position of the sliding element, the gripping arms assume an open position in order to insert a battery between the gripping sections and a closed position in a second sliding position in order to fix the battery, in which closed position the gripping sections are moved toward one another.
US08170246B2	Apparatus and method for reproducing surround wave field using wave field synthesis Provided are an apparatus and a method for reproducing a surround wave field using wave field synthesis. The apparatus includes an audio signal analyzer for analyzing a received multi-channel audio signal to check the number of audio signal channels, and extracting a sound source signal for each checked channel from the multi-channel audio signal; a wave field synthesis renderer for localizing the extracted sound source signal for each channel at a virtual sound image outside a narrow space using wave field synthesis so that the extracted sound source signal is suitable for the number of the checked audio signal channels; and an audio reproducer for reproducing the localized virtual sound source signal.
US08170245B2	Virtual multichannel speaker system A virtual multichannel sound system is presented to improve audio reproduction by statically or dynamically conforming signal processing to specific speaker characteristics and/or arrangements. According to one such aspect, one or more dynamic signal processing algorithms driving two or more speakers are altered in response to the relative physical characteristics or arrangements of these speakers, where parameter information for these algorithms is either factory set, user input, or automatically supplied to the processor. Examples of such relative speaker differences include speaker spacing or alignment, speaker or enclosure compliance, and enclosure configuration. Another aspect is to alter the processing algorithms in response to common speaker characteristics for certain conditions of input signals. An example of this aspect is to alter the signal processing to improve bass response as a function of bass content in the signals being presented to the speakers and speaker size as well as relative speaker position.
US08170243B2	Audio output apparatus and vibrator An audio output apparatus is provided. The audio output apparatus includes: a vibration member, a vibrator, a vibrator positioning unit, and a vibrator-depth positioning unit. The vibration member vibrates to output a sound. The vibrator is in contact with the vibration member and detachably attached thereto to allow the vibration member to vibrate in response to an input audio signal. The vibrator positioning unit controls a contact position between the vibrator and the vibration member. The vibrator-depth positioning unit adjusts a position of the vibrator in the direction of being pressed against the vibration member and brought into contact with the vibration member.
US08170240B2	Audio device An audio device has controls for setting parameters. In the audio device, a selection mode setting part sets a selection mode in which a parameter to be stored is selected. A position acquisition part acquires positions of the controls and locks setting states of the parameters that are set by the controls, when the selection mode is set by the selection mode setting part. A parameter selection part detects one or more control operated by a user among the controls and selects each parameter corresponding to each operated control among the controls as a parameter to be stored, after the setting states of the parameters are locked by the position acquisition part. A reset part returns positions of the controls to the positions acquired by the position acquisition part and memorizes a selection status of each parameter which indicates whether each parameter is selected or not, when the selection mode is completed.
US08170237B2	Programmable microphone A semiconductor die with an integrated electronic circuit, configured so as to be mounted in a housing with a capacitive transducer e.g. a microphone. A first circuit is configured to receive an input signal from the transducer at an input node and to provide an output signal at a pad of the semiconductor die. The integrated electronic circuit comprises an active switch device with a control input, coupled to a pad of the semiconductor die, to operatively engage or disengage a second circuit interconnected with the first circuit so as to operate the integrated electronic circuit in a mode selected by the control input. That is, a programmable or controllable transducer. The second circuit is interconnected with the first circuit so as to be separate from the input node. Thereby less noise is induced, a more precise control of the circuit is obtainable and more advanced control options are possible.
US08170233B2	Loudspeaker array system The invention is a multi-channel loudspeaker system that provides a compact loudspeaker configuration and filter design methodology that operates in the digital signal processing domain. Further, the loudspeaker system can be designed to include drivers of various physical dimensions and can achieve prescribed constant directivity over a large area in both the vertical and horizontal planes.
US08170232B2	Vehicle-mounted device The present invention is equipped with a USB interface 7 for being connected to a portable music player that is an external device, a browser button 27, a rotary encoder button 26, a back button 28, CPU 31 for acquiring a content list CL from the portable music player, RAM 33 for storing the content list CL acquired by the CPU 31, and a LED processing section 42 for changing how the rotary encoder button 26 illuminates to encourage the next operation at a time when the browse button 27 is operated. Accordingly, when searching pieces of music content stored in the portable music player that is an external device, one can unknowingly understand how to operate, thereby providing good operability even for searching pieces of music content of the external portable music player.
US08170228B2	Methods and devices for hearing damage notification and intervention II Methods of monitoring sound pressure level are provided. A method of monitoring sound pressure level includes: measuring a first sound pressure level in the ear canal; measuring a second sound pressure level out of the ear canal; calculating a first sound pressure level dose using the first sound pressure level, where if the first sound pressure level is below a permissible sound level a recovery function is used to calculate the first sound pressure level dose; and calculating a second sound pressure level dose using the second sound pressure level.
US08170226B2	Acoustic echo cancellation and adaptive filters In one embodiment, a two-way telecommunication device may perform acoustic echo cancellation on incoming signals. An audio decoding module may produce an audio render signal. An audio capture interface may receive an audio capture signal. A short length adaptive filter may determine a time delay between the audio render signal and the audio capture signal by adaptively predicting a sub-band of the audio capture signal using a corresponding sub-band of the audio render signal.
US08170219B2	Size adjustable device and method One or more embodiments may provide for a size adjustable earphone that may include a foldable sleeve attached to an earphone housing. A first end of the foldable sleeve may embrace the earphone housing, where an opposite second end of the foldable sleeve may be adapted to be folded. The foldable sleeve may be adapted to be kept in a first unfolded position, providing the earphone housing including the foldable sleeve with a first diametrical size, and in a second folded position, providing the earphone housing including the foldable sleeve with a second diametrical size. The second diametrical size may be larger than the first diametrical size.
US08170218B2	Multi-channel audio treatment system and method A multi-channel audio treatment method ensuring compatibility of a multi-channel signal and a stereo signal which includes: producing a left-hand downmix channel dwnMxL(t) and a right-hand downmix channel dwnMxR(t); producing a left-hand difference channel deltaL(t), said left-hand difference channel being the difference between the left-hand channel of the stereo signal eStL(t) and the left-hand downmix channel dwnMxL(t); producing a right-hand difference channel deltaR(t), said right-hand difference channel being the difference between the right-hand channel of the stereo signal eStR(t) and the right-hand downmix channel dwnMxR(t); and adding the right hand difference channel deltaR(t) and the left hand difference channel deltaL(t) into the multi-channel signal.
US08170216B2	Techniques for validating and sharing secrets Techniques for validating and sharing secrets are presented. A secret is divided into a plurality of parts. Each part is represented by a unique value. Each value is distributed to a unique user that shares in the secret. The secret is recreated when each user presents each user's unique value. Each unique value is then used to recreate its corresponding part of the key and when all parts are present and validated, the secret is reproduced.
US08170215B2	Key management method for home network and home network device and system using the same A method of managing a home network key in a home network environment, which has a key management server for managing the home network key and a plurality of home network devices, includes: allowing a home network device to generate device unique information and to transmit the device unique information to the key management server; allowing the key management server to generate a parameter for generating the home network key by using the device unique information and to transmit the parameter to the home network device; and allowing the home network device to generate the home network key by using the parameter. The generated home network key being independent of the device unique information.
US08170212B2	Device, system, and method of establishing secure wireless communication Device, system, and method of establishing secure wireless communication. A system includes at least one wireless communication device having a sensor to measure one or more parameters of a physical event shared between that device and another wireless communication device, and a processor to translate the one or more measured parameters into a secret data sequence known only to the devices sharing the event. A first of the wireless communication devices sharing the event is to combine a communication key with the secret data sequence, thereby to generate an encoded message for distribution over a wireless link accessible by the devices, and a second of the wireless communication devices sharing the event is to decode said encoded message using the secret data sequence, thereby to obtain the communication key. The wireless communication devices may then connect using the secret communication key as a basis for secure communication.
US08170209B2	Extensible disc player The present invention provides an extensible disc player that is upgradeable to play new content types. The player's capability can be extended by downloading an appropriate decoder from a web server via the Internet. In this way, the player can play back contents that it does not originally support. If the content type is unknown, the player will check whether the disc contains a URL for linking to a web site containing an appropriate decoder. If the disc contains the URL, the player will access the web site to download the appropriate decoder. In a similar manner, the capability of a recorder can also be expanded by downloading appropriate encoders from the Internet.
US08170204B2	Method and system for extending advanced encryption standard (AES) operations for enhanced security In a wireless communication system, a method and system for extending Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) operations for enhanced security are provided. In an AES encryption operation, an initial state may be modified by XORing with an initial modifier before a first processing round and a final state may be modified by XORing with a final modifier after a final processing round. The output of a MixColumns function performed during AES decryption operation rounds may be modified by XORing with a corresponding round modifier. In an AES decryption operation, an initial state may be modified by XORing with a decoded final modifier before a first processing round and a final state may be modified by XORing with a decoded initial modifier after a final processing round. The input of an InvMixColumns function performed during AES decryption operation rounds may be modified by XORing with a corresponding decoded round modifier.
US08170203B2	Message authentication code with elliptic polynomial hopping The message authentication code with elliptic polynomial hopping provides methods for the generation of message authentication codes (MACs) utilizing elliptic curves, which are based on the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem. The elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem is well known to be a computationally “difficult” or “hard” problem, thus providing enhanced security for the MACs. Different elliptic polynomials are used for different blocks of the same plaintext, each elliptic polynomial for each message block being selected at random using an initial secret key and a random number generator.
US08170202B2	Method, terminal device and communication system for programming a button of a communication terminal device There is described a method, a terminal device, and a communication system for programming a button of a communication terminal device whereby a user input on the communication terminal device activates an application on a data processing device associated with the communication terminal device. The activated application triggers the display of button programming information for selection for a respective button programming. The selection of one of the displayed button programming information messages on the data processing device triggers the assignment of the associated button programming to the button on the communication terminal device.
US08170201B2	Power feeding system for telephone terminal in LAN Terminals are connected via cables in a star-shaped fashion with respect to a HUB in a LAN. Each of the cables includes therein signal lines and power feed lines. The HUB includes therein a power feed section. The power feed section and the power feed lines of each cable are connected to measure a value of current which flows in the power feed lines. If it is judged based on the measured current value that the terminal connected to the corresponding cable is a telephone terminal, the power feeding to the corresponding power feed lines is continued. On the other hand, if the terminal is judged to be a terminal other than the telephone terminal, the power feeding is stopped.
US08170200B1	Method and apparatus for percussive noise reduction in a conference A conferencing unit reduces or eliminates percussive noise in audio that it outputs to a far-end. The unit filters near-end audio into a plurality of bands and calculates instantaneous energies for each band. The energies in first and second ranges of the bands are summed, and a difference between the two sums is compared to a threshold value to determine whether speech is present in the near-end audio received. The first range is preferably a mid-band range of frequencies of 300 to 600-Hz, while the second range is preferably an outer-band range of 100-Hz to 300-Hz and 600-Hz to 14-kHz. Based on the determination, the conferencing unit adjusts an output level of the near-end audio to reduce or eliminate any percussive noise in output audio while there is not a substantial amount of speech in the near-end audio.
US08170197B2	System and method for providing automated call center post-call processing A system and method for providing a message-based communications infrastructure for automated call center post-call processing is described. Verbal speech utterances in a stream of recorded user messages are identified. The recorded user messages are parsed from a call with a user into a call center. The stream of recorded user messages are stored into a database maintained by the call center. The call is processed through an agent. One or more of the user messages is presented to the agent. Commands on the user messages are executed responsive to the agent.
US08170190B2	Method and system for managing telephone number allocation A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving, from a customer, limitation data associated with managing telephone number allocation, determining a limitation threshold based on at least the limitation data, allocating one or more telephone numbers to a customer based on at least the limitation threshold, and providing the one or more telephone numbers to a customer.
US08170188B2	Method and arrangement for providing a communication in a communication system First information and second information is stored in the communication system for a callback after a first communication terminal attempts a call to a second communication terminal in which the connection is not established. The first information allows the second communication terminal to display the attempted call so that a callback to the first communication terminal can be executed on the part of the second communication terminal. The second information includes a charge type for the callback correlating at least to the attempted call.
US08170187B2	Method and apparatus for communicating with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number during a disaster and disaster recovery A system for (and a method of) selectively establishing communication with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number during a disaster or disaster recovery period. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes two wireless connection units, each connected between a respective private branch exchange (PBX) network and a public switched telephone network. Each wireless connection unit preferably serves as a gateway between its respective PBX network and one or more remote communication devices. The wireless connection units replicate each others databases. In the event of a disaster that destroys or renders one of the wireless connect/PBX networks inoperable, telephone calls destined for the inoperable network are seamlessly routed to the operable wireless connect/PBX network. Since the operable wireless connection unit contains information for both networks, inbound, outbound and extension to extension calls for each network can be handled despite the disaster.
US08170185B2	Authentication system and method A method of authorising a user of a first packet-based communication network to access a second packet-based communication network. The method comprises: receiving an authorization request from a user terminal of the user at a first network element of the first packet-based communication network, the authorization request comprising a first user identity; responsive to the authorization request, transmitting a request to create a second user identity from the first network element to a second network element of the second packet-based communication network; the second network element creating the second user identity for use in the second packet-based communication network, the second user identity being derivable from the first user identity according to a predetermined rule; and storing the second user identity in the second packet-based communication network for use with subsequent communication events over the second packet-based communication network.
US08170178B2	Radiation image capturing system, radiation image capturing method and program The radiation image capturing system includes a plurality of image capturing apparatus of different specifications for capturing a radiation image of a subject, plural processors for controlling respective image capturing apparatus, a processor selector for selecting one processor from processors based on supplied capture information, an image capturing condition setting unit for setting the image capturing conditions to be appropriate for an image capturing apparatus selected from among the plurality of image capturing apparatus, and an image capturing condition changer for, when the image capturing apparatus is changed, changing the image capturing conditions to be appropriate for the changed image capturing apparatus. The processor controls the changed image capturing apparatus according to the changed image capturing conditions.
US08170174B1	Simplified jet pump riser brace clamp An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of an apparatus or system that may reduce the level of vibration experienced by an inlet riser or other similar object within a reactor pressure vessel. An embodiment of the present invention may eliminate the need for welding the riser brace to the inlet riser. An embodiment of the present invention provides at least one riser brace clamp that generally clamps the riser brace to the inlet riser. After installation, the riser brace clamp may lower the amplitude of, and/or change the frequency of, the vibration experienced by the inlet riser.
US08170172B2	Target bodies and uses thereof in the production of radioisotope materials A system and method are provided for reclaiming an enriched radioisotope starting material (14) from a target body (12). The system and method enable reclaiming the starting material in a relatively short time (e.g., several hours) after the target body's bombardment with energetic particles, greatly simplifying the target body's chemical processing, as well as reducing the cost of such processing (e.g., reducing the need for costly long-term storage). Specifically, a chemical protective layer (16) is disposed between a radioisotope starting material (14) and a base material (18) of the target body (12). After the target body is irradiated with a suitable source (e.g., particle accelerator), then the irradiated radioisotope starting material and be removed without removing the base material due to the protection provided by the chemical protective layer. The system and method also enable the operator to obtain three different radioisotopes in a single bombardment of the target body, further reducing cost of radioisotope production.
US08170168B2	Clock data recovery circuit A simple circuit that supports high and low data rates is provided. The circuit includes: a detection circuit 11 for detecting whether D1≠D2 or D1≠D3, assuming that logical values of an input data signal DATAIN sampled at timings t1, t2, and t3 (t2
US08170162B2	Inter-carrier interference removal device and reception device using the same An inter-carrier interface removal device can improve estimation accuracy of inter-carrier interference caused by Doppler shift in a received multi-carrier signal moving at a high speed, and a reception characteristic of the multi-carrier signal after removing the inter-carrier interference. The inter-carrier interference removal device includes a channel estimation unit estimating a channel frequency characteristic according to a carrier signal, an equalization unit equalizing the carrier signal with the channel frequency characteristic and outputs tentative carrier data, a reliability value calculation unit calculating a reliability value according to the channel frequency characteristic, a weighting unit weighting the tentative carrier data with the reliability value, an ICI component estimation unit estimating an ICI component according to the weighted tentative carrier data and the estimated channel frequency characteristic, and an ICI removal calculation unit removing the ICI component from the carrier signal.
US08170160B1	Multi-symbol phase offset estimation Receivers typically detect the presence of a pilot tone, transmitted as part of an RF signal, and use the pilot tone as a reference to detect symbols in the received RF signal. However, improper synchronization between the transmitter and the receiver units can result in timing offset and carrier frequency offset in the digitized received RF signal, impair the orthogonality between OFDM sub-carriers, and cause inter-carrier interference. Phase offsets caused by carrier frequency offset and timing offset can also degrade receiver performance. Functionality can be incorporated to estimate the phase offset over multiple symbols. Estimating the phase offset over multiple symbols in the received RF signal can lower the error rate. Correcting the phase offset in the received RF signal can ensure accurate sampling of the received signal, accurate channel estimates, and accurate decoding of the digitized received signal. This can minimize receiver performance degradation.
US08170155B2	Method and apparatus for channel quality measurements A method and apparatus are provided for measuring channel quality over which has been transmitted a sequence of symbols produced by encoding and constellation mapping a source data element sequence. The method includes receiving a sequence of received symbols over the channel whose quality is to be measured. The sequence of received symbols is de-mapped based on a first channel quality indicator previously transmitted to a transmitter of the sequence of symbols. The method also includes decoding the de-mapped symbols to produce a decoded output sequence. In some embodiments, the decoding may be based on the first channel quality indicator. The method also includes re-encoding the decoded output sequence to produce a re-encoded output sequence. The method also includes correlating the de-mapped symbols with the re-encoded output sequence to produce a second channel quality indicator. The second channel quality indicator is transmitted to the transmitter to adaptively select a type of mapping based on the second channel quality indicator. In some embodiments, the transmitter may adaptively select a type of encoding based on the second channel quality indicator.
US08170154B2	Chip blanking and processing in SCDMA to mitigate impulse and burst noise and/or distortion A system for mitigating impairment in a communication system includes a delay block, a signal level block, a moving average window block, an impulse noise detection block, and a combiner. The delay block receives and delays each chip of a plurality of chips in a spreading interval. The signal level block determines a signal level of each chip of the plurality of chips in the spreading interval. The moving average window block determines a composite signal level for a chip window corresponding to the chip. The impulse noise detection block receives the signal level, receives the composite signal level, and produces an erasure indication for each chip of the plurality of chips of the corresponding chip window. The combiner erases chips of the plurality of chips of the spreading interval based upon the erasure indication.
US08170152B2	Method and apparatus for multiple signal identification and finding the basis functions of the received signal A method is disclosed to detect a broad class of signals in Gaussian noise using higher order statistics. The method detects a number of different signal types. The signals may be in the base-band or the pass-band, single-carrier or multi-carrier, frequency hopping or non-hopping, broad-pulse or narrow-pulse etc. In a typical setting this method provides an error rate of 3% at a signal to noise ratio of 0 dB. This method gives the time frequency detection ratio which may be used to determine if the detected signal falls in Class Single-Carrier of Class Multi-Carrier. Additionally, this method may be used for a number of different applications such as multiple signal identification, finding the basis functions of the received signal.
US08170151B2	FSK receiver A receiver includes a band-pass filter that limits a passband of an IF (Intermediate Frequency) signal, an FSK detector that detects the IF signal passing through the band-pass filter to generate a detection signal, and a control block that controls a modulation sensitivity of the FSK detector and a pass bandwidth of the band-pass filter, in which the control block controls the modulation sensitivity of the FSK detector according to the pass bandwidth of the band-pass filter.
US08170148B2	Demodulation circuit, digital microwave system and demodulation method A demodulation circuit, a digital microwave system including the demodulation circuit, and a signal demodulation method are provided. The demodulation circuit includes a first circuit, a second circuit, a third circuit, and a fourth circuit connected in turn. The fourth circuit includes a pulse counting unit and a data decision unit connected in turn. The signal demodulation method includes: performing bandpass filtering on input signals; increasing gains of the bandpass filtered signals; extracting pulse signals are extracted from the gain-increased signals; counting the extracted pulse signals; filtering the pulse signals having counting values falling outside of a predetermined range, and outputting the filtered pulse signals.
US08170145B2	Receiver A receiver employing an OFDM system which uses a frequency band that is constituted by a plurality of subchannels, and receiving a signal added a phase rotation which is made to respectively differ for each transmission antennas of transmitter and transmitted from the transmission antennas, having a virtual subchannel quality estimating portion which estimates the quality of a propagation path in the case of same phase rotation is added to signal transmitted from transmitter, each group configured with a plurality of consecutive subcarriers.
US08170144B2	Distributed translator with received signal synchronization and method thereof A distributed translator and an operation method of the distributed translator are proposed. The distributed translator includes: a demodulator demodulating a received signal to extract a transport stream and synchronization information from the received signal; a modulator generating an output frame based on the synchronization information to modulate the output frame; and a transmitter transmitting the modulated output frame according to a transmission timing.
US08170143B2	Method and transmitting device for encoding data in a differential space-time block code A method and a corresponding transmitting device to encode data with a differential space-time block code. A code matrix is calculated recursively from a momentary data matrix with a previous code matrix as a DSTBC block with symbols that are to be transmitted, the data matrix is formed from at least two data symbols that are to be transmitted, and the amplitude is modulated. Amplitude modulation data is encoded into an amplitude difference of at least two data symbols within each individual DSTBC block.
US08170142B2	Programmable hybrid transmit baseband module A programmable hybrid transmit baseband module includes a wireless protocol conversion module, a set of modules, and a mode select module. The wireless protocol conversion module is operable to convert outbound data into a complex signal having an in-phase (I) signal component and a quadrature (Q) signal component. The set of modules is operable to generate an offset adjusted normalized I signal component, an offset adjusted normalized Q signal component, and corrected amplitude modulation data, wherein each of the normalized I and Q signal components includes phase modulation data. The mode selection module is operable to output the I and Q signal components when the programmable hybrid transmit baseband module is in a first mode; and output the offset adjusted normalized I and Q signal components and the corrected amplitude modulation data when the programmable hybrid transmit baseband module is in a second mode.
US08170140B2	Modified active-set approach for Peak-to-Average power ratio reduction via reservation tone An active-set PAR reduction method has low computation cost and delay. Peak canceling, by adding up the original signal and the peak canceling signal, is done only after the final peak canceling signal that can reduce all peaks of the resultant signal below the desired peak level is generated with an iterative method or a maximum iteration is reached. The PAR reduction method cancels the high computation cost for accumulating the peak-canceling effort into each sample every iteration. In the i-th iteration, the method attempts to resolve an intermediate peak canceling signal that can reduce the i peaks of the resultant signal to the desired peak level. The method only calculates the samples of the intermediate peak canceling signal and performs balance testing in some locations where the peak level of the original signal is larger than a selected threshold.
US08170138B2	Signal generator and method There is an apparatus and technique for generating a sequence of modulated waveforms of finite duration in which the difference in start time of each waveform is shorter than the waveform's overall duration and each waveform in the sequence has independent data modulation imparted upon it. The apparatus consists of a bank of memory cells arranged in an N×M configuration with associated control circuitry, along with an arrangement scheme for the data in the N×M memory cells such that the waveforms will be correctly reproduced when the memory cells are addressed by the control circuitry in the prescribed order.
US08170132B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting signals in a multiple antennas system A method and apparatus for transmitting signals in a Multiple Antennas System (MAS) are disclosed. The method includes performing Alamouti coding on each group of common channel symbols to form two branches; selecting different weight vectors for different branches to perform beamforming, obtaining transmitting signals of each branch on each antenna, where beam modes corresponding to different weight vectors are uncorrelated and the peak-to-average power ratio of angle dimension of the two beam modes are lower than a preset threshold; and superimposing the transmitting signals of these two branches on each antenna, and transmitting the superimposed signals. In the present invention, the Alamouti coding is introduced, and a spatial diversity gain is generated by using the independence of two virtual channels. Thus, the performance of the MAS in full coverage is enhanced.
US08170131B2	Method and arrangement for reducing feedback data in a MIMO communication system The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for reducing feedback data in a communication system, said communication system comprising a number of transmitter antennas, nτ, and a number of receiver antennas, nR, for parallel spatially independent transmission and reception of signals, wherein a channel response is represented by a matrix (G) containing nR×nτ complex variables. The method comprises the steps of: decomposing an expression of said channel response matrix (G) into products of a unitary transform (V), nR×nT diagonal matrix (Λ) and a conjugate transpose of a unitary matrix (W). Choosing said unitary matrix (W) such that its diagonal elements are real, substituting said channel response matrix (G) with a representative subset of elements in said decomposed expression of said channel response matrix (G), said representative subset comprising diagonal of a first matrix (Λ) and lower triangle of a second matrix (W) excluding the diagonal.
US08170129B2	Digital broadcasting transmission/reception devices capable of improving a receiving performance and signal processing method thereof Disclosed is a digital broadcasting transmission/reception system having an improved reception performance and a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a randomizer for inputting dual TS stream consists of robust and normal packets having stuff bytes inserted in predetermined positions and randomizing the dual TS stream; a stuff byte exchanger for replacing the stuff byte of a randomized data stream from the randomizer to a predetermined known data; and an encoder for encoding a data streams to which the known data is inserted. Accordingly, the present invention detects the known data from a signal received from a reception side and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization, so that the digital broadcasting reception performance can be improved at poor multipath channels.
US08170127B2	Receiver and method of receiving A receiver detects and recovers data from Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbols, which are transmitted as first and second versions to form a multiple input multiple output (MISO) system and carry pairs of data symbols encoded to form Alamouti cells. A channel estimator and corrector is arranged to form an estimate of the data symbols by generating an estimate of first and second channels. A receiver includes a channel estimator and corrector comprising a pilot data extractor for extracting the pilot data from the OFDM symbols, a frequency dimension interpolator for interpolating between the pilot data received from each of the OFDM symbols in the frequency domain to form sum pilot data and difference pilot data, a sum and difference decoder for combining the sum and difference pilot data to form for each data symbol of the Alamouti pairs an estimate of a sample of the first channel and an estimate of the sample of the second channel, and an Alamouti decoder. The Alamouti decoder receives the data bearing sub-carriers from the OFDM symbols and estimates the data symbols.
US08170125B2	Subdimensional single-carrier modulation A method for modulating a sequence of data symbols such that the transmit signal exhibits spectral redundancy. Null symbols are inserted in the sequence of data symbols such that a specified pattern of K data symbols and N−K null symbols is formed in every period of N symbols in the modulated sequence, N and K being positive integers and K being smaller than N.
US08170122B2	Method and apparatus for inserting digital media advertisements into statistical multiplexed streams A method and system for the insertion of local signals, including digital media advertisements, into statistically multiplexed streams is presented. The rate control and timing information is computed and is used to specify the insertion time and rate parameters for digital advertisements. In one embodiment, a maximum bit rate over the advertisement duration is specified. The maximum bit rate may be constant or may vary in time, such that high bit rate portions of the advertisement are supported. High bit rate portions of the advertisements in different program streams may be staggered, such that the total bandwidth required does not exceed a maximum, but allowing for high bit rate portions of advertisements. Custom bit rate profiles for advertisements may also be defined, with the profiles being defined at a high granularity or a low granularity.
US08170115B2	Media processing method and media processing program A media processing method for performing media processing by causing a processor to execute plural program modules, including: a first step of controlling input/output of media data, determining at least one call time, and calling a second program module in a second layer at each determined call time, by executing a first program module in a first layer, the first layer being higher than the second layer; a second step of calling at least one third program module in a third layer, the third layer being lower than the second layer, by executing the second program module in the second layer; and a third step of causing the processor to perform data conversion on the media data, the data conversion being an element of the media processing, by executing the third program module in the third layer.
US08170109B2	System for analysis of motion A computer system for real-time determination of a motion vector comprising an image processor to apply an image processing filter to a normalized frame element of a first image frame, yielding a filtered frame element having associated filtered pixel values, a pixel selector to select a first reference pixel from the filtered frame element having the highest value of the filtered pixel values, an optic flow module to determine a first optic flow applied at a location of the first reference pixel, a pattern matching module to perform pattern matching between the normalized pixel values of the normalized frame element and normalized frame elements of a second image frame, yielding a plurality of pattern matching scores, and a motion vector determiner to determine a motion vector based on a lowest one of the pattern matching scores. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08170098B2	Opto-electronic video compression system An opto-electonic video compression system is disclosed including a lens element for transmitting light of an image and having one or more lenses, each lens having a predetermined focal length. A sensor array includes a first sensor for receiving focused light from the lens element and a second for receiving defocused light from the lens element, wherein the first sensor includes X.times.Y pixels and samples the focused light at each of the X.times.Y pixels, and the second sensor includes X/2.times.Y/2 pixels and samples the defocused light at each of the X/2.times.Y/2 pixels. An electronic differencing element in communication with the first and second sensor is also included for differencing the coefficients of co-located pixels.
US08170089B2	Apparatus for equalizing channel in frequency domain and method therefor Provided is an apparatus for channel equalization in frequency domain, including: a channel estimation unit for estimating a channel on received signal from outside, a channel matched filter for changing channel characteristic of the channel estimated by the channel estimation unit and the received signal to channel characteristic to meet condition required for noncausal filtering, a noncausal filter for changing the channel characteristic changed by the channel matched filter from nonminimum phase channel to minimum phase channel, a reverse channel calculation unit for calculating a reverse of the channel changed by the noncausal filter in frequency domain, and a frequency domain equalization unit for performing channel equalization with respect to the channel changed by the noncausal filter in the frequency domain by using the reverse obtained by the reverse channel calculation unit as coefficients of the frequency domain equalization apparatus.
US08170088B2	Methods for determining a reference signal at any location along a transmission media Methods (200, 300) for determining a reference signal (Vref). The methods involve (202, 204, 302, 304) sensing at a first location along the transmission media (108, 502) a first signal (Vf) propagated thereover in a forward direction and a second signal (Vr) propagated thereover in a reverse direction opposed from the forward direction. The second signal being a reflected version of the first signal. A sum signal (S) is determined (206, 306) by adding the first and second signals together. A difference signal (D) is determined (208, 308) by subtracting the second signal from the first signal. Thereafter, a first exponentiation signal (ES) is determined (210, 310) using S. A second exponentiation signal (ED) is determined (212, 312) using D. The first exponentiation signal is subtracted (214, 314) from the second exponentiation signal to obtain a reference signal (Vref). Vref can be determined at any location along the transmission media. Vref can be used to control the phases and/or amplitudes of communication signals.
US08170086B2	Method and apparatus for performing signal correlation A method of computing a correlation between a pseudorandom reference code and a satellite signal is provided. The method comprises receiving a satellite signal having a repeating code modulated thereon, wherein the satellite signal comprises a pseudorange; correlating the satellite signal with less than an entire length of the pseudorandom reference code with a portion of the satellite signal to produce a correlation over a period less than a period of the repeating code; and processing the correlation to form values representative of magnitude or power of the correlation to produce an energy signal.
US08170085B2	Multipath error estimation in satellite navigation receivers The invention presented in this disclosure gives methods to estimate and compensate for the multi-path in a typical navigational or spread spectrum receiver. The multi-path delay is estimated based on the outputs of different correlators of the receiver. Unlike three correlators normally used, the present disclosure uses five correlators, namely, Early2 (E2), Early1 (E1), Prompt (P), Late1 (L1) and Late2 (L2). The possible multi-path scenarios are classified into six different cases depending upon the reflected signal delay and the errors are computed. Further, the algorithm in the present disclosure can be extended to any correlators spacing.
US08170083B2	Method and apparatus for reducing the processing rate of a chip-level equalization receiver A method and apparatus for reducing the processing rate when performing chip-level equalization (CLE) in a code division multiple access (CDMA) receiver which includes an equalizer filter. Signals received by at least one antenna of the receiver are sampled at M times the chip rate. Each sample stream is split into M sample data streams at the chip rate. Multipath combining is preferably performed on each split sample data stream. The sample data streams are then combined into one combined sample data stream at the chip rate. The equalizer filter performs equalization on the combined sample stream at the chip rate. Filter coefficients are adjusted by adding a correction term to the filter coefficients utilized by the equalizer filter for a previous iteration.
US08170079B2	Code division multiple access signaling for modulated reflector technology A method and apparatus for utilizing code division multiple access in modulated reflectance transmissions comprises the steps of generating a phase-modulated reflectance data bit stream; modifying the modulated reflectance data bit stream; providing the modified modulated reflectance data bit stream to a switch that connects an antenna to an infinite impedance in the event a “+1” is to be sent, or connects the antenna to ground in the event a “0” or a “−1” is to be sent.
US08170074B2	Tracking injection seeding power based on back facet monitoring (BFM) of an injection seeded laser A method of estimating an injection power of seed light injected into an injection-seeded transmitter. A back face monitoring (BFM) response of the injection-seeded transmitter is determined, and data representative of the BFM response stored in a memory. During run-time, a controller of the injection-seeded transmitter, detects a temperature of the injection-seeded transmitter and an instantaneous BFM current. BFM response data is obtained from the memory based on the detected temperature, and the seed light injection power estimated based on the obtained data and the detected instantaneous BFM current.
US08170072B2	Laser annealing method and apparatus In the case of a lens array type homogenizer optical system, the incident angle and intensity of a laser beam 1 entering a large-sized lens (long-axis condenser lens 22) of a long-axis condensing optical system, which is provided on the rear side, are changed for every shot by performing laser irradiation while long-axis lens arrays 20a and 20b are reciprocated in a direction corresponding to a long axial direction of a linear beam (X-direction). Therefore, vertical stripes are significantly reduced. Further, the incident angle and intensity of a laser beam 1 entering a large-sized lens (projection lens 30) of a short-axis condensing optical system, which is provided on the rear side, are changed for every shot by performing laser irradiation while short-axis lens arrays 26a and 26b are reciprocated in a direction corresponding to a short axial direction of a linear beam (Y-direction). Therefore, horizontal stripes are significantly reduced.
US08170071B2	Laser apparatus Provided is a laser apparatus including: a DFB fiber laser 40 including, as an amplitude medium, a rare earth doped silica optical fiber codoped with a high concentration of aluminum; an optical feedback path 50 formed by a ring-shaped optical fiber; and an optical coupler 70 a) feeding back a part of an output of the DFB fiber laser 40 to the DFB fiber laser 40 via the optical feedback path 50, and b) outputting, to outside, another part of the output of the DFB fiber laser 40, where the optical fiber forming the optical feedback path 50 is longer than a length at which a relaxation oscillation noise in the output to the outside becomes −110 dB/Hz.
US08170068B2	Method, apparatus, and system for data transmission and processing in a wireless communication environment According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which indications of signal quality associated with each of the plurality of user stations are received. Multiple user stations (e.g., a first user station and a second user station) are selected to receive data from a base station based on the indications of signal quality associated with the plurality of the user stations. A first packet is constructed which contains signaling data for the first user station and application data for the second user station. A second packet which contains application data for the first user station is super-imposed upon the first packet. The first and second packets are transmitted simultaneously from the base station to the first and second user stations.
US08170066B2	Communication system and method for synchronization of the same With a method for synchronization in a communication system that includes a central participant and at least one further participant, at least one of the further participants being synchronized with the central participant, and, to this end, a telegram with synchronization information being transmitted by the central participant to the at least one further participant, particularly efficient synchronization of the at least one participant with the central participant results due to the fact that the telegram is a data telegram.
US08170063B2	Method for reducing interference This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically to methods for reducing interference. The invention allows a mobile station to determine if certain transmissions of the mobile station cause interference to reception by a second receiver in the mobile station, and indicate to the network that a change in a transmission parameter of the mobile station is desired. The network can then change a transmission parameter to reduce interference observed by the second receiver.
US08170060B2	Method of discarding data block in wireless communication system A method of discarding data blocks in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes configuring a radio bearer for providing a service, configuring a discard condition for a data block of the service related to the radio bearer, wherein the discard condition is configured according to a type of the data block, and discarding the data block when the data block is not successfully transmitted until the discard condition for the data block is satisfied.
US08170056B2	Wireless bandwidth aggregation Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dynamic bandwidth expansion for wireless clients of a wireless wide-area network (WWAN), wherein each client has an allocated bandwidth for communicating over the WWAN and the clients are within wireless signal reception of each other. The WWAN clients may voluntarily or in a predetermined manner join a pool of bandwidth-sharing clients. A wireless aggregation server and a wireless pool boss work in cooperation to utilize unused transmit and receive bandwidth from each of the pool members.
US08170055B2	Method of converting between radius message and diameter messages In one embodiment of a method of translating a RADIUS message to a Diameter message, an access request message in RADIUS is translated to a credit control request message in Diameter. In one embodiment of a method of translating a Diameter message to a RADIUS message, a credit control answer message is translated to an access accept message.
US08170053B2	Network interface and detection module to enable network communication within information handling systems A network interface and detection module to enable network communication within information handling systems is disclosed. According to an aspect, a network interface module is disclosed. The network interface module can include a housing including a first cavity configured to receive a first network plug having a first dimension. The housing also includes a second cavity within the first cavity, and configured to receive a second network plug having a second dimension that is less than the first dimension. The network interface module can also include a network detection circuit coupled to a first terminal within the housing. The network detection circuit can enable a first network type from a plurality of network types in response to an operating state of the first network terminal.
US08170051B2	In-home coexistence network Systems and methods for dynamic allocation of network bandwidth. In some examples, a guaranteed interval period, including a guaranteed interval start time and guaranteed interval end time, can be identified based upon policy. Network stations can then identify first interval start times and first interval end times different than the guaranteed start times and guaranteed end time provided by policy. An access network can thereby provide a first interval start time and a first interval end time to stations within the access network. An in-home network can determine an in-home interval period based upon the first interval start time and first interval end time.
US08170050B2	Self-assignment of detectors and workers among access devices in a wireless network environment A self-assignment method for assigning detector and working devices among a plurality of access devices in a wireless network begins by performing wireless data collection with the access devices during an automated calibration period. During this time, each access device receives beacons from one or more other transmitting access devices. The method records radio frequency (RF) data associated with beacons received during the wireless data collection, and thereafter automatically designates at least one of the access devices as a detector device, based upon the recorded RF data.
US08170043B2	System and method of communication protocols in communication systems Systems and methods for communication protocols in communication systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, systems and methods for communication protocols in communications systems include implementing efficient techniques for supporting single and multiple protocols. In some embodiments, systems and methods for communication protocols in communications systems include providing a multimode communication device that includes a first network layer configured to route data between nodes on a network according to a first network layer protocol; a first logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer and transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control; a second network layer configured to route data between nodes on the network according to a second network layer protocol; a second logical link control layer in communication with the first network layer and transmitting data to and from the first network layer and providing data flow control; a media access control layer providing channel access control and transmitting data to and from the first logical link control layer and the second logical link control layer; a physical layer configured to transform data received from the media access control layer into signals for transmission and transmit the signals, to receive signals from the network, convert the received signals into data and provide the data to the media access control layer.
US08170037B2	Devices and methods for a virtual internet protocol television (VIPTV) A communication system according to various exemplary embodiments can include a broadcast station. At least one encoder can be coupled to the broadcast station, wherein the at least one encoder is configured to encode in real-time signals generated from the broadcast station and to convert the signals into Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) data packets. At least one server can be coupled to the at least one encoder for transmitting the TCP/IP data packets over a virtual connection between the at least one server to a content distribution network.
US08170028B1	Systems and methods for re-ordering data in distributed data forwarding A network device includes an input interface, at least one processing path and an output interface. The input interface receives data units on a plurality of streams and assigns a first sequence number to each of the received data units. The at least one processing path performs a route look-up for each of the data units, where the route look-up determines a routing destination for a respective data unit. The output interface assigns a second sequence number to each of the processed data units based on a number of memory references associated with the route look-up for each of the data units and re-orders the processed data units based on the second sequence number assigned to each of the processed data units.
US08170026B2	Method and apparatus for virtual circuit routes A method and apparatus for virtual circuit routes is described. A method in a network element comprises associating a virtual circuit to a layer 3 next hop, the virtual circuit being associated with a layer 2 protocol specific logical circuit, receiving a packet on the logical circuit, processing the packet with configuration information indicated by the virtual circuit, and forwarding the packet to the layer 3 next hop associated with the virtual circuit without processing the packet's layer 3 header.
US08170024B2	Implementing pointer and stake model for frame alteration code in a network processor A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing a pointer and stake model for frame alteration code in a network processor. A current pointer and a stake are provided for a packet selected for transmit. The current pointer is maintained for tracking a current position for frame alteration operations in the packet. The stake is maintained for tracking a start of a current header for frame alteration operations in the packet. The current pointer is used by frame alteration code instructions to specify a sequence of operations relative to the current pointer. The specified frame alteration sequence is compact in terms of code size to operate on data within a small window of bytes. Advance pointer instructions allow the current and stake pointers to be advanced an arbitrary number of bytes into the packet.
US08170021B2	Selectively enabled quality of service policy A computer system that implements a quality of service policy. Information defining the quality of service policy is stored in a central location, such as a server within an enterprise. Policy management software on clients in the network download quality of service policy information from the central location to the clients. Within a client, a portion of the policy information is selected based on its applicability to a particular connection. The selected information is cached with an association to the connection so that, as datagrams are generated for transmission over the network, relevant policy information is quickly accessed for use in controlling transmission characteristics of datagrams sent using that connection. The policy information is applied on a datagram-by-datagram basis, allowing policy information to be selectively applied based on network type. Policy information may be selectively applied to those datagrams transmitted over a managed network. This approach allows a client configured to apply a quality of service policy within an enterprise network to operate without applying the policy when removed from the enterprise network.
US08170019B2	CPU transmission of unmodified packets A network device for processing packet. The network device includes an ingress module for performing switching functionality on an incoming packet, wherein the network device determines a destination port to which the incoming packet is to be transmitted. The network device also includes a CPU processing module for transmitting information between the network device and an external CPU. The external CPU transmits a formatted packet to the network device through the CPU processing module. The formatted packet includes module header and a data field. The ingress module uses information in a start field of the module header to determine that the incoming packet is a formatted packet and generates instructions for notifying other modules of the network device that the formatted packet is not to be modified by the network device and determines that the formatted packet is to be transmitted to a destination field in the formatted packet.
US08170016B2	Packet flow offload to remote destination with routing bypass A network utilizes centralized control for the transport of a packet flow to a destination via an intermediary network. The network identifies the intermediary network best suited for offloading the packet flow and then develops a routing policy based on Multiprotocol Label Switching or other circuit-switching type techniques. This ensures that the packets of the packet flow are automatically forwarded to a peering router connected to the identified intermediary network, and ensures that the peering router automatically outputs the packets of the packet flow to the identified intermediary network in a manner that bypasses autonomous routing decisions by the routers of the network.
US08170015B2	Integrated gateway apparatus and communications method An integrated gateway apparatus includes a policy storage for storing therein a first information on message filtering and switching policies for messages received from heterogeneous devices in lower networks via network interfaces; a device management unit for extracting a second information on the messages, the devices and the network interfaces; a layer-basis filter unit for performing, based on the first and the second information, the message filtering and switching on the messages on a layer basis; and an integrated switch management unit for providing the first information to the layer-basis filter unit and controlling the layer-basis filtering unit. The layer-basis filter unit includes a switch filter unit, a route filter unit and a gateway filter unit for performing the message filtering and switching in a MAC layer, in a network layer and a transport layer and in an application layer, respectively.
US08170009B2	Method and apparatus for receiving broadcasting data A method and apparatus for receiving digital broadcasting data. The method for receiving digital broadcasting data includes: extracting location information of second service data which already received first service data refers to, from the first service data; by analyzing the location information, determining whether the second service data is in-band service data transmitted through an in-band channel, or out-of-band service data transmitted through an out-of-band channel; and if the second service data is transmitted through an out-of-band channel, determining the location information as the program number of the second service data.
US08170007B2	Packet telephony appliance A packet telephony appliance includes a Euphony network processor that integrates networking and DSP functions to provide a low cost and efficient solution in building a networked appliance. In particular, a Euphony ATM Telephone (EAT) is built around the Euphony network processor. The EAT uses a real-time operating system to provide predictable processing and networking support. The EAT implements IObufs, which provides a unified buffering scheme that allows zero-copy data movement. Furthermore, the EAT uses an Event Exchange (EVX), which provides a flexible mechanism for event distribution, allowing software modules to be composed together in an extensible manner. EVX and IObufs are used together to provide highly efficient intra-appliance communication. The EAT provides a platform that can evolve gracefully to support new protocols, advanced telephony services and enhanced user interfaces.
US08170005B2	Methods and systems for assigning call session control server The present invention provides a call session control server assignment method and system for equalizing loads of a plurality of call session control servers (S-CSCF servers). For this end, the HSS server 40 is provided with an S-CSCF selection table 41A that stores priority information indicating the order of priority at the time of assigning user equipment in response to the current operation condition of the plurality of S-CSCF servers 20, 21, 22 and the like in correspondence with the respective S-CSCF servers. When an interrogating call session control server (I-CSCF server) 30 sends an interrogation to the HSS server 40 for determining a particular S-CSCF server for registering the user equipment and administering a call session control for the user equipment at the registration time of the user equipment, a reference is made to the S-CSCF selection table 41A for selecting a particular S-CSCF server to be assigned in response to the current operation condition of the respective S-CSCF servers 20, 21, 22 and the like and also the information in the S-CSCF selection table 41A is sent back to the I-CSCF server 30.
US08170002B2	Systems and methods for indicating buffered data at an access point with efficient beacon handling Stations in standby mode periodically wake up to check for buffered data at the access points. Traditionally, the information is available by checking the periodic beacon frame for a traffic indication map (TIM). Unfortunately, the length of beacons has steadily increased with the progression of the various wireless standards requiring stations to wake up for longer periods to merely check for buffered data. Several approaches are disclosed which address this shortcoming, including the broadcast of TIM frames, the partial reception of beacon frames and the use of an embedded TIM frame within a beacon frame.
US08169993B2	Method and apparatus to estimate wireless base station signal quality over the air The quality of the signal from a base station is measured and adjusted for distortion due to multipath and due to signals from neighboring co-channel base stations. The signal quality is measured conventionally by determining Rho or EVM and then Rho or EVM are adjusted. To adjust the signal the process includes the steps of: (a) sampling a received CDMA base station signal in a particular frequency channel, calculating the total received power to provide a reference value for subsequent normalization; (b) demodulating the received signal and constructing an ideal reference signal; (c) correlating between the ideal reference signal and received signal to determine a Rho value, or calculating the ratio of the difference between ideal and received signal to the ideal signal to obtain EVM; (d) performing a self cross correlation to separate signals from the sampled received signal on different delay paths, and determining a multipath power value x as a total power of signals on non-dominant ones of the delay paths; (e) performing a code correlation pilot scan of the sampled signal to determine strengths of signals from neighboring co-channel base stations; (f) summing the power levels of the neighboring co-channel base station signals to provide a total pilot pollution power y; and (g) calculating an adjusted Rho or EVM by removing x and y from the total received power.
US08169989B2	Access point multi-level transmission power control based on the exchange of characteristics A first plurality of characteristics are received from a first client device relating to transmissions received by the first client device from both an access point and a second client device. A second plurality of characteristics are received from the second client device relating to transmissions received by the second client device from both the access point and the first client device. The first plurality of characteristics and the second plurality of characteristics are both assessed. Based on the assessment, a least one of a plurality of customized power levels is selected for transmissions by the access point to the first client device and the second client device.
US08169981B2	Method and mobile station for controlling communication via a radio link A method (400) and a mobile station (160) for controlling communication via a radio link based on a multi-slot based power class designation are described herein. The mobile station (160) may provide a multi-slot based power class designation to the communication network (110) to establish a radio link for communication service. The designation may be associated with a power level of the mobile station (160) and a number of slots corresponding to the power level. Based on the designation, the mobile station (160) may communicate with the communication network (110) via the radio link.
US08169980B2	Methods and apparatuses for interworking Apparatuses and methodologies are described that coordinate multiple wireless communication protocols within a mobile device. A single mobile device can contain multiple communication components (e.g., a Bluetooth component, an IEEE 802.11b/g component). To prevent interference and possible loss of data, one communication component may be prevented from transmitting or receiving data packets while the other communication component is either transmitting or receiving. The components may be coordinated by a central controller located in the mobile device. Alternatively, the communication components may exchange messages to determine transmission or reception priority. In addition, one communication component may monitor the status of the other communication component to determine unused communication slots.
US08169979B2	TDMA/CDMA user equipment A wireless hybrid time division multiple access/code division multiple access (TDMA/CDMA) user equipment (UE) includes a signaling receiver and a data detection device in communication with the signaling receiver. The signaling receiver is configured to receive and recover signaled information of code and timeslot assignments of the UE to support an RF communication. The data detection device is configured to recover from the signaling information an identifier of a plurality of assigned timeslots and an indication of a first and last code of a set of consecutive codes. The last code is identified by an identifier associated with the last code, and the same set of consecutive codes are assigned to each of the plurality of assigned timeslots.
US08169978B2	Techniques for frequency-domain joint detection in wireless communication systems A technique of operating a wireless communication device includes receiving, at a first wireless communication device, respective signals transmitted from multiple second wireless communication devices. Respective channel matrix blocks for each block of the received respective signals are then generated. Finally, respective channel equalizer matrix blocks for each of the respective channel matrix blocks are generated. At least one of the respective channel equalizer matrix blocks is generated without performing a matrix inversion operation on an associated one of the respective channel matrix blocks.
US08169976B2	Transmission rate control method, mobile station, radio base station, and radio network controller A transmission rate control method includes: measuring, at a radio base station, a reception power of a DPCH transmitted from the mobile station; extracting, at the radio base station, a transmission data block size of the uplink user data from an E-DPCCH; acquiring, at the radio base station, a transmission power ratio of an E-DPDCH to the DPCCH which corresponds to the extracted transmission data block size; calculating, at the radio base station, a reception power of the E-DPDCH based on the measured reception power and the acquired transmission power ratio; calculating, at the radio base station, a relative transmission rate of the uplink user data based on the calculated reception power; notifying, at the radio base station, the relative transmission rate to the mobile station via a E-RGCH; and controlling, at the mobile station, the transmission rate based on the notified relative transmission rate.
US08169970B2	Handover method and mobile communication system In a mobile communication system utilizing Mobile IP, information on the access network is exchanged between access routers. And when a mobile terminal performs a handover, the previously exchanged information on the neighbor access routers and the access network information are provided to the mobile terminal. By so doing, the mobile terminal can determine a destination access router in advance, enabling to realize an efficient handover processing.
US08169968B1	Reducing communication silence when performing inter-technology handoff To perform an inter-technology handoff, an indicator in a service request message is received by a mobile switching center (MSC). The indicator is to indicate to the MSC that an inter-technology handoff from a packet-data wireless access network to a circuit wireless access network has been requested. The behavior of the MSC is modified in response to the indicator to reduce the communication silence during the inter-technology handoff.
US08169966B2	Method and a network node for managing handovers in a packet data communication environment The invention deals with managing handovers between access networks in a packet data communication environment. According to the invention, the possibility to control access network resources will improve by having a mobility manager node (160) managing such handovers. The mobility manager node will decide to handover a mobile node (105) from a first access network (110) to a second access network (120) based on received information relevant to the handover process. After the decision, the mobility manager node will instruct a home agent (141) or similar node to register a new care-of address or other locator of the mobile node's point of attachment, which is valid in the second access network and which can be used for contacting the mobile node in the second access network. The mobility manager node will thereafter instruct the mobile node to de-attach from the first network and attach to the second network. The invention will be especially advantageous for mobile operators managing a communication environment with heterogeneous networks, such as WLAN and WCDMA networks.
US08169961B2	Method for dynamically allocating resources in a network of station clusters A distributed method for dynamically assigning time-frequency resources in a network comprising several stations is disclosed. The stations are organized in groups (or interfaces) of several stations with each group comprising an allocation table Tsi. Each group exchanges this allocation table by means of a signaling protocol with groups that are defined as being in conflict with it by a constraints graph. The method uses an arbitration function to settle the conflicts and the assignments of allocations between the groups in conflict according to the constraints graph. In performing the method, each interface Ji transmits the allocation table TJi associated with it to the interfaces K indicated as being in conflict in the constraints graph. An interface Ji looks, for each allocation AJi that it has entered in its table TJi, whether the allocation AJi is used in the table received from an interface K that is in conflict. The interface Ji uses the arbitration function to modify the allocation AJi in the table TJi.
US08169959B2	System aided PAPR reduction scheme based on TR algorithm A peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) reduction method, known as system-aided PAPR reduction (SAPR), is disclosed. Based on a TR algorithm, the SAPR method avoids the drawbacks of conventional tone reservation implementations, and reduces PAPR significantly, in some embodiments. The SAPR method may be applied to next generation OFDMA-based wireless broadband technologies, to increase system throughput and cell coverage.
US08169954B2	Transmission rate control method, mobile station, radio base station, and radio network controller A transmission rate control method for controlling, at a mobile station, a transmission rate of uplink user data, in a radio communication system capable of controlling a transmission rate of uplink user data based on an absolute transmission rate transmitted via an E-AGCH and a relative transmission rate transmitted via a E-RGCH, includes: notifying, from a radio network controller to the mobile station, information for identifying the E-AGCH to be transmitted from a serving cell, and not notifying, from the radio network controller to the mobile station, information for identifying the E-RGCH, when the mobile station establishes an E-DPDCH; and controlling, at the mobile station, the transmission rate of uplink user data, based on the absolute transmission rate which is received from the serving cell via the E-AGCH, without considering the relative transmission rate.
US08169953B2	Method and apparatus for wireless multi-carrier communications A Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network supports multi-carrier operation on the downlink and/or uplink for a mobile station. The mobile station receives an assignment of multiple carriers for a first link in the GSM network, receives an assignment of at least one carrier for a second link in the GSM network, and exchanges data with the GSM network via the multiple carriers for the first link and the at least one carrier for the second link. The first link may be the downlink and the second link may be the uplink, or vice versa. The mobile station may receive data on multiple carriers at the same time for multi-carrier operation on the downlink. The mobile station may transmit data on multiple carriers at the same time for multi-carrier operation on the uplink.
US08169951B1	Method and system for establishing wireless IP connectivity A method and system for establishing wireless IP connectivity, in which a wireless communication device (WCD) obtains a routable IP address during its registration with a radio access network, rather than first registering with the RAN and then subsequently requesting and acquiring packet-data connectivity. Preferably, when the WCD sends a radio access registration request that triggers a registration notification to a home location register (HLR), the HLR or an associated entity will assign an IP address for use by the WCD and will deliver the assigned IP address in a registration notification response message to the RAN. The RAN will then deliver the assigned IP address to the WCD over the air in a radio access registration response message. The WCD may then use the assigned IP address to engage in packet data communications, such as to set up a VoIP session with another IP node, for instance.
US08169950B2	Selection of orthogonal covering sequences and phase ramped sequences A transmission of information from a secondary to a primary node occurs in a plurality of N logical time durations. The transmission from the secondary to primary node in a wireless network is obtained using a first and a second sequence. Embodiments of the present invention mitigate interference by restricting the choice of the first sequence. Thus, in an embodiment of the invention, the first sequence is selected from a set of M sequences wherein M is strictly less than N. In order to accommodate high-velocity users, the restricted set contains a pair of sequences whose element-wise product is mirror symmetric. In other embodiments of the invention, the choices of the first sequence and second sequence in a time-frequency resource is arranged such that interference is mitigated. A transmission component for K-th logical time duration is obtained from the entire second sequence and K-th element of the first sequence.
US08169948B2	Code synchronization circuit, delay time measurement device, control method, control program, and computer-readable storage medium A code synchronization circuit for a delay time measurement device used in a low C/N environment is provided. The code synchronization circuit is capable of high precision timing phase measurement and stable operation against variations in the reception level. For these purposes, the code synchronization circuit includes: a numeric control frequency variable oscillation section (5) for generating a clock signal with a variable frequency; a 2-divider (23) for dividing the clock signal by 2 to generate a component code signal (X); a T/2 delay device (4) for outputting a delayed component code signal (x) lagging in phase behind the component code signal (X) by half a bit; and a second correlator (3B) for outputting a second correlation value indicating similarity between the delayed component code signal (x) and the carrier signal, where the numeric control frequency variable oscillation section (5) controls the frequency of the clock signal according to the second correlation value so that the carrier signal and the clock signal are in sync.
US08169944B2	Random access for wireless multiple-access communication systems Techniques for facilitating random access in wireless multiple-access communication systems. A random access channel (RACH) is defined to comprise a “fast” RACH (F-RACH) and a “slow” RACH (S-RACH). The F-RACH and S-RACH can efficiently support user terminals in different operating states and employ different designs. The F-RACH can be used to quickly access the system, and the S-RACH is more robust and can support user terminals in various operating states and conditions. The F-RACH may be used by user terminals that have registered with the system and can compensate for their round trip delays (RTDs) by properly advancing their transmit timing. The S-RACH may be used by user terminals that may or may not have registered with the system, and may or may not be able to compensate for their RTDs. The user terminals may use the F-RACH or S-RACH, or both, to gain access to the system.
US08169938B2	Communication system for wireless audio devices The present subject matter provides a system for wireless communications between one or more wireless audio devices and other electronics for providing a rich set of streaming audio, control, programming and enhanced hearing functions.
US08169936B2	Decoupled cascaded mixers architechture and related methods Methods for inter-mixer communication enable a “self-formed” cascaded mixer node tree topology. One method enables inter-mixer node signaling and includes first selecting a plurality of media flow payloads at a first cascaded mixer node. A set of conference payloads are generated and each include the media flow payloads from the plurality of media flow payloads that are part of the same conference call, an identifier for the conference call, and a node identifier for each media flow in the conference call. For each media flow in the conference call, each conference payload further identifies whether the first cascaded mixer node is a root node or a leaf node. The set of conference payloads are bundled into a single packet and sent to a second cascaded mixer node. Another method enables the “self-forming” of the mixer node tree topology. Yet another method enables active talker identification within the “self-formed” tree topology.
US08169935B2	Multi-radio connection management and bundling using web browsers A method to enable browsers to manage connections across access networks is disclosed. The method manages network connections using a simple standard browser with the least amount of user interaction for all connections. The method uses standardized WiMAX activation and provisioning schemes for the management of connection profiles across the different access technologies.
US08169930B2	Communications method for a packet-switched network and network employing the method A communications method for a packet-switched network includes: a) receiving at a routing module operating in a low layer of a layered model defining communications on the network, a packet including an identifier associated to a protocol to be employed at a high layer of the model which is higher than the low layer; b) inspecting the received packet at an inspection module so as to identify the protocol associated to the identifier; c) selecting at a selection module a first device, operating in the high layer associated with the identified protocol; d) sending the packet toward the first device; e) processing the packet by applying at the first device a procedure of the high layer to produce a processed packet; f) sending the processed packet from the first device to the routing module; and g) transmitting the processed packet from the routing module toward the network.
US08169928B2	Base station, mobile station, and channel quality information reporting method A channel quality information reporting method includes a setting step, wherein the number N of blocks for which the mobile station reports channel quality information among the M blocks is set in accordance with an amount of traffic; a reporting step, wherein the base station reports the number N of blocks to the mobile station; a receiving step, wherein the mobile station receives the number N of blocks from the base station; a selecting step, wherein the mobile station selects N pieces of channel quality information from M pieces of channel quality information corresponding to the M blocks; an averaging step, wherein the mobile station averages pieces of channel quality information excluding the selected N pieces of the channel quality information; and a reporting step, wherein the mobile station reports the N pieces of channel quality information and the averaged channel quality information to the base station.
US08169925B2	Mapping of preamble sequence sets with frame control header (FCH) location for multi-hop wireless broadband access communications FCH locations are mapped to preamble sequence sets to allow more than three stations to transmit their FCHs with minimized or reduced interference. A lower interference environment may be provided to transmit the FCH within each DL relay phase when the number of stations within the phase is less than the number (L) of distinct FCH locations. With more than L stations in a DL relay phase, a reduced interference environment for FCH transmission may be achieved by assigning the same FCH location to RSs that are far away from each other.
US08169924B2	Optimal bridging over MPLS/IP through alignment of multicast and unicast paths A provider edge (PE) node of a network operates to send a trace path message over the network to a receiver PE node, the trace path message recording a list of intermediate nodes of a unicast path from the PE node to the receiver PE node; and receive a join message initiated from the receiver PE node, the join message using the list to propagate to the source PE node through the intermediate nodes such that a branch of a multicast tree is aligned with the unicast path. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US08169919B2	Terminal device and relay node selection method of terminal device A terminal device and a relay node selection method of the terminal device are described. The terminal device may sequentially compare a threshold value and an output signal to noise ratio (SNR) of a plurality of relay nodes based on a set test order, and select a relay node having an output SNR greater than the threshold value as a relay node to perform a cooperative communication.
US08169914B2	Method and node for transmitting data over a communication network using negative acknowledgment A method of transmitting data over a communication network using negative acknowledgment is presented. In the method, a stream of data packets is transmitted from a first node of the network to a second node of the network. All but at least two of the stream of data packets is successfully received at the second node, wherein the data packets that are not successfully received are not located sequentially within the stream of data packets. A status packet is transmitted from the second node to the first node, wherein the status packet includes an indication of each of the data packets that were not successfully received. In response to receiving the status packet at the first node, the data packets that were not successfully received at the second node are retransmitted from the first node to the second node in response to receiving the status packet.
US08169913B2	Communication-processing method on network-connected equipment and receiving apparatus A communication-processing method performs communication processing on any network-connected equipment. The method includes the steps of sending an identification signal through a network to every apparatus that is connected in an identical network circuit to identify a local apparatus, and determining whether a reply signal including identification information in reply to the sent identification signal is received or not. The method also includes the steps of deciding that the local apparatus is connected to the identical network circuit if receiving the reply signal including the identification information to secure a communication-processing condition for the identified local apparatus, communicating with the identified local apparatus, and sending the communication-processing condition to the identified local apparatus.
US08169903B2	Managing traffic within and between virtual private networks when using a session border controller Methods and devices for managing traffic are described. Traffic from a source in a virtual private network (VPN) is received. The traffic is directed to a virtual interface that is designated to receive traffic from the VPN. The virtual interface is configured to associate the traffic with an identifier that uniquely identifies the VPN to a session border controller (SBC). The SBC can use the identifier to determine whether the source and the destination of the traffic are in the same VPN.
US08169902B2	Wireless transmitter device and method thereof for keeping the total transmission time limited A wireless transmitter device has a predetermined upper limit of an accumulated data transmission time per predetermined duration corresponding to a predetermined maximum value. The wireless transmitter device includes a timer which starts keeping time when the wireless transmitter device sends a wireless signal and stops when it reaches a timeout value, a total transmission measurer for measuring the data transmission time of the wireless transmitter device during a period from the timer starting to stopping, and a transmission controller for refraining the data transmission at the earliest until the time being measured by the timer reaches the timeout value if the accumulation time is, or likely to be, equal to or larger than a threshold value.
US08169900B2	Increasing link capacity via traffic distribution over multiple Wi-Fi access points A method and system for combining the bandwidth available to a user communications device from multiple access points by switching output requests and corresponding replies to such requests among a plurality of such access points. In the simplest implementation the switching can be on a round-robin basis, but the switching can be enhanced to prioritize and use quality of service requirements associated with each output request, and also to measure congestion at each access point and base switching upon the congestion level. The invention operates by generating subset ISO communication stacks for each available access point, preferably the subset from the IP layer to the data control link, and switching between these stacks.
US08169898B2	Modular telephone A self-configuring communication system includes a portable memory device that stores personalization data. The self-configuring communication system includes a local instrument. The local instrument includes an interface for the portable memory device. The local instrument includes a processor to establish a link through the interface to the portable memory device without intervention and, upon establishing the link, to execute a program to configure the local instrument to emulate a telephone described by the personalization data.
US08169897B2	Achieving high-rate multi-hop data delivery in vehicular networks A method for high rate data delivery in a multi-hop vehicular network comprises at each source vehicle, initiating a packet having a flow tag, assigning an identifier of the content and the current location to the flow tag, and forwarding the packet; at each destination vehicle, setting a flow request and broadcasting at the current intersection; further on movement, setting the flow request at the new intersection, and at each intersection, selecting a header vehicle at the intersection, computing backlog and congestion indicators and listening for broadcasts with a matrix and the flow requests at the header vehicle, determining if the matrix is present, updating the matrix in accordance with the backlog and congestion indicators if the matrix is present, initializing the matrix and estimating the delay on the outgoing road segments if the matrix is not present, forwarding the packet flow, and broadcasting the matrix from the header vehicle.
US08169895B2	Network system and node The invention realizes defect indication on a multipoint logical path and switching of the logical path using a transfer protocol of configuring a logical path in a ring network. A working path and a backup path are set up where each transmits a frame from a transmitting end node to multicast receiving end nodes, forwards the frame to the transmitting end node and terminates it at the transmitting end node after going around the ring. Any node detecting a defect transmits a forward defect indication frame to a multipoint logical path in which the defect occurs. The transmitting end node receiving the forward defect indication frame halts the use of the notified multipoint logical path, and transmits a frame in another path where the forward defect indication frame is not received. When received from both multipoint logical paths, the transmitting end node copies the frame and forwards them to both paths.
US08169891B2	Apparatus and method for handling lost cells in a communications system A method of processing cells in a communication system includes obtaining a cell, causing it to be stored, determined if it is associated with a loss event, and if so, causing it to be tagged with a lost cell indicator. An apparatus for processing cells includes a cell processing module and a cell buffer interface that can interface with a cell buffer. The processing module is configured to obtain a cell, cause it to be stored through the buffer interface, determine if it is associated with a loss event, and if so, cause it to be tagged with a lost cell indicator. The lost cell indicator can preferably be a compressed lost cell indicator. The inventive tagging enhances computational efficiency compared to approaches that require moving a stored cell to make room for a complete dummy cell.
US08169890B2	Systems and method for high data rate ultra wideband communication A high data rate UWB system implements a frame structure that uses a connected set of m-sequences comprising the lowest possible cross-correlation and perfect, or near perfect autocorrelation. Each m-sequence can be used to identify a different piconet. A very efficient code matched filter can then be used to decode the frames and achieve synchronization with a piconets.
US08169887B2	Apparatuses and methods for wireless communications using a permutation sequence A method for data transmissions in a wireless communication system includes: allocating resources for data to be transmitted; providing a seed number from the communication system; setting, based on the seed number, at least one parameter for a pseudo-random mapper having an input variable and an output variable; initializing an array with a number of base elements; increasing a current value of the input variable by a current value of a counter; and calculating a value of the output variable based on the pseudo-random mapper and the increased value of the input variable. The method further includes: swapping a first base element and a second base element in the array, the first base element being identified based on the current value of the counter, and the second base element being identified based on the value of the output variable; performing permutation on the resources by using the array as a permutation sequence; and transmitting the data.
US08169883B2	Optical disk, method for manufacturing the same, and method for recording and method for reproducing data using optical disk An optical disk includes a first information recording layer, and second to N-th information recording layers (with N being an integer of two or greater) that are arranged further toward the side from which laser light is irradiated than the first information recording layer and which are arranged in order from the side near the first information recording layer. The first information recording layer includes a read-only control data region, a first recording learning region for learning recording parameters to record data, and a first user data recording region for recording user data. When taking at least one of the second to N-th information recording layers as an i-th information recording layer (with i being an integer satisfying 2≦i≦N), that i-th information recording layer includes an i-th recording learning region for learning recording parameters to record data in the i-th information recording layer, and an i-th user data recording region for recording user data. The first recording learning region and the i-th recording learning region are arranged at different radial positions, and the i-th recording learning region is arranged within a region of radial positions at which the control data region is provided.
US08169882B2	High density data storage medium, method and device A composition of matter for the recording medium of nanometer scale thermo-mechanical information storage devices and a nanometer scale thermo-mechanical information storage device. The composition includes: one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers, each of the one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers comprising (a) a first monomer including an aryl ether ketone and (b) a second monomer including an aryl ether ketone and a first phenylethynyl moiety, each of the one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers having two terminal ends, each terminal end having a phenylethynyl moiety the same as or different from the first phenylethynyl moiety. The one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers are thermally cured and the resulting cross-linked polyaryletherketone resin used as the recording layer in an atomic force data storage device.
US08169879B2	Optical recording system to record information with light A multilayer optical recording system to record information with light includes a lens unit, a recording medium, and a microscopic drive unit. The lens unit includes a metamaterial lens or a plasmon lens. The metamaterial lens has a first dielectric member in which first microstructures are implanted in a substantially regular manner. The plasmon lens has an aperture. The aperture is a hole or a slit created in a metal film. The microscopic drive unit is configured to adjust a relative position between the lens unit and the recording medium. In addition, the principal plane is placed to be in contact with the lens unit or to have a gap between the principal plane and the lens unit. Furthermore, the second microstructures are arranged periodically in a direction substantially perpendicular to the principal plane of the recording medium.
US08169877B2	Optical disc apparatus An optical disc apparatus for use of an optical disc including a plurality of recording layers sets an amount of correction of spherical aberration for each of the recording layers of the disc during a focus sweep. A photodetector portion produces a signal in response to returned light for each of the recording layers.
US08169876B2	Optical information recording method, optical information reproducing method, optical information recording apparatus and optical information reproducing apparatus An optical information recording method of recording information three-dimensionally by irradiating a laser light beam onto a medium having a servo information plane on which address information and/or servo information is recorded, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: dividing a laser light beam from one laser light source into laser light beams, the beam including a first light beam for reading the information, and a second light beam for recording information onto the recording medium; irradiating the first light beam onto the servo information plane to read the information from reflected light of the first light beam to read the information in which optical axes of the first light beam and second light beam are arranged coaxially; and irradiating the second light beam based on the read information to be focused onto a position in a depth direction perpendicular to a horizontal direction of the recording medium.
US08169874B2	Optical recording medium, information recording method, and information reproducing method According to one embodiment, an optical recording medium is provided in which interlayer crosstalk is low and in which stable and high-quality recording characteristics can be obtained. To this end, an optical recording medium comprises a first recording part which includes a first recording layer and a first light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side closer to a light receiving surface, and a second recording part which includes a second recording layer and a second light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side farther from the light receiving surface, the first recording part and the second recording part being stacked, wherein the thickness of the second light reflecting layer is larger than the thickness of the first light reflecting layer.
US08169873B2	Optical recording medium, information recording method, and information reproducing method According to one embodiment, an optical recording medium is provided in which interlayer crosstalk is low and in which stable and high-quality recording characteristics can be obtained. To this end, an optical recording medium comprises a first recording part which includes a first recording layer and a first light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side closer to a light receiving surface, and a second recording part which includes a second recording layer and a second light reflecting layer and which is disposed on a side farther from the light receiving surface, the first recording part and the second recording part being stacked, wherein the thickness of the second light reflecting layer is larger than the thickness of the first light reflecting layer.
US08169869B2	Recording parameter setting device and method using pulse sequences A recording parameter setting device setting parameters of pulse sequences forming recording marks on recording media. The device includes a storage section storing first and second look-up tables, and a recording parameter setting section for obtaining from the tables and setting parameters corresponding to recording information. The pulse sequences form at least marks equal to or longer than a first predetermined length but not longer than a maximum mark length, and include top and last sections. Also, the first lookup table stores parameters for top sections that control heat of front edges of marks classified into a same group. The second lookup table stores parameters for last sections for controlling heat of rear edges that are equal to or longer than a second predetermined recording mark length, that is longer than the first predetermined recording mark length, through the maximum recording mark length and classified into a same group.
US08169868B2	Method for detecting surface defects in patterned media An optical defect detection method for patterned media includes: irradiating a laser beam onto a patterned medium and obtaining reflected light by reflection very close to a sample; outputting the reflected light as an analog electrical signal from an optical receiver; converting the analog signal to a digital signal; obtaining a surface profile in a track direction by sampling the analog signal; obtaining a servo area profile by setting a slice for detecting servo area; calculating an average value in a track width direction based on plural servo area profiles; generating a master servo area profile based on the average value; obtaining a difference between the master servo area profile and the specific servo area profile; and detecting the presence of a defect including surface roughness, process fluctuation, and adhesion of foreign matters, from a differential waveform.
US08169864B2	Actuator for pickup, pickup device, recording medium drive device, and method of manufacturing actuator for pickup Provided is an actuator for a pickup, in which end parts of a plurality of suspensions (550A to 550F) of five or more are positioned on a virtual circle (X) formed on a plane by being projected onto the plane including both a focusing direction and a tracking direction. A rolling center (O) defined as a center of the virtual circle (X) is made to coincide with all three, two, or one of a center (Os) of the gravity of a lens holder (600), a center (Os) of the drive force of the lens holder (600), and a center (Os) of the translational force of the suspensions (550A to 550F). Since the rolling center (O) coincides with all three, two, or one of those centers (Os), a rotational moment is not generated on the lens holder (600) and, therefore, generation of unnecessary resonance can be prevented.
US08169863B2	Tracking control device, tracking control method, and optical disc device An object of this invention is to improve stability of tracking control and improve recording and reproduction performance. The tracking control device comprises a main push-pull signal generation section, which generates a main push-pull signal based on a signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of return light of the main beam; a microcomputer, which detects an other-layer stray light signal component included in a signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of return light of the sub-beam; a signal correction section, which corrects the signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of the return light of the sub-beam, based on the other-layer stray light signal component; and a sub-push-pull signal generation section, which generates a sub-push-pull signal based on the corrected signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of the return light of the sub-beam.
US08169861B1	Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising plasmon generator Provided is a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head in which NF-light with sufficiently high light density can be applied to a medium while a write-field generating point and a near-field light (NF-light) generating point are close to each other. The head comprises a plasmon generator provided between a magnetic pole and a waveguide and configured to be coupled with light propagating through the waveguide in a surface plasmon mode to emit NF-light. The plasmon generator comprises: a plasmon propagating part comprising a propagation edge for propagating surface plasmon excited by the light; and a light penetration suppressing part with an extinction coefficient greater than the plasmon propagating part. The light penetration suppressing part is in surface-contact with a surface portion of the plasmon propagating part excluding the propagation edge, and the magnetic pole is in surface-contact with the light penetration suppressing part. This configuration can avoid significant reduction in light use efficiency of an optical system generating NF-light due to partial absorption of electromagnetic field (light) into the magnetic pole.
US08169859B1	Animal clock assembly A clock assembly having a primary body in the shape of a type of animal. The primary body has a front face and a back face, and the secondary body has a front portion and a back portion. The primary and secondary bodies each have substantially circular openings with inner surfaces that are configured for selective receipt of a clock. At least a portion of the secondary body is secured to at least a portion of the secondary body, such that when the primary body and the secondary body are secured together, the substantially circular openings of the primary and secondary bodies are flush with one another. The clock assembly has at least one eyepiece. The outer surface of a clock having a clock display and a housing is mounted inside the inner surface of the opening of the primary body and the inner surface of the opening of the secondary body.
US08169858B2	Timepiece fitted with a lighting device comprising an ultraviolet light-emitting diode The invention relates to a timepiece (1) fitted with a glass (3) having an inside face and an outside face to the timepiece and a lighting device (4) comprising at least one ultraviolet or infrared light-emitting diode (4a) to illuminate at least one zone (9) integrating fluorescent and/or phosphorescent pigments of an indicator element (7) visible through the glass, characterized in that the light-emitting diode is arranged on the periphery of the glass forming a waveguide capable of diffusing the ultraviolet or infrared light, and that means for diffusing ultraviolet or infrared light (12; 13; 15; 19; 20) from the glass towards the interior of the timepiece are arranged in the path of the ultraviolet or infrared light.
US08169855B2	Ultrasonic sensor unit and electronic device An ultrasonic sensor unit includes an ultrasonic transmission sensor array having a plurality of ultrasonic transmission sensors configured and arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves, and an ultrasonic reception sensor array having a plurality of ultrasonic reception sensors configured and arranged to receive the ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic reception sensor array re coupled to the ultrasonic transmission sensor array so that the ultrasonic transmission sensors and the ultrasonic reception sensors do not overlap in planar view. One of the ultrasonic transmission sensor array and the ultrasonic reception sensor array include a plurality of through-holes through which one of the ultrasonic transmission sensors and the ultrasonic reception sensors provided in the other of the ultrasonic transmission sensor array and the ultrasonic reception sensor array are exposed.
US08169851B2	Memory device with pseudo double clock signals and the method using the same A method for operating a memory device with pseudo double clock signals comprises the steps of: generating an even clock signal and an odd clock signal, wherein the clock rates of both the even clock signal and the odd clock signal are half that of the input clock signal, and the even clock signal is the inverse signal of the odd clock signal; if the logic level of the even clock signal is 1 when receiving a trigger of a control signal, applying the even clock signal to a memory device; and if the logic level of the odd clock signal is 1 when receiving another trigger of the control signal, applying the odd clock signal to the memory device.
US08169843B2	Wafer test trigger signal generating circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus, and a wafer test circuit using the same A wafer test trigger signal generating circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes an enable timing control unit configured to generate an enable signal by using a plurality of address signals, and a trigger signal generating unit configured to generate a test trigger signal, which designates a decoding timing of a test mode defined by the plurality of address signals, in response to the enable signal.
US08169841B2	Strobe apparatus, systems, and methods A strobe signal is received in a device and execution of an operation in the device is delayed when the strobe signal includes a preamble. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08169838B2	Memory device, control method for the same, control program for the same, memory card, circuit board and electronic equipment A memory device includes a single or a plurality of memory chips. In the memory device (memory module), the single memory chip or each of the plurality of memory chips has a memory part storing control data such as specification data and function data, and control data stored on the memory part is rewritable. Control data stored on the memory part separately disposed on each memory chip enables separate use of the memory chip, which improves compatibility and flexibility of the memory.
US08169836B2	Buffer control signal generation circuit and semiconductor device A buffer control signal generation circuit includes a burst start signal generator, a command decoder, a burst controller, and a burst column controller. The burst start signal generator shifts a write pulse into a first period to generate a first burst start signal and shifts the write pulse into a second period to generate a second burst start signal, such that the second period being shorter than the first period. The command decoder generates a burst period pulse and a column active pulse in response to the second burst start signal and a column control signal. The burst controller receives the column active pulse and buffers the burst period pulse to generate a burst end signal. The burst column controller generates the column control signal from the burst end signal and the column active pulse.
US08169834B2	Sense amplifier used in electrically erasable programmable read-only memory and the implementing method thereof A sense amplifier and method of implementing includes a reference current generation circuit, which is used for providing a reference current with a settable temperature coefficient for a main circuit of the sense amplifier; the main circuit is used for comparing the reference current with a storage cell current, and distinguishing between 0 and 1 Storage Cell. A method of implementing the sense amplifier that is as below: With an additional current reference circuit, generating and inputting the reference current with a positive/negative/zero temperature coefficient into the main circuit, by mixing a proportional absolute temperature current and a constant current according to different ratios; a storage cell selection tube in a mirror branch of a biased current of the main circuit, so as to constitute a source degeneration circuit, making the biased current change with the power supply voltage and realizing a gain compensation function.
US08169830B2	Sensing for all bit line architecture in a memory device Methods for sensing, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. One such method for sensing includes charging bit lines of an all bit line architecture to a precharge voltage, selecting a word line, and performing a sense operation on the bit lines. After the sense operation on the memory cells of the first selected word line is complete, the precharge voltage is maintained on the bit lines while a second word line is selected.
US08169824B2	Semiconductor device including contact plug having an elliptical sectional shape A semiconductor device includes a first MOS transistor, second MOS transistors, first contact plugs, and a second contact plug. The first MOS transistor with a first conductivity is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The second MOS transistors with a second conductivity are formed on the semiconductor substrate. The first contact plugs has a circular planar shape. The second contact plug has an elliptical planar shape and is formed on a source or a drain in one of the second MOS transistors. The first contact plugs are formed on sources or drains in the remaining second MOS transistors and the first MOS transistor.
US08169822B2	Data state-dependent channel boosting to reduce channel-to-floating gate coupling in memory In a programming operation, selected storage elements on a selected word line are programmed while unselected storage elements on the selected word line are inhibited from programming by channel boosting. To provide a sufficient but not excessive level of boosting, the amount of boosting can be set based on a data state of the unselected storage element. A greater amount of boosting can be provided for a lower data state which represents a lower threshold voltage and hence is more vulnerable to program disturb. A common boosting scheme can be used for groups of multiple data states. The amount of boosting can be set by adjusting the timing and magnitude of voltages used for a channel pre-charge operation and for pass voltages which are applied to word lines. In one approach, stepped pass voltages on unselected word lines can be used to adjust boosting for channels with selected data states.
US08169821B1	Low-crystallization temperature MTJ for spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (SSTTMRAM) A spin-torque transfer memory random access memory (STTMRAM) element is disclosed and has a fixed layer, a barrier layer formed upon the fixed layer, and a free layer comprised of a low-crystallization temperature alloy of CoFeB—Z where Z is below 25 atomic percent of one or more of titanium, (Ti), yittrium (Y), zirconium (Zr), and vanadium (V), wherein during a write operation, a bidirectional electric current is applied across the STTMRAM element to switch the magnetization of the free layer between parallel and anti-parallel states relative to the magnetization of the fixed layer.
US08169820B2	Use of symmetric resistive memory material as a diode to drive symmetric or asymmetric resistive memory A crosspoint array is made up of a plurality of bitlines and wordlines and a plurality of crossbar elements, with each crossbar element being disposed between a bitline and a wordline, and each crossbar element comprising at least a phase change material used as a rectifier in series with a solid electrolyte used as an asymmetric resistive memory element. The crossbar elements are responsive to the following voltages: a first set of voltages to transition the phase change material in the crossbar elements from an OFF state to an ON state; a second set of voltages to read or program the solid electrolyte, and a third set of voltages to transition the phase change material from an ON state to an OFF state.
US08169818B2	Recording method for magnetic memory device A recording method for a magnetic memory device that includes applying, when recording one piece of information, one or more main pulses and one or more sub-pulses in the same direction and applying the one or more sub-pulses after the one or more main pulses, the one or more main pulses each being a pulse that has a sufficient pulse height and pulse width to record information, the one or more sub-pulses each being a pulse that satisfies at least one of conditions that a pulse width is shorter than that of the one or more main pulses and that a pulse height is smaller than that of the one or more main pulses.
US08169815B2	System and method for writing data to magnetoresistive random access memory cells Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell with a thermally assisted switching writing procedure and methods for manufacturing and using same. The MRAM cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction that has at least a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and an insulating layer disposed between the first and a second magnetic layers. The MRAM cell further includes a select transistor and a current line electrically connected to the junction. The current line advantageously can support a plurality of MRAM operational functions. The current line can fulfill a first function for passing a first portion of current for heating the junction and a second function for passing a second portion of current in order to switch the magnetization of the first magnetic layer.
US08169814B2	Schmitt trigger-based finFET SRAM cell The present invention provides a Schmitt trigger-based FinFET static random access memory (SRAM) cell, which is an 8-FinFET structure. A FinFET has the functions of two independent gates. The new SRAM cell uses only 8 FinFET per cell, compared with the 10-FinFET structure in previous works. As a result, the cell structure of the present invention can save chip area and raise chip density. Furthermore, this new SRAM cell can effectively solve the conventional problem that the 6T SRAM cell is likely to have read errors at a low operating voltage.
US08169811B2	Non-volatile re-programmable memory device A memory device including a non-volatile re-programmable memory cell is provided. In connection with various example embodiments, the memory cell is a single resistor located between a first and second node. The resistor stores different resistance states corresponding to different resistance values set by SiCr-facilitated migration. The SiCr-facilitated migration occurs in response to energy presented between the first and second nodes. The application of a signal to a first node of the memory cell resistor forces the migration of elements along the memory cell resistor to set the resistance value of the memory cell resistor. The application of a second signal of approximately equal strength to the second node reverses the change and resistance and returns the memory cell to the previous resistance level. In some implementations the resistor is made of SiCr.
US08169810B2	Magnetic memory with asymmetric energy barrier A magnetic tunnel junction cell includes a ferromagnetic reference layer, a ferromagnetic free layer, and a non-magnetic barrier layer separating the ferromagnetic reference layer from the ferromagnetic free layer. The magnetic tunnel junction cell has an asymmetric energy barrier for switching between a high resistance data state and a low resistance data state.
US08169809B2	Tree-structure memory device A tree-structure memory device including a plurality of bit lines formed on a substrate and arranged in at least one plane substantially parallel to a substrate surface and extending substantially in a first direction, a plurality of layers having a plurality of memory cells arranged in a first array, a tree structure corresponding to a plurality of layers and a bit line; and a word-line group including at least one word line crossing with the tree structure, a memory cell of the first array being located at the first intersection region in a layer of said layers.
US08169808B2	NAND flash content addressable memory NAND architecture non-volatile content addressable (CAM) memory devices and methods are described that allows for high density, low cost CAM devices. In addition, the NAND architecture non-volatile CAM memory operates with reduced power consumption characteristics for low power and portable applications. In one NAND architecture non-volatile CAM memory embodiment a wired NOR match line array is utilized. In another embodiment a NAND match line array is shown. In yet other embodiments, hierarchal addressing, hash addressing, tree search and algorithmic/hardware engine based search is detailed utilizing both conventional NAND architecture non-volatile Flash memory arrays and dedicated NAND architecture CAM arrays utilizing wired NOR and wired NAND match lines.
US08169799B2	Power factor correction circuit A power factor correction circuit steps up and power-factor-corrects a rectified voltage, which has been rectified from an AC input voltage of an AC power source Vin, through an ON/OFF operation of a switching element Q1 and supplies a stepped-up output voltage to a DC-DC converter that is driven with a first pulse signal. The power factor correction circuit includes a delay circuit to receive the first pulse signal whose pulse width corresponds to an output voltage of the DC-DC converter, generate, in response to an ON pulse of the first pulse signal, a delay pulse signal whose pulse width corresponds to the rectified voltage, and synthesize the first pulse signal and the delay pulse signal into a second pulse signal. The power factor correction circuit also includes a driver to drive the switching element according to the second pulse signal.
US08169798B2	Synchronous rectifier circuit and multi-output power supply device using the same A synchronous rectifier circuit and a multi-output power supply device using the same include a semiconductor switch to control a current flow of the synchronous rectifier circuit, and a switching controller to control the semiconductor switch according to a synchronous rectification control signal and an output control signal generated by feeding back the output voltage of the synchronous rectifier circuit. The synchronous rectifier circuit can control an output voltage, decrease power loss so as to increase the efficiency of the synchronous rectifier circuit, and decrease the cost of the synchronous rectifier circuit.
US08169796B2	Isolated switching power supply apparatus In an isolated switching power supply apparatus, by performing on/off control of a first switching device and a second switching device, energy is transmitted from the primary side to the secondary side using a second primary winding and a second secondary winding while the first switching device is on, and energy is transmitted by a first primary winding and a first secondary winding while the second switching device is on. The first secondary winding and the second secondary winding are connected in series with one another, and an inductor is inserted in series to the second secondary winding. An output current is made to flow through the inductor irrespective of whether the first switching device is on or the second switching device is on.
US08169791B2	Electronic module and method for producing such a module Electronic module (10), and an electric motor (12) containing one, and also a production method for one, having an electrically conductive first substrate (16) which has a basic body (54) and which has a second electrically conductive substrate (18) mounted on it, and having at least one power component which is arranged on a first substrate (16), and the second substrate (18) is fitted with further components (40) on a side (32) which is remote from the first substrate (16), where the second substrate (18) has a smaller base area (19) than the basic body (54) of the first substrate (16), and the power components (22) are mounted on the first substrate (16) outside the outer perimeter (70) of the second substrate (18)—next to the latter.
US08169782B2	Electronic circuit device An electronic circuit device that suppresses deformation of an adhesive layer of a flexible printed circuit board during formation of a resin seal portion, and suppresses deterioration of the circuit board caused by deformation of the adhesive layer. The electronic circuit device includes a substrate mounted with an electronic component; a flexible printed circuit board electrically connectable to the substrate and an external device, and includes a wiring conductor and a pair of insulation films covering upper and lower surfaces of the wiring conductor; and a resin molding portion to seal the substrate and a portion of the circuit board. The wiring conductor of the circuit board is adhered through an adhesive layer to at least one of the pair of insulation films, and a dummy wiring material that does not function as wiring is disposed on an outer side of a border between the circuit board and an outer peripheral portion of the plastic molding portion, and disposed between the pair of insulation films.
US08169781B2	Power supply and heat dissipation module thereof A power supply includes a casing, a printed circuit board (PCB) and a heat dissipation module. The PCB is disposed in the casing and has a heat-generating element. The casing has a top cover. The heat dissipation module includes a heatsink and a heat dissipation plate. The heatsink is disposed at the PCB and contacts the heat-generating elements. The heatsink has a surface facing the top cover. The heat dissipation plate is disposed between the heatsink and the top cover and contacts the surface of the heatsink.
US08169780B2	Power conversion device In a power conversion device including: a converter which steps up or down a voltage of a direct current power supply; and an inverter which converts the direct current voltage obtained by the converter into an alternating voltage to drive an electric motor, a plurality of magnetic parts are arranged above a switching element assembly unit with a water-cooled type second heat sink interposed between the switching element assembly unit and the plurality of magnetic parts, the switching element assembly unit configured by mounting all the switching element modules on upper and lower surfaces of a water-cooled type first heat sink. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a power conversion device capable of housing many switching element modules in a compact space and cooling them effectively, while preventing the influence of a noise due to the magnetic parts from acting on the switching element modules as much as possible.
US08169777B2	Modular computer A modular computer includes a main board unit, a power supply unit, a CPU, a graphic/display unit, a data reading/writing unit and a plurality of fasteners. Each of the units is formed into a rectangular six-face-boxed modular. A connector is provided on one of the faces of the units. The units are stacked in vertical direction or arranged in horizontal direction. The units are fixed together by the fasteners. The connectors provide electrical connection among the units.
US08169773B2	Electrochemical capacitor The present invention provides an electrochemical capacitor, which includes: a cell electrode unit which includes cathodes, anodes, and separators interposed between the cathodes and the anodes which are alternately stacked in multiple layers; cathode terminals which are extended to one side of each of the cathodes and are stacked one above another; anode terminals which are extended to one side of each of the anodes and are stacked one above another with a separation space from the cathode terminals; a housing for receiving the cell electrode unit, the cathode terminals, and the anode terminals; and an output terminal unit which is insert-molded to penetrate from the inside to the outside of the housing, electrically connected to at least one of each of the stacked cathode and anode terminals, and immobilizes the cell electrode unit into the housing.
US08169771B2	High-stability thin-film capacitor and method for making the same The dielectric of a capacitor is formed by superposition of at least two thin layers made from the same metal oxide, respectively in crystalline and amorphous form and respectively presenting quadratic voltage coefficients of capacitance of opposite signs. The respective thicknesses da and dc of the amorphous and crystalline thin layers comply with the following general formulas: d a = ɛ 0 ⁢ ɛ a C s ⁢ ⁢ 0 ⁢ ( 1 1 - ( ɛ c ɛ a ) 2 ⁢ γ a γ c ) ⁢ ⁢ and ⁢ ⁢ d c = ɛ 0 ⁢ ɛ c C s ⁢ ⁢ 0 ⁢ ( 1 1 - ( ɛ a ɛ c ) 2 ⁢ γ c γ a ) in which ∈0 corresponds to the electric constant, ∈c and ∈a correspond to the relative permittivity of the metal oxide respectively in crystalline form and in amorphous form, Cs0 corresponds to the total surface capacitance at zero field, and γc and γa correspond to the quadratic coefficient of capacitance with respect to the electric field of the metal oxide respectively in crystalline form and in amorphous form.
US08169764B2	Temperature compensation in integrated circuit In an embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises a plurality of temperature sensors and a power manager coupled thereto. The temperature sensors are physically distributed over an area of the integrated circuit that is occupied by logic circuitry implementing the operations for which the integrated circuit is designed. The power manager is configured to transmit a power supply voltage request to an external power supply module, the power supply voltage request indicating a requested magnitude of the power supply voltage for the integrated circuit. The power manager is configured to modify the requested magnitude responsive to indications from each of the plurality of temperatures sensors that represent a temperature of the integrated circuit sensed by each of the plurality of temperature sensors.
US08169762B2	Relay with current transformer Current transformer relays having dual functions as current transformers and electromechanical switches are described. The current transformer relay includes a relay coil and a conducting loop concentric with the relay coil. Additional functions are thus provided in addition to the main relay switching function or functions. The concentric nature of the relay coil and the conducting loop create a current transformer between these elements. The additional functions include the ability to measure an alternating current (AC) current conducted by the conducting loop, the ability to detect and interpret an information signal imposed on power lines connected to the conducting loop, the ability to induce or impose an information signal on the conducting loop for transmission to power lies connected to the conducting loop, and the ability to measure a differential current between currents carried by the conducting loop and a second concentric conducting loop.
US08169757B2	Circuit breaker with bistable display A circuit breaker is disclosed that has a bi-stable display that maintains an indication of a fault condition after power is interrupted to the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a microcontroller that receives power derived from a line current that passes through the circuit breaker or the line voltage when the circuit breaker is in an on state. The bi-stable display is electrically coupled to and controlled by the microcontroller. A tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to detection of a fault condition. The tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to receiving a trip signal from the microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed to modify the bi-stable display when sending the trip signal to the electronic switching device. The bi-stable display shows an indication of one of the several fault types that would have caused the circuit breaker to trip. The bi-stable display continues to display the fault-type indication after the circuit breaker has tripped and power is interrupted to the microcontroller.
US08169751B2	Magnetoresistive sensor having a structure for activating and deactivating electrostatic discharge prevention circuitry A structure for preventing Electrostatic Discharge (LSD) damage to a magnetoresistive sensor during manufacture. The structure includes a switching element that can be switched off during testing of the sensor and then switched back on to provide ESD shunting to the sensor. The switch can be a thermally activated mechanical relay built onto the slider. The switch could also be a programmable resistor that includes to solid electrolyte sandwiched between first and second electrodes. One of the electrodes functions as an anode. When voltage is applied in a first direction an ion bridge forms across through the electrolyte across electrodes making the resistor conductive. When a voltage is applied in a second direction, the ion bridge recedes and the programmable resistor becomes essentially non-conductive.
US08169750B1	Removable nanopositioning cartridge for magnetic head and disk testers A removable cartridge for magnetic head and disk testers is disclosed. The removable cartridge includes: a base plate; a first end of an actuator rigidly fixed to the base plate; an HGA mounting block rigidly fixed to a second end of the actuator; a first end of a flexure rigidly coupled to the HGA mounting block; and a second end of the flexure rigidly coupled to the base plate.
US08169749B2	Post-assembly head/disk offset adjuster A post-assembly head/disk offset adjuster is disclosed. One embodiment provides a housing and at least one disk coupled with the housing. In addition, an adjustable pivot plate is coupled with the housing such that access to at least one adjustment point of the adjustable pivot plate is provided regardless of a state of assembly of the hard disk drive. Furthermore, an actuator is coupled with the adjustable pivot plate. In so doing, an adjustment to the at least one adjustment point of the adjustable pivot plate results in an adjustment to the actuator regardless of the state of assembly of the hard disk drive.
US08169747B2	Cushioning ramp having a stepped structure for a magnetic disc apparatus For cushioning a shock to prevent problems such as a reading error, a ramp for a magnetic disc apparatus is made of a resin material for forming a ramp main body and a material having higher rigidity than the resin material, disc facing surfaces in the disc insertion portion for inserting a magnetic disc is provided with disc contact portions made of the high rigidity material, a bottom surface portion of a concave portion of the disc insertion portion is constructed by a combination of a bottom surface portion made of the resin material and a bottom surface portion made of the high rigidity material, and a step structure is provided by arranging the bottom surface portion made of the high rigidity material at a position moved rearward in a depth direction of the concave portion in comparison with the bottom surface portion made of the resin material.
US08169745B2	Head gimbal assembly having balanced weight, and disk drive unit with the same A HGA includes a load beam having a dimple formed thereon; a flexure including a suspension tongue and a support plate connected with the suspension tongue; and a slider having a leading edge and trailing edge opposite to the leading edge. The slider is mounted on the flexure such that the slider is supported by the dimple at the center of the slider. The leading edge is attached on the suspension tongue and trailing edge is attached on the support plate. A weight-balance structure is formed on the suspension tongue of the flexure to balance the weight of the HGA between a portion from the trailing edge to the slider center and another portion from the leading edge to the slider center. The invention also discloses various methods of manufacturing HGA with the balanced weight.
US08169739B2	Perpendicular magnetic write head A perpendicular magnetic write head in which unintended erasure of information at the time of non-writing can be suppressed while keeping the capability of writing is provided. The perpendicular magnetic write head includes a magnetic pole tip portion, a first yoke portion connected to the magnetic pole tip portion, having a width larger than that of the magnetic pole tip portion, and having a recess portion in a center region thereof, and a second yoke portion embedded in the recess portion. The magnetic pole tip portion and the first yoke portion are integrally formed with a vapor deposition method, and the second yoke portion is formed with a plating method. Since the saturation flux density of the magnetic pole tip portion formed with the vapor deposition method becomes higher than that of the yoke portion, a magnetic flux intake capacity of the magnetic pole tip portion is ensured. In a magnetic domain structure of the yoke portion most of which is formed with the plating method, since an easy magnetization axis becomes likely to be directed in a direction perpendicular to an emitting direction of a magnetic flux, residual flux becomes less likely to leak out of the main magnetic pole layer at the time of non-writing.
US08169737B2	Tape library apparatus A tape library apparatus includes a recording/reproducing unit for accessing data in the tape cartridges, a first driver for producing a driving force, a conveyer for carrying the recording/reproducing unit in the direction of the alignment of the plurality of the tape cartridges, by the driving force produced by the first driver, an identification information reader mounted near the insertion slot and on a surfaces of the tape cartridges, the image identification information being on a surface of each of the tape cartridges which faces opposite to a surface which faces the conveyer, a second driver for moving the tape cartridge in the magazine at opposed position of the conveyer to the recording/reproducing unit, and a controller for controlling the first and second drivers, to move one of the tape cartridges stored in the magazine to a position of the recording/reproduction unit.
US08169735B1	Zone servo writing using self servo writing A system including a read module, a clock generator module, and a write module. The read module generates read signals in response to reading servo spirals from a magnetic medium of a hard disk drive. The clock generator module generates a spiral clock based on the read signals, and generates, based on the spiral clock, (i) a first write clock and (ii) a second write clock. The spiral clock has a first frequency, the first write clock has a second frequency, and the second write clock has a third frequency. The write module is configured to (i) write a first servo wedge on a first zone of the magnetic medium of the hard disk drive based on the first write clock, and (ii) write a second servo wedge on a second zone of the magnetic medium of the hard disk drive based on the second write clock.
US08169733B2	Magnetic disk device A magnetic disk device includes a disk that includes a plurality of tracks and magnetically stores therein data; a magnetic head that reads and writes data on the tracks; a data writing unit that classifies sectors along one track into a plurality of sector groups and writes to a physical address of each of the sector groups data of a logical address that is different from a logical address corresponding to the physical address in same track; and a first nonvolatile memory that stores therein a conversion table of the logical address and the physical address.
US08169730B2	Suppressing adjacent track interference/far track interference (ATI/FTI) in a hard disk drive (HDD) by an external magnetic field A hard disk drive (HDD) comprising a magnetic disk that includes a data storage surface and an external magnetic field parallel to the data storage surface for suppressing track interference.
US08169729B2	Magnetic recording/reproducing using a patterned medium To synchronize a write/read frequency with media with high precision even when a write head is positioned in a different zone in a magnetic recording/reproducing device equipped with patterned media formed with writing hit patterns and having a zoned format function, a write head is positioned on a recording track in the vicinity of a boundary between zones, and the write head is positioned in a different zone from the zone in which the read head is positioned, the preamble pattern in the zone in which the read head is positioned is reproduced, a difference between frequencies of the preamble patterns of the zones is compensated to determine a write frequency used for writing data into a desired track, and then start timing for writing is determined based on a synchronization pattern obtained at the position of the read head. Other systems and methods are presented as well.
US08169726B2	Disk file preamplifier frequency-response and time delay compensation An apparatus including one or more reader circuits, one or more writer circuits, and a loopback channel. The one or more reader circuits may be configured to read data from a magnetic medium. The one or more writer circuits may be configured to write data to the magnetic medium. The loopback channel is coupled between the one or more reader circuits and the one or more writer circuits.
US08169723B2	Vibration actuator, lens barrel and camera To provide a vibration actuator having good driving performance even when miniaturized, and a lens barrel and camera provided with the same. A first aspect of the present invention is to provide a vibration actuator comprising, an electromechanical conversion element, having a first joining face, and which is subject to excitation, an elastic body having a second joining face which is joined to the first joining face, and a driving face which gives rise to vibration waves as a result of said excitation, and a relative moving member, having a contact face which is in pressure contact with the driving face, which is driven by the vibration waves, and which moves relative to the elastic body, wherein an outer shape of said first joining face has a shape which differs from an outer shape of said contact face.
US08169718B2	Wide-angle zoom lens The present invention is directed to wide-angle zoom lenses dedicated to single-lens reflex digital cameras, which attains zoom ratio greater than 2. Such a wide-angle zoom lens has four groups of lens pieces, namely comprising the leading or foremost 1st lens group of negative refractivity closest to an objective field, the succeeding 2nd lens group of positive refractivity, the third lens group of negative refractivity, and the trailing 4th lens group of positive refractivity arranged in this order to move each lens group to vary optical power; and the 1st lens group includes a front subset of the lens pieces of negative refractive power and a rear subset of negative refractive power. The front-end lens piece in the 1st lens group is shaped in negative meniscus lens that has its concave surface faced toward an imaging plane and has the opposite surfaces shaped aspherical. The front and rear subsets of the 1st lens group meet requirements of a focal length as expressed in the following formula: 3.5≦\|f1b/f1a\|≦6.0 where f1a is a focal length of the front subset of the lens pieces in the 1st lens group and f1b is the focal length of the rear subset in the 1st lens group.
US08169717B2	Large aperture imaging optical systems Large aperture optical systems that are extremely well corrected over a large flat field and over a large spectral range are disclosed. Breathing and aberration variation during focusing are optionally controlled by moving at least two groups of lens elements independently. Aberration correction in general is aided by allowing the working distance to become short relative to the format diagonal. Field curvature is largely corrected by a steeply curved concave surface relatively close to the image plane. This allows the main collective elements to be made of low-index anomalous dispersion materials in order to correct secondary spectrum. In wide-angle example embodiments, distortion may be controlled with an aspheric surface near the front of the lens.
US08169714B2	Two-unit zoom lens system and image pickup apparatus using the same A two-unit zoom lens system which forms an image on an image pickup surface, includes in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit G1 having a negative refracting power and a second lens unit G2 having a positive refracting power. At the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, a distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit is narrowed. The first lens unit includes in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens having a negative refracting power, a second lens having a negative refracting power, and a third lens having a positive refracting power, and the two-unit zoom lens system satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.
US08169713B2	Zoom lens, camera module and electronic apparatus Disclosed herein is a zoom lens, including: an object side lens group disposed on the object side and including a first variable lens having a deformation surface, the object side lens group having a focal length varied by deformation of the first variable lens; an image side lens group disposed on the image side with respect to the object side lens group with an aperture stop sandwiched therebetween and including a second variable lens having a deformation surface, the image side lens group having a focal length varied by deformation of the second variable lens; and a lens group disposed between the object side lens group and the image side lens group and including the aperture stop. The deformation of the first and second variable lenses is controlled to carry out power variation and carry out image surface movement compensation and focusing by the power variation.
US08169712B2	Zoom lens and image capturing apparatus having the same A zoom lens system and an image capturing apparatus having the same. The zoom lens 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, wherein the first through fourth lens groups are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side, and the third lens group includes a first positive lens, a doublet lens including a second positive lens and a third negative lens, and a fourth positive lens sequentially arranged from the object side.
US08169710B2	Zoom lens and image capture apparatus An image capture apparatus includes: a zoom lens; and an image pickup device converting an optical image formed by the zoom lens into an electric signal. The zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group with a negative focal length, a second lens group with a positive focal length, a third lens group with a negative focal length, and a fourth lens group with a positive focal length. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens group moves along a locus having a convex shape toward an image side while decreasing an air space between the first and second lens groups, and the second and third lens groups move toward the object side while increasing an air space therebetween.
US08169708B2	Projecting optical unit and projecting type image display apparatus therewith A projection image display device is disclosed in which a trapezoidal distortion and/or aberration are restrained when an image is enlarged and projected obliquely onto a screen. An image generator is connected to an optical system base in such a manner that at least an inclination thereof (on an axis parallel to X axis) with respect to a vertical line and a distance thereof in forward and backward direction (Z axis direction) can be adjusted by an adjusting mechanism. Further, a projecting lens 2 as a first optical system and a free-form curved surface mirror as a second optical system are fixed to the optical system base. The free-form curved surface mirror is rotatable (on an rotary axis parallel to X axis) with respect to the vertical line at a substantial center of the free-form curved surface mirror.
US08169702B2	Screen unit A screen unit includes: a screen member; a first support member which supports one end of the screen member; a second support member which supports the other end of the screen member; a stretching and contracting device which expands the screen member; and a tensioning member disposed on the side opposite to the side where the screen member is provided with respect to the stretching and contracting device to apply tension in a direction substantially parallel with the direction from the first support member to the second support member.
US08169700B2	Reflective screen A reflective screen comprising: a projection surface on which an image light is projected, a plurality of unit structures provided on the projection surface, one of the plurality of unit structures being formed of a concavely curved surface or a convexly curved surface, a first reflection portion that reflects the image light incident thereon toward a preset field of view, the first reflection portion being provided on the concavely curved surface or on the convexly curved surface and a second reflection portion that reflects at least a part of the image light incident thereon toward a region outside the preset field of view, the second reflection portion being provided on the concavely curved surface or on the convexly curved surface.
US08169699B2	Polarization preserving projection screen with engineered pigment and method for making same Polarization preserving projection screens provide optimum polarization preservation for 3D viewing. The projection screens additionally provide improved light control for enhanced brightness, uniformity, and contrast for both 2D and 3D systems. Generally, the disclosed method for providing a projection screen comprises stripping an optically functional material from a carrier substrate, thus creating engineered particles from the optically functional material. The engineered particles may then be deposited on a second substrate to create a substantially homogeneous optical appearance of the projection screen.
US08169698B1	Dual movable projection screen structure An integral, dual projection screen structure for displaying an image from a projection source. The projection screen structure comprises a frame; first and second movable projection screens disposed within the frame, each movable screen having an operable roller for rolling and unrolling the screen and being mounted at the top portion of the frame; and a masking system having at least two movable masking panels disposed within the frame over at least two of the top portion, bottom portion and first and second side portions of the front side of the sheet in the second screen.
US08169697B2	Screen unit A screen unit includes: a rectangular screen; fixing assist members provided on the screen along two opposed sides of the screen; first supporting units fixed to two sides of the screen different from the two opposed sides along which the fixing assist members are provided; second supporting units fixed to the screen via the fixing assist members; a first tensioning unit which applies tension in the direction of separating the first supporting units away from each other; and a second tensioning unit which applies tension in the direction of separating the second supporting units away from each other.
US08169696B2	Systems for intraoperative nerve imaging Disclosed are systems for intraoperative nerve imaging using compact high collection power imaging devices for fluorescence and white light imaging of myelin basic protein (MBP) nerve imaging agents during open and minimally invasive surgery.
US08169694B2	Catoptric objectives and systems using catoptric objectives In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a system that includes a microlithography projection optical system. The microlithography projection optical system includes a plurality of elements arranged so that during operation the plurality of elements image radiation at a wavelength λ from an object plane to an image plane. At least one of the elements is a reflective element that has a rotationally-asymmetric surface positioned in a path of the radiation. The rotationally-asymmetric surface deviates from a rotationally-symmetric reference surface by a distance of about λ or more at one or more locations of the rotationally-asymmetric surface.
US08169693B1	Fiber bundle phase conjugate mirror An improved method and apparatus for passively conjugating the phases of a distorted wavefronts resulting from optical phase mismatch between elements of a fiber laser array are disclosed. A method for passively conjugating a distorted wavefront comprises the steps of: multiplexing a plurality of probe fibers and a bundle pump fiber in a fiber bundle array; passing the multiplexed output from the fiber bundle array through a collimating lens and into one portion of a non-linear medium; passing the output from a pump collection fiber through a focusing lens and into another portion of the non-linear medium so that the output from the pump collection fiber mixes with the multiplexed output from the fiber bundle; adjusting one or more degrees of freedom of one or more of the fiber bundle array, the collimating lens, the focusing lens, the non-linear medium, or the pump collection fiber to produce a standing wave in the non-linear medium.
US08169691B1	Multi color display panel One embodiment of the present invention is a multi color display panel, having a transparent substrate, a color filter layer, a transparent electrode layer, a microcapsule layer, an adhesive layer; and a rear electrode plate, wherein the rear electrode plate is an electrode plate in which a pixel electrode is arranged on a substrate, a film thickness of the color filter layer is 0.5-2.0 μm, a step between pixels or inside a pixel inside a display screen, the step being difference of the film thickness, is equal to or less than 0.3 μm, one of the pixels does not overlap an adjacent pixel, and a top edge of each of the pixels of a trapezoid shape is within 5.0 μm from a border of the pixel.
US08169689B2	Integrated modulator illumination A spatial light modulator includes an array of elements to modulate light in accordance with image data. The modulator has a display panel having first and second surfaces arranged adjacent to the array of elements such that the second surface is directly adjacent the array of elements to allow a viewer to view an image produced by modulation of light The modulator may also include a light source to provide light to the display panel and illumination dots on the first surface of the display panel to reflect light from the source to the array of elements.
US08169687B2	Photonic MEMS and structures An interference modulator (Imod) incorporates anti-reflection coatings and/or micro-fabricated supplemental lighting sources. An efficient drive scheme is provided for matrix addressed arrays of IMods or other micromechanical devices. An improved color scheme provides greater flexibility. Electronic hardware can be field reconfigured to accommodate different display formats and/or application functions. An IMod's electromechanical behavior can be decoupled from its optical behavior. An improved actuation means is provided, some one of which may be hidden from view. An IMod or IMod array is fabricated and used in conjunction with a MEMS switch or switch array. An IMod can be used for optical switching and modulation. Some IMods incorporate 2-D and 3-D photonic structures. A variety of applications for the modulation of light are discussed. A MEMS manufacturing and packaging approach is provided based on a continuous web fed process. IMods can be used as test structures for the evaluation of residual stress in deposited materials.
US08169685B2	Thermally switched absorptive window shutter The thermally switched absorptive optical shutter may be a self-regulating “switchable absorber” device that may absorb approximately 100% of incoming light above a threshold temperature, and may absorb approximately 50% of incoming light below a threshold temperature. The shutter may be formed by placing a thermotropic depolarizer between two absorptive polarizers. This control over the flow of radiant energy may occur independently of the thermal conductivity or insulation of the shutter device and may or may not preserve the image and color properties of incoming visible light. This has energy-efficiency implications as it can be used to regulate the internal temperature and illumination of buildings, vehicles, and other structures without the need for an external power supply or operator signals. It also has aesthetic implications since the shutter device has unique optical properties that are not found in traditional windows, skylights, stained glass, light fixtures, glass blocks, bricks, or walls. Additionally, the shutter device may have application as a building material.
US08169684B2	Vehicular rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating these elements The present invention relates to improved electro-optic rearview mirror elements and assemblies incorporating the same. Area of the effective field of view of the electro-optic mirror element substantially equals to that defined by the outermost perimeter of the element.
US08169682B2	Light modulator for representing complex-valued data A light modulator is disclosed for representing complex-valued data, comprising an encoding area that has an arrangement of pixels, the phase of which can be controlled. This largely avoids an interfering optical path difference between adjacent pixels or pixel groups when a complex value is encoded in several adjacent phase pixels of the encoding area, the optical path difference varying according to the angle. One respective specific structured delaying layer, which causes the optical path of an incident linearly polarized beam to change according to the angle, is associated with at least one predefined pixel of a group of adjacent pixels of the encoding area. The thickness of the delaying layer is designed such that the modification of the optical path caused by the delaying layer runs in the opposite direction from the angle-related modification of the optical path difference between individual pixels of the pixel group.
US08169677B2	Scanner motor A scanner motor is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the scanner motor includes a shaft, a housing having an insertion-hole formed in a center thereof, in which the shaft is inserted into the insertion-hole, a polygonal mirror, which is mounted on an upper side of the housing and has a through-hole formed in a center thereof in such a way that the shaft penetrates through the polygonal mirror, and a compression spring, which is formed on an upper side of the polygonal mirror and includes a V-shaped curved part bent downwardly in such a way that the V-shaped curved part compresses an upper edge of an inner circumferential surface of the polygonal mirror both horizontally and vertically.
US08169674B2	Image reading apparatus and method of controlling the same An image reading apparatus capable of changing a main reading unit at an appropriate time point such that a plurality of reading units can be equally used, and a method of controlling the same. The image reading apparatus includes an automatic document feeder, a first reading unit to read a first side of a document fed by the automatic document feeder and to function as a main reading unit, a second reading unit to read a second side of the document fed by the automatic document feeder; and a control unit to change the main reading unit from the first reading unit to the second reading unit if the number of times La of usage of the first reading unit reaches a reference value. The control unit compares the number of times La of usage of the first reading unit with a predicted lifetime Lt of the first reading unit and changes the main reading unit to the second reading unit if it is determined that the number of times La of usage of the first reading unit reaches a predetermined percentage of the predicted lifetime of the first reading unit. The control unit determines whether the main reading unit is changed or not, based on frequencies of use of the first reading unit and the second reading unit.
US08169670B2	Image scanning device In an image scanning device, the receiving unit receives a light reflected on a document putted on the surface of the board. The presuming unit presumes a dimension of a horizontal edge of the document based on the reflected light. The determining unit determines, based on the presumed dimension, whether or not the document has one of the plurality of standard sizes. The assuming unit assumes that the document has a virtual size defined by a virtual horizontal edge and a virtual longitudinal edge if the determining unit determines that the document has neither the plurality of standard sizes. The virtual horizontal dimension of the virtual horizontal edge is equal to or larger than the presumed dimension. The scanning unit scans the document over a range corresponding to the virtual size to generate image data.
US08169669B2	Scanner device A scanner device includes a scanner body formed with a document insertion opening and a document ejection opening and is configured so that a document taken in from the document insertion opening is read and then ejected from the document ejection opening. The scanner device further includes an upper surface cover covering the upper surface of the scanner body and a front surface cover covering the front surface of the scanner body. The front cover is connected at a lower end side thereof to the lower front part of the scanner body and connected at an upper end side thereof to pivotably connected to the front end side of the upper surface cover. By opening the front surface cover from the front surface of the scanner body, the upper surface cover and front surface cover form a document ejection tray.
US08169666B2	Threshold matrix generation method, halftone image generation method, and halftone image generating apparatus Each of moire elements which are repeat elements of first-order moire appearing by overlaying halftone images of first and second color components is positioned at one of candidate positions arranged at a moire pitch Pm in first and second moire directions orthogonal to each other. In a matrix area of a third color component, dot centers are arranged in a first tilt direction tilted relatively to the first moire direction by an angle of arctan((Pm)/(Pm)) and a second tilt direction orthogonal to the first tilt direction at a pitch of the square root of ((Pm2)+(Pm2)), and a threshold matrix of the color component is generated so that a halftone dot grows from each dot center in accordance with increase of gray level of the color component of the original image. Thus, it is possible to suppress second-order moire appearing in overlaying halftone images of the first to third color components.
US08169665B2	Tone dependent green-noise error diffusion method and printing device thereof A tone dependent green-noise error diffusion method includes setting a first threshold and a second threshold, and determining a two-level value of a color level of an input image according to the first threshold and the second threshold; subtracting the two-level value from the color level value to generate an error value; performing an error diffusion on the error value to generate an error diffusion accumulation value; adjusting the color level according to the error diffusion accumulation value; performing a hysteresis filtering on the two-level value to generate an output dependent feedback value; and adjusting the color level according to the output dependent feedback value.
US08169662B2	System and method for reducing print delays for print jobs There is disclosed a printing system for processing an electronic document with an original stream having at least two printing related instructions. Responsive to reading the at least two printing related instructions with a controller; the original stream is split into two or more streams. A printer produces (1) one or more sets of prints from one or more of the two or more streams for storage in one or more inserters, and (2) a final set of prints from another one of the two or more streams, the final set of prints corresponding to a hardcopy stream with at least one gap. The one or more sets of prints are automatically stored in the one or more inserters and, pursuant to printing the final set of prints; the one or more inserters are used to insert at least one print from the one or more sets of prints into the at least one gap of the hardcopy stream.
US08169658B2	Printing apparatus for preventing paper curl A printing apparatus includes: an image data acquiring unit which acquires image data representing an image of a print target; a print data generating unit which on the basis of the image data generates print data for forming the image by allowing an ink head to perform scanning and record ink in a specific edge of a print medium more times than in a portion other than the specific edge; and a print control unit which performs printing on the image on the basis of the print data by controlling the ink head.
US08169657B2	Registration method using sensed image marks and digital realignment A method of registering a print between print stages in a printing system is provided. The method comprises: printing a first part of a digital image on a substrate with a first print engine, wherein the first part of the digital image includes a plurality of reference features; scanning image content on the substrate as it is readied for the second print engine; determining the actual positions of the reference features; using the actual positions of the reference features to determine desired adjustments for the second part of the digital image; applying electronic registration according to the desired adjustments to modify image content of the second print to be aligned with content already on the substrate; and printing a second part of the digital image on the substrate.
US08169655B2	Technology for combining images in a form When a plurality of image data are received, a form data from among at least one form data and a format data from among at least one format data are selected based on number of the image data. The image data, selected form data and format data are combined to generate an output image.
US08169647B2	Authentication technique that can simplify works necessary when the printer position is changed, personnel allocation is changed, or a new printer is installed An image processing apparatus 30 is used with an IC card 32 capable of outputting first location information specifying a location where a user belongs to, and includes a card reader 50 obtaining the first location information from the IC card 32, a GPS 54 obtaining second location information related to a location where the image processing apparatus 30 is installed, and location information comparing modules 52 and 56 connected to the first and second location information obtaining apparatuses and permitting or restricting use of the image processing apparatus 30 depending on whether the region specified by the first location information overlaps with the location indicated by the second location information.
US08169641B2	Servers and computer readable media, methods, and systems including or employing servers to perform one-to-one communication between devices on different networks There is provided a server provided in a network system in which a router intervenes between different networks to allow at least one device on the different networks to perform one-to-one communication. The server comprises a first device information acquisition unit configured to perform one-to-one communication with a device on another network connected to its own network via the router to acquire device information on the device on another network, and to store the acquired device information in a storage unit, and a device information reply unit configured such that in response to receipt of a search packet searching for device information transmitted in a form of one-to-many communication from a device on the server's network, the device information reply unit extracts the device information matching a search criterion contained in the search packet from the storage unit and returns the extracted device information to the device which transmitted the search packet.
US08169638B2	Image processing system, image processing apparatus, and image processing program product suited for transmitting and receiving data among a plurality of image processing apparatuses In order to share user identification information among a plurality of MFPs without using a server, each of a plurality of MFPs forming an image processing system stores in a HDD registered user information which at least includes the user identification information for identifying a user, requests another MFP to transmit registered user information stored in the HDD provided in that MFP, receives the registered user information transmitted by that MFP according to the request made by a request portion, and stores in the HDD user data that at least includes the received registered user information.
US08169635B2	Network printing system capable of printing a web page When a user desires to periodically subscript a certain Web page (to automatically print the Web page), the user makes access to a sign-up page of the desired Web page by using a PC, via a facsimile machine. When the user clicks an “OK” button on the sign-up page, a setting request is transmitted to a Web server through the facsimile machine. In response to the setting request, the Web server sends back a data packet including an HTML document with a comment tag including periodical subscription setting data, as a response to the user. The transmitted periodical subscription setting data is received by the facsimile machine. When receiving the response, the facsimile machine determines whether a receiver's IP address and port number included in the data packet have been registered in the facsimile machine. When the IP address and port number are included, the facsimile machine extracts the periodical subscription setting data from the data packet and the setting of periodical subscription is performed therein based on the periodical subscription setting data.
US08169634B2	Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus In a watermark process section in an image processing apparatus, a visible watermark pattern read-out section reads out a visible watermark pattern that is stored in a memory. An invisible watermark generating section draws an invisible watermark on the read-out visible watermark pattern. Image data, which includes both the visible watermark and drawn invisible watermark, is multiplied by an overlay ratio. An adder section adds the visible/invisible watermark image data, which is multiplied by the overlay ratio, and input image data. Thus, watermark-overlaid image data is generated.
US08169633B2	Method and apparatus for attempted secure print job release notification A method and apparatus for notifying a user of an attempted secure print job release from an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a secure print job and secure print job instructions from a user, wherein the secure print job instructions include at least a pass code and the user's contact information, determining if a pass code has been entered for the user's secure print job, wherein if it is determined that a pass code has been entered for the user's secure print job, determining if the entered pass code is correct, wherein if it is determined that the entered pass code is correct, sending a signal to print the secure print job and notifying the user in accordance with the user's contact information that the secure print job has been printed, otherwise, notifying the user in accordance with the user's contact information that an unauthorized user attempted to print the secure print job.
US08169632B2	Printing system and printing device A printing device is provided with a first storage configured to store a time-designated first print job, a judging unit configured to judge whether to change the print time of the first print job to allow interruption of a second print job which is different from the first print job based on a predetermined condition is met and a printing unit configured to execute a printing operation based on judgment of the judging unit.
US08169630B2	Methods and apparatus for analyzing electronic documents and digital printing systems Methods and apparatus are provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying print settings and printer factors that may affect the entire print job, and reporting such print settings and printer factors. Methods and apparatus are also provided for receiving a PDL File that describes a print job, processing the PDL commands in the file, identifying any objects in the print job that have associated predetermined attributes, and reporting the print objects that have any such predetermined attributes.
US08169629B2	Print control with interfaces provided in correspondence with printing methods Display control is made so as to obtain an optimum setting picture plane in accordance with a change in designation of an outputting method of a distribution printing, a multiple-address printing, an automatic substitute printing, or the like without allowing the user to be conscious thereof.
US08169628B2	Method and system for streaming images to wireless devices A method for streaming media. The method can include requesting, at a client, a first portion of raster data from a server. The raster data can be referenced in a scalable vector graphics (SVG) document. The first portion of raster data and a selection can be received by the client. A second portion of the raster data can be requested from the server based on the first portion and the selection. The client can receive the second portion of raster data.
US08169623B2	Optical apparatus and method for measuring the attitude of an object in outer space An optical apparatus and method for measuring the attitude of an object in outer space includes an optical system having an aperture to receive optical radiation and a focal plane to image the optical radiation and an aperture-sharing element attached to the optical element and at least partially surrounding an optical path into the aperture. The aperture-sharing element directs optical radiation from a field of view of the aperture-sharing element to a corresponding first portion of the focal plane to provide multi-axis stellar attitude measurements, and the aperture receives optical radiation along the optical path into the aperture and directs the optical radiation to a second portion of the focal plane.
US08169621B2	3-dimensional imaging by acoustic warping and defocusing The present invention relates to a system for three-dimensional (3-D) acoustic imaging of a scattering structure using information from a two-dimensional (2-D) image. The system uses a characterized sensor array to emit a signal from the sensor array into an object of interest to generate at least one 2-D representation of the object of interest. The 2-D representation comprises a plurality of x and y coordinate pairs and at least one candidate scattering structure. The candidate scattering structure comprises a shape defined by at least one pair of x and y coordinates. The candidate scattering structure shape is restricted to at least one pair of x and y coordinates. The pair of x and y coordinates of the candidate scattering structure shape are then compared with a first coordinate-dependent response function to assign an x, y, and z position of a scattering structure in 3-D space.
US08169616B2	Interferometer step scanning systems and methods In some embodiments, the pathlength difference (retardation) in a step scanning infrared (IR) spectrometer interferometer is maintained under AC servomechanism (servo) control for a first period following a step change, and under DC servo control for a second period following the first period. Data is acquired during and/or after the DC servo control period. Switching off the AC servo control prior to data acquisition allows limiting the dither-frequency noise that could otherwise affect signals of interest, particularly in fast-time-scale applications such as high-speed time-resolved spectroscopy (TSR). A mirror position control circuit controls a mirror position stepping as well as switching a mirror servo control from AC to DC.
US08169615B2	Sub-micron surface plasmon resonance sensor systems A sensor for detecting the presence of a target analyte, ligand or molecule in a test fluid, comprising a light transmissive substrate on which an array of surface plasmon resonant (SPR) elements is mounted is described. A multi-channel sensor for detecting the presence of several targets with a single microchip sensor is described. A multi-channel sensor including collections of SPR elements which are commonly functionalized to one of several targets is also described. The detectors sense changes in the resonant response of the SPR elements indicative of binding with the targets.
US08169609B2	System and method for improving performance of optical systems with tilted windows An optical system with a tilted window. The novel optical system includes a first optical element for receiving an input signal and generating an output signal; a first window adapted to transmit the output signal, the first window being tilted at an angle relative to an axis normal to an optical axis of the system; and a second window adapted to compensate for the first window. In an illustrative embodiment, the first window is an input window of a camera adapted to detect the output signal and is tilted such that reflections from and within the window do not strike detector elements of the camera. In a preferred embodiment, the second window has similar thickness and optical properties as the first window, and is positioned in the optical path of the input signal, tilted at an angle designed to compensate for the first window.
US08169600B2	Surface mapping by optical manipulation of particles in relation to a functionalized surface Methods and apparatus for analyzing surface properties of particles are provided. A method for analyzing the surface properties of the particle includes a associating a first particle with a first capture zone having a specific binding affinity for a first chemical species, applying an optical force to the first particle, sensing a response of the first particle to the optical force, and using the sensed response to determine the presence, absence or quantity of the first chemical species on the first particle surface. This process may be repeated in parallel to test multiple particles. In addition to directly testing the surface properties of the particles, the method can be used in direct, indirect and competitive assays to determine the presence, absence or quantity of free or immobilized analytes. A fluidic cartridge with capture zones having avidities that are tuned for the use of optical forces is provided. A software routine for performing the method is also provided.
US08169586B2	Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display A liquid crystal display panel is disclosed, including: a first substrate; a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; a plurality of first, second and third spacers disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the distribution density of the first spacers being larger than that of the second spacers and the distribution density of the third spacers being larger than that of the first spacers. The liquid crystal display panel can effectively reduce image display defects caused by the gravity mura, the press mura and the push mura.
US08169583B2	Thin film transistor array panel and liquid crystal display having the same A thin film transistor array panel includes; a substrate including a display area and a peripheral area, a display area signal line disposed in the display area, a display area thin film transistor connected to the display area signal line, a plurality of peripheral area signal lines disposed in the peripheral area, a light-blocking member disposed on the display area signal line, the display area thin film transistor, and the plurality of peripheral area signal lines, a transparent connection electrically connecting the plurality of peripheral area signal lines to each other through a plurality of first contact holes, and a pixel electrode connected to the display area thin film transistor through a second contact hole, wherein an area density of the first contact hole in the peripheral area is less than or equal to about three times an area density of the second contact hole in the display area.
US08169580B2	Viewing angle-controllable liquid crystal display device and fabrication method thereof A viewing angle controllable liquid crystal display device including red, green and blue color pixels and a control pixel of an electrically controlled birefringence (ECB) mode and its fabrication method are disclosed. A gate insulating layer and a passivation layer at a pixel area of the ECB control pixel are removed by using a half-tone mask to additionally secure a cell gap to thus maximize efficiency of the ECB control pixel to improve a viewing angle control effect. In addition, a light leakage is prevented by reducing a step in the vicinity of the pixel area of the ECB control pixel.
US08169574B2	Liquid crystal display with viewing angle compensators A liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal layer squeezed between first and second transparent substrates and vertically aligned at a retardation of 300 nm or larger to 940 nm or smaller; two or three viewing angle compensators disposed on the first transparent substrate on the side opposite to the liquid crystal layer, each of the viewing angle compensators having a retardation of 90 nm or larger to 350 nm or smaller in a thickness direction and a retardation of 5 nm or larger to 30 nm or smaller in an in-plane direction; a first polarizer disposed on the two or three viewing angle compensator; and a second polarizer disposed on the second transparent substrate and crossed-Nichol disposed relative to the first polarizer, wherein an in-plane slow axis of each viewing angle compensator is disposed perpendicular to an absorption axis of the first polarizer.
US08169571B2	Transflective LCD device and method with a jumping electrode formed of the same material as a reflective electrode A transflective type LCD including: a substrate in which a pixel region having a reflection region and a transmission region are defined; a gate line and a data line crossing each other on the substrate to define the pixel region; a TFT (thin film transistor) formed at the crossing of the gate line and the data line; a transparent electrode formed in the pixel region and connected to a drain electrode of the TFT; a storage electrode formed on the gate line; a reflective electrode formed in the reflection region; and an insulation layer with a protrusion pattern formed in the reflection region, wherein the insulation layer in the reflection region is in between the transparent electrode and the reflective electrode.
US08169567B2	Viewing angle controlling liquid crystal panel and display device A viewing angle controlling liquid crystal panel in which uniformity of a shielding effect in a screen is further improved is provided. Linearly polarized light enters a liquid crystal layer. Further, the liquid crystal layer is provided, on a light exit side of the liquid crystal layer, with a polarizing plate transmitting only a component of light having exited from the liquid crystal layer which component is parallel to a polarization axis of the linearly polarized light having entered the liquid crystal layer. Liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer are tilted in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to the polarization axis of the linearly polarized light having entered the liquid crystal layer. In addition, an electrode (26) is provided so that two or more different voltages can be applied to the liquid crystal layer simultaneously.
US08169566B2	Backlight unit and liquid crystal device having the same A backlight unit includes a light source, a lower frame including of a lighting unit supporting portion for supporting the light source and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel supporting portion having a lower thermal conductivity than the lighting unit supporting portion, a reflection plate formed between the light source and the lower frame, and an upper frame coupled to the lower frame.
US08169564B2	Display module A display module including a display panel, a frame and a bracket is provided. The frame surrounds the display panel and has a protruding part and a first position limiting structure. The bracket has a body with a second position limiting structure and a first protrusion, wherein the protruding part is aligned with the first protrusion when the first position limiting structure is engaged with the second position limiting structure to fix the bracket on the frame in a non-screw manner.
US08169558B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device includes pixels A and pixels B, wherein a width BB of the pixel B is smaller than a width AA of the pixel A. A pixel electrode formed in the pixel B is smaller than a pixel electrode formed in the pixel A in area and hence, capacitance formed between the pixel electrode and a counter electrode which is formed below the pixel electrode with an insulation film sandwiched therebetween becomes small. To eliminate this difference in capacitance, a first branch electrode and a second branch electrode are formed on the pixel electrode of the pixel B thus increasing capacitance between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode. Due to such a constitution, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of image quality attributed to imbalance of capacitance.
US08169554B2	Projection display apparatus and display method using the same A projection display apparatus has a beam controller provided on the optical axis of an optically-modulated linearly-polarized beam, to allow the beam to travel therethrough to reach a screen or cut off the beam, under control by a control signal. The controller, has driving zones on which the beam is incident. The zones are provided in a direction corresponding to a vertical scanning direction of pixels of a liquid crystal display device installed in the display apparatus, for optically modulating a linearly polarized beam. The controller is driven per driving zone in a specific zone order at a timing of vertical scanning of the pixels under control by the control signal generated based on a vertical synchronization signal detected from the input signal. The optically modulated beam is allowed to travel through the controller or cut off when incident on the zones at the timing of the vertical scanning.
US08169553B2	Assembling structure for flat-panel display unit, and flat-panel television An assembling structure for a flat-panel display unit, comprising: a housing body comprised of a front cabinet and a rear cabinet is assembled to house a flat display panel; at both side faces of rear cabinet, several base portions that are extended by predetermined lengths toward the front cabinets from the both side faces are provided; at inner sides of side faces of the front cabinet, engaging portions for engaging the base portions are provided; at the base portions, protruding portions are provided; at the engaging portions, guides for allowing the protruding portions to be slid are formed at predetermined angles relative to a direction perpendicular to a display face of the flat display panel.
US08169552B2	Television receiver The present invention relates to a television receiver including a controller, which indicates a plurality of selectable items being involved in contents of a program displayed on a screen, a memory, which holds a plurality of predetermined audio settings corresponding to the plurality of selectable items, and a processor which selects an audio setting from the plurality of predetermined audio settings and outputs the selected audio setting corresponding to an item selected from the plurality of selectable items.
US08169550B2	Cursor control method and apparatus A cursor control method for controlling a cursor on an image display includes: providing at least two reference points for generating light of a predetermined spectrum and defining a predetermined area; providing an image sensor pointing inside the predetermined area; receiving the light of the predetermined spectrum by the image sensor to form a digital image; identifying positions and shapes of the images of the reference points on the digital image to form a first parameter; performing distance and angle compensations on the first parameter; moving the aiming point of the image sensor inside the predetermined area to form a second parameter; and calculating an displacement of the images of the reference points on the digital image according to the compensated first and second parameters so as to accordingly control the cursor. The present invention further provides a cursor control apparatus.
US08169548B2	Live broadcast interview conducted between studio booth and interviewer at remote location A method to conduct a broadcast interview by producing in an area of restricted size in a realistic manner while minimizing perspective distortion and subject distortion a recording of an individual that produces the illusion that the individual is located in a larger area.
US08169546B2	Technique for tuner automatic gain control circuit for mobile television applications A technique for providing stable tracking performance to an AGC loop circuit comprises amplifying a wideband radio frequency signal; detecting signals and blockers adjacent to the radio frequency signal; lowering a gain of the radio frequency signal; mixing a local oscillator signal with the radio frequency signal; shifting a frequency of the radio frequency signal from a radio frequency to an intermediate frequency; continuously varying a gain of the intermediate frequency signal; converting the intermediate frequency signal into a digital output signal; comparing the digital output signal with predefined thresholds comprising an upper threshold and a lower threshold; switching a post mixer amplifier (PMA) to a high gain state when an input of a variable gain amplifier (VGA) is greater than the upper threshold, and switching the PMA to a low gain state when an input of the VGA is lower than the lower threshold.
US08169543B2	Image conversion device and method for converting a field image into a frame image In an image conversion device, a unit calculates an estimate pixel value for comparing an upper line pixel value with a lower line pixel value using the upper line pixel value corresponding to a plurality of consecutive pixels to be interpolated in a line between adjacent upper and lower lines in a field image and calculates an estimate pixel value for comparing the lower line pixel value with the upper line pixel value using the lower line pixel value; a unit searches for a combination of an estimate pixel value to minimize the sum of an absolute value of a difference between the estimate pixel value for the upper line and an upper line pixel value and an absolute value of a difference between the estimate pixel value for the lower line and a lower line pixel value; and a unit interpolates a pixel value for the minimizing combination.
US08169542B2	Automatic format identification of analog video input signals In a method of automatically identifying a format of a video signal, where the video signal includes HSync pulses, VSync pulses, and video display data, the video signal is received, information about timing and width characteristics of the HSync pulses and the VSync pulses is extracted from the video signal, and the format of the video signal is determined based on the extracted information.
US08169540B2	Compact camera body to which interchangeable lens unit is mountable A camera body allows the mounting of a lens unit configured to form an optical image of a subject, and includes a body mount, an imaging element, a capacitor, and a housing member. The body mount allows a lens unit to be mounted. The imaging element includes a light receiving face arranged to receive light passing through the lens unit, and converts an optical image of the subject into an electrical signal. The capacitor is disposed above the imaging element and more to the imaging element side than the body mount in a landscape orientation. The housing member accommodates the imaging element and the capacitor.
US08169532B2	Portable electronic device and method for measuring distance by performing auto focus function A portable electronic device for measuring a distance of an object by performing an auto focus function and a distance measuring method are provided. The portable electronic device includes an image pickup module and a distance measuring program. The image pickup module includes a lens, an optical sensing element and a transmission mechanism. The distance measuring program includes a distance look-up table. The distance look-up table is established by correlating a plurality of lens moving step numbers with corresponding object distance values. The auto focus function is performed to capture an image of an object by the image pickup module, thereby obtaining a current lens moving step number required for performing the auto focus function. A current object distance value corresponding to the current lens moving step number is acquired according to the distance look-up table.
US08169528B2	Photographing lens assembly This invention provides a photographing lens assembly comprising, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface; a third lens element with negative refractive power, the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface on which at least one inflection point is formed; and an aperture stop disposed between an imaged object and the second lens element; wherein there are four lens elements with refractive power. Such an arrangement of optical elements can effectively reduce the size of the lens assembly, attenuate the sensitivity of the optical system and enable the lens assembly to obtain higher resolution.
US08169524B2	Image sensing apparatus with pixel readout correction An image sensing apparatus comprises: a pixel array; a plurality of column signal lines; a readout unit; a driving unit that, in a transferring period for the readout unit to transfer pixel signals of columns in a first row to the output line, supplies to the pixel array and/or the readout unit a driving pulse for reading out the pixel signals from a second row, in a transferring period for the readout unit to transfer the pixel signals of the columns in the first row to the output line; and a correction unit that corrects a pixel signal of a first column in the first row that was transferred by the readout unit at a timing at which a level of the driving pulse transitions in the transferring period, according to at least a level of a pixel signal of the first column in the second row.
US08169514B2	Defective pixel detecting device, defective pixel detecting method, record medium storing a program for detecting defective pixels, and imaging apparatus A defective pixel detecting device determining defective pixels as correction targets in an imaging device that produces image signals is provided, and the device includes: defect information storage configured to store priority of defective pixels to be corrected; a defective pixel detector configured to detect defective pixels by comparing levels of imaging signals from the imaging device with a predetermined detection level; a priority setter configured to set priority of the detected defective pixels, based on the levels of the imaging signals of the defective pixels detected by the defective pixel detector; and a correction target determiner configured to newly determine defective pixels to be corrected based on the priority of the defective pixels out of the defective pixels that are currently detected by the defective pixel detector and the defective pixels to be corrected stored in the defect information storage, determining priority of the newly determined defective pixels to be corrected, and storing the priority of the newly determined defective pixels to be corrected in the defect information storage.
US08169510B2	Data processing device, data processing method, and storage medium The present invention relates to a data processing device, a data processing method, and a recording medium that enable a user to have a bodily sensation of collection of a material such as image data or the like, and editing.A processing section 31 generates first object image data as image data having a wider angle than image data obtained by image pickup by an image pickup device, and a manipulating section 35 extracts image data for one frame (extraction image data) from the first object image data according to an image pickup parameter set according to an operation of a user. Further, the manipulating section 35 superimposes the image data of a telop as second object image data on the extraction image data according to an editing parameter set according to an operation of the user. The present invention is applicable to television receivers receiving programs, for example.
US08169509B2	Image pickup system with signal noise reduction In the image pickup system of the present invention, factors that have an effect on noise such as the signal level, temperature of the CCD during shooting, exposure time, gain and the like are dynamically acquired, the noise level of the CCD is estimated, for example, for each pixel by a noise estimating unit, and signal components equal to or less than this noise level in the video signals are suppressed by a noise reducing unit, so that a high-quality image that is substantially free of noise is obtained while preserving the edges of the image and the like.
US08169507B2	Image recording apparatus with electronic zoom and recording size setting, and control method and program therefor An image recording apparatus for recording an image captured by use of electronic zoom, comprises an electronic-zoom setting unit configured to set a zoom magnification when using the electronic zoom, a recording-mode selection unit configured to select at least either a non-compression format or a compression format as a recording mode in recording the captured image, a recording-size setting unit configured to set a recording size in each recording mode, and a control unit configured to, when the zoom magnification is set to a magnification at which an image is enlarged, control a recording size in the non-compression format to be larger than the recording size set by the recording-size setting unit.
US08169505B2	Image management apparatus for displaying images based on geographical environment An image management apparatus capable of managing a plurality of images captured within a geographical range included in a designated map linked with that map. The image management apparatus has a period setting unit setting a predetermined period, an imaging unit acquiring an image, a position information acquisition unit acquiring capturing position information, a map information acquisition unit acquiring map information representing a predetermined geographical range, a judgment unit judging whether or not the imaging location corresponding to each of a plurality of images is included within the predetermined geographical range, a display position determination unit determining the display position of the imaging location judged to be included within the predetermined geographical range by the judgment unit among imaging locations, and a display unit displaying the imaging location judged to be included within the predetermined geographical range according to the display position.
US08169504B2	Image processing device and image processing method This invention provides an image processing device and an image processing method capable of performing image processing of higher accuracy using the synthetic image data with enlarged dynamic range. An image processing method including the steps of acquiring a plurality of input image data with pixel information defined with a first tone range by performing imaging over plural times at different exposure conditions using an imaging unit, generating synthetic image data with pixel information defined with a second tone range wider than the first tone range by synthesizing the plurality of input image data, generating processed image data containing pixel information defined with the second tone range by performing image processing on the synthetic image data for facilitating detection or measurement related to an imaged target; and converting the processed image data to output image data containing pixel information defined with a third tone range narrower than the second tone range is disclosed.
US08169500B2	Dynamic range compression apparatus, dynamic range compression method, computer-readable recording medium, integrated circuit, and imaging apparatus A dynamic range (D-range) compression apparatus that uses a look-up table (LUT) is capable of dynamic compression that compresses the peak input value to the full output range, even when image signals with variable D-ranges are inputted. According to this D-range compression apparatus, D-range compression processing that places the D-range of the image signal within a predetermined output D-range is performed by the visual processing unit converting the tone of the image signal in accordance with the surrounding average luminance signal. Furthermore, with this D-range compression apparatus, the image signal is amplified in accordance with amplification input/output conversion characteristics determined based on the peak value in the image detected by the peak detection unit, and therefore it is possible to perform a dynamic amplification processing in accordance with the peak value so that the D-range of the image signal outputted from the visual processing unit becomes a predetermined output D-range.
US08169498B2	Nonlinear error correction processor for an image sensor An image pickup device is provided, capable of complete correction with data of once analog-to-digital conversion, and prevention of excess use of switches and analog devices and/or erroneous correction, including: an image sensor having a plurality of analog-to-digital converters determining conversion results from a digital signal of higher order bit through separate steps of two or more times; a first correction unit which has a correction factor for correcting nonlinear errors of the plurality of analog-to-digital converters so as to adapt to the analog-to-digital converters and corrects a nonlinear error of a digital signal output from respective analog-to-digital converters based on a correction factor corresponding to respective analog-to-digital converters, characterized in that the first correction unit corrects the nonlinear errors after converting the digital signals from the plurality of analog-to-digital converters into a serial output.
US08169497B2	Method of segmenting videos into a hierarchy of segments A method of segmenting a compressed video containing a plurality of frames into a multi-level hierarchy of video segments. The method comprises the steps of determining differences between the size of successive compressed frames in media time. The method then groups the frames to create a hierarchy of clusters of successive frames as video segments using a clustering process. The clustering process uses the size differences to determine boundaries between clusters at each level of the hierarchy.
US08169493B2	Image acquisition system and method of authenticating image acquisition device in the image acquisition system An image acquisition system includes an image acquisition device and a commanding device configured as a separate member from the image acquisition device to transmit an image acquisition execution command to the image acquisition device and thereby to cause the image acquisition device to perform an image acquisition operation. The commanding device includes an authentication information transmission unit configured to transmit authentication information to the image acquisition device to cause the image acquisition device to authenticate the commanding device. The image acquisition device includes an authentication information receiving unit configured to receive the authentication information transmitted from the commanding device, an authentication information recognition unit configured to recognize the authentication information received by the authentication information receiving unit, and a function limiting unit configured to limit a predetermined function of the image acquisition device based on the authentication information recognized by the authentication information recognition unit.
US08169492B2	Panoramic experience system and method In one general sense, a user may be presented with a multimedia experience corresponding to an entertainment event or venue by managing a sensor array having at least two sensors that are made configured to provide a stream of data units, associating location information with sensors in the sensor array, enabling the user to perceive a map related to an entertainment event or venue, relating the perceived map to one or more sensors within the sensor array, receiving a user request identifying a selected position within the map, identifying one or more sensors within the sensor array corresponding to the selection, and presenting to the user a multimedia experience based on one or more streams of data units associated with the selected sensors.
US08169491B2	Apparatus and method of obtaining image and apparatus and method of processing image Provided are an apparatus and method of obtaining a high-quality image by efficiently processing an image obtained at low-light levels. The image obtaining apparatus comprises a sensor which detects a pixel array value by using a color filter including color pixels for obtaining a color image and a reference pixel for obtaining a reference image used for hand-trembling function estimation; an exposure controller which controls exposure times of the color pixels and the reference pixel; and an image generator which generates a long-exposure color image signal and a short-exposure reference image signal from the detected pixel array value, the long-exposure color image signal and the short-exposure reference image signal being aligned with each other. Accordingly, accurate estimation of the hand-trembling function is possible, thereby enabling the high-quality color image restoration.
US08169489B2	Multi view imaging device and method for correcting image blur A multi view imaging device according to an aspect of the present invention detects vibration applied to a plurality of imaging means and corrects, for each of a plurality of imaging means, an image blur of a subject image taken by the imaging means caused by the vibration. The image blur is corrected to make the amounts of remaining blur of the image blur after the correction substantially the same among the plurality of imaging means. As a result, even if there are variations in operation characteristics and installation errors of image blur correction means arranged on the imaging means, an appropriate image blur correction can be performed for each imaging means. Since the amounts of remaining blur of the subject image after the image blur correction in the imaging means are substantially the same, a comfortable, natural parallax image that is good for eyes can be obtained.
US08169488B2	Digital camera for performing exposure during rotation to produce a panoramic image A digital camera includes an imager. An optical image of an object scene is irradiated onto an imaging surface of the imager. When the digital camera is rotated, a CPU starts measuring processing for repetitively measuring a rotation angle, and suppresses a change due to the rotation in a positional relationship between the imaging surface and the optical image on the basis of the result of the measurement. The CPU performs exposure processing on the imager every time that the measurement result and the angle of view of the optical image on the imaging surface satisfy the angular condition, and captures the object scene image generated on the imaging surface in to a memory. The plurality of object scene images thus stored in the memory are combined with each other to thereby produce a single panoramic object scene image.
US08169487B2	Image-shake correction apparatus and imaging apparatus An image-shake correction apparatus includes a shake detection unit configured to detect a shake applied to the image-shake correction apparatus, a shake correction unit configured to correct the shake of an image caused by the shake, a drive unit configured to drive the shake correction unit, a filtering unit configured to remove a specific frequency component from the output of the shake detection unit, a characteristic change unit configured to change the frequency characteristic of the filtering unit, and a temperature detection unit configured to detect temperature of the shake detection unit or a vivinity thereof, wherein the characteristic change unit changes the frequency characteristic of the filtering unit according to the change rate in temperature detected by the temperature detection unit.
US08169486B2	Image acquisition method and apparatus An image acquisition sensor of a digital image acquisition apparatus is coupled to imaging optics for acquiring a sequence of images. Images acquired by the sensor are stored. A motion detector causes the sensor to cease capture of an image when the degree of movement in acquiring the image exceeds a threshold. A controller selectively transfers acquired images for storage. A motion extractor determines motion parameters of a selected, stored image. An image re-constructor corrects the selected image with associated motion parameters. A selected plurality of images nominally of the same scene are merged and corrected by the image re-constructor to produce a high quality image of the scene.
US08169485B2	Anti-shake apparatus An anti-shake apparatus for image stabilizing comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit is movable for an anti-shake operation. The controller stops the anti-shake operation after an exposure time and moves the movable unit to a first position after the anti-shake operation. The first position is a position of the movable unit before the exposure time and before the anti-shake operation. The controller moves the movable unit at a decelerated, low rate of speed before finishing its movement to the first position.
US08169474B2	System for taking images of the face of an individual The invention relates to a system (100) for capturing images of the face of an individual comprising: an image capture device (110) having a line of sight (112) directed towards the place from where the individual arrives, and two illumination devices (102, 104) disposed symmetrically with respect to the line of sight (112) and at a distance therefrom, each comprising means of generating a light flux intended to illuminate the face of the individual as he moves and whereof the illumination lobe (106, 108), representative of the luminance in a horizontal plane, has a maximum, the two lobes (106, 108) being symmetrical with each other with respect to the line of sight (112), the capture system (100) being characterized in that the generation means are such that each lobe (106, 108) is asymmetric with respect to the straight line bearing said maximum and has, from this maximum, a first front (122) curved towards the image capture device (110) and a second front (120) that is substantially plane and extending on the side from where the individual comes.
US08169473B1	Method and system for exposing a photoresist in a magnetic device A method and system for exposing a plurality of fields on a substrate. The substrate has a center and an edge. The fields include a plurality of rows. The method and system include determining an exposure sequence for the plurality of fields. Each of the plurality of fields has a distance from the center and a placement in the exposure sequence. The placement of a field in the exposure sequence is based on the distance and excludes placing each of the plurality of fields in a row of the plurality of rows next to an adjacent field in the row in combination with placing each of the plurality of rows next to an adjacent row. The method and system also include exposing the plurality of fields in the exposure sequence in order of the placement.
US08169471B2	Image capturing system, image capturing method, and computer readable medium Provided is an image capturing system including an image capturing section that includes a plurality of first light receiving elements for receiving light of a first wavelength region and a plurality of second light receiving elements for receiving light of a second wavelength region, a control section that causes to be generated, from a subject, light of a different spectrum at a different timing for each of the first wavelength region and the second wavelength region, and an image generating section that generates an image from light of a first spectrum from the subject received by the first light receiving elements at a predetermined timing, and light of a second spectrum from the subject received by the second light receiving elements at a timing other than the predetermined timing.
US08169470B2	Optical imaging device having illumination light filter section An optical imaging device of the present invention comprises: a light source device; a light guide and illumination lens, provided in an insertion section that can be inserted into a body cavity, for constituting an illumination light path for guiding an illumination light from the light source device to a subject; an objective lens for receiving return lights from the subject; an image capturing section for acquiring a visible light band image from the return light; an excitation light cut filter and image capturing section for acquiring a fluorescent image from the return lights; and an illumination light filter, provided on the illumination light path, for decreasing light in a band overlapping with the band of light of which image is captured by the image capturing section from the illumination light incident on.
US08169466B2	Endoscope system An endoscope system comprises a light source, a light sensor, a signal processor, a video-signal generator, and a switcher. The light source emits red light including a first wavelength, green light including a second wavelength, and blue light including a third wavelength. The light sensor receives the light of the light source. The signal processor obtains a red signal based on the red light, a green signal based on the green light, and a blue signal based on the blue light. The video-signal generator generates video signal based on the red, green, and blue signals. The switcher switches between a first switching state and a second switching state. The red, green, and blue signals are output to the video-signal generator in the first switching state. The green and blue signals are output to the video-signal generator in the second switching state.
US08169463B2	Method and system for automatic camera control A method for automatically determining an orientation and zoom of an image pickup device associated with a video conferencing system, wherein the method includes the steps of: generating, at the image pickup device, an image signal representative of an image framed by the image pickup device; processing the image signal to identify objects plural users of the video conferencing system in the image; steering the image pickup device to an initial orientation; determining a location of all the identified objects relative to a reference point and determining respective sizes of the identified objects; defining an area of interest in the image, wherein the area of interest includes all the identified objects; and steering the image pickup device to frame the defined area of interest including all the identified objects where a center of the frame substantially coincides with a center of all the identified objects.
US08169461B2	Method and system for a quick start camera application in a camera A mobile radio terminal includes a radio circuit for establishing communication with a communication network, a first camera sensor for taking digital photographs and a second camera sensor for acquiring image data information, wherein the second camera sensor stores the acquired image data information in a storage element. A control circuit is coupled to the radio circuit, the first camera sensor, the second camera sensor and the memory and the control circuit is configured to execute logic to: store image data information acquired from the second camera sensor in the memory; detect initiation of a camera application by an associated user; generate a control signal to launch the camera application, wherein at least a portion of the acquired image data information is provided to the camera application as one or more parameters upon launching of the camera application; and acquiring image information from the first camera sensor for taking a photograph.
US08169460B2	Image forming apparatus A holding unit turns, while holding a latent image writing unit, centered on a turning axis that is arranged on a main body of an image forming apparatus between an opening position and a closing position with respect to the main body. A positioning unit arranged on the main body positions the latent image writing unit with respect to the image carrier, when the holding unit is at the closing position. A biasing unit biases the latent image writing unit to make a contact with the positioning unit. A shock absorbing unit absorbs a shock received by the holding unit and the latent image writing unit when the holding unit is moved from the opening position to the closing position.
US08169458B2	Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus An optical scanning device includes an optical housing in which a polygon mirror that is rotated by a motor is accommodated and an air inlet that includes a filter. An airflow guiding member is arranged at a position opposite to a surface of the polygon mirror on the air inlet side. An air inducing path is provided, which includes a first flowing path and a second flowing path. The first flowing path includes a first end linked to the air inlet and a second end arranged close to a mirror surface of the polygon mirror. The second flowing path is formed with a surface of the airflow guiding member on an opposite side of the air inlet and a top surface of the polygon mirror.
US08169455B2	Optical scanning device, image forming apparatus, control method, and computer program product In an optical scanning device including a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), an optical scanning device controls so as to satisfy P1Ws, where P1 is light intensity obtained when a period of time corresponding to a minimum pixel unit (referred to as “T1”) has elapsed after start of illumination; P100 is light intensity obtained when a period of time 100 T1 has elapsed after the start of illumination; Wm is the static beam spot diameter in the main-scanning direction; and Ws is the static beam spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction.
US08169449B2	System compositing images from multiple applications A system for compositing images using a multilayer graphics controller includes first and second applications. The first application defines masked display regions to a layer of the multilayer graphics controller using masking criterion. The second application provides an image to a further layer of the multilayer graphics controller for display in the masked region. The image may be a still image, streaming video, Internet image, or any other image type.
US08169447B2	Automatic color display conversion A color computer output is dynamically converted into a monochrome computer output based on a stored profile. The stored profile may be for a piece of hardware (e.g., a monochrome printer), or a user (e.g., a color-blind user).
US08169444B2	Bit block transfer circuit and method thereof and color filling method A bit block transfer (Bitblt) circuit includes a read register, a write register, a bit shifting circuit and an overflowing register. The read register stores decomposition data including original data. The bit shifting circuit shifts the decomposition data in the read register to the write register and shifts bits of the decomposition data in the write register such that an initial bit of the original data of the decomposition data is situated apart from an initial address of the write register by a bit-shifting amount. The overflowing register coupled to the write register stores overflowing data of the original data overflowing from a memory length of the write register when the bits of the decomposition data in the write register are being shifted. The write register outputs and writes the decomposition data therein to a memory cell of a first memory.
US08169443B2	Method and system to pre-fetch data in a network A system, a computer readable storage medium including instructions, and a computer-implemented method of pre-fetching in a network. A request is received from a user device for a first web page, the first web page being upstream of other web pages in a page flow. The first web page is transmitted to the user device. At least one web page that is downstream of the first web page in the page flow is transmitted to the user device, the at least one web page being transmitted without receiving a request for the at least one web page.
US08169441B2	Method and system for minimizing an amount of data needed to test data against subarea boundaries in spatially composited digital video A method and system for minimizing an amount of data needed to test data against subarea boundaries in spatially composited digital video is provided. Graphics data for a frame is composed of geometry chunks. Each geometry chunk is defined by its own bounding region, where the bounding region defines the space the geometry chunk occupies on the compositing window. Only the parameters that define the bounding region are communicated to each graphics unit in conjunction with the determination of which graphics unit will render the geometry chunk defined by the bounding region. The actual graphics data that comprises the geometry chunk is communicated only to those geometry units that will actually render the geometry chunk. This reduces the amount of data needed to communicate graphics data information in spatially composited digital video.
US08169439B2	Scalar precision float implementation on the “W” lane of vector unit Embodiments of the invention are generally related to image processing, and more specifically to vector units for supporting image processing. A combined vector/scalar unit is provided wherein one or more processing lanes of the vector unit are used for performing scalar operations. An integrated register file is also provided for storing vector and scalar data. Therefore, the transfer of data to memory to exchange data between independent vector and scalar units is obviated and a significant amount of chip area is saved.
US08169435B2	Generating and rendering three dimensional models of flexible packaging A method, and apparatus, and a computer-readable medium encoded with instructions to carry out a method. The method is of rendering a model of a surface of wrinkly material such as paper or foil, e.g., a model of packaging on a display device. The method includes accepting a description of the different parts of the surface of the packaging, and how and where any of the parts are connected, discretizing to form a mesh, modelling the physics of the mesh, running a simulation to find a stable end-state for the mesh, modifying the mesh to visually smooth the mesh in a way that is perceived as typical for flexible packaging material; and rendering the model on a display device. The modifying the mesh is to visually smooth the mesh includes modifying during the rendering or modifying prior to the rendering.
US08169432B2	Display device and electronic apparatus A sampling transistor in embodiments of the present invention is kept at the on-state with a time width shorter than one horizontal cycle, during the period from the rising of a control pulse supplied from a scanner to the falling of the control pulse, and samples a video signal Vsig from a signal line SL to write the video signal Vsig to a hold capacitor. A sampling transistor T1 has a double gate structure in which a pair of transistor elements are connected in common. This suppresses change in the threshold voltage of the sampling transistor.
US08169417B2	Signal transfer assembly of touch panel A signal transfer assembly of a touch panel has a conductive film arranged on a surface of a substrate; an edge of the conductive film being connected to a silver conductive circuit; signals triggered on the conductive film being transferred to the silver conductive circuit and then to the signal output ends at two sides of the silver conductive circuit; an edge of the conductive film having a plurality of resistors near the silver conductive circuit; an area between two slots being formed as a transfer channel so that the resistors and the transfer channels are alternatively arranged. The resistors are hollowed slots penetrating through the conductive film. Each resistor has an oblong shape and lengths of the resistors are longer at a middle portion and are shorter at two sides. Widths of the transfer channels are wider at a middle section and are narrower at two sides.
US08169414B2	Control of electronic games via finger angle using a high dimensional touchpad (HDTP) touch user interface A high dimensional touchpad (HDTP) controls a variety of game aspects by detecting a user's finger movement in the left-right, forward-backward, roll, pitch, yaw, and downward pressure directions. One or more of the detected finger movements are used to control games on game devices, computers, and mobile devices.
US08169410B2	Gesture inputs for a portable display device An application such as a web browser running on a portable display device is responsive to gestures to a touch-sensitive surface of the portable display device. The gestures are supplied by touching and then sliding on the touch-sensitive surface. Various operations of the application may be controlled based on the gestures.
US08169407B2	KVM switch and method of controlling the same A KVM switch including server units that are respectively connected to computers units, user units that are respectively connected to input-output units inputting and outputting a signal to the computer units, and a main unit that connects the server units and the user units selectively. The input-output unit switches between the computer units where the signal is input and output. The server unit has a first reference signal generator that generates a first reference signal used for a distortion control of a picture signal. The main unit has a first controller receiving the first reference signal and controlling the distortion of the picture signal and a second reference signal generator generating a second reference signal used for the distortion control of the picture signal. The user unit has a second controller that receives the second reference signal and controls the distortion of the picture signal.
US08169398B2	Liquid crystal display control circuit, operation panel, and image forming apparatus A first output unit outputs a control signal for removing a residual electric charge from a liquid crystal display module that includes a backlight. A reference-signal obtaining unit obtains a reference signal for setting a reference when turning on the backlight. A delay-time setting unit sets a delay time for delaying a turn-on time of the backlight from a turn-on time of the reference signal. A second output unit outputs a turn-on signal for turning on the backlight at a turn-on time delayed by the delay time from the turn-on time of the reference signal.
US08169396B2	Liquid crystal display device with reduced power consumption and driving method thereof A liquid crystal display (LCD) device with reduced power consumption is provided with a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines, and at least one demultiplexer. Each demultiplexer can comprise a plurality of switches respectively connected to the corresponding data lines and controlled by a plurality of clock signals and configured to receive an image signal, and selectively output the image signal to one of the data lines via the switches. During a driving period, one of the gate lines can be asserted, and the switches can be turned on simultaneously, then only the first one of the switches remains turned on to transmit the image signal to the corresponding data line, and then the first one of the switches are turned off and the other switches is sequentially turned on one at a time to transmit the image signal to the corresponding data lines.
US08169391B2	Display apparatus A display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a main pixel, a sub-pixel, and a boosting capacitor. The main pixel receives a data signal in response to a first gate signal and is charged with a main pixel voltage. The sub-pixel receives the data signal in response to a second gate signal, and is charged with a sub-pixel voltage. The boosting capacitor is provided between the main pixel and the sub-pixel to increase the main pixel voltage when the sub-pixel is charged with the sub-pixel voltage in response to the second gate signal.
US08169390B2	Liquid crystal display The present invention relates to a method of controlling luminance of a backlight based on a processed image data after receiving information of image data, in order to improve the visibility of moving picture. An inverter according to the present invention includes a first block generating a first luminance control signal with an analog value depending on the luminance control signal with a duty ratio depending on a synchronization signal. The luminance control signals generated by the respective blocks are synthesized luminance control signal. Accordingly, a liquid crystal display employing two backlight control methods can be provided. Thus, it is possible to remove the drag phenomenon of a screen and, at the same time, to improve the visibility for moving picture.
US08169387B2	Programmable LED driver An LED driver includes an embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) capable of being programmed and storing control data for setting a variety of features of the LED driver, such as the maximum current for driving the LEDs, analog parameters such as the resistance of the internal resistor for setting the reference current for the LEDs, and the operation modes of the charge pump of the LED driver. This enables implementation of multiple LED driver product options without the need for different metallization steps during the fabrication process for the LED driver.
US08169384B2	Display device and electronic equipment A display device includes: a pixel array section; and a drive section, the pixel array section including scan lines, signal lines, pixels, and power lines, the drive section including a main scanner, a drive scanner, and a signal selector, wherein each of the pixels includes a light-emitting element, sampling transistor, drive transistor, and holding capacitor.
US08169380B2	System and method for driving and receiving data from multiple touch screen devices In one embodiment, multiple touch screen devices are driven from a graphics signal. A general-purpose computer provides a graphics signal of a particular display resolution. A display segmentor is configured to divide each graphics frame of the graphics signal into a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group associated with a particular touch screen device of the plurality of touch screen devices. The display segmentor is further configured to generate an individual graphics signal from each pixel group, each individual graphics signal having a display resolution that is lower than the particular display resolution. One or more interfaces transmit each individual graphics signal to a different touch screen device of the plurality of touch screen devices.
US08169377B2	Dual opposed drive loop antenna pointing apparatus and method of operation A pointing apparatus and method of operation for an antenna mount provided with a base frame and an antenna mount rotatably coupled together. A first wheel rigidly coupled to one of the base frame and the antenna mount driven by a mechanical linkage with a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel mounted to the base frame or the antenna mount not rigidly coupled to the first wheel. The first drive wheel and the second drive wheel driven against one another in opposite directions; a torque level unbalance applied between the first motor and the second motor operative to rotate the base frame and the antenna mount with respect to one another in a first desired direction.
US08169376B2	Base station transmitting and receiving antenna and control method thereof The present invention relates to base station transmitting and receiving antennas and control methods thereof. For this purpose, the present invention provides a control method of a base station transmitting antenna. The control method includes collecting positional information and transmission level values of all terminals in a cell; analyzing statistics of cell traffic using the positional information and transmission level values, and generating antenna radiation patterns on the basis of the analyzed statistics result; optimizing the antenna radiation patterns by synthesizing beam patterns; and changing antenna beam patterns according to the optimized antenna radiation patterns. According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to increase a channel capacity in a cell, ensure the QoS in all terminals in the cell, and reduce installation and operation costs of a base station system.
US08169375B1	Stabilizing mechanism and method for a stowed mobile satellite reflector antenna A stabilizing mechanism and method for a reflector antenna, in a mobile satellite system on a transport, such as a vehicle, for substantially minimizing damage to the reflector antenna when stowed. The stabilizing mechanism uses a stabilizing surface and a pair of stabilizing devices connected on opposite sides of the reflector antenna to provide a pre-load separation distance between a stabilizing surface and the reflector antenna when the reflector antenna is stowed. The pre-loaded separation minimizes any movement of the reflector antenna towards the stabilizing surface during movement of the transport or in adverse environmental conditions.
US08169374B2	Antenna for handheld electronic devices with conductive bezels A handheld electronic device may be provided that contains wireless communications circuitry. The handheld electronic device may have a housing and a display. The display may be attached to the housing using a conductive bezel. The handheld electronic device may have one or more antennas for supporting wireless communications. A ground plane in the handheld electronic device may serve as ground for one or more of the antennas. The ground plane and bezel may define a opening. A rectangular slot antenna or other suitable slot antenna may be formed from or within the opening. One or more antenna resonating elements may be formed above the slot. An electrical switch that bridges the slot may be used to modify the perimeter of the slot so as to tune the communications bands of the handheld electronic device.
US08169373B2	Antennas with tuning structure for handheld devices Handheld electronic devices are provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include antenna structures. To accommodate manufacturing variations, the antenna structures and handheld electronic devices may be characterized by performing measurements such as antenna performance measurements. Appropriate antenna adjustments may be made during manufacturing of a handheld electronic device based on the characterizing measurements. An antenna may be formed using an inverted-F design in which an antenna flex circuit is mounted to a dielectric antenna support structure. Cavities in the support may be selectively filled with dielectric material and dielectric patches may be added to the antenna flex circuit to adjust the dielectric loading of the antenna. The length of a ground return path in the antenna may be adjusted by appropriate positioning of an electrical connector within the ground return path.
US08169371B1	Metal patch antenna Disclosed herein is a patch antenna comprises a planar conductive patch attached to a ground plane by a support member, and a probe connector in electrical communication with the conductive patch arranged to conduct electromagnetic energy to or from the conductive patch, wherein the conductive patch is disposed essentially parallel to the ground plane and is separated from the ground plane by a spacing distance; wherein the support member comprises a plurality of sides disposed about a central axis oriented perpendicular to the conductive patch and the ground plane; wherein the conductive patch is solely supported above the ground plane by the support member; and wherein the support member provides electrical communication between the planer conductive patch and the ground plane.
US08169370B2	Method and system for antenna geometry for multiple antenna handsets Certain embodiments for antenna geometry for multiple antenna handsets may include receiving RF signals via a patch antenna coupled to a signal processing circuitry within a mobile terminal. The signal processing circuitry may process the RF signals, comprising at least one of a plurality of polarizations that are received by the patch antenna. The patch antenna may be a dual-polarized antenna, and may comprise a plurality of ports. RF signals at a first of the plurality of ports may be orthogonally polarized with respect to RF signals at a second of the plurality of ports. The patch antenna may be optimized to receive multiple RF bands. Each of the multiple RF bands may be communicated via different ports to be processed.
US08169367B2	Radio-frequency device, and radio-frequency tag communication device A radio-frequency device includes a PAA processing portion configured to control a directivity of reception of a receiver antenna device, a received-signal-strength detecting portion configured to detect a strength of the received signal received by the receiver antenna device, and a direction detecting portion configured to detect the direction toward the communication object, on the basis of a direction in which a higher one of two strength values of the received signal respectively detected in first and second maximum-reception-directivity directions of a predetermined angular difference established by the PAA processing portion is minimal. Accordingly, the direction toward the radio-frequency tag can be suitably detected.
US08169362B2	Mobile sense through the wall radar system A method and apparatus for sensing a target through a wall or obstruction by a Moving Target Indicator (MTI) radar sensor. In an exemplary embodiment, a series of radar pulses are transmitted at frequencies less than about 5 GHz. Radar return signals are received at a plurality of receive antenna array subapertures. The radar return signals are processed by a digital beamformer to form multiple beams. Target detection processing detects moving and stationary targets through a plurality of parallel target detection signal processing paths.
US08169355B2	Device for imaging test objects using electromagnetic waves, in particular for inspecting people for suspicious items To depict test objects using electromagnetic waves, particularly to check people for suspicious articles, an apparatus is provided having: an antenna which emits electromagnetic waves, particularly millimetric waves, means for concentrating the emitted waves in three dimensions, and means for manipulating the waves at the point of high concentration such that this point serves as a moving virtual antenna for SAR evaluation. Whereby the means for three-dimensional concentration contain a rotatably mounted, focusing or defocusing, quasi-optical element and the means for manipulating the waves at the point of high concentration contain a reflector. In accordance with the invention, the quasi-optical element and the reflector are rotatably mounted about a common rotary axis and at the same angular velocity.
US08169349B2	Communication device and noise cancellation method A communication device and the method thereof are disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. The communication device includes a level determining module, an digital to analog converter and an analog to digital converter. The level determining module determines a plurality of voltage levels and voltage intensity thereof according to an estimating signal to generate a first digital signal. The digital to analog converter converts the first digital signal into a pulse shaped analog signal according to the plurality of voltage levels and voltage intensity thereof. The analog to digital converter converts a first difference signal into a second digital signal wherein the first difference signal equals the result of subtracting the pulse shaped analog signal from a receiving signal.
US08169346B2	Apparatus and method for processing parallel digital input signals from plurality of circuit breakers An apparatus for processing digital input signals transferred from a plurality of circuit breakers includes: a plurality of signal input terminals configured to receive a plurality of digital input signals, which are generated from the plurality of circuit breakers and indicate an ON/OFF state of the plurality of circuit breakers, in parallel; a digital input signal parallel-to-serial converting unit configured to convert the parallel digital input signals from the plurality of signal input terminals into serial digital input signals, and output the converted serial digital input signals according to a control signal; and a controller configured to receive and process the serial digital input signals transferred from the digital input signal parallel-to-serial converting unit, and transmit the control signal to the digital input signal parallel-to-serial converting unit.
US08169345B2	Methods and systems for processing digital data rate and directional playback changes Various methods and systems permit digital data, such as video data, audio/video data, audio/video/subpicture data and the like, to be processed in a manner that permits playback at different speeds in both forward and reverse directions. Various embodiments are also directed to handling playback rate changes in a manner that can enhance the user's experience.
US08169342B1	Method of providing a destination alert to a transit system rider Provided is a detection method used to alert a rider of a transit system that his or her upcoming destination location is approaching. The method detects upcoming transit stops and alerts the transit rider to prepare to depart the transit vehicle. Another alert to request a stop at the appropriate time may also be given. The detection method detects a destination location when the transit vehicle is not going to stop and service the second-to-last, or triggering, stop and when the transit vehicle stops at the triggering location and then resumes travel towards the destination location. The detection method establishes a triggering location, two regions about the triggering location, a destination location, a destination region about the destination location, and a current location and speed from available location data. The method then triggers alerts based on the current speed and the current location's position within or without the established regions.
US08169340B2	Parking assist device and a method for electric vehicle power transmission and reception between a vehicle and a ground apparatus A parking assist device has a touch display (58) including a display unit for displaying a situation around a vehicle and an input unit for entering a target parking position of a vehicle, and also has a control device (60) performing parking assist control by calculating a path according to the target parking position. The control device (60) further performs, under a predetermined condition, assist control for position alignment of a vehicle-side power transmission/reception unit placed on the vehicle with an apparatus-side power transmission/reception unit of an apparatus placed on a ground. Preferably, the parking assist device further has a back monitor camera (53) for taking an image of a surrounding situation of the vehicle. When an identifier indicating the apparatus-side power transmission/reception unit is present in the vicinity of the target parking position in the taken surrounding situation, the control device (60) recognizes the position of the identifier and performs the position alignment assist control.
US08169339B2	Traffic situation display method, traffic situation display system, in-vehicle device, and computer program There is provided a method for displaying a traffic situation in a traffic situation display system, the method comprising: transmitting image data obtained by imaging an imaging region including roads from a road-side device; receiving the transmitted image data in an in-vehicle device; displaying an image on the basis of the received image data; storing, by the road-side device, corresponding information in which a pixel coordinate in the image and positional information of the imaging region are corresponded to each other; transmitting, by the road-side device, the stored corresponding information; receiving, by the in-vehicle device, the corresponding information; acquiring, by the in-vehicle device, positional information of an own vehicle; specifying, by the in-vehicle device, an own vehicle position on the image based on the received corresponding information and the acquired positional information; and displaying, by the in-vehicle device, the specified own vehicle position on the image.
US08169336B1	Promotional receptacle A gratuity receptacle that contains a gratuity sensor to detect when gratuity has been inserted into the opening of the gratuity receptacle. When gratuity has been inserted into the gratuity receptacle, the gratuity sensor activates a notification means to alert patrons and employees that gratuity has been inserted into the gratuity receptacle. The notification may be any combination of a visual, motion, and/or a sound notification. The notification may be related to an advertising campaign.
US08169335B2	Electromagnetic field adjustment for proximity detection Embodiments described herein relate to a methods and apparatus for optimizing and calibrating a magnetic field generator. In various embodiments, the magnetic field generator includes a signal generator for outputting a voltage and a magnetic field generating circuit including a shunt that may be used to change a value of inductance in the magnetic field generating circuit.
US08169334B2	Magnetic rotary encoder with feedback unit A magnetic rotary encoder with feedback unit, including a base, a cover body, a sensing element and a display element. The base has a hollow main body formed with a receiving space. The receiving space has an opening at one end of the main body. The cover body is disposed at the end of the main body of the base to block the opening. The cover body is formed with a through hole in communication with the receiving space. The sensing element is disposed in the receiving space for sensing the motion of a magnetic element disposed on a rotor of a rotary motor. The display element is arranged on the sensing element in alignment with the through hole of the cover body for receiving signals transmitted from the sensing element. The display element has different display modes in accordance with different signals for a user to easily judge the operation state of the rotary motor.
US08169332B2	Tactile device with force sensitive touch input surface A tactile device includes a touch input surface in any number of forms including a force sensitive touch screen. In this embodiment a cover captures a transparent screen located on capacitive sensors. Touching the screen produces signals from each sensor that can be combined to identify the location of the touch and the force exerted by that touch.
US08169331B2	Circuit protector monitoring assembly Monitoring assemblies for determining an operational state of a circuit protector in an electrical circuit.
US08169325B2	Portable hand wash monitoring system and method An identification badge worn by an individual is sensed when that individual enters a lavatory area. The individual is also provided with an indicator device which is worn on or about the hands. Inside or in proximity to the lavatory, there is also provided a hand cleaning area, within which is a portable monitoring dispenser, which includes a pair of indicator readers that detect the presence of the indicator device and cause soap to be dispensed on the individual's hands, then provides an appropriate indication to a computer system. Should the badge sensor sense the individual's departure from the lavatory area without an appropriate indication being generated by the indicator readers, a warning signal is generated, which is sent to the computer system and to an appropriate officer, who can then address the individual.
US08169323B2	Noncontact IC tag label, airline baggage tag label, and manufacturing method for noncontact IC tag label A noncontact IC tag label includes: a band-shaped label base material inclusive of a release surface formed at least at one end of the base material and releasably treated in advance, and a non-release surface; an electroconductive layer formed on the non-release surface of the band-shaped label base material and including a required antenna pattern; and an IC chip mounted on one face of the electroconductive layer. The electroconductive layer and the IC chip are shrouded by a surface protection sheet via a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. A thermoadhesive resin layer bonded onto the non-release surface of the band-shaped label base material is provided on an opposite face of the electroconductive layer including the antenna pattern, with respect to the surface protection sheet. Also, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is bonded onto the non-release surface and release surface of the band-shaped label base material.
US08169321B2	Radio frequency-enabled electromigration fuse Embodiments of the invention provides a method, device, and system for programming an electromigration fuse (eFuse) using a radio frequency (RF) signal. A first aspect of the invention provides a method of testing circuitry on a semiconductor chip, the method comprising: receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal using at least one antenna on the semiconductor chip; powering circuitry on the semiconductor chip using the RF signal; activating a built-in self test (BIST) engine within the circuitry; determining whether a fault exists within the circuitry using the BIST; and programming an electromigration fuse (eFuse) to alter the circuitry in response to a fault being determined to exist.
US08169320B2	Orthogonal frequency coding for surface acoustic wave devices Methods and systems for coding SAW OFC devices to mitigate code collisions in a wireless multi-tag system. Each device producing plural stepped frequencies as an OFC signal with a chip offset delay to increase code diversity. A method for assigning a different OFC to each device includes using a matrix based on the number of OFCs needed and the number chips per code, populating each matrix cell with OFC chip, and assigning the codes from the matrix to the devices. The asynchronous passive multi-tag system includes plural surface acoustic wave devices each producing a different OFC signal having the same number of chips and including a chip offset time delay, an algorithm for assigning OFCs to each device, and a transceiver to transmit an interrogation signal and receive OFC signals in response with minimal code collisions during transmission.
US08169317B2	Hands-free door opening system and method Automatically operating a door system is controlled by an affirmative action of a patron. An occupancy status of an inside area is provided to the patron approaching the door from an outside area. The patron is directed to request the door be opened in response to an unoccupied status. A presence of the patron in the inside area is sensed and the door automatically closed, and optionally locked. One actuator is set to an in use status indicating use of the inside area by the patron. A door ready for opening status is provided to the patron. With an affirmative action with a second actuator by the patron desiring to open the door and exit the inside area, the door is unlocked and opened. Sensing an absence of the patron within the inside area, the door is automatically closed, and first actuator reset to the ready state.
US08169316B2	Active wireless tag and auxiliary device for use with monitoring center for tracking individuals or objects The invention is directed to a location tracking device and auxiliary device for use with a monitoring center for tracking individuals or objects. The location tracking device has position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location (e.g., a monitoring station). The tracking device also has second wireless circuitry that communicates with the auxiliary device. The tracking device has at least two operational modes. The tracking device switches operational modes when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device. The auxiliary device generally has an associated auxiliary device ID and wireless circuitry that communicates the auxiliary device ID to the location tracking device. The tracking device has a first operational mode, when communication is not established with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state. The tracking device can also have a second operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device. In the second operational mode, the second wireless circuitry receives the auxiliary device ID from the auxiliary device and the first wireless circuitry communicates the auxiliary device ID to the remote location. The tracking device can also have a third operational mode, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device. In the third operational mode, the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state.
US08169315B2	Electronic medic alert A device and method for sending medic alert information electronically. The device may have a memory component and a processing component. The memory component may store medic alert information. The processing component may generate an electronic message containing the medic alert information and send the electronic message via a communications network. The device may also have an input component for receiving a user request to initiate a connection with an emergency contact, such as a 911 dispatcher. The electronic message may be automatically generated and sent in response to the user request.
US08169311B1	Wireless transmission system for vehicular component control and monitoring Vehicle with wireless sensors includes a frame, at least one sensor assembly fixed to the frame and each including a sensor arranged to obtain data about a condition or property of the vehicle or part thereof or an environment in or around the vehicle, and a wireless transmission component coupled to the sensor for wirelessly transmitting a signal derived from the data obtained by the sensor, a receiver fixed to the frame arranged to receive signals from the wireless transmission component, and a reactive component for performing an action based on the data obtained by the sensor and transmitted from the wireless transmission component to the receiver. The data can be displayed as an indication to the driver or other occupant of the vehicle, relayed the data to a remote location for analysis or response and/or used to determine adjustment or control a component in the vehicle.
US08169303B2	Method and system using RFID tags for initiation of selected business processes A system and related methods for dynamically re-configuring a radio frequency identification tag reader, engaging software business processes, or combinations of both, using a radio-frequency-readable configuration tag which physically associated with one or more RFID-tagged articles in a physical handling flow. The configuration tag reader is positioned prior to a radio frequency identification tag reader in said material handling flow, which allows the configuration reader to read the contents of the configuration tags before the articles reach the identification tag reader. Based on the contents of the read configuration tags, one or more selected business processes are initiated to customize the handling process of the tagged items.
US08169302B2	Sight-line non contact coupled wireless technology Control systems and methods are disclosed for controlling operation of movable systems in an automated process with a stationary system having a first control system component and at least one movable system having a second control system component, in which optical or other non-contacting signaling between the stationary and movable systems is used to ascertain whether a movable system is proximate the stationary system, and wireless communications is used to transfer control data between the systems while the non-contacting signal link is maintained.
US08169299B2	Method and apparatus for neural activity identification A method and apparatus is provided for creating and recognizing a USN (Unique Signature Number) from an analysis of living entity's (e.g. person, animal or other multi-cellular being having neural activity) emitted electrical or electromagnetic signal in a given, normalized or calm state. This USN may then be used at a later date, in a comparison function of a number of stored USN's, in ascertaining the identity of an entity recently detected as being in proximity to an antenna of the apparatus. A further analysis process can also detect neural activity that is abnormal to that indicated by the USN of a given entity in a calm state and which neural activity may be indicative of excessive aggression, stress or even ill health said given entity.
US08169298B2	Electric hand tool device and battery pack therefor The invention relates to a battery-operated electric hand tool device (2) comprising control electronics (14), a wirelessly and contactlessly responding transceiver (12), and a storage unit (16) in which an authorization code is stored, a locked mode of operation and a released mode of operation being distinguishable. In order to improve theft protection, a wire-bound or wireless interface (22) is provided from the control electronics (14) of the electric hand tool device to a battery pack (4) such that locking data can be transmitted from the control electronics (14) of the electric hand tool device (2) to the battery pack (4), be stored in a storage device (24) of the battery pack (4), and be read out of the storage device (24) again.
US08169297B2	Electronic assembly having means to prevent non-permitted disassembling of its components An electronic assembly includes a terminal unit, a signal connector and a memory device. The terminal unit includes a plurality of terminals consisting of a set of coupler terminals and a set of control terminals. The signal connector is utilized for electrically connecting to the coupler terminals, wherein electrical connection of the signal connector to the coupler terminals results in a first relation signal. The memory device is utilized for storing a first relation data corresponding to the first relation signal. Once the signal connector is electrically disconnected from the coupler terminals and upon required the signal connector is again electrically connected to the terminal unit results in a second relation signal such that the electronic assembly is prevented from being operated in case the second relation signal fails to conform to the first relation signal.
US08169295B2	Manually operable position sensor A manually operable position sensor is shown, for providing control signals to an electronic device, such as an audio player. A fabric ribbon (101) has a length substantially longer than its width with insulating yarns and electrically conducting yarns included therein. The conducting yarns define three conductive tracks (103, 104, 105) running the length of the fabric. The conductive tracks are configured to interface with an electronic device at a first end. At a second end, an active region of the fabric forms part of a sensor assembly that is receptive to a manually applied pressure.
US08169294B2	Over-current protection device An over-current protection device comprises two metal foils and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material layer. The PTC material layer is sandwiched between the two metal foils and has a volume resistivity below 0.1 Ω-cm. The PTC material layer includes (i) plural crystalline polymers having at least one crystalline polymer of a melting point less than 115° C.; (ii) an electrically conductive nickel filler having a volume resistivity less than 500 μΩ-cm; and (iii) a non-conductive metal nitride filler. The electrically conductive nickel filler and non-conductive metal nitride filler are dispersed in the crystalline polymer.
US08169291B2	Combination-type fuse A fuse includes an insulating base and a conducting terminal installed in the insulating base, and the insulating base is integrally formed and includes a groove and two concave pits interconnected to the groove. The conducting terminal is accommodated in the groove, and includes two conductive handles, a fuse filament coupled to the two conductive handles, and a forked holding portion formed at an end of each conductive handle and fixed into the concave pit. The forked holding portion is compressed, and a surface of the insulating base is stamped, such that the conducting terminal is passed and fixed securely to the insulating base, and the fuse features a simple structure and an easy installation.
US08169289B2	Reactor A reactor is provided in which coil segments (5-1, 5-2) of each of first and second auxiliary winding elements (2-1, 2-2) is of a multilayered and aligned winding structure. The coil segments (5-1, 5-2) of the first auxiliary winding element (2-1) and the coil segments (5-1, 5-2) of the second auxiliary winding element (2-2) are disposed within respective space areas (6-1, 6-2) delimited between the coil segments of the second auxiliary winding element and an outside and between the outside and the coil segments of the first auxiliary winding element. The coil segments of each of those first and second auxiliary winding elements are so combined as to be adjacently alternately positioned in a line to thereby form a main winding body (3). The pair of the auxiliary winding elements are connected parallel to each other.
US08169284B2	Electromagnetic actuator having permanent magnets placed in the form of a V in an electromagnetically optimized arrangement The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator including an actuating member associated with an armature and able to move under the action of at least one electromagnet, a coil, and a core suitable for channeling a flux of the coil so that the flux closes within the armature, where the core includes a base from which branches extend, including a central branch around which the coil extends, and two permanent magnets which are associated with the core. The two permanent magnets are placed in the central branch of the core in order to form a V, which separates the central branch into two parts so that any section of the core or the armature through which the flux from one or the other of the permanent magnets can pass, has an area large enough to prevent saturation by this flux.
US08169283B2	Circuit breaker trip unit support A support for anchoring a trip unit of a circuit breaker to a base thereof to prevent separation of the trip unit from the base during a short circuit fault. The support has top-facing two locking tabs that snap into place behind a wall in a lug-receiving area of the base. The support also has an opening through which a terminal of the trip unit is received snugly. The locking tabs keep the support in place and prevent forces produced by gasses during a fault from forcing the trip unit away from the base. The terminal, attached to the trip unit, is retained by the opening, which transfers upward forces to the top of the support, which is positioned against a top section of the base. The snug fit by the terminal through the opening and retention of the support in the lug-receiving area during a fault increases post-fault dielectric performance.
US08169282B2	Switch and electronic device A switch and an electronic device maintain a power supply ON state until data processing is completed, and automatically turn OFF the power supply after the data processing is completed. The switch includes a rotation operating body that does not receive an operation force from an operating element when OFF operated is arranged inside the operating element. The rotation operating body includes a switch operating portion for turning ON a power supply switch mechanism and a return spring regulating piece for biasing a return spring in an anti-biasing direction. A regulating state of the return spring regulated by the return spring regulating piece is held, where the ON state of the power supply switch mechanism is held with a permanent magnet, and the ON state of the power supply switch mechanism is released by applying a release force on the permanent magnet when the power supply is reset.
US08169279B2	Notched saw image frequency rejection filter system A notched SAW image frequency rejection filter system includes a SAW filter having an input, an output and a ground output and an impedance matching network including a first matching inductance connected to the SAW filter output and a second matching inductance connected to the ground output of the SAW filter; the SAW filter having an inherent internal capacitance that produces a predetermined capacitive leakage current at the image frequency; an inherent internal inductance that produces an inductance leakage current at the image frequency; and a boosted inherent parasitic ground inductance at the ground output of the SAW filter for generating a voltage across the second matching inductance to produce a compensation current which is substantially opposite in phase and substantially matched in magnitude with the capacitive leakage current for reducing the capacitive leakage current and increasing the image frequency rejection.
US08169277B2	Radio frequency directional coupler device and related methods An electronic device may include a printed circuit board (PCB) including a ground plane and having first and second opposing surfaces. The electronic device may also include a radio frequency (RF) directional coupler carried by the first surface of the PCB and including a housing and circuitry therein defining an input port, an output port, and first and second monitoring ports. A first monitoring circuit may be carried by the first surface of the PCB and connected to the first monitoring port. The electronic device may also include a via conductor connected to the second monitoring port and extending through the PCB to the second surface thereof. A second monitoring circuit may also be carried by the second surface of the PCB and connected to the via conductor.
US08169273B2	Flat uniform transmission line having electromagnetic shielding function Disclosed herein is a flat uniform transmission line having an electromagnetic shielding function. The flat uniform transmission line includes a strip transmission line, an insulating layer, and electromagnetic shielding layers. The strip transmission line is formed on a dielectric layer made of functional polymer material, and includes a plurality of strip lines. The plurality of strip lines are configured to be a ground line, or to transmit signals. The insulating layer is formed on the strip transmission line. The electromagnetic shielding layers are respectively formed on the insulating layer and beneath the strip transmission line.
US08169267B2	Wave reversing system and method for a rotary traveling wave oscillator Circuitry for establishing a traveling wave on a rotary traveling wave oscillator is described. The circuitry includes a gain portion that establishes a wave in a preferred direction by degenerating any wave traveling opposite to the preferred direction and regenerating any wave traveling in the preferred direction. If there are two such gain portions, each having opposite preferred directions, then a wave that is presently established in one direction can be degenerated and a new wave can be established in the opposite direction, thereby achieving reversibility of the traveling wave in real time. Each of the gain portions included in a plurality of regeneration/degeneration elements present on the rotary oscillator. Each of the regeneration/degeneration elements is connected to a pair of taps on the oscillator, the taps being separated by a direction dependent phase difference.
US08169265B2	Phase lock loop circuits A phase lock loop circuit is provided. A phase frequency detector detects a phase difference between a feedback signal and a reference signal, and generates a phase error signal in response to the detected phase difference. A charge pump consists of at least one core device and outputs a current signal based on the phase error signal. An active loop filter receives and transfers the current signal into a control signal. Operating voltage of the active loop filter is higher than operating voltage of the charge pump. A controlled oscillator receives the control signal and generates an output signal in response to the control signal. A feedback divider receives the output signal to generate the feedback signal.
US08169264B2	Distributed Doherty amplifiers Doherty and distributed amplifier (DA) designs are combined to achieve, wideband amplifiers with high efficiency dynamic range. A modified Doherty amplifier includes a wideband phase shifter providing first and second outputs, a main amplifier coupled to the first output, an auxiliary amplifier coupled to the second output, and a wideband combining network combining the outputs in phase. A multi-stage DA has a main output and a termination port, and a phase delay module and transforming network allowing power at the termination port to be combined in phase with power at the main output. In one combination, one or more stages of the DA may comprise a Doherty amplifier. In another combination, a modified series-type Doherty amplifying system is achieved by cascading main and auxiliary DAs. In any combination, Doherty topology may include a bias control module.
US08169263B2	Differential gm-boosting circuit and applications A fully-differential circuit includes a differential gm-boosting circuit and/or a differential output circuit. The use of differential gm-boosting and output circuits improves input common-mode and power-supply noise rejection relative to the prior art. The fully differential gm-boosted circuit may be used in a wide variety of applications.
US08169262B2	Method for reducing offset voltage of operational amplifier and the circuit using the same The invention provides an operational amplifier. In one embodiment, the operational amplifier includes an input stage circuit, a feedback circuit, a fixed stage circuit, and an output stage circuit. The input stage circuit receives a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage, and amplifies the positive input voltage and the negative input voltage to output a first positive output voltage and a first negative output voltage. The feedback circuit generates a reference positive output voltage equal to the first positive output voltage according to the positive input voltage and the negative input voltage. The fixed stage circuit equally amplifies the first negative output voltage and the reference positive output voltage to generate a second positive output voltage and a second negative output voltage. The output stage circuit generates an output voltage according to a difference voltage between the second positive output voltage and a second negative voltage.
US08169261B2	High efficiency amplification A radio frequency amplification stage comprising: an amplifier for receiving an input signal to be amplified and a power supply voltage; and a power supply voltage stage for supplying said power supply voltage, comprising: means for providing a reference signal representing the envelope of the input signal; means for selecting one of a plurality of supply voltage levels in dependence on the reference signal; and means for generating an adjusted selected power supply voltage, comprising an ac amplifier for amplifying a difference between the reference signal and one of the selected supply voltage level or the adjusted selected supply voltage level, and a summer for summing the amplified difference with the selected supply voltage to thereby generate the adjusted supply voltage.
US08169259B2	Active filter, delta-sigma modulator, and system An active filter includes a first filter and a second filter. The first filter receives an input signal, and generates a first output signal by filtering the input signal. The second filter receives the first output signal during a time period adjusted based on a variation of a time constant of the first filter, and generates a second output signal by filtering the first output signal received during the time period. Therefore, a variation of a time constant is compensated by using post integration time control.
US08169258B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a reference voltage generating block, a circuit block, and a transmission line. The reference voltage generating block generates a first reference voltage and generates and outputs a digital code corresponding to the level of the first reference voltage. The circuit block converts the digital code into a second reference voltage and uses the second reference voltage for operation related to the function of the semiconductor integrated circuit. The transmission line is connected between the reference voltage generating block and the circuit block to allow transmission of the digital code to the circuit block.
US08169253B2	Power circuit including step-up circuit and stabilizing method thereof A power circuit includes a reference potential circuit, a step-up circuit, and a conversion circuit. The reference potential circuit generates a reference potential. The step-up circuit generates a desired internal potential by stepping up a power supply potential. The step-up circuit includes a comparison circuit, a differential amplifier circuit, and a switch element. The comparison circuit outputs the result of comparison between a potential and the reference potential. The differential amplifier circuit is turned on or off by the operation control signal. The switch element performs on/off control according to the operation control signal and resets the output potential of the differential amplifier circuit. The conversion circuit converts the of the operation control signal so as to make longer the on period of the differential amplifier circuit and the off period of switch element.
US08169252B2	Low voltage drop closed loop unidirectional electronic valve A low voltage drop unidirectional electronic valve constituted of: a first terminal; a second terminal; a first electronically controlled switch coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a first charge pump arranged to close the first electronically controlled switch when the voltage potential at the first terminal is greater than the voltage potential at the second terminal by a first value. The first charge pump is arranged in a closed loop with the first electronically controlled switch so as to continuously maintain the voltage potential at the first terminal greater than the voltage potential at the second terminal by the first value.
US08169251B2	Capacitor interface circuit A capacitor interface circuit is provided. A capacitor under test (CUT) is divided into a variable portion and an invariable portion, and the capacitance of an offset capacitor is designed to equal to or close to the fixed capacitance of the CUT. The offset capacitor is used to store the charges opposite to the invariable portion of the CUT for neutralizing the effect of the invariable portion of the CUT. Thereupon, the charge converter composed by the fully-differential amplifier and the feedback capacitors only responses for the variable portion of the CUT so as to increase the accuracy of the follow-up data processing.
US08169249B2	Calibrating a system by setting difference between signals In a signal monitoring system, a circuit includes an input terminal and an output terminal. In addition, a processor coupled to the circuit is operable for calculating a parameter indicative of an error factor of the circuit by setting a level difference between an input signal at the input terminal and an output signal at the output terminal to a predetermined level.
US08169246B2	Dynamic-to-static converter latch with glitch suppression A latch circuit. The latch circuit may include an input circuit, a precharge circuit, and a transfer circuit. The precharge circuit may precharge a first node during a first phase of a clock signal. Based on an input signal received at a first logic value, the input signal may drive the first node to a second logic value during the second clock phase. The transfer circuit may include a discharge circuit that is active during an evaluation phase beginning at a delay time subsequent to the clock signal entering the second phase and ending when the clock signal re-enters the first phase. The transfer circuit may also include pull-up and pull-down transistors, one of which may drive a logic value to a second node during the evaluation phase.
US08169241B2	Proportional phase comparator and method for phase-aligning digital signals Embodiments of a proportional phase comparator and method for aligning digital signals are generally described herein. In some embodiments, circuitry to align digital signals comprises a proportional phase comparator that generates triangular-shaped pulses for application to a charge pump. The triangular-shaped pulses may reduce an amount of charge injection in the charge pump close to convergence.
US08169233B2	Programming of DIMM termination resistance values Systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing termination resistance in a memory module are provided. An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of memory circuits; an interface circuit operable to communicate with the plurality of memory circuits and to communicate with a memory controller; and a transmission line electrically coupling the interface circuit to a memory controller, wherein the interface circuit is operable to terminate the transmission line with a single termination resistance that is selected based on a plurality of resistance-setting commands received from the memory controller.
US08169232B2	Apparatus and method for generating resistance calibration code in semiconductor integrated circuit A resistance calibration code generating apparatus includes a code calibration unit configured to calibrate and output code values of a resistance calibration code during predetermined cycles of a calibration clock, which are determined by a code calibration time control command, and a calibration clock generating unit configured to output the calibration clock using a code calibration command.
US08169227B2	Probing apparatus with multiaxial stages for testing semiconductor devices A probing apparatus for testing semiconductor devices comprises a housing configured to define a testing chamber, a device carrier positioned in the housing and configured to receive the semiconductor device, a platen positioned on the housing, an alignment module positioned on the platen, a planarity-adjusting module positioned on the alignment module, an angular adjusting module positioned on the planarity-adjusting module, and a card holder positioned on the angular adjusting module and configured to receive a probe card having a plurality of probes.
US08169226B2	Method for measuring a current, in particular by means of a grounding apparatus The subject matter of the invention is a method of measuring a grounding current of a photovoltaic power system incorporating a photovoltaic inverter, a measurement current being led through two shunts (Rs1, Rs2) disposed at different points, the measurement current being a current that may flow alternatively at two different points at different electric potentials, the current flowing at a potential that differs by at least 50 V from the potential of the point of evaluation, the shunts (Rs1, Rs2) being inserted in such a manner in a current mirror circuit that the voltage drop caused by the measurement in the shunts generates an asymmetry in the current mirror the magnitude of which is proportional to the measurement current, and the measurement current being the grounding current of the photovoltaic power system with optional positive or negative pole grounding.
US08169223B2	Ionization vacuum gauge An ionization vacuum gauge includes a cathode, an anode and an ion collector. The anode is surrounding the cathode. The ion collector is surrounding the anode. The cathode, the anode and the ion collector are concentrically aligned and arranged in that order. The anode comprises a carbon nanotube structure including a plurality of carbon nanotubes.

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