| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08234356B2 |
Method and system for coordinating device setting between a communications client and its host device
A system and method for propagating device settings to a data communications client from a host on a mobile device, the system having at least one host application adapted to operate on the mobile device host and further adapted to change device settings on the mobile device; a notification means adapted to notify the data communications client of device settings changes on the mobile device; a mode setting at the data communications client, the mode setting adapted to indicate whether client applications on the data communications client should use device settings from the host; and a client settings application adapted to receive a notification from the notification means and change device settings for the client applications if the mode setting indicates the client applications should use device settings from the host. |
| US08234353B2 |
Method, system, and service server for providing firmware through communication network
A firmware providing method in which firmware for an electronic device is downloaded from a service server provided on a communication network to a communication terminal. Display information to be displayed on a display of the electronic device is stored in the service server as language standard data that responds to a plurality of languages in accordance with a model of the electronic device. The communication terminal downloads, from among the language standard data, data in which a model of the electronic device and a language are specified, edits at least a portion of the language standard data, and then transmits the edited display information to the service server. In response thereto, the service server generates firmware for the electronic device of the same model based on the edited display information and returns the firmware to a return target terminal. |
| US08234350B1 |
Systems and methods for generating targeted manifest files
A computerized method for dynamically generating a targeted manifest file for use by a playback device to retrieve a video stream including targeted content, includes periodically receiving a manifest file that identifies a sequence of media files, and updating a master manifest file to identify the sequence of media files from each periodically received index file, such that the master manifest file identifies a continuous master sequence of media files that constitute the video stream. The sequence of media files constitutes a portion of a video stream. The method further includes, upon request from a playback device, generating a targeted manifest file from the master sequence of media files. The targeted manifest file identifies a custom sequence of media files that includes targeted content, wherein one or more consecutive media files identified in the master sequence are substituted with a different number of targeted media files in the custom sequence. |
| US08234348B1 |
Determining if an application is cached
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for determining if a web application is cached. A source web application that is executed by a web browser that is installed on a computing device determines that the web browser is to navigate to a target web application. The source web application determines whether resources for the target web application are cached at the computing device. The source web application performs actions to request resources for the target web application based on the determination whether resources for the target web application are cached, wherein the actions comprise requesting resources for the target web application using a first address if the target web application is determined to be cached and using a second address if the target web application is determined to not be cached. |
| US08234320B1 |
Bitwise comparator for selecting two smallest numbers from a set of numbers
A group of numbers from which the smallest and second-smallest are to be selected are compared in a cascaded tree. Each comparison stage will select the smallest number from two numbers output by the previous stage, into which four numbers are input. The second-smallest number is one of the other three inputs to the previous stage and, as before, all bits of the second-smallest number will not be known until the smallest number is determined. However, because at each stage of the determination, the next stage is reached because the bit values being examined are the same, those bit values of the second-smallest number (and indeed of the smallest number) are known ahead of the final determination of the smallest number. Accordingly, one can begin to output bits of the second-smallest number (as well as of the smallest number) even before that final determination. |
| US08234314B2 |
Method and system for facilitating migration of a computing environment
Systems and methods are described which facilitate the integration of data into a content management system. Legacy data is inspected, and content types are generated based on a data model. From these content types, content type objects may be generated. The data may then be examined to acquire a key set, and a content instance object generated for each datum found which matches a content type. This content instance object can then be associated with the datum using one or more key values, saved, and subsequently used to manage the data. These methods and systems allow data to be migrated to a content management system without any modification to the existing data repository or its associated structures. |
| US08234313B2 |
Shared business intelligence elements
Some aspects relate to reception of a selection of a business intelligence report element in a first business intelligence report of a first file format, creation of a serialized description of the business intelligence report element in a second file format based on a business intelligence report element data model, reception of an instruction to add the business intelligence report element to a second business intelligence report of a third file format, and addition of the business intelligence report element to the second business intelligence report in the third file format based on the serialized description of the business intelligence report element. |
| US08234305B2 |
Method for determining communicative value
A method of determining which users are experts and which tags are appropriate without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is described. The level of a user's expertise is determined based on previous tags, the categorization of one or more tags, and the rating of the tags previously left by the user. The appropriateness of a tag is based on previous tagging of information by the user, by the number of times a user has tagged information with the same categorization, and the rating of a user. |
| US08234304B2 |
Traceable and theft deterrent reclaimable product
A theft deterrent cable may be provided. First, a plurality of unique codes may be created. Then a plurality of indicia may be placed periodically and longitudinally on the cable. The plurality of indicia may respectively correspond to the plurality of unique codes. In a database, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned to an organizational entity. The organizational entity may comprise a first enterprise. Next, an indication that the cable is to be transferred from the first enterprise to a second enterprise may be received. In response to the received indication, the plurality of unique codes may be assigned in the database from the organizational entity comprising the first enterprise to the organizational entity comprising a second enterprise. |
| US08234303B2 |
Single parse, diagram-assisted import into a unified modeling language based meta-model
Systems and methods for conversion and importation of models that describe system behavior into a UML meta model-based representation, include parsing through the textual model for the plurality of elements, searching for an element semantic definition, element view definitions corresponding to a semantic definition, or an element view containing diagram definition within the textual model for each of the plurality of elements, generating element reference nodes for placement on an internally constructed custom tree, attaching a listener to each of the element reference nodes, wherein the listener is configured to await population of the element reference node with an equivalent unified modeling language semantic element, wherein a listener awaiting population is an awaiting sequenced listener, completing an inheritance hierarchy between the element reference nodes up to a parent node inferred from the diagramming definitions and resolving awaiting sequenced listeners that are made aware of an awaited unified modeling language value. |
| US08234302B1 |
Controlling access to electronic content
A system and method for controlling access to electronic content stored on a content provider's server is provided. A content provider may control and restrict unauthorized access to electronic content through an identified user account by limiting a number of devices from which requests to access the content through the account have been received. A content provider may also collect usage information of interest by monitoring authorized access to electronic content. |
| US08234291B2 |
Method and system for determining junk information
The present invention is a method and a system for determining junk information related to the fields of information filtering, and can solve the problem of improperly predefined junk information. The method includes: pre-defining junk information keywords in data samples; computing keyword scores for each of the keywords; simulating filtering of the data samples using the keyword scores to obtain a filtering index value; determining whether the filtering index value satisfies an evaluation index; if not satisfied, revising the keywords or the keyword scores and repeating the simulating to obtain a new filtering index value; and if satisfied, terminating the revising. The disclosed method can help a user more reasonably define junk information keywords and keyword scores, and determine whether information is junk information based on the keywords and corresponding scores, thereby improving efficiency of information filtering. The invention can be widely adopted in a variety of applications and systems such as feedback systems, guestbook systems, forums and junk mail processing. |
| US08234288B2 |
Method and device for generating reference patterns from a document written in markup language and associated coding and decoding methods and devices
Reference patterns are generated which represent hierarchized data, the hierarchized data being structured in accordance with a schema and being organized in a plurality of items. Primary structural patterns are extracted from the schema, each of the primary structural patterns representing a set of structural information. A list of instances is created for at least one extracted primary structural pattern, each instance associating items of the plurality of items with a primary structural pattern. Instances of one and a same primary structural pattern are grouped into groups of instances according to a predetermined criterion applied on items of distinct instances. For each group, at least one piece of structural information common to each instance of one of the groups of instances is extracted. A reference pattern is generated from the primary structural pattern associated with the one group of instances, the reference pattern including the extracted piece of structural information. |
| US08234287B2 |
Sorting records based on free text field content
Disclosed are a method, system and computer program product for sorting records based on content in a free text field. A request is received by a sort function to sort a free text field. The sort function request is intercepted. The content in the free text field is analyzed. One or more new focus words are identified by the analysis. The new focus words are used to sort the free text field. The focus words in the free text field are highlighted and sorted alphabetically. Sorted free text field results based on the new focus words are displayed to a user on the user's display. |
| US08234285B1 |
Context-dependent similarity measurements
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining similarity measures for objects in a dataset that include contextual associations of the objects with contexts. In one aspect, a method includes calculating a similarity measure for any two objects that include a common feature f based, in part, on the likelihood that the two object representations in the dataset that both include f will we associated with distinct contexts, and the likelihood that the two objects in the dataset that both include f will be associated with the same context. |
| US08234277B2 |
Image-based retrieval for high quality visual or acoustic rendering
The embodiments of the invention relate to method for image-based retrieval of an image or text, comprising capturing a digital image; matching the digital image against digitally-stored documents; and retrieving one or more of the digitally-stored documents that match the digital image. Other embodiments relate to a device for image-based retrieval and rendering, comprising an image capturing device for capturing digital image; a device for processing the digital image to match it against digitally-stored documents; a device for retrieving a digitally-stored document that matches the digital image; and a device for rendering the selected retrieved image. |
| US08234275B2 |
Methods and systems for searching, selecting, and displaying content
Methods and systems for identifying and presenting information are described. Search results are received from a search engine. An entity associated with a networked site is selected using a selection criterion. A determination is made as to whether the listing includes a link to the networked site or includes the link to the networked site at a list position that fails to satisfy a first criterion. After determining that the link to the site associated with the entity is not included in the search result listing, or that the link to the site associated with the entity is not at a position in the search result listing that satisfies the first criterion, the search listing is modified by causing the link to the site associated with the entity to appear in a first position in the search listing. The modified search listing is displayed on a user terminal. |
| US08234271B2 |
Integrated media content server system and method for the customization of metadata that is associated therewith
A system and method for the customization of media content metadata that is transmitted to any one of a plurality of end user devices of differing types. The system is adapted to modify individual records or even individual fields from the entire gamut of available metadata into a metadata feed which is optimally suited for display upon the type of end user device. Additionally, the system is also able to modify the records or individual fields from a list of all metadata instances according to pre-recorded user preferences. The result is a system that optimally utilizes the current connection path in order to reduce congestion thereon, or to alleviate any user potential frustration caused by sporadic performance of the overloaded interconnection path. |
| US08234270B2 |
System for enhancing decoding performance of text indexes
The present invention is a system for enhancing the decoding performance of text indexes of an indexed collection of text documents. The posting list includes a plurality of list entries being of variable size depending on the value stored in each posting list entry. The inventive system is based on a statistical analysis of the posting list entries of the plurality of list entries. Prior to decoding, the system can select a decoding routine being appropriate to decode the most frequent type of posting list entries or of a plurality of various posting list entries. After selecting a particular decoding routine and executing the decoding routine for decoding of the entire posting list, a failure check is performed. In the exceptional case that a failure has occurred, a second alternative decoding routine is selected and executed. |
| US08234269B2 |
Searching a database including prioritizing results based on historical data
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided that include techniques for searching a database. One method includes receiving one or more input search terms and providing a database. The database maps at least one search term to at least one coupon. The method further includes identifying one or more coupons in the database based on the received input search terms. The method further includes selecting one or more coupons from the identified coupons. A given coupon can be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed. A given coupon can also be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed. The method further includes presenting one or more coupons to the user where the presented one or more coupons include the selected one or more coupons. |
| US08234268B2 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for optimizing processing of distinct and aggregation queries on skewed data in a database system
A system, method, and computer-readable medium for optimization of query processing in a parallel processing system are provided. Skewed values and non-skewed values are treated differently to improve upon conventional DISTINCT and aggregation query processing. Skewed attribute values on which a DISTINCT selection or group by aggregation is applied are allocated entries in a hash table. In this manner, a processing module may consult the hash table to determine if a skewed attribute value has been encountered during the query processing in a manner that precludes repetitive redistribution of rows with highly skewed attribute values on which a DISTINCT selection or group by aggregation is applied. |
| US08234267B2 |
Hardware accelerated reconfigurable processor for accelerating database operations and queries
Embodiments of the present invention provide a hardware accelerator that assists a host database system in processing its queries. The hardware accelerator comprises special purpose processing elements that are capable of receiving database query/operation tasks in the form of machine code database instructions, execute them in hardware without software, and return the query/operation result back to the host system. For example, table and column descriptors are embedded in the machine code database instructions. For ease of installation, the hardware accelerators employ a standard interconnect, such as a PCle or HT interconnect. The processing elements implement a novel dataflow design and Inter Macro-Op Communication (IMC) data structures to execute the machine code database instructions. The hardware accelerator may also comprise a relatively large memory to enhance the hardware execution of the query/operation tasks requested. The hardware accelerator utilizes hardware-friendly memory addressing, which allows for arithmetic derivation of a physical address from a global database virtual address simply based on a row identifier. The hardware accelerator minimizes memory reads/writes by keeping most intermediate results flowing through IMCs in pipelined and parallel fashion. Furthermore, the hardware accelerator may employ task pipelining and pre-fetch pipelining to enhance its performance. |
| US08234266B2 |
Mobile SiteMaps
A method of analyzing documents or relationships between documents includes receiving a notification of an available metadata document containing information about one or more network-accessible documents, obtaining a document format indicator associated with the metadata document, selecting a document crawler using the document format indicator, and crawling at least some of the network-accessible documents using the selected document crawler. |
| US08234265B1 |
Content selection data expansion
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating and applying query rules. Search queries that are received during user sessions are analyzed to generate query rules that specify a high-performing query that can be used to identify content in response to receipt of a low-performing query. The query rules can be generated by identifying queries that are received in a same user sub-session and defining initial query pairs that each have a high-performing query and a low-performing query from the same user sub-session. The initial query pairs that are identified in a threshold number of user sub-sessions are classified as reference query pairs with which query rules are defined. Query rules are made available to a search system, advertisement management system, or another query processing system for identifying content responsive to search queries. |
| US08234262B2 |
Method of selecting a second content based on a user's reaction to a first content of at least two instances of displayed content
Embodiments provide a device, a system, a computer program product, and a method. A provided method embodiment may be implemented in an environment that includes a person viewing at least two instances of content having a common contextual attribute and displayed by an electronic device. The method includes detecting a reaction by a person to a displayed first content of the at least two instances of displayed content having a common contextual attribute. The method also includes determining a content attribute of the displayed first content. The method further includes initiating a search for a second content using a search parameter corresponding to the detected reaction and to the determined content attribute. |
| US08234259B2 |
Method and system for adjudicating text against a defined policy
A computerized method of adjudicating text against a policy includes receiving one or more system policies, creating a system datastructure for each received system policy, receiving an input message comprising a text to be adjudicated, selecting a system policy from the one or more received system policies based on the input message, and processing the text to be adjudicated and the system datastructure corresponding to the selected system policy to determine if a prohibited word is present in the text to be adjudicated. The one or more system policies include one or more prohibited words and a first hit value corresponding to each prohibited word. The system datastructure includes a plurality of linked lists corresponding the letters of the alphabet and a head linked list operable to store one or more found prohibited words. |
| US08234255B1 |
Reducing data transfer for matching patterns
A device may receive a packet, obtain data from the packet, store the data in a memory, and send a request to match a portion of the data to a set of patterns, the request identifying the portion in the memory. In addition, the device may access the portion in the memory based on the request, compare the accessed portion to the set of patterns, generate a result by comparing the accessed portion to the set of patterns, and output the result. |
| US08234253B1 |
Systems and methods for performing recovery of directory data
Systems and methods are disclosed for recovering data following a directory service malfunction, such as a forest-wide disaster in Microsoft® Active Directory. In certain examples, a single management console can be used for remotely recovering selected domain controllers in the forest without necessitating direct operator intervention. Multiple domain controllers can be concurrently restored from one or more backup files. Configurations of the system can advantageously eliminate manual intervention with each domain controller, thereby saving significant amounts of recovery time and effort. Also, certain systems and methods can be used to automatically and remotely quarantine corrupt domain controllers so that those individual domain controllers do not replicate with the newly restored environment, while allowing the domain controllers to remain online and in communication with the attached network. Certain disclosed methods further modify recovery procedures based at least in part on the type, and availability of, one or more DNS servers. |
| US08234251B2 |
System and method for archiving records
A method of archiving recordations includes providing a storage device in communication with a network. A plurality of recordations are received from a first user, and relate to a specific person. The plurality of recordations include medical records, and are transmitted from the first user via the network from a first remote computer. The recordations are stored on the storage device. A second user is given access to at least a portion of the stored recordations through a second remote computer via the network. A method may also include receiving hard copies of medical records from a customer. The hard copies may be digitized, which may include scanning the hard copies or copying information from the medical records onto a computer in communication with the storage device. The hard copies may be returned to the customer, along with the digitized medical records in a computer readable form. |
| US08234249B2 |
Method and system for searching stored data
A complete document management system is disclosed. Accordingly, systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are disclosed. Systems and methods for managing data associated with a data storage component coupled to multiple computers over a network are further disclosed. Additionally, systems and methods for accessing documents available through a network, wherein the documents are stored on one or more data storage devices coupled to the network, are disclosed. |
| US08234245B2 |
Methods and systems for managing data
Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described. |
| US08234244B2 |
Method of distributing contact and calendar records
A method of distributing contact and calendar information in a multi-component environment includes maintaining a plurality of contact or calendar records and the records contain a plurality of fields and directives. The records are designated to one of the components and distributed to at least one component based on the directives. |
| US08234243B2 |
Third tier transactional commit for asynchronous replication
In embodiments consistent with the subject matter of this disclosure, an application program interface (API) for asynchronously replicating changes made to active data to one or more replicas of the active data may be provided. A calling application may call the API to asynchronously replicate changes made to the active data. Via an interface, the application may indicate whether the changes made to the active data may be asynchronously replicated to a geo-diverse replica of the data, a type of third tier commit for acknowledging replication of the changes to the active data, and/or a number or percentage of acknowledgments to receive with respect to the replication of the changes to the one or more replicas of the active data. Via the API, the calling application may further indicate an amount of time to wait for an acknowledgment of the asynchronous replicating of the changes before continuing. |
| US08234242B2 |
Maintaining a data structure with data set names and pointers to a plurality of catalogs
A plurality of catalogs are maintained, and wherein each catalog of the plurality of catalogs includes data sets and attributes of the data sets. An indication that a new data set is to be defined is received. A selected catalog is determined from the plurality of catalogs, wherein the selected catalog is suitable for including the new data set and attributes of the new data set. An entry that indicates a data set name corresponding to the new data set and an index to the selected catalog is inserted in a group table. |
| US08234240B2 |
Framework for providing metrics from any datasource
A metrics generation system provides IT and other computing system metrics from different data sources in a single display. Configuration files containing parameters and instructions are loaded by the system to access different data sources. The metrics generation system retrieves IT system health data, processes and aggregates metrics from the retrieved data and displays the metrics based on user defined parameters and instructions in the configuration files. The metrics generation system is flexible in that it can be changed to extract data from different IT data sources, calculate different metric information having a hierarchy of attribute types and values, and display a variety of metric data in different formats. |
| US08234239B2 |
System and method for providing vector terms related to instant messaging conversations
The method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes retrieving one or more terms or phrases including an instant messaging conversation in which one or more users are participating. One or more term vectors including one or more vector terms associated with the one or more retrieved terms or phrases including the instant messaging conversation are generated and one or more vector terms are selected from said term vectors. The one or more selected vector terms are displayed to the one or more users participating in the instant messaging conversation. An indication of a user selection of a given displayed vector term is received and one or more content items responsive to the selected vector term are identified. |
| US08234234B2 |
Utilizing ray tracing for enhanced artificial intelligence path-finding
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatus to use ray-tracing to perform artificial intelligence path-finding. Embodiments of the invention may cast a ray into a three-dimensional scene to determine a path from a starting point to an ending point. The ray may have a trajectory which originates at the starting point and proceeds towards the ending point. The artificial intelligence system may perform ray-tracing using a spatial index to determine if the ray intersects any objects within the three-dimensional scene. If the ray reaches the ending point without intersecting any objects, the path of the ray from the starting point to the ending point is the determined path. However, if the ray intersects an object, the artificial intelligence system may cast additional rays into the three-dimensional scene and perform ray tracing with the additional rays to determine a path from the start point to the end point. |
| US08234233B2 |
System and method for combining breadth-first and depth-first search strategies with applications to graph-search problems with large encoding sizes
A system and method to integrate breadth-first and depth-first strategies in a single search technique or routine is provided. It combines the complementary strengths of both strategies to achieve significantly improved speed over either strategy used alone. The new algorithm can be used to efficiently find solutions to the treewidth problem that has applications in areas such as diagnosis using probabilistic inferences. |
| US08234232B2 |
Word-spacing correction system and method
A word-spacing correction system and method are provided to automatically recognize and correct errors in the spacing of word inputs in an electronic device with relatively low computing power. In a learning process, probability information about each feature is created from a corpus of correct words, and then error correction rules are created by applying the probability information to a corpus of incorrect words from which all spaces between words of the corpus of correct words are removed. In an applying process, word-spacing in a user's input sentence is corrected by applying the probability information and the error correction rules to the user's input sentence. |
| US08234231B2 |
Automated decision-making based on collaborative user input
A system and method solicit decision-making input from a large number of users in a structured manner that facilitates generation of useful recommendations. The individual seeking advice posts a request for advice in the form of a decision question, or identifies a previously posted decision question. Visitors to the website can post secondary questions that are intended to assist the advice-seeker in making the decision. For each secondary question, the user posting the question can specify which choice for the decision question is recommended by each answer to the secondary question. The user can also specify a strength for the recommendation. The advice-seeker then inputs answers to the secondary questions. The advice-seeker can indicate a relative significance value for some or all of the answers. For each secondary answer, a score is generated. Scores are totaled and the results are provided to the advice-seeker to assist in decision-making. |
| US08234225B2 |
Price optimization system and process for recommending product price changes to a user based on analytic modules calculating price recommendations independently
Disclosed is a market-based software system that will help user-retailers manage price and inventories more effectively. The system will take advantage of available price and sales data to provide pricing recommendations that will achieve a retail user's objectives. The system will offer a solution that will allow for pricing improvement shortly after installation by utilizing data that is readily available. The system will recommend price changes that help a user achieve specified objectives such as contribution, sales volume, desired margins, and the like.The system can also collect and process price and sales data on an ongoing basis, which can enable improved estimates of customer price sensitivity and performance on a category-by-category basis. This data can be used to improve further pricing decisions. |
| US08234224B2 |
System, method and medium for providing mixed color cullet brokering services
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for brokering the purchase and/or sale of mixed-color glass and/or cullet, optionally over a computer network. In one embodiment, the broker facilitates the purchase and/or sale of three color mixed cullet between beneficiators, MRFs and/or glass plants, in order to supply, for example, glass plants with and/or allow glass plants to purchase desired quantity and/or quality (e.g., cleanliness) of cullet. |
| US08234223B1 |
Method and system for calculating cost of an asset using a data model
Systems and methods for calculating dependencies and costs of assets which take into account the costs of the infrastructure and resources needed to support that asset are disclosed. A data model of an arbitrary system may be used to create a dependency map for one or more of the components within the data model, taking into account the dependency chain of the component. Utilizing the costs of various components in this dependency chain, the cost of the original component may then be calculated. |
| US08234220B2 |
Universal secure registry
In one embodiment, a user device is configured to allow a user to select any one of a plurality of accounts associated with the user to employ in a financial transaction. In one embodiment, the user device includes a biometric sensor configured to receive a biometric input provided by the user, a user interface configured to receive a user input including secret information known to the user and identifying information concerning an account selected by the user from the plurality of accounts. In a further embodiment, the user device includes a communication link configured to communicate with a secure registry, and a processor coupled to the biometric sensor to receive information concerning the biometric input, the user interface, and the communication link. According to one embodiment, the processor is configured to generate a non-predictable value and to generate encrypted authentication information from the non-predictable value, the identifying information, and at least one of the information concerning the biometric input and the secret information, and to communicate the encrypted authentication information via the communication link to the secure registry. |
| US08234218B2 |
Method of inserting/overlaying markers, data packets and objects relative to viewable content and enabling live social networking, N-dimensional virtual environments and/or other value derivable from the content
A method by which a User can associate selectable Markers, Data Packets and/or Objects with Content. The Content may generally be distributed electronically, and the Markers allow for insertion and/or overlay of Objects when the Content is selected for viewing by a Viewer. Objects and Data Packets are generally provided by a User, Promoter, Host, Service, or other entity to convey information to a Viewer. A Service provides tools and capabilities to both the User and the Promoter to facilitate their respective actions according to embodiments of the invention, including enabling the creation of live social networks (such as those linked to a specific Service provider, a specific User group, activities by a specific Promoter, and/or to specific Data Packets) and the creation of n-dimensional Virtual Environments. |
| US08234213B2 |
System and method for processing retrieval requests
A system for processing transaction data is provided. The system includes a substitute draft system that receives a retrieval request and generates a substitute draft in response to the retrieval request. The system also includes a merchant interface that is connected to the retrieval system. The merchant interface generates a merchant request in response to the retrieval request. The system thus allows a substitute draft to be generated in response to the retrieval request that may eliminate the need for a merchant response with a sales draft to the request. The system provides for higher and more efficient completion of retrieval requests by ensuring that such retrieval requests receive at least a substitute draft response. By providing at least a substitute draft response to the card user, a chargeback for no response is avoided. |
| US08234211B2 |
Digital lien service
A process of digital electronic lien management is provided. Form data is stored in a first electronic database. A user adds lien input data in a second electronic database related to a specific construction lien project. A user then generates at least one lien form through insertion of the lien input data into the form data. The resultant form is transmitted to a recipient, who digitally modifies the form to create a modified version and electronically reconveys the modified version to the user. |
| US08234208B2 |
System and method for spectrum management
Transferring spectrum use rights may include ascertaining information regarding available spectrum for use in wireless communications. A request for spectrum use from a spectrum user system may be matched with available spectrum. A spectrum certificate may be issued to the spectrum user system, where the spectrum certificate contains at least one spectrum-related variable under which the spectrum user system is to engage in wireless communications. |
| US08234206B1 |
Method and system for pooling, securitizing, and trading global dividend and interest tax reclaim assets
Method and system for administering the pooling, securitizing, and trading of global dividend and interest tax reclaim assets during the reclamation process from concerned foreign government tax authorities, who are parties to a double taxation treaty. |
| US08234205B1 |
Method and system for establishing rights associated with property transactions
A system and method for generating and securing in a broker an interest in future real estate transactions by a client, while reducing a broker's costly and constant pursuit to satisfy current business generation needs. The broker may be a real estate broker, mortgage broker, or some other form of broker offering services related to real estate. A broker network may be provided comprised of a some combination of different types of brokers or several brokers from the same broker firm. The right is a future right associated with an opportunity for the broker to later provide services related to the property, or another property. |
| US08234202B2 |
System and method for improved order entry using market depth
Market depth information pertaining to the hedging side is utilized to intelligently break a non-hedging order into multiple orders, such that the orders rest at cascading price levels. This way, the trader can benefit from sweeps in the book and still properly account for the market depth on the hedging side. Further, there is a greater probability of receiving “partials” on the spread order. In addition, hedge orders may be sent at multiple price levels, or sent to the market in pieces over time. By applying a more intelligent process to hedge orders (as opposed to “fire and forget”) an alternative beyond limit orders that can be leged or market orders is provided. |
| US08234201B1 |
System and method for determining a liquidity-adjusted value at risk (LA-VaR)
Computer-based systems and methods for calculating a liquidity-adjusted VaR for a portfolio. The liquidity-adjusted VaR accounts for the different liquidities of the risks. The process for calculating the liquidity-adjusted VaR may include adding to the standard 1-day VaR only the losses produced by illiquid risks that are orthogonal to the space of liquid risks. |
| US08234192B2 |
Fully automated, computer-aided intervention apparatus with operational stabilization apparatus for malfunctions, and appropriate method
The invention proposes a fully automated, computer-aided intervention apparatus (80) with an operational stabilization apparatus (10) and an appropriate method for operational apparatuses (41), where appropriate intervention means (40) are activated by means of an activation apparatus (203) if an intervention event detected by means of at least one pickup apparatus (401) is picked up. The intervention means (40) may comprise, in particular, automated alarm, monitoring and/or control apparatuses. |
| US08234188B1 |
Method, system and computer program product for managing funds in custodial deposit accounts
A method, system and computer program product for managing aggregate funds held in custodial deposit accounts by a custodial agent on behalf of a plurality of individuals. According to the present invention, the custodial deposit accounts comprise an omnibus transaction account (“Omnibus TA”) and a Omnibus money market deposit account (“Omnibus MMDA”). A corresponding individual transaction account (“Individual TA”) and individual money market deposit account (“Individual MMDA”) are kept on the books and records of the custodial agent for each individual, representing the amount of the individual's funds deposited in the Omnibus TA and Omnibus MMDA, respectively. According to the present invention, limitations on transfers from the Omnibus MMDA to the Omnibus TA and limitations on transfers from the corresponding Individual MMDAs to the Individual TAs are managed by daily allocation of the funds in the Individual TAs and Individual MMDAs. |
| US08234185B2 |
System and method for tracking authenticated items
A system for tracking an authenticated item is provided. The system includes an authentication device, such as an RFID tag, affixed to the item. An item registration system receives authentication device data from the authentication device (such as an external and internal RFID tag number) and associated item data (such as a description of the item, the name of an athlete that used the item, and a sporting event that the item was used at) and stores the authentication device data and the associated item data. An owner registration system receives owner registration data (such as owner identification data and an external tag number) after a buyer has acquired the item. A buyer verification system receives the authentication device data, the associated item data and the owner registration data and stores buyer verified data if the associated item data correlates to the owner registration data, such as if the external tag number or event data entered by the owner matches external tag number or event data for the item. |
| US08234183B2 |
Behavioral data mining processes for generating pairwise item comparisons
Data mining systems and methods are disclosed for generating data that is helpful to users in selecting between items represented in an electronic data repository, such as an electronic catalog. One disclosed data mining method generates pairwise comparison data for particular pairs of items. The pairwise comparison data for a given item pair reveals a tendency of users who consider both items in the pair to select one item over the other. The pairwise comparison data may be appropriately exposed to users of the electronic repository. For instance, an item detail page for item A may be supplemented with an indication that users who view both item A and item B select item B a specified percentage of the time. Another data mining method uses item viewing histories and item purchase histories of users in combination to identify pairs of items that are good candidates for being recommended in combination. |
| US08234182B2 |
Systems for providing customized or personalized memorabilia in association with vendor bidding
A system and method for providing customized or personalized memorabilia to end users, wherein the system allows the price for the customized or personalized memorabilia to be established by obtaining the lowest production costs from approved vendors, and further allowing such costs to be offset by any sponsorship underwriting of the memorabilia. The system further allows establishment of advertising to target demographic audiences by underwriting customized or personalized memorabilia orders and placing advertising indicia for the sponsor on or with the ordered customized or personalized memorabilia. |
| US08234174B1 |
Method and apparatus for creating custom advertisements
A method and system for managing inventory information by a host company forming an inventory based information network having multiple tiers of access with at least one host server and at least one remote company user. The host server has an interactive inventory listing, manages remote company user access to the inventory listings, and enables remote access to the host server for the remote company user to create and manage inventory listings. The interactive inventory listing builder creates a new inventory listing, generates an associated unique listing code, and adds a photo file and text data. The method generates interactive advertisements and websites. The interactive advertisement builder creates a new advertisement, chooses a target media outlet, inserts the inventory listing, and generates and saves advertisement. The interactive website builder allows a user to select a template, add object files, choose domain names, and save the website. |
| US08234173B1 |
Product life cycle maintenance
A method for product life cycle maintenance involves receiving warranty information associated with a first product from a first vendor of a multitude of vendors and receiving warranty information associated with a second product purchased by the customer from a second vendor of the multitude of vendors. The method also involves storing, by a computer processor, the warranty information associated with the first product to a customer account associated with the customer and a first vendor account associated with the first vendor, storing, by a computer processor, the warranty information associated with the second product to the customer account and a second vendor account associated with the second vendor, receiving a request to access warranty information, and providing warranty information pursuant to the request. |
| US08234171B2 |
Point of sale computer system delivering composited two- and three-dimensional images
A point of sale computer system that allows a customer to select and consummate a sale himself. The system may include graphics storage media configured to store two- and three-dimensional graphics data relating to the sale, as well as business rules storage media, configured to store business rules that specify the graphics that should be displayed during the selection and consummation process based on input received from the customer. The technology allows a presentation to be made to the customer that is entertaining and that maintains the attention of the customer throughout the sale selection and consummation process. |
| US08234169B2 |
Dynamic method and apparatus for direct marketing
Method and apparatus for direct marketing comprising establishing a first communications link between a prospective customer using a device having a unique identification number and a communications device, automatically transmitting the unique identification number associated with the prospective customer's device to the communications device, establishing a second communications link between the communication device and a computer operably connected to a tangible memory apparatus having a prospective customer database comprising prospective customer information associated with the unique identification number of the prospective customer's device. |
| US08234167B2 |
Video advertiser-broker subsidizing VoIP calls
A system and method for an on-line web-based advertiser-broker to subsidize calls of a plurality of VOIP operators' subscribers by showing them video advertisements from a catalogue of advertisements provided by a plurality of advertisers. The advertisement is shown by the advertiser-broker and then the call is transferred to the VoIP operator for call completion.The advertiser-broker provides the clearing-house services between many advertisers and many VoIP operators, subsidizing wholly or partially phone calls of users of VoIP operators by showing them streaming video advertisements of advertisers who pay for the calls. With this new business, phone calls get monetized through advertisers while users pay nothing for phone calls, and VoIP operators do not need to incorporate advertisers to their business. |
| US08234165B2 |
Digital tuner regulator platform (DTR)
The current invention allows the distribution of content material to and from digital tuner. The advertising medium also provides royalty to the content material owners for the users “use” of content. |
| US08234164B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating electronic commerce through providing cross-benefits during a transaction
Accordingly some embodiments, a merchant server receives an indication of acceptance by a customer of an offer for a subsidy from a second merchant of a purchase of at least one item from a first merchant. The customer agrees to participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant in exchange for having the subsidy applied against the purchase from the first merchant. In one embodiment, after selling the at least one item to the customer, the merchant server determines that the customer did not participate in an additional transaction with the second merchant as the customer agreed to, and assesses a penalty against the customer. |
| US08234163B2 |
System and method for providing a discount
Inventive systems and methods offer a high-perceived savings value to an end-user while maintaining the perception of product value. Further, systems and methods for providing a discount are described which impose little or no cost on the service or product provider. An embodiment of an inventive method includes presenting a display of a price paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency along with a display of an amount payable by the end-user in actual currency in combination with virtual currency. The end-user perceives a benefit to using the virtual currency since the price paid in actual currency is less than the displayed price to be paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency. |
| US08234161B1 |
System and method for internet community building, website popularization and distribution of E-commerce products
A method, system and computer program product for increasing popularity of a website including making agreements with vendors of product for distribution through the website; periodically making available the products on the website to all visitors of the website; and delivering the products to all visitors of the website. Visitors to the website can vote on selection of the product. The products can be made available as a daily reward. The products can be available for installation only for a limited period of time, and can include an installation wrapper with an unlocker that permits installation only for the limited period of time. The unlocker verifies with the server whether the product can be installed and activated, and can be a DLL, an executable file, an ACTIVE-X component, a registry settings file, and a cryptographic key. |
| US08234160B2 |
Providing consumers with incentives for healthy eating habits
A particular consumable item, purchased by an individual for potential consumption, is detected. Separate health index values each associated with a separate one of multiple health index components are determined for consumption of the particular consumable item. At least one electronic incentive for the individual is selected based on the separate health index values matching at least one health index value requirement specified in a database of electronic incentives. |
| US08234157B2 |
Method for internet based advertising and referral using a fixed fee methodology
A method of advertising a first web site on a second web site comprising with a fixed compensation based methodology. The method includes providing an upper level category and a lower level category, assigning at least one keyword to each of the categories, respectively assigning fixed amounts of compensation to the keywords that the first web sites will pay, assigning the second web site to any one of the categories, thereby defining a second web site category, associating the first web site with any of the keywords and with the amount of compensation assigned to such keywords, thereby defining at least one first web site category, in response to receiving a request from the second web site, determining the second web site category, and providing to the second web site a hyperlink to the first web site. In response to an Internet user selecting any one of the hyperlinks, awarding the second web site at least a portion of the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and with which the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink is associated. |
| US08234155B2 |
Method and system incorporating business rules and price optimization for financial system
A computer system for modeling a portfolio of products in a financial system to determine the rate of a target product. The products are defined by attribute values, an attribute being any criteria that impacts product rates. Linear associated product rules are used by the computer system to create an optimized scenario of total profit and overall volume of sales for the portfolio. From the optimized scenario a rate for the target product can be determined which maintains a financial institution's strategic and business objectives. The optimizing process includes applying the associated product rules to products actively contributing to key performance indicators. Densification is then used to infer the rate for all other products in the portfolio. Finally, if the starting rate of a product violates an associated product rule, the starting rate is relaxed to avoid the violation. |
| US08234153B2 |
Automated performance appraisal system with a compensation simulator
A performance appraisal system is provided for reviewing employees' performance of a company. The performance appraisal system may be integrated with a compensation simulator such that compensation for each employee may be associated with his/her respective performance. On a computer graphical user interface, employees in an organizational unit of the company may be shown in a grid pane displaying a variety of performance tiers. The employees may be distributed among the performance tiers based on performance appraisals. In response to an employee change performance tier, for example, an employee may be dragged from one performance tier and dropped in a different performance tier, the system automatically makes corresponding changes to respective performance appraisals. The integrated compensation simulator simulates adjustments to compensations for affected employees based on changes to performance appraisals. Alternatively, the system may list employees in a table and the table may contain a number of sections corresponding to a number of performance tiers. In response to an employee change from one section to an adjacent section, for example, caused by an adjustment of a section, the employee may be changed from one performance tier to another performance tier. |
| US08234152B2 |
Online survey spawning, administration and management
A method and apparatus for spawning and management of online surveys is provided. An administration and redirector subsystem (ARS) is used manage ongoing surveys for a plurality of sites. Surveys can be added to or removed from individual sites using the ARS. The ARS also tracks statistics for individual surveys. Redirector tags invite users to participate in surveys and track user survey participation through cookies. The system can be used to conduct advertisement effectiveness studies. Tracker tags and corresponding cookies are used to track users who have viewed content containing the tag. Each study is issued a unique content tag, but uses the same redirector tag. |
| US08234148B2 |
Method and apparatus for real-time reporting of electronic commerce activity
A method and apparatus is disclosed for tracking and reporting electronic commerce activity over a web site that is stored on a first server coupled to a wide area network. The web page is programmed to include data fields reflecting commerce transaction activity and data mining code. The web page is uploaded to a visitor computer responsive to a request over the wide area network from the visitor computer. Commerce information is accepted within the data fields of the web page at the visitor computer to form a completed web page. The data mining code is operated on the visitor computer to obtain technical and commercial data and sent to a second server on the wide area network for logging and analysis. |
| US08234139B2 |
Process manufacturing with least cost formulation
A system for manufacturing a product receives a formulation specification that includes a plurality of ingredients for the product. The system further receives cost information for the ingredients and inventory information. The system then generates a least cost formulation for the product based on the formulation specification, cost information and inventory information. |
| US08234137B2 |
One view integrated project management system
Projects of any type require sophisticated management software programs. In reality, these management software programs are provided by various vendors and for different professional fields. For example, scheduling programs for construction professionals, blue print programs for drafting professionals, accounting programs for cost-control professionals. In addition, there are numerous other unofficial and official documents generated by managers of different levels for reporting or track-record-keeping purposes using popular word processing programs and spread-sheet programs. Documents generated by different software programs can only be viewed under the programs they are generated under or compatible programs. This poses a problem in that there is a lack of organized control resulting in difficulty in locating and viewing documents in a timely manner. The present invention provides an one view software program that would be able to provide an organized control and viewing of all documents regardless which software programs they are generated under. |
| US08234134B2 |
Method and apparatus for customer direct on-line reservation of rental vehicles including deep-linking
A method of processing a reservation transaction between a customer and reservation-booking entity via a computer network inter-connecting a customer computer with an automated reservation transaction processor, the reservation transaction requiring submission of at least three different types of reservation data from the customer for successful completion thereof, each reservation data type having one of a plurality of different values, wherein each reservation data type value is dependent upon other reservation data type values, the method including presenting an initial page for data value entry for a plurality of reservation data types, accepting for partial data entry data values for less than all of said reservation data types, and determining, on the basis of the interdependence of the different data values for the different reservation data types, a list of acceptable data values for any un-entered reservation data types. Also, the processor provides the customer with a less than full page summary section on many of the reservation booking pages, the summary section including a list of submitted data values for the reservation transaction and an edit link associated with each listed data value that is selectable to initiate a revision of its associated data value. Further, the present invention supports promotional deep-linking, promotion reservation with notification upon customer violation of the promotion rules, corporate account deep-linking, URL-based deep-linking, travel agent commission tracking, and various other features. |
| US08234132B2 |
Methods and systems for providing longevity insurance with or without an asset based premium
The present invention provides methods and systems for providing longevity insurance by obtaining information useful for issuing a longevity insurance contract for an individual, and determining a premium or an income payment for the individual that are computed based at least in part on an individual's age at a predetermined date that income payments are deferred to. The longevity insurance contract generally provides deferred income payments for a period of time, such as for the life of the individual, beginning at a predetermined date that is after an individual's anticipated retirement, or at a predetermined date that is after the individual's life expectancy, or on or after a specified birthday of the individual. |
| US08234128B2 |
System and method for verifying medical device operational parameters
A system and method is disclosed for executing a comparison of a medical device operational parameter to an order. |
| US08234126B1 |
Distribution of infusion pumps
Some embodiments described herein provide for a number of portable infusion pumps to be distributed to a pump user via a pharmacy system or like. |
| US08234124B2 |
Allergy prevention
An allergy prevention method and system. The method includes retrieving, by a computing system from a fidelity card, a user profile comprising information specifying first elements known to cause a user to have an allergic reaction. The computing system retrieves data associated with an item for purchase. The data comprises information specifying second elements comprised by the item. The computing system compares the first elements to the second elements to determine that a first element of the first elements matches a second element of the second elements. The computing system generates and presents to the user, a warning indicating that the first item may cause the user to have an allergic reaction. |
| US08234122B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding object-based audio signals
An audio decoding method and apparatus and an audio encoding method and apparatus which can efficiently process object-based audio signals are provided. The audio decoding method includes receiving a downmix signal, which is obtained by downmixing a plurality of object signals, and object side information, extracting metadata from the object-side information and displaying an information regarding the object signals based on the metadata. |
| US08234120B2 |
Performing a safety analysis for user-defined voice commands to ensure that the voice commands do not cause speech recognition ambiguities
The present invention discloses a solution for assuring user-defined voice commands are unambiguous. The solution can include a step of identifying a user attempt to enter a user-defined voice command into a voice-enabled system. A safety analysis can be performed on the user-defined voice command to determine a likelihood that the user-defined voice command will be confused with preexisting voice commands recognized by the voice-enabled system. When a high likelihood of confusion is determined by the safety analysis, a notification can be presented that the user-defined voice command is subject to confusion. A user can then define a different voice command or can choose to continue to use the potentially confusing command, possibly subject to a system imposed confusion mitigating condition or action. |
| US08234118B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating dialog prosody structure, and speech synthesis method and system employing the same
A dialog prosody structure generating method and apparatus, and a speech synthesis method and system employing the dialog prosody structure generation method and apparatus, are provided. The speech synthesis method using the dialog prosody structure generation method includes: determining a system speaking style based on a user utterance; if the system speaking style is dialog speech, generating dialog prosody information by reflecting discourse information between a user and a system; and synthesizing a system utterance based on the generated dialog prosody information. |
| US08234115B2 |
Systems and methods for determining the N-best strings
Systems and methods for identifying the N-best strings of a weighted automaton. A potential for each state of an input automaton to a set of destination states of the input automaton is first determined. Then, the N-best paths are found in the result of an on-the-fly determinization of the input automaton. Only the portion of the input automaton needed to identify the N-best paths is determinized. As the input automaton is determinized, a potential for each new state of the partially determinized automaton is determined and is used in identifying the N-best paths of the determinized automaton, which correspond exactly to the N-best strings of the input automaton. |
| US08234107B2 |
Supplier deduplication engine
Disclosed herein is a method of grouping similar supplier names together in a database. The syntactical errors in the supplier names are corrected. The supplier names are grouped after correcting the syntactical errors. The abbreviations in the supplier names are captured. The ordering, pronunciation and stemming errors in the supplier names are corrected. A matching algorithm that matches and compares two supplier names is applied that comprises the steps of grouping supplier names based on first set of characters in the supplier names and calculating a matching score between the two supplier using Levenshtein distance between the two supplier names, along with the supplier names' sound codes obtained from a modified metaphone algorithm, length of each word, position of matching and mismatching characters, and stem of words in the supplier names. The matching scores are compared with set thresholds in order to further group the supplier names into clusters. |
| US08234102B2 |
Development of assertions for integrated circuit design simulation
One embodiment of the present application includes the preparation of an assertion for inclusion in an integrated circuit simulation performed with a processing device (21). In response to an input to this processing device (21), a set of integrated circuit waveforms are defined to test the assertion. The processing device (21) tests the assertion with these waveforms; and after successful testing, the integrated circuit simulation is performed with the assertion. |
| US08234095B2 |
Remote maintenance system, monitoring center computer used for the same, monitoring system and method of communication for maintenance
A remote maintenance system has a monitoring computer for monitoring a facility and a monitoring center computer for maintenance management. The monitoring computer has a database for storing image data of the monitored facility. The monitoring center computer a database for storing CAD data for the monitored facility. The monitoring center computer provides coordinates to the image data sent from the monitoring computer, and superposes the image coordinate data and CAD coordinate data for the CAD. The center computer locates a needed maintenance location on the basis of the result of the superposition processing. |
| US08234094B2 |
System and method for testing liquid crystal display device
A system for testing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a testing device photographing and capturing an image of a defect generated on a substrate having a thin film array formed thereon, the testing device providing testing information on the defect, a ARPC automatically determining defectiveness of the substrate by an automatic determination method using a defect determining automation program designed based on a testing worker's determination method and behavior aspect, the captured image and the testing information on the defect, a PRPC determining defectiveness of the substrate based on the captured image and the testing information on the defect, if the defectiveness of the substrate is undeterminable by the ARPC, and a main server connecting the ARPC with the PRPC and storing the captured image and the testing information on the defect. The ARPC extracts characteristics of the defect by using the testing information on the defect and the ARPC analyzes the extracted characteristics of the defect to classify and calculate the degree of the defect. |
| US08234091B2 |
Angular velocity sensor correcting apparatus for deriving value for correcting output signal from angular velocity sensor, angular velocity calculating apparatus, angular velocity sensor correcting method, and angular velocity calculating method
A measuring unit obtains measurement data of an object measured on the basis of a signal from a GPS satellite and angular velocity of an object output from an angular velocity sensor. An offset value computing unit estimates a running condition of the object on the basis of the measurement data and the angular velocity. The offset value computing unit sequentially derives temporary offset values while changing combination of the measurement data and the angular velocity in accordance with the estimated running condition of the object and, after that, executes statistical process on the temporary offset values, thereby deriving an offset value. An angular velocity conversion coefficient computing unit sequentially derives temporary angular velocity conversion coefficients on the basis of the measurement data and the angular velocity and, after that, executes statistical process on the temporary angular velocity conversion coefficients, thereby deriving an angular velocity conversion coefficient. An angular velocity converting unit derives final angular velocity on the basis of the angular velocity conversion coefficient, the offset value, and the angular velocity. |
| US08234083B2 |
Wind turbine rotor blade comprising an edge-wise bending insensitive strain sensor system
A wind turbine rotor blade having a strain sensor system is described. The strain sensor is insensitive to the effect of twisting motions or edge-wise bending on the measurement of the strain. The sensor comprises one or more strain sensing devices arranged in a circular or regular polygon shaped path enclosing a region of the component. In the sensor system, a plurality of strain sensors are spaced longitudinally along a flap-wise axis of the wind turbine rotor blade. |
| US08234082B1 |
Methods and systems for data smoothing stress data
Methods and systems for data smoothing raw data such as stress data. The present invention may utilize various techniques to smooth data such as dropping data using a stress threshold, dropping data by resample (or decimation), and smoothing by dynamic binning. Additionally, the present invention may utilize a transform function to estimate stress from a stress sensor to areas of peak stress. In an exemplary application, the present invention can be utilized to reduce stress data collected by a plurality of embedded stress sensors in a rocket motor for purposes of computing service life of the motor. |
| US08234077B2 |
Method of selecting genes from gene expression data based on synergistic interactions among the genes
A method is provided for selecting two or more genes from gene expression data. In the method, gene expression data for a plurality of genes is provided, where the gene expression data include expression levels for each of the plurality of genes. The gene expression data is discretized. Based on the discretized gene expression data, the synergy among the plurality of genes with respect to a phenotype, for example, presence or absence of a disease in a tissue, is evaluated. Two or more genes whose synergy exceeds a predetermined threshold are selected. A system implementing the method is also provided. |
| US08234075B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing information concerning biological condition, system, program and recording medium for managing information concerning biological condition
A system provided in accordance with the present invention comprises a sever unit (100), which serves as an apparatus for processing information concerning a biological condition information, and a client unit (200), which serves as an information terminal of a provider of the information on the biological condition communicably connected to the server unit (100) via a network (300). The server unit (100) determines a composite index reflecting a plurality of metabolites indicative of the biological condition based on the information on the biological condition acquired from the client unit (200). |
| US08234069B2 |
Industrial vehicle fleet management system
Embodiments consistent with the invention are an apparatus for and method of generating data on current utilization of powered industrial vehicles, generating preferred routing assignments for powered industrial drivers, and presenting preferred routing assignments for powered industrial vehicle drivers. |
| US08234068B1 |
System, module, and method of constructing a flight path used by an avionics system
A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for constructing a flight path used by an avionics system are disclosed. A processor receives flight plan data and object data associated with terrain and obstacles. Free cells are extracted above the objects using a recursive space decomposition technique, and a reference path is formed through traversable free space determined from the availability of free cells. In an additional embodiment, threat data associated with hostile military weaponry and significant meteorological conditions could affect the availability of free cells. A genetic algorithm applying genetic operators which include mutators is employed with aircraft kinematic constraints to refine the reference path used to form a population of best path candidates. When a best path is reached after cycling through a re-generation process of path candidates, flight path data representative of the best path is generated and provided to at least one avionics system. |
| US08234063B2 |
Navigation system with location profiling and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system with location profiling includes: calculating a routing region based on a current location for locating a device; calculating a familiarity level in the routing region; generating a routing overlay based on the familiarity level below a familiarity threshold with the routing overlay to compensate for a driver unfamiliarity in the routing region; and generating a compensation route based on the routing overlay for displaying on the device. |
| US08234062B2 |
Method for adjusting displayed navigation direction using sensors and navigation device using the same
A method for adjusting displayed map using sensors is disclosed, applied in a navigation device. The method includes steps of: calculating a GPS-based rotating angle of the navigation device based on location information detected by a GPS module of the navigation device when a coordinate error value of the navigation device is less than a predetermined value; using a sensor of the navigation device to detect the sensor-based rotating angle of the navigation device when the coordinate error value of the navigation device is greater than the predetermined value; rotating a map on the screen according to one of the GPS-based rotating angle and the sensor-based rotating angle depending on the coordinate error value. |
| US08234058B1 |
System, module, and method for generating procedure data used in an avionics system
A present novel and non-trivial system, module, and method for generating final approach, missed approach, and departure data for use in an avionics system. A processor receives navigation data and object data, where object data includes terrain data and/or obstacle data. A flight path is defined, an obstacle clearance surface is constructed and examined for object penetration, and procedure data is generated and provided to at least one avionics system. For approach procedures, a decision altitude data is determined from which the procedure data is generated. A penetrated obstacle clearance surface is allowable if a remedy exists to address the penetration. Remedies may include the use of minimum obstacle clearance criteria, an iterative process, a path construction function, an existing departure procedure, and the use of input factors to determine a real-time estimated climb performance which could affect the climb gradient of a missed approach path. |
| US08234055B2 |
Engine movement detection systems and methods
A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The control system includes an engine movement module that selects from N engine rotation modes based on camshaft movement and crankshaft movement, where N is an integer greater than two, and where at least one of the N rotation modes is an assisted spinning mode. A diagnostic module enables one or more engine diagnostic modes based on the selected engine rotation mode. |
| US08234048B2 |
Method and system for inhibiting operation in a commanded operating range state for a transmission of a powertrain system
A hybrid powertrain system includes torque generative devices to transfer power to an output member. An operator torque request, a rotational direction and speed of the output member, and a signal output from a transmission range selector are monitored. When a change in a direction of intended motion is determined, the powertrain system can change rotational direction of the output member when the speed of the output member is less than a threshold. The powertrain can inhibit a change in the rotational direction of the output member. |
| US08234045B2 |
Failure mode effects mitigation in drive-by-wire systems
Systems and methods for mitigating failure mode effects in a steer-by-wire system. The system includes a controller configured to alter a direction of the vehicle when the controller is in a failure mode. A steering device is coupled to a detector. The detector is configured to detect a steering input from a driver and output a signal representative of the steering input. A first actuator is coupled to a first control device. The first control device is configured to generate a first control signal representative of the steering input when the controller is in the failure mode. The first actuator alters the direction of the vehicle by removing energy from the vehicle. A second actuator is coupled to a second control device. The second control device is configured to generate a second control signal representative of the steering input when the controller is in the failure mode. The second actuator alters the direction of the vehicle by adding energy to the vehicle. |
| US08234042B2 |
Authority limits for a vehicle steering system
A method for controlling a limited by-wire active front steering system includes measuring an input steering angle, determining a tire saturation limit, and comparing the saturation limit to the input angle. A target actuator angle from a steering actuator is limited when the input angle is greater than the saturation limit. A constant value provides a fixed steering gear ratio when the input angle is less than the saturation limit. A limited by-wire steering system for a vehicle includes a steering device, a sensor for measuring an input steering angle, a controller for calculating a first target actuator angle when the input angle is less than a threshold, and a second target actuator angle when the input angle is greater than the threshold. The threshold is a calibrated saturation limit of a road wheel of the vehicle. |
| US08234041B2 |
Electric power steering controller
A correction value calculating section 70 is provided with a pinion shaft torsion angle correction value calculating section 74 and a pinion shaft torsion angular velocity correction value calculating section 75 for calculating a correction value in consideration with the transmission characteristic of the steering assist torque from the electric motor 6 to the steerable vehicle wheel 9. Therefore, the electric motor 6 can generate the steering assist torque compensating for the influence by the transmission characteristic of the steering assist torque from the electric motor 6 to the steerable vehicle wheel 9 by correcting a target value defined by a detection value of the torque sensor 3 with the correction value. |
| US08234032B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating safe path of mobile robot
A method for generating a safe path of a mobile robot includes searching for a whole path from a starting point to a destination point within a map information entered in the robot; extracting information about an expected distance between the robot and a peripheral obstacle when the robot moves along the searched whole path; and correcting the whole path locally using the information about the expected distance from the peripheral obstacle. |
| US08234031B2 |
Hybrid vehicle energy management methods and apparatus
A parallel hybrid vehicle launches from rest or near rest with its electric motor and blends in its internal combustion engine at a vehicle speed such that the electrical energy provided to the motor from an energy storage device is only as much energy as can be recovered during deceleration of the vehicle to rest or near rest. |
| US08234028B2 |
Hybrid vehicle, control method of hybrid vehicle, and computer-readable recording medium recording program for allowing computer to execute control method
A hybrid vehicle has as a travel mode an EV mode for traveling while stopping the engine, and an HV mode for operating the engine. An ECU includes first and second traveling distance operating units, and a determination unit. The first traveling distance operating unit calculates an EV traveling distance indicative of a total traveling distance in the EV mode. The second traveling distance operating unit calculates the engine use traveling distance indicative of a total traveling distance when the engine is operated. The determination unit determines the necessity of maintenance of predetermined elements included in the vehicle based on the EV traveling distance and the engine use traveling distance. |
| US08234015B2 |
Method for controlling a grid voltage
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a voltage level of a power supply grid operationally connected to a source of electrical power, the method comprising the steps of determining a short circuit impedance of the power supply grid at a point of common coupling, calculating, using the determined short circuit impedance, a gain value of the power supply grid, and controlling the grid voltage level in accordance with the calculated gain value by applying said gain value as a gain parameter in a voltage controller. The method according to the present invention may be implemented as a method for configuring a voltage controller once and for all, or it may be implemented as a method for adaptively adjusting a gain of a voltage controller. |
| US08234012B1 |
Preparing a chemical delivery line of a chemical dispense system for delivery
Method for preparing a chemical delivery line for delivery. In one implementation, the method may include starting a flow of a semiconductor solution from a vessel into the chemical delivery line coupled to the vessel, measuring a volume of the semiconductor solution flowing through the chemical delivery line, and performing a subsequent process when the volume of the semiconductor solution is equal to or greater than the volume of the chemical delivery line. |
| US08234008B2 |
Lidded drawer for single line item dispensing
A medication cabinet that includes at least one drawer, a drive mechanism, and a drawer latching mechanism, is disclosed. The drawer includes a slider, and a container that includes a receptacle and a lid that moves between an open position and a closed position. The container also includes a fastener to fasten the lid to the receptacle. The slider maintains the lid in the closed position when at least a portion of the wall is coupled with the fastener, and actuates the lid from the closed position to the open position when the fastener passes through an opening in the wall. The drive mechanism controls longitudinal movement of the slider, and is mounted to the chassis, allowing the drawer to be free of electrical connections with the chassis. When the drive mechanism is not used to move the lid into the open position, longitudinal movement of the slider is inhibited. |
| US08234007B2 |
Method and apparatus for use in a vending machine
During operation of a vending machine, an image is obtained of an area of interest in the vending machine. As a product selected by a customer moves toward a product retrieval location, images of the area of interest are obtained and transmitted to the data base. Images in the data base are compared to determine whether or not the selected product has moved to the area of interest. |
| US08234006B1 |
Sort bin assignment
Disclosed are various embodiments involving assignment and use of sort bins in a materials handling facility. A manifest is generated in at least one computer system that directs a picking of items from inventory locations in a materials handling facility. Each of the items is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of groups of items. Sort bin assignments are generated for each of the items. Each sort bin assignment specifies a corresponding one of a selected subset of a plurality of sort bins located in a sorting station of the materials handling facility. The selected subset of the sort bins is designated to coalesce together the group of items that includes the respective item for further processing. Each sort bin assignment is based at least in part on a dimension associated with the respective sort bin and at least one attribute associated with the respective item. |
| US08234001B2 |
Tool commonality and stratification analysis to enhance a production process
A method of analyzing production steps includes inputting application data associated with a production process having a plurality of process steps into a memory with each of the plurality of process steps including a plurality of tools. The method also includes loading process data associated with one of the plurality of process steps into the memory, performing a tool commonality analysis on each of the tools associated with the at least one of the plurality of process steps, identifying all tool-to-tool differences for the at least one of the plurality of process steps, performing a tool stratification analysis to identify one of the plurality of tools that provides the largest variance contribution to the at least one of the plurality of process steps, and stopping the one of the plurality of tools that provides the largest variance contribution to the at least one of the plurality of process steps. |
| US08233999B2 |
System and method for interactive visualization of music properties
There is provided a visual music classification and management system. Each music item in a user's collection will be analyzed to identify its musical characteristics along with some estimate of the degree of confidence associated with that characteristic. By using characteristics, so-called music aspects, it will be possible to efficiently categorize the contents of a music database. Each music item will be stored in a database with the calculated values as will the characterizing aspect. The database contents will be displayed by drawing icons representing the music items on a user's screen, with the size (or other visual aspect) of the icon reflecting the degree of confidence with that categorization. Searches of the database will be performed by on-screen manipulations of the aspect cluster-positioned music items. |
| US08233995B2 |
System and method of aligning an implantable antenna
An implantable restriction system having an antenna capable of being readily and predictably movable to achieve a desired orientation that is effective to communicate with an external device is provided. The antenna can be movably coupled to a housing such that the antenna can float and/or move freely with respect to the housing. The housing can be part of a gimbal element or another component of the system. The antenna can include a weight or a magnetic element to help it achieve the desired orientation. Methods for transcutaneously communicating with an implantable restriction device are also provided. |
| US08233994B2 |
Active fixation medical lead
An implantable medical device that includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a helical fixation member extending from the distal end of the elongated body, the helical fixation member including a distal tip for affixing the distal end of the elongated body at an implant site, and a tracking member extending from the distal end of the elongated body, through the helical fixation member and outward from the distal tip of the helical fixation member for tracking along an implant pathway during implantation of the implantable medical device. |
| US08233992B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining relative positioning between neurostimulation leads
A method and neurostimulation control system for operating two leads disposed adjacent tissue of a patient are provided. A plurality of cross-lead electrical parameters are measured to generate a measured electrical profile of the electrode leads. A plurality of cross-lead electrical parameters are estimated to generate a first reference electrical profile for the electrode leads in a first known staggered configuration. The first reference electrical profile is spatially shifted to generate a second reference electrical profile for the electrode leads in a second known staggered configuration. The measured electrical profile is compared to the first and second reference electrical profiles, and a longitudinal stagger between the electrode leads is quantified based on the comparison. |
| US08233990B2 |
Selection of neurostimulator parameter configurations using decision trees
A selection of parameter configurations for a neurostimulator using decision trees may be employed by a programming device to allow a clinician or other user to select parameter configurations, and then program an implantable neurostimulator to deliver therapy using the selected parameter configurations. The programming device executes a parameter configuration search algorithm to guide the clinician in selection of parameter configurations. The search algorithm relies on a decision tree to identify optimum parameter configurations. A decision tree is useful in classifying observations in a data set based upon one or more attributes or fields within the data. The data set includes parameter configurations matched with observed ratings of efficacy on patients of a similar indication. The learned attribute, on which classification occurs, will be the optimum parameter configuration for a set of rated configurations used to produce the classification. The decision trees may be especially useful in identifying electrode configurations. |
| US08233989B1 |
System and method for fitting a hearing prosthesis sound processor using alternative signals
Alternative stimuli, i.e., stimuli other than the constant amplitude stimuli used in prior fitting schemes, are used to set the parameters of a hearing prosthesis, such as a cochlear implant system. The use of such alternative stimuli allows the entire fitting process to be completed in a very short time period, and generally eliminates the need for secondary adjustments. In one preferred embodiment, the alternative stimuli comprise white noise that is internally generated within the speech processor. |
| US08233986B2 |
Connector header for implantable medical device
A connector header includes a housing formed from a plastic material having a modulus of rigidity of 100 ksi or greater. The housing defines an opening for insertion of a lead. The connector header further includes a lead receptacle having an electrically conductive element. The electrically conductive element is operably couplable to a feedthrough of the implantable medical device. The lead receptacle is in communication with the opening and is disposed within the housing such that an electrical contact of the lead is electrically couplable to the conductive element of the receptacle when the lead is inserted into the receptacle. |
| US08233982B2 |
Systems and methods for treating supraventricular arrhythmias
In various method embodiments, a supraventricular arrhythmia event is detected, and a supraventricular arrhythmia treatment, including neural stimulation to elicit a sympathetic response, is delivered in response to a detected supraventricular arrhythmia event. Some embodiments detect a precursor for a supraventricular arrhythmia episode, and deliver prophylactic neural stimulation to avoid the supraventricular arrhythmia event. Some embodiments detect a supraventricular arrhythmia episode, and deliver therapeutic neural stimulation for the supraventricular arrhythmia event. |
| US08233980B2 |
System and method for detecting hidden atrial events for use with automatic mode switching within an implantable medical device
Techniques are provided for detecting atrial events that might be hidden due to the operation of a post-ventricular atrial blanking (PVAB) interval or other atrial channel blanking interval. In one example, candidate atrial events are identified within signals occurring during the PVAB interval. Then, a determination is made as to whether the candidate atrial event is a true atrial event based on a comparison of characteristics of the candidate atrial event with characteristics of prior known atrial events within the patient. By comparing the characteristics of the “hidden” event with the characteristics of prior known atrial events within the patient, a quick and accurate determination can be made whether the event should be counted as a P-wave. In this manner, hidden atrial arrhythmias can be detected and mode switch oscillations can be reduced or eliminated. |
| US08233978B1 |
Method and device for switching between arrhythmia prevention modes
A device, such as an implantable cardiac device, and method for switching between arrhythmia prevention modes is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an electrocardiogram (EGM) of the heart, determining whether the heart is in a normal sinus rhythm or in an abnormal rhythm, delivering pacing pulses at a first rate to either an atrium or a ventricle when the heart is in a normal sinus rhythm, and delivering pacing pulses to a ventricle at a second rate when the heart is in an abnormal rhythm, such as an atrial arrhythmia. The first rate is selected to minimize the occurrence of premature ventricular contractions, and the second rate is selected to both minimize the occurrence of premature ventricular contractions and minimize the occurrence of premature conducted beats. |
| US08233972B2 |
System for cardiac arrhythmia detection and characterization
A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an interface that receives a signal representing electrical activity of a patient heart occurring during individual heart cycles of multiple sequential heart cycles. A signal processor decomposes the received signal into multiple signals comprising a heart cycle signal primary wave and one or more heart cycle signal wavelets occurring at corresponding successively higher frequencies. The signal processor determines multiple amplitude representative values of the heart cycle signal primary wave and the one or more heart cycle signal wavelets. A comparator compares the multiple amplitude representative values with corresponding multiple predetermined threshold values to provide comparison indicators. A patient monitor in response to the comparison indicators indicating at least one of the amplitude representative values exceeds a respective predetermined threshold value, generates an alert message associated with the respective predetermined threshold. |
| US08233967B2 |
Method for marking and visualizing an implant by way of an x-ray phase-contrast tomography examination and an implant
A method is disclosed for marking and visualizing an implant by use of an x-ray phase-contrast tomography examination. Further, an implant is also disclosed. In at least one embodiment, implants are used with specific characteristics which are as unambiguous as possible with regard to the phase shift generated by the implants in a phase-contrast tomography examination. In at least one embodiment, these specific characteristics can include the typical self-generated specific phase shift, typical differences in the specific phase-shift values, or typical spatial structures of materials with well-defined phase-shift values. |
| US08233966B2 |
Method and X-ray diagnostic device for generation of an image of a moving body region of a living subject
In a method and an x-ray diagnostic device for generation of an image of a body region of a living subject that executes a movement due to respiration, respiration signals of the subject are acquired and x-ray projections of the subject are acquired from different projection directions. The intensity of the x-ray radiation emanating from an x-ray source in the acquisition of the x-ray projections is modulated such that the intensity assumes a desired value, or a value decreased relative to the value, dependent on the value of the amplitude of the respiration signal and/or the respiration position of the subject. |
| US08233961B2 |
Magnetic resonance device and method for perfusion determination
In a method and a device for automatic determination of perfusion by using a magnetic resonance system, multiple first MR data sets are thereby acquired from a volume element over time with a perfusion-sensitive imaging sequence, and multiple second MR data sets of the same volume element are acquired over time with a control imaging sequence, in particular a perfusion-insensitive imaging sequence. These first MR data sets and the second MR data sets are subjected to a statistical time series analysis in order to determine the perfusion in the volume element. |
| US08233956B2 |
Medical device
A medical device includes a connector which contacts a sensor to electrically connect the sensor with a measurement circuit in a medical device, a contact terminal which constitutes the connector, and a slide pin which ejects the sensor out of the medical device. The slide pin performs the operation of pushing up the contact terminal contacting the sensor as well as the operation of pushing the sensor out of the medical device. Since the contact terminal is completely lifted up by the inclined surface of the upper end part of the slide pin before the sensor is discarded, there occurs no reaction due to rebound of the contact terminal which might occur at the moment when the contact terminal of the connector is separated from the sensor, and thereby the sensor can be discarded so as to fall freely. |
| US08233953B2 |
Optical-based sensing devices
An optical-based sensor for detecting the presence or amount of an analyte using both indicator and reference channels. The sensor has a sensor body with a source of radiation embedded therein. Radiation emitted by the source interacts with indicator membrane indicator molecules proximate the surface of the body. At least one optical characteristic of these indicator molecules varies with analyte concentration. For example, the level of fluorescence of fluorescent indicator molecules or the amount of light absorbed by light-absorbing indicator molecules can vary as a function of analyte concentration. In addition, radiation emitted by the source also interacts with reference membrane indicator molecules proximate the surface of the body. Radiation (e.g., light) emitted or reflected by these indicator molecules enters and is internally reflected in the sensor body. Photosensitive elements within the sensor body generate both indicator channel and reference channel signals to provide an accurate indication of the concentration of the analyte. Preferred embodiments are totally self-contained and are sized and shaped for use in vivo in a human being. Such embodiments preferably include a power source, e.g. an inductor, which powers the source of radiation using external means, as well as a transmitter, e.g. an inductor, to transmit to external pickup means the signal representing the level of analyte. |
| US08233952B2 |
Superconducting magnet
There is provided a superconducting magnet including a superconducting coil, in which the superconducting coil includes: a bobbin; one or more superconducting wires wound around the bobbin in a plurality of turns, each superconducting wire being one or more superconducting filaments embedded in a matrix; and one or more metallic members, each metallic member being in electrical and thermal contact with a plurality of portions of the one or more superconducting wires. |
| US08233951B2 |
Error correction for DTMF corruption on uplink
Aspects relate to provision of enterprise call capabilities to mobile devices. For example, a mobile device can indicate, over a data channel, that a PBX is to make a call on its behalf to a called party. The PBX can call back the mobile device, call the called party, and bridge those call legs to establish the call. The mobile device can employ mechanisms that a particular incoming call is made by the PBX. These mechanisms can include using ANI information, sending, and receiving audible verification codes over the voice channel established after answering the incoming call. The verification codes can be selected based different behaviors of the mobile devices. |
| US08233947B2 |
Neckpad communications system for a helmet
A neckpad communications system for a helmet includes a neckpad body that includes coupling members for detachably coupling the neckpad body to a surface of the helmet. The system includes a communications unit having a first part that is disposed within and covered by the neckpad body and is configured to permit audio communication with another remote device and a second part including audio transducers located at least partially outside the neckpad body. The audio transducers are operatively connected to the communications unit and can include at least one speaker and a microphone. The neckpad body includes cushioning to allow it to be worn against a user's body and includes controls associated with the communications unit that are accessible exteriorly. |
| US08233943B1 |
Selective activation of alerts for receipt and availability of data in a communication device
A recipient activates or deactivates user alerts associated with the receipt and/or availability of communications using rules in an alert profile stored on a device, a server, or a location accessible to the server. In one embodiment, the device can implement the rules when a communication is received and/or available. If an alert is activated, the device renders the alert. If the alert is deactivated, the device does not render the alert unless and until the alert is activated. In another embodiment, the server can implement the rules. If the alert is activated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server also transmits alert-rendering instructions, whereupon the device can render the alert as specified in the instructions. If the alert is deactivated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server does not transmit the instructions unless and until the alert is activated. |
| US08233941B2 |
Multi-transceiver system with MIMO and beam-forming capability
A system and method for communicating with a second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise determining whether communicating with the second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas in a first configuration, which comprises a beam-forming configuration, is preferable to utilizing a plurality of antennas in a second configuration, which comprises a MIMO or MISO configuration. If it is determined that the first configuration is preferable to the second configuration, the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the first configuration. If it is determined that the second configuration is preferable to the first configuration, then the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the second configuration. |
| US08233936B2 |
Radio communication system
A system and method of operating a radio communication system uses a random access channel to enable a secondary station to transmit a message to a primary station. The secondary station transmits a preamble to the primary station. After successful receipt of the preamble the primary station transmits a control channel including power control information to instruct the secondary station to adjust the output power of its transmitter. This ensures that the secondary station transmits at a sufficient power for the message to be received successfully by the primary station, while minimizing interference generated by the transmission. |
| US08233932B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving signaling reliability in wireless communications
Techniques for sending signaling at different power levels in different operating modes are described. In one design, a UE may send signaling at a first power level in a first operating mode and may send the signaling at a second power level in a second operating mode. The UE may send the signaling with a ternary indication in the first operating mode and with an on/off keying (OOK) indication in the second operating mode. The signaling may be for acknowledgement (ACK). The UE may send ACK, negative acknowledgement (NACK), and discontinuous transmission (DTX) with ternary indications in the first operating mode. The UE may send ACK and DTX with OOK indications in the second operating mode. The UE may receive at least one power offset from a network entity and may determine the first and second power levels based on the received power offsets(s). |
| US08233931B2 |
Initiating a selective dynamic group call from a wireless mobile application
A method and a wireless mobile device for initiating selective dynamic group (SDG) calls in an application on a push-to-talk (PTT) capable wireless network using a concatenated sequence of PTT mobile numbers. The PTT mobile numbers are separated by PTT call identifiers in a concatenated sequence. The PTT mobile numbers are validated and a PTT SDG call sequence is generated using the plurality of validated PTT mobile numbers when a call initiator input is received. The PTT SDG call is then initiated on the wireless network to the PTT mobile numbers in the sequence. |
| US08233926B2 |
Spatial mode adaptation at the cell edge using interferer spatial correlation
A system and method is proposed for adapting the spatial transmission strategy in a cellular MIMO (multiple input multiple output) communication system for the downlink. Spatial mode adaptation, the choice of multiplexing, transmit diversity, number of streams, space-time code family, and the like are performed slowly based on side information from other base stations. Base stations exchange their transmission plans with neighboring base stations and broadcast this information to active users. Each user measures its susceptibility to spatial interference and returns this information to the base station. The base station then schedules active users according to the decisions made in interfering base stations and the preferred transmission strategies of its own users. |
| US08233922B2 |
Efficient paging mechanism with scalable bandwidth allocation
A paging method in a mobile communication system, in which a preconfigured frequency range, split into a plurality of frequency subbands, is utilized for communicating within the mobile communication system, includes the steps of selecting at least one frequency subband for transmitting paging information, and transmitting paging information from a network entity, for initiating paging, utilizing the selected at least one frequency subband. |
| US08233920B2 |
Angle of arrival downlink signaling
A wireless communication network determines positioning data for a given mobile terminal, in response to receiving a positioning event trigger for that mobile terminal. The network sends the positioning data to the mobile terminal via control-plane signaling, for transfer by the mobile terminal to the user plane. Correspondingly, the mobile terminal receives the positioning data over the control plane, transfers it to the user plane, and transmits the positioning data or location information derived from the positioning data, via user-plane signaling. As such, network-performed positioning measurements and/or geographic coordinate data derived therefrom are transferred from the control plane, to the user plane, for flexible and transparent transmission from the mobile terminal to a given node having a user-plane connection with the mobile terminal. Such a node may be essentially any type of communication device, system, or server, internal or external to the network. |
| US08233918B2 |
Digital content distribution system for delivering location specific content to an ad hoc group of mobile subscribers
A digital content distribution system and method are disclosed for delivering location specific content to an ad hoc group of mobile subscribers. The system consists of a downloadable application that runs on the subscribers mobile communication device and communicates with a server-based content composer system. The content composer system manages outgoing content based upon the geographic location reported by a mobile communication device application and the demographic and preference data stored in a subscriber database. Emergency alerts are sent only to subscribers in a area covered by the alert. The emergency alerts are executed on the mobile communication device even though the mobile communication device is in a low power sleep or hibernate mode. Moreover, the emergency alerts take over the mobile communications device no matter what other tasks are being executed when the emergency alert is received. |
| US08233912B2 |
Mobile station localization apparatus, systems, and methods
Embodiments herein may use first and second path loss values L1 and L2 to calculate first and second distances R1 and R2 between the MS and first and second base stations BS1 and BS2, respectively, in a wireless packet-carrying network. L1 and L2 may comprise values of a reduction in signal strength of signals as transmitted by the BS1 and the BS2 and as received by the MS. The MS may triangulate its position relative to a grid using R1 and R2. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08233909B2 |
Reception cycle control method, radio base station, and mobile station
A radio base station (eNB) is configured to start the transmitting-side timer and a Polling timer which is set to expire earlier than the transmitting-side, upon transmission of a last piece of downlink data accumulated in a transmission buffer to the mobile station. When the Polling timer expires, the radio base station (eNB) notifies the mobile station (UE) of the expiration, and restarts the transmitting-side timer, and the mobile station (UE) restarts a receiving-side timer in response to the notification. |
| US08233905B2 |
Load management in wireless mesh communications networks
Methods and systems for providing a network and routing protocol for utility services are disclosed. A method includes discovering a utility network. Neighboring nodes are discovered and the node listens for advertised routes for networks from the neighbors. The node is then registered with one or more utility networks, receiving a unique address for each network registration. Each upstream node can independently make forwarding decisions on both upstream and downstream packets, i.e., choose the next hop according to the best information available to it. The node can sense transient link problems, outage problems and traffic characteristics. Information is used to find the best route out of and within each network. Each network node maintains multi-egress, multi-ingress network routing options both for itself and the node(s) associated with it. The node is capable of several route maintenance functions utilizing the basic routing protocol and algorithms. |
| US08233904B2 |
Pilot-measurement control method and dual-mode terminal
A pilot-measurement control method and a dual-mode terminal are provided. After entering a tunnel state, an idle state protocol submodule does not wait for a measurement start command to trigger pilot measurement. Instead, the idle state protocol submodule directly triggers pilot measurement by actively querying for high rate packet data (HRPD) measurement permission variable information. Alternatively, measurement indication information sent by an initialization protocol submodule is buffered in advance, so that after entering the tunnel state, the idle state protocol submodule can trigger pilot measurement by querying for the buffered information. Alternatively, the idle state protocol submodule performs pilot measurement according to received measurement indication information sent by an air interface connection management protocol submodule when the idle state protocol submodule is activated. |
| US08233901B2 |
Method and system of providing personal information control service for mobile communication terminal
A method and system for providing a personal information control service for a mobile communication terminal are disclosed. The method for providing personal information control service for a mobile communication terminal includes: transmitting, by a service client, a loss registration control command to a service operating system; notifying, by the service operating system, that a mobile communication terminal of a user has been lost by using one of a method of transmitting a particular form of loss control message to the user mobile communication terminal and a method of originating a call using a particular origination number to the user mobile communication terminal in response to the loss registration control command; and activating, by a control agent provided in the user mobile communication terminal, a service function of the control agent to protect personal information of the mobile communication terminal based on the notification about the loss. When the mobile communication terminal is lost, it can be controlled by transmitting a particular form of message or originating a call using a particular origination number. |
| US08233900B2 |
Method and apparatus of informing a network of change of user equipment capability
An embodiment method of informing a network of a change of user equipment capability includes receiving, by a network, a register request message carrying information of new user equipment capability to from a user equipment, analyzing, by the network, the register request message, and storing the information of new user equipment capability for reference by subsequent establishment of a session, stopping a current registration timer on the server side set for the user equipment, initiating a new registration timer on the server side for the user equipment, and sending a response message carrying information of the new registration timer on the server side to the user equipment so as to reset a registration timer on the user side based on information of the new registration timer on the server side in the response message. The capability change is informed to the network in time. |
| US08233899B1 |
Method and apparatus for managing air interface noise in a wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method and system to help reduce the extent of roaming or use of lower priority coverage areas in a wireless communication system, by selectively managing the level of noise in a preferred coverage area. A network entity will detect that a particular coverage area has a high rate or roaming or that another coverage area (e.g., a collocated or adjacent coverage area) has a high rate of use, and the network entity will responsively reduce a noise threshold in the particular coverage area so as to then tolerate less noise in the coverage area before taking affirmative action to reduce the level of noise, and thus optimally to reduce the extent of roaming or use of less preferred coverage. |
| US08233897B2 |
Assessment of idle portions of multidimensional radio spectrum access
Embodiments herein provide methods and systems for quantifying idle radio spectrum access across a geographic region. In an embodiment, a method for quantifying idle radio spectrum access across a geographic region includes selecting geo-referenced locations from within the geographic region to form a geo-referenced set of observation locations, independently integrating go-referenced coverage areas for one or more wireless devices within the geographic region to form an assessment of multidimensional radio spectrum conditions across the geographic region, and computing geo-referenced portions of idle multidimensional radio spectrum access across the geographic region. The method may additionally include expressing the geo-referenced portions of idle multidimensional radio spectrum access in terms of spatial statistics, aggregate statistics, and a combination of spatial statistics and aggregate statistics. |
| US08233896B2 |
Mobile communication units that display connectivity loss boundaries
A mobile communication unit is provided that employs a propagation algorithm to determine connectivity loss boundaries that define connectivity loss regions based on one or more forward projected position vector paths of the mobile communication unit and connectivity data. The mobile communication unit further comprises a map renderer configured to provide map display data that includes the map area data, situational awareness location data and the determined connectivity loss boundaries, and a display configured to display the map display data as a geographical map area with an icon of the mobile communication unit located in a geographic location of the geographical map area and drawn connectivity loss boundaries that define connectivity loss regions in a geographic location of the geographical map area. |
| US08233895B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in transferring user data between two different mobile communication devices using a removable memory card
A source device is initially enabled to maintain data synchronization with a host server over a wireless communication network via a first wireless transceiver for user data of an application program associated with a user account. To enable a target device, the source device is operative to establish a programming session with the target device via a second wireless transceiver. During the programming session, the source device causes user account data (e.g. an encryption/decryption key for the data-synchronized communications) for the user account to be transmitted to the target device via the second wireless transceiver. The user data associated with the application program may be transferred from the source device to the target device via a removable memory card such as a secure digital (SD) card. |
| US08233893B2 |
Mobile handset update package generator that employs nodes technique
A mobile handset in a mobile services network, with access to a plurality of services including a firmware/software update service, is also capable of updating its update agent using an appropriate update package that is retrieved from an update package repository via a management server. A generator with nodes preprocessor is used to create an update package and associated information, such as nodes information and filter information, by comparing two different versions of the firmware/software of the mobile handset. |
| US08233890B2 |
Environment independent user preference communication
Included are embodiments of a method for communicating user preferences to at least one environment. At least one embodiment includes receiving a request from an environment for preference information related to a user and receiving a user identifier from the environment, the user identifier obtained via a portable user device. Other embodiments include determining at least one user preference related to the user, determining capabilities related to the environment, and communicating at least one user preference to the environment. |
| US08233888B1 |
Leveraging mobile-device analytics for informing and call handling
Computer-readable media and methods are provided for utilizing analytics collected by a mobile device to inform a user and to implement rules that instruct the mobile device on handling of calls. Analytics that include data about calls made and received by the mobile device are collected by the mobile device. An application on the mobile device uses the analytics to rank callers and provides the rankings to the user. A rule is received by the mobile device that indicates how to handle inbound and outbound calls based at least on the rankings. The analytics and rules are also useable for promotional purposes and can be shared with other services. |
| US08233879B1 |
Mobile device personalization based on previous mobile device usage
A system for personalizing new mobile devices based on previous mobile device usage is provided. The system includes a storage device, a processor, and a personalizing engine. The personalizing engine, when executed by the processor, stores user input for a first mobile device to the storage device, and builds a profile based on the user input. The personalizing engine also configures a user interface on a second mobile device to provide a user interface link based on the profile to enable a user to access the user interface link via the second mobile device. |
| US08233873B2 |
Device and methods for enhanced matched filtering based on correntropy
A signal processing device is provided, the device having a signal input for receiving a signal conveyed over a channel and defining a received signal. The device further includes one or more filters for generating a signal response based upon the received signal. The signal response includes an estimated value of a correntropy statistic. Additionally, the device includes a decision module connected to at least one of the filters for probabilistically deciding whether the received signal contains an information signal component based upon the estimated value of the correntropy statistic. The device further includes a signal output to convey a signal output indicating the received signal corresponds to a known signal template if the decision module decides that the received signal contains the information signal component. |
| US08233870B2 |
Multiple frequency band multiple standard transceiver
A transceiver includes a receiver section and a transmitter section. The receiver section converts an inbound Multiple Frequency Bands Multiple Standards (MFBMS) signal into a down converted signal, wherein the inbound MFBMS signal includes a desired signal component and an undesired signal component. In addition, the receiver section determines spectral positioning of the undesired signal component with respect to the desired signal component and adjusts at least one of the MFBMS signal and the down converted signal based on the spectral positioning to substantially reduce adverse affects of the undesired signal component on the desired signal component to produce an adjusted signal. The transmitter section converts an outbound symbol stream into an outbound MFBMS signal. |
| US08233869B2 |
Automatic gain control with improved cross-modulation
An apparatus such as a television signal receiver provides an AGC function which reduces cross-modulation distortion. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes first and second amplifiers coupled in series and a gain control circuit. The gain control circuit controls the gains of the first and second amplifiers in response to the magnitude of the input signal. The gain of the first amplifier remains substantially unchaged at a first level while the magnitude of the input signal is within a first range. The gain of the second amplifier is gradually reduced in the first range. The gain of the first amplifier remains substantially unchaged at a second level, which is lower than the first level, while the magnitude of the input signal is within a second range. The gain of the second amplifier gradually reduced in the second range. The gain of first amplifier is gradually reduced at least in part of a third range while the magnitude of the input signal is within the third range. The gain of the second amplifer remains substantially unchaged in the third range. |
| US08233865B2 |
Reception device and reception method
The noise amount information storage unit 161 stores noise amount information which indicates relationships between gain value of the variable gain amplification units 121 and 125 and the amount of noise included in BB signals output from the down converters 131 and 135. The AGC unit 140 controls the gain value of the variable gain amplification units 121 and 125 so that the power of BB signals output from the down converters 131 and 135 becomes constant. The noise amount estimation unit 162 estimates noise amount of noise corresponding to the controlled gain value of the variable gain amplification units 121 and 125 by referring to the noise amount information stored in the noise amount information storage unit 161. The weight generation unit 170 generates weight matrix based on results of estimations performed by the channel characteristic estimation unit 150 and the noise estimation unit 162. |
| US08233862B2 |
Radio sensor for detecting wireless microphone signals and a method thereof
Wireless microphone signals are detected by processing an input signal to determine a number of frequency bins within a channel frequency band having an energy level above a first predefined threshold (S510); identifying locations of the frequency bins having an energy level above the first predefined threshold, when the number of bins is greater than zero (S520, S530); for each frequency bin having an energy level above the first predefined threshold, processing signals within a narrow frequency band of the frequency bin (S570); determining a number of signal peaks within the narrow frequency band that are above a second predefined threshold (S575); and generating a message indicating a presence or an absence of a microphone signal based on the number of signal peaks (S590, S595). |
| US08233860B2 |
Power amplification apparatus for envelope modulation of high frequency signal and method for controlling the same
A power amplification apparatus and method provide for controlling envelope modulation of a Radio Frequency (RF) signal. The power amplification apparatus includes a linear amplifier configured to receive an input signal to be amplified, and generate a linear output signal for compensating for a current ripple of an amplified signal and a switch control signal having a current obtained by dividing the linear output signal by a predetermined ratio. The power amplification apparatus also includes a switching amplifier configured to receive the switch control signal through a multi-mode resistor having a variable resistance, and generate the amplified signal. The variable resistance of the multi-mode resistor determines a switching frequency representing an operating speed of the switching amplifier, and is adjusted according to a communication mode of the input signal. |
| US08233855B2 |
Up-conversion based on gated information signal
A method and system is described wherein an information signals is gated at a frequency that is a sub-harmonic of the frequency of the desired output signal. In the modulation embodiments, the information signal is modulated as part of the up-conversion process. In a first modulation embodiment, one information signal is phase modulated onto the carrier signal as part of the up-conversion process. In a second modulation embodiment, two information signals are multiplied, and, as part of the up-conversion process, one signal is phase modulated onto the carrier and the other signal is amplitude modulated onto the carrier. In a third modulation embodiment, one information signal is phase modulated onto the “I” phase of the carrier signal as part of the up-conversion process and a second information signal is phase modulated onto the “Q” phase of the carrier as part of the up-conversion process. In a fourth modulation embodiment, four information signals are phase and amplitude modulated onto the “I” and “Q” phases of the carrier as part of the up-conversion process. There are at least two implementations of each of the aforementioned embodiments. |
| US08233854B2 |
Polar modulator and method for generating a polar-modulated signal
A polar modulator for generating a polar-modulated signal based on amplitude information and phase information includes a phase-locked loop which is implemented to enable a setting of a frequency depending on a control value to obtain a phase-locked loop output signal. The polar modulator further includes a modulation means which is implemented to combine an amplitude modulation signal derived from the amplitude information with the phase-locked loop output signal to generate the polar-modulated signal. The polar modulator further includes a control value generator which is implemented to high-pass filter an amplitude signal derived from the amplitude information, to obtain a high-pass filtered amplitude signal, wherein the control value generator is implemented to combine the high-pass filtered amplitude signal with a phase signal based on the phase information to generate the control value signal representing the control value. |
| US08233853B2 |
Transmission circuit for radio frequency signals and method for transmitting radio frequency signals
A transmission circuit for radio frequency signals has a power mixer and includes a radio frequency input port, a first radio frequency output port, a second radio frequency output port, and a dummy load port. The transmission circuit also has a first switch unit and a second switch unit. The first switch unit is connected to the first radio frequency output port and outputs the radio frequency signals which are emitted from the first radio frequency output port or reflects the radio frequency signals which are emitted from the first radio frequency output port back to the first radio frequency output port. The second switch unit is connected to the second radio frequency output port and outputs the radio frequency signals which are emitted from the second radio frequency output port, or reflects the radio frequency signals which are emitted from the second radio frequency output port back to the second radio frequency output port. The radio frequency signals reflected to the radio frequency input port by the first switch unit and the radio frequency signals reflected to said radio frequency input port by the second switch unit cancel each other. The transmission circuit has reduced complexity and cost. |
| US08233846B2 |
Configurable transceiver and methods for use therewith
A configurable radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a configuration controller that generates at least one mode control signal that indicates an isolation mode, a frequency mode and an antenna mode. An antenna section includes a plurality of antennas and that selects an antenna configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. An isolation section includes a plurality of isolation circuits and that selects an isolation circuit based on the at least one mode control signal. An RF section selects an RF configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. A baseband section selects a baseband configuration based on the at least one mode control signal. |
| US08233841B2 |
Near field communication initialization
A method of application initialization of a near field communication (NFC) enabled device comprising loading a first NFC enabled device with an application for conducting a financial transaction over a network; and transferring the application to a second NFC enabled device via a NFC link, is described herein. |
| US08233840B2 |
Ephemeris-based synchronization for mesh satellite communications
Methods, systems, and devices are described for synchronization in mesh satellite communications. The arrival time of the gateway signal may be used to set a start of receive frame time for a terminal. A received control signal from the gateway may then be used to set a start of transmit frame time for the user terminal. The distance between the satellite and the gateway may change. Ephemeris data, various collections of terminal measurements, or terminal sync bursts may be used to modify start of transmit frame or start of receive frame settings for the terminal or gateway. |
| US08233832B2 |
Fixing unit and image forming apparatus with the same
A fixing unit for fixing a toner image onto a sheet passing between a first element and a second element pressed against the first element includes a looped coil surface formed with a coil so that the coil surface generates a magnetic field for induction-heating the first element, the coil surface including an inner edge defining an opening region; an upright wall disposed inside the opening region, an opening being formed in the upright wall; a center core disposed along the opening region, the center core including a conductive shaft and a magnetic tube configured to at least partially cover the conductive shaft; and a nonconductive cap inserted into the opening, the nonconductive cap partially covering the conductive shaft to electrically insulate the coil from the conductive shaft. |
| US08233826B2 |
Developing apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A housing of a developing apparatus is provided with a conveying member in a developer supplying and recovering portion, and two agitating members rotating in the same direction respectively as viewing rotating shafts from a near side in an axial direction, in a developer agitating portion. A guide is provided in an inner bottom surface of the housing between two agitating members. A braking portion suppressing a discharge of a developer is provided in a downstream side of the developer agitating portion in a developer conveying direction of the first agitating member, and a discharge portion is provided in a downstream side of a disc of the braking portion. |
| US08233824B2 |
Gear mechanism and image forming apparatus
A gear mechanism is provided and includes a first sun gear; a first planetary gear configured to mesh with the first sun gear; a first arm configured to keep a distance between the first sun gear and the first planetary gear and configured to swing around a rotation axis of the first sun gear; a second sun gear; a second planetary gear configured to mesh with the second sun gear; a second arm configured to keep a distance between the second sun gear and the second planetary gear and configured to swing around a rotation axis of the second sun gear; and an interlocking unit configured to connect the first arm and the second arm with each other for interlocking the swinging of the first arm and the second arm, the interlocking unit configured to move independently of rotations of the first sun gear and the second sun gear. |
| US08233819B2 |
Image-forming device having detachable process cartridge
An image forming device capable of attaching and detaching a process cartridge to and from a frame without mechanical interference of the process cartridge with sheet feed unit and an LED array and without any movement of the LED array. 1. The image forming device includes the process cartridge detachably assembled in a frame and accessible through a front opening upon opening a door. The cartridge includes a casing movably supported by the frame, a photosensitive drum, a charger, and a developing roller. A sheet cassette is detachably installed to the frame at a position below the process cartridge for accommodating a stack of sheets. A sheet feed unit is supported to the process cartridge. The LED array is supported to the frame and is provided independent of the casing. A guide structure is provided at tire frame to guide movement of the process cartridge along with the sheet feed unit from an image forming operating position toward the door and away from the LED array. |
| US08233818B2 |
Inner cap for toner container and toner container
A toner container that can pass not only air but a toner, has toner sealing ability, and does not allow toner leakage even during transportation and an inner pressure change of the container, by placing an air permeable member at the fitting part in the casing part. An inner cap including at least the air permeable member is placed in the casing part of the inner cap, wherein the inner cap is used for a toner container that is detachably mounted to a developing unit in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographical method, and the toner container includes at least a container main body, the inner cap, and an outer cap. |
| US08233816B2 |
Developer cartridge with memory and terminal
A developer cartridge according to one aspect of the invention is attachable to a photoconductor unit that comprises a photoconductive drum. The developer cartridge comprises: a developing frame; a developing roller rotatably supported by the developing frame, and pressed to the photoconductive drum in a pressing direction when the developer cartridge is attached to the photoconductor cartridge; a memory unit attached to the developing frame; and a terminal electrically connected to the memory unit and disposed at an outer portion of the developing frame at a position substantially opposite to the developing roller with respect to the pressing direction. |
| US08233812B2 |
Customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) unit, replaceable unit and image forming apparatus comprising the CRUM unit, and unit driving method thereof
A replaceable unit to participate in an image forming job of an image forming apparatus includes a storage unit to store therein a driving condition corresponding to an operation environment, a detecting unit to monitor the operation environment, a controlling unit to detect a corresponding driving condition from the storage unit if the detecting unit detects the driving environment, and an interface unit to provide a main body of the image forming apparatus with the detected corresponding driving condition. Accordingly, the replaceable unit can be driven under optimum driving conditions. |
| US08233809B2 |
Polarization independent frequency domain equalization (FDE) for chromatic dispersion (CD) compensation in PolMux coherent systems
A method for the polarization independent frequency domain equalization (FDE) chromatic dispersion compensation on polarization multiplexing (POLMUX) coherent systems. Operationally, time domain signals are converted to frequency domain signals such that time domain convolution can be done as simple multiplications in the frequency domain. These frequency domain signals then converted back to time domain for subsequent use. The input signal size and FFT size are advantageously designed so that the output signals can be continuous with some overlap between two successive frames. |
| US08233807B2 |
Optical pulse amplication apparatus and method
A method and apparatus for producing a series of amplified optical pulses from a series of input optical pulses. The method includes creating a set of local optical pulses from a series of input optical pulses, the set of local optical pulses being applied to the input of an optical amplifier and having different amplitudes arranged in a graded order. The set of local optical pulses are amplified by an optical amplifier to have a significantly amplified first local optical pulse that is removed from the set of local optical pulses and output as a part of the series of amplified optical pulses. After removing the significantly amplified first local optical pulse, the set of local optical pulses is recreated by adding a new optical pulse from the series of input optical pulses to the end of the set of local optical pulses; and the recreated set of local optical pulses is routed back to be applied to the input of the optical amplifier to continue producing the series of amplified optical pulses. The formed set of local optical pulses having different (graded) amplitudes arranged in a descending order is configured such that the first local optical pulse has a much higher peak power before the optical amplifier gets saturated. |
| US08233806B2 |
Transmitter apparatus and communication system
A transmitter apparatus to transmit information to a receiver apparatus by using visible light emitted from a plurality of light sources includes at least a first light source to transmit user data; at least a second light source to transmit a pilot signal; and at least a third light source to transmit notice information that is necessary for receiving the user data in the receiver apparatus, the third light source being placed at a position determined by the position of the second light source. |
| US08233804B2 |
Fiber optic cable diagnostics using digital modulation
Embodiments are directed to fiber optic cable diagnostics using digital modulation. A contact of a RFID (radio frequency identification) device located in a cable is connected with a contact of an optical transceiver. Data through the cable is using digital modulation and monitored to determine if the fiber optic cable and the optical transceiver are properly functioning. |
| US08233798B2 |
Parallel transmission of data streams in a star-configured network
A data communications network includes N nodes, where N is an integer greater than one, and a star coupler coupled to each of the N nodes. Each node includes a transmitter and a receiver. The star coupler is configured to receive, in parallel, data streams transmitted from a plurality of the N nodes, and to passively retransmit, in parallel, each of the received data streams to each node of the N nodes. Each receiver is configured to receive multiple data streams in parallel. |
| US08233789B2 |
Dynamic exposure metering based on face detection
A system, computer readable medium, and method for dynamically setting a camera's exposure parameters based on face detection are disclosed. When taking a picture or video of a person in front of a bright background, standard exposure algorithms tend to overexpose the background. In one embodiment disclosed herein, a face detection algorithm is run on the current picture or video frame, and the exposure metering region is inset over the detected face. Exposure time, gain, or other exposure parameters may be set based on the pixels within the exposure metering region. In another embodiment, the exposure metering region tracks a moving face according to lag parameters so that the exposure metering region remains substantially over the face. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of faces may be tracked, with the exposure parameters set based on a weighted average of the pixels within the plurality of face-containing exposure metering regions. |
| US08233787B2 |
Focus method and photographic device using the method
A photographic device using a focus method includes a zoom lens, an image analyzing module, a focus distance providing module and a processing module. The zoom lens is used for capturing image information of a plurality of positions. The image analyzing module is used for analyzing contrast values of the image information of the plurality of positions. The focus distance providing module is used for providing a non-equivalent and a constant focus distance interval for capturing the image information of the plurality of positions. The processing module is electrically connected with the zoom lens, the image analyzing module, and the focus distance providing module. Whereby, the photographic device acquires the image information of the plurality of positions by the non-equivalent focus distance interval, acquires a coarse focus position, and acquires an accurate focus position by the constant focus distance according to the coarse focus position. |
| US08233786B2 |
Image shake correction apparatus and image pickup apparatus
Provided is an image shake correction apparatus including: an image taking optical system for taking an image of a subject; an angular velocity detection unit for detecting an angular velocity applied to the apparatus and outputting a first signal; an acceleration detection unit for detecting an acceleration applied to the apparatus and outputting a second signal; an axial rotation angular velocity calculation unit for calculating an axial rotation angular velocity component about a principal point of the image taking optical system based on the first signal; a revolution angular velocity calculation unit for calculating a revolution angular velocity component about the subject based on the second signal and a result of the calculating by the axial rotation angular velocity calculation unit; and a control unit for performing image shake correction control based on a difference between the axial rotation angular velocity component and the revolution angular velocity component. |
| US08233783B2 |
Apparatus for utilizing water
An apparatus for utilizing water such as, for example, an atomizer or vaporizer, having at least one container for water. Here, two ceramic electrodes that can be used to treat the water are arranged for the purpose of improving the water quality in the container. |
| US08233781B2 |
Image reproduction method and image reproduction apparatus
There is provided an image reproduction apparatus for seamlessly reproducing a connected stream which is obtained by connecting plural streams that are respectively coded by different codec methods. An image reproduction apparatus (100) for reproducing a connected stream which is obtained by connecting plural streams of different codec methods such as an MPEG-2 method and an MPEG-4 AVC method is provided with a stream buffer (102) in which the connected stream Bst is stored, and plural decoders Dd1˜Ddn corresponding to the various kinds of codec methods, and a decoder for decoding each stream in the connected stream Bst that is outputted from the stream buffer (102) is selected from among the plural decoders according to the codec method of each stream. |
| US08233778B2 |
Method of reproducing a still picture from a recording medium, method of decoding the still picture and the recording medium
In the method, video data is reproduced from the recording medium, and an I-picture and a number of P-pictures are output as a still picture based on the reproduced video data. The output data may then be received and decoded for display. |
| US08233777B2 |
Data transmitting method, recording medium, apparatus for reproducing data from recording medium using local storage and method thereof
A method of transmitting encrypted data, recording medium including the encrypted data, apparatus for reproducing the same using a local storage and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes downloading a data associated with the recording medium to the local storage, constructing a virtual package by binding the downloaded data to a disc package within the recording medium, decrypting an indexing item of an index table within the virtual package using a key within a key file associated with the recording medium, and reproducing the decrypted indexing item, wherein information for solving a mismatch that occurs between the indexing item of the index table and an indexing item of the key file is included in the virtual package. By the present invention, the data associated with the recording medium is downloaded from outside to the local storage while contents provided by a content provider are protected. And, both of the data within the recording medium and the data within the local storage can be efficiently reproduced using a virtual package. Therefore, the present invention can provide more convenient functions to a user. |
| US08233772B1 |
Generating transitions for remapping video playback time
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to generating transitions for remapping video playback time. The subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes providing a digital video editing user interface that includes a variable rate speed control configured to define associated keyframe elements including a begin element, an end element and an intermediate time element; receiving input defining at least one of the keyframe elements in relation to a sequence of digital video; and generating a time transition function for remapping playback time of the video based on the input, wherein the time transition function maintains predefined speed for video frames leading into the begin element, maintains predefined speed for video frames leading away from the end element, and changes video speed from a begin speed value to an end speed value in accordance with one or more intermediate time element values. |
| US08233767B2 |
Information recording apparatus
One object of example embodiment is to provide arrangements for enabling a user to willfully record a highlight position and highlight importance without having to perform any burdensome procedure during highlight scene shooting. When a highlight button acquisition information and weight information input from a user interface 103 are acquired in a situation where a system control section 101 retains a predetermined time-shift time, the system control section 101 calculates marker information that includes the weight information and the information about a position earlier by the time-shift time, and records the marker information on a recording medium 105 via a drive control section 104. |
| US08233754B2 |
Optical high voltage sensor
An electro-optical high-voltage sensor includes a waveguiding sensing fiber of an electro-optical material. The electrical field of the voltage to be measured is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensing fiber. The sensing fiber carries two orthogonally polarized light waves, with the applied field affecting the birefringence between the waves. Using an electro-optical waveguiding fiber in this configuration allows the voltage between two widely spaced points to be accurately measured. |
| US08233753B2 |
Electric field sensor, magnetic field sensor, electromagnetic field sensor and electromagnetic field measuring system using these sensors
An electric field sensor or a magnetic field sensor includes an optical fiber and an electro-optic layer or a magneto-optic layer. The electro-optic layer or a magneto-optic layer is provided on an end surface of an end portion of the optical fiber. The end surface of the optical fiber is a convex shape. The optical fiber may have the end portion with a shape of a substantial cone formed by extending the end portion, and the electro-optic layer or the magneto-optic layer may be formed on a side surface of a front end of the substantial cone. A dielectric layer may be further included between the optic layer and the end surface. |
| US08233749B2 |
Image processing system, projector, method and computer program product
The disclosure refers to an image processing system, projector, method and computer program product. In one example, an image processing system includes an interpolation unit that performs interpolation using an input image and a reference pixel in an input background part outside of the input image and interpolation pixels including neighboring pixels around the reference pixel, and a target pixel location determination unit that determines a location of a target pixel with respect to an image after distortion correction in a display area of an optical modulator. |
| US08233741B1 |
Reducing building lean in stitched images
A method for reducing building lean in stitched images includes accessing overlapping images of a geographic area, and calculating a pixel preference cost for each pixel region of a plurality of pixel regions in each image based on a location of the respective pixel region in a three-dimensional projection of each image. The method also includes selecting a pixel region from the images for each of a plurality of pixel region positions in the geographic area by reducing a cost function that includes the pixel preference cost, and assigning the respective selected pixel region to each of the pixel region positions to create the stitched image containing the building with reduced lean. In another embodiment, the pixel preference cost includes a distance from center cost that is based on a distance to the respective pixel region from the center of the image. Corresponding systems and computer readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08233740B2 |
System and method for constructing photorealistic mosaics
Systems and methods for constructing photorealistic mosaics are described. One embodiment of the invention includes capturing an image of a sheet that includes a plurality of pieces of material, determining the location of each piece of material on the sheet from the captured image, extracting images of each piece of material on the sheet from the captured image, storing an image of each piece of material and information concerning the location of the piece of material in a database and using the images in the database and the target image to identify pieces of material to be used in the construction of the photorealistic mosaic. |
| US08233738B2 |
Enhancing dynamic ranges of images
Methods and apparatus according to various aspects take as input image data in a lower-dynamic-range (LDR) format and produce as output enhanced image data having a dynamic range greater than that of the input image data (i.e. higher-dynamic range (HDR) image data). In some embodiments, the methods are applied to video data and are performed in real-time (i.e. processing of video frames to enhance the dynamic range of the video frames is completed at least on average at the frame rate of the video signal). |
| US08233736B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and recording medium having recorded thereon program for executing the method
A digital photographing apparatus, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method are provided. The digital photographing apparatus includes: a data obtainer that obtains long exposure first data about a first image of a subject and short exposure second data about a second image of the subject; a third data generator that generates third data about a third image by warping the first data so that the subject of the first image and the subject of the second image match each other; and a second data amender which, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, amends the second data so that the second data value S(x, y) at the pixel (x, y) of the second image has the third data value W(x, y) at the pixel (x, y) of the third image. |
| US08233734B2 |
Image upsampling with training images
Images are upsampled using a knowledge base derived from a plurality of high-quality training images. The knowledge base is used to refine a high-frequency component including high-frequency aspects of a high-resolution, low-frequency image, interpolated from a low-resolution full-frequency image, into a high-frequency component. An enhancement step is performed without using a knowledge base to construct a high-compatibility component from the low-resolution, full-frequency image. The low-resolution, full-frequency image is combined with the coarse high-frequency component to yield an enhanced high-frequency component. A second knowledge base step is performed to construct an improved high-frequency component from the enhanced high-frequency component. The improved high-frequency component is blended with a high-resolution, low-frequency image to yield a high-resolution image. |
| US08233733B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device includes: a first smoothing unit calculating, regarding multiple positions along a first direction in a neighbor region of a predetermined pixel of interest in an input image, a first-stage smoothing value wherein pixel values have been smoothed along a second direction differing from the first, for a first channel; a second smoothing unit calculating, regarding multiple positions along the first direction in the neighbor region, a first-stage smoothing value wherein pixel values have been smoothed along the second direction, for a second channel; an intensity estimating unit estimating the intensity of the first-stage smoothing value of the second channel, based on the first-stage smoothing values of the first and second channels; and a third smoothing unit calculating a second-stage smoothing value for the second channel, the first-stage smoothing value of the second channel intensity-estimated by the intensity estimating unit having been smoothed along the first direction. |
| US08233732B2 |
Method and device for selecting optimal transform matrices for down-sampling DCT image
Down-sampling of an image may be performed in the DCT domain. Transform matrices are obtained for down-sampling a DCT image of size M×N to a down-sampled DCT image of size I×J. The transform matrices may be used to down-sample the DCT image directly in the DCT domain. A spatial domain down-sampling method is selected and applied to the DCT image to produce a down-sampled DCT reference image. The transform matrices are selected by solving an optimization problem, leading to transform matrices which achieve a desired trade-off between the visual quality of images obtained using the transform matrices and the computational complexity associated with using the transform matrices. The visual quality is a measure of the difference between the down-sampled DCT image obtained using the transform matrices and the visual quality of the DCT reference image obtained using a spatial domain down-sampling method. |
| US08233727B2 |
Arbitrary ratio image resizing in the DCT domain
A method and system for arbitrary resizing of a compressed image in the discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain. First and second scaling parameters P and Q are determined in accordance with the block numbers L and M and the scaling ratio L/M or M/L. A non-uniform, or uneven, sampling in the DCT domain is then applied to coefficients of successive blocks in the compressed image in accordance with the scaling parameters. In an embodiment, P blocks are sampled and transformed from a given block length to |P| according to a |P|-point IDCT, while Q blocks are sampled and transformed from a given block length to |Q| according to a |Q|-point IDCT. The non-uniformly sampled and transformed pixel domain samples are then regrouped into a predetermined block size and transformed back to generate the DCT coefficient of the compressed image. The proposed method significantly reduces the computational complexity compared with other DCT domain arbitrary ratio image resizing approach. It also facilitates the practical implementations since only the fast implementations of IDCT with length N (1 |
| US08233723B2 |
Image categorization based on comparisons between images
In an example embodiment, a method is provided for image categorization. Here, images are displayed. In turn, a user input that describes a characteristic shared between the images from a comparison between the images is received. The user input may then be classified into categorization data. |
| US08233718B2 |
System and method for identifying a vascular border
A system and method is provided for using a first vascular image, or more particularly a plurality of control points located thereon, to identify a border on a second vascular image. Embodiments of the present invention operate in accordance with an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device and a computing device electrically connected thereto. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, an IVUS console is electrically connected to a computing device and adapted to acquire IVUS data. The IVUS data (or multiple sets thereof) is then provided to (or acquired by) the computing device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the computing device includes a plurality of applications operating thereon—i.e., a border-detection application, an extrapolation application, and an active-contour application. These applications are used to (i) identify a border and control points on a first IVUS image (i.e., any IVUS image), (ii) extrapolate the control points to a second IVUS image (i.e., another IVUS image), (iii) identify a border on the second IVUS image, and (iv) adjust the border on the second IVUS image in accordance with at least one factor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one factor is selected from a group consisting of gradient factor, continuity factor, and curvature factor. |
| US08233715B2 |
Probabilistic intensity similarity measure based on noise distributions
Technologies for comparing observed intensities using a probabilistic similarity measure. In the probabilistic similarity measure example, there is no attempt to estimate a true intensity. Rather, the similarity of two observed intensities is defined as the likelihood that they each resulted from the same but unknown true identity while taking into account the noise characteristics of the camera observing the intensities. Since the true intensity is unknown, all possible true intensities are taken into account, rather than using a specific true intensity estimate. The probabilistic similarity measure indicates the degree to which two intensities correspond to the same intensity without estimating a true scene intensity value. |
| US08233714B2 |
Method and system for creating flexible structure descriptions
A method related to data capture from forms involving optical character recognition comprises detecting data fields on a scanned image; generating a flexible document description based on the detected data fields, including creating a set of search elements for each data field, each search element having associated search criteria; and training the flexible document description using a search algorithm to detect the data fields on additional training images based on the set of search elements. |
| US08233713B2 |
Image processing method and image processing apparatus
An image processing method, for receiving an input image and separating pixels having text characteristics and pixels having figure characteristics, includes: applying a first filtering processing for the input image to derive a first image processing result; applying a second filtering processing for the first image processing result to derive a second image processing result, wherein a distribution of filtering parameters of the first filtering processing is different from a distribution of filtering parameters of the second filtering processing; deriving a set of first reference values according to the first image processing result and the second image processing result; and determining whether each pixel within the input image is a text pixel or a figure pixel according to at least the set of the first reference values and a predetermined threshold. |
| US08233709B2 |
Color effects for compressed digital video
Implementing color effects in compressed digital video is improved upon by re-using the original video's compression parameters during the re-encoding stage, such that the parameters do not need to be re-estimated by the encoder. This improved method reduces complexity and also improves quality. Quality is improved due to re-use of the compression parameters since accumulated error which is common when re-encoding compressed video is prevented. For digital negatives, the effect is able to be implemented even more efficiently. |
| US08233702B2 |
Computer implemented technique for analyzing images
An input image is received, represented by a matrix D having a first number of dimensions. Each of the first number of dimensions may represent or correspond to a portion of the image. A metric objective may be identified. A dimensional reduction on the matrix D may then be performed that optimize the metric objective, so that a matrix d of a second number of dimensions is identified to represent the input image, where the second number of dimensions is less than the first number of dimensions. |
| US08233695B2 |
Generating image inspection data from subtracted corner-processed design data
A method of generating an inspection data used for inspecting an inspection-object pattern on a substrate, the inspection-object pattern formed by transferring a first mask pattern formed on a first mask and a second mask pattern formed on a second mask onto one layer on the substrate, a part of a first transferred pattern of the first mask pattern and a part of a second transferred pattern of the second mask pattern being overlapped on the layer. The method performs a corner process on each corner of a first design data of the first mask pattern and each corner of a second design data of the second mask pattern and generates an inspection data by performing a logical operation using the corner-processed first design data and the corner processed second design data. |
| US08233693B1 |
Automatic print and negative verification methods and apparatus
A method for inspecting a reel of motion picture film including a first plurality of frames of film, the method includes receiving the first plurality of frames of motion picture film to determine a first plurality of digital data, receiving a second plurality of digital data associated with source data, comparing digital data from the first plurality of digital data to respective digital data of the second plurality of digital data to determine plurality of anomalies associated with the first plurality of frames of motion picture film, and recording the plurality of anomalies associated with the first plurality of frames of motion picture film in a log. |
| US08233691B2 |
Reduction of heart motion artifacts in thoracic CT imaging
The invention relates to a system for adapting a plurality of model meshes to a plurality of image data. The system has a registration unit for registering the plurality of model meshes with the plurality of image data on the basis of a computation of a registration transformation for transforming the plurality of model meshes, and an adaptation unit for adapting the plurality of registered model meshes to the plurality of image data on the basis of a computation of locations of mesh vertices of the plurality of model meshes. The described system is capable of reducing motion artifacts in tomographic images computed from data acquired at a plurality of different cardiac cycle phases. |
| US08233688B2 |
Method of detection and compensation for respiratory motion in radiography cardiac images synchronized with an electrocardiogram signal
A method of detection and compensation for respiratory motion improves the registration between a 3D pre-operation image and X-ray images acquired during a cardiac intervention. By synchronizing the X-ray images with the electrocardiogram, the disclosed method thus eliminates the motion related to the heart cycle from these images, thus isolating the contribution of the respiratory motion. From this point, an algorithm is proposed capable of attributing the motion remaining in the radiography images to respiration. The algorithm also enables this motion to be detected and compensated for in order to obtain a registration between 3D cardiac images and radiography images. |
| US08233681B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for hierarchical registration between a blood vessel and tissue surface model for a subject and a blood vessel and tissue surface image for the subject
Methods, systems, and computer program products for hierarchical registration (102) between a blood vessel and tissue surface model (100) for a subject and a blood vessel and tissue surface image for the subject are disclosed. According to one method, hierarchical registration of a vascular model to a vascular image is provided. According to the method, a vascular model is mapped to a target image using a global rigid transformation to produce a global-rigid-transformed model. Piecewise rigid transformations are applied in a hierarchical manner to each vessel tree in the global-rigid-transformed model to perform a piecewise-rigid-transformed model. Piecewise deformable transformations are applied to branches in the vascular tree in the piecewise-transformed-model to produce a piecewise-deformable-transformed model. |
| US08233678B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging method and computer program for detecting a facial expression from a normalized face image
An image processing apparatus for processing an image, includes a face detector for detecting an image of a face of a subject contained in a captured image, based on image information of the captured image supplied from an imaging unit, a face feature detector for detecting a face feature contained in the face image, based on image information of the face image detected by the face detector, a normalizer for normalizing the face image detected by the face detector, based on a detected position of the face feature detected by the face feature detector and generating a normalized face image, and a face expression detector for detecting a face expression contained in the face image, based on image information of the normalized face image generated by the normalized. |
| US08233676B2 |
Real-time body segmentation system
In a human feature recognition system that is intended to provide substantially real-time recognition of body segments, various methods and structures are provided to facilitate real-time recognition with reduced computation requirements, including a face detection module employing an active boosting procedure and a lazy boosting procedure on a hybrid cascade structure, a human body segmentation module and a boundary matting module. The hybrid cascade structure is in the form of a tree where one type of node represents a strong classifier learned from active boosting, another type of classifier is obtained by low-computation-load lazy boosting, and weak classifiers are obtained from the previous layers. |
| US08233670B2 |
System and method for traffic sign recognition
This invention provides a vehicle-borne system and method for traffic sign recognition that provides greater accuracy and efficiency in the location and classification of various types of traffic signs by employing rotation and scale-invariant (RSI)-based geometric pattern-matching on candidate traffic signs acquired by a vehicle-mounted forward-looking camera and applying one or more discrimination processes to the recognized sign candidates from the pattern-matching process to increase or decrease the confidence of the recognition. These discrimination processes include discrimination based upon sign color versus model sign color arrangements, discrimination based upon the pose of the sign candidate versus vehicle location and/or changes in the pose between image frames, and/or discrimination of the sign candidate versus stored models of fascia characteristics. The sign candidates that pass with high confidence are classified based upon the associated model data and the drive/vehicle is informed of their presence. In an illustrative embodiment, a preprocess step converts a color image of the sign candidates into a grayscale image in which the contrast between sign colors is appropriate enhanced to assist the pattern-matching process. |
| US08233667B2 |
Apparatus and method for analysis of size, form and angularity and for compositional analysis of mineral and rock particles
Equipment and process for three-dimensional measurement of size and shape and for compositional analysis of mineral and rock particles and the like objects. A mixture of particles or objects of same or different sizes of minerals or rocks or the like are fed individually and automatically onto a conveyor belt for three-dimensional machine vision measurements using laser and two cameras and subsequently for spectroscopic measurements using visible and infrared light and are then collected at the end of the conveyor. Computer software is used to perform the measurement automatically and to calculate size, form, roundness, and preferably petrographic composition and other characteristics or properties of each individual object and the statistical distribution of relevant properties, either according to built-in measurement processes or user specific methods. |
| US08233666B2 |
Method and apparatus for capturing, geolocating and measuring oblique images
A computerized system for displaying and making measurements based upon captured oblique images. The system includes a computer system executing image display and analysis software. The software reads a plurality of captured oblique images having corresponding geo-location data and a data table storing ground plane data that approximates at least a portion of the terrain depicted within the captured oblique images. The executed software causes the computer system to receive a starting point selected by a user, receive an end point selected by the user and calculate a desired measurement between the starting and end points dependent upon the geo-location data and ground plane data. The desired measurement is selected from a group consisting of a distance measuring mode, a height measuring mode, and a relative elevation measuring mode. |
| US08233664B2 |
Determining relative depth of points in multiple videos
A relative depth of points captured by at least two recording sources are determined. A first sequence of image frames acquired from a first source and a second sequence of image frames acquired from a second source are received by a data processing system. The data processing system identifies a plurality of points-of-interest, each point-of-interest being present in both the first sequence and the second sequence. The points-of-interest are clustered into common depth planes at least by comparing motion across the sequences of different points-of-interest. Results of the clustering are stored in a processor-accessible memory system. |
| US08233659B2 |
Radiographic apparatus
A radiographic apparatus includes a radiation source for emitting radiation, a radiation detection device having radiation detecting elements arranged longitudinally and transversely for detecting the radiation, a radiation grid, and an object image correcting device. The object image correcting device generates a corrected image by deriving components of direct radiation in pixel values of an object image from a dark equation specifying that an average of radiation intensity in a dark pixel group formed of a dark pixel showing a shadow of one of absorbing foil strips and adjacent pixels transversely adjoining the dark pixel of each image is a sum of the components of direct radiation and components of indirect radiation, and light equations specifying that an average of radiation intensity in light pixels free of the shadows of the absorbing foil strips is a sum of the components of direct radiation and the components of indirect radiation. |
| US08233658B2 |
Security system using encoded image with puzzled image
Disclosed is a system for encoding an original image 10 using an image puzzle-type encoded image 20, and more particularly to a system for encoding an original image 10 using an image puzzle-type encoded image 20, in which an original image 10 including a photograph, a picture, a document, a character, a number, a fingerprint, or an iris image is divided into image pieces having a predetermined size and the divided image pieces are arranged according to a designated pattern so as to generate the image puzzle-type encoded image 20, so that it is possible to minimize the disclosure of information of the original image 10 using the image puzzle-type encoded image 20. The system includes an image encoding terminal 100 for converting the original image 10 into the encoded image 20 according to a image puzzling pattern so as to express the converted encoded image 20 on an encoded image expressing part 500, an image decoding terminal 200 for obtaining the encoded image 20 expressed on the encoded image expressing part 500 so as to restore the original image 10 according to the image puzzling pattern, and an image encoding server 300 for communicating with the image encoding terminal 100 and the image decoding terminal 200 so as to provide the image puzzling pattern. |
| US08233653B2 |
Receiver facility with a moveable receiver
The wearing comfort and acoustics in an external receiver, in particular in a cymba hearing device, are to be improved. A receiver facility with a receiver, which is embodied to convert the electrical signals into acoustic signals, and an earpiece, which adjusts to an auditory canal when the hearing apparatus is being worn, are thus proposed. A base part is also provided, to which the earpiece is fastened and to which the receiver is moveably fastened at least in respect of a section of the base part. The mobility of the receiver relative to the earpiece decouples the wearing function of the earpiece relative to a centering function in respect of the receiver, as a result of which the wearing comfort and acoustics are improved. |
| US08233650B2 |
Multi-stage estimation method for noise reduction and hearing apparatus
The noise reduction for signals which can contain speech at least part of the time is to be improved. To this end a hearing apparatus and especially a hearing device with a first estimation device for estimating a first value of an input signal with a first estimation algorithm and a noise reduction device for reducing noise in the input signal are provided. A second estimation device, which is parameterized with the estimated first value, is used for estimating a second value of the input signal with a second estimation algorithm. The noise reduction device receives the estimated second value from the second estimation device for reducing the noise. The two-stage estimation method enables an adaptive estimation to be carried out which is always currently adapted to an input signal. |
| US08233640B2 |
Sound output device
A sound output device of the present invention for outputting sound according to audio data fed thereto includes: a volume adjuster that is operated by a user in a predetermined manner, and that determines a ratio of volume of the sound to predetermined reference volume according to how it is operated by the user; a time detector detecting that a predetermined time has come; and a reference volume adjuster adjusting the reference volume according to a detection result of the time detector. Thus, the maximum level of the volume (which is dependent on the reference volume) can be automatically adjusted according to the current time. The volume adjuster determines the ratio of volume to reference volume according to the operation by the user. Thus, for example, the same operation performed by the user even under different levels of reference volume produces almost the same ratio of volume to reference volume. As a result, ease with which the user adjusts the volume can be prevented as much as possible from being impaired. |
| US08233639B2 |
Audio codec producing a tone controlled output
An audio codec includes an input for receiving audio information. Audio processing circuitry produces a first stereo audio signal, a second stereo audio signal, and a monotone audio signal based on the audio information. A low pass filter filters the monotone audio output, wherein the low pass filter passes a bass component of the monotone audio signal substantially unattenuated and attenuates higher frequency components of the monotone audio signal. A high pass filter filters the first stereo audio output, wherein the high passes filter passes a treble component of the first stereo audio signal substantially unattenuated and attenuates lower frequency components of the first stereo audio signal. A band pass filter filters the second stereo audio output, wherein the band pass filter passes a mid band component of the second audio signal substantially unattenuated and attenuates low frequency components and high frequency components of the second stereo audio signal. A summing module produces a tone controlled audio output. |
| US08233636B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program for suppressing noise
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program, which can suppress a low frequency range component with a small amount of calculation, and can achieve a noise suppression of high quality, are provided. The noise superposed in a desired signal of an input signal is suppressed by converting the input signal to a frequency domain signal; correcting an amplitude of the frequency domain signal to obtain an amplitude corrected signal; obtaining an estimated noise by using the amplitude corrected signal; determining a suppression coefficient by using the estimated noise and the amplitude corrected signal; and weighting the amplitude corrected signal with the suppression coefficient. |
| US08233634B2 |
Video/sound output device and external speaker control device
A television set includes: an internal speaker which outputs sound; a memory which holds information; a remote controller receiver which receives an instruction from the outside of the television set; a microcomputer which causes, based on a mode specifying instruction for specifying a sound output mode received by the remote controller receiver, the memory to hold any one of (a) information that indicates a first sound output mode in which sound is outputted from the internal speaker and (b) information that indicates a second sound output mode in which sound is outputted from an external speaker that is a speaker outside the television set; and an HDMI/CEC communication unit which outputs the information that indicates the sound output mode and that is held by the memory, to an amplifier which controls to operate or not operate the speaker outside the television set. |
| US08233629B2 |
Interaural time delay restoration system and method
An apparatus for processing audio data comprising an interaural time delay correction factor unit for receiving a plurality of channels of audio data and generating an interaural time delay correction factor. An interaural time delay correction factor insertion unit for modifying the plurality of channels of audio data as a function of the interaural time delay correction factor. |
| US08233627B2 |
Method and system for managing a key for encryption or decryption of data
A user private key is stored in a database of the user terminal. A user public key and user information are stored in the user management DB. The encryption/decryption unit encrypts an authority private key specific to a first authority given to a user, by using a user public key associated with user information to indicate a user. The secret sharing unit shares in secret an authority private key into two or more shared authority private keys. The encryption/decryption unit encrypts the shared authority private keys, by using an authority public key specific to each of second authorities to manage the first authority in a shared manner. The authority management DB stores the encrypted authority private key and authority public key in association with the first authority, and stores the encrypted shared authority private keys in association with the second authorities. |
| US08233626B2 |
Storage system and storage system management method
An object of the present invention is to prevent data from being tampered with, and to prevent operation mistakes, when sending and receiving data between a management software managing storage devices.Encrypting predetermined information by using a first key managed by a first manager when temporarily keeping the predetermined information in a data holding unit; decrypting the predetermined information encrypted with a second key kept in a storage device managed by a second storage manager when moving the encrypted predetermined information to the second storage manager; and arranging the predetermined information in the second manager based on the decryption result. |
| US08233620B2 |
Key recovery mechanism for cryptographic systems
A cryptographic system can include a register containing a key and a processor coupled to the register. The processor can be operable for performing a first encrypting operation, where the encrypting operation includes computing a key schedule using the register as a workspace. At the end of the first encrypting operation, the key is recovered from the register for use in a second encrypting operation. |
| US08233618B2 |
Method and system for generating a pair of public key and secret key
A method of generating a pair of public key and secret key, includes the steps of selecting a public key; selecting a secret key; computing a heavy prime number in responsive to the public key and the secret key; factoring the heavy prime number by selecting first and second prime numbers in condition that a sum of said first and second prime numbers equals to the heavy prime number; and pairing the secret key with the public key in term of the heavy prime number as a bridge to generate a unique combination between the secret key with the public key. Therefore, the secret key is definitively undetermined by conjecturing the public key even though the public key is known. |
| US08233615B2 |
Modular reduction using a special form of the modulus
A special form of a modulus and a modified Barrett reduction method are used to perform modular arithmetic in a cryptographic system. The modified Barrett reduction is a method of reducing a number modulo another number without the use of any division. By pre-computing static values used in the Barrett reduction method and by using a special form of the modulus, the calculation of reducing a number modulo another number can be reduced. This can result in a decrease in computation time, speeding up the overall cryptographic process. |
| US08233614B2 |
Integer division method secure against covert channel attacks
The invention relates to a cryptographic method involving an integer division of type q=a div b and r=a mod b, wherein a is a number of m bits, b is a number of n bits, with n being less than or equal to m, and bn−1 being non-null and the most significant bit of b. In addition, each iteration of a loop subscripted by i, which varies between 1 and m−n+1, involves a partial division of a word A of n bits of number a by number b in order to obtain one bit of quotient q. According to the invention, the same operations are performed with each iteration, regardless of the value of the quotient bit obtained. In different embodiments of the invention, one of the following is also performed with each iteration: the addition and subtraction of number b to/from word A; the addition of number b or a complementary number /b of b to word A; or a complement operation at 2n of an updated datum (b or /b) or a dummy datum (c or /c) followed by the addition of the datum updated with word A. |
| US08233612B2 |
Network apparatus capable of canceling far-end-crosstalk and network signal processing method thereof
The present invention provides a network apparatus capable of canceling far-end crosstalk (FEXT). When the network apparatus is under a training mode, hard data is provided to a FEXT canceller for performing FEXT cancellation. When the network apparatus is under a data mode, soft data is provided to the FEXT canceller for performing FEXT cancellation as well. Therefore, FEXT is effectively canceled, and consumption power of the network apparatus is saved. |
| US08233610B2 |
Assisting contact center agents and customers
A method of receiving a call from a first caller that is requesting for assistance with a product. Once the call center receives the call, a call-processing switch routes the first caller to a first agent. Once the caller is routed to the first agent, a first message is transmitted to both the first caller's terminal and the first agent's terminal. After the first message is presented to the first caller and the first agent, the call-processing switch will monitor the communications stream for distress. During monitoring of the communications stream, the call-processing switch will estimate whether a level of distress is present in the communications stream. If it is estimated by the call-processing switch that there is distress present in the communications stream, the call-processing switch will transmit a second message to the first caller's terminal and the first agent's terminal. |
| US08233607B1 |
Easy call abandon
A technique for managing simultaneous incoming and outgoing calls between the same far-end called terminal and far-end calling terminal and/or same user associated with a far-end called terminal and user associated with the far-end calling terminal includes an easy call abandon facility on a near-end terminal configured to compare information associated with an outgoing call to information associated with an incoming call. The easy call abandon facility is configured to initiate an audible or visible indicator when the terminal and/or user of the far-end called party is the same as that of the far-end calling party. In response to an easy call abandon indication received from a near-end terminal user, the easy call abandon facility disconnects the call from the near-end and connects the call received from the far-end terminal. |
| US08233606B2 |
Conference call hold with record and time compression
The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for allowing a conference call participant to place a conference call on hold. Additionally, a participant is provided with a number of rejoin and/or hold options that can be executed when the participant puts the conference call on hold and takes the conference call off of hold. The rejoin and/or hold options available to the participant may vary depending upon participant preference or the nature in which the participant is rejoining the conference call. |
| US08233605B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for monitoring conferences
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for monitoring a conference. A first bridging function is established that bridges together signals received from all conference participants. A second bridging function is established that bridges together signals received from i) a subset of the conference participants, ii) an output of the first bridging function, and iii) a monitor of the conference. The second bridging function isolates the monitor's signals from the conference such that only the subset of the conference participants may communicate with the monitor during the conference. |
| US08233599B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus includes a main unit connectable to the Internet and at least one secondary unit that is connectable to the Internet via the main unit. The main unit includes, a communication control unit that controls telephone communication with an external apparatus via the Internet, a storing unit that stores at least one user ID assigned individually to at least one user authorized to use the communication control unit in association with the main unit and the at least one secondary unit and an activating unit that is capable of activating the communication control unit for each user ID. |
| US08233595B2 |
System and method for forwarding a session based on a recording capacity
A system and method for forwarding a session based on a recording capacity. A recording sub-system may inform a session forwarding component of a recording capacity associated with agents. A forwarding component may select an agent to handle a session based on a recording capacity associated with the agent. A session may be interrupted if the recording capacity associated with the session is reduced below a predefined level. |
| US08233590B2 |
Method for automatically controling volume level for calculating MOS
The present invention relates to a method of automatically controlling the volume level of communication speech for Mean Opinion Score (MOS) measurement, which, before evaluating the quality of communication speech using a MOS measurement method, automatically controls the volume level of actual communication speech to a predetermined optimal level, thus improving the reliability of MOS values.The present invention provides a method of automatically controlling a volume level of communication speech for MOS measurement using MOS measurement equipment, the MOS measurement equipment calculating an MOS value based on results obtained by comparing a speech signal, which is received via a voice communication network, with a reference speech signal, the method comprising the steps of (a) when an audio signal, including a speech signal, is received from counterpart MOS measurement equipment in a predetermined format, measuring the volume level of the speech signal and comparing the volume level of the measured speech signal with a reference volume level; (b) transmitting a predetermined intrinsic audible frequency signal, which corresponds to ‘proper,’ ‘excess’ or ‘insufficiency’ information resulting from the comparison, to the counterpart MOS measurement equipment; and (c) the counterpart MOS measurement equipment interpreting the predetermined intrinsic audible frequency signal, which corresponds to the ‘proper,’ ‘excess’ or ‘insufficiency’ information, and controlling the volume level of the communication speech. |
| US08233589B2 |
Scattered electron collector
Scattered electron collector comprising a heat absorbing member having a first end, a second end, an outer periphery and a central bore (14, 16), wherein the central bore is formed in longitudinal direction through the heat absorbing member from the first end to the second end, and a cooling element (50) having an outer periphery and an inner periphery (52). The outer periphery (12) of the heat absorbing member is adapted to be in contact with the inner periphery of the cooling element. Further, at least one slot (20) is formed from the central bore in the direction to the outer periphery of the heat absorbing member to reduce compression stress within the heat absorbing member. |
| US08233585B2 |
X-ray diagnostic device
In a precessional operation where an X-ray irradiation means and a two-dimensional radiation detector are moving on a circular or elliptic orbit respectively by rotating either one of holding means, that is a C arm or a holding means at angular rate of a·sin(t) under a steady state condition and by rotating the other holding means at angular rate of b·cos(t), the operation is carried out at angular rate (f(t), g(t)) to ensure that the maximum acceleration is smaller than the steady state acceleration during a running-up period until steady is reached. |
| US08233582B2 |
High dynamic range coulomb counter which simultaneously monitors multiple sense resistors
A circuit may include a source of electrical energy and a plurality of current loads. Each load may be of a different amount. For each current load, a resistance may be in series between the source and the current load. The resistance may be weighted inversely proportional to the amount of the current load with respect to the other resistances. For each resistance, an integrator may generate an integrated output representative of an integration of the current traveling through the resistance. A summer may generate a summed output which is representative of the sum of each of the integrated outputs, weighted inversely proportional to the resistance that is associated with the integrated output. |
| US08233580B2 |
Method and system for producing radioisotopes
A system for automatic production of radioisotopes includes an irradiation unit connectable to a cyclotron and having an electrolytic cell; a purification unit for purifying the radioisotope formed in the irradiation unit; two conduits for transferring an irradiated and electrodissolved target from the irradiation unit to the purification unit; and a central control unit for controlling both the operating units and the transfer means. The method for producing radioisotopes is such that the target carrier is not dissolved together with the irradiated target. |
| US08233579B2 |
Devices comprising delay line for applying variable delay to clock signal
The disclosure relates to a device comprising at least one delay line for applying a variable delay to a clock signal and a controller for controlling the variable delay of the delay line. Each delay line comprises a plurality of concatenated delay banks which provide different delay values with respect to each other, a bypass parallel over each of said the delay banks, and switching elements associated with each of the delay banks for selecting either the respective delay bank or the respective bypass. Each of the delay banks is provided with a delay bank status indicator for indicating propagation of the clock signal through the delay bank towards the controller. The controller is provided for taking the indicated propagation of the clock signal into account upon setting said switching elements. Devices according to this disclosure are, amongst other uses, suited for use in Ultra Wide Band (UWB) receiving or transmitting devices, in particular those devices, designed for low power consumption, by enabling power on and off switching of parts of such devices as analog to digital converters and integrators, during timing windows. |
| US08233578B2 |
Phase-interpolator based PLL frequency synthesizer
A phase lock loop frequency synthesizer includes a phase rotator in the feedback path of the PLL. The PLL includes a phase detector, a low pass filter, a charge pump, a voltage controlled oscillator (“VCO”), and a feedback path connecting output of the VCO to the phase detector. The feedback path includes a phase rotator connected to the output of the VCO and to an input of a frequency divider. Coarse frequency control is implemented by adjusting the input reference frequency to the phase detector or by adjusting the divider ratio of the frequency divider. Fine frequency control is achieved by increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the phase rotator. The phase rotator constantly rotates phase of the VCO output, thereby causing a frequency shift at the output of the phase rotator. |
| US08233573B2 |
Dynamic optimization of overlap-and-add length
A method of performing overlap-and-add length for zero-padded suffixes. The method includes derotating received information symbol samples. The derotated received information symbol samples include a first set of derotated received information symbol samples and a second set of derotated received information symbol samples. The first set of derotated received information symbol samples are stored in a buffer. The second set of derotated received information symbol samples are provided to a received sample processing unit. The received zero-padded suffix samples are deroted. Based upon an overlap-and-add length, at least a fraction of the derotated received zero-padded suffix samples is added with at least a fraction of the first set of derotated received information symbol samples to produce multiple summed samples. The multiple summed samples is provided to the received sample processing unit. |
| US08233572B2 |
Interference mitigation for impulse-based communication
In a pulse-based communication system a transmitting device may generate a series of pulses to convey information via a communication medium to a receiving device. In some situations, interference from one or more interfering devices may alter the pulse energy as it is transmitted through the communication medium. To mitigate the effect of such interference, a receiving device may mark certain received pulses as erasures. In this way, such pulses may be ignored during the decoding operation of the receiver. |
| US08233570B2 |
Adaptive channel prediction system and method
A method and system for predicting channel fading, particularly in a mobile wireless environment, that is accurate for long-range predictions. The method comprises estimating a model parameters based on a current channel estimate, and recursively adapting the model parameters to predict future channel fading coefficients until a predetermined re-acquisition condition is satisfied. Once the re-acquisition condition has been satisfied, the model parameters are again estimated based on a current channel estimate. The acquired model parameters are adaptively updated and used in a Kalman filter. |
| US08233563B2 |
Outphasing amplification of digital modulated signals in a radiofrequency transmission system
Radiofrequency transmission system including a digital module producing a first complex digital signal quantised on N bits, a module transforming the first complex digital signal into two second complex digital signals with an identical and constant envelope that are phase-shifted with respect to one another, sigma-delta filters quantising the two second signals into third M bits signals, M being less than N, a digital-to-analogue converter converting the third signals into analogue signals, band-pass filters selectively filtering the analogue signals in a predetermined transmission frequency band, amplifiers amplifying the filtered analogue signals, and filters recombining the amplified analogue signals for transmission. |
| US08233562B2 |
System and method for closed-loop signal distortion
The system and method disclosed herein provide for closed-loop compensation of significant amplitude versus frequency group delay distortion that may be introduced into a satellite communication system signal by the uplink equipment and a satellite repeater equipment. One or more equalizers can be configured to automatically assess distortion at the downlink receiver, automatically calculate the necessary pre-distortion coefficients and provide them to a modulator that pre-distorts the uplink signal to thereby cancel the distortion. |
| US08233558B2 |
Methods and systems for space-time coding for distributed cooperative communicaton
Methods and systems for space-time coding for distributed cooperative communication. |
| US08233557B2 |
Method and system for subspace beamforming for near capacity multiple input multiple output (MIMO) performance
Aspects of a system for subspace beamforming for near capacity MIMO performance may include a MIMO transmitter that computes one or more rotation angle values (θf) based on a channel estimate matrix (H). In instances when each rotation angle is computed based on a Euclidean distance criterion, each value θf may also be computed based on a computed Euclidean distance. Alternatively, in instances when each rotation angle is computed based on a bit error rate (BER) criterion, each value θf may also be computed based on a signal noise power level (N0). A plurality of spatial stream signals (xi) may be generated utilizing one or more constellation types. The constellation map for each constellation type may be rotated based on a corresponding value θf. A plurality of transmit chain signals (txi) may be generated based on the signals xi and transmitted via a communication medium characterized by matrix H. |
| US08233550B2 |
Method of removing blocking artifact by filtering pixels in a horizontal and then vertical direction
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining quantization information of a first block, and determining a filtering coefficient based on values obtained from a table using the quantization. Four successive filtered pixel values in horizontal direction are obtained based on the filtering coefficient, and four successive filtered pixel values in the vertical direction are obtained based on the filtering coefficient after obtaining the four successive filtered pixel values in the horizontal direction. |
| US08233549B2 |
Video receiving apparatus and video receiving method to address error in received video
A video receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit, a detecting unit, a determining unit, and a control unit. The receiving unit receives a video stream transmitted from a video distribution apparatus and to be reproduced by a video reproducing unit. The detecting unit detects an error occurrence position on the video stream in response to an error occurring during receiving of the video stream. The determining unit determines a reproduction start time based on the error occurrence position detected by the detecting unit and a position of a predetermined synchronization code in the video stream so that reproduction of the video stream is started before the error occurrence position. The control unit transmits a reproduction request including the determined reproduction start time to the video distribution apparatus. |
| US08233548B2 |
Noise reduction device and noise reduction method of compression coded image
A noise reduction device includes a two-dimensional noise reducing unit for reducing noise by arithmetic processing within an image, a three-dimensional noise reducing unit for receiving the video signal from the two-dimensional noise reducing unit and reducing noise by arithmetic processing between images, a first noise reduction intensity setting unit for setting noise reduction intensity of the two-dimensional noise reducing unit, and a second noise reduction intensity setting unit for setting noise reduction intensity of the three-dimensional noise reducing unit. The second noise reduction intensity setting unit sets the noise reduction intensity of the three-dimensional noise reducing unit, so that the noise reduction intensity of the three-dimensional noise reducing unit becomes lower as the noise reduction intensity of the two-dimensional noise reducing unit becomes higher. |
| US08233545B2 |
Run length encoding in VLIW architecture
A computer implemented method of video data encoding generates a mask having one bit corresponding each spatial frequency coefficient of a block during quantization. The bit state of the mask depends upon whether the corresponding quantized spatial frequency coefficient is zero or non-zero. The runs of zero quantized spatial frequency coefficients determined by a left most bit detect instruction are determined from the mask and run length encoded. The mask is generated using a look up table to map the scan order of quantization to the zig-zag order of run length encoding. Variable length coding and inverse quantization optionally take place within the run length encoding loop. |
| US08233544B2 |
Video coding with fine granularity scalability using cycle-aligned fragments
The disclosure describes FGS video coding techniques that use cycle-aligned fragments (CAFs). The techniques may perform cycle-based coding of FGS video data block coefficients and syntax elements, and encapsulate cycles in fragments for transmission. The fragments may be cycle-aligned such that a start of a payload of each of the fragments substantially coincides with a start of one of the cycles. In this manner, cycles can be readily accessed via individual fragments. Some cycles may be controlled with a vector mode to scan to a predefined position within a block before moving to another block. In this manner, the number of cycles can be reduced, reducing the number of fragments and associated overhead. The CAFs may be entropy coded independently of one another so that each fragment may be readily accessed and decoded without waiting for decoding of other fragments. Independent entropy coding may permit parallel decoding and simultaneous processing of fragments. |
| US08233539B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting packet-based image frame
A method and apparatus for transmitting a packet-based image frame, the method including: dividing an input image into intra and inter prediction frames and encoding the intra and inter prediction frames; applying different error resilience algorithms to the intra and inter prediction frames; and performing forward error correction (FEC) on the intra and inter prediction frames according to the corresponding error resilience algorithms. According to aspects of the present invention, optimal error correction may be performed in accordance with characteristics of frames when image data is transmitted. Thus, a strong image streaming service for preventing errors of a mobile environment may be implemented simply and efficiently. |
| US08233538B2 |
Methods and systems for image intra-prediction mode management
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for ordering, communicating and applying pixel intra-prediction modes. |
| US08233536B2 |
Methods and systems for multiplication-free inter-layer image prediction
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for predicting image elements, comprising scaling a received low dynamic range (LDR) image element value for an image element via a binary shift operation, where the binary shift operation is based on a received prediction shift value, and combining, via a received additive operation, the scaled LDR image element value with the received LDR image element value. |
| US08233535B2 |
Region-based processing of predicted pixels
A method for decoding a compressed video data sequence containing one or more coded pixel blocks The compressed video sequence is buffered. Prediction information for each of the coded pixel blocks is reviewed. One or more groups of coded pixel blocks are formed based on the reviewed prediction information such that the coded pixel blocks within a given group have similar prediction dependencies and/or at least do not depend on a reconstructed pixel within a group of received pixel blocks to enable parallel decoding. The formed groups are scheduled for processing and subsequently decoded to produce a decoded video data sequence. |
| US08233534B2 |
Frame buffer compression and memory allocation in a video decoder
Frame buffer video compression on an input video stream to efficiently allocate and utilize memory used for storing reference frames in a video decoder includes parsing a video header to obtain a maximum number of reference frames (N), dividing an available frame buffer memory to hold [N+1] compressed frames, controlling a compression process to limit a size of each frame such that said size is not less than a frame buffer memory size divided by [N+1], parsing messages that contain reference frames by looking ahead in an input video stream buffer of the input video stream, and allocating memory for compressing a given reference frame based on a number of needed frames at a frame buffer. A quantization of the compression process may be adjusted to improve a picture quality of the input video stream. |
| US08233533B2 |
Apparatus for obtaining a filtered value by application of a shift operation
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to determine a reference pixel group including a pixel to be filtered. The reference pixel group includes at least three successive pixels. The decoder is configured to applying weight factors to at least each of the three successive reference pixels. The weight factors are different according to pixel position. A filtered value is obtained by the decoder by summing at least the three weighted successive pixels and applying a shift operation to the sum for dividing the sum. |
| US08233531B2 |
Processing apparatus and processing method for a digital television
A processing method and a processing apparatus for a digital television are provided. A processing apparatus for a digital television (DTV) to process a DTV stream, comprising: a demultiplexing unit for retrieving a service information from the DTV stream; a memory coupled to the demultiplexing unit for storing the service information; a first processor coupled to the memory for assigning a task by sending a command according to the service information; a second processor coupled to the memory for processing the task according the command; a communication unit coupled to the first processor and the second processor, for receiving the command from the first processor and sending the command to the second processor; and at least one function module coupled to the first processor and the second processor, respectively, controlled by the first processor or the second processor, to process the service information. |
| US08233527B2 |
Software video transcoder with GPU acceleration
Embodiments of the invention as described herein provide a solution to the problems of conventional methods as stated above. In the following description, various examples are given for illustration, but none are intended to be limiting. Embodiments are directed to a transcoding system that shares the workload of video transcoding through the use of multiple central processing unit (CPU) cores and/or one or more graphical processing units (GPU), including the use of two components within the GPU: a dedicated hardcoded or programmable video decoder for the decode step and compute shaders for scaling and encoding. The system combines usage of an industry standard Microsoft DXVA method for using the GPU to accelerate video decode with a GPU encoding scheme, along with an intermediate step of scaling the video. |
| US08233526B2 |
Scalable video coding method
A method of scalable video coding in which the video signal is processed and coded at various layers of spatial resolution where between each pair of spatial layers a prediction mechanism is enabled which allows a comparison at homologous layers of spatial resolution with the aim to obtain a good efficiency. |
| US08233523B2 |
Multidimensional asymmetric bang-bang control
In one embodiment, a system includes one or more digital feedback equalizers (DFEs) that include one or more residual intersymbol interference (ISI) detectors, one or more column balancers, and one or more weight selectors. The residual ISI detectors produce a first output signal indicating whether the residual ISI of a received input signal has a positive sign or a negative sign. The column balancers select one of the first output signals to produce a second output signal. The weight selectors access one of the weight values. The weight value corresponds to the column balancer, the residual ISI detector, and the sign of the residual ISI, and has a magnitude that is dependent on the sign of the residual ISI. The weight selectors produce a third output signal based on the weight value and the sign of the residual ISI. |
| US08233521B1 |
Flexible upstream resource sharing in cable modem systems
A cable modem termination system may include a number of receivers and a number of input ports configured to receive bursts of data from a number of cable modems on a number of channels. At least one receiver of the number of receivers may be configured to receive and decode bursts of data on at least one channel according to a first control signal. An input selector may be connected between the number of input ports and the number of receivers. The input selector may be configured to route bursts of data from the number of input ports to the number of receivers according to a second control signal. |
| US08233517B2 |
Pilot-based SINR estimation for MIMO systems
A combination of parametric and non-parametric approaches are disclosed for enabling pilot-based SINR estimation for MIMO systems. The pilot-based SINR estimation embodiments account for precoding applied during either single-stream or multi-stream data transmission. The pilot-based SINR estimation embodiments also account for code reuse interference which arises during multi-stream data transmission when spreading codes are reused on the data channel. Accordingly, mismatches that exist between the data channel and the pilot channel because of precoding and/or code reuse are inherently accounted for by the pilot-based SINR estimation embodiments disclosed herein. |
| US08233516B2 |
Wideband correlation mode switching methods and apparatuses
Methods and apparatus are provided for use in devices operatively enabled to perform waveform correlation result processing. |
| US08233512B2 |
Laser light source module
A heat sink is made of a material excellent in thermal conductivity and is mounted on a stem; a sub-mount substrate is made of a material excellent in insulation property and is mounted on the heat sink; a first lead frame made of a material excellent in electric conductivity and thermal conductivity and having a linear expansion coefficient similar to that of a semiconductor laser array, is mounted on the sub-mount substrate, having the semiconductor laser array mounted thereon, and composing a power feeding path of the semiconductor laser array; a second lead frame made of a material excellent in electric conductivity and thermal conductivity, is arranged on the sub-mount substrate side by side with the first lead frame, and composing the power feeding path of the semiconductor laser array; and a wire electrically bonds the semiconductor laser array and the second lead frame. |
| US08233511B2 |
Method and system for modulation of gain suppression in high average power laser systems
A high average power laser system with modulated gain suppression includes an input aperture associated with a first laser beam extraction path and an output aperture associated with the first laser beam extraction path. The system also includes a pinhole creation laser having an optical output directed along a pinhole creation path and an absorbing material positioned along both the first laser beam extraction path and the pinhole creation path. The system further includes a mechanism operable to translate the absorbing material in a direction crossing the first laser beam extraction laser path and a controller operable to modulate the second laser beam. |
| US08233510B2 |
Dual output laser source
A dual output laser source provided on a substrate outputs light from a first and second output. A portion of the light generated by the laser is supplied to a first modulator via the first output. A second portion of the light generated by the laser is supplied to a second modulator via the second output. The first modulator is provided on the substrate and generates a first modulated signal. The second modulator is also provided on the substrate and generates a second modulated signal. Each output of the laser is used to provide continuous wave light sources to components on photonic integrated circuit. |
| US08233509B2 |
Laser system with picosecond pulse emission
The invention relates to a device (1) for generating short pulses, said device being characterized in that it comprises: a polarized pulse laser (10, 2, 3) having a polarization direction; a bi-refringent optical fiber (6) having bi-refringence axes, wherein said polarization direction is not co-linear with said bi-refringence axes; an output polarizer (9) provided at the output of said fiber, said polarizer being capable of selecting a polarization at the output of said fiber; wherein said pulse laser in a longitudinally quasi-single mode laser. |
| US08233507B1 |
8/10 and 64/66 aggregation
A transmitter including a plurality of input lanes, a substitutor module, and an interleaver module. The plurality of input lanes is configured to receive input symbols including data symbols and idle symbols, wherein the input symbols are arranged into columns of concurrently received input symbols, and wherein each of the columns includes one input symbol from each of the plurality of input lanes. The substitutor module is configured to, at intervals, replace one of the columns with a column of alignment symbols. The substitutor module is further configured to replace an immediately subsequent one of the columns with a column of disposable symbols; and replace one or more immediately subsequent ones of the columns with columns of boundary symbols uninterrupted by disposable symbols. The interleaver module is configured to interleave symbols from the substitutor module between a first transmit lane and a second transmit lane. |
| US08233500B2 |
Context-dependent scheduling through the use of anticipated grants for broadband communication systems
A method of scheduling upstream bandwidth. This method comprises: 1) anticipating the need for the upstream bandwidth in advance of any specific request for said upstream bandwidth; and 2) scheduling the upstream bandwidth in accordance with such need. |
| US08233497B2 |
Communication control apparatus
A communication control apparatus controls radio communications with other communication device through a relay device. The communication control apparatus includes a transmission control unit that notifies a data transmission to the relay device, and performs the data transmission to the relay device when the transmission control unit receives a response to the notification from the relay device indicating that the data transmission is possible, and stops a data transmission when the transmission control unit receives a response to a notification made by another communication device from the relay device, a collision conjecture unit that conjectures a collision of frames at the data transmission in accordance with a predetermined condition, and a threshold value control unit that sets a threshold value to determine an assertion or a negation of the transmission control unit in accordance with a result of the conjecture of the collision. |
| US08233494B2 |
Hierarchical and incremental multivariate analysis for process control
A technique for analyzing two or more data streams respectively generated from two or more components of a controllable process includes the following steps. In a first step, a statistical analysis is performed on each of the two or more data streams to generate first analysis results in the form of respective statistical results for the two or more data streams. In a second step, at least a portion of the statistical results from at least one of the two or more data streams is combined with at least a portion of the statistical results from at least another one of the two or more data streams to yield second analysis results. The controllable process is adjustable based on at least one of the first analysis results and the second analysis results. |
| US08233491B2 |
Embedded media terminal adapter (EMTA) endpoint redirect mode
Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling an embedded media terminal adapter (EMTA) with included MIB objects to redirect a received telephone call. Based on the MIB objects, the EMTA communicates with a cable modem termination system (CMTS) to set up two service flows where one flow is set up between two EMTAs and one flow is set up between the endpoint EMTA and the NOC. |
| US08233489B2 |
System, method, and router for routing data packets in an overlay network
A system, method, and router for routing data packets in an overlay network built over heterogeneous layer-3 domains. A link state overlay routing protocol enables an overlay router to route data packets based on flat identifiers and decides the best path to a destination taking into account a number of parameters such as round trip time. Scalability is provided by making routing decisions based on a network identifier rather than a single end-node identifier. |
| US08233487B2 |
Communication network system that establishes communication path by transferring control signal
In an MPLS/GMPLS network, a link used by a communication path for each hop and adaptations used at the boundary between management domains or layers are appropriately and automatically selected according to a service type and a required maintenance condition, without making a control sequence complicated. First, a unit for requesting path establishment by including an identifier of a service to be provided and a service attribute in a communication path establishment control message is provided for a source node. Second, a unit for determining a required maintenance condition for a communication path and adaptations according to the service identifier and/or the service attribute is provided for each node. Third, links and nodes through which the communication path passes are determined by comparing each of achievable maintenance conditions for network resources with the required maintenance condition. The determined links, nodes, adaptations are specified as operation parameters in switches and/or interfaces. |
| US08233481B2 |
Access class based picocell policy enforcement
Methods and systems for providing access class based picocell policy enforcement includes determining whether user equipment registered with a radio access point is known to an enterprise other than a macro telecommunications service provider and eligible for differentiated services, recovering an internet protocol (IP) address associated with communication traffic from the user equipment, confirming that the IP address associated with communication traffic from the user equipment is within a predetermined range, determining whether the IP address associated with communication traffic from the user equipment uniquely identifies an enterprise context, as opposed to a macro telecommunications service context, and when the IP address associated with communication traffic from the user equipment uniquely identifies an enterprise context, causing IP packets received from the Internet to be routed to an enterprise controller that services the user equipment via the radio access point. |
| US08233477B1 |
Dynamic crosstalk reduction for backplane serial channels
Methods of operating a packet network device having multiple serial channels crossing a backplane are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a management function performs dynamic modifications to the packet network device configuration in response to detected backplane errors. These modifications can directly alter a characteristic of a channel that is generating errors, or can indirectly affect such a channel by directly altering a characteristic of an “aggressor” channel that is indicated as producing crosstalk on that channel. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08233473B2 |
IP telephone system and computer readable storage medium
An IP telephone terminal includes an identification data receiving unit that receives, over an Internet, identification data identifying another IP telephone terminal. A communicating unit establishes IP telephone communications with the other IP telephone terminal identified by the identification data via the Internet. An IP telephone function controlling unit controls execution of an IP telephone function used to implement a telephone call with the other IP telephone terminal via a communicating unit that establishes IP telephone communications with the other IP telephone terminal. A terminal data acquiring unit acquires terminal data included in the identification data when acquisition data is determined to be included in the identification data. A process data transmission controlling unit controls transmission of a process data to the other IP telephone terminal, the process data being data used in the function identified by the terminal data acquired by the terminal data acquiring unit. |
| US08233466B1 |
Dual WiMAX radio modem
A system and method are provided for more effectively utilizing modems in a WiMAX environment, so as to improve network connectivity while providing access for both fixed as well as portable computing devices. The apparatus connects one or more computing devices to a network-based information system through at least a first WiMAX modem that is located within the apparatus. A second WiMAX modem can be removably coupled to the apparatus so as to improve network connectivity and operability. In the event, the second WiMAX modem is removed and coupled to a portable computing device, network connectivity provided by the first WiMAX modem is maintained. |
| US08233463B2 |
Method for constructing virtual backbone in wireless sensor network
Disclosed is a method for constructing a virtual backbone in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). The method including the steps of setting a ‘Dominator’ status for a gateway or a sink node within the WSN, setting a ‘CoveredByDominator’ status for each neighbor node positioned in the transmission range of a node for which the ‘Dominator’ status is set, and setting a ‘NULL’ status for each of the other nodes, transmitting a beacon frame by periods from each node to neighbor nodes thereof within the WSN, receiving, by each node in the ‘CoveredByDominator’ status, the beacon frame from neighbor nodes thereof in the ‘NULL’ status, computing a time duration of a defer timer, and enabling the defer timer to operate by the computed time duration; and changing, to the ‘Dominator’ status, a status of a node whose defer timer expires earliest among the nodes all having the ‘CoveredByDominator’ status. |
| US08233462B2 |
High speed media access control and direct link protocol
Techniques for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems that may be backward compatible with various types of legacy systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a data frame is formed comprising a common portion for transmission in a format receivable by various stations, such as access points and remote stations. The data frame also comprises a dedicated portion, formatted for transmission to a specified remote station. In another aspect, the common portion is unsteered, and the dedicated portion is steered. In another aspect, an access point schedules an allocation in response to a data indication included in a common portion of a data frame transmitted from one remote station to another. In another aspect, a first station transmits a reference to a second station, which measures the reference and generates feedback therefrom. |
| US08233457B1 |
Synchronization-free station locator in wireless network
A method of providing synchronization-free station locating in a wireless network is provided. In this method, an AP having a known location sends a unicast packet to the station and notes its time of departure TOD(D). The station receives the unicast packet, notes its time of arrival TOA(D), sends an acknowledgement packet to the AP, and notes its time of departure TOD(D_ACK). The AP receives the acknowledgment packet and notes its time of arrival TOA(D_ACK). Notably, a distance between the AP and the station can be accurately determined using a first difference between the TOA(D_ACK) and the TOD(D) and a second difference between the TOD(D_ACK) and the TOA(D). A plurality of such computed distances between a plurality of APs and the station can be used to determine an accurate location of the station. |
| US08233454B2 |
Communication system and method for switching between wireless connections
A management apparatus instructs a wireless terminal wirelessly connecting to a first base station to switch wireless connection to a second base station. After the wireless terminal switches the wireless connection to the second base station as instructed, the wireless terminal transmits a message for updating information used for determining a forwarding destination of the message received by the relay apparatus. The relay apparatus updates the information used for determining the forwarding destination of the received message based on the message transmitted from the wireless terminal. |
| US08233451B2 |
Method and apparatus for accommodating higher order modulation in wireless communication
A method and apparatus for reconfiguring a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are directed to receiving an active set update message indicating that a mode of operation allowing a certain modulation scheme is enabled or disabled and performing at least one of: performing a MAC reset procedure, updating a set of reference enhanced transport format combination indicators (E-TFCIs) and associated power offsets, determining actions related to E-DPCCH boosting, modifying information related to an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH), and modifying an index that indicates an E-DCH transport block size table. The update message includes at least one modified information element (IE). |
| US08233444B2 |
Spectrum management in dynamic spectrum access wireless systems
A wireless system and method including a medium access control (MAC) layer adapted to transmit and receive spectrum management commands for wireless devices operating in restricted channels. |
| US08233443B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
A wireless communication apparatus is provided. The wireless communication apparatus includes: detection means that detects that there is another wireless communication apparatus around the wireless communication apparatus; comparison means that compares a first reference value managed in the wireless communication apparatus with a second reference value managed in the another wireless communication apparatus; means that corrects the first reference value based on the comparison result; and means that announces the first reference value to the another wireless communication apparatus. Frequencies are set such that a frequency of the wireless communication apparatus becomes same as a frequency of still another wireless communication apparatus to which a radio wave of the wireless communication apparatus does not reach but a radio wave of the another wireless communication apparatus reaches. |
| US08233439B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining transmit power
A method and an apparatus for determining transmit power are disclosed. The method includes: determining an E-DPDCH gain factor in compressed mode according to the number of E-DPDCH required for initial transmission of data; and determining transmit power of E-DPDCH according to the E-DPDCH gain factor in compressed mode. The E-DPDCH gain factor in compressed mode is determined according to the number of E-DPDCH required for initial transmission of data, and therefore, the E-DPDCH gain factor in compressed mode is determined accurately, the transmit power of E-DPDCH is determined accurately according to the E-DPDCH gain factor, the waste of transmit power of E-DPDCH is reduced, and therefore the system capacity is improved. |
| US08233435B2 |
Inter-channel communication methods in multi-channel wireless networks
A network information apparatus (400), system (100) (200) and method for distributing network information in a multi-channel (MC) wireless network (100) (200), comprising a network information module (400) that implements inter-channel communication of network information in an MC network according to a pre-determined network information sharing procedure and keeping an own cache (401) of each node refreshed and free of out-of-date information, and, for an active proxy-based sharing procedure thereof only, adapting to changes in node/channel associations, suppressing duplicate inter-channel information, and synchronizing own clocks (404) of each node. |
| US08233434B2 |
System and method for adaptive control of an averaging parameter for PCINR and RSSI
A system and method for adaptive control of an averaging parameter in a communications network may include an averaging parameter adaptive control module (APAC) that is associated with a base station and that includes one or more processors configured to generate a first averaging parameter that is transmitted by the base station to a mobile station communicating with the base station. The mobile station may use the first averaging parameter to generate first channel condition information that indicates a condition of a communication channel. First feedback information including the first channel condition information may be received at the base station. The APAC may generate a second averaging parameter using the first averaging parameter and the first feedback information and may transmit the second averaging parameter from the base station to the mobile station, thereby adaptively controlling the second averaging parameter based on the first feedback information. |
| US08233433B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for initiating WLAN service using beacon signals
An access point transmits a beacon signal when a multimode communication device is within a maximum proximity of the access point. A wireless wide area network (WWAN) receiver in the access point monitors a WWAN uplink channel used by the multimode wireless communication device to communicate with a WWAN base station. The access point determines, or at least estimates, a proximity of the multimode communication device to the access point based on a received WWAN uplink signal transmitted by the multimode wireless communication device. If the proximity is less than a proximity threshold, the access point transmits the beacon signal. The beacon signal at least indicates the presence of the access point and, in some circumstances, includes instructions or information to assist in a handoff from the WWAN to the WLAN. |
| US08233432B2 |
Ensuring physical locality of entities sharing data
A method and system for ensuring that data is only distributed within a certain physical area are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method provides that data is distributed only if the distance between a source and a sink is within a distance threshold. Under this system, the distance between the source and the sink may be estimated directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, the distance may be estimated by estimating the propagation delay for a signal traversing between the devices. The physical distance between the devices may be determined from the propagation delay. If the physical distance is outside a threshold value, the source may be prohibited from transmitting the data or the sink may refuse to display the data. |
| US08233430B2 |
Communication method, terminal, and base station
A terminal transmits a request for a resource assignment to a base station, and acquires a value of a resource for data transmission. The terminal does not transmit the new data to the base station when the resource for data transmission does not exist, and transmits the new data to the base station otherwise, after acquiring the value. The terminal autonomously transmits, when the new data is transmitted to the base station and a NAK signal is received from the base station, the retransmission data to the base station without sending a transmission request to the base station for resources to transmit the retransmission data. |
| US08233425B2 |
Aircraft communications system selectively allocating data communications channel capacity and associated methods
A communications system for an aircraft carrying personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and an access point in the aircraft for providing a WLAN for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. At least one data traffic controller selectively allocates data communications channel capacity between the PEDs and the ground-based communications network. |
| US08233417B1 |
Femtocell architecture using internet protocol multimedia subsystem centralized services
A femtocell includes a transceiver that receives a first request signal from a first service request device (SRD) that operates in at least one of a circuit switched (CS) domain and a packet switched (PS) domain. A control module generates a second request signal based on the first request signal. The transceiver transmits the second request signal in at least one of the CS domain and the PS domain from the femtocell to a mobile switch center (MSC) server. The transceiver provides Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) centralized services (ICS) to the first SRD based on the second request signal. |
| US08233415B2 |
Preamble structure for enabling multi-mode wireless communications
A method for generating preamble structures to be used in multi-mode wireless communication systems. The method includes generating a basic element sequence in a predefined length, wherein the basic element sequence has a circularly orthogonal property; generating a type-A preamble by repeating the basic element sequence a number of predefined times; and generating a type-B preamble by adding respective values of real parts to values of imaginary parts of elements in the type-A preamble. The type-A preamble and type-B preamble are cross-correlated. |
| US08233414B2 |
Systems and methods for indicating buffered data at an access point using an embedded traffic indication map
Stations in standby mode periodically wake up to check for buffered data at the access points. Traditionally, the information is available by checking the periodic beacon frame for a traffic indication map (TIM). Unfortunately, the length of beacons has steadily increased with the progression of the various wireless standards requiring stations to wake up for longer periods to merely check for buffered data. Several approaches are disclosed which address this shortcoming, including the broadcast of TIM frames, the partial reception of beacon frames and the use of an embedded TIM frame within a beacon frame. |
| US08233412B1 |
Multi-signal, software-defined and staring cognitive communications system
The integrated, multiple independent, simultaneous signal software defined radio system architecture of this invention is suitable for many new very-low latency, software defined radio applications, both cognitive and conventional, including: communications networks, electronic warfare, surveillance and radar. The system supports multiple operations, locally controlled or remotely controlled, with simultaneous signals prosecutions and anti-jam system-to-system networking. New cognitive waveforms are defined that simultaneously seek to maximize data throughput in arbitrary spectral environments, while normally avoiding interference with current and new arbitrary signal occurrences. The cognitive radio system has the capability to continuously receive and process all the ongoing signals present in a wideband frequency block, including the recognition/characterization of all signals and the recovery of multiple desired signals, and then rapidly respond by transmitting as appropriate, multi-carrier, modulated signals. The present invention uses massively-parallel fixed tuned receive channelization, along with massively parallel digital signal processing and software generated, multi-modulated RF signals, to provide a system that is fast enough to cognitively manage the ongoing operation of multiple signals, multiple frequencies, and multiple operations, all simultaneously. |
| US08233404B2 |
Uplink transmit power control
Control of uplink transmit power for a first mobile station operating with scheduled uplink data transmissions. A change in uplink scheduled status for the first mobile station is detected (301). Filtering of uplink interference measurements for the first mobile station is adapted (302) to account for the detected change in uplink scheduled status for the first mobile station. Alternatively a change in uplink scheduled status for a second mobile station is detected and a current filtering state for filtering of uplink interference measurements for the first mobile station is adjusted by applying an estimated expected change in interference associated with the detected change. A signal quality for uplink transmissions from the first mobile station is determined (303) based on measurements of received signal strength from the mobile station and the filtered uplink interference measurements. An uplink transmit power command is generated (304) for the first mobile station based on a comparison of the estimated signal quality to a signal quality target. |
| US08233401B2 |
Using an IP registration to automate SIP registration
In one embodiment, a network device receives an Internet protocol (IP) registration request, such as a mobile IP registration request, from an access terminal. The network device may be a home agent that is configured to register the access terminal for IP services at the network layer. In addition to registering the access terminal at the network layer, the network device may facilitate registration at another layer, such as the application layer. In one example, registration information for the access terminal for an application layer registration, such as information needed to register for a session initiation protocol (SIP) services, is determined. The network device then facilitates registration at the application layer automatically using the registration information. |
| US08233394B2 |
Method for preventing overload in mobile telephone networks by using ‘always-on’ in the case of incoming calls
A method for preventing overload in telecommunications networks with IMS by always-on for a call received by a user. The user sends a request message in order to activate a new PDP Context to his SGSN, which sends it to a GGSN. The GGSN sends an Accounting Request message to an AAA server. If the GGSN is going to deactivate the user PDP Context for having been inactive, the association is not eliminated from an AAA server in which this association has been saved and, when an incoming call is received: the status of the user PDP Context is verified by an indicator, and if it is not active, the PDP Context is reactivated, and if the IP address has not been assigned to another user, an attempt is made to reactivate the PDP Context; and if said IP address has already been assigned, a restart is carried out after the failure of the call. |
| US08233387B2 |
Disjoint path computation algorithm
A network element implementing Multiprotocol Label Switching to automatically create an optimal deterministic back-up Label Switch Path (LSP) that is maximally disjointed from a primary LSP to provide a reliable back up to the primary LSP. The network element receives a request for a generation of an LSP, determines that the request for the generation of the LSP is for the back-up LSP, locates each link of the primary LSP in a traffic engineering database, modifies each link of the primary LSP to have a link cost significantly greater than an actual link cost to discourage use of each link of the primary LSP in the back-up LSP, executes a Constrained Shortest Path First algorithm to obtain the back-up LSP, wherein the back-up LSP has a maximum disjointedness from the primary LSP due to a modified cost of each link of the primary LSP, and returns the back-up LSP. |
| US08233385B1 |
Preventing upper layer renegotiations by making PPP aware of layer one switchovers
A method may include establishing a first Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) session on an interface, receiving an indication of a layer one failure, omitting for a period of time, an indication that the first PPP session on the interface is down, based on the indication of the layer one failure, establishing a layer one switchover to another interface based on the indication of the layer one failure, and attempting during the period of time, to establish a second PPP session on the other interface. |
| US08233382B2 |
Ordered switchover of cable modems
A cable modem termination system (CMTS) provides for ordered switchover of the cable modems it serves when a primary module of the CMTS fails. When the primary module in the CMTS fails, a backup module takes over service of the cable modems. The backup module restores the service flows of the cable modems based on a restoration order determined by session recovery priorities that are related to quality of service levels required by the service flows. In particular, service flows that are engaged in VoIP “911” calls are restored first. Service flows engaged in other VoIP calls are next restored. Lastly, service flows engaged in regular data sessions are restored. |
| US08233379B2 |
Method, network element device and network system for establishing connection between maintenance node and base station
A method for establishing a connection between a maintenance node and a base station includes the following steps: the base station switches over to a preset standby Operation & Maintenance (OM) channel when an main OM channel fails and sends to the maintenance node via the standby OM channel a notification that the base station has switched over to the standby OM channel; and the maintenance node establishes a connection with the base station over the standby OM channel by using a standby Internet Protocol (IP) address of the base station after receiving the notification. A base station is also provided. |
| US08233377B2 |
Assignment method and base station apparatus using the assignment method
A base station apparatus assigns a time slot, where multiple sub-channels have been frequency multiplexed, to a terminal apparatus. The correspondence between the range of signal strength and time slots is defined such that the time slot differs whenever the range of signal strength differs; a control unit assigns any one of a plurality of sub-channels in the time slot corresponding to the range of low signal strengths, to the terminal apparatus as a ranging channel. An RF unit, a modem unit and so forth perform a ranging operation on the terminal apparatus over the ranging channel assigned. The control unit assigns a sub-channel to the terminal apparatus that has performed the ranging operation, as a communication channel. |
| US08233374B2 |
Multilayer optical disc
In a multi-layer optical disc, having three (3) or more recording layers thereof, for enabling an easy focus lead-in operation onto a desired recording layer, reflectivity of respective recording layers are so determined that a ratio between the reflectivity of the desired recording layer and the reflectivity of other recording layers is equal or greater than a predetermined value, upon basis of the reflectivity of the other recording layers. |
| US08233369B2 |
Method of reading optical information and method of recording optical information
Exemplary embodiments are provided for recording and reading optical information using holography in which a first recording operation is performed in a first recording region in an overlapping manner by allowing a reference beam and a signal beam with data loaded to interfere with each other in the first recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed at predetermined intervals. And a second recording operation is performed in a second recording region located adjacent to the first recording region or overlapped with the first recording region by allowing the reference beam and the signal beam to interfere with each other in the second recording region, the reference beam being angularly multiplexed between the predetermined intervals. |
| US08233368B2 |
Method and system for bit prediction using a multi-pixel detector
The present techniques provide methods and systems for more reliable reading of optical data disks. In embodiments, a multi-pixel detector that is segmented into multiple areas, or detector segments, may be used to detect a pattern in the light reflected from an optical data disk. The pattern may include light scattered from a single bit that may be under a center detector, as well as light scattered from proximate bits. The detector system may then combine the quantized values from each of the detector segments mathematically to determine the presence or absence of a bit or bits of data. The mathematical combination may also use data that is known about the status of adjacent data bits (such as previously read bits, or bit patterns which are allowed or not allowed by specific data encoding schemes) to improve the accuracy of the bit prediction. |
| US08233367B2 |
Method and device for optical recording onto optical disc medium
There is provided an optical recording method for directing a recording pulse train to an optical disc medium to form marks thereon and for recording information as information about the edge positions of said marks and the spaces between marks, the recording pulse train having been created by modulating laser light into plural power levels. The method includes: coding to-be-recorded data into coded data consisting of the combination of marks and spaces; classifying said marks within said coded data on the basis of the mark length and the preceding or succeeding space lengths of the marks; shifting the position of the second pulse edge counted from the end portion of the recording pulse train for forming said marks, depending on the result of said classification, to adjust said recording pulse train; and directing said recording pulse train to the optical disc medium to form said marks thereon. |
| US08233366B2 |
Context-based error indication methods and apparatus
A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate. |
| US08233365B1 |
Methods and apparatuses for detecting a modulation transition in an optical storage medium
Circuits, architectures, systems, methods, software, and algorithms for detecting a modulation transition (e.g., a change from a written portion containing RF-modulated data to an unwritten portion containing only a wobble signal modulation) on an optical storage medium. The method generally includes steps of focusing a first spot of light onto an optical storage medium, wherein the first spot is substantially centered on a first track of the optical storage medium, focusing a satellite spot of light onto an optical storage medium, wherein the satellite spot at least partially overlaps a track adjacent to the first track, generating a satellite signal from light reflected from the optical storage medium from the satellite spot, and detecting the modulation transition by detecting a change in a level of the satellite signal. The present invention advantageously provides for detecting a modulation transition between a main (current) track and an adjacent (next) track, so that demodulation of a signal from an optical storage medium can be smoothly switched from one mode to another. |
| US08233364B2 |
Method and device for identifying optical disc
An optical disc identifying device includes an optical pickup head, a digital signal processor and a radio frequency amplifier. The optical pickup head has a plurality of laser diodes and a lens. During a start-up procedure, a non-blue laser diode of the optical pickup head is turned on to irradiate a loaded optical disc, thereby generating an electronic signal. The digital signal processor outputs a driving signal, thereby controlling a motor driver to move the lens in a focusing direction. The radio frequency amplifier receives the electronic signal during the movement of the lens, thereby generating a first signal. The digital signal processor includes a detecting unit for comparing the first signal with a slicing signal to generate a pulse signal, and determining whether the optical disc is a blue-ray disc or a non-blue-ray disc according to a pulse number of the pulse signal. |
| US08233359B2 |
Magnetic recording medium, magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, and magnetic recording/reproducing method
A magnetic recording medium (1a) includes: a plurality of magnetic dots (13), provided on a substrate (11), in each of which information is stored by heating of the magnetic body; and separator layers (50). Each of the separator layers (50) is structured such that a metallic body layer (52) and two dielectric body layers (51) are alternately stacked in an in-plane direction of the substrate (11). Each of the separator layers (50) separates two magnetic dots from each other in the in-plane direction. Both sides of each of the magnetic dots (13) in the in-plane direction of the substrate (11) have contact with two dielectric body layers (52), respectively. This provides a magnetic recording medium (1a) whose magnetic dots (13) can be entirely heated with a reduction in the amount of power that is consumed by a recording head. |
| US08233355B2 |
Alarm device
An alarm device includes a first portion housing an alarm component for producing an audible sound upon actuation in response to an alarm event and a second portion housing a vibration-inducing component for producing shaking movement in the device upon actuation in response to an alarm event. The first and second portions are pivotably engaged with one another to permit swiveling movement of one of either the first or second portion relative to the other portion. The first and second portions are pivotable between a first position, wherein opposing surfaces of each of the first and second portions are substantially fully aligned with one another, and a second position, wherein opposing surfaces of each of the first and second portions are substantially exposed. |
| US08233352B2 |
Audio source localization system and method
A system and method for performing audio source localization that uses minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beams or other super-directive beams that are more suitable for reducing noise, interference and/or acoustic coupling than the delay-and-sum beams conventionally used in performing audio source localization based on a Steered Response Power (SRP) approach. Since super-directive beams such as MVDR beams do not provide good properties for performing conventional SRP-based audio source localization, an embodiment of the present invention utilizes a different metric than maximum response power in order to determine which of a plurality of beams provides the best response for audio source localization. This metric involves identifying which beam provides the smallest measure of distortion with respect to a reference power or reference response. |
| US08233343B2 |
Sense amplifier and semiconductor integrated circuit using the same
A sense amplifier resistant to malfunctions associated with offsets in inverter pairs is presented. The sense amplifier includes inverter pairs and a controller. Any one input terminal of the inverter pairs is electrically connected to a bit line and the other one input terminal is electrically connected to a /bit line. The controller is configured to precharge the bit line and the /bit line to a level corresponding to an offset of the inverter pairs in response to a first control signal. The controller senses a voltage difference of the bit line and the /bit line using the inverter pairs by connecting output terminals of the inverter pairs to the bit line pairs in response to a second control signal. |
| US08233342B2 |
Apparatus and method for implementing write assist for static random access memory arrays
An apparatus for implementing a write assist for a memory array includes a common discharge node configured to provide a discharge path for precharged write data lines and bit lines selected during a write operation of the memory array; negative boost circuitry configured to introduce a voltage lower than a nominal logic low supply voltage onto the common discharge node following the discharge of the common discharge node, write data lines and bit lines; and a clamping device coupled to the common discharge node, the clamping device configured to limit the magnitude of negative voltage applied to common discharge node by the negative boost circuitry so as to prevent activation of non-selected bit switches. |
| US08233341B2 |
Method and structure for SRAM cell trip voltage measurement
A parametric test circuit is disclosed (FIG. 6). The test circuit includes a latch circuit having true and complementary terminals. A first access transistor (206) has a current path connected between the true terminal and a first access terminal (214) and has a first control terminal. A second access transistor (208) has a current path connected between the complementary terminal and a second access terminal (216) and has a second control terminal connected to the first control terminal. A first pass gate (604) has a current path connected between the first access terminal (214) and a third access terminal (XBLT) and has a third control terminal. A second pass gate (606) has a current path connected between the second access terminal (216) and a fourth access terminal (XBLB) and has a fourth control terminal connected to the third control terminal. |
| US08233340B1 |
Programmable control block for dual port SRAM application
A dual-port static random access memory (SRAM) includes a multitude of programmable delay elements disposed along the paths of a number signals used to carry out read, write or read-then-write operations. At least one of the programmable delay elements controls the timing margin between a pair of clock signals that trigger a read/write enable signal. A second programmable delay element coarsely adjusts the delay of a first signal associated with a dummy bitline. A third programmable delay element finely adjusts the delay of a second signal associated with the dummy bitline. A fourth programmable delay element controls the delay of a signal used to reset the read/write enable signal. During a read operation, the voltage level of the second signal is used as an indicator to activate the sense amplifiers. During a write operation, the voltage level of the second signal is used to control the write cycle. |
| US08233337B2 |
SRAM delay circuit that tracks bitcell characteristics
An SRAM delay circuit that tracks bitcell characteristics. A circuit is disclosed that includes an input node for receiving an input signal; a reference node for capturing a reference current from a plurality of reference cells; a capacitance network having a discharge that is controlled by the reference current; and an output circuit that outputs the input signal with a delay, wherein the delay is controlled by the discharge of the capacitance network. |
| US08233333B2 |
On die thermal sensor suitable for auto self refresh, integrated circuit with the same and method for on die thermal sensor suitable for auto self refresh
A semiconductor memory device includes a reference voltage generator for generating a plurality of reference voltages each having different voltage levels in response to a self refresh enable control signal, and a voltage comparator for generating a result signal that controls a self refresh operation cycle by comparing each of the plurality of reference voltages with a temperature information voltage that represents an internal temperature of an integrated circuit. |
| US08233332B2 |
Methods and apparatus for strobe signaling and edge detection thereof
A data system component having a state machine circuit and receivers that utilize high and low threshold signals permits accurate detection of strobe signal pattern edges such as those for preamble, burst and post-amble conditions in the strobe signal. The state machine circuit may then be configured to set conditions associated with further circuit elements such as for power saving, data reception, on-die termination, etc. based on the conditions detected in the strobe signal to improve data or memory system performance. The components may be implemented as part of memory controllers and/or memory such as a dynamic random access memory and used in memory read and write operations. |
| US08233328B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory comprises a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory cell transistors capable of storing data according to a threshold voltage; a row decoder having a plurality of transfer MOS transistors connected at first ends to a plurality of word lines which are respectively connected to control gate electrodes of the plurality of memory cell transistors; and a word line driver which selects supplied voltages and supplies the selected voltages to second ends of the plurality of transfer MOS transistors. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory further comprises a voltage generation circuit which supplies voltages to the word line driver; and a control circuit which controls operation of the row decoder, the word line driver and the voltage generation circuit. |
| US08233327B2 |
Method of programming nonvolatile memory device
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device comprises a bit line voltage set-up step of receiving a program command and data to be programmed and setting up a voltage of a selected bit line according to a state of program data; a program step of supplying a program voltage to a word line selected for a program in response to a control signal for setting up the program voltage, supplying a first pass voltage to unselected word lines, and then performing the program; and a program verification step of, in response to a control signal which is subsequent to the control signal for setting up the program voltage and is used to set a verification voltage, performing a program verification operation by supplying the verification voltage to the selected word line. |
| US08233323B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes a control circuit performing an erase operation to erase data from a selected one of memory transistors. The control circuit applies a first voltage to the other end of selected one of selection transistors, causes the selected one of the selection transistors to turn on, and causes any one of the memory transistors to turn on that is closer to the selection transistor than the selected one of the memory transistors. The control circuit also applies a second voltage lower than the first voltage to a gate of the selected one of the memory transistors. Such a potential difference between the first voltage and the second voltage causing a change in electric charges in the electric charge storage layer. |
| US08233321B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for driving semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell transistors arranged in a matrix; a plurality of word lines commonly coupling the control gates of the plural memory cell transistors present in a identical first direction; a plurality of source lines commonly coupling the sources of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical first direction; a plurality of bit lines commonly coupling the drains of the plural memory cell transistors present in a identical second direction intersecting the first direction; a first transistor having a drain coupled to the source line; a second transistor having a drain coupled to a source of the first transistor, a gate coupled to the word line and a source grounded; and a control line commonly coupling the gates of the plural first transistors. |
| US08233319B2 |
Unipolar spin-transfer switching memory unit
A memory unit includes a magnetic tunnel junction data cell electrically coupled to a bit line and a word line. The magnetic tunnel junction data cell is configured to switch between a high resistance state and a low resistance state by passing a unipolar voltage across the magnetic tunnel junction data cell. A diode is electrically coupled between the magnetic tunnel junction data cell and the word line or bit line. A voltage source provides the unipolar voltage across the magnetic tunnel junction data cell that writes the high resistance state and the low resistance state. |
| US08233315B2 |
Spin injection device having semiconductor-ferromagnetic-semiconductor structure and spin transistor
A spin injection device and spin transistor including a spin injection device. A spin injection device includes different semiconductor materials and a spin-polarizing ferromagnetic material there between. The semiconductor materials may have different crystalline structures, e.g., a first material can be polycrystalline or amorphous silicon, and a second material can be single crystalline silicon. Charge carriers are spin-polarized when the traverse the spin-polarizing ferromagnetic material and injected into the second semiconductor material. A Schottky barrier height between the first semiconductor and ferromagnetic materials is larger than a second Schottky barrier height between the ferromagnetic and second semiconductor materials. A spin injection device may be a source of a spin field effect transistor. |
| US08233309B2 |
Non-volatile memory array architecture incorporating 1T-1R near 4F2 memory cell
A nonvolatile memory array architecture includes a resistive element between each common source/drain (intermediate) node and data line (or bit line), in an otherwise virtual ground-like memory array having serially-connected transistors coupled to the same word line. However, every N+1 transistors the corresponding resistive element is omitted (or generally kept in a low resistance state) to form transistor strings. This achieves an array density of 4F2*(N+1)/N, which approaches 4F2 array density for reasonable values of N. Such memory arrays are well suited for use in a three-dimensional memory array having distinct memory planes stacked above each other on multiple levels above a substrate. |
| US08233305B2 |
Magnetic structures, information storage devices including magnetic structures, methods of manufacturing and methods of operating the same
A magnetic structure includes a first portion and a plurality of second portions. The first portion extends in a first direction. The plurality of second portions extend from ends of the first portion in a second direction. The first and second directions are perpendicular to one another. Two magnetic domains magnetized in directions opposite to each other and a magnetic domain wall between the magnetic domains are formed in the magnetic structure. |
| US08233298B2 |
Power factor correction rectifier that operates efficiently over a range of input voltage conditions
A PFC rectifier comprises a first converter having a first output capacitor and a second converter having a second output capacitor. The first and second capacitors are coupled to each other to increase the output voltage of the PFC rectifier. For example the first or second output capacitors can be serially coupled to each other. At least one or both of the first or second converters comprise buck or buck-boost converters, including inverting or non-inverter buck converters. The first and second converters can also form a bi-directional ac-ac inverter. |
| US08233297B2 |
Multi-stage power supply
There is provided a multi-stage power supply. A multi-stage power supply according to an aspect of the invention may include: a voltage converter circuit section including a plurality of first to n-th DC/DC converters connected in series between an input terminal and an output terminal, in order to supply a DC driving voltage to an LED array having a plurality of LEDs therein; a voltage detection section detecting an output voltage from the voltage converter circuit section; and a PWM control section generating a PWM control signal on the basis of a first detection voltage from the voltage detection section, a second detection voltage obtained by detecting current flowing through the LED array, and a third detection voltage obtained by detecting a current waveform flowing through an internal switch of the n-th DC/DC converter, and supplying the PWM control signal to each of the first through n-th DC/DC converters. |
| US08233296B2 |
Front-end circuit of power converter
A front-end circuit of a power converter has a power connection wiring detecting circuit, a power switch and a control unit. The power connection wiring detecting circuit is connected to an AC power. The control unit is connected to the power connection wiring detecting circuit. The power switch is connected to the power loop. The control unit turns on or off the AC power loop through the power switch. When the power connection wiring is correctly connected with the AC power, the control unit turns on the power switch and the front-end circuit outputs the AC power to the back-end circuit. When the power connection wiring is incorrectly connected with the AC power, the control unit turns off the power switch and the AC power is not outputted to the back-end circuit. |
| US08233292B2 |
Controllers, systems and methods for controlling power of light sources
A controller for controlling power to an LED light source includes a control terminal and control circuitry coupled to the control terminal. The control terminal provides a control signal to control a transformer. A cycle of the control signal includes a charging period, a discharging period, and an adjusting period. The control circuitry controls a primary winding of the transformer to receive power during the charging period and controls a secondary winding of the transformer to discharge power to the LED light source during the discharging period. The control circuitry further varies a frequency of the control signal periodically by controlling the adjusting period. |
| US08233291B2 |
Single stage AC to DC conversion device with compact configuration
A single-stage AC to DC conversion device includes an energy storage unit, a magnetic unit, and a switch unit. The magnetic unit electrically connects the energy storage unit with the switch unit, and has a core, a first winding, a second winding, a third winding, and at least one output winding. The first winding couples with the core and transfers a first electric energy to the core. The second winding couples with the core and stores a second electric energy in the energy storage unit. The third winding couples with the core and transfers the second electric energy to the core. The output winding couples with the core that transfers the first electric energy and the second electric energy, and outputs a third electric energy through the output winding. |
| US08233282B2 |
Frame for a device mounted above a printed circuit board in an electronic device
The disclosure describes a frame for mounting a device above a printed circuit board (PCB) in an electronic device. The frame comprises: a frame section formed to be located on the PCB about a surface device on a section of the PCB; and a cover for placement on top of the frame section and for providing a support substrate for the device. In the frame, the frame section is securable to the PCB above at least a part of the surface device; the cover is locatable on the frame section with the device mounted to the cover; and the cover is shaped to allow a feature on the bottom of the device to extend downward towards an interior cavity of the frame. |
| US08233281B2 |
Device for reducing thermal stress on connection points
The present invention relates to a device adapted in order to decrease stress on connection points between a heat generating source and a substrate. The device 13 comprises a larger heat-dissipating part 7, and at least one smaller heat-dissipating part 6. The larger part 7 is arranged with at least one cavity 8 for housing the at least one smaller part 6. The at least one smaller part 6 is adapted to be attached to at least one heat-generating source 2, and at the same time more mobile in the cavity 8 and/or less affected by changes in temperature than the larger part. |
| US08233280B2 |
Electronic module with center mounting fasteners
An electronic module is employed with at least one interiorly positioned fastener that at least partially secures a central region of the electronic module to an object to prevent bowing or warping. The module contains a base, at least two peripheral fasteners at opposed ends of the module, and the at least one interiorly positioned fastener, wherein the base is capable of accepting electronic components and further includes at least one layer, and wherein the at least one interiorly positioned fastener is interposed between the at least two peripheral fasteners. |
| US08233278B2 |
Solar inverter cabinet architecture
A cabinet for a solar power inverter is described. A solar power inverter receives DC current from a solar panel and transforms the DC current into AC current. To cool the inverter equipment, an air inlet receives ambient air drawn into the cabinet by an air pressurizer. The ambient air is urged into a pressurized air plenum, from which two ports channel the air into at least two air paths to flow over the equipment in the cabinet. The equipment in the cabinet is arranged such that the air passes over more heat-sensitive equipment before reaching less heat-sensitive equipment. The equipment in the cabinet can be separated by grounded, metal walls to contain and diminish electromagnetic interference. The equipment may be accessed from a single, front side of the cabinet. |
| US08233277B2 |
Heat dissipation device with self-locking base
A heat dissipation device for dissipation of heat from an electronic component includes a base for contacting the electronic component, a shroud connected to the base and multiple fins arranged on the bottom section of the shroud. The shroud comprises a bottom section defining an opening therein and a plate within the opening and connected to the bottom section by multiple beams. Multiple fins in the form of a fin assembly are mounted on the bottom section. The base includes a plate and multiple latch hooks extending upwardly from the plate. The latch hooks are extended into the bottom section to lock with the bottom section, thereby securing the base onto the shroud. |
| US08233276B2 |
Tilt mechanism for electronic device
An electronic device includes a first section, a second section attached to the first section, and a tilt mechanism. The tilt mechanism connects the first section to the second section. The tilt mechanism includes a plate and two hinge assemblies. The plate hinges the first section. Each of the hinge assemblies includes a sleeve and a main shaft rotatably assembled in the sleeve. The sleeve is secured on the second section; the main shaft non-rotatably fixed to the plate. The second section slides relative to the first section, the plate and the main shaft rotate relative to the second section, the plate further supports the second section to a tilted orientation. |
| US08233271B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a body housing having a battery housing portion configured to accommodate a battery therein, a display housing in which a display device is accommodated, and a hinge portion connected to an end portion of the display housing. The hinge portion connects the display housing and the body housing such that the display housing and the body housing are relatively rotatable between a first position in which a display screen of the display device is covered with the body housing and a second position in which the display screen is uncovered. The battery housing portion has a bulged portion which is bulged outward from a portion of the body housing that faces the end portion of the display housing in the first position, and the bulged portion has a flat wall portion which extends toward the display housing. |
| US08233269B2 |
Display apparatus for housing at least one electronic device in a vehicle
An apparatus is provided with an enclosure defining an inner volume and including a first aperture, and a housing containing the enclosure and including a second aperture. The enclosure may be rotatable such that the first and second apertures may be in registration to permit insertion of the electronic device, and the first and second apertures may not be in registration to prevent insertion and/or removal of the electronic device. An actuating element may rotate the enclosure into a desired orientation within a vehicle. The apparatus may improve the viewing quality of information displayed on the electronic device. The electronic device may be secured within the vehicle without having to supervise the device when the vehicle is parked, turned off, etc. The apparatus may employ environmental controls to control/condition temperature, humidity, and/or vibration within a desired range to protect the electronic device from becoming temporarily or permanently non-functional. |
| US08233265B2 |
Ceramic capacitor and electronic component including the same
In a ceramic capacitor, first and second electrode terminals each include a bonded-to-substrate portion, a first bonded-to-electrode portion bonded to a first edge of one of first and second external electrodes, a second bonded-to-electrode portion bonded to a second edge of the one of first and second external electrodes and disposed at a distance from the first bonded-to-electrode portion in the first directions, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second bonded-to-electrode portions and the bonded-to-substrate portion. W1/W0 is about 0.3 or more, and h/L is about 0.1 or more. |
| US08233263B2 |
Multilayer chip capacitor for improving ESR and ESL
A multilayer chip capacitor includes a capacitor body including a stack of a plurality of dielectric layers and having first and second side faces and first and second end faces, a plurality of external electrodes of opposite polarity alternated on each of the first and second side faces, and a plurality of internal electrodes each including one or two leads extending to an outer face of the capacitor body and respectively connected to the external electrodes. A horizontal distance between leads of the internal electrodes of opposite polarity adjacent to each other in a stack direction is longer than a pitch between the external electrodes of opposite polarity adjacent to each other on the same side face of the capacitor body. |
| US08233262B2 |
Multilayer capacitor array mounting structure
A multilayer capacitor array 1 comprises a capacitor element body 2 having first, second, third, and fourth inner electrodes 13 to 16, and first to fourth terminal electrodes 3 to 6 disposed on the outer surface of the capacitor element body 2 and respectively connected to the inner electrodes 13 to 16. The first and second inner electrodes 13, 14 form a first capacitor section C1, while the third and fourth inner electrodes 15, 16 form a second capacitor section C2. The multilayer capacitor array 1 is mounted to a circuit board such that the first and third terminal electrodes 3, 5 are connected to first leads 22, 23, while the second and fourth terminal electrodes 4, 6 are connected to a second lead 24. |
| US08233261B2 |
Composite organic encapsulants
This invention relates to compositions, and the use of such compositions for protective coatings, particularly of electronic devices. The invention concerns a fired-on-foil ceramic capacitors coated with a composite encapsulant and embedded in a printed wiring board. |
| US08233260B2 |
Compact gas lighting device for an electric household appliance
A gas lighting device including: a body formed by an electrically insulating material and carrying a plurality of high-voltage outputs for the connection to spark generating means; a transformer accommodated in the body and including a primary winding wound about and carried by a ferromagnetic material core, a carrying element formed by an electrically insulating material and designed to contain within a tubular drum thereof the primary winding, and a secondary winding consisting of a plurality of coils externally carried by the drum of the carrying element, electrically insulated from the primary winding and essentially coaxial with the latter; the core is bar-shaped and accommodated inside the carrying element and the drum directly supports also the high-voltage outputs, which are integrally obtained on the drum so as to form therewith the carrying element and laterally overhangingly protrude from the drum. |
| US08233258B2 |
DC bus clamp circuit to prevent over voltage failure of adjustable speed drives
The present invention relates to a protective circuit to provide over voltage protection for an ASD. The protective circuit provides the benefits of fewer components with lower power ratings than existing protective circuits. The protective circuit may be incorporated directly in the ASD for continuous protection or mounted externally and connected to the ASD under operating conditions that require the circuit. This flexibility for mounting the protective circuit allows the capacitor of the protective circuit to be sized either in relation to capacitive elements on the DC bus within the ASD or according to external capacitance observed at the output of the ASD. In addition, the circuit is only operative during an overvoltage condition allowing for power ratings lower than would be required for continuous operation. |
| US08233256B2 |
System and method for programming and controlling over current trip point limits in voltage regulators
A system and method for controlling an over current protection trip point for a voltage regulator includes an input for receiving a monitored operating parameter of the voltage regulator. Control logic responsive to this input generates a digital current control signal. A digital to analog controller converts the digital current control signal to an analog current control signal and this analog current control signal is used for controlling a current source for generating a current that establishes the over current protection trip point of the voltage regulator. |
| US08233255B1 |
Systems and methods of power conversion for electrostatic precipitators
The present invention describes methods and apparatus to convert and control power provided to a precipitator. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a precipitator power frequency converter system, which includes an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (“IGBT”) system and a converter control system comprising a microprocessor in communication with the IGBT system. In addition, the power frequency converter system provides a rectifier set in communication with the IGBT system. Furthermore, the input power received by the precipitator power frequency converter system is in a first frequency range of approximately 50 Hz to 60 Hz and the precipitator power frequency converter system can be enabled to provide an output power in a second frequency range between 400 Hz and 1000 Hz. |
| US08233254B2 |
Method of ensuring the coordinated arc fault protection in a heirarchial power distribution system
A coordinated arc fault protection scheme in a hierarchical power distribution system is disclosed. The methods according to embodiments of the present invention may be considered an “event and time graded” analysis. In event and time based analysis, the number of confirmed arc signature may be monitored with respect to time in the main feeder line as well as the branched feeders. The confirmed arc signature in the branched feeder, as well as in the main feeder, may be captured and time stamped. A trip command may be issued first in the intended branched feeder if the branched feeder experiences a minimum number of events within a given time. During the same time period, the main feeder also monitors similar arcing events. If the tripping of the branched feeder occurs and the main feeder still detects arcing events, the main feeder may be tripped after a certain period of time or a certain number of confirmed arc signature. If there is no arc in the branched feeder and the main feeder itself experiences the arc, then the main feeder may be tripped after a predetermined period of time so that the current to all the branched feeders may be cut and the main feeder may be protected. |
| US08233246B2 |
Multi-channel tape head having asymmetric channel arrays
A magnetic head comprises identical, opposing modules each comprising an array of paired data transducers, the transducers including data readers, data writers, or combinations thereof. For each array, the transducers in each subset may have about the same center to center spacing. A first subset of the transducers is operable for reading or writing data in a first tape format. A second subset of the transducers is operable for reading or writing data in a second tape format, with at least some of the transducers being present in both subsets. Also, each module includes a lone writer at one end of one of the subsets, a lone reader at an opposite end of the one of the subsets, and servo readers positioned outside the array. |
| US08233240B2 |
Magnetic recording disk drive with integrated lead suspension having multiple segments for optimal characteristic impedance
An integrated lead suspension (ILS) in a magnetic recording disk drive has the transmission line portion of the ILS between the flex cable and the gimbal formed of multiple interconnected segments, each with its own characteristic impedance. At the interface between any two segments there is a change in the widths of the electrically conductive traces of the transmission line. The change in impedance of a fixed-length segment is a function of the change in its trace width. The number of segments and their characteristic impedance values are selected to produce the largest frequency bandwidth with a substantially flat group delay from the write driver to the write head. |
| US08233239B1 |
Disk drive head stack assembly having first and second swage bosses with different inner lip profiles
A disk drive head stack assembly includes an actuator arm tip that includes a swaging hole centered about a swaging axis. A first suspension assembly has a first swage boss that protrudes into the swaging hole. A second suspension assembly has a second swage boss that protrudes into the swaging hole and does not contact the first swage boss. Each of the first and second swage bosses includes an inner lip that extends radially closer to the swaging axis than any other part of that swage boss. The inner lip thickness of the first swage boss, measured parallel to the swaging axis, increases more greatly with increasing radial distance from the swaging axis than does the inner lip thickness of the second swage boss. |
| US08233230B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling head with spin-torque oscillator in a disk drive
According to one embodiment, a disk drive has a magnetic disk and a magnetic head having a spin-torque oscillator. The disk drive further has a head amplifier IC configured to supply a write signal and a drive signal to the magnetic head. The write signal corresponds to write data. The drive signal is supplied to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. The head amplifier IC continuously supplies a drive signal of normal level to the spin-torque oscillator, and supplies a drive signal of high level higher than the normal level, only for a prescribed time after the polarity inversion of the write signal. |
| US08233229B2 |
Systems and methods for reduction of cross coupling in proximate signal lines
Various systems and methods for reducing cross coupling in proximate signals are disclosed. As one example, a system for reducing cross-coupling in adjacent signals that includes an active slew rate limiter circuit is disclosed. The active slew rate limiter circuit is operable to receive an input signal, and to provide an output signal based on the input signal with a controlled slew rate. In some cases, such systems may be included within a storage device that includes a read head. In such cases, the systems may operate to assure a substantially constant power dissipation within the read head. |
| US08233226B2 |
Construction of objective
A construction of an objective is configured which includes a plurality of lens groups including at least one cemented lens group; a plurality of inner frames to hold the lens groups, each including a contact projection; and a tube to hold the plurality of inner frames stacked inside. At least one cemented lens group is secured to the inner frames by causing the periphery of a cemented surface between cemented lenses to come into contact with the contact projection. |
| US08233225B2 |
Optical lens
An optical lens is obtained by injection-molding a polyester resin containing a diol unit containing from 40 to 99% by mol of a unit derived from ethylene glycol and from 1 to 60% by mol of a unit derived from a diol having from 3 to 16 carbon atoms, and a dicarboxylic acid unit containing 50% by mol or more of a unit derived from a naphthalenedicarboxylic acid. |
| US08233224B2 |
Imaging lens system
This invention provides an imaging lens system including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens with negative refractive power; a third lens having a concave image-side surface; a fourth lens with positive refractive power; a fifth lens with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, at least one surface thereof having at least one inflection point; and an aperture stop disposed between an imaged object and the third lens. The on-axis spacing between the first lens and second lens is T12, the focal length of the imaging lens system is f, and they satisfy the relation: 0.5<(T12/f)×100<15. |
| US08233217B2 |
Multilayered fluorescent screens for scanning beam display systems
Fluorescent screens and display systems and devices based on such screens using at least one excitation optical beam to excite one or more fluorescent materials on a screen which emit light to form images. The fluorescent materials may include phosphor materials and non-phosphor materials such as quantum dots. |
| US08233215B2 |
Optical module manufacturing and testing systems and methods
The present disclosure relates to streamlining optical module and/or subassembly development, manufacturing, and testing through introducing a memory component within a module and/or subassembly that is utilized with a host module for system calibration and/or configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention can streamline optical amplifier (EDFA) module and/or subassembly development, manufacturing, and testing. The present invention includes an optical module/sub-assembly without control circuitry, i.e. a “dumb module”, but with a memory that is used to load relevant data from a supplier. This data is utilized to calibrate, test, and configure the optical module/sub-assembly in a host module. The host module includes control circuitry to access this memory in the optical module/sub-assembly and to calibrate, test, configure, and control the optical module/sub-assembly. Advantageously, this additional memory reduces manufacturing time without the disadvantage of adding complexity in the optical module/sub-assembly. |
| US08233212B2 |
Electro-optic display
An electro-optic display includes a “matrix” for confining moving elements of the display (e.g., rotating or twisting elements). The matrix (or at least the viewable portions thereof) may have a high reflectivity, comparable to that of white paper. This results in an overall “whiter” or brighter display. The matrix may include channels to facilitate inter-cell fluid transport and high-density element packing. In some cases, the matrix elements provide a hexagonal arrangement of cells for holding the rotating elements. The rotating elements of the display may be electrically and optically anisotropic hemispherically coated spheres. The hemispherical coating typically provides the necessary charge to create electrical anisotropy. |
| US08233208B2 |
Optical device, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus
An optical device includes: a movable plate disposed in a distribution range of light input from outside, and having alight reflecting surface adapted to reflect the light; a shaft member adapted to support the movable plate so that the movable plate can swing around a predetermined axis; a ferromagnetic member provided to the movable plate; and a drive section configured to generate electromagnetic force between the drive section and the ferromagnetic member to thereby swing the movable plate, wherein a portion of the drive section, included in the distribution range of the light, is formed of a surface having a normal vector with which the light is reflected to outside of a predetermined range. |
| US08233205B2 |
Method for holographic data retrieval by quadrature homodyne detection
A holographic device is provided for recovering data in a holographic memory system. The device use homodyne detection to introduce a local oscillator beam into a reconstructed data beam of the recovered hologram. An image of the combined beam comprising the reconstructed data beam and local oscillator beam may be processed to obtain contrast level information for the pixels of the detected image. This contrast level information may then be used to obtain an increased contrast image of the recovered hologram, which may increase the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the recovered data. |
| US08233203B2 |
Exposure method and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The exposure method includes the steps of: illuminating a hologram recording medium, in which a hologram with a first pattern has been recorded by illumination with a laser beam emitted from a first laser oscillator, with a laser beam emitted from a second laser oscillator; and delivering the laser beam emitted from the second laser oscillator, which has passed through the hologram recording medium, onto a resist, thereby forming a second pattern in the resist. The wavelength of the laser beam used for illuminating the resist through the hologram recording medium in which the hologram is recorded is shorter than the wavelength of the laser beam used for recording the hologram in the hologram recording medium. Further, the wavelength of the laser beam used for illuminating the resist is 1/(0.5×n) (where n is an integer not less than 3) that of the laser beam used for recording the hologram. |
| US08233201B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, and recording medium
A copying machine includes a document skew detection section. The document skew detection section includes an angle calculation section and a judgment section. The angle calculation section specifies an angle θ1 formed between a reference direction and an edge of a document placed on a platen glass, in accordance with first input image data obtained by scanning the document the document being started to be scanned when an angle formed between the platen glass and a platen cover is γ°. Further, the angle calculation section specifies an angle θ2 formed between the reference direction and the edge of the document, in accordance with second input image data obtained by scanning the document, the document being started to be scanned when the angle formed between the platen glass and the platen cover is 0° Also, the judgment section generates an angular difference α obtained by carrying out an operation of θ1−θ2. This makes it possible that the document which is unintentionally skewed be identified. |
| US08233196B1 |
Halftoner block employing average values and shifts
Halftoning apparatus and method that may generate and employ average values and shifts are described herein. The apparatus may include an unpacker to determine shifts and average values for a plurality of input pixel values, each pair of average value and shift being associated with a corresponding pair of the input pixel values. The apparatus may further include a halftone core coupled to the unpacker to receive the shifts and the average values from the unpacker and to generate pairs of output pixel values based at least in part on the received shifts and average values, wherein the output pixel values are for generating pixels of an image. |
| US08233194B2 |
Ising-model image rendition, and consolidated masking and/or filtering, in incremental printing
One aspect of the method/apparatus finds, for each input-image pixel, an “offset weighted average” of neighboring-pixel interactions—and uses the averages to make a final image. Another aspect assumes a value for each pixel, to use in a final rendered image form—and, at each in a series of approximations, determines whether to change the value, and finds a probabilistic weight to help determine. Yet another finds, for each pixel, a numerical representation of neighboring-pixel interactions—and establishes a distance cutoff for use in defining “neighbor”, and uses the representation to decide whether to change color values. Still another finds a desired or ideal number of print passes, and adapts the number of passes actually used to the found number. Another combines halftoning and printmasking into one procedure and prints images prepared thereby. Another integrates halftoning and image filtering, to obtain esthetic visual effects, into one procedure—and prints images thus prepared. |
| US08233193B2 |
Document editing to prevent leaking secret information by masking an area including hierarchically arranged objects
A computer-readable recording medium that stores a program for causing a computer to edit an electronic document including a plurality of hierarchically arranged objects. The program makes a computer execute extracting an object from the electronic document including the hierarchically arranged objects representing one of a text, an image, a drawing and a table; determining whether the extracted object is superimposed by a user specified area serving as a masking area of a target document input by a user; and converting, into different information, information included in an area of the object determined to be superimposed by the user specified area. |
| US08233191B2 |
Color production with high chroma using complementary color material with different hue at low lightness portion
Color production with high chroma in a low lightness portion is realized by using an appropriate complementary color ink to a particular color ink reproducing the low lightness portion. More specially the device secondary color G-K is reproduced with ink of the pure color component composed of the color mixture of the particular color G ink and the basic color Y ink to tone the particular color G ink. In addition, as complementary color components, the particular color R ink and K ink are used. Thereby, the reproduction line is substantially linear from the device secondary color G point to the device K point. In color reproduction at the dark portion of the color on the G-K line, sufficient chroma can be obtained. |
| US08233190B2 |
User defined associations of colors to cartridges for color printers
A printer status interface controller displays an interface at a client system with a first color from among a plurality of colors associated with a first print cartridge position associated, from among a plurality of print cartridge positions of a printer. The printer status interface controller receives a user selection within the interface to specify an association of a second color from among the plurality of colors with the first print cartridge position. Responsive to the user selection to associate the second color with the first print cartridge position, a printer color association controller adjusts a reference to the first color in a print document to print in the second color through a second print cartridge in a second print cartridge position from among the plurality of print cartridge positions. |
| US08233188B2 |
Apparatus and method that reduces streaking by using a deformed data portion to not array dots continuously in the main scan direction of the print head in the end portions of the sub-scan direction
The present invention is intended to prevent appearance of streaks in head scanning direction at the joint of print data of the image to be printed. Print data composed of a multiplicity of dot information is supplied to a printing head having a plurality of dot forming elements arrayed along a sub-scanning direction. The printing head and the printing medium relatively move in main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction each other, and an image is printed on the surface of the printing medium. In the print data supplied by every main scanning action of the printing head, a deformed data portion of concave and convex shapes of waveform are formed, for example, so that dots may not be arrayed in parallel continuously in the main scanning direction of the printing head, at the joint of the ends of the sub-scanning direction. The undulation profile of this waveform is set in an ambiguous state, and the ambiguous state of the profile is not a state of a continuous profile line when the printed profile is observed visually. |
| US08233186B2 |
Print data processing apparatus, printer, photograph vending machine, and print data processing method and program
A print data processing apparatus includes a reception processing unit receiving an instruction for execution of a multi-size printing function to output a piece of print data in a plurality of print sizes. |
| US08233183B2 |
Printing apparatus, print system, and program product therefor
A printing apparatus includes: a detecting portion that detects a connection with an external storage device that stores print data and print completed page information of the print data; a reading portion that reads the print data and the print completed page information from the external storage device; and a printing portion that prints the print data from a next page of a print completed page with reference to the print completed page information. |
| US08233179B2 |
Print management system including management of storage status of print data
In a print processing system, a storage server temporarily stores print data generated on a user client PC; a multifunction apparatus then obtains the print data from the storage server and prints the data, according to user's operation on the multifunction apparatus; and a management server manages a storage status of the print data on the storage server. The user client PC transmits to the storage server, bibliographic information associated with the print data concurrently when transmitting the data. The storage server stores thereon the print data obtained from the user client PC and transfers to the management server, the bibliographic information obtained from the user client PC. The management server manages the storage status of the print data on the storage server, based on the bibliographic information obtained from the storage server. |
| US08233178B2 |
Print device selection in a networked print job environment
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for selecting a printer in a document reproduction environment comprising a plurality of networked printing devices. In one embodiment, a document is received which is to be printed and a set of image quality requirements specific for the document are determined based on the document's image content. A threshold quality expectation level is set for the document based on the set of image quality requirements. Device specific image quality metrics are obtained for each of the networked printing devices and then compared with the threshold quality expectation level. A printing device which best exceeds the threshold quality expectation level is selected as a result of the comparison. The document is sent to the selected networked printing device. If none of the networked printing devices is found to meet the threshold then an operator is signaled that the document cannot be printed. |
| US08233176B2 |
Print device with layout replacement unit
A printing device capable of laying out print image data according to layout definition data that defines print layout and print an image based on the print image data, is configured to include a layout acquisition unit which obtains second layout definition data if first layout definition data is included in a print job provided to the printing device, a layout replacement unit which replaces the first layout definition data included in the print job with the second layout definition data obtained by the layout acquisition unit, an image generation unit which lays out and generates print image data according to the second layout definition data replaced by the layout replacement unit, and a print execution unit which executes printing based on the print image data generated by the image generation unit. |
| US08233172B2 |
System and method for notification of multi-function peripheral receive job
Methods, systems, and software for notification of multi-function peripheral (MFP) receive jobs are disclosed. A system provides a MFP configured to store at least one remote communication identifier, to process a MFP job associated with the at least one remote communication identifier, and to transmit, in response to an event associated with the MFP job, notification directed to the remote communication identifier. The MFP may receive the remote communication identifiers from embedded MFP jobs or may receive them from previously stored user profiles that specify notification preferences for different job types. The remote identification identifier may be, for example, an email address or a telephone number. |
| US08233168B2 |
Image forming apparatus for converting lights to generate and store electrical power
In an image forming apparatus, an energy converting unit receives light from an optical source and converts the light into electric power, and an electrical storage unit stores therein the electric power. The energy converting unit is arranged in such a manner that a relative position of the energy converting unit to the optical source is always constant when a reading unit is reading an image. |
| US08233166B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method for forming image, and program
An image forming apparatus that picks only necessary pages up from a plurality of originals and copies after aligning in an order of pages so as to reduce a work burden on a user is provided. The image forming apparatus having a copy function includes an identification information extracting portion for extracting identification information (page number and heading information) which identifies originals from image data of read originals, a selecting portion for displaying the extracted identification information and accepting the identification information selected by the user as a target for image formation, and an output portion for printing image data excluding the identification information from the image data of the target for image formation accepted by the selecting portion. Here, the identification information is preferably formed with code information. |
| US08233161B2 |
Image reading and recording apparatus
An image reading and recording apparatus which can prevent a reading unit from unexpectedly being opened even when an operation of a reducing unit such as a damper for reducing an opening/closing force of the reading unit is added to an interlocking motion caused by a force adapted to open a pressure plate portion is provided. The apparatus has: a recording unit which records images onto a recording medium; and a reading unit which is openably and closably arranged for the recording unit and has an original plate on which an original document is put and a pressure plate portion which presses the original onto the original plate. A restricting unit which can restrict the reading unit to the closed state is provided. In the closed state of the pressure plate portion, the restricting unit is made inoperative. In the open state of the pressure plate portion, the restricting unit is made operative. |
| US08233159B2 |
Image forming device, and method and computer readable medium therefor
An image forming device includes a sheet carrying body carrying a sheet thereon in a predetermined direction, a pattern selecting unit selecting one of a plurality of patterns that includes a first pattern and a second pattern, the first pattern including a plurality of marks aligned at intervals of a predetermined distance within a first range, the second pattern including a plurality of marks aligned at intervals of a predetermined distance within a second range shorter than the first range, a forming unit configured to form the selected pattern on the sheet carrying body and form an image on the sheet being carried on the sheet carrying body, a deviation determining unit determining a positional deviation of the image based upon the pattern formed, and a correcting unit performing positional deviation correction for the image to be formed on the sheet based upon the positional deviation determined. |
| US08233158B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the layer thickness and the refractive index of a sample
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the layer thickness and the refractive index of a sample.It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the layer thickness of a sample (layer) having high light scattering characteristics that allows a fast (real-time process) and cost-effective measurement having a high accuracy.The method according to the present invention comprises: irradiating a first optical radiation onto the sample (4), wherein the first radiation is substantially perpendicularly irradiated onto the surface of the sample (4), and determining a first reflection spectrum (10) resulting from reflection of the first radiation on the sample (4); irradiating a second optical radiation onto the sample (4), wherein the second radiation is irradiated onto the surface of the sample (4) under an oblique angle, and determining a second reflection spectrum (12) resulting from reflection of the second radiation on the sample (4); determining a minimum of the first reflection spectrum (10), determining a minimum of the second reflection spectrum (12), and determining the layer thickness and the refractive index of the sample (4) using the minimum of the first reflection spectrum (10) and the minimum of the second reflection spectrum (12). |
| US08233157B2 |
Method and apparatus of a portable imaging-based measurement with self calibration
A portable imaging-based measurement device is developed to perform 2D projection based measurements on an object that is difficult or dangerous to access. This device is equipped with self calibration capability and built-in operating procedures to ensure proper imaging based measurement. |
| US08233154B2 |
High precision code plates and geophones
An apparatus and method are disclosed for imaging a diffraction grating with a very high depth of focus, using a highly accurate code plate position measurement system. Positions may be measured to an accuracy of 1 nm or even smaller. The system may be used in fields such as manufacturing integrated circuits, and low- and very-low-frequency geophones, and other low- and very-low-frequency acoustic detectors. |
| US08233152B2 |
Optical coherence tomographic imaging method and optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus
An optical tomographic diagnostic apparatus is characterized by executing a first step (S1) to acquire a wavelength spectrum, a second step (S2) to increase the number of elements of the wavelength spectrum, a third step (S3 and S4) to convert the wavelength spectrum into a wavenumber spectrum and to decrease the number of elements to provide a wavenumber spectrum of equal intervals, and a fourth step (S5) to acquire tomographic information of the object to be inspected from the wavenumber spectrum. As a result, a wavenumber spectrum of equal intervals can be obtained which is faithful to a physical phenomenon, and more accurate tomographic information can be obtained. |
| US08233150B2 |
Sample concentration detector with temperature compensation
A sample sensor (200) for detecting a concentration of a sample in a sample mixture, the sample sensor (200) comprising a light source (101), a detector element, a processing section (106) and parameter measuring means. The light source (101) produces a light beam (113) for exciting molecules of the sample. The detector element detects an 5 amount of excited molecules of the sample and provides a detector current indicating the amount. The processing section (106) is coupled to the detector element (103) for processing the detector current to generate an output signal (109) representing the concentration. The processing section (106) comprises a temperature compensation module (112) being arranged for compensating for a temperature dependent wavelength shift of the light source (101) 10 based on at least one measured value of a temperature dependent parameter of the light source (101), other than an output wavelength. The parameter measuring means obtain the at least one measured value. |
| US08233148B2 |
Hyperspectral imaging systems
Hyperspectral imaging systems that may be used for imaging objects in three-dimensions with no moving parts are disclosed. A lenslet array and/or a pinhole array may be used to reimage and divide the field of view into multiple channels. The multiple channels are dispersed into multiple spectral signatures and observed on a two-dimensional focal plane array in real time. The entire hyperspectral datacube is collected simultaneously. |
| US08233147B2 |
Spectrometer and a method for controlling the spectrometer
The invention relates to a spectrometer for material analysis and to a control method for a spectrometer. The spectrometer includes a radiant source (140) formed by multiple single radiation sources (141) having different central wavelengths, for generating a measuring signal, a measurement object (100) containing a material to be analyzed, at least one electrically tunable Fabry-Perot filter (120, 220) for the band pass filtering the measuring signal by at least two pass bands, and a detector (300, 400) for detecting said filtered measuring signals received from the measurement object (100). The spectrometer has: means (312) for modulating each of the single radiation sources (141) and correspondingly means (307, 309) for demodulating the detected signals such that the signal from each single radiation source can be distinguished from each other in the detector (300, 400); and means for detecting (300, 400) and demodulating (306, 307) multiple pass hands simultaneously. |
| US08233145B2 |
Pattern defect inspection apparatus and method
A pattern defect inspection apparatus capable of detecting minute defects on a sample with high sensitivity without generating speckle noise in signals is realized. Substantially the same region on a surface of a wafer is detected by using two detectors at mutually different timings. Output signals from the two detectors are summed and averaged to eliminate noise. Since a large number of rays of illumination light are not simultaneously irradiated to the same region on the wafer, a pattern defect inspection apparatus capable of suppressing noise resulting from interference of a large number of rays, eliminating noise owing to other causes and detecting with high sensitivity minute defects on the sample without the occurrence of speckle noise in the signal can be accomplished. |
| US08233144B2 |
Identification apparatus of optical cable and identification method
An optical cable identification apparatus for identifying an optical cable by disturbing an optical fiber, existing inside an optical cable desired to be identified, from outside the optical cable. An optical unit transmits two optical signals to a single strand of optical fiber inside the optical cable, and detects a phase difference, a time difference, and light intensity between two optical signals which are reflected due to the disturbance from the outside. A single-fiber ending unit generates the time difference. A signal processing unit removes noise from the two reflected optical signals and demodulates the optical signals. A sound output unit outputs the optical signals from the signal processing unit as sounds. |
| US08233130B2 |
Display panel and fabricating method thereof
A display panel including a substrate, a first electrode layer, a plurality of partition structures, a liquid display medium, a cap layer, a buffer layer and a second electrode layer is provided. The first electrode layer is disposed on the substrate. The partition structures are disposed on the first electrode layer, exposing a part of the first electrode layer. The liquid display medium is disposed on the first electrode layer between the partition structures. The cap layer is formed on the liquid display medium, and a buffer layer is formed on the cap layer. The second electrode layer is disposed on the buffer layer. |
| US08233128B2 |
Liquid crystal display module
A liquid crystal display (LCD) module includes: a liquid crystal panel; a backlight unit that is below the liquid crystal panel and that includes a reflector, a light guide plate, at least one optical sheet and a light emitting diode (LED) assembly, wherein the LED assembly includes a plurality of LEDs and an LED printed circuit board (PCB), and wherein the LED PCB includes a first region on which the plurality of LEDs are mounted, and a second region is soldered with a flexible printed circuit (FPC) to supply power to the plurality of LEDs; a main supporter that is made of an insulating material, that surrounds the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit, and that includes a placement portion, on which the liquid crystal panel is, and a hole into which a top portion of the second region is inserted; a bottom case that is made of metal and that is coupled with the main supporter, wherein a portion of the bottom case facing the soldered portion of the LED PCB is removed; and a top case that is made of metal, that surrounds peripheral portions of the liquid crystal panel, and that surrounds and is coupled with the main supporter and the bottom case. |
| US08233127B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An object of the present invention is to reduce a lateral width of an FPC also with evenly aligned and arranged plurality of ICs. The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a glass substrate, a plurality of ICs of COG (Chip On Glass) configuration aligned on a glass substrate along a side thereof, and an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) that is arranged to extend along the side of the glass substrate and that is connected to the plurality of ICs. Specified ICs from among the plurality of ICs are arranged in that extending directions of their longer sides are inclined with respect to an extending direction of the side of the glass substrate such that the longer sides face towards a central side of the FPC. |
| US08233126B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with semiconductor layer of TFT and pixel electrode at different levels
An active matrix type liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, a plurality of pixel regions formed by image signal lines and scan signal lines, and a semiconductor layer, a pixel electrode, a counter electrode formed on the first substrate in a pixel region. The pixel electrode is arranged at level which is lower than a level of the semiconductor layer. |
| US08233125B2 |
Liquid crystal display having a modified electrode array
A liquid crystal display having electrodes on a single substrate. A transparent planar electrode elongated in the transverse direction is formed on the inner surface of a substrate, and an insulating film is deposited thereon. A plurality of linear electrodes, which are elongated in the longitudinal direction and either transparent or opaque, are formed on the insulating film. Potential difference between the planar and the linear electrodes generated by applying voltages to the electrodes yields an electric field. The electric field is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal central line of the linear electrodes, and has parabolic or semi-elliptical lines of force having a center on a boundary line between the planar and the linear electrodes. The line of force on the planar and the linear electrodes and on the boundary line between the planar and the linear electrodes has the vertical and the horizontal components, and the liquid crystal molecules are re-arranged to have a twist angle and a tilt angle. The polarization of the incident light varies due to the rearrangement of the liquid crystal molecules. |
| US08233119B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
There is provided a liquid crystal display device having color filters on a side of a TFT substrate, in which an orientation film is formed by inkjet printing. The formation of an orientation film by inkjet printing is more advantageous than the conventional flexographic printing in terms of the production cost. It is necessary, however, to reduce the viscosity of the orientation film to be applied by inkjet printing. For this reason, first and second orientation film stoppers are formed between a display area and a sealing portion in a TFT substrate, to prevent the orientation film from flowing to an end of the TFT substrate. The orientation film stoppers are formed by the overlapping of color filters. A profile of the orientation film is defined by the first orientation film stopper. The second orientation film stopper is formed to ensure that the orientation film does not flow to the outside. |
| US08233118B2 |
Liquid crystal display with a backlight source comprising first light source components and second light source components different from the first light source components
A color liquid-crystal display panel has a red filter segment in each red sub-pixel and a blue filter segment in each blue sub-pixel, but no green filter segment in green sub-pixels. The liquid-crystal display panel has a backlight source for illuminating, and the backlight source has green light producing components alternately switched on and off in consecutive frames. The backlight source also has white or red/blue, or purple light emitting components alternately switched on and off in consecutive frames in complementary phase to the green light producing components. When the liquid crystal layer segments associated with all the three color sub-pixels are operated in a light non-blocking state, only the white or red/blue light producing components are turned on, and when the liquid crystal layer segments associated with the red sub-pixels are operated in a light blocking state, only the green light producing components are turned on. |
| US08233117B2 |
Wavelength separator, planar illumination device and liquid crystal display device using the wavelength separator
A liquid crystal display device includes a reflective color filter arranged to intersect with an optical path of light emerging from a principal surface of a light guide plate, and a recycle portion arranged at a side of the light guide plate opposite to the reflective color filter. Out of light incident on the light guide plate, light reflected by the reflective color filter is returned to the reflected color filter again by being reflected by the recycle portion via the light guide plate. |
| US08233115B2 |
Flat panel display assembly with improved luminance uniformity and method for constructing the same
A flat panel display assembly and a method for constructing a flat panel display assembly are provided. The flat panel display assembly includes a substrate, a plurality of light emitting components mounted to the substrate, at least one diffusion component having concave and convex opposing surfaces. Each of the diffusion components is coupled to the substrate such that the concave surface thereof is between at least some of the plurality of light emitting components and the convex surface thereof. The at least one diffusion component is configured to diffuse light emitted from the at least some of the plurality of light emitting components as the light propagates therethough. A diffusion layer is coupled to the substrate such that the convex surface of each of the at least one diffusion component is between the concave surface thereof and the diffusion layer and configured to further diffuse the light that propagates through the at least one diffusion component. |
| US08233114B2 |
Method for manufacturing optical element
An optical element manufacturing method according to the present invention includes: disposing a mask on a transparent photosensitive resin; patterning said transparent resin by applying an exposure light to said transparent photosensitive resin through said mask to form a transparent layer; forming a light absorbing layer by filling a gap in the transparent layer with a black curable resin; and illuminating a mask surface of the mask with the exposure light at an angle. |
| US08233110B2 |
Liquid crystal module
A liquid crystal module is provided. A cell guide is attached to a rear frame and including at least a vertical plate portion and a convex portion provided on the vertical plate portion. A liquid crystal panel is mounted on the cell guide. A relay substrate is attached to the cell guide such that the relay substrate is provided along the vertical plate portion of the cell guide. A chip on film electrically connects the liquid crystal panel and the relay substrate. A lower end portion of the relay substrate is interposed between the vertical plate portion and the convex portion of the cell guide. |
| US08233106B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device is provided that includes a liquid crystal panel, a guide panel, a top case, and first and second brackets. The guide panel supports the liquid crystal panel and has one or more fixing protrusions on the side surfaces thereof. The top case covers the liquid crystal panel and the guide panel and has one or more holes facing the protrusions of the guide panel. The first and second brackets are attached respectively onto both sides of the top case and have one or more fixing grooves facing the corresponding holes of the top case. |
| US08233103B2 |
System for controlling the operation of a pair of 3D glasses having left and right liquid crystal viewing shutters
A viewing system for viewing video displays having the appearance of a three dimensional image. |
| US08233101B2 |
Laminated wave plate, optical pickup device, polarization converter, and projection display apparatus
A laminated wave plate includes a first wave plate with a phase difference of Γ1=180° with respect to a designed wavelength λ0 and a second wave plate with a phase difference of Γ2=180°, in which the first wave plate and the second wave plate are arranged and laminated so that optical axes thereof intersect each other, the laminated wave plate converting an incident linearly-polarized beam into a linearly-polarized beam obtained by rotating a polarization plane of the incident linearly-polarized beam by a predetermined angle φ and outputting the converted linearly-polarized beam. When in-plane bearing angles formed by the polarization plane of the incident linearly-polarized beam and optical axes of the first and second wave plates are represented by θ1 and θ2 and an optical axis adjustment amount is represented by a, the following expressions are satisfied: θ1=φ/4+a; and θ2=3φ/4−a. |
| US08233098B2 |
Gamut adaptation
A system (600) for performing gamut compression or gamut extension by transforming an input color (608) of an input image defined within a first gamut (102) into a reproduction color (610) of an output image for rendering by a reproduction device capable of rendering colors within a second gamut (104) different from the first gamut. The input color has an input chromaticity (C1) and an input lightness (Z-*) together forming an input point (202) in a chromaticity-lightness plane. The reproduction color has a reproduction point (210) in the chromaticity-lightness plane, wherein an absolute difference between the input lightness and the output lightness is a decreasing function of at least the chromaticity. An absolute difference between the input chromaticity and the output chromaticity is an increasing function of at least the chromaticity. |
| US08233096B2 |
Information processing apparatus and television tuner
An information processor includes an operation unit for receiving a selected analog television channel, an identification signal generator for generating, from the selected channel, an analog identification signal for identifying the frequency of an analog broadcast signal, an identification signal acquirer for acquiring the analog identification signal, a storage for prestoring correspondence information between a digital identification signal indicating a frequency of a digital broadcast signal and the analog identification signal for each of stations, an identification signal converter for converting the analog identification signal into the digital identification signal using the correspondence information, a receiver for receiving a digital broadcast signal identified by the digital identification signal and extract video and audio code, a video converter and an audio converter for converting the code into equivalent analog video and audio signals, and an analog video acquirer and an analog sound acquirer for acquiring the analog video and audio signals. |
| US08233092B2 |
Video signal processing device
Provided is a video signal processing device capable of judging the viability of phase locking at a PLL circuit and, in accordance with the judgment, automatically switching between the PLL circuit and a DLL circuit to use to generate a sampling clock of an input analog video signal, the device including an AD converter for AD converting an analog video signal, and a clock signal generating circuit for supplying a clock signal to the AD converter. The clock signal generating circuit includes: a PLL circuit for generating a first clock signal on the basis of a horizontal synchronous signal acquired from the analog video signal; a DLL circuit for generating a second clock signal on the basis of a composite synchronous signal acquired from the analog video signal; and a clock selecting portion for selecting and outputting either the first clock signal or the second clock signal on the basis of output of a PLL-dedicated phase comparator. |
| US08233089B2 |
Television system
A method is provided for synchronising visual and audio data for a television system. The television system includes display means for displaying visual data thereon and audio means for allowing audio data to be sounded via said system. The method includes the steps of undertaking one of displaying a visual indicator on said display means or sounding an audio indicator via said audio means and, after a time delay or period of time, undertaking the other of displaying the visual indicator or sounding the audio indicator, the period of time between the display of said visual indicator and the sounding of said audio indicator being adjustable by a user of said television system using synchronisation means. |
| US08233087B2 |
Systems and methods for deinterlacing high-definition and standard-definition video
A motion adaptive video deinterlacer may process fields of video derived from frames of video. The deinterlacer may use multiple pixel motion engines to provide motion information about the pixels within each field. The output of the motion engines may be used to deinterlace the fields of video based on the detail within a field of video. The deinterlacer may use motion recursion and motion recirculation to provide temporal motion expansion for the pixels within each field. In addition, the deinterlacer may detect various cadences for various regions within the frames of video. The cadences may be detected using a calculated threshold, or without using a calculated threshold. |
| US08233083B2 |
Camera module
A camera module includes a lens barrel, a lens holder, an image pickup device, and a plurality of springs supporting the lens holder in such a manner that the lens holder is movable along an optical axis of an imaging optical system. Each of the springs includes first and second arm portions extending perpendicularly to each other in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. Each of the first and second arm portions includes two parallel spring strips that are connected to each other by an arc portion. One of the spring strips of the first arm portion is connected to one of the spring strips of the second arm portion. The other one of the spring strips of the first arm portion is attached to the lens holder, and the other one of the spring strips of the second arm portion is attached to the lens barrel. |
| US08233078B2 |
Auto focus speed enhancement using object recognition and resolution
Autofocus operations in a digital camera are described. In one embodiment, a processor detects a face in an image captured by the camera, and calculates the size of the face. It selects from amongst a number of previously stored face sizes, one that is closest to the calculated face size. It retrieves a previously stored lens focus position that is associated with the selected, previously stored face size. It signals a moveable lens system of the digital camera to move to a final focus position given by the retrieved, previously stored lens focus position. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08233077B2 |
Method and apparatus with depth map generation
An apparatus and method are disclosed wherein a depth map is generated using a single camera (e.g., single lens of a camera) and multiple images are captured by the camera. In some embodiments, a single digital camera is used to capture a set of images corresponding to a set of lens positions based on uniform or nonuniform lens position data. The method and apparatus determines focus metric information for each of a plurality of regions of interest in each image of a set. A determination is made of a best lens position for each of the regions of interest based on the focus metric information from the images in the set and are stored as data in a depth map. Image generation operations are then performed based on the generated depth map. |
| US08233066B2 |
Image sensor with improved black level calibration
An imaging system capable of black level calibration includes an imaging pixel array, at least one black reference pixel, and peripheral circuitry. The imaging pixel array includes a plurality of active pixels each coupled to capture image data. The black reference pixel is coupled to generate a black reference signal for calibrating the image data. Light transmitting layers are disposed on a first side of a pixel array die including the imaging system and cover at least the imaging pixel array and the black reference pixel. A light shielding layer is disposed on the first side of the pixel array die and covers a portion of the light transmitting layers and the black reference pixel without covering the imaging pixel array. |
| US08233064B2 |
Solid-state image pickup apparatus, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic device including the same
In a solid-state image pickup apparatus 100 of the invention, a transparent member 4 that covers a light receiving section of a solid-state image sensing device 2 is located within an opening 10 of a wiring board 1. The solid-state image sensing device 2 is adhered to the backside of the wiring board 1 via a conductive member 5 and also sealed to the backside of the wiring board 1 with an encapsulation resin 6 formed around the solid-state image sensing device 2. Furthermore, a through-hole 11 passing through the wiring board 1 in a thickness direction is formed on outside of the opening 10 of the wiring board 1, and the through-hole 11 is filled with the encapsulation resin 6. This configuration provides the solid-state image pickup apparatus 100 in which the encapsulation resin 6 can be easily injected to the surrounding area of the solid-state image sensing device 2. |
| US08233062B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and imaging apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes an image adding unit to perform noise reduction processing in the spatial direction by adding multiple images while performing motion compensation, an intra-screen noise reducing unit to perform noise reduction processing in the spatial direction within one image for each of the multiple images before adding with the image adding unit, and a control unit to vary the noise reduction strength in the spatial direction by the intra-screen noise reduction unit as to the multiple images to be added with the image adding unit. |
| US08233058B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image sensing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a spectrum estimation unit for estimating a spectrum for each pixel from multiband image data comprising image data in multiple different wavelength ranges; a memory for storing spectral data suitable for each of multiple different shooting modes; and a conversion unit for determining a shooting mode of the multiband image data and converting the spectrum into band data with different spectral characteristics using the spectral data stored in the memory, the spectral data suitable for the determined shooting mode. |
| US08233057B2 |
Apparatus and method for image capturing
An image capturing method including following steps is provided. A preview image is captured and compressed into a compressed preview image according to a preview quantization table. An image complexity is judged by determining the amount of high frequency components the preview image has according to a set of factors consisting of the preview quantization table, a resolution of the preview image and a size of the compressed preview image. The more the amount of high frequency components the preview image has, the higher the image complexity. A to-be-captured image is captured. An initial quantization table is determined according to a set of factors consisting of the image complexity, a resolution of the to-be-captured image and an image compression target. The to-be-captured image is compressed into an output image according to the initial quantization table. |
| US08233056B2 |
Network image-synthesis display system
Using a plurality of transmission units (110, 111, 112), multicast transmission of camera images shot by a plurality of cameras (101, 102, 103) is performed by way of a network, and then, a synthesis-parameter calculation unit (105) calculates, corresponding to image processing units each, synthesis-parameters required to synthesize using the camera images display images to be displayed on respective display units (113, 114, 115, 116), and transmits the synthesis-parameters to the image processing units (106, 107, 108, 109), whereby the image processing units (106, 107, 108, 109) synthesize display images from the camera images, based on the synthesis-parameters. Synthesis processing of the display images thereby is performed being distributed to the image processing units each. |
| US08233052B2 |
Imaging devices operable with multiple aspect ratios
Imaging devices including a novel imaging system wherein a 2-dimensional pixel array has a diagonal dimension larger than the diameter measurement of the image circle, thereby being capable of handling rectangular images with multiple aspect ratios. These new imaging devices can be used in various electronic imaging apparatus with or without a lens system. |
| US08233047B2 |
Object detection system
A detection system that uses a plurality of input devices with different sensitive wavelengths as image and signal acquisition devices for detecting an intruding object and which performs coordinated processing on at least two or more pieces of information to avoid issuing false alarms during an intruding object detection. Based on the position or size of an object detected by processing an input from one of the input devices, an area range in which to process an input from other input devices is defined. According to one or more of processing results, a check is made as to the presence or absence of an intruding object. |
| US08233046B2 |
Mounting construction for a facial image photographic camera
A facial image photographic device for vehicle mounting includes a facial image photographic camera which photographs the face of a driver of a vehicle while the vehicle is running, and a changeover device. The changeover device changes over a utilization environment of the facial image photographic camera between a position in which, when performing photography, the facial image photographic camera can be exposed to direct insolation by sunlight, and a position in which, when not performing photography, at least a part of the facial image photographic camera is not to be exposed to direct insolation by sunlight than when performing photography. |
| US08233045B2 |
Method and apparatus for distortion correction and image enhancing of a vehicle rear viewing system
An image enhancing system for a vehicle comprises a display unit for displaying modified images and an imaging device for receiving captured images—enhanced by the image enhancing system. The system further includes an image enhancing module in communication with the display unit and the imaging device—such that pixels located in the captured images are enhanced by repositioning the pixels from a first position to a second position via a transfer operation. |
| US08233040B2 |
Modular camera and camera system
A modular camera having a chassis module, a camera module, an illumination module and a communications module that together form a cooling passageway. The chassis module has a back wall having a first end and an opposite second end, a bottom wall having at least one opening formed therein, a first fan mounted at the chassis back wall first end, and a second fan mounted at the chassis back wall second end. The camera module has a body, wherein the camera body is removably received through a hole formed through the chassis module back wall. The illumination module has a back wall, wherein the illumination module is removably coupled to the chassis module so that the illumination module back wall is spaced apart from the chassis module back wall. The communication module is removably coupled to the chassis module. The chassis module back wall, the camera module body, the illumination module back wall and the communications module together form a cooling channel. |
| US08233039B2 |
Microscope image pickup system
A microscope image pickup system includes: alight source; an object lens; a display device; a record device; a capture device for performing a preview mode in which an image of the test object obtained by the object lens is repeatedly captured and a plurality of captured images are continuously displayed on the display device, or an image record mode in which the image of the test object is captured and the captured image is recorded on the record device; an illumination light amount control device for controlling the amount of light of the illumination light; and a system control device for controlling an operation of the illumination light amount control device depending on the preview mode or the image record mode performed by the capture device. |
| US08233037B2 |
Image display apparatus
Provided is an image display apparatus that includes a display unit that displays a series of images obtained by imaging an inside of a subject in time sequence, and displays a time bar indicating imaging periods of the series of images so that areas of the time bar are identified by different colors corresponding respectively to regions of the inside of the subject. The apparatus also includes a control unit that identifies the respective regions of the inside of the subject, which are displayed on the series of images, and controls the display unit so that, for each of the regions identified, an area of the time bar corresponding to a period when a series of images of the region are displayed is colored with a substitute color identifying the region. |
| US08233035B2 |
Dual-view stereoscopic display using linear modulator arrays
A method for displaying first and second stereoscopic images to first and second viewers provides the first viewer with a first decoding device having a first viewer differentiating element for receiving the first stereoscopic image and further having a first left- and right-eye differentiating elements for separating left- and right-eye images. The second viewer is provided with a second decoding device having a second viewer differentiating element for receiving the second stereoscopic image and further having a second left- and right-eye differentiating element. The first stereoscopic image is displayed to the first viewer by forming a first left-eye image and forming a first right-eye image, each over substantially half of the refresh period. The second stereoscopic image is displayed to the second viewer by forming a second left-eye image and forming a second right-eye image, each over substantially half of the refresh period. |
| US08233030B2 |
Picture signal processing device
A picture signal processing device is provided capable of correcting black level in a display device with minimal memory capacity, by switching the capture region of input picture signals from valid display region to a blanking region at the timing of automatic signal format detection, such as input signal switchover. |
| US08233029B2 |
Reproduction apparatus and system
The present invention provides a reproduction apparatus capable of automatically switching an input of a television to an output from a broadcast receiver such as an STB. A television, upon receiving a notification command notifying that output of video or audio is to start, switches its input to an output from an apparatus which has sent the notification command. An STB, upon receiving an instruction command instructing that output of video or audio should be started, sends the notification command to the television. A DVD recorder includes: a decoder that reproduces video or audio recorded in a DVD-RAM disc; a data output I/F that outputs the reproduced video or audio to the television; and a command sending and receiving I/F that sends the instruction command to the STB when the output of the reproduced video or audio ends. |
| US08233027B2 |
Video conference apparatus and method thereof
A video conference apparatus having a path-selecting unit is disclosed. A camera data captured by a camera can be transferred into the video processor via a content data path and be displayed as a content video, or the camera data can be transferred into a video processor via a camera data path and be displayed as a live video. A video conference method thereof is also disclosed. |
| US08233025B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for controlling video call thereof
A mobile terminal including an input unit configured to receive an instruction from a first user to perform a video call communication with at least a second user, a display unit, a voice recognition module configured to recognize input voice statements conducted during the video call communication between the first and second users, and a controller configured to perform the video call communication between the first and second users based on the instruction from the first user, to control the display unit to display images of the first and second users, to detect a voice statement from the first user designating the second user by examining the voice statements recognized by the voice recognition module, and to emphatically display the image of the second user compared with the image of the first user based on the detected voice statement from the first user. |
| US08233022B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
It is determined whether a low density area in which pixels having density less than a predetermined density exist in succession is included in an image signal or not, and if the low density area exists, an image is formed by irradiating the laser light in a first condition for a pixel to be interested in each pixel area within the low density area and irradiating the laser light in a second condition being different from the first condition for other pixels in the pixel area. In this way, it is possible to improve reproducibility of a highlight area in a high resolution image and improve reproducibility of characters and line images or the like. |
| US08233004B1 |
Color-compression using automatic reduction of multi-sampled pixels
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for improving graphics rendering efficiency by processing pixels in a compressed format whenever possible within a multi-sampling graphics pipeline. Each geometric primitive is rasterized into fragments, corresponding to screen space pixels covered at least partially by the geometric primitive. Fragment coverage represents the pixel area covered by the geometric primitive and determines the weighted contribution of a fragment color to the corresponding screen space pixel. Samples associated with a given fragment are called sibling samples and have the same color value. The property of sibling samples having the same color value is exploited to compress and process multiple samples, thereby reducing the size of the associated logic and the amount of data written to and read from the frame buffer. |
| US08233003B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and electronic instrument
An image processing device that supplies image data to a driver section of a display panel includes an encoding section that encodes image data on a block-by-block basis to generate encoded data, the image data corresponding to one scan line of an input image, the image data being divided into a plurality of blocks, a memory that stores the encoded data from the encoding section, and a decoding section that decodes the encoded data from the memory on a block-by-block basis to generate decoded data, the decoded data from the decoding section being supplied to the driver section. |
| US08233002B2 |
Image transfer apparatus and image transfer method
An image transfer apparatus includes a display configured to display multiple sets of content. A display image data generator is configured to generate display image data for each of the content, at least part of the content being displayed on the display. A storage controller is configured to relate connected image projection apparatus to the generated display image data and store the display image data related to the image projection apparatus in a storage device. A transfer unit is configured to transfer the display image data to the corresponding image projection apparatus. |
| US08233000B1 |
System and method for switching between graphical processing units
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for dynamically switching between a power-saving integrated graphics processing unit (IGPU) and a higher-performance discrete graphics processing unit (DGPU). This technique uses a single graphics driver and a single digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and leverages the GPU switching capability of the operating system to ensure a seamless transition. When additional graphics performance is desired, the system enters a hybrid graphics mode. In this mode, the DGPU is powered-up, and the graphics driver maintains the current display, while the operating system switches applications running on the IGPU to the DGPU. While in the hybrid graphics mode, the DGPU performs the graphics processing, and the graphics driver transmits the rendered images from the DGPU to the IGPU local memory and, then, to the IGPU DAC. This image transmission allows applications to fully exploit the processing capabilities of the DGPU, while using the display device connected to the IGPU. |
| US08232995B2 |
Local relative layout of node-link structures in space with negative curvature
A node-link structure is laid out in a space with negative curvature, such as the hyperbolic plane. Nearby relationship data are obtained for an element in the structure, indicating information about nearby node-link relationships; then layout data for the element are obtained, based on the nearby relationship data. The layout data indicate the element's position relative to a parent in the negatively curved space. The layout data can indicate a position displacement and an angle displacement between the parent and the element. The nearby relationship data can be obtained by counting grandchildren of the parent for each child of the parent that is in a set that are being or have been laid out. The counts can be used to obtain a radius and an angle for each child in the set, and the radii and angles can be used to obtain the position displacement and angle displacement. The nearby node-link relationships can thus include only relationships among the parent and its children and grandchildren. |
| US08232993B2 |
Systems and methods for graphical rendering
A computer readable medium configured to approximate the integral of the product of a plurality of functions includes logic configured to factor the plurality of functions into a set of fixed functions and one varying function, logic configured to determine a first vector that represents the product of the fixed functions in the wavelet domain, logic configured to determine a second vector that represents the one varying function in the wavelet domain, and logic configured to determine an inner product of the first vector and the second vector. |
| US08232988B2 |
Pre-computing image manipulations
The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for pre-computing image manipulations. |
| US08232987B2 |
Method for compensating voltage drop of display device, system for voltage drop compensation and display device including the same
The present invention relates to a method for compensating voltage drop of a display device, a system for voltage drop compensation, and a display device including the same. A method for compensating a voltage drop of a display device including a display panel, a maximum compensation voltage table MLEC LUT for voltage compensation when a voltage drop is a maximum in the display panel, and a voltage drop coefficient table LEC LUT representing voltage drop coefficients with respect to total output currents during one frame according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: receiving an input image signal; gamma-converting the input image signal to obtain a pre-compensation data voltage; obtaining a first total output current flowing in all pixels PX of the display panel during one frame based on the input image signal; obtaining a first voltage drop compensation voltage V_LEC based on the voltage drop coefficient table LEC LUT and the maximum compensation voltage table MLEC LUT; and adding the first voltage drop compensation voltage V_LEC to the pre-compensation data voltage to obtain the post-compensation data voltage. |
| US08232986B2 |
Light emitting display and method for driving the same
Disclosed herein are a light emitting display which can compensate for a threshold voltage of a driving switching element, and a method for driving the same. A light emitting display includes a pixel circuit that outputs a driving current corresponding to a data voltage from a data line using a scan signal, a first driving voltage and a second driving voltage; and a light emitting element that emits light by the driving current from the pixel circuit. |
| US08232985B2 |
Display driving circuit including a latch-up prevention unit
A display driving circuit is provided. The display driving circuit includes first to third voltage generation units configured to receive an externally applied input voltage having a same magnitude and generate respective voltages having different magnitudes, and a latch-up prevention unit connected to the second voltage generation unit and configured to receive a lower voltage among voltages output from the second voltage generation unit and to ground the lower voltage for a preset period of time. |
| US08232984B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel having a driver inspection unit and display device including the same
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor array panel and a display device including the same. A thin film transistor array panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of gate lines; a plurality of pixels respectively connected to the gate lines; a gate driver comprising a plurality of stages connected to each other, the plurality of stages being respectively connected to the plurality of gate lines and applying gate signals to the plurality of gate lines; and a driver inspection unit separated from the gate driver and including at least three inspection stages, wherein each of the at least three inspection stages has a same structure as one of the plurality of stages of the gate driver. |
| US08232980B2 |
Stylus and method of manufacturing the same
The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a stylus pen configured to select one of plural pieces of content installed in advance in a communication terminal. Examples of the method comprise preparing a protective cap of a conductive fiber material by sequentially stacking nickel, copper and nickel on both sides of a polyester fiber by deposition coating, placing the protective cap on a mold, applying a bonding agent to an internal surface of the protective cap, and injecting a non-conductive liquid onto the internal upper portion of the protective cap. |
| US08232973B2 |
Method, device, and graphical user interface providing word recommendations for text input
A portable electronic device having a touch screen display performs a set of operations, including displaying a plurality of key icons, each having an adjustable size hit region, and receiving a sequence of individual touch points input by a user on the touch screen display. The operations performed by the device further include processing the received individual touch points by: forming a user-input directed graph for the sequence of individual touch points received so far, determining a character corresponding to a last received individual touch point in accordance with the adjustable hit regions of the displayed key icons, displaying a sequence of characters corresponding to the sequence of individual touch points, and updating sizes of the adjustable hit regions for a plurality of the key icons in accordance with the sequence of individual touch points input by the user. |
| US08232972B2 |
Touch position detector of capacitive touch panel and method for detecting the touch position
A touch position detector includes a plurality of capacitance sensors, a negative capacitance compensation unit, an analog/digital converter and a micro processing unit. The negative capacitance compensation unit is utilized to compensate the capacitance of the capacitance sensor and get a capacitance change. The micro controller unit is utilized to detect the touch position according to the capacitance change. It is easy to get the touch position by using the touch position detector. |
| US08232968B2 |
Handheld electronic device with text disambiguation and selective disabling of frequency learning
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user is likely to have intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The learning function is disabled, however, when the relevant words are found to be in a special category for which frequency learning, i.e., frequency revision, is not employed. |
| US08232966B2 |
Multiple input optical navigation system
An optical navigation system with optical imaging of multiple inputs using a single navigation sensor. The optical navigation system includes a tactile interface device, an image sensor, and a processor. The tactile interface device facilitates a navigation input. The image sensor intermittently generates images of a surface of the tactile interface device and images of a contact navigation surface. The image sensor also generates the images of the surface of the tactile interface device exclusive of the images of the contact navigation surface. The processor is coupled to the image sensor. The processor generates a first navigation signal based on the images of the tactile interface device and generates a second navigation signal based on the images of the contact navigation surface. |
| US08232964B2 |
Apparatus for operating objects and a method for identifying markers from digital image frame data
An input apparatus other than a mouse supports an input to a computer by fingers or by mouth. The input apparatus operates an object on a screen based on an imaged operating element. The input apparatus includes a computing apparatus; a display apparatus connected to the computing apparatus; and an imaging apparatus connected to the computing apparatus. The imaging apparatus images a predetermined operating element. The computing apparatus displays, as a marker, an image of the imaged operating element on the display apparatus. The object on the screen of the display apparatus is operated by movement of the marker. |
| US08232963B2 |
Control and data entry apparatus
A control and data entry device adapted for use in for electronic devices such as portable computers, PDA's, cell phones, MP3 players and the like. The control and data entry device includes a tiltable member or similar structure carrying an electrically conductive member spaced from multiple sense electrodes disposed on a circuit substrate. In one embodiment, capacitances between the electrically conductive member and the electrodes are measured to provide information concerning the tiltable member's orientation relative to the sense electrodes. The tiltable member may be manipulated by a users finger to tilt such member slightly and thereby effect scrolling functionality, thereby simulating the operation of circular capacitive touch pads known in the art. Switches may also be included, responsive to greater tilting of the tiltable member, thereby to effect clicking functionality. In some embodiments, a rotatable knob may be used to effect scrolling functionality. |
| US08232962B2 |
System and method for display management based on user attention inputs
A system and method are provided for managing data being displayed on at least one monitor screen based on monitoring user's attention in relation to the monitor screen. In one embodiment, upon detecting that the user's attention is leaving at least a portion of a screen, the system may alert the user of such an event. Alternatively, the system could alert the user upon detecting a triggering condition while the user's attention is away from the at least a portion of the screen. The step of alerting the user may include modifying at least a portion of a display on a monitor not being viewed by the user. Additionally, the system may initiate preparation of a report including any data not being viewed by a user during the time period when the user is not viewing a portion of the monitor. |
| US08232959B2 |
Method of displaying an image and electrophoretic display device for performing the same
A method of displaying images on an electrophoretic display (“EPD”) panel includes displaying a (K)-th image on the EPD panel including a plurality of electrophoretic particles, wherein K denotes a natural number. Then, when an interrupt signal for converting images is inputted during one of a plurality of driving intervals, a charge of the electrophoretic particles is compensated, which is charged in correspondence with the (K)-th image displayed on the EPD panel before the interrupt signal is inputted, and then a (K+1)-th image is displayed on the EPD panel. Thus, when the interrupt signal is inputted during one of the driving intervals displaying the (K)-th image data, the charges that are charged in the particles are compensated in correspondence to the (K)-th image data, and then the (K+1)-th image is displayed so that display quality may be enhanced. |
| US08232956B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
A video with a display definition most suitable for the type of the video content to be displayed can be displayed. A liquid crystal display apparatus controls the luminance of the backlight light source according to the APL of the video signal measured by an APL measuring portion (16). The range of the video signal the APL of which is measured can be determined by, e.g., the luminance level of the video signal or by the genre information included in the inputted video signal or the OSD display information used when the liquid crystal apparatus (1) performs OSD display. The drawing shows the state that the upper and lower non-video areas are removed and an effective video area is determined. With this, the additional information displayed when the video signal is of a specific genre and the OSD-displayed additional information can be excluded, and the luminance of the backlight light source can be controlled to realize a display definition most suitable for the video signal. |
| US08232955B2 |
Ambient light sensor circuit and flat panel display device having the same
An ambient light sensor circuit and a flat panel display device having same that can automatically control screen brightness by sensing ambient brightness and controlling an output current. The ambient light sensor circuit includes a transistor electrically coupled to a first power source; a first capacitive element electrically coupled between a control electrode of the transistor and a first reference power source; a second capacitive element electrically coupled between the first capacitive element and a second reference power source; a first light receiving element electrically coupled between the first and third reference power sources and controlling a coupling voltage of the first capacitive element and charge/discharge voltages of the second capacitive element by conducting current in response to ambient light; a first switch electrically coupled to the transistor and enabling the transistor to output current from the first power source according to the coupling voltage of the first capacitive element; and a second switch electrically coupled between the first light receiving element and the first capacitive element and interrupting a leakage current of the first light receiving element, thereby preventing the coupling voltage of the first capacitive element from being changed. |
| US08232954B2 |
Shift register and organic light emitting display device using the same
A shift register is disclosed. The shift register has a plurality of stages dependently coupled to an input line of a start pulse and is driven by first, second and third clock signals respectively input to first, second and third input lines. The shift register includes a voltage controller to prevent leakage currents. |
| US08232953B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device which includes a drive circuit capable of reducing electromagnetic wave noises while performing a high-definition multi-grayscale display is provided. In a liquid crystal display device, low-voltage differential signals divided into a plurality of channels are received by a receiving circuit, display data is recorded in a storage element after being arranged, and the display data is outputted to drive circuits on a liquid crystal display panel from a transmitting circuit at different frequencies. A display region of the liquid crystal display panel is divided into a plurality of divided display regions, and respective divided display regions differ from each other in the number of pixels thus making transmission clock frequencies different from each other. |
| US08232947B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
To suppress a malfunction of a circuit due to deterioration in a transistor. In a transistor which continuously outputs signals having certain levels (e.g., L-level signals) in a pixel or a circuit, the direction of current flowing through the transistor is changed (inverted). That is, by changing the level of voltage applied to a first terminal and a second terminal (terminals serving as a source and a drain) every given period, the source and the drain are switched every given period. Specifically, in a portion which successively outputs signals having certain levels (e.g., L-level signals) in a circuit including a transistor, L-level signals having a plurality of different potentials (L-level signals whose potentials are changed every given period) are used as the signals having certain levels. |
| US08232942B2 |
Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display includes scanning lines organized in sets of at least two, data lines overlapping the scanning lines at intersection regions, pixels located at the overlaps, a scanning line driver sequentially scanning the sets of scanning lines, a data line driver applying a voltage corresponding to an image data to each pixel through a corresponding data line, and a common electrode applying a reference voltage to the pixels. The sets of scanning lines each include adjacent first and second scanning lines. First and second pixels are associated with the first and second scanning lines, respectively. The scanning line driver drives the second pixel after the first pixel in a first period and the first pixel after the second pixel in a second period. The data line driver inverts a polarity of the pixel voltage with regard to the reference voltage every N horizontal scanning periods (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2). |
| US08232941B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, system and methods of compensating for delays of gate driving signals thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes a gate driving shift register having symmetrically split circuit portions by which each of plural gate lines is dually driven from both ends of the gate line during ripple-through scanning of rows of the LCD device. The LCD device includes a timing controller generating an output enable signal and a gate clock, where the timing controller adjusts a timing of a load signal for deciding a data output timing point when data will be loaded into a currently activated display row. The data output timing point is a function of a delay measuring feedback signal that is used to measure the cumulative delays of the sequentially connected stages of the shift register. |
| US08232939B2 |
Voltage-programming scheme for current-driven AMOLED displays
A system and method for driving an AMOLED display is provided. The AMOLED display includes a plurality of pixel circuits. A voltage-programming scheme, a current-programming scheme or a combination thereof is applied to drive the display. Threshold shift information, and/or voltage necessary to obtain hybrid driving circuit may be acquired. A data sampling may be implemented to acquire a current/voltage relationship. A feedback operation may be implemented to correct the brightness of the pixel. |
| US08232935B2 |
Display apparatus, driving method for display apparatus and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus, including: a pixel array section including a plurality of pixels, a writing transistor, a driving transistor, a first switching transistor, a holding capacitor, and a second switching transistor; a first scanning section configured to drive the writing transistor in a unit of a row of the pixels; a second scanning section configured to drive the switching transistors in synchronism with scanning by the first scanning section; and a third scanning section configured to control the second switching transistors to a non-conducting state within a period after the image signal is written by the writing transistor until the signal writing period of the same row of the pixels ends but to a conducting state within any other period. |
| US08232933B2 |
Organic light emitting display with compensation for transistor threshold variation
An organic light emitting display is disclosed. The display includes a scan line, a data line, and a pixel coupled to the scan line and the data line. The pixel is configured to at least partially compensate for transistor threshold variation and for IR-drop in a power supply line, where the pixel includes no more than three transistors and no more than two capacitors. |
| US08232928B2 |
Dual-polarized antenna array
According to one embodiment, an antenna array includes a plurality of first antenna elements having a first polarity and a plurality of second antenna elements having a second polarity. A feed circuit couples the plurality of first antenna elements and the plurality of second antenna elements to an antenna drive circuit. The feed circuit is configured on a plurality of columns extending in a direction that is oblique to the plurality of first antenna elements and the plurality of second antenna elements. |
| US08232926B2 |
Mobile wireless device
There is provided a mobile wireless device capable of preventing antenna characteristics from degrading by feeding electric power at a position hardly affected by a human body such as a hand or other body part. In the mobile wireless device, a first circuit board (101) is provided on a first chassis (110) and has a ground layer; a second circuit board (105) is provided on a second chassis (120) and has a ground layer. A ground terminal of a wireless portion (104) is connected to the ground layer of the first circuit board (101) at the same voltage level and is also electrically connected through the wireless portion (104) to a matching circuit (103). The ground layer of the second circuit board (105) is electrically connected to a hinge conducting portion (106) by electrostatic capacitance coupling. The hinge conducting portion (106) is connected through a third conduction portion (107) to a board connection portion (102) and feeds power to the wireless portion through the matching circuit (103). This enables the ground layer of the first circuit board (101), the third conduction portion (107), the hinge conducting portion (106), and the ground layer of the second circuit board (105) to function as an antenna resonating at a predetermined resonant frequency. |
| US08232925B2 |
Impedance tuning of transmitting and receiving antennas
The present disclosure relates to impedance tuning of transmitting and receiving antennas. |
| US08232921B2 |
Half-mode substrate integrated antenna structure
The present invention relates to a half mode substrate integrated antenna structure 1, 10, 11 for electromagnetic signals, comprising a substrate 2 with a top 2a and a bottom side 26, said substrate being essentially of a flat shape with a main plane M, a conductive layer 3a arranged on said top and a conductive layer 3b arranged on said bottom side, a series of conductive vias 4 extending between the conductive layers 3a, 3b of the top and the bottom side of the substrate so that a waveguide having a feeding end 5 and an antenna end 6 is formed, wherein said antenna end 6 is formed by end regions 7 of said conductive layers 3a, 3b and said substrate 2 so that a radiation pattern of said antenna structure 1 essentially extends in the main plane M. |
| US08232913B2 |
Multilateration system and method
A multilateration system and method includes a plurality of receiver stations for receiving signals from an aircraft, and a controller that derives the position of the aircraft by applying a multilateration process to outputs from the receiver stations. For this purpose, the controller determines the altitude of the aircraft and selects a multilateration process that is to be used for position determination, based on the determined altitude. |
| US08232912B2 |
Object detecting apparatus
In an FM/CW type radar device (R), when object candidate information storage means (M5) stores as object candidate information a distance or a relative speed for an object that is determined based on a combination of peak signals on the rising side and the falling side in each detection area, if a difference in frequency between peak signal 1 determined in a given detection area and peak signal 2 determined in another detection area is no greater than a predetermined value and object candidate information due to peak signal 1 and object candidate information due to peak signal 2 stored in the object candidate information storage means (M5) are substantially equal to each other, grouping means (M7) carries out grouping of the two peak signals and, furthermore, object information calculation means (M8) calculates the distance or relative speed for the object based on a combination of peak signals on the rising side and the falling side after the grouping processing. This enables the distance and relative speed of an object to be calculated with good precision by means of an FM/CW type object detecting apparatus while minimizing the amount of arithmetic processing and the processing time. |
| US08232911B1 |
Method and system of reducing friendly fire in anti-aircraft engagements
A method and system provide for confirmation of friendly aircraft as a backup to conventional IFF (identification, friend or foe) telecommunication systems and methods. An IFF secondary radar signal is generated and directed to an aircraft. When no confirming response is received within a pre-determined time period, the invention provides for generating and transmitting a pre-arranged modulated signal to the aircraft. In response to receiving the pre-arranged modulated signal, the aircraft notifies the aircrew to execute a pre-arranged kinematic maneuver that is detected by the systems using radar means to confirm that the aircraft is a friendly aircraft. |
| US08232910B1 |
RTAWS active tower hazard detection system
A system and method for a terrain awareness warning system. The system includes a radar system configured to transmit a first radio frequency wave and receive a second radio frequency wave, a display for receiving a display signal representative of an obstacle source and an obstacle source data circuit. The obstacle source data circuit includes an interface and a display circuit. The interface is coupled to the radar system and the display. The display circuit is configured to determine the obstacle source based on the second radio frequency wave and to transmit the display signal representative of the obstacle source. |
| US08232907B2 |
Step frequency high resolution radar
The present invention is directed to an improved radar system that produces high range resolution while using existing narrow processing bandwidths and sampling rates to achieve a low cost radar product that is particularly useful for moving targets. The present invention uses a small number of closely spaced Linear Frequency Modulated Chirps. In one embodiment typically 2, 3, 4 chirps are used. Each frequency is sampled at a rate commensurate with the narrower bandwidth, corrected for motion, Time Aligned and combined to produce a single wide-band chirp but achieved using the lower sample rate commensurate with the narrower transmitted waveform. |
| US08232906B2 |
Image processing system and control method thereof
There are provided an image processing system and a control method thereof. The image processing system includes a control terminal which outputs control information for controlling an operation of at least one image processing apparatus according to a preset input through a wireless communication protocol, and a relay unit which converts the control information outputted from the control terminal into an infrared code and outputs the converted infrared code to the image processing apparatus, to control the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the control information. |
| US08232904B2 |
Folding analog-to-digital converter
A folding analog-to-digital converter including: a reference voltage generator, a track-and-hold circuit and a first pre-amplification circuit. The reference voltage generator generates a plurality of reference voltages. The track-and-hold circuit generates a sampling control signal having a voltage level lower than or equal to a level of a power supply voltage by maintaining an initial level of a boost capacitor voltage at a level lower than a level of a power supply voltage, and samples and holds an input voltage signal in response to the generated sampling control signal to generate a sampled signal. The first pre-amplification circuit amplifies each of voltage differences between the sampled signal and each of the plurality of reference voltages. |
| US08232903B2 |
Finger-split and finger-shifted technique for high-precision current mirror
A current cell array includes a number of current cell groups arranged such that they extend in a first direction. Each of the current cell groups is identified by a first identifier that increases in a direction of a gradient across the current cell array. A number of current cells are included in each of the current cell groups. Each of the current cells is identified by a respective second identifier that increases in the direction of the gradient across the current cell array. The current cells are positioned in the current cell groups based on the first and second identifiers. |
| US08232895B2 |
Vehicle detection apparatus, vehicle detection program and light control apparatus
A vehicle detection apparatus detects oncoming vehicles, and the illumination angle of the headlight is changed downwardly when oncoming vehicles are detected. When detecting the oncoming vehicles, the vehicle detection apparatus detects brightness or area for the every light source in an acquired image repeatedly, and detects as a variable light source any light source of which brightness or area changes within a reference time beyond a predetermined variation reference value. Then, when a variable light source is detected, it is determined that vehicles exist in the acquired image. |
| US08232890B2 |
Guidance system and method for medical procedures
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a guidance system and method for providing an angular orientation of a medical device. The system and method may utilize a fluid-filled portion with a position indicator that floats in the fluid contained within the fluid-filled portion. The guidance system may be coupled to the medical device so that when the angular orientation of the guidance system is varied, the position indicator moves within the fluid-filled portion. The position of the position indicator is designated by angle gradations on the outer portion of the fluid-filled portion. |
| US08232889B2 |
Communication system in a motor vehicle, and method for setting up a wireless ad-hoc radio network
Presented is a communication system in a motor vehicle which is designed to participate in a chain-like ad-hoc radio network comprising a number of traveling motor vehicles. The system includes a control unit, a transmission/reception unit in communication with the control unit, and an orientation unit configured to determine an orientation of the motor vehicle relative to a reference direction, the orientation unit being in communication with the control unit. The control unit is configured to determine the orientation of the motor vehicle with respect to an orientation of at least one other motor vehicle which is received by the transmission/reception unit. |
| US08232884B2 |
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors having distinct alarm indications and a test button that indicates improper operation
A detection device and detection device system are provided, wherein the detection device includes a housing, a first detector device and a second detector device. The first detector device is configured to detect at least one smoke particle. A second detector device configured to detect at least one gas particle, wherein the first detector device and the second detector device are substantially enclosed in the housing. The detection device further includes an audible enunciator configured to emit an audible noise when at least one of the first and second detector devices detect at least one smoke and gas particle, and a test button, wherein the audible enunciator emits an audible sound when the detection device is operating improperly and the test button is activated. |
| US08232879B2 |
Directional sensing mechanism and communications authentication
The present invention is directed toward an RFID device that includes a motion sensing mechanism. The motion sensing mechanism is adapted to sense motion of the RFID device and then selectively allow or restrict the RFID device's ability to transmit messages, which may include sensitive data, when the RFID device is placed in an RF field. Thus, the motion sensing mechanism is utilized to control access to data on the RFID device to only instances when the holder of the RFID device moves the RFID device in a predefined sequence of motion(s). |
| US08232878B2 |
Perimeter security system
A security system for detecting physical intrusion in a monitored area including a plurality of radio units arranged in a network around the monitored area to determine received signal strength and pass variations thereof through the radio units to a base station. |
| US08232875B2 |
System and method for displaying degradation of power storage device
A degradation evaluating unit collects data related to a power storage device from a vehicle through a power cable, and based on the collected data, evaluates the state of degradation of the power storage device. A data processing unit reads data related to the state of degradation of the power storage device evaluated by degradation evaluating unit from a storage unit, and processes the read data related to the state of degradation to a first display item for a user, a second display item for a dealer and a third display item for a manufacturer. A display control unit controls display of the data processed by data processing unit on a display terminal. |
| US08232871B2 |
System, apparatus and methods for data communication between vehicle and remote data communication terminal, between portions of vehicle and other portions of vehicle, between two or more vehicles, and between vehicle and communications network
A system, an apparatus, and methods are provided for data communications associated with a vehicle. The apparatus preferably includes at least one electronic subsystem associated with the vehicle and a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the at least one electronic subsystem and associated with the vehicle. A vehicle data communications protocol converter is preferably connected to the plurality of electrical conductors for converting a first data communications protocol associated with data communications along the plurality of electrical conductors to a second data communications protocol such as an infrared, an RF data, an Internet, or other network communications protocol. The apparatus also preferably includes a transceiver connected to the data communications protocol converter for transmitting the second data communications protocol from the vehicle and receiving the data communications protocol from another portion of the vehicle, a remote data communications terminal, another vehicle, or another communications network. |
| US08232869B2 |
Identifying a plurality of devices
A method and apparatus of identifying a plurality of devices connected along a common communications link is disclosed. A control station scans the devices by sending a succession of interrogation signals along the communication link, the interrogation signals including representation of the identification numbers of the devices. A first scan is carried out with interrogation signals identifying a first level of the range of identification numbers, and each device is programmed to generate, and to send to the control station, a response signal that includes its complete identification number and a checksum, upon receipt of a scan signal applicable thereto. Successive scans are carried out by the control station, adding the next higher level or the range of identification numbers, wherein upon completion of the scan that does not give rise to valid responses, the previously-paused scan is resumed. |
| US08232866B2 |
Systems and methods for remote long standoff biometric identification using microwave cardiac signals
Systems and methods for remote, long standoff biometric identification using microwave cardiac signals are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for remote biometric identification using microwave cardiac signals, the method including generating and directing first microwave energy in a direction of a person, receiving microwave energy reflected from the person, the reflected microwave energy indicative of cardiac characteristics of the person, segmenting a signal indicative of the reflected microwave energy into a waveform including a plurality of heart beats, identifying patterns in the microwave heart beats waveform, and identifying the person based on the identified patterns and a stored microwave heart beats waveform. |
| US08232864B2 |
Electronic key system, portable wireless device, and vehicle management method
An electronic key system includes a vehicle equipped with vehicle equipment, and a mobile phone having an electronic key function including ID information for the vehicle equipment. The vehicle equipment compares the ID information of the electronic key provided in the mobile phone with standard ID information of the vehicle equipment, makes the vehicle and/or the vehicle equipment perform a first operation when the ID information match and a second operation when the ID information cannot be detected. The vehicle equipment transmits history information along with the first and second operations to the mobile phone. |
| US08232861B2 |
Remote controller capable of selectively controlling a plurality of electric appliances, remote control system and method thereof
A remote controller for controlling a selected electric appliance includes a code input interface for inputting an control identification code of the selected electric appliance, a instruction input interface for inputting a function instruction for controlling the operation of the electric appliance, a wireless transmission module for outputting wireless signals, and a control module for controlling the wireless transmission module to output a corresponding control identification code signal after the code input interface receives the control identification code of the electric appliance, and the control module also for controlling the wireless transmission module to output a corresponding function instruction signal after the instruction input interface receives the function instruction. |
| US08232859B2 |
Multi-dimensional controlling device
A controlling device is provided and is configured to detect a device and to control the detected device. Alternatively, a controlling device is provided and is configured to detect a device and to receive at least one command from a remote control device. The controlling device may control the device using the received command. |
| US08232856B2 |
Connector and power transformer structure comprising the same
A connector and a power transformer structure comprising the same are provided. The power transformer structure comprises a connector and an integrated transformer. The connector comprises a plurality of connection units, and the integrated transformer comprises a plurality of transformation units. The transformation units are sequentially stacked and electronically connected to the corresponding connection units in contact connection to reduce the current conduction consumption and contact resistance. |
| US08232847B2 |
Oscillation circuit
An oscillation circuit includes a piezoelectric oscillator, a resistive element, and an exciting circuit connected between an input node and an output node in parallel with one another, a first capacitor connected between the input node and a ground node, and a second capacitor connected between the output node and the ground node. The exciting circuit includes a NAND circuit and first and second inverters that are cascade-connected. Oscillation of the piezoelectric oscillator is started when an enable signal input to the NAND circuit is switched to an H level. |
| US08232846B1 |
Resistor capacitor (RC) oscillator
In one embodiment, an RC oscillator is provided. The oscillator includes a current generator circuit configured to generate a current. A capacitor is configured to be charged by the current. An inverter includes an input coupled to the capacitor. An output of the inverter goes high when a voltage across the capacitor reaches a threshold voltage of the inverter. A switch coupled to the output of the inverter and the capacitor is configured to close when the output of the inverter goes high. This discharges the capacitor. The output of the inverter goes low when the capacitor is discharged and the switch is opened. Clock generator logic is configured to receive the output of the inverter and generate a clock signal. The current is proportional to the threshold voltage of the inverter. |
| US08232838B2 |
Audio dropout amplifier
According to embodiments, in a case that a source voltage is lowered and a potential difference between the source voltage and a ripple terminal voltage is below a constant potential difference, the ripple terminal voltage is lowered until the ripple terminal voltage reaches a first threshold value when a lowered value of the source voltage is equal to or larger than a predetermined voltage that exceeds the first threshold value by the constant potential difference, and the ripple terminal voltage is lowered until the ripple terminal voltage reaches a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value when the lowered value of the source voltage is below the predetermined voltage. |
| US08232836B2 |
Integrated circuit including a large number of identical elementary circuits powered in parallel
The invention relates to an integrated circuit comprising a succession of N identical elementary circuits (CE1, CE2, . . . CEN), juxtaposed in the order of their rank j varying from 1 to N, N being at least equal to 50, and all having to receive two reference potentials Vref and V0 supplied by two conductors. An upstream input of the second conductor is situated geographically on the side of the rank 1 of the succession of juxtaposed circuits, and an upstream input of the first conductor is situated geographically on the side of the rank N of the succession of juxtaposed circuits. This reduces the error in the potential difference applied to the elementary circuits all along the succession, an error that originates from the non-zero resistance of the conductors. The integrated circuit is applicable to analog-digital converters or digital-analog converters with high resolution. |
| US08232835B2 |
Charge pump circuit and voltage converter using the same
An apparatus for generating a voltage required for a semiconductor device by using a voltage supplied from an external power supply is provided. A charge pump circuit includes a first circuit comprising a first capacitor and a first group of switching elements and controlling the first group of switching elements according to first and second switching signals to transfer a voltage charged in the first capacitor to a target terminal during a first period and to charge the first capacitor with a reference voltage applied to a first input terminal of the first capacitor during a second period, and a second circuit comprising a second capacitor, a third capacitor connected between an output terminal and a ground terminal and a second group of switching elements, and controlling the second group of switching elements according to the first and second switching signals to connect a first terminal of the second capacitor to the ground terminal during the first period, connect the first terminal of the second capacitor to a power supply voltage input terminal during the second period, connect a second terminal of the second capacitor to the power supply voltage input terminal when a voltage of the second terminal of the second capacitor is lower than a voltage of the target terminal during the first period, and connect the second terminal of the second capacitor to the output terminal during the second period. |
| US08232834B2 |
Boosting xDSL amplifier supply power on-demand
Systems and methods for increasing amplifier supply power on demand for a plurality of xDSL signals is provided. In an embodiment, circuitry may be used to detect the signal or signals having the highest voltage. In different embodiments, the signal(s) with the highest absolute voltage or highest combined voltage between complementary signal pairs may be compared to a threshold voltage, such as an existing amplifier supply voltage. In different embodiments, when these highest voltage(s) exceed the threshold voltage, the corresponding amplifier supply voltages may be increased to meet the increased amplification demand. In some embodiments when these highest voltage(s) do not exceed the threshold voltage, the amplifier supply voltage may not be increased and the existing amplifier supply voltage may be used to amplify the xDSL signals. |