| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08204707B2 |
Time delay estimation
A time differential is estimated between a plurality of signals by determining a filter response of a first electrical signal with a first filter array, determining a filter response of a second electrical signal with a second filter array, and determining, based at least on the filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal, a time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal. A first optical signal is converted into the first electrical signal and a second optical signal is converted into the second electrical signal. The filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal are sampled and the time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal is determined based at least on the sampled filter response of the first electrical signal and the sampled filter response of the second electrical signal. |
| US08204705B2 |
Quantum resonance interferometry for detecting signals
Systems and apparatus related to quantum resonance interferometry for detecting signals are described. A first signal is interferometrically coupled with a first quantum mechanical function to generate a first tunneling rate; a second signal is interferometrically coupled with a second quantum mechanical function to generate a second tunneling rate; the first tunneling rate and the second tunneling rate are interferometrically coupled to generate a third tunneling rate; and upon determining that the third tunneling rate is greater than a threshold, the second signal is identified as corresponding to the first signal. |
| US08204704B2 |
MOS capacitance test structure and associated method for measuring a curve of capacitance as a function of the voltage
A test structure for precise characterization of an MOS stack has two semiconductor devices DT1 and DT2 comprising MOS transistors. The dimensions (length Li, width Wi) of the transistors of the first device Ti and the dimensions (length L′i, width W′i) of the transistors T′i of the second device are selected so that the sum of the lengths of the transistors on the one hand, and the sum of the widths of the transistors on the other hand, are respectively equal in the two devices, and so that the surface area difference Sequiv between the two devices is nonzero. An associated measurement method is used to calculate the curve of the difference capacitance between the two devices as a function of the voltage by means of a capacimeter. By placing each of the devices as the load of a suitably controlled CMOS inverter, this curve can be recorded by a dynamic measurement method based on measuring the current in each inverter. |
| US08204701B2 |
Aeroelastic model using the principal shapes of modes (AMPS)
The Aeroelastic Model using the Principal Shapes of modes (AMPS) is a method used to predict flutter in gas turbine engines. Modern gas turbine engines often include rotors with flexible disks and/or significant blade geometry variations. The AMPS method accounts for the varying blade mode shapes associated with flexible disks as well as changing blade geometry, providing accurate flutter predictions for a large number of modes from a relatively small number of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulations. The AMPS method includes determining a smaller set of principal shapes that approximates a larger set of structural modes of interest. Using linear superposition, aerodynamic forces associated with the vibration of the principal shapes can be used to construct the full aerodynamic coupling matrix associated with the structural modes of interest. An eigenvalue equation is solved to determine a damping distribution associated with the structural modes of interest. The damping distribution is predictive of flutter. |
| US08204696B2 |
Method and apparatus for chromatographic data processing
A chromatographic analyzer is provided for facilitating curve fitting by means of the linear least-square method for a chromatogram that contains a plurality of overlapping peaks. The present invention is characterized by a chromatographic data processor for executing data processing of a chromatogram obtained by separating a sample to be measured using a column and detecting the separated sample, wherein fitting processing is executed to each peak in an arbitrary time region having the plurality of peaks of the chromatogram starting from the front side of the time region or from the back side of the time region, and the processed peaks are subtracted from the chromatogram in the time region so that the plurality of peaks in the chromatogram can be separated from one another. Thus, the plurality of overlapping peaks, particularly three or more overlapping peaks in the chromatogram can be easily separated from one another only by defining some setting conditions. |
| US08204692B2 |
System, program product, and method for drilling rig activity accounting visualization
A system to monitor drilling rig activity and to provide and manage drilling rig information, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system can include a communication network, a drilling rig information management server, a database accessible to the processor of the server, and drilling rig information management program product stored in the memory of the drilling rig information management server and including instructions that when executed by the processor of the drilling rig information management server cause the server to perform the operations of retrieving drilling rig location data from the database responsive to user selection of a geospatial location attribute, accessing digital mapping data to display a digital map associated with the user selected geospatial location attribute, and providing data to display indicia of a drilling rig location for at least one drilling rig overlaid upon and spatially oriented to at least portions of the digital map. |
| US08204691B2 |
Method and apparatus for recording and using down hole sensor and diagnostic events in measurement while drilling
A method and apparatus for providing a downhole measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool with diagnostic capability by including one or more printed circuit boards to the tool with firmware processors that internally record significant system diagnostic events that can be time correlated with known tool operational problems. The concept includes firmware protocol to enable transfer all of the recorded data to an external software analysis program after the MWD tool is removed from a drilling run. |
| US08204687B2 |
Display route creation method, display route creation apparatus, and display route creation program
A display route creation method includes: a route determination step in which a route determination section determines a route based on a departure point and a destination set on a map; a directional sign information extraction step in which a read section reads out directional sign information existing on the route from a map information storage section; and a route creation step in which a merging section merges a display image portion indicating the road direction included in the directional sign information and the route to create a display route in which the route and display image portion are integrated with each other. |
| US08204686B2 |
Scheduling method using portable terminal and navigation terminal
A scheduling method using a portable terminal and a navigation terminal is disclosed, each of which has a short-range wireless communication module. The portable terminal creates schedule information including location data and alarm time data, and registers the schedule information as navigation schedule information. The portable terminal displays the schedule information when the alarm time occurs and transmits the location data to the navigation terminal through the short-range wireless communication module. The navigation terminal displays a route according to the received location data. |
| US08204685B2 |
Navigation device and road lane recognition method thereof
Provided is a road lane recognition method in a navigation device, which can differentiate a road lane occupied by a vehicle running on bidirectional lanes, including estimating a vehicle location based on satellite signal received from a carrier-based navigation satellite system and correction information received from a master station; determining a drive direction of the vehicle using vehicle location information and road lane information stored in a digital map; for each road lane in the road lane information, calculating a distance between a center line of the respective road lane and the vehicle location using the vehicle location information and the road lane information; and determining the road lane having a minimum value among the calculated distances as a drive lane. |
| US08204684B2 |
Adaptive mobile device navigation
Adaptive mobile device navigation system, methods, and apparatus provide location information for a mobile device performing location estimation using dead reckoning. Multiple estimation modes can be selected including a mode for restricting measured movements to surrounding streets. Updated location fixes can be obtained through turn comparison with surrounding map information and user feedback. User feedback prompts can include photographs having geographic tag information corresponding to locations near an estimated location of the device. |
| US08204680B1 |
Method of operating a navigation system to provide road curvature
A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide road curvature is provided. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of spline control points representing a two-dimensional geometry of a portion a road segment and obtaining data indicating a road grade of the portion of the road segment. The spline control points and data indicating road grade are obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. The method further comprises projecting the spline control points onto a slope provided by the road grade to obtain a representation of a restored true road curvature of the portion of the road segment. |
| US08204676B2 |
Navigation apparatus
A navigation apparatus in a vehicle acquires use history information relative to electronic money payment from an electronic money payment apparatus such as an IC card or a cellular phone. The use history information includes detail information such as position information, a name, and a corresponding terminal ID with respect to an electronic money used facility, in which electronic money payment is made. The detail information is used as a key word to designate a position of the electronic money used facility. The designated position of the used facility can be then displayed as a mark for indicating an electronic money used facility on a map displayed in a display device. This enables a discernible display of the position of the electronic money used facility. |
| US08204674B2 |
Apparatus for controlling engine using crank signal and cam signal
In an apparatus for controlling an engine, an input switching unit switches an input signal to be inputted to an input path from a crank signal to a cam signal when it is determined that the crank signal is abnormal. An event signal generating unit generates a crank-input event signal while it is determined that the crank signal is abnormal by an abnormality determining unit. The crank-input event signal has a level that repetitively changes in a predetermined direction. Each level change of the crank-input event signal is synchronized with a corresponding level change of the crank signal. A monitoring unit monitors a level change of the crank-input event signal while it is determined that the crank signal is abnormal by the abnormality determining unit. |
| US08204671B2 |
System and method of estimating gas turbine engine performance
An example method of estimating gas turbine engine performance deterioration includes monitoring debris in at least a portion of an engine and estimating performance deterioration of at least one component of the engine using information from the monitoring. The method may use gas path parameters, such as pressures, temperatures, and speeds to establish the estimated performance deterioration. An example gas turbine engine performance assessment system includes a debris monitoring system configured to monitor debris moving through a portion of an engine and a controller programmed to estimate performance deterioration of at least one component of the engine based on information from the debris monitoring system. |
| US08204670B2 |
Cruise control system using instruction sent from switch
In a cruise control system installed in a vehicle and electrically connected to a plurality of switches installed therein, a detecting unit detects that one of the plurality of switches is operated. A cruise control unit executes cruise control of the vehicle based on an instruction corresponding to the one of the plurality of switches upon detection of the one of the plurality of switches being operated. When the detecting unit detects that, during the first switch being operated, the second switch is operated, and when a combination of first and second instructions sent from the detected first and second switches is matched with at least one predetermined combination of instructions to be sent from the plurality of switches, a cruise control disabling unit disables the cruise control unit to execute cruise control of the vehicle based on the second instruction. |
| US08204669B2 |
Method and device for regulating the driving dynamics of a vehicle
The present device relates to a method for regulating the driving dynamics of a vehicle, in which at least one wheel of the vehicle is acted upon by a torque on the basis of control of a clutch transmitting a torque to the wheel and/or on the basis of control of a differential distributing torque to the wheel and at least to one other wheel. The method is characterized in that a value of the torque is determined as a function of a first and a second value of a yaw moment. The first value of the yaw moment is in the form of a value of the yaw moment generating a setpoint value of a yaw rate on the basis of a vehicle reference model is determined on the basis of a vehicle reference model and the second value of the yaw moment is determined as a function of a system deviation between the setpoint value of the yaw rate and a detected actual value of the yaw rate and as a function of a system deviation between a setpoint value and an actual value of another driving state variable that is different from the yaw rate. |
| US08204668B2 |
Brake monitoring system
An air brake monitoring system for monitoring a pressure of the system and providing various alarms and/or warnings to a user. The air brake monitoring system configurable to function with the existing wiring of the vehicle and including an air brake monitoring device to be positioned in the vicinity of a brake valve. The air brake monitoring system is further provided to monitor the electrical stoplight power transmitted to the ABS brakes as well as the vehicle static/dynamic condition. |
| US08204664B2 |
Method for controlling regenerative braking in a vehicle
A vehicle includes a friction braking system and a powertrain system including a torque machine operative to react tractive torque input from a wheel of the vehicle. A method for controlling braking in a vehicle includes monitoring operation of the powertrain system, determining a driver intended total brake torque, determining a regenerative braking capacity based upon the operation of the powertrain system, determining a regenerative braking request based upon a time-rate change in the regenerative braking capacity, and determining a motor torque command for the torque machine based upon the regenerative braking request. |
| US08204661B2 |
Reduced power mode for an aircraft electric brake system
An electric brake system for an aircraft as described herein is capable of operating in a normal full power mode, a low power mode, and a sleep mode. The full power mode is supported by the active power supply of the aircraft, while the low power and sleep modes are supported by the backup power supply (e.g., a battery) of the aircraft. The low power mode is activated in response to the detection of certain conditions or operating states where full braking performance is not required. For example, the low power mode can be utilized in connection with towing operations and parking brake adjustment operations. The sleep mode is activated in response to the absence of braking commands for an extended period of time. Various parameters and/or settings of the electric brake system are adjusted, controlled, or regulated during the low power and sleep modes to achieve reduced power consumption relative to the full power mode. |
| US08204656B2 |
Control architecture for output torque shaping and motor torque determination for a hybrid powertrain system
A powertrain system includes a transmission device operative to transfer power between an input member and a plurality of torque machines and an output member. The torque machines are connected to an energy storage device and the transmission device is operative in one of a plurality of operating range states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring available power from the energy storage device, determining system constraints, determining constraints on an output torque to the output member based upon the system constraints and the available power from the energy storage device, determining an operator torque request, determining an output torque command based upon the constraints on the output torque and the operator torque request, and determining preferred torque commands for each of the torque machines based upon the output torque command. |
| US08204653B2 |
Automated control of boom and attachment for work vehicle
A first hydraulic cylinder is associated with a boom. A first sensor detects a boom position based on a first linear position of a first movable member associated with the first hydraulic cylinder. An attachment is coupled to the boom. A second cylinder is associated with the attachment. A second sensor detects an attachment position based on a second linear position of a second movable member associated with the second hydraulic cylinder. A switch accepts a command to enter a ready position state from another position state. A controller controls the first hydraulic cylinder to attain a target boom position and for controlling the second cylinder to attain a target attachment position associated with the ready position state in response to the command. |
| US08204652B2 |
Method for compensating steering of motor drive power steering system
Disclosed herein is a method for compensating steering of a motor drive power steering (MDPS) system. In this method, the MDPS system determines a slip of a vehicle, calculates a steering compensation value and controls a gain based on moment input from an electronic stability program (ESP) system under coordinate control between the MDPS system and the ESP system, so that stability of the vehicle can be enhanced by reducing heterogeneous steering and preventing over steering. |
| US08204650B2 |
Active chassis stabilization system
The invention relates to an active chassis stabilization system including a hydraulic pressure supply unit, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a front axle, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a rear axle, and a control unit. The active chassis stabilization system is a two-channel system. |
| US08204648B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling wiper position
An apparatus and a method for controlling a wiper position are provided. The apparatus to control a wiper position includes a controller to receive a wiper operation control signal output from a user input unit to control a wiper to be stopped at a desired position, a wiper motor to drive the wiper, a wiper relay switched to drive the wiper motor under a control of the controller, and a wipe sensor to sense a position of the wiper motor to transfer a position signal to the controller. |
| US08204638B2 |
Control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle computes estimated energy and external charge energy. The estimated energy is required to drive a vehicle to travel a planned travel route and an EV priority mode, in which drive power for the vehicle is generated with priority by a motor/generator by supplying electric power from a battery to the motor/generator. The external charge energy is supplied from an electric power source. The control apparatus checks whether the estimated required energy will be supplied fully by the external charge energy. If the full supply is not possible, the control apparatus causes electric power generation by the motor/generator at some point in the planned travel route, where the efficiency of electric power generation is good, thereby to supplement insufficiency of energy. |
| US08204637B1 |
Aircraft approach to landing analysis method
A method has been found for assessing an aircraft approach to landing on a shipboard landing surface. The method includes a comparison of an identified aircraft performance with the mean or median of a baseline data set. The baseline data set is assembled from a multiplicity of actual approaches to landing data that are selected for relevance and then statistically evaluated. A high data recording rate captures the pilot's control inputs and allows evaluation of the pilot's manual efficiency of input to controls. The method is particularly useful to evaluate performance under conditions in which evaluation by human observation is limited or evaluation against guidelines produces less meaningful results. |
| US08204636B2 |
Device for rest management for aircraft pilot
A device for managing a rest period, in flight, of a pilot in a cockpit of an airplane including parameter acquisition means, for acquiring one input parameter characteristic of a desired rest period by the pilot who wishes to have a rest, calculations means intended for calculating, from the current position of the airplane given by the airplane parameters, a future position of the airplane at the end of the desired rest period along a trajectory programmed from the input parameters and airplane parameters, means for displaying information on the rest period and or on the position of the airplane. |
| US08204629B2 |
Control device for lubrication systems
The invention relates to a control device for lubrication systems, having a control processor which is arranged in a housing, having connections, which are formed on the housing, for sensor inputs and control outputs, which are connected to the control processor, and having an operator interface which is secured to the outside of the housing and is intended to input control parameters. Provision is made for the control processor to be set up with different control programs for different lubrication systems and for program switches for selecting the different control programs to be arranged inside the housing. |
| US08204628B2 |
Setpoint recovery with utility time of day pricing
An HVAC controller with setpoint recovery with utility time of day pricing. In one illustrative embodiment, the HVAC controller may include a nominal programmable schedule and a utility pricing schedule. The utility pricing schedule may correspond to scheduled price changes of a utility, including one or more enhanced pricing time periods each having corresponding one or more enhanced pricing time period setpoints. The HVAC controller may establish or modify an enhanced pricing setpoint recovery schedule based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule, and may control one or more HVAC units in accordance with the setpoint recovery schedule. In some instances, the HVAC controller may identify recovery opportunities based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule. |
| US08204625B2 |
Gait creation device of leg-type mobile robot
A provisional desired motion trajectory of an object is determined based on a moving plan of the object. Then, it is determined whether a robot leg motion can satisfy a necessary requirement. The requirement is related to a position/posture relationship between the object and the robot, and a determination of whether the requirement can be satisfied is made at a future, predetermined step. A restrictive condition related to robot leg motion is satisfied at each step up to the predetermined number of steps. If the requirement is satisfied, then a desired gait is generated on the basis of the provisional desired motion trajectory. Otherwise, a desired gait is generated on the basis of a desired motion trajectory of the object according to a corrected moving plan. |
| US08204624B2 |
Robotic ordering and delivery apparatuses, systems and methods
Systems, methods and devices for the automated retrieval/delivery of goods from one location to another using a robotic device such as a tug and accompanying cart. A computer within the tug/cart stores a map of the building floor plan and intended paths for the tug to take when traversing from one location to the next. During the delivery, a variety of different sensors and scanners gather data that is used to avoid obstacles and/or continuously adjust the movement of the tug in order to more closely follow the intended path. The system preferably includes wireless networks that allow one or more tugs to communicate with a tug base station, a primary network located at the site of the delivery and a remote host center that monitors the status and data collected by the tugs. |
| US08204623B1 |
Planning approach for obstacle avoidance in complex environment using articulated redundant robot arm
A planning approach for obstacle avoidance for a robot arm is disclosed. In particular, the invention relates to a planning approach for obstacle avoidance in complex environments for an articulated redundant robot arm which uses a set of via points surrounding an obstacle as an intermediary point between initial and target arm positions. Via points are generated using visual perception, and possible trajectories through the via points and to the target are rehearsed prior to execution of movement. The disclosed planning method solves the “local minima” problem in obstacle avoidance; a situation in which the obstacle avoidance vectors prevent the arm from making progress toward the target. |
| US08204622B2 |
Entertainment media rental and return system and a removable storage bin therefor
An entertainment media rental and return system comprises a rental terminal at which a customer can either rent entertainment media or return entertainment media which has been previously rented from the rental terminal, a return terminal at which a customer can only return entertainment media which has been previously rented from the rental terminal, and a removable storage bin interchangeable between the terminals and arranged to (i) receive entertainment media which has been returned by a customer at the return terminal when the bin is installed in the return terminal, (ii) receive entertainment media which has been returned by a customer at the rental terminal when the bin is installed in the rental terminal, and (iii) provide entertainment media which is available to be rented to a customer at the rental terminal when the bin is installed in the rental terminal. |
| US08204610B2 |
Eletronic device, display device, and method of controlling audio/video output of an electronic device
An electronic device, a display device, and a method of controlling audio/video output of the electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device includes a data processing unit, a visual output unit, an audio output unit, and a user operating habit database. The data processing unit executes an application program, the visual output unit outputs an image signal, the audio output unit outputs an audio signal, and the user operating habit database records a corresponding relationship between different program types and operating parameters of the visual output unit or the audio output unit. And, the data processing unit acquires the program type of the application program being run for controlling the operating parameters of the visual output unit or the audio output unit. |
| US08204607B2 |
Implantable medical lead
The disclosure describes an implantable medical lead for delivering stimulation to a patient. Electrodes may be located on two or more surfaces of the lead to, for example, selectively deliver stimulation to one or more tissue layers within the patient. The lead may be implanted within or between intra-dermal, deep dermal, or subcutaneous tissue layers, and may be used to, for example, deliver peripheral nerve field stimulation to treat pain experienced by the patient at the site at which the lead is implanted. The lead may comprise a paddle lead or a multiple level lead, e.g., a lead having a plurality of flat or paddle shaped lead bodies arranged in substantially parallel planes. Further, the lead may include fixation structures on the distal end, proximal end, or both ends to prevent migration. |
| US08204605B2 |
Multi-site atrial electrostimulation
An apparatus and method can receive wireless energy using a wireless electrostimulation electrode assembly. In certain examples, at least some of the received wireless energy can be delivered as an electrostimulation to a heart. In certain examples, the wireless electrostimulation electrode can be mechanically supported at least partially using a ring formed by an annulus of a mitral valve of the heart. In certain examples, the wireless electrostimulation electrode assembly can be configured to be intravascularly delivered to an implant location within a chamber of the heart at the annulus of the mitral valve of the heart, and can fit entirely within the heart. |
| US08204603B2 |
Blocking exogenous action potentials by an implantable medical device
An implantable medical device (IMD) to treat a medical condition in a patient comprises an electrical signal generator; a cathode and an anode operatively coupled to the electrical signal generator and a cranial nerve of the patient; and a third electrode operatively coupled to the electrical signal generator and implanted within the patient's body; wherein the electrical signal generator is capable of generating and delivering at least one electrical signal effective at the anode to block at least a sufficient portion of action potentials induced by the at least one electrical signal in the cranial nerve proximate the cathode to reduce a side effect of said induced action potentials. |
| US08204599B2 |
System for anchoring an implantable sensor in a vessel
A system and a method of disposing a second sensor module overlying a first sensor module system is described. A first assembly including an expandable anchor and a sensor module is at least partially overlapped by a second assembly including an expandable anchor and a sensor module. If necessary or desired, the functions of the second sensor module can replace the functions of the first sensor module. The sensor module may include a blood pressure sensor. |
| US08204596B2 |
Isolation connector for an intravascular implantable medical device
Devices and methods providing for a isolation connector for a generally cylindrical or frustro-cylindrical housing of an implantable intravascular medical device are described herein. The isolation connector has a generally annular exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. The isolation connector includes a housing interface portion at the proximal end which is secured to a first end of the housing. The proximal end of the housing interface portion is constructed to be obverse to the first end of the housing and presents a perimeter of substantially similar size and shape to the perimeter of the first end of the housing. The isolation connector further includes a first insulator portion disposed adjacent to a distal end of the housing interface portion. The isolation connector may further include a feed-through channel constructed to traverse the proximal and distal ends of the isolation connector and is defined through the housing interface portion and the first insulator portion. In an optional embodiment, an electrical conductor is disposed within the feed-through channel to electrically coupled at least one component disposed within the housing to at least one component disposed beyond the insulator portion. |
| US08204595B2 |
Lead assembly for implantable microstimulator
A lead assembly for a small implantable medical device (a.k.a, microdevice 10) provides means to attach a remote electrode to microdevice, which means inhibit fluid ingress when microdevice is not attached to lead assembly. Microdevices may provide either or both tissue stimulation and sensing. Known microdevices include spaced apart electrodes on the outer surface of the microdevice. Lead assembly includes an insulated lead including a proximal end and a distal end, with at least one conductor therebetween; at least one electrode at the distal end of the lead and electrically connected to the at least one conductor, and a connector attached to the proximal end of the lead and adapted to be removably connectable to microdevice. Connector includes at least one contact to electrically connect at least one device electrode on microdevice to at least one conductor, thereby electrically connecting at least electrode and the at least one electrode at the distal end of lead. Lead assembly is configured to inhibit fluid ingress into the connector. A number of embodiments of the invention, capable of inhibiting fluid ingress into connector, are taught. |
| US08204594B2 |
Cardiac rhythm management system and method
A system and method for cardiac rhythm management, which includes an electrode system having at least one electrode and control circuitry coupled to the electrode system from which a first cardiac signal is sensed. The control circuitry includes a pulse circuit to produce electrical pulses at a first value to be delivered to the electrode system in a first cardiac region. At least one cardiac signal is sensed from a second cardiac region, where the cardiac signal includes indications of cardiac depolarizations from the second cardiac region which occurs in direct reaction to the electrical pulses delivered to the first cardiac region. The first value of the electrical pulses are then modified by a pulse adjustment circuit when a cardiac depolarization which occurs in direct reaction to the electrical pulse delivered to the first cardiac region is detected from the second cardiac region. |
| US08204592B1 |
System and method for generating and using cardiac ischemia diagnostics based on arrhythmia precursors and arrhythmia episodes
Techniques are described for generating diagnostic information to aid in determining whether cardiac ischemia within a patient is clinically actionable. In one example, a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) detects information pertaining to arrhythmia precursors and to episodes of sustained arrhythmias, as well as information pertaining to episodes of cardiac ischemia. The implanted device then correlates the arrhythmia precursors and the sustained arrhythmias with the episodes of cardiac ischemia so as to generate diagnostics permitting a physician reviewing the diagnostics to determine whether the ischemia is clinically actionable. In some implementations, the diagnostics are instead generated by an external system based on raw data provided by the implanted device. In some implementations, the device itself determines whether the ischemia is clinically actionable and automatically controls therapy or generates warning signals accordingly. |
| US08204590B2 |
Fusion pacing interval determination
Delivery of fusion pacing therapy to a later depolarizing ventricle (V2) of a heart of a patient may be timed based on the depolarization of the V2 during at least one prior cardiac cycle. In some examples, a V2 pacing pulse is delivered upon the expiration of a pacing interval that begins at detection of an atrial sense or pace event (AP/S). The pacing interval may be substantially equal to the duration of time between an AP/S and a V2 sensing event of at least one prior cardiac cycle decremented by an adjusted pre-excitation interval (PEI). In another example, the V2 pacing pulse is delivered at the expiration of a pacing interval that begins upon detection of a V2 sensing event of a prior cardiac cycle. The pacing interval may be substantially equal to a duration of time at least two subsequent V2 sensing events decremented by the adjusted PEI. |
| US08204588B2 |
System and method for transmitting and activating a plurality of control data
A cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, or other programmable medical device (25) includes a source unit (15) and a collection unit (20). The source unit (15) has a check data unit (40) generating at least one check datum for control data for the medical device (25), and a transmitting unit (45) transmitting the control data and the check datum to the collection unit (20). The collection unit (20) has a storage unit (65) storing the control data, a check unit (70) checking the integrity of the control data using the check datum, and a transmitting unit (75) transmitting the control data to a programmable control unit (80) of the medical device (25) only if the integrity of the control data is established by the check unit (70). The control unit (80) of the medical device (25) controls the functions of the medical device (20) on the basis of the transmitted control data. |
| US08204582B2 |
Adaptive real time ECG triggering and uses thereof
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for generating a trigger from the R wave of an electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform using a threshold that adapts to the slope of the R wave while still within the leading edge of the R wave. |
| US08204581B2 |
Method to discriminate arrhythmias in cardiac rhythm management devices
Techniques for discrimination of heart rhythms in cardiac rhythm management devices include determining a current covariance matrix of multiple electrograms measuring each current heart beat, determining a distance measure between the current covariance matrix and a predetermined covariance matrix of the multiple electrograms measuring at least one different heart beat; and determining whether the heart beat represents ventricular tachycardia based on the distance measure. |
| US08204577B2 |
Process and device for deep-selective detection of spontaneous activities and general muscle activites
What is described here is a process and a device for deep-selective detection of spontaneous activities and general muscle activities in biological tissue. In this process, photons of a coherent and monochromatic electromagnetic radiation of the wavelength λ1 penetrate the tissue in the range between 600 and 1,200 nm and re-emerge from the tissue at differently distanced areas, then being detected with regard to frequency and number or intensity. By means of an evaluation program or algorithm, this information in connection with the respective area as point of emergence of the photons allows conclusions to be drawn about the muscle activity and/or number of active muscles and/or the physical position of the active muscles in the tissue. In order to improve the preciseness, it is intended to insert photons into the tissue of at least one further coherent and monochromatic electromagnetic radiation of another wavelength λ2 and to detect them after emergence from the tissue with regard to frequency and number or intensity. The wavelengths λ1 and λ2 are selected in such a way that there will not occur any interference fringes. |
| US08204574B2 |
Stylet for use with image guided systems
A stylet for an image guided system, which includes a locating device and which is operable for emitting an electromagnetic field for locating the stylet. The stylet includes a flexible elongate member, an electrically conductive member, and a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is disposed inside the electrically conductive member and is made out of a magnetic material. The reinforcement member reinforces the stylet and provides electrical communication between the conductive member and the locating device such that current induced in the conductive member is transmitted to the locating device via the reinforcement member. |
| US08204572B1 |
Medical electrode
The invention relates to a medical electrode comprising a carrier having a first conductor surface and an outer conductor surface surrounding the first conductor surface wherein the outer conductor surface is free from radial tabs for connection to circuitry so as to remain electrically uncontacted on the carrier. |
| US08204571B2 |
Catheter having mapping assembly
A mapping catheter comprises a catheter body and a mapping assembly. The catheter body has an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The mapping assembly comprises a generally straight proximal region attached to the catheter body, a generally circular main region distal the proximal region having an outer circumference, and a generally straight distal region distal the main region. The mapping assembly also comprises a support member having shape-memory, a non-conductive covering over the support member, and a plurality of electrodes on the non-conductive covering along the generally circular main region. |
| US08204566B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring blood constituent levels in biological tissue
In accordance with the invention, a low coherence interferometer is used to non-invasively monitor the concentration of glucose in blood by shining a light over a surface area of human or animal tissue, continuously scanning the light over a two dimensional area of the surface, collecting the reflected light from within the tissue and constructively interfering this reflected light with light reflected along a reference path to scan the tissue in depth. Since the reflection spectrum is sensitive to glucose concentration at particular wavelengths, measurement and analysis of the reflected light provides a measure of the level of glucose in the blood. The measurement of glucose is taken from multiple depths within blood-profused tissue, and sensitivity is preferably enhanced by the use of multiple wavelengths. Noise or speckle associated with this technique is minimized by continuously scanning the illuminated tissue in area and depth. |
| US08204559B2 |
Foldable mobile device and method for manufacturing case for the same
In the present invention, a rear cover 1 of a display part is made of at least a resin material, and a rear cover 4 of an operation part is made of a metal material. Respective plane portions of a front case 2 of the display part and a front case 3 of the operation part are made mainly of a metal material, and at least hinge parts 2c and 3c, which are formed on the front case 2 of the display part and the front case 3 of the operation part, are made of a resin material. |
| US08204555B2 |
Method and apparatus for power saving in wireless systems
A method is provided for carrying out a power saving procedure in a wireless subscriber terminal which is operative to receive at least two different services, each of which is characterized by one or more characteristics related to traffic demands associated with that service. The method comprises the following steps: classifying each of the at least two different services based on their traffic demand related characteristics into corresponding power saving classes, where there are at least two different power saving classes associated with the at least two different services; for each of the power saving classes, determining required listening windows and required sleep windows; exchanging messages between the base station and the subscriber's device for synchronizing parameters for carrying out the power saving procedure. |
| US08204553B2 |
Display control for cellular phone
A control system for a mobile device comprises an audio input that generates an audio input signal. An audio amplifier amplifies the audio input signal using a gain. An adaptive gain control (AGC) module receives the audio input signal and adjusts the gain of the audio input signal. A comparing module generates a first signal when the gain is less than a threshold. A timing module determines a duration of the first signal. A selecting module communicates with the timing module and selects one of an active mode and an inactive mode of the mobile device when the duration is greater than a first period. |
| US08204552B2 |
Method for predicting available time remaining on battery in mobile devices based on usage patterns
A method for predicting an available time of a battery in a mobile device includes: defining one or more modes depending on usage patterns of the mobile device that affects power consumption of the battery; creating time-series data about power consumption amount of the battery and use time of the battery in each mode; calculating, based on the time-series data, average power consumption rate per each mode and use time rate; and predicting the available time of the battery, based on the average power consumption rate per each mode and the use time rate per each mode. |
| US08204550B2 |
In-vehicle handsfree apparatus
While an in-vehicle handsfree apparatus establishes a connection of a handsfree profile (HFP) with a first cellular phone, an audio visual profile (AVP) connection with a second cellular phone is requested. In such a case, the handsfree apparatus once cuts the HFP connection with the first cellular phone, and then connects the AVP with the second cellular phone. This can prevent the handsfree apparatus from connecting the HFP with the first and second cellular phones at the same time. |
| US08204548B1 |
System and method for mobile device application pre-emption
A mobile device is provided. The mobile device comprises a wireless transceiver, a first application, a second application, and an interface. The wireless transceiver provides a wireless communication link to a communication network. The second application provides communication based on the wireless communication link. The interface presents, when the first application is active on the mobile device, an indication of a communication directed to the second application being received via the wireless communication link for less than 2 seconds before the second application pre-empts the first application. |
| US08204547B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the mobile terminal
Provided are a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal, in which the emotions or feelings of the user of one mobile terminal can be carried to the user of another mobile terminal by varying the font size of handwritten input transmitted between the mobile terminals and/or applying a haptic effect to the handwritten input according to the level of pressure applied to a touch screen for generating the handwritten input. |
| US08204542B2 |
Methods for processing apparatus originated communication request and communication apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication apparatus is provided. A first subscriber identity card camps on a first cell belonging to a first wireless network via at least one radio transceiver module. A second subscriber identity card camps on a second cell belonging to a second wireless network via the radio transceiver module. A memory device stores information indicating at least one discount period of the first wireless network and at least one discount period of the second wireless network. A processor receives an apparatus originated communication request with a destination address, determines whether a current time falls within the discount period of the first wireless network or the discount period of the second wireless network, and establishes a wireless communication with a peer device of the received destination address through one of the first cell or the second cell in response to the fallen discount period. |
| US08204538B2 |
Configurable conversion module of an RF front-end
A configurable conversion module includes a down conversion module and an up conversion module. The down conversion module is operable to convert, when in a first mode, a first amplified inbound RF signal into a first inbound symbol stream in accordance with a first protocol and convert, when in a second mode, a second amplified inbound RF signal into a second inbound symbol stream in accordance with a second protocol. The up conversion module is operable to convert, when in the first mode, a first outbound symbol stream into a first outbound RF signal in accordance with the first protocol and convert, when in the second mode, a second outbound symbol stream into a second outbound RF signal in accordance with the second protocol. |
| US08204533B2 |
Method and system for bluetooth HID activity prediction for wireless coexistence throughput optimization
A host device may be enabled to support a plurality of wireless interfaces, wherein some of these interfaces may be utilized to support human interface device (HID) based communication. The host device may be enabled to monitor activity of HID devices based on communications via HID capable wireless interfaces, may predict future use of the HID devices based on the monitoring, and may manage sniff communication that is utilized to track and/or detect activities in the HID devices. The management of the sniff communication may comprise adjusting characteristics of the sniff communication to enable improving throughput of other wireless interfaces available via the host device that may be affected by the sniff communication. The adjustment of the characteristics of sniff communication may comprise adjusting, statically and/or dynamically, length of sniff intervals and/or designating of sniff packets as high priority requests. |
| US08204532B2 |
Adaptive power control data transmission systems and methods
Systems and methods of performing power control in combination with AMC are provided. AMC is performed on the basis of an AMC parameter such as CINR. Once the AMC is set to a highest available AMC for transmission to a given receiver, if the CINR indicates that the highest AMC could be transmitted with less transmit power, the power is reduced. For receivers that are not receiving the highest available AMC for that receiver, they may have their transmit power increased. |
| US08204530B2 |
Power control for wireless communication systems
Techniques for controlling transmit power of a terminal are described. The terminal may send a first transmission (e.g., for pilot or signaling) on the reverse link, receive feedback (e.g., a power control command or an erasure indicator) for the first transmission, and adjust a reference power level based on the feedback. The terminal may also receive interference information and possibly other parameters such as a pilot quality indicator (PQI), an offset factor, and a boost factor from a sector. The terminal may determine transmit power for a second transmission to the sector based on the interference information, the reference power level, and/or the other parameters. The terminal may receive the feedback from one sector and may send the second transmission with CDMA or OFDMA to the same sector or a different sector. |
| US08204521B2 |
System and method for acknowledging calendar appointments using a mobile device
A system and method are provided for communicating calendar appointment acknowledgements to a sender from a recipient device, in particular a mobile communication device capable of receiving SMS messages. The sender creates a calendar object comprising calendar event data, designates a recipient, and selects a transport method for delivering the calendar event data. If the transport method is SMS, then a calendar object message in plaintext SMS format is prepared, comprising a unique identifier, and transmitted to the recipient. The recipient's mobile communication device receives the SMS message and parses the message to extract the calendar event data, and transmits an acknowledgement to the sender including the unique identifier. |
| US08204515B2 |
Single point location tracking for a mobile device in a communication network
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, the location of a mobile device within a floor plan of a building or the like environment may be determined using a single transmission link between transceiver and the mobile device. A bit error rate value and a receiver signal strength indication value are measured for the present location of the mobile device in the floor plan. The coordinates where the mobile device is located may be determined by looking up the measured bit error rate value and the received signal strength indication value in a lookup table. Due to environmental factors of the floor plan, the combination of the bit error rate value and the received signal strength indication value corresponds to a unique coordinate location in the floor plan from which the location of the mobile device may be determined. |
| US08204512B2 |
Wireless node location mechanism featuring definition of search region to optimize location computation
A wireless node location mechanism that defines a search region to optimize the computations associated with estimating the location of a given wireless node. According to one implementation, a coverage map associated with each radio receiver that records signal strength data is defined out to a threshold signal strength level. Before computing the estimated location of a given wireless nodes, a search region is defined based on the intersection of the coverage maps associated with each radio receiver that detects the wireless node. Some implementations use information provided by the fact that certain radio receivers did not detect the wireless node to further optimize the location estimate. By defining a search region, which is a generally small area relative to the space encompassed by an entire RF environment, the present invention provides several advantages, such as reducing the processing time and/or power to compute estimated locations for wireless nodes. |
| US08204495B2 |
Method and apparatus for the discovery of radio access network elements and exchange of capability and data attributes between those elements
The present apparatus comprises a radio access network element having at least one processor, and at least one memory operably connected to the at least one processor, whereby the radio access network element is adapted to execute instructions stored in the memory comprising discovery of at least one other element in a radio access network. The radio access element further comprises instructions for removal or addition of network elements, instructions for determining a paging area and instructions for forwarding messages from a mobile to a controller in another domain. |
| US08204493B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication network and software upgrading method
A base station control portion selects one or multiple signals in accordance with the state of radio waves from signals received through multiple communication paths. A wireless communication apparatus communicates with a wireless terminal and a wired communication network at multiple frequencies. In response to a request for software upgrading from a network management device, the wireless communication apparatus selects one frequency, controls the state of transmission waves of a wireless interface such that a communication path in which a communication service is being provided can be switched to another communication network without interruption, rewrites software for each wireless interface to software received through a wired interface in advance, and returns the state of transmission waves of the wireless interface. Thus, the software can be upgraded without blackouts of the communication service to the wireless terminal. |
| US08204492B2 |
Methods and systems for processing a communication from a calling party
A system and method are disclosed for announcing a calling party from a communication device. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing system can have a controller for processing calls in a communication system. The controller can be programmed to detect an incoming call initiated by a third party communication device over a first voice channel, transmit to a communication device over a control channel a notification signal associated with the incoming call, detect a connection made by the communication device to a second voice channel, transmit to the communication device over the second voice channel audio signals that identify a calling party, and link the first and second voice channels upon detecting over the control channel a call acceptance action by the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08204486B2 |
Dynamic messaging routing and audio-to-text linking for visual voicemail
An improved visual voicemail system is provided. When a call is made to a wireless telephone device and a voicemail message is deposited for the called party, the voicemail message is transcribed to generate a text version of the deposited voicemail message. The transcribed voicemail message is sent to the called mobile telephone device to allow the user to read the text version of the voicemail message. Embedded with transcribed text voicemail message is a link that maps to a unique telephone number that is assigned to the original audio voicemail message from the text voicemail message was transcribed. If the called party selects the link, the called party's mobile telephone device or other receiving computing device places a call to the storage location of the original audio version of the voicemail message to listen to the audio version of the voicemail message. |
| US08204483B2 |
Electronic file transfer for a communications device
Systems and methods are provided for identifying an electronic file that is accessible by a communications node to be transmitted to a recipient. A communications device sends an identification of the electronic file. The communications node receives the identification of the electronic file, identifies the electronic file based on the identification, and accesses the electronic file for transmission to the recipient. The electronic file is not transmitted from the communications device to the communications node. |
| US08204480B1 |
Method and apparatus for secured access
A commercial off-the-shelf smartphone is adapted, through software modifications only, to provide multiple operating domains or domains that provide differing levels of security and reliability. Each operating domain is isolated from the others. Detection of unauthorized modification is provided. Cross domain activity notification is provided. |
| US08204471B2 |
Wireless communication system
A wireless communication system includes: a filter; and a semiconductor chip including a signal processing integrated circuit having an amplifier, wherein a main surface of the semiconductor chip is provided with a plurality of electrode terminals along an edge portion thereof; wherein the amplifier has a transistor including a control electrode, a first electrode through which a signal is outputted, and a second electrode to which a voltage is applied; wherein the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode of the transistor are connected to the electrode terminals, respectively; and wherein none of wirings are arranged between the electrode terminals and placements of the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode, making space between the electrodes and the electrode terminals narrow. |
| US08204469B2 |
Low-noise mixer
The system and method of the present invention provide a single mixer (200-400) with significantly reduced noise performance at a low cost by adding a current control circuit (109) that reduces the current in at least the switching stage (103, 303, 403) during polarity changes of the local oscillator (LO) signal (104). Alternative embodiments (300-400) are provided for a single mixer having significantly reduced noise wherein the low-noise characteristic is enhanced by a further modification to the switching stage (303-403). |
| US08204465B2 |
Receiver, transmitter, transmission system, and transmission method
To reduce the affections of noises having greater instantaneous powers than received signals. A receiver of block transmission scheme, in which signal blocks from a transmitting end are received and equalization is performed for each of the received signal blocks, comprises a local noise detecting unit detecting a local noise locally existing in a received signal block and having a greater amplitude than the signals; a local noise eliminating unit generating a local-noise-eliminated received signal block in which the signals in the range where the local noise is existent within the received signal block have been eliminated together with the local noise; and an equalizer that performs an equalization based on the local-noise-eliminated received signal block. |
| US08204464B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, its control method, and recording medium
An apparatus detects a communication state of a wireless communication, detects posture of the apparatus, and controls communication by a wireless communication unit according to the detected posture if it is detected that field intensity of the wireless communication is equal to or less than a predetermined value. |
| US08204459B2 |
Temperature impervious radio device amplifier output power control
A radio device includes an amplifier and first and second independently operable variable voltage supply inputs to the amplifier, providing a consistent output power range for the radio device across widely varying temperature conditions. |
| US08204455B2 |
Techniques for pre-distorting transmitted signals for a transmitter device
Techniques for sending and receiving signals include pre-distorting signals before transmission across a communication path. The signals are pre-distorted as a function of a distortion on the communication path. In one embodiments, transmitter a broadcasts to receiver b and there is also a transmitter b broadcasting to receiver a. This return channel enables both transmitters a and b to have a priori information regarding the transmission medium and path the signal takes. In this way, the nature of the distortion or interference is known to the transmitter, therefore, it pre-distorts the transmitted signal to compensate for the receiver exceeding its capabilities in recovering signal. |
| US08204454B2 |
Distortion compensator apparatus, amplifier apparatus, transmitter, and method of compensating distortion
This distortion compensator apparatus is a distortion compensator apparatus compensating nonlinearity of an amplifier and includes: a memory storing a compensation parameter used for correcting an input signal of the amplifier; a compensator correcting the input signal of the amplifier based on the compensation parameter; and an update controller updating the compensation parameter according to an operation state of the amplifier. |
| US08204451B1 |
Wireless transceiver using shared filters for receive, transmit and calibration modes
A transceiver for use in a wireless device. The transceiver may include a receive portion for receiving an input RF signal. The receive portion may include at least one receive filter which may include a first filter. The transceiver may also include a transmit portion for transmitting an output RF signal. The transmit portion may include at least one transmit filter, which may include the first filter used in the receive portion. The transceiver may further include a plurality of switches, which may include a first switch coupled to an input of the first filter and a second switch coupled to an output of the first filter. The plurality of switches may be configurable to enable use of the first filter in the receive portion for receiving the input RF signal and use of the first filter in the transmit portion for transmitting the output RF signal. |
| US08204450B2 |
Reliability detection of channel quality indicator (CQI) and application to outer loop power control
A method for determining a channel quality in wireless communications includes receiving a high speed shared control channel (HS-SICH) transmission. An expected number of HS-SICH transmissions and a number of unsuccessful HS-SICH transmissions are counted. The number of unsuccessful HS-SICH transmissions includes a number of failed HS-SICH transmissions and a number of missed HS-SICH transmissions. The expected number of HS-SICH transmissions and the number of unsuccessful HS-SICH transmissions over a fixed time period are periodically reported, whereby the reporting is an indication of the channel quality. |
| US08204442B2 |
Intercell interference mitigation
Methods and apparatus are described for mitigating intercell interference in wireless communication systems utilizing substantially the same operating frequency band across multiple neighboring coverage areas. The operating frequency band may be shared across multiple neighboring or otherwise adjacent cells, such as in a frequency reuse one configuration. The wireless communication system can synchronize one or more resource allocation regions or zones across the multiple base stations, and can coordinate a permutation type within each resource allocation zone. The base stations can coordinate a pilot configuration in each of a plurality of coordinated resource allocation regions. Subscriber stations can be assigned resources in a coordinated resource allocation region based on interference levels. A subscriber station can determine a channel estimate for each of multiple base stations in the coordinated resource allocation region to mitigate interference. |
| US08204438B2 |
RF ID tag reader utilizing a scanning antenna system and method
An embodiment of the present invention provides an RF ID card reader, comprising RF ID circuitry to generate an RF ID signal, a transceiver in communication with said RF ID circuitry and an array antenna associated with said transceiver for scanning an area for at least one tag and establishing communication with at least one tag. |
| US08204437B1 |
Wireless image distribution system and method
A system and method for distributing at least one digital photographic image is presented, the system and method comprising at least one capturing device and at least one receiving device disposed in a communicative relation with one another via at least one wireless network. In particular, the capturing device is structured to capture the at least one digital photographic image via, for example, a capture assembly, whereas the receiving device is cooperatively structured to receive the digital photographic image via, for example, the at least one wireless network. In addition, the capturing device(s) and receiving device(s) may be disposed in a selectively paired relationship via one or more common pre-defined pairing criteria. Further, the at least one digital photographic image may be filtered via at least one pre-defined transfer criteria disposed on the capturing device and/or receiving device. |
| US08204435B2 |
Wireless headset supporting enhanced call functions
A modular wireless headset includes earpiece(s) and microphone(s), where the earpiece and microphone may be physically separate devices. The earpiece renders inbound radio frequencies received from a host device audible. The earpiece may include a receiver module, data recovery module, and speaker module. The receiver module may convert inbound RF signals into low intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The data recovery module recovers audio signals from the low IF signals. The speaker module renders the audio signals audible. The microphone converts received audio signals into outbound RF signals, where the outbound RF signals are transmitted to the host device. The microphone includes an audio input module and a transmitter module. The audio input module is operably coupled to convert received analog audio signals into digital audio signals. The transmitter module is operably coupled to convert the digital audio signals into the outbound RF signals. |
| US08204433B2 |
Wireless communication system facilitating communications through local networks
A wireless communication system (20) includes a base station (22) that is capable of communicating with a plurality of intermediate cells (24, 60). Each intermediate cell (24, 60) directly communicates with a plurality of end users (26, 64). Communications from an end user (26, 64) may be routed through the intermediate cell to a wireless network (30) associated with the base station (22) or directly to another intermediate cell in a disclosed example. The intermediate cells communicate with the base station on behalf of the end users such that the wireless network recognizes the intermediate cell as a single user and, in one example, assigns temporary listed directory numbers to each of the end users associated with each intermediate cell so that communications from each end user may be handled individually. |
| US08204431B2 |
Compact image forming apparatus with post-processing
In an image forming apparatus, when a first sheet discharger discharges a sheet bearing an image in a first direction from a proximal end to a distal end of the image forming apparatus, a post-processing device performs post-processing including at least one of stapling, punching, stamping, and sorting of the sheet discharged from the first sheet discharger. After a second sheet discharger discharges the processed sheet in a second direction opposite to the first direction in which the first sheet discharger discharges the sheet bearing the image, a sheet stacker stacks the sheet discharged from the second sheet discharger. A sheet conveyance path is provided between the first sheet discharger and the second sheet discharger. An opening is provided between the sheet stacker and an image reader so that the sheet discharged from the second sheet discharger can be retrieved from the sheet stacker in the second direction. |
| US08204429B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of electrostatically attracting sheet effectively
In an image forming apparatus, a recording head discharges liquid droplets onto a sheet conveyed on a conveying belt to form an image on the sheet. A sheet discharge device is provided downstream from the conveying belt in a sheet conveyance direction and is intermittently driven independently of and in synchronization with the conveying belt to convey the sheet in a sheet discharging direction. A voltage application device applies a voltage to a charger. A distance between the charger and a nip portion formed between a pressing member and the conveying belt for duplex printing is set so that a voltage applied by the voltage application device increases a charged potential of the conveying belt in an area electrostatically attracting a trailing end of a predetermined sheet and a leading end of a subsequent sheet. |
| US08204424B2 |
Cleaning blade for electrophotographic device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device, which, even when spherical (perfectly spherical or irregularly shaped), polymerized toner with a small particle diameter is used, can achieve sufficient abrasion resistance and sufficient cleaning ability (particularly cleaning ability under low-temperature and low-humidity conditions). The cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device includes an elastic rubber member; and a supporting member. The elastic rubber member has a double layer structure including an edge layer and a base layer. The edge layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 65° to 72° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 10 to 35%. The base layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 70° to 80° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 40 to 70%, the JIS-A hardness value being larger than the value of hardness of the edge layer. |
| US08204421B2 |
Fusing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A fusing apparatus for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium using heat and pressure includes a fusing roller; an endless pressing belt disposed opposite the fusing roller; and a pressing member for pressing the endless pressing belt onto the fusing roller. A recording medium with a transferred toner image is passed through a fusing nip between the fusing roller and the pressing belt. The fusing roller includes positive and negative crown portions along the axial direction. The pressing member includes convex and concave surface portions along the longitudinal direction. When the pressing member is pressed onto the fusing roller, the positive and negative crown portions of the fusing roller are engaged with the concave and convex surface portions, respectively, of the pressing member. The pressing member exerts a greater pressing force on the fusing roller at a central portion than at an end portion. |
| US08204420B2 |
Fuser with end caps having protuberances for reducing belt skew
A fuser has a heater housing extending through an endless belt with end caps on the housing adjacent to opposite lateral sides of the belt. The end caps have inner flanges spaced radially outward from a center portion and radially inward from the opposite marginal side edge portions of the belt so as to define clearance therebetween. Protuberances on the inner flanges of the end caps project toward opposite marginal edge portions of the belt and are circumferentially spaced apart to reduce belt skew relative to the end caps by either decreasing the surface area of contact of the inner flanges with the opposite marginal side edge portions of the belt to reduced surface areas of contact of protuberances therewith or decreasing the radial height of the clearance between the inner flanges and opposite side edge portions of the belt to the reduced radial height between the latter and the protuberances. |
| US08204417B2 |
Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing
Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface; a belt including an inner surface contacting the second surface and an outer surface contacting the first surface to form a nip through which the belt rotates; and a tensioned stripping wire contacting the inner surface of the belt and spaced from the second surface. The stripping wire can produce a sufficiently-high stripping force to facilitate stripping of media passed through the nip from the outer surface of the belt. |
| US08204413B2 |
Printing job with developer removal
A printer includes a development member for providing toner to a photoreceptor. A developer remover is located between a developer supply and the photoreceptor in the direction of rotation of the development member, and selectively contacts the development member to remove developer therefrom. A controller receives a print job, determines a non-developing zone of the development member corresponding to the non-image area of the job, and determines a developing zone of the development member corresponding to the image area of the job. The developer remover removes developer when it is in the non-developing zone, but not when it is in the developing zone. |
| US08204408B2 |
Development apparatus and image forming apparatus
In one embodiment, in a development apparatus in which at least a first screw conveyor has been provided in a case, a developer affixing prevention member that prevents a developer from affixing to the first screw conveyor is disposed in the vicinity of a toner resupply port provided in the case. More specifically, the developer affixing prevention member is formed with a torsion coil spring formed from the wire rod whose middle has been wound in a coil-like shape, and in a state with the wound portion of this torsion coil spring supported by a support plate of the case, one arm portion is fixed to the support plate, and another arm portion is extended so as to contact a fin and a rotating shaft of the first screw conveyor. |
| US08204404B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position. |
| US08204399B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic corotron cleaning in an image production device
A method and apparatus for automatic corotron cleaning in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a first dynamic current reading, the dynamic current being the current supplied to a photoreceptor of the image production device, determining if the first dynamic current reading exceeds a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being a threshold set on the allowable variation in the dynamic current value, wherein if it is determined that the first dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to a cleaning device to clean the corotron, determining that the corotron has been cleaned, receiving a second current reading, determining if the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to prompt a user to replace the corotron in the image production device. |
| US08204398B2 |
Image forming apparatus with controller for automatically switching displays of operation procedure in rotation
An image forming apparatus is provided with a display device for displaying an operation guide to an operator, and a display controller for causing the display device to display an operation procedure comprised of a plurality of operations as the operation guide while automatically switching the respective operations in rotation. |
| US08204397B2 |
Fixing apparatus, image forming apparatus and fixing method
A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off. |
| US08204396B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjustment of a printer fuser nip
An apparatus (100) and method (300) that adjusts a printer fuser nip is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport (110) configured to transport a media sheet (112) in a media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a fuser assembly (120) configured to fuse an image on the media sheet. The fuser assembly can include a fuser nip (126) that can have a fuser nip width (128) parallel to the media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a controller (130) coupled to the fuser assembly, where the controller can be configured to control operations of the apparatus. The apparatus can include a nip width profile generation module (140) coupled to the controller, where the nip width profile generation module can be configured to determine fuser nip width parameters based on media sheet properties and based on fuser assembly properties. The fuser assembly can be adjusted according to the fuser nip width parameters. |
| US08204395B2 |
Wet development device, wet development method, and image forming apparatus using the device
The invention provides a wet development device, wet development method and image forming apparatus having the device by which appropriate cleaning can be performed, the wear of the blade or developing roller can be reduced, and good images can be obtained without toner contamination even when the amount of toner for development or that of electric charge of the toner is changed for changing the density or gradation of image or type of paper. The toner in the developer is electrically charged to an arbitral charging amount by a discharging section and provided for the development and the charge of the toner is eliminated after development by that a discharging section is provided before cleaning the developer remaining on the developing roller and the output of the discharging section is appropriately controlled corresponding to the output of the discharging section. |
| US08204391B2 |
Image forming apparatus which changes jam determination criterion
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a first sheet discharging path that reverses a traveling direction of a sheet and discharges the sheet; a cover, which forms a part of the first sheet discharging path when the cover is in a closed state; a second sheet discharging path, which is formed when the cover is in an open state, which is branched from the first sheet discharging path, and which discharges the sheet from the image forming unit without reversing the traveling direction of the sheet; a sensor, which is positioned downstream in a conveying direction of the sheet from the image forming unit, and which detects a passage of the sheet; and a determination unit that determines a jam based on a detection result of the sensor, the determination unit changing a determination criterion of the jam in accordance with the state of the cover. |
| US08204386B2 |
Chirped laser with passive filter element for differential phase shift keying generation
Apparatus and methods for driving a transmitter to generate DNPSK signals is disclosed including generating N data streams comprising data symbols and for each of a plurality of sets of N simultaneous data symbols of the N data streams, imposing signals are on L of a plurality of signal lines, with the value of L corresponding to values of the N simultaneous data symbols. Signals on the plurality of signal lines are ANDed with a clock signal synchronized with the N data streams to produce RZ signals. The RZ signals are summed and the summed signal is input to a laser that produces an output having frequency modulation corresponding to the magnitude of the summed signal. The output of the laser is passed through an optical discriminator. |
| US08204381B2 |
Broadband radio transceiver with optical transform
A broadband receiving apparatus includes an antenna to receive a radio signal having a plurality of modulation frequencies. An amplifier drives a laser source from the broadband radio signal to produce an optical signal having a plurality of spectral components. A diffraction grating transforms the optical signal into its spectral components. An array of photo-detectors converts the spectral components into electronic signals corresponding to the plurality of modulation frequencies. A transmitting apparatus includes an array of coherent laser emitters driven by electronic signals corresponding to a plurality of modulation frequencies to produce optical signals corresponding to a plurality of spectral components. A diffraction grating inverse transforms the spectral components into a composite optical signal. A photo-detector converts the composite optical signal into a composite electronic signal including the plurality of modulation frequencies. An amplifier amplifies the composite electronic signal for transmission as a broadband radio signal. |
| US08204380B2 |
Bandwidth allocation method, optical line terminator, subscriber station, communication system, and recording medium recording program of device
An exemplary object of the present invention is to accurately reflect allocation requests and increase the bandwidth use efficiency without requiring expensive and fast integrated circuits or CPUs in the control unit even in a large-scale system with a large number of terminal devices. A subscriber station comprises allocating means for determining bandwidth allocation based on a predetermined allocation condition and bandwidth transmitting means for transmitting bandwidth allocation information determined by the allocating means to an optical line terminator. The optical line terminator comprises pipeline transmitting means for transmitting bandwidth allocation information transmitted from the subscriber stations to all subscriber stations to be allocated with bandwidth. |
| US08204378B1 |
Coherent optical signal processing
Coherent optical signal processing is performed in a coherent receiver (or diagnostic/testing apparatus) that converts an amplitude and/or angle-modulated optical signal into two electrical signals. A simple receiver can only detect one phase of the signal and only the polarization that is aligned with a local oscillator laser polarization. To detect both phases and both polarizations, two sets of two interferometers, one each with a π/2 phase shift are required. Coherent optical signal processing methods, apparatus, techniques, etc. are disclosed that include individual components comprising a polarization combiner, a Savart device and photodetection apparatus with substantially reduced temperature and alignment sensitivity operating in optical communication systems and/or subsystems. The various embodiments can be used alone or in such combinations to provide improved coherent optical signal processing in a receiver. |
| US08204375B1 |
Method and systems for testing automatic protection switching protocol in optical interfaces for synchronous optical networks
A standard test device is used to test the interoperability of a Synchronized Optical Network (SONET) optical interface, e.g., a 1+1 protected SONET interface. In one embodiment, two test sets, under the common control of a master controller, can be connected respectively to the working and protect lines of an optical interface. The controller then operates the test sets to test the operation of the interface under the Automatic Protection Switching (APS) protocol to verify interoperability based on the standards incorporated in the test sets while requiring minimal operator intervention. Alternatively, a single test set can include two connections that are connected, respectively, to the working and protection lines of the interface being tested. The test set can then test the operation of the interface under the APS protocol to verify interoperability based on the standards incorporated in the test set. |
| US08204373B2 |
Image pickup apparatus with built-in flash
An image pickup apparatus includes a motor, a shutter charge mechanism which rotates the motor in a first direction to perform a charge operation of a shutter, a flash pop-up mechanism which rotates the motor in a second direction to move a flash to an up state, a state detector which detects the up state of the flash, a clutch mechanism which cuts off a transmission between the motor and the flash pop-up mechanism when the motor rotates in the first direction, and cuts off a transmission between the motor and the shutter charge mechanism when the motor rotates in the second direction, and a controller which controls the motor to rotate in the first direction to drive the shutter charge mechanism when the state detector detects the up state of the flash after the motor rotates in the second direction to drive the flash pop-up mechanism. |
| US08204370B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, focus control method and focus control program
An image pickup apparatus includes: an in-focus operation section configured to drive a focus lens to move over a predetermined driving range in order to detect evaluation values each representing the strength of the contrast of an image signal generated based on a subject of an image pickup operation from a plurality of predetermined positions and find an in-focus position of the focus lens based on the evaluation values; a detector configured to acquire first evaluation values obtained for the predetermined positions during a first period of driving the focus lens to move over the predetermined driving range, and second evaluation values obtained for at least one of the predetermined positions during a second period between the end of the first period and a process to find the in-focus position based on the first evaluation values; and a change measurement section configured to measure a change of the evaluation value. |
| US08204367B2 |
DVD recorder and PVR instant on architecture
A method for transitioning a video system is disclosed. The method generally includes a first step for (A) executing in a processing circuit a standby code stored in a nonvolatile memory while the video system is in an off state, the off state defining a low power configuration for the processing circuit and a power off condition for the video system, the standby code being responsive to a plurality of wake up conditions to wake up the video system. In a second step, the method may (B) store an application code in a volatile memory while in the off state, the application code configured to operate the video system while in an on state of the video system. The method generally includes a third step for (C) transitioning from the off state to the on state upon detection of at least one of the wake up conditions. A step for (D) executing in the processing circuit the application code while in the on state to decode video may also exist in the method. |
| US08204366B2 |
Method, apparatus and program for recording and playing back content data, method, apparatus and program for playing back content data, and method, apparatus and program for recording content data
A method, apparatus and program for recording and playing back content data, method, apparatus and program for playing back content data, and method, apparatus and program for recording content data. The recording and playback apparatus is configured to record content data including a content and play back the content of the content data at a position specified by first relative time information indicating a relative time with respect to a start position of the content. A record start time information generator generates record start time information. A stream playback control table generator generates a stream playback control table associated with a stream resource record in a content data recording unit. Based on the content start time information and the record start time information, a relative time information correction unit corrects relative time information, of a segment to be played back, identified by a metadata manager based on segment metadata. A read controller controls a reading process according to the relative position information corresponding to the corrected relative time information identified by the metadata manager. |
| US08204364B2 |
Moving picture image reproduction method and moving picture image reproduction apparatus
According to a conventional technique for reproducing a frame of a small image change amount at a high speed and a frame of a large image change amount at a low speed, there are cases in which a proper high-speed reproduction representing the outline of the moving picture image data is not necessarily carried out. There is provided reproduction speed control means controlling the reproduction speed of summary reproduction based on a scene feature amount of a plurality of frames. A plurality of summary reproductions having different reproduction characteristics are enabled so that a user can easily grasp the outline of the moving picture image data, while suppressing fluctuation in reproduction speed. |
| US08204363B2 |
Method and apparatus for attenuating or eliminating at least a portion of color burst modifications to a video signal
A copy protection color stripe process is defeated first by determining the location of the video lines including the color stripe process. Then some or all of the lines including the modified color bursts are modified so as to render the overall video signal recordable. The modification is accomplished in a number of ways, including phase shifting the color stripe burst into the correct phase, replacing, attenuating and or eliminating some of the color stripe bursts or at least a portion of particular color burst envelopes so that they are no longer effective, mixing the color stripe burst with color stripe signals of the correct phase so as to eliminate most or all of the phase error present or modifying the horizontal sync pulse signals immediately preceding the modified color bursts so that the modified color bursts are not detected by a VCR and hence have no effect. |
| US08204361B2 |
Information storage medium storing text-based subtitle, and apparatus and method for processing text-based subtitle
An information storage medium storing subtitle text-based information, and a method and apparatus utilizing same, process a subtitle The information storage medium includes: dialog information which contains script text information of the subtitle and information specifying an output type of the script text; and presentation information which contains style information used to convert the script text into a bitmap format through rendering. With this structure, the amount of data required for a subtitle and the amount of data that should be processed when a subtitle is output may be greatly reduced. |
| US08204360B2 |
Recording apparatus, recording method and record medium
A recording apparatus for recording video data to a record medium is disclosed, that comprises an encoding means for encoding video data in a group structure of a plurality of frames corresponding to a compression-encoding process in a combination of an inter-frame predictive encoding process and a motion compensative process, a transforming means for transforming the data structure of encoded video data that is output from the encoding means into a file structure that can be processed by a computer software program without a dedicated hardware portion so that moving pictures and so forth are synchronously reproduced, and a recording means for recording data having the file structure to a record medium, wherein the file structure has a first data unit and a second data unit, the second data unit being a set of the first data units, and wherein at least one data structure is matched with the first data unit. |
| US08204359B2 |
Systems and methods of providing modified media content
In an embodiment, a method of providing modified media content is disclosed and includes receiving media content that includes audio data and video data having a first number of video frames. The method also includes generating abstracted media content that includes portions of the video data and audio elements of the audio data, where the abstracted media content includes less than all of the video data and includes fewer video frames than the first number of video frames. |
| US08204358B2 |
Image and audio reproducing apparatus and method
At least one of a recorded image signal data, recorded audio signal data, and recorded image signal multiplex data, and reproduction information data describing the information about reproduction of at least one of the recorded image signal data, the recorded audio signal data, and the recorded image signal multiplex data or an arbitrary combination thereof, are stored. In this reproduction information data, the user can describe and edit by freely and easily combining the image data, audio data, and image/audio multiplex data. The CPU reads out image data and audio data from the storage means according to the reproduction information data, and decodes them, and converts the data format if necessary, and reproduces the image and audio in synchronism by using synchronization control means. |
| US08204356B2 |
Control device and method, recording medium and program
The present invention relates to a control apparatus and a method, a recording medium and a program, which enable to control devices more efficiently and quickly. As information of the devices that can be controlled by a remote controller 1 by way of a personal computer 351, the address information of a television receiver 21 and a personal computer 31, which are connected via a wireless LAN to the personal computer 351, are provided from the personal computer 351 to the remote controller 1. Between the remote controller 1 and the television receiver 21, and between the remote controller 1 and the personal computer 31, a variety of information are sent/received by way of the personal computer 351, and these devices are controlled by the remote controller 1. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus, which can control by wireless communication a variety of AV equipment, appliances, and the like. |
| US08204352B2 |
Optical apparatus, sealing substrate, and method of manufacturing optical apparatus
An optical apparatus includes an element substrate on whose surface an optical element is provided; a wiring board disposed so as to face the optical element; a sealing member and a conductive member provided between the element substrate and the wiring board. The sealing member surrounds and hermetically seals the optical element. The conductive member electrically connects the optical element and the wiring board. The wiring board has a light-transmitting area transmitting light to the optical element. |
| US08204347B2 |
Optical signal processing device
In a conventional optical signal processing device, a confocal optical system is configured in which a focusing lens is positioned at a substantially-intermediate point of a free space optical path. Thus, the free space optical system had a long length. It has been difficult to reduce the size of the entire device. The optical signal processing device of the present invention uses a lens layout configuration different from the confocal optical system to thereby significantly reduce the length of the system. The optical signal processing device consists of the first focusing lens positioned in the close vicinity of a signal processing device, and the second focusing lens positioned in the vicinity of a dispersing element. A distance between the dispersing element and the signal processing device is approximately a focal length of the first focusing lens. Compared with the conventional technique, the length of the optical path can be halved. |
| US08204342B2 |
Image processor
An image processor includes a frequency transform unit performing frequency transform on a first pixel block as a target block, and a pre-filter performing prefiltering with a region which overlaps with plural unit regions for processing by the frequency transform unit as a unit region for processing, before frequency transform is performed. The pre-filter performs prefiltering on a second pixel block being a predetermined number of pixels each larger horizontally and vertically than the first pixel block as a target block. The pre-filter performs prefiltering sequentially on a plurality of second pixel blocks aligned horizontally. The number of pixel signals in a vertical direction within a group of pixel signals continuously inputted to the pre-filter for prefiltering is equal to the number of rows in the second pixel block. |
| US08204341B2 |
Method and apparatus for capturing, geolocating and measuring oblique images
A computerized system having a computer system storing a database of captured oblique images having corresponding geo-location data. The computerized system also has a data table storing ground plane data that approximates at least a portion of the terrain depicted within the captured oblique images. The computer system further has computer executable logic that when executed by a processor causes the computer system to receive a selection of a geographic point from a user, search the database to find images that contain the selected point, and make the images available to the user. |
| US08204339B2 |
Photographic document imaging system
An apparatus and method for processing a captured image and, more particularly, for processing a captured image comprising a document. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a camera to capture documents is described. In another embodiment, a method for processing a captured image that includes a document comprises the steps of distinguishing an imaged document from its background, adjusting the captured image to reduce distortions created from use of a camera and properly orienting the document is described. |
| US08204336B2 |
Removing noise by adding the input image to a reference image
An image processing device (10) removes noise from an input image by adding the input image to a reference image, and includes: a motion estimation unit (1) which generates motion information for each of blocks of the input image; a motion compensation unit (3) which generates a motion-compensated reference image; a block distortion amount calculation unit (5) which calculates a block distortion amount for each of blocks of the motion-compensated reference image; an addition ratio calculation unit (6) which calculates an addition ratio of a block of the motion-compensated reference image so that the addition ratio decreases as the block distortion increases; and an addition unit (4) which perform weighted sum on a pixel value of the block of the motion-compensated reference image and a pixel value of a block of the input image, using the addition ratio. |
| US08204335B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring blockiness in video images
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing images, in particular for determining the degree of blockiness in coded images. The invention comprises apparatus and methods for determining a degree of blockiness in a digital image comprising blocks each block comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of pixels each pixel having a value by performing the steps of: for each block determining an intra block measure in dependence upon the values of a set of pixels within said block; and determining said measure in dependence upon a plurality of said intra block measures corresponding to each block. Method and apparatus for generating a quality measure in dependence upon the measure of blockiness are also provided. |
| US08204331B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method to reduce delay in image decoding
In an information processing apparatus, a synthesis filtering process is performed on image data which has been subjected to hierarchical executions of an analysis filtering process, each execution of the analysis filtering process having caused frequency components of the image data to be divided into high-frequency components and low-frequency components, the total hierarchical executions of the analysis filtering process having caused the image data to be divided into a plurality of frequency bands, the synthesis filtering process involving synthesizing frequency components of frequency bands in each division level by performing a lifting calculation. The execution of the synthesis filtering process is controlled for each lifting calculation such that the lifting calculations are performed in an order that allows image data to be produced part by part, each part including a plurality of lines. |
| US08204330B2 |
Adaptive PSF estimation technique using a sharp preview and a blurred image
An adaptive motion estimation and deblurring technique for acquired digital images includes acquiring multiple digital images with a moving digital image acquisition device that includes an image sensor, including a relatively sharp, underexposed reference image and a blurred image. Anb initial approximate point spread function (PSF) is estimated corresponding to the moving of the device. A different DC offset point is determined and a second PSF is calculated based on the different DC offset point. |
| US08204328B2 |
Automated underwater image restoration via denoised deconvolution
A method for simultaneously optimizing a digital image taken in or through a scattering medium and obtaining information regarding optical properties of the scattering medium is provided. Data of the digital image is received by a computer. The digital image is evaluated according to an objective image quality metric and a resulting image quality value is compared to a previously stored image quality value for the image. A revised optical transfer function is derived by modeling the optical properties of the medium to be used to generate a restored digital image, which is derived from the original image and the revised optical transfer function. The restored digital image is evaluated according to the objective image quality metric and an optimized restored image is identified. The optical properties associated with the optical transfer function producing the optimized restored image are retrieved and represent a close approximation of the true optical properties of the medium. |
| US08204327B2 |
Context adaptive hybrid variable length coding
A coding method for an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data, including a context adaptive position coding process to encode the position of clusters of non-zero-valued coefficients, e.g., a multidimensional position coder that uses one of a plurality of code mappings selected according to at least one criterion including at least one context-based criterion, and an amplitude encoding process to encode any amplitudes remaining to be coded, the amplitude coding using one or a plurality of amplitude code mappings selected according to at least one criterion, including a context-based criterion. A context-based selection criterion is meant a criterion that during encoding is known or derivable from one or more previously encoded items of information. Also a coding apparatus, a decoding apparatus, a computer readable medium configured with instructions that when executed implement a coding method, and another medium for a decoding method. |
| US08204324B2 |
Method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing data
A method and an apparatus for compressing and decompressing electronic image data, in particular texture data, are provided. The compressed data includes at least two sets of reduced size data, modulation data and modulation and discontinuity flags. The modulation and discontinuity flags determine how the modulation data is used, in combination with the reduced size data sets, in a decompression process. The apparatus allows for data decompression of textures including large color discontinuities. |
| US08204320B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image by using large transformation unit
Disclosed are an image encoding method and apparatus for encoding an image by grouping a plurality of adjacent prediction units into a transformation unit and transforming the plurality of adjacent prediction into a frequency domain, and an image decoding method and apparatus for decoding an image encoded by using the image encoding method and apparatus. |
| US08204318B2 |
Method and apparatus for image compression and decompression
A method of image compressing is provided. During compressing, color intensity of the image is considered. When the color intensity of the image is relatively high, lower bits used for representing the image are dropped. When the color intensity of the image is relatively low, upper bits used for representing the image are dropped. By this, the image is compressed according to color intensity of the image. Therefore, the images with different color intensities are compressed dynamically. Correspondingly, a method of image decompressing is provided. Moreover, a compressing apparatus and a decompressing apparatus are also provided. |
| US08204316B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program for classifying pixels in a motion picture as foreground or background
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for classifying pixels in each frame of a motion picture as foreground or background. According to the invention, the apparatus has a decision unit and adjustment unit. The decision unit classifies a pixel as a foreground pixel, a background pixel or an undefined pixel based on a first threshold, a second threshold and a distribution value of the pixel representing an occurrence probability of a pixel value of the pixel. The decision unit sorts each pixel into a foreground pixel or a background pixel based on the classification result of the decision unit. |
| US08204311B2 |
Method and apparatus for shoulder-line detection and gesture spotting detection
A gesture spotting detection method and apparatus employ a shoulder-line algorithm. The shoulder-line detecting method recognizes a GSD calling gesture that occurs in a shoulder-line, head or higher part in a remote distance or a short distance, although a user does not have a fixed posture. In the method, an image of people is received, and skin information of a person in the image is detected to detect a face area. Then, the cloth color information of the person is modeled from the inputted image to detect a cloth area. An external space is defined from the image based on the body space area, and an edge is extracted from the image based on the body space and the external space. Then, shoulder-line information is acquired based on an energy function obtained based on the body space, the external space, and the edge. |
| US08204307B2 |
Method of imaging a coding pattern and calculating a perspective transform using optimal numbers of target elements
A method of imaging a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) positioning a nib of an optical reader on the surface and capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (b) locating at least nine target elements in the imaged portion; (c) observing a perspective distortion of the target elements due to a 3D orientation of the reader relative to said surface; (d) calculating a 2D perspective transform using the target elements; and (e) determining a position of the nib on the surface using the 2D perspective transform and local tag data contained in the imaged portion. The imaged portion of the coding pattern has a diameter of at least one tag diameter and less than two tag diameters. The coding pattern is specially adapted for the method. |
| US08204306B2 |
Method for image segmentation based on block clustering for improved processing of touching characters
A method and system is provided for segmenting scanned image data in accordance with mixed raster content processing for more efficient processing of non-uniform color touching objects. The scanned data is segmented to background and foreground layers wherein the foreground layer is comprised of a plurality of objects such as text characters. At least one of the plurality of objects is identified as being non-uniform in color. The non-uniform color object is partitioned into a plurality of sub-objects of predetermined size pixel blocks. The sub-objects are then clustered by uniform color and coded with a binary compression algorithm as a foreground layer segment. Non-uniform color sub-objects are alternatively discarded for compression with the background layer algorithm, or processed for determination of a particular color based upon the color of a plurality of pixels within the sub-object. In such a case, the sub-object can then be compressed in accordance with a foreground layer segment algorithm as the color of the determined color. |
| US08204304B2 |
Color gamut mapping by forming curved cross-sectional surfaces
An image processing apparatus is disclosed. The image processing apparatus includes a color profile forming device. The color profile forming device includes a curved surface and table forming section, a cross-sectional surface forming section, a mapping section, and a color profile forming section. The curved surface and table forming section forms a curved surface and forms a mapping table by point group setting. The cross-sectional surface forming section forms a cross-sectional surface of a second gamut. The mapping section performs mapping of a color signal group of a first gamut on the cross-sectional surface of the second gamut by referring to the mapping table. The color profile forming section forms an LUT for a user corresponding to a selected hue, a selected curved surface, and a selected mapping table, based on input and output images whose color signals have been converted by the mapping table. |
| US08204302B2 |
Systems and methods for automatically determining 3-dimensional object information and for controlling a process based on automatically-determined 3-dimensional object information
An image containing one or more types of objects to be located is analyzed to locate linear features within the image. The objects have edges having known spatial relationships. The linear features and identified virtual lines are analyzed to find groups of linear features and/or virtual lines that have one of the known spatial relationships. These relationships can include parallel edges, edges that meet at certain angles or angle ranges, the number of lines meeting a vertex and the like. The identified group is compared with projected 2-dimensional representation(s) of the object(s) to determine whether any additional lines appear in the image that are part of the located object. In various exemplary embodiments, two or more hypotheses for how the identified group of linear features maps to the 3-dimensional representation of the object can be generated. The best fitting hypothesis becomes the recognized 3-dimensional shape and orientation for that object. |
| US08204295B2 |
Photo-mask and wafer image reconstruction
A system receives a mask pattern and a first image of at least a portion of a photo-mask corresponding to the mask pattern. The system determines a second image of at least the portion of the photo-mask based on the first image and the mask pattern. This second image is characterized by additional spatial frequencies than the first image. |
| US08204292B2 |
Feature based neural network regression for feature suppression
A method of obtaining one or more components from an image may include normalizing and pre-processing the image to obtain a processed image. Features may be extracted from the processed image. Neural-network-based regression may then be performed on the set of extracted features to predict the one or more components. These techniques may be applied, for example, to the problem of extracting and removing bone components from radiographic images, which may be thoracic (lung) images. |
| US08204288B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing an ultrasound spectrum image
There is provided a method of processing an ultrasound spectrum image. According to such method, a spectrum image is formed based on ultrasound data and then the noise is removed from the spectrum image. The noise-removed spectrum image is matched with one or more spectrum models representing specific spectrum types. Then, whether or not the noise-removed spectrum image contains an aliasing is checked. If the noise-removed spectrum image contains the aliasing, then the aliasing is removed from the noise-removed spectrum image to provide a noise-removed spectrum image without the aliasing. Thereafter, contour tracing is performed on the noise-removed spectrum image without the aliasing to detect contour points. Further, peak tracing is performed on the noise-removed spectrum image without the aliasing to detect peaks. |
| US08204283B2 |
Fingerprint input module
A fingerprint input module includes at least one prism sheet, an image-capturing unit, and a planar light source. The prism sheet has a micro-prism array. The image-capturing unit has a lens. The planar light source is disposed between the prism sheet and the image-capturing unit, and has a through hole in optical alignment with the lens for passage of light from the micro-prism array to the lens. |
| US08204282B2 |
Image input device and personal authentication device
An image input device is disclosed, including: a lens array in which a plurality of lenses are arrayed; a shielding member configured to prevent a crosstalk on an image surface of light rays passing each of lenses of the lens array; a flat board member configured to regulate a position of a living body in a lens optical axis direction of the lens array when contacting the living body; an image pickup part configured to include an image surface and pick up a compound eye image, which is a set of reduced images of an object inside the living body which position is regulated by the flat board member, the reduced images approximately formed on the image surface by the plurality of lenses of the lens array; and a process part configured to re-compose a single image from the compound eye image picked up by the image pickup part. The image input device inputs the single image re-composed by the process part as an object image. |
| US08204278B2 |
Image recognition method
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for detecting a subject in an image, comprising the steps of: dividing said image into a plurality of regions; calculating a similarity between a feature of one of said regions and the feature of another of said regions; determining a distribution of said similarities corresponding to said regions; and detecting the subject in the image by determining correlation of said distribution with a shape of said subject. |
| US08204274B2 |
Method and system for tracking positions of human extremities
A method for tracking positions of human extremities is disclosed. A left image of a first extremity portion is retrieved using a first picturing device and an outline candidate position of the first extremity portion is obtained according to feature information of the left image. A right image of the first extremity portion is retrieved using a second picturing device and a depth candidate position of the first extremity portion is obtained according to depth information of the right image. Geometry relations between the outline candidate position and the depth candidate position and a second extremity portion of a second extremity position are calculated to determine whether a current extremity position of the first extremity portion is required to be updated. |
| US08204270B2 |
Apparatus, method, program, and mobile terminal device with person image extracting and linking
Face images are extracted from still image content and linked to communication address information. When a person is selected from the still image content the communication address information is acquired, and a communication section is controlled to prompt a telephone call or e-mail according to the communication address information. In the still image content, the image of the person determined to be linked to the communication address information is displayed in a display mode that is different from a display mode for a person not linked to communication address information. |
| US08204266B2 |
Audio devices
An electronic device having an audio function and its loudspeaker arrangement are described. The electronic device comprises an exterior housing, an acoustic transducer and an acoustic radiator forming a part of the exterior housing of the electronic device. In one embodiment, the exterior housing undergoes pistonic movement and is provided with hydrogel pads to couple an acoustic signal to an auxiliary surface, which then vibrates in a distributed mode. The voice coil may be directly bonded to the exterior housing. A formation may be provided to promote pistonic movement of a part of the exterior housing. Methods of operation and formation are also described. |
| US08204265B2 |
Ear warming article including electronic device and easily interchangeable advertising areas
An ear warming article that can be comprised of a C-shaped resilient band, an outer sleeve and a speaker or other electronic device is described. The outer sleeve is dimensioned to contain the resilient band, and includes two insulating, ear-receiving portions as well as a first opening through which the resilient band can be inserted or removed to yield an assembled or disassembled article, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the article includes an electronic device having one or more speakers located at the ends of the resilient band; additional openings in the outer sleeve may exist for any control functionality associated with the electronic device(s). The outer sleeve can be comprised of a washable fabric material, particularly suitable as a means for interchangeable advertising (team logo, branding, etc.). In other embodiments, the ear warming article includes additional advertising and/or securing features. |
| US08204264B2 |
Faceplate for hearing devices and method for producing a faceplate
A faceplate of a hearing device housing with a component fitted in an opening of the faceplate and an associated method are provided. The faceplate is formed from a first material. When a predefinable distance between the support surface of the components in the opening and the surface facing away from the exterior of the faceplate is not reached, a second material is applied below the support surface to the surface of the faceplate such that the predefinable distance is produced. As a result, even with fitted components, for instance the volume controller or program selection switch, the mechanical stability of the faceplate is ensured. |
| US08204263B2 |
Method of estimating weighting function of audio signals in a hearing aid
Disclosed is method of generating an audible signal in a hearing aid by estimating a weighting function of received audio signals, the hearing aid is adapted to be worn by a user; the method comprises the steps of: estimating a directional signal by estimating a weighted sum of two or more microphone signals from two or more microphones, where a first microphone of the two or more microphones is a front microphone, and where a second microphone of the two or more microphones is a rear microphone; estimating a direction-dependent time-frequency gain, and synthesizing an output signal; wherein estimating the direction-dependent time-frequency gain comprises: obtaining at least two directional signals each containing a time-frequency representation of a target signal and a noise signal; and where a first of the directional signals is defined as a front aiming signal, and where a second of the directional signals is defined as a rear aiming signal; using the time-frequency representation of the target signal and the noise signal to estimate a time-frequency mask; and using the estimated time-frequency mask to estimate the direction-dependent time-frequency gain. |
| US08204259B2 |
Condenser microphone
In a condenser microphone having a battery holder and a battery cover therefor, one part is used as a member for grounding the battery cover and as a member for preventing the battery cover from coming off. In a condenser microphone 1 including a microphone housing 2 formed of a metallic cylindrical body; an output connector 4 provided with a predetermined number of terminal pins 43 in a metallic connector sleeve 41; a battery holder 3 provided between the microphone housing 2 and the output connector 4; and a battery cover 5 formed of a metallic cylindrical body for opening/closing the battery holder 3 by sliding, a first ring-shaped groove 41a is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the connector sleeve 41; in the first ring-shaped groove 41a, there is disposed a conductive member 6 consisting of a circular conical tube body in which one end thereof on the battery holder 3 side is in elastic contact with the inner peripheral surface of the battery cover 5, and the other end thereof on the opposite side has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the groove bottom of the first ring-shaped groove 41a; and in the inner peripheral surface of the battery cover 5, there is formed a second ring-shaped groove 52 with which the one end of the conductive member 6 increases in diameter and engages. |
| US08204256B2 |
System and method for muting TV speakers when headphones in use
An audio source (TV, stereo) detects, through a wireless signal from a headphone or from its cradle, when the headphone has been disengaged from the cradle. In response the audio device automatically mutes or lowers the volume output by its speakers. |
| US08204254B2 |
Vacuum tube preamplifier, amplifier and method for musical instruments with programmable controls
An amplifier is provided using digital potentiometer integrated circuits to control the tone of a vacuum tube preamplifier allowing digital control of the analog signal path of the amplifier. Using digital potentiometer integrated circuits to control the tone of a vacuum tube preamplifier results in an amplifier that preserves the unique tone quality of a vacuum tube amplifier that offers the flexibility, versatility, and user-friendly features of a digitally controlled amplifier, such as the ability to save and recall amplifier settings. The amplifier of the present invention is especially applicable for use with musical instruments such as for example, electric guitars. |
| US08204253B1 |
Self calibration of audio device
An audio device performs self calibration with respect to an audio source location when processing an audio signal frame determined likely to be dominated by the audio source. One or more conditions for sub-bands within the audio frame are evaluated to help identify whether the frame is dominated by the audio source. If the conditions meet a threshold value for a number of sub-bands within the frame, the audio signal may be identified as one dominated by the desired audio source and an audio source location coefficient may be adapted. Additionally, when the audio source location coefficient falls below a threshold value, (e.g., suggesting that one of two or more microphones is blocked), noise suppression is reduced or eliminated for the frame or frame sub-bands to prevent suppression of a desired audio source component along with the noise component. |
| US08204252B1 |
System and method for providing close microphone adaptive array processing
Systems and methods for adaptive processing of a close microphone array in a noise suppression system are provided. A primary acoustic signal and a secondary acoustic signal are received. In exemplary embodiments, a frequency analysis is performed on the acoustic signals to obtain frequency sub-band signals. An adaptive equalization coefficient may then be applied to a sub-band signal of the secondary acoustic signal. A forward-facing cardioid pattern and a backward-facing cardioid pattern are then generated based on the sub-band signals. Utilizing cardioid signals of the forward-facing cardioid pattern and backward-facing cardioid pattern, noise suppression may be performed. A resulting noise suppressed signal is output. |
| US08204246B2 |
Sound transducer
A sound transducer, comprising at least one acoustically neutral body with which it is possible to associate two sound conveyance elements which are shaped approximately like a stylized funnel so as to each form an auricle, which protrudes outside the acoustically neutral body and is blended with a duct with which a three-pole microphone cartridge is associated, the cartridge being arranged so that its front end, adapted to acquire the sound, is proximate to the inlet of the duct. The two cold poles of the microphone cartridges are mutually inverted, so that the cold pole of one of the microphone cartridges and the hot pole and the ground of the other of the microphone cartridges are or can be connected to a same connector or socket which is or can be associated with an amplifying and/or recording and/or processing device. |
| US08204243B2 |
Synthetic engine sound for electric vehicle based on detected direction of travel
A vehicle enunciator includes a storage device having sound data, a vehicle speed portion, an accelerator portion, and at least one speaker. The vehicle enunciator may be configured or attached to a vehicle, such as an electric car. The vehicle speed portion detects the speed of a vehicle, while the accelerator portion detects the position of the accelerator pedal of the vehicle. Using the outputs from the vehicle speed portion and accelerator portion, the sound data from the storage device is adjusted with regards to frequency and amplitude, respectively. At least one speaker then produces sound based upon the adjusted sound data. |
| US08204238B2 |
Systems and methods of sonic communication
In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of wireless communication. The method comprises receiving a sonic signal and determining a sequence of sonic tones from a received sonic signal. The receiving includes receiving the sonic signal at an electronic device using a microphone. The sonic signal includes a sequence of sonic tones. The receiving results in the received sonic signal. The sequence of sonic tones contains predefined timing. The timing includes the duration of each sonic tone and a set of intervals between successive sonic tones. |
| US08204234B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating binaural beat from stereo audio signal
An apparatus and method for generating a binaural beat for brainwave induction is provided. Upon receipt of a stereo audio signal, a decorrelator extracts a common component existing in common in both channels of the stereo audio signal, and outputs the remaining stereo components except for the extracted common component. A frequency shifter generates a common component in which the binaural beat is included, by shifting a frequency of the extracted common component. First and second mixers mix the common component in which the binaural beat is included, with the remaining stereo components. |
| US08204233B2 |
Administration of data encryption in enterprise computer systems
Encrypting data on an originating computer and prevent access to this data if the computer is stolen or otherwise unauthorized for use. Access to the encrypted data is granted based on the originating computer's ability to successfully send the data encryption keys, via an electronic connection, to a remote computer and have the remote computer decrypt the encryption keys and transmit them back to the he originating computer. When originating computer receives the decrypt encryption keys, it can then successfully decrypt the encrypted hard drive using the encryption key provided by the remote computer. |
| US08204228B2 |
Group key management re-registration method
In an embodiment, a fast group key management re-registration is described. One computer-implemented method comprises, at a key server: receiving a registration request from a network element to join a group of network elements managed by the key server; generating and storing a group member registration state comprising information identifying the network element within the group of network elements; generating a token using information from the group member registration state, wherein the token identifies the network element within the group; deleting the group member registration state for the network element at the key server; generating an encrypted token by encrypting the token using a secret key that is local to the key server; sending the encrypted token to the network element; receiving the encrypted token along with a re-registration request from the network element to re-join the group of network elements; and re-registering the network element using the encrypted token. |
| US08204227B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and computer program
An apparatus includes a first storage unit configured to store first data to be backup, an encryption unit configured to generate second data by encrypting the first data by using a cryptographic key, a second storage unit configured to store the second data together with a first identifier of the first data, a third storage unit configured to store the cryptographic key used in the encryption of the first data, in association with the first identifier of the first data, an instruction acceptance unit configured to accept a deletion instruction for the first data stored in the first storage unit, and a deletion unit configured to delete, from the third storage unit in accordance with the deletion instruction, the cryptographic key associated with the first identifier of the first data for which the deletion instruction is accepted. |
| US08204226B2 |
Encoding and recording apparatus, playback apparatus, and program
The present invention relates to an encoding and recording apparatus, a playback apparatus, and a program which solve the possibility of a capacity shortage of a protected area accompanying an increase in an information amount and the number of content keys. It is configured such that an encoded user identifier is recorded in a protected area of a key storage medium. The encoded user identifier is fixed information, and has the characteristic in which a data amount is not increased in connection with a utilization form. Therefore, a capacity shortage of the protected area is not brought about. |
| US08204225B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing security in a radio frequency identification system
One aspect involves a communication that contains a portion encrypted with a selected key can be wirelessly transmitted by a part for reception and decryption by plural tags. A different aspect involves a tag receiving a first sequence of wireless communications that each contain sequencing information regarding the first sequence, while receiving a second sequence of wireless communications that each include sequencing information regarding the second sequence, and further involves monitoring the sequencing information from received communications of the first sequence while separately monitoring the sequencing information from received communications of the second sequence. |
| US08204224B2 |
Wireless network security using randomness
The present invention provides systems and methods for securing communications in a wireless network by utilizing the inherent randomness of propagation errors to enable legitimate users to dynamically create a shared symmetric secret key. In one embodiment, the invention provides a system with two computers each having a wireless network adapter. The sending node encodes the frames, transmits the frames, determines if the frames were correctly received, retransmits the frames if they were not correctly received, stores the frames that were not retransmitted, and uses the stored frames to generate a secret key. The receiving node receives the encoded frames, determines if the frames were retransmitted, stores at least one of the frames that was not retransmitted, and uses the stored frames to generate the same secret key as the receiving node. |
| US08204220B2 |
Simulcrypt key sharing with hashed keys
A method of sharing keys among a plurality of conditional access (CA) vendors having differing CA systems used at a distribution headend involves receiving a CA Value contribution from each of the plurality of CA vendors at the headend; hashing the CA Values from each of the plurality of CA vendors together using a hashing function to produce an output control word; and at an encrypter at the headend, using the output control word as a content key, wherein the content key is used as an encryption key to encrypt content provided to a plurality of receivers that decrypt the content using any of the conditional access systems. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08204218B2 |
High-efficient encryption and decryption processing method for implementing SMS4 algorithm
An encrypting/decrypting processing method for implementing SMS4 algorithm in high efficiency is provided. After preparing constant array, input external data into register section, firstly make primary data conversion and then make secondary data conversion, finally repeat data conversion course until complete all specified data conversion courses and obtain processing result of circulating data encryption/decryption. And it solves the technical problems of data conversion in the background technique that number of circulating times is large and encrypting efficiency is low, simplifying the chip design, largely optimizing integrity of chip signal and being able to improve interference immunity of system and reduce system cost. |
| US08204216B2 |
Processing method for message integrity with tolerance for non-sequential arrival of message data
A method for processing an application packet for transmission includes receiving a plurality of segments of the application packet in a byte stream, the byte stream including a plurality of blocks, creating a plurality of superblocks within the byte stream by grouping a number of the plurality of blocks within the byte stream, and creating first pseudorandom bits for the plurality of superblocks. The method also includes determining a block number and a superblock number for a beginning of each of the plurality of segments, determining a block number and a superblock number for an ending of each of the plurality of segments in the byte stream. |
| US08204212B2 |
Phone and method for reducing noise in a subscriber line interface circuit thereof
A method for reducing noise is in a subscriber line interface circuit of a phone includes detecting a work state of the phone, and reading a voltage on hook on the tip wire when the phone is in the on hook state. Voltages of an off hook state on the tip wire and a voltage off hook state on the ring wire are read when the phone is in the off hook state, and calculation of a public voltage based on the voltages in the register, and loading the public voltage on the ring wire are done. The public voltage on the ring wire are converted into oscillatory voltages on the ring wire in symmetric wave forms having phases opposite to those on the tip wire, when the phone is in the pulse dialing state. |
| US08204209B2 |
Full duplex hands-free telephone system
A telephone system comprising an analog telephone and a full-duplex speakerphone adapter is disclosed. The analog telephone comprises an ordinary analog telephone subscriber circuit for transmitting and receiving analog signals and a handset for users. The full-duplex speakerphone adapter is coupled between the analog telephone and a central office, uses a subscriber loop interface circuit through the first telephone line to couple to the ordinary analog telephone subscriber circuit of the analog telephone and uses a telephone hybrid interface circuit through the second telephone line to couple to a wall jack to communicate with the central office. |
| US08204207B2 |
Communication support system, communication support method and communication support program
A communication support system is connected with a network enabling communication among user terminals and is capable of accessing a user information recording portion in which shared information concerning users and access information showing users who accessed the shared information are recorded. The communication support system includes: a user identification portion that acquires a communication start request from a user terminal and identifies an originator and a receiver; a retrieval portion that retrieves shared information concerning the receiver that the originator has not accessed from data recorded in the user information recording portion; and a control portion that, based on a result of the retrieval by the retrieval portion, controls the communication. Thereby, the communication support system can control whether or not to start the communication based on the presence or not of information about the receiver that the originator should confirm. |
| US08204198B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting an audio stream
An active stream is selected from one of a plurality of audio streams generated in a common acoustic environment by obtaining, for each stream obtaining, at a series of measurement instants tn, where n=1 . . . N, a final performance metric that is representative of the stream's goodness for representing near-end speech at each measurement instant tn. The final performance metrics for each stream are accumulated to determine an overall performance score. A switch to a new stream as the active stream occurs when the stream with the best overall performance score exceeds the overall performance score of the currently active stream by a threshold amount. |
| US08204196B2 |
Notification to absent teleconference invitees
A method includes receiving an indication of an elapsed time since a scheduled teleconference meeting start and attendance of the teleconference meeting, determining from the indication whether to issue a notification to an absent invitee of the teleconference meeting, and selectively issuing the notification to the absent invitee. |
| US08204191B2 |
Apparatus and method for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service provider using voice mail
A method and apparatus are described for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service providers using voice mail. The system enables seekers of a wide array of services to select, contact, converse, and pay for a service provider using a communications device such as the telephone. A seeker locates a service provider by providing the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system's software. Once a service provider is selected, the system connects the seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. However, during service provider unavailability, the system enables the seeker to leave a voice mail message for the service provider and reconnects the user and service provider once the message is reviewed by the service provider. The system automatically bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider. |
| US08204188B2 |
Control device for controlling secure fax machine and method thereof
A facsimile controlling device for facsimile security can receive or block a fax transmitted from a registered fax number. In addition, the facsimile controlling device for facsimile security may allow a transmission document to undergo authentication before being transmitted to the outside or may block the transmission document from being transmitted to a registered number. |
| US08204184B2 |
Web integrated interactive voice response
One embodiment of a representative system for web integrated interactive voice response includes an interactive voice response system adapted to provide a plurality of voice menus to a user over a telephone and a graphical user interface system adapted to provide a plurality of menus in a graphical format to the user over a network connection. Information provided in the voice menus corresponds to information provided in the menus in the graphical format and is responsive to commands received by the graphical user interface system from the user. Other systems and methods are also provided. |
| US08204183B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium thereof for enabling an internet extension to ring a conventional extension
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product thereof for enabling an Internet extension to ring a conventional extension are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an SIP proxy and an RTP relay. The SIP proxy receives a calling request from the Internet extension, substitutes an exchange number for a conventional extension number comprised in the calling request, and transmits the substituted calling request to a gateway, so that the substituted calling request can be transmitted to a voice automatic machine via a telephone exchange. The RTP relay transmits the conventional extension number in DTMF format to the gateway. Thus, this invention enables the Internet extension to ring the conventional extension with lower hardware costs. |
| US08204180B1 |
Systems and methods for preventing sensitive information from being communicated into a non-secure environment
A telecommunication system is arranged between a trusted automated interactive system and a non-secure agent. The trusted automated interactive portion is operable for bidirectional communications with a caller. The agent portion is arranged to be bridged onto a communication connection between the caller (or network chat user) and the trusted interactive system under certain conditions. Sensitive data transmitted between the system and a calling user may be blocked from being communicated to the agent even while the agent is bridged onto the connection. In one embodiment, information (such as a verification of authenticity of the caller) pertaining to the sensitive data (but not the sensitive data itself) is communicated to the agent. |
| US08204178B1 |
Method to prevent TTY/TDD probing and unwanted TTY/TDD tone generation on voice gateways
A method to prevent TTY/TDD (teletypewriter/telecommunications device for the deal) probing and unwanted TTY/TDD tone generation on voice gateways comprises detecting a PSTN textphone in a call path, if any; and providing visual clues to an end user, thereby avoiding generation of unwanted text by the end user. The visual clues may be in the form of a dialog box on a computer, warning messages on a phone, and/or the like. |
| US08204175B2 |
Electronic surveillance via correlation of call legs
A variety of methods and systems can be used to achieve electronic surveillance when a call is directed to a destination as a result of service processing. For example, in a system involving a redirecting switch and a service platform switch, correlation between calling party identities for outgoing and incoming call legs can be done to identify a hairpin loop scenario. Upon detection of such a scenario, an appropriate electronic surveillance message can be sent to a monitoring device indicating the call's destination. Correlation information can be collected from available call setup signaling parameters. The methods and systems can be applied, for example, to systems involving directory assistance call completion, voice-activated dialing, voicemail callback, and prepaid services. |
| US08204173B2 |
System and method for image reconstruction by using multi-sheet surface rebinning
The present application is directed toward the generation of three dimensional images in a tomography system having X-ray sources offset from detectors, in particular in a system where the sources are located on a plane, while detectors are located on multiple parallel planes, parallel to the plane of sources and all the planes of detectors lie on one side of the plane of sources. A controller operates to rebin detected X-rays onto a non-flat surface, perform two dimensional reconstruction on the surface, and generate the three dimensional image from reconstructed images on the plurality of surfaces. |
| US08204172B1 |
System and method of prior image constrained image reconstruction using short scan image data and objective function minimization
A tomographic system includes a gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned, a radiation source, a detector positioned to receive radiation from the source that passes through the object, and a computer programmed to acquire a short scan angular range of data of the object, and define a temporal subset of the acquired short scan angular range of data for image reconstruction, the defined temporal subset of the acquired short scan angular range of data comprising approximately half of the angular range of the short scan angular range of data. The computer is programmed to reconstruct a prior image using the acquired short scan angular range of data, and input an estimated image of the object and the prior image into an objective function and minimize the objective function to reconstruct a refined image using the defined temporal subset of scan data and the prior image. |
| US08204171B2 |
Multi-faceted tileable detector for volumetric computed tomography imaging
A system and method for CT image acquisition with increased slice acquisition and minimal image data degradation is provided. The system includes an x-ray projection source positioned that projects a cone beam of x-rays from a focal spot of the x-ray projection source toward an object and a plurality of detector modules positioned on the rotatable gantry to receive x-rays attenuated by the object. Each of the detector modules includes a module frame having a top surface that includes a plurality of facets formed thereon constructed so as to be oriented at differing angles relative to the focal spot and a plurality of sub-modules positioned on the plurality of facets to receive the x-rays attenuated by the object and to convert the x-rays to electrical signals, with each sub-module being oriented at an angle relative to the focal spot based on a respective facet on which the sub-module is mounted. |
| US08204167B2 |
Master slave interface
Implementations related to systems, devices, and methods that make use of a master slave arrangement are described. In some implementations, a master device is configured to generate a clock signal and a slave device is coupled to the master device and is configured to receive the clock signal. The clock signal may control data behavior associated with the master device and the slave device. Additionally, the master device may have a power consumption rate that is lower than the power consumption rate of the slave device. |
| US08204163B2 |
Process for receiving a broadband electromagnetic signal
In a process for receiving a broadband electromagnetic signal, the receiving spectrum is divided into n partial spectrums (n>1), which are subjected to parallel further processing in n channels. The resulting n partial signals are then demodulated into the base band, digitized by n equal-type analog-to-digital converters, and spectrally transformed by a fast Fourier Transform. Interfering edge effects at the transition to the respectively adjacent channel are compensated by amplitude and phase correction of the n partial signals for compensating. Finally, the partial spectrums of the n partial signals are integrated to form a total spectrum in the frequency domain. |
| US08204162B2 |
Reception frequency control circuit
The present invention aims to provide a reception frequency control circuit that is small in mounting area and unaffected by disturbance where an FSK-modulated signal is demodulated. In the reception frequency control circuit, a reception signal processing unit converts an FSK-modulated digital signal to an intermediate frequency when the FSK-modulated digital signal is received. Thereafter, a frequency voltage converting unit converts the intermediate signal to a voltage signal and outputs an output signal. At the same time, an analog frequency controlling unit detects a frequency deviation from the output signal by analog processing. A digital frequency controlling unit generates a reception frequency control signal for correcting the frequency and feeds back the same to the reception signal processing unit. Stable frequency control can be realized by performing reception frequency control by a combination of an analog circuit-digital circuit in this way. |
| US08204158B2 |
Method and apparatus to reduce undesired amplitude modulation
A transmit circuit reduces undesired amplitude modulation (AM) in transmit signal pulses by substituting predetermined amplitude information for actual pulse amplitude information during portions of the pulse corresponding to nominally constant amplitudes. For example, GMSK and certain other modulation formats use a desired transmit pulse shape that includes a nominally flat middle portion. An exemplary AM reduction circuit detects generated pulse values corresponding to the nominally constant-amplitude portions of the transmit pulse and substitutes predetermined, preferably constant, amplitude values in their place. As such, the circuit may include a comparator used to detect the pulse values corresponding to variable amplitude portions of the pulse, which it passes through, and to detect those amplitude values corresponding to constant-amplitude portions of the pulse, which it replaces with substituted values. Such operation may include amplitude value filtering, and such operations may be modal, e.g., performed in dependence on modulation mode, etc. |
| US08204154B2 |
DC offset calibration
A mobile communication device comprises a plurality of receivers, a phase detection circuit, and a DC offset calibration circuit. Each receiver comprises a receiver chain and a divide-by-2 circuit that supplies Local Oscillating (LO) signal for the receiver chain. The LO signals leak to each receiver chain and create an undesirable DC offset voltage. The DC offset depends on an LNA gain and a phase relation among the LO leakages. In a first novel aspect, a two-dimensional DC offset calibration (DCOC) table is prepared for each receiver chain. In a second novel aspect, the phase detection circuit detects the phase relation among the LO leakages for each receiver chain. Based on the LNA gain and the detected phase relation of each receiver chain, a DCOC code is selected from a corresponding DCOC table such that the calibration circuit calibrates the DC offset for each receiver effectively and efficiently. |
| US08204146B2 |
Impulse waveform generating apparatus and radio-frequency pulse waveform generating apparatus
An impulse waveform generating apparatus includes a multistage delay pulse signal generating part for generating a plurality of delay pulse signals by a timing signal; a signal source signal generating part for generating a signal source signal indicating the frequency component of an impulse waveform signal by the delay pulse signals; an envelope formation signal generating part for generating an envelope formation signal indicating the amplitude component of the impulse waveform signal by the delay pulse signals; and a mixer part for multiplying the signal source signal by the envelope formation signal to generate a prescribed impulse waveform signal. The impulse waveform generating apparatus generates the impulse waveform signal from the timing signal. Therefore, the circuit arrangement requires no digital-to-analog converter, the operational frequency of each element can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced. |
| US08204144B2 |
Wireless communication system, apparatus and method thereof
Provided is a wireless communication system, comprising: a wireless communication apparatus which performs adaptive modulation for changing a modulation method and an encoding rate of a data channel, and transmits/receives a signal via MIMO multiplexing. The control information comprises first control information to be used for a MIMO stream separation process and second control information not to be used for the MIMO stream separation process. The selections in the second control information are changed corresponding to selected first control information. The wireless communication apparatus determines the first control information at an update timing of the first control information by referring to the first control information table, determine selections of the second control information based on the determined first control information, and select one of the selections of the second control information among the determined selections of the second control information at an update timing of the second control information. |
| US08204143B2 |
Beamforming in MIMO communication systems
A communication terminal includes first and second transmitters, which are coupled to produce respective first and second Radio Frequency (RF) signals that are phase-shifted with respect to one another by a beamforming phase offset, and to transmit the RF signals toward a remote communication terminal. The terminal includes a reception subsystem including first and second receivers and a phase correction unit. The first and second receivers are respectively coupled to receive third and fourth RF signals from the remote communication terminal. The phase correction unit is coupled to produce, responsively to the third and fourth RF signals, a phase correction for correcting an error component in the beamforming phase offset. |
| US08204139B2 |
Blind estimation method of OFDM modulation parameters
The present invention concerns a blind estimation method of at least one temporal modulation parameter of an OFDM signal, in which a plurality of demodulation attempts of said OFDM signal are carried out using a plurality of respective values of this temporal parameter and, for each demodulation attempt, a cost function representative of the entropy of the demodulated signal is calculated, the estimate of said temporal parameter then being obtained as the value of this parameter minimizing said cost function. |
| US08204129B2 |
Simplified deblock filtering for reduced memory access and computational complexity
A method of simplifying deblock filtering of video blocks of an enhanced layer of scalable video information is disclosed which includes selecting an adjacent pair of video blocks, determining whether boundary strength of the video blocks is a first value, evaluating first conditions using component values of a first component line if the boundary strength is not the first value, and bypassing deblock filtering between the video blocks if the boundary strength is the first value or if any of the first conditions is false. The method may include bypassing evaluating conditions and deblock filtering associated with the maximum boundary strength. The method may include bypassing evaluating second conditions and bypassing corresponding deblock filtering if the intermediate edge is a horizontal edge. The method may include bypassing less efficient memory reads associated with component values used for evaluating the second conditions. |
| US08204128B2 |
Learning filters for enhancing the quality of block coded still and video images
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reducing blocking artifacts in block-wise coding of still and video images. A learning filter generator is provided at the image encoder for generating a set of filters and associated filtering rules for filtering cross-boundary image patterns based on representative original and decoded training images using a supervised machine learning algorithm. An adaptive filter at the image decoder receives the generated filters and associated filtering rules and performs locally adaptive filtering in accordance with the received filtering rules. |
| US08204124B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method thereof, and program
An image processing apparatus includes a unit configured to calculate a sum of absolute differences between pixel values of pixels in a block of interest and pixel values of pixels in a reference block, a unit configured to compare sums of absolute differences calculated and to determine a minimum sum of absolute differences thereamong, a unit configured to estimate a motion vector for the pixel of interest using the reference pixel having the minimum sum of absolute differences and the pixel of interest, a unit configured to generate a motion-compensated image by using pixel values of the pixels as pixel values of corresponding pixels in the motion-compensated image, a unit configured to cumulatively add sums of absolute differences, and a unit configured to generate an interpolation image by mixing the pixels and corresponding pixels in the motion-compensated image according to an obtained cumulative-sum result. |
| US08204123B2 |
Motion vector searching apparatus, motion vector searching method and storage medium for storing motion vector searching program
A motion vector searching apparatus to which a reference image, an object image and weight parameters for the reference image are inputted and searches a motion vector based thereon is provides. The motion vector searching apparatus includes an inverse weighting section that generates an inverse weighted object image by performing, on the object image using the weight parameter, a weighting inverse from a weighting performed on the reference image using the weight parameter; an image comparing section that compares the generated inverse weighted object image with the reference image to obtain a comparison value indicating a degree of approximation between the two images; and a determination section that determines an optimum motion vector from the comparison value. |
| US08204122B2 |
Compressed non-reference picture reconstruction from post-processed reference pictures
A method of compressed picture reconstruction using a plurality of post-processed reference pictures. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a first of a plurality of reconstructed pictures by decoding a first of a plurality of compressed pictures using at least one of a plurality of non-post-processed reference pictures buffered in a reference memory, wherein the compressed pictures are received in an input bitstream, (B) generating a first of a plurality of processed pictures by artifact processing the first reconstructed picture to remove artifacts, (C) buffering in the reference memory both (i) the first reconstructed picture as one of the non-post-processed reference pictures and (ii) the first processed picture as one of the post-processed reference pictures and (D) generating a second of the reconstructed pictures by decoding a second of the compressed pictures using at least one of the post-processed reference pictures buffered in the reference memory. |
| US08204115B2 |
Video frame encoding and decoding
A video frame arithmetical context adaptive encoding and decoding scheme is presented which is based on the finding, that, for sake of a better definition of neighborhood between blocks of picture samples, i.e. the neighboring block which the syntax element to be coded or decoded relates to and the current block based on the attribute of which the assignment of a context model is conducted, and when the neighboring block lies beyond the borders or circumference of the current macroblock containing the current block, it is important to make the determination of the macroblock containing the neighboring block dependent upon as to whether the current macroblock pair region containing the current block is of a first or a second distribution type, i.e., frame or field coded. |
| US08204114B2 |
Direction detection algorithms for H.264/AVC intra prediction
A block intra prediction direction detection algorithm comprises acts of dividing a block, finding directions from edge assent rules, determining a main edge of the block, selecting prediction modes from the main edge, choosing base prediction modes and using all unique selected and base prediction modes in intra prediction. The algorithms comprise a 4×4 block intra prediction direction detection algorithm, a 16×16 luminance block intra prediction direction detection algorithm and an 8×8 chrominance block intra prediction direction detection algorithm. |
| US08204112B2 |
Moving picture coding method and a moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus includes a motion estimation unit (101) for performing motion estimation by fixing the one of two reference pictures as a reference picture indicated by an inputted default reference picture number DefRefNo and a variable length coding unit (107) for performing variable length coding on coded residual data ERes, a prediction type PredType, a reference picture number RefNo2 and motion vectors MV1, MV2 on a block-by-block basis, and outputting them as coded moving picture data Str. |
| US08204110B2 |
Method of coding and decoding image
A method of simplifying the arithmetic operation in a global motion compensation process approximates the motion vector field of the whole image without using many parameters. Motion vectors in the global motion compensation are found by the interpolation and/or extrapolation of the motion vectors of a plurality of representative points 602, 603 and 604 having particular features in the spatial distance thereof. Since the shift operation can be substituted for the division for synthesizing a predicted image of global motion compensation, the processing using a computer or a dedicated hardware is simplified. |
| US08204105B2 |
Transcoder and coded image conversion method
A quantization step determination part inputs an evaluation value (ACT_MB) indicating the dispersion in a macroblock and its average value (ACT_PIC). A subtracter obtains the difference between these values, and a multiplier multiplies the difference by raq (<1) to obtain a weighting value. Next, an adder adds the weighting value to an average quantization step value of source data, and finally a multiplier multiplies the sum by a step value adjustment factor α (>1) to obtain a converted quantization step value (Qstep_AVC). This optimizes a bit allocation in accordance with an Activity value of the macroblock, to thereby improve the quality of image. |
| US08204104B2 |
Frame rate conversion system, method of converting frame rate, transmitter, and receiver
A frame rate conversion system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes a decoding unit decoding a compressed video signal encoded by an encoding method using a motion vector, and an encoding unit superimposing reference control information being output from the decoding unit and containing at least a motion vector on a blanking period of the video signal decoded by the decoding unit, and outputs the video signal with the reference control information superimposed thereon. The receiver includes a decoding unit separating the reference control information from the blanking period of the video signal input from the transmitter, and a frame rate converting unit generating an interpolated frame between frames of the input video signal using the reference control information separated by the decoding unit, and converting the input video signal into the signal of a higher frame rate. |
| US08204102B2 |
IQ imbalance equalization system and method
Systems and methods for performing channel equalization in a communication system are presented. More particularly, embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus are directed toward systems and methods for performing channel equalization in an OFDM system. One example of a method of negating the effects of IQ imbalance can include the operations of transmitting a channel estimation string across a channel. The channel estimation string comprises a plurality of known channel estimation symbols. The method further includes logically inverting predetermined symbols within the known channel estimation string; transmitting a second channel estimation string across the channel, the second channel estimation string including the logically inverted predetermined symbols; and estimating the IQ image noise based on received first and second channel estimation symbols. |
| US08204101B2 |
Noise estimation apparatus and related method thereof
A noise estimation apparatus and method thereof includes an evaluation circuit, a first calculation circuit, a second calculation circuit, and a mean calculation circuit. The evaluation circuit is utilized for determining which constellation point on a constellation diagram each received symbol in a communication signal corresponds to for purposes of generating a relevant evaluated symbol and outputting an evaluated signal. The first calculation circuit is for generating an error output signal according to the communication signal and the evaluated signal, wherein the error output signal includes a plurality of error calculation values. The second calculation circuit is utilized for adjusting at least a portion of the plurality of error calculation values of the error output signal in order to output an adjusted error output signal. The mean calculation circuit is utilized for averaging the adjusted error output signal in order to generate a noise estimation result. |
| US08204094B2 |
Scalable, efficient laser systems
A laser comprises an end pump light source and a gain medium having a first end, a second end, and four sides comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth side. The end pump light source is optically coupled to the first end and pumps the gain medium. The first side and the third side are tapered inwardly from the first end to the first end to the second end at a taper angle β relative to a longitudinal lasing axis and have a polished finish capable of reflecting light inside the gain medium. The second side and the fourth side are substantially parallel to the longitudinal lasing axis have a ground blasted finish. The first side is also tilted inwardly at a slant angle α from the fourth side to the second side. A laser beam R0 exits the second end of the gain medium. |
| US08204092B2 |
Injector emitter
Injection emitters (light-emitting diodes, superluminescent emitters) are used in the form of highly-efficient solid state radiation sources within a large wavelength range and for wide field of application, including general illumination using white light emitters provided with light-emitting diodes. Said invention also relates to superpower highly-efficient and reliable injection surface-emitting lasers, which generate radiation in the form of a plurality of output beams and which are characterized by a novel original and efficient method for emitting the radiation through the external surfaces thereof. |
| US08204089B2 |
Mode locked laser device
There is provided a mode locked laser device including: a cavity, the cavity having a semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror and a negative dispersion mirror that controls group velocity dispersion within the cavity, disposed in a straight line; a solid-state laser medium, disposed in the cavity and outputting oscillating light due to excitation light being incident thereon; an excitation unit that causes the excitation light to be incident on the solid-state laser medium; and a cavity holder, the light incident face of the semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror attached to one end of the cavity holder, the negative dispersion mirror attached to the other end of the cavity holder, and the cavity holder integrally supporting the semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror and the negative dispersion mirror. |
| US08204088B2 |
Wavelength tunable laser and optical tomography system using the wavelength tunable laser
An external resonator type wavelength tunable laser has a laser medium, a dispersion system which spatially disperses light emitted from the laser medium by wavelength, and a wavelength selecting system having a reflecting surface which selectively reflects a part of the light which is reflected by the reflecting surface as a return light, and the wavelength selecting system is structured so that the inverse of a number of a wavelength of the return light linearly changes with time. |
| US08204086B2 |
Natural network coding for multi-hop wireless network
Described herein is technology for, among other things, natural network coding in a wireless mesh network. The technology involves wireless mesh network systems, methods and devices based on the natural network coding. By encoding signals in their natural forms using their channel strengths, more efficient transmission of signals is possible in the wireless mesh network. |
| US08204082B2 |
Transparent provisioning of services over a network
An apparatus and method for enhancing the infrastructure of a network such as the Internet is disclosed. A packet interceptor/processor apparatus is coupled with the network so as to be able to intercept and process packets flowing over the network. Further, the apparatus provides external connectivity to other devices that wish to intercept packets as well. The apparatus applies one or more rules to the intercepted packets which execute one or more functions on a dynamically specified portion of the packet and take one or more actions with the packets. The apparatus is capable of analyzing any portion of the packet including the header and payload. Actions include releasing the packet unmodified, deleting the packet, modifying the packet, logging/storing information about the packet or forwarding the packet to an external device for subsequent processing. Further, the rules may be dynamically modified by the external devices. |
| US08204079B2 |
Joint transmission of multiple multimedia streams
A system and method for partitioning a bandwidth of a single channel among plural multimedia streams in a time varying manner. The partitioning is undertaken by dynamically establishing first and second bit rates respectively associated with first and second multimedia streams. |
| US08204076B2 |
Compact packet based multimedia interface
A packet based display interface arranged to couple a multimedia source device to a multimedia sink device is disclosed that includes a transmitter unit coupled to the source device arranged to receive a source packet data stream in accordance with a native stream rate, a receiver unit coupled to the sink device, and a linking unit coupling the transmitter unit and the receiver unit arranged to transfer a multimedia data packet stream formed of a number of multimedia data packets based upon the source packet data stream in accordance with a link rate between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit. |
| US08204070B1 |
Backplane device for non-blocking stackable switches
A backplane device to connect to a plurality of stackable network switch devices. According to one aspect of the intention, each of the plurality of stackable network switch devices can implement its own internal non-blocking switching. According to another aspect of the intention, the relative configuration of connectors and signal lines of the backplane device provide for a switch device to be readily connected into (or disconnected from) a switch stack implementing combined non-blocking switching. |
| US08204069B2 |
Systems and methods for queue management in packet-switched networks
This disclosure relates to methods and systems for queuing traffic in packet-switched networks. In one of many possible embodiments, a queue management system includes a plurality of queues and a priority module configured to assign incoming packets to the queues based on priorities associated with the incoming packets. The priority module is further configured to drop at least one of the packets already contained in the queues. The priority module is configured to operate across multiple queues when determining which of the packets contained in the queues to drop. Some embodiments provide for hybrid queue management that considers both classes and priorities of packets. |
| US08204068B2 |
Methods and apparatus for fibre channel interconnection of private loop devices
Methods and apparatus for Fibre Channel interconnection is provided between a plurality of private loop devices through a Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system. In the preferred embodiments, the Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system is a fabric or an intelligent bridging hub. In one aspect of this invention, a Fibre Channel private loop device is connected to two or more Arbitrated Loops containing, or adapted to contain, one or more private loop devices. Preferably, the interconnect system includes a routing filter to filter incoming Arbitrated Loop physical addresses (ALPAs) to determine which Fibre Channel frames must attempt to be routed through the fabric. Numerous topologies of interconnect systems may be achieved. In another aspect of this invention, a method is provided for implementing a logical loop of private loop devices by segmenting the logical loop into a plurality of sets, assigning each set to a physical Arbitrated Loop and connecting the Arbitrated Loops to a Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system. Additional methods are provided for restricting attached devices to Arbitrated Loop physical addresses within certain ranges. Additionally, methods are provided for resetting hosts, the method generally comprising the steps of detecting the addition of a storage device to a first Arbitrated Loop, and thereafter, resetting the Arbitrated Loop or loops on which a host or hosts reside on second Arbitrated Loop. Methods for operation with use of SCSI initiators generate a link service reject when no address match is found, or when an address match is found, but where no device with the destination ALPA exists on the Arbitrated Loop corresponding to the destination. |
| US08204067B2 |
Technique for lane virtualization
A technique to perform virtualization of lanes within a common system interface (CSI) link. More particularly, embodiments described herein relate to virtualizing interconnective paths between two or more electronic devices residing in an electronic network. |
| US08204066B2 |
Method for predicting a port number of a NAT equipment based on results of inquiring the STUN server twice
We propose a method for predicting a port number of a NAT equipment according to results of inquiring a STUN server twice in this invention. A network terminal device A in a private network sends an inquiry packet to the STUN server before and after sending a hole punching request, acquires two endpoint mappings of the NAT equipment used respectively in the two inquiries from the STUN server, and delivers the endpoint mappings to another network terminal device B in another private network through a SIP server. The network terminal device B predicts a range of port numbers of the NAT equipment probably used when the hole punching request was sent, according to the endpoint mappings and a port differential of the NAT equipment, and sends packets to the predicted port numbers sequentially until a response packet is received from the network terminal device A. Hence, a connection channel is established. |
| US08204065B2 |
Network address translation in session initiation protocol based application
Improved techniques are disclosed for providing network address translation (NAT) in a session initiation protocol (SIP) based application. For example, a method for use in a router for performing NAT on a SIP message associated with a session being initiated between a first device and at least a second device, wherein the first device is part of a first network and the second device is part of a second network, includes the following steps. A SIP message is obtained from the first device, wherein a header field of the SIP message includes a local address and local port number usable by the first device on the first network. A port number to be associated with the session being initiated is randomly selected. The randomly selected port number is usable on the second network. An association (e.g., a binding) is generated between the randomly selected port number and a global address usable on the second network, the local address and the local port number. The local address and the local port number are substituted in the header field of the SIP message with the global address and the randomly selected port number thereby generating an address-translated SIP message. The address-translated SIP message is sent to the second device on the second network. The randomly selected port number may serve as a unique identifier for the session being initiated. |
| US08204059B2 |
Method for formatting signal in mobile communication system
A method for formatting a signal in a mobile communication system by appending a plurality of medium access control headers to a plurality of medium access control-service data units for data transfer between a mobile station and network in the mobile communication system. If the service data units have the same characteristics, a medium access control-protocol data unit is formed by successively coupling the service data units to any one of the medium access control headers. If the service data units have different characteristics, the protocol data unit is formed by sequentially coupling each of the service data units and each of the medium access control headers. The formed protocol data unit is then transformed into a transport block with a predetermined size. A medium access control sublayer formats medium access control-protocol data units according to transport channel characteristics in peer-to-peer communication in such a manner that the protocol data units can have different formats with respect to different transport channels. This makes it possible to provide more efficient functions. |
| US08204056B2 |
Systems and methods for endpoint recording using a media application server
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for recording media communication. An exemplary method comprises the steps of: receiving an incoming communication from a first communication device; routing the incoming communication to a second communication device in a call center; transmitting media communications associated with the incoming media communication between the first communication device and the second communication device through a media application server; duplicating the media communications via the media application server; transmitting the duplicated media communications via the media application server; and recording the duplicated media communications. |
| US08204054B2 |
System having a plurality of nodes connected in multi-dimensional matrix, method of controlling system and apparatus
A system has a plurality of nodes connected in a multi-dimensional matrix and having node addresses, respectively, each of the nodes having a processor, and a router for transmitting a request packet to a node adjacent to its own node located in n+1th dimension when the address of nth dimension of its own node is matched to the address of nth dimension of the target node, transmitting a response packet to a node adjacent to its own node located in nth dimension when the address of n+1th dimension of its own node is matched to the address of n+1th dimension of the response packet, wherein the router terminates a request packet when the address of the request packet is fully matched to the node address of its own node in all the dimensions, transfers the data conveyed by the request packet to the processor of its own node for processing. |
| US08204051B2 |
Apparatus and method for queuing delay-sensitive packets for transmission on heterogenous links
An apparatus for use in a first packet switching device that transmits outgoing data packets to a second packet switching device over N heterogeneous data links. The first packet switching device comprises N packet queues for storing outgoing data packets. The apparatus selects one of the N heterogeneous data links to transmit a first outgoing data packet. The apparatus comprises a controller that calculates a packet delay value for each one of a subset of S of the N heterogeneous data links. The packet delay (PD) value for each data link is determined as a function of i) a propagation delay (D) of the data link; ii) a packet size (PS) of the first outgoing data packet; iii) a queue size (QS) of a packet queue associated with the data link; and iv) a bandwidth (BW) of the data link. |
| US08204040B2 |
Wireless communications method, wireless control station, and wireless base station
The present invention relates to a wireless communications method, a wireless control station, and a wireless base station. One of the objects of the present invention is to make it possible to allocate the wireless resources to more than one road side device without interference thereamong. Therefore, the allocation information in the communications regions, used by the wireless base stations in their communications with the wireless terminal from the wireless control station, is sent to each of the wireless base stations, and each of the signal base stations performs communications with the wireless terminal by using the communications region in the wireless frame corresponding to the allocation information received from the wide-area control station. |
| US08204038B2 |
Method for efficient utilization of radio resources in wireless communications system
The invention provides a wireless communications system. In one embodiment, the wireless communications system comprises a coordinating communications device, a source communications device, and a sink communications device. The coordinating communications device transmits a predetermined bits sequence at the beginning of a radio frame at a rate of a first fixed interval. The source communications device receives frames of a streaming session, detects a duration and first starting time of a frame, and wherein forwards information about the duration and the first starting time of one or more of the frames to the coordinating communications device. The coordinating communications device then determines the duration of a second fixed interval and second starting time in accordance with a predetermined rule based on the information received from the source communications device. The coordinating communications device then transmits the predetermined bits sequence at the second starting time of a radio frame at a rate of the second fixed interval, and the source communications device forwards the frames to a sink communications device. |
| US08204037B2 |
Autocratic low complexity gateway/ guardian strategy and/or simple local guardian strategy for flexray or other distributed time-triggered protocol
A special node is used in a distributed time-triggered cluster. The special node comprises protocol functionality to establish a time base to use in communicating with a plurality of end nodes and to source timing-related frames to the plurality of end nodes in accordance with the distributed time-triggered communication protocol. The protocol functionality establishes the time base without regard to any timing-related frame sourced from any of the plurality of end nodes. In one embodiment, the protocol functionality of the special node is implemented in a low complexity manner. In one embodiment, the cluster comprises a star topology and the special node performs at least one of semantic filtering and rate enforcement. In another embodiment, the cluster comprises a bus or peer-to-peer topology and each end node is coupled to the communication channel using a low-complexity special local bus guardian. |
| US08204035B2 |
Network node
A computer node comprising a synchronization unit for comparing network timing information for a first network with network timing information for a second network and for communicating to the first network the sign of the difference between the first network timing information and the second network timing information to allow the first network to alter its network timing information using the sign of the difference to allow the network timing difference between the first network and the second network to be reduced. |
| US08204033B2 |
Relay station, base station, relay method, transmission method, and computer readable medium thereof for use in a multi-hop network
A relay station (RS), a relay method, a base station (BS), a transmission method, and a computer readable medium thereof are provided. The BS is configure to generate a DL-R-MAP for the BS and a first frame according to a resource usage status of the multi-hop network, and transmit the first frame in a DL relay zone according to the DL-R-MAP for the BS, wherein the first frame comprises a plurality of DL-R-MAPs for RSs, and each of the DL-R-MAPs for RSs. The RS is configure to receive the first frame from the BS, generate a second frame by removing a DL-R-MAP from the first frame, and transmit the second frame to a subordinated relay station in a DL relay zone according to the DL-R-MAP removed from the first frame. |
| US08204032B2 |
Information polling method, apparatus and system
The invention provides an information polling method, apparatus and system thereof, wherein a message gateway receives an information polling request from an application in an application client, and according to the received information polling request, the message gateway acquires at least one message requested by the application and calculates a reference polling cycle of the application, and sends the acquired message requested by the application and the reference polling cycle to the application. The application determines a polling cycle of a next poll according to a load condition of the application client and the received reference polling cycle. According to the invention, efficiency and quality of the information polling is improved, while the system is ensured to run normally, reducing the cases of message blocking and system breakdown which may occur in the existing situations. |
| US08204029B2 |
Mobile intelligent roaming using multi-modal access point devices
A system and method are provided in which access point (AP) devices in a wireless local area network (WLAN) are typed or configured into one of three measurement and reporting roles: Monitor-Mode AP (MMAP), Portal AP (PAP), a Border AP (BAP) or an Interior AP (IAP). APs are assigned specific link measurement requirements according to their assigned type or role. In general, MMAPs and PAPs have the greatest measurement and reporting responsibilities, BAPs have less measurement and reporting responsibilities than PAPs and IAPs have the least measurement and reporting responsibilities. The APs generate measurements that are supplied to appropriate equipment to facilitate handover decisions with respect to a dual-mode wireless client device that roams between the WLAN and another network or vice versa. As a result, link measurements are only performed by APs in locations where such measurements are necessary for handover service, thus reducing the overall processing load on the WLAN infrastructure. |
| US08204024B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting downlink joint detection in TDD CDMA systems
A method is proposed for supporting downlink JD (joint detection) in a TDD CDMA communication network system, comprising steps of: judging whether the CAI (code allocation information) in a downlink timeslot will change in the next TTI (transmission time interval); if the CAI will change, inserting the changed CAI as a specific control information into a specified field in the traffic burst in the downlink timeslot corresponding to current TTI; sending the traffic burst containing the specific control information to each UE (user equipment) in the downlink timeslot via a downlink channel. |
| US08204022B2 |
Method of providing transcoding during voice-over-internet protocol handoff
The present invention provides a method for supporting handoffs of a first mobile unit in a wireless communication system that supports multiple vocoder technologies. The method includes allocating, prior to completion of a handoff of the first mobile unit, a transcoder function to the first mobile unit. The method also includes detecting a change in a format of at least one packet received from the first mobile unit. The change indicates that the vocoder technology used by the first mobile unit to form packets has changed. The method also includes transcoding packets in response to detecting the change in the format. |
| US08204015B2 |
Method and apparatus for zone controller based dynamic spectrum allocation
The application discloses a method and apparatus for dynamic spectrum allocation to a secondary communication system seeking to operate within the spectrum of a regulated primary communication system. The method includes clustering a plurality of secondary devices based on an operating frequency utilized by each of the secondary devices. The method then includes assigning sensing opportunities to the plurality of clustered secondary devices. The method then includes, receiving sensing information from each of the clustered secondary devices. The sensing information indicates at least one of an occupied channel frequency and an unoccupied channel frequency in the spectrum. The method further includes determining at least one spectrum opportunity, in the spectrum, that is unoccupied by each of a plurality of primary devices based on the received sensing information, and allocating the at least one spectrum opportunity to at least one of the secondary devices. |
| US08204010B2 |
Method and system for dynamic ACK/NACK repetition for robust downlink MAC PDU transmission in LTE
A method and apparatus for dynamic acknowledgement repetition for a downlink medium access control packet data unit transmission ‘MAC PDU’ requiring multiple acknowledgements, the method having the steps of: receiving the downlink MAC PDU requiring multiple acknowledgements; and utilizing a differentiating factor and acknowledgement scheme, sending the multiple acknowledgements. |
| US08204009B2 |
Providing connectivity between subnets of a wireless network
A method of providing connectivity between subnets of a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes each gateway of each subnet selecting less than all gateways of each other subnet of the wireless network. An adjacency is formed between each gateway and each of the less than all selected gateways of each other subnet. |
| US08204008B2 |
Techniques for resource block mapping in a wireless communication system
A technique of operating a wireless communication device includes creating a resource block map by associating respective subscriber station identifications, corresponding to respective subscriber stations, with one or more resource blocks. The respective subscriber station identifications and the resource block map are transmitted, from a serving base station, in one or more control channel symbols. |
| US08204007B2 |
Method and apparatus for control of enhanced dedicated channel transmissions
A method and apparatus for controlling enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmissions are disclosed. An enhanced uplink medium access control (MAC-e/es) entity processes a received scheduling grant to calculate a serving grant. The MAC-e/es entity determines whether both a hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) process for scheduled data and scheduled data are available. If an H-ARQ process for scheduled data and scheduled data are available, the MAC-e/es entity determines whether a serving grant exists. The MAC-e/es entity calculates a remaining power based on maximum allowed power and restricts an E-DCH transport format combination (E-TFC) based on the remaining power. The MAC-e/es entity selects an E-TFC using the serving grant and generates a MAC-e protocol data unit. The MAC-e/es entity may process the received scheduled grant is at each transmission time interval or may store the received scheduled grant in a grant list until there is E-DCH data to transmit. |
| US08204000B1 |
Achieving quality of service (QoS) by using the reverse activity bit (RAB) in creation of neighbor lists for selected access terminals
Methods and systems are provided for achieving quality of service (QoS) by using the reverse activity bit (RAB) in creation of neighbor lists for selected access terminals. In an embodiment, an access node provides service to a plurality of access terminals in a first wireless coverage area. The access node maintains and broadcasts a standard neighbor list identifying neighboring wireless coverage areas, each having a respective RAB. The access node generates a QoS neighbor list, consisting of one or more coverage areas from the standard neighbor list having a RAB that is cleared. The access node transmits the QoS neighbor list to a subset of the access terminals. Each access terminal in the subset uses the QoS neighbor list in place of the standard neighbor list, while the other access terminals use the standard neighbor list. |
| US08203999B2 |
Routing in selfish networks
There is disclosed a method of operating a communications network having a plurality of selfish users. Each selfish user may send messages to a destination node with the messages being forwarded through intermediate nodes of a mesh network. Each selfish user may accumulate a debt equal to the power saved by having messages forwarded through other nodes in the mesh network less the power consumed forwarding messages for other nodes in the mesh network. Each selfish user having greater than zero accumulated debt may be required to forward messages for other nodes. |
| US08203998B2 |
System and methods for cancelling interference in a communication system
Systems and methods for canceling interference in a communication system are described. A signal that comprises current data from a current access point and secondary data from one or more secondary access points is received. The secondary data is demodulated using one or more secondary channel estimates if a signal metric is less than a predetermined threshold. Interference in the received signal is canceled using the demodulated secondary data if the signal metric is less than the predetermined threshold. The received signal with the interference canceled is demodulated using a current channel estimate to obtain the current data. The method for interference cancellation may use the same hardware resources and processing available for receiving data from a single access point. |
| US08203993B2 |
Providing improved post-dial delay at an originating terminal
To provide expedited ringback at an originating terminal, a call request is sent from the originating terminal to a destination device over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Local resource reservation is performed by the originating terminal after sending the call request. A first message is received by the originating terminal prior to the originating terminal sending a second message indicating that local resource reservation has been performed, the first message for indicating that alerting is being performed at the destination device. In response to receiving the first message and determining that the local resource reservation has been performed, a ringback indicator is generated by the originating terminal. |
| US08203992B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing CDMA-based dedicated control channels in an OFDMA-based network
A method for efficiently transmitting control information may include allocating a portion of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frames for transmission of a code division multiple access (CDMA) based signal. The CDMA-based signal may include data from one or more dedicated control channels. The method may also include converting the CDMA-based signal into a format that is suitable for transmission via OFDMA techniques. The method may also include transmitting the converted CDMA-based signal using a subset of available OFDMA subcarriers. |
| US08203989B2 |
Distributing content in a communication network
A method involves determining a first content identifier for content and determining a second content identifier for the content, wherein the first content identifier belongs to a first system layer and the second content identifier belongs to the second system layer. The method further involves requesting for delivering of the content by transmitting the first content identifier in a control message, wherein the control message belongs to a second system layer. The content is received via radio interface within a connection, wherein the connection belongs to the second layer. The second system layer is lower than the first system layer. |
| US08203985B2 |
Power saving in peer-to-peer communication devices
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products to save power in peer-to-peer communication devices associated with wireless communication networks are disclosed. Embodiments generally comprise wireless communications devices. A device may associate or connect with an access point and communicate with another device also connected to the access point. The devices may establish a direct link as part of a tunneled direct link system (TDLS) network. After establishing the direct link, the devices may negotiate a wakeup schedule, enabling both devices to enter power saving modes to conserve power. The devices may maintain the direct link while in power saving modes, enabling the devices to periodically exit the power saving modes and transfer buffered data. |
| US08203983B2 |
Multi-domain network with centralized management
One embodiment relates to a method for coordinating signals within a multi-domain network. At least one node within one network domain of the multi-domain network is identified, where the one node is affected by interference due to another node of another network domain of the multi-domain network. Global signals are provided to the one network domain to coordinate domain signals within that network domain to limit the interference from the another node. Other systems and methods are also disclosed. |
| US08203980B2 |
Industrial ethernet communications adapter
Communications adapters and methods are provided for interfacing communications for an EtherNet/Ip or other general purpose industrial network, a Fieldbus or other open protocol device network, and a PointBus or other proprietary network. The adapter may be integrated in a module of a backplane system with connections to the general purpose, proprietary, and open protocol device networks, and provides a bridging for communications across the networks to make devices on the proprietary and open protocol networks accessible as if they were on a single device network and with sequential addressing capabilities. |
| US08203979B2 |
Resource allocation for OFDMA systems with half-duplex relay(s) and corresponding transmission protocol
A transmission protocol is provided for wireless communications in an OFDMA system that uses a rateless code and techniques are provided for dynamically adjusting the subcarrier resources allocated to an OFDMA relay node so that the relay is used at the right time according to the instantaneous channel state information (CSI). As a result, a higher throughput is achieved between source and destination nodes based on a low complexity algorithm for determining when relay assistance is helpful for completing a transmission between the source and destination nodes. |
| US08203976B2 |
Interface device and image forming apparatus
An interface device includes a parallel-to-serial converting unit, a driver, a receiver, and a serial-to-parallel converting unit. The parallel-to-serial converting unit converts parallel signals into a single-ended signal. The driver converts the single-ended signal from the parallel-to-serial converting unit into a differential signal and transmits the differential signal to an external device via signal lines. The receiver converts a differential signal received via the signal lines from an external device into a single-ended signal. The serial-to-parallel converting unit converts the single-ended signal from the receiver into parallel signals. A direction in which the differential signal is to be transmitted is determined based on a control signal. |
| US08203969B2 |
Network timing topology via network manager
The invention is directed to providing a method and system for monitoring and managing from a network management entity, timing-over-packet synchronization performance in a packet switching network having multiple network nodes. The network management entity determines a physical topology and a synchronization topology of the network and monitors synchronization performance by collecting virtual path information. |
| US08203968B2 |
Internet protocol service level agreement router auto-configuration
Once the user has configured which call paths to monitor, VOIP automatically creates all the required IP SLA operations, including turning on the responder on the destination side. When these operations disappear, either due to their periodic expiration or due to a router reset, so the service dynamically recreates the IP SLA operations as necessary. |
| US08203967B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a standardized interpretive engine
A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a standardized interpretive engine is provided. The method includes externalizing at least one of a business and a user requirement into a component class of a data control structure. The method also includes defining a solution to the business and user requirement and entering the solution into metadata within the component class. The method further includes pulling data from a data warehouse into the component class based upon the business and user requirement. The method also includes performing a calculation on the data in accordance with the business and a user requirement. |
| US08203961B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing modified timestamps in a communication system
Methods and apparatus for providing modified timestamps in a communication system. In an aspect, a method includes receiving one or more packets associated with a selected destination, computing an average relative delay associated with each packet, determining a modified timestamp associated with each packet based on the average relative delay associated with each packet, and outputting the one or more packets and their associated modified timestamps. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided for generating modified timestamps. The apparatus includes a packet receiver configured to receive one or more packets associated with a selected destination and processing logic configured to compute an average relative delay associated with each packet, determine a modified timestamp associated with each packet based on the average relative delay associated with each packet, and output the one or more packets and their associated modified timestamps. |
| US08203958B2 |
Frame counter correction apparatus, opposing apparatus, and frame counter correction method
A frame counter correction apparatus connected to an Ethernet network, including transmission counter for counting a number of frames to be transmitted; inspection frame generator for generating an inspection frame for measuring a frame loss; and transmission counter correction unit for calculating a difference between a counter value of the transmission counter at a time of generation of the inspection frame and the counter value of the transmission counter at a time of transmission of the inspection frame, and adding a calculated difference value and information for specifying the inspection frame as a correction target to another inspection frame. |
| US08203957B2 |
Radio communication terminal device, radio communication control station device, and radio communication method
Provided are a radio communication terminal device, a radio communication control station device, and a radio communication method capable of effectively managing a radio resource allocated to a terminal and context such as registration information when the terminal compatible with a plurality of different RATs moves between the RATs. According to them, when the WLAN Network control unit (110) detects the WLAN In Service state while the terminal (100) is connected to a Cellular Network, a RAT switching control unit (109) controls to switch the connection from the Cellular Network to the WLAN Network. When a timer (1) in the Cellular Network control unit (101) has expired, a registration update request is transmitted to the Cellular Network by using the WLAN and the Cellular Network exchange station updates the registration, thereby holding the context such as the registration information in the Cellular Network. |
| US08203956B1 |
Method and apparatus providing a precedence drop quality of service (PDQoS)
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing a precedence drop quality of service is presented. A drop precedence value for a packet is determined and inserted into the packet which is then transmitted having the drop precedence value inserted therein. The packet is received and a determination made regarding whether a sum of queued packet sizes of previously received packets having a higher drop precedence value than the packet is larger than a first threshold value. The packet is dropped when the sum of queued packet sizes of the previously received packets having a higher drop precedence value than the packet is larger than the first threshold value. |
| US08203955B2 |
Method and apparatus for scheduling packets in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system
A method and apparatus for scheduling packets in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system is provided. More particularly, the presently described embodiments relate to a scheduling system whereby packets are prioritized based on packet delay information. The system also handles poor geometry users in an improved manner. |
| US08203944B2 |
Transmission rate selection
A method for transmitting data over a network in which multiple transmission conditions can be used for transmitting data, the method comprising selecting a transmission condition to be used when transmitting data over the network, said selection being made in dependence on a predetermined preference distribution that for each of the multiple transmission conditions defines a probability of that transmission condition being selected, using the selected transmission condition when transmitting data over the network and determining the success of the transmission and updating the preference distribution in dependence on the success of the transmission and thereafter selecting a transmission condition for transmitting data over the network in dependence on the updated preference distribution. |
| US08203943B2 |
Colored access control lists for multicast forwarding using layer 2 control protocol
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by an access node, multicast control parameters for white, black, and grey lists of multicast groups. The access node applies the multicast control parameters to an IGMP process running on a port associated with a subscriber. In response to receiving an IGMP message requesting joining a multicast group, the access node either: autonomously forwarding the multicast group on the port where the multicast group in on the white list, blocking the multicast group on the port where the multicast group in on the black list, or relying on a Layer 3 broadband network gateway (BNG) to instruct the access node whether to add a forwarding entry on the port for the multicast group where the multicast group in on the grey list. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. |
| US08203939B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a window based overload control
A method and apparatus for controlling a network load in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a User Agent Client (UAC), and sends the request to a core proxy server. The method receives a request from a User Agent Client (UAC) and sends the request to a core proxy server. The method increments a counter, if the request is positively acknowledged by the core proxy server. The method decrements a value for a window size parameter by a first predetermined value, and resets the counter, if the request is not positively acknowledged by the core proxy server, and the method decrements a number of outstanding requests if the request is positively acknowledged or negatively acknowledged. |
| US08203936B2 |
Gateway unit
A gateway unit for mutually connecting subscriber network, public switched telephone network (PSTN) and packet communication network, comprising subscriber network interface connected to subscriber network, PSTN interface connected to line exchange network, exchange unit exchange-connecting communication path among subscriber network, PSTN and packet communication network, control unit controlling connecting state of communication path at exchange unit, signal conversion unit converting form of signal transmitted and received between exchange unit and packet communication network into forms suitable for communication protocol of packet communication network and communication protocol of subscriber network, respectively, switching unit for route-controlling to transmit signal which is output from signal conversion unit toward destination in packet communication network, and information communication unit mediating information communications among subscriber network interface, PSTN interface, control unit, signal conversion unit and switching unit by using general-purpose local area network (LAN). |
| US08203935B2 |
Signal transmitting device for switching forwarding destination
A device includes: an ingress interface unit determining an output port of an input signal, adding destination information including information on the output port, and outputting the signal; two or more egress interface units; a switch unit receiving the signal including the destination information, determining a forwarding destination of the signal based on the destination information, and forwarding the signal to at least one of the egress interface units as the forwarding destination; a notifying unit notifying of, when a fault related to the output port occurs, alternative destination information including information of an alternative output port; a registration unit registering the alternative destination information in a storage unit in a way that associates the alternative destination information with the destination information; and a translation unit rewriting, when the storage unit is registered with the alternative destination information, the destination information in the signal into the alternative destination information. |
| US08203928B2 |
System and method for selecting a number of spatial streams to be used for transmission based on probing of channels
Systems and methods are provided for determining a number of spatial channels to use to transmit a data packet from a source node to a destination node. This determination can be made based on a Probability of Channel non-Correlation (PCC) function that is generated and updated by the source node based on feedback from the destination node. The PCC function indicates a probability of whether a plurality of spatial channels are non-correlated. |
| US08203925B2 |
Apparatus for recording angular multiplexed pits
An apparatus for recording angular multiplexed pits on optical recording media using a device for generating a light beam with an asymmetric intensity distribution is described. The device for generating a light beam with an asymmetric intensity distribution has at least one light influencing part for introducing a phase shift of 180° in a first half of the light beam relative to the second half of the light beam, wherein the border between the first half of the light beam and the second half of the light beam is rotatable around an optical axis of the light beam. |
| US08203919B2 |
Optical disc and optical disc apparatus
The invention provides an optical disc apparatus which prevents that a laser beam whose power is set at a read power level causes erroneous data recording or deletion. The optical disc apparatus includes an emission controller which controls an amount of an electrical current that a current supply portion supplies to a laser diode in order to control a level of emission power at which the laser diode emits the laser beam. The emission controller has a function to set levels of the emission power at the following transition processings: a transition processing after a read processing and before a write processing, a transition processing after a write processing and before a read processing, a transition processing between two read processings for respective areas, and a transition processing between two write processings for respective areas. |
| US08203916B2 |
Buffer management method and apparatus thereof
A control unit accesses a memory. The memory includes a plurality of blocks. The control unit includes a batch buffer, a batch controller and a multiplexer. The batch buffer stores a batch which includes a designated block index. The batch controller fetches the designated block index from the batch buffer. The multiplexer selectively outputs a sequential block index or the designated block index as an active index according to a control signal. And a designated block of the memory is accessed according to the active index. |
| US08203915B2 |
Optical disc reader
An optical disc reader comprising a controller that controls a read operation to read data recorded on an optical disc and a counter that counts the number of zero crossings in a tracking error signal. Between the completion of focusing operation and the start of tracking operation, the controller determines whether or not the light beam is properly focused on a data recording layer in the optical disc based on the number of zero crossings in the tracking error signal counted by the counter. If it is determined that the light beam is not properly focused, the controller causes the focusing operation to be performed again. Otherwise, if it is determined that the light beam is properly focused on the data recording layer, the controller causes the tracking operation to be performed and then starts the read operation. |
| US08203914B2 |
Disc storage apparatus and disc storage method
A disc storage apparatus includes a disc changer mechanism including a disc slot through which a disc is insertable, a storage section having storage locations that are capable of storing discs inserted through the disc slot, and a transport mechanism that transports the disc, inserted through the disc slot, to any of the storage locations in the storage section. The apparatus further includes an operation section having operations keys; a display section; and a controller that associates, when the disc is inserted and any of the operations keys is operated, the operated operation key with the storage location in which the disc is stored. In accordance with a predetermined operation on the operation section, the controller extracts all discs stored in the storage locations associated with the operated operation key and causes information regarding all the extracted discs to be displayed on the display section. |
| US08203913B2 |
Recording/reproduction apparatus and recording/reproduction system
A recording/reproduction apparatus includes: a light source; and a near-field light production section that includes two conductor sections disposed opposite each other with a predetermined gap therebetween and that produces near-field light between the two conductor sections upon light irradiation from the light source, the two conductor sections being disposed such that when information is recorded on a recording medium using the near-field light, a direction from one of the two conductor sections to the other of the two conductor sections is generally perpendicular to a line direction of the recording medium. |
| US08203911B2 |
Acoustic and optical illumination technique for underwater characterization of objects/environment
The invention provides a method for acoustically and optically characterizing an immersed object of interest by generating a serial plurality of acoustic and optical illumination pulses through a liquid. In addition to the spectral analyses/imaging of objects/environment made possible by the white-light illumination, a target material can be ablated, generating an ionized plume to spectrally identify the target's constituent atoms. |
| US08203905B2 |
Acoustic mount system, method and device for testing mobile telephones
An acoustic mount system, device and method for testing mobile telephones is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an ear simulator assembly having a plurality of registration mechanisms and an ear simulator, and wherein the plurality of registration mechanisms and the ear simulator have a first spatial relationship. The system includes an alignment device having a plurality of alignment mechanisms and a speaker opening. The plurality of alignment mechanisms and the speaker opening have a second spatial relationship and wherein the alignment device is configured to be attached to the telephone such as via an adhesive. Each of the plurality of alignment mechanisms of the alignment device is configured to engage one of the registration mechanisms of the ear simulator assembly. |
| US08203904B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and layout structure of sub-word line control signal generator
A semiconductor memory device and a layout structure of sub-word line control signal generators. The sub-word line control signal generators are configured to supply a sub-word line control signal of a predefined voltage level to a sub-word line driver to enable a sub-word line of a memory cell array. At least two sub-word line control signal generators are disposed, respectively, at edge areas of the memory cell array, to directly supply the sub-word line control signal to one selected sub-word line driver, thereby reducing the power consumption, including for example, VPP voltage. Embodiments of the present invention also reduce the number of VPP power lines, thereby lessening a noise disturbance. |
| US08203900B2 |
Data serializers, output buffers, memory devices and methods of serializing
Data serializers, output buffers, memory devices and methods for serializing are provided, including a data serializer that may convert digits of parallel data to a stream of corresponding digits of serial data digits. One such data serializer may include a logic system receiving the parallel data digits and clock signals having phases that are equally phased apart from each other. Such a data serializer may use the clock signals to generate data sample signals having a value corresponding to the value of a respective one of the parallel data digits and a timing corresponding to a respective one of the clock signals. The data sample signals may be applied to a switching circuit that includes a plurality of switches, such as respective transistors, coupled to each other in parallel between an output node and a first voltage. |
| US08203895B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus and driving method using the same
Various embodiments of a semiconductor memory apparatus and a related driving method are disclosed. According to one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor memory apparatus may include a switching unit and a switching control unit. The switching unit couples or decouples a cell plate voltage line to or from a cell plate electrode in response to a control signal. The switching control unit is configured to enable the control signal at a first timing and disable the control signal at a second timing. |
| US08203892B2 |
Interleaving charge pumps for programmable memories
Systems and methods, including computer software for performing operations enable interleaving of charging operations in a charging pump. A first charge pump is charged to a predetermined level, and a first operation is performed using a charge stored in the first charge pump after it reaches the predetermined level. A second charge pump is charged during a time that overlaps with performing the first operation. A second operation is performed using a charge stored in the second charge pump as a result of charging the second charge pump. |
| US08203889B2 |
High-speed verifiable semiconductor memory device
A memory cell stores several data using n (n: natural number more than 1) threshold voltages. A voltage supply circuit supplies a predetermined voltage to a gate of the memory cell in a verify operation of verifying whether or not the memory cell reaches a predetermined threshold voltage. A detection circuit connected to one terminal of the memory cell charges one terminal of the memory cell to a predetermined potential. The detection circuit detects the voltage of one terminal of the memory cell based on a first detection timing, and further, detects the voltage of one terminal of the memory cell based on a second detection timing. |
| US08203888B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of sense amplifier circuit that are configured to carry out a plurality of read cycles on a plurality of bit lines connected to those memory cells that are selected by a selected one of the word lines. During the second and subsequent read cycles, supply of a read current is ceased to those bit lines when it is determined in the preceding read cycle that a current not less than a certain determination current level flows therethrough, and the read current is supplied only to the remaining bit lines. A setup time of the bit lines in the first read cycle is set shorter than a setup time of the bit lines in the second and subsequent read cycles. |
| US08203886B2 |
Memory device reference cell programming method and apparatus
Memory devices and methods are disclosed, such as those facilitating an assignment scheme of reference cells throughout an array of memory cells. For example, one such assignment scheme assigns reference cells in a staggered pattern by row wherein each column contains a single reference cell. Additional schemes of multiple reference cells assigned in a repeating or a pseudo-random pattern are also disclosed. |
| US08203885B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory system
According to an embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory system includes: a nonvolatile semiconductor memory; and a memory controller having: a memory interface unit that inputs commands to the nonvolatile semiconductor memory and inputs or outputs data between the nonvolatile semiconductor memory; a memory that stores writing information indicating a memory cell transistor that is written the latest in each of the NAND cell units; and a processor that sets a read voltage based on the writing information to read out data from the memory cell transistors connected to a first word line; wherein a row controller is configured to set a plurality of levels of the read voltage to be applied to the first word line, with respect to one threshold for discriminating data stored in a memory cell transistors. |
| US08203883B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of programming the same
In an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device including a cell array with NAND strings arranged therein, wherein the device has such a program mode that bit lines and cell's channels of the NAND strings coupled thereto are initially charged in accordance with program data, and then program voltage is applied to memory cells selected in the cell array. In the program mode, a certain bit line and a program-inhibited cell's channel coupled thereto, which are initially charged to Vdd, are boosted to be higher than Vdd by capacitive coupling from the cell source line prior to the program voltage application. |
| US08203878B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices and programming methods for the same
The non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of memory cells. Each of the memory cells is configured to achieve one of a plurality of states, and each of the states represents different multi-bit data. In one embodiment, the method of programming includes simultaneously programming (1) a first memory cell from a first selected state to a second selected state and (2) a second memory cell from a third selected state to a refined third selected state. The refined third selected state has a higher verify voltage than the third selected state. |
| US08203875B2 |
Anti-parallel diode structure and method of fabrication
An anti-parallel diode structure and method of fabrication is presently disclosed. In some embodiments, an anti-parallel diode structure has a semiconductor region comprising a first insulator layer disposed between a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer. The semiconductor region can be bound on a first side by a first metal material and bound on a second side by a second metal material so that current below a predetermined value is prevented from passing through the semiconductor region and current above the predetermined value passes through the semiconductor region. |
| US08203873B2 |
Rectifying element for a crosspoint based memory array architecture
An asymmetrically programmed memory material (such as a solid electrolyte material) is described for use as a rectifying element for driving symmetric or substantially symmetric resistive memory elements in a crosspoint memory architecture. A solid electrolyte element (SE) has very high resistance in the OFF state and very low resistance in the ON state (because it is a metallic filament in the ON state). These attributes make it a near ideal diode. During the passage of current (during program/read/erase) of the memory element, the solid electrolyte material also programs into the low resistance state. The final state of the solid electrolyte material is reverted to a high resistance state while making sure that the final state of the memory material is the one desired. |
| US08203869B2 |
Bit line charge accumulation sensing for resistive changing memory
A memory array includes a plurality of magneto-resistive changing memory cells. Each resistive changing memory cell is electrically between a source line and a bit line and a transistor electrically between the resistive changing memory cell and the bit line. The transistor has a gate electrically between a source region and a drain region and the source region being electrically between the magneto-resistive changing memory cell and the gate. A word line is electrically coupled to the gate. A bit line charge accumulation sensing for magneto-resistive changing memory is also disclosed. |
| US08203866B2 |
Capacitor-less memory cell, device, system and method of making same
A capacitor-less memory cell, memory device, system and process of forming the capacitor-less memory cell includes forming the memory cell in an active area of a substantially physically isolated portion of the bulk semiconductor substrate. A pass transistor is formed on the active area for coupling with a word line. The capacitor-less memory cell further includes a read/write enable transistor vertically configured along at least one vertical side of the active area and operable during a reading of a logic state with the logic state being stored as charge in a floating body area of the active area, causing different determinable threshold voltages for the pass transistor. |
| US08203862B2 |
Voltage reference generation with selectable dummy regions
An apparatus and associated method for generating a reference voltage with dummy resistive sense element regions. A first resistance distribution is obtained for a first dummy region of resistance sense elements and a second resistance distribution is obtained for a second dummy region of resistive sense elements. A user resistive sense element from a user region is assigned to a selected resistive sense element of one of the first or second dummy regions in relation to the first and second resistance distributions. |
| US08203859B2 |
High frequency device with variable frequency and variable load impedance matching
A high frequency device for supplying a high frequency power to a load, the high frequency device includes: an oscillating unit that can vary an oscillation frequency; a high frequency power supplying unit that serves as a power source by amplifying an oscillation signal output from the oscillating unit for supplying the high frequency power to the load; a reflected-wave information calculating unit that calculates reflected wave information on a reflected wave power, and outputs the reflected wave information; a frequency control unit that controls the oscillation frequency of the oscillating unit so as to lower the reflected wave information; an impedance adjusting unit that is disposed at a downstream of the high frequency power supplying unit in a power supplying direction, and that has at least one variable reactance element which can be controlled; and an element control unit that controls the variable reactance element of the impedance adjusting unit so as to lower the reflected wave information. |
| US08203856B2 |
Method and arrangement to reverse the power flow of a direct current power transmission system
A direct current power transmission system includes a first and a second converter station that are coupled to each other via a direct current link. Each converter station includes a first or second line commutated converter, respectively. Before power reversal the first converter is operated as a rectifier and the direct current is controlled in the first station, while the second converter is operated as an inverter and in the second station the extinction angle of the second converter or the direct voltage is controlled. After power reversal, the first converter is operated as an inverter and the second converter as a rectifier. During power reversal a change is carried out in the first station from control of the direct current to control of the extinction angle of the first converter or to control of the direct voltage, which is performed in synchronization with a change in the second station from control of the extinction angle of the second converter or from control of the direct voltage to control of the direct current. |
| US08203855B2 |
Complex inductor and power supply unit
A complex inductor according to the present invention changes its magnetic coupling polarity according to currents flowing its two inductors. The complex inductor includes a first magnetic member, around which first and third windings are formed, and a second magnetic member, around which second and fourth windings are formed. A first inductor is formed by connecting the first winding to the second winding, and a second inductor is formed by connecting the third winding to the fourth winding. The two magnetic members are made of a magnetic material having a magnetic permeability that gradually decreases as its magnetic flux density is increased. When the two windings are interconnected in a direction in which induced voltages generated in these windings by the current flowing in the second inductor weaken each other, the magnetic coupling polarity between the first and second inductors changes according to the current flowing in the inductors. The two inductors are magnetically coupled so that, when one of the two inductors stores energy, the current flowing in the other inductor increases, and when one of the two inductors releases energy, the current flowing in the other inductor decreases. |
| US08203854B2 |
Display suspending frame device, and assembly of the display suspending frame device, a display, and an electronic device
A display suspending frame device includes a suspending seat and at least one suspending frame. The suspending seat includes an upright mounting plate, a rear slide rail set disposed forwardly of the mounting plate and connected to the mounting plate, and a front slide rail set disposed forwardly of the rear slide rail set and connected to the rear slide rail set. The at least one suspending frame is for mounting to a rear face of a display and is mounted slidably on the front slide rail set. By arranging the rear slide rail set between the mounting plate of the suspending seat and the front slide rail set, a space is provided for accommodating an electronic device. |
| US08203853B2 |
Chip filter and the related supplementary tool
A chip filter and supplementary tool combination is disclosed. The chip filter includes a insulative holder base having two arrays of wire grooves arranged along two opposing sidewalls thereof and soldering zones defined in a finished surface on each sidewall corresponding to the wire grooves, connection terminals each having a base portion respectively embedded in the soldering zones in the sidewalls of the insulative holder base and a soldering surface respectively kept in flush with the top edge of the associating sidewall, and filter elements having lead wires thereof respectively extending out of the insulative holder base through the wire grooves and respectively rested on the soldering surfaces of the connection terminals and held down in position by the supplementary tool for soldering by an automatic soldering machine. |
| US08203849B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacture method thereof
A joint board is arranged between an upper package and a lower package. The arrangement of the joint board makes it possible to reduce the size of solder balls and to arrange them with narrower pitch. The joint board has slightly greater dimensions those of the upper package and the lower package. This makes it possible to prevent underfill from leaking and spreading. |
| US08203847B2 |
Folding USB drive
Provided is a memory device comprising a circuit assembly including a flexible substrate and at least one flash memory chip mounted thereupon. The flexible substrate has upper and lower surfaces and a flash memory chip is preferably mounted on at least one the upper and lower surfaces. The flash memory chip may be configured as one of a thin small outline package (TSOP) package device, a very small outline package (WSOP) package device, and a chip on board (COB) device. The memory device may further comprise a hollow housing body having a hollow interior compartment sized and configured to receive the circuit assembly therewithin. A universal series bus (USB) connector may be mounted on a free end of the flexible substrate and is preferably configured to electrically connect the memory device to an electric device. |
| US08203846B2 |
Semiconductor photodetector element and semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor photodetector element which is reduced in manufacturing cost and improved in precision. The semiconductor photodetector element includes: a first photodiode formed in a P-type silicon substrate; a second photodiode formed in the P-type silicon substrate and has the same structure as that of the first photodiode; a color filter layer formed above the first photodiode from a green filter; a color filter layer formed of a black filter above the second photodiode; and an arithmetic circuit portion which subtracts a detection signal of the second photodiode from a detection signal of the first photodiode. |
| US08203845B2 |
Electronics card comprising a printed circuit board and a piece of equipment carried by the board
The invention relates to an electronics card (1) comprising a printed circuit board (2) and a piece of equipment (3) such as a motor or a loudspeaker fastened to said printed circuit board (2). The piece of equipment (3) is fastened to a face (4) of the printed circuit board (2) by snap-fastening in metal clips (6, 7) that project from said face (4), each clip (6, 7) having a first end (8, 9) fastened to said face (4) of the printed circuit board (2) by soldering, and a second end (11, 12) bearing resiliently on a corresponding portion of the piece of equipment (3) for holding it pressed against said face (4) of the printed circuit board (2). The invention applies in particular to electronics cards for motor vehicles. |
| US08203840B2 |
Self-cleaning computer
An exemplary self-cleaning computer includes an enclosure defining an air inlet therein, a control processing unit (CPU) received in the enclosure, a vibration element mounted on the enclosure, and a control device electrically connected between the CPU and the vibration element. The control device is configured to direct the vibration element to vibrate when the computer is in a particular predefined state, and thereby the enclosure is agitated and clogged dust dislodges therefrom. |
| US08203838B2 |
Battery cover assembly for portable electronic device
A battery cover assembly for a portable electronic device includes a base body, a battery cover, a pivot member, and a button. The base body forms two support portions. The battery cover forms a clasp. The pivot member is received in the support portions. The button is rotatably connected to the base body by the pivot member. The latch member forms two latch plates. The clasp engages with the latch plates to allow the battery cover to releasably latch to the housing. |
| US08203836B2 |
Cover structure
A cover structure is disposed at the electronic device. The electronic device includes a frame with an opening and a power supply. The cover structure includes a cover and a pivotal portion. The cover includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a touch portion. The pivotal portion includes a pivotal part and a trigger. The pivotal part is located on the inner surface. The trigger is located at the opening of the frame and connected with the pivotal part. The touch portion corresponds to the opening. When the touch portion is pressed, the pivotal part drives the trigger to trigger the power supply to drive the electronic device. |
| US08203835B2 |
Mounting mechanism for storage device
A mounting mechanism for a storage device includes a bracket for receiving the storage device therein, and a pressing member. The bracket includes a sidewall defining at least one opening, and a bottom wall defining at least one guiding member for guiding and supporting a bottom surface of the storage device. A supporting member is located below the opening to resist the bottom surface of the storage device. The pressing member attached to the sidewall of the bracket for sandwiching the storage device between a bottom surface of the pressing member and the bracket. |
| US08203834B2 |
Flat panel display apparatus
A flat panel display apparatus includes a flat display panel including first and second substrates facing each other with a display unit therebetween, the first substrate extending beyond the second substrate, a portion of the first substrate extending beyond the second substrate defining a protruding portion, an outermost edge of the protruding portion defining a protruding edge of the first substrate, and corners of the protruding portion being chamfered, and a bezel surrounding the flat display panel. |
| US08203833B2 |
Laptop computer and hinge module with angle detector thereof
A laptop computer includes a main body, a display device, a hinge module and an angle detector. The hinge module is pivotally interconnected between the display device and the main body such that the display device is swiveled relative to the main body to be folded against or unfolded away from the main body. The hinge module includes a first hinge component and a second hinge component. The first hinge component is secured to the main body. The second hinge component is pivotally connected with the first hinge component and includes an end secured to the display device. The angle detector is coupled with an opposite end of the second hinge component for measuring a rotation angle of the second hinge component. |
| US08203830B2 |
Battery cover assembly for portable electronic device
A battery cover assembly for a portable electronic device is disclosed including a base member, a cover member rotatably attached with the base member, a connecting body, a protruding post, a sleeve, and an elastic member. The connecting body guides the rotation of the cover member about the axis of the protruding post. A sleeve rotates along with the cover member and can maintain the cover member at any position relative to the base member during rotation of the cover member. The elastic member can disengage the sleeve from the base member. |
| US08203828B2 |
Portable power and signal distribution system for a controllable system including multiple devices
A power supply assembly which can drive a number of different devices at different voltages. A rack holds a number of breaker modules, and each breaker module can connect to one or many breakout boxes. The breakout boxes are keyed to the breaker modules, so that the breaker boxes will not be energized with power unless they are the proper voltage and/or configuration to receive that power. The coil of a contactor in the breaker module is powered by a key wire that is connected through specified pins in the breakout box. Therefore, no power is ever provided to the breakout box unless it is of the proper voltage configuration. In addition, feeder power to the power supply assembly is provided over bolted connections, without any wire connections between the power feed and the circuit breaker. |
| US08203825B2 |
Dielectric ceramics and multilayer ceramic capacitor
To provide a dielectric ceramics achieving a high insulation resistance even at a low applied voltage, and minimizing insulation resistance drop when the voltage is increased, and also provide a multilayer ceramic capacitor including the dielectric ceramics as a dielectric layer, and having excellent life characteristics in a high temperature load test. The dielectric ceramics has crystal grains composed mainly of barium titanate and containing vanadium, and a grain boundary phase existing between the crystal grains. The dielectric ceramics contains 0.0005 to 0.03 moles of vanadium in terms of V2O5, with respect to 1 mole of barium constituting the barium titanate. In the X-ray diffraction chart of the dielectric ceramics, the diffraction intensity of (004) plane indicating the tetragonal system of barium titanate is larger than the diffraction intensity of (400) plane indicating the cubic system of barium titanate. |
| US08203823B2 |
Metal capacitor and manufacturing method thereof
A metal capacitor in which an electric conductivity is significantly improved is provided. The metal capacitor includes: a metal member 11 including a plurality of grooves 11a; a metal oxide film 12 being formed on the metal member 11; a sealing electrode member 13 being formed on the metal oxide film 12 to fill in the plurality of grooves 11a; and an insulating layer 14 being formed on the sealing electrode member 13 and the metal oxide film 12 to insulate the metal member 12 and the sealing electrode member 13. |
| US08203821B2 |
Multi-function electroshock gun
A multi-function electroshock gun includes a gun body that includes a barrel and a grip extending from the barrel, and a firing mechanism mounted in the gun body and operable to propel a projectile that is fired through the barrel. The multi-function electroshock gun further includes an electroshock unit that includes a battery mounted in the gun body, a set of exposed electrodes fixedly mounted to the gun body, and a discharge module. The discharge module is coupled electrically to the battery and the exposed electrodes and is capable of being activated to generate an electrical output signal at the exposed electrodes for administering electric shock by contact. The multi-function electroshock gun also includes a trigger mechanism mounted on the gun body and operable to activate the discharge module. |
| US08203820B2 |
Automatic lightning safety valve for water supply system
A method, system and an apparatus to automatic lightning safety valve for water supply system are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment provides an apparatus of lightning protection. A sensor circuit of the apparatus receives a electromagnetic signal of an atmospheric electromagnetic field to generate a modified signal and to communicate the modified signal to a control circuit. A control circuit of the apparatus of the lightening circuit causes the valve to automatically close if the modified signal is greater than a specified value. The valve control device is communicatively coupled with the sensor circuit. The apparatus also includes a solenoid valve to stop the flow of a fluid into the structure by closing a fluid line. |
| US08203819B2 |
Electrical protection component with a short-circuiting device
An electrical protection component with a short-circuiting device includes a gas-filled surge arrester that includes at least two electrodes. Preferably, one electrode in each case is arranged at the ends of the surge arrester. The electrical protection component has a thermal short-circuiting device, wherein the thermal short-circuiting device includes a clip having at least two sections. At least a first section of the clip is attached to the surge arrester by snap action. At least a second section of the clip at least partly surrounds the first section and is spaced apart from the first section by means of a fusible element. The second section has a short-circuiting link at an end. The short-circuiting link electrically connects the electrodes of the surge arrester to one another in the case where the fusible element melts. |
| US08203816B2 |
Circuit breaker
A circuit breaker is disclosed that provides a warning that the current through the circuit breaker exceeds a warning threshold. The circuit breaker comprises: a switch that carries a current I; an indicator for alternatively indicating: (i) that the current I has not exceeded IW, and (ii) that the current I has exceeded IW; and an actuator in series with the switch that: (i) causes the indicator to indicate that the current I has exceeded IW when and only when the current I has exceeded IW, and (ii) opens the switch when and only when the current I exceeds IT; wherein 0 |
| US08203815B2 |
System and method to provide transient overvoltage suppression
Transient overvoltage suppression circuit prevents voltage surges from damaging an attached load. The suppression circuit includes a transistor connected in series with a low-side or return line of the load. A control circuit monitors the voltage on the input line (i.e., high-side) and in response to a detected voltage transient turns the transistor OFF to isolate the load from the transient voltage. |
| US08203812B2 |
Secondary side protection method and apparatus for a switching power converter
The present invention discloses a secondary side protection method for a switching power converter, used to turn off a secondary side switch according to a secondary side voltage signal, wherein the secondary side voltage signal has falling edges corresponding to the start instants of secondary side discharge periods, and rising edges corresponding to the end instants of the secondary side discharge periods, the method comprising the steps of: measuring the time interval between two adjacent the rising edges repeatedly to derive discharge end cycle times; and generating a first turn-off signal to turn off the secondary side switch when the relative difference of two successive the discharge end cycle times exceeds a predetermined percentage. The present invention also provides a secondary side protection apparatus according to the method. |
| US08203811B2 |
Protection apparatus and method for a power converter
A power converter uses a PWM controller to provide a driver output to modulate the duty of the power converter. A protection apparatus and method compare a current sense input of the PWM controller with a reference voltage to assert a signal representing failure, count the number of cycles where the signal representing failure is asserted, and reset an enable signal to inhibit the driver output if the signal representing failure is asserted in several cycles. |
| US08203807B2 |
Magnetic head suspension with load beam support point control
The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion. |
| US08203802B2 |
Proximity detection method for magnetic head and recording medium
Touchdown between a read/write head of disk drive and a recording medium is detected based on the variance in the frequency domain of position error signals (PES), each of which is measured after incrementally positioning the read/write head closer to the recording medium, from a baseline PES. The synchronous portion of the baseline PES is quantified and removed from the baseline PES and subsequent PES measurements to remove the effect of the synchronous portion of the baseline PES. The non-synchronous portion of the PES measured at a particular read/write head position may also be removed by synchronously averaging multiple PES measurements for each read/write head position. Detection of touchdown may be based on the rate of change of the variance in the frequency domain of PES relative to a baseline PES, instead of the absolute value of the variance. |
| US08203798B2 |
Objective optical system
The invention provides a high-performance objective lens that is capable of implementing focusing relative to an object point distance change with no or little angle-of-view change, and is well compatible with a high-pixel type imaging device. The objective optical system comprises, in order from an object side thereof, a first group of negative power, a second group of positive power, an aperture stop, and a third group of positive power. Only the second group moves thereby implementing focusing relative to an object point distance change, with satisfaction of the following conditions (1)-1, (1)-2 and (8): ωf>60 (1)-1 ωn>60 (1)-2 −1.2 |
| US08203796B2 |
Image pickup optical system and image pickup apparatus using the same
An image pickup optical system made of five lenses, includes in order from an object side, an aperture stop, a first lens L1 having a positive refracting power, a second lens L2 having a negative refracting power, a third lens L3 having a positive refracting power, a fourth lens L4 having a positive refracting power, and a fifth lens L5 having a negative refracting power. Moreover, an image pickup apparatus includes this image pickup optical system. |
| US08203795B2 |
Macro-lens system and photographing apparatus having the same
A macro-lens system and a photographing apparatus having the macro-lens system. The macro-lens system includes: first, second, third, fourth, and fifth lens groups which are arranged in order from an object side to an image side, wherein the first lens group has a positive refractive power and is fixed during focusing, the second lens group has a negative refractive power and is moved during focusing, the third lens group has a positive refractive power and is fixed during focusing, the fourth lens group has a positive refractive power and is moved during focusing, and the fifth lens group has a negative refractive power. |
| US08203794B2 |
Variable magnification optical system and imaging apparatus
A variable magnification optical system includes first-lens-group having negative refractive power, aperture stop, and second-lens-group having positive refractive power, arranged from the object-side. An aspheric lens, a central portion of the object-side surface of which is convex, is arranged on the most object-side of the second-lens-group. The object-side surface of the aspheric lens is formed in such a manner that positive power decreases from the central portion of the object-side surface of the aspheric lens toward the periphery thereof, or that an inflection point is present between the central portion and the periphery and positive power decreases as a distance from the central portion increases between the central portion and the inflection point, and negative power increases toward the periphery between the inflection point and the periphery. The aspheric surface satisfies the following formulas (1) and (2) about refractive index and Abbe number: Ne5<1.53 (1); and νd5>75 (2). |
| US08203788B2 |
Electromagnetic beam converter
The present invention relates to an electromagnetic beam converter and a method for conversion of an input beam of electromagnetic radiation having a bell shaped intensity profile a(x,y) into an output beam having a prescribed target intensity profile I(x′,y′) based on a further development of the generalized phase contrast method. |
| US08203786B2 |
Method and system for screen attachment
Methods and apparatus for a display system include a frame and one or more screen panels. Each panel has an inwardly disposed face and an outwardly disposed face. An adhesive layer couples to respective portions of each inwardly disposed face. At least one of the adhesive layers couples the one or more screen panels to the frame. |
| US08203780B2 |
Systems and methods for improving the performance of a photorefractive device
A photorefractive device (100) and method of manufacture are disclosed. The device (100) comprises a layered structure in which one or more polymer layers (110) are interposed between a photorefractive material (106) and at least one transparent electrode layer (104). The layered structure is further interposed between a plurality of substrates (102). When a bias is applied to the device (100), the device (100) exhibits an increase in signal efficiency of approximately three to four times that of similar, but non-buffered, devices. Concurrently, the device (100) of the present disclosure utilizes approximately half the biased voltage, advantageously resulting in a longer device lifetime. |
| US08203776B2 |
Planarity of pixel mirrors
A method of forming an electronic device includes providing a patterned lower metal layer over a substrate and a first sacrificial layer there between. A second sacrificial layer is formed over the metal layer, and a portion thereof is removed. A third sacrificial layer is formed over the second sacrificial layer, and an upper metal layer is formed over the third sacrificial layer. A portion of the upper metal layer is removed, and the first, second and third sacrificial layers are removed. |
| US08203774B2 |
Optical scanning device
An optical scanning device having: a light source for emitting a light beam; a deflector having a plurality of flat reflecting surfaces; a first optical system disposed between the light source and the deflector; and a second optical system disposed between the deflector and a photoreceptor surface, and configured such that the reflecting surfaces of the deflector and the photoreceptor surface are conjugated in a sub-scanning direction at every deflection angle in a main-scanning range. In the optical scanning device, the light beam traveling from the first optical system to the deflector has a width greater than a dimension in a main-scanning direction of each reflecting surface of the deflector, and the light beam passes through different portions of the first optical system depending on whether the light beam is to be deflected by the deflector to be directed to an edge portion of the main-scanning range or to be directed to a center portion of the main-scanning range such that the light beam traveling to the deflector has a smaller average wavefront curvature in a sub-scanning direction when the light beam is to be deflected by the deflector to be directed to an edge portion of the main-scanning range than when the light beam is to be deflected by the deflector to be directed to the center portion of the main-scanning range. |
| US08203770B2 |
Multi-dimensional interpolation device, multi-dimensional interpolation method and computer-readable medium
A data divider divides N-dimensional digital image signals into higher-order bit signals and lower-order bit signals. Reference values corresponding to all combinations of the divided higher-order bit signals are divisionally stored in 2N−1 sub-memories without overlaps. The (N+1) reference values necessary for interpolation processing are read by a reference value reader at the same time. |
| US08203767B2 |
Auto document feeding device
An auto document feeding device causes an original document passing through an OUT path and an original document passing through an IN path to flow together with overlap a trailing edge of a preceding original document and a leading edge of a following original document. Before the original documents reach to a READ document glass, the auto document feeding device comprises a separating unit configured to separate an overlapping portion of the original documents. The auto document feeding device reduces a distance between the preceding original document and the following original document passing on the READ document glass to nearly 0 mm. |
| US08203765B2 |
Receipts scanner and financial organizer
Expense information is obtained from receipts having various formats. Electronic image information of a receipt is processed to obtain expense information contained on the receipt. The expense information contained on the receipt can be categorized into one or more predetermined categories to obtain categorized information for the receipt. The categorized information for the receipt can be combined with categorized information of other receipts to produce reports for one or more of the predetermined categories. |
| US08203762B2 |
Image reading device, image reading method and reading control program
An image reading device is provided. The image reading device includes: a reading unit which reads an original while the reading unit and the original are relatively moved, to produce a plurality of image data based on a plurality of producing conditions, respectively, in response to a reading command input one time, the plurality of producing conditions being different mutually; and a storing unit which stores the plurality of image data produced by the reading unit in a same storing destination. |
| US08203756B2 |
Method for characterizing the color response of an imaging device
A method for characterizing the color response of an imaging device, the method includes reproducing a color on the imaging device based on a set of device color coordinates; measuring spectral values for the reproduced color with a spectral measurement device controlled by a digital processing system; calculating a first set of tristimulus values from the spectral values; defining a set of human observer color matching functions, the set of human observer color matching functions being functions of the first set of tristimulus values of the reproduced color; calculating a second set of tristimulus values from the spectral values using the defined set of human observer color matching functions; and associating the reproduced device color coordinate with the second set of tristimulus values. |
| US08203755B2 |
Adjustment for output image of image data
An image processing method of processing an image data uses an image file. The image file includes the image data and image processing control information being used for processing the image data. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining a degree of auto adjustment for adjusting lightness and contrast of the image data according to lightness of a whole image expressed by the image data, based on the image processing control information; and (b) performing the auto adjustment based on the determination. |
| US08203751B2 |
Color signal converting apparatus, image forming apparatus, color signal conversion method and computer readable medium
The color signal converting apparatus is provided with: a color signal receiving unit that receives input of first color signals; and a converting unit that performs a conversion of the first color signals received by the color signal receiving unit, into second color signals. The converting unit performs the conversion to make a total sum of color component values of each of the second color signals equal to or smaller than an upper limit value set for each of the second color signals. |
| US08203749B2 |
Printing device, carriage and color measurement method
The invention relates to a color printing device, whereby the color printing device comprises a reciprocating color measurement device and a reciprocating optical density sensor, to a mobile carriage comprising a color printhead, a color measurement device and an optical density sensor and to a color measurement method comprising the following steps: identify the position of a pattern on a two-dimensional media using a mobile optical density sensor; derive the position of a color patch on the media from the position of the pattern; measure the color of the color patch using a color measurement device. |
| US08203744B2 |
System and method for registration device location
A method of connecting an image forming apparatus (IFA) to a network and assigning the IFA a network address, selecting a map file image from a plurality of map file images, the selected map file image corresponding to a regional location of the IFA, outputting the selected map file image, selecting a location on the map file image which corresponds to a physical location of the IFA, and storing the location and the network address. An IFA configured to implement the method. |
| US08203743B2 |
Form processing device including a written image extraction device
A disclosed document processing device for processing image data includes a medium identification information acquiring unit configured to acquire medium identification information from an image of the medium identification information included in the image data; a process information acquiring unit configured to acquire, based on the medium identification information, process information pertaining to a currently-executing process in a currently-executing workflow associated with the medium identification information; a form definition information acquiring unit configured to acquire, based on the process information pertaining to the currently-executing process, form definition information of a form corresponding to the currently-executing process; and a region image acquiring unit configured to acquire, based on the form definition information, a region image of a predetermined region in the image data, which predetermined region corresponds to an entry region in the form where written-input information is written in at the currently-executing process. |
| US08203742B2 |
Producing postscript bitmap images with varying degrees of transparency
Embodiments herein include a method of combining a graphic image with other data to be printed, such as text or other graphics. One embodiment receives image data and document data and applies a mask to the image data to produce an image snippet. The mask adjusts a transparency of the image data in the image snippet by eliminating pixels from the image data. The method combines the document data and the image snippet into a page description language (PDL) file (PostScript file) using a print driver. One feature of the embodiments herein is that the image snippet is combined with the document data only by the print driver, and the image does not need to be combined downstream using an interpreter. After creating the PDL file, then the method processes the page description language file through an interpreter to produce raster data and prints the raster data on a media sheet using a printer. |
| US08203741B2 |
Printing system, control method therefor, and photo-direct printing apparatus
In a printing system in which a digital camera (DSC) and PD printer apparatus are directly connected via a USB, and image data is transmitted from the DSC to the PD printer apparatus and printed, Capability of the PD printer apparatus is transmitted from the PD printer apparatus to the DSC after communication procedures are established by an application (NCDP) installed in the PD printer apparatus and DSC. The PD printer apparatus is caused to execute print operation in accordance with print conditions set by the DSC on the basis of the transmitted Capability. |
| US08203735B2 |
Content managing system
A managing system causes content managed by a server to be updated by a portable terminal by means of a communication network and includes a content updatable location registering device which registers a location which can be updated by a portable terminal. |
| US08203733B2 |
Image processing apparatus, storage medium in which image processing program is stored, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, a control unit, and a construction unit. A program of at least one module including a buffer module among modules of an image processing unit is stored in the first storage unit. An image processing program and a shared library can be additionally stored in the second storage unit. The image processing program is used to perform image processing and a program of a module generation unit is registered in the shared library. The control unit instructs at least one module in the image processing unit to perform image processing during construction of the image processing unit. The construction unit constructs the image processing unit. |
| US08203732B2 |
Searching for an image utilized in a print request to detect a device which sent the print request
Even if there are many printed images similar to a query image, this invention can effectively use a display window with a limited size and support to specify the print request source of each similar image by classifying and displaying the images according to additional information containing information indicating the print request source which has issued a print request for the image. Therefore, when a query image is input and images similar to the query image are found, the similar images are classified according to the user names of users who have printed them. The numbers of times of printing of the similar images and maximum similarities are displayed for the respective user names. |
| US08203730B2 |
Information processing device, information recording medium manufacturing device, information recording medium, methods therefore, and computer program
An information processing device for executing content reproduction processing includes: a content reproduction processing unit for executing data transformation processing for replacing a part of configuration data of input content to be reproduced with transformation data, and executing processing for reproducing the reproduction content; and a parameter generating unit for providing the content reproduction processing unit with a parameter to be applied in the data transformation processing; wherein the content reproduction processing unit has a configuration for obtaining a parameter identifier that is different for each segment set as a sectioning region of reproduction content, and outputting a parameter calculation request accompanied by the parameter identifier to the parameter generating unit; and wherein the parameter generating unit has a configuration for providing the content reproducing unit with a parameter corresponding to a segment, in response to the parameter calculation request from the content reproducing unit. |
| US08203728B2 |
Print device, print method, print program recording medium, print data production device, print data production method, and print data production program recording medium
A print device includes a print data acquisition unit that acquires print data having a plurality of signature attachment areas defined thereon, each signature attachment area having electronic signature data produced therefor and attached thereto, a range data acquisition unit that acquires data indicative of a range of a print target area defined on the print data, and a verification unit that verifies, before completion of acquisition of the print data by the print data acquisition unit, the electronic signature data attached to the signature attachment area containing at least a part of the print target area. |
| US08203727B2 |
Image processing apparatus provided with an image memory used by a plurality of boards performing expanded data processings, backup processing method, and storage medium storing program readable by computer
An image processing apparatus for eliminating the necessity of providing a first control board with a power supply unit beforehand for backing up data stored in an image memory, and reducing the cost of the apparatus as a whole. To accomplish this, in an image processing apparatus including a system control board configured to perform image processing, a memory backup function is enabled for an image memory storing data to be processed by the system control board, when a facsimile communication board is connected. |
| US08203726B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus, damage to the apparatus caused by power conduction at the time of installation is prevented. When initial adjustment at factory ends and service person moves the apparatus, a power switch is turned OFF. Using this OFF operation as a trigger, a control unit 100 reads specific information (information related to pre-processing before starting power supply to the apparatus), and displays the information on electronic paper 108. |
| US08203725B2 |
Automatic arrangement of nested images as a function of assigned print modes
Images selected for printing are assigned respective print-speed modes so that at least first and second of said images are assigned to a relatively fast print mode and at least a third image is assigned to a relatively slow print mode. The images are arranged as a function of print-speed mode so that said first and second images are in a first row and so that said third is in a second row. The images are then printed on real print media, with the first row being printed using a relatively fast print speed and the second row being printed at a relatively slow print speed. |
| US08203724B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method therefor, as well as program for implementing the control method
An image forming apparatus which, when a conference material or the like is printed, is capable of printing the material according to the preferences of presentees of the conference while avoiding the conference material from being printed according to print settings by users responsible for printing the conference material. Print setting information is registered on a user-by-user basis. An image printing process is executed based on the registered print setting information. When the image printing process is executed based on the registered print setting information, a user-identifying image corresponding to the print setting information is added to the image to be printed. |
| US08203719B2 |
Stitching of near-nulled subaperture measurements
A metrology system for measuring aspheric test objects by subaperture stitching. A wavefront-measuring gauge having a limited capture range of wavefront shapes collects partially overlapping subaperture measurements over the test object. A variable optical aberrator reshapes the measurement wavefront with between a limited number of the measurements to maintain the measurement wavefront within the capture range of the wavefront-measuring gauge. Various error compensators are incorporated into a stitching operation to manage residual errors associated with the use of the variable optical aberrator. |
| US08203717B2 |
Rotational speed sensor
The invention relates to a sensor for the determination of the rotational speed of a shaft. To provide a sensor improved with respect to known tachometers, it is proposed that the sensor has a stationary part (20) and a part (22) co-rotating with the shaft (16), wherein the stationary part (20) has a laser light source (24), a first optical coupler (26), an optical detector (28) and an evaluation unit (30) which determines the rotational speed from the detector signals and the rotating part (22) has a light guide coil (32) which is rotationally fixedly connected to the shaft (16) and is wound concentrically to the shaft (16) and the ends (34 and 36) of the light guide coil (32) are guided to an end face so that, on the one hand, the light (40) of the light source (24) can be coupled into both ends (34 and 36) and two light components run around in opposite directions in the light guide coil (32) and, on the other hand, the light components can be decoupled from the two ends (34 and 36) for the superimposition of the light components on the detector (28) so that, on a rotation of the shaft (16), the detector signals can be detected while exploiting the Sagnac effect from the phase shift, dependent on the rotational speed, of the two light components running around in opposite directions. |
| US08203716B2 |
Tandem Fabry-Perot etalon cylindrical beam volume hologram for high resolution/large spectral range diffuse light spectroscopy
Systems and methods for performing two-dimensional (2D) high resolution spectral-spatial mapping are described. At least one embodiment includes a spectrometer for performing two-dimensional (2D) high resolution spectral-spatial mapping comprising a Fabry-Perot component configured to receive a diffuse input beam and provide a high resolution spectral mapping of the diffuse input beam in a first direction. The spectrometer further comprises a volume hologram for increasing a spectral operating range, the volume hologram configured to perform spectral mapping in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction to increase the spectral operating range. The spectrometer further comprises a charged coupled device (CCD) configured to receive output beams, the output beams used to provide spectral analysis of the input beams. |
| US08203710B1 |
Compact wide field fast hyperspectral imager
A spectrometer having substantially increased spectral and spatial fields. |
| US08203708B2 |
Spectrally encoded coherent ant-stokes raman scattering endoscope
Disclosed is a spectrally encoded coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) endoscope that is capable of spatially encoding spectral dispersions of two light sources having frequency difference as much as a Raman shift and overlapping two laser beams on a position where a sample to be measured is placed, thereby acquiring a spatial distribution of CARS signals. |
| US08203706B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting defects
To provide a defect inspection apparatus for inspecting defects of a specimen without lowering resolution of a lens, without depending on a polarization characteristic of a defect scattered light, and with high detection sensitivity that is realized by the following. A detection optical path is branched by at least one of spectral splitting and polarization splitting, a spatial filter in the form of a two-dimensional array is disposed after the branch, and only diffracted light is shielded by the spatial filter in the form of a two-dimensional array. |
| US08203704B2 |
Multi-stream sensor for noninvasive measurement of blood constituents
The present disclosure relates to a sensor having a set of photodetectors that are arranged at various locations to enable the measurement of blood glucose. The photodetectors are arranged across multiple locations. For example, the detector may comprise multiple photodetector arrays that are arranged to have a sufficient difference in mean path length to allow for noise cancellation and noise reduction. Walls may be used in the detector to separate individual photodetectors and prevent mixing of detected optical radiation between the different locations on the measurement site. A window may also be employed to facilitate the passing of optical radiation at various wavelengths for measuring glucose in the tissue. |
| US08203700B2 |
Supporting remote analysis
This disclosure relates to a method that includes receiving infrared adsorption absorption information for a sample, processing the infrared adsorption absorption information for the sample to determine an identity of the sample, generating a reference signature for the identified sample, and distributing the reference signature for the identified sample to a plurality of handheld measurement devices via cellular connections with the handheld measurement devices. |
| US08203697B2 |
Movable body drive method and system, pattern formation method and apparatus, exposure method and apparatus for driving movable body based on measurement value of encoder and information on flatness of scale, and device manufacturing method
A drive unit drives a wafer stage in a Y-axis direction based on a measurement value of an encoder that measures position information of the wafer stage in the Y-axis direction and based on information on the flatness of a scale that is measured by the encoder. In this case, the drive unit can drive the wafer stage in a predetermined direction based on a measurement value after correction in which a measurement error caused by the flatness of the scale included in the measurement value of the encoder is corrected based on the information on the flatness of the scale. Accordingly, the wafer stage can be driven with high accuracy in a predetermined direction using the encoder, without being affected by the unevenness of the scale. |
| US08203696B2 |
Projection exposure apparatus with optimized adjustment possibility
A projection apparatus for microlithography for imaging an object field includes an objective, one or a plurality of manipulators for manipulating one or a plurality of optical elements of the objective, a control unit for regulating or controlling the one or the plurality of manipulators, a determining device for determining at least one or a plurality of image aberrations of the objective, a memory comprising upper bounds for one or a plurality of specifications of the objective, including upper bounds for image aberrations and/or movements for the manipulators, wherein when determining an overshooting of one of the upper bounds by one of the image aberrations and/or an overshooting of one of the upper bounds by one of the manipulator movements by regulation or control of at least one manipulator within at most 30000 ms, or 10000 ms, or 5000 ms, or 1000 ms, or 200 ms, or 20 ms, or 5 ms, or 1 ms, an undershooting of the upper bounds can be effected. |
| US08203694B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, projection assembly and active damping
A lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam and a support constructed to support a patterning device. The lithographic apparatus further includes a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate; and a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate. An active damping system is provided to dampen a vibration of at least part of the projection system. The active damping system includes a combination of a sensor to measure a position quantity of the projection system and an actuator to exert a force on the projection system in dependency of a signal provided by the sensor. The active damping system is connected to a damping mass, the damping mass being connected to the projection system. |
| US08203691B2 |
High extinction ratio liquid crystal optical switch
An optical switch for performing high extinction ratio switching of an optical signal includes a beam polarizing element and one or more optical elements. The optical elements are configured to direct an optical signal along a first or second optical path based on the polarization state of the optical signal as it passes through the optical elements. The optical switch performs high extinction ratio switching of the optical signal by preventing unwanted optical energy from entering an output port by using an absorptive or reflective optical element or by directing the unwanted optical energy along a different optical path. |
| US08203690B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing same
A liquid crystal display device 10 of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel 11 and a lighting device 12. The liquid crystal panel 11 has a liquid crystal layer 50 between a pair of glass substrates 31 and 41. The lighting device 12 provides illumination light to the liquid crystal panel 11. A concave lens 60 is formed on the glass substrate 41 among the pair of glass substrates 31 and 41, which is arranged on a side opposite from the lighting device 12. The concave lens 60 has a recess on a surface of glass substrate 41 on an opposite side from the liquid crystal layer 50 in an area overlapping a black dot failure occurrence area when viewed in plan. A light transmissive material 70 having a refraction index equal to or higher than the glass substrate 41 is applied to at least a part of the concave lens 60. |
| US08203688B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: a transparent first substrate placed on the display plane side; a transparent second substrate opposed to the first substrate; a cholesteric liquid crystal that is placed between the first and second substrates and whose selective reflection color is yellow; and a reflector for white/blue display opposed to the second substrate. The angular dependence of scattered light intensity of the reflector for white/blue display is equivalent to the angular dependence of scattered light intensity of the cholesteric liquid crystal. |
| US08203687B2 |
Display substrate and liquid crystal display panel having the same
One or more embodiments of a display substrate include a base substrate and a pixel electrode. The base substrate has a pixel area defined thereon. The pixel electrode includes a low pixel electrode formed in the pixel area to receive a first voltage, a high pixel electrode spaced apart from the low pixel electrode along a first direction to receive a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage, and a liquid crystal molecule control part formed on at least one of the low and high pixel electrodes so as to control liquid crystal molecules disposed at an area corresponding to a boundary of the low and high pixel electrodes. The liquid crystal molecules disposed at a domain corresponding to a boundary between the low and high pixel electrodes may be controlled, so that the generation of stains or afterimages may be prevented at a boundary of domain areas. |
| US08203678B2 |
Liquid crystal display with protruding sub-pixel electrode
A pixel unit of a liquid crystal display includes a first sub-pixel electrode coupled by a direct current path to a corresponding switching element and a second sub-pixel electrode capacitively connected to the first sub-pixel electrode. The second sub-pixel electrode has a protrusion extending upwardly toward a spaced apart common electrode. The common electrode has a cut-out directly above the protrusion. |
| US08203674B2 |
Manufacturing thin film transistor array panels for flat panel displays
A thin film transistor array panel for a flat panel display includes a substrate, a first signal line formed on the substrate, a second signal line intersecting and insulated from the first signal line, a switching element having a first terminal connected to the first signal line, a second terminal connected to the second signal line, and a third terminal, a pixel electrode connected to the third terminal of the switching element, and first and second light blocking members extending parallel to the second signal line, each being disposed on an opposite side of and partially overlapping an respective edge of the second signal line, an interval between the first and second light blocking members being in a range of from more than 1.5 μm to less than 4 μm. The array panel prevents light leakage from the display and improves its transmittance, aperture ratio and color reproducibility. |
| US08203673B2 |
Elliptical polarizer and vertical alignment type liquid crystal display device comprising the same
An elliptical polarizer with excellent viewing angle characteristics is provided which comprises at least a first polarizer, a first optical anisotropic layer, a second optical anisotropic layer, and a third optical anisotropic layer, laminated in this order, wherein the first optical anisotropic layer satisfies [1] 50≦Re1≦500, the second optical anisotropic layer satisfies [2] 0≦Re2≦20 and [3] −500≦Rth2≦−30, and the third optical anisotropic layer satisfies [4] 100≦Re3≦180 wherein Re and Rth indicate the retardation values in the plane and thickness direction, respectively, of each of the optical anisotropic layers. |
| US08203668B2 |
Optical member unit, lighting device for display, display, and television receiver
An optical member 15 is constituted by sticking a lens sheet 28 capable of transmitting light irradiated toward a liquid crystal panel 11 and a diffuser sheet 27 together. The lens sheet 28 is provided with a lens portion 30 having a large number of unit lenses 29 aligned on the front surface, while on the rear surface, provided with a reflecting layer 32 having an opening 31 corresponding to the lens portion 30. The optical member 15 is received on the backside by receiving members 21 and 24 provided respectively in a holder 17 and a lamp holder 16, while being held from the front by a frame 18. A protrusion 33 is provided in the receiving member 24 in the holder 17, which supports the optical member 15 in a posture so that the edge 15a of the optical member 15 and the arrangement of the unit lenses 29 are inclined relatively to the arrangement of the pixel electrodes PE in the liquid crystal panel 11, by abutting an outer circumferential end surface 15b in the optical member 15. |
| US08203663B2 |
Liquid crystal device and projector having particular concave reflective layer
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate, an optically transparent second substrate, a liquid crystal layer provided between the first and second substrates, a plurality of light reflecting pixel electrodes provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, pixels including the pixel electrodes, a translucent electrode provided between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and a reflective layer. The reflective layer is provided close to the first substrate rather than the pixel electrodes so as to overlap, in plan view, at least a part of a gap between the first pixel electrode of the pixel electrodes and the second pixel electrode adjacent to the first pixel electrode, and the cross-section of the reflective layer in a direction where the first and second pixel electrodes are adjacent to each other has a concave surface that is dented toward a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer. |
| US08203661B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, display device and manufacturing method thereof
Image display device having an electrode forming layer which includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of drain lines, a plurality of switching elements and the a plurality of pixel electrodes, and having reference electrode layer between the electrode forming layer and a substrate where the electrode forming layer formed thereon, and the reference electrode layer and the electrode forming layer are insulated by insulating layer. |
| US08203659B2 |
LCD display and gaming machine combination
A combination of an LCD display and a gaming machine includes an LCD comprising a touchscreen, a liquid crystal panel, a backlight module, printed circuit boards, and a rear cover having an opening wherein the backlight module comprises, from front to rear, four optical films each having three openings, three barrier films, a light guide having three openings, two light sources on top and bottom edges of the light guide respectively, a reflecting film having three openings, and a frame plate having three openings, the barrier films functions as a visual barrier or a transparent member by adjusting voltage applied thereto, and the openings are aligned one another; a plurality of revolving wheels disposed behind the LCD, each wheel comprising a plurality of symbols arranged annually thereon. One pattern including the symbols of the wheels behind the openings is illuminated by the light source. |
| US08203658B2 |
Screen protecting assembly for electronic device
A screen protecting assembly for an electronic device includes a pivot shaft, a cushion, and two connecting subassemblies positioned on the electronic device. Each connecting subassembly has a base and a rotating member rotatably received in the base. The rotating member engages with the pivot shaft. The cushion coils on the pivot shaft. When the rotating member is rotated in a first direction, the cushion unfolds to cover a screen of the electronic device. When the rotating member is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the cushion coils on the pivot shaft so that the screen of the electronic device is exposed. |
| US08203655B2 |
Multimedia television system
A multimedia television system is disclosed. The multimedia television system comprises a receiver, a detector, an audio processing/controlling device, and a mixing device. The receiver receives an audio/video signal comprising an audio signal and a video signal and outputs the audio signal and the video signal respectively. When an external upgrading/transmitting device is connected to the detector, the detector will generate an upgrading signal. When the audio processing/controlling device receives the upgrading signal, the audio processing/controlling device will process the audio signal into a multi-channel audio signal comprising front sub-audio signals and rear sub-audio signals according to the upgrading signal. Then, the mixing device processes the rear sub-audio signals into at least one mixed audio signal. The detector receives the at least one mixed audio signal and transmits the at least one mixed audio signal via the external upgrading/transmitting device. |
| US08203652B2 |
SECAM-L detector and video broadcast system having the same
A method for detecting SECAM-L signals is disclosed. First, a SECAM-L signal is received and demodulated into a demodulation signal. Then high frequency components of the demodulation signal are filtered out and a low frequency signal, including many sync pulses and many data pulses, is obtained. Next, the low frequency signal is inversion into an inversion signal, having many inversion sync pulses and many inversion data pulses. Afterwards a voltage level of the inversion signal is detected continuously whether it is a lowest level. After that, the lowest level is determined whether belonging to the inversion sync pulses when the voltage level of the inversion signal is the lowest level, and a detection signal is outputted. When the lowest level belongs to the inversion sync pulses, a voltage level of the detection signal is high, and the demodulation signal is an inversion SECAM-L demodulation signal. |
| US08203650B2 |
Pull-down signal detecting apparatus, pull-down signal detecting method, and video-signal converting apparatus
An inter-field pull-down pattern detecting circuit determines whether an input video signal is a first pull-down signal or a second pull-down signal, on the basis of input plug information and a pattern of the consecutive inter-field correlation levels, obtained from an inter-field correlation determination circuit. A counter counts the number of times the pattern detecting circuit determines that the input video signal is the first pull-down signal. The counter is reset to “0” when the input video signal is determined to be other than the first and second pull-down signals. When the count of the counter exceeds a preset value, the input video signal is finally determined to be the first pull-down signal. |
| US08203648B2 |
Motion vector detecting apparatus and motion vector detecting method
In encoding an interlace picture in a field picture, a motion-vector detecting apparatus changes over a reference picture of a P-picture in a field unit, and changes over a reference picture of a B-picture in a frame unit. Moreover, in detecting the motion vector in different predictive directions, the motion-vector detecting apparatus simultaneously carries out a process of the same reference picture by changing over original picture frames. |
| US08203644B2 |
Imaging system with improved image quality and associated methods
An image capturing device may include a detector including a plurality of sensing pixels, and an optical system adapted to project a distorted image of an object within a field of view onto the sensing pixels, wherein the optical system expands the image in a center of the field of view and compresses the image in a periphery of the field of view, wherein a first number of sensing pixels required to realize a maximal zoom magnification {circumflex over (Z)} at a minimum resolution of the image capturing device is less than a square of the maximal zoom magnification times a second number of sensing pixels required for the minimum resolution. |
| US08203643B2 |
Automatic focusing device
An automatic focusing device in accordance with the present invention comprises an image sensor being subjected to exposure performed in a rolling shutter system, a focusing system including a focus lens for focusing on the image sensor, an AF evaluation value calculating unit calculating an AF evaluation value based on an imaging signal obtained from the image sensor, and an AF control unit controlling an operation of the focusing system based on an AF evaluation value of a focusing area set in a part of the imaging picture by the image sensor, and the AF control unit makes the AF evaluation value of a focusing area of each imaging picture and a focus lens position at the time of exposure for the focusing area correspond to each other, and drives the focusing system during the period which overlaps with an exposure period while searching the focus lens position where the AF evaluation value becomes maximum. |
| US08203642B2 |
Selection of an auto focusing method in an imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device receiving light from an object through an imaging lens at a predetermined imaging plane and performing photoelectric conversion of an object image to generate a captured image; a phase-difference detector for receiving the light from the object and generating a phase-difference detection signal corresponding to a focus level of the object image; an evaluation-value calculator for calculating a predetermined evaluation value corresponding to a contrast of the object image on the basis of the captured image; and a determining unit for selecting an optimum AF method from among a plurality of AF methods in which the phase-difference detection signal obtained by the phase-difference detecting unit and the predetermined evaluation value based on the captured image are used selectively or in combination, the optimum AF method being selected in accordance with image-capturing conditions of the object. |
| US08203641B2 |
Display processing apparatus and method, and recording medium
A display processing apparatus which makes it possible to set auto bracketing values while confirming a whole range of shooting conditions configurable for correction in which possible shooting condition corrections are taken into account. An exposure correction value is set based on an instruction from a user for correcting a preset value of exposure. Auto bracketing value auto bracketing shooting are set based on an instruction from the user. A process is carried out for displaying a scale for indicating values of the exposure correction value and the auto bracketing values, indicators indicative of a range of exposure correction values that can be set and are arranged in a manner associated with the scale, and indicators indicative of a range of auto bracketing values that can be set and are arranged in a manner associated with the scale and the first indicators. |
| US08203639B2 |
Method for resetting time-based CMOS image sensor
A method of resetting a time-based CMOS image sensor may be provided, where the time-based CMOS image sensor may include a photodiode, a transfer transistor transferring photo-generated charges generated in the photodiode to a floating diffusion node and having a gate to which a ramp signal is input, and a reset transistor resetting the photodiode and the floating diffusion node. The method may include generating photo-generated charges at the photodiode, transferring the photo-generated charges to the floating diffusion node in response to a ramp signal; and resetting a reset electron potential of the photodiode to be higher than a reset electron potential of the floating diffusion node. |
| US08203638B2 |
Electronic shutter control in image sensors
An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current sensing component and a selector component are electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer in the image sensor. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. The selector component receives the alert signal from the current sensing component and a shutter signal from an electronic shutter pulse driver component. Depending on the state of the alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the shutter signal to the electronic shutter layer. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter layer receives the shutter signal. |
| US08203634B2 |
Physical quantity detecting device, solid-state imaging device, and imaging apparatus
A physical quantity detecting device includes a pixel array and a vertical driving circuit. In the pixel array, pixels each for converting a physical quantity supplied from the outside into an electric signal and storing the electric signal are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix. The vertical driving circuit scans a plurality of sets of read rows so that a storage time for each of the electric signals differs from one another and performs a shutter operation on a shutter row in synchronization with a readout operation performed on the corresponding set of read rows out of the plurality of sets of read rows during 1H period that is a unit of time of scanning. |
| US08203632B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device operable to convert an optical image input through a focus lens for adjusting focus into electric signals in each of RGB colors, a luminance signal generator operable to generate a luminance signal based on the electric signal output from the imaging device, a low-frequency filter for transmitting low-frequency components of the luminance signal output, which has a frequency lower than a predetermined frequency, a high-frequency filter for transmitting high-frequency components of the luminance signal output, which has a frequency higher than a predetermined frequency, and a processor. The processor determines if focusing is influenced by a subject with high luminance. If determining that focusing is influenced, the unit detects a focal point based on high-frequency components. If determining that focusing is not influenced, the unit detects a focal point based on low-frequency components and then based on high-frequency components. |
| US08203630B2 |
Method for correcting image sensor control circuitry having faulty output values and structure therefor
Described herein are methods that may improve yield of an image sensor. In one embodiment, a method that may improve yield of an image sensor includes generating output values of control logic associated with an array of light sensitive elements. The method further may include determining if the control logic has one or more faulty output values. The method further may include automatically correcting the one or more faulty output values. In another embodiment, a method that may improve yield of an image sensor includes providing light to an array of light sensitive elements. The method further may include generating an image based on the light sensitive elements and associated control logic. The method further may include disconnecting control lines from control logic that has one or more faulty output values based on viewing the image. The method further may include generating another image based on the control logic having no faulty output values. |
| US08203626B2 |
Apparatus and method for image processing with special effect application to image and display of animation image
An image processing apparatus is arranged so that when a special effect to be applied to an input image is selected, an image showing the behavior of the special effect is displayed during the selection, comprising an image input unit for inputting an image; a selecting unit for selecting a special effect to be applied to the input unit; an effect applying unit for applying the selected special effect to the input unit; a special effect image display unit for displaying an image showing behavior of the selected special effect during the selection by the selecting unit; and a display unit for displaying the image to which the effect applying unit has applied the special effect. |
| US08203624B2 |
Image-data processing apparatus and image pickup apparatus
An image-data processing apparatus includes an operation unit; a correcting unit multiplying image data generated by an image pickup device by a correction gain; a totalizing unit sequentially calculating a total pixel level for every frame from the image data; a history holding unit holding the total pixel levels of a certain number; an in-phase averaging unit detecting the total pixel levels in phase with a flicker phase corresponding to the image data that is being supplied to the correcting unit from the held total pixel levels to calculate a first average of the detected total pixel levels; an average calculating unit calculating a second average of the held total pixel levels; and a correction gain calculating unit calculating the correction gain by dividing the first average by the second average to set the correction gain in the correcting unit. |
| US08203622B2 |
Techniques for modifying image field data obtained using illumination sources
Techniques for modifying data of an image that can be implemented in a digital camera, video image capturing device and other optical systems are provided to correct for non-uniform illumination and/or effects of saturation appearing in data obtained using one or more artificial illumination sources. In an implementation, correction factors are derived using data from at least two images that have been captured with different illumination levels of the object scene and close in time to the capture of the image of interest. Typically, the image of interest is of higher resolution than at least one of the at least two images. |
| US08203599B2 |
3D image display apparatus and method using detected eye information
Provided is a three-dimensional (3D) image display apparatus and method including: a display; a photographing unit including a camera, a first light source disposed on an axis identical to a camera axis and a second light source disposed on an axis different from the camera axis, which takes a photograph of an observer using light emitted from the first and second light sources, and generates first and second images; an eye information detection unit which detects eye information of the observer based on the first and second images and determines a position of the observer based on the detected eye information; and a 3D image adjustment unit which adjusts a 3D image, which will be displayed on the display, based on the determined position of the observer. |
| US08203593B2 |
Audio visual tracking with established environmental regions
A method, apparatus, and electronic device for audio-video conferencing are disclosed. A memory may store an initial historical configuration parameter representation of an initial historical configuration parameter for a set of historical video data. A processor may determine a primary initial configuration parameter based on the initial historical configuration parameter representation. An audio-video capture mechanism may capture a current set of video data using the primary initial configuration parameter. An audio input may receive an audio trigger. A configuration control mechanism may switch automatically between the primary initial configuration parameter and a primary subsequent configuration parameter based on the audio trigger. |
| US08203592B2 |
Videoconference recording, post-processing, and playback
Apparatus having corresponding computer-readable media comprises: a recording module adapted to record audio and video streams of a videoconference; a storage module adapted to store a media file associated with the videoconference; and a command module adapted to generate a command file comprising records for events that occur during the videoconference, wherein at least one of the records comprises a time of occurrence in the videoconference of an event associated with the media file, and a reference to the media file. |
| US08203590B2 |
Video camera calibration system and method
A video camera calibration system includes a video camera, having a fixed location and a variable viewing orientation with respect to a fixed object, and a video calibration target, integral with the fixed object and having a known position. The viewing orientation of the video camera can be adjusted by aligning the position of the video calibration target in a video image produced by the video camera. |
| US08203583B2 |
Writing erasable paper using thermal printhead and UV illumination
A system for imaging erasable media includes a thermal print head on a first side of an erasable medium and a UV illumination source opposing the thermal print head and on a second side of the erasable medium. The thermal print head locally heats the erasable medium at a pixel level and the UV illumination source images the erasable medium only at the locally heated regions thereof. Thus the normal roles of uniformly heating the media and imaging with the UV source are reversed. |
| US08203580B2 |
Adaptive control of LCD display characteristics based on video content
Determining video content type of a video displayed on a LCD and triggering adjustment in drive power of the LCD based on the video content type. The video content type indicates relative content motion of the video. A video content type detection module is one or combination of a software and a hardware and directs the LCD to be driven relative slower or faster based upon video content. The module independently or in conjunction with another module identifies an active window from a plurality of windows corresponding to a plurality of applications running on the host device and sets the drive power of the LCD based on speed of a video displayed on the active window. The module may also adapt LCD drive power based upon user input and/or remaining battery life. |
| US08203579B2 |
Methods and systems for backlight modulation with image characteristic mapping
Elements of the present invention relate to systems and methods for selecting a display source light illumination level. Aspects of some embodiments also comprise methods and systems for temporal filtering of a display source light illumination level. |
| US08203576B2 |
Method for aligning objects
A computer implemented method for aligning objects receives a reference object and a to-be-moved object; determining feature elements of the reference object. A first coordinate system is constructed according to a plurality of feature elements of the reference object. A second coordinate system is constructed according to a plurality of feature elements of the to-be-moved object. A third coordinate system is constructed according to the first coordinate system and the second coordinate system. An operation matrix is computed according to the three coordinate systems. The two objects are aligned using the operation matrix. |
| US08203566B2 |
Fixed function pipeline application remoting through a shader pipeline conversion layer
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for sending a client graphics data across a remote session for an application, where the application makes fixed function pipeline API calls and the client and server support shader pipeline API calls for the remote session. fixed function pipeline graphics calls from sent from the application are intercepted, wrapped, converted into their fixed function pipeline equivalent graphics call or calls and then sent across the communications network to the client according to a protocol of the remote session. |
| US08203562B1 |
Apparatus, system, and method for distributing work to integrated heterogeneous processors
An integrated circuit includes at least two different types of processors, such as a graphics processor and a video processor. At least one operation is commonly by supported by two different types of processors. For each commonly supported operation that is scheduled, a decision is made to determine which type of processor will be selected to implement the operation. |
| US08203554B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying visual content foregrounds
A method and apparatus for identifying visual content foregrounds, the method comprises steps of: determining a 3-D opening-by-reconstruction modest structure element (BO) and a 3-D closing-by-reconstruction modest structure element (BC); comparing an original image with an image obtained by performing MSOR operation to the original image with BO and an image obtained by performing MSCR operation to the original image with BC so as to generate an enhanced top-hat image and an enhanced bottom-hat image; and locating an overlap region between the enhanced top-hat image and the enhanced bottom-hat image. The overlap region forms a foreground identifying screen which is capable of identifying and extracting—refined for obtaining delicate foregrounds. |
| US08203550B2 |
Plasma display and method for driving plasma display panel
A disclosed plasma display includes a plasma display panel including cells and display electrodes including a group of X electrodes and a group of Y electrodes; an X electrode driving circuit configured to apply a sustaining pulse to the group of X electrodes; and a Y electrode driving circuit configured to apply a sustaining pulse to the group of Y electrodes. One of the X electrode driving circuit and the Y electrode driving circuit applies a low-voltage sustaining pulse that can cause the sustaining discharge by itself to a corresponding one of the group of X electrodes and the group of Y electrodes. The other one of the X electrode driving circuit and the Y electrode driving circuit applies a high-voltage sustaining pulse that can cause the sustaining discharge by itself to the other one of the group of X electrodes and the group of Y electrodes. |
| US08203548B2 |
Driving circuit
A driving circuit of a display device is provided. In a first time period of a data writing period, a control section of the driving circuit effects control so as to short-circuit a first node which is set to a target gradation potential and a node (second node) adjacent to the first node, and such that a line (second line) between the second node and a hold capacitor of a pixel is connected in parallel to a line (first line) between the first node and the hold capacitor of the pixel. Further, in a second time period following the first time period, the control section controls switching element groups so as to cancel short-circuiting between the first node and the second node, and such that the second line is not connected in parallel to the first line. |
| US08203546B2 |
Electronic document reading devices
This invention generally relates to an electronic document reading device, that is to a device such as an electronic book which presents a document to a user on a display to enable the user to read the document. A portable flex-tolerant electronic document reading device, the device including a flex-tolerant display coupled to a flex-tolerant layer of pixel driver circuitry, and wherein said device has a physical configuration comprising a planar display surface and a rear surface having a frame around its outer perimeter to stiffen the device, the frame defining a central region of relatively reduced thickness compared with a thickness of said frame. |
| US08203543B2 |
Portable electronic device having a securely positioned touch control pen
A portable electronic device includes a housing configured with an elongate inner accommodating space for accommodating a touch control pen therein, and formed with a housing opening disposed at one end of the housing, in spatial communication with the inner accommodating space and permitting insertion of the touch control pen into the inner accommodating space therethrough, and a positioning groove in spatial communication with the housing opening and the inner accommodating space. |
| US08203542B2 |
Pointing device
The invention relates to a pointing device including a touch plane for an object moving thereon to generate a sound, a microphone for converting the sound into a sound wave signal, and a control unit. The control unit receives the sound wave signal and determines a moving direction of the object, so as to generate a direction signal. Accordingly, the moving direction of the object can be determined according to the sound wave signal received by the microphone, such that the volume and the cost of the pointing device of the invention can be reduced. |
| US08203540B2 |
LCD panel with integral touchscreen
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device (100) having an integrated touchscreen includes a built-in probe signal source behind the liquid crystal (LC) layer (20). The probe signal source may include a pair of light sources (82 and 84) modulated at first and second frequencies (f1 and f2), respectively. A pair of probe light sensing devices (92 and 94) may also be implemented behind the LC layer, each configured to measure the intensities of the first and second frequencies, respectively. The probe light sensing devices are designed to detect user contact with the touchscreen surface by sensing a reflection of the probe light signals from the touchscreen surface. Using the multiple intensity measurements from each probe light sensing device, the location of the point of contact on the touchscreen surface is determined. |
| US08203539B2 |
Display panel and method of manufacturing the same
A display panel and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, which can prevent the deterioration of input sensitivity to the panel, and maximize the aperture ratio of the panel. The display panel includes a first substrate, a gate line and a data line crossing each other on the first substrate, in a manner that the gate line and the data line are electrically insulated from each other. The display panel further comprises a first sensor wire formed in parallel to the data line, a second sensor wire formed to overlap the data line in parallel to the data line, a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate, and a sensor spacer formed on the second substrate to project toward the first substrate. |
| US08203538B2 |
Sensor structure of touch panel and method for determining touch signal generating by sensor structure of touch panel
A sensor structure of a touch panel and a method of determining a touch signal generated by the same are disclosed. The sensor structure includes a plurality of sensor lines disposed on a surface of a substrate, and a control circuit electrically connected to the sensor lines. Each of the sensor lines has a plurality of conductive pads and a conductive line electrically connected the conductive pads. The control circuit receives a touch signal from one of the sensor lines. The touch signal is resulting from a touch capacitance generated between a touch and one of the conductive pads of the sensor line. The control circuit calculates the position of the touch based on the touch capacitance. In addition, the touch capacitance generated by a conductive pad close to the control circuit is larger than the touch capacitance generated by another conductive pad further away from the control circuit. |
| US08203535B2 |
Passive touch system and method of detecting user input
A passive touch system includes a passive touch surface and at least two cameras associated with the touch surface. The at least two cameras acquire images of the touch surface from different locations and have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined. |
| US08203534B2 |
Electronic apparatus
In an electronic apparatus having a touch panel and a chassis for supporting the touch panel, pair of fixing cushions are fixed to the touch panel along edges, which are parallel to each other, of the touch panel. Pair of vibration absorbing cushions are fixed to the chassis parallel to each other. A fixing flame is disposed between the touch panel and the chassis and fixed to the fixing cushions and the vibration absorbing cushions. Thus, the touch panel is supported against the chassis by the fixing cushions, the fixing frame and the vibration absorbing cushions. When the touch panel vibrates, the vibration absorbing cushions prevent transmission of the vibration from the touch panel to the chassis through fixing cushions and the fixing frame. Accordingly, the vibration of the touch panel hardly exercises a harmful influence on components mounted on the chassis. |
| US08203532B2 |
Portable mouse attachable on a surface of an object
A portable mouse includes a base, a casing, an attractable element and a control module. The control module includes a keycap, a triggering element, a positioning element and a retractable mechanism. The keycap is exposed outside a surface of the casing. By depressing the keycap, the attractable element is protruded out of the base, so that the attractable element could be attached on a surface of the object. |
| US08203531B2 |
Vector-specific haptic feedback
In one or more embodiments, vector-specific movement can be imparted to a user interface device (UID) to provide vector-specific haptic feedback. In at least some embodiments, this vectored movement can be based on input received by the UID. The input can include information associated with the user's interaction with an associated device integrated with or communicatively linked with the UID, and or with an application implemented on the associated device. In at least some embodiments, the UID can be configured with a controller, a microprocessor(s), and a vector-specific actuator that includes an electrically-deformable material. |
| US08203518B2 |
Display device
Provided is a display device including a level shift circuit, which includes a thin film transistor having a polycrystalline semiconductor layer, and which realizes a reliable operation even when a threshold of the thin film transistor varies. The display device includes: a board; and the level shift circuit which includes the thin film transistor having the polycrystalline semiconductor layer, and is formed on the board, in which the level shift circuit includes: a plurality of source-input level shift circuits including a plurality of unit level shift circuits having drain resistors different in value from one another; and a selection circuit, which selects one of outputs from the plurality of unit level shift circuits as an output from a normally operated unit level shift circuit. |
| US08203515B2 |
Image display device, image display method, image display program, recording medium containing image display program, and electronic apparatus
An image display device corrects image data, which are used for displaying an image, using a gray scale value assigned to each pixel and also controls a source light luminance of a light source. The image display device includes a scene change detection device, an image correction device, a source light luminance control device, and a time characteristic control device. The scene change detection device detects a change of scene of the input image data. The image correction device corrects the image data. The source light luminance control device controls the source light luminance. The time characteristic control device changes a first time characteristic of a change in the source light luminance and a second time characteristic of an image correction amount by which the image data are corrected on the basis of the change of scene and executes a process on the basis of the first time characteristic and the second time characteristic. |
| US08203508B2 |
Plasma display device and driving method thereof
A plasma display device includes a plasma display panel having a scan driver including a falling reset signal/scan low signal generating circuit that includes: a first switch coupled to a scan electrode, a second switch coupled in series with the first switch and coupled to a scan low voltage source having a scan low voltage, a first driving circuit having an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the first switch and a ground terminal coupled to the first and second switches, a second driving circuit having an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the second switch and a ground terminal coupled to the second switch and the scan low voltage source, a control Zener diode between the control terminals of the first and second switches, and a control resistor between the control terminal of the second switch and the scan low voltage source. |
| US08203507B2 |
Drive method of plasma display panel
A drive method of a plasma display panel that can increase the dark contrast, without causing a discharge failure. When a discharge cell that assumes a black display state in a first field from among first and a second fields that are adjacent in time and switches to a display state representing a brightness other than black in the second field is detected as a lighting transition cell, at least one drive of the below-described first and second forced lighting drives is executed. In the first forced lighting drive, the lighting transition cell is forcibly set into the lighting mode only in the address process of a predetermined subfield within the field in the first field. In the second forced lighting drive, an adjacent discharge cell that is adjacent to the lighting transition cell is forcibly set into the lighting mode only in the address process of the predetermined subfield in the second field. |
| US08203506B2 |
LED drive circuit
An LED array includes a plurality of LED segments connected in a common cathode configuration at a common cathode node. A high side driver is operable responsive to segment control signals to selectively supply current to certain LED segments. A low side driver is provided to sink current from the common cathode node. A plurality of selectively actuated current sink paths are provided in each low side driver. A control logic circuit actuates a current sink path within the low side driver for each LED segment that is selectively supplied current by the high side driver. A substantially constant low side voltage drop through these sink paths is provided regardless of the number of LED segments that are supplied current by the high side driver so as to achieve a substantially constant LED segment brightness. A common anode configuration operating in an analogous way is also disclosed. |
| US08203502B1 |
Wearable heads-up display with integrated finger-tracking input sensor
Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for interfacing with a wearable heads-up display via a finger-operable input device. The wearable heads-up display may include a display element for receiving and displaying display information received from a processor, and may also include a wearable frame structure supporting the display element and having a projection extending away from the display element. The projection may be configured to secure the heads-up display to a user's body in a manner such that the display element is disposed within a field of view of the user. A finger-operable input device secured to the wearable frame structure is configured to sense at least one of a position and movement of a finger along a planar direction relative to a surface of the input device, and to provide corresponding input information to the processor. |
| US08203500B2 |
Compact circularly polarized omni-directional antenna
Antennas that can transceive signals in an elliptically-polarized, omni-directional manner are described. In an example embodiment, an antenna comprises two elements proximally located to each other at a predetermined distance, such that two orthogonally-polarized omni-directional electromagnetic waves are tranceived. In a further example, the two elements are supported by an internal printed circuit, the printed circuit including conductors configured to supply a feed to the elements, which may be contained within a radome. Alternate embodiments comprise a plurality of elements of varying lengths. |
| US08203496B2 |
Top mount mast antenna reinforcement
A mounting apparatus for a top mount mast antenna includes a secondary mounting bracket positioned below the fender panel to stabilize the antenna attachment screws extending through the antenna base into the fender panel of the automotive vehicle on which the antenna is mounted. The secondary mounting bracket is formed with a generally circular reinforcement collar that projects upwardly through the opening in the fender panel. The reinforcement collar has opposing retention tabs that pass through recesses formed in the opening. A rotation of the secondary mounting bracket within the opening rotates the retention tabs to a position overlying the fender panel, and moves deformable bosses into alignment with the screw holes in the fender panel. The rotation of the secondary mounting bracket is halted by the engagement of a closed side of the bosses with a flange of material created by the piercing of the screw holes. |
| US08203489B2 |
Dual-band antenna
A dual-band antenna includes a ground plane, a loop antenna, and a monopole antenna. The loop antenna is connected to the ground plane, and has a radiator that forms a loop. The radiator has a first end and a second end adjacent to the first end, and is capable of resonating at a first frequency band. The monopole antenna has one end connected to the first end of the radiator of the loop antenna, and is capable of resonating at a second frequency band. A feed point is disposed at a connection between the first end of the radiator of the loop antenna and the monopole antenna. A ground point is disposed at the radiator of the loop antenna proximate to the second end of the radiator. |
| US08203485B2 |
Method of estimating direction of arrival and apparatus thereof
A method includes generating a correlation vector of baseband-signal vectors based upon signals received from a plurality of sensor devices, generating a generalized Hankel matrix R representing a covariance matrix to which a spatial averaging is applied based upon the correlation vector, generating a kernel matrix Ω1, which is a projection matrix onto noise subspace, by performing linear operation using submatrices R1 and R2 of the generalized Hankel matrix R, generating a kernel matrix Ω2, which is orthogonal with the kernel matrix Ω1, and estimating a direction of arrival of a signal based upon the kernel matrices Ω1 and Ω2. |
| US08203484B2 |
Path-sharing transceiver architecture for antenna arrays
A path sharing transceiver array architecture is disclosed. A plurality of channels are linked to antennas of an array for transmitting and receiving wireless signals that are offset in one of phase or time relative to one another. Each channel is associated with a delay element. In the receiving case, an offset signal is received at a first channel, processed, and shifted by a first delay element. The resulting signal is combined with the processed signal of a second, adjacent channel where a phase or time delayed signal is received. The combined signal is then shifted by a second delay element to produce a net signal. The first delay element is used to generate a shifted signal for both the first and second channel. The architecture can be extended to another number of channels. |
| US08203479B2 |
Electronic counter measure system
A tactical electronic counter measure system comprising a first retro-directional transceiver sub system, receiving signals at a first frequency band, and first retro-directional transceiver re transmitting a signal at least substantially toward the direction from which the sources signal was received, and first retro directional transceiver sub system including a plurality of blade antennas and a controller, coupled with and first retro-directional transceiver, and controller controlling the activity of and first retro directional transceiver sub system, and controller further managing the missions of and first retro directional transceiver sub system. |
| US08203478B1 |
Distributed and coordinated electronic warfare system
A distributed and coordinated electronic warfare system is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of autonomous, geographically-distributed, mobile units (e.g., soldiers, vehicles, etc.), each of which carries an electronic warfare module. Each electronic warfare module comprises: a telecommunications transceiver for enabling the electronic warfare modules and their users to communicate with each other, and a threat-detection receiver for detecting potentially hostile radio signals, such as those that are used to detonate IEDs; and a jamming transmitter for transmitting sequences of electromagnetic pulses to interfere with potentially hostile radio signals, and an electronic warfare controller for coordinating the efforts of the electronic warfare modules. |
| US08203472B2 |
Compensation of clock jitter in analog-digital converter applications
Processes and systems for use in reducing clock jitter-induced error, obtain a first sample during each cycle of a periodic analog reference signal. The sample includes an error resulting at least in part from jitter-induced timing error of the clock signal. For each respective cycle, a second sample of a discrete-time analog representation of the periodic analog reference signal is also obtained. The second sample is substantially unsusceptible to jitter-induced timing error of the clock signal. Each of the first and second samples corresponds to the same respective cycle of the clock signal. For each cycle, a respective difference between each of the first and second samples is determined. The difference is indicative of timing error of the respective cycle of the clock signal. The difference is converted to a digital representation that can be used to compensate for jitter-induced error. |
| US08203470B2 |
Digital signal coding method and apparatus, digital signal decoding apparatus, digital signal arithmetic coding method and digital signal arithmetic decoding method
A digital decoding method and apparatus for receiving a compression coded digital signal in predetermined transmission units for decoding is disclosed. The decoding apparatus includes an initialization unit for initializing a probability of occurrence based on information multiplexed into data constituting the transmission unit, when decoding of the transmission unit is started, a binarization unit for generating a binarization rule determined based on a type of decoded data, a probability of occurrence generation unit for providing the probability of occurrence of symbol generated by the binarization rule, and a decoding unit for executing arithmetic decoding based on the probability of occurrence thus generated. |
| US08203462B2 |
Automatic registration of meters to a centralized data system
A system and methods for automatically configuring a monitoring device that is attachable to a network coupled to a data collection system. The network has associated network parameters. The monitoring device is coupled to an energy distribution system. The monitoring device measures a characteristic of energy supplied by the energy distribution system and stores data representative of the measured characteristics. A first network communications link is automatically established between the monitoring device and the network, and a host server is contacted to identify network parameters including an address of the data collection system. A second network communications link is automatically established between the monitoring device and the data collection system based on the address of the data collection system. Nameplate and configuration information associated with the monitoring device is communicated from the monitoring device over the network to the data collection system. The registration of the monitoring device in the data collection system is acknowledged based on acceptance of the nameplate information and the configuration information by the data collection system. |
| US08203460B2 |
Synthetically generated sound cues
A communications system is disclosed that may incorporate a first platform and a second platform. The second platform may have a relative position with respect to the first platform, with at least one of the platforms being mobile. A communications subsystem is included that is adapted to modify a signal sent from the second platform to a user on the first platform that provides a spatial indication to the user as to a position of the second platform relative to the user. |
| US08203459B2 |
Security systems and methods for continuously monitoring the weight of a container
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to weight monitoring systems for recovering, processing, monitoring, and managing various commodities or products stored in a container. |
| US08203458B2 |
Safety helmet with gas-measuring device
A safety helmet provides toxic gas monitoring in the field of vision of the helmet user. The safety helmet includes a gas-measuring device of modular design. The safety helmet has a sensor module (5) positioned in the field of vision of the helmet user. |
| US08203457B1 |
Portable currency reader and process for detection of currency value
A portable currency reader and process for detecting the value of currency comprising the detection and reading of the security stripe in currency swiped through the reader by sensing color intensities in light transmitted or refracted through the swiped bill illuminated with ultraviolet radiation and correlating a local maximum intensity of the fluoresced color associated with the value of the currency with a maximum of a calculated composite value of refracted light associated with a discontinuity indicating the presence of the security stripe. |
| US08203455B2 |
Posture sensing alert apparatus
A posture sensing alert apparatus is provided. The posture sensing alert apparatus comprises an attachment element, a detecting element, a processing element and an alert element. The attachment element is adapted to attach on a human body. The detecting element is disposed on the attachment element and is adapted to sense a posture change from the human body. The processing element is disposed on the attachment element and connects to the detecting element. The processing element is adapted to output a signal to the alert element in response to the posture change for a predetermined period so that the alert element is adapted to output an alert accordingly. |
| US08203447B2 |
Telemetry system and method
A telemetry system is disclosed herein. The telemetry system includes a transmitter configured to provide tracking data, and a receiver adapted to define a coverage area. The receiver is configured to receive the tracking data from the transmitter only when the transmitter is within the coverage area. The telemetry system also includes a processor configured to receive the tracking data from the receiver. The processor is configured to estimate the location of the transmitter when the transmitter is outside the coverage area based on the tracking data. |
| US08203446B2 |
Radio communication terminal
A radio communication terminal includes a radio communication unit that performs radio communication with another device, a detector that detects radio waves in a predetermined frequency range emitted from a medical device that is used integrally with a human body, and a prohibition unit that prohibits radio communication by the radio communication unit when radio waves in the predetermined frequency range have been detected. |
| US08203439B1 |
Mini-dome, nurse call visual communication system
A patient and room status display device used to provide effective communication in healthcare environments. The display device uses a RGB (Red, Green and Blue) LED (Light Emitting Diode) to illuminate a dome light with any color, thus providing signals to healthcare workers representing different patient or room statuses. The display device can be operated through an external web-based interface, a nurse call master station or at least one user controlled actuator located on the display device. Each display device is mounted outside of every patient's room to provide multiple status signals for every patient in the hospital wing. |
| US08203437B2 |
Programmable display switch
A programmable graphical display switch is described herein that provides users with a way of controlling other devices and for customizing how that control is initiated and communicated to a user. |
| US08203436B2 |
Remote controller for enabling an operation command to be obtained from an electronic apparatus and set into an operation key, remote control system having said remote controller, and remote control method pertaining thereto
A remote controller for operating another apparatus has: an operating unit having operation keys to which different key numbers have been allocated and with which operation commands for operating the another apparatus have been associated; a transmitting/receiving unit for communicating with the another apparatus by bidirectional radio communication; a memory to store the operation commands; and a control unit for reading out the operation command according to the executed operation and transmitting the operation command to the another apparatus. The control unit forms a request signal for requesting code information including a key number and the operation command, transmits it to the another apparatus, receives the code information corresponding to the request signal, and stores the operation command into the memory so as to be associated with the operation key. |
| US08203434B2 |
Wireless power feeding system and capsule endoscope system applied with the same
A wireless power feeding system is provided, which achieves a configuration enabling effective reception of electrical energy wirelessly transmitted from a wireless power feeding device, and which contributes to the improvement of the power reception efficiency. For the above purpose, the wireless power feeding system includes a power transmitting coil for wirelessly transmitting the electrical energy, a power supply connected to the power transmitting coil, a control unit for controlling the power supply, a power receiving coil portion for receiving the electrical energy transmitted from the power transmitting coil, a power receiving circuit for supplying a load member with the electrical energy received by a power receiving coil, and a magnetic member for collecting a magnetic flux generated by the power transmitting operation of the power transmitting coil to the power receiving coil. |
| US08203431B2 |
Method of processing data, electronic device and transponder
In a method of processing data, an RFID signal (6) sent by a reader (3,5) via a field generated by the reader (3,5) is received at a passive RFID transponder (2). The transponder (2) comprises a dedicated receiver (28) for receiving a time signal (8), which is wirelessly sent By an external sender (4) and comprises information about the present time. The transponder (2) including the dedicated receiver (28) is powered utilizing the field such that the dedicated receiver (28) detects the time signal (8) and decodes the present time. Utilizing the transponder (2), the first data (7) contained in the RFID signal (6) is decoded and processed. Second data (9) which are time stamped by said transponder (2) utilizing said present time are generated, and a response signal (10) comprising the second data (9) is transmitted from the transponder. |
| US08203426B1 |
Feed protocol used to report status and event information in physical access control system
A physical access control system is disclosed which includes a network, at least one access controller, a producer device, and a consumer device. Each access controller generates status and event information associated with a controlled physical barrier. The producer device includes producer logic which collects and stores the status and event information. The consumer device includes consumer logic which periodically polls the producer logic via the network to retrieve the status and event information from the producer device. The producer logic and the consumer logic communicate via the network according to a commonly accepted message syndication protocol, such as the RSS protocol or the Atom Publishing Protocol or the like. The use of a commonly accepted message syndication protocol simplifies communications, avoids proprietary configurations and facilitates integration, such as combining systems or adding new devices and the like. |
| US08203423B2 |
Portable access device
Portable devices, methods, and systems for controlling access to computers and other secure systems such as systems protecting secure premises, by processing data supplied by the individual seeking access to the system and data supplied by the system to which the prospective user seeks access, to determine whether access by the individual is to be authorized or enabled. In one embodiment the invention provides a device for providing a code that may be used to access a system such as a computer or security system. The device comprises an output device and at least one processor. The processor processes data representing a biometric characteristic of a prospective user of the system and a signal provided by the system, and, depending upon a result of the processing, provides to the output device a code that may be used to access the system. |
| US08203422B2 |
Resistor device and method of manufacturing the same
To provide a glazed metal film resistor device excellent in TCR characteristics with using an economical base body containing glass by reducing affection to TCR characteristics caused by glass contained in the base body. The resistor device comprises base body 11 containing glass, first protective film 12, which does not contain glass, formed on a surface of base body 11, and thick film resistor 13 formed on first protective film 12. By forming first protective film 12 on a surface of base body 11 containing glass and insulating base body 11 containing glass against thick film resistor 13 of ruthenium oxide as primary component, affection of glass contained in base body 11 to thick film resistor 13 of ruthenium oxide can be suppressed, and change of TCR value from original value of thick film resistor itself can be suppressed. |
| US08203418B2 |
Manufacture and use of planar embedded magnetics as discrete components and in integrated connectors
The current invention provides an integrated planar transformer and electronic component that includes at least one wideband planar transformer disposed in a planar substrate, where each wideband planar transformer includes a planar substrate in a fully-cured and rigid state, a ferrite material embedded in the planar substrate, where the ferrite material is enveloped in an elastic and non-conductive material, inter-wound conductors disposed around the embedded ferrite material, where top and bottom conductors are bonded by an insulating adhesive. The top and bottom conductors are connected in an inter-connected pattern by conductive vias disposed on each side of the ferrite material and span through the layers to the conductors. The planar transformer further includes at least one center tap connected to at least one inter-wound conductor. The integrated planar transformer and electronic component further includes at least one electronic component connected to at least one terminal of the wide-band planar transformer. |
| US08203417B2 |
Inductor assembly
An inductor assembly includes a first inductor, a second inductor being magnetically coupled to the first inductor, and a third inductor being magnetically coupled to said first and second inductors. The third inductor may be connected to a variable resistor adapted for adjusting the magnetic coupling between the first and the second inductors by varying a resistance value of said variable resistor. |
| US08203413B2 |
Winding component
[Problems] To realize a structure that is substantially highly reliable, that solves a problem of a wire break accompanied by an application of an external force to a terminal and at the same time solves a problem of a wire break caused by heat effects during dip soldering, without causing a strength reduction of the terminal, cost increase, and wire thinning.[Means for Solution] A winding component in which a terminal 12 is disposed in a protruding manner to a bobbin 14 provided with a winding portion, and a winding end is connected to the terminal, wherein a resin protrusion 40 is formed integral with the bobbin at a foot of the terminal, the resin protrusion is shaped with a part of its circumference notched so that a side surface of the terminal partially juts out, and a wire material that is wound around the resin protrusion a plurality of times comes into contact with the terminal and is to be connected by dip soldering. |
| US08203411B2 |
Potted inductor apparatus and method of use thereof
The invention comprises a potted inductor, where a solid potting material substantially contacting the inductor enhances cooling of the inductor. The inductor comprises an annular core composed of a distributed gap material, where the distributed gap material includes sub-millimeter particles of alternating magnetic and non-magnetic layers separated by gaps. The potting material includes a urethane, resin, epoxy, or the like combined with a lower thermal impedance additive, such as a silica sand or an aluminum oxide. Optionally, one or more cooling lines direct a circulating coolant flow through the potting material, around the inductor, and/or through the inductor. |
| US08203406B2 |
Magnetic having linear magnetic flux density
The present invention relates to a magnet having a linear magnetic flux density, which causes the magnetic flux density thereof to vary linearly and, more particularly, to a magnet having a linear magnetic flux density, in which the shape and magnetization pattern of the magnet are changed so that displacement in proportion to linearly varying displacement from the magnet is more accurately measured using a magnetic flux sensor, thus causing the magnetic flux density to vary linearly (or rectilinearly) according to the displacement. The present invention is configured to have a rectangular shape or a trapezoid shape so that displacement in proportion to linearly varying displacement from the magnet is more accurately measured using a magnetic flux sensor, and is configured such that the value of magnetic flux density varies linearly (rectilinearly) according to the magnetization pattern of the rectangular shape or a trapezoid shape. |
| US08203405B2 |
Electromagnetic actuating apparatus
An electromagnetic actuating apparatus with an elongate actuating element (3), which forms an engagement region (11) at the end and is capable of moving owing to the force of a coil device provided in stationary fashion, and sections of the actuating element have permanent magnets (4), which are designed to interact with a stationary core region (7), wherein a stationary bearing element (8) acting as a yoke is provided axially opposite the core region (7) for the actuating element (3), at least sections of which are in the form of a piston, wherein the actuating element (3) has two sections (10, 20; 3a, 3b), wherein a first section (19, 3a), which is arranged in the region of the permanent magnets (4), is optimized in terms of the magnetic conductivity and a second section (20, 3b), which is arranged in the engagement region, is optimized in terms of wear. |
| US08203404B2 |
Vehicle power system and electrical contactor for use with same
A vehicle power system includes an electrical power source, an electrical bus, and a contactor electrically connected with the electrical power source and electrical bus. The contactor includes first and second poles, dual plungers each operatively associated with one of the first and second poles, and an electromagnetic coil configured to cause at least one of the dual plungers to move if the coil is energized. |
| US08203400B2 |
Broadband filter
A broadband filter filtering noise over a first conductive wire, a second conductive wire, and a third conductive wire includes a differential-mode filtering circuit connected to both the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire and a common-mode filtering circuit connected to both the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire. The differential-mode filtering circuit includes two inductors and two capacitors for filtering differential-mode noise of different frequencies. The common-mode filtering circuit includes two inductors and six capacitors filtering common-mode noise of different frequencies. |
| US08203399B2 |
Transformer capable of removing harmonic components
A transformer includes at least one input conductive line having both ends provided as input ports of a positive (+) signal and a negative (−) signal, respectively, one output conductive line disposed adjacent to the at least one input conductive line to be electromagnetically coupled to the at least one input conductive line, and having a first end connected to a ground, a first resonator disposed between a second end of the output conductive line and the ground, a second resonator having a first end connected to the second end of the output conductive line and a second end provided as an output port, and a third resonator connected in series between the first end of the output conductive line and the ground. |
| US08203397B2 |
Attenuator
An attenuator includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a first circuit coupled between the first and second terminals and including a field effect transistor including a gate terminal coupled to a resistor, a second circuit coupled between the first circuit and the second terminal and coupled to the first circuit via a node, and a third circuit coupled to the node. |
| US08203393B1 |
Voltage controlled oscillator open loop coarse amplitude control with respect to process and temperature variations
A voltage controlled oscillator having a temperature and process controlled output. A VCO in accordance with the present invention comprises a reference current source, a fixed current source, coupled in series with the reference current source, the fixed current source comprising a temperature independent current source, a third current source, coupled in parallel with the combination of the reference current source and the fixed current source, and an oscillator, coupled in series with the third current source, wherein a current used to control the oscillator is based on operating temperatures and processes of the reference current source and the third current source. |
| US08203391B2 |
Oscillating device
A low-price, compact oscillating device having a good temperature characteristic of a frequency intermediate between a temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) and an oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) is provided. The oscillating device having a TCXO is provided with a base on which the TCXO is mounted, that is formed into a box shape having a recess, with a plane area substantially equal to that of the TCXO; and a semiconductor chip including a temperature control circuit, a temperature sensor, and a heating element, mounted in the recess. An opening of the recess is provided in a surface opposite a surface in which the temperature compensated crystal oscillator is mounted, and sealed by a cover. A temperature of the TCXO can be kept constant to provide a oscillating device having an excellent temperature characteristic of a frequency compared with the single TCXO. |
| US08203390B2 |
Local oscillator and phase adjusting method for the same
According to one embodiment, a local oscillator includes a digitally-controlled oscillator that outputs an oscillating signal having a frequency N times as large as an oscillating frequency according to an oscillator tuning word; a frequency divider that performs a 1/N frequency division of the oscillating signal, and outputs a 2N phase clock; a counter that counts the clock and outputs the count value as integer oscillator phase data based upon a reference signal; a first flip-flop that latches the clock with the reference signal, and outputs the resultant as first phase information; a variable delay circuit that delays the reference signal and outputs the resultant as a delay reference signal; a second flip-flop that latches the clock with the delay reference signal, and outputs the resultant as second phase information; a delay control unit that controls a delay amount of the variable delay circuit; a data conversion unit that outputs fractional oscillator phase data based upon the first and second phase information; an adder that adds the integer oscillator phase data and the fractional oscillator phase data, and outputs the added value as third phase information; and a filter that smoothes the difference between a reference phase for setting the oscillating frequency of the digitally-controlled oscillator and the third phase information so as to output the oscillator tuning word. |
| US08203389B1 |
Field tunable spin torque oscillator for RF signal generation
A spin transfer oscillator (STO) device is disclosed with a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) junction comprising a magnetic resistance layer (MRL)/spacer/magnetic oscillation layer (MOL) configuration, and a MR sensor including a sensing layer/junction layer/reference layer configuration. MOL and sensing layer are magnetostatically coupled and separated by a conductive spacer. MRL has perpendicular magnetic anisotropy while MOL and sensing layer have a Mst (saturation magnetization×thickness) value within ±50% of each other. When a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the planes of the MOL and a high density current flows from the conductive spacer to the MRL, a MOL oscillation state with a certain frequency is induced. Consequently, the sensing layer oscillates with a similar RF frequency and when a low density current flows across the MR sensor, an AC voltage signal is generated to determine the sensing layer frequency that can be varied by adjusting the applied field. |
| US08203384B1 |
Amplifier
An amplifier has first and second differential outputs connected to first and second ends of one side of a balun. A second side of the balun, inductively coupled to the first side of the balun, has a center tap that is electrically coupled to a conductive path to a power supply reference node for the amplifier. |
| US08203382B2 |
Amplifier circuitry
A class D amplification device that prevents beats caused by switching operations of a switching power supply and a class D amplifier from causing noise within a voice band, enables easy control over power supply operations, and offers low power loss is provided. The amplification device includes a unit that generates a reference clock, a switching power supply that operates at a first frequency at which the frequency of the reference clock is divided, and a triangular wave generation unit that operates at a second frequency higher than the first frequency at which the frequency of the reference clock is divided. The amplification device further includes a class D amplifier that performs a switching operation with a pulse whose width has been modulated according to the input signal. |
| US08203378B2 |
Boosting circuit
Provided is a boosting circuit which avoids a malfunction of a peripheral circuit to be connected to the boosting circuit. The boosting circuit includes: a first discharge circuit for discharging a voltage of a first output terminal when a boosting unit stops a boosting operation; and a second discharge circuit for discharging a voltage of a second output terminal. The second discharge circuit discharges the voltage of the second output terminal to a potential of the first output terminal when a difference voltage between the voltage of the second output terminal and the voltage of the first output terminal is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage. |
| US08203374B2 |
Electrically tunable continuous-time circuit and method for compensating a polynomial voltage-dependent characteristic of capacitance
A capacitance compensation circuit includes an input terminal, a plurality of switches coupled to the input terminal, a plurality of varactors coupled to the plurality of switches, and a plurality of blocking capacitors coupled between the plurality of switches and the plurality of varactors. The capacitance compensation circuit further includes a plurality of adjustable biasing circuits to precisely compensate for linear and parabolic voltage dependent components of an input or other capacitor. Two such circuits can be used with a single input terminal to compensate for both increasing and decreasing voltage dependent characteristics of a target capacitor. |
| US08203372B2 |
Synchronous rectifier post regulator
Methods and apparatus for regulating a synchronous rectifier DC-to-DC converter by adjusting one or more existing synchronous rectifiers in the converter are provided. By regulating an existing synchronous rectifier, the rectifier may function as a modulator for post regulation over a limited range of output voltages suitable for load regulation, without introducing an additional conversion stage for post regulation, which typically decreases efficiency and power density. Independent post regulation of an existing synchronous rectifier may improve the load regulation, reduce output voltage ripple and improve the transient response of the converter. By operating independently from the main control loop, post regulation may most likely avoid the limitations of the main control loop, such as limited gain bandwidth and a relatively slow transient response. Such post regulation may be added to isolated or non-isolated switched-mode power supplies, such as forward or buck converters. |
| US08203369B2 |
Fast-locking bang-bang PLL with low ouput jitter
The present invention relates to a gigitaol phaselocked loop DPLL (300, 400) having a phase-to-digital P2D (60) with an enhanced bang-bang phase detector BBPD. Such a P2D (60) comprises a BBPD (62), an additional digital circuit (200) including a sign detector (210), a counter (220) and a mapping function (230), and a summer block (64). During the locking process, the BBPD (62) may-output a repeating value, namely a string of data bits of same polarity value either “+1” or “−1”. The polarity sign is detected by the sign detector (210), and the data string length is determined by the counter (220) that is reset to zero whenever the BBPD output changes sign. The mapping function (230) is configured for mapping the data string length in input to the phase correction level in output Its output is added to that of the BBPD (62) through the summer block (64), such that the phase correction level is increased to enhance the locking process whenever a data string is detected. |
| US08203367B2 |
Frequency divider and method for frequency division
A frequency divider and a method for frequency division are disclosed that can achieve a balanced duty cycle when performing a frequency division with an odd division ratio, independently of an input frequency. |
| US08203362B2 |
Adjustable finite impulse response transmitter
Apparatus and methods are provided for generating output signals representative of bits of serial data. A transmitter comprises a plurality of delay elements, driver circuitry, and bypass logic coupled between the plurality of delay elements and the driver circuitry. The plurality of delay elements delay serialized data, resulting in delayed serialized data, and the driver circuitry generates an output signal representative of a first bit of the delayed serialized data. The bypass logic is configured to selectively bypass one or more delay elements of the plurality of delay elements to provide the first bit of the delayed serialized data to the driver circuitry. |
| US08203359B2 |
System and method for open loop modulation to detect narrow PWM pulse
An open loop modulation network for a voltage regulator including a latch network, an output sense network, a timing network, and pulse control logic. The latch network latches assertion of a pulse control signal and provides a corresponding latched control pulse indication. The output sense network detects initiation of an output pulse and provides a corresponding output pulse indication. The timing network initiates a delay period in response to the output pulse indication and resets the latched control pulse indication after expiration of the delay period. The pulse control logic terminates the output pulse after the latched control pulse indication is reset and the pulse control signal is negated, whichever occurs last. Very narrow input pulses are detected and either a minimum output pulse is generated or the output pulse is based on the pulse control signal. |
| US08203357B2 |
Opportunistic timing control in mixed-signal system-on-chip designs
An integrated circuit may include a plurality of circuit sub-systems that include at least one converter circuit operating in respective critical phases and non-critical phases of operation, a clock distribution circuit that has an input for an externally-supplied clock signal that is active during the non-critical phases and inactive during the critical phases, and a clock generator to generate an internal clock signal to the converter circuit that is active when the external-supplied clock signal is inactive. |
| US08203356B2 |
Device, system and method for testing and analyzing integrated circuits
This invention relates to a semiconductor device for testing and analyzing integrated circuits (1) on a first side and a second side. The semiconductor device (1) having a first surface (A1) and a second surface (A2) both sides having a set of contacts (P3a, P3b, P3a′, P3b′). The sets of contacts on are symmetrically located on positions relative to a first fictitious plane of symmetry (S1) and a second fictitious plane of symmetry (S2). The semiconductor device (1) has at least a first position of use and a second position of use, whereby the second position of use is obtained by rotating the semiconductor device (1) in the first position of use 180° around a fictitious axis (M). This axis (M) is defined by the crossing of the first fictitious plane of symmetry (S1) and the second fictitious plane of symmetry (S2). The semiconductor device thus obtained provides a flexible and generic solution for testing and analyzing integrated circuits on both sides. |
| US08203355B2 |
Circuit board having bypass pad
An electronic device having a printed circuit board is provided. In one embodiment, the printed circuit board includes a plurality of external pads to be coupled with an external device and a plurality of bypass pads for testing an electric circuit. The external pads are exposed and at least one of the plurality of bypass pads are not exposed from an outer surface of the PCB. A system using the electronic device and a method of testing an electronic device are also provided. |
| US08203351B2 |
Probing apparatus with guarded signal traces
A probing apparatus can comprise a substrate, conductive signal traces, probes, and electromagnetic shielding. The substrate can have a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the electrically conductive first signal traces can be disposed on the first surface of the first substrate. The probes can be attached to the first signal traces, and the electromagnetic shielding structures can be disposed about the signal traces. |
| US08203350B2 |
Apparatus and method for direct measurement of reciprocating compressor rider band wear
A method and apparatus for direct measurement of rider band wear in a valve assembly for a reciprocating compressor is provided. A distance transducer probe is inserted through a compressor valve assembly to measure a distance between a piston assembly and the transducer probe and the wear of a rider band is determined based on the distance. |
| US08203348B1 |
Autonomous impedance tuner with human control interface
An electro-mechanical microwave impedance tuner operates as a stand-alone instrument and includes on-board digital processor, firmware, memory, digital display and human control interface, in form of a joystick, mouse, keyboard or tactile (touch sensitive) screen in order to recognize and execute commands for moving the tuner motors and probes, generating required microwaves impedances and calculating losses and de-embedding to reference planes different than the tuner ports. Before being used in operations the tuner can also be controlled by a control computer in order to be calibrated on a network analyzer and the data can be uploaded into the on-board memory in order to be used in the above calculations. During measurement and tuning operations the tuner is therefore stand-alone and totally independent of a control computer. |
| US08203345B2 |
Storage battery and battery tester
A storage battery is provided which has a first and second post for electrically coupling to an electrical system. A test plug is provided for use in coupling the storage battery to an electronic battery tester. In another aspect, a battery tester is provided having a plug configured to couple to a test plug of a storage battery for use in performing an electronic battery test on the storage battery. |
| US08203342B2 |
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system and coil unit
A coil unit comprises a gradient coil which is disposed along a static magnetic field generating source, and a radio frequency coil which is disposed along the gradient coil in a test region at a position closer to the center of the test region compared with the gradient coil, and a conductor part which is disposed between the gradient coil and the radio frequency coil, and covers periphery of the radio frequency coil. The radio frequency coil comprises a first loop coil and a second loop coil locating in planes substantially perpendicular to direction of the static magnetic field, a plurality of linear conductors connecting the first loop coil and the second loop coil and substantially parallel to the direction of the static magnetic field, and a plurality of first capacitors disposed in the first loop coil and the second loop coil. |
| US08203341B2 |
Cylindrical bi-planar gradient coil for MRI
Cylindrical bi-planar gradient coil assemblies for use in open magnetic resonance imaging, wherein each of the coil assemblies contains in sequential order (i) a circular primary coil set placed flat above a cylindrical planar substrate, (ii) cooling means, (iii) 0th and 2nd order shims, (iv) shield layers, and (v) 1st order shims. In use the gradient coil assemblies are disposed symmetrically to each other about a plane of symmetry parallel to each. |
| US08203340B2 |
Magnetic resonance method and apparatus for generating a perfusion image
In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus for generating perfusion images, a perfusion series of magnetic resonance perfusion images is acquired that includes tag images and at least one control image, that are grouped in pairs. From each pair an initially processed perfusion image is obtained, such as by subtraction. Each initially processed image is subjected to a quality control review by analysis with respect to at least one image quality criterion. Any initially processed image that does not satisfy the quality criterion is rejected. Only initially processed images that satisfy the quality criterion are combined to form a resultant magnetic resonance perfusion image. Artifacts in the resultant perfusion image are thereby reduced or avoided. |
| US08203338B2 |
Linear structure verification in medical applications
A method is disclosed for verifying linear structures in a digital mammographic image, comprising providing a configurable linear structure verifier in mammography computer assisted diagnosis system; optionally using an microcalcification candidate cluster driven linear structure verification methodology; selecting parameters for the linear structure verifier from a plurality of different parameter generating sources, at least one of which is controllable by human input; configuring the verifier according to selected parameters; and verifying linear structure using cascade rules. |
| US08203337B2 |
Elimination of errors due to aging in magneto-resistive devices
The problem of magneto-resistive sensor drift with age has been solved by normalizing the sensor's output relative to its output when it is in a selected reproducible state. Details for the method to accomplish this normalization are disclosed together with several examples of how the method can be utilized. |
| US08203335B2 |
System and method for an inductive proximity switch on a common substrate
An inductive proximity switch device has inductive elements including at least one transmitter coil and at least one receiver coil disposed on a common substrate. The inductive elements are arranged in one or more metalizing layers on the common substrate, and an evaluation circuit is coupled to at least one of the plurality of the inductive elements. |
| US08203334B2 |
Magnetically spirally encoded shaft for measuring rotational angel, rotational speed and torque
A magnetically spirally encoded shaft and magnetic field detecting system includes first, second, third and fourth magnetically encoded bands spirally encircling a circumference of the shaft. Each band includes first magnetically encoded regions having a first magnetic polarity alternating with second magnetically encoded regions having a second magnetic polarity. Dead zones are defined in each band between successive first and second magnetically encoded regions. The shaft is for use with a first fixed magnetic field sensor for detecting magnetic fields in the force-sensitive regions, wherein one or more of rotational speed, shaft rotational position, bending forces, torque forces, stress forces and strain forces can be determined responsive to detected magnetic fields. |
| US08203333B2 |
Rotation angle detecting device
A rotation angle detecting device includes a housing, a rotating shaft rotatably held by the housing, a driving gear fixed to the rotating shaft, a driven gear engaged with the driving gear, a magnetic field generating part fixed in the driven gear, having a permanent magnet, and configured to generate a magnetic field, a magnetic sensor element configured to detect a change in the magnetic field due to a rotational movement of the magnetic field generating part, and a signal processor configured to process a signal from the magnetic sensor element for detecting a rotation angle of the rotating shaft. Each of teeth of the driving gear has a first circumferential width, each of teeth of the driven gear has a second circumferential width, and the second circumferential width is greater than the first circumferential width. |
| US08203332B2 |
Gear tooth sensor (GTS) with magnetoresistive bridge
The invention discloses a method and apparatus for determining the rotational status of a gear wheel whether or not it is actually turning. A key feature is the magnetic angle sensor that is used. Said sensor comprises a bridge structure of four MR devices in a square array. The direction of the pinned reference layer is the same for all four devices and lies along one of the diagonals of said square array. A single wafer process is used to manufacture the invented device. |
| US08203331B2 |
Non-contact sensor system and method for selection determination
A non-contact sensor system is provided that comprises a first sensor element disposed on a stationary member, and a second sensor element disposed on a rotational member. The second sensor element is proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element. The rotational member is configured to facilitate selection of at least a first position and a second position, and the first sensor element and the second sensor element are operatively coupled to facilitate sensing of the selected position. |
| US08203329B2 |
Calibratable multidimensional magnetic point sensor
A calibratable magnetic field sensor for sensing a first and a second spatial component of a magnetic field in a reference point, wherein the magnetic field includes a first and a second measurement field component and/or a first and a second calibration field component. The magnetic filed sensor includes a first sensor element arrangement including at least a first and a second sensor element for sensing the first magnetic field component, which includes a first measurement field component and/or a first calibration field component, with respect to a first spatial axis in the reference point. Furthermore, the magnetic field sensor includes a second sensor element arrangement for sensing the second magnetic field component, which includes a second measurement field component and/or a second calibration field component, with respect to a second spatial axis in the reference point. The magnetic filed sensor also includes an excitation line arranged with respect to the first sensor element arrangement so that, when impressing a default current into the excitation line, a pair of different asymmetrical default calibration field components in the first sensor element and in the second sensor element is generated with respect to the first spatial axis in the first sensor element arrangement, wherein the two spatial axes pass along linearly independent position vectors. |
| US08203327B2 |
Device for counting oscillations of an oscillating temporal signal
A device for counting oscillations of an oscillating temporal signal. The device comprises means for counting all the alternate crossings of a positive threshold value and of a negative threshold value by a monitored time signal. |
| US08203326B2 |
Position sensor
A resolver includes an excitation coil for receiving an excitation signal formed by amplitude modulation of a high-frequency signal and a detection coil for outputting a detection signal. The resolver is arranged to detect a change in position of a rotor provided with the excitation coil or the detection coil based on the detection signal varying with the change in position of the rotor. The high-frequency signal is a digitized signal generated from a reference clock. |
| US08203325B2 |
Activation systems and methods to initiate HDMI communication with mobile sources
Activation systems and methods initiate High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) communication between an HDMI source and an HDMI sink through an HDMI receptacle of the source. These systems and methods are especially suited for use with mobile sources that generally operate from a battery that cannot provide the +5V signal which the HDMI protocol requires sources to place on the +5V pin of their HDMI receptacles. These systems and methods automatically detect the insertion of an HDMI cable into the source's HDMI receptacle and subsequently generate and apply the required +5V signal to the +5V pin of the source's HDMI receptacle to initiate HDMI communication. Because they are directed to use in mobile sources, the embodiments are configured to minimize current drain. |
| US08203324B2 |
Low voltage bandgap voltage reference circuit
A temperature compensated low voltage reference circuit can be realized with a reduced operating voltage overhead and reduced spatial requirements This is accomplished in several ways including integrating one or more bipolar junction transistors into a current differencing amplifier and reducing the number of components required to implement various voltage reference circuits. All of the reference circuits may be constructed with various types of transistors including DTMOS transistors. |
| US08203316B2 |
Eddy current torsional damper for generator
A generator rotor torsional damper system includes a prime mover for generating rotational force, a generator stator, a generator rotor rotatably supported relative to the generator stator and configured to receive a rotational force input from the prime mover, a flywheel rotationally supported relative to the generator rotor by bearings, and an eddy current coupling operably connected between the flywheel and the generator rotor such that rotation of the generator rotor induces rotation of the flywheel in a common rotational direction through engagement by the eddy current coupling. |
| US08203310B2 |
Energy storage module for load leveling in lift truck or other electrical vehicle
An energy storage module for use in an electric vehicle, such as a lift truck, is disclosed. The energy storage module includes a bank of super capacitors or ultra-capacitors which are connected between the battery and the load. In operation, the energy storage module charges the capacitors, and uses the charged capacitors to level the load on the battery, limiting spikes in current draw, and assuring a substantially smooth discharge profile, wherein the battery discharge is substantially steady state. The energy storage module further includes sensors for determining when the battery and load are connected. |
| US08203307B2 |
Audio and charging system with audio device, power tool battery, and external battery charger
An electrical component, such as, for example, a radio, MP3 player, audio component, battery charger, radio/charger, MP3 player/radio, MP3 player/charger, or MP3 player/radio/charger. The electrical component includes a housing and an electrical circuit supported by the housing. In some aspects, the electrical component is an audio component and the electrical circuit is an audio circuit. In other aspects, the electrical component is a battery charger and the electrical circuit is a charging circuit. In further aspects, the electrical component is an MP3 player and the electrical circuit is a MP3 circuit. In yet further aspects, the electrical component is an combination of any or all of a radio, battery charger, and MP3 player and the electrical component can include any combination or all of the audio, radio, and MP3 circuits. A battery may be connectable to the housing and electrically connectable the electrical circuit. |
| US08203306B2 |
Battery pack and control method therefor
A battery pack includes one or more cell blocks in which one or more secondary battery cells are connected in series and/or in parallel, and a control section for measuring a voltage of the one or more cell blocks to detect an abnormality of a cell block on the basis of a measurement result. The control section calculates a time differential of the voltage for the one or more cell blocks on the basis of the measured voltage, extracts a first time differential which is maximum and a second time differential which is minimum from the time differentials of the voltage for the one or more cell blocks, and determines that a cell block corresponding to the second time differential is abnormal in a case where a difference between the first time differential and the second time differential is less than a prescribed value. |
| US08203305B1 |
Enhanced voltage-based fuel gauges and methods
Enhanced voltage-based fuel gauges and methods that increase the accuracy of voltage-based fuel gauges and allow the use of voltage-based fuel gauges to detect current, and particularly excessive current from a battery without the use of a sense resistor. When used with a coulomb counter, the outputs of a voltage-based fuel gauge and a coulomb counter may be combined in a manner that allows the combination to provide better performance that either alone may provide. Various embodiments and methods of operation are disclosed. |
| US08203304B2 |
Control method and system with feedback indicative of load flux
Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed, including an induction-motor controller having a phase path; a solid-state switch interposed on the phase path; and a controller coupled to the solid-state switch. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to switch the solid-state switch so that the solid-state switch is conductive during a conduction angle of a cycle of an incoming AC power waveform conveyed by the phase path, calculate the conduction angle based on a generally sinusoidal reference value that has a frequency lower than a frequency of the incoming AC power waveform, and adjust the generally sinusoidal reference value based on a value indicative of flux in a load coupled to the phase path. |
| US08203303B2 |
Asynchronous AC induction electrical machines in cross-interlockingly parallel connection
At least two asynchronous AC induction electrical machines in series connection with the power source are respectively made with the main winding and control winding for operating the electrical machines, wherein the individually driven loading operations of the two electrical machines in cross-interlockingly series connection being series connected with the power source are led by the changes of individual electrical machine driving loading statuses to appear variable impedance operation so as to change the end voltage ratio between individual electrical machines in cross-interlockingly series connections. |
| US08203302B2 |
System and method for controlling four-quadrant operation of a switched reluctance motor drive through a single controllable switch
A single controllable switch (509) drive system for regulating the speed of a two-phase switched reluctance machine (TPSRM) (700) rotor may include a speed control feedback loop (970) component that uses an established speed control signal and a signal indicative of the rotor's speed to dynamically adjust a first parameter. And a current control feedback loop (976) component that uses an established current control signal and a signal indicative of the current flowing through a stator winding (505,508) of the TPSRM to dynamically adjust a second parameter. |
| US08203301B2 |
Temperature monitoring system for the entire region of environment
A temperature monitoring system consists of a multielement thermopile, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), first and second microcontrollers (MCUs), a first stepping motor, a second stepping motor, a plurality of microswitches and a monitoring apparatus. The multielement thermopile is connected to the ADC linked with the first MCU, and the first MCU is further connected to the first stepping motor with microswitches for vertical motion control, and the second stepping motor with microswitches for horizontal motion control. At the same time the first MCU can be connected to the second MCU and the second MCU is linked with the monitoring apparatus. A hot spot occurring in electrical heating equipment or a smoldering source hidden in upholstery can be identified and proper measures can be performed, in case of extremely high temperature, so as further to prevent a fire. |
| US08203299B2 |
Machine tool or production machine with signal generation by means of direct drive and method for generating signals in such a machine
Machine (10) with an NC control unit (11) and at least one motor (12) which can be triggered by said control unit (11) and which forms an oscillatory system with its bearing and/or parts of the machine (10). The control unit (10) injects control variables (S1) into the motor (12) which trigger a desired motion of the motor (12). When necessary, the control unit (11) additionally injects predetermined signal variables (S2) into the motor (12) which trigger desired mechanical oscillations of the oscillatory system. The signal variables (S2) are predetermined in such a way that the mechanical oscillations are audible and/or tangible. |
| US08203294B2 |
Electric energy storage integrated within or proximate to electrically driven flight control actuators
An apparatus for use with a flight control actuator and method for assembling the same is provided. The apparatus includes a motor drive system and a control unit. The motor drive system includes a capacitor-based energy storage configured to store and provide energy within or proximate to the actuator. The control unit is coupled to the motor drive system and is configured to facilitate managing power within or proximate to the actuator. |
| US08203286B2 |
Solid state lighting panels with variable voltage boost current sources
A lighting panel system includes a lighting panel having a string of solid state lighting devices and a current supply circuit having a voltage input terminal, a control input terminal, and first and second output terminals coupled to the string of solid state lighting devices. The current supply circuit is configured to supply an on-state drive current to the string of solid state lighting devices in response to a control signal. The current supply circuit includes a charging inductor coupled to the voltage input terminal and an output capacitor coupled to the first output terminal. The current supply circuit is configured to operate in continuous conduction mode in which current continuously flows through the charging inductor while the on-state drive current is supplied to the string of solid state light emitting devices. |
| US08203281B2 |
Wide voltage, high efficiency LED driver circuit
An electrical circuit and method for driving light emitting diodes with a constant current via a high efficiency DC-DC converter controlled by a digital controller through pulse width modulation (PWM). |
| US08203278B2 |
Power supply for light emitting diode display
There is provided a power supply for a light emitting diode display using a light emitting diode as a backlight unit that unites a DC power supply provided from outside the light emitting diode display and a driving power supply provided inside the light emitting diode display. A power supply of a light emitting diode display according to an aspect of the invention may include: a power conversion unit converting commercial AC power into at least one driving power having a predetermined voltage level; and a backlight driving unit generating a backlight driving signal using the driving power from the power conversion unit, wherein the power conversion unit and the backlight driving unit are mounted onto one printed circuit board. |
| US08203274B2 |
LED and thermal management module for a vehicle headlamp
The LED headlamps for vehicles provide a modular efficient light source for vehicle headlamps. The invention addresses the LED negative temperature coefficient in efficient heat removal system. Beam direction and pattern is controlled by its composite lens beam shaping mechanism. The beam targeting using the LED source is done through beam shaping via lens surface shaping, lens curvature contouring and composite lens component offsetting from the LED source or outgoing beam axis to direct the light beam. |
| US08203272B2 |
Plasma lamp with dielectric waveguide integrated with transparent bulb
A dielectric waveguide integrated plasma lamp (DWIPL) with a body comprising at least one dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than approximately 2, and having a shape and dimensions such that the body resonates in at least one resonant mode when microwave energy of an appropriate frequency is coupled into the body. A dielectric bulb within a lamp chamber in the body contains a fill which when receiving energy from the resonating body forms a light-emitting plasma. The bulb is transparent to visible light and infrared radiation emitted by the plasma. Radiative energy lost from the plasma is recycled by reflecting the radiation from thin-film, multi-layer coatings on bulb exterior surfaces and/or lamp chamber surfaces back into the bulb. The lamp further includes two- or three-microwave probe configurations minimizing power reflected from the body back to the microwave source when the source operates: (a) at a frequency such that the body resonates in a single mode; or (b) at one frequency such that the body resonates in a relatively higher mode before a plasma is formed, and at another frequency such that the body resonates in a relatively lower order mode after the plasma reaches steady state. |
| US08203271B2 |
Metal halide lamp including sealed metal foil
A metal halide lamp (MHL) includes: a light-transmitting hermetic vessel made of quartz glass, including: a surrounding portion having a discharge space formed therein; and at least one sealing portion joined to the surrounding portion; electrodes sealed within the discharge space of the light-transmitting hermetic vessel; a discharge medium filled within the discharge space of the light-transmitting hermetic vessel; and at least one sealed metal foil connected to proximal ends of the electrodes and hermetically embedded within the sealing portion, the sealed metal foil being formed with height-differentiating portions comprised of laser traces on at least one of surfaces of the metal foil. |
| US08203270B2 |
Light source device
A start assisting light source is configured such that it can be mounted simply and reliably at a position capable of efficiently radiating UV-light for enhancing the starting performance of a high pressure discharge lamp to discharge chamber without being heated to a high temperature during lighting of the lamp and also adopted to a simple constitution of not increasing the manufacturing cost. A start assisting light source includes an airtight vessel filled with a rare gas and a pipe member that penetrates through the vessel is mounted to an electrode lead which protrudes from the end face of an electrode seal portion secured to a bottom hole of the concave reflector by inserting the electrode lead through the pipe member. |
| US08203268B2 |
Discharge lamp with a reflective mirror with optimized electrode configuration
A discharge lamp configured to suppress temperature increases in the electrode on the opening part side of a reflective mirror is described. The discharge lamp includes an F electrode and an R electrode having shapes before forming the melt electrodes that satisfy at least one of the following conditions (a) to (c): (a) The diameter of the core wire of the F electrode is d1f, and the diameter of the core wire of the R electrode is d1r, then d1f>1.2×d1r; (b) The wire diameter of the coil of said F electrode is d2f, and the wire diameter of the coil of the R electrode is d2r, then d2f>1.2×d2r; (c) the number of windings of the coil of the F electrode is nf, and the number of windings of the coil of the R electrode is nr, then nf>1.2×nr. |