| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08176054B2 |
Retrieving electronic documents by converting them to synthetic text
The present invention relies on the two-dimensional information in documents and encodes two-dimensional structures into a one-dimensional synthetic language such that two-dimensional documents can be searched at text search speed. The system comprises: an indexing module, a retrieval module, an encoder, a quantization module, a retrieval engine and a control module coupled by a bus. A number of electronic documents are first indexed by the indexing module and stored as a synthetic text library. The retrieval module then converts and input image to synthetic text and searches for matches to the synthetic text in the synthetic text library. The matches can be in turn used to retrieve the corresponding electronic documents. It should be noted that a plurality of matches and corresponding electronic documents may be retrieves ranked by order according the similarity of the synthetic text. In one or more embodiments, the present invention includes a method for indexing documents by converting them to synthetic text, and a method for retrieving documents by converting an image to synthetic text and comparing the synthetic text to documents that have been converted to synthetic text for a match. |
| US08176051B2 |
Search via fast case insensitive ASCII tree
A system and method for searching a bytestream or other string in a case insensitive manner. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes an ASCII tree that associated both upper and lower case letters of an incoming header key (or other symbols) with nodes. When enough nodes are gathered, a target word is found. |
| US08176048B2 |
Method and system for maximum-informativeness information extraction using a domain-specific ontology
A method transforms unstructured text into structured data in a domain-specific ontology. The method includes recording an input block of text using an information extraction module (IEM), accessing a domain-specific ontology and supplemental data in a knowledge source(s) via the IEM, processing the input text block, and using the IEM to generate a plurality of nodes in the domain-specific ontology. Each node classifies the unstructured text to corresponding objects of interest, thereby transforming the unstructured text into the structured data. An IEM is also provided having a computer device and an algorithm executable thereby to transform unstructured text into structured data in a domain-specific ontology. The IEM is adapted for recording a text phrase using the computer device, accessing and retrieving the domain-specific ontology and supplemental data from a knowledge source(s), and processing the text block using the computer device to generate a plurality of nodes in the domain-specific ontology. |
| US08176047B2 |
Methods and systems for locating information in a computer system
A computer system includes a user interface. The user interface includes at least one control for inputting at least one search criterion for searching in a database. The user interface also includes a visual result interface for visually outputting the result, at least one control in the visual result interface for selecting at least one element of a result of the searching, and a visual selection interface for at least visually outputting the selection. The visual result interface and the visual selection interface are positioned beside each other. In addition, the computer system includes a processor device communicatively connected to the user interface and connectable to the database. The processor may execute instructions for searching the database with said at least one search criterion, outputting to the user interface a result of the searching, and outputting to the user interface the selection from the result. |
| US08176046B2 |
System and method for identifying trends in web feeds collected from various content servers
Systems and methods for identifying trends in web feeds collected from various content servers are disclosed. One embodiment includes, selecting a candidate phrase indicative of potential trends in the web feeds, assigning the candidate phrase to trend analysis agents, analyzing the candidate phrase, by each of the one or more trend analysis agents, respectively using the configured type of trending parameter, and/or determining, by each of the trend analysis agents, whether the candidate phrase meets an associated threshold to qualify as a potential trended phrase. |
| US08176045B2 |
Systems and methods for cross-street identification
Aspects of the invention relate to the use of electronic maps and providing information about intersecting streets. A given region of interest on a map may include any number of features. Features of interest, including road segments and intersections, can be filtered to remove non-street data. The results may be analyzed according to individual street segments. Each segment may be identified by a feature ID, and the relationship each segment has with a given intersection is analyzed. Thus, the direction of a segment into or out of an intersection is determined, along with the physical locations of the beginning and end of the segment. This information is used to provide robust map information that may be displayed to a user. Heuristics can be applied to the map information to provide coherent address or direction information to the user for a given point of interest. |
| US08176043B2 |
Ranking search results
Content items and other entities may be ranked or organized according to a relevance to a user. Relevance may take into consideration recency, proximity, popularity, air time (e.g., of television shows) and the like. In one example, the popularity and age of a movie may be used to determine a relevance ranking. Popularity (i.e., entity rank) may be determined based on a variety of factors. In the movie example, popularity may be based on gross earnings, awards, nominations, votes and the like. According to one or more embodiments, entities may initially be categorized into relevance groupings based on popularity and/or other factors. Once categorized, the entities may be sorted within each grouping and later combined into a single ranked list. |
| US08176039B2 |
Abstract classification field specification
One embodiment includes receiving user input specifying a plurality of result fields for an abstract query. Each result field corresponds to a logical field specification of a data abstraction model abstractly describing the data in the database. The method further includes receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of result fields, and receiving user input specifying a classification definition for the selected result field. The classification definition is suitable for dividing data to be returned for the selected result field into a plurality of categories. Then, a classification field for the abstract query is generated on the basis of the selected result field and the classification definition. The classification field is included with the abstract query. The method further includes receiving a user request for execution of the abstract query against the database. |
| US08176036B2 |
Join paths across multiple databases
Methods, systems and computer instructions on computer readable media are disclosed for optimizing a query, including a first join path, a second join path, and an optimizer, to efficiently provide high quality information from large, multiple databases. The methods and systems include evaluating a schema graph identifying the join paths between a field X and a field Y, and a value X=x, to identify the top-few values of Y=y that are reachable from a specified X=x value when using the join paths. Each data path that instantiates the schema join paths can be scored and evaluated as to the quality of the data with respect to specified integrity constraints to alleviate data quality problems. Agglomerative scoring methodologies can be implemented to compute high quality information in the form of a top-few answers to a specified problem as requested by the query. |
| US08176033B2 |
Document processing device and document processing method
A document processing method, including: a collection step of collecting access history of a user; a document similarity computing step of computing a document similarity, which indicates similarity between documents, by one user pattern which indicates a plurality of users who have accessed one document and another user pattern which indicates a plurality of users who have accessed another document, according to the access history collected in the collection step; a keyword weight vector correction step of correcting a keyword weight vector of the one document using the document similarity computed in the document similarity computing step; and an evaluation value calculation step of calculating an evaluation value for input information for searching, based on the keyword weight vector corrected in the keyword weight vector correction step. |
| US08176030B2 |
System and method for providing full-text search integration in XQuery
A system and method for providing full-text search integration in XQuery is presented. A built-in search function defined in an XQuery language is implemented, and a full-text search is initiated. The search function includes one or more search terms and a relation logic. Variants for each search term in the search function are identified. Posting lists are obtained for one or more of the variants. Each posting list includes values offset from elements containing the search term associated with the variant to which the posting list corresponds. The relation logic is applied to the offset values of the posting lists. Those elements with offset values that satisfy the relation logic are selected. The elements that satisfy the relation logic are provided as results of the full-text search. |
| US08176027B1 |
Spatial index for data files
A method and system of managing computer data files are disclosed. Each computer data file on at least one data storage device is associated with at least one physical geographic location. Alternatively, the location may be an actual physical geographic location, a virtual location, a historical location, a fictional location, and so on. A function provides for searching and accessing the computer data files by location. |
| US08176026B2 |
Consolidating file system backend operations with access of data
Mechanisms for performing a backend operation in a file system are provided. A backend operation on a portion of the file system is initiated. At least one indirect transition table data structure is created for performing the backend operation. Metadata corresponding to the portion of the file system is linked to the at least one indirect transition table data structure. The backend operation is performed on data in a sub-portion of the portion of the file system and the at least one indirect transition table data structure is updated with pointers to new locations of the data in the sub-portion as transitions of the data are completed. At least one data access operation is performed to the portion of the file system at substantially a same time as performing the backend operation on the data in the sub-portion of the portion of the file system. |
| US08176023B2 |
Hierarchical locking in B-tree indexes
Portions of a B-tree index in a database are locked for concurrency control. In one example, hierarchical lock modes are provided that permit locking a key, a gap between the key and the next key, and a combination of the key and the gap. In another example, key range locking may be applied to the B-tree index using locks on separator keys of index nodes. In another example, key range locking may be applied to the B-tree index using locks on key prefixes. |
| US08176021B2 |
Optimized reverse key indexes
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to optimized reverse key indexes. In aspects, a dispersion function disperses index values such that they are distributed across multiple pages of an index. The dispersion function utilizes a dispersion factor that indicates to what extent the index values are dispersed. Because the index values are dispersed, contention regarding inserts may be reduced or eliminated and other advantages realized. |
| US08176019B2 |
Extending the sparcle privacy policy workbench methods to other policy domains
A method and system enable a user to develop domain-specific policy workbench. Domains may include, but are not limited to security, autonomic computing, workload management and systems management. The method and system in one aspect determines syntax of a policy in a selected domain and creates an instance of policy workbench specific to the selected domain. In one aspect, the instance of policy workbench includes at least machine-readable encodings of the selected policy and associated mapping. The instance of policy workbench also includes a compliance auditing tool enabled to check events logged at a target system against the selected policy and associated mapping to determine if one or more policy rules have been complied with. In another aspect, domain-specific policy workbench creation machine is provided that automatically creates an instance of domain-specific policy workbench. |
| US08176014B2 |
System and method for providing a cache that stores entity beans and employs data invalidation
Servers in a network cluster can each store a copy of a data item in local cache, providing read access to these copies through read-only entity beans. The original data item in the database can be updated through a read/write entity bean one of the cluster servers. That cluster server has access to an invalidation target, which contains identification information relating to copies of the data item stored on servers in the cluster. Once the read/write bean updates the data item in the database, an invalidate request can be sent or multicast to all cluster members, or to any read-only bean or server contained in the invalidation target. Each server or read-only bean receiving the request knows to drop any copy of the data item in local cache, and can request a current copy of the data item from the database. |
| US08176010B2 |
Remote copy system
In a system in which data employed by a computer is stored in a storage system, the storage system transfers this data to another storage system and a copy of the data is maintained in the other storage system. The consistency of the copy is maintained even when data is written, to the storage system by a computer, without having a write time applied. A source storage system, when a write time is applied to a write request, records the write time and applies this write time to the received write data and, when no write time is applied, applies the recorded write time to the received write data and transfers the write data with this write time applied thereto, to a target storage system. The target storage system stores the write data in a logical volume in the target storage system in accordance with the write time. |
| US08176008B2 |
Apparatus and method for replicating data in file system
A data replication system comprises a NAS controller and a storage system. In a first embodiment, after a NAS system takes a snapshot of a volume, the NAS system changes the referral information within the volume. Also, as an additional way to ensure the consistency after taking a snapshot, the NAS System returns the changed referral information based on a referral management table when clients access a referral within the snapshot volume so that clients can access an appropriate volume. In a second embodiment, after a volume on a NAS system is replicated by remote copy to a remotely deployed NAS system, the remotely deployed NAS system returns the changed referral information based on a referral management table when clients access a referral within the replicated volume so that clients can access an appropriate volume. |
| US08176007B2 |
Performing an action in response to a file system event
A method and apparatus for performing an action in response to a file system event is provided. According to one aspect, sets of “event listeners” are associated with a file hierarchy and/or the nodes thereof. Each event listener contains a set of “event handlers.” Each event handler corresponds to a separate type of event that may occur relative to the file hierarchy's nodes. When an event is going to occur relative to the hierarchy or a node thereof, all event listeners that are associated with that hierarchy/node are inspected to determine whether those event listeners contain any event handlers that correspond to the event's type. Those event handlers that correspond to the event's type are placed in an ordered list of event handlers to be invoked. As the event handlers in the list are invoked, programmatic mechanisms that correspond to those event handlers are executed to perform customized user-specified actions. |
| US08176005B2 |
Caching infrastructure
Example systems and methods are directed at maintaining and retrieving presence metadata. One example method includes receiving a request from a first client to edit a document file, and sending short-term check out metadata to the first client to begin an editing session. The method also includes writing the transition ID to a transition table stored in a cache, wherein the presence of another transition ID in the cache indicates that a document has switched from a single-client mode to a multi-client mode. An example system includes a processing unit operative to receive a document, the document including short-term check out metadata indicating an editing session has begun, ping a cache to determine if another transition ID is stored in the cache, and send a transition ID to a transition table stored in a cache to switch from a single-client mode to a multi-client mode. |
| US08176001B2 |
System and method for detecting spam over internet telephony (SPIT) in IP telecommunication systems
A method and system for detecting a spam over internet telephony (SPIT) is disclosed. Incoming call requests are received and analyzed using heuristic algorithms. A runtime action is provided based on the analysis using the heuristic algorithms. The heuristic algorithms include zero-touch heuristic algorithms that require no human intervention, one-touch heuristic algorithms that require human intervention one time, and multi-touch heuristic algorithms that require human intervention more than one time. Cumulative probability is calculated for each incoming call request, and the incoming call request is classified as a spam if the cumulative probability exceeds a threshold. |
| US08175998B2 |
Method and expert system with evolutionary algorithm for valuating an object
A method for valuating an object is disclosed, which includes an expert system that determines a value for a rule from the features of the object, weights the value with a weight from [0, 1] and valuates the object based on the value with a rule editor for defining rules for the valuation with one respective weight from [0, 1]; a rule module for determining a value per rule from the features and a valuation module are also disclosed for valuating the object based on the values, wherein the valuation module weights each value determined for a rule with the weight associated with the rule; and in a simplified manner, the expert system determines temporal progressions of the weight in an evolutionary algorithm, commencing with a start value, and selects a limit of the weight as a new weight, when the weight is converging, and the evolution module determines temporal progressions of at least one weight in an evolutionary algorithm selecting a new weight based on a converging behavior of the characteristics. |
| US08175997B2 |
Method of applying user-defined inference rule using function of searching knowledge base and knowledge base management system therefor
The user-defined inference rule is created using a knowledge base search language that is basically provided in a knowledge base management system. Accordingly, the user-defined inference rule is a knowledge base search statement and is processed using a function of searching a knowledge base as a base function of the knowledge base management system. The user-defined inference rule is applied by including a knowledge base search process and a search result in the knowledge base, when the knowledge base is changed. The user-defined inference rule is managed by a user-defined inference rule manager. The user-defined inference rule manager monitors a change in the knowledge base to determine when the user-defined inference rule is applied, executes the user-defined inference rule to obtain the execution result, and includes the execution result in the knowledge base. |
| US08175996B1 |
Prescriptions for nonsupported features of an electronic document
In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an electronic document that comprising a list of one or more features specified for use during processing of the electronic document by an application. The method also includes determining if one or more specified features from the list of specified features is not supported by the application. The method includes executing an operation that is defined by a prescription associated with one or more specified features, in response to a determination that the one or more specified features is not supported by the application, wherein the prescription defines at least one of an operation to be performed or a restriction to be applied by the application as part of subsequent processing of the electronic document. |
| US08175995B2 |
Quantum and digital processor hybrid systems and methods to solve problems
Quantum and digital processors are employed together to solve computational problems. The quantum processor may be configured with a problem via a problem Hamiltonian and operated to perform adiabatic quantum computation and/or quantum annealing on the problem Hamiltonian to return a first solution to the problem that is in the neighborhood of the global minimum of the problem Hamiltonian. The digital processor may then be used to refine the first solution to the problem by casting the first solution to the problem as a starting point for a classical optimization algorithm. The classical optimization algorithm may return a second solution to the problem that corresponds to a lower energy state in the neighborhood of the global minimum, such as a ground state of the problem Hamiltonian. The quantum processor may include a superconducting quantum processor implementing superconducting flux qubits. |
| US08175989B1 |
Music recommendation system using a personalized choice set
A method for recommending items includes forming one or more choice sets of recommendable items. At least one choice set is a personalized choice set of recommendable items formed for a first user based in part on data associated with that user. Recommendable items can be divided into classification groups. Forming a choice set of recommendable items can be based on a user's classification group preferences. The method also includes forming a recommendation set of recommendable items from the choice sets of recommendable items. Forming the recommendation set is based in part on additional data associated with the user. The additional data is not used in forming the personalized choice set. |
| US08175988B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus learning a preference of a user for a content item includes acquiring means for acquiring an operation or expression of the user for a certain content item as feedback information; training data generating means for generating training data for the preference learning from the feedback information acquired by the acquiring means; and learning means for learning the preference of the user and how to attach a meaning to the feedback information in association with the training data by using multiple pieces of training data generated by the training data generating means. |
| US08175987B2 |
Method and apparatus for computing a change plan using genetic programming and parse tree
A method, and computer program product for computing a change plan are presented. A model of a current configuration is identified, the model including modeled system assets and modeled tasks. A request to change the current configuration to a new configuration is received. The request to change the current configuration to generate a plurality of valid strategies to be used in a genetic programming parse tree corresponding to modeled assets and modeled tasks of said model is applied to the model. The request to change the current configuration is applied to at least one of said valid strategies to generate a plurality of potential change plans. The change plans are evolved according to genetic programming principles to a preferred change plan. |
| US08175985B2 |
Plugin infrastructure for hierarchical temporal memory (HTM) system
A system for implementing a hierarchical temporal memory (HTM) network using a plugin infrastructure. The plugin infrastructure registers the plugins to be used in instantiating the HTM network. The plugin may include one or more functions for creating one or more components of the HTM network in a runtime engine. The plugin is associated with a component specification describing the components of the HTM network created by invoking the functions of the plugin. After the plugin is registered, the plugin infrastructure allows functions of the plugin to be invoked to instantiate The HTM network on a runtime engine. After the HTM network is instantiated, the runtime engine may run the instance of the HTM network to learn and infer the causes of input data. The system may also include one or more external programs to provide various supporting operations associated with the runtime engine by referencing the component specification. The supporting operations that can be performed by the external programs include, among others, validating a netlist defining the structure of the HTM network, build help information for the component, and generating a graphical user interface associated with the HTM network. |
| US08175982B2 |
Value function representation method of reinforcement learning and apparatus using this
Reinforcement learning is one of the intellectual operations applied to autonomously moving robots etc. It is a system having excellent sides, for example, enabling operation in unknown environments. However, it has the basic problem called the “incomplete perception problem”. A variety of solution has been proposed, but none has been decisive. The systems also become complex. A simple and effective method of solution has been desired.A complex value function defining a state-action value by a complex number is introduced. Time series information is introduced into a phase part of the complex number value. Due to this, the time series information is introduced into the value function without using a complex algorithm, so the incomplete perception problem is effectively solved by simple loading of the method. |
| US08175971B1 |
Lifetime guaranteed income rider
Apparatus and methods for providing to a bank customer a guaranteed retirement distribution based on a retail bank product. An electronic processing module may be used to identify a value of an asset in a retail banking product and calculate a guaranteed distribution payment amount. The guaranteed distribution payment amount may be based on the asset value. An electronic transmitter may be used to provide to an insurance carrier a data object having an attribute that corresponds to the asset value. A new guaranteed distribution amount may replace a previous guaranteed distribution amount. The new guaranteed distribution amount may be based on a new value of the asset. The asset may be retained in the retail banking product and the insurance carrier may issue a policy that guarantees the distribution payment to the customer. |
| US08175969B2 |
Architecture and method for bill presentment using a web-based tool
An architecture and method for bill presentment using a web-based tool is disclosed. A common architecture collects billing data from multiple business technology systems and present the billing data on a bill. A user-friendly tool allows internal billing personnel and system administrators to configure the content and format of a bill before presenting it to customers. A method provides external customers with drilldown ability, enabling them to view both summary and detailed billing data and related information necessary to understand and pay the bill. |
| US08175968B2 |
Method and system for processing internet payments using the electronic funds transfer network
Embodiments of the invention include a method and system for effectuating an electronic payment between a payor and a payee using an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) network. The method is implemented by a system having multiple processors. The payor may hold a payor account at a payor institution and the payee may have a payee account at a payee institution. The method includes generating a payment authorization identifying the payee institution, the payee account, and an amount of the payment and transmitting the payment authorization to the payor institution. The method further includes debiting the payor account by the amount of the payment; transmitting from the payor institution to the payee institution through the EFT network an EFT credit message representing a credit in the amount of the payment; and crediting the payee account in the amount of the payment in response to the receipt of the EFT credit message. |
| US08175966B2 |
System and method for identifying an alternative provider of telecommunications services
A method for selecting a service provider includes receiving a selection of a provider of telecommunications services, the selection being associated with a buyer. The method further includes determining that the buyer does not meet credit requirements of the provider and selecting at least one of a plurality of alternative providers of telecommunications services in response to determining that the buyer does not meet the credit requirements of the provider. |
| US08175961B2 |
Method and system for using payment history for conducting commercial transactions
A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving transaction data relating to a plurality of commercial transactions conducted by a plurality of buyers and sellers conducting commercial transactions using a transaction processing system, and then receiving a request for transaction information relating to the received transaction data from an entity, wherein the transaction information also relates to a commercial transaction between a buyer and a seller. The method further includes providing the transaction information to an entity, wherein the entity thereafter makes a decision about further interacting with the buyer or the seller. |
| US08175960B2 |
System and method for dynamically regulating order entry in an electronic trading environment
A system and method are provided for trading a trading strategy defined for at least one tradeable object in an electronic trading environment. More specifically, one example method includes using a first pay-up tick value to determine a first acceptable price level for an order associated with the trading strategy, automatically modifying the first pay-up tick to a second pay-up tick value in response to detecting a predefined condition, and using the second pay-up tick value to determine a second acceptable price level for the order associated with the trading strategy. |
| US08175958B2 |
Hybrid trading system for concurrently trading combined orders for financial instruments through both electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms
A system and method of trading combined orders in an exchange configured for trading by a combination of electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms is provided. One method includes receiving an incoming order having a first order component and a second order component at an electronic trade engine and routing the first and second order components to a first electronic database. The first and second order components are matched and executed against order components maintained in the first and second electronic databases, respectively. Any unexecuted first and second order components are placed in an electronic book according to a predetermined program if the first or second order component cannot be completely matched against any order components maintained in one of the first or second electronic databases. The system includes a trade engine configured for receiving combined orders from market makers. |
| US08175956B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated trading of equity securities using a real time data analysis
A system and method for buying and selling securities based on volatility and liquidity rather than other fundamentals is demonstrated. The method involves: providing at least one decision model to buy and sell a security; inputting real-time data into the decision model; and automatically generating an order and executing transactions to buy and sell the security based in response to the decision model. The method continues in buying and selling the security based in response to decision model until the method is stopped. |
| US08175949B2 |
Methods and systems for providing a constant maturity commodity index
Methods and systems provide a commodity index for investing. In one implementation, a method selects a commodity component for inclusion in the commodity index and calculates a target weight of the commodity component. The method further selects a time interval for maturity of the commodity component to be fixed at from a current date. Financial instruments may be purchased corresponding to the commodity component. |
| US08175937B2 |
Systems, methods and computer programs for financial data evaluation
Systems and methods are provided for evaluating financial information, including systems and methods with computational/evaluation capability to process data sets comprising financial data. In one of the implementations, the systems and methods may be utilized for asset accounting. A calculation module may be provided that includes an evaluation engine that operates internally on a flat, generic data structure that is independent of the particular application. The externally-defined data structure of the data set may be mapped onto the internal data structure. Further, rules-based modules may provide information related to the client-defined rules. A user interface may enable a user to receive back the evaluated financial information, for a specified time period, the financial information being responsive to an original user request entered via the user interface. As a result, the evaluation engine can be used for a variety of different applications. |
| US08175931B2 |
Product customization system and method
A product customization system and method are provided in which a consumer can insert user content, such as images or text, onto a product, such as a shoe, and then view the customized product before purchasing the customized product. |
| US08175930B2 |
Apparatus for selling shipping services through a mediator's web site
The present invention relates to a computer program product for providing a system for selling shipping services online. The system comprises data recording medium, product selector, shipping service information collector, shipping parameter collector, shipping option computing module, shipping service selector, shipping service notifying module and transaction concluding module. The product selector is for selecting a product by a buyer. The shipping service information collector is for obtaining information about shipping services from carriers. The shipping parameter collector is for obtaining information to specify shipping parameters. The shipping option computing module is for computing available shipping services. The shipping service selector is for selecting a shipping service related to a given carrier. The shipping service notifying module is for generating a shipping service request and transmitting the request to the carrier. The transaction concluding module is for receiving a response to the request and transmitting the response to the buyer. |
| US08175925B1 |
Position-based item identification in a materials handling facility
Positional placement guidelines for storing items in an inventory area may allow determination and tracking of the position of the items in the inventory area. Position information may be associated with each item in a materials handling facility to assist in locating an item in an inventory area. The position information may represent a position relative to the inventory area and/or to the other items therein. Position information may be determined based on a count of items in the inventory area or based on a time stamp corresponding to the time the item was stored in the inventory area. Position information may be presented to an agent to facilitate picking the item with or without descriptive information. Feedback may provide an indication that the position information is incorrect and may trigger a review or a reset of position information for one or more items in the inventory area. |
| US08175922B2 |
Dynamic in-page advertising
Advertisements displayed in a web page are enabled to be changed as a context of the web page changes without reloading the web page. A first set of one or more advertisements may be displayed on a web page. One or more of the displayed advertisements may be replaced with one or more alternative advertisements. Selection of the alternative advertisements is triggered based on the occurrence of one or more events that cause a change in a context of the web page. The display of the alternative advertisements is performed dynamically, without the web page needing to be reloaded. In this manner, the advertisements displayed on a web page may be changed based on the change in web page context, to provide advertisements to users that correspond to the changing context. |
| US08175918B2 |
System and method for automatically determining travel product price rebates
A computer-implemented system and method are provided for automatically determining rebate eligibility for purchased products. In one example, the purchased products may be travel-rebated products such as booked air travel itineraries. A database stores purchase information associated with purchased products purchased at corresponding purchase prices. A product administration system having a computer software-based product administration application interacts with the database and purchase information of a first purchased product is compared with purchase information of subsequently purchased products. The product administration application interacts with the database to determine if the first purchased a product matches a subsequently purchased product based on a set of matching criteria. The first purchased product may be eligible for a rebate if the product administration application determines that the subsequently purchased product was purchased at a lower purchase price than the purchase price for the first purchased product. |
| US08175915B1 |
Computerized auction method for providing a discount off a high bid before a bid is placed
A method and system for conducting an auction. The auction system provides a criteria for a seller to offer an item for sale with a discount off the bid that is displayed before a bid is made by the bidder, and/or a discount that is advertised from a minimum discount up to a maximum discount off the bid amount that is declared and displayed after the auction is closed. The discount(s) apply to the bidders initial bid and each raised bid and are not contingent on or to another condition. The auction system provides a mechanism to conduct an auction that allow persons to pay a bid fee to register as a bidder, register an opening bid with a discount that is stated before a bid is made by the bidder and a means for when the auction opens at a later date, to accept the registered opening bids. |
| US08175914B1 |
Automatic adjustment of advertiser bids to equalize cost-per-conversion among publishers for an advertisement
A learning model is built on a combination of advertiser, publisher and user data. The learning model can be applied to all advertisers in an advertising system. The learning model provides predicted conversion rates for a given advertisement (“ad”) appearing on different publisher networks. A predicted conversion rate represents the probability that a click on a given ad appearing on a given publisher will lead to a conversion. The predicted conversion rates are used to generate a multiplier. The multiplier is used to automatically adjust the advertiser's bid (e.g., maximum cost-per-click (CPC)) for the given ad prior to an auction for the ad. Adjusting the advertiser's bid equalizes a cost-per-conversion among the publishers for the ad. |
| US08175905B2 |
Source allocation system, program and method
The invention relates to a resource allocation method. According to the invention, databases of computer objects are produced solely with properties intrinsic to the physical objects. Data filters are defined in order to sort the different intrinsic properties and to divide same into object classes. Allocation matrices are then used to match the resources with the object classes. During the handling of a process, the allocation method is implemented in order to determine a resource. A database is queried in order to obtain intrinsic information. Subsequently, the intrinsic information passes through a data filter in order to determine a membership class. One or more resources are then determined from the membership class with an allocation matrix. The inventive method is performed with the aid of a computer program. The invention also relates to a processing system which is designed to implement said method. |
| US08175894B2 |
X-ray exposure report system, medical apparatus, and examination protocol distribution system
A radiation report system includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of records including an exposure dose, an examination protocol, an examination part, a patient's age and a patient's weight with regard to the plurality of radiation examinations using a plurality of radiation diagnosis apparatuses. The plurality of records stored in the storage unit is classified into a plurality of groups based on the examination protocol, the examination part or patient information. An exposure report is created for each group based on the plurality of records stored in the storage unit. The data of the exposure report is served with a client side terminal. |
| US08175891B2 |
System for separating and distributing pharmacy order processing for compound medication
An information system and method that provides the ability to reroute portions of prescription order work between a plurality of organizational units in order to leverage capacity, expertise, or other resources to increase network efficiency. |
| US08175889B1 |
Systems and methods for tracking changes of address based on service disconnect/connect data
A computer-implemented system for updating mailing address or other contact information using service disconnect and connect information, such as for telephone, utility, or other service, is described. Electronic information about service disconnect requests and service connection requests is received and compared to identify requests that are linked to the same individual, household, or other entity. A confidence assessment module may produce an indicator, such as a score, of a confidence level in a correct matching of a disconnect and a connect request, based at least in part on similarity of names or other account information, proximity of addresses, and proximity of effective dates associated with potentially matching service connect and disconnect requests. In some embodiments, service disconnect and connect records from a plurality of services are used. |
| US08175888B2 |
Enhanced layered gain factor balancing within a multiple-channel audio coding system
During operation a multiple channel audio input signal is received and coded to generate a coded audio signal. A balance factor having balance factor components each associated with an audio signal of the multiple channel audio signal is generated. A gain value to be applied to the coded audio signal to generate an estimate of the multiple channel audio signal based on the balance factor and the multiple channel audio signal is determined, with the gain value configured to minimize a distortion value between the multiple channel audio signal and the estimate of the multiple channel audio signal. The representation of the gain value may be output for transmission and/or storage. |
| US08175884B1 |
Environmental condition detector with validated personalized verbal messages
An environmental condition detector emits only safe, validated verbal messages recorded in a user's voice to help occupants of a building respond safely to sensed environmental conditions. The message emitted in the user's voice is generally a familiar voice to other building occupants to better capture their attention, and only certain, safe, user messages are validated for use thereby eliminating the chance that the user may unknowingly record an unsafe message to be emitted during a sensed environmental condition. The verbal message is recorded by a user and is analyzed through speech recognition to determine if the user-recorded message can be validated as containing safe content. A user-recorded message found to match manufacturer preprogrammed message content is validated and selected to be audibly emitted in the user's voice when an environmental condition is sensed. Various embodiments include single station units, interconnected units, or centrally controlled security systems. |
| US08175883B2 |
Speech recognition system and method
According to the present invention, a method for integrating processes with a multi-faceted human centered interface is provided. The interface is facilitated to implement a hands free, voice driven environment to control processes and applications. A natural language model is used to parse voice initiated commands and data, and to route those voice initiated inputs to the required applications or processes. The use of an intelligent context based parser allows the system to intelligently determine what processes are required to complete a task which is initiated using natural language. A single window environment provides an interface which is comfortable to the user by preventing the occurrence of distracting windows from appearing. The single window has a plurality of facets which allow distinct viewing areas. Each facet has an independent process routing its outputs thereto. As other processes are activated, each facet can reshape itself to bring a new process into one of the viewing areas. All activated processes are executed simultaneously to provide true multitasking. |
| US08175880B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and recording medium
An image processing apparatus comprises an image data input portion that inputs image data and a text data input portion that inputs text data. The text data inputted by the text data input portion is converted into voice data by a voice data converter, and this obtained voice data and the image data inputted by the image data input portion are connected to each other by a connector, and then a file including the voice data and the image data connected to each other is created. |
| US08175879B2 |
System-effected text annotation for expressive prosody in speech synthesis and recognition
The inventive system can automatically annotate the relationship of text and acoustic units for the purposes of: (a) predicting how the text is to be pronounced as expressively synthesized speech, and (b) improving the proportion of expressively uttered speech as correctly identified text representing the speaker's message. The system can automatically annotate text corpora for relationships of uttered speech for a particular speaking style and for acoustic units in terms of context and content of the text to the utterances. The inventive system can use kinesthetically defined expressive speech production phonetics that are recognizable and controllable according to kinesensic feedback principles. In speech synthesis embodiments of the invention, the text annotations can specify how the text is to be expressively pronounced as synthesized speech. Also, acoustically-identifying features for dialects or mispronunciations can be identified so as to expressively synthesize alternative dialects or stylistic mispronunciations for a speaker from a given text. In speech recognition embodiments of the invention, each text annotation can be uniquely identified from the corresponding acoustic features of a unit of uttered speech to correctly identify the corresponding text. By employing a method of rules-based text annotation, the invention enables expressiveness to be altered to reflect syntactic, semantic, and/or discourse circumstances found in text to be synthesized or in an uttered message. |
| US08175877B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting word accuracy in automatic speech recognition systems
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for predicting word accuracy. Specifically, the method comprises obtaining an utterance in speech data where the utterance comprises an actual word string, processing the utterance for generating an interpretation of the actual word string, processing the utterance to identify at least one utterance frame, and predicting a word accuracy associated with the interpretation according to at least one stationary signal-to-noise ratio and at least one non-stationary signal to noise ratio, wherein the at least one stationary signal-to-noise ratio and the at least one non-stationary signal to noise ratio are determined according to a frame energy associated with each of the at least one utterance frame. |
| US08175876B2 |
System and method for an endpoint detection of speech for improved speech recognition in noisy environments
According to a disclosed embodiment, an endpointer determines the background energy of a first portion of a speech signal, and a cepstral computing module extracts one or more features of the first portion. The endpointer calculates an average distance of the first portion based on the features. Subsequently, an energy computing module measures the energy of a second portion of the speech signal, and the cepstral computing module extracts one or more features of the second portion. Based on the features of the second portion, the endpointer calculates a distance of the second portion. Thereafter, the endpointer contrasts the energy of the second portion with the background energy of the first portion, and compares the distance of the second portion with the distance of the first portion. The second portion of the speech signal is classified by the endpointer as speech or non-speech based on the contrast and the comparison. |
| US08175872B2 |
Geotagged and weighted environmental audio for enhanced speech recognition accuracy
Enhancing noisy speech recognition accuracy by receiving geotagged audio signals that correspond to environmental audio recorded by multiple mobile devices in multiple geographic locations, receiving an audio signal that corresponds to an utterance recorded by a particular mobile device, determining a particular geographic location associated with the particular mobile device, selecting a subset of geotagged audio signals and weighting each geotagged audio signal of the subset based on whether the respective audio signal was manually uploaded or automatically updated, generating a noise model for the particular geographic location using the subset of weighted geotagged audio signals, where noise compensation is performed on the audio signal that corresponds to the utterance using the noise model that has been generated for the particular geographic location. |
| US08175871B2 |
Apparatus and method of noise and echo reduction in multiple microphone audio systems
Multiple microphone noise suppression apparatus and methods are described herein. The apparatus and methods implement a variety of noise suppression techniques and apparatus that can be selectively applied to signals received using multiple microphones. The microphone signals received at each of the multiple microphones can be independently processed to cancel echo signal components that can be generated from a local audio source. The echo cancelled signals may be processed by some or all modules within a signal separator that operates to separate or otherwise isolate a speech signal from noise signals. The signal separator can include a pre-processing de-correlator followed by a blind source separator. The output of the blind source separator can be post filtered to provide post separation de-correlation. The separated speech and noise signals can be non-linearly processed for further noise reduction, and additional post processing can be implemented following the non-linear processing. |
| US08175868B2 |
Voice judging system, voice judging method and program for voice judgment
A voice judging system including feature value extraction means that analyzes a sound signal input from a sound signal input device, and extracts a time series of the feature values, sub-word boundary score calculating means that calculates a time series of sub-word boundary scores, by having reference to sound models of voice stored in a voice model storage unit, temporal regularity analyzing means that analyzes temporal regularity of the sub-word boundary scores, and voice judgment means judges whether the input sound signal is voice or non-voice using of the temporal regularity of the sub-word boundary scores. |
| US08175861B2 |
Machining simulation method and machining simulation apparatus
A machining simulation apparatus is arranged in a machine tool having a tool holding mechanism, a workpiece holding mechanism, a drive mechanism and a numerical controller, and provided with: an actual CCD camera for imaging a tool held by the tool holding mechanism and the workpiece holding mechanism not holding a workpiece to generate actual image data; a model data update processing section for generating model data relating to when moving the holding mechanisms based on the operation command received from the numerical controller and the model data of the holding mechanisms, tool and workpiece; a virtual image generation processing section for generating virtual image data of the tool and workpiece based on the generated model data; and a rendering processing section for generating composite image data by superimposing the virtual image on the actual image, and displaying the composite image data on a screen display device. |
| US08175854B2 |
Universal circuit for secure function evaluation
An exemplary method enables implementation of a universal circuit capable of emulating each gate of a circuit designed to calculate a function. A first selection module receives inputs associated with the function. It generates outputs that are an ordered series of the inputs. A universal module receives these outputs and generates another set of outputs. A second selection module receives the outputs from the universal module and generates final function outputs that are an ordered series inputs received from the universal module. The selection modules and universal module themselves are also aspects of the present invention. |
| US08175851B1 |
Using statistical learning methods to fuse parameter estimates
A preferred estimate of a given parameter is made by processing a set of data points representing estimates of the given parameter, such as the angle of arrival of a target signal. The process includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a set of data points representing estimates of a given parameter; (b) using a computer to process said data points with an unsupervised clustering algorithm to select data points for use in making a preferred estimate of the given parameter; and (c) using the selected data points to make a preferred estimate of the given parameter. |
| US08175849B2 |
Predictive failure reporting system, predictive failure reporting method, and method for maintaining image forming apparatus
A determining unit determines whether the printer is in the predictive failure state based on the internal information of the printer acquired by the information acquiring unit. A failure risk computing unit performs a failure risk determination process for determining the size of failure risk of the printer when the printer is in the predictive failure state. The determination result is reported to a maintenance person or a user. In this way, the maintenance person or the user who receives the report can definitely grasp a degree of urgency of maintenance at that point. |
| US08175846B2 |
Fault splitting algorithm
The present application relates to a method of splitting a fault condition including receiving evidence observations of a monitored system from monitors connected in a many-to-many relationship to the failure modes, generating a fault condition, computing a relative probability of failure for each failure mode in the fault condition. When there is more than one failure mode in the fault condition, the method includes computing a relative probability of each pair of failure modes in the fault condition, ranking the computed relative probabilities of the individual failure modes and the computed relative probabilities of the pairs of failure modes. If the highest ranked failure mode is a pair of failure modes, the fault condition is split based on the failure modes in the highest ranked pair of failure modes are split. If the highest ranked failure mode is an individual failure mode, a failure is isolated based on the ranking. |
| US08175843B2 |
Computer-implemented methods for evaluating, summarizing and presenting data on stability of drug substances and drug products and software-modified computers for such methods
Computer-implemented methods for statistical analysis and summarization of a stability study on a pharmaceutical product using of a macro integrated into statistical analysis software. The method includes inputting and summarizing data observed for a stability study on a pharmaceutical product, statistically analyzing the data, including using at least one regression function to characterize the time-response relationship of at least one stability response variable, to estimate a shelf life of the pharmaceutical product or confirm the shelf life of an existing pharmaceutical product, and providing standardized output data and graphical presentations of observed stability response data. Also, a computer loaded with a general statistical analysis software and a macro integrated with the software such that the computer is capable of performing these computer-implemented methods using the software and macro. |
| US08175840B2 |
Apparatus of tracking posture of moving material object, method of tracking posture of moving material object, apparatus of chasing posture of toothbrush and method of tracking posture of toothbrush using the same
An apparatus for tracking an posture of a moving object in a three-dimensional space having a z-axis facing a reference surface of the moving object, an x-axis perpendicular to the z-axis in a virtual vertical plane including the z-axis, and a y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis in a virtual horizontal plane including the x-axis is described. A reference surface direction determination unit detects which direction the reference surface is facing with the x-axis as an axis of rotation. The x-axis deviation determination unit detects how far an x-axis direction of the moving object is relatively deviated from a magnetic north direction. The determination unit determines the posture of the moving object based on how far the x-axis of the moving object is deviated and which direction the reference surface is facing in response to detection signals of the reference surface direction determination unit and the x-axis deviation determination unit. |
| US08175839B2 |
Wireless interface for a plurality of transducers
A wireless interface system can interface with any one of a plurality of transducers of different types, such as pressure sensors, temperature sensors, or current probes. In the system, transducers employ substantially identical connectors with a common connecting scheme. In this manner, any transducer can be connected to a wireless interface which has the same input connection scheme. When the wireless interface is connected to the transducer, a rechargeable battery, which is associated with the wireless interface, is activated. The wireless interface then determines the type of transducer being utilized and provides sufficient circuitry as well as determining the requirements of the connected transducer. In this manner, the wireless interface, can determine the range of the sensor, and depending on the type and range of the sensor, can provide specific circuitry to be activated to supply power and read data from the sensor via common output pins. |
| US08175835B2 |
Flow sensor with conditioning-coefficient memory
A sensor includes one or more sensor transducers coupled with a signal conditioning IC incorporating signal conditioning circuitry and memory devoted to storing end-user downloadable coefficients. In a preferred embodiment, the IC is an ASIC and the end-user downloadable coefficients are pre-selected by the end-user based on its needs, and the coefficients are pre-stored in the ASIC when the sensor is calibrated. This results in a more cost-effective and space-efficient sensor device with improved functionality over that available in the prior art. |
| US08175829B2 |
Analyzer for signal anomalies
A signal analyzer includes a divergence detector for detecting periodic interference in a signal, an information detector for detecting a random event in the signal, and output circuitry for providing compensation for the periodic interference and the random event. |
| US08175826B2 |
Apparatus for estimating open circuit voltage of battery, apparatus for estimating state of charge of battery, and method for controlling the same
An apparatus for estimating an OCV of a battery includes a voltage sensing unit for measuring a battery output voltage; a temperature sensing unit for measuring a battery temperature; a data storing unit for periodically receiving the battery output voltage and temperature data from the sensing units and storing the data in a memory; an OCV variation estimating unit for calculating an OCV variation from a varying pattern of battery output voltages measured in the past and at the present, stored in the memory, by applying a mathematical model defining a correlation between the varying pattern and the OCV variation, and estimating an OCV at a current stage by reflecting a correction factor corresponding to the battery temperature on the calculated OCV variation; and an OCV estimating unit for estimating an OCV at the current stage by reflecting the estimated OCV variation on the OCV estimated at a last stage. |
| US08175825B2 |
Methods and systems for auto-calibrated power metering in portable information handling systems
Accurate power usage for a portable information handling system is provided using input power measurement circuitry. A calibration step is performed when the portable information handling system is powered down and charging. The calibration step includes obtaining a battery charge measurement from a battery, and then using this measurement to calibrate an input power measurement made with respect to power being provided by the AC/DC adapter. Known losses from other sources within the system can also be considered in the auto-calibration of the input power measurement. Subsequently, when the portable information handling system is powered on and operating on power provided by the AC/DC adapter, power usage can be determined and reported using the auto-calibrated input power measurement as an indication of the power usage of the portable information handling system. |
| US08175820B2 |
Defect inspection apparatus and defect inspection method
An object of the present invention is to quantitatively evaluate a distribution of defects which are generated within an inspection material. In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a defect inspection apparatus comprising: an ultrasonic wave probe; an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device that irradiates ultrasonic waves via the ultrasonic wave probe onto a surface of an inspection material on which a predetermined propagation medium has been provided, and that also receives as noise signals ultrasonic waves that have been scattered by defects present in the interior of the inspection material; a frequency spectrum calculation device that performs time division on the noise signals so as to divide them into time widths that correspond to positions in the depth direction of the inspection material, and calculates a frequency spectrum for each one of the time-divided noise signals; and a defect distribution detection device that, based on the frequency spectrums, calculates values showing a level of defect progression corresponding to a position in the thickness direction of the inspection material. |
| US08175814B2 |
Synthetic microfluidic microvasculature network
A synthetic microfluidic microvasculature network and associated methods mimic the structure, fluid flow characteristics, and physiological behavior of physiological microvasculature networks. Computational methods for simulating flow and particle adherence in synthetic and physiological microvascular systems and methods for determining parameters influencing particle adhesion and drug delivery are described with applications in the optimization of drug delivery and microvascular treatments and in describing disease mechanisms that affect the microvasculature. |
| US08175810B2 |
Sample processing apparatus and sample processing method
A sample processing apparatus prevents samples and reagents from being degraded due to a prolonged waiting time other than for reaction and improves the operation efficiency of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of processing sections for causing at least two samples to react independently, an input/output terminal 15 for inputting the upper limit of the waiting time and the reaction time for each of the samples, a schedule management section for determining at least the clock time of introducing each of the samples, the processing section to be used for processing the sample and/or the waiting time for the sample, and a general control section for controlling the processing of the samples at the plurality of processing sections according to the determination by the schedule management section. |
| US08175806B2 |
Car navigation system
To improve recognition accuracy of a traveling direction of a vehicle by accurately detecting a marking on a road surface which is photographed by a camera while a road environment where a vehicle travels is changing. A car navigation system 100 detects an image of a light-irradiated portion which is unnecessary for the recognition of a road marking, in an image behind a vehicle captured by a camera 6 mounted on the vehicle, clips out image areas in a predetermined shape excluding the detected image area, and sequentially stores the clipped images in a storage unit 7b. Then, the new clipped image and the clipped image already stored in the storage unit 7b are combined, and an image of a road marking is detected and recognized from the composite image. |
| US08175803B2 |
Graphic interface method and apparatus for navigation system for providing parking information
A graphic user interface method and apparatus for a navigation system graphically shows parking information which vary depending on conditions such as time ranges or days, etc. The method includes the steps of: examining a location specified by a user for retrieving data associated with the specified location from data storage medium; displaying a screen of parking information graphic interface upon request by the user; and examining whether there is a time-related parking restriction on the specified location and retrieving the time-related parking information if any. The parking information graphic interface illustrates a map image, a time table of a day, a time range indicator on the time table, and a text message regarding the time-related parking restriction, thereby graphically displaying the parking information on the specified location. |
| US08175802B2 |
Adaptive route guidance based on preferences
Adaptive route guidance can include analyzing route progressions associated with one or more routes based on multiple user preferences. The adaptive route guidance can provide one or more preferred routes based on the user preferences including those derived from historical selection or use, which can be presented to a user for navigation purposes. |
| US08175800B2 |
Route guidance system and route guidance method
A route guidance system includes a current position detection section, a route search section, and a guidance section. The guidance section includes a branch computation section computes the number of branches between a host vehicle location and a guidance location along a specified route. A point guidance section executes route guidance based on the computed number of the branches. The number of branches between the host vehicle location and the guidance location is computed, and the route guidance is executed based on the computed number of the branches, so it is possible to recognize the guidance location simply by counting the number of the branches, regardless of the number of traffic signals that exist between the host vehicle location and the guidance location. |
| US08175799B1 |
Location system
One embodiment of the present invention provides a ground surface location system for identifying an object and its location within a coverage area. The ground surface location system includes a location transmitter and a location identifier. The location transmitter is positioned at a location within the coverage area and has a physical location code corresponding to the location stored therein, and is configured to provide an optical signal representative of the physical location code. The location identifier is adapted to couple to the object and has an object identification code representative of the object stored therein, and is configured to receive the optical signal and to transmit an identification signal representative of the physical location code and the object identification code. |
| US08175797B2 |
Vehicle drive assist system
A form of a travel path of an oncoming vehicle is recognized based on white-line data. A speed component of the oncoming vehicle with respect to the travel path (route) is calculated by weighting a lateral speed component orthogonal to the route and a lateral speed component following the route, with a speed correction coefficient which is set in accordance with a relative distance between a subject vehicle and the oncoming vehicle. A change in behavior of the oncoming vehicle is predicted, and a possibility of collision against the subject vehicle is determined. If it is determined that there is a possibility of collision, an alarm is output to alert a driver to the possibility of collision. |
| US08175795B2 |
Route search apparatus
An apparatus calculates a coefficient b that reflects a road slope condition of each section based on an altitude difference of both ends of each section stored in a memory, and identifies a carbon dioxide discharge amount that changes in proportion to the distance of each section by multiplying a distance D of each section by the coefficient b and another coefficient Ec. Further, the apparatus identifies a discharge amount that changes in proportion to a travel time of each section by multiplying a travel time T of each section and yet another coefficient a, and identifies a discharge amount based on an index that changes in proportion to the number of stops in each section by multiplying an index AEE by the coefficient Ec and still yet another coefficient c for performing a carbon-conscious routing between a start place and a destination. |
| US08175792B2 |
Method and system for measuring traffic information in CDMA network
A method for measuring traffic information, conducted by a traffic information analyzing device interworking with a radio operating device connected to BSS (Base Station Subsystem) of a synchronous CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network or RNC (Radio Network Controller) of an asynchronous WCDMA (Wideband Division Multiple Access) network, includes acquiring a location information message of MS (Mobile Station), which is provided from the BSS or RNC and stored in the radio operating device; analyzing location information of the MS by utilizing the location information message; and calculating traffic information of the MS including a moving speed of each measurement region by using the analyzed location information. |
| US08175789B2 |
Combustion controller for compression-ignition direct-injection engine and engine control system for the same
As a compression-ignition direct-injection engine combustion controller, a program for detecting ignition timing of a main injection Mn (main ignition timing), a program for correcting a command value of main injection execution timing in a direction to the side where a detection value is converged within a predetermined range, a program for determining whether or not the corrected command value is within a predetermined range, and a program for, when it is determined that the command value is not within the range, correcting a command value related to an injection amount of a pilot injection Pt based on whether or not the command value is on a delay side or an advance side of the range. |
| US08175788B2 |
Control unit of diesel engine
A diesel engine is provided with an exhaust fuel addition valve capable of adding fuel from an exhaust passage on an upstream side of an exhaust post-treatment device. An ECU, which is a control unit of the diesel engine, has a function to estimate biofuel concentration in the fuel and a function to obtain an exhaust temperature in the exhaust passage. The ECU sets a minimum operating exhaust temperature, which is a lower limit value of the exhaust temperature to permit operation of the exhaust fuel addition valve, according to the estimated biofuel concentration. The fuel added from the exhaust fuel addition valve is sufficiently vaporized in exhaust gas having temperature not lower than a minimum operation permission exhaust temperature set according to the biofuel concentration and is allowed to flow to the exhaust post-treatment device. |
| US08175787B2 |
Electrical fuel transfer pump diagnostic
An engine control system having primary and secondary fuel tanks comprises a fuel monitoring module and a transfer pump (TP) diagnostic module. The fuel monitoring module determines a measured fuel level of the secondary fuel tank based on a fuel level signal received from a fuel level sensor when a fuel TP is on for greater than a predetermined time period required for the fuel TP to reduce the measured fuel level from a predetermined fuel level to below the predetermined fuel level. The TP diagnostic module diagnoses a condition of the fuel TP based on the measured fuel level. |
| US08175786B2 |
Method for operating a gas turbine and also gas turbine for carrying out the method
A method is provided for operating a gas turbine, which especially feeds power to a local isolated power supply network, and which comprises a compressor for compressing combustion air which is drawn in from the environment, a combustion chamber for combusting supplied fuel by the compressed combustion air, a turbine which is driven by the hot gas from the combustion chamber, and a generator, which is driven by the turbine, for generating electric power. With such a method, an improvement of controlling is achieved by one or more parameters of the gas turbine being measured or determined, by the effective thermal output power of the gas turbine being calculated from the measured or determined parameters, and by the calculated effective thermal output power being used for controlling the gas turbine. |
| US08175785B2 |
System and method for performance launch control of a vehicle
A system and related operating method for performance launch control of a vehicle begins by receiving a user-selected driving condition setting that is indicative of road conditions. The method also collects real-time vehicle status data during operation of the vehicle, and derives a target wheel slip profile from the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data. The actual propulsion system torque of the vehicle is limited using the target wheel slip profile, resulting in improved performance for standstill launches. |
| US08175780B2 |
Adaptive underspeed control
A machine (100) includes an engine (102) connected to an implement pump (204) operating an actuator and to a propel pump operating a motor (106). An electronic controller (218) is disposed to receive at least one parameter selected from the group of: a pressure of fluid at the at least one motor (106), a pressure of fluid at the at least one implement actuator, a rate of rotation of the engine (102), a rate of rotation of the at least one motor (106), and a torque output of the engine (102). The electronic controller (218) monitors the at least one parameter for a predetermined period, and determines an operating mode of the machine (100). The electronic controller (218) then adjusts an underspeed setting for the engine (102) based on the operating mode. |
| US08175776B2 |
System and method for controlling automatic leveling of heavy equipment
A system and method for controlling automatic leveling heavy construction equipment. The system has a lower frame and an upper frame, the lower frame having a traveling unit, and the upper frame being tiltably and swingably connected to the lower frame. The system comprises a sensor unit, provided in the equipment, including an inclination detecting sensor for measuring twist angles of the lower frame and the upper frame against a reference horizontal surface, a traveling detection sensor for measuring a traveling speed of the equipment, and a working device sensor for detecting working state information of a working device. A control unit receives the twist angles, the traveling speed, and the working state information, calculates a corrected angle at which the upper frame is to be tilted against the lower frame, and generates a control signal for instructing an operation of an actuator. A driving unit performs a leveling control through the actuator in accordance with the received control signal. |
| US08175773B2 |
Electric power steering system with failure detection
In an electric power steering system (10) for use in a vehicle incorporated with a vehicle behavior control system (30), a failure detecting unit (12) detects a failure of the electric power steering system according to the steering torque and actual electric current. A criterion for detecting a failure by the failure detecting unit is changed when the vehicle behavior control system is activated. Thereby, even when the vehicle behavior control system is activated and it causes a corrective current to be supplied to the electric motor, because the failure detection criterion is changed, the failure detecting unit is prevented from confusing the corrective current due to the operation of the vehicle behavior control system with an erroneous current caused by a failure of the electric power steering system. Therefore, an unnecessary interruption of the operation of the electric power steering system can be avoided, and the convenience of the electric power steering system can be enhanced. |
| US08175772B2 |
Vehicle steering system and method of controlling the same
An electronic control unit receives a detection value from each sensor, and determines a familiarity degree coefficient indicating the degree of driver's familiarity with steering characteristics, using the received detection values. When the coefficient has a value near “0”, a desired actual steering angle is calculated to be a small value, and when the coefficient has a value near “1”, a desired actual steering angle is calculated to be a large value. When the coefficient has a value near “0”, a time constant of an actual steering actuator is set to a large value, and when the coefficient has a value near “1”, the time constant is set to a small value. A reaction torque is determined based on the coefficient. |
| US08175770B2 |
Height sensing system for a vehicular suspension assembly
A system is provided for determining a distance between a vehicular suspension assembly and the ground, wherein the suspension assembly has a first member. The system comprises a first transceiver coupled to the first member for emitting a first interrogation signal toward the ground, and for receiving a first reflection of the first interrogation signal from the ground, and a processor coupled to the first transceiver for determining the distance of the first transceiver from the ground. |
| US08175767B2 |
Diagnostic apparatus
A diagnostic apparatus (10) in which a drive circuit (2) is configured of switching means (3) for supplying an electric current to a linear solenoid valve and variably regulating a valve opening degree on the basis of inputted ON-OFF signals, current detection means (4) for detecting an electric current flowing from the switching means (3) to the linear solenoid valve (1), and control means (5) for outputting ON-OFF signals to the switching means (3) on the basis of a detected current value from the current detection means (4) so that the linear solenoid valve has a target opening degree, and which diagnoses a ground short between the drive circuit (2) and the linear solenoid valve (1), the diagnostic apparatus including ground short detection means (5) for detecting a switching of ON-OFF signals inputted in the switching means (3) and determining a ground short fault when the number of ON-OFF switching cycles per a predetermined interval is equal to or less than a predetermined number of cycles. |
| US08175765B2 |
Controlling movement of a vessel traveling through water during a seismic survey operation
To perform control of movement of a marine vessel traveling through water during a seismic survey operation, input information relating to factors that affect a speed of the marine vessel is received. The speed of the marine vessel is adjusted in response to the received information relating to the factors that affect the speed of the marine vessel. |
| US08175762B2 |
Electrically activated aircraft landing gear control system and method
An electrically activated landing gear control system is provided. A processing module of landing gear control system is provided with landing gear control system software that receives data relating to the position of a landing gear lever. Proximity sensors positioned at landing gear and wheel well areas of the aircraft are coupled for communication with the processing module. The proximity sensors provide the landing gear control system software with position data relating to the landing gear. The landing gear control software converts the data received from the landing gear lever and the data received from the proximity sensors to command signals to control electrically activated valves associated with landing gear components. The command signals may be sent simultaneously to remote power distribution units and remote data concentrator units to energize or de-energize solenoid coils of the electrically activated valves. |
| US08175761B2 |
System and method for rendering a synthetic perspective display of a designated object or location
A method for displaying information on a flight deck display element of an aircraft begins by obtaining a user interface command that represents a user-entered selection of a designated target. Relevant data is accessed and processed in response to this command, including aircraft status data for the aircraft, terrain data corresponding to terrain proximate the designated target, and graphics data corresponding to the designated target. Then, a target-focused display is rendered on the flight deck display element. The target-focused display includes a real-time synthetic perspective view of the designated target and the terrain proximate the designated target, wherein content of the target-focused display is influenced by the aircraft status data, the terrain data, and the graphics data. |
| US08175758B2 |
Method and a device for controlling the ground clearance of an aircraft
The present invention relates to a method and to a device for controlling and adjusting the ground clearance (h) of an aircraft (1) provided with at least one undercarriage (30), said undercarriage (30) being provided with a damper-actuator (2) for performing a damping function and a function of retracting said undercarriage (30). The method is remarkable in that control means (10) automatically activate adjustment means (11, 12) for adjusting the length of said damper-actuator (2) so as to maintain said ground clearance (h) at a predetermined value. |
| US08175756B2 |
System and method to manage power consumption
A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code having programming instructions tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The programming instructions are operable to detect an occurrence of at least one of a geoboundary event, a radio frequency identification (RFID) event; and a local area network (LAN) event. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to adjust one or more power consumption settings of an environment based on the occurrence. |
| US08175752B2 |
Control system methods for networked water heaters
Disclosed is a control system for controlling a plurality of fluidly and operably connected water heaters to meet a hot water demand such that overall efficiency is maximized and usage disparity between water heaters is minimized. There is further disclosed a method for detecting a small system demand in said network by adjusting the setting of each flow limiting valve of each water heater. There is still further disclosed a method for enabling seamless addition or removal of a heater in service and heating load distribution to water heaters. |
| US08175744B2 |
Industrial furnaces and device for performing the method and computer program
In order to plan the performance of heat treatment of metal workpieces before the beginning of the heat treatment in the particular industrial furnace and perform it autonomously thereafter, the invention proposes a method and computer program and an apparatus having a computer (1) for the automatic preparation of technological formulas for the heat treatment, firstly loading parameters of a selected material of the metal workpiece and a formula structure template of a selected treatment method from a material databank (10) and providing data from a user interface and compiling a formula structure, then establishing the parameters of the metal workpiece, the compiled formula structure, and the data from the user interface as values of formula segments, from which the technological formula for heat treatment is finally generated, this technological formula being able to be readjusted, stored in a program databank (12), and retrieved for the heat treatment of metal workpieces in industrial furnaces (5)(FIG. 1). |
| US08175740B2 |
Yarn tension monitoring and setting system
Yarn processing system for simultaneously processing a plurality of yarns in a processing machine, such as a twisting machine, a texturizing machine, or a dyeing machine. A yarn tensioning assembly is provided and has, for each yarn entering the processing machine, at least an individual controlled tensioner and an individual tensiometer. The controlled tensioner and the tensiometer are integrated into a closed yarn tension feedback regulation loop for regulating and maintaining a set yarn tension. The tensiometer is connected in parallel to one superimposed common tension monitoring and setting system for centrally setting and monitoring the yarn tension. |
| US08175738B2 |
Device manufacturing apparatus and device manufacturing method
An apparatus for manufacturing a device comprises a processing unit configured to perform a process for manufacturing the device, a conveying unit configured to convey an article to the processing unit, and a controller configured to control the conveying unit based on a job queue. Information for controlling conveyance of an article for a job next to a job for which the processing unit is performing the process is registered in the job queue. The controller is configured to control the conveying unit so as to convey the article for the next job in advance, based on the information. |
| US08175736B2 |
Method and system for performing a chemical oxide removal process
A processing system and method for chemical oxide removal (COR) is presented, wherein the processing system comprises a first treatment chamber and a second treatment chamber, wherein the first and second treatment chambers are coupled to one another. The first treatment chamber comprises a chemical treatment chamber that provides a temperature controlled chamber, and an independently temperature controlled substrate holder for supporting a substrate for chemical treatment. The substrate is exposed to a gaseous chemistry, such as HF/NH3, under controlled conditions including surface temperature and gas pressure. The second treatment chamber comprises a heat treatment chamber that provides a temperature controlled chamber, thermally insulated from the chemical treatment chamber. The heat treatment chamber provides a substrate holder for controlling the temperature of the substrate to thermally process the chemically treated surfaces on the substrate. |
| US08175735B2 |
System and method of multi-objective capacity planning in TFT-LCD panel manufacturing industry
A system and a method of multi-objective capacity planning in the thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel manufacturing industry are provided. The system includes a capacity planning module and a multi-objective planning module. In the present method, a capacity planning plan corresponding to different objective is evaluated by the capacity planning module. A set of constraints of each objective is established by the multi-objective planning module according to characteristic parameters, so as to optimize the objective. Then, the optimized objectives are drawn into a graph to select an appropriate capacity planning plan. |
| US08175733B2 |
Modeling manufacturing processes to include defined markers
A method, and corresponding computer program product and system, defines and uses marker points within a modeled manufacturing process routing that includes multiple sequenced operations. The method includes receiving user input that defines one or more marker points within the modeled manufacturing process routing and between sequential ones of the operations. The marker points define a user-defined point within a manufacturing process and include one of multiple defined types that each define a different use to be made by the marker point. The method also includes detecting if any marker points of a specified one of the defined types have been defined in the manufacturing process routing. If a marker point having the specified one of the defined types is detected, a predefined computing function is executed that uses the detected marker point. |
| US08175729B2 |
Preserving matrix surround information in encoded audio/video system and method
A method and apparatus for preserving matrix-surround information in encoded audio/video includes a receiver operative to receive matrix-surround encoded audio signals, separate the audio signals into a frequency spectrum having discrete audio frequencies, and determine a cutoff threshold used to encode the matrix-surround encoded audio signals. The method and apparatus further includes a decoder operative to decode a first set of the audio frequencies below the determined cutoff threshold using a first matrix-surround preserving audio encoding method and to decode a second set of audio frequencies above the cutoff threshold using a second non matrix-surround preserving audio encoding method. |
| US08175725B2 |
Adapting move constraints for position based moves in a trajectory generator
Adapting move constraints for position based moves in a trajectory generator. Specification of a trajectory may be received. The specification may include a geometry of the trajectory, where the geometry specifies a desired trajectory length. A plurality of constraints for the trajectory may be received. The plurality of constraints may include one or more of a velocity, acceleration, or jerk constraint. A motion control profile may be generated based on the plurality of constraints. The method may include determining if a distance of the motion control profile exceeds the desired trajectory length. If the distance of the motion control profile exceeds the desired trajectory length, one or more values of the plurality of constraints may be decreased to make the distance of the motion control profile less than or equal to the desired trajectory length. |
| US08175724B2 |
Vascular fixation device
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a cardiac lead device including a fixation mechanism slidably attached to the lead such that when the fixation mechanism is expanded in to contact with a body lumen, the lead may be moved relative to the fixation mechanism if desired. Such lead movement may be limited by complimentary structure on the lead body and the fixation mechanism that prevents the lead from moving unless sufficient force is applied to the lead. |
| US08175723B2 |
Steroid eluting pacing tip electrode
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) including a set of leads having electrodes disposed therein. The electrodes may include a weld electrode connected to an internal wire of the lead and the ICD and a tip electrode. The tip electrode may have a set of grooves or cut out regions in its outer surface to provide edge effects for currents applied through the tip electrode. The grooves or cut out regions may form gaps in the surface of the tip electrode exposing a medical compound that is housed within the tip electrode. The medical compound may elute through the gaps. |
| US08175719B2 |
Techniques for sensing and adjusting a compliance voltage in an implantable stimulator device
Disclosed herein are methods and circuitry for monitoring and adjusting a compliance voltage in an implantable stimulator devices to an optimal value that is sufficiently high to allow for proper circuit performance (i.e., sufficient current output), but low enough that power is not needlessly wasted via excessive voltage drops across the current output circuitry. The algorithm measures output voltages across the current source and sink circuitry during at least periods of actual stimulation when both the current sources and sinks are operable, and adjusts the compliance voltage so as to reduce these output voltages to within guard band values preferably indicative for operation in transistor saturation. The output voltages can additionally be monitored during periods between stimulation pulses to improve the accuracy of the measurement, and is further beneficial in that such additional measurements are not perceptible to the patient. |
| US08175715B1 |
Frequency agile telemetry system for implantable medical device
A system enables high-frequency communication between an external communication device and one or more implantable medical devices. The system implements a communication protocol in which the external communication device interrogates any implantable medical devices within range to establish one-to-one communication links for purposes of exchanging data and/or programming the medical devices. |
| US08175711B2 |
Methods for treating a condition or disease associated with cardio-renal function
Methods and apparatus are provided for treating congestive heart failure, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney. |
| US08175707B1 |
Enhancement of rate responsive IEGM-based AV/PV and VV delay algorithms
An exemplary method includes delivering a cardiac resynchronization therapy using an atrio-ventricular delay and an interventricular delay, monitoring patient activity, optimizing the atrio-ventricular delay and the interventricular delay for a plurality of patient activity states to generate a plurality of optimal atrio-ventricular delays and a plurality of optimal interventricular delays, storing the optimal atrio-ventricular delays and the optimal interventricular delays in association with corresponding patient activity states, detecting a change in patient activity, adjusting an atrial pacing rate in response to the detected change in patient activity based at least in part on a heart failure status and setting the atrio-ventricular delay and the interventricular delay, in response to the detected change in patient activity, using a stored optimal atrio-ventricular delay that corresponds to the patient activity and a stored optimal interventricular delay that corresponds to the patient activity. Other exemplary technologies are also disclosed. |
| US08175706B2 |
Overlapping pacing and tachyarrhythmia detection zones
An example implantable medical device (IMD), such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, may be configured to store a ventricular tachycardia zone, wherein the ventricular tachycardia zone specifies ventricular depolarization rates indicative of ventricular tachycardia, and to deliver pacing pulses to at least one ventricle of a heart in response to detecting intrinsic atrial depolarizations at rates within the ventricular tachycardia zone. The IMD may further store a maximum ventricular tracking rate that is greater than a lower bound of the ventricular tachycardia zone, and be further configured to deliver the pacing pulses to the at least one ventricle in response to detecting intrinsic atrial depolarizations at rates up to the maximum ventricular rate. In this manner, the IMD may be configured with overlapping pacing and tachyarrhythmia detection zones. In some examples, the IMD dynamically modifies the maximum ventricular tracking rate for ventricular tracking pacing within the ventricular tachycardia zone. |
| US08175703B2 |
Cardiac resynchronization therapy parameter optimization
Systems and methods involve determination of CRT parameters using a number of CRT optimization processes. Each CRT optimization process attempts to return recommended parameters. The CRT parameters are determined based on the recommended parameters returned by one or more of the CRT optimization processes. The CRT optimization processes may be sequentially implemented and the CRT parameters may be determined based on the recommended parameters returned by a first CRT optimization process to return recommended parameters. The CRT parameters may be determined based on a combination of the recommended parameters returned. The CRT optimization processes implemented may be selected from available CRT optimization processes based on patient conditions. |
| US08175699B2 |
Punctual stimulation apparatus
An apparatus is disclosed for punctually stimulating nerve endings located in the region of the ears, said nerve endings extending to brain stem nuclei. The apparatus (1) has a support (2) which is to be positioned in the region of the neck or the upper arm of a patient, and which is provided with at least some of the electrically active structural components (4, 7, 13) of the apparatus (1) arranged for forming a therapeutic current, and which furthermore accommodates feed batteries (3) that deliver at least part of the operating power for the apparatus. |
| US08175696B2 |
Brain function monitoring and display system
A process for analysing an electroencephalogram signal representative of activity of a brain, including: i) generating coefficient data for a signal representation of a portion of the signal; ii) generating pole data representing positions of one or more poles on a complex plane, the positions being generated based on the coefficient data; and iii) generating, based on a mean position of the poles, brain state data representing functional state of the brain. |
| US08175695B2 |
T-wave alternans train spotter
A method and system for detecting T-wave alternans for use in an implanted medical device uses wave transformation of QT intervals to obtain a reliable measure of TWA. In one embodiment, an array provides alternating sign multiplication factors which are applied respectively to n consecutive QT values. Each successive QT value is high pass filtered and moved sequentially through a queue so that each cycle each of the n QT values is multiplied by one of the factors; the products are summed and made absolute to provide an alternans match value. The alternans match is compared with a noise threshold signal, and alternans is declared when the match exceeds the threshold by a predetermined amount. The array is programmable and can be varied, providing a high degree of flexibility to optimize the test for the patient. |
| US08175690B2 |
Optical device for assessing optical depth in a sample
An optical device for assessing optical depth in a sample illuminated by polarized radiation from a source include two radiation guides having their end portions arranged for capturing reflected radiation from the sample. A detector measures two polarizations of the reflected radiation, and two intensities of the reflected radiation in the two radiation guides, respectively. A processor is configured to calculate two pectral functions, which are indicative of single scattering events in the sample. The processor is further configured to calculate a measure of the correlation between the two spectral functions so as to assess whether the single scattering events originate from substantially the same optical depth within the sample. Thus, the causal relation between the two spectral functions can be used for assessing whether the single scattering events giving rise to the two spectral functions come from substantially the same optical depth within the sample. |
| US08175687B2 |
Light source for fluorescence diagnosis and photodynamic therapy
Disclosed herein is a light source device for fluorescence diagnosis and photodynamic therapy comprising: a plurality of light source means having a wavelength range different from each other and providing selected light; a light path coupling means coupling light emitted from the light source means to the incident direction of a light guide; a filtering means selectively transmitting the emitted light based on the wavelength; and a switching device that is directed to an opening/closing means, established at a long distance to be controlled by a remote control device and selecting the kinds of light sources of the light source means to change the modes of the light. Accordingly, the device simplifies the configuration by excluding elements causing errors in the process of fluorescence diagnosis in the diagnostic region. Moreover, the light source device for fluorescence diagnosis and photodynamic therapy couples the light emitted from a combined light source to provide a sufficient light strength in the visible light region, thus improving the illumination quality to increase the accuracy of the diagnosis and further improving the therapeutic efficiency. |
| US08175685B2 |
Process, arrangements and systems for providing frequency domain imaging of a sample
Apparatus, arrangement and method are provided for obtaining information associated with an anatomical structure or a sample using optical microscopy. For example, a radiation can be provided which includes at least one first electromagnetic radiation directed to be provided to an anatomical sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation directed to a reference. A wavelength of the radiation can vary over time, and the wavelength is shorter than approximately 1150 nm. An interference can be detected between at least one third radiation associated with the first radiation and at least one fourth radiation associated with the second radiation. At least one image corresponding to at least one portion of the sample can be generated using data associated with the interference. In addition, at least one source arrangement can be provided which is configured to provide an electromagnetic radiation which has a wavelength that varies over time. A period of a variation of the wavelength of the first electromagnetic radiation can be shorter than 1 millisecond, and the wavelength is shorter than approximately 1150 nm. |
| US08175681B2 |
Combination of electromagnetic and electropotential localization
A navigation system or combination of navigation systems can be used to provide two or more types of navigation or modalities of navigation to navigate a single instrument. The single instrument can be positioned within the patient and tracked. For example, both an Electromagnetic (EM) and Electropotential (EP) navigation system can be used to navigate an instrument within a patient. |
| US08175680B2 |
Systems and methods for guiding catheters using registered images
Systems and methods for imaging a body cavity and for guiding a treatment element within a body cavity are provided. A system may include an imaging subsystem having an imaging device and an image processor that gather image data for the body cavity. A mapping subsystem may be provided, including a mapping device and a map processor, to identify target sites within the body cavity, and provide location data for the sites. The system may also include a location processor coupled to a location element on a treatment device to track the location of the location element. The location of a treatment element is determined by reference to the location element. A treatment subsystem including a treatment device having a treatment element and a treatment delivery source may also be provided. A registration subsystem receives and registers data from the other subsystems, and displays the data. |
| US08175679B2 |
Catheter electrode that can simultaneously emit electrical energy and facilitate visualization by magnetic resonance imaging
An electrode for use on a medical device is disclosed. The electrode may have a main body of electrically conductive material extending along an axis and having a proximal end and a distal end. The body may be configured to emit electrical energy in accordance with a predefined diagnostic or therapeutic function. The body may have a groove disposed over an outermost surface of the body. The electrode may also include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracking coil disposed in said groove. The MRI tracking coil may comprise electrically insulated wire, for example. A catheter including an electrode, as well as a method for determining the location of an electrode, are also disclosed. |
| US08175676B2 |
Generating gating signals for thermal therapy
A method of inducing thermal effect at a moving target includes receiving a first data characterizing a repeated motion of the moving target; processing the first data to determine a treatment plan, including determining a plan for directing a signal at the moving target; and controlling the signal directed at the moving target according to the treatment plan to induce a thermal effect. |
| US08175674B2 |
Belt device
The belt device comprises a torso portion, a collar portion, sensor elements and at least a first and a second closure element. The first closure element is part of the collar portion on the front side and a second closure element is part of the torso portion on the front side. The closure elements arranged in such a way that they can be opened by a wearer in a comfortable way. The user is able to put on and off the belt system without help of a third person. By the ability to combine different sized collar portions with different sized torso portions a belt device system is provided. |
| US08175672B2 |
Reusable pulse oximeter probe and disposable bandage apparatii
An optical probe is usable to determine at least one physiological parameter. A disposable portion of the optical probe comprises a bandage including adhesive on at least a portion of at least one face thereof. The bandage comprises a first modular housing component attached to a surface of the bandage at a first position. The first modular housing component is configured to receive and removably engage a modular probe emitter. The bandage comprises a second modular housing component attached to the surface of the bandage at a second position. The second position is spaced from the first position. The second modular housing component is configured to receive and removably engage a modular probe detector. The bandage is configured with sufficient flexibility that the first modular housing component attached to the bandage surface at the first position is positioned generally opposite the second modular housing component attached to the bandage surface at the second position when the bandage is positioned on an appendage of a patient for sensing a physiological parameter of the patient. |
| US08175670B2 |
Pulse oximetry signal correction using near infrared absorption by water
A method and system for measuring a physiological parameter, comprising collecting a first absorbance at a first wavelength, chosen to be primarily absorbed by water; collecting a second absorbance at a second wavelength, chosen to be primarily absorbed by hemoglobin; and combining the first signal and the second signal to generate a combined plethysmograph signal which is proportionate lower in noise caused by motion-related interference. |
| US08175668B1 |
Implantable multi-wavelength venous oxygen saturation and hematocrit sensor and method
An intravenous implantable optical sensor assesses the relative absorbance of multiple wavelengths of light in order to determine oxygen saturation. The calculation of oxygen saturation is enhanced by use of a function of hematocrit which is derived from the relative absorbance of light of an isobestic wavelength along two different length paths through the blood. The use of the hematocrit-dependent term and multiple wavelengths of light to calculate oxygen saturation provides results that are less susceptible to noise and variation in hematocrit and thus provides a more accurate measure of oxygen saturation over a wider range of conditions than previously possible. The optical sensor may form part of an implantable system which performs the calculation of oxygen saturation and uses the results for a diagnostic or therapeutic purpose. |
| US08175667B2 |
Symmetric LED array for pulse oximetry
A sensor for pulse oximeter systems is provided which comprises a first source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a first wavelength, a second source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a second wavelength and a third source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a third wavelength. The first and third sources of electromagnetic radiation are symmetrically oriented about an axis. |
| US08175665B2 |
Method and apparatus for spectroscopic tissue analyte measurement
Methods and systems for calculating body fluid metrics are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technique, there is provided a method for calculating body fluid metrics by acquiring an absorbance spectrum of a subject's tissue over a range of near-infrared light, performing a multi-linear regression of the absorbance spectrum of the subject's tissue in relation to absorbance spectra of tissue constituents, and calculating body fluid metrics based on the results of the multi-linear regression. A system is provided having a sensor for emitting the light into the subject's tissue and detecting reflected, scattered, or transmitted light, a spectrometer for processing the detected light and generating the absorbance spectrum of the subject's tissue, memory for storing absorbance spectra of the tissue constituents and a multi-linear regression model, and a processor for performing the multi-linear regression and calculating the body fluid metrics. |
| US08175661B2 |
Device, system, and method of power saving in wireless network
Device, system, and method of power saving in wireless network. For example, a method includes: receiving from a wireless access point a wireless communication signal indicting wireless network load information represented as a value of a parameter in a Basic Service Set load information element, wherein the parameter comprises a parameter selected from a group consisting of: a station count parameter, a channel utilization ratio parameter, an available admission control parameter, a network congestion parameter, a transmission power suggestion parameter, a reception power suggestion parameter, and a late adaptation suggestion parameter; and modifying a power consumption mode of a communication unit of a wireless communication device based on said parameter. |
| US08175659B2 |
Mobile terminal device and network connection control method
A mobile terminal device includes a wireless communication interface and a wired communication interface. The device further includes a wired communication determination unit configured to determine whether or not communication with a network by the wired communication interface, an external power source supply unit configured so as to be supplied power from the outside for charge or replacement of a built-in battery, a power supply state detection unit configured to detect that a state, in which power is supplied from the outside to the external power source supply unit, is attained, and a control unit configured to set a state in which the wireless communication interface is available regardless a determination result of the wired communication determination unit after the power supply state detection unit detects the state in which the power is supplied from the outside. |
| US08175654B2 |
LCD backlight duration proportional to amount of information on the LCD display screen
This relates to a method for controlling illumination of a display screen on a mobile device. A light source is turned on to illuminate the display screen. An amount of information displayed on the display screen is identified. An amount of time to keep the light source turned on is determined based at least in part on the identified amount of information. The light source is kept turned on at a first intensity level for the amount of time and then turned to a second intensity level. |
| US08175653B2 |
Chromeless user interface
Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device. |
| US08175652B2 |
Terminal and method of controlling the same
A mobile terminal having a display including a touch screen, and a control unit configured to display on the touch screen a plurality of key buttons, and when a first key button of the plurality of key buttons is touched, to display at least one item that is relevant to the first touched key button in an area of the touch screen defined by the key buttons. |
| US08175649B2 |
Method and system for real time control of an active antenna over a distributed antenna system
A method and system suitable for supporting wireless medical telemetry services (MTS) on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). A DAS can provide wireless services including voice and data services using the same equipment. WMTS systems can include one or more active antenna units controlled by the MTS access point. The DAS includes control channels for transferring the MTS control and status information between the MTS access point and the antenna. The control channels can be transferred over a separate cable, or transferred using one or more intermediate frequency signals transferred over existing cables DAS between the MTS access point and the antenna. The control channels can be used to configure and control and receive status from the managed components of the DAS including active antennas, control the amplifiers used to process TDD signals, and control the switching of the diversity antenna systems. |
| US08175647B2 |
Combined base transceiver station and base station controller
A combined base station controller (12) and base transceiver station (14) comprises a selector distribution unit (SDU, 20), a main call control (MCC, 22) coupled to the SDU, a radio call control (RCC, 18) coupled to the MCC, and a channel element control (CEC, 16) coupled to the RCC. |
| US08175646B2 |
Networking of multiple mode handheld computing unit
A handheld computing unit includes a MMW transceiver, a hardware section, an operating system section, and an application section. When the handheld computing unit is in a extended mode: the hardware section is operably coupled to a hardware section of an extended computing unit; the operating system section is operably coupled to an operating system section of the extended computing unit; and the application section is operably coupled to an application section of the extended computing unit. When the handheld computing unit is in a network mode the hardware section is operably coupled to a hardware section of at least one other handheld computing unit. |
| US08175643B1 |
Switching states between two computing devices
A method for switching use between a first computing device and a second computing device is provided. The method may be performed by the first computing device. An event is detected while a first application is operated on the first computing device. In response to detecting the event, data corresponding to the first application is automatically transmitted to the second computing device, and a second application is automatically initiated on the second computing device. The second application has a functionality that is equivalent to the functionality of the first application on the first computing device and utilizes the data transmitted from the first device in performing one or more operations. |
| US08175636B2 |
Desktop phone with interchangeable wireless handset
Systems, methods, and devices for providing an external wireless interface for use with a desktop telephone are disclosed. In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, a telephone is provided which may include a universal connector operable to removably connect to any of a plurality of external radio transceivers. The external radio transceivers operate according a plurality of wireless communication protocols. In one embodiment, the universal connector may comprise a USB connector, and the external radio transceiver may be embodied as a USB dongle. |
| US08175634B2 |
Software switch for separating work and personal information on cell phone devices
This is a cell phone system that provides for use of a single phone for both business and personal calls. This system permits the user to extract personal calls from the system, thereby preserving the confidential nature of some of these personal calls without the business having to review them to determine allocation of costs to user and business. |
| US08175632B2 |
Kit for establishing and maintaining communications across disparate networks
A system for establishing and maintaining communications across disparate networks comprises a satellite dish and control unit comprising a network management server and a satellite data conversion component. The control unit may further comprise an application server and a satellite dish alignment component. The system may further comprise at least one access point and a plurality of wireless routers. In certain embodiments, the system is relatively easy to deploy and can even be used when traditional network infrastructure is unavailable. |
| US08175630B2 |
Method of closed loop power control adjusted by self-interference
A method and apparatus for controlling the transmit power of a mobile device in a mobile communication network takes the level of self-interference into account to perform inner-loop power control. For normal inner-loop power control, a signal quality estimate is compared to a signal quality target and power control commands are generated based on the comparison. When self-interference is the dominant impairment in the received signal, a “fast break” is introduced to change inner-loop power control command generation. The amount of self-interference is determined based on the delay spread of the channel. |
| US08175627B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving data in wireless sensor network
A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving data in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). The method typically includes the steps of: ascertaining characteristics of data whose transfer is requested; ascertaining a Link Quality Indication Value (LQIV); determining a level of a link state in consideration of the characteristics of the data and the LQIV; and controlling the link transfer of the data in consideration of the level of the link state. The apparatus includes a module for transmitting/receiving data in the network layer thereof having a link level determination unit for predefining a level of a link state, depending on characteristics of data and a Link Quality Indication Value (LQIV) to store a predefined level of the link state, and to determine a level of the link state. A link control unit controls the link transfer of the data in consideration of the determined level of the link state. |
| US08175624B2 |
Method and system for managing a short message service aggregation platform and providing advertising content to mobile communication devices
A management system for managing a short message service (SMS) aggregation platform and providing advertising content to mobile communication device customers is provided. The management system comprises a carrier connection interface, a messaging application program interface (API), user and sponsor databases, and logic. The carrier connection interface is configured to receive a mobile originated (MO) communication from at least one short message service center (SMSC). The API is configured to receive a MO communication from the carrier connection interface. The user database communicates with the messaging API and includes opt-in destination addresses defining an opt-in user list. The sponsor database also communicates with the messaging API. The sponsor database includes at least one sponsor account. At least one opt-in destination address in the opt-in user list and at least one sponsor communication is associated with each of the at least one sponsor accounts. The logic is configured to compare the destination address of the MO communication with the opt-in destination addresses in the opt-in user list. A mobile terminated (MT) communication, comprising at least one sponsor communication, is generated and transmitted when the destination address of the mobile originated communication matches a destination address in the opt-in user list. |
| US08175620B2 |
System and method for generating non-uniform grid points from calibration data
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. |
| US08175618B2 |
Mobile device product locator
Systems, methods, and software are described for identifying a location with a mobile communications device. According to various embodiments of the invention, an electronic image is captured via the mobile communications device. A first set of data identifying the location of the mobile communications device may be received, and the first set of data may be associated with the electronic image. At a later time, an identifier of the captured image may then be selected, and a suggested route or a map which includes the location associated with captured image may then be created. |
| US08175611B2 |
Enhanced manageability in wireless data communication systems
A cellular network system comprises a device identifier comparator and a connection enable indicator. A device identifier comparator for comparing a received device identifier with one of a plurality of stored device identifiers, wherein the one of the stored plurality of stored device identifiers is associated with a stored subscriber identifier. A connection enable indicator for indicating whether a connection from a cellular device associated with the received device identifier to a data network associated with the cellular network system should be enabled. |
| US08175610B2 |
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating airlink resource management in a radio communication system
Apparatus, and an associated method, for allocating radio resources in a radio communication system that provides for data communication services, e.g., reverse link communication services in which data is communicated by a mobile station to a network part of the communication system. A multi level control mechanism is provided in which a lower level radio airlink manager and an upper level radio airlink manager are used together to allocate resources to a mobile station to effectuate the communication service. Both centralized and distributed control is thereby provided. |
| US08175608B2 |
Node placement method within a wireless network, such as a wireless local area network
The disclosure includes a method of and associated system for placing nodes in a wireless local area network (WLAN). The method includes receiving user-specified parameters regarding the network. The parameters can include a layout of a building or other space, and requirements for the WLAN. An algorithm then employs these parameters to automatically create and optimized layout of multiple wireless access points for the WLAN. The method can display the layout and provide various types of information to the user. |
| US08175603B1 |
Neighboring cell directed handover in a wireless network
A wireless network for addressing the unavailability of airlink connection resources (“resources”) is disclosed. A plurality of smaller cells are dynamically created within the coverage boundary of a macrocell, wherein each smaller cell is capable of providing the same resources available from the macrocell. The network further addresses the inefficient “push” schema for handover of services from one node to another. Nodes within each of the plurality of smaller cells continuously scan other nodes to measure resources used by the other nodes for handover using a “pull” schema. The measurement tells a node if it is capable of providing at least a minimum grade of service, and if so, the node informs the subscriber device. If the measurement is mutually valid, the current node initiates the handover to the node. After the handover, the new node continues to provide the at least minimum grade of service. |
| US08175602B2 |
Mobile communication system, user apparatus and method
A disclosed user apparatus is for use in a mobile communication system including a macrocell and a closed cell wherein unspecified users are allowed to access the macrocell and specified users are allowed to access the closed cell. The user apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to measure quality of a signal provided from a camped cell in an idle state at a predefined cycle, a cell search unit configured to measure quality of a signal provided from a neighbor cell at a predefined cell search cycle, and a cell reselection unit configured to reselect a cell depending on the cell search result. A frequency of the macrocell is at least partially identical to a frequency of the closed cell. If the user apparatus resides in the macrocell and a predefined reselection criterion is satisfied, the closed cell adjacent to the camped cell is reselected as a standby cell. The predefined reselection criterion corresponds to a state where the quality of the signal provided from the closed cell has been higher than or equal to the quality of the signal provided from the camped cell by a predefined threshold for more than a predefined reselection duration. |
| US08175600B2 |
Method and apparatus for decreasing latencies during handover
A method and apparatus for handing over a mobile station (106) from a serving base station (104a) to a target base station (104b) within a wireless communication system (100) is described. A session is established between the mobile station and the serving base station and it is determined that the mobile station is to be handed over from the serving base station to the target base station. The target base station notifies the serving base station of identifying data of the target base station and added to the identifying data is a message to be sent to mobile station regarding the handover of the mobile station. The serving base station sends the message including the identifying data to the mobile station and the mobile station is handed over from the serving base station to the target base station using the identifying data of the target base station. |
| US08175599B2 |
Method, medium, and apparatus controlling handover between different networks
A method, medium, and apparatus controlling a handover between different network types, including the operations of transmitting a message requesting a transmission bandwidth change, so as to have a transmission bandwidth supported by a new network after movement of the mobile terminal, from the mobile terminal to the server after performing the handover, changing the transmission bandwidth of the server to be supported by the new network based on the transmitted message of requesting the bandwidth change, transmitting a message acknowledging the changed transmission bandwidth from the server to the router, and transceiving data through a new data transmission tunnel between the router and a new access point within the new based on the message acknowledging the changed transmission bandwidth. Accordingly, loss of data packets occurring when a handover is performed may be effectively prevented. |
| US08175598B2 |
Wireless communication system
A wireless communication system including a wireless terminal, a plurality of base stations and a call processing control unit is disclosed. The wireless terminal, upon reception of the notification information from any of the base stations, judges whether the area included in the notification information is contained in the location registration area list stored in a storage unit, and in the case where the particular area is not so contained, sends a location registration request to the call processing control unit. On the other hand, the call processing control unit creates a new location registration area list based on the area included in the notification information and the neighboring areas, and sends the location registration area list to the wireless terminal. |
| US08175597B2 |
Session update using management of capability of terminal
A method and device for updating a session in a terminal. The method includes: performing one or more services with one or more entities; and transmitting, to a management server, a capability information update message, including information about one or more changed capabilities, when one or more capabilities change, in order to notify the one or more entities of the one or more changed capabilities. The information about the one or more changed capabilities comprises a parameter indicating a version of the information about the one or more changed capabilities. The method further includes updating a session with the one or more entities by using the information about the one or more changed capabilities. |
| US08175596B1 |
System and method of extending base station coverage
Systems and methods of extending base station coverage are provided. Idle mode mobile stations supported by a base station are identified, and at least one of the idle mode mobile stations is selected based on a location of the at least one idle mode mobile station. A communication with an active mode mobile station that is associated with the at least one idle mode mobile station is established. The active mode mobile station is not able to directly receive communications from the base station, and the identification and selection of idle mode mobile stations and the establishment of the communication are performed by the base station. |
| US08175590B2 |
System for preventing unintended activation of a medical device by a portable remote control console
A network system prevents portable wireless remote control consoles from unintended activation of a medical device by determining if the console is located in a working space within a medical care room. Transceiver locator devices determine the position of the remote control consoles and send information to room control units indicating when a console is within the desired working space. The room control unit receives signals from the remote control console in the working space to control medical devices. The room control unit can also determine which of multiple remote control consoles within the working space is permitted to operate the medical devices. Each room control unit can send a presence output to the remote control console to enable use thereof. The remote control console can have an orientation sensor or a grip detector to prevent unintended operation thereof. |
| US08175589B2 |
Method for SIM card replacement
Method for SIM card replacement, aimed to obtain the functionality of a first SIM card storing a real IMSI number associated to a real MSISDN (MSISDNrA,MSISDNrB), the method comprising: providing a user with a replacement SIM card storing a fake IMSI number (IMSIfA,IMSIfB); associating the fake IMSI number (IMSIfA,IMSIfB) with a fake MSISDN (MSISDNfA,MSISDNfB); setting unconditional call forwarding of all incoming calls aimed to the real MSISDN (MSISDNrB) to the fake MSISDN (MSISDNfB); for each call originated from a calling mobile station (1af) using a replacement SIM card, replacing the calling party number (MSISDNfA) with the real MSISDN (MSISDNrA). |
| US08175587B2 |
Obtaining service when in a no-coverage area of a communication system
A method for obtaining service when in a no-coverage area of a radiotelephone communication system includes a first step of storing information regarding a last known available communication system. This can be accomplished through the communication system when loss of service is imminent or through independent means after service is lost. A next step includes reporting the information about the last known available communication system to a user of the radiotelephone. A next step includes using the information to obtain service from the last known available communication system. For example, a user could use timing information to backtrack their steps or use location information to obtain service. |
| US08175586B2 |
Method for implementing one card multi-number service
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for implementing a One Card Multiple-Number (OCMN) service, which includes: establishing a mapping relation between an internal network number of a user and at least one external number of the user; determining an internal network number of a called user corresponding to an external number of the called user according to the mapping relation when a calling user initiates a call to the external number of the called user; connecting the call to the called user according to the internal network number of the called user. Embodiments of the present invention further disclose a system. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the OCMN service may be implemented flexibly. |
| US08175580B1 |
End-to-end secure wireless communication for requesting a more secure channel
The present invention is a system and method for establishing a secure connection using a public a wireless telephone network. The method utilizes a proxy base station and establishes an encrypted session over the public wireless network between a wireless handset and the proxy base station. The proxy base station further establishes a connection with second communication station such as a landline phone. The proxy base station determines a most secure channel between the base station and the second communication station by consulting a database of channels and associated measures of security. |
| US08175578B2 |
Wireless device monitoring methods, wireless device monitoring systems, and articles of manufacture
Wireless device monitoring methods, wireless device monitoring systems, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one embodiment, a wireless device monitoring method includes accessing device configuration information of a wireless device present at a secure area, wherein the device configuration information comprises information regarding a configuration of the wireless device, accessing stored information corresponding to the wireless device, wherein the stored information comprises information regarding the configuration of the wireless device, comparing the device configuration information with the stored information, and indicating the wireless device as one of authorized and unauthorized for presence at the secure area using the comparing. |
| US08175565B1 |
Image rejection scheme for receivers
An RF receiver image rejection scheme. The RF is received and mixed in two quadrature channels allowing separation of the undesired image portion within the RF signal from the desired portion. The two channels can be summed to allow the image portions to cancel out and form a signal which is predominantly based on the desired portion. Another sum of the two channels can also be made to provide a signal which is primarily based on the image portion. Since there are some components of the image portion even in the compensated desired signal, that signal indicative of the image portion is used to compensate for that undesired portion. |
| US08175563B2 |
Programmable baseband filters supporting auto-calibration for a mobile digital cellular television environment
A method for processing wireless information is disclosed and may include performing by one or more circuits within a single-chip multi-band RF receiver, the one or more circuits comprising a filter, generating at least one control signal based on a signal strength of a baseband frequency signal generated by the one or more circuits within the single-chip multi-band RF receiver. A bandwidth of the filter may be adjusted using the generated at least one control signal. The generated baseband frequency signal may be filtered utilizing the bandwidth adjusted filter. A frequency response signal of the filter may be determined using a reference frequency signal. An attenuated reference frequency signal may be generated by attenuating the reference frequency signal. The attenuated reference frequency signal may be compared with the frequency response signal. The at least one control signal may be generated based on the comparison. |
| US08175561B2 |
Automatic optimization of RF receiver interference performance
A method and apparatus for optimization of RF receiver interference performance in a mobile phone operating in a TDMA communications system is disclosed. The battery supply voltage ripple of the battery of the mobile phone is measured and it is determining when the battery supply voltage ripple is greater than a predetermined level. The RF receiver is adjusted to improve the mode of operation of the RF receiver when the battery supply voltage ripple is greater than the predetermined level. |
| US08175559B2 |
Receiving apparatus
The present invention is intended to be able to ensure detecting whether an open-circuit occurs to a feeder within short time with simple configuration. A receiving apparatus 2 according to the present invention receives image information transmitted from a capsule endoscope 3 through a coaxial cable and a receiving antenna selected and switched to from among coaxial cables 9a to 9d connected to receiving antennas 8a to 8d, respectively by a changeover switch 20. The receiving apparatus 2 includes a changeover switch 22, an open-circuit detecting circuit 23, and a control unit 26. The changeover switch 22 branches the coaxial cables 9a to 9d near the changeover switch 20, and selects and switches to one of the branched coaxial cables. The open-circuit detecting circuit 23 applies a direct-current voltage to the coaxial cable selected by the changeover switch 22 through a constant-current source 203, and detects whether an open-circuit occurs to the coaxial cable by determining whether a voltage of the coaxial cable is grounded. The control unit 26 controls the changeover switch 22 to perform selection/switching, and controls the open-circuit detecting circuit 23 to perform open-circuit detection synchronously with the selection/switching control over the changeover switch 22. |
| US08175556B2 |
Methods for optimizing power amplifier settings for operation at different radio-frequency bands
Electronic devices such as cellular telephones may include wireless communications circuitry such as power amplifiers. Power amplifiers, transmission lines, and other circuit associated the power amplifiers may generate different amounts of heat depending on their operating frequency. High-heat-producing power amplifiers may be biased at lower bias voltages than low-heat-producing amplifiers to equalize temperatures and enhance performance. Performance may also be optimized by placing power amplifiers on a printed circuit board so that the high band amplifiers are placed in regions that can dissipate more heat, whereas low band amplifiers are placed in regions that dissipate less heat. |
| US08175555B2 |
Apparatus and method for termination powered differential interface periphery
An apparatus and method for supplying power to the peripheral circuits of a transmitter circuit, especially an HDMI transmitter circuit, is disclosed. In an HDMI transmitter the termination resistors of the output driver are part of the receiver. DC power for the driver is supplied through these termination resistors. In prior art implementations of circuits this power, supplied by the receiver circuit, is wasted in the DC set-up circuit of the differential line driver. In various embodiments, this wasted power may be recovered from the remote termination to power selected peripheral circuits of the transmitter. The use of this wasted power may reduce the total system power consumption. |
| US08175552B2 |
Filter circuit, wireless transmitter, and wireless receiver
A filter circuit is constructed of a passive mixer and a frequency response device. The passive mixer generates a frequency-converted signal by mixing an input signal transmitted through a transmission line and a local oscillation signal, and outputs the frequency-converted signal to the frequency response device, thus shifting a frequency characteristic of the frequency response device to high frequency by a local oscillation frequency of the local oscillation signal and applying the frequency characteristic shifted to high frequency on the input signal. |
| US08175549B2 |
Closed loop transmitter IQ calibration
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of closed loop IQ calibration for use in a transmitter. The IQ calibration mechanism functions to provide calibration of IQ imbalance in the presence of real world RF impairments. An iterative process is used to update the gain and phase mismatch values whereby the metrics are calculated in a differential manner without the need for calculation absolute imbalance values. At each iteration, updating the gain and phase mismatch estimate requires only the direction of the correction to be determined. The direction of the correction is calculated using only the differences between output power measurements. The updated gain and phase mismatch estimates are used to update an IQ correction matrix. This process is repeated until a desired stopping criterion is reached. Gear shifting is used to ensure quick convergence of the algorithm while providing the ability to achieve any desired level of accuracy. |
| US08175547B1 |
Disposable chemical sensor and wireless communication device
A disposable sensor device for remote sensing of conditions such as temperature and dangerous gasses includes a body defining an enclosed chamber, a power source mounted in the chamber, an on-off switch mounted on and accessible from outside the body, a processor mounted in the chamber and powered by the power source, sensors mounted on the exterior of the body in communication with the processor and capable of detecting gasses and temperature. A transceiver, a speaker, and a microphone are mounted in the chamber and in communication with the processor. The transceiver is adapted to receive sound signals from a remote unit and input the signals to the speaker for broadcast, and the microphone is adapted to receive sound signals from outside the body and input the received sound signals to the processor for transmittal to the remote unit. |
| US08175544B2 |
System and method providing variable-frequency if conversion in a multimode communication device
A system and method providing variable-frequency IF conversion in a multimode communication device. Various aspects of the present invention provide a multimode communication device comprising at least one RF signal receiver adapted to receive at least a first RF signal corresponding to a first communication protocol and a second RF signal corresponding to a second communication protocol. A controllable frequency source may, for example, be adapted to output a mixing signal characterized by one of a plurality of selectable frequencies. Such selectable frequencies may, for example, comprise a first frequency corresponding to the first communication protocol and a second frequency corresponding to the second communication protocol. A mixer may, for example, receive a received RF signal from the RF signal receiver, receive a mixing signal from the controllable frequency source, and convert the received RF signal to an IF signal utilizing the received mixing signal. |
| US08175543B2 |
Method and system for wireless communication using integrated clock generation for bluetooth and FM transmit and FM receive functions
A method and system for wireless communication using integrated clock generation for Bluetooth and FM transmit and FM receive functions may include generating a clock signal to enable transmission and/or reception of Bluetooth signals; and clocking a Direct Digital Frequency Synthesizer (DDFS) via the generated clock signal to generate one or more signals by the DDFS that enable transmission or reception of FM signals. The generated clock signals for the Bluetooth and for the FM transmit and receive functions may include an in phase and quadrature phase component. Time Division Duplex of FM transmission and reception and simultaneous FM transmission and FM reception may be simulated by switching the control frequency word at a certain rate. The DDFS may also receive control words to compensate for frequency changes in the Bluetooth LO. The FM signals reception and transmission may be controlled by a bi-directional coupler. |
| US08175542B2 |
Transceiver with plural space hopping phased array antennas and methods for use therewith
A wireless transceiver includes a phased array of antennas, that transmit an outbound RF signal containing outbound data to remote transceivers and that receives an inbound RF signal containing inbound data from the remote RF transceivers, wherein the phased array of antennas is configurable based on a control signal. An antenna configuration controller generates the control signal to configure the phased array of antennas to hop among a plurality of radiation patterns based on a hopping sequence. An 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. In one configuration, a switching section selectively couples a selected antenna of the phased array of antennas to the RF transceiver section, based on the control signal. In another configuration, the RF transceiver section includes an RF section for each antenna of the phased array of antennas. |
| US08175540B2 |
Intermodulation distortion control
A wireless communications device comprising duplexing means for directing signals from a transmit path towards an antenna and for providing signals from the antenna to a receive path, wherein the transmit path is arranged to send a first signal to the duplexing means, the receive path is arranged to recover a second signal and the device further comprises detecting means for detecting the presence in the receive path of a third signal that will interact with the first signal to produce intermodulation distortion tending to hamper recovery of the second signal and control means responsive to the detecting means for enhancing linearity in the receive path to reduce said intermodulation distortion. |
| US08175537B2 |
Method and arrangement for noise floor estimation
In a method of complexity reduced noise floor estimation in a wireless communications system, determining (S1), for a respective of at least a subset of a plurality of power grid points /c, a product of complementary cumulative distribution functions, each such function corresponding to a respective of a plurality j of provided wideband power measure estimates Ln a sliding window, and determining (S2), for each of said at least subset of power grid points, a probability distribution function of a minimum of said plurality of wideband power measure estimates based on said determined product. |
| US08175536B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus and communication control method
A channel estimation and prediction unit 18 estimates a channel and predicts a plurality of channels for a next transmission slot. An SVD unit 19 performs singular value decomposition on a plurality of channel prediction values. An eigenvalue calculation unit 20 calculates a plurality of eigenvalues in a slot, whereas an eigenmode quality calculation unit 21 calculates a single quality for each eigenmode, considering variation frequency of the eigenvalue in the slot and outputs the quality to a transmission adaptive control unit 22. |
| US08175529B2 |
Information processing apparatus, and method and information processing system
An information processing apparatus shares content data with a different apparatus which has the content data and management data including identification information of the content data and used for management of the content data. The information processing apparatus includes a management data acquisition section that controls a first communication section, which carries out proximity radio communication, to acquire the management data from the different apparatus. The information processing apparatus also includes a requesting section that controls a second communication section, which carries out short distance radio communication, to issue a request for the content data to the different apparatus. Further, the information processing apparatus includes a content data acquisition section that controls the second communication section to acquire the content data supplied in response to the request by the requesting section. |
| US08175526B2 |
Communication through a barrier
A magnetic flux coupling transducer system comprising a primary coil (51) and primary coupling core (52) and a secondary coil (54) and secondary coupling core (55) for passing communications signals and/or electrical power from one side of an electrically conductive barrier to receiving equipment on the other side. |
| US08175525B2 |
Conversion from note-based audio format to PCM-based audio format
A system and method for converting a note-based audio object to a Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) audio format is disclosed. An electronic computer device includes a memory containing a note-based audio object and a lookup table, the note-based audio object containing note frequency information. A processor is configured for converting the note-based audio object to a Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) stream having a plurality of sample points, the converting including: generating a PCM value for each sample point based upon the note frequency and the trigonometric function evaluations, selecting an entry from the look-up table based upon the note frequency information, a sampling frequency, and a sample point number, and determining a step size within the look-up table based upon a ratio between the note frequency information and the sampling frequency. |
| US08175516B2 |
Communication terminal
A communication terminal according to the invention aims at improving convenience by proper reflection of a user's intention changing in accordance with a status of the terminal. A portable phone terminal provided with a broadcast program reception function, including: a program reservation unit 31 for reserving a process for a broadcast program; a terminal status detection unit 42 for detecting a status of the terminal; and a terminal operation control unit 43 for performing control to correct the reserved process in accordance with the terminal status up to a predetermined point of time. |
| US08175515B1 |
DTV terrestrial satellite conversion apparatus
A digital television terrestrial satellite conversion apparatus comprising a transformer assembly that houses a matching transformer, and an insulator assembly. A bolt assembly has mounting means to mount the transformer assembly and the insulator assembly onto a satellite dish assembly. Means to increase a digital radio frequency signal exists by reflective gain from a rear of an array for receiving terrestrial digital and high-definition broadcast signals by the satellite dish assembly. A bridge coaxial cable extends from the matching transformer. The bridge coaxial cable transmits the terrestrial digital and high-definition broadcast signals. |
| US08175513B2 |
Broadcast communication system and method for providing users with information associated with a geographical area
A method is presented for providing information associated with a geographical area to users of broadcast communication receivers. The information, as well as an indication of the geographical area associated with the information, are transmitted to, and received by, each of the broadcast communication receivers. In each of the receivers, the indication of the geographical area is compared with a geographic code associated with, and stored within, the receiver. Each of the receivers also provides at least one alert to a user of the respective broadcast communication receiver if the geographic area is located on a travel vector of the respective broadcast communication receiver indicated by the geographical code. |
| US08175512B2 |
Look through mode of jamming system
A system includes a generator and at least one device. The generator includes a waveform oscillator and a blanking pulse generator. Each device includes a transmit antenna, a receive antenna, an antenna unit, a mixer and a detector. The antenna unit includes a receiver coupled to the receive antenna, an amplifier coupled to the receiver and a transmitter coupled to the transmit antenna and the blanking pulse generator. The mixer has inputs coupled to the amplifier and the waveform oscillator. The detector is coupled to the mixer. |
| US08175511B1 |
Techniques for intelligent network-based teaching
An e-learning system that provides a customized e-learning experience for a user. Information is received from a user identifying the user's learning objectives. Based upon the user's objectives, a study plan that is customized for the user is developed. The study plan may comprise one or more course units that the user can access through a server using a client system used by the user. User activity is monitored, including the user's activity within the e-learning system and outside the e-learning system. Information is recorded regarding the user's progress and performance. This information is used to modify the study plan, as appropriate for the user. |
| US08175510B2 |
Fixing device, and image forming apparatus equipped therewith
A fixing device includes: a fixing member that touches an unfixed toner image formed on a sheet; a pressing member that causes the sheet to come in pressure contact with the fixing member; a pressing belt that is interposed between the fixing member and pressing member to rotate; a lubricant coating member that coats lubricant on an inner surface of the pressing belt; a pair of first blade members each that touches, through a counter method, an inner surface of both edge portions of the pressing belt in a width direction perpendicular to a rotating direction of the pressing belt, to scrape the lubricant; and a first lubricant guide member arranged from a tip of the first blade members to an inner side, receives the scraped lubricant, and guides the lubricant to the inner side to return to the inner surface of the pressing belt. |
| US08175508B2 |
Planar heat generating element, fixing device including the same, and image forming apparatus including the same
A planar heat generating element includes an insulating layer and a resistance heat generator formed on one surface in a thickness direction of the insulating layer, for generating heat under a passage of electric current therethrough, the resistance heat generator constituting a plane of certain configuration as a whole and forming a heat generating pattern. The resistance heat generator includes a plurality of linear portions formed on one surface of the insulating layer that extend transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction of the insulating layer, the linear portions being arranged side by side substantially in parallel to each other; and a low-volume resistivity portion formed on the one surface so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the insulating layer, and connecting the adjacent linear portions at their extending direction-wise ends to form a single line composed of the adjacent linear portions and the low-volume resistivity portion. |
| US08175507B2 |
Transfer belt lateral position control apparatus and method
According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus and method for controlling a position of a belt in a printing system. The apparatus including a roller assembly for engaging at least a portion of a belt, a pair of laterally spaced support arms and an actuating assembly for pivotally moving at least one support arm. The belt being generally moveable in a process flow direction within the printing system, wherein a lateral direction extends substantially along the belt and substantially perpendicular to the process flow direction. The roller assembly extending laterally across the belt. The pair of laterally spaced support arms each rotatably supporting opposed ends of the roller assembly. Each support arm being pivotally coupled to the printing system for movement about a pivot axis extending substantially in the lateral direction. The pivotal movement pivoting one support arm relative to the other. |
| US08175503B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus with intermediate roller for assuring efficient circulation of developer
A developing device is provided with a developing roller arranged to face a photoconductor for forming an electrostatic latent image and adapted to supply a toner to the photoconductor, an agitating member for agitating a developer, a supply roller that holds the developer agitated by the agitating member, and supplies the toner to an area facing the developing roller; a restricting member for blocking the developer supplied onto the supply roller and restricting the amount of the developer conveyed by the supply roller, and an intermediate roller including a first magnetic pole facing in a direction toward the staying developer by being restricted by the restricting member for attracting the staying developer and arranged at such a position as to face the developer blocked by the restricting member. Thus, the developing device can avoid image quality deterioration even when a developing process continues over a long period of time. |
| US08175494B2 |
Intermediate transfer device, transfer device and image forming apparatus for wrinkle suppression
An intermediate transfer device includes an endless-belt-form intermediate transfer material; a first moving member that is movable between a first position-1 and a second position-1, which is farther from the intermediate transfer material than the first position-1; a second moving member that is movable between a first position-2 and a second position-2, which is farther from the intermediate transfer material than the first position-2; a first tension applying member; a second tension applying member; and a third tension applying member that applies tension to the intermediate transfer material when at least either the first moving member is moved to the second position-1 or the second moving member is moved to the second position-2, and that is separated from the intermediate transfer material when the first moving member is in the first position-1 and the second moving member is in the first position-2. |
| US08175493B2 |
Toner cartridge having magnetic coupling
A toner cartridge having a magnetically coupled drive apparatus is provided. The cartridge provides a first toner holding member that houses toner and a second toner holding member adjacent to the first member that houses toner. A dividing wall separates the first toner holding member from the second toner holding member. A toner shifting component shifts the waste toner housed in the first toner holding member and a toner stirring component stirs the fresh toner housed in the second toner holding member. The toner shifting component and toner stirring component are magnetically coupled through the dividing wall so that when the toner stirring component rotates the toner shifting component rotates. The magnetic coupling disposed between the toner shifting component and toner stirring component engages without an opening through the dividing wall. As a result, waste toner cannot pass through the dividing wall into the fresh toner housing and vice versa. |
| US08175491B2 |
Image forming apparatus including frame structure for supporting image forming unit
An image forming apparatus includes: upper frames opposed to each other across an image forming unit; a scanner supporting member that couples the upper frames and supports the scanner unit; and a frame coupling member that couples the upper frames on an opposite side of the scanner supporting member across the photoconductor unit; lower frames, each of which has an upper surface including a plurality of lower supporting portions each contacting a lower end of a respective one of the upper frames, and a lower surface including a bottom supported portion opposed to a placing surface. A stiffness of each of the upper frames in a substantially planar direction along the vertical direction is greater than a stiffness of each of the lower frames along the vertical direction between the lower supporting portions and the bottom supported portion. |
| US08175490B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a cleaning unit
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body. |
| US08175489B2 |
Image forming apparatus and process cartridge
An image forming apparatus is provided that includes multiple process cartridges. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive element, an electrification unit, and a process frame. The electrification unit includes a discharging unit and an electrification frame which contains the discharging unit. The electrification frame has a first opening formed between the photosensitive element and the discharging unit and a second opening formed at a position opposite the first opening across the discharging unit. The process frame includes an exposure opening opposing the photosensitive element. The process cartridges are arranged such that one process cartridge opposes the second opening and the exposure opening of the electrification unit of an adjacent process cartridge. A regulation member is provided between the pair of process cartridges to regulate airflow. The regulation member has elasticity and is disposed in a position between the second opening and the exposure opening of the electrification unit. |
| US08175488B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method including transporting developer using an airflow generator
An image forming apparatus and method for developing a latent image on an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, an air flow generator, and an air intake device. The image bearing member is configured to bear the latent image on the surface thereof. The airflow generator is configured to generate airflow to transport a developer. The air intake device is configured to connect outside the image forming apparatus with the airflow generator to draw air from outside the image forming apparatus to supply the air to the airflow generator. |
| US08175487B2 |
Electrophotographic color image forming apparatus carrying process cartridges on a movable member
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus is usable with process cartridges that each include an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus includes a movable member that is movable between an inside of the main assembly of the apparatus and an outside of the main assembly of the apparatus in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the drum while carrying the cartridges. A main assembly electrical contact is provided inside the main assembly along a movement path of the movable member. An intermediary electrical contact is provided and includes a first electrical contact portion that is disposed inside the movable member, with the intermediary electrical contact being electrically connectable to a cartridge electrical contact of a cartridge, and a second electrical contact portion is disposed outside the movable member, with the second electrical contact portion electrically connectable to a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly. |
| US08175484B2 |
Image processing system, image forming apparatus, control method of the same, program, and storage medium
In an image processing system, a charging process for an executed print process is executed using one of a first charging method and a second charging method. Especially, when executing a print process of an image including a plurality of pages, it is determined before the start of the print process of the image including the plurality of pages on the basis of balance information managed in advance whether execution of the print process of the image including the plurality of pages is possible. When the first charging method is selected, execution of the print process is controlled on the basis of the result of determination. When the second charging method is selected, the print process is executed without determination. |
| US08175483B2 |
Image forming apparatus and gradation correction test chart
An image forming apparatus includes: print data generating unit for generating gradation correction test chart print data to juxtapose and draw a basis density pattern having a basis density of a yellow color and plural reference density patterns having respective densities of the yellow color compared with the basis density and additionally draw a contrast effect pattern composed of colors having a contrast effect on the yellow color; printing unit for printing a gradation correction test chart including a yellow color gradation correction pattern in which the basis density pattern and the plurality of reference density patterns are juxtaposed and printed and the contrast effect pattern is additionally printed; receiving unit for receiving an input of a density adjustment value of any pattern based on a shading comparison of the basis density pattern and the reference density patterns; and gradation correcting unit for performing a gradation correction. |
| US08175476B2 |
Developing apparatus
A developing apparatus including a developing container for containing developer, the developing container having an opening portion, a developer carrying member for carrying the developer at the opening portion, a detecting member for detecting a developer amount, the detecting member detecting a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the detecting member, and a force receiving portion for receiving a force and moving the developing container between a first position in which a developing operation is performed by the developer carrying member and a second position in which the developing operation is not performed, wherein the capacitance can be detected in the second position, and the detecting member is a rotatable developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member, the developer supplying member including a foam layer in which the developer can enter. |
| US08175473B2 |
Charging device and image forming apparatus
A charging device includes: a charging member; a charging power source that applies a charging voltage to the charging member; a temperature dependence storage unit that stores preset temperature dependence; a humidity dependence storage unit that stores preset humidity dependence; an ambient temperature detecting unit that detects an ambient temperature in the vicinity of the charging member; an ambient humidity detecting unit that detects an ambient humidity in the vicinity of the charging member; and a charging voltage control unit that applies the charging voltage to the charging member according to (i) a constant current value that is determined according to the temperature dependence as corresponding to the detected ambient temperature or (ii) a constant current value that is determined according to the humidity dependence as corresponding to the detected ambient temperature and the detected ambient humidity. |
| US08175465B2 |
Bias control apparatus and method for optical modulator
Examples of apparatus and methods are provided for controlling a bias in an optical modulator. An exemplary apparatus may comprise an optical modulator operable to modulate an optical signal. The optical modulation apparatus may comprise a photodetector disposed to receive at least a portion of the modulated optical signal. The optical modulation apparatus may comprise a bias controller coupled to both the optical modulator and the photodetector. The bias controller may be configured to receive a dither signal and to produce a bias feedback signal for the optical modulator. The bias feedback signal may be based on a ratio between an odd order harmonic signal of the modulated optical signal and an even order harmonic signal of the modulated optical signal. |
| US08175460B2 |
Asymmetric scheduling of multiple analog inputs using a single A/D converter for fiber-optic transceivers
A firmware control method for the optimized use of a single A/D converter to measure multiple analog signals with asymmetric requirements on sampling rate including a lookup table design procedure and an acquisition algorithm. Since diagnostic analog parameter values require differing sampling rates to be effectively measured, the schedule for converting those values to digital value should correspond to the associated sampling rate. The present invention involves the creation and subsequent implementation of a scheduling table based on the required sampling rates of the operational parameters to be converted. |
| US08175451B2 |
Electronic viewfinder apparatus and imaging apparatus
The electronic viewfinder 3 includes a reflective type liquid crystal display 315, a finder optical system 32, and a transmission plate 34 that transmits a part of the optical image signal collected by the finder optical system 32 therethrough and reflects at least a part of a remaining optical image signal. The reflective type liquid crystal display 315 includes a light source 311 that emits light, a liquid crystal plate 315, a reflecting plate 316, and a polarizing plate 314. The transmission plate 34 is disposed to be inclined in a direction opposite to a inclined direction of the polarizing plate such that a transmission plane 341 thereof is not perpendicular to the optical axis of the finder optical system 32. |
| US08175450B2 |
Focal point detection device and camera system
A focal point detection device includes: a rate conversion section which converts a transmission rate of an image signal, which is associated with a subject image imaged via an imaging lens on a part of a receiving surface of an imaging device, such that the image signal input to the rate conversion section at a first transmission rate is output from the rate conversion section at a second transmission rate that is slower than the first transmission rate; a filter which extracts a frequency component from the image signal output at the second transmission rate from the rate conversion section; and an evaluation value calculation section which calculates an evaluation value of a focus state of the imaging lens, based on a signal of the frequency component that is extracted by the filter. |
| US08175449B2 |
Driving device, driving mechanism, and image sensing apparatus
A driving device is adapted to drive a driven member, and includes a driving member, and a linear shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. The driving member has a displacement output portion which is movable in a first axis direction, and a displacement input portion for moving the displacement output portion in the first axis direction in response to an application of a moving force in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction. The driving member is engaged with the driven member at the displacement output portion. The SMA actuator is disposed in contact with the driving member at least at the displacement input portion to apply the moving force to the displacement input portion. |
| US08175445B2 |
Bundled load corner edge protector cutting system
A non-contact cutter for a polymer corner protector disposed on a load includes an air manifold having an inlet and an outlet and defining an air passage and a heating element disposed at least in part in the air passage. A compressed gas is communicated to the manifold and into the air passage for intimate contact with the heating element to heat the gas. The heated gas is discharged through the outlet to contact and soften the polymer corner protector at a desired location to separate the corner protector at the desired location. A system and method for non-contact cutting are disclosed. |
| US08175437B2 |
Microstructured transmission optical fiber
Microstructured optical fiber for single-moded transmission of optical signals, the optical fiber including a core region and a cladding region, the cladding region including an annular void-containing region that contains non-periodically disposed voids. The optical fiber provides single mode transmission and low bend loss. |
| US08175435B2 |
Optical fibers and optical fiber devices with total dispersion greater than material dispersion
Disclosed are optical fiber devices incorporating optical fibers with total dispersion greater than material dispersion, and with preferred dispersion values less than +50 ps/nm-km. The desired dispersion values are obtained when light resides substantially in a single higher order mode (HOM) of the fiber, typically the LP02 mode. The optical fibers also preferably have substantial separation between the effective indices of the HOM and any other mode. |
| US08175432B2 |
Method of adjusting optical axis of optical waveguide element, and optical waveguide element
A method of adjusting the optical axis of an optical waveguide element which can improve a manufacturing yield of the optical waveguide element, an alignment yield between the optical waveguide element and an input waveguide means, etc. and can equalize the branch ratio in a Y-branch waveguide; and an optical waveguide element which can be made compact and also inhibited from complication in structure by using this method. The optical waveguide element (5) formed on a substrate comprises at least a linear waveguide (6) and a Y-branch waveguide (7) branched from the linear waveguide. The method of adjusting the optical axis of the optical waveguide element (5) when connecting the optical waveguide element (5) and an input waveguide means (3) for inputting a light wave into the optical waveguide element (5) is characterized in that a wide band light or two or more single-wavelength lights (light sources (1, 2)) having a different wavelength are inputted into the linear waveguide via the input waveguide means (3) and then the optical axes of the optical waveguide element (5) and input waveguide means (3) are so adjusted that light waves (10, 11) output from individual branch arms (8, 9) of the Y-branch waveguide may have nearly identical light intensity. |
| US08175430B2 |
Optical multiplexer/demultiplexer systems configured with non-periodic gratings
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to multiplexer/demultiplexer systems. In one aspect, a multiplexer/demultiplexer system includes an input/output waveguide, two or more output/input waveguides, and a planar, non-periodic, sub-wavelength grating. The grating is configured so that when the system is operated as a multiplexer, each wavelength of light output from one of the two or more output/input waveguides is reflected by the grating toward the input/output waveguide. When the system is operated as a demultiplexer, each wavelength of light output from the input/output waveguide is reflected toward one of the two or more output/input waveguides. |
| US08175429B2 |
Microresonator systems and methods of fabricating the same
Various embodiments of the present invention are related to microresonator systems that can be used as a laser, a modulator, and a photodetector and to methods for fabricating the microresonator systems. In one embodiment, a microdisk comprises: a top layer; a bottom layer; an intermediate layer having at least one quantum well, the intermediate layer sandwiched between the top layer and the bottom layer; a peripheral annular region including at least a portion of the top, intermediate, and bottom layers; and a current isolation region configured to occupy at least a portion of a central region of the microdisk including at least a portion of the top, intermediate, and bottom layers and having relatively lower index of refraction than the peripheral annular region. |
| US08175428B2 |
Optical communications system with selective block/add capability of an optical channel
An optical communications system has a selective block/add capability of an optical channel. An optical beam separator receives and separates an input mixed optical beam into a separated optical channel and a remainder optical beam. A block/add unit receives as an input the separated optical channel and produces as an output a controllably modified separated optical channel. The block/add unit includes a source of an add input optical signal, and a controllable mirror. The controllable mirror is controllable between a first state in which the controllable mirror does not block the path of the separated optical channel, so that the separated optical channel is the output of the block/add unit, and a second state in which the controllable mirror blocks the path of the separated optical channel, and also reflects the add input optical signal as the output of the block/add unit. An optical beam combiner receives the output of the block/add unit and combines the output of the block/add unit with the remainder optical beam. |
| US08175427B2 |
Apparatus and methods for use of a tunable optical source in safety curtain applications
Apparatus and methods for using a tunable optical source in safety curtain applications provide for enhanced operation of the safety curtain. In an embodiment, a safety curtain includes a transmit unit and a receive unit to operate as the safety curtain, where a single tunable light source generates different wavelengths of light and a single detector is used to detect the generated light. |
| US08175421B2 |
Label image editing apparatus, label image editing plotting system, and label image editing program storage medium
There is disclosed a label image editing apparatus for editing a label image on a recording media having a data side on which data is recorded, and a label side on which a label image is plotted to visually confirm recording contents on the data side. The label image editing apparatus comprises: a data analyzing section that analyzes data to be recorded on the recording media and/or data to be reproduced from the recording media; and a layout display section that displays, as a layout of the label image, a layout according to an analyzing result by the data analyzing section. |
| US08175413B1 |
Video identification through detection of proprietary rights logos in media
Proprietary rights logos are detected in a video. The video is divided into a plurality of regions that are analyzed for generic proprietary rights logo features. A confidence mask is generated that comprises a plurality of scaling factors, each scaling factor corresponding to a region of the video and indicating a likelihood that the corresponding region of the video includes a proprietary rights logo. The scaling factors of the confidence mask are applied to the video data to generate an altered video. The altered video is analyzed to determine a confidence measure that the video includes a reference proprietary rights logo. |
| US08175411B2 |
Methods and systems for estimation of compression noise
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining the compression noise present in an image or frame in a video sequence. |
| US08175406B2 |
Method for dynamically adjusting the images
A method for dynamically adjusting an image taken by a webcam. After providing a first threshold value, an environmental reference value is calculated according to an exposure time and an average brightness value. The environmental reference value is compared with the first threshold value to determine whether to enter a noise-reduction mode to reduce noises of the image. |
| US08175402B2 |
Drawing apparatus
A drawing apparatus which can create an exposure pattern rapidly. The drawing apparatus has a raster conversion processing module for converting vector images as wiring patterns into bitmap image data, an image cache module for temporarily storing a predetermined-size cached image supplied from the raster conversion processing module, a first compression module for compressing the cached image stored in the image cache module, a second compression module for compressing the cached image stored in the image cache module in a compression ratio differing from that of the first compression module, a comparison module for comparing data sizes of compressed data generated by the first and second compression modules and selecting one having a smaller data size, a memory access module for writing the compressed data selected by the comparison module, into a storage module, and a cache region control module for controlling a compression status of the cached image. |
| US08175401B2 |
Image processing apparatus and computer readable medium storing program therefor
An image processing apparatus includes an image partitioning unit that partitions an image represented by input image information into image partitions, each containing plural pixels; a run coding unit that run-length encodes image partitions for which all pixels contained in any of the image partitions match with a pixel value in a predetermined position in another image partition; and an independently coding unit that encodes image partitions other than image partitions encoded by the run coding unit, so that the resulting codes are decoded independently for each image partition. |
| US08175400B2 |
Method of processing and outputting image, and apparatus using the same
In order to process image data including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of pixel groups, each of which includes a plurality of pixels, are extracted from the image data sequentially. Next, it is judged whether each of the pixel groups includes only at least one of a white pixel and a black pixel. At least one first pixel group in the pixel groups is binarized in accordance with an arrangement of the at least one of the white pixel and the black pixel therein, in a case where it is judged that the first pixel group includes only at least one of the white pixel and the black pixel, thereby generating at least one first data item. A first resolution of at least one second pixel group in the pixel groups is reduced to a second resolution, in a case where it is judged that the second pixel group includes at least one pixel other than the white pixel and the black pixel, thereby generating at least one second data item. |
| US08175399B2 |
Multiple-resolution image processing apparatus
Multi-resolution images of a reference image and a target image are generated. Then, whole-range matching is performed on an image of a lower resolution to detect a two-dimensional displacement between the images. Block matching is performed on an image of a higher resolution to detect a displacement at each feature point. The accuracy of motion data is increased by correcting the motion data with an image of a higher resolution by using the previously calculated motion data of the lowest resolution through higher resolutions as an initial value. |
| US08175396B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding multi-view images based on global disparity vector
A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding multi-view images. The multi-view image encoding method selects a block corresponding to a current block from another picture having a view-point which is different from a view-point of a current picture to which the current block belongs, on the basis of a global disparity vector representing a global disparity between the current picture and the other picture; and encodes the current block on the basis of block information of a block from among the selected block and blocks adjacent to the selected block. Accordingly, multi-view images can be encoded in consideration of the individual differences between the appearances of objects as well as global disparities between view-points. |
| US08175394B2 |
Shape clustering in post optical character recognition processing
Systems, methods and computer program products on storage devices for shape clustering and applications in processing various documents, including an output of an optical character recognition (OCR) process. The output of an OCR process is classified into a plurality of clusters of clip images and a representative image for each cluster is generated to identify clusters whose clip images were incorrectly assigned character codes by the OCR process. |
| US08175387B1 |
Image similarity detection using approximate pattern matching
Two images are compared to determine how similar they are. First, a process normalizes each image, then horizontal and vertical byte sequences are derived from each image. A similarity formula is used to obtain a similarity value that represents the similarity between the two images. An approximate pattern matching algorithm is used to determine the error distance between the horizontal byte sequences for the images and to determine the error distance between the vertical byte sequences for the images. The error distances and the length of the byte sequences are used to determine the similarity value. Padding is used to make the aspect ratios the same. |
| US08175384B1 |
Method and apparatus for discriminative alpha matting
Method and apparatus for creating foreground masks, or mattes, in images including complex images. A discriminative matting technique may generate accurate alpha mattes for textured images or objects with spatial-varying color distributions. Given an input image and a trimap defining an unknown region, a discriminative color analysis is applied to the unknown region, yielding estimated alpha values, estimated binary segmentation values, and a mixture probability map for the region. The map may be adaptively smoothed. The pixels in the unknown region are classified into boundary pixels and non-boundary pixels according to the probability map. The non-boundary pixels are classified as either foreground or background pixels using a differencing technique that compares multiple pixel features. The estimated alpha values for the boundary pixels are refined. An alpha matte for the image is output. The process may be repeated until convergence of the alpha matte. |
| US08175383B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program product for image processing
From the target image data, a luminance component, a first color difference component, and a second color difference component which represent color of respective pixels are acquired; and a maximum magnitude smoothing process is carried out on the first color difference component. |
| US08175381B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus
An image processing apparatus performs conversion and a first compression on upper bits in image data, thereby generating a first compressed data set, and performs a second compression on lower bits in the image data, thereby generating second compressed data. The image processing apparatus then performs a first decompression on the first compressed data set, thereby generating a first uncompressed data set, and performs a second decompression on the second compressed data, thereby generating second uncompressed data. Finally, the image processing apparatus interpolates the first uncompressed data set based on the second uncompressed data. |
| US08175376B2 |
Framework for image thumbnailing based on visual similarity
An apparatus and method for detecting a region of interest in an image are disclosed. Image representations for a set of images that have been manually annotated with regions of interest are stored, along with positive and negative representations of each image which are similarly derived to the image representations except that they are based on features extracted from patches within the region of interest and outside it, respectively. For an original image for which a region of interest is desired, the stored information for K similar images is automatically retrieved and used to train a classifier. The trained classifier provides, for each patch of the original image, a probability of being in a region of interest, based extracted features of the patch (represented, for example, as a Fisher vector), which can be used to determine a region of interest in the original image. |
| US08175374B2 |
Volume recognition method and system
The present invention relates to a volume recognition method comprising the steps of: a) capturing three-dimensional image data using a 3D imaging system 3, wherein said image data represent a plurality of points 5, each point 5 having at least a set of coordinates in a three-dimensional space; b) grouping at least some of the points 5 in a set of clusters 6; c) selecting, according to a first set of parameters such as position and size, a cluster 6 corresponding to an object of interest 1 located in range of said imaging system 3; d) grouping at least some of the points 5 of the selected cluster 6 in a set of sub-clusters according to a second set of parameters comprising their positions in the three-dimensional space, wherein each sub-cluster has a centroid 11 in the three-dimensional space; and e) associating a volume 12 to each of at least some of said sub-clusters, wherein said volume 12 is fixed to the centroid 11 of said sub-cluster. The present invention also relates to a volume recognition system for carrying out this method. |
| US08175368B2 |
Systems and methods for image segmentation with a multi-state classifier
The systems and methods described herein provide for fast and accurate image segmentation through the application of a multi-stage classifier to an image data set. An image processing system is provided having a processor configured to apply a multi-stage classifier to the image data set to identify a distinctive region. The multi-stage classifier can include two or more component classifiers. The first component classifier can have a sensitivity level configured to identify one or more target regions in the image data set and the second component classifier can have a specificity level configured to confirm the presence of the distinctive region in any identified target regions. Also provided is a classification array having multiple multi-stage classifiers for identification and confirmation of more than one distinctive region or for the application of different classification configurations to the image data set to identify a specific distinctive region. |
| US08175367B2 |
Reducing false positives in computer-aided detection
Methods, systems, and related computer program products for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities in digital (or digitized) x-ray mammograms are described. The inventive techniques are based on using a foundational CAD processing algorithm that is characterized by at least one of non-shift-invariance, non-rotational-invariance, and non-inversional-invariance. According to one preferred embodiment, a first x-ray mammogram image of a breast is received, and at least one altered version thereof is generated that differs therefrom by at least one of image shift, image rotation, and image inversion. The first x-ray mammogram image and each of the at least one altered versions thereof are individually processed using the foundational CAD algorithm to generate a respective plurality of individual CAD detection sets. The plurality of CAD detection sets are then compared to generate an overall CAD detection set. |
| US08175365B2 |
Method for registering a two-dimensional image data set, generated using fan-shaped imaging rays, in the medical field and a corresponding computer program product and method and system for automatically registering a body on the basis of two-dimensional image data, for use in medical navigation systems
The present invention relates to a method for registering a two-dimensional image data set, generated using fan-shaped imaging rays, in the medical field, wherein the method comprises: processing the two-dimensional image data on the basis of a spatial transformation function which describes a spatial relative position between points which have been imaged using a fan-shaped imaging ray, and the imaging apparatus used for imaging; and processing the two-dimensional image data on the basis of an imaging transformation function which describes an imaging function of the imaging apparatus used for generating the two-dimensional image data set, which describes a spatial relationship between the actual spatial position of imaged points and their imaging location in a recording. |
| US08175351B2 |
Computer-aided detection and classification of suspicious masses in breast imagery
Methods are presented that detect and classify mass-like regions exhibiting spiculated and/or dense characteristics with high sensitivity and at acceptable false positive rates. One or more suspicious masses are identified in medical imagery of the breast. In certain embodiments, a quantitative measure of spiculation and quantitative measure of density are computed for each suspicious mass located. At least one classification scheme, developed using true and false positives with similar quantitative measures, is then selected for each suspicious mass according to both quantitative measures. In certain other embodiments, a measure of breast location is computed for each suspicious mass. In one embodiment, the location determines whether a suspicious mass appears inside or outside of the parenchyma region of the breast. |
| US08175350B2 |
Method for tissue culture extraction
An image guidance system is provided for improving tissue culture extraction where the tissue is extracted under the guidance of first and second knowledge-based systems. The first knowledge-based system provides initial suggested regions of interest for tissue biopsy in an internal organ. These regions of interest are then confirmed as being of interest of being benign by the second knowledge-based system. Information from two different sources may provide a more accurate, intelligent and robust method that helps in selecting biopsy sites accurately, such that suspicious regions are not overlooked and the benign regions are not unnecessarily operated upon. This not only helps in better diagnosis and treatment, but also helps reduce pain to the patient, in addition to reducing wastage of resources and invaluable time. |
| US08175349B2 |
System and method for segmenting vertebrae in digitized images
A method for segmenting vertebrae in digitized images includes providing a plurality of digitized whole-body images, detecting and segmenting a spinal cord using 3D polynomial spinal model in each of the plurality of images, finding a height of each vertebrae in each image from intensity projections along the spinal cord, and building a parametric model of a vertebrae from the plurality of images. The method further includes providing a new digitized whole-body image including a spinal cord, fitting an ellipse to each vertebrae of the spinal cord to find the major and minor axes, and applying constraints to the major and minor axes in the new image based on the parametric model to segment the vertebrae. |
| US08175344B2 |
Fingerprint matching processor
In a fingerprint matching processor which has an electrostatic capacity semiconductor sensor 14 for detecting fingerprint information based on electrostatic capacities between a plurality of detection electrodes 21 arranged on a semiconductor substrate 24 at a predetermined interval in a two dimensional manner and a target object, and which executes a fingerprint matching process for the detected fingerprint information, a water repellent film 30 is formed on a protective film 26, the protective film 26 protecting ground electrodes 22 that are disposed between the detection electrodes 21 and configured to ground the target object and the detection electrodes 21, and serves as a surface of the semiconductor sensor 14 for placement of the target object. |
| US08175340B2 |
Map information display apparatus, map information display method, and program
A map information display apparatus for displaying map information on the basis of information on image-capturing times and image-capturing positions that are respectively associated with a plurality of captured images includes a captured image extraction unit configured to extract images captured within a predetermined time period that includes the image-capturing time of a predetermined captured image from among the plurality of captured images; a map area selection unit configured to select an area of a map so as to include the image-capturing positions of the captured images extracted by the captured image extraction unit by using as a reference the image-capturing position of the predetermined captured image; and a map information display unit configured to display map information in such a manner that the area of the map, which is selected by the map area selection unit, is displayed. |
| US08175330B2 |
Optimization methods for the insertion, protection, and detection of digital watermarks in digitized data
The implementations of digital watermarks can be optimally suited to particular transmission, distribution and storage mediums given the nature of digitally-sampled audio, video and other multimedia works. Watermark application parameters can be adapted to the individual characteristics of a given digital sample stream. Watermark information can be either carried in individual samples or in relationships between multiple samples, such as in a waveform shape. More optimal models may be obtained to design watermark systems that are tamper-resistant given the number and breadth of existent digitized sample options with different frequency and time components. The highest quality of a given content signal may be maintained as it is mastered, with the watermark suitably hidden, taking into account usage of digital filters and error correction. The quality of the underlying content signals can be used to identify and highlight advantageous locations for the insertion of digital watermarks. The watermark is integrated as closely as possible to the content signal, at a maximum level to force degradation of the content signal when attempts are made to remove the watermarks. |
| US08175326B2 |
Automated scoring system for athletics
Disclosed are methods and systems for utilizing motion capture techniques, for example, video based motion capture techniques, for capturing and modeling the captured 3D movement of an athlete through a defined space. The model is then compared with an intended motion pattern in order to identify deviations and/or form breaks that, in turn, may be used in combination with a scoring algorithm to quantify the athlete's execution of the intended motion pattern to produce an objective score. It is anticipated that these methods and systems will be particularly useful for training and judging in those sports that have struggled with the vagaries introduced by the subjective nature of human scoring. |
| US08175325B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding symbols carrying payload data for watermarking of an audio or video signal
Watermark information (denoted WM) consists of several symbols which are embedded continuously by reference sequence modulation in an audio or a video signal. At decoder site the WM is regained using correlation of the received signal with a corresponding reference sequence. The symbols form watermark data frames. The invention uses for the bit values ‘zero’ and ‘one’ in each payload symbol and for each payload symbol in a watermark data frame different reference sequences, without using synchronisation symbols. A logarithmic search is performed in the WM decoder to reduce the numbers of correlations to be calculated. The invention makes watermarking of critical sound signals much more robust. |
| US08175320B2 |
Single magnet coaxial loudspeaker
A coaxial loudspeaker for reproducing an electrical sound signal is provided. The loudspeaker has a magnetic driver assembly with a first annular slot and an opposed, coaxial second annular slot, each establishing a permanent magnetic field therein from a single magnet. Independently driven first and second voice coils are positioned within the respective one of the first and second annular slots, each being connected to a transducer element. |
| US08175312B1 |
Directional sound projection system
The present invention essentially comprises a horn separated into a plurality of sections, wherein the horn is supported by a mounting bracket that may be both rotatable and pivotable and wherein the horn is made of two portions wherein the general middle is used as the attachment point to a bracket while both ends are also supported by the bracket. |
| US08175310B2 |
BTE hearing aid adaptor
The present invention relates to an adaptor for a BTE hearing aid with a housing to be worn behind the ear, an earpiece for insertion in the earcanal, and a signal transmission member for transmission of a signal from the housing at a first end of the member to the earpiece at a second end of the member, the signal transmission member having a connector at the first end, wherein the housing and the connector of the signal transmission member are not adapted for mutual mechanical interconnection, wherein the adaptor has a first end that is geometrically adapted for mechanical connection with the connector of the signal transmission member and a second end that is geometrically adapted for mechanical connection with the housing, so that the signal transmission member and the housing can be mechanically interconnected through the adaptor whereby the variety of signal transmission member units to be kept in stock by a hearing aid dispenser is substantially minimized. |
| US08175309B2 |
Hearing aid device
The invention relates to a hearing aid device, in particular a hearing aid, preferably an in-the-ear hearing aid, with a long-stretched out removal device and a guide for the removal device, wherein the guide is embodied on or within the hearing aid device and the removal device is accommodated displaceably in the guide. The invention further relates to a hearing aid device set, in particular an in-the-ear hearing aid set, with a hearing aid device according to the invention and an electrical recharging device. |
| US08175306B2 |
Wireless communication between devices of a hearing prosthesis
A method of wireless communication between hearing aid devices of a hearing prosthesis. A first device selects a frequency channel for bidirectional wireless communication from a predefined series of frequency channels. A second device transmits a command signal repeatedly over the series of frequency channels until it transmits the command signal over the frequency channel selected by the first device. Subsequent commands send by the second device to the first device are initially transmitted over the selected frequency channel. |
| US08175293B2 |
Apparatus, methods and computer programs for converting sound waves to electrical signals
An apparatus comprising: a first member including a plurality of portions separated from one another by electrical insulator material; a second member configured to form capacitors with the plurality of portions of the first member; and wherein one of the first member and the second member are configured to vibrate in response to sound waves, and a first portion of the plurality of portions is configured to provide a first output signal representative of the sound waves and a second portion of the plurality of portions is configured to provide a second output signal representative of the sound waves. |
| US08175290B2 |
Feedback reduction system
A feedback reduction system adaptively processes a microphone signal. An adaptive feedback suppression filter circuit processes the microphone signal, and an adaptive feedback compensation filter circuit further processes the microphone signal. The adaptive feedback suppression filter circuit processes the signal based upon output from the adaptive filter compensation filter circuit. |
| US08175288B2 |
User interface for mixing sounds in a media application
A media application for providing outputs (e.g., audio outputs) in response to inputs received from an input device is provided. The media application may connect input mechanisms of an input device with parameters of channel strips (e.g., which may define output sounds) using an intermediate screen object. The media application may first assign an input mechanism to a screen object, and separately map a screen object to a channel strip parameter. The media application may map a screen object to several channel strips simultaneously such that, based on the value of the screen object, the volume of each of the several channel strips changes. The media application may provide a graphical representation of available channel strips using layers. As the media application accesses a channel strip, the appearance of the portion of the layer associated with the channel strip may change. The media application may also allow the patches, which may include several channel strips, to survive after a new patch is selected instead. |
| US08175285B2 |
Audio player apparatus having sound analyzer and its control method
An audio player apparatus includes a first speaker disposed to output a sound from a front face of a flat panel television apparatus to the outside, a second speaker disposed to output a sound from a backside of the flat panel television apparatus to the outside, a microphone disposed on the backside of the flat panel television apparatus to receive the sound output from the second speaker and to convert the received sound into an electric signal, an analysis unit configured to detect a reflected sound and reflection time of the sound output from the second speaker based on a second audio signal supplied to the second speaker and the electric signal output from the microphone, and a phase correction unit configured to correct a phase of at least one of a first audio signal supplied to the first speaker and the second audio signal based on the reflection time. |
| US08175282B2 |
Method of evaluating perception intensity of an audio signal and a method of controlling an input audio signal on the basis of the evaluation
Method of evaluating perception intensity of an audio input signal (IS) comprising the steps of receiving the audio input signal (IS), estimating a time variant distribution function (TVDF) on the basis of said audio input signal (IS) or a derivative thereof, determining the perception intensity as at least one perception intensity estimate (PIE) on the basis of said estimated time variant distribution function (TVDF). According to the invention perception intensity has been obtained on the basis of a time variant distribution function. Thereby, an advantageous universal and flexible determination of perception intensity is obtained. The universal applicability is basically obtained due to the fact that a distribution function may match and describe audio input signal of very different nature. Thus, according to the invention even speech, music and noise may be evaluated on the basis of a distribution function. |
| US08175281B2 |
Method and apparatus for a binaural hearing assistance system using monaural audio signals
The present application provides method and apparatus for a binaural hearing assistance system using a monaural audio signal input. The system, in various examples, provides adjustable delay/phase adjustment and sound level adjustment. Different embodiments are provided for receiving the monaural signal and distributing it to a plurality of hearing assistance devices. Different relaying modes are provided. Special functions are supported, such as telecoil functions. The system also has examples that account for a head-related transfer function in providing advanced sound processing for the wearer. Other examples are provided that are described in the detailed description. |
| US08175273B2 |
Quantum cryptography communication method, quantum cryptography communication apparatus, and quantum cryptography communication system
In quantum cryptography communication, a sequence of signals in the form of quantum states randomly selected from a plurality of quantum states each having a different phase modulation angle is transmitted from a data transmitting apparatus. In a data receiving apparatus, if the sequence of samples is received, a plurality of bases corresponding to a plurality of different phase modulation angles are randomly selected, and a homodyne detection process is performed using the selected bases. Information indicating the bases used in the homodyne detection process is sent to the transmitting apparatus. In the data transmitting apparatus, depending on the bases used in the receiving apparatus, bit values are assigned to the plurality of different quantum states selected by the transmitting apparatus, and information indicating the assigned bit values is sent to the data receiving apparatus. |
| US08175271B2 |
Method and system for security protocol partitioning and virtualization
A method for implementing a security protocol, involving receiving a packet from a network connection, obtaining an identifier for one of a plurality of security association database (SADB) partitions associated with the packet, wherein each of the plurality of SADB partitions is associated with one of a plurality of packet destinations, applying a security association from the one of the plurality of SADB partitions to the packet, and sending the packet to the one of the plurality of packet destinations associated with the SADB partition, wherein the packet is processed at the one of the plurality of packet destinations. |
| US08175270B2 |
Authentication loading control and information recapture in a UMTS network
An authentication loading control feature enables a service provider to control the number of authentication procedures or percentage of time that authentication procedures are performed by a network element adapted to perform authentication procedures (e.g., a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of a UMTS network); and an information recapture feature enables the network element to obtain, in the absence of authentication, UE information that conventionally would have been received as a part of the authentication procedure as needed, for example and without limitation, to support charging and lawful intercept functions. |
| US08175259B2 |
Handheld electronic device having improved phone call log, and associated method
An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method provide an improved call log that presents information relating to logged phone calls in a collapsed manner, meaning that for each phone number having a call stored in the memory of the device, only the most recent in time call is listed on the call log. An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method also provide a call history for any phone call from the improved call log that is selected by the user. The call history includes a listing of all of the calls stored by the device that are associated with the selected call log call. |
| US08175254B2 |
Prediction of threshold exceptions based on real time operating information
A contact center includes a real time threshold prediction module that determines that a selected performance measure will, during a future time interval, likely cross a selected threshold and, in response, performs at least one of the following operations: (i) determines, for the likely crossing of the selected threshold, a consequence in a selected service level agreement and determines a set of corrective actions to reduce a likelihood that the selected performance measure will cross the selected threshold. |
| US08175250B2 |
Dialed number service routing in a telephone network by reference to a database
In accordance with an improved call routing methodology, a call is routed within a communication network by reference to one or more databases. In response to receiving a local number portability request at a service control point (SCP), the SCP accesses one or more databases to determine whether or not to apply custom call routing to a call directed to a called telecommunications number. In response to determining to apply custom call routing to the call, the SCP performs at least a second access to the one or more databases to obtain a local routing number (LRN) associated within the one or more databases with a calling telecommunications number associated with the call. The SCP thereafter provides the LRN to a service switch point in the communication network so that the call is routed to a called station associated with the called telecommunications number. |
| US08175245B2 |
Single telephone number access to multiple communications services
A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include, for example, voicemail services, facsimile messaging services, paging services, and outbound calling services. A guest caller may call the single phone number to speak to a subscriber, leave a voicemail message for a subscriber, leave a facsimile message for a subscriber, or place a page to a subscriber. A subscriber may call the phone number to place outbound calls. In addition, a subscriber may call the single phone number to retrieve or send facsimile messages and/or voicemail messages. A subscriber may also call the phone number to configure service options. For instance, a subscriber may select routing options and choose what services are available to guest callers. |
| US08175241B2 |
System and method for adding conference participants
A system for adding a participant to an ongoing conference call is provided. The system includes a handset operable to send a message containing a prospective participant to be added to the conference call. The system also includes an application server operable to receive the message and invite the prospective participant. The application server is further operable in response to receiving an acknowledgement from the prospective participant to participate in the conference call to add the prospective participants in the conference call. |
| US08175237B2 |
Audio interface
An audio interface includes interface circuitry configured to translate audio signals received from a military handset to audio signals compatible with a plain old telephone system (POTS) network. The interface circuitry presents a 6-pin (or 5-pin) audio port configured to couple the military handset to the interface circuitry. The interface circuitry further features a 2-wire POTS connector configured to couple the interface circuitry to the POTS network. |
| US08175235B2 |
Lease model for avoiding permanent card locking
Methods relating to prepaid services include determining an unlocked status of an account configured to track usage of prepaid services. The methods further include locking the account for a length of time after the determining step. The methods further include providing, for a service period, a service to a user associated with the account subsequent to the locking step, and continuously extending the locking for an additional length of time throughout the service period. |
| US08175234B2 |
Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
The present invention is directed to a method for simultaneously rendering one or more conversations on a communication device. The method includes receiving at the first communication device media associated with the one or more conversations over a network and defining a set of conversations among the one or more conversations to be simultaneously rendered. The received media associated with the one or more conversations is simultaneously rendered regardless if the received media overlaps or not. |
| US08175233B2 |
Distributed cache system
An integrated messaging system for performing various types of messaging across different types of networks, including integrated user interfaces and administrator interfaces. Embodiments include a communication server that couples among networks of different types, and an interface module that couples to the communication server. The interface module may be hosted on a messaging server of a network. The interface module pulls various user information from the messaging server, including information relevant to at least the network that includes the messaging server. A cache couples to the communication server and to the interface module to hold information from the communication server and/or the user information pulled from messaging server. The interface module directs a message from the messaging server and/or the cache to at least one device on the networks using the user information. |
| US08175230B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically building conversational systems
A system and method provides a natural language interface to world-wide web content. Either in advance or dynamically, webpage content is parsed using a parsing algorithm. A person using a telephone interface can provide speech information, which is converted to text and used to automatically fill in input fields on a webpage form. The form is then submitted to a database search and a response is generated. Information contained on the responsive webpage is extracted and converted to speech via a text-to-speech engine and communicated to the person. |
| US08175221B2 |
X-ray beam processor
An x-ray beam processor system that includes an x-ray beam generator for generating x-ray beams; a collecting cone that includes multilayer waveguide optics; a condensing cone that includes multilayer waveguide optics; and polycapillary tubes with channels, where the polycapillary tubes link the collecting cone and the condensing cone. |
| US08175218B2 |
Interpolation interlacing based data upsampling algorithm for cone-beam x-ray CT flying focal spot projection data
A method of computed-tomography and a computed-tomography apparatus where a flying focal spot x-ray interpolation interlacing is used. Weighted or non-weighted interlacing of zero values is performed, or interpolation interlacing is performed. The interpolation interlacing may be implemented as part of backprojection and or may be a separate process prior to backprojection. In both cases interlacing is performed on post-logged convolved data. The interpolation interlacing may also be incorporated into different parts of the processing chain, such as before convolution. |
| US08175217B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus
An X-ray CT apparatus is provided with an X-ray tube current modulation pattern calculation means that calculates an X-ray tube current modulation pattern based on a 3-dimensional model of an object calculated based on a scanogram image of the object, start-up shape acquisition means that acquires a start-up shape of CT values of a predetermined region of the object or CT value time differences after injecting contrast agent into the object, time contrast curve prediction means that predicts a time contrast curve indicative of a time sequential change of contrast in a diagnostic portion of the object at each slice position at a scan time based on the acquired start-up shape of the CT values or CT value time differences, object 3-dimensional model modification means that modifies a 3-dimensional model of the object based on the predicted time contrast curve, and X-ray tube electric current modulation pattern modification means that modifies the X-ray tube electric current modulation pattern based on the modified 3-dimensional model of the object. |
| US08175214B2 |
Programmable frequency divider comprising a shift register and electrical system comprising the frequency divider
A frequency divider having a plurality of programmable latches connected in a feedback shift register configuration. A programmable latch of said plurality of latches comprises a program input to receive a program signal configured to select a polarity of the programmable latch among two opposite polarities. The frequency divider having a configuration module structured to provide at least the program signal to the program input to modify a divisor parameter of the frequency divider. |
| US08175211B2 |
Method of stress corrosion cracking mitigation for nuclear power plant structural materials
The object of this invention is to provide a method for mitigating a stress corrosion cracking of reactor structural material which makes it possible to suppress the rise in the main steam line dose rate without secondary effects such as a rise in the concentration of radioactive cobalt-60, etc. in the reactor water. Hydrogen and a reductive nitrogen compound containing nitrogen having a negative oxidation number (for example, hydrazine) are injected into the core water of boiling water nuclear power plant. By injecting the reductive nitrogen compound containing nitrogen having a negative oxidation number into the core water, the stress corrosion cracking of structural material of reactor can be mitigated without side reactions such as a rise in the concentration of cobalt-60, etc. |
| US08175208B2 |
Method of reducing d.c. offset
A method of reducing d.c. offset comprises comparing the a first variable signal with a second variable signal, producing a control signal in dependence upon the comparison, providing the control signal to a charge pump for generation of a feedback signal, and varying the first signal and/or the second signal in dependence upon the feedback signal thereby reducing any difference between the d.c. level of the first signal and the d.c. level of the second signal. |
| US08175203B2 |
Broadcast channel estimator
A communication system comprises a receiver, which may generate broadcast coefficients that represent the characteristics of a channel using the channel information encoded in the segment synchronization units. The receiver may also use the channel information encoded in both the segment synchronization units and the field synchronization units to accurately determine the characteristics of a long channel. |
| US08175195B2 |
Method for detecting paths in pulse transmission and a device for carrying out said method
The invention relates to method and device for detecting propagation paths in pulse transmission, wherein a received signal comprises pulses on each time symbol. After synchronizing a pulse-based reception, the inventive method consists (A) in determining the arrival times of pulses of the same current time symbol, (B) in generating a path hypotheses by assigning an initial score to each dated pulse, (C) in determining the arrival times of pulses of the time symbol following the current symbol, (D) in relatively comparing the arrival times of pulses of the following time symbol with the arrival times of the path hypotheses and (E) in updating scores according to the relative comparison results. Said path detecting method is suitable for pulse information transmission, in particular in UWB. |
| US08175188B2 |
Reduced complexity multicarrier precoder
A reduced complexity precoder provides an efficient method and structure to precode a vector-signal-point sequence for transmission through a band-limited channel. The precoder enables a block-oriented receiver to recover an underlying data stream in the presence of inter-symbol interference and noise. The precoder structure is applicable to multicarrier systems such as DMT (discrete multitone) or related transform domain and vector communication systems. The inventive precoder reduces the cost of precoding by an order of magnitude and eliminates the need for a cyclic prefix in DMT and related communication systems. Related multicarrier transmitter and receiver structures and methods which reduce computation, increase transmission bandwidth and reduce transmission power are also developed. |
| US08175187B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus for suppressing interference while reducing transmission delay
A wireless communication apparatus for performing communication using a first communication scheme which transmits a signal using amplitude shift keying and a second communication scheme which suppresses communication with others except a communication counterpart by transmitting a transmission suppression signal before communication is started. The apparatus includes: a first signal generation unit configured to generate transmission data; a modulation unit configured to generate first and second signals having different amplitudes by amplitude-shift keying the transmission data; a second signal generation unit configured to generate the transmission suppression signal having a signal length corresponding to that of the first signal; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the transmission suppression signal at the timing when the first signal is transmitted. |
| US08175185B2 |
RF polar transmitter and integrated circuit with programmable filter module and methods for use therewith
A radio frequency (RF) transmitter includes a transmitter processing module that generates a processed signal and a modulating signal based on outbound data. An up-conversion module up-converts the processed signal to generate an up-converted signal. A programmable filter module generates a first plurality of delayed signals from the up-converted signal and that generates a filtered up-converted signal by combining the up-converted signal and the first plurality of delayed signals, wherein a delayed signal of the first plurality of delayed signals is scaled based on one of a first plurality of coefficients, wherein the first plurality of coefficients are selected based on a control signal. A polar amplifier amplifies and amplitude modulates the filtered up-converted signal based on the modulating signal to generate a transmit signal. A processing module generates the control signal to attenuate at least one RF spur of the up-converted signal. |
| US08175182B2 |
Method for transmitting data using phase shift based precoding and transceiver supporting the same
A method of transmitting data using cyclic delay in a multi-antenna system using a plurality of subcarriers and a transceiver supporting the same are disclosed. More particularly, a method of selecting a matrix (second matrix) for transforming a precoding matrix (first matrix) into a unitary matrix from a codebook by a prescribed reference is disclosed. An index for selecting the second matrix is calculated by a prescribed modulo operation in an open loop system or delivered as feedback information in a closed loop system. Diversity can be obtained by switching each column of the selected second matrix in accordance with time. In a multi-user system, a single second matrix can be determined by combining columns of the second matrix selected by each user. |
| US08175179B2 |
Calculating peak-to-average power ratio reduction symbols for multi-carrier modulated signals using a gradient-descent approach
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for reducing the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of a multi-carrier modulated symbol, such as an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbol. The method first transforms a set of data symbols into a multi-carrier modulated symbol. The method then uses the multi-carrier modulated symbol and a gradient-descent algorithm to generate a set of symbols for PAPR-reduction tones. The data symbols and the PAPR-reduction symbols are then transformed to generate an updated multi-carrier modulated symbol. The PAPR-reduction symbols are iteratively updated until a terminating condition occurs (e.g., an acceptable PAPR is achieved for the multi-carrier modulated symbol). In another embodiment, the method uses the multi-carrier modulated symbol generated in the first step and a gradient-descent algorithm to generate an updated multi-carrier modulated symbol directly, where the need for transforming the data symbols and the PAPR-reduction symbols is eliminated for subsequent iterations. |
| US08175176B2 |
FFT window spread generating method
The present invention provides an FFT window spread generating method used in the modulation of an OFDM system. When OFDM-modulated received signals each having a time length greater than or equal to an effective symbol length are demodulated by FFT processing using a spread FFT window, the spread FFT window makes use of received signals each having the time length greater than or equal to the effective symbol length. Spreading windows spread before and/or after the effective symbol length are provided. Received signals lying within the spreading windows are added to their corresponding received signals lying within the effective symbol length and different in time position by the effective symbol length, and the amplitudes of the added received signals are reduced to half respectively, thereby generating the spread FFT window. |
| US08175173B2 |
Methods and systems for transmitting signals differentially and single-endedly across a pair of wires
Provided herein are systems and methods for transmitting signals across a pair of wires. In accordance with specific embodiments, a differential signal is transmitted across the pair of wires during one period of time, and two single-ended signals are transmitted across the same pair of wires during another period of time. Low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) can be used to transmit the differential signal across the pair of wires. In contrast, non-differential signaling can be used to transfer the two singled-ended signals across the same pair of wires. |
| US08175169B2 |
Method and system for optimizing quantization for noisy channels
Methods are described for configuring a quantizer to achieve improved end-to-end distortion performance when transmitting encoded source data over a noisy channel. The codebook and partitioning are selected using an iterative process of determining an updated codebook and an updated partition space, where the updated codebook is based, in part, on the average symbol error probability of the channel. Complete knowledge of the transitional probabilities of the channel is not required. Variants of the iterative process are described. |
| US08175168B2 |
Methods and systems for picture up-sampling
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for picture up-sampling using direct interpolation. Some aspects of the present invention provide an up-sampling procedure designed for the Scalable Video Coding extension of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC. |
| US08175159B2 |
Moving picture signal coding method, decoding method, coding apparatus, and decoding apparatus
Moving picture motion compensation coding/decoding predicts a motion vector in a coding block from a motion vector of the adjacent position and codes a differential motion vector calculated from the motion vector to be coded and its prediction motion vector. The coding is performed by switching the coding accuracy between a coding accuracy of the differential motion vector (1) and a coding accuracy of the prediction motion vector and the coding motion vector (2) for each block. Moreover, when decoding the motion vector from the differential motion vector coded by the aforementioned coding, a reversed processing with respect to the coding is performed. |
| US08175147B1 |
Video coding rate control
Video encoding (such as H.263, MPEG-4, H.264/AVC) modifies TMN5-type rate control frame skipping and quantization parameter updating according to buffer fullness levels with I-frame initial quantization parameter values depend upon quantization parameter value of prior P-frames but also has within I-frame prediction and parameter increase to avoid excessive bits. And variable input frame rate is accommodated by adjusting buffer fullness measures. The quantization also applies to image compression. |
| US08175146B2 |
Display apparatus having data compensating circuit
In a data compensating circuit and a display apparatus having the same, a previous compressed data compressed from a previous frame data is previously stored in a memory, a decoder decompresses the previous compressed data from the memory to output a previous decompressed data, a coder-decoder compresses a present frame data into a present compressed data to store the present compressed data in the memory and decompresses the present compressed data to output a present decompressed data. A first processor outputs a difference value between the previous decompressed data and the present decompressed data, a second processor adds the present frame data and the difference value to generate a previous re-decompressed data. A compensator outputs a present compensation data based on the previous re-decompressed data and the present frame data. Thus, the size of the memory may be reduced while preventing damage of data. |
| US08175142B2 |
Odd-even interleaving while changing the operating mode in a digital video broadcasting (DVB) standard
A data processing apparatus to map input data symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of sub-carrier signals of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed OFDM symbols. The predetermined number of sub-carrier signals is determined in accordance with one of a plurality of operating modes and the input data symbols include first sets of data symbols and second sets of input data symbols. The data processing apparatus includes a controller, an address generator, and an interleaver memory. The controller is configured, when operating in accordance with an even interleaving process, to read out a first set of the input data symbols from the interleaver memory on to the sub-carrier signals of an even OFDM symbol using read addresses generated by the address generator, and to write in a second set of the input data symbols into the interleaver memory using the addresses generated by the address generator. |
| US08175135B1 |
Equalizer with adaptive noise loading
A method for communication includes receiving signals at a receiver from one or more sources, including a target signal transmitted by a given transmitter. A channel response is estimated from the given transmitter to the receiver, and a filter response is computed by taking a sum of an autocorrelation of the received signals with an adaptive noise factor, and applying the sum to the estimated channel response. The filter response is applied to the received signals in order to recover the target signal. |
| US08175130B2 |
Diode laser structure for generating diode laser radiation
A diode laser structure includes multiple stripe emitters disposed next to each other, in which each of the stripe emitters is configured to emit, during operation, a laser beam having a corresponding beam parameter product with respect to a slow axis (BPPSA), where the stripe emitters are arranged such that the corresponding BPPSA of the laser beams successively decrease from a center of the diode laser structure towards a first edge of the diode laser structure and from the center of the diode laser structure towards a second edge of the diode laser structure, the second edge being opposite the first edge. The stripe emitters are oriented in a direction of the slow axis and are offset from one another in the direction of the slow axis. |
| US08175129B2 |
Group-III nitride semiconductor laser device, method of fabricating group-III nitride semiconductor laser device, and method of estimating damage from formation of scribe groove
A method of fabricating group-III nitride semiconductor laser device includes: preparing a substrate comprising a hexagonal group-III nitride semiconductor and having a semipolar principal surface; forming a substrate product having a laser structure, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, where the laser structure includes a semiconductor region and the substrate, where the semiconductor region is formed on the semipolar principal surface; scribing a first surface of the substrate product in a direction of an a-axis of the hexagonal group-III nitride semiconductor to form first and second scribed grooves; and carrying out breakup of the substrate product by press against a second surface of the substrate product, to form another substrate product and a laser bar. |
| US08175127B2 |
System of method for dynamic range extension
The present invention generally relates to the operation of optical network equipment such as optical amplifiers. In one aspect, a method of operating an optical amplifier is provided such that output of the optical amplifier avoids the effects of operating an optical gain medium in a non-linear (kink) region of an L-I curve. The method generally includes operating an optical gain medium in a fully off state or fully on state above the kink region with a PWM signal. In another aspect, the effects of the kink region may be compensated for by utilizing a lookup table. A sample of the optical power of an amplified optical signal may be used to select an entry in the lookup table that compensates for non-linearities in the kink region. In yet a further aspect, a lookup table may be used to control a pulse modulator to compensate for non-linearites in the kink region of the L-I curve. |
| US08175121B2 |
Image processor and image display apparatus comprising the same
An image processor includes a motion vector acquisition section for acquiring and outputting an image motion vector in pixel or a predetermined block unit from plural frames included in an input image signal; and a frame interpolation section for generating an interpolated frame by using the motion vector provided by the motion vector acquisition section and for combining the interpolated frame with a frame of the input image signal, thereby composing a signal of a new frame sequence. The motion vector acquisition section includes a first motion vector acquisition section acquiring a motion vector by matching process and a second motion vector acquisition section acquiring a motion vector based on a relative misalignment of a predetermined edge component between two temporally successive frames in a specific area of an input image signal's frame. |
| US08175120B2 |
Minimal maintenance link to support synchronization
Multiple field units in a CDMA system are synchronized for communication with a base station using a shared forward and reverse link channel. Each field unit is assigned a time slot in a forward link channel to receive messages from the base station. Likewise, each field unit is assigned a time slot on a common reverse link channel for transmitting messages to the base station. Timing alignment among each of many field units and the base station is achieved by analyzing messages received at the base station in a corresponding time slot from each field unit. Thereafter, a message is transmitted in a corresponding time slot to a particular field unit from the base station for adjusting its timing so that future messages transmitted from the field unit are received in the appropriate time slot at the base station. In this way, minimal resources are deployed to maintain communication and precise synchronization between a base station and each of multiple users, minimizing collisions between field units transmitting in adjacent time slots on the reverse link. |
| US08175113B2 |
Communication network with node bypassed co-routed multi-channel traffic
Embodiments of the present invention route a wavelength division multiplexed signal across multiple communication paths using skew characteristics of at least some of the communication paths. The network is a wavelength division multiplexed optical transport network. The plurality of communication paths involves different signal and path attributes such as a plurality of carrier wavelengths, optical carrier groups, physical communication paths (different nodes, different fibers along a same path, or any combination of the foregoing), or any other differentiating factors between two paths. |
| US08175111B2 |
Apparatus and method for relay between networks
A network relay apparatus and method using a software module that easily support various network protocols and new network protocols. The network relay apparatus includes a first modem unit communicating with a first network using a first protocol, a second modem unit communicating with a second network using a second protocol, a bridge unit converting data to be suitable for the first and second protocols when the data is exchanged between the first modem unit and the second modem unit, and a controller generating the first and second modem units and the bridge unit in a software manner. |
| US08175103B2 |
Dynamic networking of virtual machines
The invention is directed to the use of Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) technology with Shortest Path Bridging, also called Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB) technology in the context of data centers and virtualized physical servers infrastructures. Virtual servers can be located anywhere inside the data center, or across different data centers, and still act as though they are physically adjacent and share the same Ethernet connectivity. Ethernet virtual machine VLan memberships are mapped to PBB Service Identifiers (I-SIDs). PBB I-SIDs extend the connectivity model to every Ethernet switches in the local, metropolitan or wide area networks. PLSB complements the connectivity by providing dynamic distribution and mapping of I-SID endpoints in the PBB domain. Virtual servers can then be added, removed or transferred to another point in the network and PLSB adjusts the VLan/I-SID specific connectivity pattern to match the physical distribution of the servers. |
| US08175097B2 |
Embedding a session description message in a real-time control protocol (RTCP) message
Embedded within at least some Real-Time Control Protocol (RTCP) messages sent from a media content source to a recipient is a session description message that describes a media presentation being streamed to the recipient. The session description message can be associated, for example, with one of a plurality of pieces of media content in a play list of media content being streamed from the device to the recipient. In accordance with certain aspects, an RTCP message that embeds a session description message includes at least three fields: a first field containing data identifying the RTCP message as being a type that embeds a session description message; a second field containing data that is the session description message for a media presentation; and a third field containing data identifying a length of the RTCP message, generated by summing the length of the first, second, and third fields. |
| US08175095B2 |
Systems and methods for sending data packets between multiple FPGA devices
Application Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”) devices, such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (“FPGAs”), may be interconnected using serial I/O connections, such as high speed multi-gigabit serial transceiver (“MGT”) connections. For example, serial I/O connections may be employed to interconnect a pair of ASICs to create a high bandwidth, low signal count connection, and in a manner so that any given pair of multiple ASIC devices on a single circuit card may communicate with each other through no more than one serial data communication link connection step. A reconfigurable hardware architecture (“RHA”) may be configured to include a communications infrastructure that uses a high-bandwidth packet router to establish standard communications protocols between multiple interfaces and/or multiple devices that may be present on a single circuit card. Dynamically-sized data packets, sized in accordance with the amount of data ready to be sent, are transferred between the devices and/or interfaces on the card. |
| US08175091B2 |
Communication system
A method of transmitting messages from a network node in a communication network to a first user device can be provided. The network node transmits to a second user device a message-waiting notification. The first user device is identified, and a node holding the message is identified. In response to that notification, the second user device transmits a connection request to the first user device. The connection request is acted on by the first user device to establish a connection. With the identified node, the message can be optionally transmitted to the first user device. |
| US08175089B2 |
Extended address space capability for an industrial protocol
Systems and methods are provided for communicating with control objects according to a singular and unified address space. In one aspect, an industrial communications system is provided. The system includes a global address protocol that can be employed to communicate with local or remote networks. An industrial protocol is adapted to interface with the global address protocol, where a network component communicates with one or more control components via the industrial protocol and in accordance with an address supplied by the global address protocol. |
| US08175088B2 |
System for offering mobile telecommunication service using internet network with UTP cable
Provided is a system for providing mobile telecommunication services using an Internet network built with a UTP cable. The system includes a main unit and a plurality of sub units. The main unit includes a plurality of input ports respectively connected to corresponding distributing ports of the switching hubs through UTP cables, is connected to an external mobile telecommunication base station through a wireless link, combines Internet signals transmitted from the distributing ports of the switching hubs with mobile telecommunication signals transmitted from the mobile telecommunication state through a wireless link. Each sub unit includes an input port connected to corresponding one of the output ports of the main unit through an UTP cable, separates the combined signal from the output port of the main unit into an Internet signal and a mobile telecommunication signal. |
| US08175081B2 |
Method and system of screening and control of telephone calls while using a packet-switched data network
A Call Alerting and Control System is provided in a communication environment to allow an Internet user (“user”) approximately real-time monitoring of information about an incoming call from a calling party while maintaining a connection with the Internet. The monitored information can include the calling party's name and telephone number. The system could also allow the user to provide an answering machine-type message to the calling party and the user to listen to the calling party's response to the message while still connected to the Internet. The system can further allow the user to reroute, answer or otherwise treat the incoming call while, at the user's discretion, either maintaining or disconnecting a connection to the Internet. |
| US08175072B2 |
Process for the generation of packets for at least one mobile receiver
A first variant of the process includes receiving an encrypted stream representing a service, this stream comprising a data channel and an ECM channel; slicing the stream to send it in packets to a mobile receiver; extracting the control message channel of this stream; forming a block containing the data channel, compatible with the diffusion to the receiver; extracting from the sliced stream a control message and introducing the control message into the block, in order to form a packet. A second variant of the process includes receiving an encrypted stream, this stream comprising a data channel and an ECM channel; cutting the stream; forming a block from the stream, comprising the data channel and the ECM channel, compatible with the diffusion to receivers; determining identical messages of the ECM channel repeated in the block and eliminating identical repeated messages, while conserving at least one of the identical messages. |
| US08175070B2 |
Communication method, and transmitting apparatus and receiving apparatus using that communication method
A method for generating a transmission signal to transmit a modulated signal generated using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, from a transmitting apparatus with a plurality of antennas, toward a plurality of terminals. The method includes assigning transmission data for the plurality of terminals to a plurality of carrier groups, each carrier group including a plurality of carriers and selecting, from the plurality of antennas, an antenna to be used for transmission toward each of the plurality of terminals. As a transmission mode for each of the plurality of carrier groups, a selection is made of one of a first transmission mode, in which one modulated signal is transmitted, and a second transmission mode in which a plurality of modulated signals are transmitted by using the selected antennas. A transmission signal is generated for transmitting the transmission data assigned to the plurality of carrier groups during an identical time period, using the selected transmission mode. |
| US08175069B2 |
Method and apparatus of resource management for multimedia broadcast multicast services
A method and apparatus of resource management for multimedia broadcast multicast services (MBMS) are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) sends a measurement report and an MBMS reception performance report to a network. Single frequency network (SFN) area change may be made based on cell reselection information, WTRU macro-diversity MBMS reception performance, neighbor cell signal strength reported by a WTRU, interference level measured by the WTRU, a number of WTRUs in a cell, service priority, WTRU class, WTRU mobility trend, WTRU location to a cell center, WTRU MBMS reception interference level, etc. The MBMS service on/off decision and/or point-to-point (PTP) to point-to-multipoint (PTM) switching may be made based on a channel condition of a WTRU. The channel condition may be determined based on whether the WTRU is in in-sync or out-of-sync in MBMS reception, consecutive negative acknowledgements (NAKs) within a certain time window, measured pathloss from a reference channel, etc. |
| US08175067B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and control method therefor
When a wireless communication network is built in an ad hoc mode, it is possible to appropriately build the wireless communication network regardless of start timings of wireless communication functions of image capturing apparatuses. In order to achieve the object, there is provided the image capturing apparatus which is capable of building a wireless communication network by wirelessly connecting to another image capturing apparatus in an ad hoc mode, and which is capable of switching between a function as a creator and a function as a joiner, including a start unit configured to start as the creator, a unit configured to execute a scan process, and a unit configured to determine based on a result of the scan process whether to function as the creator and to function as the joiner, and to control the image capturing apparatus in accordance with the determination result. |
| US08175064B2 |
System and method for relaying in multi-hop cellular networks
A radio communication system using TDD-CDMA multiple access system includes a base station and a plurality of mobile stations. Each mobile station includes a mechanism for measuring signal strength of coded signals from neighboring mobile stations; a mechanism for signalling the base station to switch from single-hop to multi-hop communication; and a mechanism for reporting to the base station candidate mobile stations for acting as a relay mobile station for multi-hop communication between the mobile station and the base station. The base station includes a mechanism for selecting a relay mobile station from a list of candidate mobile stations received from the mobile station. |
| US08175059B2 |
Buffer transfer in a communications network
A method and apparatus for transferring buffer data from a first network node to a second network node during a mobile handover between cells. In order to improve the speed at which buffer data is transferred during a handover, a connection using a congestion control protocol is established between the two nodes prior to the handover. Dummy data is sent over this connection, in order to approach or reach the available data transfer rate, and at the handover, the dummy data is replaced with buffer data. |
| US08175052B2 |
Method for transmitting response information in mobile communications system
A method for transmitting radio resources in a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a random access channel (RACH) preamble from a plurality of UEs and transmitting response information associated with the received preambles over a common channel wherein the plurality UEs can access the common channel and receive corresponding information. If a HARQ scheme is used when a UE transmits data to the eNode-B using uplink radio resources allocated over the RACH, the eNode-B does not pre-allocate uplink radio resources required for re-transmission and performs allocation of radio resources for a first transmission of HARQ. If the re-transmission is required, the eNode-B allocates the radio resources required for the re-transmission with the NACK signal. If re-transmission is not required, the present invention can reduce an amount of wasted radio resources. |
| US08175050B2 |
Resource release and discontinuous reception mode notification
Indications are provided related to discontinuous reception (DRX) and release of semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) resources from a base station to an access terminal. A DRX indicator that provides a command to an access terminal to transition to DRX mode and a resource release indicator that identifies one or more SPS resources (e.g., uplink, downlink, . . . ) previously assigned to the access terminal that are released can be transmitted within a common transaction. The DRX indicator and the resource release indicator can be sent via disparate channels (e.g., PDCCH and PDSCH) within a single transmission time interval (TTI). The DRX indicator and the resource release indicator can be transferred within a common control message. |
| US08175048B2 |
Multi-hop wireless communication system
A multi-hop wireless communication system which synchronizes a time signal generated by a timer device included in each of the wireless terminals and sets a different active timing to a wireless terminal connected to each of a plurality of multi-hop routes. The wireless terminal monitors the time signal of the timer device included in the wireless terminal and activates wireless communication of the wireless terminal when it is detected that the time signal matches an active timing set in the wireless terminal. |
| US08175047B2 |
Data transmission method in wireless mesh network and A-MSDU format
Provided are a method for transmitting data in wireless mesh networks and A-MSDU format for the method. In the method, in case the receiving MPs of all of the plural MSDUs to be transmitted are identical, a transmitting MP generates an A-MSDU using the plural MSDUs and transmits the A-MSDU to the receiving MP. The A-MSDU includes a plurality of A-MSDU sub-frames each of which includes a sub-frame header unit, an MSDU unit for containing data of each of the plural MSDU, and a padding unit for making each A-MSDU sub-frame a multiple of 4 octets in length. The sub-frame header unit comprises a mesh DA field for specifying an MAC address of the destination MP of the data contained in the MSDU unit, a mesh SA field for specifying an MAC address of the source MP of the data contained in the MSDU unit, and a mesh header field for containing information of the mesh header of each of the plural MSDUs. |
| US08175045B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting uplink feedback data in a broadband wireless mobile communication system
An apparatus and a method for transmitting uplink feedback data in a broadband wireless mobile communication are provided. The method comprises dividing tiles used as a feedback channel into a preset number of groups, selecting one group among the preset number of groups using a downlink channel, selecting a number of tiles, the number of tiles being equal to a number of tiles required for feedback data transmission in the selected group, and mapping feedback data to each selected tile. Thereby, feedback information can be transmitted via a tile selected by a terminal based on a channel state without a process of allocating and reallocating an additional feedback channel, thus enhancing efficiency of uplink wireless resources. |
| US08175041B2 |
System and method for wireless communication of audiovisual data having data size adaptation
A system and method for wireless communication of audiovisual data are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver configured to change the size of audiovisual data in response to a change in the condition of a wireless channel. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the audiovisual data over the wireless channel. The wireless receiver is configured to receive the audiovisual data over the wireless channel. The wireless transmitter includes an application layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical (PHY) layer. The wireless receiver includes an application layer, MAC layer, and PHY layer. The application or MAC layer of the wireless transmitter is configured to change the size of the audiovisual data in response to a change in the condition of the wireless channel. The application or MAC layer of the wireless receiver is configured to restore the size of the audiovisual data. |
| US08175038B2 |
Method and apparatuses for influencing the invoking of a service provided by an application server to a user equipment
A server and method are described herein that can influence the invoking of a service provided by an application server to a user-user equipment. The server includes a database that stores a service profile for the user-user equipment, where the service profile has a number of filter criteria wherein at least one includes: (1) a first trigger point and at least one first service point trigger that specifies one or more conditions which when satisfied will be downloaded to and checked by a remote control function before a service is invoked for the user-user equipment; and (2) a second trigger point and at least one second service point trigger that specifies one or more conditions which are checked against internally stored data associated with the user-user equipment and need to be satisfied before the service profile with the filter criteria including the first trigger point and the at least one first service point trigger is downloaded to and checked by the remote control function to invoke the service for the user-user equipment. |
| US08175034B2 |
Configuration techniques for wireless communications devices
Techniques for configuring wireless communications devices are disclosed. For instance, an apparatus may include a storage medium to store one or more configuration files, and a configuration module. Each of the one or more configuration files may correspond to a network carrier. The configuration module selects one of the configuration files and to extract one or more operational parameters from it. This selected configuration file and the one or more operational parameters correspond to a designated network carrier. |
| US08175030B2 |
Cognitive flow control based on channel quality conditions
A system and method which improve the performance of a wireless transmission system by intelligent use of the control of the flow of data between a radio network controller (RNC) and a Node B. The system monitors certain criteria and, if necessary, adaptively increases or decreases the data flow between the RNC and the Node B. This improves the performance of the transmission system by allowing retransmitted data, signaling procedures and other data to be successfully received at a faster rate, by minimizing the amount of data buffered in the Node B. Flow control is exerted to reduce buffering in the Node B upon degradation of channel qualities, and prior to a High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH) handover. |
| US08175028B2 |
Isolation measurement and self-oscillation prevention in TDD-OFDM repeater for wireless broadband distribution to shadowed areas
A method for determining isolation status of the RF repeater is provided. A modem in the repeater registers with a base transceiver station (BTS). Uplink output levels of a donor RF transceiver are calibrated and stored in the modem. The modem is synchronized to a BTS transmission received at the donor RF transceiver and the synchronization information is provided to a server RF transceiver of the repeater. Isolation detection and measurement can then be performed between donor transmit antenna and receive server antenna of the RF repeater and the automatic gain control parameter of donor RF transceiver and server RF transceiver are adjusted based upon the isolation detection and measurement value. The isolation and detection can be implemented in a co-processor coupled to the donor and server transceivers. |
| US08175027B2 |
Communication method and gateway apparatus
A communication method in a gateway apparatus includes a transmission step of transmitting and receiving packets to and from a mobile station device, and transmitting and receiving packets to and from a home agent; and a setting step of establishing settings such that the packets from the mobile station device can be transmitted to at least a first and a second home agent, and the packets from at least the first and second home agents can be received. |
| US08175019B2 |
Wireless network connection device and method
A wireless network connection device and method are provided for setting a wireless connection to an access point (AP). The device includes a radio frequency (RF) module, a base band (BB) module, and a control module. The RF module receives a packet transmitted by the AP. The BB module processes the packet to generate a signal strength (SS) corresponding to the AP. The control module generates an adjustment signal according to the SS, and adjusts a gain of the RF module according to the adjustment signal. |
| US08175018B2 |
Data scheduling module, method, and computer program product thereof for a wireless communication apparatus
A data scheduling module, a data scheduling method and computer program product thereof for a wireless communication apparatus are provided. The data scheduling method comprises the following steps: determining that the frame length of a second data transmission interval is not smaller than a frame length of a first data transmission interval; summing at least one first data and at least one second data according to the frame length of the second data transmission interval; calculating an average value according to the frame length of the second data transmission interval and the summed result; calculating an aggregate data transmission interval according to a data transmission capacity, the average value, and an integer adjusting value; and transmitting the at least one first data and the at least one second data via a plurality of frames in accordance with the aggregate data transmission interval. |
| US08175012B2 |
Decoding/encoding method for booting from a NAND flash and system thereof
A decoding method for booting from a NAND Flash including a booting page storing a plurality of copies of NAND booting information and a plurality of corresponding parities, each parity generated by an predetermined error correction code (ECC) bit number. The decoding method includes reading the booting page, for obtaining a plurality of configuration data and a plurality of ECC data, and performing a voting scheme and an ECC decoding process on the plurality of configuration data and the plurality of ECC data, for obtaining the NAND booting information. Besides, an encoding method for encoding such booting information is disclosed the same. |
| US08175010B2 |
System and method for providing simultaneous multiple push-to-talk over cellular multimedia service
A system and method provide simultaneous multiple push-to-talk (PTT) over cellular (PoC) multimedia service, and enable a PoC client performing an OMA PoC multimedia communication service to be simultaneously provided with a plurality of media streams, and also allows efficient media transmission through media adaptation adjusting capacity of each of the media streams provided at the same time. |
| US08175006B2 |
Multi-path load balancing using route controller
Systems and methods are described that employ multi-path BGP to realize dynamic multi-path load balancing based on an Intelligent Route Service Control Point (IRSCP) router control architecture that uses dynamic traffic flow information to perform dynamic load balancing to enable precise and effective load balancing. |
| US08175005B2 |
Coordinated neighbor discovery of radio access point devices and macro base stations
Techniques are provided for coordinated neighbor discovery in a wireless network served by radio access point devices that provide service in relatively small coverage areas in the wireless network. A controller apparatus sends to radio access point devices, data identifying a group of radio access point devices to which each radio access point device is assigned. The controller apparatus sends coordinating data for a neighbor discovery session during which a particular radio access point device in the group is configured to transmit a signal at maximum power during a time interval while all other radio access point devices in the group are configured to attempt to receive the signal, and to repeat the same during other time intervals during the neighbor discovery session when a different particular radio access point is configured to transmit a signal at maximum power until all of the radio access point devices in a group have transmitted. Each radio access point device generates discovery results data for signals received from one or more other radio access point devices during the neighbor discovery session. A neighbor list is generated for each radio access point device based on the discovery results. The neighbor list comprises a list of identifiers of radio access point devices that are candidates for handover of service. |
| US08175004B2 |
Apparatus and method for gathering and reporting interference signal information between relay stations in multi-hop relay broadband wireless access communication system
An apparatus and method for gathering and reporting interference signal information between Relay Stations (RSs) in a multi-hop relay Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) communication system are provided. The method includes receiving, from the RS, scanning information of neighboring Base Stations (BSs) and neighboring RSs, computing the resource allocation to be used by the RS by using the received scanning information, and transmitting information on the computed resource allocation to the RS. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that wireless resources can be reused to the maximum extent, and data transmission efficiency can be maximized. |
| US08175002B2 |
Selective mode PHY device for managing power utilization
There is provided a method of managing power utilization for use by a first communication system having a first communication mode and a second communication mode, for communication over a PHY connection through a cable connecting the two systems. The method comprises establishing the PHY connection with the second communication system, detecting interoperability of the two systems in the first communication mode, determining a length of the cable connecting the first communication system to the second communication system, selecting a mode based on the length of the cable, if the detecting detects interoperability of the first communication system and the second communication system in the first communication mode, selecting the second communication mode as the mode, if the detecting does not detect interoperability of the first communication system and the second communication system in the first communication mode, communicating data using the PHY connection through the cable in the mode. |
| US08175001B2 |
Network connectivity
A method for managing a computer or communication network by obtaining connectivity configuration information from a plurality of networked devices; analyzing the connectivity configuration information from the plurality of networked devices; and, determining a state of connectivity between any two of the plurality of networked devices. |
| US08174997B2 |
Communication method and apparatus using received signal strength indicator in wireless sensor network
A communication method and apparatus is disclosed that uses a received signal strength indicator (RSSI). In a sensor network including a plurality of nodes, a first node of the plurality of nodes receives a signal transmitted from a second node of the plurality of nodes, at least once. The first node also manages a link state with the second node according to the RSSI of the received signal. Therefore, the first node can receive signals from the plurality of nodes and then predict whether the second node moves. The first node can also predict a link state after the second node is moved so that communication can be performed through a link in a good state. Accordingly, the communication quality and the network performance of a network are enhanced. |
| US08174995B2 |
Method and apparatus for flexible pilot pattern
In accordance an aspect, a method for a wireless communication system, determining a location in time of a sub-frame when SFN transmission for data will occur, determining a first transmission pattern and a second transmission pattern for reference signals, wherein the transmission patterns indicate the symbols and tones of a sub-frame to use for reference signals, selecting for use, between the first transmission pattern and second transmission pattern for reference signals depending on whether SFN data will be transmitted in the sub-frame, and broadcasting information about the selected transmission pattern prior to use thereof. |
| US08174991B1 |
Methods and apparatus related to analysis of test packets
In one embodiment, a processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to store a set of stream signatures representing a set of test streams. The code can be configured to cause the processor to receive at a test device a stream signature from a test packet after the test packet has been processed at a device-under-test. The test packet can emulate at least a portion of network traffic. The code can also be configured to cause the processor to define an indicator representing that the test packet is from a new test stream when the stream signature from the test packet is different than each stream signature from the set of stream signatures. The new test stream is excluded from the set of test streams. |
| US08174989B2 |
Method and apparatus for cost-effective design of large-scale sensor networks
Arrangements and methods for developing a software toolkit that can be used to design or obtain parameters for a sensor network. High-level guidelines on the basic relations between sensor network parameters like number of sensors, degree of quantization at each sensor, and the distortion requirements, based on a deep analysis on two basic coding possibilities (multiplexed point-to-point, distributed) are contemplated. By evaluating tradeoffs among the various parameters, an optimization framework to obtain the most cost-effective design with required quantization capabilities pertaining to given distortion criterion is provided. |
| US08174985B2 |
Data flow control
There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system. In one embodiment, the method and controller receives a plurality of data packets. The method and controller further generate a modified information flow by providing a variable spacing between the data packets that is exponentially distributed. The variable spacing between the data packets may be random or pseudo-random. |
| US08174979B2 |
Method and device for controlling access to a communications network
According to the invention, in order to control the access of traffic streams (VS) to the communications network (KN), an available capacity (VK), placed at the disposal of an access node (ZK) for transferring traffic streams (VS) to said communications network (KN), is determined from an access node (ZK) of the communications network (KN), taking into account the total transfer capacity (G) of the communications network (KN). The available capacity (VS) is notably redetermined whenever the routing information (RI) of the access node (ZK) is modified. An access control of this type guarantees the quality of service required in a connectionless communications network. |
| US08174978B2 |
Method for congestion management of a network, a signalling protocol, a switch, an end station and a network
A method of congestion management within a switch or network of connected switches is provided, wherein the or each of the switches has a plurality of ingress ports and a plurality of egress ports. The method involves, when congestion is detected at a first ingress or egress port, sending a message to an upstream port connected to the first ingress or egress port indicating that congestion has occurred at a particular port and requesting storage at the upstream port of data packets destined for that port; and, in dependence on the amount of data packets destined for the congested port stored at the upstream port, sending from the upstream port to a further upstream port a message informing the further upstream port of the congestion at the congested port, the further upstream port storing at the further upstream port data packets destined for the congested port. |
| US08174977B2 |
End-to-end flow control in a network
A network node within a network includes a first receive buffer, first buffer management, a second receive buffer and second buffer management. The first buffer management performs link level credit based flow control for network packets that the first buffer management places in the first receive buffer. The second buffer management performs end-to-end credit based flow control for network packets that the second buffer management receives from the first receive buffer and processes before placing data in the second receive buffer. |
| US08174976B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling message traffic license
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling message traffic licenses. The method includes: controlling message traffic through an ordinary license; judging whether the triggering conditions of using the first extended license are fulfilled, and, if the triggering conditions are fulfilled, using the first extended license to control the message traffic. The apparatus includes: a license management module, adapted to switch between the licenses according to the triggering conditions of the message traffic license; and a control module, adapted to control the message traffic by using the license selected by the license management module. The method and the apparatus for controlling message traffic licenses provided in an embodiment of the present invention perform hierarchical control on the short message traffic to overcome waste of system resources in the prior art caused by unitary setting of the maximum traffic and reduce the system resources occupied by invalid license traffic in the Short Message Service Center (SMSC). |
| US08174972B2 |
Software assisted multicast filtering
A method is described including determining if a packet length parameter included in received data matches a first pre-determined value, determining if an address parameter included in received data matches an address of a receiving device, determining if a length parameter included in received data matches a second pre-determined value, determining if a packet destination port number parameter included in received data matches a third pre-determined value, determining if a packet payload type parameter included in received data matches a fourth pre-determined value and dropping the packet responsive to the matches. |
| US08174965B2 |
Service management in a network
In a network (10) providing a service to a client of a terminal (T1) and comprising at lease first and second session border controllers (A, B), at least one identical address (@Ain) is allocated to the first and second session border controllers. A router (Ra) connects the terminal (T1) to the first session border controller (A) and is capable of dynamically managing a routing table indicating at least first and second routes for the address. A message transmitted from the terminal to the network is received at the first session border controller when the router selects the first route and at the second session border controller when the router selects the second route. |
| US08174964B2 |
Detecting unavailable network connections
A method for detecting unavailable network connections comprises, at a first data processing node that is hosting a transport protocol connection that uses a plurality of sequence values to identify messages sent to a peer node, wherein the first node is communicatively coupled to a second data processing node serving as a redundant backup, periodically sending a checkpoint sequence value to the second node; detecting that either the transport protocol connection or a process using the transport protocol connection is unavailable, without use of a timeout; and in response thereto, sending a notification to the peer node, wherein the notification includes the checkpoint sequence value. One embodiment provides for rapidly detecting and responding to failure of a TCP process without using long timeouts as conventionally provided in long-lived applications that run on top of TCP. |
| US08174963B2 |
Data relay apparatus and failure recovery method
A data relay apparatus that recovers a failure in a network that shares a part of a plurality of rings and avoids occurrence of a loop path by providing a block in each of the rings includes a failure-notification-packet transmitting unit that transmits, when a failure is detected in a shared portion of a ring, a failure notification packet to a predetermined redundancy-providing ring; and a block setting unit that sets a block that blocks a main signal by passing through a control packet at a port where the failure is detected. |
| US08174962B2 |
Global broadcast communication system
A global broadcast communication network system having a plurality of subnets. The system may incorporate a building and automation control network (BACnet) protocol. Each subnet may have a one active BACnet broadcast management device (BBMD) for broadcasting messages to other subnets. Also, there may be BIP (BACnet over IP) devices, such as controllers, tools and stations, in the subnets. One of the BIP devices in each subnet may be configured or enabled as a passive BBMD. If there is a failure of the active BBMD in a subnet, then the passive BBMD of the same subnet may detect the failure and assume the role of the active BBMD to minimize or eliminate possible disruption of communication across the subnets. Each BBMD may have and maintain a broadcast distribution table (BDT) which contains information about BBMDs in other subnets. Each BBMD may provide updated BDT information to the other BBMDs. |
| US08174952B2 |
Light source unit, optical detector unit, optical pickup device, and optical disk device
A light source unit comprises a plurality of light sources emitting a plurality of light beams. A plurality of volume hologram elements are provided for the plurality of light sources respectively, each volume hologram element having a plane of incidence of an incoming light beam and a plane of outgoing radiation of a diffracted light beam which are perpendicular to each other, the plurality of volume hologram elements having mutually different Bragg conditions in which an optical intensity of a diffracted light beam is set to a maximum. |
| US08174951B2 |
Optical information recording method and apparatus
In a recording apparatus capable of performing a curing process at high speed by curing a plurality of books at a time during recording and capable of performing recording of a recordable type, when recording is stopped once, the unit of books to be cured at a time is set smaller than that during continuous recording, in order to realize inexpensively both performing a curing process at high speed in hologram recording and realizing recording of a recordable type freely in a book unit. It is therefore possible to terminate recording in the unit of arbitrary books irrespective of the unit of books to be cured, and perform recording of a recordable type without loss. |
| US08174946B2 |
Optical disk apparatus and method of controlling optical disk apparatus
An optical disk apparatus includes a rotary driving unit rotating an optical disk which is flexible, an optical pickup irradiating light upon a recording surface of the optical disk on which writing/reading of information is performed, a stabilizing unit stabilizing vibration of the optical disk in a rotary axial direction by using pressure difference of air flow at least on a portion where writing/reading is performed, and being disposed on a side of the optical disk opposite to a side on which the recording surface is provided, and a control-adjustment unit analyzing a value of a tracking error signal of the optical disk obtained by scanning along a groove of the optical disk with use of the optical pickup, comparing the analyzed value of the tracking error signal of the optical disk and a value priorly obtained by scanning along a groove of a standard disk prepared beforehand, and adjusting a positional relation between the optical disk and the stabilizing member in a three dimensional space according to the result of the comparison. |
| US08174944B1 |
Write strategy calibration for optical drives
Laser write parameters in an optical drive are calibrated. A parameter range for the write parameters is set based on a recordable medium, and a number of test runs are recorded on the recordable medium while varying the write parameters. Write performance characteristics over the test runs are measured. Based on the measured performance characteristics, actual write parameters are selected for use in writing actual data. |
| US08174943B2 |
Optical disk device
An optical disc apparatus according to the present invention includes: a laser light source for emitting multiple light beams, of which the wavelengths are different from each other and include a first wavelength and a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength; an optical system for converging an arbitrarily selected one of the light beams on an optical disc that has a surface and at least one information storage layer; a focus control section for controlling the focus position of the light beam with respect to the optical disc; and a defect detecting section, which senses light reflected from the surface of the optical disc with the focus position of the light beam set on the surface, thereby determining, based on the intensity of the reflected light, whether or not there is a fingerprint on the optical disc. |
| US08174940B2 |
Optical disc apparatus for executing recording or reproducing onto/from a multilayered optical disc having at least 3 layers
An optical disc apparatus, for executing recording or reproducing onto/from a multilayered optical disc having “N” pieces of recording layers (N≧3, “N” is an integer), from a first layer to a Nth layer, including a light emitting portion configured to emit a laser beam, a light receiving portion, a correcting portion configured to correct a tilt of the optical disc or an aberration of the laser beam, an adjusting portion, a detecting portion, and a selecting portion configured to select “A” pieces of recording layers (A |
| US08174937B2 |
Thin-film magnetic head having microwave magnetic exciting function and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus
A thin-film magnetic head having microwave magnetic exciting function includes a write magnetic field production means for producing, in response to a write signal, a write magnetic field to be applied into a magnetic recording medium, and at least line conductor of a microwave radiator of a plane-structure type, formed independent from the write magnetic field production means, for radiating, by feeding there through a microwave excitation current, a microwave band resonance magnetic field with a frequency equal to or in a range near a ferromagnetic resonance frequency FR of the magnetic recording medium. |
| US08174935B2 |
Adaptive array control device, method and program, and adaptive array processing device, method and program using the same
[Object] To provide an adaptive array control method, device, and program, and an adaptive array processing method, device, and program, capable of performing accurate coefficient update control independent of frequency characteristics and incoming directions of signals. [Achieving Means] The present invention is characterized as to array-process signals received from a plurality of pairs of sensors having a plurality of different sensor intervals, and using the array processing result, estimate interference power accurately. More specifically, the present invention includes a multiple blocking matrix circuit 320 which processes signals receiving from sensors having a plurality of different intervals, and an accurate coefficient update control is performed based on the output array-processed signal. Thereby, deterioration of output signals and breathing noises are reduced, and high-quality array processing can be performed. |
| US08174931B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing indoor location, position, or tracking of a mobile computer using building information
An apparatus and method for providing indoor location, position, or tracking of a mobile computer using building information. The mobile computer determines the dimensions of a room in a building using a range finder in the mobile computer. The determined dimensions of the room are compared to the building information to locate, position, or track the mobile computer in the building. |
| US08174930B2 |
Housing for phased array monostatic sodar systems
A housing for a phased array monostatic sodar system with a transducer array that emits and receives multiple generally conical main beams of sound along different primary axes. The housing includes one or more upwardly-directed sidewalls that define a volume between them that is open to the atmosphere at the top, to emit and receive the beams, and an upper lip at the top of at least one wall, defining a curved perimeter at the top of at least some of the volume that closely conforms to the shape of at least one main beam at the location of the lip. |
| US08174927B2 |
Method for optimizing acoustic source array performance
A technique facilitates obtaining seismic data in a marine environment. An array of acoustic sources is deployed in a marine environment. The array can be utilized for creating acoustic pulses that facilitate the collection of data on subsea structures. The methodology enables optimization of acoustic source array performance to improve the collection of useful data during a seismic survey. |
| US08174926B2 |
Method for wavefield separation for dual-sensor data using kirchhoff-type datuming and migration
A first weighted integral operator is applied to dual-sensor data to extrapolate the dual-sensor data to a first position above an acquisition surface, generating extrapolated data. A second weighted integral operator is applied to the extrapolated data to extrapolate the extrapolated data to a second position, generating wavefield separated data. One of the integral operators is applied to a scaled combination of the dual sensor data. |
| US08174925B2 |
Acoustic camera
An acoustic camera comprises a first sound pick-up device, a second sound pick-up device, and a switch. The switch is respectively connected to the first sound pick-up device and the second pick-up device and used to select the first sound pick-up device or the second sound pick-up device to reconstruct the sound field of the sound source of a detected object. The first sound pick-up device has a first microphone array, and the first microphone array is a near-field uniform microphone array. The second sound pick-up device has a second microphone array, and the second microphone array is a far-field non-uniform microphone array. |
| US08174924B2 |
Power saving method and circuit thereof for a semiconductor memory
A power saving method for a semiconductor memory is provided. The power saving method for a semiconductor memory including the steps of receiving a plurality of address codes, each of which has a first part code and a second part code; and activating a first boost process when the first part code of a currently received address code is different from the first part code of a last received address code, otherwise a second boost process is activated. |
| US08174923B2 |
Voltage-stepped low-power memory device
This disclosure has described a system for charging a capacitive energy storage device of at least one memory cell within an integrated circuit device from an initial voltage to a final voltage, wherein the integrated circuit device includes a plurality of memory cells which are formed at least in part by capacitive energy storage devices. During operation, the system charges the capacitive energy storage device from the initial voltage to the final voltage stepwise through one or more progressively higher intermediate voltage levels using one or more voltage sources. Specifically, each intermediate voltage level is between the initial voltage and the final voltage, and each voltage source generates a respective intermediate voltage level. Note that charging the capacitive energy storage device through one or more intermediate voltage levels reduces energy dissipation during the charging process. |
| US08174921B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having shared temperature control circuit
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory banks; a plurality of temperature sensing circuits, and a shared control circuit. The temperature sensing circuits correspond to the memory banks and each is disposed in the vicinity of a corresponding memory bank. The shared control circuit is connected to the plurality of temperature sensing circuits and a plurality of refresh circuits for refreshing the plurality of memory banks, performs calibration on the plurality of temperature sensing circuits, performs digital processing on signals for separately controlling refresh intervals for the plurality of memory banks, and transmits the processed signals to the plurality of refresh circuits. Therefore, the refresh intervals for individual channels or banks are separately or selectively controlled. Further, since the plurality of temperature sensing circuits are connected to the shared temperature control circuit, the occupied area of the circuits in a chip is reduced or minimized. |
| US08174919B2 |
Apparatus and method for increasing data line noise tolerance
Circuits and methods for improving noise tolerance in memories are disclosed such as those that include biasing a data line above a normal threshold voltage, either by providing a higher data line charge voltage with a voltage source, or by providing a higher data line charge voltage with a current source. |
| US08174913B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and driving method of the same
A memory includes a cell region; a spare region including a spare block; a fuse region storing remedy information necessary for an access to the spare block instead of a remedy target block, the fuse region comprising non-defective cells in the remedy target block, or including cells in a first block of the spare region; an initial reading fuse storing a block address for identifying the remedy target block or the first block allocated as the fuse region, and a selection address for selecting a region in the remedy target block or a region in the first block allocated as the fuse region; and a controller configured to acquire the remedy information from the fuse region based on the block address and the selection address, and to change the access to the remedy target block to the access to the spare block based on the remedy information. |
| US08174906B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device, program method and precharge voltage boosting method thereof, and memory system including the nonvolatile memory device
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device according to the present invention includes precharging bit lines according to data loaded in page buffers; electrically connecting the precharged bit lines to channels corresponding to the bit lines, respectively, to charge the channels; and applying a word line voltage for a program after charging the channels. A channel voltage boosting of each of the channels is determined according to data loaded in adjacent page buffers. |
| US08174904B2 |
Memory array and method of operating one of a plurality of memory cells
An embodiment of the invention provides a memory array including a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of memory cells and a device. Each of the plurality of memory cells has a first node, a second node and a third node, wherein the third node is coupled to one of the plurality of bit lines. The device couples the plurality of bit lines together to form a common node for one of the plurality of memory cells. |
| US08174902B2 |
Flash memory and a method for programming the flash memory in which a bit line setup operation is executed simultaneously with a channel pre-charge operation
A method, device and system are provided for programming a flash memory device, the method including executing a bit line setup operation, and executing a channel pre-charge operation simultaneously with the bit line setup operation, the channel pre-charge operation including applying a channel pre-charge voltage to all word lines; and the device including a voltage generator disposed for providing each of a program voltage, a read voltage, a pass voltage, and a channel pre-charge voltage, a high-voltage switch connected to the voltage generator and disposed for switchably providing one of the program voltage, read voltage, pass voltage, or channel pre-charge voltage, and control logic connected to the high-voltage switch and disposed for simultaneously executing a bit line setup operation and a channel pre-charge operation, the channel pre-charge operation comprising controlling the high-voltage switch to apply the channel pre-charge voltage to both selected and unselected word lines of the device. |
| US08174899B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
When data is written to a memory cell transistor, a write controller controls in such a manner that a verification operation subsequent to a program operation is carried out while a program voltage is increased stepwise for each program operation. The write controller controls in such a manner that a verification operation subsequent to a program operation by which a threshold voltage of a memory cell transistor to be written has become equal to or higher than a verification level for the first time is carried out twice or more at the same verification level, verification operations of the second and subsequent times are carried out after a second program operation which is carried out with the memory cell transistor set in an unselected state. |
| US08174896B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of operating the same
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a page buffer unit, a counter, a program pulse application number storage unit, and a program start voltage setting unit. The page buffer is configured to output a 1-bit pass signal when a cell programmed to exceed a reference voltage, from among target program cells included in a single page, exists. The counter is configured to count a number of program pulses applied to determine a program pulse application number. The program pulse application number storage unit is configured to store a number of program pulses applied until the 1-bit pass signal is received during a program operation for a first page. The program start voltage setting unit is configured to set a program start voltage for a second page based on the stored program pulse application number. |
| US08174894B2 |
Program method of flash memory device
A program method of a flash memory device includes inputting a first data and a second data to a page buffer coupled to memory cells including an even page and an odd page, pre-programming a first memory cell of the odd page using the first data, programming a second memory cell of the even page using the second data, and programming the pre-programmed first memory cell using the first data. |
| US08174891B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and method of writing data in non-volatile semiconductor memory devices
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a NAND cell unit including a plurality of electrically rewritable non-volatile memory cells serially connected. The NAND cell unit has one end connected to a bit line via a first selection gate transistor and the other end connected to a source line via a second selection gate transistor. The non-volatile semiconductor memory device also includes a first dummy cell interposed next to the first selection gate transistor in the NAND cell unit. The non-volatile semiconductor memory device additionally includes a second dummy cell interposed next to the second selection gate transistor in the NAND cell unit. In a data write mode, a first voltage applied to a gate of the first dummy cell is higher than or equal to a second voltage applied to a gate of the second dummy cell. |
| US08174890B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device
A memory cell array has plural memory strings arranged therein, each of which including a plurality of electrically-rewritable memory transistors and selection transistors. Each memory string includes a body semiconductor layer including four or more columnar portions, and a joining portion formed to join the lower ends thereof. An electric charge storage layer is formed to surround a side surface of the columnar portions. A first conductive layer is formed to surround a side surface of the columnar portions as well as the electric charge storage layer. A plurality of second conductive layers are formed on side surfaces of the joining portion via an insulation film, and function as control electrodes of a plurality of back-gate transistors formed at a respective one of the joining portions. |
| US08174885B2 |
High speed operation method for twin MONOS metal bit array
The present invention provides a novel read method of twin MONOS metal bit or diffusion bit structure for high-speed application. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the alternative control gates are set at the same voltage. In a second embodiment of the present invention, all the control gates are set at the operational voltage from the beginning. In both embodiments, the bit line and word gate are used to address the selected memory cell.teh |
| US08174879B2 |
Biosensor and sensing cell array using the same
A biosensor and a sensing cell array using a biosensor are disclosed. Adjacent materials containing a plurality of different ingredients are analyzed to determine the ingredients based on their magnetic susceptibility or dielectric constant. A sensing cell array includes such as a magnetization pair detection sensor including a MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) or GMR (Giant Magnetoresistive) device, a magnetoresistive sensor including a MTJ device and a magnetic material (current line), a dielectric constant sensor including a sensing capacitor and a switching device, a magnetization hole detection sensor including a MTJ or GMR device, a current line, a free ferromagnetic layer and a switching device, and a giant magnetoresistive sensor including a GMR device, a switching device and a magnetic material (or forcing wordline). Ingredients of adjacent materials are separated based on electrical characteristics of ingredients by sensing magnetic susceptibility and dielectric constant depending on the sizes of the ingredients. |
| US08174877B2 |
Electric device comprising phase change material and heating element
An electric device has a resistor including a phase change material changeable between a first phase and a second phase within a switching zone. The resistor has a first resistance when the phase change material is in the first phase and a different second resistance, when the phase change material is in the second phase. The resistor may conduct a first current. The device has a heating element that may conduct a second current for enabling a transition of the phase change material from the first to the second phase. At the position of the switching zone, the resistor is arranged as a first line and the heating element is arranged as a second line. The first and second line may conduct the first current and the second current respectively, wherein the first line and the second line cross at the position of the switching zone. |
| US08174865B2 |
Memory devices and wireless devices including the same
A memory device includes a plurality of memory bit lines connected to a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of reference bit lines connected to a plurality of reference cells and a reference bit line selection circuit. The memory bit lines has a first pattern and a second pattern, and the first pattern has a first critical dimension (CD) distribution, and the second pattern has a second CD distribution. The reference bit lines have the first pattern and the second pattern. The reference bit line selection circuit provides a reference signal by selecting a reference bit line having a same pattern as a selected memory bit line connected to a memory cell to be read. |
| US08174861B2 |
Memory module having high data processing rate
A memory module having a high data processing rate and high capacity is provided. The memory module may include a memory chip, a controller controlling an operation of the memory chip, an optical detector converting an external input signal into an internal input signal to transmit the converted signal to the controller, and an optical generator converting an internal output signal received from the controller into an external output signal. The optical detector converts an external input optical signal into an internal input signal to transmit the converted signal to the controller. The optical generator converts an internal output signal received from the controller into an external output optical signal. |
| US08174860B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having improved voltage transmission path and driving method thereof
Provided are a semiconductor memory device and a method of driving the device which can improve a noise characteristic of a voltage signal supplied to a memory cell of the device. The semiconductor memory device includes a first semiconductor chip and one or more second semiconductor chips stacked on the first chip. The first chip includes an input/output circuit for sending/receiving a voltage signal, a data signal, and a control signal to/from an outside system. The one or more second semiconductor chips each include a memory cell region for storing data. The second semiconductor chips receive at least one signal through one or more signal paths that are formed outside the input/output circuit of the first chip. |
| US08174854B2 |
Switching power supply system with reduced current consumption at light load
A switching power supply system has a control circuit that controls an output voltage by causing a switching device to turn ON and OFF. The control circuit includes a control pulse supplying unit that supplies a pulsed signal that keeps the switching device turned-ON and -OFF. A protection circuit shuts down the switching power supply system upon occurrence of an abnormality. A delay circuit produces a delay signal that delays by a specified time duration the termination of a state of the pulsed signal in which the pulsed signal keeps the switching device turned-ON. The protection circuit is responsive to the pulsed signal or the delay signal to switch between an operation state and a stand-by state. |
| US08174853B2 |
Variable speed drive
Systems and methods for improved VSDs are provided. One embodiment relates to an apparatus for common mode and differential mode filtering for motor or compressor bearing protection when operating with VSDs, including conducted EMI/RFI input power mains mitigation. Another embodiment relates to a method to extend the synchronous operation of an Active Converter to the AC mains voltage during complete line dropout. Another embodiment relates to an Active Converter-based Variable Speed Drive system with Improved Full Speed Efficiency. |
| US08174850B2 |
Method and circuit for avoiding hard switching in half bridge converters
A half bridge switching dc-dc converter an input dc voltage to an output dc voltage. The converter includes a switching circuit for receiving the input dc voltage and generating a periodic square wave voltage oscillating from a high value corresponding to the input dc voltage to a low value corresponding to a reference voltage. The periodic square wave voltage oscillates at a main frequency with a main duty cycle equal to about 50% when the converter operates in a steady state. The converter further includes a conversion circuit for providing the output dc voltage from the square wave voltage based on the main frequency and on the main duty cycle. The converter still further comprises a switching control circuit controlling the switching circuit for temporarily varying the main duty cycle during at least one period of the square wave after a power on of the converter. |
| US08174848B2 |
Reinforcement frame for a display panel using extruded aluminum alloy and apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a reinforcement frame for a display panel using aluminum alloy extrusion members and an apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein, while a number of unitary aluminum alloy extrusion members abut one another, a welding head is used to cause the abutting portions to undergo friction resulting from high-speed rotation so that the members are melted and welded to one another by the resulting frictional heat. |
| US08174847B2 |
Shield case and circuit board assembly
A shield case of the present invention include a first case; and a second case, combinable with the first case. The first and second cases are provided with a plurality of abutting parts. The abutting parts abut on all respective surfaces of the component mounting board and hold the component mounting board in suspension in a state where the first and second cases are combined. |
| US08174844B2 |
Wired circuit board and connection structure between wired circuit boards
A wired circuit board for electrically connecting a suspension board with circuit comprising a metal supporting layer, an insulating base layer, a conductive layer, and an insulating cover layer, and an external circuit, includes a first wired circuit board electrically connected with the suspension board with circuit; and a second wired circuit board for electrically connecting with the external circuit. The first wired circuit board and the second wired circuit board are electrically connected through a preamplifier. The first wired circuit board includes a first metal supporting layer; a first insulating base layer; a first conductive layer and a first insulating cover layer. |
| US08174843B2 |
Printed circuit board
A power source terminal and a ground terminal for a semiconductor integrated circuit are connected to a conductor pattern through a capacitor. The conductor pattern is connected, through a filter, to a plane conductor connected to neither a ground plane nor a power source plane. Thus, a common mode noise arising from between the power source and the ground is caused to flow into the plane conductor. This reduces the common mode noise flowing in the ground and the power source of the printed wiring board, which relatively act as antennas. |
| US08174842B2 |
Light-emitting diode module
A light-emitting diode (LED) module includes a plurality of LED units and a converter having a first side. The LED units respectively include a circuit board having a second side perpendicular to the first side and a third side parallel to the first side, a plurality of LEDs positioned on the circuit board, and a connector positioned on the second side proximal to the converter. The LED module further includes a plurality of flexible flat cables (FFCs) used to electrically connect the connectors to the converter, respectively. |
| US08174839B2 |
Mounting structure of semiconductor package and plasma display device having the same
A mounting structure of a semiconductor package includes a semiconductor package, a chassis having a coupling boss protruding at a position corresponding to the coupling hole, a coupling member penetrating the coupling hole and coupled to the coupling boss, and an insulation member covering around the coupling hole of the reinforcing plate and making insulation contact with the coupling member and the coupling boss. The semiconductor package includes a film substrate for interfacing transmission of signals between a circuit board and a display panel, a semiconductor chip forming an electrical contact point with the film substrate, and a reinforcing plate to which the film substrate and the semiconductor chip are directly attached. The reinforcing plate has a coupling hole. |
| US08174828B2 |
Narrow gap spray cooling in a globally cooled enclosure
Electronic circuit boards are arranged as respective parallel pairs defining a narrow gap there between. One or more such pairs of boards are supported within a hermitically sealable housing and cooled by way of spraying an atomized liquid coolant from a plurality of nozzles into each narrow gap. Transfer of heat from the circuit boards results in vaporization of at least some of the atomized liquid within the narrow gap. The housing further serves to guide a circulation of vapors out of each narrow gap, back toward the nozzles, and back into each narrow gap. A heat exchanger exhausts heat from the housing and overall system, wherein vapor is condensed back to liquid phase during contact and heat transfer therewith. Condensed liquid is collected and re-pressurized for delivery back to the nozzles such that a sustained cooling operation is performed. |
| US08174827B2 |
Portable tablet computing device with a low power operation mode as a media player
A portable computing device is disclosed. The device may be based upon a laptop/a netbook computer according to the preferred embodiment. The device comprises a pivotable display screen. The device is operated as a general purpose computing device when the display screen is in a conventional unfolded position. The device is used as a media player when the display is pivoted to be on the top face of the device. The device operated as the media player with a low power processor consumes much less power than as the general purpose computing device. |
| US08174818B2 |
Method for a capacitor with a flexible interconnect
The present subject matter includes a first capacitor stack including a first plurality of anode layers and a first plurality of cathode layers and a second capacitor stack including a second plurality of anode layers and a second plurality of cathode layers. In various embodiments, a flexible bus is welded to the first capacitor stack and to the second capacitor stack. The flexible bus is adapted to conduct electricity between the first capacitor stack and the second capacitor stack. Also, the present subject matter includes embodiments where the first capacitor stack and the second capacitor stack are disposed in a case filled with an electrolyte. |
| US08174817B2 |
Sealed and impregnated wound capacitor assemblies
At least one wound film/foil or metalized film capacitor is sealed between its electrodes to form a sealed enclosed annular region between the interior of the enclosure, the electrodes and the exterior of the wound capacitor to form a sealed capacitor assembly. A fluid dielectric can be introduced into the sealed enclosed annular region under a vacuum to form a sealed and impregnated wound capacitor assembly. |
| US08174816B2 |
Ceramic electronic component
There is provided a ceramic electronic component including a ceramic sintered body, internal conductive layers, and external electrodes. Each of the external electrodes includes a first electrode layer, a conductive resin layer covering the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer covering the conductive resin layer and having an extension length greater than the length of the first electrode layer extending from one of the side surfaces of the ceramic sintered body to the portions of the top and bottom surfaces thereof. The distance from the top or bottom surface of the ceramic sintered body to the closest layer of the internal conductive layers is greater than or equal to the length of the first electrode layer extending from one of the side surfaces of the ceramic sintered body to the portions of the top and bottom surfaces thereof. |
| US08174815B2 |
Monolithic ceramic electronic component and method for manufacturing the same
In a method for manufacturing a monolithic ceramic electronic component, when an inner conductor is formed by printing an electrically conductive paste, a smear may be generated in an opening of the inner conductor at a side of the opening near to a position from which printing is started in a printing direction. The smear may cause an unwanted contact between the inner conductor and a via conductor, which is a conductor extending through the opening and having a potential different from that of the inner conductor, and cause a short-circuit. The inner conductor is printed in such a manner that the center of each of the via conductors is deviated from the center of the opening in the direction in which the electrically conductive paste is printed. With this structure, even if the smear is generated in the opening, the probability that the inner conductor contact the via conductor and cause a short-circuit is minimized. |
| US08174809B2 |
Arrangement and method for deactivating electrical elements when malfunctioning
Arrangements (1) are provided with electrical elements (11,21) for, in a feeding mode, receiving feeding signals and, in a non-feeding mode, not receiving the feeding signals, and with circuits (12,22) for, in the feeding mode, detecting malfunctions of the electrical elements (11,21). The circuits (12,22) comprise active switches (13,23) for, in response to detection results, deactivating the electrical elements (11,21) in both modes, in other words in the feeding mode as well as the non-feeding mode. The electrical elements (11,21) for example comprise light emitting diodes, incandescent lights or loudspeakers etc. The active switches (13,23) for example comprise bistable micro-relays or semiconductor switches such as non-volatile power semiconductor switches such as one time programmable flash power MOSFETs etc. Preferably, the arrangements (1) are integrated arrangements. |
| US08174807B2 |
Integrated circuit with device for protection against electrostatic discharges
An integrated circuit includes a substrate of semiconductive material, a first circuit environment made from the substrate which includes an output terminal and a first pair of power supply terminals for receiving a first power supply voltage applicable between the terminals. The integrated circuit also includes a second circuit environment made from the semiconductor substrate which includes an input terminal electrically coupled to the output terminal and also includes a second pair of power supply terminals for receiving a second power supply voltage applicable between the second pair of terminals of said second pair. The circuit further includes a device providing protection from electrostatic discharges which includes an integrated resistive device coupled between the input and output terminals. |
| US08174805B2 |
Residual current device
A residual current device for an AC electricity supply comprises a housing (10) and a first load conductor (L) inside the housing connected in series between the supply and a load and including a set of contacts (18) by which an electrical connection between the supply and the load may be made or broken. A current transformer is disposed inside the housing and has a toroidal core (TI) the first load conductor passing through the core and forming one primary winding of the current transformer. At least one further load conductor (N) outside the housing passes through the core (T) via an opening (32) in the housing and forms a further primary winding of the current transformer. A secondary winding (W) on the core produces an output in response to a residual current, and a circuit (RCC) inside the housing is responsive to the output on the secondary winding to open the contacts if the residual current is above a predetermined level. |
| US08174803B2 |
System for creating a magnetic field via a superconducting magnet
The present invention relates to a system (100) for creating a magnetic field via a superconducting magnet (102) intended to produce said magnetic field. The system (100) according to the invention comprises a first branch including the superconducting magnet (102) formed by a coil inductance (L′) in series with a residual resistance (R′2), a second branch comprising a protection resistance (R′3) and a third branch comprising a power source (103). Furthermore, the system comprises a fourth branch formed by a resistance (R′1) mounted in series with a current-limiting superconducting device (106) switching from a low-resistance state to a high-resistance state when the current passing therethrough exceeds a breaking current, said first, second, third and fourth branches being mounted in parallel. |
| US08174802B2 |
Switching regulator and operations control method thereof
A switching regulator is disclosed. In the switching regulator, when a power source voltage is lowered to a first predetermined value due to an overcurrent, a voltage boost operation is temporarily stopped, and a delay timer of a delay circuit is not reset. When the overcurrent is detected again due to a rise of the power source voltage after temporarily stopping the voltage boost operation, the delay timer of the delay circuit continues to count the delay period. The voltage boost operation is completely stopped by receiving a signal output from the delay circuit when the delay timer completes the counting after passing a predetermined delay period. |
| US08174798B2 |
Spin-torque oscillator, a magnetic sensor and a magnetic recording system
In a spin-torque oscillator, a first ferromagnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer are stacked. A pair of electrodes perpendicularly applies a current onto each plane of the first ferromagnetic layer, the non-magnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The current induces a precession of a magnetization of at least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The at least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer is formed by an in-plane magnetization film having a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field to control a direction of the magnetization so that a non-linearity frequency shift of the precession by the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy cancels a non-linearity frequency shift of the precession by a demagnetizing field on the in-plane magnetization film. |
| US08174797B2 |
Head suspension and method of manufacturing head suspension
A head suspension has a conductive base plate, a piezoelectric element, and a load beam. The piezoelectric element deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, thereby moving the load beam relative to the base plate in a sway direction. The head suspension includes an actuator base integral with the base plate, an auxiliary plate laid on and fixed to the actuator base and having a surface support and a side support, the surface support facing a periphery of a surface of the piezoelectric element, the side support facing in the sway direction a side face of the piezoelectric element, an attaching part formed of the actuator base and auxiliary plate, the attaching part being present between the base plate and the load beam and being configured to attach the piezoelectric element thereto, a nonconductive adhesive layer interposed between the attaching part and the piezoelectric element, to adhere the piezoelectric element to the attaching part, and a conductive material configured to electrically connect an electrode plane of the piezoelectric element and the side support to each other. The head suspension is thin and secures conductivity between the electrode plane of the piezoelectric element and the actuator base. |
| US08174796B2 |
Baseplate interconnect
An actuator and associated method is provided, the actuator having an arm defining an aperture, an electrical circuit supported by the arm and terminating at a contact, a flexure assembly defining a boss and supporting a second electrical circuit terminating at a second contact, wherein the contacts are resultingly positioned in operable mating engagement with each other placing the electrical circuit in electrical communication with the second electrical circuit when the boss is operably disposed within the aperture and there affixed to the arm. |
| US08174795B2 |
Head slider, hard disk drive having the same, and method of controlling the height of the head slider
A hard disk drive has a disk, a spindle motor for rotating the disk, a head stack assembly including a swing arm and a head slider disposed at a leading end of the swing arm, and a controller operatively connected to the head slider. The head slider is positioned by the swing arm over the disk and floats in such position during a read/write operation in which data is being read from or written onto the disk. The head slider has a head slider body, a magnetic head embedded in the body, and at least one resistive heating element that generates heat when current is supplied thereto. The heat causes the body of the head slider to thermally expand in such a way that the profile of the disk-facing side of the body of the head slider changes. The controller controls the height of the head slider relative to the disk by controlling the supplying of current to the resistive heating element(s). First, the controller measures the distance between the head slider and the disk during a read/write operation, and compares the measured distance with a predetermined optimum distance or allowable range of distances. Current is supplied and/or cut off from the resistive heating element(s) when the measured distance is different from the predetermined optimum distance or is outside the predetermined range of distances. |
| US08174794B2 |
Slider having a lubricant-accumulation barrier including a plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions
A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier also includes a plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions disposed at a plurality of respective depths below an outer-most surface of a disk-facing side of the slider. |
| US08174790B2 |
Thin-film magnetic head having remnant coating and remnant insulating film, head gimbal assembly and hard disk drive
A thin-film magnetic head including a structure in which a main magnetic pole layer including a magnetic pole end part on a side of a medium-opposing surface opposing a recording medium, a write shield layer opposing the magnetic pole end part so as to form a recording gap layer on the medium-opposing surface side, and a thin-film coil wound about the write shield layer or main magnetic pole layer are laminated. The main magnetic pole layer is incorporated in a magnetic pole forming depression of a base insulating layer, the magnetic pole forming depression being sunken into a form corresponding to the main magnetic pole layer. The thin-film magnetic head has a remnant insulating film, formed on the outside of the magnetic pole forming depression so as to substantially surround the magnetic pole forming depression, covering the base insulating layer. |
| US08174788B2 |
Motor mount for interference suppression in a hard disk drive
A method for manufacturing a hard disk drive is described. The method includes providing a motor assembly, the motor assembly comprising a stationary portion and a rotatable portion for rotating a magnetic disk with respect to said stationary portion and providing a base for receiving the motor assembly. The method further includes providing an adhesive for mounting the motor assembly to said base wherein the adhesive is electrically conductive and mounting the stationary portion of the motor assembly to the base utilizing the adhesive such that the adhesive provides a low resistance path between the base and the motor assembly. |
| US08174787B2 |
Library apparatus and method for moving shelf of library apparatus
A library apparatus includes a storage shelf including a first movable shelf and a second movable shelf each having a plurality of rows and columns of cells in which storage mediums are to be stored, a drive unit being disposed such that a direction of access to the drive unit for inserting/ejecting of one of the storage mediums is the same as a direction of access to the storage shelf, a conveyor for conveying one of the storage mediums between the storage shelf and the drive unit, and a movement control unit for controlling to lift a specific row of cells of the first movable shelf to produce a space and to move horizontally a specific row of cells of the second movable shelf to a position in the space accessible by the conveyor. |
| US08174785B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting rapid off track following and protecting nearby tracks from rapid off track writing in a hard disk drive
This application discloses a hard disk drive using a self-resonant frequency band of a Voice Coil Motor far above its operational frequency band to predict Rapid Off Track events before its head stack assembly can deliver the disruption to the slider writing a track. A circuit board and/or an integrated circuit are disclosed in various embodiments to predict the ROT events using the self-resonant frequency band and/or to respond to the prediction to suppress the slider writing. |
| US08174783B2 |
Testing magnetic disk performance with a single slider simulating sliders of various disk drive systems
Magnetic disk drive systems and associated methods are described for testing magnetic disk performance for certification with a plurality of magnetic disk drive systems prior to installation. The test system may position a slider at a first spacing between the magnetic disk in the slider and simulate the recording performance of a disk drive system with the magnetic disk at the first spacing. The disk drive test system may then transfer a control signal to a heating element in the slider to move the slider to a different spacing between the magnetic disk and the slider to simulate the recording performance of another disk drive system. The test system may, thus, use a single slider to certify a magnetic disk with a plurality of disk drive systems. |
| US08174782B2 |
Methods for depositing lubricant onto disks and systems thereof
A system in one embodiment includes a disk; a reservoir having a selectively openable cover; a lubricant in the reservoir; and a sensor for detecting an event or condition that triggers opening of the cover. A method in another embodiment includes determining that a trigger event or a trigger condition is occurring or has occurred in a hard disk drive; opening a cover of a lubricant reservoir for allowing egress of lubricant therefrom upon determining that the trigger event or the trigger condition has occurred; and closing the cover of the lubricant reservoir after a period of time. Additional systems and methods are also presented. |
| US08174779B2 |
Discrete device testing
One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method that comprises testing a first number of physical devices using a first test sequence that comprises an item. A second number of physical devices are tested using a second test sequence. It is noted that the second test sequence comprises the item of the first test and a second item. |
| US08174772B1 |
Display device with integrated photovoltaic layer
A display device with a plurality of electrofluidic display cells may be used to display images to a viewer. The electrofluidic display cell could include a transparent electrowetting electrode and a fluid pathway that includes a viewable fluid channel and a fluid reservoir. The viewable fluid channel in each electrofluidic display cell can be controllably filled with a first or second fluid so as to modulate the viewable contrast, reflectance, and/or color of the cell. A photovoltaic device can be integrated within each electrofluidic display cell directly under the viewable fluid channel. Thus, when ambient light is transmitted through the viewable fluid channel, the photovoltaic device could convert at least some of the ambient light into electrical energy. This electrical energy could be used to power the display device or other devices. |
| US08174771B2 |
Lens blank and lens elements as well as method for their production
A method for manufacturing a preferably asymmetrical lens element (5a) from a tempered blank (1) is characterized by: producing the lens element (5a) from a first partial volume (1a) of the tempered blank (1), whose thickness d is less than approximately 70%, preferably less than approximately 60%, particularly preferably less than approximately 50% of the thickness D of the tempered blank (1). Preferably, from a second partial volume (1b) of the tempered blank (1) at least a further lens element (5a′) is produced, wherein before the lens elements (5a, 5a′) are produced the tempered blank (1) is divided into the first and second partial volume (1a, 1b). |
| US08174767B2 |
Viewfinder and imaging apparatus using the same
The present invention provides a viewfinder, characterized by comprising a reflection type display device on which an object image is displayed, an eyepiece optical system having a front group and a rear group, an illumination optical system for illuminating the reflection type display device and an optical device for putting an optical path taken by the illumination optical system over an optical path from said reflection type display device to the eyepiece optical system at a position of the widest of lens-to-lens spaces in the eyepiece optical system. The eyepiece optical system is located between the reflection type display device and an eye point, and satisfies the following condition (1): 0.1 |
| US08174766B2 |
Textured plate comprising asymmetrical patterns
A plate of transparent material including, on its surface, a texture including a plurality of a feature in relief, whether in a form of depressions or projections. The feature includes a first face and a second face that are not mutually parallel, lines at a base of the faces being parallel. The first face forms, with the general plane of the plate, a larger angle than the angle formed by the second face with the general plane of the plate, the angles being angles inside the material if the feature is a projection, or angles on the outside of the material if the feature is a depression. The plate improves light transmission toward a photovoltaic cell, in particular when the plate is in a vertical position, for example on the surface of a noise barrier. |
| US08174762B2 |
3-D optical microscope
A 3-D optical microscope, a method of turning a conventional optical microscope into a 3-D optical microscope, and a method of creating a 3-D image on an optical microscope are described. The 3-D optical microscope includes a processor, at least one objective lens, an optical sensor capable of acquiring an image of a sample, a mechanism for adjusting focus position of the sample relative to the objective lens, and a mechanism for illuminating the sample and for projecting a pattern onto and removing the pattern from the focal plane of the objective lens. The 3-D image creation method includes taking two sets of images, one with and another without the presence of the projected pattern, and using a software algorithm to analyze the two image sets to generating a 3-D image of the sample. The 3-D image creation method enables reliable and accurate 3-D imaging on almost any sample regardless of its image contrast. |
| US08174759B2 |
Apparatus for gain control in optical amplifiers
The invention relates to an apparatus for dynamically controlling the gain of an optically pumped optical amplifier, and the optical amplifier including such apparatus, which utilizes a multiplying digital to analog converter to implement a digitally adjustable analog feed forward control of a source of pump radiation of the optical amplifier. |
| US08174757B2 |
Wavelength determining apparatus, method and program for thin film thickness monitoring light
A multi-layer optical thin film filter comprising plural deposited optical thin films, wherein optical thin film thickness for each of said optical thin films has a predetermined wavelength spectrum in a predetermined gain equalization band and a predetermined wavelength spectrum in a pumping light transmission band other than said gain equalization band. |
| US08174748B2 |
Mirror and optical scanning device
A mirror includes a substrate, a reflection layer, and a protection layer. The substrate includes a surface having an attachment area and a reflection area. The reflection layer is formed on the reflection area. The protection layer is formed on the reflection area on which the reflection layer is formed and the attachment area. Material of the protection layer is homogeneous across the reflection area and the attachment area. |
| US08174744B2 |
Video hologram and device for reconstructing video holograms
The invention relates to video holograms and devices for reconstructing video holograms, comprising an optical system having a light source, lens and the video hologram having cells arranged in a matrix or a regular pattern with at least one opening per cell, the phase or amplitude of said opening being controllable. The holographic video representations of expanded spatial objects can be achieved in a wide viewing area in real time using controllable displays, whereby the objects are either computer-generated or created by different means. The space-bandwidth product (SBP) of the hologram is thus reduced to a minimum and the periodicity interval of the Fourier spectrum is used as a viewing window on the inverse transformation plane, through which the object is visible in the preceding space. The mobility of the viewer(s) is achieved by tracking the viewing window. |
| US08174743B2 |
Optical security device
A holographic effect generating structure (HEGS), either stand alone or integrated with a security diffractive image, generates a holographic optically varying image by a process of diffraction of light, this image under white light illumination generates a smoothly and continuously variable structureless optically variable apparent motion effect which moves along a pre-determined track within pre-determined limits, the device characterized that it generates 3 planes of images under white light illumination—an image plane image located at or near the image plane corresponding to the real plane of the device which defines the predetermined movement track of the apparent motion effect and its bounds, a second virtual image plane situated away from the image plane of the device forming a virtual viewing zone corresponding at which an observer would be positioned to observe the visual effect and a third image plane, which defines a region where all the light rays from the image plane artwork to the viewing zone pass through or appear to originate from which defines the defines the viewing track of the apparent motion effect. |
| US08174737B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a document table, a read unit that reads a document so as to generate image data representing a read image of the document, a partial prescanning unit, which conveys the read unit in a partial area of a readable area of the document table, and which controls the read unit to execute read operation in the partial area, a corner estimation unit, which converts the image data of the read result of the read unit into edge image data representing an edge image, and which estimates position coordinates on the document table corresponding to two of four corners of the document on the assumption that the placed document is quadrangular based on the edge image data, and a document estimation unit that estimates the state of the placed document based on the estimation result of the corner estimation unit. |
| US08174733B2 |
Tint block image generation program and tint block image generation device
A tint block image generation program generates tint block image data which forms a tint block image including a latent image portion, which is reproduced during copying, and a background portion, of which output density drops during copying, on a print medium. The program causing a computer to execute: a latent image portion generation step of generating data of a plurality of first dots on the latent image portion; and a background portion generation step of generating data of a plurality of second dots having a second screen ruling, and data of a plurality of third dots which are dispersed among the second dots, and of which size is smaller than that of the second dots, in the background portion. |
| US08174732B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program product for processing image
A white reference member is used to obtain white reference data. An image sensor scans the white reference member line by line to obtain a plurality of lines of white reference data. A skipping unit skips the white reference data with a predetermined skipping ratio to generate a skipped white reference data. A dust detecting unit detects a dust between the white reference member and the image sensor based on the skipped white reference data. |
| US08174730B2 |
Printing control device, printing system and printing control program
In Step S230, an ICM P3a1 calculates an ink amount set φ capable of reproduction of the same spectral reflectivity R (λ) as a target spectral reflectivity Rt (λ) indicated by a spectral reflectivity data RD. An ECM P3a3 multiplies a weight function w (λ) obtained by adding the color-matching functions x (λ), y (λ), and z (λ) in respective wavelengths, when calculating a mean square error of a difference D (λ) between the target spectral reflectivity Rt (λ) indicated by the spectral reflectivity data RD and an estimation spectral reflectivity Rs (λ) as an evaluation value E (φ). In addition, the ink amount set φ is calculated as an optimum solution for minimizing the evaluation value E (φ). |
| US08174729B2 |
Printing apparatus, printing system, and printing method
A printing apparatus having a print unit and a print controller with a first density correcting component performing a density correction to image data transmitted to the unit is provided. The correction accords with a printing capacity of the unit. The apparatus comprises a component notifying a separate apparatus of an order to make a second density correcting component perform a density correction an amount of which is the same as that of the density correction by the first correcting component. The separate apparatus is provided with a transmitter and the second correcting component, the transmitter being capable of transmitting image data to the unit bypassing the first correcting component provided in the controller, and the second correcting component being capable of performing a density correction to the image data. The correction accords with the printing capacity of the unit. |
| US08174724B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method therefor, and program
Input raster image data is divided into objects of each attribute. The division results, and charge information representing a consideration accrued from a vectorized process for the division results are displayed. It is designated whether to execute the vectorized process for the displayed division results. The vectorized process of converting the raster image data into vector data is executed on the basis of the contents of the designation. |
| US08174723B2 |
Efficient printer control electronics
An apparatus (such as a printer) including a combination engine controller circuit board having a integrated circuit (IC) chip configured to process (format) incoming data as well as to control the operations of the apparatus is disclosed. The IC chip is adapted to receive and process data as well as to control the operations of the apparatus. For this reason, the IC chip is referred to as a combined controller IC. |
| US08174719B2 |
Systems and methods for testing a printer
A method for testing skew in a printer includes receiving at a printer a request to print a test page, and in response to the request, printing a test page. The test page includes (a) a first symbol defining a first symbol boundary and (b) a second symbol sized smaller than the first symbol boundary such that the second symbol fits inside the first symbol boundary when the test page is folded. The relationship between the size of the first symbol boundary and the size of the second symbol corresponds to a predetermined acceptable amount of skew in the alignment of the first and second symbols on the test page. |
| US08174717B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus includes: a receiving unit which receives reception data transmitted from an external apparatus; an acquiring unit which acquires identification information for identifying the external apparatus which transmits the reception data; and a tag writer which wirelessly write the identification information into a wireless tag. |
| US08174716B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system
In a terminal device connected through a network to an image forming apparatus including a hold print function, the presence of an unprinted hold print job is certainly informed to a user that should print a hold print job. The terminal device includes a hold print job processing unit having a hold print job information managing unit that manages hold print job information sent from the image forming apparatus, an event receiving unit that receives event occurrence information given from an operating system when a predetermined event occurs in a personal computer, and a user interface unit, and displays a message indicating that an unprinted job exists every time the notification of occurrence of the event is sent from the OS if the unprinted hold print job exists in a list of the hold print job information in the hold print job information managing unit. |
| US08174712B2 |
Generating passive metadata from user interface selections at an imaging device
A system and method for generating passive metadata from user interface selections at an imaging device includes an imaging device and at least one destination having at least one controllable setting. The imaging device preferably includes a document imaging system for capturing an image file, a user interface system for accepting passive data user input pertaining to the image file, a data conversion system for converting the passive data into a metadata file, and a transmission system for transmitting the image file and an associated metadata file through a network to at least one destination. The passive data affects at least one controllable setting of the destination. Passive data may be, for example, routing information, user information, file formatting instructions, and/or billing information. The present invention may also include a method for delivering documents that includes the steps of capturing an image file, accepting user input as passive data using a user interface system, converting the passive data into a metadata file, transmitting the image file and an associated metadata file through a data transmission network to a destination, and affecting at least one controllable setting of the destination according to the passive data in the metadata file. |
| US08174707B2 |
Optical element positioning apparatus
An optical element positioning apparatus of the present invention includes a moving unit including an optical element 2, a drive mechanism 100 configured to drive the moving unit, a position measuring sensor 130 configured to measure a position of the optical element 2, and an optical element controller 10 configured to control the drive mechanism 100 based on a measurement result by the position measuring sensor 130. An incident position (p point) at which a principal ray of a central field enters the optical element 2 is displaced from an optical axis of an optical system including the optical element 2, and the position measuring sensor 130 measures the incident position in an optical axis direction. |
| US08174695B2 |
Arrayed micro-ring spectrometer system and method of use
A spectrometer system includes an array of micro-zone plates (MZP) each having coaxially-aligned ring gratings, a sample plate for supporting and illuminating a sample, and an array of photon detectors for measuring a spectral characteristic of the predetermined wavelength. The sample plate emits an evanescent wave in response to incident light, which excites molecules of the sample to thereby cause an emission of secondary photons. A method of detecting the intensity of a selected wavelength of incident light includes directing the incident light onto an array of MZP, diffracting a selected wavelength of the incident light onto a target focal point using the array of MZP, and detecting the intensity of the selected portion using an array of photon detectors. An electro-optic layer positioned adjacent to the array of MZP may be excited via an applied voltage to select the wavelength of the incident light. |
| US08174685B2 |
Measurement of nonlinear effects of an optical path
A network device may include a receiver to receive optical pulses from an optical path, wherein the optical pulses include a plurality of intensities and represent data. The network device may also include a processor to determine a rate of bit errors introduced during propagation of the optical pulses through the optical path and to determine a parameter indicative of nonlinear effects of the optical path based on the rate of bit errors and the plurality of intensities. |
| US08174681B2 |
Calibration of lithographic process models
A method is provided for calibrating a model of a lithographic process that includes defining a parameter space of lithographic model parameters that are expected in an integrated circuit layout. The parameter space is defined according to bin values of a lithographic model parameter that span the range from a predetermined minimum and maximum value of the model parameter. The bin values may be incremented uniformly between the maximum and minimum parameter values, or may be distributed according to a weighting. The lithographic model is calibrated to an initial calibration test pattern. The resulting simulated calibration pattern is evaluated to determine whether the model parameter space is adequately populated. If the parameter space is over or under populated, the calibration pattern is modified until the calibration pattern test values adequately populate the parameter space, so that the final calibrated lithographic process model will more reliably predict images over the full range of image parameters. |
| US08174669B2 |
Liquid immersion optical tool, method for cleaning liquid immersion optical tool, liquid immersion exposure method and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
There is disclosed is a liquid immersion optical tool, which comprises a light source, an optical lens system, a stage which moves an object base on which an object is to be placed, a head comprising a liquid immersion medium fluid supply device and a liquid immersion medium fluid discharge device to provide a layer of liquid immersion medium fluid between the optical lens system and the object, a fence which limits a region of the layer of liquid immersion medium fluid, and a cleaning device which cleans a portion having been contacted with the liquid immersion medium fluid by means of a cleaning solution. |
| US08174667B2 |
Nanowire-based transparent conductors and applications thereof
A transparent conductor including a conductive layer coated on a substrate is described. More specifically, the conductive layer comprises a network of nanowires that may be embedded in a matrix. The conductive layer is optically clear, patternable and is suitable as a transparent electrode in visual display devices such as touch screens, liquid crystal displays, plasma display panels and the like. |
| US08174663B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and a method for fabricating the same, which has a structure applied thereto for preventing a liquid applied to a substrate from passing through a display portion to encroach even to a seal pattern portion causing seal breakage or gap defect.The liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates placed opposite to each other, each having an active region at a center thereof, a seal pattern formed on an outside circumference of the active region spaced from a boundary portion of the active region, between the first substrate and the second substrate, a spread preventive wall formed on the first substrate between the boundary portion of the active region and the seal pattern, and an alignment film formed on an inner side of the spread preventive wall on the first substrate. |
| US08174659B2 |
Color filter substrate and color display device including the same
A color filter substrate has unit pixels each having an area of 0.1 mm2 or more. Each unit pixel is formed of sub-pixels having a different color from one another and having areas that are substantially equal to one another. Each sub-pixel is formed of a continuous planar region having a maximum line width that does not exceed 150 μm. The sub-pixels are configured with a shape such that the sub-pixels form a preselected engagement pattern via which the adjacent sub-pixels engage one another. |
| US08174656B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device comprising: liquid crystal layer provided between a first substrate and a second substrate; first electrodes, which are formed above the first substrate as a first layer, each first electrode having a side which extends in the direction in parallel with the extending direction of data lines, each first electrode electrically connected to corresponding data line via corresponding switching device; and a second electrode, which is formed above the first substrate as a second layer, having a first slit and a second slit in each part of the area overlapping with corresponding first electrode; wherein the first slit has a first elongated portion extending in a direction inclining toward the extending direction of the side at a given angle, a second elongated portion extending in a direction inclining toward the extending direction of the side at an angle symmetrical to the given angle with respect to the first elongated portion, and a bent portion that connects the first elongated portion with the second elongated portion; and the second slit has a third elongated portion which is formed in parallel with the first elongated portion, and a fourth elongated portion which is formed in parallel with the second elongated portion and separated from the third elongated portion. |
| US08174655B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates, gate and data lines formed on the first substrate and crossing each other to define a pixel region, a first common electrode in a first part of the pixel region, the first common electrode having a plate shape, a plurality of first pixel electrodes directly over the first common electrode and at a first fixed interval in the first part of the pixel region, a second pixel electrode alternately arranged with a second common electrode at a second fixed interval in a second part of the pixel region, and a layer of liquid crystal molecules between the first and second substrates. |
| US08174654B2 |
Wiring structure of liquid crystal display device and liquid crystal display device
A wiring structure of a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal display device are disclosed. The wiring structure of the liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, plural electrical elements, and plural wirings. The electrical elements are disposed on the substrate to generate plural electrical signals. The wirings are coupled to the electrical elements to transmit the electrical signals. The wirings include inner wirings and an outermost peripheral wiring. The outermost peripheral wiring and the inner wirings have different wiring patterns. Each of the electrical elements is positioned at a side of the outermost peripheral wiring facing the center of the substrate. After the liquid crystal display device is cut and polished, by distinguishing the wiring patterns of both the outermost peripheral wiring and the inner wirings, the existence of the outermost peripheral wiring shows that the outermost peripheral wiring is not polished and removed. |
| US08174652B2 |
Production method of liquid crystal display device and liquid crystal display device
To provide a production method of a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal display device, in which generation of a joint line on a display screen is suppressed and yield can be improved even if a substrate is subjected to an alignment treatment by completing exposure for the substrate through several exposures in a liquid crystal display device including pixels each having two or more domains. The present invention is a production method of a production method of a liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display device including: a pair of opposed substrates; a liquid crystal layer formed between the pair of opposed substrates; and an alignment film arranged on a liquid crystal layer side surface of at least one of the pair of opposed substrates, and the liquid crystal display device having two or more regions which differ in alignment azimuth in a pixel, wherein the production method comprises an exposure step of exposing the alignment film in such a way that a substrate plane is divided into two or more exposure regions through a photomask in each exposure region, and in the exposure step, exposure is performed in such a way that adjacent two exposure regions have an overlapping exposure region where the adjacent two exposure regions partly overlap with each other, and the photomask has a halftone part corresponding to the overlapping exposure region. |
| US08174651B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a first insulating substrate with a top surface and a bottom surface. A pixel electrode is formed on the top surface of the first insulating substrate. The pixel electrode has a first opening pattern at each pixel area. The pixel electrode with the first opening pattern is substantially rectangular in shape with a first long side and a second long side, and first short side and a second short side. The pixel electrode is divided into an upper region defined by the first long side and the second long side and the first short side, and a lower region defined by the first long side and the second long side and the second short side. A second insulating substrate with a top surface and a bottom surface is arranged parallel to the first insulating substrate at a predetermined distance from the same such that the bottom surface of the second insulating substrate faces the top surface of the first insulating substrate. A common electrode is formed on the bottom surface of the second insulating substrate. The common electrode has a second opening pattern at each pixel area, which correspond to each pixel area of the pixel electrode. A liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate while contacting the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The first opening pattern and the second opening pattern each have a plurality of openings, the openings of the first opening pattern and the second opening pattern being alternately arranged parallel to each other. |
| US08174649B2 |
Liquid crystal display and biaxial compensation film
A liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal panel and a biaxial compensation film is provided. The liquid crystal panel has a first surface and a second surface. The biaxial compensation film is disposed on the first surface and includes a C-plate compensation film and nano-structures on the C-plate compensation film serving as an A-plate compensation film. |
| US08174645B2 |
Electronic display device comprising polarizing switch and pattern polarizer
An electronic display device including a display unit for displaying an image and a light controller disposed in front of the display unit. The light controller includes a polarizing switch for controlling a polarizing direction using an electrical signal, and a pattern polarizer for controlling light transmission in cooperation with the polarizing switch. The polarizing switch has first and second common electrodes facing each other and a liquid crystal layer located between the first and second common electrodes. The pattern polarizer has a plurality of polarizing portions and a plurality of non-polarizing portions alternately arranged in a first direction. |
| US08174640B2 |
Illumination apparatus and liquid crystal display apparatus
An illumination apparatus is disclosed. The illumination apparatus includes a polarization plate, a light source, and a light transmission film disposed between the polarization plate and the light source and including a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof. The plurality of prisms each have a ridge line in a first direction and are continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a perpendicular direction and an approximately perpendicular direction to a transmission axis of the polarization plate. The plurality of prisms each have refractive indexes in the ridge line direction, an arrangement direction, and a thickness direction, the refractive index in the ridge line direction being larger than the refractive indexes in the arrangement direction and thickness direction. |
| US08174638B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device capable of minimizing the occurrence of light leakage at peripheral regions of protrusions by maximizing a distance between an image display region and the protrusions, by forming the protrusions at one or more corners of the light guide plate. The LCD device comprises: a light guide plate having protrusions at one or more corners thereof; a main support having fixing grooves formed at one or more corners thereof corresponding to the corners of the light guide plate, the locking grooves for coupling the protrusions of the light guide plate; an LC panel for displaying an image by using light emitted from the light guide plate; an optical source having one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) for irradiating light to the light guide plate; a reflection sheet for reflecting light emitted from a rear surface of the light guide plate to the light guide plate; and one or more optical sheets disposed between the light guide plate and the LC panel. |
| US08174636B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and liquid crystal display having the same comprising a coupling capacitor as a voltage divider between a TFT and a data line
An exemplary thin film transistor (TFT) substrate assembly includes a substrate, a plurality of gate lines disposed on an inner surface of the substrate, a plurality of data lines disposed insulated with the gate lines. The plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines define a plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel region includes a first switch element, a second switch element, a first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode. The first switch element and the second switch element are connected with a same gate line from the plurality of gate lines. The first pixel electrode is applied with data signals from a data line from the plurality of data lines via the first switch element. The second pixel electrode is applied with data signals from the data line from the plurality of data lines via the second switch element and a voltage dividing element. |
| US08174628B2 |
Mobile terminal unit, display method, display program, and recording medium
A flexible LCD (2) is a flexible display. The flexible LCD (2) is pulled out from an upper cabinet to change a display area of the flexible LCD (2). An amount-of-sliding detecting section (4) measures the pullout amount (amount of sliding) of the flexible LCD (2) when the flexible LCD (2) is pulled out from a mobile terminal unit (1) or is retracted into the mobile terminal unit (1). A display controller (3) causes the flexible LCD (2) to display in a manner responsive to the amount of sliding that is measured by the amount-of-sliding detecting section (4). The foregoing makes it possible to utilize effectively the display having a display area that is revealed when the display is pulled out. |
| US08174624B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An apparatus outputs an image signal for each frame, divides a frame into sub-frames, acquires a first signal of high frequency components and a second signal of low frequency components of a sub-frame, and generates a third signal by multiplying the second signal by K. If a fourth signal obtained by adding the third signal to the first signal falls within a predetermined range, the apparatus outputs the third signal, whereas if the fourth signal includes a portion exceeding the range, the apparatus outputs a signal obtained by correcting the third signal. The apparatus also generates a composition signal of the output signal and the first signal and a fifth signal by multiplying the third signal by a correction amount y of the third signal. As a sub-frame of interest, either the composition signal or the fifth signal is output. |
| US08174617B2 |
Apparatus for providing multiple screens and method of dynamically configuring multiple screens
An apparatus for providing multiple screens and a method of dynamically configuring the multiple screens are provided. The apparatus for providing multiple screens retrieves the type of the screens in the device and connection relationship therebetween in order to dynamically configure multiple screens that provide a plurality of services on a physical display device. The apparatus for providing multiple screens includes an operation module generating at least one of screens for displaying a received service, and a retrieval module retrieving a screen on which an application included in the service is executed among the screens. |
| US08174616B2 |
Method and apparatus for transitioning from a first display format to a second display format
A letterbox detector includes a detection module configured to determine aspect ratio changes in an input signal. A transition module is configured to transition between a plurality of display modes associated with the aspect ratio changes. A first display mode to a second display mode transition is performed over a first period of time, and a second display mode to a first display mode is performed gradually over a second period of time, that is different from the first period of time. The letterbox detector may be included in digital and analog displays. |
| US08174615B2 |
Method for converting an image and image conversion unit
A method for converting an image and an image conversion unit are provided, the method comprising: determining a target pixel of pixels of the image; calculating a first value based on pixel values of a first set of pixels, wherein the first set of pixels do not include pixels in a column of the target pixel; determining a second value based on pixel values of a second set of pixels, wherein the second set of pixels are located in the column of the target pixel; and determining a pixel value of the target pixel based on adding the first and second values. The method and the image conversion unit are used e.g. for converting an image in interlaced format to progressive scan format. |
| US08174614B2 |
Video signal processing apparatus, video signal processing method, and video signal display apparatus
A video signal processing apparatus, which can prevent degradation of picture quality in converting an interlaced scan video signal to a progressive scan video signal, includes an interframe correlation detection means (11); an interfield correlation detection means (12); a field resolution determination means (13) which generates a signal (filhv) indicative of a degree of high frequency components existing in a field; a pull-down sequence detection means (14) which generates a telecine detection signal (tci) indicating whether or not an input video signal is any of 2-3 pull-down telecine video signal and 2-2 pull-down telecine video signal and also generates a mixing ratio signal (tcmix) indicative of a mixing ratio used at the time of interpolation processing; an interpolation signal generation means (110) which mixes a plurality of kinds of interpolation signals (Im, It) in accordance with the telecine detection signal (tci) and the mixing ratio signal (tcmix); and a rate doubling conversion means (9) which generates the progressive scan video signal (Prog) from a delayed video signal (R) and an interpolation signal (I). |
| US08174611B2 |
Digital image segmentation using flash
A digital camera function, such as can be implemented in a cellular telephone handset, and that includes automated segmentation of foreground subjects in acquired digital photos and images. Successive images are captured by the digital camera function at different flash exposure levels, for example using existing light only and using flash exposure. After alignment and registration of the images, luminance difference values in the two images are determined for each pixel, and the luminance difference values compared against a threshold value on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Those pixels with luminance difference values exceeding the threshold are segmented from the image as foreground subjects. |
| US08174608B2 |
Drive unit and drive module
A drive unit and drive module which use a shape memory alloy as a drive source to move a driven member, and which can drive at a high speed, independently of the ambient temperature and the position of the driven member. The timing of moving the driven member is controlled based on the position to which the driven member is moved, and based on the settling time for the driven member moved to that position to settle at that position, thus, the driven section can be moved in the minimum drive time, and this arrangement provides the drive unit and drive module that can drive at a high speed, independently of the ambient temperature and the position of the driven member. |
| US08174607B2 |
Image pickup device
An image pickup device includes an image pickup element that receives light of an object image formed by a picture-taking lens; and a focus detection filter section that is so disposed near the image pickup element and on the side of the picture-taking lens as to be able to be inserted or withdrawn. The focus detection filter section, from the side of the picture-taking lens, includes a field diaphragm that includes a plurality of openings; a condenser lens disposed near a focus detection area on the surface of the field diaphragm; a pupil division diaphragm that corresponds to the opening of the field diaphragm and includes a pair of openings arranged at such an interval as to secure focusing accuracy; and a re-imaging lens group that includes a plurality of re-imaging lenses that are so arranged as to correspond to the openings of each of the pupil division diaphragms. When the focus detection filter section is inserted into an picture-taking optical path, the light intensity distribution of two light beams that each pass through different areas of the picture-taking lens and the openings of the field diaphragm is received by the image pickup element. The detecting of focus is performed by detecting a phase difference of an output signal representing the light intensity distribution obtained from the image pickup element. When a picture is taken, the focus detection filter section withdraws from the optical path. |
| US08174606B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and recording medium storing program to execute the method to provide live view images in a photographing mode
A digital photographing apparatus is provided including a lens unit, an imaging device, and a main mirror disposed between the lens unit and the imaging device, wherein the position of the main mirror can be changed so that the main mirror either reflects at least part of light which passed through the lens unit toward a first orientation or the main mirror is not positioned on a path of the light which passed through the lens unit such that the light can be incident to the imaging device. A prism unit, a viewfinder, and an image sensor for live view are also included in the apparatus. A method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a storage medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method are also provided. |
| US08174601B2 |
Image sensor with controllable transfer gate off state voltage levels
A CMOS image sensor or other type of image sensor comprises a pixel array and a signal generator coupled to the pixel array. The pixel array comprises a plurality of pixels each having a photosensitive element coupled to a transfer gate. The signal generator is configured to generate a transfer gate signal for application to at least one of the transfer gates. The transfer gate signal has at least an on state voltage level and first and second off state voltage levels, with the first off state voltage level typically having a higher magnitude than that of the second off state voltage level. In an illustrative embodiment, the second off state voltage level is utilized during a readout operation in order to reduce dark current in floating diffusion regions of the pixel array. |
| US08174599B2 |
Image pickup apparatus having control lines connected to alternate matrix rows
An image pickup apparatus which can photograph a high-definition image and a moving image of lower resolution at high quality and an image pickup system which uses the image pickup apparatus are provided. Unit pixel groups each of which comprises plural pixels including photoelectric conversion units and transfer transistors for transferring signal charges from the photoelectric conversion units, an amplification transistor common to the plural pixels, and the like are arranged in row and column directions. With respect to the plural unit pixel groups mutually adjacent in the row direction, control lines for controlling the transfer transistors respectively corresponding to the adjacent two photoelectric conversion units are alternately connected to an odd row and an even row in the row direction. |
| US08174598B2 |
Solid state image capture device and camera system
A solid-state image capture device includes: a pixel section in which pixels are arranged in a matrix; control lines; a pixel drive section that performs control, through the control lines, an operation of the pixels so as to perform a shutter operation of the pixel section and so as to perform reading; a reading circuit that reads signals from the pixels; and a shutter-mode switching section that controls an operation of the pixel drive section in accordance with a rolling shutter system in which exposure is performed for each row or a global shutter system in which exposure is simultaneously performed on all the pixels. The pixel drive section includes a shutter-mode corresponding section that causes an impedance value from the control lines to a power supply in a global shutter operation to be greater than an impedance value in a rolling shutter operation. |
| US08174597B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and signal processing system
A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel portion configured to convert light into an electric signal; a substrate where the pixel portion is formed; an optical communication unit configured to convert a signal read out from the pixel portion into an optical signal, and outputs the optical signal, which is disposed in one surface where the pixel portion is formed of the substrate; and a light shielding portion configured to shield, of signal light to be output from the optical communication unit, light that directs to the pixel portion, and light to be leaked from the optical communication unit, which is disposed around the optical communication unit. |
| US08174594B2 |
Method of operating ripple counter, image sensor having ripple counter, method of operating image sensor, and analog-to-digital converter of image sensor
An example embodiment of an image sensor may include a controller and a plurality of up/down ripple counters. The controller may generate a first control signal and a second control signal. Each of the up/down ripple counters may perform a stop operation or a count operation in response to a corresponding one of a plurality of operation control signals generated based on at least in part on the first control signal. The count operation may be an up-count operation or a down-count operation based on the second control signal. The image sensor may also include a plurality of memory chains. Each of the memory chains may receive a count value output from the up/down counters and may shift the received count value in response to a third control signal and a fourth control signal output from the controller. |
| US08174587B2 |
Imaging apparatus, integrated circuit for image pickup device and image data processing method
The present invention is applied to imaging apparatuses including video cameras for recording moving pictures, electronic still cameras, monitoring devices and such. An image pickup means 3 and an image compressing means 5 are connected integrally by a wiring layer formed on a surface of the image pickup means 3 opposite a light-receiving surface of the image pickup means 3. The image pickup means 3 provides processing units of image data S1 relating to an image compressing process sequentially. Image data on a partial area in an effective image area is compressed to detect a code amount in advance. A data compressing ratio is determined on the basis of the code amount, and the image data is compressed at the image compressing ratio. |
| US08174586B2 |
Image file reproduction device and image file reproduction method
A method of reproducing an image file from a recording medium that stores an image file of a first type and/or an image file of a second type includes reproducing the first type of image file or second type of image file, detecting whether each of a predetermined number of image files stored on the recording medium is the first type of image file or the second type of image file during the reproduction of an image file, and converting the second type of image file to the first type of image file by reading the main image data from the second type of image file, generating display-image data (image data for display use) based on the read main image data, and storing the generated display-image data in the original image file if the image file is determined to be the second type of image file based on the detection result. The first type of image file is an image file containing a header, main image data, and display-image data, and storing the display-image data in an area other than an area storing the header. The second type of image file is an image file containing a header and main image data, and storing no display-image data in an area other than an area storing the header. The image files of predetermined number being image files that can be reproduced when reproduction is done in the forward and/or reverse direction from the image file being reproduced. |
| US08174580B2 |
Automatic-tracking camera apparatus
An automatic-tracking camera apparatus which is capable of realizing continuous and smooth driving and obtaining an image with little position variation of a tracking target from a target position within the image and with little blur. The position of a camera body is changed by a gimbal device. The speed of a tracking target object at the next-after-next start timing of image acquisition by the camera body is predicted. The gimbal device is controlled so that the camera body reaches the position indicated by a position instruction value generated for the next-after-next start timing of image acquisition by the camera body, at the next-after-next start timing, and the speed of the camera body at the next-after-next start timing of image acquisition by the camera body corresponds to the speed predicted for the next-after-next timing of image acquisition. |
| US08174576B2 |
Vehicle periphery video providing apparatus and method
A vehicle periphery video providing apparatus performs coordinate conversion for a video shot by a shooting device so that the same video as in a case where a vehicle outside is visible from an eye point position of a driver in such a manner that an installed area of a liquid crystal display becomes transparent can be displayed on the liquid crystal display. |
| US08174575B2 |
Monitoring system
The invention relates to a monitoring system equipped with low-power-consumption camera devices. A main monitor device (15) grasps whether each monitor device (12) makes a request for sending image signals. Each camera device (13) sends a polling signal to the main monitor device (15). The main monitor device (15), in response to the polling signal, sends to a camera device (13), a second relay image-sending request signal containing a piece of identification information of a monitor device (12) requesting for sending of image signals, or no-sending-request signal for relay. The camera device (13) receives the second relay image-sending request signal or the no-sending-request signal for relay so as to grasp whether sending of image signals is required or not and the monitor device (12) requesting for sending of image signals. The camera device (13) sends the image signals to the monitor device (12) requesting for sending of image signals. |
| US08174570B2 |
Sign recognition device
A sign recognition device includes a sign effective range data recording unit for prestoring effective range conditions shown by a sign and an auxiliary sign, a sign recognition unit for recognizing a sign and an auxiliary sign by using a captured image of a roadway in front of a vehicle, a vehicle information acquiring unit for acquiring vehicle information, a map information acquiring unit for acquiring map information about a map of an area surrounding the vehicle, and a sign effective range determining unit for determining whether or not the vehicle is staying in the effective range specified with the sign and the auxiliary sign which have been recognized by the sign recognition unit by using the effective range conditions stored in the sign effective range data recording unit, the vehicle information, and the map information. |
| US08174569B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus, which is mounted on a head or face of a wearer attachably and detachably and allows the wearer to view an image and hear sound, includes a long formed temple supported by a temporal region of head or an ear when the wearer is wearing the image display apparatus; a speaker that generates sound, a sound generating face thereof being insertable into the ear at a vicinity of an opening of the ear; and a position adjusting mechanism that holds the speaker, attachably to and detachably from the temple, and movably at least substantially along a surface of the temporal region of the head. |
| US08174561B2 |
Device, method and program for creating and displaying composite images generated from images related by capture position
A system for presenting recorded data includes an electronic device and a database connectable to the electronic device over a communications network, the electronic device including a recording unit to record data from a first direction, a positional arrangement to determine positional data of the electronic device, a directional arrangement to determine directional data indicating the direction of the recorded data relative the position data; a memory including a first application stored thereon; and a control unit to execute the application to associate the directional data and the positional data to the recorded data and to transmit the recorded data with the associated positional and directional data to the database. |
| US08174553B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling power of laser diode having optical power compensation
An apparatus includes an output voltage sensing unit, which senses an output voltage of a laser diode, which has been sampled during a power control period and transmits the sensed output voltage of the laser diode to an output voltage control unit; the output voltage control unit, which obtains an error voltage between a reference voltage and the sensed output voltage of the laser diode and generates a control voltage by proportionally integrating the error voltage; and an optical power compensation unit, which receives the control voltage and generates a compensated control voltage by compensating for an optical power deviation on the photosensitive drum during the printing period. |
| US08174552B2 |
Merging of image pixel arrangements
A method for reducing visible artifacts includes operating recording channels to form image pixel arrangements comprising a plurality of image pixel columns. Each column extends along a first direction and each image pixel has a size L in a second direction. The recording channels form a first image pixel arrangement and the arrangement includes a first set of M image pixel columns. Image pixels in the first set of M image pixel columns are formed in accordance with first image data. Second image data is modified to include the first image data. Second image pixel arrangement are formed and include a second set of M image pixel columns. A distance between the first set of M image pixel columns and the second set of M image pixel columns is adjusted such that the first set of M image pixel columns is overlapped by the second set of M image pixel columns. |
| US08174549B2 |
Image forming apparatus, surface property reforming sheet, and method for forming image
An image forming apparatus includes a feeding device feeding a recording medium to be recorded, a thermal transfer sheet having an ink layer to form an image and a protective material layer to form a protective layer protecting the image, a thermal transfer sheet transporting device, a surface property reforming sheet having an image printing opening disposed in such a way that the thermal transfer sheet comes into direct contact with a surface of the recording medium to be recorded and a surface property reforming portion to reform the surface state of the protective layer protecting the image, a reforming sheet moving device, and a thermal head to thermally transfer the ink layer or the protective material layer, wherein a non-adhesion treatment layer is formed on at least a surface of the surface property reforming sheet on the side to come into contact with the thermal transfer sheet. |
| US08174547B2 |
Tablet computer equipped with microphones
A tablet PC capable of providing continuous utilization of a sound signal collected from a microphone without requiring any user intervention when a use mode thereof has been changed from a PC use mode to a tablet use mode is disclosed. The tablet PC includes a set of microphones to form a microphone array. The tablet PC is able to operate in a sound emphasis mode wherein sound signals collected from the microphones are processed while forming an emphasis space, and to operate in a non-processing mode wherein the sound signals are processed without forming the emphasis space. When a user manipulates a chassis orientation of the tablet PC from a PC use mode to a tablet use mode, the tablet PC operates to process the emphasis space so that the sound signals collected by the microphones can be utilized in the tablet use mode. |
| US08174546B2 |
Apparatus and methods for rapid image rendering on dual-modulator displays
Apparatus and methods are provided that employ one or more of a variety of techniques for reducing the time required to display high resolution images on a high dynamic range display having a light source layer and a display layer. In one technique, the image resolution is reduced, an effective luminance pattern is determined for the reduced resolution image, and the resolution of the effective luminance pattern is then increased to the resolution of the display layer. In another technique, the light source layer's point spread function is decomposed into a plurality of components, and an effective luminance pattern is determined for each component. The effective luminance patterns are then combined to produce a total effective luminance pattern. Additional image display time reduction techniques are provided. |
| US08174544B2 |
Image display apparatus, image displaying method, plasma display panel apparatus, program, integrated circuit, and recording medium
Previously, image display apparatuses using phosphors each having a different persistence time have a problem of reducing a motion blur caused by persistence of the phosphors in an image and improving color shift caused by the motion blur. To overcome this problem, an image display apparatus (1) includes: a motion detecting unit (2) calculating motion information from an inputted image signal, such as a region, a velocity, a direction of a motion, and a matching difference; a correction signal calculating unit (3) calculating a correction signal for correcting the motion blur caused by persistence in the inputted image signal, using the motion information; and a correcting unit (4) correcting the input image signal using the calculated correction signal. |
| US08174534B2 |
Shader processing systems and methods
Various embodiments of shader processing systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises a dependent texture read method executed using a multi-threaded, parallel computational core of a graphics processing unit (GPU). Such a method includes generating a dependent texture read request at logic configured to perform shader computations corresponding to a first thread, and sending shader-calculated, texture-sampling related parameters corresponding to the first thread to a texture pipeline while retaining at the logic all other shader processing related information corresponding to the first thread. |
| US08174533B2 |
Data management for image processing
A system comprises a memory storing data at addresses associated with pixels in images, each address being linked by a function to coordinates of a pixel in an ordered image reference frame, a device for processing the data associated with the pixels, where a pixel being processed is referenced by an associated vector relative to a reference pixel, and an interface device providing data to the processing device. A data request indicates a vector associated with a pixel being processed. The coordinates of the reference pixel are determined by applying the function to an address associated with the reference pixel. Next the coordinates of the pixel being processed are obtained based on the coordinates of the reference pixel and on the vector. Then the address of the data associated with the pixel being processed is determined by applying the inverse function of the function to the coordinates of the pixel being processed. |
| US08174531B1 |
Programmable graphics processor for multithreaded execution of programs
A processing unit includes multiple execution pipelines, each of which is coupled to a first input section for receiving input data for pixel processing and a second input section for receiving input data for vertex processing and to a first output section for storing processed pixel data and a second output section for storing processed vertex data. The processed vertex data is rasterized and scan converted into pixel data that is used as the input data for pixel processing. The processed pixel data is output to a raster analyzer. |
| US08174526B2 |
Methods and apparatus for rendering or preparing digital objects or portions thereof for subsequent processing
Methods and apparatus render images of digital objects or prepare digital objects for subsequent processing. The method includes sorting data representative of positions of at least three vertices of polygons of a digital object, then determining whether the orientation of the vertices of each polygon from a specific reference point differs from the actual, or original, orientation of the vertices. Such a determination may be made by generating an orientation decision variable based on the relative positions of the vertices and calculating a cross product term (CPT) after the vertex data has been sorted. The CPT may also be used in other operations involving the polygon, such as in imparting appearance characteristics to the polygon. The method may be embodied as a computer program that controls the operation of a processor. Processors, computers, and systems that practice the method are also contemplated. |
| US08174524B1 |
Ray hit coalescing in a computer rendering program
Ray trees are evaluated to render an image in a computer graphic program with a shaded object by launching rays from an object to be shaded in a scene. The rays intersect other objects in the scene at hit points. The hit points that can be shaded by the same shader program are assigned to the same computational group referred to as a shading grid. The hit points in the same shading grid are evaluated by operators in the shader program as a group. The image may then be rendered using the evaluated hit points. |
| US08174523B2 |
Display controlling apparatus and display controlling method
A display controlling apparatus stores therein first position information of pieces of data in a predetermined n-dimensional virtual space displayed on a display device, specifies second position information in the virtual space indicating positions of the pieces of data obtained after performing a rearranging process thereon, specifies intermediate position information indicating positions in a m-dimensional virtual space corresponding to a period during which the data is rearranged from the first-position-information positions into the second-position-information positions, the m being smaller than the n by 1 or more, calculates first transition paths in transitions from the first-position-information positions to the intermediate-position-information positions, calculates second transition paths in transitions from the intermediate-position-information positions to the second-position-information positions, and outputs display screen information containing the pieces of data that go through the transitions in the virtual spaces according to the first and the second transition paths. |
| US08174519B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display is provided, which includes: a plurality of pixel row groups, each pixel row group including at least one pixel row that includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and including switching elements; a plurality of gate lines connected to the switching elements and transmitting a gate-on voltage for turning on the switching elements; and a plurality of data lines connected to the switching elements and transmitting data voltages, wherein the switching elements in adjacent pixel row groups are connected to the data lines at opposite sides. |
| US08174515B2 |
Method of driving a display panel and display apparatus for performing the method
In a method of driving a display panel and a display apparatus for performing the method, a first pixel equipped in the display panel is driven with a first data voltage to which a first gamma curve is applied and a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel is driven with a second data voltage to which a second gamma curve is applied during an (N)-th frame, wherein N is a natural number. The first pixel and the second pixel is driven with a third data voltage to which a third gamma curve having a luminance between the first gamma curve and the second gamma curve is applied during a (N+1)-th frame. |
| US08174513B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating programmable signal for driving display panel
An apparatus and method for driving a display panel, and more particularly, an apparatus and method for easily generating a programmable signal to drive a digital display panel without re-designing a drive signal generating apparatus according to the specifications of the digital display panel including its size, the number of scan lines, and types of input signals. The apparatus includes a memory, a decoder, and an output waveform generating circuit. The memory stores information to generate a plurality of drive pulse signals necessary for driving the display panel. The decoder reads information stored in an address assigned according to a predetermined control sequence from the memory and then edits the read information so as to be suitable for specifications of the display panel. The output waveform generating circuit generates drive pulse signals corresponding to the information read by the decoder. |
| US08174509B2 |
Multi-touch positioning method for capacitive touch panel
A multi-touch positioning method for a capacitive touch panel includes following steps. A candidate touching position array including a first and a second candidate position groups is generated when the capacitive touch panel is touched by two objects. The first and the second candidate position groups include two first and second candidate positions, respectively. Next, the signal magnitude sensed by a sensing element and respectively corresponding to the first and the second candidate position groups are compared. Then, when the signal magnitude corresponding to the first candidate position group is greater than that corresponding to the second candidate position group, one of the two first candidate positions closer to the sensing element along a first direction is determined as a first actual touching position, and one of the two second candidate positions farther from the sensing element along the first direction is determined as a second actual touching position. |
| US08174508B2 |
Pointing and data entry input device
An input device includes an array of adjacent capacitive sensors arranged into rows and columns. Each capacitive sensor exhibits a capacitance characteristic when in proximity to a conductive element. A plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms are each deposited on and in contact with each of the capacitive sensors and configured to be actuated by a corresponding push button. Each capacitive sensor exhibits an electrical characteristic upon actuation of the corresponding mechanical hysteresis mechanism. An insulating overlay layer positioned over the array of capacitive sensors and the plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms defines each push button and defines a surface for accommodating the conductive element. |
| US08174507B2 |
Apparatus and methods for detecting a conductive object at a location
A method and apparatus to detect a conductive object at a location determines a capacitance variation of a first sensor element and a capacitance variation of a second sensor element. The method and apparatus detects a touch at a first location if the capacitance variation of the first sensor element is greater than a reference value and the capacitance variation of the second sensor element is not greater than the reference value. The method and apparatus detects the touch at a second location if the capacitance variation of the first sensor element is not greater than the reference value and the capacitance variation of the second sensor element is greater than the reference value. The method and apparatus detects the touch at a third location if the capacitance variation of the first sensor element and the capacitance variation of the second sensor element are both greater than the reference value. |
| US08174506B2 |
Method of displaying object and terminal capable of implementing the same
A method of displaying an object and a terminal capable of implementing the same. The method includes displaying an object movable on a touchscreen of a terminal at a first position on the touchscreen; and if a first touch action is carried out on the object, fixing the object to the first position. |
| US08174505B2 |
Touch screen display device and driving method of the same
A touch screen display device and a driving method of the same are provided. The touch screen display device includes a touch screen display panel including a plurality of first sensing lines that extend in a first direction, a plurality of second sensing lines that extend in a second direction and cross the first direction, and a plurality of touch sensing elements respectively arranged at areas where the first sensing lines and the second sensing lines cross each other; and a read-out unit that receives output signals of the respective first sensing lines and second sensing lines, reading at least one sensing position, and outputting one of the at least one read sensing positions as a touch position, wherein if the number of sensing positions of the current frame is equal to or greater than two, the read-out unit compares the at least two sensing positions of the current frame with a touch position of the previous frame, and outputs the sensing position that is closest to the touch position of the previous frame as a touch position of the current frame. |
| US08174504B2 |
Input device and method for adjusting a parameter of an electronic system
Input devices and methods are provided for effecting adjustment, in which a sensing system is adapted to detect motion of a first object and a second object in a sensing region and a processing system coupled to the sensing system. The processing system is adapted to detect a change in position of the first object relative to the second object, the first and second objects being simultaneously present in the sensing region, and effect a change in a parameter in response to a motion of the first object in the sensing region. |
| US08174501B2 |
Computer having interlocking L-shape components
A computer has a display, keyboard and two main component parts. The components each have an L-shape and are linked together to enable sliding movement in substantially one plane in a first direction. The linkage also enables movement orthogonally with respect to the first direction in another plane, such that the components transition from a closed position of the computer in which the components interfit together to form a first right rectangular prism and in which the display is exposed, to an open position having a second right rectangular prism shape in which the keyboard is exposed adjacent to and in the same plane as the display. |
| US08174500B2 |
Temperature controlled mouse
A temperature controlled mouse includes a central controller, a driver control circuit, a temperature control circuit, and a signal transmitting circuit. The driver control circuit generates coordinate control signals and pointer clicking signals, and the signals are transmitted to a host computer coupled to the mouse via the signal transmitting circuit. The temperature control circuit detects the changes of the temperature from a user's hand and thereby generates temperature control signals. The central controller controls the operation status of the mouse according to the temperature control signals, wherein when the temperature detected is within a predetermined temperature range, the central controller wakes the mouse and allows the transmission of signals from the mouse to the host computer; otherwise the central controller stops the transmission of signals. The temperature controlled mouse prevents accidental activation due to negligent bump. Thereby the mouse may only wake from purposeful control and thereby conserves energy. |
| US08174499B2 |
Navigation apparatus
A navigation apparatus is disclosed. The navigation apparatus includes a remote control device having a manipulation member and a force generator. The manipulation member is movable in response to user's manipulation and enables the user to point to a position on a display screen of the display device remotely. The force generator applies a force to the manipulation member against the manipulation of the manipulation member. The navigation apparatus sets content of the force based on an arrangement of an item image on the display screen, so that the force causes the pointed position to be attracted toward a fixed item image when the pointed position is located around the fixed item image, while the first force does not cause the pointed position to be attracted toward an on-map item image, which is superimposed on a map image. |
| US08174498B2 |
Multi-directional navigation between focus points on a display
A method and apparatus for navigating between different focus points displayed on an electronic device, comprising, for each of said different focus points, maintaining a list of any adjacent ones of said focus points to which focus can move in each direction responsive to a navigation event in said direction, for each said list having only one adjacent focus point moving focus to said one adjacent focus point responsive to said navigation event, and for each said list having more than one adjacent focus point accessing a memory setting and moving focus to a predetermined one of said adjacent focus points responsive to said navigation event in accordance with said memory setting. |
| US08174496B2 |
Mobile communication terminal with touch screen and information inputing method using the same
A mobile terminal communication method, which includes activating a touch screen of the mobile terminal, entering into an inactive touch screen mode preventing information from being entered on the touch screen of the mobile terminal while a function is executed on the terminal, receiving an input signal through a specified key arranged on the terminal during a time when the inactive touch screen mode is entered, and entering into an active touch screen mode allowing information to be entered on the touch screen in accordance with the received input signal. |
| US08174491B2 |
Image display medium and image display device
An image display medium including a pair of substrates, a transparent dispersion medium, one or more kind of colored particles and larger sized colored particles. The pair of substrates is disposed with a separation therebetween and at least one of the pair of substrates is transparent. The dispersion medium is transparent and enclosed between the pair of substrates. Each kind of the colored particles is colored a predetermined color, is dispersed in the dispersion medium, has predetermined charge characteristics or predetermined magnetic properties, and is able to migrate between the pair of substrates. The larger sized colored particles have a different color and a larger particle size than the colored particles, are disposed so that the colored particles are able to pass through the separation, have charge characteristics or magnetic properties which are different from those of the colored particles, and are able to move. |
| US08174490B2 |
Methods for driving electrophoretic displays
A pixel of an electrophoretic display is driven from one extreme optical state to a second optical state different from the one extreme optical state by applying to the pixel a first drive pulse of one polarity; and thereafter applying to the pixel a second drive pulse of the opposite polarity, the second drive pulse being effective to drive the pixel to the second optical state. |
| US08174489B2 |
Dual-sided display for mobile device
A method and device for providing a dual-sided display device having increased viewability are provided. A display device includes a dual-sided display assembly and a power supply. The dual-sided display assembly includes a first viewable side and a second viewable side. A first electrochromic layer is formed over the first viewable side and a second electrochromic layer is formed over the second viewable side. Each of the first electrochromic layer and the second electrochromic layer are switchable between a substantially transparent state and a substantially reflective state upon application of a switching voltage from the power supply, the state being selected based on an operational configuration of the display device. |