| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08195243B2 |
Transparent display and operation method thereof
A terminal including a first body, a second body connected to the first body, a first display disposed on the first body, a second display disposed on the second body and having a transparency such that information displayed on the first display can be seen though the second display having the transparency when the first and second displays overlap each other, and a controller configured to control a movement of a displayable object between the first and second displays based on an opening and closing of the first and second bodies of the terminal. |
| US08195241B2 |
High-performance cellular telephone receiver
A receiver includes a plurality of antennas; a plurality of front end circuits producing digital signals in response to signals received on the antennas; a beamforming unit weighting and summing the digital signals to produce a first signal; a first stage including a first plurality of modems producing first bit streams in response to components of the first signal, a first plurality of signal reconstruction units producing first signal replicas in response to the first bit streams, and a first active cancellation unit weighting the first signal replicas and subtracting the weighted first signal replicas from the first signal to produce a second signal; and a second stage including a second plurality of modems producing second bit streams in response to components of the second signal, a second plurality of signal reconstruction units producing second signal replicas in response to the second bit streams, and a second active cancellation unit weighting the second signal replicas and subtracting the weighted second signal replicas from the first signal to produce a third signal. A method implemented by the receiver is also provided. |
| US08195239B2 |
Multi-mode base station and method for sending/receiving signal thereof
A multi-mode base station and a method for sending/receiving signals thereof are provided. In the base station, each base-band single-board is connected to a corresponding radio frequency (RF) unit through a multi-mode exchange bus, and the base-band single-boards of different modes are intermixed by using the compatibility of the exchange bus with in-phase/quadrature (IQ) data of various modes. Synchronization information, such as frame numbers required by various modes, forms a synchronization burst through multiplexed framing. Meanwhile, by using the same system clock, the synchronization burst and system clock are transmitted to the base-band single-boards of various modes through a set of synchronization clock buses. The main control and transmission functions are uniformly provided for each base-band single-board in the base station by a shared common module. The filling and synchronization of wireless IQ data of various modes are realized according to common-multiple relation mapping. |
| US08195236B2 |
Retrofit contactless smart SIM functionality in mobile communicators
A mobile communicator including a main housing portion, defining a SIM card socket, a battery located at a battery location defined by the main housing portion, a cover over the battery and a retrofit contactless smart SIM functionality assembly, having a SIM card shaped portion which is mounted in the SIM card socket, a contactless smart card antenna portion located between the battery and the cover and an antenna tail portion which interconnects the contactless smart card antenna portion with the SIM card shaped portion, the antenna tail portion being attached and electrically connected to the SIM card shaped portion by means of an electrically conductive adhesive. |
| US08195235B2 |
Method and device for customising a radio communication terminal, corresponding radio communication terminal, SIM card, server, computer program product and storage means
A method is provided for customizing a radio communication terminal possessing an operating mode requiring first customization data so as to allow a first radio communication link with a radio communication network. The method includes the following steps: placing the terminal in an actual usage condition, not including the first customization data; transmitting the first customization data from a customization device to the radio communication terminal, via a second link distinct from the first link. |
| US08195234B2 |
Methods for sharing mobility status between subscriber identity cards and systems utilizing the same
A method for sharing a mobility status in a mobile station with a first subscriber identity card and a second subscriber identity card is provided. The mobility status indicating the movement extent of the mobile station is obtained by the first subscriber identity card being currently camping on a first cell of a first network operator. Settings corresponding to a mobility-dependent procedure for the second subscriber identity card being currently failure to camp on any second cell of a second network operator are configured, thereby enabling the mobility-dependent procedure to be performed with consideration of the obtained mobility status. |
| US08195232B2 |
Universal radio module
A universal radio module for cellular communications devices can be plugged into any appropriately configured host device to supply the host device with cellular communication capability. The module can comprise three logical module-to-host interfaces—a voice interface, a data interface, and a management interface. The module may further comprise a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) physical interface and/or an antenna physical interface. |
| US08195231B2 |
System for collection and distribution of machine data via a cellular device
A data collection and distribution system associated with a machine comprises an electronic control module located on a machine. The electronic control module is configured to collect operation data associated with the machine. The system also comprises a personal area network (PAN) control module communicatively coupled to the electronic control module. The PAN control module is configured to detect a PAN-compatible cellular communication device proximate the PAN control module. The PAN control module is also configured to transmit the operation data to the PAN-compatible cellular communication device using a PAN connection between the PAN control module and the PAN-compatible cellular device, wherein the PAN-compatible cellular communication device is configured to transmit the operation data to a condition monitoring system via a cellular network. |
| US08195230B2 |
Hearing-aid-compatible mobile wireless device using magnetic coil of vibration motor
Provided is a mobile wireless device, which is hearing aid-compatible and overcomes a limitation in space by using a magnetic coil equipped in a vibration motor without requiring an additional T-coil. The vibration motor is selectively connected to one of a data processing unit and a motor driving unit by a switching unit. The magnetic coil in the vibration motor receives a signal from the data processing unit and generates a magnetic field for hearing aid-compatibility. This magnetic signal is provided to an induction coil in a hearing aid a deaf person wears. |
| US08195229B2 |
Communication devices with gyrating circuits and methods for use therewith
A device includes a gyrating circuit that generates a motion parameter based on motion of the device. An RF transceiver generates an outbound RF signal from an outbound symbol stream, transmits the outbound RF signal to a remote station of a wireless network, and generates an inbound symbol stream from an inbound RF signal received from the at least one remote station. A processing module processes the motion parameter to produce motion data, converts outbound data into the outbound symbol stream, converts the inbound symbol stream into inbound data, compares current motion data to past motion data, detects when a difference between the current motion data and the past motion data compares unfavorably to a motion change threshold, and include the motion data in the outbound data when the difference between the current motion data and the past motion data compares unfavorably to the motion change threshold. |
| US08195228B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising the voice communicating implementer, the calculation implementer, the word processing implementer, the stereo audio data output implementer, the digital camera implementer, the multiple language displaying implementer, the caller's information displaying implementer, the icon software implementer, the voice recognition implementer, the email implementer, and the simultaneous implementer. |
| US08195227B1 |
Optical image processing for image set decoding from a wireless communication device
An image encodes processing parameters for a set of images. A wireless communication device optically receives and processes the received image to generate first image data. The image data represents the processing parameters. The wireless communication device processes the first image data to obtain the processing parameters. The wireless communication device then optically receives the set of images. The set of images encode second image data. The wireless communication device processes the optically received set of images based on the processing parameters to obtain second image data. |
| US08195224B2 |
Multiple data services over a distributed antenna system
The invention is directed to a method and system for supporting multiple time division duplexed (TDD) based wireless services or frequency division duplexed (FDD) wireless services on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). A DAS can support a many wireless services, including voice and data services using the same physical equipment. TDD based services use a common clock signal to synchronize the components of the DAS for transmission and reception of TDD signals. In accordance with the invention, the DAS can include a GPS receiver which can extract a timing signal (such as a 1 pps signal) from a GPS signal and distribute the timing signal to any and all components of the DAS to enable synchronization of the components for transmitting and receiving TDD signals. The GPS receiver can be part of the interface that connects a TDD based service to the DAS or separate component of the DAS. In accordance with the invention, the DAS can distribute a reference clock signal to all of the components of the DAS in order to maintain zero frequency shift while manipulating with the carrier frequencies of the various wireless services carried by the DAS. In addition, and in accordance with the invention, two analog architectures for better integration between the services sources (BTS) and the DAS are disclosed. |
| US08195221B2 |
Loop delay compensation for continuous time sigma delta analog to digital converter
A continuous time sigma delta analog to digital converter may use a finite impulse response filter for delay compensation. In some embodiments, the filter may be simplified by using only the first and/or second filter coefficients. |
| US08195220B2 |
User interface for mobile devices
A device and method for controlling the user interface of a mobile device, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes determining a distance relationship between a user's body and the mobile device, and changing a configuration of at least one of at least one input unit and at least one output unit depending upon the determined distance relationship. |
| US08195219B2 |
User apparatus and method in mobile communication system
A user apparatus for use in a mobile communication system includes a reception unit configured to receive a signal transmitted from a base station and obtain a parameter for determining evaluation criteria on cell reselection; a counting unit configured to count a number of cell reselections; and a measurement unit configured to measure a Doppler frequency indicative of a mobility of the user apparatus. The evaluation criteria on cell reselection are that reception signal strength of a signal transmitted from a target base station has been higher than or equal to reception signal strength of a signal transmitted from a source base station by greater than or equal to a hysteresis threshold for longer than or equal to a time to trigger. It is determined whether the evaluation criteria on cell reselection are modified and used depending on whether both first and second conditions are satisfied. The first condition is that a number of cell reselections being performed within a predefined first period (TCRmax) is greater than or equal to a predefined first threshold (NCR or NCR2). The second condition is that the Doppler frequency has been higher than or equal to a predefined second threshold (FDthresh or FDthresh2) for a predefined second period (TFD). Modification of the evaluation criteria on cell reselection comprises at least modification of the time to trigger. |
| US08195217B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling power of uplink physical channel
A method for controlling power of an uplink physical channel includes: computing a relative gain factor in a compressed mode; correcting the relative gain factor to obtain a corrected relative gain factor; generating a gain factor in the compressed mode according to the corrected relative gain factor; controlling power of the uplink physical channel according to the gain factor in the compressed mode generated. In embodiments of the present invention, after being computed, the relative gain factor in the compressed mode is corrected; the gain factor in the compressed mode is then generated according to the corrected relative gain factor. Thus, an accurate gain factor may be acquired for controlling the power of the uplink physical channel. |
| US08195216B2 |
Radio communication system
A radio communication system has means for improving power control of a communication channel for the transmission of data after an interruption in the transmission. This is done by adjusting the transmission power immediately after the interruption by an offset from the power used before the interruption. The offset may be fixed or may be determined from the transmission power in the period before the interruption. This technique reduces, on average, the time taken for power control to be re-established, thereby addressing the problem that data transmissions immediately after the interruption are likely to be corrupted if the power level is too low, or to generate extra interference if the power level is too high. |
| US08195215B2 |
Method and system for forming a communication group for content distribution related to an event
A method and system is implemented to form a communication group comprising a plurality of entities. The method includes receiving a resource manager state generated for an event and extracting a plurality of parameters that indicate resource availability based on the resource manager state. The method further includes applying a set of rules to the resource state and to the plurality of parameters to select resources to form a communication group comprising a plurality of entities to distribute content related to the event. |
| US08195210B2 |
System and method for message-based access
A method and system for providing message-based access to services includes receiving a request message from a mobile subscriber relating to a service that is desired by the mobile subscriber, routing the request message for processing, performing one or more activities in accordance with the requested service, returning a response message to the mobile subscriber, and facilitating/enabling/etc. access to the requested service. |
| US08195205B2 |
Gateway application to support use of a single internet address domain for routing messages to multiple multimedia message service centers
Wireless carrier networks can utilize multiple MMSCs all accessed by a message sender with a message addressed to a single Internet domain, providing a single point of entry for messages into the network of MMSCs and maintaining routing information sufficient to route messages to all subscribers via the MMSC. |
| US08195195B2 |
System and method for providing mobility event triggered service of target set and target set
A system and a method for providing a mobility event triggered service of a target set and the target set are provided. When a mobility triggered service is started, a target set stores a unique identifier related to an area where the target set itself is currently located, and compares a unique identifier stored at present while identifiers are continuously stored during an agreed time interval in the mobility triggered service with the unique identifier related to the area where the target set itself is currently located. If there is the difference between two unique identifiers, the target set stores the unique identifier related to the area where the target set itself is currently located, and with determination of its movement, determines that an event of the mobility triggered service happens. Then, the target set reports the occurrence of the event to an H-SLP, and the H-SLP begins to calculate position values of the target set according to a set condition of a current mobility triggered service. Next, the H-SLP transmits the calculated position value to a SUPL agent. Thus, if a position of the target set changes, the SUPL agent can detect a change of the position of the target set or can be supplied with information on a current position according to the position change of the target set. |
| US08195194B1 |
Alarm for mobile communication device
A user may rely on an alarm application on the wireless device. Oftentimes, users interface with an alarm application to ensure that the user alerted to certain information or awake at certain times. The alarm application may be configured to automatically surface various information upon activation of the alarm. User interest in a particular subject or piece of information may vary depending on the user's environment. For example, a user waking up at home may find it useful to review news traffic and weather. In contrast, a business traveler may be interested in a flight status, taxi availability, and information related to travel plans. In order to better serve a user, the wireless device may be configured to support various configurations responsive to a user's environment so that a user at home receives home environmental information and a business traveler receives travel environmental information. |
| US08195193B2 |
Grouping mobile instant messaging contacts based on position
The present invention relates to communication technologies, and provides a method, system and device for grouping a mobile Instant Messaging (IM) contact. The system includes a positioning module, configured to query information of a region at which a mobile terminal of a mobile IM contact locates; and an automatic grouping module, configured to obtain the information of the region at which the mobile terminal of the mobile IM contact locates from the positioning module, and group the mobile IM contact according to the information of the region. Embodiments of the present invention may improve the accuracy of the grouping result, and may greatly improve the efficiency of the grouping. |
| US08195190B1 |
Method and system of determining a location of a dual-mode device
A method and system for determining a location of a wireless communication device (WCD) provisioned to operate in (a) a first access network that defines a first plurality of coverage areas and (b) a second access network that defines a second plurality of coverage areas. A location system may receive a request to determine a location of the WCD. In response, the location system may identify (a) a first coverage area of the first access network in which the WCD is located and (b) a second coverage area of the second access network in which the WCD is located. Thereafter, the location system may determine an overlapping area between the first coverage area and the second coverage area. In turn, the location system may determine an indication of the overlapping area's location, which the location system may define as a low precision indication of the WCD's location. |
| US08195187B2 |
Radio network control
In a radio access network, multiple radio network controllers are connected to several radio nodes using a network. The interconnected radio network controllers and radio nodes are addressable, and, therefore, each radio network controller can communicate directly with each radio node and visa versa. The radio access network can be configured to avoid active handoffs between radio network controllers by maintaining a traffic channel set up between an access terminal and a radio network controller even as the flow. |
| US08195185B2 |
Method for radio carrier selection in radio transmission systems
A method and an apparatus for selection of a radio carrier from a number of available radio carriers in radio transmission systems are provided. The respective best radio carrier is selected in a mobile unit as a function of the location of the mobile unit, with the selection being made on the basis of the information currently determined by and already available in the mobile unit, relating to the quality of the available radio carriers. |
| US08195182B2 |
Method and system for providing network access and services using access codes
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an authorization and access control system for a venue or a geographic region comprising a plurality of venues. The authorization and access control system provides one or more computing devices selective access to one or more networks and/or services available in a network communications system by distributing a substantially unique string of characters (an “access code”) to each user of a computing device. The access code can then be entered via an input device, such as a keyboard or its equivalent, of the computing device. This enables the computing device to gain access to one or more networks and/or services at a venue or in geographic region with the network communications system. Various embodiments are useful and may have several advantages in several venues, such as coffee shops, hotels, train stations, law offices, marinas, truck stops, fueling stations, restaurants, and stores, among others. Additional embodiments may be advantageous in a geographic region which may comprise a plurality of possible venues. |
| US08195180B2 |
Base station apparatus and method used in mobile communications system
A base station apparatus in a mobile communications system is provided. The base station apparatus includes a measuring unit which receives a reference signal from a user apparatus and measures received quality for each frequency resource block; a unit which provides a reference metric from the received quality; a modifying unit which modifies the reference metric with at least first and second parameters, and provide the modified metric; a scheduler which compares modified metrics of respective frequency resource blocks and provides a radio resource allocation plan; and a unit which reports, to the user apparatus, control information which indicates the allocation plan. |
| US08195176B2 |
Method for informing user equipment of downlink control message construction information in cellular system
A base station according to the present invention groups a plurality of control messages for a user equipment into one or more control message groups based on at least one criteria. The plurality of control messages is transmitted with control message construction information from the base station to the user equipment. The control message construction information includes information about a number of control messages included in each control message group generated by the grouping. The user equipment receives and decodes the plurality of control messages based on the control message construction information. |
| US08195175B2 |
Method for verifications and fast QoS establishment
A wireless communication system is provided for rapidly establishing the QoS resource on different communication networks. In this system, the NAP evaluates a network resource used by the MT, and generates the QoS history information unit indicating the evaluation result. The AAA authenticates the QoS history information unit generated by the NAP. The NAP transmits the authenticated QoS history information unit to the MT. The MT request for a resource establishment to the NAP when switching the communicating party from the NAP to the NAP, and transmits the QoS history information unit. The NAP verifies the authenticity of the QoS history information unit to the AAA when receiving the request for resource establishment from the MT and allocates the network resource to the MT based on the QoS history information unit. |
| US08195174B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating frequency resource in a communication system
A method and apparatus for allocating resources for a mobile station in a communication system is provided. The method includes determining if a mobile station within a cell is located in one of a first region corresponding to a cell center, a third region corresponding to a cell edge, and a second region corresponding to an area between the first and third regions, allocating frequency resources within an entire frequency band to the mobile station when the mobile station is located in the first region, wherein the entire frequency band comprises at least a first frequency band and a second frequency band, allocating frequency resources within the first frequency band to the mobile station when the mobile station is located in the third region, and allocating frequency resources within the second frequency band to the mobile station when the mobile station is located in the second region. |
| US08195170B2 |
Project planning database for prospective wireless networking sites
A search ring generation system comprises a receiver component that receives indicia that can be utilized to identify a proposed cell site. An implementation component automatically creates a search ring with respect to the proposed cell site. A search ring as used herein is defined as a document that formally begins an approval process for proposed wireless cell sites. In addition, pertinent information such as justification plots, GIS and satellite maps, and cell site approval information of an organization can be compiled, tracked, and/or incorporated into a summary report for the search ring. As a result, a query for a particular search ring can identify not only the cell site but the additional pertinent information as well. |
| US08195168B2 |
Mechanism for controlling a transmission of data messages to user equipment by an external gateway
A mechanism for controlling a transmission of data messages in a communication network, including executing a registration procedure, sending a request message including registration information from a message gateway entity to a home subscriber database by using a Mobile Application Part signaling, wherein the request message further comprises information elements including registration and address data related to the message gateway entity, storing the registration information and information elements in the home subscriber database, and using the stored registration information and information elements for responding, by the home subscriber database, to a routing information request for transmitting a data message to a destination connected to the message gateway entity. |
| US08195160B2 |
System and method for telephone exchange in femtocell networks
The present application describes methods for performing proxy communications between mobile stations connected to a femtocell network and a central telephone network controlled by a network operator. In some embodiments, a private branch exchange is configured to temporarily assign identification numbers to the mobile stations connected to the femtocell network. Incoming calls are directed to the private branch exchange rather than the connected mobile stations. After receiving the incoming call, the private branch exchange routes the incoming call to the correct mobile station. In some embodiments, these methods also enable mobile stations to cross between femtocell coverage areas within the same femtocell network without constantly updating the central network operator. |
| US08195158B2 |
Maintaining IMS registration while disconnected from IP bearer
A proxy maintains registration in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network for a user equipment while the user equipment is disconnected from the system. The user equipment connects to the proxy and establishes a proxy session with the proxy. The proxy opens a proxy session for the user equipment, establishes a registration within said IMS network for IMS services on behalf of the user equipment; and maintains the registration for the user equipment for the duration of the proxy session. While the proxy session is ongoing, the user equipment can disconnect from the IP proxy. |
| US08195156B2 |
System scanning method and arrangement for mobile wireless communication devices
An exemplary method for searching one of a plurality of systems on a multi-mode device capable of communicating on a first air interface technology and a second air interface technology is disclosed. The exemplary method includes storing a default system search period for one of the air interface technologies, such as WLAN system, receiving user input representative of a user-defined system search period for the WLAN system, storing the user-defined system search period, detecting a system search event for WLAN services, searching WLAN services in response to the system search event, and terminating the WLAN system search after expiration of the user-defined search period. |
| US08195153B1 |
Mobile access to backup and recovery services
Providing access to a backup application is disclosed. A request to access a service associated with a backup application is received via a mobile telecommunication network from a client running on the mobile telecommunication device. The backup application is communicated with on behalf of the client running on the mobile telecommunication device to provide access to the service associated with a backup application. |
| US08195148B2 |
SMS origination for vehicle communication with a call center
A system and method for making vehicle originated calls to a telematics service provider or other call center. The method includes identifying a call type associated with a desired wireless communication of speech or data to the call center, and then carrying out one of a number of different call connection processes depending on the call type. For voice channel cellular connections, an in-band modem cellular connection is preferably established in most instances using a connection retry strategy that includes primary, secondary, and possibly tertiary connection attempts each of which utilize at least one of a number of different voice and data call origination processes. The system and method can be carried out in connection with various cellular system technologies, but is especially suited for use with GSM systems. |
| US08195147B2 |
Method of enabling a combinational service and communication network implementing the service
A method for enabling a combinational service in a communication network in which a plurality of terminals can operate, includes: establishing a first plurality of connections toward the plurality of terminals based on first terminal identifiers, providing a management entity with the first identifiers; providing the management entity with second identifiers of selected terminals included in at least part of said plurality; associating the first identifiers and the second identifiers with the combinational service; and establishing, by means of the management entity, a second plurality of connections toward said selected terminals by employing the second identifiers. |
| US08195144B2 |
Method for resetting a non-responsive mobile unit then-currently occupying a cellular traffic channel of a wireless network
A method for resetting a non-responsive mobile unit then-currently occupying a cellular traffic channel of a wireless network is disclosed herein. The method involves recognizing, at an external entity, that the mobile unit is in a non-responsive state that is occupying a voice channel of the cellular traffic channel, and establishing a wireless data connection between the mobile unit and an external entity over the cellular traffic channel. A data message is transmitted to the mobile unit from the external entity, where the data message includes at least a command to reset the mobile unit. In response to receiving the data message, the method further involves resetting the mobile unit via a protocol initiated by a processor associated with the mobile unit. |
| US08195141B2 |
Remote control of electronic devices
A controlling device (e.g., a telephony device) can remotely control various tasks associated with a controlled device (e.g., a personal computer), including the navigation of user interfaces associated with applications or an operating system associated with the controlled device. A task can be controlled at the controlled device by mapping user input received at the controlling device to control commands suitable for execution at the controlled device. |
| US08195139B2 |
Enhancing a transferred call
A communication system includes logic to detect I/O activity of a first communication device, logic to ascertain whether a second communication device having an active call is in proximity to the first communication device, and logic to provide a substantially uninterrupted transfer of the call from the second communication device to the first communication device in response to detecting the I/O activity of the first communication device if the second communication device is in proximity to the first communication device and has an active call. |
| US08195137B2 |
Updating contact information for mobile traffic
A system for managing contact information between mobile devices. A notification is received any time a mobile device initiates or terminates a communication. The receiving mobile device is prompted to obtain the contact information of the caller. Based on permissions set by the caller, the receiving mobile device may obtain the caller's public contact information, private contact information, none of the caller's contact information or some combination of the caller's public and private contact information. In one embodiment, a subset of the caller's contact information is displayed in the screen of a receiving mobile device coincidentally while receiving the phone call to provide a caller-identification feature. |
| US08195134B2 |
Information distribution system, information distribution server, mobile terminal, and information distribution method
There is provided an information distribution system capable of distributing a content to a mobile terminal in a predetermined area, distributing content guide information to the mobile terminal, and distributing the content selected by the mobile terminal, within the area. The information distribution system includes an information distribution server, a mobile terminal, and a content DB. The content DB contains content information to be provided to the mobile terminal and information on the area to which the content is provided. The information distribution server distributes the content guide information to the mobile terminal. According to this content guide information, the mobile terminal performs a content distribution request. The information distribution server judges the position of the mobile terminal according to position judgment means. When the mobile terminal is in the distribution area of the content requested, the content is downloaded. |
| US08195133B2 |
Mobile dynamic advertisement creation and placement
In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for receiving a navigation request from a mobile communication facility, receiving an indicator input, receiving a business rule relating to handling a mobile content type, dynamically creating a content based at least in part on an association of the navigation request, the indicator input and the business rule, and presenting the dynamically created content to the mobile communication facility. |
| US08195132B2 |
Information transfer control apparatus and information transfer control method for transferring content
An information transfer control apparatus includes a storage unit storing an ID generating function for each distribution process group having at least one distribution process representing information transfer between plural communication terminals; an assigning unit assigning identification information to the distribution process using the ID generating function; a determining unit determining the distribution process group, the ID generating function, and the identification information associated with a request in response to receiving, from a first one of the communication terminals, the request for the information transfer from the first one of the communication terminals to a second one of the communication terminals and determining whether to allow information distribution; and a generating unit generating new identification information based on the determined ID generating function and sending a digital item containing the new identification information to the second one of the communication terminals when the determining unit allows the information distribution. |
| US08195131B2 |
Replying to an SMS broadcast message
A method includes receiving a broadcast message at a receiver device. The message includes identification information identifying a message-type associated with the message, reply-to information, and user information. The method further includes determining the received message is a broadcast message based on the message-type of the message and determining the message includes the reply-to information describing a reply-to address. The method additionally includes passing the user information contained within the message to a user interface when the message is a broadcast message including reply-to information and receiving an instruction from the user interface. The instruction is based on the user information and user input responsive to the user information. The method further includes producing and sending a reply message addressed to the reply-to address responsive to the instruction. |
| US08195129B2 |
Authenticating a short message service (SMS) message
A vehicle telematics unit or other electronic hardware in a vehicle authenticates an incoming SMS message and provides additional security features above and beyond those inherent to the SMS protocol. A call center uses a mathematical function to derive a security code, and then sends an SMS message to the vehicle. The telematics unit can utilize the transmitted information to authenticate the sender of the SMS message and/or its contents. One group of suitable mathematical functions utilizes keyed-hash message authentication codes (HMACs). |
| US08195122B1 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting the frequency of testing for a wireless communications signal
A method and apparatus for adjusting the frequency of testing for a wireless communications signal are described. The computer-implemented method comprises detecting a change in a wireless communications signal and adjusting a frequency of testing for the wireless communications signal. The method further comprises receiving motion data and determining, based on the motion data whether and whether to adjust the frequency of testing for the wireless communications signal. |
| US08195121B2 |
Method and system for establishing messaging communication with a service provider, such as a PSAP (public safety answering point)
Described in detail herein is a system and method for allowing a device, such as a cell phone, to establish a messaging dialogue with a service provider, such as SMS messaging with a 911 call center. Furthermore, the service provider can receive location data of the mobile device. Further details and features are described herein. |
| US08195119B2 |
Switchable input pair operational amplifiers
Techniques for designing a switchable amplifier are described. In one aspect, a switchable amplifier including a core amplifier circuit configured to selectively enable one or more parallel input transistor pairs is described. The core amplifier circuit comprises a permanently enabled input transistor pair. In another aspect, a device operable between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation comprising a receiver logic circuit for selectably enabling and disabling a plurality of input transistor pairs within a switchable amplifier is described where the switchable amplifier also includes a core amplifier circuit coupled to the receiver logic circuit for selectably enabling and disabling a transistor pair therein. The described switchable amplifiers result in the ability to provide varying amplifier performance characteristics based upon the current mode of operation of the device. |
| US08195116B2 |
Receiver circuitry with variable gain amplifier
Receiving circuitry having a plurality of amplifiers coupled in series, a first of the amplifiers receiving an input signal and each of the amplifiers outputting an amplified signal; a plurality of comparators each coupled to the output of one of the amplifiers and having an input for receiving the amplified signal; signal identification circuitry coupled to the outputs of the comparators and arranged to determine whether the outputs of the comparators validly represent data; and signal selection circuitry arranged to select the best signal originating from the comparators based on the validity of the outputs of the comparators. |
| US08195115B2 |
Receiver architectures for digital radio broadcasts and associated methods
Receiver architectures and related methods are disclosed for high definition (HD) and digital radio FM broadcast receivers. The radio receiver architectures are configured to utilize multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to handle the digital radio spectrum and can be configured to modify a target IF frequencies depending upon the mode of operation of the receiver. For example, the receiver can include an analog FM reception mode and a digital FM reception mode for which different down-conversions are used for the same analog-plus-digital audio broadcast channel. If desired, the radio broadcast receivers disclosed can be configured so that they only receive digital FM radio content, for example, if the analog FM broadcast was of no interest and/or if the broadcast was all digital. |
| US08195114B2 |
Entertainment system with bandless content selection
An entertainment system comprising a base unit with a transceiver for interacting, at times, with a control unit via a communications link, and a control unit for controlling the base unit, the control unit being dockable with the base unit to establish direct electrical connection between them, and including a transceiver for interacting with the control unit via said link when undocked. The control unit is a separate aspect of the invention or system. The base unit may contain a tuner, preferably with bandless tuning capability, and may be designed to receive into a universal docking arrangement a digitally controllable auxiliary audio source such as a portable MP3 player or other device. The base unit may further provide alarm clock functionality with numerous features including a “fail-safe’ volume control system and fail-safe alarm time setting capability. |
| US08195111B2 |
Harmonic generation of a fundamental frequency system and method
A system and method for generating for efficiently obtaining a desired harmonic from a fundamental frequency the prior art is needed. The system and method of the present invention produces a desired harmonic by employing techniques using gain stages (or limiter/comparator circuits) in combination with pre-defined offset voltages (or currents). The output signals of the gain stages are added with the correct phase to generate the desired harmonic. |
| US08195108B2 |
Altitude-dependent power management
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to changing at least one power state of a mobile station at least in part in response to information indicating a change in altitude from one or more sensors. |
| US08195105B1 |
Power amplifier adaptive preset gain control
The present example provides for adaptive preset gain control. Adaptive Preset gain control may initially utilize calibration look up table values to initially set a power amplifier's gain. Subsequent additional corrections are determined and an adaptation look up table is created and applied to bring operation within tolerance. To maintain the amplifier within tolerance additional corrections may also be determined and added to the Adaptation Look Up table. In an alternative example the Calibration Look Up Table may be omitted, with a first transmission through the power amplifier acting as a training event. The Adaptation Look Up Table, may, by storing the last corrections form a history of prior operation which may be used as built in test to indicate potential system failures. |
| US08195100B2 |
Transponder circuit with double clock extractor unit
The transponder circuit comprises a double clock extractor unit (31, 32, 33), an antenna coil connected to a modulator rectifier block to supply a rectified supply voltage on the basis of a picked up radio-frequency signal, and a control logic receiving a clock signal (CLK) of the double clock extractor unit. The control logic supplies a modulation signal (MOD) to the modulator rectifier block as well as to the double clock extractor unit. A terminal (B1) of the antenna coil is connected to the double clock extractor unit, which comprises a first sensitive clock extractor, which is a comparator (32) with a sensitivity threshold defined by a low reference voltage (Vref), and a second clock extractor, which consists of two successive inverters (31, 33). The unit also comprises a multiplexer (37) to receive as input the clock signal (CLK_ON) of the first clock extractor (32) and the clock signal (CLK_OFF) of the second inverter clock extractor (31, 33), and to supply as output one of the selected clock signals (CLK). The unit additionally comprises a flip-flop (36), which receives as input the modulation signal and a combined signal depending on the modulation signal and the clock signal (CLK_OFF) of the second clock extractor. The flipflop supplies as output a selection signal (SEL) to the multiplexer depending on the status of each of the signals at the input of the flip-flop. |
| US08195098B2 |
Method for beamforming training and communications apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication system includes a trainee communications device and one or more trainer communications devices. The trainee communications device announces a first period of time for beamforming training, switches a receiving antenna pattern to a sector and stays in the sector for a second period of time. The trainer communications devices transmit one or more predetermined bit sequences in the first period of time. The predetermined bit sequences are transmitted in at least one sector. Each of the predetermined bit sequences carries an identifier identifying the transmitting trainer communications device. The trainee communications device further estimates channel characteristics and computes receiving antenna weighting vectors of the trainer communications devices by using the received predetermined bit sequences, respectively, and the trainer communications devices obtain pertinent information including the estimated channel characteristics and receiving time of the predetermined bit sequences about beamforming training from the trainee communications device. |
| US08195097B2 |
Serving sector interference broadcast and corresponding RL traffic power control
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate broadcasting an interference level and adjusting transmit power corresponding to a reverse link in accordance with the interference level. An interference indication can be broadcasted on a broadcast channel in a wireless communication system. In response to the broadcast, mobile devices can adjust transmit power on the reverse link based upon considerations of the interference level. Further, mobile devices can evaluate an initial set point of a transmit power level during periods of inactivity. |
| US08195096B2 |
Apparatus and method for enhancing DC offset correction speed of a radio device
The instant invention relates to an apparatus and method for enhancing DC offset correction speed of a radio device. On the exemplary, the apparatus includes one or two-stage signal-processing units and a controller. Each signal-processing unit has a baseband filter, a gain stage and a DC offset correction (DCOC) loop applied on the gain stage. A connection direction of an electrode terminal of a capacitor of the baseband filter is capable of being switched by the controller to process a pre-charge or a discharge phases thereby adjusting a bandwidth of the baseband filter to be either a normal operational bandwidth or wider than the normal operational bandwidth for rapidly setting time of the baseband filter. |
| US08195094B1 |
Cognitive modulators
A modulator includes input paths for audio information from an electronic audio channel; output paths for transmitting said audio information over a frequency-modulated radio frequency signal to a FM broadcast receiver; and one or more programs for measuring or estimating the spectrum environment of the frequency-modulated RF signal bearing the audio information through sampling and analysis to select an optimum radio signal level and signal transmission mode for transmission to the FM receiver in a near interference free manner. |
| US08195092B2 |
Method and system for utilizing a high frequency PHY layer for high speed data transmission between wireless devices
A single communication stack may be utilized to setup a data transmission session between wireless devices. A primary physical layer corresponding to the single communication stack may be utilized by the wireless devices to perform discovery, pairing, and security setup operations when setting the data transmission session. A secondary physical layer may be utilized to perform high speed data transmission. The secondary physical layer may be integrated or managed via the single communication stack corresponding to the primary physical layer, and applications running on top of the single communication stack may utilize the secondary physical layer transparently. A portion of the transmitted data may be multiplexed onto other secondary physical layers that may be available to the wireless devices. Alternatively, transmission of data may comprise switching among available secondary physical layers. The primary physical layer may be utilized during data transmission to continually monitor and/or manage the data transmission. |
| US08195088B2 |
Method and apparatus pertaining to wireless communications systems
A pool of identifiers are individually used by corresponding particular ones of a repeaters. A communications protocol as used by the repeaters provides time slots to be used by these repeaters when making their transmissions. Each of the time slots is associated with individual corresponding ones of the identifiers, though the time slots are allocated unequally amongst the identifiers such that at least one of the identifiers has more time slots allocated to that identifier, over a given beacon cycle, than others of the identifiers. |
| US08195084B2 |
Apparatus and method of simulating a somatosensory experience in space
A method of providing a user with an extra-terrestrial somatosensory experience includes equipping the user with an underwater breathing apparatus, having the user occupy an underwater environment, such environment providing buoyancy to the user, and while the user occupies the underwater environment, using a computer-implemented virtual reality system to present to the user a virtual reality environment modeling an extra-terrestrial setting. The virtual reality system inhibits visual perception by the user of items outside of the virtual reality environment so that the user experiences the virtual reality environment under a buoyancy condition provided by the underwater environment. The buoyancy condition enhances the experience of the virtual reality environment. |
| US08195083B2 |
Duplex architecture for an imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus including an image transfer device, a first motor, a redrive section and a duplexing section. The first motor is drivingly connected to the image transfer device. The reversible redrive section is downstream from the image transfer device, and the reversible redrive section includes a second motor. The duplexing section includes a third motor. The duplexing section is positioned to receive media from the redrive section. The first motor, the second motor and the third motor are each independently controlled. |
| US08195075B2 |
Fixing unit having a resin surface and image forming apparatus using the same
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording medium. In at least one embodiment, the fixing unit includes a fixing member configured to heat and melt a toner. Further, in at least one embodiment, the fixing member has a surface contacting the toner image and includes a wettability not greater than 38 mN/m. |
| US08195071B2 |
Developing device
In an embodiment, a reducing plate that dams up a part of a developer scraped up by a blade is provided. The reducing plate suppresses swell of the developer held up by a discharge mixer from fluctuating according to the rotation of the blade. Fluctuation in an excess developer discharged from a discharge port is suppressed and replace a deteriorated carrier in a development container with a new carrier little by little. |
| US08195069B2 |
Developing cartridge for image-forming device and method of manufacturing the same
A developing cartridge includes: a casing configured of a first frame and a second frame with a space formed therebetween; and a developer-carrying member that is supported in the first frame and that is configured to carry developer. The first frame includes a bottom wall and a pair of side walls erected from both sides of the bottom wall and has a box shape that is open on a side opposite the bottom wall. The second frame is mounted over the pair of side walls so as to cover the open side of the first frame and has a partition extending into the space formed in the casing. The partition contacts the bottom wall of the first frame and spans between the pair of side walls of the first frame, thereby separating the space within the casing into a first chamber on a side near the developer-carrying member and a second chamber on a side far from the developer-carrying member. Developer is accommodated in the first chamber only. |
| US08195068B2 |
Charging unit and image forming apparatus
A charging unit in an image forming apparatus includes a charging roller that charges a photosensitive drum using a charging bias, an insulating casing surrounding the charging roller, and a metal shield member. The shield member is positioned so as to surround the casing in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the casing. |
| US08195066B2 |
Image forming apparatus and toner supplying apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes plural developing devices, plural toner cartridges, and plural sub-hoppers that receive toners stored in the respective toner cartridges and supply the toners to the respective developing devices. The plural sub-hoppers are coupled by a coupling member. The coupled plural sub-hoppers are detachably held between the toner cartridges and the developing devices. |
| US08195065B2 |
Image-forming apparatus having protrusion part for inhibiting flow of toner toward light-passing part
An image-forming apparatus includes: an exposing unit that irradiates exposing light to an image carrier; a partition member that includes: a light-passing part that allows exposing light irradiated by the exposing unit to pass through the partition member, and that extends in a direction in which the developing unit is attached to or detached from the image-forming apparatus; and a protrusion part that extends along the light-passing part, wherein the light-passing part, the protrusion part, and a part of the partition member located below a supply opening of the developing unit attached to the image-forming apparatus are arranged in an order of the light-passing part, the protrusion part, and the part of the partition member located below the supply opening. |
| US08195061B2 |
Image forming apparatus and a control method thereof
A print method of an image forming apparatus that loads at least one sheet of print media in a print media feeding tray, the method including: setting a print-all-paper mode to perform a print operation on the print media loaded in the print media feeding tray without selecting a number of sheets of print media; and performing a print operation on the loaded print media according to the set print-all-paper mode. |
| US08195060B2 |
Electronic device, method for forming error information of electronic device, and image forming apparatus
An electronic device includes a touch panel that includes an operation plane displaying various operation screens, and detects a press position on the operation screen as detection signal; a first storage portion that stores press information of the touch panel; a second storage portion that stores error information; a first control unit that stores the press position indicated by the detection signal from the touch panel as first press information in the first storage portion; a second control unit creates screen data with a mark indicating the press position on the operation screen when an error occurred, based on the first press information stored in the first storage portion, and stores the screen data as first error information in the second storage portion, when the error occurs in the electronic device; and a third control unit that outputs the error information based on an error information output command. |
| US08195059B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus using the same
A fixing device including a fixing member to melt a toner so as to fix a toner image onto a recording medium, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the fixing member, and a heater to heat the fixing member based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A driving speed of the fixing member is reduced after printing is completed, and subsequently the fixing member stops driving. The fixing member is controlled to have a desired temperature (Ts) after the fixing member stops driving that is lower than a desired temperature (Tp) during printing. |
| US08195057B2 |
Image forming apparatus and fixing device used therein
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier on which a toner image is formed, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, a fixing device to fix the toner image on the recording medium, and a cooling device to cool a heating member of the fixing device. The fixing device includes a pressure member to apply pressure to the toner image on the recording medium, the heating member to heat the toner image on the recording medium, a heating device to heat the heating member, and a first power supply to supply power to the heating device. The cooling device is supplied with power by a second power supply separate from the first power supply. |
| US08195055B2 |
High dynamic range APD optical receiver for analog applications
An optical receiver includes a light receiving element such as an avalanche photodiode (APD) for converting an optical signal to an electrical photocurrent amplified by a first current gain value and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the light receiving element. The optical receiver also includes a control unit configured to control a bias voltage applied to the light receiving element such that the first gain value is adjusted to a second gain value based at least in part on a predetermined relationship between the current gain, the temperature and the applied bias voltage. The second current gain value is based at least in part on one or more parameters characteristic of the optical receiver and a system in which the optical receiver is employed. |
| US08195054B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving an information symbol in a visible light communication system for color code modulation
A visible light communication system and method for transmitting and receiving an information symbol in a visible light communication system for a Color Code Modulation (CCM) scheme using a chromaticity diagram. The method includes determining a first coordinates value corresponding to an information symbol to be transmitted on the chromaticity diagram; determining a first color ratio corresponding to the first coordinates value; determining a second coordinates value corresponding to a compensation symbol for compensating for the first color ratio into a color white and determining a second color ratio corresponding to the second coordinates value; and emitting a visible ray corresponding to each of the first color ratio and second color ratio. The first and second coordinates values are located on a line on the chromaticity diagram. |
| US08195050B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus, subscriber apparatus and optical communication system
An optical transmission apparatus communicable with a plurality of subscriber including a delay measuring part for detecting a response delay time from each subscriber based on reception timing of the delay measurement response optical packet, a detection part for detecting a received optical level of the delay measurement response optical packet received by the reception part and a state determination part for determining quality of an optical transmission state between the optical transmission apparatus and each subscriber based on the received optical level of the delay measurement response optical packet of each of the plurality of subscribers. |
| US08195047B2 |
Cable television optical fiber communication system
A Cable Television optical fiber communication system is disclosed, comprises a provider end, plural optical signal transmission devices and plural user ends, each optical signal transmission device is provided between the provider end and the user ends and has an light splitting element, a RF receive module, and a RF return module. The light splitting element is connected to the provider end via an optical transmission wire and is served to bi-directionally transfer a laser beam having a signal between the provider end and the user ends. The RF receive module is served to transfer a first signal of the provider end to the user ends. The RF return module emits a laser beam having a second signal to the provider end only when an analog return signal is emitted from the user end. |
| US08195042B2 |
Imaging apparatus and control method
In an imaging apparatus, wherein when performing auto focus control while continuously moving a focusing lens by using an image sensor that has a lag in timing of electric charge accumulation, a focusing accuracy can be improved. To this end, the imaging apparatus includes the rolling shutter function, an imaging unit configured to convert an object image into an image signal, and a setting unit. When a difference exceeds a predetermined amount in the barycentric position of the optical system between an upper line and an a lower line of the AF area due to the rolling shutter function, the setting unit imposes a limitation on the AF area to reduce the size of a desired AF area to an AF area where the difference in the barycentric position becomes a predetermined amount. |
| US08195035B2 |
Link-based DVR scheduling with conflict resolution
A method, system and computer program provide a mechanism for scheduling recording of video content by a digital video recorder (DVR) from web links. Scheduling conflicts with previously-scheduled recording are displayed as indicators within the web links, such as a background color of the selectable video program time-slot in a program guide display that differs from the background color(s) user for non-conflicting links. When a user selects a video program link to record, recording of the program is automatically scheduled, and if a conflict exists, recording of the previously-selected conflicting program (or the conflicting portion) is canceled. If more than one DVR is present, and conflicting programs are scheduled for all DVRs, then the user is provided with a prompt to select which previously-scheduled program to cancel. The conflict resolution may be performed at a web service that maintains a database of previous selections, or by a local script/program. |
| US08195027B2 |
Signal processing method, signal processing apparatus, signal processing system, and machine readable storage medium storing control information of signal processing apparatus
A signal processing apparatus capable of easily linking video data of a DVCR connected by an i-Link or the like and utilizing the same in a desired format is disclosed. Streaming data such as video data is defined, managed, and controlled in usage by an “optional-media” link tag linked to a “gpoi” tag defining a specific position in a position information file. The “optional-media” link can describe the five attributes of a format attribute for designating a connected apparatus and format information thereof, id attribute for further specifying the target in the connected apparatus designated by the format attribute, an “in” attribute and “out” attribute for designating a reproduction start position and ending position of the designated data, and a repeat attribute for designating a number of times of reproduction. |
| US08195026B2 |
Recording medium containing supplementary service information for Audio/Video contents, and method and apparatus of providing supplementary service information of the recording medium
The present invention relates to method and apparatus of providing supplementary service information for A/V contents written in a recording medium. This method has a recording medium containing Presentation Language data, which have to be included like as in a digital television signal for supplementary service information in accordance with Advanced TV Enhancement Forum or Digital TV Application Software Environment standard, and reproduces, if a disk reproduction is requested, the Presentation Language data as well as requested A/V data and provides them for a connected external device such as a digital television. As a result, various video information and functions provided with Presentation Language data by a recording medium can be realized at a digital television set being able to accept Presentation Language data. |
| US08195025B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer products for digital video recorder management and scheduling
Systems, methods and computer products for DVR management and scheduling. In exemplary embodiments, a system is provided that includes DVR management and scheduling services including, but not limited to: DVR capacity indication; recorded and viewed programs indication; cancellation options for recorded and viewed programs; deletion priority for recorded and viewed programs; schedule change conflict resolution; DVR scheduling; remote and local DVR interface management; DVR searching and programming; multi-level DVR content searching, storage and management; search saving and favorite channel management; DVR management alerts and notifications; offsite DVR recovery; and DVR capacity provisioning. |
| US08195023B1 |
Functionally-graded three-dimensional ordered open-cellular microstructure and method of making same
A method for creating or forming a functionally graded 3D ordered open-cellular microstructure, and a functionally graded 3D ordered open-cellular microstructure. In one embodiment, the functionally-graded three-dimensional ordered open-cellular microstructure includes a first three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides having a first three-dimensional pattern; a second three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides having a second three-dimensional pattern differing from the first three-dimensional pattern; and an interface connected with the first three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides and the second three-dimensional interconnected pattern of polymer waveguides. Here, the term “functionally graded” refers to a spatial variation in the physical microstructure—and thus the properties—through the thickness of the material. |
| US08195022B2 |
Fiber optic adapter cassette and panel
An adapter cassette including a housing and a plurality of fiber optic adapters. The fiber optic adapters being angled relative to a front plane defined by the housing. The fiber optic adapters being interconnected to a multi-fiber cable connecter by fiber optic cables located within an interior of the housing. The adapter cassette further including a quick-release cover that provides access to the interior of the housing. |
| US08195021B2 |
Biopolymer optical waveguide and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a biopolymer optical waveguide includes providing a biopolymer, unwinding the biopolymer progressively to extract individual biopolymer fibers, and putting the unwound fibers under tension. The tensioned fibers are then cast in a different polymer to form a biopolymer optical waveguide that guides light due to the difference in indices of refraction between the biopolymer and the different polymer. The optical fibers may be used in biomedical applications and can be inserted in the body as transmissive media. Printing techniques may be used to manufacture the biopolymer optical waveguides. |
| US08195020B2 |
Resonator for thermo optic device
A resonator for thermo optic devices is formed in the same process steps as a waveguide and is formed in a depression of a lower cladding while the waveguide is formed on a surface of the lower cladding. Since upper surfaces of the resonator and waveguide are substantially coplanar, the aspect ratio, as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front one another, decreases thereby increasing the bandwidth of the resonator. The depression is formed by photomasking and etching the lower cladding before forming the resonator and waveguide. Pluralities of resonators are also taught that are formed in a plurality of depressions of the lower cladding. To decrease resonator bandwidth, waveguide(s) are formed in the depression(s) of the lower cladding while the resonator is formed on the surface. Thermo optic devices formed with these resonators are also taught. |
| US08195009B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method thereof
This invention makes it possible to obtain an enlarged image while suppressing noise and maintaining the sharpness of an original image only by setting a simple enlargement ratio without no special knowledge. Original image data (Ia) is enlarged in accordance with a set enlargement ratio (E) to generate an enlarged image (IA). The enlarged image (IA) is smoothed by using a smoothing filter with a size depending on the enlargement ratio (E) to generate smoothed image data (IB). Difference image data (IC) is generated by calculating the difference between the enlarged image data (IA) and the smoothed image data (IB). The generated difference image data is multiplied by an emphasis coefficient. The product is added to the enlarged image data, thereby obtaining image data (IS) that has undergone enlargement/unsharp masking. |
| US08195007B2 |
Image selecting apparatus and image selecting method
The image selecting apparatus includes plural operation indicating units that indicate arrangement places of images on an electronic album, an operator recognizing unit that acquires identification information of the plural operation indicating units, an image selecting unit that automatically selects, based on the identification information, as an image of an available image group, at least one image to be arranged on the electronic album out of an image group, an arrangement determining unit that determines propriety of arrangement of the images in the arrangement places and an arrangement instructing unit that determines images to be arranged in the determined arrangement places out of the available image group, and arranges the images. The image selecting method is performed by the image selecting apparatus. |
| US08195003B2 |
Method of correcting digital image distortion caused by a sheet-fed scanner
A novel and useful method of processing digital images to correct distortion caused by a sheet-fed scanner. The method of the present invention derives a model which estimates the distortion. Match points are detected in the digital image and compared to match points of pre-defined templates. Treating the relative locations of the detected match points as polar coordinates (as opposed to Cartesian coordinates) enables a model to be derived to correct the distortion. In the event that there are multiple distortions to the digital image the digital image is partitioned into segments, with a separate model derived for each segment. |
| US08195000B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus is provided which informs a user of a state of brightness adjusting operation and which has excellent usability for the user. Disclosed is a digital camera including an image adder 5d for synthesizing a plurality of continuously taken image frames to produce a synthesized image, an image processing apparatus 5 for executing image brightness adjusting processing for synthesizing a required synthesis number of image frames and adjusting brightness of the synthesized image at the time of continuous picture-taking of a subject, and a display device for displaying an image which is being synthesized by the image adder in the image brightness adjusting processing. |
| US08194996B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, and image capturing apparatus
An image processing apparatus for correcting an input image for blur using a recovery filter in accordance with image blurriness includes a blurriness determining unit that receives a target image to be corrected, applies to the target image a recovery filter including a degree-of-blur parameter corresponding to blurriness while changing a value of the degree-of-blur parameter, evaluates a degree of recovery of each of corrected target images which have been corrected with recovery filters having different degree-of-blur parameter values, and determines blurriness of the target image based on the degree-of-blur parameter value of the highly evaluated recovery filter; and a blur correction unit that sets a recovery filter for the target image based on the degree-of-blur parameter in accordance with the determined blurriness of the target image and corrects the target image for blur using the recovery filter. |
| US08194993B1 |
Method and apparatus for matching image metadata to a profile database to determine image processing parameters
Methods and apparatus for matching image metadata to a profile database to determine image processing parameters are described. In embodiments, image metadata may be used to match input images against a profile database. For example, camera make and model information and/or lens make and model information may be retrieved from the image metadata corresponding to an input image and used to locate a best match profile in the profile database. Additional custom data may then be retrieved from the located profile to perform processing that may be optimized for a specific camera and lens that captured the images, and in some cases for particular camera settings. The profile database may be generated via a calibration process applied to each of a plurality of camera/lens combinations. In one embodiment, the additional custom data may be adjusted or scaled to account for differences in cameras, lenses, or settings. |
| US08194992B2 |
System and method for automatic enhancement of seascape images
A content-based image processing system and method are disclosed. The method includes automatically identifying whether an original image is a seascape. For an image which is identified as being a seascape, the method includes automatically assigning an enhancement class for the image, selected from a plurality of enhancement classes, the classes comprising a first enhancement class for sea landscape images and a second enhancement class for portrait images. The image is processed to generate an enhanced image. Where the image is assigned to the first enhancement class, this includes applying a first enhancement chain, which may include applying a polarizing filter. Where the image is assigned to the second enhancement class, the processing includes applying a second enhancement chain, which may include detecting regions corresponding to skin in the image and selectively applying local contrast enhancement to those regions corresponding to skin. |
| US08194989B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image using modification of residual block
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding an image. In the encoding method, a residual block of a current block is transformed using a predicted block of the current block so as to increase the spatial correlation among residual values, and DCT is performed on the transformed residual block, thus improving the efficiency of transforming a block having a region that is difficult to precisely predict. |
| US08194986B2 |
Methods and systems for content processing
Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others relate to coping with fixed focus limitations of cell phone cameras, e.g., in reading digital watermark data. Still others concern user interface improvements. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US08194985B2 |
Product identification using image analysis and user interaction
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for product identification using image analysis and user interaction. The method may include comparing a retail product image to a plurality of candidate retail product images. In addition, the method may include generating a candidate product set containing candidate retail product images satisfying image comparison criteria. The method may determine one or more product identity queries configured to solicit additional product identity information from a user. In addition, the product identity queries may eliminate one or more members of the candidate product set. The method may query the user with these inquiries and determine a product match based on the user's response. Therefore a user may obtain information about a product using only a picture and a user's knowledge of the product. |
| US08194982B2 |
Document-image-data providing system, document-image-data providing device, information processing device, document-image-data providing method, information processing method, document-image-data providing program, and information processing program
In a document-image-data providing device, a document image inputting unit is configured to input document image data. An area recognition unit is configured to recognize a text area of a document image element containing text data among document image elements constituting the document image data, and another area of a document image element containing data other than the text data. A text data acquiring unit is configured to acquire text data contained in the recognized text area. A providing unit is configured to provide, in response to a document image data request received from the information processing device, both image data generated from the input document image data to have a resolution lower than a resolution of the input document image data and the text data acquired by the text data acquiring unit, to the information processing device. |
| US08194980B2 |
Color gamut outline computing device, method, and program storage medium
A device includes a setting section that sets a single-color amount limit and an ink total amount limit, an upper half outline constructing section, a lower half outline constructing section, a restricting outline constructing section, and a color space converter. The upper half outline points are points at which one or more color components are 0% and that satisfy the single-color amount limit and the ink total amount limit. The lower half outline points are points at which one or more color components satisfy the single-color amount limit and that satisfy the ink total amount limit. The restricting outline points satisfy the single-color amount limit and the ink total amount limit, and are connected to the upper or lower half outline points which satisfy the single-color amount limit and the ink total amount limit. The color space converter converts the constructed outline points into another color space. |
| US08194977B2 |
Remote desktop protocol compression acceleration using single instruction, multiple dispatch instructions
Techniques are disclosed for compressing image data using the parallel instructions available on a vector processor. In an embodiment, a source image in RGBA format is received. A series of vector processor instructions are used to perform parallel processing steps of splitting the image into separate R, G, B, and A channels, then converting it into a YCoCg colorspace, compressing the Y, Co, and Cg channels separately, then saving an output image corresponding to a compressed version of the source image. |
| US08194976B2 |
Machine readable documents and reading methods
A method of independently encoding an image with two information channels comprises generating an image which encodes a primary information channel based on brightness levels. The image is modified to encode a secondary information channel. This image modification comprises applying one of two image output values to the image portion, wherein the brightness of a modified image portion is not changed such as to change the primary information channel encoding. |
| US08194973B2 |
Decoding information from a captured image
A method for decoding information from a captured image is disclosed. The captured image has a plurality of color patches including a plurality of payload patches, a plurality of calibration patches, and an orientation patch. The orientation patch has a unique characteristic with respect to the payload patches and the calibration patches. The method includes identifying, within the captured image, the color patch having the unique characteristic as the orientation patch. The plurality of calibration patches are identified within the captured image. Each of the calibration patches has a unique predetermined location with respect to the identified orientation patch. A relative orientation of the image is determined based on a location of the identified orientation patch within the captured image. Calibration information is discerned according to characteristics of the identified calibration patches. The relative orientation and the calibration information are utilized to decode the information from the payload patches in the captured image. |
| US08194972B2 |
Method and system for transparency adjustment and occlusion resolution for urban landscape visualization
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A transparency lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest within an original image. The region-of-interest is occluded by an occluding portion of the original image. The transparency lens includes a focal region having a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion. The transparency lens also includes a shoulder region between the focal region and a foreground of the original image. The shoulder region has decreasing transparency from the focal region to the foreground. In an embodiment, occluding portion is sliced into slices normal to a depth axis of the original image. Transparencies are applied to the slices as a function of depth of the slices to form the shoulder region. |
| US08194971B2 |
Robot motion data generation method and a generation apparatus using image data
The present invention relates to a robot motion data generation method and a generation apparatus using image data, and more specifically to a robot action data generation method for perceiving motion of an object from a consecutive first image frame and a second image frame including image information on the moving object, and for generating robot action data from the perceived motion, comprising the steps of: a first step of performing digital markings at plural spots on top of the object of the first image frame, and storing first location coordinates values of the digital markings in tree type; a second step of storing peripheral image patterns of each digital marking in association with the first location coordinates values; a third step of recognizing image data identical with peripheral image patterns of each of the first location coordinates values from the second image frame, and finding out changed second location coordinates values from the first location coordinates values; a fourth step of extracting angle changes of each location coordinates value from the first location coordinates values and the second location coordinates values; a fifth step of converting extracted angles into motion templates; and a sixth step of generating robot action data from the motion templates. |
| US08194966B2 |
Method for neutralizing image artifacts prior to determination of signal-to-noise ratio in CR/DR radiography systems
A method for neutralizing the non-noise correlated, multiplicative image-artifacts introduced by the X-ray exposure, the detector or the digitizer prior to the determination of the Signal-to-Noise Ratio or the (Normalized) Noise Power Spectrum in CR/DR radiography systems. This method uses statistical techniques and the photon-noise physical model to correct the raw, digital image-data obtained in the selected region of interest (roi) for evaluation during quality control (QC). |
| US08194961B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for pre-reconstruction decomposition and calibration in dual energy computed tomography
A method of obtaining a computed tomography image of an object includes determining linear terms and non-linear beam hardening terms in a pair of line integral equations for dual-energy projection data from inserting average and difference from average attenuation terms, obtaining an initial solution of the line integral equation by setting the non-linear beam hardening terms to zero, and iteratively solving the line integral equations to obtain one line integral equations for each basis material. Attenuation by the first basis material corresponds to a photoelectric attenuation process, and attenuation by the second basis material corresponds to a Compton attenuation process. The line integral equations can be inverted by an inverse Radon procedure such as filtered backprojection to give images of each basis material. The images of each basis material can then be optionally combined to give monochromatic images, density and effective atomic number images, or photoelectric and Compton processes images. |
| US08194950B2 |
Compensating in-plane and off-plane motion in medical images
The invention relates to a registration method (100) of registering a second image dataset with a first image dataset on the basis of a set of landmarks, said registration method (100) comprising a weight-assigning step (125) for assigning a weight to each coordinate of each landmark from the set of landmarks and a registering step (145) for registering the second image dataset with the first image dataset on the basis of the weight assigned to the each coordinate. Choosing an appropriate set of landmarks and assigning an appropriate weight to each coordinate of each landmark from the set of landmarks can be used for optimizing selected displacements of a designated anatomical structure comprising elastic bodies and/or a plurality of independent rigid bodies in a sequence of image datasets. This enables rendering a sequence of views wherein the designated anatomical structure is not displaced off a viewing plane and/or a selected part of the designated anatomical structure is not displaced in a viewing plane. |
| US08194942B2 |
Authentication device and authentication method
In view of the fact that the reproducibility of a finger vein pattern is deteriorated in an image of the finger vein due to external scattered light, displacement, change in the amount of blood flow and the like, a multiple-valued pattern matching method is adopted so that such changes can be dealt with by converting a data map itself into a multiple-valued map. |
| US08194941B2 |
Character noise eliminating apparatus, character noise eliminating method, and character noise eliminating program
To provide a character noise eliminating apparatus that can eliminate a character noise when a fingerprint ridgeline area has a higher density than a character noise area. A character noise eliminating apparatus includes a device for repeating a processing in which a binary image is generated by binarizing an image with a binarization threshold that is inputted by an operator and the binary image is displayed on a data display device, and determining the character noise area, a device for setting density conversion area layers inside and outside the character noise area, and a device for setting a neighboring pixel group within the same density conversion area layer as the density conversion area layer to which a target pixel belongs as a reference area of the target pixel, with respect to pixels in the density conversion area layers, and generating a density converted image applying a local image enhancement. |
| US08194939B2 |
Using relevance feedback in face recognition
Images are searched to locate faces that are the same as a query face. Images that include a face that is the same as the query face may be presented to a user as search result images. Images also may be sorted by the faces included in the images and presented to the user as sorted search result images. The user may provide explicit or implicit feedback regarding the search result images. Additional feedback may be inferred regarding the search result images based on the user-provided feedback, and the results may be updated based on the user-provided and inferred feedback. |
| US08194932B2 |
Ticket approval system for and method of performing quality control in field service applications
Methods and apparatus for assessing a locate and marking operation. Ticket information is received as provided to a first locate technician prior to performing the operation. A locate manifest is received including a digital marked-up image of a geographic area surrounding a dig area in which the operation was performed, on which image at least one digital representation of at least one locate mark is electronically overlaid. The locate manifest, at least some of the ticket information, and a plurality of icons representing different possible quality assessments of the locate and marking operation are displayed. The plurality of icons includes an approved icon representing a satisfactory locate and marking operation, a QC icon representing an unsatisfactory locate and marking operation, and a coach icon representing that the first locate technician requires coaching. One of the displayed icons is selected so as to provide a quality assessment of the locate and marking operation. |
| US08194928B2 |
Non-contact passive ranging system
A non-contact passive ranging system wherein a first imager on a platform is focused on a first object and a second imager on the platform is also focused on the first object. The optical path from the first object to the first imager is configured to be shorter than the optical path from the object to the second imager. Processing circuitry is responsive to an output of the first imager and an output of the second imager as relative motion is provided between the platform and the first object and is configured to calculate the distance from the platform to the object. |
| US08194927B2 |
Road-lane marker detection using light-based sensing technology
A method is provided for detecting road lane markers using a light-based sensing device. Reflectivity data is captured using the light-based sensing device. A light intensity signal is generated based on the captured reflectivity data. The light intensity signal is convolved with a differential filter for generating a filter response that identifies a candidate lane marker region and ground segment regions juxtaposed on each side of the candidate lane marker region. A weighted standard deviation of the data points within the identified candidate lane marker region and weighted standard deviation of the data points within the ground segment regions are calculated. An objective value is determined as a function of the respective weighted standard deviations. The objective value is compared to a respective threshold for determining whether the identified candidate lane marker region is a lane marker. |
| US08194918B2 |
Embedded message extraction for visible watermarking
A watermarking system uses distinct bit patterns to identify a logic 0, a logic 1, and a marker bit, which demarcates segments of logic bit information. Marker bits, which are printed on both foreground and background areas of an image, outline message blocks. In message extraction, a preprocessing step removes any white boarders, identifies the best defined corner of a message block, crops the image, and rotates the image to place the identified corner at the top-left corner. Message extraction scans the rotated image in window segments of increasing size during multiple cycles. During each cycle, if a bit pattern cannot be identified as a data bit, then the size of the examined bit area is increased and rechecked to see it specifically is a marker bit. If no bit information can be definitively identified, then it is assigned a logic bit value based on a 50% random assignment. |
| US08194916B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring tree growth
A system for identifying forest stands within an area of interest that are exhibiting abnormal growth determines a relationship between vegetation index (VI) values determined from a first and a second image of the area of interest. From the relationship, an expected or predicted VI value for each forest stand is determined and compared with the actual VI value computed for the forest stand from the first image. Those forest stands with a difference between the actual and predicted VI values that exceed a threshold are identified as exhibiting abnormal growth. |
| US08194910B2 |
Headphones
A headphone set has a housing to contain a speaker unit, with a sound emitting surface through which sounds given off by the speaker unit are emitted out, and an ear pad attached to the housing to surround the sound emitting surface. The ear pad has a protruding member and an arc-like member sticking out in opposite directions. The degree of sticking out for the arc-like member is smaller than the degree of sticking out for the protruding member. The protruding member has an inner space interposed between a top section and an opposing bottom section closer than the top section to the sound emitting section. The arc-like member has a top section and an opposing bottom section closer than the top section to the sound emitting surface. The top section of the protruding member is positioned farther than that of the arc-like member from the sound emitting surface. |
| US08194905B1 |
Coherent wave full spectrum acoustic horn
A horn apparatus comprises a high frequency horn housed within a low frequency horn. High frequency and low frequency drivers are positioned side by side and are at substantially the same distance from a reflective surface. Sound emitted by both drivers strikes this same reflective at approximately the same position and the low frequency and high frequency sound is reflected at the same angle. The sound emitted by both drivers is thus time aligned and superposition of sound at the same frequencies from both drivers will not cancel out or cause significant interference and sound distortion. |
| US08194901B2 |
Control device and method for wireless audio signal transmission within the context of hearing device programming
A method for programming a hearing device is described, in which audio data and programming data is transmitted from a programming device to the hearing device, with the audio data and the programming data being converted into data packets and transmitted via a common channel of a digital radio connection from the programming device to the hearing device. |
| US08194899B2 |
Method for improving the fitting of hearing aids and device for implementing the method
The invention relates to a method for fitting a hearing aid to the needs of a hearing aid user, the method comprising collecting statistical data characterizing physical or psychological properties of environments in which use of the hearing aid is desired and utilizing the statistical values for the adjustment of the signal processing in the hearing aid, such statistical data having influence even though they may have been collected prior to the wearer's first or current period of listening via the hearing aid. The invention further relates to a device for implementing the method. |
| US08194897B2 |
Speaker system
A speaker system includes a body unit, a front panel slidably coupled to a front surface of the body unit, a first speaker unit that is provided on the front surface the body unit to output sound, and a second speaker unit that is provided on a rear surface of the front panel to output sound. |
| US08194890B2 |
Detecting and processing button press events for performing electronic device operations
This is directed to processing inputs received from an input mechanism to control media playback operations and volume. The input mechanism can include a first button providing inputs by shorting an electrical circuit, and a second button providing inputs by changing the resistance or tone detected or received by a processor. To process inputs, a processor can first detect and process short events from the first button, and subsequently process button events from the second button. |
| US08194889B2 |
Hybrid digital/analog loudness-compensating volume control
A loudness-compensating volume control method imposes a desired loudness scaling on an audio signal by processing the audio signal in both the digital and analog domains by receiving a desired loudness scaling, deriving a wideband gain component and one or more other gain components from the desired loudness scaling, applying in the digital domain modifications to the audio signal based on the one or more other gain components to produce a partly-modified audio signal, and applying in the analog domain modifications to the partly-modified audio signal based on the wideband gain component. Additional loudness modifications other than volume control loudness modifications on the audio signal may also be imposed. |
| US08194888B2 |
System and method for volume control based on location
A system and method control a volume based on location. The system comprises a switch and an asset. The switch is for a network including an operating area for a region. The region is divided into a plurality of zones. The asset is disposed in one of the zones. The asset includes an audio output device. The audio output device is set to a predetermined volume level as a function of one of the plurality of the zones in which the asset is disposed. |
| US08194887B2 |
System and method for dynamic bass frequency control in association with a dynamic low frequency control circuit having compression control
A system and method for dynamic bass frequency control, the system comprising: a bandwidth filter coupled to a plurality of switchable electronic components for filtering a frequency range of an input signal; an amplifier coupled to the bandwidth filter and the plurality of switchable electronic components, the amplifier being configured for adjusting amplitude of the filtered frequency range of the input signal based on a configuration of the plurality of switchable electronic components; and a signal level detector coupled to the switchable electronic components for determining signal strength of the input signal, the signal level detector being configured to switch the plurality of switchable electronic components between more than one configuration based on the signal strength of the input signal, each configuration determining the frequency range of the input signal to be filtered by the bandwidth filter and the amplitude adjustment to be made to the filtered frequency range of the input signal by the amplifier. |
| US08194885B2 |
Spatially robust audio precompensation
A discrete-time audio precompensation filter is designed based on a linear model that describes the dynamic response of a sound generating system at p>1 listening positions. The filter construction is based on providing information representative of n non-minimum phase zeros {Zi} that are outside of the stability region |z|=1 in the complex frequency domain. A causal Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter, of user-specified degree d, having coefficients corresponding to a causal part of a delayed non-causal impulse response is determined based on the information representative of n non minimum phase zeros. The resulting precompensation filter is determined as the product of at least two scalar dynamic systems, represented by an inverse of a characteristic scalar magnitude response in the frequency domain representing the power gains at the listening positions, and the causal FIR filter designed to approximately invert only non-minimum phase zeros that are safely inverted. |
| US08194883B2 |
Apparatus and method for designing sound compensation filter in portable terminal
A method and an apparatus for designing a sound compensation filter of a portable terminal are provided. The method includes synchronizing a signal input through a microphone of the system and a test signal, estimating a loss interval of the synchronized signal, compensating for a frame signal delayed by a signal loss in a time axis when the signal loss of the estimated loss interval is greater than a threshold and restoring the loss interval of the signal. |
| US08194882B2 |
System and method for providing single microphone noise suppression fallback
Systems and methods for providing single microphone noise suppression fallback are provided. In exemplary embodiments, primary and secondary acoustic signals are received. A single microphone noise estimate may be generated based on the primary acoustic signal, while a dual microphone noise estimate may be generated based on the primary and secondary acoustic signals. A combined noise estimate based on the single and dual microphone noise estimates is then determined. Using the combined noise estimate, a gain mask may be generated and applied to the primary acoustic signal to generate a noise suppressed signal. Subsequently, the noise suppressed signal may be output. |
| US08194880B2 |
System and method for utilizing omni-directional microphones for speech enhancement
Systems and methods for utilizing inter-microphone level differences (ILD) to attenuate noise and enhance speech are provided. In exemplary embodiments, primary and secondary acoustic signals are received by omni-directional microphones, and converted into primary and secondary electric signals. A differential microphone array module processes the electric signals to determine a cardioid primary signal and a cardioid secondary signal. The cardioid signals are filtered through a frequency analysis module which takes the signals and mimics a cochlea implementation (i.e., cochlear domain). Energy levels of the signals are then computed, and the results are processed by an ILD module using a non-linear combination to obtain the ILD. In exemplary embodiments, the non-linear combination comprises dividing the energy level associated with the primary microphone by the energy level associated with the secondary microphone. The ILD is utilized by a noise reduction system to enhance the speech of the primary acoustic signal. |
| US08194878B2 |
Dual streaming with exchange of FEC streams by audio sinks
A system and method is described herein in which an audio source wirelessly transmits audio content to a first audio sink over one wireless link and to a second audio sink over another wireless link. The two audio sinks also exchange forward error correction (FEC) streams over a link between the two audio sinks, wherein the FEC streams are generated by FEC encoding the audio content received from the audio source. The audio sinks advantageously use the exchanged FEC information to synchronize the playback of the audio content as well as to improve the robustness of the wireless links with the audio source in a manner that does not consume additional bandwidth on those links. |
| US08194875B2 |
Communication apparatus and helmet
A communication apparatus includes a support structure (41) that is fastenable to a safety helmet (58). A vibration conduction microphone (54) is carried by the support structure. The vibration conduction microphone and the speaker enclosure (43) are positioned so that, when the support structure is fastened to the safety helmet, the vibration conduction microphone and the speaker enclosure come into contact with a rear of the wearer's head. |
| US08194870B2 |
Test coupler for hearing instruments employing open-fit ear canal tips
In a system and method for open fitting hearing aid frequency response sound measurements, a test space is provided having located therein a sound source, a hearing aid with a microphone, and an open fit receiver. An acoustic shield is provided and within the acoustic shield an ear simulator coupler is provided having an ear extension attached thereto, the ear extension having mounted thereto at least a portion of the open fit receiver. A measurement unit receives sound signals from the ear simulator coupler. |
| US08194868B2 |
Loudspeaker system for virtual sound synthesis
A sound system obtains a desired sound field from an array of sound sources arranged on a panel. The desired sound field allows a listener to perceive the sound as if the sound were coming from a live source and from a specified location. Setup of the sound system includes arranging a microphone array adjacent the array of sound sources to obtain a generated sound field. Arbitrary finite impulse response filters are then composed for each sound source within the array of sound sources. Iteration is applied to optimize filter coefficients such that the generated sound field resembles the desired sound field so that multi-channel equalization and wave field synthesis occur. After the filters are setup, the microphones may be removed. |
| US08194867B2 |
Method for checking audio interface in AV system and apparatus using the same
A method for checking availability of audio interface between a display apparatus and an AV apparatus in an AV system, and an AV apparatus using the same are provided. The checking includes transmitting a command to check an audio interface to a second AV apparatus where an audio from a first AV apparatus is output, and receiving a result of checking the audio interface in response to the command from the second AV apparatus. Therefore, a user can recognize whether or not an audio interface has a problem in an AV system. |
| US08194866B2 |
Sound monitoring, data collection and advisory system
A sound monitoring system and method. The system can include a plurality of sound pressure level meters, a plurality of sound level indicators and a server connected by a network. The sound pressure level meters measuring a sound level at their location, and the sound level indicators providing a visual indication of the sound level measured by at least one of the sound pressure level meters. The system devices can be powered, as well as monitored and controlled remotely over the network. A user interface enables constructing and monitoring multiple zones and groups in a monitored area, as well as reviewing real-time and historical sound data. The system can also control lighting in the monitored area, and use lighting as a visual indicator of noise level. |
| US08194862B2 |
Video game system with mixing of independent pre-encoded digital audio bitstreams
A computer-implemented method of encoding audio includes accessing a plurality of independent audio source streams, each of which includes a sequence of source frames. Respective source frames of each sequence include respective pluralities of pulse-code modulated audio samples. Each of the plurality of independent audio source streams is separately encoded to generate a plurality of independent encoded streams, each of which corresponds to a respective independent audio source stream. The encoding includes, for respective source frames, converting respective pluralities of pulse-code modulated audio samples to respective pluralities of floating-point frequency samples that are divided into a plurality of frequency bands. An instruction to mix the plurality of independent encoded streams is received; in response, respective floating-point frequency samples of the independent encoded streams are combined. An output bitstream is generated that includes the combined respective floating-point frequency samples. |
| US08194861B2 |
Scheme for generating a parametric representation for low-bit rate applications
For generating a parametric representation of a multi-channel signal especially suitable for low-bit rate applications, only the location of the maximum of the sound energy within a replay setup is encoded and transmitted using direction parameter information. For multi-channel reconstruction, the energy distribution of the output channels identified by the direction parameter information is controlled by the direction parameter information, while the energy distribution in the remaining ambience channels is not controlled by the direction parameter information. |
| US08194857B2 |
Multiple-stage system and method for processing encoded messages
System and methods for processing encoded messages at a message receiver are described. Encoded message processing is performed in multiple stages. In a first stage, a new received message is at least partially decoded by performing any decoding operations that require no user input and a resulting context object is stored in memory, before a user is notified that the new message has been received. When the user accesses the new message, any further required decoding operations are performed on the stored context object in a second stage of processing. The message can subsequently be displayed or otherwise processed relatively quickly, without repeating the first stage decoding operations. Decoding operations may include signature verification, decryption, other types of decoding, or some combination thereof. |
| US08194855B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing processor instructions for accelerating public-key cryptography
In response to executing a single arithmetic instruction, a first number is multiplied by a second number, and a partial result from a previously executed single arithmetic instruction is added implicitly to generate a result that represents the first number multiplied by the second number summed with the partial result from a previously executed single arithmetic instruction. The high order portion of the generated result is saved in an extended carry register as a next partial result for use with execution of a subsequent single arithmetic instruction. Execution of a single arithmetic instruction may instead generate a result that represents the first number multiplied by the second number summed with the partial result and also summed with a third number. |
| US08194854B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing advanced encryption standard (AES) encryption and decryption in parallel modes of operation
The throughput of an encryption/decryption operation is increased in a system having a pipelined execution unit. Different independent encryptions (decryptions) of different data blocks may be performed in parallel by dispatching an AES round instruction in every cycle. |
| US08194846B1 |
Transfer function for messaging platform in public telephone system
A messaging system includes a messaging platform for storing a message from a calling party or transferring the calling party to a transfer station, a switching mechanism for receiving a call from the calling party to a subscriber, and a routing application at a server. The call from the calling party is connected to the messaging platform and the calling party signals to be transferred to the transfer station. In response, the messaging platform sends a transfer message to the routing application and the routing application directs the switching mechanism to disconnect the calling party from the messaging platform and connect the calling party to the transfer station. |
| US08194844B2 |
Rerouting ongoing telecommunications to a user
Rerouting telecommunications to a user including receiving a plurality of RFID signals from an RFID tag located with the user, anticipating a user's future location in dependence upon the RFID signals, selecting a telephony device in dependence upon the anticipated future location, and rerouting an ongoing call to the selected telephony device. In typical embodiments, selecting a telephony device in dependence upon the anticipated future location also includes identifying location based routing preferences for the user. In typical embodiments, selecting a telephony device in dependence upon the anticipated future location also includes identifying device-based routing preferences for the user. In typical embodiments, anticipating a user's future location in dependence upon the RFID signals also includes determining a first user location, determining a second user location, and predicting a user's future location in dependence upon the first user location and the second user location. |
| US08194839B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a provisioning process in a telecommunications system
Method and apparatus for controlling a provisioning process. A first provisioning entity (115) issues a provisioning order (401). A provisioning controller (10) checks whether the received provisioning order is complete. If the order is not complete, a second provisioning entity (116,115) is selected to provide further provisioning data (PD1,PD2,PD3,PD4,PD5,PD6) so as to complete the incomplete received provisioning order and to send the corresponding provisioning order/s to the corresponding provisioned entity/ies (121, 122, 123). The provisioning controller may check a service provisioning template (PT-X), which can comprise identifiers of provisioning entities that can supply certain provisioning data, identifiers of the data that can be obtained from each and sequence information determining the order in which said data may be collected and provided for provisioning a given service. A status register may be used to keep track the processing status of a received provisioning order. |
| US08194829B1 |
Leaving a message for a party while on an active real-time communication
When one party to an active call has momentarily stepped away from the call that has not been put on hold, the other party can record and leave a message for the party that stepped away, and then hang up. The call is monitored for return of the party that stepped away. When the returned party begins to speak, the message is immediately played to the returned party in response. In a conference, after a conferee who wishes to leave the conference, records a message and hangs up, the conference is monitored for either a break in the conversation or conversation directed to the party that left, and in response the message is played to the other conferees. |
| US08194826B2 |
Handling emergency calls using EAP
A user (terminal) is allowed to make an emergency voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone call through an access network, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The emergency call can be made with or without authentication credentials and is identified by the user's terminal transmitting a Network Access Identifier (NAI) having a user part and/or realm part that indicates the emergency nature of the call, such as e911@e911.com. In response to such an NAI, the caller can be immediately granted limited authentication for the purpose of connecting to an emergency call center. Alternatively, the user (terminal) can be authenticated through networks supporting emergency calls, such as the user's home network, if the terminal indicates to the access network authentication server a preference or requirement for using such networks. The call can be routed to the emergency call center either directly or via one or more intermediary networks, such as networks that support emergency VoIP phone calls. |
| US08194825B2 |
Methods and apparatus for call surveillance in internet protocol communication networks
Methods and apparatus for call surveillance in Internet protocol communication networks are disclosed. An example method to perform call surveillance in a communication network disclosed herein comprises determining an overall path delay measurement associated with using a first media server to perform surveillance of a call between a first user device and a second user device in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem network, and determining whether to perform surveillance of the call with one of the first media server or a second media server based on the overall path delay measurement. |
| US08194815B2 |
Apparatus and system for dampening the vibration experienced by an object
An embodiment of the present invention may reduce the level of vibration experienced by a line, such as, but not limiting of, a pipe, a cable, tubing, or the like, that is connected to at least one separate structure. For example, but not limiting of, the structure includes: a reactor pressure vessel, a sparger pipe, steam generator, a pipe, a pressure vessel, a heat exchanger, a pump, a condenser, a tank, or the like. An embodiment of the present invention may provide support and a preload to the line at a new location or may replace an existing support, such as, but not limiting of, a weld; which may alter the natural frequencies to avoid resonance from occurring when the structure(s) is excited. |
| US08194813B2 |
Absolute nuclear material assay using count distribution (LAMBDA) space
A method of absolute nuclear material assay of an unknown source comprising counting neutrons from the unknown source and providing an absolute nuclear material assay utilizing a model to optimally compare to the measured count distributions. In one embodiment, the step of providing an absolute nuclear material assay comprises utilizing a random sampling of analytically computed fission chain distributions to generate a continuous time-evolving sequence of event-counts by spreading the fission chain distribution in time. |
| US08194811B2 |
Clock repeater and phase-error correcting circuit
Embodiments of a clock repeater and phase-error correcting circuit are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a clock repeater and phase-error correcting circuit may include a polyphase network having a non-symmetrical frequency response selected to reduce static phase error from a multi-phase clock signal, and an output buffer to buffer and to amplify the phase-corrected multi-phase clock signal. |
| US08194809B2 |
Diversity receiver and diversity receiving method
A purpose of the present invention is to provide a diversity receiver and a diversity receiving method, which are capable of performing a diversity reception without depending upon a moving speed, and also capable of achieving compatibility between reception performance and current consumption. A bit error rate calculator (107) calculates a bit error rate from a demodulation result of a demodulator (106); a switching frequency calculator (108) calculates a switching frequency which corresponds to such a frequency for alternately switching initiating and stopping operations of the diversity reception in response to the bit error rate calculated by the bit error rate calculator (107); and a switching controller (105) performs a switching operation for selecting both two receivers (103, 104), and another switching operation for selecting any one of the two receivers (103, 104) in accordance with the switching frequency calculated by the switching frequency calculator (108) so as to synthesize respective output signals with each other to output a synthesized signal in a case where two sets of the receivers (103, 104) are selected. |
| US08194808B2 |
Carrier selection for multiple antennas
A method and apparatus is disclosed to process a received single stream communication signal and/or a multiple stream communication. A communications receiver is configured to receive the received communication signal. A communications receiver determines whether the received communication signal includes a single stream communication signal or a multiple stream communication signal. The communications receiver determines whether a received communication signal complies with a known single stream communications standard. The communications receiver determines whether the received communication signal complies with a known multiple stream communications standard. The communications receiver decodes the received communication signal according to the known single stream communications standard upon determining the received communication includes the signal single stream communication signal. The communications receiver decodes the received communication signal according to the known multiple stream communications standard upon determining the received communication includes the multiple stream communication signal. |
| US08194807B2 |
Method to discriminate a real echo peak from an aliased echo peak
A method to discriminate a real echo peak from an aliased echo peak comprises: computing ‘a correlation between N samples of a digital data and a copy of the same N samples delayed by a time delay Δ1,0 to obtain a first correlation result, time delay Δ1,0 being equal to a time interval T between a first and a second distinct power peaks of an estimated channel impulse response, the first peak being the highest power peak within the temporal window, and/or computing—a correlation between the N samples and a copy of the same N samples delayed by a time delay TIFFT-Δ1,0 to obtain a second correlation result, and deciding whether the second peak is a real echo peak or an aliased echo peak based on the first and/or second correlation results. |
| US08194806B2 |
Demodulation device, demodulation device control method, demodulation device control program, and recording medium with recorded demodulation device control program
This demodulation device receives and demodulates a digital broadcast wave. This demodulation device includes an RF search control unit (41) and a GI search control unit (42). The RF search control unit (41) determines whether or not there is a broadcast wave in a certain channel, in accordance with an intensity of a signal outputted from a tuner (12) for receiving a digital broadcast wave. The GI search control unit (42) determines whether or not the broadcast wave is digital, based on whether or not the signal outputted from the tuner (12) contains a guard interval. Thus, the demodulation device is capable of efficiently searching for a channel containing a digital broadcast wave. |
| US08194799B2 |
Cyclic prefix-based enhanced data recovery method
The cyclic prefix-based enhanced data recovery method retains the cyclic prefix (CP) upon reception and routes the CP to a data detection module to enhance the operation of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) receiver whether operating in the blind, semi-blind, training, or perfectly known channel modes. Processing of the OFDM symbol and the CP is performed in the data detector and obtains data recovery by computing a maximum likelihood estimation based on the CP and the OFDM symbols. |
| US08194798B2 |
MIMO symbol decoder and method for decoding spatially multiplexed symbols using combined linear equalization and maximum likelihood decoding
Embodiments of MIMO symbol decoders and methods for decoding spatially multiplexed symbols using combined linear equalization decoding and maximum likelihood decoding are generally described herein. In some embodiments, one group of symbols (y) received through two or more spatial channels is decoded using a linear equalization decoding technique and another group of symbols is decoded using a maximum likelihood decoding (MLD) technique to generate a soft-bit output. The symbols may be grouped for either linear equalization decoding or MLD based on channel orthogonality or signal-to-interference and noise ratios (SINRs). |
| US08194797B2 |
Digital broadcasting transmission/reception system capable of improving receiving and equalizing performance and signal processing method thereof
A digital broadcast transmitting and receiving system and a signal processing method thereof that improves the receiving performance of the system. A digital broadcast transmitter includes a randomizer to receive and randomize a data stream into a specified position of which stuff bytes are inserted, a replacement sequence generator to generate known data including a predefined sequence, a stuff-byte exchange unit to insert the known data into the specified position of the data stream into which stuff bytes are inserted, an encoder to encode the data stream output from the stuff-byte exchange unit for an error correction, and a transmission unit to modulate the encoded data stream, RF-convert the modulated data stream and transmit the RF-converted data. The digital broadcast receiving performance is improved even in an inferior multi-path channel by detecting the known data from the received transmission and using the known data for synchronization and equalization in a digital broadcast receiver. |
| US08194795B2 |
Digital broadcast reception device
A digital broadcast reception device mounted on a mobile body includes a position information detection unit for detecting the position of the digital broadcast reception device, a database holding unit for storing reception quality of the digital broadcast in advance, a switching point calculation unit for obtaining a hierarchy switching point, and output switching unit for performing a hierarchy switching. The digital broadcast reception device acquires the hierarchy switching frequency generated during movement in advance based on reception quality information previously stored in the database holding unit, and controls the hierarchy switching so as to reduce the switching frequency, thereby reducing disconnections of video and audio. |
| US08194794B2 |
Quadrature signal phase controller for controlling phase
A quadrature signal phase controller includes a first phase shifter and a second phase shifter. The first phase shifter generates phase shifted first in-phase differential output signals and phase shifted first quadrature-phase differential output signals. The second phase shifter generates phase shifted second in-phase differential output signals and phase shifted second quadrature-phase differential output signals. Each of the first and second phase shifters increases or decreases the phase difference between the first in-phase differential output signals and the second quadrature-phase differential output signals, and the phase difference between the second in-phase differential output signals and the first quadrature-phase differential output signals, in response to a change in a level of the first control signal and a change in a level of the second control signal. |
| US08194793B2 |
Multi-stage frequency offset estimation and compensation method and its circuit
A multi-stage frequency offset (FO) estimation and compensation method and its circuit are described. The method includes performing at least a stage of primary-level FO estimation and compensation procedure, and a stage of advance-level FO estimation and compensation procedure. The first stage receives an input carrier signal of a larger FO and outputs a corrected carrier signal with an estimation error within the required estimation range of the next stage, to the next stage. Generated and fed forward stage-by-stage, the corrected carrier signal free of FO may be approached. Besides, since a feed-forward rather than a closed-loop approach is employed, the SNR requirement may be lower. Also, at primary-level, modulation may be first removed so the whole input carrier signal may be used to estimate FO; at advance-level, the periodic PN sequence in the input carrier signal may be utilized to estimate FO, thereby no dedicated training symbols are required. |
| US08194792B2 |
Look-ahead digital loop filter for clock and data recovery
The present invention enhances the performance of a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit by employing look-ahead techniques to produce a low latency timing adjustment. In one example of the invention employed in a CDR circuit having a decimation filter processing the CDR's phase detector output, the invention uses the most significant bits of the decimation filter output to quickly determine a look-ahead adjustment. |
| US08194790B2 |
Spaced one-hot receiver
A mobile device that incorporates the MIPI D-PHY specification has data lanes for carrying data between electronic modules within the device. The data lanes may incorporate a spaced-one-hot approach for asynchronously receiving a data signal over a two-wire interface. A two-wire receive interface is provided that uses an exclusive-NOR to capture a timing signal along with a set-reset flip-flop which holds the state of the data line so that a D flip-flop that is clocked on the falling edge of the timing signal received from the exclusive-NOR gate can sample the data and provide an accurate asynchronous data output. |
| US08194789B2 |
Input signal combiner system and method
Disclosed are various embodiments of an input signal combiner. In one embodiment, a receive stage receives a multi-phase waveform and separates the multi-phase waveform into a plurality of waveforms. Analog-to-digital converters convert the plurality of analog waveforms into at least one digital signal. At least one gain stage adjusts an amplitude of each of the digital signals and combines the amplitude adjusted digital signals into at least one gain adjusted combined signal. A signal extraction stage extracts an inbound signal from the at least one gain adjusted combined signal according to a demodulation scheme. |
| US08194788B2 |
Receiver and method for receiving wireless signals
A receiver and method for receiving wireless signal are characterized in that a multi-branch correcting and switching module (402) is added, which is used for amplitude and phase correction of multiple digital baseband signals outputted from a multi-branch correction preprocess module (401); then, the signals are switched according to a switching strategy, and one of the corrected digital baseband signals is outputted; finally, the selected digital baseband signal is inputted to a digital receiving path post-stage (403) and further digital processing on the signal is performed, so that a bit stream is outputted. The multiple digital baseband signals are corrected before switching to be consistent with each other in terms of amplitude and phase, and specific synchronization information is not necessary; therefore, the signals can be switched rapidly when the signals are varied and need to be switched, and a rapid track for the signal change is achieved. |
| US08194783B2 |
Variable rate coding for a forward and reverse link
A technique for encoding a signal used in a digital communication system in which individual traffic channel data rates may be adapted to specific channel conditions. In particular, a forward error correction coding rate is adapted for individual channels while at the same time maintaining a fixed block size independent of the FEC coding rate. This allows the system data rate to adapt to the channel conditions experienced by a specific user. Thus, users experiencing good communication conditions with low multipath distortion may be allocated higher capacity, whereas users with significant multipath distortion may make use of lower rate (higher levels of coding) error codes to maintain high quality. Messages are sent from a transmitter to a receiver to inform the receiver of the coding rate implemented at any given point in time. These parameters may be adjusted independent of transmitted power level through the expedient of ensuring that size of a transmitted frame remains constant, while permitting the ability to change FEC coding rates and FEC block sizes. |
| US08194779B2 |
Method for data communication via a voice channel of a wireless communication network
A system and method for data communication over a cellular communications network that allows the transmission of digital data over a voice channel using a vocoder that operates in different modes depending upon characteristics of the inputted signal it receives. To prepare the digital data for transmission, one or more carrier signals are encoded with the digital data using one of a number of modulation schemes that utilize differential phase shift keying to give the modulated carrier signal certain periodicity and energy characteristics that allow it to be transmitted by the vocoder at full rate. The modulation schemes include DPSK using either a single or multiple frequency carriers, combined FSK-DPSK modulation, combined ASK-DPSK, as well as PSK with a phase tracker in the demodulator. These modulation schemes permit data communication via a CDMA, GSM, or other type of voice traffic channel at a low bit error rate. |
| US08194778B2 |
Method for transmitting data in multiple antenna system
A method of sending data in a multiple antenna system includes the steps of generating a transmission signal by applying channel-dependent precoding to a first antenna cluster and a second antenna cluster, each comprising a plurality of antennas, wherein the channel-dependent precoding is performed by a precoding weight matrix in which a precoding weight for each of the antenna clusters has a block diagonal form and the precoding weight is represented by P×V for a number of transmission antennas P, included in each of the antenna clusters, and a number of layers V applied to each of the antenna clusters (P and V are an integer greater than 0) and sending the transmission signal. |
| US08194773B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting feedback information in communication system
Disclosed is a system and method for transmitting feedback information in a communication system. A receiver calculates a minimum distance of each two symbol vectors among all symbol vectors which can be received through a kth subcarrier among a plurality of subcarriers, in which a channel state of the kth subcarrier and a jth precoder among precoders included in a codebook set are applied; calculates sums of minimum distances by adding minimum distances calculated for the plurality of subcarriers according to each precoder; determines a precoder corresponding to a value greatest among the sums of minimum distances calculated according to the precoders, as a precoder representing the plurality of subcarriers; and feeds the feedback information including a precoder index of the determined precoder back to a transmitter. |
| US08194768B1 |
Channel estimation using linear phase estimation
Systems and methods are provided for channel estimation using linear phase estimation. These systems and methods enable improved channel estimation by estimating a linear channel phase between received pilot subcarrier signals. The estimated linear phase can then be removed from the received pilot subcarrier signals. After the estimated linear phase is removed from the received pilot subcarrier signals, a channel response can be estimated. A final estimated channel response can be generated by multiplying the results of the linear channel estimation by the estimated linear phase. |
| US08194767B2 |
Systems and methods for MIMO precoding in an xDSL system
One embodiment is a method for precoding data for transmission in a discrete multi-tone (DMT) system to cancel self-induced far end crosstalk (self-FEXT). The method comprises learning, by the system, characteristics associated with a plurality of N users within a digital subscriber line (xDSL) system to determine an initial off-diagonal multiple input multiple output (MIMO) precoder (ODMP) for a given tone frequency and converging towards an ODMP from the initial ODMP to cancel self-FEXT for the plurality of N users, wherein the ODMP is represented as a zero diagonal matrix containing only off-diagonal terms. |
| US08194764B2 |
Phase tracking circuit and radio receiver using the same
A phase tracking circuit includes a divider part dividing an input signal that includes data sub-carriers and pilot sub-carriers into groups so that each of the groups includes at least one of the pilot sub-carriers, and a correcting part correcting phases of data sub-carriers of the input signal included in one of the groups on the basis of an amount of phase rotation of the at least one of the pilot sub-carriers included in the above one of the groups. |
| US08194757B2 |
Method and system for combining results of mosquito noise reduction and block noise reduction
In a video system, a method and system for combining results of mosquito noise reduction and block noise reduction are provided. Noise artifacts may be reduced in a video image by generating a first pixel correction value that combines a first and a second noise reduction parameters utilizing a first combination operation. Combining the first pixel correction value and a third noise reduction parameter utilizing a second combination operation may generate a second pixel correction value. New pixel values may be determined for the video image by adding an original pixel value and the pixel correction value. The noise reduction parameters may correspond to results from mosquito and block noise reduction operations. The first and second combination operations may be selected to be a maximum, a minimum, or an addition of the input parameters based on the sign of the input parameters. |
| US08194756B2 |
Using program clock references to assist in transport of video stream to wireless device
Processing a video stream using upon Program Clock References (PCRs) contained therein in preparation for transmission to a wireless device. Operation includes receiving video frames of the video stream, buffering the video frames, and extracting PCRs from at least some of the video frames of the video stream. Operation further includes, based upon at least the values of the PCRs, determining transmission parameters, and transmitting video frames of the video stream to the wireless device according to the transmission parameters. Operation may further include determining a round trip delay of transmissions to the wireless device and acknowledgements from the wireless device, adjusting PCRs of at least some video frames of the video stream based upon the round trip delay, and transmitting the video frames of the video stream to the wireless device. |
| US08194753B2 |
Apparatus processing video stream
An apparatus processing a video stream includes a CPU, a memory access controller reading stream data from an external memory, a buffer storing the stream data, and a hardware accelerator decoding the stream data. The hardware accelerator includes a plurality of decoders decoding the stream data in accordance with one of a plurality of different video coding standards. |
| US08194751B2 |
Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method
The moving picture coding apparatus includes: a flag information generation unit for generating a flag indicating that values indicated by display order information POC are in non-sequential order; and a variable length coding unit for performing variable length coding and other operations on the inputted coded signal and further generating a coded stream (Str) by including information such as the flag generated by the flag information generation unit. |
| US08194748B2 |
Apparatus for scalable encoding/decoding of moving image and method thereof
Provided are a scalable encoding/decoding apparatus and method for the same for a moving image of more than 8 bits. The scalable moving image encoding apparatus includes a pixel value clipper clipping a pixel value of an original image to a pixel value with a predetermined pixel depth, a base layer encoder receiving the clipped image and encoding the clipped image using a predetermined encoding method based on motion prediction, a pixel value scaler receiving a base layer image generated by the base layer encoder, which is a decoded image of an encoded image, and scaling a pixel depth of the base layer image to the pixel depth of the original image, and an enhancement layer encoder subtracting the base layer image having a scaled pixel value from the original image to form an enhancement layer image and encoding the enhancement layer image using a predetermined encoding method. |
| US08194747B2 |
Moving picture coding method, and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus for performing inter-picture predictive coding on pictures constituting a moving picture is provided with a coding unit for performing predictive error coding on image data; a decoding unit for performing predictive error decoding on an output from the coding unit; a reference picture memory for holding output data from the decoding unit; and a motion vector detection unit for detecting forward and backward motion vectors on the basis of decoded image data stored in the memory. When coding a B picture, a picture that is timewise closest to the target picture is used as a candidate picture for forward reference, and an I or P picture that is timewise closest to the target picture is used as a candidate picture for backward reference. The moving picture coding apparatus so constructed can improve coding efficiency of a B picture to be subjected to bidirectional predictive coding. |
| US08194742B2 |
Video decoder
A method and a video decoder for decoding an encoded bitstream of video data in a picture encoding and decoding system are disclosed. The video decoder includes a motion compensation unit for calculating a position for a sample image portion using an encoded bitstream of video data having a motion vector and rounding information. The calculated position of a sample image is rounded with the rounding information. The rounding information indicates the accuracy for rounding, and it is decoded from the bitstream. An image reconstruction unit reconstructs a decoded image portion of the video data from the sample image portion. |
| US08194741B2 |
Method and system for processing B pictures with missing or invalid forward reference pictures
Methods and systems for processing B pictures with missing or invalid forward reference pictures are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include decoding of a contiguous sequence of B pictures that immediately follow a first I picture after a sequence header. The decoding of the B pictures may handle video edit codes in the AVS1-P2 format and/or random access points. Some embodiments of the invention may discard B pictures that refer to invalid or missing forward reference pictures, while other embodiments of the invention may interpolate B pictures. For an invalid forward reference picture, the interpolation algorithm for generating pictures may use the invalid forward reference picture and the backward reference picture. For a missing decoded forward reference picture, as in a random access, the interpolation algorithm for generating pictures may use the backward reference picture. |
| US08194738B2 |
Picture coding apparatus, picture decoding apparatus and the methods
A weighting factor mode determination unit determines whether to code an interlaced picture in a field mode or a frame mode, based on a value of a flag “AFF” indicating whether or not to switch between the field mode and the frame mode on a block-by-block basis and notifies switches and a multiplexing unit of the determined mode. The switches select either the field mode or the frame mode according to the notified mode. A field weighting factor coding unit or a frame weighting factor coding unit performs respectively the coding of respective weighting factors when the respective modes are selected. |
| US08194737B2 |
Apparatus and method for modifying predicted values, and decoding system
An apparatus for modifying predicted values in a predicted image for input to a decoder starts by taking the most significant information bit plane from the predicted image and submitting it to the decoder to be decoded. Subsequent information bit planes are then taken in descending order and submitted to the decoder, but first each of these information bit planes is modified at the locations of prediction errors identified in the preceding information bit plane by comparing that information bit plane with the corresponding decoded bit plane. The modifications improve the general accuracy of the decoded image, enabling the decoder to decode the bit planes with less additional coded information than would otherwise be required. The apparatus is useful in distributed video coding systems. |
| US08194736B2 |
Video data compression with integrated lossy and lossless compression
A method and apparatus to compress video data to smaller size and embed extra information into the compressed data using the integrated lossy and lossless compressions is described. The method can be used to compress reference frames of a video codec (coder/decoder) combines codec where the small noise is critical and to reduce bus bandwidth. Data transfer between an encoder and an external frame memory connected via an external bus in a video codec is reduced by compressing data from the encoder prior to inputting into the frame memory over the external bus, and decompressing the compressed data from the frame memory after retrieving over the external bus. Reference frames are compressed to variable size without causing any considerable artifact to reduce bus bandwidth between the encoder core and external memory. In the method, lossy and lossless compression is integrated to maximize the compression efficiency. |
| US08194734B2 |
Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture decoding apparatus includes: a quantization matrix holding unit (202) that holds a quantization matrix (WM) which has already been transmitted in a parameter set and a matrix ID for identifying the quantization matrix (WM), which are associated with each other; and a variable length decoding unit (201) that obtains the matrix ID corresponding to the quantization matrix (WM) used for quantization from the quantization matrix holding unit (202) and places the matrix ID in a coded stream Str. |
| US08194733B2 |
Video encoding apparatus, video decoding apparatus, and method
Provided are a scalable video encoding apparatus, a scalable video decoding apparatus, and method. The scalable video encoding apparatus includes a first encoding unit to generate a base layer bitstream, which is to be used for generating a reconstructed image having a second resolution, by encoding an original image having a first resolution into an encoded image having the second resolution, and a second encoding unit to generate an enhancement layer bitstream by reconstructing the reconstructed image having the second resolution, which is received from the first encoding unit, to be a reconstructed image having the first resolution in response to an interpolation mode signal, and then to encode the original image having the first resolution by using the reconstructed image having the first resolution, where the enhancement layer bitstream contains additional information for generating a reconstructed image having the first resolution or a third resolution. |
| US08194728B2 |
Tap/group-revivable decision feedback equalizing method and equalizer using the same
A tap/group-revivable decision feedback equalizing method and equalizer using the same is disclosed. The equalizer includes a feed-forward filter and a feedback filter each with a plurality of taps divided in groups. The tap/group-revivable decision equalizing method includes training all the taps to generate their tap coefficients, and selecting all the taps of any of the groups with a tap coefficient greater than a predetermined value and selecting a number of taps of any of the groups without a tap coefficient greater than the predetermined value, but with a neighboring group with a tap coefficient greater than the predetermined value are selected, and having the selected taps utilized for equalization. |
| US08194726B2 |
Filter weight estimation device with update at HSDSCH symbol rate, for a symbol level equaliser
A filter weight estimation device (D), for an equaliser of a communication receiver, comprises i) a tap delay line connected to N branches each comprising a descrambler (DS1-DSN) and a despreader (DE1-DEN), for despreading received signals, corresponding to one or more available multiplexed channels associated with different channelization codes, with a reference code equal to the sum of all the channelization codes associated to the available multiplexed channels, Ë) an adaptive filter (AF) comprising N input filter taps respectively connected to the N branches and a regression input and arranged to estimate the sum of the symbols outputted by the despreaders (DE1-DEN) and associated to each available channel, said symbol sum constituting a pseudo-symbol estimate defining a reference symbol estimate (rs), and to implement a mechanism of a LMS type to deliver a chosen number of filter weights (fi), iË) a quantiser (SM) arranged to quantise the reference symbol estimate (rs) to estimate a desired reference symbol (d), and iv) an error computation module (AM) for subtracting the reference symbol estimate (rs) from the desired reference symbol (d) to output an error signal (e) feeding the regression input. |
| US08194724B1 |
Adaptive equalization methods and apparatus for programmable logic devices
A programmable logic device is provided with adaptive equalization circuitry that is programmable in one or more respects. Examples of the programmable aspects of the equalization circuitry are (1) the number of taps used, (2) whether integer or fractional spaced taps are used, (3) what starting values are used in the computation of coefficient values, (4) whether satisfactory coefficient values are computed only once or on an on-going basis, (5) whether an error signal is generated using a decision directed algorithm or using a training pattern, (6) what training pattern (if any) is used, and/or (7) the location of the sampling point in the bit period of the signal to be equalized. |
| US08194721B2 |
Signal amplitude distortion within an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit 2 includes a serial data transmitter 12 and a serial data receiver 14. A signal amplitude distorting circuit 30 is provided to introduce distortion in the amplitude of a serial data signal generated by the serial data transmitter 12 and looped back to the serial data receiver 14 so as to stress test the serial data receiver 14. |
| US08194719B2 |
Method and apparatus for maximizing standby time in remote stations configured to receive broadcast databurst messages
A wireless telecommunications system includes a base station, a plurality of remote stations, a first channel for general page messages containing paging information and broadcast databurst message references, and an auxiliary channel for broadcast databurst notification indicators for the purpose of increasing standby time in remote stations configured to receive broadcast databurst messages. |
| US08194717B2 |
Resource sharing
A method comprising: determining which of a first process and a second process uses a first resource, wherein the first process requires use of a first resource to produce a result and the second process competes with the first process for use of the first resource; and controlling the first process, when the second process uses the first resource, to produce a result without use of the first resource. |
| US08194714B2 |
Light emitting and receiving device
A light emitting and receiving device having a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region in a plan view, includes: a light absorbing layer formed in the first and second regions; a first cladding layer formed above the light absorbing layer; an active layer formed above the first cladding layer in the first region; and a second cladding layer formed above the active layer, wherein at least part of the active layer forms a gain region, a stepped side surface having an end surface of the gain region is formed at the boundary between the first region and the second region, light produced in the gain region exits through the end surface of the gain region, and part of the light having exited reaches the light absorbing layer in the second region and is received by the light absorbing layer. |
| US08194713B2 |
Optical semiconductor device
An optical semiconductor device includes: a beam splitter that splits an input optical axis into a first split axis having a first split angle and a second split axis having a second split angle larger than the first split angle; a first unit that is located on the first split axis of the beam splitter and has one or more optical components, an interval between a more distant end of the first unit and the beam splitter having a first length; a second unit that is located on the second split axis of the beam splitter and has one or more optical components, an interval between a more distant end of the second unit and the beam splitter having a second length larger than the first length; and an optical semiconductor element that has a first outputting end having a first output axis coupled optically to the input optical axis of the beam splitter, a second outputting end having a second output axis, and optical gain, the optical semiconductor element being inclined so that the second output axis is arranged away to a side of the second split axis from the first output axis. |
| US08194711B2 |
Nitride semiconductor laser device
A nitride semiconductor laser device includes a multilayer structure including a plurality of nitride semiconductor layers including a light emitting layer, the multilayer structure having cavity facets facing each other, and a plurality of protective films made of a dielectric material provided on one of the cavity facets. The protective films include a first protective film, a second protective film and a third protective film. The first protective film contacts the cavity facet and is made of aluminum nitride. The second protective film is provided on a surface opposite to the cavity facet of the first protective film and is made of a material different from that of the first protective film. The third protective film is provided on a surface opposite to the first protective film of the second protective film and is made of the same material as that of the first protective film. |
| US08194709B2 |
High-repetition-rate guided-mode femtosecond laser
Femtosecond pulse trains in waveguide lasers with high fundamental repetition rates are achieved by exploiting the nonlinearity in the waveguide. Components of the apparatus include an optical resonator, a saturable absorber for starting and stabilizing mode-locking, and a gain element. Part of the laser cavity or the entire laser cavity is made of waveguide or fiber (collectively called “waveguide” herein). The net dispersion of the laser cavity can be anomalous. This anomalous dispersion in combination with the positive self-phase modulation nonlinearity in the waveguide creates soliton formation to shorten the pulse duration in the invented lasers. Conversely, a normal dispersive waveguide with negative self-phase modulation nonlinearity can also be used. |
| US08194704B2 |
Network equipment
A network equipment (element) is provided with at least one SDH unit, connected to an SDH link or SONET link, extracting and outputting a first line clock synchronized with a received signal; at least one Ethernet unit, connected to an Ethernet link, extracting a second line clock synchronized with a received signal and converting the second line clock into a clock of a frequency of the first line clock to be outputted; and a timing processor receiving the clocks of the frequency of the first line clock from the SDH unit and the Ethernet unit, selecting among the clocks a clock of the best quality and outputting an equipment clock synchronized with the clock selected. |
| US08194700B2 |
Resource sharing between a plurality of communication networks
A method of resource sharing between a plurality of communication networks each having a nominal resource allocation of a shared air interface resource and a resource exchange allowance is provided. A temporary resource allocation of a first air interface resource from a nominal resource allocation of a first network is initiated. Subsequently, a plurality of offer rounds are executed with each offer round comprising determining offer values for the first air interface resource. A second network is then selected in response to the determined offer values and subsequently a resource allocation message is transmitted to the second network. The resource allocation message indicates a temporary allocation of at least part of the first air interface resource from the first network to the second network. Consequently, the resource exchange allowance of the second network is reduced accordingly. Each offer round comprises receiving new offer values from the first plurality of networks. |
| US08194699B2 |
Radio scheduler and data plane interface
A media access control architecture operates to receive bandwidth requests in a first radio frame from mobile stations for uplink transmissions. A data plane provides once per radio frame a first aggregated message to a radio scheduler in a control plane. The first aggregated message comprises bandwidth requests for uplink transmissions received in the first radio frame from the mobile stations. Two or more messages for downlink transmission of packets are received from a core network for transmission to one or more of the mobile stations. The data plane provides once per radio frame a second aggregated message to the radio scheduler. The second aggregated message comprises the messages received from the core network for downlink transmission. At least one or more uplink transmissions or one or more downlink transmissions, or combinations thereof, are scheduled by the radio scheduler. |
| US08194697B2 |
Selective connection device allowing connection of at least one peripheral to a target computer and a selective control system comprising such a device
A selective connection device allowing the connection of at least one peripheral to a target computer and a selective control system comprising such a device. It relates to the field of devices for the selective connection of a control device composed of input/output peripherals to various target computers. The selective connection device affords security guarantees by preventing communication between the various target computers that may be controlled. |
| US08194695B2 |
Terminal and method for wireless sensor network for determining contention windows in contention-based channel access
A communication terminal and method is provided for improving channel utilization efficiency in a wireless sensor network using contention-based channel access mechanism is disclosed. The communication method according to the present invention comprises initializing, when a packet transmission is required, a contention window to a size; resetting, when a channel is assessed to be busy, the size of the contention window in a hybrid expansion mode; and attempting, when the channel is assessed to be idle, the packet transmission through the channel. |
| US08194684B2 |
Network apparatus, redundant network method, and computer product
A network apparatus for a wide area network (WAN) includes a plurality of ports through which a local area network (LAN) and the WAN are connected; an active-port selecting unit that selects an active port from among the ports, and identifies a port other than the active port as a standby port; and a notifying unit that notifies an interface device for the LAN via the standby port that a line connected to the standby port is in a standby mode. |
| US08194683B2 |
Teredo connectivity between clients behind symmetric NATs
Methods and systems for communicating between Teredo clients behind symmetric or restricted Network Address Translators. |
| US08194682B2 |
Multiple protocol land mobile radio system
A multiple protocol land mobile radio (LMR) and a method for communicating LMR content are provided. The method includes communicating the LMR content using a plurality of LMR transport protocols within a single LMR network. The method further includes encapsulating the LMR content based on an LMR application layer protocol for a portion of the single LMR network through which the LMR content is to be communicated. |
| US08194681B2 |
Bridging between AD HOC local networks and internet-based peer-to-peer networks
Bridging between ad hoc local networks and Internet based peer-to-peer networks involves coupling a bridge device to a local network using an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol used for exchanging data between consumer electronics devices. The bridge device is coupled to a public network using an Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol. In one arrangement, metadata related to media accessible from a media server of the local network is determined via the bridge device, and the metadata is transformed via the bridge device to enable peer-to-peer devices of the public network to discover the media via the bridge device using the Internet-based peer-to-peer networking protocol. In another arrangement, metadata related to media accessible from the public network is determined via the peer-to-peer networking protocol, and the metadata is transformed via the bridge device to enable a device of the local network to discover the media via the bridge device using the ad-hoc, peer-to-peer protocol. |
| US08194678B2 |
Providing point to point communications among compute nodes in a global combining network of a parallel computer
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for providing point to point data communications among compute nodes in a global combining network of a parallel computer that include: determining a class route identifier available for all of the nodes along a communications path from an origin node to a target node; configuring network hardware of each node along the communications path with routing instructions in dependence upon the available class route identifier and the network's topology; transmitting, by the origin node along the communications path, a network packet to the target node, including encoding the available class route identifier in the network packet; and routing, by the network hardware of each node along the communications path, the network packet to the target node in dependence upon the routing instructions for each node and the available class route identifier. |
| US08194672B2 |
Network switch with mutually coupled look-up engine and network processor
A network switch includes a look-up engine for obtaining associated data in response to a header portion of a packet and an interlinked network processor such as a RISC for performing a processing function on the header portion or the associated data. Both look-up engine and the network processor may modify a destination port bitmask. The network processor may implement additional packet header processing required for replication or server load balancing. |
| US08194664B2 |
Two-level load-balancing of network traffic over an MPLS network
An apparatus comprising three memory portions and logic for programming the memory portions is presented. The first memory portion comprises a plurality of first data structures, each which includes an IGP label and an adjacency identifier that identifies one of a plurality of outgoing interfaces in the network element. The second memory portion comprises a plurality of IGP load-halancing entries, each of which includes two or more reference values that point to two or more of the plurality of lirsi data structures. The third memory portion comprises a plurality of BGP load-balancing entries, each of which includes an index value and a pointer. The fourth memory portion comprises a plurality of second data structures, each of which includes a network address identifier and a unique value associated with two or more of the plurality of BGP load-balancing entries. |
| US08194663B2 |
Method and apparatus for operating network application in communication devices in power save mode
An apparatus and method are provided for allowing UPnP devices to exchange power mode information with one another in a unified home network. The method of relaying a message in a unified network including at least first and second networks, the method includes receiving information regarding a power mode of a communication device connected to the first network from the communication device, generating a message indicating the power mode of the communication device based on the received information, and transmitting the message to the second network so that communication devices connected to the second network recognize the power mode of the communication device connected to the first network. Accordingly, even if a UPnP device in the power save mode cannot receive or transmit messages, another UPnP device can determine whether the UPnP device is connected to a network. If a new UPnP device generates an IP address according to an automatic IP mechanism, it is possible to prevent IP collision caused by a UPnP device that is connected to an IP network but operating in the power save mode. |
| US08194657B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic quality of service
Systems, methods, and apparatus for routing are provided in which a connection track comprising a plurality of network or transport layer packets, received by a router, is identified by examination of header fields of one or more first packets in the plurality of packets. One or more quality of service (QoS) parameters is associated with the connection track by determining whether the track encodes a data type by (i) an identification of a predetermined application protocol used within the one or more first packets and/or (ii) a comparison of a payload of one or more packets in the plurality of packets to known data type formats. A first QoS parameter is set to a first value in a first value range when the connection track contains the first data type. The connection track is routed through the router in accordance with the one or more QoS parameters assigned to the connection track. |
| US08194653B2 |
Data switching using soft configuration
Network data switching includes receiving a cell; associating the cell with a destination port; selecting, based at least in part on a mapping of a plurality of output ports and a plurality of egress links, a selected egress link that has been soft configured to be associated with the destination port, wherein each of the plurality of egress links is configured to send data from a switch fabric to a corresponding access node; and switching the cell to the selected egress link. |
| US08194647B2 |
Internet protocol radio dispatch system and method
A method and system for dispatching calls using a packet network is disclosed. The use of distributed call management modules, enables various communication systems, such as RF and PSTN systems, to communicate with each other over the IP network. Audio devices from the various communication systems are each assigned an IP multicast group. Distributed call management modules convert signals from the audio devices into IP packets and transmit the IP packets to designated IP multicast groups over the IP network. |
| US08194646B2 |
System and method for providing requested quality of service in a hybrid network
Telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network which includes transfer of information across the internet. A media order entry captures complete user profile information for a user. This profile information is utilized by the system throughout the media experience for routing, billing, monitoring, reporting and other media control functions. Users can manage more aspects of a network than previously possible, and control network activities from a central site. The hybrid network also contains logic for responding to requests for quality of service and reserving the resources to provide the requested services. |
| US08194635B2 |
Apparatus and method for uplink scheduling considering characteristic of power amplifier in mobile communication terminal
An UpLink (UL) scheduling method and apparatus considering a characteristic of a power amplifier in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The UL scheduling method includes calculating a packet transmission time, which minimizes energy consumed in packet transmission, by using a Direct Current (DC) voltage used in a power amplifier for signal amplification and by using nonlinear amplification efficiency; and scheduling UL data by using the calculated packet transmission time. |
| US08194632B2 |
Method for establishing network connections between stationary terminals and remote devices through mobile devices
A technique is provided for a seamless and transparent handoff from a user's mobile device to the user's stationary terminal of a network address of a remote device for the purpose of establishing a direct communication channel between the stationary terminal and a remote device, where the remote device first contacted the user's mobile device to initiate communications with the user. |
| US08194623B2 |
Evolving-type user resource structure/channelization with enhanced diversity for OFDMA based time-varying channels
An evolving-type resource structure supports high data rate services at high mobile speeds. The evolving-type resource structure is an efficient diversity-exploiting user resource structure for fast time-varying frequency-selective fading channel environments. In one example, an evolving-type resource structure takes advantages of both band-type and interleaved-type structures which exploit both multiuser diversity and frequency diversity in fast time-varying channels. The evolving-type resource structure is applicable to centralized, semi-distributed and distributed access schemes and may be used in both downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) transmissions in a cellular system. |
| US08194619B2 |
Terminal in wireless communication system and ranging method thereof
A ranging method of an access terminal comprising receiving and analyzing UL-MAP/DL-MAP; selecting a given uplink sub-channel number and a symbol number from the UL_MAP when a ranging event is generated; requesting a ranging process by transmitting a CDMA code; receiving a ranging response message broadcasted from the access point; extracting a CDMA code, a sub-channel number, and a symbol number from the received ranging response message, comparing the extracted result and the stored ranging parameters, and adjusting transmission power, timing, and frequency offset on the basis of the extracted result or discarding the ranging response message; and terminating a ranging response message receipt operation. |
| US08194615B2 |
Method for conserving resources during wireless handover of a dual mode mobile station
A method is described that is for handing over a multi-mode mobile device from a first network technology to a second network technology. The method includes initiating by the multi-mode mobile device a first packet session in a first wireless network in an area of multi-technology wireless coverage and detecting by a multi-mode mobile device a second wireless network supporting a different access network technology than the first wireless network. The method also includes determining a Quality of Service requirement for services supported by the session, and completing initial network entry and session establishment procedures by the multi-mode mobile device for a second session in the second wireless network when the first session includes at least one of a QoS sensitive service and real time service by the first wireless network and mobile device, and not completing initial network entry and session establishment procedures by the multi-mode mobile device when no QoS sensitive service and real time services are supported by the mobile device and first wireless network. |
| US08194613B2 |
Method of transmitting protocol message for media independent handover in wireless access system
Disclosed is a method of transmitting a media independent handover (MIH) protocol message in a wireless access system. A method for a mobile node to transmit an MIH message in a wireless access system includes receiving a primitive including prescribed information from a first entity, generating the MIH message by mapping a transport address to the primitive, and transmitting the MIH message to one or more network nodes. According to the present invention, transmission defects of the message are effectively reduced by accurately mapping an MIHF ID and a transport address. |
| US08194604B2 |
Wireless local area network
A wireless local area network comprising an access point and a plurality of remote stations arranged to communicate using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM). The system can operate in a first access mode wherein access to the access point is in accordance with a Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) scheme and in a temporary second access mode wherein access to the access point is in accordance with a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) scheme. A resource allocation of resource blocks when in the TDMA mode is furthermore such that resource blocks may be allocated to a plurality of remote stations which have overlapping time intervals and disjoint sets of OFDM subcarriers thereby allowing simultaneous communication for the plurality of remote stations within the overlapping time interval. The access operation is controlled by a single message transmitted from the access point. The invention may in particular be suitable for IEEE 802.11 systems. |
| US08194598B2 |
Method and system for a data transmission in a communication system
Methods and apparatus for a data transmission in a communication system are disclosed. Each of a subset of plural access terminals desiring to transmit user data in an interval transmits a request to transmit in the interval to an access network. The access network makes a decision to schedule at least one of the subset of the plural access terminals to transmit in the interval in accordance with the request. At least one access point of the access network transmits the decision to the plural access terminals. |
| US08194594B2 |
Method for transmitting signal and information on antenna, and method for estimating the number of antennas
A base station applies frequency switching transmission diversity and a precoding vector to a synchronization channel and applies a space-frequency block coding and a precoding vector to a broadcast channel. The base station controls the synchronization channel and the broadcast channel to be positioned adjacent each other and then generates and transmits a downlink frame. The base station includes partial information on the number of antennas in the synchronization channel, and other information thereon in the broadcast channel. |
| US08194592B2 |
Wireless monitoring and alarm system
A monitoring system includes a multi-hop time division multiple access communication system to link a control unit wirelessly and redundantly with a plurality of modules. Communications to modules occur during predetermined time slots in a first portion of a selected frame. Communications from the modules occur during corresponding time slots during a second portion of the frame. |
| US08194588B2 |
Coding block based HARQ combining scheme for OFDMA systems
A method and apparatus for combining retransmitted hybrid automatic repeat-request (HARQ) messages divided into coding blocks in an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)/orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) receiver are provided. According to such a coding-block-based HARQ combining scheme, the quality of each coding block may be compared to a threshold to determine whether the decoded bits or the HARQ combined signal should be saved for each coding block for subsequent HARQ iterations. In addition to reducing the required HARQ buffer size while preserving the combining gain, coding-block-based HARQ combining may also provide fast decoding and reduced power consumption when compared to conventional HARQ combining techniques. |
| US08194577B2 |
Method for a network side to enable an MSS to enter idle mode in a wireless man
The present invention provides a method as regards how a network side gets a MSS into the idle mode in a wireless MAN, including: the PA/BS sends a DREG_CMD to the MSS; the MSS sends a DREG_REQ message to the PA/BS, according to the DREG_CMD message, requesting to enter the idle mode; the PA/BS releases the link of the MSS and updates the data of the anchor PC/LR after receiving the DREG_REQ message. The present invention specifies the process of a MSS entering the idle mode initiated by the network and the settings of relevant parameters, thus enhancing the stability of the process of entering the idle mode and saving the system resources. |
| US08194573B1 |
Directional access network control system and method
A directional access network can include a plurality of nodes and wireless links between ones of the nodes. Topology management of the network can discover when network fragmentation exists, identify nodes positioned to heal the fragmentation, and establish new active links between the identified nodes. |
| US08194571B2 |
Protocol for reliable, self-organizing, low-power wireless network for security and building automation systems
A method to wirelessly network a sensor/actuator node is described. The sensor/actuator node is installed in a sensor/actuator node network and arranged in a hierarchical manner with a plurality of node levels and a cluster head network. A unique node identifier is assigned to the sensor node and the sensor node network is initialized. The sensor node is woken-up to perform a task and then set to an active low power mode. |
| US08194569B2 |
Static update controller enablement in a mesh network
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for using a primary controller in a mesh network to instruct a static update controller to enable node information server functionality to form a static update controller information server. Capabilities are described for using the static update controller information server to enable other controllers in the mesh network to command other nodes in the mesh network on behalf of the static update controller information server, to distribute an installation process to a plurality of controllers in a mesh network, and the like. The present invention further describes improved capabilities for associating a static update controller with an inclusion controller within a mesh network, associating the inclusion controller with a node slave within the mesh network, transmitting a first data between the static update controller and the inclusion controller, wherein the first data relates at least in part to the node slave, and transmitting a second data between the inclusion controller and the node slave, wherein the second data relates at least in part to the first data transmitted. |
| US08194559B2 |
Method of controlling data retransmission in a wireless communication system
A method for controlling data retransmission at a transmitting side in a wireless communication system is provided. In the method, the transmitting side transmits a new transmission packet to a receiving side. The transmitting side then transmits reason indication information, indicating a reason why the transmitting side has initiated the transmission of the new transmission packet, to the receiving side. |
| US08194557B2 |
Communication system and method, information processing apparatus and method, information processing terminal and method
The present invention relates to a communication system and a method thereof, an information processing apparatus and a method thereof, an information processing terminal and a method thereof, which can start wireless communication easily and promptly. When an electromagnetic wave radiated from a reader/writer of a PDA 2 is received in a reader/writer of a personal computer 1, the personal computer 1 notifies the PDA 2 of device information stored therein. The PDA 2 establishes synchronization for Bluetooth communication with the personal computer 1 in accordance with a Bluetooth address contained in the device information and selects a service in accordance with a service record contained in the device information to establish communication via Bluetooth. The present invention can be applied to various information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer or a PDA. |
| US08194555B2 |
System and method for using distributed network performance information tables to manage network communications
A network communications device may include an input/output (I/O) unit configured to communicate first data packets with at least two network communications devices over respective node segments on a packet network. A processing unit may be configured to receive second data packets from the network communications devices. The second data packets may include network performance information generated by the network communications devices in response to receiving the first data packets. A memory may be in communication with the processing unit and be configured to store a table containing network performance information associated with the node segments over which the second data packets are communicated. The processing unit may be further configured to process the second data packets to store the network performance information in the table. The network performance information may be utilized to alter communications of data packets over the node segments. |
| US08194553B2 |
Network system, traffic balancing method, network monitoring device and host
A traffic balancing system, traffic balancing device and traffic balancing method that converts IP packets by switching IP address of the destination host between the dual stack hosts communicating with each other, in order to control traffic balancing in the networks. |
| US08194550B2 |
Trust-based methodology for securing vehicle-to-vehicle communications
A vehicle-to-vehicle communications system that employs a challenge/response based process to ensure that information received from a vehicle is reliable. The subject vehicle transmits a challenge question to the suspect vehicle to determine whether the suspect vehicle is a reliable source of information. The process increases a number of tokens in a token bucket for the suspect vehicle if the response to the challenge question is correct, and decreases the number of tokens in the token bucket for the suspect vehicle if the response to the challenge question is incorrect. The subject vehicle accepts a message from the suspect vehicle if the number of tokens in the bucket for the suspect vehicle is greater than a predetermined upper threshold, and discards the message from the suspect vehicle if the number of tokens in the bucket for the suspect vehicle is less than a predetermined lower threshold. |
| US08194549B2 |
Femto cell access point passthrough model
The subject innovation provides system(s) and method(s) to supply fixed, differentiated quality of service (QoS) for packetized traffic (e.g., voice and data) intended for femto cell coverage when transmitted concurrently with external broadband traffic. Quality of Service differentiation is supplied without an external implementation. Femto cell coverage is prioritized over concurrent packetized traffic to deliver a rich user experience for delay and jitter sensitive applications. A passthrough configuration for a femto access point (AP) facilitates supplying hard QoS for data packet streams, or flows, intended for femto cell coverage or non-femto-cell coverage. The femto AP receives a consolidated packet stream through backhaul link(s) and distinguishes flow(s) for femto coverage and flow(s) for auxiliary broadband coverage. The femto AP routes the flow(s) intended for femto with hard QoS according to QoS policy which can be determined by a network operator or a subscriber. |
| US08194545B2 |
Packet processing apparatus
A packet processing apparatus includes a packet buffer with a queue for storing packets. An actual queue length/position discriminator acquires, at every sampling period, the latest actual queue length indicating the occupancy status of the queue, determines the positional relationship of the actual queue length to a random early detection interval, and outputs the positional relationship as position information. A discard probability computation processor calculates, at every sampling period, a packet discard probability based on the position information. A packet discard processor discards, at every sampling period and in accordance with the discard probability, packets that are not yet stored in the queue. If it is judged from the position information that the actual queue length is within the random early detection interval, the discard probability computation processor calculates an average queue length, and then calculates the discard probability from the ratio of a discard target to a reception target. |
| US08194537B2 |
Terminal affiliation switchover system
In the terminal affiliation switchover system of the invention, in the case of allocation of an IP address to one terminal in a VPN#1 in response to an IP address allocation request, a DHCP server module 121 changes registry information in a DHCP table 122 provided for the VPN#1 and simultaneously makes the change of the registry information reflected in registry of a DHCP table 222 provided for a VPN#2 via a DHCP server module 221. Similarly in the case of allocation of an IP address to one terminal in the VPN#2 in response to an IP address allocation request, the DHCP server module 221 changes the registry information in the DHCP table 222 for the VPN#2 and simultaneously makes the change of the registry information reflected in the registry of the DHCP table 122 for the VPN#1 via the DHCP server module 121. |
| US08194535B2 |
Efficient and robust routing of potentially-variable traffic in IP-over-optical networks with resiliency against router failures
In one embodiment, a method for supporting recovery from failure of a node in a network of nodes interconnected by links A set of two or more intermediate nodes (excluding the failed node) between an ingress point and an egress point is selected. Next, based on available bandwidth of the network, a non-zero fraction of the service level to route from the ingress point to each intermediate node is determined. Packets are then routed in two phases by: (1) determining one or more paths from the ingress point to each intermediate node for routing the corresponding fraction of the service level, and (2) determining one or more paths from each intermediate node to the egress point for routing the corresponding fraction of the service level. |
| US08194530B2 |
Dual packet configuration for wireless communications
A dual packet configuration for wireless communications including a first portion that is modulated according to a serial modulation and a second portion that is modulated according to a parallel modulation. The serial modulation may be DSSS whereas the parallel modulation may be OFDM. The first portion may include a header, which may further include an OFDM mode bit and a length field indicating the duration the second portion. The first portion may be in accordance with 802.11b to enable dual mode devices to coexist and communicate in the same area as standard 802.11b devices. The dual mode devices can communicate at different or higher data rates without interruption from the 802.11b devices. The packet configuration may include an OFDM signal symbol which further includes a data rate section and a data count section. In this manner, data rates the same as or similar to the 802.11a data rates may be specified between dual mode devices. The first and second portions may be based on the same or different clock fundamentals. For OFDM, the number of subcarriers, pilot tones and guard interval samples may be modified independently or in combination to achieve various embodiments. Also, data subcarriers may be discarded and replaced with pilot tones for transmission. The receiver regenerates the discarded data based on received data, such as using ECC techniques. |
| US08194528B2 |
Packet based data cell delineation
A method of delineation of a packet-based data stream in order to identify a boundary between neighbouring packets in the data stream, wherein the data stream comprises a predetermined number of bits (N); the method comprising the steps of: processing the data stream to search for the boundary between neighbouring packets in the data stream; characterised in that the method further comprises calculating the greatest common divisor (GCD) of a bit skip integer (n) where (N) and (n) are co-primes; iteratively checking after each n bits to identify the boundary between the neighbouring packets. |
| US08194527B2 |
Interleaving with iterative calculation of interleaving addresses
A method and a device (4) for block interleaving of size K with N iterations of index j, N being greater than or equal to 1, of input digital data items indexed by a variable k={0, . . . , K−1}. The interleaving method uses a turbo structure that has two inputs and one output. At the end of each iteration j, the interleaving law I(j)(k) at the output of the interleaver (4) is modified in accordance with an input sequence formed by the position indices of the data items before interleaving (typically a ramp) and in accordance with an interleaved sequence (which provides the position of the data items after interleaving) resulting from the previous iteration of the same interleaving algorithm. |
| US08194526B2 |
Method for data communication via a voice channel of a wireless communication network
A system and method for data communication over a cellular communications network that allows the transmission of digital data over a voice channel of the communications network. Digital data is encoded into DBPSK data using differential binary phase shift keying encoding. The DBPSK data is then sent across the cellular network using a vocoder having a linear predictive or other speech compression codec. At the receiving end, the DBPSK data is demodulated back into the original digital data. This approach permits data communication via a CDMA, GSM, or other type of voice traffic channel at a low bit error rate. |
| US08194523B2 |
Optical disc apparatus and optical disc reproducing method
An optical disc apparatus includes a light source for emitting laser light, a light source drive unit for driving said light source, an optical element for splitting the laser light into a plurality of light fluxes, an optical element drive unit for controlling the optical element, an element for focusing the laser light onto the optical disc, and a detection unit for detecting the laser light reflected by the optical disc. Reproduction of the optical disc is performed by switching effectiveness and ineffectiveness of a function of splitting the light flux of the optical element, and adjustment of an outgoing laser power is performed. |
| US08194521B2 |
Optical disc device, video reproducing apparatus, server, car navigation system using the optical disc device, integrated circuit and recording/reproducing method
An optical disc device is provided with an optical head including a light source, a condensing optical system including an objective lens for receiving a light beam emitted from the light source and forming a microspot on a multilayer optical recording medium, a photodetector for receiving the light beam reflected by the multilayer optical recording medium and outputting an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light and a coma aberration correcting element for correcting a coma aberration of the condensing optical system, and a processing circuit for controlling the condensing optical system and the coma aberration correcting element. The processing circuit controls the condensing optical system and the coma aberration correcting element so that the correction of the coma aberration from a value suitable for a first recording layer to a value specified for a second recording layer is started before a movement of a focus position of the microspot from the first recording layer to the second recording layer is completed. |
| US08194514B2 |
Methods for assessing the results of disc-based bioassays with standard computer optical drives
Methods and systems are described for assessing the results of a bioassay between probe biomolecules and target biomolecules using conventional optical disk drive. particular methods involve: bonding the probe biomolecules to a polycarbonate (PC) surface of an optical disk having digital data comprising error-detection redundancies recorded thereon: introducing the target biomolecules to the PC surface of the optical disk in a vicinity of the bonded probe biomolecules; processing the bioassay to alter a manner in which a read light from the optical disk interacts optically with the optical disk in a vicinity of positive bioassay results where the target biomolecules have bonded to the probe biomolecules; reading the digital data from the optical disk using the optical drive and using the error-redundancies to detect errors in the digital data read by the optical drive; mapping the detected errors to corresponding locations on the optical disk; and determining that positive bioassay results have occurred at the locations of the detected errors. |
| US08194493B2 |
Low power memory device
A method of operation within a memory device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving address information and corresponding enable information in association with a memory access request. The address information includes a row address that specifies a row of storage cells within a storage array of the memory device, and the enable information includes first and second enable values that correspond respectively to first and second storage locations within the row of storage cells. The method involves selectively transferring data between the first and second storage locations and sense amplifier circuitry according to states of the first and second enable values. This includes transferring data between the first storage location and the sense amplifier circuitry if the first enable value is in an enable state and transferring data between the second storage location and the sense amplifier circuitry if the second enable value is in the enable state. The states of the first and second enable values may be separately controlled. |
| US08194490B2 |
Electrical fuse memory arrays
Some embodiments regard a memory array that has a plurality of eFuse memory cells arranged in rows and columns, a plurality of bit lines, and a plurality of word lines. A column includes a bit line selector, a bit line coupled to the bit line selector, and a plurality of eFuse memory cells. An eFuse memory cell of the column includes a PMOS transistor and an eFuse. A drain of the PMOS transistor is coupled to a first end of the eFuse. A gate of the PMOS transistor is coupled to a word line. A source of the PMOS transistor is coupled to the bit line of the column. |
| US08194488B2 |
Auto-refresh operation control circuit for reducing current consumption of semiconductor memory apparatus
An auto-refresh operation control circuit for a semiconductor memory apparatus is activated according to a bank active signal for executing a refresh operation and terminates the refresh operation by receiving a precharge signal. The auto-refresh operation control circuit is configured to prevent an over-driving operation during an auto-refresh operation and to delay the enablement of the precharge signal. The auto-refresh operation control circuit also delays the enablement of the precharge signal during the auto-refresh operation more than a delay of the precharge signal during a self-refresh operation. |
| US08194486B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices having bit lines
A semiconductor device includes a bit line connected to a plurality of memory cells in a memory block and a sense amplifier having a first node connected to the bit line and a second node, which is not connected to any bit line. The second node has a capacitive load less than that of the bit line. The sense amplifier amplifies a first data using a voltage difference between the first node and the second node caused by a charge sharing operation, and a second data using a capacitive mismatch between the first node and the second node. |
| US08194482B2 |
Test circuit, semiconductor memory apparatus using the same, and test method of the semiconductor memory apparatus
A test circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a test control signal generating unit configured to enable a control signal if an active signal is enabled after a test signal is enabled, and substantially maintain the control signal in an enable state until a precharge timing signal is enabled; and a precharge control unit configured to invert the control signal to output the inverted signal as a bit line precharge signal when a preliminary bit line precharge signal is in a disable state. |
| US08194480B2 |
Method for initializing memory device
A method for initializing a memory device is provided. The method includes a step for transmitting at least N+1 clock cycles to the memory device, wherein the N is an amount of bits of output serial data of the memory device. During a clock cycle of the at least N+1 clock cycles, a first start/stop signal is transmitted to the memory device. During another clock cycle of the at least N+1 clock cycles, a second start/stop signal is transmitted to the memory device. |
| US08194478B2 |
Systems and methods for writing to multiple port memory circuits
A multiple-port RAM circuit has a data-in line coupled to multiple bit lines and multiple bit line bars. The circuit also has multiple word lines. A memory cell is coupled to the bit lines, bit line bars, and word lines. The circuit further includes a controller than enables the word lines to substantially simultaneously write a value from the bit lines to the memory cell. |
| US08194475B2 |
Capacitive divider sensing of memory cells
The present disclosure includes devices and methods for sensing resistance variable memory cells. One device embodiment includes at least one resistance variable memory cell, and a capacitive divider configured to generate multiple reference levels in association with the at least one resistance variable memory cell. |
| US08194472B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells that are arranged in a shape of a matrix along a plurality of bit lines arranged in parallel and a plurality of word lines intersecting orthogonally to the bit lines, and that have their data read out to the bit lines; a sense amplifier which detects a voltage or a current of the bit line, and which decides the read data from each of the memory cells; a clamping transistor which is connected between the sense amplifier and the bit lines, and which determines a voltage in a charging mode of the bit lines by a clamp voltage applied to a gate thereof; and a clamp voltage generation circuit which generates the clamp voltage so as to become larger as a distance from the sense amplifier to a selected one of the memory cells is longer. |
| US08194471B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having an electrically floating body transistor
A method for performing a holding operation to a semiconductor memory array having rows and columns of memory cells, includes: applying an electrical signal to buried regions of the memory cells, wherein each of the memory cells comprises a floating body region defining at least a portion of a surface of the memory cell, the floating body region having a first conductivity type; and wherein the buried region of each memory cell is located within the memory cell and located adjacent to the floating body region, the buried region having a second conductivity type. |
| US08194469B2 |
Optical sensor element, imaging device, electronic equipment and memory element
An optical sensor element has a gate electrode opposed to a semiconductor layer made of an oxide semiconductor via a gate insulating film, source and drain electrodes being connected to the semiconductor layer, wherein the amount of light received by the semiconductor layer is read out as a drain current which changes in a non-volatile manner relative to a gate voltage. |
| US08194467B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory unit; and a control unit. The memory unit includes: a multilayer structure including electrode films and interelectrode insulating films alternately stacked; a semiconductor pillar piercing the multilayer structure; insulating films and a memory layer provided between the electrode films and the semiconductor pillar; and a wiring connected to the semiconductor pillar. In an erase operation, the control unit performs: a first operation setting the wiring at a first potential and the electrode film at a second potential lower than the first potential during a first period; and a second operation setting the wiring at a third potential and the electrode film at a fourth potential lower than the third potential during a second period after the first operation. A length of the second period is shorter than the first period, and/or a difference between the third and fourth potentials is smaller than a difference between the first and second potentials. |
| US08194465B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device according to one aspect has a memory cell array, a first wiring, a second wiring, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to, at the time of the write operation, control the write operation in each of the memory strings such that a memory cell positioned closer to the second wiring is subject to the write operation earlier, and the write operation sequentially proceeds to farther memory cells. On the other hand, the control circuit is also configured to, at the time of the read operation, apply a higher voltage to gates of unselected memory cells as a selected memory cell is located at a region closer to the first wiring. |
| US08194464B2 |
Page buffer of nonvolatile memory device and method of performing program verification operation using the same
A page buffer of a nonvolatile memory device comprises a sense unit coupled between the sense node and the bit lines of a memory cell array, comprising a number of memory cells, and configured to precharge the bit lines to different voltage levels in response to a page buffer sense signal of a first or second voltage level, a MUX unit configured to output the page buffer sense signal of the first or second voltage level in response to a control signal according to a value of program data, a flag latch configured to temporarily store the program data and to output the control signal to the MUX unit, and a main latch configured to sense the voltage levels of the bit lines via the sense node and to perform a program verification operation. |
| US08194462B2 |
Integrated circuit of device for memory cell
A reading method for a multi-level cell (MLC) memory includes the following steps. A number of word line voltages are sequentially provided to an MLC memory cell. A number of bit line voltages corresponding to the word line voltages are sequentially provided to the MLC memory cell. One of the word line voltages is higher than another one of the word line voltages, and one of the bit line voltages corresponding to the one of the word line voltages is lower than another one of the bit line voltages corresponding to the another one of the word line voltages. |
| US08194460B2 |
Charge loss compensation during programming of a memory device
A selected memory cell on a selected word line is programmed through a plurality of programming pulses that are incremented by a step voltage. After a successful program verify operation, programming of the selected memory cell is inhibited while other memory cells of the selected word line are being programmed. Another program verify operation is performed on the selected memory cell. If the program verify operation fails, a bit line coupled to the selected cell is biased at the step voltage and a final programming pulse is issued to the selected word line. The selected memory cell is then locked from further programming without evaluating the final program verify operation. |
| US08194456B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory having multiple external power supplies
A memory device includes core memory such as flash memory for storing data. The memory device includes a first power input to receive a first voltage used to power the flash memory. Additionally, the memory device includes a second power input to receive a second voltage. The memory device includes power management circuitry configured to receive the second voltage and derive one or more internal voltages. The power management circuitry supplies or conveys the internal voltages to the flash memory. The different internal voltages generated by the power management circuitry (e.g., voltage converter circuit) and supplied to the core memory enable operations such as read/program/erase with respect to cells in the core memory. |
| US08194447B2 |
Non-volatile memory device using variable resistance element with an improved write performance
A non-volatile memory device using a variable resistive element includes a memory cell array having a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a first voltage generator generating a first voltage, a voltage pad receiving an external voltage that has a level higher than the first voltage, a sense amplifier supplied with the first voltage and reading data from the non-volatile memory cells selected from the memory cell array, and a write driver supplied with the external voltage and writing data to the non-volatile memory cells selected from the memory cell array. |
| US08194446B2 |
Methods for programming a memory device and memory devices using inhibit voltages that are less than a supply voltage
Methods for programming a memory array and memory devices are disclosed. In one such method, inhibited bit lines are charged to an inhibit voltage that is less than a supply voltage. The word lines of memory cells to be programmed are biased at a programming preparation voltage that is less than a nominal programming preparation voltage as used in the conventional art. Programming pulses can be applied to selected word lines of the memory cells to be programmed when the uninhibited bit lines are at 0V. |
| US08194442B2 |
Apparatus and systems using phase change memories
Apparatus and systems that use phase-change memory devices are provided. The phase-change memory devices may include multiple phase-change memory cells and a reset pulse generation circuit configured to output multiple sequential reset pulses. Each sequential reset pulse is output to a corresponding one of multiple reset lines. Multiple write driver circuits are coupled to corresponding phase change memory cells and to a corresponding one of the reset lines of the reset pulse generation circuit. |
| US08194437B2 |
Computer memory device with multiple interfaces
Various embodiments are generally directed to a method and apparatus associated with operating a first memory device with multiple interfaces and a status register. In some embodiments, a first interface is engaged by a host. A memory device that has a plurality of memory cells comprised of at least a magnetic tunneling junction and a spin polarizing magnetic material is connected to a second interface. A status register is maintained by logging at least an error or busy signal during data transfer operations through the first and second interfaces. |
| US08194433B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing a bidirectional memory
A bidirectional memory cell includes an ovonic threshold switch (OTS) and a bidirectional memory element. The OTS is configured to select the bidirectional memory element and to prevent inadvertent accesses to the memory element. |
| US08194431B2 |
Programmable antifuse transistor and method for programming thereof
Programmable antifuse transistor, in particular n-channel MOS transistor, and a method for programming at least one such antifuse transistor, includes at least one gate with a gate terminal, source with a source terminal, drain with a drain terminal, and substrate with a substrate terminal, configured so that active circuits/circuit elements do not have to be located at a distance from the antifuse, minimizing area requirements, without additional process steps the level of the potential difference between source terminal and substrate terminal is less than about 0.5 volts, drain terminal and source terminal lie at different potentials. By adjusting drain-source voltage and/or the gate-source voltage a flow of charge carriers occurs between source and drain, causing semiconductor material between source and drain to be thermally heated and to locally melt, forming at least one permanently conducting channel between source and drain. |
| US08194427B2 |
Switching power supply device
A switching power supply device includes: a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding and an auxiliary winding; a switching element connected to the primary winding of the transformer; a control circuit that performs an ON/OFF control for the switching element in a case where a voltage is inputted to the primary winding of the transformer, thereby induces voltages in the secondary winding and auxiliary winding of the transformer; a rectifying/smoothing circuit for rectifying and smoothing the voltage induced in the secondary winding of the transformer and outputting the voltage to a load; an auxiliary power supply circuit that rectifies and smoothes the voltage induced in the auxiliary winding of the transformer, and charges a capacitor owned by the auxiliary power supply circuit with the voltage to thereby supply power to the control circuit; and a starting circuit that supplies a current to the capacitor of the auxiliary power supply circuit in a case of starting the control circuit and in a case where the load is light and the switching element is turned off. |
| US08194425B2 |
Frequency modulation device and switching mode power supply using the same
The present invention relates to a frequency modulation device and a switching mode power supply using the frequency modulation device. To prevent electro-magnetic interference (EMI), it is required to slightly vary a switching operation frequency in an SMPS operation. In some embodiments, at least one first signal having a predetermined cycle is generated, a second signal corresponding to a level of a first signal is generated at a turn-off time of a switch, a first reference voltage having at least two different levels is generated according to the second signal, and an oscillator signal for increasing along a first slope during a first period and decreasing along a second slope during a second period between the first reference voltage and a second reference voltage having a level that is different from the first reference voltage is generated. |
| US08194424B2 |
Automatic zero voltage switching mode controller
A switching DC to AC power converter includes an automatic zero voltage switching (ZVS) mode controller. The automatic zero voltage switching mode controller may adjust a ZVS dead-time in accordance with a range of load currents being supplied by the power converter that range from quiescent conditions to a predetermined loading level of the power converter. The variable ZVS dead-time may be larger nearer to quiescent conditions, and become progressively smaller as load currents increase. Outside a predetermined range of load currents, the variable ZVS dead-time may be disabled or minimized. |
| US08194422B2 |
Method and apparatus for digital control of a switching regulator
In one aspect, a power supply regulator includes a feedback terminal, a node, a control circuit, a first current source, and a second current source. The node is coupled to the feedback terminal to provide a feedback state signal in response to a feedback current through the feedback terminal. The feedback state signal has feedback states that represent an output of the power supply. The control circuit is to be coupled to a power switch and to receive the feedback state signal to regulate the output of the power supply. The first current source is coupled to the node to provide a first current to the node. The second current source is coupled to the node to selectively remove a second current from the node to modulate the feedback current and to alter the feedback state of the feedback state signal. |
| US08194421B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing an unregulated dormant mode with an event counter in a power converter
A method for controlling an output of a power converter includes generating a drive signal with a control circuit, entering a dormant mode of operation that includes powering down the control circuit if a flow of energy to an output of the power converter is less than a threshold value for more than a first period of time, and powering up the control circuit after it is in the dormant mode of operation for a second period of time. |
| US08194419B2 |
Switching mode power supply for reducing standby power
A switching mode power supply includes an EMI filter unit, a PFC unit, a DC/DC unit, a PFC controller including a feedback stage to which a link voltage at an output side of the PFC unit is fed back and an overvoltage protection stage, a DC/DC controller generating a burst mode operation signal in a light-load or no-load condition, an error signal generation unit for sensing an output voltage of the power supply to generate an error signal, and a control unit for enabling the PFC unit to operate in a burst mode by connecting the overvoltage protection stage and the feedback stage. When the error signal is smaller than a predetermined value, the DC/DC controller generates the burst mode operation signal. When the link voltage fed back to the feedback stage exceeds a threshold voltage of the overvoltage protection stage, the PFC controller deactivates the PFC unit. |
| US08194414B2 |
Sensor device for occupant protection system
A sensor device includes a communication line having a high-level line and a low-level line, and printed wiring layers. The printed wiring layers are connected to the communication line so as to have a differential communication with an electronic control unit of an occupant protection system. First and second layers are ungrounded, and have a low-level conduction pattern connected to the low-level line and a circuit element having a standard corresponding to the low-level line. Third printed wiring layer is arranged between the first and second layers through insulations, and has a high-level conduction pattern connected to the high-level line. |
| US08194412B2 |
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board includes a signal plane and a reference plane. The signal plane includes a pad, a passive element mounted on the pad, and a signal transmission line electrically connected to the passive element via the pad. The reference plane provides a return path for a signal transmitted through the passive element and the signal transmission line. A void is defined in the reference plane corresponding to the passive element, to increase a length of the return path. A length of a first axis, perpendicular to the signal transmission line, of the void satisfies a following equation: W 1 ≈ 8 Wpad + 10 T 0.8 Wtrace + T , wherein Wpad is a width of the pad, Wtrace is a width of the transmission line, T is the height of the pad. |
| US08194411B2 |
Electronic package with stacked modules with channels passing through metal layers of the modules
One aspect of the present invention provides an electronic package, comprising at least a first module and a second module arranged on top of the first module, the modules together in the form of a module stack, wherein the first and second modules are adhesively connected together, each module includes a substrate layer having at least one metal layer, at least one die and a plastic(s) package molding compound layer molded over said die or dice, in each module the die or dice are bonded on said substrate layer via the metal layer, a plurality of channels formed generally vertically acting as vias to connect the metal layers and arranged adjacent to the die or dice in at least one of the modules, some or all the channels provided with an inner surface coated with a conductive material layer or filled with a conductive material for electrical connection whereby the dice are electrically connected together, and means serving as an intermediary for providing electrical, mechanical and thermal connectivity, communication externally and connected to the channels. |
| US08194409B2 |
Guide frame for a pluggable module
A guide frame is provided for receiving a pluggable module having guide members that include upper and lower surfaces. The guide frame includes side segments extending lengths from loading ends to mating ends. The side segments are spaced apart from each other to define a receptacle extending therebetween. The receptacle is configured to receive the pluggable module therein. The side segments include upper and lower guide rails for guiding the pluggable module within the receptacle. The upper and lower guide rails are configured to engage the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the guide members of the pluggable module when the pluggable module is received within the receptacle. The guide frame also includes a cross member extending from, and interconnecting, the side segments. |
| US08194401B2 |
Keyboard module
A keyboard module, including a base plate, a membrane circuit, keys and a frame set, is provided. The membrane circuit is disposed on the base plate and has touch portions. The keys are assembled to the base plate and correspond to the touch portions respectively. The frame set is assembled to the base plate and includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame has a plurality of first ribs disposed in a staggered way. The second frame is connected to the first frame and located between the first frame and the base plate. The second frame has a plurality of second ribs disposed in a staggered way, wherein a width of a portion of the second ribs is smaller than a width of the corresponding first ribs, and the keys pass through the second frame and the first frame in sequence to protrude above the frame set. |
| US08194398B2 |
Bag computer system and bag apparatus
Disclosed is a system comprised of a bag and computer combination which allows the bag wearer to quickly access and use a computer while mobile. The system can be in three forms and all three are used in the same way: a pivoting cover is moved out of the way to expose a display which pivots into the line of sight of the wearer/operator. When assembled, all the components are physically connected and electrical components are electrically connected. Additional components include a keyboard or write pad mounted on the pivoting cover or on a separate pivoting mount near the center bag front, a display prop which braces the display in various angular positions and side pockets fitted for peripherals. An example is cited using a bag with flap mounts and equipment which mounts to the flaps using clamps. |
| US08194395B2 |
Hermetically sealed capacitor assembly
A capacitor assembly that includes an electrolytic capacitor that contains an anode body, dielectric overlying the anode, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric is provided. An anode lead is also electrically connected to the anode body and extends in a longitudinal direction therefrom. The anode lead is connected to an “upstanding” portion of a leadframe. Among other things, this helps to limit substantial horizontal movement of the lead and thereby improve the mechanical robustness of the part. The capacitor and leadframe are enclosed and hermetically sealed within a ceramic housing in the presence of an inert gas. It is believed that the ceramic housing is capable of limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the conductive polymer of the capacitor. In this manner, the solid electrolyte (e.g., conductive polymer) is less likely to undergo a reaction in high temperature environments, thus increasing the thermal stability of the capacitor assembly. |
| US08194391B2 |
Multilayer ceramic electronic component and manufacturing method thereof
A multilayer ceramic electronic component including thin external terminal electrodes each having a superior bonding force to a ceramic base body is provided. In order to form the external terminal electrodes, after Cu plating films are deposited on exposed portions of internal electrodes by direct plating on a ceramic base body, a Cu liquid phase, an O2-containing liquid phase, and a Cu solid phase are generated between the Cu plating film and the ceramic base body by a heat treatment, so that Cu oxides are dispersed in the Cu plating film, at least near an interface with the ceramic base body. Since the Cu oxides function as an adhesive, a bonding force of the Cu plating film to the ceramic base body can be increased, and hence the external terminal electrode having a superior bonding force to the ceramic base body can be obtained. |
| US08194386B2 |
Arrangement of MEMS devices having series coupled capacitors
A tuneable capacitor arrangement for RF use has two series coupled MEMS variable capacitors (C1,C2;C4,C5,C6,C7), varied according to a control signal. The series coupling enables the capacitor to withstand a higher voltage since this is shared by the individual capacitors in a series coupled arrangement. An increase in size of electrodes for each capacitor is compensated by a reduction in size of the springs supporting movable electrodes. These springs can have a larger stiffness value since the capacitance is larger. This means shorter springs, which can also result in a reduction in problems of stiction, resistance, and slow switching. The capacitances have a fixed and a movable electrode, with the RF signal coupled to the fixed electrode to avoid the springs needing to carry an RF signal. This can reduce the problems of inductance and resistance in the springs. |
| US08194383B2 |
Arrangement for preventing vermin from advancing in pipes
An arrangement for preventing vermin from advancing in a pipe (20), designed for fitting in a delimited part of the pipe, comprising a contact pole (13, 22) of electrically conductive material and an opposite pole (11, 21). The contact pole, which is partially movable in the longitudinal direction of the pipe, is arranged on the inner side of the pipe, and the opposite pole is arranged separate from said contact pole in order to earth the inner side of said pipe and is arranged in or on the inner side of said pipe. The arrangement, in an active state and when the contact pole is energized, which causes a difference in electrical potential between the opposite pole and the contact pole, administers an electric shock to a vermin which tries to pass the contact pole. The invention also relates to a pipe section comprising the arrangement. |
| US08194382B2 |
Method and apparatus for driving a switch
A method of driving a switch having a movable member and a contact first applies (to the switch) a first signal having a first level, and then applies a second signal having a second level to the switch (after applying the first signal). The first level is greater than the second level. One or both of the first and second signals cause the movable member to move to electrically connect with the contact. |
| US08194375B2 |
Open circuit voltage protection system and method
A method to clamp an open circuit voltage in a photovoltaic module is proposed. The method include coupling a load resistor across an inverter module, initiating the inverter module and loading the inverter module via the load resistor, and coupling the loaded inverter module to the photovoltaic module. The method further include dissipating power via the load resistor to clamp the open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic module, synchronizing an output voltage of the inverter module with a voltage of a grid and then coupling the inverter module to the grid and de-coupling the load resistor across the inverter module. |
| US08194373B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection circuit
An integrated circuit having a plurality of circuit blocks, each block having one or more positive voltage supply pads, one or more negative voltage supply pads, and one or more signal pads. The integrated circuit further comprises an electrostatic protection circuit comprising a first electrostatic discharge protection rail for connection to a positive voltage supply point, a second electrostatic discharge protection rail for connection to a negative voltage supply point, and first protection circuitry coupling each said signal pad to both said first and second electrostatic discharge protection rails, the first protection circuitry being configured to provide a conduction path to one of the first and second rings in the event of an excessive voltage being present on one of said signal pads. |
| US08194367B2 |
Accumulation device
When an electricity storage unit is being charged or discharged, a control circuit obtains efficiency Efn of a DC/DC converter based on input/output voltage value Vi, input/output current value I and electricity storage unit voltage value Vc detected by an input/output voltage detection circuit, an input/output current detection circuit, and an electricity storage unit voltage detection circuit, respectively. By using temperature T a detected by temperature sensor, when efficiency Efn lies out of predetermined range (from Emin to Emax) according to input/output voltage value Vi, input/output current value I, electricity storage unit voltage value Vc and temperature T, at least any one of an electricity storage unit and the DC/DC converter is determined to be abnormal. |
| US08194366B1 |
TMR read head structures with differential stripe heights
A tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) read head and a method of producing the same are disclosed. A free layer having a free layer stripe height is provided, the free layer having a first side and a second side. A tunneling barrier layer is formed adjacent to the first side of the free layer, the tunneling barrier layer having a first side and a second side, the second side of the tunneling barrier layer facing the first side of the free layer. A pinned stack is formed adjacent to the first side of the tunneling barrier layer. The pinned stack comprises at least one magnetic layer having a current path stripe height that is less than the free layer stripe height. |
| US08194363B2 |
Thin film magnetic head provided with dual synthetic free layers
A thin film magnetic head includes a first through fourth free layers, a spacer layer, and a bias magnetic field application layer. The first and second free layers are magnetized in opposite directions of each other in the orthogonal direction to the ABS when the bias magnetic field is applied to the first and second free layers, and are exchange-coupled such that an angle between the magnetization direction of the bias magnetic field and the first free layer is acute and such that an angle between the magnetization direction of the bias magnetic field and the second free layer is acute. Similarly, the third and fourth layers have the same configuration. |
| US08194362B2 |
Magnetoresistive effect device including a nitride underlayer, an antiferromagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer which are multilayered in this order on a substrate, magnetic head including the same magnetoresistive effect device, and information storage apparatus including the same magnetic head
A magnetoresistive effect device includes an underlayer, an antiferromagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer which are multilayered in this order on a substrate. The underlayer is formed of a metal nitride, and the antiferromagnetic layer is formed of an antiferromagnetic material including Ir and Mn. |
| US08194361B2 |
Spin-torque oscillator, magnetic head including the spin-torque oscillator, and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus
It is made possible to provide a spin-torque oscillator that has a high Q value and a high output. A spin-torque oscillator includes: an oscillating field generating unit configured to generate an oscillating field; and a magnetoresistive element including a magnetoresistive effect film including a first magnetization pinned layer of which a magnetization direction is pinned, a first magnetization free layer of which a magnetization direction oscillates with the oscillating field, and a first spacer layer interposed between the first magnetization pinned layer and the first magnetization free layer. |
| US08194351B2 |
Suspension assembly with molded structures
A support assembly includes a base layer, a circuit defined along the base layer, and a first material molded on at least a portion of the base layer. The first material substantially forms a shape of at least a portion of the support assembly. Further disclosed is a molded suspension assembly. The molded suspension assembly includes a thin and elongate metallic substrate and a non-metallic material molded along at least a portion of one side of the metallic substrate. The non-metallic material interlocks with the metallic substrate. The molded suspension assembly includes a transducer support area at or near a first end of the molded suspension assembly. |
| US08194349B2 |
Recording medium cartridge and takeout management system
A recording medium cartridge includes: a recording medium that is a magnetic tape recording information; a reel body including a central shaft that takes up the recording medium and two frame plates that sandwich the taken up recording medium and face each other in a direction along the central shaft; a communication section performing communications wirelessly; and a destruction mechanism that destroys, in response to reception of a predetermined wireless signal in the communication section, the recording medium at least to the extent that reading of information by a reading device reading information from the recording medium is impossible. The destruction mechanism includes: a heating element attached to at least one of the two frame plates and supplied with electric power to generate heat, and an electric power supply section supplying electric power to the heating element in response to the reception of the wireless signal in the communication section. |
| US08194346B2 |
Disk drive housing with ribbed cover
According to one embodiment, a disk drive includes a housing comprising a base and a top cover combined to the base. The housing contains a motor configured to rotate about a rotational center and a pivot as a rotational center of a head actuator. The top cover includes a first rib. The first rib is configured in a shape comprising a first center in a triangular region. The triangular region has vertexes on a first point corresponding to the rotational center of the motor, a second point corresponding to the pivot, and a third point at a central portion of one side on an opposite side of the second point with respect to an axis extending longitudinally relative to the housing through the first point. |
| US08194345B2 |
Method and apparatus for dampening and filtering air flow effects in a hard disk drive
A hard disk drive is disclosed including at least one air filter mounted on a shroud wall of the base and at least two disk dampers where at least one disk damper covers a fraction of the maximal covering angle configured with the air filter to optimize both the air filter and disk dampening. Methods of manufacturing the hard disk drive are also disclosed. |
| US08194344B1 |
Position gain calibration in disk drives
A system including a read channel module, a signal generating module, and a position module. The read channel module is configured to read, using a head of the disk drive, servo bursts from a servo region of a track of a disk drive. The signal generating module is configured to generate signals based on a position of the head relative to the servo bursts. The position module configured to generate a first difference and a second difference based on the signals, and determine the position of the head relative to the track based on (i) the first difference and (ii) the second difference. |
| US08194342B2 |
Equalizer computation in a media system using a data set separator sequence
An equalizer coefficients generator receives a DSS sequence and a DSS readback sequence, which is a function of a channel processing of the DSS sequence by a read channel. The generator generates a coefficient cyclic equalizer vector as a function of the DSS sequence and the DSS readback sequence. The generator further generates an error signal as a function of a comparison of the DSS sequence and an equalization of the DSS readback sequence based on the coefficient cyclic equalizer vector. An unacceptable error signal indicates a need to adjust the coefficient cyclic equalizer vector to yield an acceptable comparison of the DSS sequence and an equalization of the DSS readback sequence based on the coefficient cyclic equalizer vector. |
| US08194338B1 |
Parallel media defect scan in sector read
Systems and methods for performing a defect scan of a disk are provided. In one embodiment, a disk drive comprising a disk, a head configured to read an area of the disk to generate a read signal, and read channel circuitry configured to receive the read signal from the head, perform channel statistic measurements on the read signal, and to generate a Channel Statistic Metric (CSM) flag based on the channel statistic measurements. The disk drive further comprises defect scan circuitry configured to receive the CSM flag from the read channel circuitry, to accumulate the CSM flag to obtain an accumulated CSM flag value and to detect a defect area on the disk based on the accumulated CSM flag value. |
| US08194334B2 |
Image capture lens modules and image capture systems
Image capture lens modules are presented. An image capture lens module includes a first compound lens with a first element and a second element arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side. The second element is a plano-convex lens with a convex surface facing the image side on a paraxial line. A second compound lens includes a third element, a fourth element, and a fifth element arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side. The third element is a plano-convex lens with a convex surface facing the object side on a paraxial line, and the fifth element is a plano-concave lens with a concave surface facing the image side on a paraxial line. A third compound lens includes a sixth element and a seventh element arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side, wherein the sixth element is a plano-convex lens with a convex surface facing the object side on a paraxial line. |
| US08194331B2 |
Lens for concentration photovoltaic module
A lens device includes a base, groups of prism-like elements formed on the base and at least two alignment points formed on the base. Each of the groups and a related portion of the base form a lens. Each of the prism-like elements comprises an incidence surface in the form of a camber. The alignment points are used for alignment of a laser device with the lens device. |
| US08194330B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens includes a first lens, second lens, third lens, aperture stop, and fourth lens, sequentially arranged from the object-side. The first lens has negative power, and an object-side surface is convex and an image-side surface is concave. Both surfaces of the second lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the second lens has negative power, and the object-side surface is concave and the image-side surface is concave. Both surfaces of the third lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the third lens has positive power, and the object-side surface is convex, and the image-side surface is convex. Both surfaces of the fourth lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the fourth lens has positive power, and the object-side surface is concave, and the image-side surface is convex. Formula (1) about curvature radii is satisfied. |
| US08194323B2 |
Method for producing wafer lens assembly and method for producing wafer lens
There is provided a method for producing a wafer lens assembly capable of adhering a wafer lens and a spacer surely. The wafer lens assembly includes a first substrate including plural optical members formed of a curable resin on at least one surface, a second substrate joined to the first substrate, and a stop member arranged between the first and second substrates. The first and second substrates are adhered with an adhesive made of a photo-curable resin. The method includes an adhesive applying step of applying the adhesive made of a photo-curable resin on a joining area, a stop-member forming step, and a photo-curing step of irradiating and hardening the adhesive applied in the adhesive applying step with light after the stop-member forming step. The stop member is formed so as not to prevent the light irradiated in the photo-curing step from reaching the adhesive. |
| US08194322B2 |
Multilayer-film reflective mirror, exposure apparatus, device manufacturing method, and manufacturing method of multilayer-film reflective mirror
Multilayer-film reflective mirrors are disclosed. An exemplary such mirror has a base and a multilayer film formed on the base. The multilayer film includes multiple layer pairs. Each layer pair includes a respective first layer and a respective second layer, wherein the first and second layers are laminated together in an alternating manner. The multilayer film has first and second regions that reflect extreme ultraviolet light. A first group of layers is disposed in the first and second regions and has a first periodic length. A second group disposed in the first region has a second periodic length different from the first periodic length, and a third group disposed in the second region has a substantially same periodic length as the first periodic length. |
| US08194316B2 |
Three-dimensional image display apparatus
It is aimed to reduce the occurrence of crosstalk attributable to the thermal expansion/contraction of a retarder and an image display section, and the unevenness in color attributable to the uneven surfaces of the retarder and the image display section. It is also aimed to reduce the misalignment of the retarder with respect to the image display section. The exit surface of an image display section 130 and the entrance surface of a retarder 180 are adhered to each other by using an adhesion layer 300. Additionally, the left and right edges of the image display section 130 are adhered to the left and right edges of the retarder 180 by using adhesion regions 400. Here, the adhesion regions 400 have a higher glass transition temperature than the adhesion layer 300. |
| US08194313B2 |
Microscope and lamphouse
A microscope includes an illuminating unit that includes an excitation light source emitting an excitation light, and a phosphor receiving the excitation light and emitting illumination light in a specific wavelength range. The illuminating unit illuminates a specimen with the illumination light. The microscope also includes an observation unit for observing the specimen illuminated by the illuminating unit. |
| US08194311B2 |
Scanning laser microscope
A scanning laser microscope obtains images by performing scanning with laser light. The scanning laser microscope includes scanner and controller. The scanner is applied for performing scanning with the laser light line by line. The controller is applied for calculating a required line scanning time that is required as time used for scanning one line, based on the time required for scanning one frame that is determined from a frame rate being set. The controller is also applied for adjusting at least one of a number of data in one line of drive waveform data for driving the scanner and a read cycle of the drive waveform data, so as to substantially match the time for the scanner to scan one line with the required line scanning time calculated by the controller. |
| US08194306B2 |
Variable- beamwidth angle encoding laser scanner
A laser apparatus includes a laser capable of generating a laser signal; structure for conditioning the laser signal; and structure for varying the beamwidth of the laser signal as it is scanned into the field of view. |
| US08194303B2 |
Optical image modulator, optical apparatus including the same, and methods of manufacturing and operating the optical image modulator
Disclosed are an optical image modulator, an optical apparatus including the same, and methods of manufacturing and operating the optical image modulator. The optical image modulator includes a light amount increasing unit increasing the amount of forward light emission of an electric-optical unit. The light amount increasing unit includes a first reflector reflecting light, which travels from the inside of the electric-optical unit toward the optical-electric unit, to the electric-optical unit. The light amount increasing unit may further include a second light reflector reflecting light, which passes through the optical-electric unit without optical-electric conversion, to the optical-electric unit. |
| US08194301B2 |
Multi-spot scanning system and method
A multi-spot scanning technique using a spot array having a predetermined gap between spots can advantageously provide scalability to a large number of spots as well as the elimination of cross-talk between channels. The multi-spot scanning technique can select a number of spots for the spot array (1D or 2D), determine a separation between the spots to minimize crosstalk, and perform a scan on a wafer using the spot array and a full field of view (FOV). Performing the scan includes performing a plurality of scan line cycles, wherein each scan line cycle can fill in gaps left by previous scan line cycles. This “delay and fill” scan allows large spacing between spots, thereby eliminating cross-talk at the detector plane. In one embodiment, the scan is begun and ended outside a desired scan area on the wafer to ensure full scan coverage. |
| US08194300B2 |
Optical scanner and image forming apparatus
An optical scanner includes an inductor, an electric supply unit, an emitter, a mirror, a first receiving element, a second receiving element, and a measuring unit. The electric supply unit applies a supply voltage to the inductor alternately in opposite applying directions. The mirror reflects a laser beam to scan a photosensitive body within a scanning range. Each of the receiving elements is positioned at one end of the scanning range. The measuring unit measures the scanning time taken for the laser beam to be detected by the second receiving element after the beam is detected by the first receiving element. When the mirror scans the photosensitive body along a first primary scanning line after the mirror scans the body along a second primary scanning line, the electric supply unit varies the supply voltage according to the scanning time measured for the second primary scanning line. |
| US08194298B2 |
Methods and systems for composite printer transforms
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for generating and applying composite color transforms. |
| US08194297B2 |
Method for controlling linear sensor, and image reading apparatus
A method for controlling a linear sensor comprises: transferring an electric charge converted in a photoelectric conversion unit to a charge storage unit; transferring the electric charge stored in the charge storage unit to a transfer register; driving the transfer register; removing an electric charge stored in the charge storage unit; and controlling to successively execute the first transferring, the second transferring, the driving and the removing in synchronization with a trigger signal generated on a predetermined cycle. |
| US08194295B2 |
Duplex scanning apparatus
A duplex scanning apparatus includes an automatic document feeder and a flatbed image scanner. The automatic document feeder includes a document feeder case, a scanning glass plate and a first light source. The flatbed image scanner includes a scanner case, a glass platform, a second light source and a scanning module. The scanning glass plate and the first light source are included in the automatic document feeder of the duplex scanning apparatus, so that the scanning operation is performed in the automatic document feeder. |
| US08194289B2 |
Image processing device, method and program product processing barcodes with link information corresponding to other barcodes
In a copy generation management on paper, the present invention aims to detect a falsification in embedded information and increase the capacity of embedded information while maintaining security. The image processing device embeds second additional information into document image data embedded with first additional information. The image processing device deletes a part where the first additional information is embedded in the document image data, and embeds the second additional information into the part of the first additional information thus deleted. The image processing device further embeds third information different from the first and second additional information at a position different from position at which the second additional information is embedded. Further, the embedding means embeds the third information at a position indicated by the second additional information. |
| US08194285B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus configured to generate recording data used in an image forming processing for carrying out an image formation by performing a recording scan by plural times on a same image region on a recording medium, includes a division unit for dividing input image data into image data for each recording scan, a quantization unit for quantizing, based on the divided image data for each recording scan, the image data for each recording scan, and a generation unit for generating, based on the quantized image data for each recording scan, recording data for each recording scan, in which the division unit divides the input image data into the image data for each recording scan based on a division rate periodically varying in accordance with a spatial position of an image represented by the input image data. |
| US08194282B2 |
Image forming apparatus for identifying undesirable toner placement
A method and apparatus for printing data on a print medium is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to format print data to pixel data, the pixel data including pixel values; identify a grid of pixels having a predetermined pattern of pixel values; obtain predetermined pcode grid from memory for the identified grid of pixels; and send the predetermined pcode grid to controller circuit for printing. |
| US08194278B2 |
Image forming apparatus to select alternate image information and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof that outputs an image of currency wherein a portion of the image of the currency is replaced with another image such that the counterfeiting of currency is prevented, the method including: determining whether a printing object is currency; selecting an alternate image corresponding to identification information of the currency if the printing object is the currency; and printing the selected alternate image information. |
| US08194277B2 |
Image combining apparatus, and control method and program therefor
In combining a handwritten image with an arbitrary image in an image processing apparatus, a sheet is prepared so as to allow confirmation of a positional relationship of the arbitrary image and the handwritten image. |
| US08194276B2 |
Data processing apparatus, control method therefor, and program
Print setting is executed using, as print setting items associated with printing, a setting item on the paper type of printing paper used for printing and a setting item which designates whether to execute manual duplex printing. When execution of manual duplex printing is set, the print page order of a target of manual duplex printing is controlled in accordance with the set paper type. A print command to the target of manual duplex printing is output to a printing apparatus on the basis of the controlled print page order. |
| US08194275B2 |
Apparatus for low cost embedded platform for device-side, distributed services enablement
A class of add-on system components providing functionality of devices, management of self-help, customization and enhancement of services for devices, and remote monitoring at significantly reduced cost. It reduces the cost of UI and greatly enhances ease-of-use by realizing that the networked system can be headless and use a browser-based UI for its platform. It embeds a Device Model Agent (DMA) and connects to the Device-Centric Services platform to offer services. Additionally, it offers customized diagnostic access for customer representatives to enable self-help service actions to be performed, unifies and manages multiple access needs to several disparate data access mechanisms, and uses largely COTS PC hardware rather than customized PWBs. |
| US08194274B2 |
Apparatus and method for automated capture of document metadata and document imaging
The present invention provides for automated capture of metadata associated with paper-based documents. A “reservation” for the metadata and a digital image of the paper-based document is created whenever a digital image of a paper-based document is to be associated with a computer record. The relevant metadata is automatically captured from a computer screen and is then stored in a previously created database record associated with the reservation. The metadata can also be associated with a later-captured digital image of the paper-based document by placing a label on the paper-based document. The label contains identifying information for the reservation and this information becomes embedded in the digital image of the paper-based document, which is subsequently created by scanning the paper-based document and label. The subsequently created digital image can then be related to the appropriate metadata by extracting the reservation identification information from the label embedded in the digital image. |
| US08194263B2 |
Technique to process a tint block image for restraining a material printed by a printing apparatus from being copied
In an information processing apparatus, a first display screen is displayed to allow for specifying whether to form a copy-forgery-inhibited unit pattern or an array of copy-forgery-inhibited unit patterns, and a second display screen is displayed to allow for specifying a position at which to form the copy-forgery-inhibited unit pattern by selecting the position from a plurality of candidates. |
| US08194261B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method for controlling image processing apparatus, control program, and recording medium
An image processing apparatus is disclosed that includes an image processing unit section and an information processing unit section. The image processing unit section includes an image scanner that performs an image processing function and a SDK application that expands and controls the function of the image processing apparatus. The information processing unit section includes an operations panel that selectively performs operations between a basic application and the SDK application and a MFP service that transmits an instruction signal to the SDK application so as to control the image scanner in accordance with the operation on the operations panel. The information processing unit section confirms the corresponding relationship between the MFP service and the SDK application when the image processing apparatus performs a starting process and makes the SDK application correspond to the MFP service in accordance with the confirmation results. |
| US08194259B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and computer-readable recording medium
An information processing apparatus is connected to a client apparatus and an image forming apparatus, the information processing apparatus including a large capacity memory device; a common interface device; a reception part compatible with the common interface device; and a transmission part compatible with the common interface device, wherein the reception part receives data for an image forming request from the client apparatus via the common interface device and stores the data on the large capacity memory device, and the transmission part transmits the data for the image forming request stored on the large capacity memory device to the image forming apparatus via the common interface device. |
| US08194256B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system for managing a plurality of trays
An image forming apparatus is supplied capable of feeding paper or ejecting paper to position which is desired by user. In the image forming apparatus which has medium accommodating sections, a first storing section stores accommodating section selection data correspondence information in which first medium accommodating section selection data assigned to other image forming apparatus corresponds to second medium accommodating section selection data assigned to the image forming apparatus serving as self apparatus; a receiving section receives the first medium accommodating section selection data and image data from an upper apparatus; a correcting section corrects the first medium accommodating section selection data received from the upper apparatus into second medium accommodating section selection data on the basis of the accommodating section selection data correspondence information stored in the first storing section; and a selecting section selects medium accommodating section on the basis of the second medium accommodating section selection data obtained by the correcting section. |
| US08194254B2 |
Print device preconditioning
Various embodiments relating to preconditioning of a print device are disclosed. |
| US08194253B2 |
Fiber optic sensor head and interferometric measuring system
A fiber optic sensor head for detecting the shape or the distance of a test object has an optical fiber, in particular a glass fiber, for conducting and returning partial beams to and from the test object, and an injection/extraction lens on the test object side. For conducting partial beams, injected on the sensor head side and having an optical path length difference, to the test object and returning partial beams injected on the test object side without an optical path length difference, a Fizeau interferometer having a nondiscrete design is associated with the optical fiber and compensates for the optical path length difference between the partial beams. |
| US08194246B2 |
Photoacoustic microcantilevers
A system generates a photoacoustic spectrum in an open or closed environment with reduced noise. A source focuses a beam on a target substance disposed on a base. The base supports a cantilever that measures acoustic waves generated as light is absorbed by the target substance. By focusing a chopped/pulsed light beam on the target substance, a range of optical absorbance may be measured as the wavelength of light changes. An identifying spectrum of the target may detected by monitoring the vibration intensity variation of the cantilever as a function of illuminating wavelength or color. |
| US08194244B2 |
Solution sample plate with wells designed for improved Raman scattering signal detection efficiency
Devices, methods of using the device, systems including the device that include a sample plate with sample containers (wells), wherein at least a portion of the surface of the sample plate and/or sample containers is coated with an optical reflective material. The optical reflective material, provides enhanced excitation signal intensity and enhanced Raman signal intensity. Such enhancement provides improved total signal detection capabilities, and methods of improved focusing algorithms. |
| US08194234B2 |
Methods for detecting particles in aerosol gas streams
Turbulent mixing condensation devices, methods, and systems adapted to condense a working fluid on particles from a sample gas to enlarge the particles for subsequent detection are provided. The device includes a vapor generator adapted to produce a working-fluid saturated carrier gas and a condensation chamber. The working-fluid saturated carrier gas is mixed with a sample gas containing particles to be detected and is then introduced to the condensation chamber. The operating conditions are controlled to enhance the condensation of the working fluid on the particles. The particles are typically forwarded to a particle detection device to detect at least one characteristic, for example, the size, of the particles. The flow of carrier gas to the vapor generator may be regulated to vary the degree of saturation of the carrier gas with working fluid. |
| US08194232B2 |
Movable body drive method and movable body drive system, pattern formation method and apparatus, exposure method and apparatus, position control method and position control system, and device manufacturing method
Positional information of a movement plane of a wafer stage is measured using an encoder system such as, for example, an X head and a Y head, and the wafer stage is controlled based on the measurement results. At the same time, positional information of the wafer stage is measured using an interferometer system such as, for example, an X interferometer and a Y interferometer. When abnormality of the encoder system is detected or when the wafer stage moves off from a measurement area of the encoder system, drive control is switched to a drive control based on the measurement results of the interferometer system. Accordingly, drive control of the wafer stage can be performed continuously in the entire stroke area, even at the time when abnormality occurs in the encoder system. |
| US08194231B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and method
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a beam of radiation, a support structure configured to hold a reticle, a substrate table configured to hold a substrate, and a projection system configured to project a beam onto the substrate table. The numerical aperture of the illumination system is larger than the numerical aperture of the projection system. The apparatus also includes a radiation redirection device configured to re-direct σ>1 components of the beam of radiation to within the numerical aperture of the projection system. |
| US08194230B2 |
Projection objectives having mirror elements with reflective coatings
An optical system has a plurality of elements arranged to image radiation at a wavelength λ from an object surface to an image surface, the elements include mirror elements having a reflective surface positioned at a path of radiation. At least one of the mirror elements is a pupil mirror having a pupil mirror surface arranged at or near to a pupil surface of the optical system. At least one of the remaining mirror elements is a highly loaded mirror having a mirror surface arranged at a position where at least one of a largest value of a range of angles of incidence and a largest value of an average angle incidence of all remaining mirrors occurs, where the remaining mirrors include all mirrors except for the pupil mirror. The pupil mirror surface is formed by a reflective coating designed as a one-dimensionally graded coating including a multilayer stack of layers of different materials, the layers having a geometrical layer thickness which varies according to a first grading function in a first direction of the coating and which is substantially constant in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The mirror surface of the highly loaded mirror is coated with a reflective mirror coating designed as a graded coating according to a second grading function. |
| US08194226B2 |
Device for cooling LCD panel and heat treatment apparatus having the same
A heat treatment apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel through an in-situ process includes a body and a hardening unit, an annealing unit, and a transferring unit disposed on the body. The hardening unit heats a sealing member within a liquid crystal display panel to harden the sealing member. The annealing unit anneals liquid crystal within the liquid crystal display panel sealed by the sealing member. The transferring unit transfers the liquid crystal display panel between the hardening unit and the annealing unit. Therefore, the sealing member may be hardened and the liquid crystal may be sealed through an in-situ process to enhance productivity. |
| US08194224B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having particular conductive layers
Techniques are provided for unifying steps of sealing material so that the yield and the reliability of a liquid-crystal display device become high. A starting film of scanning lines is patterned so that prismatic dummy wirings 301 for the first layer which are not electrically connected are formed in regions R1 and R2, and wirings 302 extending from the pixel section are formed in a region R3, and wirings 303 having connection end portions 303a are formed in a region R4. After an interlayer insulation film is formed, the starting film of the signal lines is patterned so that the dummy wirings 304 for the second layer are formed to embed the gaps between the wirings 301 to 303, and also the wirings 305 and the wirings 303 which extend from the pixel portion are connected to each other. This permits unification of the cross-sectional structure of the sealing material formation region. |
| US08194221B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
In a liquid crystal display panel, a pixel electrode includes at least a main electrode strip and a plurality of sub electrode branches. The sub electrode branches extend outwardly from two opposite edges of the main electrode strip. The main electrode strip includes at least a node-controlling portion, the controlling width of the node-controlling portion are different from a trunk width of the main electrode strip. Otherwise, a plurality of first sub electrode branches and a plurality of second sub electrode branches are extend outwardly from two opposite edges of the main electrode strip respectively. Relating to the position of the first sub electrode branches, the second sub electrode branches has a position-shift amount along the extending direction of the main electrode strip. The position-shift amount is smaller than the branch width of the first or second sub electrode branch. |
| US08194218B2 |
In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device
An In-Plane Switching (IPS) mode LCD device is disclosed, to prevent the distortion of transverse electric field in a method of decreasing a line width of a common electrode overlapped with a pixel electrode, which includes intersecting gate and data lines that define a pixel region; thin film transistors at an intersection point of the gate and data lines; pixel electrodes formed in the pixel region and connected with a thin film transistor; and common electrodes arranged between the pixel electrodes of the pixel region; wherein, the outermost common electrode, formed adjacent to the data line, is partially overlapped with the pixel electrode, and the line width of the predetermined portion of the outermost common electrode overlapped with the pixel electrode is smaller than the remaining portions of the outermost common electrode. |
| US08194217B2 |
Electro-optical apparatus and electronic device having particular pixel configuration
An electro-optical apparatus includes a pixel section, a dummy pixel section and a peripheral electrode. The peripheral electrode configured to be formed in an area surrounding the dummy pixel section. A voltage supplying section configured to supply the peripheral electrode and an opposing electrode with voltages of substantially the same level, respectively. |
| US08194215B2 |
Liquid crystal device and display apparatus having a pair of electrodes with a vertical alignment film in which the chiral pitch length to gap ratio (P/G) is 0.06 to less than 1.0
A liquid crystal device comprises a first alignment surface which induces a high pretilt greater than 45° but less than 90°; a typical value is 85°. The pretilt has a component parallel to the surface pointing in a predetermined direction. A second alignment surface induces a low pretilt which is less than 45° but greater than 0°; a typical pretilt is 5°. The low pretilt has a component parallel to the second surface which also points in the predetermined direction. A layer of crystal material is disposed in between the first and second surfaces. A novel liquid crystal mode is thus provided and is referred to as the “splay-twist mode”. Such a device may be used in a switchable public/private display. |
| US08194213B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel includes a pair of substrates opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. In the liquid crystal display panel, a plurality of pixel areas are formed in one of the pair of substrates and each of the pixel areas is provided with an upper electrode having a plurality of slit-shaped openings, a lower electrode formed in the substrate through the upper electrode and an insulation layer, and an alignment film formed close to the liquid crystal layer. A longitudinal direction of the plurality of slit-shaped openings and a rubbing direction of the alignment film form a predetermined angle therebetween. In addition, in the lower electrode, areas where the lower electrode does not exist are formed in portions in which ends of the slit-shaped openings of the upper electrode overlap with the lower electrode in plan view. |
| US08194207B2 |
Backlight assembly, liquid crystal display having the same, and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) with a backlight assembly includes a liquid crystal (“LC”) panel displaying an image, a backlight assembly providing light to the LC panel, a middle frame disposed between the LC panel and the backlight assembly, and a top frame to complete the LCD assembly. The backlight assembly includes a plurality of light sources, an optical member, a bottom frame and a plurality of optical member supporters. The optical member supporters each support the optical member and are mutually spaced apart from each other to effectively dissipate heat and reduce the weight of the LCD. |
| US08194206B2 |
Planar light-emitting device and liquid crystal display apparatus
A planar light-emitting device allowing for high luminance uniformity has a plurality of light-emitting units (4), each including a lightguide plate (3) having a light-exiting surface, an opposite surface opposite to the light-exiting surface, a peripheral side surface extending between the respective peripheral edges of the light-exiting surface and the opposite surface, and a light-entrance surface (3a) defined by a part of the peripheral side surface. Each light-emitting unit further includes a light source (2) adjacently disposed to face the light-entrance surface to emit light into the lightguide plate through the light-entrance surface. The light-emitting units are arranged in a plurality of mutually adjacent rows with the light-exiting surfaces (3a) of their respective lightguide plates being substantially flush with each other. Adjacent rows of the light-emitting units are displaced relative to each other in the direction of the rows. |
| US08194205B2 |
Electro-optical device, light receiving device, and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes a transparent substrate, a PIN type diode formed in the transparent substrate and receiving light introduced through a light receiving side surface of the transparent substrate, and a reflecting portion provided on a surface side opposite to the light receiving side surface of the transparent substrate and for reflecting light passed through the transparent substrate to the PIN type diode. |
| US08194204B2 |
Liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal display apparatus using the same
A liquid crystal panel according to the present invention includes a backlight portion emitting light having a brightness distribution in a horizontally oblong oval shape assuming that a longitudinal direction of a panel is a horizontal direction; a first polarizer; a liquid crystal cell; an optical compensation layer having a refractive index profile of nx>ny>nz; and a second polarizer, in this order from a backlight side. According to the present invention, a liquid crystal panel having remarkably excellent contrast in an oblique direction, small light leakage in a black display and a small color shift is provided. |
| US08194203B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device is provided with a backlight where there is little inconsistency in the temperature in the fluorescent lamps and which can illuminate the liquid crystal panel well even when the structure is thin.The liquid crystal display has a liquid crystal panel and a backlight for illuminating this panel, wherein when the side of the liquid crystal panel on which the backlight is placed is a rear side and the side which faces the backlight is a front side, the backlight has: a housing having a side with an opening; a number of fluorescent lamps in long tube form which are placed inside the housing; and a light source drive circuit with a coil which drives the number of fluorescent lamps, where the number of fluorescent lamps are placed at the bottom of a lower frame which forms the housing, the bottom of the lower frame has such a form that a recess towards the front side is provided at a predetermined location, the light source drive circuit is placed on the rear side of the lower frame and in a region in the recess towards the front side at the bottom of the lower frame, and a metal plate is provided between the rear side of the lower frame and the coil mounted in the light source drive circuit. |
| US08194202B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
The invention relates to an electro-optical device having an electro-optical panel and a supporting frame that supports the electro-optical panel either directly or indirectly. The supporting frame of the electro-optical device according to an aspect of the invention includes: a resin base frame member; and a metal member that has an embedded portion that is covered inside the resin base frame member and an exposed portion that is exposed from the resin base frame member. In the configuration of the electro-optical device of the invention, the exposed portion of the metal member has an inner exposed portion that is exposed at a middle face of the inside of the supporting frame viewed along the thickness direction of the supporting frame. At least one of the electro-optical panel, which is supported inside the supporting frame, and other member is in contact with the inner exposed portion of the metal member. |
| US08194199B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having a ratio of liquid crystal capacitances equal to a ratio of parasitic capacitances
A pixel includes a first subpixel and a second subpixel. The first subpixel includes a first switching element connected to a first gate line and a data line, a first liquid crystal capacitor connected to the first switching element, and a first storage capacitor connected to the first switching element. The second subpixel includes a second switching element connected to a second gate line and the data line, a second liquid crystal capacitor connected to the second switching element, and a second storage capacitor connected to the second switching element. At least one of a ratio of capacitances between a first parasitic capacitor formed in the first switching element and a second parasitic capacitor formed in the second switching element and a ratio of capacitances between the first storage capacitor and a second storage capacitor is determined based on a ratio of the first liquid crystal capacitor and the second liquid crystal capacitor. |
| US08194198B2 |
Liquid crystal panel having notches for repair
A liquid crystal panel of the present disclosure includes a first common electrode defining a plurality of first common electrode portions, a plurality of second common electrode portions connected to the first common electrode, and a plurality of pixel electrodes. Each pixel electrode overlaps one of the first common electrode portions and a corresponding one of the second common electrode portions, thereby forming storage capacitors therebetween. Each second common electrode portion defines a first notch adjacent to the pixel electrode. There is no overlap between the pixel electrode and the second common electrode portion at the first notch. |
| US08194197B2 |
Integrated display and photovoltaic element
A display device includes a first layer having an optically active display portion, a second layer including a photovoltaic element, and a third layer including electronics operatively coupled to the first layer, wherein the electronics are configured to drive the optically active display portion. Further, the second layer is arranged between the first and third layers. |
| US08194193B2 |
Method and apparatus for a wide field of view display
A method and apparatus for a uniform resolution display screen. In one embodiment, the uniform resolution display screen comprises a surface of the uniform resolution display screen having a curvature configured to display images with a uniform resolution across the display screen. The curvature is based on a projection distance from a projector to the uniform resolution display screen and a viewing distance from an eyepoint of an observer to the uniform resolution display screen. The geometry of the display screen is configured to display images associated with a high definition imaging format. |
| US08194191B2 |
Graphically based programming for control devices
A method for programming a control device. The method for programming the control device may include using a graphical programming interface. The graphical programming interface may direct a user through the programming process with text and graphics. The graphical programming interface may provide a control device image that corresponds to the physical control device that is being programmed. The graphical programming interface may graphically verify to a user whether a button was successfully programmed. Additionally, the graphical programming interface may illustrate the correct positioning of one control device to another control device while programming. |
| US08194190B2 |
Remote controller
There is provided a remote controller facilitating the operation concerning reproduction of recorded program data and having a user-friendly function. The remote controller (50) transmits an operation signal of a digital recording/reproducing device (10) which has recorded television programs. The remote controller (50) includes a power button (60) for turning on/off power of a TV for displaying the output data of the digital recording/reproducing device (10) and a reproduction button (80) for reproducing program data. The reproduction button includes: a first operation unit (81) which has time marks from 1 o'clock to 24 o'clock and can be rotated rightward and leftward; a second operation unit (82) which is formed on the first operation unit (81) with a smaller size than the outer diameter of the first operation unit (81),has time marks from Sunday to Saturday and can be rotated rightward and leftward; and a reproduction decision unit (83) formed on the second operation unit (82) with a smaller size than the outer diameter of the second operation unit (82) for deciding the day-of-week mark and the time mark specified by the first operation unit (81) and the second operation unit (82). |
| US08194189B2 |
Method and device for protecting displays from burn-in effect
The invention concerns a device and a method for protecting display time. The image processing method according to the invention comprises a step of shifting pictures by a pattern at a pixel shift frequency characterized in that the frequency is changed for a group of at least one picture depending on a motion degree of the group. |
| US08194182B2 |
Solid-state image pickup apparatus with positioning mark indicating central part of light-receiving section of solid-state image sensing device and electronic device comprising the same
A solid-state image pickup apparatus 100 of the present invention includes a transparent cover section 24 which is provided so as to be spaced from a lens section, the transparent cover section 24 being provided (i) so as to face a light-receiving section of a solid-state image sensing device 22 and (ii) so as to have a gap between the solid-state image sensing device 22 and the transparent cover section 24. Furthermore, the transparent cover section 24 is provided with a positioning mark which serves as a reference for positioning the lens section in consideration of the solid-state image sensing device 22. Consequently, it is possible to provide a shock-resistant solid-state image pickup apparatus in which a lens section and an image pickup section are positionally aligned with high accuracy. |
| US08194180B2 |
Imaging apparatus and camera system
An imaging apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, a driver configured to drive the focus lens, a controller configured to control a supply of power to the driver, and a setting unit configured to set a power supply mode for specifying a method of supplying power to the driver. When a predetermined power supply mode is set, the controller determines according to a magnitude of a depth of field of the optical system during whether holding power for holding the state of the focus lens is supplied to the driver when the focus lens is stopped, and controls the supply of the holding power to the driver according to the result of the determination. |
| US08194177B2 |
Digital image processing apparatus and method to photograph an image with subject eyes open
Provided are a digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The digital image processing apparatus includes a digital signal processing unit that recognizes a facial expression of a face from a photographed image, determines whether the eyes of the subject's face are closed, and re-photographs the image when the eyes are closed. The method of controlling the digital image processing apparatus includes: (a) receiving an image; (b) generating a photographed image by photographing the image; (c) checking whether the eyes on a face photographed on the photographed image are closed; and (d) generating a re-photographed image by re-photographing the image when the eyes are closed. |
| US08194174B2 |
Internet-based camera focusing method and apparatus
An Internet based camera providing cost-effective higher security and easier and quicker installation by internally determining a degree of quality measure and providing low latency feedback to the installer on adjusting focus. |
| US08194172B2 |
Optical imaging lens assembly
The present invention provides an optical imaging lens assembly comprising, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface; and a third lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric. With the aforementioned arrangement of lens elements, the total track length of the optical imaging lens assembly can be effectively reduced, the sensitivity of the optical system can be attenuated, a large field of view can be achieved and the image quality can be improved. |
| US08194171B2 |
Apparatus for optically combining visible images with far-infrared images
An image sensing apparatus, particularly, an apparatus for optically combining visible images with far-infrared images is provided in which performing a separate signal processing may not be needed. The image combining apparatus emits light that is sensed by an image sensor, and reflects the light toward the image sensor in response to far-infrared rays being sensed from an object, thereby converting far-infrared information into information that can be sensed by the image sensor. |
| US08194168B2 |
Multi-dimensional imaging system and method
Disclosed is a camera to provide images for use in multi-dimensional imaging. In an embodiment, the camera includes an image gathering lens operable to obtain a lens image of a visual, a plurality of optic modules operable to provide distinct focusing options for the lens image, a relaying module operable to relay at least part of the lens image to the plurality of optic modules and a plurality of capture devices operable to capture a plurality of distinct versions of the lens image from the plurality of optic modules relayed from the relaying module. In another embodiment, a multi-dimensional imaging system is provided that includes a camera, such as described above, and further includes a computing device operable to receive and display the plurality of distinct versions, and a data management module operable to receive data related to the distinct versions and to display the distinct versions on separate displays. |
| US08194166B2 |
Methods for capturing and reading out images from an image sensor
Multiple images are captured where the exposure times for some of the images overlap and the images are spatially overlapped. Charge packets are transferred from one or more portions of pixels after particular integration periods, thereby enabling the portion or portions of pixels to begin another integration period while one or more other portions of pixels continue to integrate charge. Charge packets may be binned during readout of the images from the image sensor. Comparison of two or more images having different lengths of overlapping or non-overlapping exposure periods provides motion information. The multiple images can then be aligned to compensate for motion between the images and assembled into a combined image with an improved signal to noise ratio and reduced motion blur. |
| US08194152B2 |
Image processing under flickering lighting conditions using estimated illumination parameters
Methods for estimating illumination parameters under flickering lighting conditions are disclosed. Illumination parameters, such as phase and contrast, of a intensity-varying light source may be estimated by capturing a sequence of video images, either prior to or after a desired still image to be processed. The relative average light intensities of the adjacently-captured images are calculated and used to estimate the illumination parameters applicable to the desired still image. The estimated illumination parameters may be used to calculate the point spread function of a still image for image de-blurring processing. The estimated illumination parameters may also be used to synchronize the exposure timing of a still image to the time when there is the most light, as well as for use in motion estimation during view/video modes. |
| US08194151B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus is equipped with an image pickup device in which pixels coated with different color filters are arranged. Further, the image pickup apparatus includes a separation unit that separates a video signal outputted from the pixels coated with the different color filters into three color image signals; an adjustment signal generation unit for generating a color balance adjustment signal and a hue adjustment signal from the separated three color image signals; and an adjustment unit for adjusting the video signal outputted from the pixels coated with the different color filters by using the color balance adjustment signal and hue adjustment signal generated by the adjustment signal generation unit. |
| US08194149B2 |
Infrared-aided depth estimation
Systems and methods are disclosed for creating image maps. Some embodiments include a method comprising the steps of: capturing a first image illuminated by natural light and capturing a second image illuminated by infrared light. The second image may be captured at the same time as the first image. The R, G, and B values for each pixel in the first image may be determined. The intensity for each pixel in the first image may be calculated. An IR intensity for each pixel in the second image may be calculated. A depth value may then be estimated for each pixel using the ratio of the IR intensity and the intensity of corresponding pixels in the first and second images. |
| US08194147B2 |
Image presentation angle adjustment method and camera device using the same
An image presentation angle adjustment method is provided for a camera device to process images through the method. An image presentation angle assigning device module is integrated in the camera device. When the camera device captures a target image, the image presentation angle assigning device will automatically or through the operation of a user generate an image orientation parameter associated with the target image. Furthermore, the captured target image is stored in an image file within the image storage memory of the camera device associated with the image orientation parameter. Accordingly, when the target image is opened by the user for display, the target image will be displayed in the orientation indicated the image orientation parameter for viewing convenience. |
| US08194146B2 |
Apparatuses for capturing and storing real-time images
An apparatus for capturing and storing real-time images is provided. A camera module records frames corresponding to sensed light, outputs pixel data of the frames on a data bus, and generates synchronization control signals to control the synchronized transmission of the frames. An interrupt controller receives the synchronization control signals and correspondingly generates interrupt signals. A processing unit receives the interrupt signals, fetches the pixel data of the frames on the data bus according to at least one of the interrupt signals, and stores the fetched pixel data in a memory device. |
| US08194145B2 |
Method for resizing image in wireless terminal and wireless terminal adapted for resizing
An apparatus and method for converting an image in a wireless terminal are disclosed. An apparatus and method for resizing an image output from a camera module such that the image has a size suitable for a display unit in a wireless terminal are provided. The method involves determining a size of an image output from a camera module, resizing the size of the image output from the camera module to a size suitable for a display unit when the size of the image output from the camera module differs from the size of the image to be output through the display unit, and outputting the resized image. The method involves determining a size of an image output from a camera module, and resizing a 720×480 image to a 320×240 image to be output through a display unit when the camera module has output the 720×480 image, and outputting the 320×240 image. |
| US08194144B2 |
Image data processing method
An image data processing method to capture still images while capturing motion images is disclosed. The method includes stopping a motion image capturing according to a first instruction to generate a first motion image data with a first resolution, thereafter, carrying out live view at a predetermined time; outputting the image data in the predetermined time and generating a first temporal motion data with a second resolution; capturing a still image data according to a second instruction after the predetermined time; transforming the first temporal motion data and the still image data and generating a second motion image data by combining the transformed data with the first motion image data. The method and device according to the present invention can be used in a camera to capture still images while capturing motion images. |
| US08194142B2 |
Photographic apparatus that corrects inclination thereof by rotating movable platform with imager
A photographic apparatus comprises a movable platform and a controller.The movable platform has an imager that captures an optical image through a taking lens, and is movable and rotatable on an xy plane.The controller calculates an inclination angle of the photographic apparatus, and performs a controlled movement of the movable platform for an inclination correction by rotating the movable platform from an initial state on said xy plane in accordance to a rotation quantity of the movable platform.The controller performs the controlled movement to offset the inclination angle by the rotation quantity, when the photographic apparatus is in a first inclination state.The controller performs the controlled movement to maintain an inclined state where the movable platform is rotated from the initial state in accordance to either the first angle or the negative of the first angle, when the photographic apparatus is in a second inclination state. |
| US08194141B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing sharp frames with less blur
A method and apparatus motion triggered image stabilization. The method includes computing projection vector for at least a portion of a frame of an image using horizontal and vertical sums, performing motion estimation utilizing projection vector with the shift of the projection vector from a previous frame, performing temporal IIR filter on the motion vector, calculating the maximum horizontal and vertical motion vectors, obtaining exposure time based on the horizontal and vertical motion vectors and the gain, returning the exposure time and the gain to the auto-exposure, utilizing the returned exposure time and gain, and producing a frame with less motion blur. |
| US08194138B2 |
Portable electronic device and camera module thereof
A portable electronic device includes a flat display, a transparent window, an optical element, an optical zoom lens set and an image sensing element. The flat display includes a display panel with a viewing direction. The transparent window, the optical element, the optical zoom lens set and the image sensing element are all configure in the outer frame of the flat display. The transparent window and the optical element correspond to each other and align in the viewing direction. The optical zoom lens set includes multiple lenses configured at one side of the optical element. The lenses move along a focusing direction to modify the focusing length. The focusing direction is substantially perpendicular to the viewing direction. The image sensing element is configured at one side of the optical zoom lens set, thereby allowing the light to pass through the transparent window, by the optical element guided to the optical zoom lens set, then passing through the lenses, and finally focusing on the image sensing element. |
| US08194137B2 |
Image frame transmission method for data overrun control
An image frame transmission method for use in a network transmission system is provided. The network transmission system includes an image sensor and an image processor. Firstly, a first image data segment of an image frame captured by the image sensor is outputted to the image processor in response to a first state of a control signal after an initial signal has been asserted by the image processor. Then, the output of a second image data segment of the image frame following the first image data segment to the image processor is delayed in response to the transition of the control signal from the first state to a second state. Afterward, the second image data segment is outputted to the image processor in response to the transition of the control signal from the second state to the first second state. |
| US08194134B2 |
Target moving object tracking device
A target moving object tracking device takes a time series of picture images of a target moving object, and track a movement of the moving object in the picture images for displaying an enlarged view of the moving object. The device includes a template memory storing a template image which is compared with each one of time-series outline images given from the picture images to determine a partial area in match with the template image for each of the outline images and extract the partial areas as a moving object outline image. The template image is constantly updated by being replaced with a combination of the previous moving object outline images to accurately reflect the moving object. |
| US08194132B2 |
System for monitoring an area adjacent a vehicle
A backup camera system for monitoring an area around a vehicle. In one aspect, the system comprises a camera assembly, a display device and a stand for supporting the display device; the camera assembly comprising: (i) a camera adapted to produce an image signal corresponding to a perceived image, (ii) means for supplying power; (iii) a base having first and second holes that are configured and spaced from one another so as to facilitate attachment to the vehicle using the vehicle's license plate mounting bolts, (iv) a transmitter operably coupled to the camera for wirelessly transmitting the image signal; and the display device comprising: (i) a receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted image signal, (ii) means for supplying power, (iii) an image processing unit operably coupled to the receiver for converting the received image signal into a display image that is displayed on the display device, the display image corresponding to the perceived image. The backup camera system can form a retrofit kit. |
| US08194128B2 |
Surveillance device
There is provided a surveillance device capable of transmitting an operation history of an appliance and image data while suppressing an increase in data transmission cost. A surveillance camera includes a control unit controlling an operation of the surveillance camera, a light receiving unit receiving an infrared signal transmitted from a remote controller, converting the infrared signal into an electric signal and sending the electric signal to the control unit, a storage unit storing image data, an image capturing unit performing an image capturing operation and sending an image signal generated by the image capturing operation to the storage unit, a time keeping unit generating time information concerning the surveillance camera and sending the information to the control unit, and a communication unit outputting data sent from the control unit to an external device. |
| US08194127B2 |
Method and apparatus for masking surveillance video images for privacy protection
The present invention makes a privacy protection area set on a video frame always match a masking block for the privacy protection area, thereby preventing video images taken from the privacy protection area from being exposed. One embodiment of the invention sets a masking zone corresponding to a privacy protection area on a taken video frame, keeps examining if the set masking zone does not match the privacy protection area, and adjusts the position of the masking zone on the video frame if it is determined that the masking zone does not match the privacy protection area, thereby preventing video signals taken from the initially set privacy protection area from being outputted. |
| US08194125B2 |
Large-angle uniform radiance source
A radiance source includes a housing having an interior wall, wherein at least a spherical portion of the interior wall of the housing is spherical, an interior volume, and an exit port. A light source is disposed within the interior volume of the housing. A calibration structure blocks and reflects a light ray that would otherwise travel directly from the light source to the exit port without reflecting from the interior wall. The calibration structure has a calibration body having a curved back surface facing the light source and a curved front surface facing the exit port. There is an optically diffuse, lambertian reflecting surface on at least the spherical portion of the interior wall of the housing, the back surface of the calibration body, and the front surface of the calibration body. |
| US08194123B2 |
Device and system for in vivo imaging
The present invention provides a system and method for obtaining in vivo images. The system contains an imaging system and a transmitter for transmitting signals from a camera to a receiving system located outside a patient. |
| US08194121B2 |
Miniature camera head
An electronic imaging device (27) includes an optical objective (28) for collecting optical radiation from an object, the objective having an optical axis, and an image sensor (24), including a matrix of optical detectors arranged in a plane that is substantially non-perpendicular to the optical axis, the image sensor having a lateral dimension in the plane. A turning mirror (38) has an optical surface that is positioned so as to reflect the radiation collected by the objective in order to form a focused image in the plane of the image sensor, while a maximum distance from the optical surface to the plane of the image sensor is substantially less than the lateral dimension of the image sensor. |
| US08194110B2 |
Image recording apparatus for recording an image on an image recording medium
In an image recording apparatus using an image recording medium which generates a gas when irradiated with a light beam, the gas and the like are prevented from drifting into a space between the image recording medium and a drum, and thus contamination of the back surface of the image recording medium is prevented. The gas is effectively prevented from drifting to the back surface of a plate P by setting a relative positional relationship of an extending direction of each suction groove L, an attaching position of the plate P, and an air blowing direction so that unclosed regions, not closed by the plate P, of suction grooves L formed in a drum surface do not occur downstream in a gas moving direction. |
| US08194109B2 |
Optical disk image forming method, optical disk image forming apparatus, and computer readable recording medium storing optical disk image forming program
Before a host computer transmits image forming data to a CD-R drive, the CD-R drive transmits information of an image forming condition preset in the CD-R drive to the computer. The host computer generates, based on stored original image data, image forming data adapted to the image forming condition on the basis of the information of the image forming condition and transmits the generated image forming data to the CD-R drive. The CD-R drive forms a visual image according to the preset image forming condition on the basis of the transmitted image forming data. |
| US08194105B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus
A image reading apparatus includes a plurality of point light sources, arranged in a straight line state, configured to output light for lighting a document situated on a contact glass from a lower side of the contact glass, a light leading member, positioned in front in a light outputting direction of the light output from the point light sources, configured to lead the light output from the point light sources so as to irradiate along a main scanning direction toward the document situated on the contact glass, and a photoelectric conversion element configured to receive reflection light from the document. The light leading member includes positioning means configured to make a gap between each of the point light sources arranged in a line state and the light leading member constant and make an arrangement direction of the point light sources be positioned along a longitudinal direction of the light leading member. |
| US08194102B2 |
Rendering annotations for images
Techniques are described for rendering annotations associated with an image. A view of an image maybe shown on a display, and different portions of the image are displayed and undisplayed in the view according to panning and/or zooming of the image within the view. The image may have annotations. An annotation may have a location in the image and may have associated renderable media. The location of the annotation relative to the view may change according to the panning and/or zooming. A strength of the annotation may be computed, the strength changing based the panning and/or zooming of the image. The media may be rendered according to the strength. Whether to render the media may be determined by comparing the strength to a threshold. |
| US08194098B2 |
Apparatus, method, and product for downscaling an image
An average filter or filters is used in line with the output of an interpolation filter to downscale an image. The interpolation filter upscales a source image or bitmap of pixels into an intermediate form and the average filter or filters downscales the intermediate form to a destination image or bitmap of pixels. This configuration incorporates a small amount of logic with a relatively low incremental cost, enabling high quality downscaling of text and computer graphics content. The invention achieves quality comparable to a filter/scalar combination with more taps or a separate decimation pass. |
| US08194097B2 |
Virtual masking using rigid parametric modeling
Disclosed are systems and methods for masking at least a portion of one image with another image. Aspects of the present invention facilitate the placing of a virtual mask onto an item in an image even if that items moves in subsequent images, such as between different image frames in a video. |
| US08194094B2 |
Image display apparatus and driving method thereof, and image display apparatus assembly and driving method thereof
An image display apparatus includes: an image display panel having a two-dimensional matrix with (P×Q) pixels each including first, second and third sub-pixels for displaying respective first, second and third elementary colors, and fourth sub-pixel for displaying a fourth color; and a signal processing section configured to receive first, second and third sub-pixel input signals respectively provided with signal values of x1-(p, q), x2-(p, q) and x3-(p, q), and to output first, second, third and fourth sub-pixel output signals respectively provided with signal values of X1-(p, q), X2-(p, q), X3-(p, q) and X4-(p, q), which used for determining the display gradations of the first, second, third, and fourth sub-pixels, respectively, with regard to a (p, q)th pixel where notations p and q are integers satisfying equations 1≦p≦P and 1≦q≦Q. |
| US08194093B2 |
Apparatus and method for capturing the expression of a performer
A method is described comprising: applying a series of curves on specified regions of a performer's face; tracking the movement of the series of curves during a motion capture session; and generating motion data representing the movement of the performer's face using the tracked movement of the series of curves. |
| US08194092B2 |
Device and method of processing image for power consumption reduction
An image processing method for reducing a power consumption. The image processing method may reduce the power consumption by classifying an input content into a conversion target region and a preservation target region and by converting a luminance of pixels included in the conversion target region. Also, the image processing method may effectively perform a luminance conversion for pixels by separating the input content into the conversion target region and the preservation target region based on a luminance of the pixels of the input content. The image processing method may convert the luminance of the pixels of the conversion target region to maintain a contrast between text pixels and background pixels. |
| US08194091B2 |
Portable display devices and programs
A portable display device transitions between a first and second state. The device has a display portion, a power source for supplying power in the first state and supplying less power in the second state than in the first state, a controller that drives the display portion, an operation portion that executes commands, and a mode storage portion that stores one of a first and second mode. The first mode corresponds to displaying preset information, and the second mode corresponds to particular information to be continuously displayed. The particular information is information displayed in the display portion when the device is in the first state. When the device is in the second state, the preset information is displayed in the display portion when the first mode is stored in the mode storage portion, and the particular information is continuously displayed when the second mode is stored in the mode storage portion. |
| US08194085B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for graphics memory hub
A memory hub permits a graphics processor to access random access memories, such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs). In one implementation, the memory hub permits an increase in effective memory bandwidth by aggregating the memory of two or more memories. In another implementation, the memory hub permits a graphics processor to offload memory access interfacing operations to the memory hub. |
| US08194081B2 |
Animation of audio ink
In a pen-based computing system, a microphone on the smart pen device records audio to produce audio data and a gesture capture system on the smart pen device records writing gestures to produce writing gesture data. Both the audio data and the writing gesture data include a time component. The audio data and writing gesture data are combined or synchronized according to their time components to create audio ink data. The audio ink data can be uploaded to a computer system attached to the smart pen device and displayed to a user through a user interface. The user makes a selection in the user interface to play the audio ink data, and the audio ink data is played back by animated the captured writing gestures and playing the recorded audio in synchronization. |
| US08194080B2 |
Generating a surface representation of an item
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for generating a surface representation of an item includes identifying, for a point on an item in an animation process, at least first and second transformation points corresponding to respective first and second transformations of the point. Each of the first and second transformations represents an influence on a location of the point of respective first and second joints associated with the item. The method includes determining an axis for a cylindrical coordinate system using the first and second transformations. The method includes performing an interpolation of the first and second transformation points in the cylindrical coordinate system to obtain an interpolated point. The method includes recording the interpolated point in a surface representation of the item in the animation process. |
| US08194076B2 |
Auto-scaling strip chart
Systems and methods are disclosed for displaying a strip chart on an electronic display. A furthest extremum value of the measured quantity is recorded over a period of time and a plurality of values of the measured quantity are displayed on the strip chart. The furthest extremum value is used to automatically rescale the strip chart, providing for at least one bound of the zoomed range. In response to receiving a selection of a zoom factor defining a degree of magnification of the strip chart, the strip chart is automatically scaled to a degree of magnification commensurate with the zoom factor and the strip chart may be automatically scaled such that the strip chart is bounded on one side by one of a furthest extremum maximum or minimum value and the other one of the furthest extremum maximum or minimum value is not displayed on the strip chart. |
| US08194075B2 |
Method and system for generating and displaying an interactive dynamic list view of multiply connected objects
A method and system for generating views of data on a user interface in a computing environment, is provided. One implementation involves: at a server, generating coordinate data for a graph representing multiply connected objects; transmitting the coordinate data to a client as lightweight object data; at the client, based on the lightweight object data, rendering an interactive dynamic graph view of the multiply connected objects on a user interface; at the client, based on the lightweight object data, rendering an interactive dynamic list view of the multiply connected objects on a user interface; and synchronizing the list view and the graph view. The order of objects in the list view reflects the order of objects in the graph view per a breadth-first traversal starting at a root object. |
| US08194066B2 |
Cross-sectional image display apparatus, cross-sectional image display method, and computer readable recording medium storing cross-sectional image display program
A cross-sectional image display apparatus, method, and program is capable of setting cross-sectional positions consecutively and efficiently. 3D image data is stored in a PC, a two-dimensional image of the 3D image is presented at a position detection surface of a tablet, the three-dimensional image is virtually constructed in a space above the position detection surface to have dimensions corresponding to the two-dimensional image and to be located at a position corresponding to the two-dimensional image. A plate-like display device designates the cross-sectional position at which the cross-sectional image is to be displayed in the constructed 3D image, the tablet detects the designated cross-sectional position, the PC converts the detected cross-sectional position into a cross-sectional position in a coordinate system of the 3D image and creates cross-sectional image data, and the display device uses the cross-sectional image data to display the cross-sectional image. |
| US08194065B1 |
Hardware system and method for changing a display refresh rate
A system and method are provided for changing a display refresh rate. A first register is provided for storing at least one first refresh parameter in association with a first refresh rate. Additionally, a second register is provided for storing at least one second refresh parameter in association with a second refresh rate. Furthermore, logic is in communication with the first register and the second register. Such logic is adopted for selecting the first refresh parameter or the second refresh parameter, for the purpose of reducing artifacts resulting from a change from the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate. |
| US08194062B2 |
Display terminal and computer-readable medium storing display terminal program
A display terminal includes a nonvolatile display device and a power-off control device. The display device has a display region and holds display in the display region even if a supply of power from a power source is cut off. The power-off control device updates only the display in a partial display region, which is a part of the display region, with display of notification information indicating that the power supply has been cut off. The power-off control device also performs processing to cut off the supply of power from the power source to the display terminal. |
| US08194059B2 |
Portable multimedia playback apparatus
A portable multimedia playback apparatus is provided. The portable multimedia playback apparatus comprises a first video processing unit, a second video processing unit, a third video processing unit, a multiplexer, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The first video processing unit generates a digital video signal. The second video processing unit processes the digital video signal to generate a TV compatible signal. The third video processing unit processes the digital video signal to generate a flat panel compatible signal. The multiplexer selects one of the TV compatible signal and the flat panel compatible signal. The DAC outputs an analog video signal after converting the selected signal. |
| US08194058B2 |
Method of driving liquid crystal polarization switch
A method of driving a polarization switch is provided. First viewing point images and second viewing point images are alternately displayed in a time-divisional method. A voltage is applied to the polarization switch during an activation period, and no voltage or a bias voltage is applied to the polarization switch during a relaxation period. The activation period is shorter than the relaxation period, and the bias voltage is smaller than the applied voltage. |
| US08194057B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus has a pixel including a main pixel connected to a main gate line and a data line, and a sub-pixel connected to a sub-gate line and the data line. A main gate driver outputs a main gate pulse to the main gate line during a time period 1H. A sub-gate driver receives the main gate pulse and outputs a sub-gate pulse to the sub-gate line during a first portion of time period 1H. The data driver applies a sub-pixel voltage to the data line during the first portion of time period 1H and applies the main pixel voltage to the data line during a second portion of time period 1H. |
| US08194054B2 |
Large screen information interactive system and method of use
A large screen information interactive system and method are disclosed, including a computer 3, a projector 4, a pointer equipment 2, and an interactive whiteboard 1 including at least one display panel 6 on the same plane and at least one electronic writing board 5 used for sensing and receiving an operational signal of the pointer equipment 2. The at least one electronic writing board 5 is connected with the computer 3 through a serial port, a USB port, a wireless communication module, or a bluetooth module. The signal of the pointer equipment 2 collected from the electronic writing board 5 is processed by the computer 3. A processed displayed image is projected onto the interactive whiteboard 1 by the projector 4. When one point on the electronic writing board 5 is written, position and state information signals of the written point are transferred to the computer for converting, and the data is processed according to display attributes and operational commands. A whiteboard coordinate is converted into a screen coordinate corresponding to a display. A state of the pointer equipment 2 is converted into a mouse state, so as to updating the screen data. Screen signals are projected onto the interactive whiteboard 1 by the projector 4. Therefore, display and writing problems with an ultra-large screen are resolved, extending the application scope of the interactive whiteboard. |
| US08194051B2 |
Multiple fingers touch sensing method using matching algorithm
A touch sensing method for detecting positions of touching is disclosed. In the present invention, a reference touch profile is provided. A variable ideal combination profile indicating multiple touches is obtained by synthesizing a plurality of reference touch profiles at different positions. The variable ideal combination profile is matched with a sensing signal. Actual touch positions can be identified from the sensing signal when the matching of the variable ideal combination profile with the sensing signal is optimal. |
| US08194042B2 |
Method of fast typing twin special characters
A method for inputting character pairs in an electronic device having a user input device, a display for displaying characters input through the user input device, and a memory for storing characters input through the user input device, including storing a character input through the user input device in the memory and displaying the input character on the display; and determining if the input character is an opening character of a predefined character pair, and if so, automatically and without further user input, causing a corresponding closing character of the predefined character pair to be inserted in the memory and on the display, and locating an input pointer so that subsequently input characters will be inserted between the opening and closing characters in the memory and on the display. |
| US08194034B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling a display
An apparatus is provided for controlling a display. The apparatus is moveable by an individual user and includes a motion sensor for detecting and providing an indication of one or more types of movement of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a transmitter, which is configured to receive the indication of movement, either directly or indirectly, from the motion sensor. The transmitter is further configured to transmit at least one signal based on movement of the apparatus which is configured to initiate display changes in data displayed in a remote display device. A system and a method for controlling a display are also provided. |
| US08194030B2 |
Display device for vehicle
A display device for vehicle includes an LCD panel that has a first pixel region and a second pixel region. The display controller portion displays a meter image on the first pixel region at a regular time and a specific time, and displays an outside image on the second pixel region at the specific time. The display controller portion controls a gradient ratio of pixel in the first pixel region as a meter image gradient ratio, and controls a gradient ratio of pixel in the second pixel region as an outside image gradient ratio. The display controller portion switches and performs a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the display controller portion keeps both the meter image gradient ratio and the outside image gradient ratio to the maximum ratio R1max and R2max, and varies a source luminance of a light source according to an adjust value which is in a side brighter than a reference value Cb. In the second mode, the display controller portion keeps the source luminance of the light source at the minimum source luminance Lmin, varies the meter image gradient ratio according to an adjust value which is in a side darker than the reference value Cb, and keeps the outside image gradient ratio at the maximum ratio R2max. As a result, the multiple images in which the display objectives differ can be appropriately displayed to attain each objective. |
| US08194028B2 |
System and method for adjusting an intensity value and a backlight level for a display of an electronic device
The disclosure relates to a system and method for determining pixel intensity values (luma values) for an image being displayed on a display of an electronic device, then adjusting the pixel intensity and the backlight level for the image that is output to a liquid crystal display (LCD). The system comprises: a display for displaying an image to be displayed on the device; an image adjustment module to identify the pixel intensity values of the image, to determine new pixel intensity values for the image based in part on the original pixel intensity values, to provide the (adjusted) image at the new pixel intensity values to the display and to determine a backlight level for the image at the new pixel intensity values. The system further comprises a backlight system to provide a backlight for the adjusted image at the adjusted backlight level. |
| US08194023B2 |
Switch unit in a driving circuit of flat panel display and driving method thereof
A driving circuit of a flat panel display can transfer a signal input from a decoder to a corresponding channel while minimizing a size of a MOS transistor for a switch or an amplification driver. The driving circuit of the flat panel display includes a first data signal processing unit for converting a first display information that will be displayed on the flat panel display into a positive gamma value, a second data signal processing unit for converting a second display information that will be displayed on the flat panel display into a negative gamma value, an output driving unit for outputting the negative and positive gamma values to the flat panel display, and a switch unit for selectively transferring the positive and negative gamma values to the output driving unit. |
| US08194022B2 |
Active matrix display device and electronic device having the same
An active matrix display device is provided, in which a plurality of different voltages are applied to a pixel having a plurality of liquid crystal units. The display device is composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix with rows and columns, and a plurality of gate and source lines corresponding to these pixels. Each of the pixels has at least two liquid crystal units L1˜L3, driving transistors T1˜T3 for controlling current flow from one of the source lines Si and Si+1 to a corresponding liquid crystal unit, a storage transistor connected between control electrodes of the driving transistors T1/T2 and a gate line Gj and operated based on the voltages of the source line Si, and a storage capacitor connected between the control electrodes of the driving transistors T1/T2 and a common line/previous gate line Gj−1 for holding a voltage by the storage transistor. |
| US08194020B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A LCD device, in which a multi-grayscale level state is produced in a liquid crystal layer by applying a different voltage thereto, includes a liquid crystal display panel having the liquid crystal layer between first and second electrodes, an electrode drive circuit applying drive voltage pulses generated from multi-voltage power sources to the first and the second electrodes, and a multi-voltage power generator circuit. The LCD device further includes a multi-voltage power switch circuit supplying the first or the second multi-voltage power sources from the first or the second multi-voltage power units to the electrode drive circuit, and a control circuit, in a first drive step, setting the first multi-voltage power unit to an active state, and, in a second drive step, setting the second multi-voltage power unit to the active state. |
| US08194019B2 |
Color signal converter, display unit, color signal conversion program, computer-readable storage medium storing color signal conversion program, and color signal conversion method
A color conversion circuit converts a three-primary-color signal PS0 to a 5-color signal PS5, and includes (i) a color component extraction module that generates, by performing isochromatic conversion, a 7-color signal PS2 made up of 7 color components equivalent in terms of color to color components d1 through d5 of the 5-color signal PS5, and (ii) a matrix operation module that generates color components of the 5-color signal by performing linear combination of the color components of the 7-color signal. With this, it is possible to realize a color conversion circuit by which colors represented by a signal after conversion can be adjusted using intuitively-understandable parameters. |
| US08194012B2 |
Pixel and organic light emitting display using the same
A pixel capable for compensating for the degradation of an organic light emitting diode. The pixel includes an organic light emitting diode; a pixel circuit including a driving transistor for controlling an electric current capacity flowing from a first power source to a second power source via the organic light emitting diode; and a compensation unit for controlling a voltage of a gate electrode of the driving transistor to correspond to a degradation of the organic light emitting diode. The compensation unit includes first and second feedback capacitors coupled in series between an anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode and the gate electrode of the driving transistor and a switching transistor coupled between a common node of the first and second feedback capacitors and a reset power source and for turning on when a control signal is supplied to a control line coupled to the switching electrode. |
| US08194009B2 |
Light emitting device and driving method thereof
A light emitting device capable of suppressing generation of pseudo-contours by increasing the frame frequency while suppressing the drive frequency of a driver circuit is provided. According to the present invention, gray scales are displayed not only by controlling the emission period of a light emitting element, but also by controlling the luminance of the light emitting element. Specifically, one frame period is divided into a plurality of sub-frame periods each having an equal length, and the luminance of the light emitting element in each sub-frame period is controlled to have different levels. By controlling the total sum of the luminance level of the sub-frame periods that are selected with a video signal, a desired gray scale can be displayed. |
| US08194006B2 |
Display device, driving method of the same, and electronic device comprising monitoring elements
A light emitting element has a property that a luminance changes when an environment temperature changes. In view of this, the invention provides a display device which suppresses the influence of variations of a current value supplied to a light emitting element caused by a temperature change. In particular, luminance variations caused by a temperature gradient in a pixel portion due to a heat generated from a source signal line driver circuit are suppressed. In a display device including a gate signal line provided in a row direction, a source signal line provided in a column direction, and a light emitting element in a pixel portion arranged in matrix corresponding to the gate signal line and the source signal line, a column of monitor elements is provided beside the pixel portion, a constant current is supplied to each row of the monitor elements, and a voltage generated at the monitor element for each row of pixels is applied to light emitting elements of the corresponding row. |
| US08194005B2 |
Method of driving plasma display device
A high quality, three-electrode type plasma display apparatus, of which the display of low-luminance gradations has been improved by reducing the minimum luminance of the subfield, has been disclosed. In the plasma display apparatus, a subfield of even lower luminance is provided by: providing at least one subfield made up of only a reset period and an address period, without a sustain period, in one frame, and causing an address discharge to occur only between Y (second) electrodes and address (third) electrodes; or providing at least two second subfields made up of only a reset period and an address period in one frame, and making the intensity of an address discharge differ between the two second subfields. |
| US08194003B2 |
Plasma display device with line load compensation and driving method thereof
In a plasma display device, one frame is divided into a plurality of subfields having respective luminance weights, and a first line load ratio is measured from a plurality of video signals corresponding to a first row electrode among a plurality of row electrodes during the respective subfields. A first output estimation weight of each subfield is set based on the first line load ratio of each subfield in the first row electrode. The plurality of video signals corresponding to the first row electrode are converted into a plurality of first subfield data based on the first output estimation weight, and a driving signal is applied to the first row electrode and the plurality of column electrodes according to the plurality of first subfield data. |
| US08194000B2 |
Multi panel display device
Disclosed is a multi panel display device comprising, at least two liquid crystal panels connected to each other at positions adjacent to each other and respectively composed of image display portions and non-display portions; and image shift films disposed above each of the liquid crystal panels with being spaced therefrom by a specific distance and connected to each other at positions adjacent to each other respectively have first and second bevels disposed to be symmetrical to each other, wherein the first and second bevels are repeatedly formed to face the display panels. |
| US08193999B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a plurality of display panels which each have a plurality of pixels provided in correspondence with intersections of a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines and a driving circuit supplying image data to the data lines; and a control circuit which controls the driving circuits of the plurality of display panels, wherein panel characteristics of the plurality of display panels are different from each other and one of the plurality of display panels is set to a non-display state, wherein the control circuit includes a precharge circuit supplying a common precharge voltage to the data lines of each of the display panels, and wherein the precharge voltage is set so as to have a voltage value corresponding to the panel characteristic of the display panel set to the non-display state. |
| US08193998B2 |
Antenna contacting assembly
This invention refers to an antenna contacting assembly which allows electrical connection of an antenna element to the RF module of a wireless device when very little space is available on the side of the PCB underneath the antenna element. The antenna contacting assembly provides electrical contact between a first conducting surface and a second conducting surface by engaging in traction mode said first conducting surface with said second conducting surface. Further the invention refers to an antenna system provided with such antenna contacting assembly and the corresponding wireless device with an antenna system provided with such antenna contacting assembly. |
| US08193991B2 |
Integrated circuit MEMS antenna structure
An integrated circuit (IC) antenna structure includes a micro-electromechanical (MEM) area, a feed point, and a transmission line. The micro-electromechanical (MEM) area includes a three-dimensional shape, wherein the three dimensional-shape provides an antenna structure. The feed point is coupled to provide an outbound radio frequency (RF) signal to the antenna structure for transmission and to receive an inbound RF signal from the antenna structure. The transmission line electrically coupled to the feed point. |
| US08193987B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining signal quality in a geolocation system
In a geolocation system for determining a geolocation of a target emitter, a method for determining the geolocation. The method comprises receiving a signal transmitted from the target emitter at each one of a plurality of sensors; determining whether signals received at n sensors, from among the plurality of sensors, satisfy one or more threshold values related to a condition of the received signals; if signals received at n sensors satisfy the threshold value, commanding m of the n sensors to transmit the signal received thereat or information related to the signal received thereat to a processor; at the processor, determining time difference estimates for the m received signals and determining the geolocation of the target emitter from the time difference estimates. |
| US08193984B2 |
Calibration of a location system
A location system comprising a plurality of base units for enabling the locating of a device by means of one or more location signals communicated between the device and the base units and signal processing equipment for: i. determining the location of the device in dependence on the manner in which the location signal(s) is/are received and ii. deriving calibration data for calibrating the system in dependence on the manner in which the location signal(s) is/are received. |
| US08193981B1 |
Coordinated sensing and precision geolocation of target emitter
The present invention is a geolocation system for providing coordinated sensing and precision geolocation of a target emitter. The system may include a Quint Networking Technology (QNT) subsystem which may be configured receiving, detecting and identifying a target emitter signal. The QNT subsystem may be further configured for extracting a carrier phase of the signal. The system may further include a Real Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK GPS) subsystem for determining a position of the geolocation system relative to a position of a second geolocation system. Further, the system may be configured for communicating with the second geolocation system via a QNT communication data link for: determining a QNT time difference via signal carrier phase differencing for calculating a time difference between the geolocation systems and geolocating the target emitter based on both the relative position information of the geolocation systems and the calculated time difference between the geolocation systems. |
| US08193975B2 |
Iterative antenna beam forming systems/methods
Methods of operating a transceiver including an antenna having a plurality of antenna feed elements are presented. The methods include defining a plurality of antenna gain constraint values gk associated with K geographic constraint points within a geographic region, iteratively generating M antenna feed element weights wM that result in antenna response values fK at the K geographic constraint points based on the corresponding antenna gain constraint values gK, forming an antenna beam from the antenna to the geographic region using the antenna feed element weights wM, and communicating information over the antenna beam. Related transceivers, satellites, and satellite gateways are also disclosed. |
| US08193958B2 |
Signal regenerator
Pulses that are generated from multiple analog input signals are sampled, and signal elements contained in the analog signals are extracted accurately using the said sampling pulses. Binarization circuits where analog input signals A, B, C, and D are converted into pulse signals; a logic operation circuit that generates a sampling pulse upon receiving the input of the 4 pulse signals; and a sample-and-hold circuit samples and holds an input RF signal based on the sampling pulse in order to extract accurately signal elements contained in said RF signal by means of sampling of the RF signal. |
| US08193956B2 |
Meter and freeze of calibration of time-interleaved analog to digital converter
A technique for improving the operation of a Time Interleaved Analog to Digital Converter (TIADC) by suppressing updates and/or correction to updates of an interleave mismatch errors estimator when one or more predetermined conditions indicate such mismatch correction may not improve performance. |
| US08193955B2 |
Modular units for synchro-to-digital conversion and digital-to-synchro conversion
The inventive data conversion device is typically embodied as a modular unit including a PCBA and a frame that houses it. The PCBA includes a PCB and electronic components mounted thereon including a computer and one or more conventional conversion devices, viz., at least one conventional synchro-to-digital converter and/or at least one conventional digital-to-synchro converter. According to typical inventive synchro-to-digital conversion, analog synchro data (received from a synchro) is converted by the synchro-to-digital converter(s) to lower-level-format parallel-binary-angle digital synchro data, which in turn is converted by the computer to higher-level-format digital synchro data. According to typical inventive digital-to-synchro conversion, higher-level-format digital synchro data (received from a modern-day digital device/system/network) is converted by the computer to lower-level-format parallel-binary-angle digital synchro data, which in turn is converted by the digital-to-synchro converter(s) to analog synchro data. |
| US08193953B1 |
Data width scaler circuitry
Circuitry for scaling data from a first width (e.g., number of simultaneously presented parallel data signals) to a second width can preferably operate for any of a wide range of different ratios between the first and second widths (including ratios that are non-integer or even non-rational) without the need for more than one clock signal. |
| US08193950B2 |
Method and system for receiving and sending navigational data via a wireless messaging service on a navigation system
A system and method are provided for receiving navigational data via a wireless messaging service on a navigation system. The system and method provide a way to send requests for destination information via the wireless messaging service and capture navigational data from the responsive message received, such as addresses, telephone numbers, or email addresses, and then utilize that data for navigational routing, generation of telephone calls, emailing and the like, from the vehicle's navigation system. A wireless device can be paired with the navigation system over a Bluetooth communication link, wherein the navigation system periodically polls the wireless device for newly received messages. In one embodiment, the NAVI displays icons on a map that correspond to the extracted addresses from the messages received in relation to the vehicle's current location. The icons can be shown in a plurality of visual formats to distinguish previously viewed locations from newly received ones. |
| US08193941B2 |
Snoring treatment
Health-sensing and health-action devices and systems are generally described. The health-sensing device may include one or more of a sensor, a filter, and a transmitter. The sensor may be configured to sense one or more factors relating to an indicator of a health related condition or occurrence such as snoring and may include one or more microphone devices, accelerometers, and/or MEMs devices. The filter may be configured to evaluate a signal from the sensor and determine if the indicator has been detected. The transmitter may be arranged for initiating a transmission based on a signal from the filter. The health-action device may be configured for responding to an indicator of a health related condition or occurrence of a user and may include one or more of a receiver, a processor, and a responder. The health-action device may stimulate the user or may cancel the snoring sound. |
| US08193937B2 |
Systems or method for tracking die use or yield
According to one aspect, a system that includes an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag reader, a plurality of cutting dies, a plurality of RFID tags connectable to the corresponding cutting dies, and a controller including a computer usable program code including program instructions for scanning instruction the RFID tag reader to scan the RFID tags, updating respective piece counts corresponding to specific shapes provided by some of the plurality of cutting dies, and displaying the respective piece counts. |
| US08193935B2 |
RFID perimeter alarm monitoring system
An RFID based security system detects a lock/unlocked condition when securing a premise and an open/close condition of a window and/or door to monitor for an intruder. A local interface polls a RFID tag and relays a read value to a user panel for a determination if an intruder has opened a window and/or door. Alternately, the local interface is connected to at least one of a second local interface and the user panel to form a security network. The security network is relied on to convey security information to the user panel for a determination if an intruder has opened a window and/or door. |
| US08193934B2 |
Method for using recording rules and previous value selection rules for presence information in a communications system
In a communications system, a presence server maintains and distributes presence information in accordance with recording rules and previous value selection rules. The presence server: associates a recording rule with each presence information element in a subset of a plurality of presence information elements for a presentity; maintains a set of previous values according to the recording rule associated with the presence information element, for each presence information element in the subset; receives an initial subscribe request from a watcher for one or more presence information elements in the subset; and in response to the initial subscribe request, notifies the watcher of a number of the previous values maintained for each presence information elements in the subscribe request, wherein the number of the previous values that is sent is determined by a previous value selection rule associated with each presence information element. |
| US08193932B1 |
Alerting based on temporospatial criteria
In some embodiments, techniques for processing an alert may include receiving a specification of a first location; receiving a time specification; creating an alert; associating the specification of the first location and the time specification with the alert; determining a current time; determining that the current time matches the time specification; determining a first current location as a second location, wherein determining the second location follows receiving the specification of the first location and precedes determining a third location; determining that the second location does not match the specification of the first location; determining a second current location as the third location; determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location; and presenting information relating to the alert. |
| US08193930B2 |
Systems and methods for remote irrigation control
Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to systems and methods for remote irrigation control. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a remote irrigation control system having a rain sensor enabled to detect the amount of rain received in a first rain area, and a first local transceiver in communication with the rain sensor, the first local transceiver configured to receive information from the rain sensor and transmit the information to a gateway, the first local transceiver also configured to receive information from the gateway. The gateway is connected to a wide area network and configured to receive information from the first local transceiver and transmit the information to the wide area network, the gateway also configured to receive information from the wide area network and transmit the information to the first local transceiver. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described. |
| US08193929B1 |
Integrated adaptive wireless mesh sensor platform and energy visualization and management system
A mesh-networked sensor platform has a mesh network of nodes that connect with existing electrical infrastructure or are powered through other means such as batteries or energy scavenging. The mesh network forms a self-healing and self-configuring network robust against individual node failures. Wireless mesh networking integrated circuits (ICs), energy monitoring ICs and solid state relays are used to create a low-cost, easy-to-install energy visualization and management system. The system can intelligently control energy usage at the sockets to stop energy from being wasted. Software for a central base station uses energy usage data from each node to create an energy usage profile to automatically detect anomalies in energy usage and take steps to correct them. Other sensors can be easily added for a multitude of applications. Power usage and control of each appliance can be viewed via an internet connected PC or smart phone via a social networking website. |
| US08193927B2 |
System and method for detecting wheel position and tire air pressure
In a tire air pressure detection system, a trigger device is caused to transmit a notification trigger signal to notify wheel position detection in advance of outputting a detection trigger signal for signal magnitude measurement. After confirming reception of the notification trigger signal by a transceiver device, the trigger device is caused to transmit a detection trigger signal for wheel position detection. The detection trigger signal is transmitted after the transceiver device is set in a signal reception wait condition. The transceiver device is thus enabled to receive the detection trigger signal to measure a signal magnitude of the detection trigger signal. |
| US08193917B2 |
Arrangement for the propagation of alarm information in a building automation system that includes one or more applications that access building system data via a monitoring and control system
A method includes accessing building automation data comprising a plurality of data objects, each data object corresponding to a device in a building automation system, the data objects interrelated in a first hierarchy. The method also includes receiving an event condition indication from a first device in the building automation system, and storing an indication of the event condition in a first data object corresponding to the first device. The method also includes propagating an indication of the event condition to upstream objects in the first hierarchy. |
| US08193915B2 |
Multiple transceiver synchronous communication system
A vehicle transceiver module is provided for use in a synchronous communication system including the vehicle transceiver module and one or more key fobs, each of the key fobs including a key fob transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals. The vehicle transceiver module includes transceiver circuitry, a controller, a storage device and power control circuitry. The transceiver circuitry receives the signal transmitted by the key fob transceiver and provides it to the controller. The controller is coupled to the transceiver for determining an offset value associated with one of the key fobs in response to an offset time duration between a reception time of the signal from the key fob and a first expected reception time of the signal from the key fob. The storage device is coupled to the controller for receiving the offset value associated with the key fob from the controller and stores the offset value along with information identifying the key fob. The power control circuitry is coupled to the transceiver circuitry for providing operational power thereto. In addition, the controller is also coupled to the power control circuitry and provides a begin transmission signal thereto to power up the transceiver circuitry for transmission of a signal to the key fob at a transmission start time determined by the controller in response to the offset value associated with the key fob and a second expected reception time. |
| US08193908B2 |
Pager with a touch-sensitive display screen and method for transmitting a message therefrom
An improved pager with a touch-sensitive display screen and method for transmitting a message therefrom is provided. Inputting a message onto the touch-sensitive display screen greatly facilitates sending a message from the pager and is more versatile than using navigation or soft keys to transmit built-in messages or using a small keyboard to type in messages. The pager of the preferred embodiments is operative to convert the inputted symbols into a text message and transmit the text message to a paging network. Because the pager transmits the content represented by the inputted symbols, the pager of the preferred embodiments is more versatile than pagers using ink-based systems, which merely transmit the image of the inputted symbol. If the pager is equipped with a browser application, the message from the pager can take the form of a request to a server located in a telecommunication network. |
| US08193904B2 |
Entry and exit control apparatus and entry and exit control method
When a user enters or leaves an area to which a security level is assigned, it is determined whether the user is allowed to enter or leave the area by performing authentication. When the user moves between areas to which different security levels are preliminarily assigned, appropriate authentication is performed on the user depending on the difference between the security levels of the areas. |
| US08193902B2 |
Remote control handset
A remote control handset for intuitively navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure. The remote control handset of the present invention is not required to have any buttons. The remote control handset has a first control surface, and a second control surface. The first control surface has a substantially planar portion and allows navigation with a level of the hierarchical menu structure. The second control surface has a component in an axis that is normal to the substantially planar portion of the first control surface, and is for navigating between the levels of the hierarchical menu structure. |
| US08193901B2 |
Remote controller, remote control system, and method for displaying detailed information
The present invention relates to a technology which acquires information specific to a device by an image pickup element and remotely controls a desired device based on the acquired device-specific information. Particularly, the present invention relates to a technology which displays information for performing detailed remote control easily. In the present invention, it is intended to display information about manipulation of a desired device as needed and to facilitate remote manipulation of the device. As a result, according to an aspect of the present invention, since detailed information of a desired device can be selected to be viewed, detailed information of each of multiple devices can be easily identified by a single controller as needed. |
| US08193897B2 |
Integrated lateral short circuit for a beneficial modification of current distribution structure for xMR magnetoresistive sensors
The invention relates to a magnetoresistive device formed to sense an externally applied magnetic field, and a related method. The magnetoresistive device includes a magnetoresistive stripe formed over an underlying, metallic layer that is patterned to produce electrically isolated conductive regions over a substrate, such as a silicon substrate. An insulating layer separates the patterned metallic layer from the magnetoresistive stripe. A plurality of conductive vias is formed to couple the isolated regions of the metallic layer to the magnetoresistive stripe. The conductive vias form local short circuits between the magnetoresistive stripe and the isolated regions of the metallic layer to alter the uniformity of a current flow therein, thereby improving the position and angular sensing accuracy of the magnetoresistive device. In an advantageous embodiment, the metallic layer is formed as electrically conductive stripes oriented at approximately a 45° angle with respect to an axis of the magnetoresistive device. |
| US08193895B2 |
Magnetic assembly and fabricating method thereof
A magnetic assembly includes a magnetic core, a circuit board and multiple conductive elements. The circuit board includes multiple conductive regions. The conductive elements stride over the magnetic core. Each of the conductive elements includes a first terminal, a second terminal and a connecting part. The connecting part is arranged between the first terminal and the second terminal for connecting the first terminal with the second terminal. The first terminal and the second terminal of each conductive element are respectively connected to two adjacent conductive regions. The multiple conductive elements and the multiple conductive regions collectively define multiple loops. The multiple loops interact with the magnetic core to generate inductance. |
| US08193892B2 |
Wire-wound coil
The disclosure provides a wire-wound coil that can prevent contact between an outer flange portion of the wire-wound coil and a mount board so as to prevent breakage of the outer flange portion and misalignment and unwinding of a wound conductive wire. A groove is provided in an outer side face of a flange at an end of a winding core, and an inner flange portion and an outer flange portion are provided on opposite sides of the groove. A distance from a bottom face of the groove to at least an outer side face of the outer flange portion that would be facing a mount board or is attached to a mount board is shorter than a distance from the bottom face of the groove to the inner flange portion. |
| US08193889B2 |
Filter appliance for a multiphase electrical converter device
A filter appliance comprises first electrical terminals (201-203) for connecting to a multiphase electrical converter device, second electrical terminals (204-206) for connecting to a load, main current coils formed of foil conductors and connected between the first and the second electrical terminals, and shielding coils whose first ends are electrically connected to a third electrical terminal (219) of the filter appliance. Each of the shielding coils is formed of foil conductor that is alongside and a distance apart from the foil conductor of the corresponding main current coil so as to form a capacitive shield between successive turns of the main current coil. When the third electrical terminal is connected to constant electrical potential, the shielding coils reduce the common mode voltage applied to the load and, for example, a risk of bearing damages in an electrical motor driven by a multiphase electrical converter device is reduced. |
| US08193884B2 |
Switching device including a moving ferromagnetic part
An electrical switching device that can be employed in a sliding button, a rotating button, in a position switch, or an impact sensor. This device includes: a permanent magnet creating a magnetic field and a microswitch controlled between at least two states, by being aligned along two different orientations of field lines of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet. The microswitch and the permanent magnet are fixed relative to one another and a movable ferromagnetic part is moved between two positions so as to act on the orientation of the field lines generated by the permanent magnet so as to impose on the microswitch one or other of its two states. |
| US08193883B2 |
Rotary switching mechanism
A switching system includes two or more rotary switching mechanisms for selectively moving items. The switching system may be used for switching optical elements, such as filters, into and out of an optical path, for example selectively placing one of a group of available filters into the optical path. Each of the rotary switching mechanisms has a passive torque device, including a mechanical flexure and a magnetic latch, that provides most of the torque for moving an item between a retracted position and an extended position, and vice versa. The passive torque device has a pair of null positions or detents at the retracted and extended positions. A brushless DC motor is used to provide a force to get the passive torque device out of these null positions. Thereafter the passive torque device is able on its own to provide most of the torque for movement. |
| US08193880B2 |
Transmitting radio frequency signal in semiconductor structure
A semiconductor device for transmitting a radio frequency signal along a signal line includes a signal line that extends along a principal axis. On one side of the signal line is a first dielectric, and on the opposite side of the signal line is a second dielectric. First and second ground lines are proximate to the first and second dielectrics, respectively, and the ground lines are approximately parallel to the signal line. The device has a transverse cross-section that varies along the principal axis. |
| US08193877B2 |
Duplexer with negative phase shifting circuit
A duplexer includes first and second acoustic filters and a phase shifter. The first acoustic filter is connected between an antenna and the transmitter, and has a first passband. The second acoustic filter is connected between the antenna and the receiver, and has a second passband. The phase shifter includes at least one series capacitor connected in series with the antenna and at least one shunt inductor connected between the at least one capacitor and ground. The phase shifter is connected between the antenna and the first filter when the first passband is higher than the second passband, and provides a negative phase shift of an output impedance of the first filter. The phase shifter is connected between the antenna and the second filter when the second passband is higher than the first passband, and provides a negative phase shift of an input impedance of the second filter. |
| US08193872B2 |
Waveguide circulator
A waveguide circulator which does not cause an arcing phenomenon and deterioration of microwave characteristic, even when a ferrite member generates heat to raise a temperature thereof. The waveguide circulator is composed of a waveguide formed substantially in Y-shape with rectangular waveguides which are provided so as to position horizontally on a predetermined plane, and further they are extended in different three directions from junction positions of the waveguide wherein two ferrite members are placed in the junction positions thereof so as to oppose to each other on the upper and lower sides in the height direction perpendicular to the predetermined plane wherein an extended section extending in the height direction in the vicinities of the junction positions of the waveguides is formed, and a distance between the ferrite members is expanded to compensate decreased impedance. |
| US08193867B2 |
Voltage controlled oscillator with dither
A voltage control signal at a voltage control signal input terminal is used to adjust an output frequency of an oscillator circuit. The voltage level of the voltage control signal is converted in a one-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to a digital output indicative of the voltage level. Successive digital representations of the voltage level of the voltage control signal are upsampled to generate upsampled blocks of data. A dither circuit inserts a digital dither in the upsampled blocks of data to generate dithered upsampled data, which is used to generate a control signal for a feedback divider of a phase-locked loop circuit and thereby adjust the output frequency. |
| US08193866B2 |
All-digital phase-locked loop
For decreasing errors within an analog phase-locked loop, an all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) with only digital components and digital operations is used. The ADPLL may also be used for direct frequency modulation (DFM). By modulating certain parameters within the ADPLL by following an all-pass frequency response, a loop gain of the ADPLL may be precisely modulated, and an available bandwidth of the ADPLL is also significantly broadened. |
| US08193865B2 |
Output circuit using analog amplifier
An output circuit includes an analog amplifier circuit including a differential amplifier stage configured to receive an input voltage, and first to nth output systems (n is a natural number more than 1); first to nth output nodes; an output pad; and first to nth electrostatic protection resistances. An ith output system (i is a natural number between 2 and n) of the first to nth output systems includes an ith PMOS transistor having a drain connected with the ith output node of the first to nth output nodes and a gate connected with a first output of the differential amplifier stage; and an ith NMOS transistor having a drain connected with the ith output node and a gate connected with a second output of the differential amplifier stage. The first to nth electrostatic protection resistances are respectively connected between the first to nth output nodes and the output pad. |
| US08193863B2 |
Push-pull output circuit
According to one embodiment, a first transistor is connected between a first power supply rail and an output unit. A second transistor is connected between the output unit and a second power supply rail. A gm amplifier includes an input unit and first and second output terminals and amplifies a difference between a signal input to the input unit and a reference voltage. First and second current mirror circuits are connected to be vertically stacked between the first rail and the first terminal as well as a gate of the second transistor. Third and fourth current mirror circuits are connected to be vertically stacked between the second rail and the second terminal as well as a gate of the first transistor. The gate of the first transistor is connected to the first and second circuits. The gate of the second transistor is connected to the third and fourth circuits. |
| US08193857B1 |
Wideband doherty amplifier circuit
An amplifier circuit includes a signal summing node, a first amplifier configured to operate in a first mode, an impedance inverter, a second amplifier configured to operate in a second mode and a wideband impedance transformer. The impedance inverter couples an output of the first amplifier to the signal summing node. The impedance inverter is configured to provide impedance transformation and load modulation to the first amplifier. The second amplifier has an output coupled to the signal summing node. The wideband impedance transformer has a first end coupled to the signal summing node and a second end forming a terminal node. The wideband impedance transformer is configured to present a real impedance to the first amplifier over at least 25% of a radio frequency bandwidth of the amplifier circuit. |
| US08193851B2 |
Fuse circuit of semiconductor device and method for monitoring fuse state thereof
A fuse circuit of a semiconductor device includes a plurality of fuse set units configured to compare an input address with address information programmed according to a fuse cutting state and a test control unit configured to enable one or more fuse set units selected based on a number of times that a selection signal is enabled in a test mode. |
| US08193847B2 |
Timing circuit and method of generating an output timing signal
A timing circuit and corresponding method are provided to generate an output timing signal in dependence on an input timing signal. The timing circuit comprises a plurality of circuit components, each circuit component configured to receive an input dependent on the input timing signal and to generate an output in dependence on that input. Each circuit component performs switching operations by switching its output level in response to a transition of its input level. Each circuit component exhibits a delay in switching its output level, the delay comprising a first delay associated with a first switching of its output level and a second delay associated with a second switching of its output level. The first switching is in an opposite direction to the second switching and the first delay and the second delay exhibit a change in magnitude as each circuit component repeatedly performs its switching operations. This change in magnitude is in opposite directions for the first delay and the second delay respectively, and the plurality of circuit components are arranged such that a timing of the output timing signal is dependent on both said first delay and said second delay, such that the effects of each on the timing of the output signal counteract one another. |
| US08193845B2 |
Binary-weighted delta-sigma fractional-N frequency synthesizer with digital-to-analog differentiators canceling quantization noise
A phase lock loop includes a quantization circuit that generators an out of phase noise cancellation signal from an error in a delta-sigma modulator and applies the noise cancellation signal to the charge pump. The quantization circuit includes a digital-to-analog differentiator. The digital-to-analog differentiator may be, for example, a single-bit first-order digital-to-analog differentiator, a single-bit second-order digital-to-analog differentiator, or a full M-bit binary-weighted digital to analog differentiator. |
| US08193844B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for operating the same
A semiconductor device includes an internal source clock generation unit configured to output first and second internal source clocks, a clock phase correction unit configured to correct a phase difference between the first and second internal source clocks according to a detection result, and to output first and second phase-corrected internal source clocks, a clock delay unit configured to delay the first and second phase-corrected internal source clocks and to generate first and second delay locked loop (DLL) clocks, and a clock output unit configured to mix phases of the first and second DLL clocks to output a DLL clock, and to output a feedback clock to reflect an actual delay condition of an external source clock path in the first or second DLL clock. |
| US08193843B1 |
Charge pump tracking circuit for a phase lock loop
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling the voltage drop across output transistors in a charge pump. |
| US08193840B2 |
System timer and a mobile system including the same
A system timer including a divider unit configured to fractionally divide a first clock signal and output a second clock signal having an asymmetric duty ratio and an interrupt generation unit configured to count a cycle of the second clock signal and output an interrupt signal according to the count. |
| US08193835B1 |
Circuit and method for switching voltage
An example of a circuit for generating high-voltage switching at an output terminal of the circuit includes a pair of n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistors responsive to input signals to generate a first voltage signal in a preset mode. The circuit also includes a predefined number of n-type cascode stages coupled between the output terminal and the pair of NMOS transistors to enable propagation of the first voltage signal to the output terminal. Further, the circuit includes a predefined number of p-type cascode stages coupled to the output terminal to enable propagation of the first voltage signal to an input voltage supply to the circuit. Furthermore, the circuit includes a first pair of cross-coupled p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistors coupled to the input voltage supply. The circuit includes a pair of PMOS transistors, coupled between the first pair of cross-coupled PMOS transistors and the p-type cascode stage. |
| US08193832B1 |
Arbiter array using two-dimensional address decoding
A system comprises a plurality of requesting agents and granting agents configured in an array of rows and a plurality of columns. Corresponding to each requesting agent is a plurality of row address decoders and column address decoders, one row decoder for each row of granting agents and one column decoder for each column of granting agents. Each row decoder receives a first subset of an address' bits from a requesting agent and generates a row output bit provided to each granting agent in the row of that row address decoder. Each column decoder receives a second subset of bits of the address and generates a column output bit provided to each granting agent in the column corresponding to such column decoder. Each granting agent logically combines the row and column output bits from row and column decoders of a requesting agent to generate a request signal for the granting agent. |
| US08193828B2 |
Buffer apparatus, integrated circuit and method of reducing a portion of an oscillation of an output signal
A buffer apparatus for a communications bus comprises a driver circuit having an output. An amplifier circuit having an input is coupled to the output of the driver circuit. The driver circuit is arranged to generate, when in use, a drive signal having a waveform that comprises a step therein so as to substantially suppress generation by the amplifier circuit of a portion of an oscillation of an output signal. |
| US08193823B2 |
Assembly for electrical conductivity measurements in the piston cylinder device
An assembly apparatus for measurement of electrical conductivity or other properties of a sample in a piston cylinder device wherein pressure and heat are applied to the sample by the piston cylinder device. The assembly apparatus includes a body, a first electrode in the body, the first electrode operatively connected to the sample, a first electrical conductor connected to the first electrode, a washer constructed of a hard conducting material, the washer surrounding the first electrical conductor in the body, a second electrode in the body, the second electrode operatively connected to the sample, and a second electrical conductor connected to the second electrode. |
| US08193822B2 |
System and method for determining capacitance value
A circuit for determining a value of a variable capacitor includes first circuitry for generating a first indication when a variable voltage across the variable capacitor exceeds a threshold voltage. Second circuitry generates a second indication when a reference voltage across a reference capacitor exceeds the threshold voltage. Control logic responsive to the first and second indications generate a control signal indicating whether the first indication or the second indication occurs first. A successive approximation engine generates an N-bit control value responsive to the control signal. A variable current source is responsive to the N-bit control value for generating a variable current to the first circuitry. A reference current source generates a reference current to the second circuitry. |
| US08193820B2 |
Occupant detection system
An occupant detection system is a part of a vehicle occupant protection system. The vehicle occupant protection system is enabled to be activated when the occupant detection system determines an ON state indicative of existence of an occupant on a seat. The vehicle occupant protection system is disabled to be activated when the occupant detection system determines an OFF state. The system includes a capacitive sensor which detects the occupant based on a capacitance around the seat. The system determines the ON state or the OFF state based on the detected value of the capacitive sensor and a predetermined threshold value. The system evaluates whether the determination result in the determination block is appropriate or not. Then, the system biases the threshold value to suppress a reversal determination from the determination result which is evaluated as appropriate. |
| US08193811B2 |
Dual-frequency coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system
A dual-frequency coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The coil array includes a first coil element having a pair of dual-frequency loop coils and a second coil element having a pair of dual-frequency loop coils. The coil array further includes at least one capacitive mesh configured to decouple the pairs of dual-frequency loop coils of the first and second coil elements. |
| US08193810B2 |
MRI apparatus with RF surface coil having at least three resonance frequencies
An RF coil having at least three different resonance frequencies, wherein one of the resonance frequencies is adjusted to be a frequency fA of a magnetic resonance signal generated by a test subject, and the coil is adjusted so that ratio of difference between the frequency fA and a first frequency fB lower than fA and nearest to fA among the resonance frequencies (fA−fB), and difference between the frequency fA and a second resonance frequency fC higher than fA and nearest to the frequency fA among the resonance frequencies (fC−fA), should be from 0.5 to 2.0. There is provided a technique for receiving magnetic resonance signals always with high detection efficiency by an RF coil of an MRI apparatus even if significant loss is caused in the RF coil, or test subject is changed. |
| US08193807B2 |
Magnetic sensor device
Provided is a magnetic sensor device including: a switching circuit that controls switching of a terminal pair of the magnetoelectric conversion element to which a supply voltage is applied and a terminal pair to which detection voltage of a magnetic intensity is output; a differential amplifier that differentially amplifies the detection voltage; a first capacitor connected to a first output terminal of the differential amplifier; a second switch connected to a second output terminal of the differential amplifier; a comparator that has a first input terminal connected to the first capacitor and a second input terminal connected to the second switch; a first switch connected between the first input terminal and an output terminal of the comparator; and a second capacitor connected to the second input terminal of the comparator; and a detection voltage setting circuit connected to the second capacitor, in which effects of respective offset voltages of the magnetoelectric conversion element, the amplifier, and the comparator are suppressed, and an arbitrary detection magnetic field intensity is set to enable accurate magnetic reading. |
| US08193805B2 |
Magnetic sensor
A magnetic sensor capable of detecting a magnetic field with high sensitivity is provided. The magnetic sensor includes a bridge circuit having a plurality of magneto resistive effect elements connected with each other, and is capable of detecting a differential voltage between predetermined connecting points. The magneto resistive effect elements output resistance values which vary in accordance with a direction of a magnetic field to be input, and are arranged such that fixed magnetization directions of all magneto resistive effect elements are in the same direction. Further, a magnetic body which changes the direction of the magnetic field to be input to the magneto resistive effect elements is also provided in the vicinity of the bridge circuit. |
| US08193804B2 |
Device for measuring AC magnetization of materials
Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring ac magnetization at mixture frequency. The apparatus includes an ac generating unit for generating at least a first current with a frequency f1 and a second current with a frequency f2. The apparatus further includes a co-axial solenoid unit, driven by the first and second ac currents, to generate a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field. A pick-up solenoid is for disposing sample for detecting an ac magnetization of the sample and multiple frequency-component signals corresponding to various frequency combinations of f1 and f2 are output. The apparatus further includes a signal processing circuit for receiving the frequency-component signals, where the signal processing circuit obtains the ac magnetization of the sample at a target frequency of (γTf1+βTf2), which γT and βT are positive integers and the frequency f1 and the frequency f2 are two different frequencies. |
| US08193800B2 |
Voltage controlled on-chip decoupling capacitance to mitigate power supply noise
A method and system for reducing the noise level of a power supply system with the implementation of a voltage controlled decoupling capacitor in an electrical circuit. Voltage variations of the power supply caused by switching currents are detected by a voltage sensor control circuit. The voltage sensor circuit compares a stable reference voltage with the varying voltage level of the power supply in order to generate a sensor control voltage. When applied to the decoupling capacitor, the control voltage adjusts the capacitance of the voltage controlled capacitor. The adjusted capacitance allows the voltage controlled decoupling capacitor to compensate for the effects of the voltage variations by supplying an increased quantity of charge to various circuit components. Thus, the voltage controlled capacitor is able to efficiently reduce noise within the power supply system. |
| US08193796B2 |
Multiphase power regulator with load adaptive phase control
Disclosed is a power regulator for providing precisely regulated power to a microelectronic device such as a microprocessor. Improved power regulation is accomplished by optimizing the power efficiency of the power regulator. In particular, in a multiphase system, the number of active phases is increased or decreased to achieve optimum power efficiency. The multiphase voltage regulator adapts the operating mode to maximize efficiency as the load current demand of the load device changes by adjusting the number of active phases to maximize efficiency. The total value of current provided by the regulator and the total number of active phases is determined, the total number of active phases is compared with the number of active phases required to provide the total value of current at maximum efficiency; and the number of active phases is adjusted to provide the total value of current at maximum efficiency.A current sense circuit senses the current at each phase, a summing circuit coupled to the output of the current sense circuit provides the total current value of all the measured phases, a circuit coupled to the output of the summing circuit provides the time averaged total current value to a threshold detecting circuit that determines the number of phases at which the voltage regulator should be operating for maximum efficiency, and a circuit for comparing the number of phases that are operating to the number of phases at which the voltage regulator should be operating adjusts the number of active phases to the number of phases at which the voltage regulator should be operating for maximum efficiency. |
| US08193794B2 |
Voltage regulator having an output voltage automatically adjusted according to a load current
A voltage regulator includes an adjuster to provide an adjust signal according to its load current to adjust at least one of the feedback signal, the reference signal, the error signal, and the ripple signal of the voltage regulator, to automatically adjust the output voltage. The output voltage increases when the load current increases, and decreases when the load current decreases. Preferably, a CCR voltage regulator according to the present invention will have its PWM frequency varying with its output voltage and thus have better transient performance. |
| US08193792B2 |
Circuit and method for operating a circuit
A circuit and method for operating a circuit is provided that includes a circuit section that has a number of memory elements, a first voltage regulator that can be connected or is connected to the circuit section in order to operate the circuit section, a second voltage regulator that can be connected or is connected to the circuit section in order to preserve an information item stored in the memory elements, a switching device that is connected to the circuit section and is designed to deactivate and activate inputs of the circuit section. The circuit being configured to control a deactivation and activation of the first voltage regulator and the deactivation and activation of the inputs of the circuit section. |
| US08193791B2 |
Maximum output power control of a flyback converter
A method and apparatus for a flyback converter estimate the next value of the current limit for the flyback converter according to a present current limit value to achieve the maximum output power control of the flyback converter. An arithmetic circuit is used to calculate the next current limit value according three parameters, the present current limit value, the value of the current sense signal taken after a first time period counting from the instant when the present duty is triggered, and the variation of the current sense signal during a second time period, thereby narrowing the tolerance of the output power from the flyback converter. |
| US08193790B2 |
Switching power converter and controller
A switching power converter includes an input for receiving an input voltage, an output for providing an output voltage, a controller, and a power circuit coupled between the input and the output and including at least one switch. The controller is configured to determine a duty cycle for the switch to regulate the output voltage and control the switch with a PWM drive signal having an on-time and an off-time. The PWM drive signal has a constant frequency and a duty cycle equal to the determined duty cycle when the determined duty cycle is greater than or equal to a minimum duty cycle. The PWM drive signal has a variable frequency and a duty cycle equal to the minimum duty cycle when the determined duty cycle is less than the minimum duty cycle. |
| US08193789B2 |
Microprocessor-controlled multifunction light with intrinsically safe energy limiting
An intrinsically safe energy limited circuit for space-restricted applications includes a fuse and resistor in series with a protected circuit or component wherein the fuse dissipates most of the power when the protected circuit or component is short circuited. |
| US08193788B2 |
Method and device for controlling a configurable power supply to provide AC and/or DC power output
An apparatus, device, and system for generating an amount of output power in response to a direct current (DC) power input includes a configurable power supply, which may be electrically coupled to the DC power input. The configurable power supply is selectively configurable between multiple circuit topologies to generate various DC power outputs and/or and AC power output. The system may also include one or more DC power electronic accessories, such as DC-to-DC power converters, and/or one or more AC power electronic accessories such as DC-to-AC power converters. The power electronic accessories are couplable to the configurable power supply to receive the corresponding DC or AC power output of the configurable power supply. |
| US08193786B2 |
Driving circuit for depletion mode semiconductor switches
A driving circuit for a half bridge utilizing bidirectional semiconductor switches in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a high side driver operable to control a high side bidirectional semiconductor switch, wherein the high side driver provides a negative bias voltage to the bidirectional semiconductor switch to turn the high side bidirectional semiconductor switch OFF. A low side driver may be operable to control a low side bidirectional semiconductor switch. An external voltage source with a negative terminal of the voltage source connected to the high side driver may be provided. A high side driving switch may be positioned between the negative terminal of the voltage source and the high side driver and operable to connect the high side driver to the negative terminal of the voltage source when the low side driver turns the low side bidirectional semiconductor switch ON. |
| US08193785B2 |
Power supply
A switching regulator for regulating an ac signal, and method of supplying power thereto wherein the regulator includes a positive half cycle part and a negative half-cycle part arranged to regulate the respective parts of an input ac signal. Each half-cycle part includes a modulating transistor, having an associated modulator diode, and a clamping diode arranged to protect the modulating transistor from reverse-bias voltages and having an associated clamp switch. The regulator further has a first switching controller operable to cause the modulating transistors to switch and a second, separate switching controller operable to cause the clamp switches to switch. |
| US08193777B2 |
Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery charging method, electronic device, battery pack, and charging device
The present invention aims to quickly charge a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a heat-resistant layer between a negative electrode and a positive electrode. A method according to the present invention for charging a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a heat-resistant layer between a negative electrode and a positive electrode is provided with a step of performing pulse charge on the secondary battery, a step of detecting a change amount of a cell voltage associated with a change in the concentration polarization of the non-aqueous electrolyte as a polarization voltage, and a step of terminating the pulse charge when the polarization voltage increases to or above a predetermined threshold value. According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly charge the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the heat-resistant layer between the negative electrode and the positive electrode at such a borderline level as not to cause overcharge. |
| US08193772B2 |
Overvoltage protection utilized when a battery is removed from a system
A system and method are provided for safely recharging a battery. A current source is coupled to a node and configured to produce a current. The battery is coupled to the node, and is configured to recharge during a recharging cycle based on receiving the current through the node. An overvoltage protection system is coupled between the node and the current source, and configured to disable the current source when a voltage at the node exceeds a threshold value. For example, the current source may be substantially instantaneously disabled when this occurs. |
| US08193771B2 |
Battery tester
A battery tester determines a remaining level of charge of a battery mounted within a separate electronic device having an audio jack. The battery tester includes a plug and a circuit having a high impedance input amplifier. At least one electrical contact of the plug is electrically coupled to an input of the high impedance input amplifier. The plug is removably insertable within the audio jack such that the battery of the separate electronic device is electrically connected to the input of the high impedance input amplifier. When electrically coupled to the battery, an output of the high impedance input amplifier provides a signal proportional to the remaining level of charge of the battery, whereby the remaining level of charge of the battery is obtainable by the battery tester without having to remove the battery from the electronic device. |
| US08193770B2 |
Battery system for a vehicle having an over-current/over-temperature protective feature
A battery system for storing electrical power and supplying electrical power to a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes multiple battery packs, each with a plurality of cells. The cells in each battery pack are electrically connected with one another and the multiple battery packs are also electrically connected with one another to combine the total energy output of the cells of the system. The electrical connections between at least some of the cells include a severable feature, whereby the electrical connection is severed locally at the severable feature in response to an impact force that is in excess of a predetermined magnitude and/or an overcurrent/overtemperature condition. |
| US08193769B2 |
Inductively chargeable audio devices
An inductively enabled audio speaker is disclosed configured to receive power inductively from an inductive power outlet. The audio speaker device has a voice coil which, as well as being able to produce an audible output, is further configured to function as a secondary inductor to inductively couple with a primary inductor. The inductively enabled audio speaker may be used to power an electrical device such as a Bluetooth earpiece, a telephone or the like. |
| US08193768B2 |
Contactless charging system for musical instruments
A contactless charging system for an electric musical instrument includes an instrument stand configured to support a musical instrument, and which includes a contactless charging port configured for connection to a power source such as an electric wall outlet. A charging circuit module is configured for incorporation within the musical instrument, and includes a second contactless charging port in physical electrical contact with circuit elements configured to provide at least one predetermined voltage to at least one rechargeable portable power supply. The second contactless charging port is configured for contactless charging engagement with the first contactless charging port, so that the second port receives power from the power source when the instrument is placed in the stand. |
| US08193764B2 |
Wireless charging of electronic devices
Wireless chargers are provided. The wireless chargers can simultaneously receive and transmit power wirelessly. The wireless chargers can include a rechargeable battery so that the wireless charges can be used portably to charge electronic devices. The wireless chargers can also be programmable so that a user can select a power-transmitting protocol that is particularly suited for the electronic device being charged. |
| US08193752B2 |
Actuator assembly having operation indication function
An actuator assembly having an operation indication function is disclosed. The actuator assembly includes an actuator, a controller and an indication lamp set. The actuator has a motor, a screw, and an extension rod, which has limit positions connected with a limit switch set. The controller controls the motor of the actuator to rotate clockwise or anticlockwise. The indication lamp set is settled on at least one point on a circuit between the actuator and the controller and electrically communicated with the limit switch set. Thereby, when the extension rod touches any of the limit positions and thus triggers the limit switch set, the indication lamp set illuminates to indicate that the extension rod of the actuator reaches the corresponding limit position. |
| US08193751B2 |
Window covering driving device
A window covering driving device includes a motor and a control circuit, the control circuit is provided with a microprocessor, a control wire, a control signal input terminal, and a switching circuit and the motor is connected to a drive power supply via the switching circuit. The switching circuit is connected to the microprocessor and the control signal input terminal is connected to the microprocessor via the control wire. A safety position limiting wire is also included with one end of the safety position limiting wire being connected to the microprocessor and the other end is connected to a safety position limiting signal control terminal. The safety position limiting wire and safety position limiting signal control terminal are attached so that, when the safety position limiting signal control terminal is at the position limiting state, as the motor runs to the position limiting position, it will automatically stop. |
| US08193749B2 |
Control device and control system for electric rotating machine
A control device has a unit for determining a controlled phase of a controlled voltage outputted from an inverter to a generator according to a difference between a target torque and an estimated torque of the generator, a unit for calculating an instructed vector norm of the controlled voltage from the target torque, an electrical angular speed of the generator and parameters indicating characteristics of the generator, a unit for correcting the instructed norm to an adjusted vector norm such that a phase of current flowing through the generator in response to the controlled voltage set at the controlled phase and the adjusted norm is controlled to a phase of an instructed current determined from the target torque, and a unit for controlling the generator by controlling the inverter to output the controlled voltage set at the controlled phase and the adjusted norm to the generator. |
| US08193745B2 |
Filtering and boosting a signal from a drive circuit
A method and apparatus comprises a filter receiving an input voltage signal from a drive circuit, and a filter producing an output voltage signal with reduced resonance and transients. The amplitude of the output voltage signal is boosted using the filter. |
| US08193741B2 |
Boosting driver circuit for light-emitting diodes
Various embodiments relate to an light-emitting diode (LED) driver and related method that drives various LEDs in an LED string beyond their isolated nominal luminance. Individual LEDs in an LED string may be thermally dependent so that specific LEDs may operate at higher temperatures without degradation. This may include driving specific LEDs beyond isolated nominal luminance when associated LEDs dim below their isolated nominal luminance. Such operation allows the LED to receive higher amounts of current and therefore exhibit higher luminous intensity. A control circuit may monitor the forward voltage and temperature in a feedback loop to ensure that the LEDs in the string are operating below a defined maximum junction temperature. The control circuit may signal a processing unit to adjust adjacent circuits to compensate when the controlled LEDs cannot produce a requested luminance without operating beyond a maximum junction temperature. |
| US08193738B2 |
Dimmable LED device with low ripple current and driving circuit thereof
A dimmable light emitting diode (LED) device with low ripple current includes a LED module, a phase dimmer, a voltage converting module, a driving module and a feedback module. The flyback converter of the voltage converting module adds a secondary forward winding connecting to a phase cut-off detector to provide a detecting voltage in proportion to current level of the output current across the LED module. |
| US08193735B2 |
LED lamp with high efficacy and high color rendering and manufacturing method thereof
A LED lamp and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. At least one blue LED chip can be used as an excitation light source. A number of red LED chips are arranged around the blue LED chip. The blue LED chip and red chips are covered with a packaging material with phosphor. The intensity of red light can be adjusted by a control circuit. Thus, the white LED lamps with high efficacy and high color rendering at different color temperatures can be achieved. |
| US08193734B2 |
Control circuit and method for backlight sources, and image display apparatus and lighting apparatus using the same
An light emitting diode (LED) control, a plurality of duty cycle signals corresponding to a plurality of LEDs are stored in a dual-port memory by memory mapping. By sampling, the stored duty cycle signals are outputted to generate a plurality of parallel single-bit data each having one single bit. After the single-bit data are converted by a data transmission module, each bit of the single-bit data is serially outputted to a drive module to drive the LEDs. Thus, the ON duty cycles of the LEDs are modulated by pulse width modulation (PWM), light emitted from the LEDs are mixed in time-domain, and the brightness of the LEDs can be controlled. |
| US08193731B2 |
Package of constant-current supplying chip and LED lamp driven by alternating current
An LED lamp driven by alternating current includes at least a first constant-current supplying device, at least a second constant-current supplying device and at least an LED load. A terminal of the first constant-current supplying device is connected to the first connecting terminal of the AC power source. A terminal of the second constant-current supplying device is connected to the second connecting terminal of the AC power source. The LED load is connected between the first constant-current supplying device and the second constant-current supplying device in series. Through the current limiting function of the first constant-current supplying device and the second constant-current supplying device, the LED lamp may be protected. |
| US08193725B2 |
Voltage converter, backlight module control system and control method thereof
A backlight module control system includes a plurality of backlight sub-modules, a control signals output unit, a voltage converter and a plurality of current control units. The control signals output circuit is for providing a voltage control signal, a current control signal and a plurality of PWM signals; the voltage converter is coupled to the control signals output circuit and the backlight sub-modules, and is for outputting an output voltage to the backlight sub-modules according to the voltage control signal; the current control units are coupled to the backlight sub-modules, respectively, and each current control unit is for determining a current of its corresponding backlight sub-module according to the current control signal, and each current control unit is further utilized for determining whether its corresponding backlight sub-module is enabled or not according to its corresponding PWM signal. In addition, only one backlight module is enabled at a same time. |
| US08193719B2 |
Using pulse density modulation for controlling dimmable electronic lighting ballasts
Pulse Density Modulation (PDM) controls light brightness from a fluorescent lamp by applying voltages to the lamp filaments at two or more sequential signal frequencies. A low frequency, an intermediate frequency and a high frequency may be used to control the brightness of the lamp. The lamp gas ionizes to produce light only when the low or intermediate frequency voltage is applied thereto. The lamp gas is not ionized at the high frequency voltage, but the high frequency voltage keeps the lamp filaments warm during low brightness conditions. The low frequency, intermediate frequency, no and/or high frequency voltages have time periods that occur within a modulation frame time period that repeats continuously. The ratio of the low frequency and intermediate frequency time periods, and the no and/or high frequency voltage time periods determine the light output of the fluorescent lamp, and also maintain a proper temperature of the filaments. |