Document Document Title
US08243916B2 CODEC circuit for POTS system
A CODEC circuit for POTS system comprises a digital circuit for outputting a digital control signal having a first bit width, the digital control signal being indicative of a voltage to be applied to a POTS subscriber line pair. Further, the CODEC circuit comprises a noise shaper coupled to an output of the digital circuit for generating a noise-shaped control signal and a digital-to-analog converter coupled to an output of the noise shaper, the input of the digital-to-analog converter having a second bit width being larger than 1 and smaller than the first bit width.
US08243913B2 Limiting contact in a networked contact center environment
This document discusses, among other things, limiting contact to a networked contact center that is a host to multiple tenants. In an example embodiment, a communication is received by a networked contact center. In determining whether to allow the communication to reach contact center resources, a contact rate value may be examined. The contact rate value may represent an allowable quantity of contact within a time interval. For some example embodiments, a determination of whether the network contact center is to accept or reject the communication is made based on the contact rate value.
US08243909B2 Programmable caller ID
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing Programmable Caller ID Screening services. One method monitors a telephone call for a call screening request for commercial, residential, and other identifiers of incoming calls. An action is taken in response to the call screening request. The action could be playing an announcement, terminating the connection, forwarding to voice mail, storing the ICLID information in a database, adding the ICLID information to a Do Not Call list, updating a subscriber's profile with the ICLID information, and/or storing the ICLID information in a subscriber's blocked communications list. The call screening request may comprise a Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency, a softkey entry, and/or a data message. Subsequent incoming calls from the calling telephone number are characterized as undesirable and are screened from alerting or otherwise establishing a communications connection to the called telephone number.
US08243907B1 Post-dial pre-connect handset customer care
A system is provided for handset customer care. The system includes a handset, which includes a processor, a display, a dialer component, and a care component. The dialer component, when executed by the processor, intercepts a connection request associated with an entered number, and determines whether the entered number is associated with a specified service. The care component, when executed by the processor, provides service options to the display in response to a determination that the entered number is associated with the specified service. The care component also receives selection of at least one of the service options, and communicates with a server based on the selection. The handset connects to the entered number in response to a determination that the entered number is not associated with the specified service.
US08243905B2 Multi-participant conference setup
Some embodiments provide an architecture for establishing a multi-participant conference. This architecture has one participant's computer in the conference act as a central content distributor for the conference. The central distributor receives data (e.g., video and/or audio streams) from the computer of each other participant, and distributes the received data to the computers of all participants. In some embodiments, the central distributor receives A/V data from the computers of the other participants. From such received data, the central distributor of some embodiments generates composite data (e.g., composite image data and/or composite audio data) that the central distributor distributes back to the participants.
US08243904B2 Methods to improve security of conference calls by observation of attendees' order and time of joining the call
An embodiment of the invention includes a method for detecting fraudulent use in a conference calling system. A threshold period is received, wherein the threshold period indicates the maximum allowable time period for a participant of a conference call to enter the conference call prior to the entry of the moderator of the conference call. A monitor detects the entry of the moderator into the conference call and entry of the participants into the conference call. A waiting period is determined for one or more of the participants, wherein the waiting period represents the time period between the entry of the moderator and the entry of the participant. A processor compares the waiting period to the threshold period. If the threshold period exceeds the waiting period, the conference call is allowed to continue. In at least one embodiment, actions are performed with the processor if the waiting period exceeds the threshold period.
US08243903B1 Method and apparatus for implementing a secure side conversation on a telephone conference call
A separate peer-to-peer multi-directional audio channel is established between a subset of the participants to an existing multi-party communication session on the same channel as the original multi-party communication session. Since the secure channel is established on the existing call, the same NAT/firewall traversal mechanisms may be used, and even the same socket may be used. Participants on the secure side conversation can hear both the secure side conversation and the main multi-party communication session. Participants that are not on the secure side conversation may receive packets from the secure side conversation, but are not part of the security association for the secure side conversation and, hence, cannot hear the audio from the secure side conversation.
US08243901B2 Securing teleconferences with unique, single-use passcodes
A Single-Use Passcode Generator (SUPG) gives an existing teleconference management software the capability to generate a unique, single-use passcode for each of a plurality of invited participants to a teleconference. When a host sets up a teleconference, a unique passcode is generated for each invited participant. The unique passcode is sent with a teleconference invitation. The unique passcode expires once the invited participants access the teleconference.
US08243900B2 Visually rearranging telephone call trees
A method, system and computer instructions for users to visually rearrange telephone call trees are disclosed. A caller can connect to an automated telephone answering service, and download the service's call tree. The caller can view a display with the call tree, and modify or rearrange the order in which the menu options of the call tree are displayed. The user can then store the modified call tree for use in the future.
US08243899B2 Method and apparatus for a processing of calls in a telecommunications system
A method and apparatus for a processing of a call in a telecommunication system is provided. Multiple personalization policies are specified by a callee (106) for a processing of calls. Each personalization policy is based on one or more conditions. Each condition of the multiple personalization policies is evaluated (202). A set of actions then is selected based on the evaluation of the conditions, wherein each action in the set of actions corresponds to a personalization policy. A subset of the set of actions then may be presented (204) to the callee as a set of options, wherein each option corresponds to an action in the subset of the set of actions and wherein an order of the options presented may be based on an algorithms. Thereafter, an option is selected (206) from a set of options, and the call is processed based on the selected option.
US08243889B2 System and method for dynamic call-progress analysis and call processing
A telephony application such as an interactive voice response (“IVR”) needs to identify quickly the nature of the call (e.g., whether it is a person or machine answering a call) in order to initiate an appropriate voice application. Conventionally, the call stream is sent to a call-progress analyzer (“CPA”) for analysis. Once a result is reached, the call stream is redirected to a call processing unit running the IVR according to the analyzed result. The present scheme feeds the call stream simultaneous to both the CPA and the IVR. The CPA is allowed to continue analyzing and outputting a series of analysis results until a predetermined result appears. In the meantime, the IVR can dynamically adapt itself to the latest analysis results and interact with the call with a minimum of delay.
US08243885B2 X-ray generator
To provide an X-ray generator capable of preventing electric corrosion and exerting stable performance over long periods. The X-ray generator includes: a rotary anticathode having a rotary anticathode part and a shaft part; an anticathode accommodating case including an air-tight case part for keeping an area surrounding the rotary anticathode part in a vacuum atmosphere, and a journaling case part for rotatively supporting the shaft part via a bearing; and an electric motor to rotatably drive the anticathode (target). A water-cooled jacket, through which cooling water for cooling the rotary anticathode part and the shaft part flows, is provided in the rotary anticathode. In the X-ray generator, an insulating bearing of which at least one of an inner ring, an outer ring and a rolling element is made of an insulating material is used as the bearing, and a conductive fiber brush having a large number of conductive microfibers serving as slide-contacting brush is arranged between opposing peripheral surfaces of the journaling case part of the anticathode accommodating case and the shaft part of the rotary anticathode, such that current is flown from the rotary anticathode to the anticathode accommodating case via the conductive fiber brush. In addition, pure water or ion-exchange water having low electric conductivity is used as cooling water flown through the water-cooled jacket.
US08243879B2 Source grating for X-rays, imaging apparatus for X-ray phase contrast image and X-ray computed tomography system
A source grating for X-rays and the like which can enhance spatial coherence and is used for X-ray phase contrast imaging is provided. The source grating for X-rays is disposed between an X-ray source and a test object and is used for X-ray phase contrast imaging. The source grating for X-rays includes a plurality of sub-gratings formed by periodically arranging projection parts each having a thickness shielding an X-ray at constant intervals. The plurality of sub-gratings are stacked in layers by being shifted.
US08243876B2 X-ray scanners
The present application discloses an X-ray scanner having an X-ray source arranged to emit X-rays from source points through an imaging volume. The scanner may further include an array of X-ray detectors which may be arranged around the imaging volume and may be arranged to output detector signals in response to the detection of X-rays. The scanner may further include a conveyor arranged to convey an object through the imaging volume in a scan direction, and may also include at least one processor arranged to process the detector signals to produce an image data set defining an image of the object. The image may have a resolution in the scan direction that is at least 90% as high as in one direction, and in some cases two directions, orthogonal to the scan direction.
US08243874B2 Apparatus and method for spectral computed tomography
A computed tomography system includes a radiation sensitive detector element (100) which provides outputs (DL, DH) indicative of the radiation detected in at least first and second energies or energy ranges. Energy resolving photon counters (26) further classify the detector signals according to their respective energies. Correctors (24) correct the classified signals, and a combiner (30) combines the signals according to a combination function to generate outputs (EL, EH) indicative of radiation detected in at least first and second energies or energy ranges.
US08243872B2 Spacer grid for close-spaced nuclear fuel rods
A spacer grid can be applied to close-spaced nuclear fuel rods. The spacer grid is directed to solve the problem in which, as the outer diameter of each nuclear fuel rod increases due to the use of dual-cooled nuclear fuel rods for improving cooling performance and obtaining high combustion and high output power, the gap between the neighboring nuclear fuel rods is narrowed to thus make it impossible to use an existing spacer grid. The spacer grid is a combination of unit grid straps, each of which has supports for supporting each of the nuclear fuel rods set in a narrow array and has a sheet shape, which are combined with each other. The supports are located at positions shifted from the longitudinal central line of each unit grid strap toward sub-channels.
US08243871B2 Spherical fuel element and production thereof for gas-cooled high temperature pebble bed nuclear reactors (HTR)
The invention relates to a novel design and production of fuel element pebbles which satisfy the requirements of high temperature pebble bed nuclear reactors of the next generation. The invention uses a shell of the fuel element pebbles that is devoid of fuel and consists of silicon carbide (SiC) and/or zircon carbide (ZrC), in addition to natural graphite and graphitized petroleum coke, said shell having a maximum average nominal thickness of 5 mm and preferably only 3 mm.
US08243868B2 Method and apparatus for duty cycle pre-distortion and two-dimensional modulation
In serial communications, jitter is an unwanted variation of one or more signal characteristics. Two-dimensional modulation circuits and methods incorporate an amplitude pre-emphasis scheme as well as a transmit duty cycle pre-distortion (pre-DCD) technique to reduce jitter. The pre-DCD technique directly addresses transition edges of the data signal and is combined with amplitude pre-emphasis to improved data transmission.
US08243862B2 Receiver and signal receiving method thereof
A signal receiving method of a receiver includes following steps. Multiple time-domain received signals are transformed into multiple frequency-domain received signals, and channel response matrices corresponding to the frequency-domain received signals are estimated. The frequency-domain received signals are STBC decoded and multiple original combination signals are obtained based on the corresponding channel response matrices. The frequency-domain received signals are rearranged, and the rearranged frequency-domain received signals are STBC decoded and multiple rearrangement combination signals are obtained based on the corresponding channel response matrices. The original combination signals and the rearrangement combination signals are randomly chosen and summed to obtain multiple complex signals. The complex signal with minimum interference power is selected and then the selected signal is used to cancel interference and compensate the channel effect to obtain the detected data.
US08243861B2 Systems and methods for interference cancellation in a radio receiver system
A system and method for interference cancellation is provided to cancel/greatly reduce the interference of a wireless network. The interferers are separated from a desired signal using independent component analysis by hypothesizing the transmitting sequence. An optional whitening filter is used after the signal separation to improve the signal conditioning. The separated signal is processed by a second pass channel estimation to improve the signal channel estimation and is fed to a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) algorithm, such as a Viterbi algorithm, for signal detection.
US08243860B1 Co-channel interference cancellation with multiple receive antennas for BICM
Apparatus and methods are provided for computing soft information at a receiver having a plurality of receive antennas. The receiver may be a mobile station or a base station, and can receive a signal vector that includes an intended signal from a first source as well as interfering signals from one or more other, interfering sources. The receiver can determine modulation information, such as the modulation scheme, used by each of the interfering sources. The mobile station can also estimate channel information, such as channel gain information, associated with each interfering source. Using the modulation and channel information, the receiver can compute soft information, such as a log-likelihood ratio. In some embodiments, the receiver can adaptively determine which interference sources and which receive antennas to use when computing the soft information.
US08243856B2 Adaptable demodulator
A method and a circuit for detecting a binary state supported by an analog symbol, comprising sampling the symbol with a sampling signal based on a frequency having a period shorter than the duration of a symbol, selecting a number of significant samples smaller than the number of samples which would be obtained with a sampling of the symbol at said frequency, and deciding of the symbol state based on the selected samples.
US08243848B2 Radio communication apparatus and method
A disclosed radio communication method includes precoding modulated information signal sequences to calculate transmit weight information, setting initial transmit power based on prior information including the calculated transmit weight information, generating an objective function of a user channel capacity for a constrained optimization problem based on the transmit weight information and the initial transmit power, generating a new objective function by adding a barrier function to the objective function, using an initial temporary barrier parameter to initiate iteration of an optimization operation for the new objective function, setting an initial barrier parameter based on comparison between the current and previous outputs, calculating transmit power to optimize the new objective function in accordance with an interior point method based on the initial transmit power and the initial barrier parameter and allocating the calculated transmit power to the respective transmit antennas.
US08243842B2 Signal separating device and signal separating method
A signal separating device the computational complexity of which is reduced and the communication quality of which is improved. A channel matrix interchanging section (110) creates matrices defined by interchanging the elements of channel estimation matrices multiplied by symbol candidates relevant to the final stage. A QR separating/QH multiplying sections (121, 122) each perform QR separation by using the created matrices and perform multiplication of the transposed matrix of the Q matrix of each created matrix by the received signal. At the final stage, the maximum likelihood judging sections (131, 132) each calculate only the value representing the squared Euclidean distance between the signal point when the combination of the symbol candidates until the final stage is fixed and the candidate point relevant to the final state nearest to the signal point by using the results of the computations by the QR separating/QH multiplying sections (121, 122), thus reducing the computational complexity while preventing absence of the bit likelihood.
US08243841B2 Symbol interleaving and channel mapping device and method and mobile communication system
The present invention discloses a symbol interleaving and channel mapping device and method as well as a mobile communication system. The symbol interleaving and channel mapping device is used in a transmitter of a mobile communication system, said transmitter receiving the channel state information fed back from a receiver of the mobile communication system; the symbol interleaving and channel mapping device comprises a symbol classification unit for classifying symbols according to their importance; a symbol sub-carrier mapping unit for performing a sub-carrier mapping according to the classification result of said symbol classification unit and the channel state information such that the important symbols correspond to the non deep fading sub-carrier as much as possible.
US08243840B2 Method and system for transmitting/receiving data in a communication system
Provided are a system and a method for transmitting/receiving data in a communication system. The method includes calculating a processing matrix of a transmission unit for transmitting data, a processing matrix of a reception unit for receiving the data, a channel matrix formed by a plurality of transmission antennas and a plurality of reception antennas, and a parameter of the transmission data, when the data to be transmitted to the plurality of reception antennas via the plurality of transmission antennas is generated; determining a minimum value of a Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) according to the calculated matrixes and parameter; and transmitting/receiving the data using an MMSE multiplexing scheme based on the determined minimum MMSE value.
US08243838B2 Test apparatus and program
Provided is a measurement apparatus that measures power of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing modulated signal (OFDM modulated signal) output from a transmitting device, comprising an output control section that causes the transmitting device to output the OFDM modulated signal having a prescribed waveform that repeats in each of a plurality of repetition periods; and a power measuring section that measures, over a measurement period that corresponds to an integer multiple of the repetition period, the power of the OFDM modulated signal output by the transmitting device. The output control section may cause the transmitting device to output the OFDM modulated signal having, as the repetition period, a period for which the arrangement of a pilot signal is the same in a direction of sub-carriers and a direction of OFDM symbols.
US08243832B1 Encoded space time warped asymmetrical signaling
Space-time coding is applied to a wave transmitter, receiver, or both. In general, the space-time coding is performed by real or synthetic motion of the transmitter or receiver, with the location of energy radiation/reception varying over the symbol duration with at least one occurrence during the symbol duration of a minimum instantaneous speed greater than a quarter of the ratio of the smallest wavelength of the waves divided by the symbol duration, and with coded acceleration of the modification of location to modify the velocity over the symbol duration.
US08243830B2 Apparatus for removing blocking artifact by filtering pixel in second block using filter coefficient obtained using quantization information for first block
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain quantization information of a first block, and determine a filtering coefficient based on values obtained by using the quantization information. A filtered pixel value included in a second block is obtained by the decoder based on the filtering coefficient. The second block is adjacent to the first block.
US08243827B2 Method of removing a blocking phenomenon using properties of a second block adjacent a first block
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a block type of the second block, and determining whether the second block has non-zero transform coefficient information if the obtained block type of the second block is not an intra-coded block. The method further includes determining a non-zero filter strength value based on the obtained coded block pattern the second block and the determination of whether the second block has non-zero transform coefficient information, and removing the blocking phenomenon in the first block according to the filter strength value.
US08243826B2 Encoded stream transmitter
The accuracy of time information set in a packet is improved. Time information calculator 24 calculates time information, using the encoding information received by control information receiver 23 and the encoded stream received by encoded stream receiver 21. When the time information is not pertinent, time information calculator 24 corrects the time information and outputs the corrected time information. Encoded stream packetizer 22 packetizes the encoded stream by setting the time information output by time information calculator 24 into the header portion.
US08243823B2 Method and system for wireless communication of uncompressed video information
A method and system for communication uncompressed video over a wireless communication medium is provided. Pixels in an uncompressed video frame are grouped into groups of pixels for wireless transmission from a transmitter to a receiver, wherein the neighboring pixels in each group possess (have) high spatial correlation. Upon receiving the pixel groups, the receiving station reconstructs the video frame from the received pixel groups, wherein upon detecting an erroneous pixel in a group, information from one or more neighboring pixels in that pixel group are used in place of the erroneous pixel. Further, FEC encoding is utilized recovering bit-errors.
US08243819B2 Method of removing a blocking phenomenon in a block using a horizontal filter strength and then a vertical filter strength
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a block type of the second block and the third block. The second block is adjacent to the first block horizontally, and the third block is adjacent to the first block vertically. The method further includes determining whether the second and third blocks have non-zero transform coefficient information if the block type of the second and third blocks, respectively, are not an intra-coded block. A horizontal filter strength value and vertical filter strength values are determined based on the above steps. The blocking phenomenon in the first block is removed according to the horizontal filter strength value firstly, then vertical filter strength value secondly.
US08243818B2 Method of performing loop-filtering and additional filtering on pixels of an image
In one embodiment, loop-filtering is performed on four successive pixels if obtained quantization information for a first block is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first block and a second block is intra-coded block type. Two pixels of the four successive pixels are in the first block and two pixels of the four successive pixels are in the second block, which is adjacent the first block. The method still further includes performing additional filtering on two successive pixels on the block boundary based on a comparison result of the quantization information and a second threshold value.
US08243812B2 Barbell lifting for wavelet coding
A method for encoding motion-compensated video data includes generating, for a current frame, a high-pass wavelet coefficient based on a function of pixels in a temporally adjacent frame. The operations are repeated for multiple pixels in an array of pixels in the current frame to form an array of high-pass wavelet coefficients. A low-pass wavelet coefficient is generated based on a function of the high-pass wavelet coefficients. A system for coding video data includes a temporal wavelet decomposition module decomposing a pixel into a high-pass coefficient by performing a discrete wavelet transform on the pixel, a function of pixels in a previous frame, and/or a function of pixels in a subsequent frame. The system includes a motion estimation module generating motion vectors associated with the pixels in the previous frame and in the subsequent frame.
US08243811B2 System and method for noise filtering data compression
Noise filtering data compression removes noise differences from successive frames in a video signal. This is accommodated by accessing successive frames corresponding to a video signal. Frequency domain representations, for example first row and first column coefficients in the quantized DCT result matrix, are used to determine whether the block in the current frame should be considered identical to the corresponding block in the previous frame. If such is the case, the block data is rendered identical such as by overwriting one for the other. This removes any noise differential between the corresponding blocks from the successive frames.
US08243810B2 Motion estimation approach for real-time embedded multimedia design
A method for performing motion estimation is provided. The method includes the following steps: selecting a current block in a current frame; obtaining motion vectors and residual data of a plurality of neighboring blocks adjacent to the current block; setting a predetermined threshold value according to the residual data of the plurality of neighboring blocks; comparing the current block with an initial reference block in a reference frame to obtain an initial comparison result, and comparing the predetermined threshold value with the initial comparison result; determining a predicted motion vector of the current block according to the motion vectors of the plurality of neighboring blocks if the initial comparison result is larger than the predetermined threshold value; and performing a block-matching operation in a search window corresponding to the predicted motion vector to determine a corresponding reference block which best matches the current block.
US08243808B2 Image information encoding method and encoder, and image information decoding method and decoder
In an image information encoder (10) supplied with an interlaced image in a 4:2:0 format, a color-difference signal phase correction unit (22) shifts, for motion estimation and compensation, the phase of the color-difference signal in a reference image block adaptively to a selected motion estimate mode and the value mv of vertical component in motion vector information so that the reference image block will coincide in phase of the color-difference signal with an input image block.
US08243807B2 Image processing method, a program of an image processing method, a recording medium on which a program of an image processing method is recorded and an image processing circuit
An image processing method in which a video signal is processed to detect a conspicuous area which is thought that a camera person intends to shoot, the method includes the steps of: detecting a motion vector in each portion of the video signal; detecting a representative value that represents a motion in two places in an outer part of a screen; detecting a motion component caused by zooming operations from the representative value; detecting a conspicuous degree by zooming in which a motion component caused by zooming operations is detected in each portion of the video signal based on the motion component caused by zooming operations; correcting a motion vector; detecting a motion component caused by making a pan and tilt from the representative value; detecting a conspicuous degree caused by making a pan and tilt; and detecting a total conspicuous degree.
US08243805B2 Video completion by motion field transfer
Systems and methods for video completion by motion field transfer are described. In one aspect, a spatio-temporal target patch of an input video data sequence is filled in or replaced by motion field transfer from a spatio-temporal source patch of the input video data sequence. Color is propagated to corresponding portions of the spatio-temporal target patch by treating the transferred motion information as directed edges. These motion field transfer and color propagation operations result in a video completed spatio-temporal target patch. The systems and methods present the video data sequence, which now includes the video completed spatio-temporal target patch, to user for viewing.
US08243803B2 Moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, moving picture coding method, moving picture decoding method, program, and computer-readable recording medium containing the program
A moving picture encoding device includes a motion vector detection section configured to detect a motion vector of a predetermined area to be encoded in a frame picture, a prediction section configured to predict the motion vector of the predetermined area to be encoded by using an encoded motion vector of a predetermined area in the frame picture, a determination section configured to determine whether or not the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection section is a predetermined motion vector set in accordance with the motion vector predicted by the prediction section, and a switching section configured to switch a method of calculating a motion compensation value of the predetermined area to be encoded depending on whether or not the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection section is the predetermined motion vector.
US08243802B2 Moving picture encoding apparatus, moving picture encoding method, moving picture encoding program, moving picture decoding apparatus, moving picture decoding method, and moving picture decoding program
In a moving picture encoding apparatus 10, as an embodiment of the present invention, a predicted image generator 16 generates a predicted image with respect to a target image, using a reference image stored in a frame memory 20. A difference image generator 18 performs a difference operation between the target image and the predicted image to generate a difference image. An encoder 22 encodes the difference image to generate an encoded difference signal. A decoder 28 decodes the encoded difference signal to generate a decoded difference image. A reproduced image generator 30 performs a summation of the decoded difference image and the predicted image to generate a reproduced image. An image updater 32 performs a weighted summation of a first image which is one of the reproduced image and the reference image, and a second image which is the other of the reproduced image and the reference image, to generate an updated image. The updated image is stored into the frame memory 20 to be used as a reference image in encoding of another target image.
US08243801B2 Motion prediction apparatus and motion prediction method
According to one embodiment, a motion prediction apparatus includes: a similarity detector that detects block similarities indicating degree of similarities between a pixel block in a current frame and pixel blocks in a next frame; a smoothness detector that detects smoothness level of the pixel block in the current frame, the smoothness level indicating smallness of an image variance of the pixel block; a weighting unit that applies weights to each of the block similarities based on the smoothness level; and a motion vector determination unit that determines a motion vector of the pixel block in the current frame based on the weighted block similarities.
US08243795B2 Apparatus for obtaining filtered values in a horizontal and vertical direction
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder. The decoder is configured to obtain at least three horizontally successive reference pixel values including a pixel to be filtered, and apply first weight factors to at least each of the three horizontally successive reference pixel values. The first weight factors are different according to pixel position. A first filtered value is obtained by the decoder by summing at least the three weighted horizontally successive pixel values. The decoder is also configured to obtain at least three vertically successive reference pixel values including a pixel to be filtered, and apply second weight factors to at least each of the three vertically successive reference pixel values. The second weight factors are different according to pixel position. A second filtered value is obtained by the decoder by summing at least the three weighted vertically successive pixel values.
US08243794B2 Apparatus for performing loop-filtering and additional filtering on pixels of an image
In one embodiment, loop-filtering is performed by a decoder on four successive pixels if obtained quantization information for a first block is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first block and a second block is intra-coded block type. Two pixels of the four successive pixels are in the first block and two pixels of the four successive pixels are in the second block, which is adjacent the first block. The decoder is also configured to perform additional filtering on two successive pixels on the block boundary based on a comparison result of the quantization information and a second threshold value.
US08243791B2 Method of removing blocking artifact using quantization information
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining quantization information of a first block. The first block includes a pixel to be filtered. The method further includes determining a filtering coefficient based on a value obtained from a table using the quantization information, and obtaining four successive filtered pixel values based on the filtering coefficient. Two of the four successive filtered pixels are included in the first block and two of the four successive filtered pixels are included in a second block adjacent the first block.
US08243790B2 Treating video information
Systems, methods, and techniques for treating video information are described. In one implementation, a method includes receiving video information, classifying one or more frames in the received video information as a scene, adjusting one or more coding parameters based on the classification of the frames, and coding the video information in accordance with the adjusted coding parameters.
US08243788B2 Video frame encoding and decoding
A video frame arithmetical context adaptive encoding and decoding scheme is presented which is based on the finding, that, for sake of a better definition of neighborhood between blocks of picture samples, i.e. the neighboring block which the syntax element to be coded or decoded relates to and the current block based on the attribute of which the assignment of a context model is conducted, and when the neighboring block lies beyond the borders or circumference of the current macroblock containing the current block, it is important to make the determination of the macroblock containing the neighboring block dependent upon as to whether the current macroblock pair region containing the current block is of a first or a second distribution type, i.e., frame or field coded.
US08243787B2 Method and system for protecting MPEG frames during transmission within an internet protocol (IP) network
A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include identifying video data traffic as at least one of I-frame video data traffic, B-frame video data traffic, and P-frame video data traffic, classifying the video data traffic based on the identification, applying at least one of Expedited Forwarding (EF) standards and Assured Forwarding (AF) standards to the video data traffic based on the classification, and transmitting the video data traffic to one or more video receiver device network elements via one or more network elements using a network.
US08243783B2 Adaptive equalization using correlation of edge samples with data patterns
An integrated receiver supports adaptive receive equalization. An incoming bit stream is sampled using edge and data clock signals derived from a reference clock signal. A phase detector determines whether the edge and data clock signals are in phase with the incoming data, while some clock recovery circuitry adjusts the edge and data clock signals as required to match their phases to the incoming data. The receiver employs the edge and data samples used to recover the edge and data clock signals to note the locations of zero crossings for one or more selected data patterns. The pattern or patterns may be selected from among those apt to produce the greatest timing error. Equalization settings may then be adjusted to align the zero crossings of the selected data patterns with the recovered edge clock signal.
US08243782B2 Statistically-adapted receiver and transmitter equalization
In described embodiments, adaptive equalization of a signal in, for example, Serializer/De-serializer transceivers by a) monitoring a data eye in a data path with an eye detector for signal amplitude and/or transition; b) setting the equalizer response of at least one equalizer in the signal path while the signal is present for statistical calibration of the data eye; c) monitoring the data eye and setting the equalizer during periods in which received data is allowed to contain errors (such as link initiation and training periods) and periods in which receive data integrity is to be maintained (such as normal data communication).
US08243779B2 Method of quality-based frequency hopping in a wirelesscommunication system
In a wireless communications system which hops from frequency to frequency, rather than hopping according to a fixed dwell interval and a pre-determined pseudo-random hop sequence, a quality-based frequency hopping methodology is defined in which a new frequency is hopped to when the channel quality on the current frequency degrades based on the measured value or values of one or more predetermined metrics that are associated with channel quality. When triggered to hop to a next frequency, the hop-to-frequency may be the next frequency in the pseudo-random hop sequence known to both the transmitter and receiver or, in order to improve the reliability of communications, may be determined based on channel quality measurements on different potential hop-to-frequencies.
US08243778B1 Antenna diversity technique for wireless communication
A receiver has a plurality of antennas for receiving a signal. The signal includes a data packet. The receiver includes a correlator to correlate a spreading code with a preamble of the data packet. A first processor determines a signal quality value of the signal at each of the plurality of antennas. The signal quality value at each of the plurality of antennas is determined during the correlation of the spreading code with the preamble of the data packet. A decision unit selects a first antenna of the plurality of antennas for reception of the signal based on the signal quality value determined at each of the plurality of antennas.
US08243777B2 Method and apparatus for estimating symbol timing offset in wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus for estimating a symbol timing offset in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) based communication system are provided. A Carrier to Interference Ratio (CIR) of an Reference Signal (RS) is acquired using received pilot signals. The RS CIR includes power information on channel components of the RS. A CIR of a Secondary Synchronization Channel (S-SCH) is acquired using the received pilot signals. The S-SCH CIR includes power information on channel components of the S-SCH. Unnecessary channel components are suppressed from the RS CIR using the S-SCH CIR. Real channel components of the RS remain. An observation window is set having a predetermined duration for windowing the real channel components of the RS. A first arriving channel component is searched for within the observation window. A start point of data is estimated using the first arriving channel component.
US08243772B2 Adaptive code generator for satellite navigation receivers
An adjustable code generator is configurable to generate any of a plurality of spread-spectrum code signals. The adjustable code generator includes a feedback polynomial mask table to contain a set of feedback polynomial masks. Respective feedback polynomial masks of the set correspond to respective spread-spectrum code signals of the plurality of spread-spectrum code signals. The adjustable code generator also includes control logic to select any of the feedback polynomial masks of the set contained in the feedback polynomial mask table, and further includes a shift register to provide, at an output, a respective spread-spectrum code signal that corresponds to a feedback polynomial mask selected by the control logic and to receive feedback generated using the feedback polynomial mask selected by the control logic.
US08243767B2 Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) device and the method of manufacturing thereof
A Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) device includes a substrate, a first semiconductor multi-layer film of a first conductive type formed on the substrate, an active layer, a second semiconductor multi-layer film of a second conductive type, an electrode pad electrically coupled to the second semiconductor multi-layer film, and a post structure formed on the substrate, the post structure comprising a light emitter, the post structure being continuously surrounded by a first groove, and a second groove being continuously formed outside of the first groove with respect to the post structure.
US08243766B2 Means for improved implementation of laser diodes and laser diode arrays
A laser diode system is disclosed in which a substrate made of a semiconductor material containing laser diodes is bonded to a substrate made from a metallic material without the use of any intermediate joining or soldering layers between the two substrates. The metal substrate acts as an electrode and/or heat sink for the laser diode semiconductor substrate. Microchannels may be included in the metal substrate to allow coolant fluid to pass through, thereby facilitating the removal of heat from the laser diode substrate. A second metal substrate including cooling fluid microchannels may also be bonded to the laser diode substrate to provide greater heat transfer from the laser diode substrate. The bonding of the substrates at low temperatures, combined with modifications to the substrate surfaces, enables the realization of a low electrical resistance interface and a low thermal resistance interface between the bonded substrates.
US08243765B2 Intracavity frequency-converted optically-pumped semiconductor optical parametric oscillator
In a branched resonator OPS-laser arrangement, a combination of intra-cavity optical parametric generation and intra-cavity frequency conversion provides output radiation in a range between about 550 nanometers about 800 nanometers from an OPS fundamental wavelength in a range between about 900 nm and about 1100 nm.
US08243764B2 Frequency conversion of a laser beam using a partially phase-mismatched nonlinear crystal
The invention relates to a laser system including a nonlinear crystal having a first length portion and a second length portion. The nonlinear crystal disposed to receive input light from the laser for converting the input light into frequency converted light; wherein the nonlinear crystal is configured so that the first length portion of the nonlinear crystal is phase matching for the input light and the frequency converted light, and the second length portion of the nonlinear crystal is phase mismatching for the input light and the frequency converted light. Phase mismatching means may include a temperature controlling board, a clamp, or electrodes.
US08243759B2 Clock recovery method over packet switched networks based on network quiet period detection
A method of recovering timing information in a packet network, involves detecting quiet periods in the packet network when network packet delay variation (PDV) is low. A frequency prediction unit is trained during the quiet periods to learn output clock variations of a timing recovery unit to permit the frequency prediction unit to predict frequency update values for a local oscillator during non quiet periods taking into account the historical output clock variations during quiet periods. The output of the frequency prediction unit is used as the active frequency update values during non quiet periods.
US08243757B2 MAC header compression using a pointer
A transmitter for transmitting data packets including a Media Access Control (MAC) address extractor configured to extract one or more MAC addresses from packet headers included in data packets, a MAC compression unit configured to provide compressed MAC data including one or more pointers associated with each of the one or more extracted MAC addresses respectively, a packet modifier configured to modify the data packets by adding the compressed MAC data to the data packets, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the modified data packets. A receiver for receiving data packets including compressed MAC data, the compressed MAC data including pointers associated with MAC addresses, including a receiving unit configured to receive data packets, a compressed MAC data extractor configured to find and extract compressed MAC data from received data packets, and a packet modifier configured to modify the received data packets by removing the compressed MAC data from the received data packet. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08243753B2 Data definition apparatus, systems, and methods
An apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to send a selected data type without self-definition information to a receiver if a state capable of interpreting the selected data type has been maintained by the receiver, and to send the selected data type with the self-definition information to the receiver if the state capable of interpreting the selected data type has not been maintained by the receiver.
US08243751B2 Methods of transmitting and receiving data content in a communications network, and corresponding computer-readable storage media and devices
A method of transmission of at least one data content by a source node associated with a generator application to at least one destination node, each associated with a consumer application, in a communications network comprising a plurality of nodes, each being associated with an application, the network implementing a first clocking which defines a first cycle, called a network cycle, for data transmission on said network.Each node of the network implements a second clocking which defines a second cycle, called a local cycle, for data transmission between the node of the network and its associated application, the network cycle being equal to an integer multiple P, P≧1, of the local cycle, the start of the network cycle coinciding with the start of a local cycle, the local cycle comprising a plurality of virtual channels corresponding to time slots, a set of the virtual channels being assigned to the transmission of the content or contents.
US08243750B2 Method of control signaling in a wireless communication system
A method for Fixed Network Equipment (FNE) to control the three of four and one of four slow associated control channel (SACCH) pattern on an Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Project 25 (P25) trunked voice channel is provided. Knowledge of this pattern by both the FNE and radio allows for unique information to be signaled in each type of SACCH. According to some embodiments, an operation enables controlling the floor (inbound) while there is an independent outbound (floor) (e.g. Console takeover). The provided operation also allows each radio to differentiate inbound floor control signaling from outbound caller identification (ID). Having the infrastructure control the inbound SACCH pattern and communicate this to all radios, makes the correct detection of the transmitted pattern from the radio more reliable.
US08243746B2 Ethernet node port virtualizer
In one embodiment, a method includes defining a virtual node port proxy and virtual fabric port proxies at a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) bridge, the virtual node port proxy in communication with an FCoE forwarder, each of the virtual fabric port proxies in communication with an FCoE node in an FCoE network. The method further includes proxying FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP) functions between the FCoE nodes and the FCoE forwarder at the FCoE bridge. An apparatus is also disclosed.
US08243745B2 Buffer management method and packet communication apparatus
A packet communication apparatus includes a frame buffer of a linked list method and holds chain information and buffer size information, for structuring a linked list buffer for each user flow, in two areas consisting of an operation area and an update area. While usually in service, the buffer is structured by using the chain information in the operation area and the buffer size information in the same area such that the frame is read/written in the frame buffer. When the chain information in the update area and the buffer size information in the same area have been changed, a queue size is changed by reflecting the updated chain information and the updater buffer size information into the operation area, when both the read pointer and the write pointer respectively have gone around the buffer, or when there is no frame stored in the buffer.
US08243740B1 Using domain name server response and internet protocol version 6 to conserve internet protocol version 4 addresses
Communication to a target device using IP is provided. An IPv6 address is registered. An AAAA-record DNS lookup is performed and an A-record DNS lookup is performed, both using the IPv6 network. A response related to the AAAA-record DNS lookup is received and a response to the A-record DNS lookup is received. If a valid IPv6 address is contained in the AAAA-record response, communication uses IPv6. If no valid IPv6 address is contained in the AAAA-record response, an IPv4 address is registered and communication uses IPv4.
US08243737B2 High speed packet FIFO input buffers for switch fabric with speedup and retransmit
Described embodiments provide a first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer for packet switching in a crossbar switch with a speedup factor of m. The FIFO buffer comprises a plurality of registers configured to receive N-bit portions of data in packets and a plurality of one-port memories, each having width W segmented into S portions a width W/S. A first logic module is coupled to the registers and the one-port memories and receives the N-bit portions of data in and the outputs of the registers. A second logic module coupled to the one-port memories constructs data out read from the one-port memories. In a sequence of clock cycles, the N-bit data portions are alternately transferred from the first logic module to a segment of the one-port memories, and, for each clock cycle, the second logic module constructs the data out packet with output width based on the speedup factor of m.
US08243732B2 Broadband access for virtual private networks
A method for communicating between a source and a destination includes encapsulating data received from the source in accordance with a service provider format into an upper layer packet. The method includes forwarding the upper layer packet across a service provider network. The upper layer packet is decapsulated into a lower level packet for the destination, based on at least one condition.
US08243731B2 Apparatus and methods for code-enhanced messaging
Apparatus and methods for messaging comprise obtaining a communication message including at least one messaging code, determining an authority-specific action corresponding to each messaging code, and initiating performance of each authority-specific action by execution of a software component. Each authority-specific action may vary depending on a controlling authority associated with the respective software component.
US08243728B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting packets in a packet switched network
An apparatus includes means for transmitting a packet, through one of a plurality of pseudo wires, from a PW ingress node thereof to a PW egress node thereof. Each of the plurality of pseudo wires is a communication path for transmitting a packet between a pair of end nodes included in three or more nodes communicably connected via a tunnel in a packet switched network. The PW ingress node is one of the pair of end nodes from which the packet comes into the one of the plurality of pseudo wires, and the PW egress node is the other one of the pair of end nodes from which the packet goes out thereof. The apparatus further includes means for extracting a packet transmitted through the one of the plurality of pseudo wires from among packets being transmitted through the tunnel.
US08243725B2 Maintaining circuit switched continuity in an enhanced universal terrestrial radio access network
A method for implementing a fallback procedure from a packet switched (PS) radio access technology (RAT) to a circuit switched (CS) RAT is disclosed. A paging message is received at a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) via the PS RAT, the paging message including a WTRU identifier and a domain indicator, wherein the domain indicator indicates whether the paging message is related to a service on the CS RAT. If the WTRU identifier in the paging message matches a stored identifier of the receiving WTRU, then a fallback procedure to the CS RAT is performed. The WTRU responds to the paging message using a CS RAT-based identifier assigned to the WTRU.
US08243722B2 VoIP analog telephone system
A multi-port VoIP telecommunications system that allows the user to gain access to telephone connectivity through the Internet by connecting directly to the Internet or by connecting to the Internet through the existing Internet connection of a computer or cell phone device. The present system includes an Ethernet port, a Wi-Fi receiver to facilitate the transmission and receipt of Internet protocol signals wirelessly, and a USB plug connectable to the ATA.
US08243717B2 Providing telephony services using intelligent end points
A system includes telephony devices that provide services and applications through the execution of scripts in web pages.
US08243715B2 Delivering sip-based call services to circuit-switched terminals
A method for communication in a communication system includes predefining a plurality of service delivery modes having different signaling and media path configurations in circuit-switched and packet-switched networks. A request to place a call is accepted in the circuit-switched network, and a call service to be provided to the call by a service platform in the packet-switched network is identified responsively to the request.A service delivery mode is selected from the plurality responsively to an attribute of the call indicated by the request. Signaling and media paths are established for the call via the circuit-switched and packet-switched networks in accordance with the signaling and media path configurations of the selected service delivery mode. The call service is provided from the service platform to the call using the established signaling and media paths.
US08243714B1 Method and apparatus for hierarchial system synchronization
An apparatus includes a global synchronization interface and multiple modules. The global synchronization interface includes a global synchronization driver for driving a global synchronization signal. The modules include corresponding local synchronization interfaces, each local synchronization interface having a local synchronization driver for driving a local synchronization signal. In a local mode, the modules ignore the global synchronization signal and synchronize corresponding operations according to the local synchronization signal and a global reference signal. In a global mode, the modules ignore the local synchronization signal and synchronize the corresponding operations according to the global synchronization signal and the global reference signal.
US08243712B2 Base station synchronization using multi-communication mode user equipment
A method for time synchronizing base stations in an asynchronous cellular communication system via multi-communications mode user equipment is described. The method includes receiving time-of-day in a synchronous cellular communication signal with the user equipment operable in a synchronous cellular communications mode. Alternatively, time-of-day is received from a non-cellular system signal with user equipment that is operable to receive signals from the non-cellular system. After time-of-day is received the user equipment is switched to operate in an asynchronous cellular communications mode. Then a frame boundary of a received asynchronous cellular communication signal is time-tagged. Timing information is then transmitted to an entity of the asynchronous cellular communication system to determine time-of-day at the entity.
US08243709B2 Method and arrangement for mitigation of intercell interference in a cellular communication system
A method (400) and arrangement (200) for mitigation of intercell and intracell interference in a 3GPP cellular communication system (100) by, in a receiver in a cell of the system, deriving for a first channel in the cell a signal, representative of first channel transfer function (A(1)); deriving for at least a second channel originating in a different cell a signal (A(2 . . . M)), representative of second channel transfer function, based on: deriving a cell specific scrambling code (s), deriving a channel impulse response (h), and deriving a channelization code (c); and performing multi-user detection using the first and second signals. Where the channelization code is unknown, a substitute channelization code is preferably substituted. It will be appreciated that the technique can be applied to both downlink and uplink. This provides the advantage that both intra-cell interference and intercell interference are mitigated.
US08243707B2 Beam forming method and apparatus
The present invention relates to a method of forming a random beam, and a beam forming apparatus. A quantization preprocessor and a random unitary matrix having a predetermined pattern are used to form a beam on a mobile terminal. A base station forms a beam using a codeword index of a quantization codebook received from a mobile terminal and channel quality information corresponding to the codeword index, and the mobile terminal generates the codeword index and the channel quality information using pilot signals generated by the base station. The number of pilot signals is equal to the number of transmitting antennas. Therefore, a codebook that has been known to both the mobile terminal and the base station is used, and the mobile terminal can select the codeword index for quantization, which makes it possible to selectively give diversity and thus improve the system efficiency.
US08243704B2 Call control device, relay device, call control method, and storage medium
A call control device, which controls call connections between a plurality of terminals, includes a device information storage unit that stores device information on call-connectable terminals; a call request accepting unit that accepts a call request from one terminal to another terminal; a determining unit that determines, when the call request accepting unit accepts a call request, whether the device information on the other terminal is stored in the device information storage unit; a holding unit that holds a call state of the one terminal when the determining unit determines that device information on the other terminal is not stored in the device information storage unit; a state acquiring unit that acquires state information indicating a state of the other terminal; and a holding tone setting unit that sets a holding tone to be transmitted to the one terminal associated with the state information acquired by the state acquiring unit.
US08243703B2 Communication system, management apparatus, control method therefor, storage medium, registration apparatus and base station
A management apparatus transmits a registration message to a base station when executing a wireless parameter setting sequence. The base station registers the management apparatus upon the detection of the message. This makes it possible to decrease unwanted communication traffic, and to reduce the time taken to perform the wireless parameter setting processing.
US08243699B2 Multi-channel MAC method for WLAN devices with a single radio interface and system for implementing the same
A multi-channel media access control (MAC) method for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) devices with single radio interface is provided. The method includes starting a channel coordination window (CCW) that is repeated with a period P, allocating an arbitrary WLAN device pair on a common channel to a destination channel by using a channel utilization vector that indicates whether each of N channels is occupied or available during CCW, and switching the arbitrary WLAN device pair to the destination channel.
US08243698B2 Device for converting UMTS signals to another signal standard
The present invention relates to a device for converting UMTS-FDD signals into WLAN signals, comprising a receiver unit for receiving the UMTS-FDD signals, means for converting the signals received into WLAN signals as well as means for providing or transmitting the WLAN signals. The invention furthermore relates to a device for converting UMTS signals into signals according to a telephone standard, comprising a receiver unit for receiving the UMTS signals, means for converting the signals received into signals according to a telephone standard as well as means for providing or transmitting the signals according to a telephone standard. Finally, the invention relates to a communication system comprising a device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 as well as at least one computer connected with the device and/or at least one telephone system or fax machine.
US08243694B2 Data transmission in a telecommunication conference
A communication terminal into which communication data can be input and which can receive a message signalling that at least one further communication terminal is ready to receive the communication data. Following receipt of the message, a transmission device configured to operate in a first mode, in which it sends data at a first data rate, and in a second mode, in which it sends data at a second data rate, which is higher than the first data rate, is used to send the communication data in the second mode.
US08243690B2 Bandwidth allocation base station and method for allocating uplink bandwidth using SDMA
Embodiments of a base station and methods for allocating uplink bandwidth using SDMA are generally described herein. In some embodiments, uplink bandwidth request messages are received on a bandwidth request contention channel from one or more subscriber stations. The uplink bandwidth request messages are generated by the subscriber stations by modulating pilot subcarriers of a randomly selected disjoint pilot pattern with a randomly selected orthogonal sequence. The base station allocates uplink bandwidth to the subscriber stations when the uplink bandwidth request messages are successfully detected and decoded. The base station uses an SDMA technique to determine channel responses based on the orthogonal sequences to detect and decode the uplink bandwidth request messages.
US08243688B1 Methods and systems for configuring wireless devices
The features and settings of wireless devices, such as cellular and cordless telephones, can be configured through the use of a user friendly web page, website, e-mail menu or the like. After a user has identified a wireless device or devices to configure, she then selects the features and settings she desires. The selected settings are then transmitted to the identified wireless device or devices. In this manner, wireless devices can be remotely configured and there is no need to repeat identical steps to configure multiple devices with the same configuration.
US08243686B2 Internetworking techniques for transferring packets between source and target serving gateways
Techniques for wireless communications include operating first and second access networks to provide wireless service to wireless devices. The first and second access networks are associated with respective first and second gateways. The first gateway is operated to (1) receive a request for transferring wireless service of a wireless device from the second access network to the first access network and (2) send a message that includes key information to the second gateway based on the request. The second gateway is operated to (1) send session context information to the first gateway in response to the message and (2) forward a data packet associated with the wireless device to the first gateway. The forwarded data packet includes a packet data network identifier (PDN-ID) to identify a packet data network (PDN) associated with a downlink data packet.
US08243682B2 Method and arrangement in a telecommunication system
The described technology generally relates to method(s) and arrangement(s) for access control during relocation of a user equipment (UE) into a femto base station (FBS) and dynamic triggering of the relocation into the FBS. A white list is maintained in the UE. The white list includes information on a list of FBSs that the UE is allowed to relocate. The UE detects a target FBS and reports target FBS to a source macro base station (MBS). The source MBS makes a relocation request to a mobility controller. The mobility controller grants or denies the requests or allows the target FBS to make the decision. Upon grant, the UE is relocated to the target FBS. Otherwise, the white list is updated in the UE.
US08243676B2 Wireless communication method of selecting an enhanced uplink transport format combination
Methods of selecting an enhanced uplink (EU) transport format combination (E-TFC) are disclosed. A maximum number of bits of scheduled data for an upcoming transmission may be determined, wherein the highest value is lower or equal to: K e , ref · S ⁢ ⁢ G L e , ref · A ed , ref 2 · 10 Δ ⁢ ⁢ harq / 10 , where SG is a serving grant, Le,ref is the number of EU dedicated physical data channels (E-DPDCHs) used for a selected reference E-TFC, Ke,ref is the number of data bits of the reference E-TFC, Δharq is a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) offset for a specific data flow to be transmitted as signaled by higher layers, and Aed,ref is a ratio derived from a parameter ΔE-DPDCH signaled by higher layers for the selected reference E-TFC.
US08243674B2 Apparatus and method of releasing a point-to-multipoint radio bearer
A mobile terminal can release a point-to-multipoint radio bearer (RB) in an explicit manner or an implicit manner, whereby an explicit RB release mechanism allows the network to explicitly instruct the mobile terminal to release the RB, while an implicit RB release mechanism allows the mobile terminal itself to release the RB without receiving any explicit instructions from the network.
US08243668B2 Method for allocating radio resource in wireless communication system and method for transmitting or receiving data using the same
A method for allocating a radio resource in a wireless communication system comprises defining a plurality of resource regions within a frame, a resource region comprising at least one orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) symbol and at least one subchannel, configuring radio resource allocation information indicating which resource region selected from the plurality of resource regions is allocated to a UE, the radio resource allocation information comprising at least one resource region identifier (ID), a resource region ID indicating a resource region selected from the plurality of resource regions, and transmitting the radio resource allocation information to the UE.
US08243667B2 Method for transmitting scheduling request effectively in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system providing a wireless communication and a mobile terminal. During data communication between a base station and a terminal in a long term evolution (LTE) system, while the terminal performs a random access channel (RACH) procedure for requesting a radio resource allocation from the base station, if the terminal is allocated with a radio resource using its radio terminal identifier, the terminal is allowed to appropriately select a radio resource, thereby preventing the consumption of radio resources and increasing efficiency.
US08243665B2 Method for selection and signaling of downlink and uplink bandwidth in wireless networks
In a wireless mobile communications system, a method of receiving data or signaling on a channel from a cell having a plural of divisions of cell bandwidth. Utilizing one or more sub-bandwidths to receive data or a signaling from the cell, thereby optimizing data or signaling transmission efficiency.
US08243664B2 Adaptive history aware beam steering
The present invention relates to the field of multi-path wireless communication. The present invention provides a system for assisting in providing a wireless communication link between a first communication device and a second communication device based on a plurality of communication paths comprising a history manager for providing, based on a recorded history of communication path states, a proposal for one or more communication paths based on which the communication link can be provided. The present invention further provides a corresponding method and a communication system and a communication device comprising the system of the present invention. Based on the proposal provided by the present invention, path switching can be performed more effectively, less and shorter interruptions of the communication link can be obtained and an enhanced transmission quality can be provided for multi-path wireless communication systems.
US08243662B2 Method, system and apparatus for implementing bandwidth allocation based on a relay station
The present invention relates to a method, a system and an apparatus for implementing bandwidth allocation and scheduling management based on a relay station. A mapping information unit for controlling a RS (MAPRS) is set in a frame structure of the physical layer of a BS and an extended frame structure of the physical layer of a BS is constructed in a frame structure of the BS physical layer. The BS constructs a mapping information message MAPRS for controlling the relay station RS base on the extended frame structure of the BS physical layer, and performs bandwidth allocation and scheduling management of a communication channel of the RS by the RS according to the MAPRS message. Through the present invention, a bandwidth allocation is implemented mainly at the BS, and a service scheduling is implemented mainly at the BS. The RS only performs an uplink or downlink scheduling of the RS passively. The complexity of the RS reduced effectively. The Multi-hop relay problem is solved using a bandwidth request relay and a bandwidth allocation relay, without introducing any complex technologies and procedures of the bandwidth request, the bandwidth allocation and the scheduling management. The complexity of the BWA relay network is simplified.
US08243658B2 Precoding with reduced feedback for coordinated multipoint transmission on the downlink
Techniques for reducing the number of bits needed to specify the best precoding vector for each mobile station in a wireless communication network that employs multi-point transmission are disclosed. An exemplary method begins with the estimation of path loss between a mobile station and each of a plurality of geographically separated transmitter sites, each transmitter site having at least one transmitter antenna. Based on the estimated path losses, one of a plurality of pre-determined subsets (codebooks) of a pre-determined set of antenna precoding vectors is selected. A group index identifying the selected subset is then transmitted to the mobile station. Subsequently, a vector index is received from the mobile station, the vector index corresponding to a precoding vector in the selected subset, and data is transmitted to the mobile station, using the precoding vector applied to the transmitter antennas at the plurality of transmitter sites.
US08243657B2 Method of downlink HARQ operation at an expiry of time alignment timer
Disclosed is the radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, to a method of a downlink HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest) operation of terminal that is not time-aligned with the base station in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system.
US08243655B2 Exchange of information in a communication network
A portable node capable of forming ad hoc networks with other nodes is disclosed, as well as a method of transferring at least a first and a second information entity (e.g. files) from a first node to other nodes in an ad hoc network. At least the first and the second information entities are jointly encoded, in the first node, into a composite information entity) in a manner so that the composite information entity can be decoded by use of at least the first information entity or the second information entity. The composite information entity is subsequently transmitted.
US08243650B2 Access point device for wireless LAN and method of securing communication path
An access point device of a wireless LAN connecting a client device to a wired LAN: monitors a connection between the access point device and the wired LAN; transmits a portal request, to an adjacent access point device, indicating a request for serving as a proxy connection node accessing the wired LAN and implements a process as a relay node between the adjacent access point device and the client device, if the connection between the access point device and the wired LAN is not normal; and implements a process as a proxy connection node indicated by a portal request sent from the adjacent access point device, if the connection between the access point device and the wired LAN is normal where the access point device receives the portal request from the adjacent access point device.
US08243646B2 Method and system for digital communication through infrastructure network with receiving stations according to their geographical status
The present invention relates to a method and system of computer communication through an infrastructure multicast IP network, between one or several determined central stations and undetermined groups of receiving stations, especially mobile stations. According to the invention, every mobile station sends its geographical status, e.g. its position, in an IP unicast message to the central station. In response, the mobile station receives an IP unicast message comprising one or more IP multicast addresses corresponding to the transmitted geographical status. The central station also has the necessary routers subscribed or unsubscribed to these multicast addresses, according to the local presence of such receiving stations. Receiving stations may then subscribe such localized multicast addresses, and receive the corresponding multicast messages.
US08243642B2 Method of providing a multimedia service in a digital wireless communication network
A method of providing a multimedia multicast service in a digital wireless communication network, the network having a network controller for controlling of at least one base station, comprising establishing a single data stream from the network controller to the base station for transmitting of multimedia data, by means of a single lub link or transport bearer and establishing a separate communication link and a separate data queue for each user equipment in a radio cell of the base station which requests the multimedia data.
US08243639B2 Method for controlling a wake up rate of nodes operating within a multi-hop communication system
A method is provided which enables the connection of nodes out of communication range while minimizing the energy consumption in standby nodes. Specifically, the present invention provides a method to control the wake up rate of standby nodes in a multi-hop communication system. An access point collects, processes, and refines statistical information regarding one or more system parameters; determines a wake up rate based on the statistical information and one or more historical information; and transmits the wake up rate to nodes in its coverage area. A node receives the wake up rate; and periodically changes from a sleep state to a wake up state at the wake up rate to support routing functions for providing multi-hop communication to the one or more access points.
US08243638B2 Passive listening in wireless communication
Passive listening in wireless communication. An activity sensor device senses a packet. A medium access control (MAC) address parser receives the packet, processes a header of the packet, and activates a MAC device in response to recognizing a MAC address within the header, such that the MAC device is not activated if the MAC address parser does not recognize the MAC address.
US08243637B2 Method and apparatus for mobile broadcast and multicast using randomized transmit signal phases in a single frequency network
A base station transmitter for a broadcast/multicast single frequency network may include a base station component configured to randomize a phase of the signal for the base station transmitter to transmit, wherein the base station transmitter is configured to transmit a signal having a frequency common to a frequency of a signal sent by another base station component in the network. A method for improving performance of single frequency networks may include transmitting single frequency signals from base stations with pseudo-random phases including in the signals, data that permits a receiver compatible with the network to synchronously replicate the pseudo-random phases used in the transmission of the single frequency signals.
US08243636B2 Messaging system and service
Embodiments of ihe disclosure are concerned with modification of messages en route to a destination. One such modification is the addition of third party material, such as advertisement data, to a message. A service located in the network receives the sender's message and decodes the indicated modification in order to decide how to modify the message. The message can include transmission data identifying one or more destinations and a message body identifying content thereof which is specified by a sending party. The service can select data on the basis of at least one parameter that is not directly related to the location of the sending party and the selected data are not directly related to the content of the message. The service can modify the message with the selected data. Thus, the decision as to the nature of the modification is unrelated to messages that are composed by the user.
US08243634B2 Random access in time division duplex communication systems
A mobile terminal is operated in a cellular communications system that comprises a base station operating in a time division duplex mode. The mobile terminal detects a downlink transmission from the base station and determines therefrom a future moment in time at which an end part of a downlink transmission just prior to a random access window will become detectable at the mobile terminal. An uplink random access transmission is begun at a moment in time that is before the future moment in time. The moment in time that is before the future moment in time can be a fixed amount of time before the future moment in time. If the mobile terminal is not near the edge of the cell, the base station may consequently receive only a partial uplink random access transmission, but this does not detrimentally affect performance.
US08243633B2 Enhanced uplink dedicated channel—application protocol over lub/lur
Parameters are defined for use on an interface (lub/lur) between network elements to enable configuration setup of an enhanced radio uplink (UL E-DCH). The basic Information Elements (IEs) are defined to support UL E-DCH functionality in the network on lub/lur. Particular parameters are shown for communication over the lub/lur interface between the RNCs and the Node Bs in order to be able to setup and re-configure the UL E-DCH channel. Flexibility is provided so as not to be restricted to any particular message or information element, but to be applicable to any selected message or messages in a given protocol.
US08243631B2 Detecting devices in overlapping audio space
Devices are able to identify other devices in a shared audio space (e.g., a room) by emitting a signal and receiving messages from other devices over a data connection indicating which of the other devices received the emitted signal. Devices that are determined to be in the same audio space can selectively mix audio in a teleconference to inhibit mixing of audio signals for devices that are determined to be in the same audio space.
US08243626B2 Estimating user device location in a wireless network
A method of estimating user location involving collecting data from the access points in the network. The data can then be used to define a relationship, for example the loss of power experienced by a transmitted signal, between the access points. The relationship can be stored within a matrix, database or any other suitable storage method that can be referenced to determine the position of a user device within the network and correlated with corresponding measurements from a user device to determine the location of the user device within the network.
US08243621B2 Method, apparatus, and program for configuring networks with consistent route and bandwidth settings
An apparatus and method for verifying route and bandwidth settings of multiple services provided over networks. The apparatus has an extractor and a verifier. Based on input data describing services each having primary and secondary routes between specific locations, an available bandwidth of each network, and a guaranteed bandwidth of each service, the extractor selects a first network to be verified and extracts first services that use the first network as their respective primary routes. The extractor then selects at least one second network from among the networks that the first services specify as their respective secondary routes. The extractor extracts second services that use the second network as their primary routes and specify the first network as their secondary routes. The verifier sums up guaranteed bandwidths that the first and second services should provide, and determines whether the sum is smaller than an available bandwidth of the first network.
US08243618B2 Steering fragmented IP packets using 5-tuple based rules
A method, system and/or computer program steer internet protocol (IP) packet fragments that are components of a series of IP packet fragments. A switch receives an IP packet fragment. In response to determining that the fragment is not a lead packet fragment in a series of IP packet fragments that make up an original IP packet, the IP packet fragment is pushed onto a data stack. The switch then receives an IP packet fragment which is determined to be the lead packet fragment in a series of IP packet fragments. The IP 5-tuple from the lead packet fragment is parsed to steer all fragments in the series to a destination port.
US08243617B2 Automatic detection of channel bandwidth
A step-wise approach to automatically determining the bandwidth of a communication channel includes dividing the channel's potential bandwidth into a number of ranges. An initial range is then selected and a series of data packets specific to the selected range are transmitted from a first endpoint to a second endpoint, with the second endpoint determining one or more channel metrics based on the transmitted packets (e.g., measured transmission rates). If the metrics indicate the current range accurately reflects the channel's bandwidth, a measured transmission rate of the transmitted data packets is used as the channel's bandwidth. Otherwise, another range is selected and the process is repeated. The described approach rapidly determines channel bandwidth, even when the channel between the two endpoints is asymmetric. Techniques described herein are particularly beneficial when used in conjunction with multimedia conferencing applications.
US08243610B2 System and method for precoding codebook adaptation with low feedback overhead
A system and method for wireless communications with codebook adaptation with low feedback overhead are provided. A method for controller operations includes receiving a first channel information from a communications device, estimating channel statistics based on the first channel information, adapting a codebook using the channel statistics, and receiving a second channel information from the communications device. The method also includes constructing a precoding matrix from the second channel information and the adapted codebook, and transmitting information precoded by the precoding matrix to the communications device.
US08243607B2 Packet delay characteristic measuring apparatus and method
A packet delay characteristic measuring apparatus that can accurately only measure a delay in a network even if a delay may occur also in a device that receives packets. The apparatus includes: a sending section for periodically sending out test packets each including sending time information to the network; a branching section for handing over the test packets flowing from the network to each of a plurality of communication paths by electrically branching a communication path; a plurality of receiving sections each of which is connected to the branching section for receiving the identical test packets and calculating delay times based on the sending time information; and a measurement value determining section for comparing a plurality of delay times calculated by each of the plurality of receiving sections for the identical test packets and determining the smallest delay time value as a measurement value.
US08243605B2 Network device verifying apparatus
In a reception verifying mode, a data transmitting section (106S) transmits prescribed data through a transmission interface (101S), and a controller (102) exchanges prescribed information and verifies an operation status of a device (21) to be verified through the transmission interface. In a transmission verifying mode, a data receiving section (106R) receives prescribed data through a reception interface (101R), and the controller exchanges prescribed information and verifies an operation status of a device to be verified through a reception interface. In a transmission/reception verifying mode, the data transmitting section transmits prescribed data through the transmission interface, and the controller exchanges prescribed information and verifies receiving operation of a device to be verified through the transmission interface. Moreover, the data receiving section receives prescribed data through the reception interface, and the controller exchanges prescribed information and verifies transmitting operation of the device to be verified through the reception interface.
US08243604B2 Fast computation of alterative packet routes
A method for communication includes simultaneously computing a shortest path and a backup path through a network between a pair of nodes. Packets are routed through the network using at least one path selected from among the shortest path and the backup path.
US08243602B2 Dynamically configuring attributes of a parent circuit on a network element
Methods and apparatus for dynamically configuring a parent circuit through a subscriber record on an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server responsive to an authorization event for the subscriber session on the network element. According to one embodiment of the invention, the AAA server accesses the subscriber record for a subscriber session on the network element. Based on this subscriber record, a set of one or more attributes for a subscriber circuit and a set of one or more attributes for a parent circuit of the subscriber circuit are determined. The network element applies the set of subscriber circuit attributes to the subscriber circuit and the set of parent circuit attributes to the parent circuit.
US08243601B2 Routing protocol for a network employing multi-user wireless channels
A routing protocol, according to one embodiment of which a first station of a wireless network monitors its outgoing transmissions corresponding to a traffic flow for occurrence of multi-tier signals and for ability to achieve a specified minimum transmission rate. Based on the monitoring, the first station may transmit an outgoing solicitation message that identifies the monitored traffic flow as a candidate for rerouting. Upon receipt of the solicitation message, a second station of the wireless network evaluates whether rerouting of the monitored traffic flow through the second station is capable of increasing data throughput for that traffic flow without decreasing data throughputs for other traffic flows presently handled by the second station. Based on this evaluation, the second station may transmit to the first station an offer to reroute the monitored traffic flow. The first station, in turn, evaluates this offer, e.g., by comparing its benefits with those of alternative offers that the first station might have received from other stations of the wireless network in response to the solicitation message. Based on the latter evaluation, the first station may reroute the monitored traffic flow through the station whose offer is deemed preferable.
US08243590B2 Method and system for seamless dual switching in a port bypass controller
Certain aspects of the invention for seamless port bypass controller operations for storage systems, for example, and may comprise a first port of a port bypass controller that receives an input signal and at least one of a plurality of selectors that selects at least a second port coupled in a chain to the first port. At least one of the selectors may switch at least a portion of the received input signal from the first port to at least the second port without initializing or reconfiguring the second port. A repeater may repeat at least a portion of the received input signal to the second port without initializing or reconfiguring the second port. A retimer may generate a retimed signal corresponding to at least a portion of the received input signal to the second port without initializing or reconfiguring the second port.
US08243589B1 Systems and methods for data center load balancing
Systems and methods for data center availability comprising a first data center having a first address associated therewith and a second data center operable to assume the first address upon the first data center becoming unavailable. The present disclosure in particular provides these systems and methods for an autonomous intranet, wherein the autonomous intranet may include two or more data centers, each provided with a load balancer for advertising a common single-host Internet Protocol address upstream for the respective data centers under certain conditions.
US08243587B2 Label distribution protocol synchronization in multi-protocol label switching environments
A method may include determining that a label distribution protocol (LDP) session is not associated with an interface of a network device, wherein the interface of the network device is included in a targeted LDP session. Interior gateway protocol (IGP) metric information for both a physical interface associated with the network device and a forwarding adjacency label switched path (FA-LSP) associated with the targeted LDP (tLDP) session may be configured to each indicate a high cost. The configured metric information may be transmitted to other network devices in a network that includes the LSP and the targeted LDP session to inhibit selection of the targeted LDP session by the other network devices when routing data through the network.
US08243585B2 Method and apparatus for fault-resilient multicast using multiple sources
A capability is provided for supporting fault-resilient multicast using multiple sources. A method for supporting fault-resilient propagation of multicast traffic using Redundant Multicast Trees (RMTs) includes identifying each potential Shared Risk Link Group (SRLG) conflict associated with a pair of RMTs providing node-disjoint paths to a plurality of destination nodes, identifying each potential SRLG conflict that is an actual SRLG conflict, and, for each actual SRLG conflict, determining a detour path for protecting the links of the actual SRLG conflict. The pair of RMTs includes a first RMT from a first multicast source node to each of the destination nodes and a second RMT from a second multicast source node to each of the destination nodes. Each potential SRLG conflict includes a plurality of links. A potential SRLG conflict is determined to be an actual SRLG conflict if first and second paths for one of the destination nodes over the respective first and second RMTs each traverse at least one link of the potential SRLG conflict.
US08243581B2 Method of transmitting control signal in a wireless communication system
A method of transmitting a control signal in wireless communication system includes generating a multiplexed control signal by multiplexing a first control signal and a second control signal, and transmitting the multiplexed control signal on a control channel. Overhead due to control signaling can be reduced by transmitting or receiving a multiplexed control signal through one channel.
US08243578B2 Simultaneous estimation of multiple channel coefficients using a common probing sequence
An access node of a communication system comprises a plurality of transmitters adapted for communication with at least one receiver. The access node is operative to simultaneously estimate channel coefficients between multiple ones of the transmitters and the receiver, and to utilize the estimated channel coefficients to control at least one data signal sent by at least one of the multiple transmitters to the receiver. In the process of simultaneously estimating the channel coefficients, the access node transmits a plurality of distinct probing signals generated based on respective ones of a plurality of different frequency expansions. For example, each of the distinct probing signals may be generated based on a distinct combination of a common probing sequence and a selected one of the plurality of different frequency expansions.
US08243577B2 Optical information recording medium, reproducing device for optical information recording medium, and reproducing method for optical information recording medium
In an optical information recording medium (1), a light-transmitting layer (10) or a transparent substrate, an information recording layer (20), and a substrate (30) are stacked in this order from a side from which reproducing light (2) enters. The information recording layer (20) includes at least a reproducing film (21) whose complex refractive index at a light source wavelength (λ) of the reproducing light (2) is changed by heat. The relationship of 0.67×(λ/NA)>TP>0.04×(λ/NA) is satisfied, where TP is a track pitch of prepits (31) formed on the substrate (30), and NA is a numerical aperture of an objective lens (55) for converging the reproducing light (2) on the optical information recording medium.
US08243568B2 Optical disc apparatus
An optical disc apparatus for recording or reproducing on or from an optical disc, comprising a laser light source for emitting a laser beam; a drive portion for driving the laser light source; a detection portion for detecting the emission power of the laser beam; and means for focusing the laser beam onto the optical disc, wherein information is reproduced by a reproducing power varied according to a recording power to obtain reproducing signals having necessary quality while suppressing deterioration of the recording quality due to the reproducing power.
US08243567B2 Optical disc, playback apparatus for optical disc, and apparatus and method for manufacturing optical disc
Provided is an optical disc having main information to be decrypted using sub information recorded thereon by arranging concave or convex recording marks in a spiral track wherein a reflective film is formed on the recording marks. First sub information is recorded and superimposed on the main information by shifting/deforming the recording marks or altering a pattern of the recording marks. Second sub information is recorded and superimposed on the main information by changing a reflectivity of the reflective film. The first and second sub information are recorded in an area from which the first and second sub information are to be read simultaneously. The second sub information is recorded in a manner to be associated with the first sub information. The first and second sub information are associated with each other and are recorded in the same area.
US08243563B2 Optical disc drive capable of operation in low-power mode
An information handling system includes an optical disc drive. The optical disc drive is connected to an auxiliary power source so that a drive tray of the optical disc drive can be opened or closed, or a disc inserted or ejected from the optical disc drive when the information handling system is in a low-power mode. In response to these actions in the low-power mode, information is stored to record that the drive tray has been opened or closed. Accordingly, when the information handling system returns to a normal mode, it can take appropriate action, such as dismounting a logical volume associated with a disc that was previously in the drive. Because the optical disc drive can be physically accessed in the low-power mode, the information handling system does not have to enter the normal power mode in order for discs to be retrieved or inserted.
US08243558B2 Thermally assisted magnetic head, head gimbal assembly, and hard disk apparatus
A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole for writing and a near-field light generator provided near the main magnetic pole, the near-field light generator having a non-magnetic base metal layer, a non-magnetic upper metal layer, an intermediate insulating layer interposed between the base metal layer and the upper metal layer, and the base metal layer having a V-shaped groove and also the upper metal layer having a projection facing the deepest part in the groove of the base metal layer, in a vertical cross-section parallel to a medium facing surface.
US08243557B2 Optimized ridge apertures for thermally assisted magnetic recording
Methods and devices for optimized ridge near field apertures for thermally assisted magnetic recording are disclosed. The aperture dimensions and supporting dielectric materials are optimized for maximum energy absorption at the magnetic recording layer for a light source having a wavelength of 780 nm, which can be produced by low cost laser diodes.
US08243555B2 Apparatus and system with a time delay path and method for propagating a timing event
Implementations are presented herein that include a time delay path.
US08243554B2 Analog type electronic timepiece
An analog type electronic timepiece including a plurality of hands for displaying a time; a driving unit for electrically driving the hands; a receiver for receiving and demodulating a radio wave containing a time code signal; and a second synchronization determination unit for determining a second synchronous point of the time code signal demodulated by the receiver through identifying a driving noise mixed in the time code signal by action of the driving unit.
US08243551B2 Method and system for real-time automated change detection and classification for images
A computer based system and method for determining if a change detection sonar contact in change detection side scan sonar imagery matches a historical contact of the same geospatial location.
US08243549B2 Estimating seismic anisotropy of shales
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for determining properties of a subterranean formation. The method includes obtaining a micro-mechanical model for modeling the subterranean formation as a plurality of particles having low aspect ratio pores therebetween, wherein anisotropy of the subterranean formation is represented by normal compliance and shear compliance that describe deformation of the low aspect ratio pores under an applied stress, determining a ratio of normal compliance over shear compliance of the subterranean formation to obtain an estimated ratio of normal compliance over shear compliance, measuring a first formation parameter of the subterranean formation to obtain a measured first formation parameter based on a sonic measurement technique, determining a second formation parameter based on the micro-mechanical model using the estimated ratio of normal compliance over shear compliance and the measured first formation parameter, storing the second formation parameter of the subterranean formation, wherein the first formation parameter and the second formation parameter comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of an anisotropy parameter and a stiffness coefficient of the subterranean formation.
US08243544B2 Reduction of fusible links and associated circuitry on memory dies
The number of fusible links and other circuit components required to provide memory cell redundancy are reduced by sharing physical memory locations among address banks that store memory addresses. Non-trial and error algorithms and techniques determine the number of addresses and the number of identical least significant bit (LSB) values that can share the same physical memory location. By sharing physical locations for identical LSB values, circuit hardware on a memory device (including fusible links and compare circuitry) is reduced. Thus, less die area is needed to provide the same degree of redundancy.
US08243542B2 Resistance variable memory devices and read methods thereof
A resistance-variable memory device includes memory cells, a high voltage circuit, a precharging circuit, a bias circuit, and a sense amplifier. Each memory cell may, for example, include a resistance-variable material and a diode connected to a bitline. The high voltage circuit provides a high voltage from a power source. The precharging circuit raises the bitline up to the high voltage after charging the bitline up to the power source voltage. The bias circuit supplies a read current to the bitline using the high voltage. The sense amplifier compares a voltage of the bitline with a reference voltage by means of the high voltage.
US08243538B2 Small unit internal verify read in a memory device
Methods for small unit internal verify read operation and a memory device are disclosed. In one such method, expected data is programmed into a grouping of columns of memory cells (e.g., memory block). Mask data is loaded into a third dynamic data cache of three dynamic data caches. The expected data is loaded into a second data cache. After a read operation of programmed columns of memory cells, the read data is compared to the expected data and error bit indicators are stored in the second data cache in the error bit locations. The second data cache is masked with the mask data so that only those error bits that are unmasked are counted. If the number of unmasked error bit indicators is greater than a threshold, the memory block is marked as unusable.
US08243536B2 Systems and methods for increasing bit density in a memory cell
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and circuits for memory utilization. As one example, a memory system is disclosed that includes a memory bank and a memory access controller circuit. The memory bank includes a number of default memory cells and a number of redundant memory cells. The memory access controller circuit is operable to access a usable memory space including both the combined default memory cells and the redundant memory cells.
US08243532B2 NVM overlapping write method
A structure and method for increasing the operating speed and reducing the overall programming time of a memory array are provided herein. The method and structure reduce the maximum write current consumption, for writing a plurality of data bits to a NVM array, by writing the data bits sharing an activated word line at different times (e.g., activating bit lines associated with an activated word line at different times). The write operation of respective data bits, which individually utilize only a fraction of the overall write window of the bits, are interleaved so that the maximum write current of respective bits are offset in time from the maximum write current of another bit, allowing a larger number of data bits to be written without exceeding system specifications (e.g., maximum current) and reducing overall memory write time.
US08243530B2 Non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device includes a feedback circuit and a precharge switching transistor. The feedback circuit generates a feedback signal based on a voltage level of a bitline during a precharge operation. The precharge switching transistor, in response to the feedback signal, controls a precharge current for precharging the bitline. The speed of the precharge operation may be increased and/or mismatch of the bias signals in precharging a plurality of bitlines may be reduced.
US08243529B2 Memory device page buffer configuration and methods
Memory devices and methods are described that include communication circuitry between page buffers in a memory array. Examples include communication circuitry that provide status information of page buffers that are directly adjacent to a given page buffer. The exchanged information can be used to adjust a given page buffer to compensate for effects in directly adjacent data lines that are being operated at the same time.
US08243526B2 Depletion mode circuit protection device
A non-volatile microelectronic memory device that includes a depletion mode circuit protection device that prevents high voltages, which are applied to bitlines during an erase operation, from being applied to and damaging low voltage circuits which are electrically coupled to the bitlines.
US08243524B2 Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device has a sense amplifier. The sense amplifier includes a first lower interconnection; a second interlayer insulation film formed on the first interlayer insulation film and top of the first interconnection; a contact interconnection formed in a direction perpendicular to a substrate plane of the semiconductor substrate so as to pass through the second interlayer insulation film, and connected to the first lower interconnection; a first upper interconnection formed on the second interlayer insulation film and connected to the contact interconnection disposed under the first upper interconnection; a dummy contact interconnection formed in a direction perpendicular to the substrate plane of the semiconductor substrate in the second interlayer insulation film, and adjacent to the contact interconnection; and a second upper interconnection formed on the second interlayer insulation film so as to extend in the first direction, and connected to the dummy contact interconnection disposed under the second upper interconnection.
US08243518B2 NAND flash memory device and method of making same
An integrated circuit includes a NAND string including a string selection transistor SST and a ground selection transistor GST disposed at either end of series-connected memory storage cells MC. Each of the memory storage cells is a memory transistor having a floating gate, and at least one of the string selection transistor SST and the ground selection transistor GST is a memory transistor having a floating gate. The threshold voltage Vth of programmable string selection transistors SST and the ground selection transistor GST is variable and user controllable and need not be established by implantation during manufacture. Each of the programmable string selection transistors SST and the ground selection transistors GST in a memory block may be used to store random data, thus increasing the memory storage capacity of the flash memory device.
US08243514B2 Non-volatile memory devices and systems including multi-level cells using modified read voltages and methods of operating the same
Methods of operating a multi-level non-volatile memory device can include accessing data, stored in the device, which is associated with read voltages and modifying the read voltages applied to a plurality of multi-level non-volatile memory cells to discriminate between states stored by the cells in response to a read operation to the multi-level non-volatile memory device. Related devices and systems are also disclosed.
US08243508B2 Resistive memory devices using assymetrical bitline charging and discharging
A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of memory banks, each including a plurality of nonvolatile resistive memory cells (e.g. PRAM cells). The device also includes a write global bitline shared by the memory banks and a read global bitline shared by the memory banks. The device further includes a control circuit configured to write data to a selected nonvolatile memory cell in a first memory bank using the write global bitline while reading data from a selected nonvolatile memory cell in a second memory bank using the read global bitline such that a discharge time period of the write global bitline is longer than a quenching time period of a write current which flows through the nonvolatile memory cell of the first memory bank.
US08243504B2 Phase change memory device with reference cell array
A phase change memory device includes a plurality of bit lines and a reference bit line intersecting a plurality of word lines. A cell array block has a phase change resistance cell arranged where a word line and a bit line intersect. A reference cell array block is configured to output a reference current and is formed where the word line and a reference bit line intersect. A column selecting unit is configured to select a corresponding bit line connected to the cell array block. A reference column selecting unit is connected to the reference cell array block and is configured to select the reference bit line. A sense amplifier is connected to the column selecting unit and the reference column selecting unit and is configured to receive the reference current and a cell data current of the bit line.
US08243501B2 SRAM device
An SRAM device uses a four-terminal double gate field effect transistor as a selection transistor, wherein the four-terminal double gate field effect transistor comprises a gate which drives the transistor and a gate which controls a threshold voltage, which are electrically separated from each other, on both surfaces of a standing semiconductor thin plate, and wherein a voltage used to reduce a threshold voltage is input to the gate which controls the threshold voltage of the selection transistor during a writing operation than during a reading operation. The SRAM device which can increase both the read and write margins is provided.
US08243499B2 Semiconductor memory having both volatile and non-volatile functionality including resistance change material and method of operating
Semiconductor memory is provided wherein a memory cell includes a capacitorless transistor having a floating body configured to store data as charge therein when power is applied to the cell. The cell further includes a nonvolatile memory comprising a resistance change element configured to store data stored in the floating body under any one of a plurality of predetermined conditions. A method of operating semiconductor memory to function as volatile memory, while having the ability to retain stored data when power is discontinued to the semiconductor memory is described.
US08243498B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes first and second inverters, a first transistor which has a gate connected to a word line, a source connected to a first bit line, and a drain connected to an input terminal of the second inverter, a second transistor which has a gate connected to the word line, a source connected to a second bit line, and a drain connected to an input terminal of the first inverter, a first variable resistive element which has a first terminal connected to the drain of the first transistor, and a second terminal connected to an output terminal of the first inverter, and a second variable resistive element which has a first terminal connected to the drain of the second transistor, and a second terminal connected to an output terminal of the second inverter.
US08243497B1 Phase change memory device with reduced programming disturbance
A Phase Change Memory device with reduced programming disturbance and its operation are described. The Phase Change Memory includes an array with word lines and bit lines and voltage controlling elements coupled to bit lines adjacent to an addressed bit line to maintain the voltage of the adjacent bit lines within an allowed range.
US08243496B2 Resistive memory device and writing method thereof
A resistive memory device operates to sequentially activate bit lines, which are divided into plural groups, after precharging all of word and bit lines in a writing operation. The device is able to write a large amount of data therein at a high frequency, with a reduced the chip size.
US08243495B2 Phase-change random access memory capable of reducing word line resistance
A phase-change random access memory (PRAM) device capable of reducing a resistance of a word line may include a plurality of main word lines of a semiconductor memory device or PRAM bent n times in a layer different from a layer in which a plurality of sub-word lines are disposed. The semiconductor memory device or PRAM may further include jump contacts for connecting the plurality of cut sub-word lines. In a PRAM device including the plurality of main word lines and the plurality of sub-word lines being in different layers, the number of jump contacts for connecting the plurality of main word lines to a transistor of a sub-word line decoder is the same in each sub-word line or the plurality of main word lines are bent several times so that a parasitic resistance on a word line and power consumption may be reduced, and a sensing margin may be increased.
US08243494B2 Self-aligned structure and method for confining a melting point in a resistor random access memory
A process in the manufacturing of a resistor random access memory with a confined melting area for switching a phase change in the programmable resistive memory. The process initially formed a pillar comprising a substrate body, a first conductive material overlying the substrate body, a programmable resistive memory material overlying the first conductive material, a high selective material overlying the programmable resistive memory material, and a silicon nitride material overlying the high selective material. The high selective material in the pillar is isotropically etched on both sides of the high selective material to create a void on each side of the high selective material with a reduced length. A programmable resistive memory material is deposited in a confined area previously occupied by the reduced length of the poly, and the programmable resistive memory material is deposited into an area previously occupied by the silicon nitride material.
US08243491B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit including semiconductor memory
According to one embodiment, a memory cell array includes memory cells arranged at crossing points of bit lines and word lines. The bit lines include first, second, third, and fourth bit lines sequentially arranged. A first sense circuit is arranged on a first end side of the memory cell array, electrically connected to the first and third bit lines. A second sense circuit is arranged on a second end side of the memory cell array, electrically connected to the second and fourth bit lines. A first hookup region is arranged between the memory cell array and the first sense circuit and includes a first transfer transistor connected to the first bit line and the first sense circuit. A second hookup region is arranged between the first hookup region and the first sense circuit and includes a second transfer transistor connected to the third bit line and the first sense circuit.
US08243490B2 Memory with intervening transistor
Disclosed herein are memory devices and related methods and techniques. A cell in the memory device may be associated with an intervening transistor, the intervening transistor being configured to isolate the cell from adjacent cells under a first operating condition and to provide a current to a bit line associated with the cell under a second operating condition.
US08243487B2 Stacked memory module and system
A three dimensional memory module and system are formed with at least one slave chip stacked over a master chip. Through semiconductor vias (TSVs) are formed through at least one of the master and slave chips. The master chip includes a memory core for increased capacity of the memory module/system. In addition, capacity organizations of the three dimensional memory module/system resulting in efficient wiring is disclosed for forming multiple memory banks, multiple bank groups, and/or multiple ranks of the three dimensional memory module/system.
US08243483B2 Memory device capable of one-time data writing and repeated data reproduction, and method and display apparatus for operating the memory device
Provided are a memory device where data may be recorded one time and/or reproduced repeatedly, and a method and display apparatus for operating the memory device. The memory device may include a program area having a plurality of memory cells and a spare area having a plurality of memory cells. The memory device may include a memory cell layer having the program area and the spare area. The memory cell layer may include a plurality of vertically stacked memory cell layers. Each of the plurality of memory cell layers may include the program area and the spare area. The program area and the spare area may be either vertical or horizontal to one another.
US08243480B2 Method and apparatus for a control circuit responsive to an impedance coupled to a control circuit terminal
An example power supply controller includes a regulation circuit, a current sense circuit, and a response circuit. The regulation circuit is coupled to regulate a sense terminal to a voltage level. The current sense circuit is coupled to the sense terminal to sense a current through the sense terminal a measurement delay period after a magnitude of the current through the sense terminal reaches a first threshold current level. The response circuit is coupled to the sense circuit and is responsive to the current through the sense terminal only after the measurement delay period.
US08243477B2 Flyback power supply with forced primary regulation
A controller that forces primary regulation is disclosed. An example controller includes a switched element to be coupled to a second winding of an energy transfer element of a power supply. A secondary control circuit is coupled to the switched element. The secondary control circuit is to be coupled across an output of the second winding to switch the switched element in response to a difference between an actual output value at the output of the second winding and a desired output value to force a current in a third winding of the energy transfer element that is representative of the difference between the actual output value at the output of the second winding and the desired output value. A primary switch is to be coupled to a first winding of the energy transfer element. A primary control circuit is coupled to the primary switch. The primary control circuit is to be coupled to receive the current forced in the third winding of the energy transfer element in response to the secondary control circuit. The primary control circuit is coupled to switch the primary switch to regulate an output of the power supply coupled to the output of the second winding in response to the forced current.
US08243474B2 Control circuit for power supplying
The control circuit for power supplying includes a driving module and a control module, wherein the driving module includes a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch. In a first power supply mode, the first switch and the second switch are turned on, and the third switch and the fourth switch are turned off. The load current flows to the ground terminal via the first switch, the inductive load, and the second switch. When the control module sends a switching signal to the driving module, the first switch and the second switch are turned off and the third switch and the fourth switch are turned on, and the load current flows to the high potential terminal via the fourth switch, the inductive load, and the third switch due to the current inertia.
US08243471B2 Display device having foldable plates
A display device includes a display screen, a securing frame, and two foldable plates. The securing frame is mounted around the display screen. The two foldable plates are hinged to the securing frame, and arranged at opposite sides of the display screen, respectively. The two foldable plates are made of opaque material, and are respectively rotatable about two parallel rotating axes which are at the opposite sides of the display screen.
US08243468B2 Low-thickness electronic module comprising a stack of electronic packages provided with connection balls
The invention relates to an electronic module comprising a stack of n packages of predetermined thickness E, which are provided on a lower surface with connection balls of predetermined thickness eb, said connection balls being connected to a printed circuit for interconnecting the package. The printed circuit is placed on the lower surface of the package level with the balls, is drilled with metallized holes, in which the balls are located and to which they are connected, and has a thickness eci less than eb so as to obtain a module with a total thickness not exceeding n (E+10% eb).
US08243462B2 Printed wiring board, semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing printed wiring board
A printed wiring board includes a plurality of lands arranged in a mounting area allowing therein mounting of an electronic component; and an wiring respectively connected to a specific land which is at least one of the outermost lands arranged outermostly out of all lands, wherein a connection portion of the specific land and the wiring connected to the specific land is positioned inside a closed curve which collectively surrounds, by the shortest path, all of the outermost lands formed in the mounting area.
US08243461B2 Electronic device and process for manufacturing electronic device
The electronic device, which allows inhibiting the breaking-away of the element from the frame member, even if the temperature change of the electronic device is repeated, and the process for manufacturing the electronic device, are achieved. An electronic device includes a photo-sensitive element formed in a wafer, a frame member installed on the wafer to surround a functional unit, and an encapsulating resin layer filling a circumference of the frame member.
US08243460B2 Expansion card guide
In at least some embodiments, an expansion card guide for a computer system includes a frame having lanes for receiving expansion cards and a plurality of chassis attachment features provided on at least one side of said frame for tool-less attachment of the expansion card guide to a chassis of the computer system. The expansion card guide also includes a set of cable management features provided on at least one side of said frame for tool-less management of auxiliary expansion card cables.
US08243459B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a rectangular-parallelepiped first casing, a rectangular-parallelepiped second casing, and a first connecting apparatus. The first connecting apparatus connects the first casing and the second casing such that the first casing and the second casing are capable of being rotated relatively in one of a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction orthogonal to each other between a first state and a second state. The first state is a state where a first main surface of the first casing comes to be faced with a third main surface of the second casing. The second state is a state where a second main surface of the first casing comes to be faced with a fourth main surface of the second casing.
US08243455B1 Docking portable computers for storage and charging
A repository in the form of a cart, and a method for docking a plurality of portable computers in storage within the cart, are disclosed. The cart has an opening at the top of the cart and each computer is placed within a docking bay, connected electrically to an electrical connector at the docking bay. Each docking bay has an entrance at an upper level and a support member for the computer at a lower level located at a predetermined vertical distance from the upper level. The orientation of the docking bays, and the predetermined vertical distance are such that upon movement of a computer toward a fully seated position within a docking bay, the computer is biased by gravity toward and into retention in the fully seated position and is maintained by gravity assistance in such retention during transport and storage in the cart, connected to the electrical connector at the docking bay. In a preferred construction, the support member is in the form of a tray placed in the cart above a lower compartment beneath the tray. The tray is mounted for pivotal movement between a first position wherein the tray is in place for supporting the computers above the lower compartment, and a second position wherein the tray is displaced to open access to the lower compartment from the opening at the top of the cart.
US08243453B2 Cooling arrangement for conductor in electrical installation
Cooling arrangement for an electrically conductive element in an electrical installation. A casting body (3) is provided for electrically isolating the electrically conductive element (2). The casting body has an outer wall, part of which forms a contact surface 5 (5) for contact with a heat conducting surface (1) of the electrical installation. The outer wall of the casting body (3) is provided with an electrically conductive layer (4; 7) at its outer surface.
US08243452B2 Fixing mechanism and electronic device utilizing the same
A fixing mechanism for fixing an object to a base plate is provided. The object defines a hole and includes a ring extending from an edge of the hole. The ring includes a threaded hole. The base plate includes a post on its top surface and respectively opposing to the hole. The fixing mechanism includes an elastic element, a first hollow bolt and a second bolt. The first hollow bolt passes through the hole and the elastic element, and includes an externally threaded portion engaging with the threaded hole of the ring. The second bolt is inserted into the first hollow bolt, and engages with the post of the base plate.
US08243448B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a casing that includes a vent, with the vent venting dust inside the casing, a heat radiating fin that is housed in the casing and includes an edge portion, a cooling fan that is housed in the casing and cools the heat radiating fin, with the cooling fan including an edge portion that faces the edge portion of the heat radiating fin. The electronic apparatus has a clearance between the edge portion of the heat radiating fin and the edge portion of the cooling fan becomes narrower the further it is from the vent.
US08243445B2 Electronic apparatus
Provided is an electronic apparatus capable of preventing an unnecessary space from being made inside the housing, and of improving ventilation efficiency of the air flowing along the power circuit. An electronic apparatus includes: a power circuit; a power circuit case (4) housing the power circuit; and a housing (2) for housing the electronic apparatus and the power circuit case (4). The power circuit case (4) includes a rear wall portion (43) having an air outlet (43a) formed therein, and the housing (2) having an opening (2a) formed therein, a shape of the opening corresponding to the rear wall portion (43) of the power circuit case (4). The power circuit case (4) is arranged such that the rear wall portion (43) is exposed through the opening (2a).
US08243440B2 Foldable computing device with counterbalance member
A foldable computing device with counterbalance member includes a main body, a rotary member, and a shaft. The rotary member is rotatably connected to the main body by the shaft. The main body, from top to bottom, includes a top cover, a printed circuit board, a counterbalance member and a bottom case. The counterbalance is configured to maintain contact with the printed circuit board and the bottom case. Electrostatic charges produced on the printed circuit board can be conducted to the bottom case through the counterbalance member, and then to ground.
US08243438B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus (10) includes a main body (30), a lid (20) pivotably connected with a side of the main body, a magnetic detecting unit (40) and a magnetic shield member (28). The detecting unit includes a magnetic body (42) mounted on one of the main body or the lid and a magnetic detector (44) mounted on the other one of the main body or the lid, respectively. The magnetic body has a facing side (421) to face the magnetic detector. The magnetic detector detects a position of the lid according to a magnetic field intensity of the magnetic body. The magnetic shield member is disposed at a distance from the facing side and adjacent to a second side (422) of the magnetic body, to prevent the magnetic field from extending in the direction of the second side of the magnetic body.
US08243436B2 Connecting module and electronic device coupling system
A connecting module includes: a main section in which an electronic circuit is housed; a plate section that is rotatably supported by the main section, and that is adapted to lie in front of the main section, and that is rotatable between a flat position in which an electronic device is laid on a first face representing a top face and a standing position in which the electronic device is leaned against a second face representing a back face opposite to the first face; and a first connector that couples with the electronic device laid on the plate section when the plate section is in the flat position so as to connect the electronic device to the electronic circuit in the main section.
US08243435B2 Retaining apparatus for data storage device
A retaining apparatus includes a tray and a retaining member. The tray is used for receiving at least one data storage device. The retaining device includes a base member, a retaining member, an arm member and a locking member. The base member is attached to the tray. The retaining member is movably attached to the base member along a first direction. The retaining member includes an engaging portion, a retaining portion and a latch. The arm member is pivotably attached to the base member about a pivot axis, and the pivot axis is located at a first end of the arm member. The locking member is slidably attached to the arm member. The arm member includes a latching portion.
US08243433B2 Computer with power supply unit and storage holder
A computer includes a chassis, a combination of a power supply unit and a storage holder formed at a top of the power supply unit attached to the chassis, a hard disk drive held in the storage holder, and a securing member. The hard disk drive includes at least a fixing post and a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment connector positioned at an open end of the storage holder. The securing member is pivotably attached to the storage holder for engaging with the fixing post of the hard disk drive and securing the hard disk drive in the storage holder.
US08243432B2 Support mechanism for portable electronic device
An exemplary support mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a seat, a button, a support member, and a hinge assembly. The seat defines a cavity. The button is received in the cavity. The support member includes a knuckle portion. The knuckle portion is received in the cavity. The button abuts against the support member. The hinge assembly connects the knuckle portion to the seat. When the button is pressed to force the hinge assembly to unlock, the hinge assembly drives the support member to rotate.
US08243427B2 Display assembly
A display assembly includes a flat panel display and a stand. The flat panel display includes a display screen and an angular adjusting mechanism. The angular adjusting mechanism includes a rotation motor and a transmission unit coupled to the rotation motor. The stand is pivotably attached to the flat panel display. The stand includes a gear rim. The gear rim is configured to mesh with the transmission unit. The rotation motor is capable of being controlled to actuate the transmission unit and the gear rim of the stand, thereby driving the stand to rotate relative to the flat panel display.
US08243424B1 Surface display assemblies
Presentation by a display is enhanced by placing the active elements of the display at or substantially proximate to the surface of an electronic device. Such placement improves image quality, reduces shadow on the display, improves spill resistance, and minimizes the overall profile of the device.
US08243418B2 Capacitive touch screen suitable for use in an interactive information display
A capacitive touch screen suitable for use in an interactive information display includes a first transparent glass substrate having first and second surfaces and a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.3 millimeters, and a second substrate having third and fourth surfaces and a transparent conductive thin film disposed at the third surface thereof. The second surface of the first transparent glass substrate is laminated to the third surface of the second substrate in order to form a capacitive touch screen having enhanced durability. The transparent conductive thin film of the second substrate opposes the second surface of the first transparent glass substrate when the second surface of the first transparent glass substrate is laminated to the third surface of the second substrate.
US08243410B2 Transient voltage compensation system and method
A transient voltage compensation system is provided. The transient voltage compensation system includes a processor and a first voltage regulator coupled to the processor, wherein the first voltage regulator is to deliver a load current to the processor at an output voltage. The transient voltage compensation system also includes a second voltage regulator coupled to the first voltage regulator, wherein the second voltage regulator is to regulate the output voltage in response to transient loads of the processor.
US08243409B2 Protective device and method for its operation
A protective device is disclosed for combination with an electrical switching device including a main current line or for integration in such a switching device. In at least one embodiment, the protective device includes a switching element and a switching apparatus, which is provided for the actuation of the switching element and is influenced by a current flow through the main current line. In at least one embodiment, in order to influence the switching apparatus, a current transformer is integrated in the main current line and an electrical resistance of a secondary winding surrounded by the current transformer can be measured. A method for operating a protective device is also disclosed wherein the switching apparatus is triggered so as to actuate the switching element if the measured resistance reaches or exceeds a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.
US08243408B2 Apparatus and method for preventing reverse power flow of over current relay
Provided is an apparatus and method for preventing reverse power flow of an over current relay. When a neutral line current is greater than a phase current, it is determined that a reverse power flow occurs, and thus a protection relay is prevented from malfunctioning. The apparatus for preventing reverse power flow of an over current relay includes: a detecting unit which detects a phase current and a neutral line current; a reverse power flow determining unit which is electrically connected to the detecting unit and compares the phase current and the neutral line current which are detected by the detecting unit to determine whether or not a reverse power flow occurs; a setting unit which is electrically connected to the reverse power flow determining unit and sets an operation time and the number of operation times of a protection relay; and an operation unit which is electrically connected to the setting unit and operates the protection relay in a manner set by the setting unit.
US08243407B2 Semiconductor switch control device
A semiconductor switch control device includes a current detecting unit that detects a current that flows in a semiconductor switch, a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage, and a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature. A transient thermal resistance value providing unit provides a transient thermal resistance value Zth in accordance with an elapsed time from reception of an excess voltage signal to a computing unit. A temperature detecting unit detects an initial temperature TJ0 when an excess voltage is produced. The computing unit calculates a temperature of the semiconductor switch by a following expression when a detected current value is represented by Ids, and a detected voltage value is represented by Vds: (expression): temperature of the semiconductor switch TJ=Ids×Vds×Zth+TJ0.
US08243403B2 Electrostatic discharge clamp circuit
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) clamp circuit is provided. The ESD clamp circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor. A clamp device of the ESD clamp circuit is implemented by the third transistor. A parasitic capacitor of the third transistor forms a detection scheme along with the second resistor to detect the ESD. The first resistor, the second resistor, the first transistor, and the second transistor form a feedback scheme to control the third transistor for discharging the ESD current.
US08243400B2 Tunneling magnetoresistive effect element and spin MOS field-effect transistor
A magnetoresistive effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, Cr layer, Heusler alloy layer, barrier layer, and second ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic layer has the body-centered cubic lattice structure. The Cr layer is formed on the first ferromagnetic layer and has the body-centered cubic lattice structure. The Heusler alloy layer is formed on the Cr layer. The barrier layer is formed on the Heusler alloy layer. The second ferromagnetic layer is formed on the barrier layer.
US08243399B2 Shield design for magnetic recording head
A magnetic shield in which all domain patterns and orientations are stable and which are consistently repeated each time the shield is exposed to an initialization field, is disclosed. This is achieved by giving it a suitable shape which ensures that all closure domains can align themselves at a reduced angle relative to the initialization direction while still being roughly antiparallel to each other. Most, though not all, of these shapes are variations on trapezoids.
US08243388B2 Heat-assisted magnetic head constituted of slider and light source unit, and manufacturing method of the head
Provided is a heat-assisted magnetic recording head constituted of a light source unit and a slider, which can be easily joined to each other with sufficiently high accuracy of joining position. The slider comprises a head part including a waveguide having an incident center on its end. The surface including an emission center of the light source is protruded from a joining surface of the unit substrate. And a step is provided on an end surface of the head part. The protruded portion of a lower surface of the light source has a surface contact with a wall surface of the step. Further, the distance between the wall surface of the step and the incident center of the waveguide is set to be equal to the distance between the emission center of the light source and the protruded portion of the lower surface of the light source.
US08243386B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording head with bottom shield layer
In a perpendicular magnetic recording head in which a magnetic pole part of a main magnetic pole layer exposed at a medium-opposing surface exhibits a trapezoidal form narrower at a leading edge than at a trailing edge on the return yoke layer side, a bottom shield layer made of a soft magnetic material is provided below the leading edge of the magnetic pole part of the main magnetic pole layer in the track width direction while interposing a nonmagnetic material layer therebetween. The gap between the bottom shield layer and the leading edge of the magnetic pole part is set to less than 60 nm.
US08243384B2 Motor and disk drive apparatus
Inner circumferential surfaces of a rotor holder and a turntable are in contact with an outer circumferential surface of a shaft. This stabilizes coaxiality of both the rotor holder and the turntable with respect to the shaft. An upper cover portion of the rotor holder includes fixing holes. The turntable includes fixing projections arranged to extend through the fixing holes to be in contact with a lower surface of the upper cover portion. A base end portion of each fixing projection is arranged at a level higher than that of an upper end portion of a corresponding one of the fixing holes. Therefore, even if dimensional errors of the rotor holder and the turntable cause a radial displacement between any fixing projection and a corresponding one of the fixing holes, the rotor holder and the turntable can be fixed to each other while maintaining coaxiality therebetween.
US08243383B2 Disk drive device provided with fluid dynamic bearing
A sleeve supports a shaft. A housing member is arranged so as to surround the sleeve and make the end of the sleeve protrude. A base member holds the housing member and fixes a stator core so as to surround the housing member. A hub drives a recording disk by being rotated integrally with the shaft, with a magnet being fixed to an annular portion concentric with the shaft so as to face the stator core fixed to the base member. A thrust member is rotated integrally with the hub, and a descender portion and a ring portion.
US08243381B2 Systems and methods for sector address mark detection
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for sector address mark detection. As an example, data detection systems are disclosed that include a sector address mark detection circuit and a sector address mark quality detection circuit. The sector address mark detection circuit receives a data stream and identifies a sector address mark in the data stream. The sector address mark quality detection circuit receives a first sample and a second sample from the data stream corresponding to the sector address mark, and determines a quality of the sector address mark based at least in part on the first sample and the second sample. In various cases, one or more of the samples of the sector address mark up to all of the samples of the sector address mark may be used.
US08243374B2 Optical lens and lens assembly having same
An optical lens includes a central optical portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the optical portion. The peripheral portion includes a first step surface, a second step surface, and a first connecting surface interconnecting the first step surface and the second step surface. The first step surface is adjacent to the optical portion. The second step surface has a circular groove formed therein, and the circular groove is adjacent to the first connecting surface. A lens assembly including the optical lens is also provided.
US08243372B2 Optical apparatus and optical transmission apparatus
An optical apparatus includes a collimation optical member for collimating and outputting input light, a condensing optical member for condensing light from the collimation optical member and a light blocking mask member provided at a place on an optical path of the input light for light blocking part of the input light, and enhances the degree of freedom in design of an optical system.
US08243371B2 High zoom-ratio zoom lens system
A high zoom-ratio zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group, in that order from the object side, wherein upon zooming from the short to the long focal length extremities, the first through fourth lens groups are moved along the optical axis direction, wherein an amount of movement of the first lens group is greater than that of the third lens group. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 1.4
US08243366B1 Projection screen with wind shield
A wind shield is provided for a projection screen or imaging surface wherein a sheet of material is included behind the projection screen to reduce the impact of wind on the projection screen.
US08243352B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes an image input unit configured to input image data, a calculation unit configured to calculate an application amount of a recording material to form an image on a recording paper according to the input image data, a conversion characteristics creation unit configured to create composite conversion characteristics based on gradation-prioritized conversion characteristics and tint-prioritized conversion characteristics according to the application amount, and a conversion unit configured to convert the image data according to the created conversion characteristics.
US08243351B2 Image reading apparatus, multifunction printer apparatus, and image processing method
This invention is directed to a method capable of performing satisfactory image reading by absorbing variations in each apparatus. According to this method, in primary color reading, light emitting unit sequentially irradiates an image original with light components of three primary colors and reads the image original, and in complementary color reading, the light emitting unit simultaneously irradiates the image original with one of three different color combinations, which includes two of the light components of three primary colors, and reads the image original. Each of the primary and complementary color readings includes image processing of executing shading correction of image data based on calibration data obtained by calibrating the light emitting unit when reading the image original.
US08243349B2 Image reading method and image reading apparatus
There is provided a method of reading an image by reading reflected light from a document that is illuminated. The method includes illuminating the document with light from a light source, changing a degree of diffusion of the light applied from the light source to the document, and reading reflected light from the document. The degree of diffusion is changed in accordance with a type of the document.
US08243347B2 Image processing apparatus and method with reading mistake preventing function during document reading
An image processing apparatus includes: a platen; a document cover mounted to be opened/closed on the platen; a document reader provided in relation to the platen, for reading an image of a document placed on the platen; an opening/closing detector provided in relation to the platen and the document cover, for detecting opening/closing of the document cover; an operation panel designating how the read document is to be arranged at the time of output; a document output device arranging and outputting the document images read by the document reader, in accordance with the arrangement designated by the operation panel; and a reading operation controller inhibiting document reading, when a specific arrangement of document images is designated by the operation panel and opening/closing operation of the document cover is not detected by the opening/closing detector.
US08243346B2 Recording medium and recording apparatus
A recording medium includes lenticules and a guided portion guided by a guide portion which is provided in a supporter for supporting the recording medium provided on a recording apparatus carrying out a recording on the recording medium, so that the recording medium is guided in a predetermined conveying direction.
US08243342B2 Image processing device
An image processing device includes a processing section, a load section, an operating section, and a display unit. The processing section performs processing upon sheets of a recording medium. The operating section includes input keys which receive input operation for controlling the processing section, and is disposed over the load section. The display unit displays information corresponding to input operation from the operating section. And the operating section can be freely shifted between a pulled out position in which its input keys are exposed to the exterior, and a storage position in which it is stored internally, and, in the storage position, is disposed below the display unit.
US08243339B2 Multifunction apparatus that can be configured to a plurality of dimensions
A multifunction apparatus includes an image recording unit that records an image on a recording medium; and an image reading unit that can read an image from an original placed on an original placement surface. The image reading unit is configured to move into a plurality of positions in relation to the image recording unit, and to read an image from the original placed on the original placement surface in the plurality of positions.
US08243337B2 Image processor, image processing method, and computer program product
For (CMYK) (x,y) data, a target-pixel checking unit calculates a target-pixel integrated value a(x,y) from CMYK binary data of a target pixel and a surrounding-pixel checking unit calculates a maximum surrounding pixel integrated value n(x,y) from respective CMYK binary data of surrounding pixels that are adjacent to the target pixel. Based on the target-pixel integrated value and the maximum surrounding pixel integrated value, a comparison determining unit estimates a higher toner pile height. The comparison determining unit adds transparent image data W(x,y) to the input data CMYK(x,y) and outputs output image data CMYKW(x,y) such that the toner pile heights become even.
US08243336B2 Image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image forming apparatus embeds second class data that is different from sheet to sheet in first class data that is common throughout a printing operation. First and second unfolding sections unfold the first and second class data to image data. An image carrying body image examination section compares image data unfolded by the second unfolding section and picked up image data unfolded by the first unfolding section and prepared by an image carrying body image pickup section, and an intermediate transfer body image examination section compares image data unfolded by the second unfolding section and picked up image data unfolded by the first unfolding section and prepared by an intermediate transfer body image pickup section.
US08243335B2 Device for changing screen ruling for image formation in accordance with relationship between luminance and saturation
The present invention relates to a device that, in printing of controlling the amount of color materials applied, changes a screen ruling for image formation according to the relationship between luminance and saturation. A first component obtains color component data of a plurality of colors so that the total amount of controlled variable in each pixel does not exceed a first limit amount. A second component obtains color component data of a plurality of colors so that the total amount of controlled variable in each pixel does not exceed a second limit amount by performing color conversion processing different from the color conversion processing with the first component. A third component performs pseudo halftone processing by changing a screen ruling to be applied to the color component data of a plurality of colors obtained by the color conversion processing with the second component from chromaticity of color image data.
US08243334B2 Methods and apparatuses for printing three dimensional images
Systems and methods for printing a 3D object on a three-dimensional (3D) printer are described. The methods semi-automatically or automatically delineate an item in an image, receive a 3D model of the item, matches said item to said 3D model, and send the matched 3D model to a 3D printer.
US08243333B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer program
A problem of the present invention is to prevent showthrough of a rear side image to a front side image without using any complicated processing at a time of reading out both sides of a document. To solve the problem, an image processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention reads out image information on the front side and rear side of a document; calculates a first background level from the image information on the front side; calculates a second background level by adjusting the first background level according to the first background level calculated and the density of the image information on the rear side; and removes the background of the front side using the second background level.
US08243332B2 Printing structure of medium surface on which dot pattern is formed by printing, printing method, and its reading method
With the aim of realizing an easy and inexpensive method of realizing a “stealth” dot pattern, whose presence on a medium surface is not visually recognizable, merely through minor improvements in the existing printing technology, the present invention provides dots which form a dot pattern by printing these dots using an ink of any color reactive in the infrared or ultraviolet wavelength range on a medium surface on which a dot pattern is to be formed, for use with a dot pattern reading system that irradiates infrared or ultraviolet light on a medium surface having a dot pattern provided thereon, recognizes the dot pattern by reading the reflections of the light with an optical reading means, converts the dot pattern into the corresponding data, and outputs the text, voice, images and so forth contained in the data.
US08243328B2 Printing method, printing apparatus, and storage medium storing a program
A printing method includes obtaining scene information concerning image data from supplemental data that is appended to the image data; classifying a scene of an image represented by the image data, based on the image data; comparing the classified scene with a scene indicated by the scene information; and printing a printout that is used to urge a user to make a continuation when a mismatch between the classified scene and the scene indicated by the scene information exists.
US08243324B2 Document processing system, information processing apparatus, and setting methods therefor
When a user sets, from a user interface window using a bookbinding application, instructions of dividing a document into a plurality of parts and stapling each part of the document, a printer driver generates one job in which the staple attribute of a binder corresponding to each part is set to “ON” or “OFF”, and issues the job for a printer. With this operation, the user can perform staple designation to an arbitrary part of the document, and can realize a plurality of staple processes in one print job.
US08243323B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a scanning unit which scans a light beam on a photosensitive member in accordance with image data, and a smoothing unit which performs a smoothing for a jaggy of a scan line of a light beam scanned on the photosensitive member by the scanning unit. The smoothing unit does not perform the smoothing when the scanning unit scans a light beam in accordance with image data representing a halftone image.
US08243316B2 System, method and production tickets for print management
Disclosed herein is a method of preparing production tickets that involves selecting order data from at least a first data field in an ordering system, feeding the selected order data to a workflow management system, and generating a production ticket for a print production job using at least a portion of the selected order data to name the print production job. One embodiment employs a join identifier to include several related files on the same production ticket. Corresponding configuration tools and workflow management systems also are disclosed.
US08243313B2 Cache optimization mechanism
A method is disclosed. The method includes identifying a received object to be cached, calculating a time to rasterize the object, determining if the rasterize time is greater than a time to reuse a rasterized image of the object, caching the object if the reuse time is greater than the rasterize time and caching the rasterized image of the object if the rasterize time is greater than the reuse time.
US08243309B2 Image processing apparatus which can automatically set an operation mode in accordance with the contents of a connected memory and the state of the apparatus and control method thereof
When a storage medium is connected to an MFP, it is determined whether or not the connected storage medium stores data. If it is determined that the storage medium does not store any data for printing, a setting dialog of scanning processing of an original using a scanner is automatically displayed, and the scanning processing of an original is started so as to store the image data corresponding to the original into the storage medium.
US08243305B2 Production print capacity display for process optimization
A system automatically processes current capacity and optimal capacity for at least one printing system for use in deterring current billing, optimal billing and operating cost. A data-processing apparatus (CPU) associated with a printer and an optimization module operable together to optimize current capacity and optimal capacity, and determine current billing, optimal billing and operating cost information. Information is optimized for use at a client (local or remote) and for display in a single graphical user interface. Data is used to optimize print system usage.
US08243304B2 Enhanced job programming for pad printing
A system and method of job programming in a computer system for programming print jobs for pad printing. Parameters are programmed by a user for printing a pad, and the programming involves one or more of the following programming steps: programming a slip sheet parameter, programming insert sheet parameters, and for each first sheet insertion point, an insertion frequency, and programming cover sheet parameters. The slip sheet parameter includes at least a yes value or a no value. The insert sheet parameters include one or more first sheet insertion points and, for each first sheet insertion point programmed, an insertion frequency.
US08243303B2 Image forming system, image forming apparatus, and image forming processing method
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a mobile terminal. The image forming apparatus includes: a two-dimensional code output unit for outputting a two-dimensional code into which address information of the image forming apparatus is converted; and a job execution unit for executing a job transmitted from the mobile terminal that has accessed the image forming apparatus based on address information into which the two-dimensional code obtained by photographing an image of the two-dimensional code outputted from the image forming apparatus by the mobile terminal is inversely converted. The mobile terminal includes: a photographing unit for photographing an image of the two-dimensional code; an inverse converter for inversely converting the photographed two-dimensional code into address information; and a communication unit for accessing an address of the image forming apparatus, which address is obtained through the inverse conversion, to transmit a job.
US08243301B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus performs a user authentication process and performs a private print process according to a request from an authenticated user. When the user requests interruption of the private print which is now performed or it is detected that the user has left a place near the image forming apparatus while the private print is being performed, the image forming apparatus interrupts the private print which is now performed and stores a print state at the interruption time. Further, the image forming apparatus performs a user authentication process and re-starts the private print which is interrupted in response to a re-start request from the authenticated user.
US08243300B2 Printing system, printing method and printer which facilitate print management using authorization tokens
A printing system can suppress an increase in the processing load of a printer, and facilitate print management. To accomplish this, a printing system includes an authentication unit with which a printer authenticates a user based on account information the user inputs using a host device, a token generating unit with which the printer generates, after the user has been authenticated by the authentication unit, a token containing print function restriction information by referring to information in which the user, and application and the print function restriction are associated with one another, and transmits the token to the host device, a command generating unit with which the host device receives the token to generate a command containing the print function restriction information, and transmits the command to the printer, and a printing unit with which the printer receives the command and executes printing subject to print function restrictions.
US08243297B2 Information processing apparatus capable of adding additional functions to print processing related program, print control method and program
An information processing apparatus, etc., are disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes: first rule storage means for storing a first conflict processing rule determined in accordance with a dependency relation held between two or more settings of the function of the print processing related program; second rule storage means for storing a second conflict processing rule determined in accordance with a dependency relation held between settings of the function of the print processing related program and the additional function and; and setting adjustment means for reading the first conflict processing rule and the second conflict processing rule from the first rule storage means and the second rule storage means, and for performing setting adjustment processing such that inconsistencies do not arise between any of two settings of the print processing related program function and the additional function based on the first conflict processing rule and the second conflict processing rule which have been read.
US08243292B2 Systems and methods for printing on recycled media
Apparatus, systems, and methods consistent with disclosed embodiments provide for managing the printing of documents using recycled media. In some embodiments, a printer comprises at least one input tray capable of holding print media; at least one image sensor capable of detecting recycled print media; and a print engine capable of placing marks on documents. The print media received from the input tray is routed to an output tray without marking by the print engine, if the image sensor detects recycled print media in the print media feed path during the processing of a non-recycled print; otherwise the print media is routed to a print engine on the printer.
US08243290B2 Three-dimensional base setting method for image data
A highly accurate three-dimensional measurement base is specified with simple settings. When a peak occurs in the positive Z-axis direction, a hemisphere or semi-spheroid figure (z≧0) is placed to contain a position (xi, yi) where a base point should be obtained, scanning is performed such that the bottom of the figure contains the position (xi, yi), and the minimum value lmin of the difference between the Z position of a surface profile image and the height of the hemisphere or semi-spheroid figure at each position, and the height of the hemisphere or semi-spheroid figure at the position (xi, yi) are obtained. The maximum value of the sums is expressed as L(xi, yi), and a base point (Xi, Yi, L(xi,yi)) is specified. Base points are specified throughout the target surface by the same base point setting method, and a three-dimensional measurement base is specified on the basis of the specified base points.
US08243287B2 Projector
A projector includes a determination section, an amplification section, an identification section and a calculation section. The determination section specifies a reflection position of a reflected light received by a light receiving sensor based on a horizontal synchronizing signal and a pixel clock signal of an image signal, and determines an amplification quantity of the intensity of a reflected light reflected at the specified reflection position to be received by the light receiving sensor. The amplification section amplifies the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving sensor by the determined amplification quantity. The identification section identifies an external obstacle when the intensity of the amplified reflected light exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The calculation section calculates the position information of the external obstacle based on the timing of identifying the external obstacle, the horizontal synchronizing signal, and the pixel clock signal of the image signal.
US08243286B2 Device and method for the contactless detection of a three-dimensional contour
The invention relates to a device for the contactless detection of a three-dimensional contour, comprising a projector with an imaging element and a projection lens for depicting a stripe pattern that is generated on the imaging element in an object space. The invention further comprises a camera arrangement for the surveillance of the object space from two different directions, having two camera lenses. The projector and the camera arrangement are housed together in a measurement head that can be handheld. The invention further relates to a method for detecting a three-dimensional contour using said device.
US08243285B2 Inspection system and method
A manufacturing method and system are disclosed for illuminating a target. A light controller has a plurality of pixels, and light is projected from at least a first light source to the light controller, wherein the light from the first light source is incident on the light controller at a first angle. The pixels are controlled to establish illumination characteristics for first and second optical paths between the light controller and the target.
US08243276B2 Variable penetration depth biosensor
A surface plasmon resonance sensor system including a high refractive index prism, a sensor chip, a light source having multiple wavelengths over a broad range of wavelengths, optical lenses, a photodetector, a data acquisition unit, and as defined herein. The sensor chip can include, for example, a thin layer of silicon and gold on one face of a transparent substrate and the prism adjacent to the opposite face of the transparent substrate. Such an arrangement provides variable penetration depths up to about 1.5 micrometers with a dynamic range for sensing index of refraction changes in a sample that are several times greater than that of a conventional SPR sensor. The disclosure provides methods for using the surface plasmon resonance sensor system for cell assay or chemical assay related applications.
US08243274B2 Portable diesel particulate monitor
A diesel particulate matter (DPM) monitor that can be worn, attached to a particular location or piece of equipment, and collects real-time data about DPM levels. In an exemplary embodiment, ambient air is drawn by a flow-controlled diaphragm pump through a particle size selector which only passes submicron particles. These particles are collected on an optically transparent filter. A laser illuminates the filter and the transmittance of the laser beam is measured in real-time by a photo detector. As DPM accumulates on the filter, the laser transmittance decreases. The instrument is calibrated to convert this decrease in transmittance to a real-time concentration of elemental carbon in the air.
US08243271B2 Methods for fabricating analytical substrates using metallic nanoparticles
An analytical substrate for amplifying Raman signals by a factor greater than 10,000, or by a factor less than 1,000,000. The analytical substrate is fabricated by depositing a film on the substrate and heating the substrate to a temperature less than 100 degrees Celsius for a period of time less than 30 seconds. The film can comprise a metallic nanoparticle dispersion that can further comprise a population of metallic nanoparticles. In some instances, the metallic nanoparticles have an average cross-sectional dimension in a range of about 1 nm to about 100 nm. In other instances each nanoparticle comprises at least one ligand bound to a surface of the nanoparticle, where the ligand comprises a heteroatom head group bound to the nanoparticle surface and a tail bound to the heteroatom head group.
US08243264B2 Measuring apparatus
A measuring apparatus measuring a surface shape of a target includes a projection optical system to radiate a line beam on the target, an imaging device to acquire a reflected line beam reflected from the target, an optical imaging system to cause the reflected line beam to form an image on a receiving surface of the imaging device to acquire a shape of the line beam on the target, and a splitting mechanism to split the reflected line beam so as to acquire the shape of the line beam on the target at different positions in an extending direction of the line beam and guide the split reflected line beams to the imaging device. A plurality of segments are set on the receiving surface while each segment in which at least one region is set as a reception region is partitioned into a plurality of regions, and the optical imaging system causes the split reflected line beams to form images on the reception regions in the different segments, respectively.
US08243261B2 Optical property measurement apparatus
An optical property measurement apparatus includes: a main body which includes a plane-shape surface that is so disposed as to face the display portion; an optical sensor which receives light directed from an opening that is formed through the plane-shape surface; and a support portion which is disposed on a side of the plane-shape surface and keeps a constant distance between the display portion and the plane-shape surface; wherein a light shield portion that is so disposed as to enclose a circumferential area of the opening of the plane-shape surface and shields entrance of light from a region other than a measurement target region of the display portion when the optical property is measured.
US08243259B2 Lithographic apparatus
A substrate stage for an immersion type lithographic apparatus is arranged to project a patterned radiation beam from a patterning device onto a substrate, the substrate stage being constructed to hold the substrate and including at least a sensor for sensing the patterned radiation beam, the sensor including an at least partially transmissive layer having a front side facing the incoming radiation beam and a back side opposite the front side, wherein the back side is provided with at least a sensor mark to be subjected to the radiation beam transmitted through the layer.
US08243255B2 Lithographic apparatus and in-line cleaning apparatus
An immersion type lithographic apparatus includes an immersion system configured to at least partially fill an immersion space with an immersion liquid. The apparatus also includes an indicator configured to indicate whether a part of the immersion system should be cleaned and a cleaning liquid supply system configured to supply a cleaner to the part of the lithographic apparatus. The cleaner is at least one of a plurality of different cleaners. Each cleaner or combination of cleaners is configured to clean a different type and/or level of contamination in the part of the lithographic apparatus. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to control which of the plurality of cleaners is provided to the part of the lithographic apparatus, based on an indication received from the indicator.
US08243249B2 Method of manufacturing liquid crystal device
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal device provided with a liquid crystal layer held between a pair of substrates opposed to each other, and an oriented film disposed between at least one of the substrates and the liquid crystal layer, includes: (a) providing an inorganic oriented film to the one of the substrates; (b) forming a first organic film with a first silane-coupling agent, the first organic film randomly covering a surface of the inorganic oriented film with a predetermined coverage factor smaller than 1; and (c) forming, after step (b), a second organic film with a second silane-coupling agent having a carbon number different from a carbon number of the first silane-coupling agent, the second organic film covering the surface exposed from the first organic film, thereby forming the oriented film composed mainly of the first organic film, the second organic film, and the inorganic film.
US08243248B2 Polymerizable liquid crystal composition and optical film and device using the same
Disclosed is a polymerizable liquid crystal composition which is applicable on a supporting substrate, such as a transparent plastic film for optical use, or glass, etc., and has a homeotropic alignment. Also, disclosed is an optical film obtained by aligning and fixing the polymerizable composition on a substrate.
US08243247B2 Liquid crystal display including a heat conducting layer between a polarizer and the backlight
A liquid crystal display that can suppress an irregularity in temperature in planes of a liquid crystal cell and polarizers, which is caused by heat radiated from a backlight and can suppress depolarization caused by the temperature irregularity, in which, as compared with a conventional liquid crystal display, appearance defects are reduced. The liquid crystal display of the present invention includes a first polarizer 10, a liquid crystal cell 11, a second polarizer 12, a thermal control element 14 with a thermal conductivity of 0.3 W/(m·K) or higher, an air layer 15, and a backlight 13, which are arranged in this order.
US08243238B2 Transflective liquid crystal display device
To improve display quality in a transflective liquid crystal display device.In a transflective liquid crystal display device based on the IPS system according to the present invention, when a liquid crystal layer is of positive type liquid crystal, the initial orientation direction of liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer is perpendicular to the direction in which a l-display line extends, or angularly displaced within ±2 degrees clockwise with respect to the direction in which the l-display line extends. When the liquid crystal layer is of negative type liquid crystal, the initial orientation direction of liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer is parallel to the direction in which the l-display line extends, or angularly displaced within ±2 degrees clockwise with respect to the direction in which the l-display line extends.
US08243232B2 Backlight for liquid crystal display device and liquid crystal display device using the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a backlight for a liquid crystal display device which is easy to repair and prevents the brightness from lowering on the screen, and thus can provide high-quality images, where the region where point light source elements are aligned is divided into a number of smaller regions, and backlight units are provided so as to correspond to the respective smaller regions, as well as a liquid crystal display device using the same. The present invention provides a backlight for a liquid crystal display device where a number of point light source elements 2 are aligned in a plane, having: a number of backlight units, each of which is formed of a support substrate 31, 32 for supporting point light source elements 2 and point light source elements 2 arranged on the support substrate, the region in which the point light source elements are aligned being divided into a number of smaller regions, each of which having a backlight unit; and a reflective sheet provided on the support substrates of the backlight units, having openings created at points where the point light source elements are located, characterized in that the reflective sheet is formed of a number of sheets 41, 42 and covers the entire region.
US08243227B2 Liquid crystal display device having reduced outer dimensions
An object of the present invention is to reduce the exterior of a display device while retaining a display screen at a certain size. A liquid crystal display panel including a TFT substrate formed with a glass substrate and a color filter substrate is stored in a frame made of a metal. In order to avoid the direct contact between the glass substrate and the frame made of a metal, part of an optical sheet included in a backlight disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel is extended to lie between the liquid crystal display panel and the frame, and is regarded as a spacer. Since the thickness of the optical sheet is as small as 0.06 mm, the spacer hardly affects the external dimensions of a display device. Consequently, while a crack of the glass substrate is prevented, the exterior of the display device can be reduced.
US08243221B2 Array substrate and display device
In the array substrate where the display region has the non-quadrangle shape, a sub-capacitance line which forms a sub-capacitance is disposed at the pixel, a intersection region of the scanning lead-out line and a signal lead-out line is located at the frame region on the outside of the display region, a common lead-out line which connects the sub-capacitance line in common is disposed at the frame region side where the scanning lead-out line is disposed, the common lead-out line is not disposed in the intersection region, but disposed in a region between a region of the scanning lead-out line and a region of the signal lead-out line while intersecting any one of the scanning lead-out line and the signal lead-out line.
US08243219B2 LCD display and method thereof
Each pixel of an LCD display includes a main pixel, a sub-pixel, a resistor, and a third switch. The third switch is used for controlling the charging time of the main pixel and the sub-pixel. A data signal of a main pixel of a previous pixel is utilized to pre-charge the main pixel and the sub-pixel, and then data is transmitted to the sub-pixel and the main pixel. When data transmission to the sub-pixel is ended, the data transmission path to the sub-pixel is switched off, and the data keeps being transmitted only to the main pixel. The LCD panel utilizing this method only needs to add one gate line at each of the top and bottom of the panel to realize the AMVA structure of 8-domain for the LCD panel.
US08243218B2 Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
An LCD device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, in which a width of a gate line is decreased by forming a storage capacitor of a high capacitance with a small area, and by improving an aperture ratio, thereby obtaining high picture quality.
US08243217B2 System for selectively revealing indicia
A system for selectively revealing indicia to an observer comprises a transitioning window having a receiving surface and a viewing surface. The receiving surface is positioned in optical communication with an indicia holder that is configured to removably retain indicia, such as information content. During operation, the transitioning window transitions from a substantially opaque state to a substantially transparent state so as to reveal or otherwise display the indicia to an observer via the viewing surface.
US08243216B2 Display
A display device for displaying an image includes a display cell with a first cell wall and a second cell wall opposed to the first cell wall. The cell walls enclose a layer of a display medium that includes a liquid crystal material having finely-divided pigment particles dispersed therein. Each cell wall includes an electrode for applying an electric field across the display medium. A method for recording an image is also provided.
US08243211B2 Reducing power dissipation in portable LCoS/LCD/DLP projection systems
A projection system with one or more light sources reduced power consumption and optional scanning capability is disclosed. A controller processes image data to generate light source control signals and pixel screen control signals which are coordinated to generate an image. Reductions in power consumption occur by matching the light output from the light source to the brightest pixel(s) in the pixel screen for a particular frame. By setting the light output level to an intensity or duration matched to only the maximum level corresponding to a image frame, power consumption is reduced as compared to an embodiment which sets the light source output to its maximum level or maximum duration. The pixel screen, which may be an LCD screen, sets pixel areas corresponding to the brightest pixels as transparent and other, less bring pixels on the pixel screen are set to appropriate levels of reduced transparency.
US08243210B2 Apparatus and method for ambient light adaptive color correction
An ambient light adaptive color correction system and method are provided in the present invention. Firstly, a color information sensor measures color information of at least black and white reference images on a projector plane with influence of ambient light. Then a color correction information calculator calculates color correction information for color appearance matching and gamut mapping based on the measured color information and a projector profile. And after pre-calculation, an image data correction unit processes an input image according to the color correction information to produce a corrected-color image to be outputted to the projector. Accordingly, the output image displayed on the projection plane with influence of ambient light will have a close color appearance to that in the dark room.
US08243209B2 Wireless transmitter, wireless television system, and controlling method thereof
Provided are a wireless television system and a wireless transmitter, capable of automatically turning off a light-emitting unit installed in the wireless transmitter depending on a power state of the wireless transmitter and the wireless television system. The wireless television system includes: a wireless transmitter for relaying a video signal received from the outside; a wireless television for receiving the video signal from the wireless transmitter and displaying an image corresponding to the received composite video signal; a light-emitting unit installed in at least one of the wireless transmitter and the wireless television, and displaying one of a power state and a signal transmission/reception state from one of the wireless transmitter and the wireless television; and a light-emission control unit for controlling the light-emitting unit to emit light when both power of the wireless transmitter and power the wireless television are turned on.
US08243207B2 System and method for activity based configuration of an entertainment system
A command value corresponding to an activity key of a controlling device is associated with a configuration of an entertainment device in which at least one of a plurality of devices is selected as an audio visual input source device for the entertainment device and at least one of the plurality of devices is selected as an audio visual output destination device for the entertainment device. When the entertainment device receives from the controlling device a signal which includes the command value corresponding to the activity key of the controlling device, the entertainment device accesses and uses the configuration associated with the command value corresponding to the activity key of the controlling device.
US08243204B2 Communication system, transmitter, receiver, communication method, program, and communication cable
The present invention relates to a communication system, a transmitter, a receiver, a communication method, a program, and a communication cable for providing high-speed bidirectional communication while maintaining compatibility. When an HDMI (R) source performs bidirectional IP communication with an HDMI (R) sink using a CEC line and a signal line, a switching control unit controls a switch so that, when data is transmitted, the switch selects a constituent signal forming a differential signal output from a converting unit and, when data is transmitted, the switch selects a constituent signal forming a differential signal output from a receiver. When bidirectional communication is performed using only the CEC line, the switching control unit controls the switch so that the CEC signal output from the HDMI (R) source or the receiver is selected. The present invention is applicable to, for example, HDMI (R).
US08243202B2 Method and system for a generalized multi-dimensional filter device
Aspects of a method and system for a generalized multi-dimensional filter device are provided. A corresponding luma component and a corresponding chroma component of a sample of a composite video baseband signal for each of a plurality of filtering modes may be determined. A similarity level of the sample corresponding to each of the plurality of filtering modes may be determined. A corresponding coefficient for each of the plurality of filtering modes may be generated based on the determined similarity levels. A luma component and a chroma component of the sample of the composite video baseband signal may be generated based on the generated corresponding coefficients and the determined corresponding luma components and the determined corresponding chroma components for each of the plurality of filtering modes.
US08243201B2 Method and computer system for regulating color saturation degree
The invention relates to a method and module for regulating saturation degree. In this method, a curvature of a special function in all position is regulated by a saturation parameter to obtain a regulated function. A color input signal is assigned as an independent variable of the regulated function to calculate a color output signal corresponding to the color input signal.
US08243200B2 Method and apparatus of content adaptive detailing filtering for digital pictures
According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed. The method includes receiving video data performing pre-filtering on the data, performing content analysis is applied to identify an area of the data, applying a two-dimensional (2-D) 2nd gradient operation to extract a high frequency component and normalizing the high frequency component related to high frequency information from a previous picture.
US08243197B2 Method of providing user interface which implements screen conversion by channel change in three-dimensional effect, and apparatus thereof
A method and an apparatus for providing a user interface which implements screen conversion by channel change in a three-dimensional view, are provided. The method includes receiving a signal for converting a screen into a screen of a first channel, calculating the relationship according to a channel order between the first channel and a second channel that is currently being broadcasted, outputting a portion of broadcasting images of the first channel to a region where broadcasting images of the second channel are output, according to the calculated result, and outputting all the broadcasting images of the first channel.
US08243195B2 Cadence detection in a sequence of video fields
A method for cadence detection in a sequence of video fields is based on at least a search for cadence patterns in a sequence of bits representative of the motion in at least a part of the field from one field to another in the field sequence. The signaling of field skip and/or field repeat commands as applied to the fields in the field sequence is considered during the cadence detection operation so as to field skips and repeats.
US08243189B2 Image sensor and imaging apparatus
An image sensor includes: a plurality of imaging pixels disposed two-dimensionally in rows and columns to capture an image; a plurality of first focus detection pixels for focus detection and a plurality of second focus detection pixels for focus detection being disposed in a row in place of the imaging pixels; a row selection circuit that selects in turn a row; a column selection circuit that selects in turn a column; and an output circuit that outputs pixel signals from the pixels selected by the column selection circuit, out of the pixels in the rows selected by the row selection circuit, wherein the column selection circuit selects a column according to whether or not the row selected by the row selection circuit includes the first and the second focus detection pixels.
US08243187B2 Photographing apparatus and photographing method
A photographing apparatus including an in-focus position detector for detecting an in-focus position of a focusing lens to focus an image of a subject on an image pickup surface, a driving controller for controlling the driving of the focusing lens, a reflective member that opens and closes on a path of a light that is irradiated onto the image pickup surface, and an optical measuring unit measuring a brightness of the subject image that is reflected by the reflective member in a closed state when a preliminary light emission operation is performed with respect to the subject before performing a main exposure operation. In the preliminary light emission, the driving controller drives the focusing lens to a position nearer the subject or a position nearer the image pickup surface, rather than to the in-focus position of the focusing lens detected by the in-focus position detector.
US08243185B2 Lens, lens module and camera module
A lens includes an optical portion and a mounting portion. The optical portion refracts a first portion of light from an object incident on the optical portion to form an image of the object. The mounting portion surrounds the optical portion. The mounting portion includes at least one light dispersing surface dispersing a second portion of light from the object light incident thereon. A lens module and camera module utilizing the lens are further disclosed.
US08243184B2 Vibrating device and image equipment having the same
A vibration control unit inputs an electrical signal to a vibrating member to generate, in a light-transmitting region of a dust-screening member, vibration forming a plurality of ridges of peaks defining a closed loop around a virtual intersection at which a virtual vibrational axis passing the half-length point of the vibrating member intersects with a virtual vibrational axis passing the half-length point of the dust-screening member. For example, the vibration is vibration whose peak including the virtual intersection gradually increases in terms of amplitude as the amplitude of the peak approaches the virtual intersection, and becomes the largest in terms of amplitude at the virtual intersection. The dust-screening member and the vibrating member have the following relation: 1.2≦Ts/Tg≦1.6, where Tg is the thickness of the thickness of the dust-screening member, and Ts is the thickness of the vibrating member.
US08243183B2 Image pickup apparatus
An apparatus includes a zoom lens and an image pickup element. The zoom lens includes an optical path reflecting lens group including a reflecting member and having a positive refracting power, a movable negative lens group that is disposed in the optical path on the image side of the optical path reflecting lens group, has a negative refracting power, and moves during zooming, a movable positive lens group that is disposed in the optical path on the image side of the movable negative lens group, has a positive refracting power, and moves during zooming, and an aperture stop disposed in the optical path between the movable negative lens group and the movable positive lens group. The optical path reflecting lens group is a lens group located closest to the object side in the zoom lens.
US08243181B2 Digital image processing apparatus and method of controlling the same
A digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The digital image processing apparatus includes a multi-direction button as a shutter release button which can move an auto focus (AF) region while a first shutter release signal is being applied. The multi-direction shutter release button is operable along the first direction which is an up and down direction, and is operable in the multiple directions which include back, front, right, and left directions. Specifically, the multi-direction shutter release button is operable to apply a first shutter release signal when moved down along the first direction to a first position, to allow for auto focusing operations in accordance with movement in any of the multiple directions, and is operable to apply a second shutter release signal when moved down along the first direction to a second position to control the digital image processing apparatus to operate a shutter to capture an image.
US08243176B2 Solid-state image sensor
A solid-state image sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate 22; a plurality of pixels 23 arranged on the semiconductor substrate 22 and respectively including photoelectric conversion regions 24; and an isolation region 25 electrically isolating the pixels 23 from one another. The first pixel 31 includes a first photoelectric conversion region 32 and a first color filter 41 having a peak of its optical transmission in a first wavelength range. The second pixel 34 adjacent to the first pixel 31 includes a second photoelectric conversion region 35 and a second color filter 42 having peaks in its optical transmission in the first wavelength range and a second wavelength range including shorter wavelengths than the first wavelength range. A portion 33 of a deep portion of the first photoelectric conversion region 32 extends across the isolation region 25 to reach a portion under the second photoelectric conversion region 35.
US08243175B2 Solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging apparatuses IS1 comprises a package P1, a CCD chip 11, chip resistor arrays 21, etc. In package P1, a mounting portion 2, for mounting CCD chip 11 and chip resistor arrays 21, is disposed so as to protrude into a hollow portion 1. Mounting portion 2 has a first planar portion 3 and second planar portions 4, and first planar portion 3 and second planar portions 4 are formed to be stepped with respect to each other. CCD chip 11 is mounted and fixed on first planar portion 3 via a spacer 13. Chip resistor arrays 21 are mounted and fixed on second planar portions 4. Using the step difference between first planar portion 3 and second planar portions 4, CCD chip 11 and chip resistor arrays 21 are positioned proximally.
US08243174B2 Defect pixel detection apparatus and method for detecting defect pixel
A defect pixel detection apparatus includes an image sensor which includes an effective pixel configured to have a photoelectric conversion element and an output unit configured to output a pixel signal generated by the photoelectric conversion element, a first reference pixel configured to have the same pixel configuration as the effective pixel and be optically shielded, and a second reference pixel configured to have a pixel configuration different from that of the effective pixel, a defect level acquiring unit configured to acquire a defect level of a target pixel in the image sensor, and a defect pixel determination unit configured to determine whether the target pixel is a defect pixel by comparing a defect level of the target pixel with a defect detection threshold according to a type of the pixel.
US08243173B2 Image processing equipment and digital camera
In order to perform a pipeline processing on a noise filtering processing, which uses a multi-resolution noise filtering, with a few line memories, the way to select an area of a reduced image which is used by the extraction of the low-frequency noise component from the reduced image is modified. By extracting the low-frequency noise component from the area being selected by the modified way, it is possible to suppress a volume of image data which needs to be read prior to the noise filtering object pixel.
US08243170B2 Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention, in order from an object side to an image side, comprises: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; a third lens unit having positive optical power; and an aperture diaphragm. At the time of zooming, the zoom lens system moves the first to third lens units so that intervals between these lens units vary. At the time of focusing from an infinity in-focus condition to a close-point object in-focus condition, the zoom lens system moves the third lens unit to the object side.
US08243168B2 Image manager and digital camera
An image manager includes a communicator that communicates with a server computer storing image data, a detector that detects a storage capacity of image data stored into the server computer by the communicator and a controller that controls download of image data stored into the server computer in response to a detection result of the detector.
US08243166B2 Automatic detection of blocked field-of-view in camera systems
Methods and apparatus for detecting a blockage in the field-of-view of a camera in an image capture system by monitoring changes in the quality of images captured by the camera. As an image is acquired by the camera, intensity values for pixels in the acquired image are determined and stored in a data structure in memory of the camera. Image statistics are calculated based in part on the intensity values for pixels in the currently acquired image and at least some previous images acquired by the camera. If the image statistics satisfy at least one predetermined alert criterion, an alert is triggered. In response to triggering an alert, an alert sensor included as part of the camera is activated to indicate to a user of the image capture system that a possible blockage in the field-of-view of the camera has been detected.
US08243161B2 Repetitive object detecting device and method
A repetitive object detecting device includes data-retention and difference-calculation units, an adding unit, a horizontal direction accumulating unit and a small and large comparing unit. Each data-retention and difference-calculation unit carries out, with respect to a plurality of lines, a process for setting as reference pixel data pixel data located at an end of a plurality of pieces of pixel data, and calculating a difference between the reference pixel data and pixel data separated from the reference pixel data by k pixels (2≦k≦maximum number) to obtain difference data by each separated pixel number k. The adding unit adds the difference data in the plurality of lines by each separated pixel number k. The horizontal direction accumulating unit accumulates the added data by each separated pixel number k in a horizontal direction. The small and large comparing unit carries out a small and large comparison with respect to the horizontal accumulated value by each separated pixel number k to decide whether or not the reference pixel data is pixel data which is located in a repetitive object including a certain repetitive pattern.
US08243158B2 Image processing device, imaging device, and medium storing image processing program for interpolating at an af pixel position
An image processing device including a storing unit storing the position of a focus detecting pixel of an image-capturing sensor containing plural pixels having spectroscopic characterizations corresponding to respective plural color components with the focus detecting pixel, a pixel interpolating unit generating an interpolation pixel value of the focus detecting pixel by using pixel values of pixels neighboring to the focus detecting pixel, neighborhood-pixel estimating unit calculating an estimation pixel value corresponding to a pixel value when the pixels neighboring to the focus detecting pixel have the same spectroscopic characterization as the focus detecting pixel, a high-frequency component calculating unit calculating a high frequency component of the image by using a pixel value of the focus detecting pixel and the estimation pixel value, and a high frequency component adding unit adding the interpolation pixel value with the high frequency component to calculate a pixel value of the focus detecting pixel.
US08243155B2 Method and apparatus for robust image processing
A method and digital camera module is provided for taking a digital picture of an image. The digital camera module includes a plurality of light sensitive pixel elements, a first memory buffer, a second memory buffer and a controller. The controller is coupled to the plurality of light sensitive pixel elements and the first and second memory buffers and records a first plurality of pixel values representing an image by activating the plurality of light sensitive pixel elements in a first predetermined manner and stores the first plurality of pixel values in the first buffer. The controller then records a second plurality of pixel values representing the image by activating the plurality of light sensitive pixel elements in a second predetermined manner and stores the second plurality of pixel values in the second buffer. The controller further processes the first and second plurality of pixel values in a compressed domain to generate a third plurality of pixel values representative of the image.
US08243154B2 Image processing apparatus, digital camera, and recording medium
A proposition is to perform a detection of a position shift amount between images which are anteroposterior in a chronological order with high accuracy. Therefore, in an image processing apparatus, a unit A performs a geometric transformation on a pixel group α in an image 1 using an input position shift amount as a parameter, and calculates a gain based on a luminance difference between the pixel group α in the image 1 being performed the transformation and pixels in an image 2 existing at an identical coordinate as the pixel group α. Besides a unit B multiplies an input gain to the image 2 and calculates a position shift amount between the image 1 and the image 2. A detecting unit executes the unit A and the unit B for at least one time or more.
US08243147B2 Handshake correction apparatus
A handshake correction apparatus is provided that comprises: a correction lens that is driven in a plane defined by a first axis and a second axis that are each independent; a pair of first magnets disposed at opposite sides of the correction lens for providing a driving force in a first axis direction; at least one second magnet disposed on at least one side of the correction lens for providing a driving force in a second axis direction; and driving coils disposed to face the first and second magnets for exerting electromagnetic interaction therebetween. In the handshake correction apparatus, a rotation of the correction lens is minimized to improve a controlling characteristic.
US08243145B2 Information processing terminal and terminal selection system
An image capturing apparatus which performs connection setting to a desired processing apparatus among more than one processing apparatus connected to a network comprises a control unit which instructs each of the processing apparatuses so as to perform identification display for identifying the processing apparatus, and an imaging unit which image the identification displays performed by the processing apparatuses based on the instructions. The control unit specifies the desired processing apparatus to perform connection setting on the basis of data acquired by imaging the identification display by means of the imaging unit.
US08243139B2 Image pickup device, visibility support apparatus, night vision device, navigation support apparatus, and monitoring device
An image pickup device, a visibility support apparatus, a night vision device, a navigation support apparatus, and a monitoring device are provided in which noise and dark current are suppressed to thereby provide clear images regardless of whether it is day or night. The device includes a light-receiving layer 3 having a multi-quantum well structure and a diffusion concentration distribution control layer 4 disposed on the light-receiving layer so as to be opposite an InP substrate 1, wherein the light-receiving layer has a band gap wavelength of 1.65 to 3 μm, the diffusion concentration distribution control layer has a lower band gap energy than InP, a pn junction is formed for each light-receiving element by selective diffusion of an impurity element, and the impurity selectively diffused in the light-receiving layer has a concentration of 5×1016/cm3 or less. A diffusion concentration distribution control layer has an n-type impurity concentration of 2×1015/cm3 or less before the diffusion, the diffusion concentration distribution control layer having a portion adjacent to the light-receiving layer, the portion having a low impurity concentration.
US08243136B2 Tag sensor system and sensor device, and object position estimating device and object position estimating method
A position identifying system (1) is comprised of a radio terminal device (2) carried by a monitoring target and a sensor device (3) provided with a radio communication unit (9) for communicating by radio with the radio terminal device (2) and a camera unit (10) for taking an image of the monitoring target. In the sensor device (3), the position (tag position) of the radio terminal device (2) is detected on the basis of a detection signal from the radio terminal device (2), and the position (image position) of the monitoring target is calculated on the basis of the image taken by the camera unit (3). By linking the tag position with the image position, the position of the monitoring target is identified. Thus, there is provided the position identifying system capable of identifying the position of the monitoring target and keeping track of the movement of the monitoring target even if the image of the monitoring target cannot be taken.
US08243132B2 Image output apparatus, image output method and image output computer readable medium
There is provided an image output apparatus including an image-capturing section that captures an image of the observed person, an observer's point of sight measuring section that measures a point of sight of the observer when the image-capturing section captures the image of the observed person, an output section that outputs the image of the observed person which is captured by the image-capturing section, and a point of sight output control section that causes the output section to output information indicating the point of sight of the observer which is measured by the observer's point of sight measuring section, together with the image of the observed person which is captured by the image-capturing section.
US08243131B2 Contactless type of fingerprint image obtaining apparatus using mirror
Provided is a contactless fingerprint image obtaining apparatus using a mirror. The contactless fingerprint image obtaining apparatus obtains the entire region of a fingerprint using the mirror in a contactless manner. The entire region of the fingerprint includes a fingerprint region of the front direction coinciding with the optical axis of a single shooting unit, and fingerprint regions of left/right lateral sides that do not coincide with the optical axis. Accordingly, unwillingness of a user, distortion caused by contact of the user, quality reduction, which are the limitations of a related art contact type fingerprint image obtaining apparatus are solved. Simultaneously, a wide region of a fingerprint image including the lateral sides of a fingerprint that cannot be directly obtained by a related art contactless fingerprint image obtaining apparatus using only a single camera can be economically obtained.
US08243128B2 Electronic endoscope
An electronic endoscope has a video-scope with an image sensor, and a signal processor that generates digital component video signals from image-pixel signals that are read from the image sensor. The electronic endoscope has, further, a color-reverse detector that determines whether a color-reverse occurs in the digital component video signals, and a color correcting processor that changes color signal data associated with the color-reverse so as to correct the color-reverse when the color-reverse occurs.
US08243126B2 Increase of perceived resolution for a dual view display device
A representative display device for displaying a first and a second view (V1, V2) incorporates a color generating layer a barrier layer, and a light source. The color generating layer includes a plurality of color elements arranged in a two-dimensional array extending in a plurality of rows in a horizontal direction (X) and a plurality of columns in a vertical direction (Y). The color elements include at least red, green and blue color. The light source is arranged such that, during use, light generated by the light source may pass through an arrangement of the barrier layer and the color elements of the color generating layer. The barrier layer is a straight barrier including a barrier pattern of blocking structures and openings, and is arranged for providing the viewing angle of the first view and the viewing angle of the second view. The color generating layer exhibits a row-rotation arrangement of the color elements.
US08243123B1 Three-dimensional camera adjunct
Additional cameras, optionally in conjunction with markers or projectors, capture three-dimensional information about the environment and characters of a filmed scene. This data is later used to convert, generally as a post-production process under highly automated computer control, or as a post broadcast process, a relatively high quality two-dimensional image stream to three-dimensional or stereoscopic, generally binocular, format.
US08243122B2 Video method for generating free viewpoint video image using divided local regions
The present invention provides a method of generating a virtual viewpoint video image when the virtual viewpoint position is not located on a plane where a camera is disposed. In an environment in which a plurality of cameras having a horizontal optical axis are disposed in a real zone (for example, on the circumference) which surrounds an object, a video image of an arbitrary viewpoint on the circumference is generated. Further, by synthesizing video images photographed by a camera, a free viewpoint video image is generated from a virtual viewpoint (viewpoint from a high or low position) where no camera is placed. According to a method of achieving this, a travel distance of a display position is calculated by the local region synthesizing portion and this travel distance is reflected to the free viewpoint video image of a local region.
US08243121B2 Image recording apparatus and image recording method
This aims at providing an image recording apparatus and an image recording method which can output an image suitable for an aspect ratio of a display screen. When connection history data does not fulfill a predetermined condition, predetermined viewpoint image data is selected as a representative image. On the other hand, when the connection history data fulfills the predetermined condition, image data of a plurality of viewpoints taken by the image pickup units are synthesized to generate panoramic image data horizontally wider than the image data of viewpoints, and the generated image data is set as representative image data. Then, the panoramic image file which includes image data of respective viewpoints as sub-image data as well as the representative image data, is generated in the multi-page format, and is recorded in the memory card.
US08243118B2 Systems and methods for providing personal video services
Systems and methods for processing video are provided. Video compression schemes are provided to reduce the number of bits required to store and transmit digital media in video conferencing or videoblogging applications. A photorealistic avatar representation of a video conference participant is created. The avatar representation can be based on portions of a video stream that depict the conference participant. A face detector is used to identify, track and classify the face. Object models including density, structure, deformation, appearance and illumination models are created based on the detected face. An object based video compression algorithm, which uses machine learning face detection techniques, creates the photorealistic avatar representation from parameters derived from the density, structure, deformation, appearance and illumination models.
US08243116B2 Method and system for modifying non-verbal behavior for social appropriateness in video conferencing and other computer mediated communications
A method is described for modifying behavior for social appropriateness in computer mediated communications. Data can be obtained representing the natural non-verbal behavior of a video conference participant. The cultural appropriateness of the behavior is calculated based on a cultural model and previous behavior of the session. Upon detecting that the behavior of the user is culturally inappropriate, the system can calculate an alternative behavior based on the cultural model. Based on this alternative behavior, the video output stream can be modified to be more appropriate by altering gaze and gesture of the conference participants. The output stream can be modified by using previously recorded images of the participant, by digitally synthesizing a virtual avatar display or by switching the view displayed to the remote participant. Once the user's behavior changes to be once again culturally appropriate, the modified video stream can be returned to unmodified state.
US08243111B2 Optical disc label printer, thermosensitive recording printer and thermosensitive recording method
A thermosensitive recording printer is provided with semiconductor lasers 1a to 1c, a polygon mirror 7 for condensing laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 1a to 1c as condensed spots on a recording medium 10 to perform scanning in a main scanning direction, and a control unit 9 for controlling the output of the laser light. If a ratio of a spot diameter D1 of the condensed spots in the main scanning direction and a spot diameter D2 in a sub scanning direction satisfy a relationship of D1/D2≦½ at the time of forming an image composed of a plurality of pixels on the recording medium 10 using laser light, high-speed thermosensitive recording and a recording method with an uncomplicated power control are realized without reducing the power density of the condensed spots.
US08243109B2 Resolving image / data mismatch via on-off pattern
A two-dimensional panel, particularly a liquid crystal display device, has a maximum display area with a width of (T×M) addressable channels. The addressable channels are addressed through a plurality of T source channel integrated circuits (ICs), with each source channel IC having M source channels. The number of addressable channels exceeds the number of channels of data in an image display data array having a width of W pixels, each pixel comprising P subpixels in the width dimension. The excess addressable channels are distributed symmetrically across the width dimension of the displayed image. In other embodiments the number of addressable channels is less than the number of channels of data and excess channels of data are excluded symmetrically across the width dimension of the displayed image. Further embodiments distribute excess addressable channels symmetrically across the height dimension or exclude excess channels of data symmetrically across the height dimension.
US08243108B2 Pixel circuit and driving method thereof
Pixel circuit includes first and second scan lines, data line, three switches, and pixel. Three switches all include first end, second end, and control end. Pixel includes first and second sub-pixels. First end of first switch is coupled to data line. Control end of first switch is coupled to first scan line. First end of second switch is coupled to second end of first switch. Control end of second switch is coupled to second scan line. First end of third switch is coupled to data line. Control end of third switch is coupled to first scan line. First sub-pixel is coupled to second end of second switch for coupling to second end of third switch through second and first switches. Second sub-pixel is coupled to second end of third switch for coupling to data line through third switch.
US08243106B2 Display device and method of driving the same
A display device includes; a signal control unit which receives a plurality of image signals and determines a plurality of representative image signals from the image signals, a plurality of lookup tables, each of which is configured to store a plurality of light data signals corresponding to the plurality of representative image signals, a plurality of light-emitting blocks configured to provide light according to the respective light data signals, and a display panel configured to display an image corresponding to the plurality of image signals, wherein the signal control unit determines an average luminance value of the plurality of image signals, selects one of the plurality of lookup tables according to the determined average luminance value, reads the light data signals from the selected lookup table and provides the light data signals to at least one of the plurality of light emitting blocks.
US08243103B2 Laser aiming spot distinguishing methods and apparatus
System and methods for distinguishing a laser aiming spot associated with a particular firearm from other laser aiming spots are disclosed. The laser aiming spot may be distinguished by imaging a field of view, the field of view including the laser aiming spot and the other laser aiming spots, identifying the laser aiming spot associated with the particular firearm within the imaged field of view, modifying the imaged field of view to distinguish the identified laser aiming spot from the other laser aiming spots, and displaying the modified imaged field of view.
US08243098B2 Authoritative display for critical systems
A system and method of rendering an authoritative image on a graphical display that is part of a critical system wherein image data is received from a source and the image data is stored in a storage module. The plurality of partial images are then generated from a subset of the image data, the partial images can include an indicator. The plurality of images are then combined to form the image, and the image is presented in a single graphical display. The image can then be evaluated by an operator for validity and correctness.
US08243090B2 Method for mapping a color specified using a smaller color gamut to a larger color gamut
A method maps a color specified using a smaller color gamut to a larger color gamut. Under that method, a map in a chromaticity diagram is constructed that provides a direction and a magnitude for a unit change in chroma for a specified pixel value in the chromaticity diagram. Using the magnitude and direction in the map, the specified color is mapped to a new pixel value corresponding to a predetermined shift in chromaticity. Preferably, the new pixel value preserves the hue of the specified color, and its luminance related to that of the specified color. Also, the new pixel value preferably has a greater color saturation than the specified pixel value.
US08243089B2 Implementing lighting control of a user environment
A system and method for controlling lighting conditions in a user environment whereby bandwidth consumption may be managed is disclosed. An inner frame area and an outer frame area adjust certain lighting conditions in the user environment in response to certain lighting conditions detected by the image capture device as those conditions affect bandwidth consumption during transmission of the image capture data. The frame areas may be dynamically controlled as to affect the brightness and/or color of the particular user environment.
US08243087B2 Image processing apparatus displaying job processing conditions with each display configuration selected from plural types
An information processing apparatus including: a display section; a memory section which memorizes a display configuration for displaying each processing condition of a job on the display section, the display configuration having been selected from a plurality of display configuration types and set by being correlated with the each processing condition; and a control section which controls to display a plurality of processing conditions on the display section by utilizing the display configuration having been correlated with the each processing condition and memorized in the memory section.
US08243084B2 Apparatus and method for processing data
A data processing apparatus includes a plurality of processing units each performing a respective one of process parts into which a predetermined process to be performed on data is divided, and a changing unit that changes a connection between the plurality of processing units on the basis of setting parameters that are set to enable a plurality of types of processing procedures.
US08243079B2 Aligning animation state update and frame composition
An event, such as a vertical blank interrupt or signal, received from a display adapter in a system is identified. Activation of a timer-driven animation routine that updates a state of an animation and activation of a paint controller module that identifies updates to the state of the animation and composes a frame that includes the updates to the state of the animation are aligned, both being activated based on the identified event in the system.
US08243071B2 Modeling and rendering of heterogeneous translucent materials using the diffusion equation
An exemplary method includes providing image data for an illuminated physical sample of a heterogeneous translucent material, determining one or more material properties of the material based in part on a diffusion equation where one of the material properties is a diffusion coefficient for diffusion of radiation in the material and where the determining includes a regularization term for the diffusion coefficient, mapping the one or more material properties to a virtual object volume, assigning virtual illumination conditions to the virtual object volume, and rendering the virtual object volume using the virtual illumination conditions as a boundary condition for a system of diffusion equations of the virtual object volume. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed.
US08243066B2 System and method for model creation and computer animation
A system and method for creating a three dimensional model of an object having a three dimensional shape is disclosed that includes first creating a mathematical function and the related numerical data which defines a three dimensional shape, and wherein the mathematical function and data creates a first patch which has a shape resembling the object, and the mathematical function is a differential geometric function. Next the function is processed to create a data set that defines an object model data set which is then stored in a memory.
US08243064B1 System for providing scalable physics content
A physics software development kit (PSDK) provides scalable physics content as a “vertical” that defines one or more physics simulations for a graphics asset in a graphics scene. The vertical and the graphics asset may be provided in a verticals library associated with the PSDK or generated using the PSDK. The PSDK integrates the vertical into an existing graphics application to generate physically-realistic graphics content. The vertical may be scaled by a user according to the capabilities of a computer system that executes the PSDK or, alternatively, may be scaled by the PSDK based on received hardware capabilities information. The PSDK selectively offloads the physics simulations associated with the vertical to a physics processing unit to optimize usage of processor resources. In addition, the PSDK provides a technique to extract a graphics asset based on an existing 3D model of the object. The graphics asset may then be simulated with a vertical to provide a physical simulation of the 3D model of the object.
US08243063B2 Shape inspection apparatus, shape inspection method and computer readable medium
A shape inspection apparatus includes a shape display unit that displays a three-dimensional shape specified by three dimensional shape data on a screen; a direction designating unit that specifies a drawing direction in molding the three-dimensional shape on the screen; a face designating unit that specifies one face of a protruding or recessed shape portion of the three-dimensional shape on the screen; a dimension calculating unit that calculates a shape dimensional value of the shape portion based on the specified drawing direction and the specified one face; and a determination unit that determines whether or not the shape portion having the shape dimensional value satisfies a shape condition by comparing the calculated shape dimensional value with a standard value.
US08243061B2 Image processing apparatus and method of controlling operation of same
In an image processing method of determining the positional relationship among virtual objects in virtual space and generating a virtual shadow of the virtual objects, a plurality of virtual objects are rendered in a first plane to which a first axis passing through a virtual light source is normal, and the positional relationship among the plurality of virtual objects is determined based upon the result of rendering acquired. Shadow information of the plurality of virtual objects is generated using the result of acquired rendering.
US08243060B2 Generalization of features in a digital map using round number coordinates
A system and processes for generalizing a collection of objects using points not necessarily part of the original objects are provided. Generalization of features in a digital map includes moving points to round number coordinates, while keeping topology correct and not moving points outside an allowed distance range, thus substantially reducing the size of the data so generalized. However, doing so requires moving points from the original polyline to new points. Generalization of polylines to points preferentially chosen from a relatively sparse set is described.
US08243059B2 Driving method for a display
The invention discloses a driving method for a display. The method includes the following steps: providing a pixels structure; receiving a plurality of frames; driving the (2n−1)th scan line and the (2n)th scan line by turns while receiving the number of odd frame; driving (2n)th scan line and (2n−1)th scan line by turns while receiving the number of even frame; adjusting the voltage of the Vcom according to pixels voltage value which are the voltage to be written into the pixels by odd data lines and even data lines while the pixels structure receiving the number of odd frame and the number of the even frame.
US08243057B2 Display and driving method thereof
An organic electroluminescent display and driving method thereof. The organic electroluminescent display includes a demultiplexer for outputting signals provided by a data driver to a plurality of data lines according to on/off operation of analog switches. The driving method divides a frame into two parts, and drives them. Data signals are applied to pixels which are not adjacent among the pixels of each row during the former ½ frame, and the data signals are applied to the pixels to which no data signal has been applied in the former ½ frame during the latter ½ frame.
US08243056B2 Method for reconstructing a three-dimensional surface of an object
Method for determining a disparity value of a disparity of each of a plurality of points on an object, the method including the procedures of detecting by a single image detector, a first image of the object through a first aperture, and a second image of the object through a second aperture, correcting the distortion of the first image, and the distortion of the second image, by applying an image distortion correction model to the first image and to the second image, respectively, thereby producing a first distortion-corrected image and a second distortion-corrected image, respectively, for each of a plurality of pixels in at least a portion of the first distortion-corrected image representing a selected one of the points, identifying a matching pixel in the second distortion-corrected image, and determining the disparity value according to the coordinates of each of the pixels and of the respective matching pixel.
US08243055B2 Light-emitting display device
A light-emitting display device includes multiple pixels, with each pixel including a light-emitting element and a drive circuit for supplying the current to the light-emitting element based on a control voltage supplied from a data line. In a light-emitting period, one end of a capacitor element is connected with a source terminal by a second switch element, and the drive circuit supplies a current to the light-emitting element. In a current setting period prior to the light-emitting period, during which a gate terminal is connected with the source terminal by a first switch element and the one end of the capacitor element is connected with the data line by a third switch element, the source terminal is once connected with a reference voltage line having a voltage higher than a voltage of a drain terminal, and thereafter the source terminal is disconnected from the reference voltage line to render the voltage between the gate terminal and the drain terminal equal to a threshold voltage of a driving transistor.
US08243053B2 Flexible display panel
A flexible display panel includes a flexible panel body and at least one integrated circuit driver (IC driver). The flexible panel body has a first end surface, a second end surface, a plurality of side surfaces and at least one convex cambered surface. The first end surface has a display area. The second end surface is opposite to the first end surface. Each of the side surfaces connects the first end surface and the second end surface. Each adjacent two of the side surfaces connect each other. The convex cambered surface connects adjacent two of the side surfaces and connects the first end surface and the second end surface. The IC driver is disposed at the flexible panel body, located outside the display area, and adjacent to the convex cambered surface. In addition, another flexible display panel having a gravity-changing device is also provided.
US08243050B2 Stylus for a touch-screen device
A stylus for use in operating any small device requiring contact for inputting commands. The stylus is comprised of a wrap and a tip. The wrap encircles and engages a user's digit. The tip is positioned to easily contact a touch-screen device when the wrap is placed on a user's digit. The stylus is made of a conductive material such that a conductive connection is made between the user's digit and the touch-screen device.
US08243049B2 Untethered stylus employing low current power converter
An untethered stylus, configured to cooperate with a location sensor, includes a coil resonant circuit configured to develop an arbitrary AC voltage in response to a varying magnetic field produced by the location sensor. The coil resonant circuit includes a first capacitor and an inductive coil. A power converter includes a switch circuit having an output coupled to a second capacitor, an input coupled to the coil resonant circuit, and a threshold voltage. The switch circuit facilitates charging of the second capacitor in response to the arbitrary AC voltage and discontinuance of second capacitor charging in response to a voltage across the first capacitor reaching the threshold voltage so as to prevent diversion of a discharging current when the arbitrary AC voltage exceeds the threshold voltage. A stable DC voltage is provided at the output of the switch circuit. The power converter is preferably devoid of a Zener diode.
US08243046B2 Electrophoresis display device
An electrophoresis display device adapted to prevent sensing errors and to reduce electric power consumption is disclosed. The electrophoresis display device includes a thin film transistor array substrate and an ink film. The thin film transistor array substrate includes a sensor configured to generate a sensing signal, and an output transistor configured to be connected to the sensor and to control the output of the sensing signal. The ink film includes a common electrode and an ink layer, which are formed on one side surface of a base film, and a floating electrode formed on the other side surface of the base film. The output transistor outputs the sensing signal when a touch current is generated on the floating electrode. The electrophoresis display device only outputs the sensing signal when a substantial touch occurs. Therefore, the electrophoresis display device can prevent sensing errors and reduce electric power consumption.
US08243042B2 Operation device and image formation device
An operation device includes: a touch panel on which at least one operation button is displayed; a press position detection unit detecting a press position when a user presses the touch panel; a button operation detection unit determining whether an operation is applied to the operation button based on the press position; a button operation appropriateness determination unit determining whether a button operation by the user is appropriate; and a button operation facilitating unit facilitating subsequent button operations by the user when it is determined by the button operation appropriateness determination unit that the button operation by the user is inappropriate.
US08243041B2 Multi-touch input discrimination
Techniques for identifying and discriminating between different types of contacts to a multi-touch touch-screen device are described. Illustrative contact types include fingertips, thumbs, palms and cheeks. By way of example, thumb contacts may be distinguished from fingertip contacts using a patch eccentricity parameter. In addition, by non-linearly deemphasizing pixels in a touch-surface image, a reliable means of distinguishing between large objects (e.g., palms) from smaller objects (e.g., fingertips, thumbs and a stylus) is described.
US08243040B2 Touch sensor
A sensor is disclosed. The sensor may be a touch sensor. The sensor may be incorporated into a water delivery system.
US08243035B2 Information processing method and apparatus
An information processing apparatus comprising a touch screen which detects a touch input by a user detects the position and pressure of each of a plurality of pressed points corresponding to a plurality of touch inputs existing at the same time on a touch screen. Then, the front/rear overlap relationship of the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen is changed based on the difference in pressure between the detected plurality of pressed points.
US08243031B2 Touch panel control device, picture-drawing device, display function-equipped coordinate input device, and touch position acquisition device
In order to restrict a decrease in processing speed due to an increase in bit length of a digital signal, a mobile telephone (1001) receives an input of a digital signal having a predetermined bit length indicating a coordinate of a user-specified position on an input surface of a touch panel (1300) in a predetermined resolution from the touch panel (1300) and converts the received digital signal into a digital signal having a bit length shorter than the predetermined bit length indicating the coordinate of the user-specified position on the input surface in a resolution lower than the predetermined resolution. The digital signal after conversion is used for a process of acquiring the user-specified position.
US08243027B2 Touch screen liquid crystal display
Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.
US08243026B2 System and method for selecting a character in a mobile device
A mobile device includes a character selecting system to select proper characters to edit a short message on the mobile electronic device. Selection of the proper characters by the character selecting system includes generation of a character list to edit a short message, generation of a number list corresponding to the character list, and activation of key-presses on the mobile device corresponding to numbers in the number list, to select the proper characters from the character list to edit the short message.
US08243023B2 Method of switching input method editor
A method is used to switch input method editors (IMEs) in a mobile phone. The mobile phone includes a switch key, a screen, and a group of information input keys. The method includes the following steps. The switch key is firstly pressed to switch to an Arabic numeral IME. An information input key is pressed to input information., Corresponding Arabic numeral is shown on the screen for being inputted. If the Arabic numeral is not accepted within a pre-set time, the screen shows a plurality of letters corresponding to the pressed key of the group of information input keys. One key is pressed to switch to an English letter IME, and a letter is chosen from the plurality of letters to input.
US08243021B2 Slide and rotate display configurations for a handheld computing device
Apparatus, systems, and methods described herein may couple a base component associated with a portable electronic device (PED) to a display component associated with the PED such that the display component is capable of sliding and rotating relative to the base component. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08243020B2 Actuated multi-faced keys
An assembly may include information that includes a first plurality of stripes making up a first icon and a second plurality of stripes making up a second icon. The assembly may include an actuator configured to displace the information to a first position in response to a change in length of a first wire to displace the information to a second position in response to a change in length of a second wire. The assembly may include a lenticular lens configured to display the first icon to a user when the actuator is in the first position, and to display the second icon to the user when the actuator is in the second position.
US08243017B2 Menu overlay including context dependent menu icon
A video device displays video in one of a plurality of contexts in an onscreen display area. In response to the menu command, the video device generates a menu overlay within the onscreen display area while maintaining the video within the menu overlay, and generates within the menu overlay a context icon based on the selected context.
US08243008B2 Separately excited inverter circuit and liquid crystal display television
The present invention discloses a separately excited inverter circuit whose switching circuit having a plurality of switching elements and which is capable of minimizing the damage of other switching elements even if any of the plurality of switching elements is short circuited and damaged. The separately excited inverter circuit includes: a switching circuit of which a full bridge circuit applies an AC voltage to the primary winding of the step-up transformer 26e; a control circuit C1 for performing the switching control of a switching circuit 26b when receiving a command signal for commanding the control circuit to oscillate from a transmission line for transmitting the command signal for commanding it to start and stop oscillation; terminal voltage monitoring circuits 51 and 52 for monitoring a terminal voltage across a gate of MOS-FET forming the switching circuit 26b and outputting a reference voltage when the gate voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a thyristor circuit 53 which is connected to the transmission line and to the gate of which the reference voltage is inputted to cause the thyristor circuit to flow a gate current to be turned on, bringing the command signal on the transmission line into cutting off oscillation to stop the oscillation of the control circuit.
US08243006B2 Method and systems for improving performance in a field sequential color display
Methods and systems for displaying an image on a display device having first and second light sources are provided. A video signal is provided to the display device. The video signal includes a plurality of frames, and each frame includes first and second sub-frames corresponding to the respective first and second light sources. The first light source is operated for a first duration during the first sub-frame of each of the plurality of frames. The second light source is operated for a second duration during the second sub-frame of each of the plurality of frames. The second duration is different than the first duration.
US08243001B2 Liquid crystal display module and method for using the same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) module includes a display unit for displaying images, a temporary storage unit electronically connected to the display unit for temporarily storing image data, and a timing unit electronically connected to the display unit. The display unit displays images corresponding to the image data stored in the temporary storage unit, and the timing unit generates a synchronous signal corresponding to the displaying operation.
US08243000B2 Driving IC of liquid crystal display
A data driver IC of a liquid crystal display is provided. The data driver IC includes a latch circuit latching digital pixel data, a digital-to-analog converter converting an output of the latch circuit into an analog video signal, and an analog amplifier amplifying the analog video signal converted in the digital-to-analog converter. The analog amplifier includes a NAND gate, a capacitor connected to an input terminal of the NAND gate, and a switch for connecting the input terminal and an output terminal of the NAND gate.
US08242987B2 Display device
Detection voltages of self light emitting elements in a self-luminous display panel are detected by a detection circuit through a selection switch in a data line drive circuit via pixel detection switches and interactive signal lines. The detection operation is performed by making use of a power source supply time and a retracing period.
US08242983B2 Pixel and organic light emitting display device using the same
An pixel of an organic light emitting display device includes: an organic light emitting diode (OLED); a second transistor for supplying a current to the OLED; a first transistor coupled between a data line and a gate electrode of the second transistor, the first transistor being turned on when a scan signal is supplied to its gate electrode; a third transistor for supplying an initialization voltage to a drain electrode of the second transistor, the third transistor being turned on when a control signal is supplied to its gate electrode; a fourth transistor coupled between the drain electrode of the second transistor and a first power supply, the fourth transistor being turned-off when a light emitting control signal is supplied to its gate electrode and turned-on when the light emitting control signal is not supplied; and a storage capacitor coupled between the source and gate electrodes of the second transistor.
US08242978B2 Plasma display apparatus and method of driving the same
A PDP apparatus having a driving circuit in which a circuit for applying a rising-slope waveform in a reset period, a circuit for applying a falling-slope waveform, and a clamp circuit for generating a falling waveform having a dulled waveform between the rising-slope waveform and the falling-slope waveform are comprised. The clamp circuit comprises a bidirectional switch having two FETs, and a gate feedback circuit is connected to a gate portion of the FET at a panel side. The PDP apparatus reduces a current noise occurring in a sustain electrode throughout the panel when switching the rising-slope waveform and the falling-slope waveform, thereby solving problems such as an increase of unnecessary radiation and stress on elements such as FETs on the path.
US08242977B2 Plasma display apparatus with driving and controlling circuit unit
This invention is directed to a technique capable of achieving image quality improvement by the control of reset thinning drive (second drive) in a PDP drive control and of restricting or reducing the generation of hunting in ON/OFF control of the second drive and flickering of background luminance particularly in the case of low-luminance display. In this PDP apparatus, in addition to the control of the second drive using the SF load ratio, the APL value (k) and APL variation value (q) of the field are used, and when the APL variation value (q) is less than a predetermined threshold value, even when the SF load ratio is changed from zero to a value other than zero between SFs, the execution of the first drive is not started, and the execution of the second drive is continued.
US08242974B2 Three dimensional display unit and display method
In a structure in which six active matrix regions 103 to 108 are integrated on one glass substrate, horizontal scanning control circuits 101 and 102 are commonly disposed for the respective active matrix regions 103 to 105 and 106 to 108. Then the horizontal scanning control circuits 101 and 102 are operated at different timings, and images formed by the active matrix regions 103 to 105 and 106 to 108 are synthesized and projected. With this operation, the horizontal scanning frequency required for one horizontal scanning control circuit can be made half of the horizontal scanning frequency of the display screen.
US08242973B2 Image signal processing apparatus, image signal processing method, image projecting system, image projecting method, and computer program
An image processing apparatus receives first and second input image signals and generates first and second projection image signals for projecting images from first and second projectors so as to be superimposed on a screen. A storage unit stores, for each projection position on the screen, intensity ratios between projected light from the first and second projectors when viewing from first and second viewing position. An intensity correcting unit adds the first and second input image signals in proportions set for generating the first projection image signal and in proportions set for generating the second projection image signal, according to the stored intensity ratios. The first projection image signal is supplied to the first projector and the second projection image signal is supplied to the second projector.
US08242967B2 Multiple-input multiple-output device
A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) device includes a substrate, a shielding cover and a MIMO antenna. The shielding cover is positioned on the substrate, and includes a plurality of sidewalls. The MIMO antenna includes a first solid antenna, a second solid antenna, and a plane antenna. The first solid antenna and the second solid antenna are electrically connected to two ends of one sidewall of the shielding cover, respectively. The first plane antenna is configured on the substrate, and disposed between the first solid antenna and the second solid antenna.
US08242964B2 Helical antenna and in-vehicle antenna including the helical antenna
A helical antenna includes a ground plate, a first helical portion spirally wound perpendicular to the plate, a second helical portion spirally wound perpendicular to the plate and surrounding the first helical portion radially outward of the first helical portion, and a feeder circuit. The circuit includes an oscillator, a divider connected to the oscillator, a first phase shifter connected between a first output terminal of the divider and a feeding point of the first helical portion, and a second phase shifter connected between a second output terminal of the divider and a feeding point of the second helical portion. Length of one turn of the first helical portion is equal to a result of multiplication of a wavelength of oscillation of the oscillator by N. Length of one turn of the second helical portion is equal to a result of multiplication of the wavelength by M (M>N).
US08242962B2 Supper-broadband antenna structure
A supper-broadband antenna structure designed with a specific coplanar waveguide (CPW) mode to make its covering range of frequency be in a range of about 300 MHz˜9 GHz., of which the covering range of frequency is in a range of 300 MHz˜9 GHz having a rational efficiency of above 40% within the range of frequency band, and the return loss is better than the value −5 dB. The structure of a single supper-broadband antenna designed according to the present invention can be applied to many usages easily and accurately, e.g., for checking chamber stability, chamber to chamber verification etc.
US08242959B2 Sparsed U-TDOA wireless location networks
In an overlay, U-TDOA-based, Wireless Location System, LMUs typically co-located with BTSs, are used to collect radio signaling both in the forward and reverse channels. Techniques are used to compensate for sparse LMU deployments where sections of the U-TDOA service area are uplink demodulation or downlink beacon discovery limited.
US08242952B1 Elimination of spurious data in radar cross-section calculations and measurements
Presented is a system and method for eliminating spurious data in radar cross section (RCS) data. The system and method receives RCS data, and determines an expected number of scattering centers for an object of interest in said RCS data. The RCS data is processed to remove a plurality of frequency components in said RCS data based at least in part upon said expected number of scattering centers, and the RCS data is reconstructed without said plurality of frequency components to produce a reconstructed RCS data for the object of interest. In an embodiment, the TLS-Prony transform is used to transform the RCS data into a set of damped frequency components and coefficients, which are then constrained to the expected number of scattering centers in the known object using a TLS-Prong linear prediction order, and the order of the frequency components is varied until the order yields a least-error approximation.
US08242946B2 Pipelined analog-to-digital converter
A pipelined Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) comprising a number of stages, at least one of the stages includes a sample and hold circuit. The sample and hold circuit includes a first output connected to an input of a sub-ADC, an output of the sub-ADC connected to an input of a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), an output of the DAC connected to a node, and a second output connected to the node. The sample and hold circuit is configured to independently scale a signal produced by the first output and a signal produced by the second output.
US08242938B2 Luminous keyboard
A luminous keyboard comprises a housing, a keyboard and a light emitting portion. The keyboard and light emitting portion are held in the housing. The light emitting portion includes at least one housing trough and a lighting element held in the housing trough. The housing trough has at least one first recess portion and at least one second recess portion on the periphery. The first recess portion and second recess portion have respectively an inner wall formed a first curved surface and a second curved surface. The lighting element generates light projected to the first and second recess portions, and the light piercing through the first and second curved surfaces is transmitted towards the concave directions of the first and second recess portions. Thus the light advancing direction in the light emitting portion can be effectively controlled.
US08242937B2 Connecting structure of keyboard appurtenace and keyboard
A connecting structure of keyboard appurtenance of the invention includes a base, an appurtenance, a first holding portion and a second holding portion. The first holding portion includes a platform, a first breaking hole that is formed in the platform and includes a first opening, and a passage extending from the first opening to a side of the platform. The second holding portion includes a pillar and a cover connected to an end of the pillar. The base and the appurtenance are equipped with the first holding portion and the second holding portion correspondingly and thus the appurtenance can be connected to the base through disposing the pillar of the second holding portion in the first breaking hole.
US08242934B2 Light source discriminating apparatus, a light source discriminating program, a vehicles detection apparatus, and a light control apparatus
A light control system identifies in the processing that discriminates light sources in the acquired image as either luminous objects or reflective objects, each pixel obtained that constitutes the acquired image being classified into a plurality of groups according to the brightness of each pixel, and generates a histogram showing the relation of the brightness and the number of pixels of each group that are matched with each group. Then, when the number of pixels corresponding to the brightest group is less than the number of pixels corresponding to the other groups, the existence of the luminous object in the acquired image is determined, and when the number of pixels corresponding to the brighter group is more than the number of pixels corresponding to the other groups, the existence of the reflective object in the acquired image is determined.
US08242932B2 Remote sensing system
An imaging system (10) and method (200) for reading residential and/or commercial meters. The system and method comprise a transmission element (12) that attaches to an external location of a meter (24). The transmission element (12) selectively communicates a reading signal (40) corresponding to a meter value. The system and method further comprise an imaging unit (14) located within the transmission element (12) that images the meter value at a prescribed frequency. The system and method also comprise a transceiving arrangement (16) that receives the reading signal (40) communication from the transmission element. The transceiving arrangement (16) also comprises a converter (44) that analyzes and converts the reading signal (40) communication to a use signal (46).
US08242929B2 Wireless drill string telemetry
A communication module for transfer of information along a drill string has at least one antenna coil, wherein the communication module is configured such that a central coil axis of the antenna coil is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a drill pipe to which it is affixed. Signals are relayed magnetically from node to node to exchange data along any desired length of drill string. The drill string itself forms a portion of the magnetic flux path and the earth and/or surrounding media forms another substantial portion of the closed flux path. Magnetic induction is advantageous because the steel drill pipe is ferromagnetic and exhibits a magnetic permeability of a few hundred to a few thousand times that of air.
US08242923B2 Electronic device with an alert based on acceleration derived from GPS
An electronic device with an alert system is disclosed. The electronic device includes a global positioning system (GPS) module and a central processing unit (CPU). The GPS module is capable of determining two velocities on two locations. The CPU is capable of computing a rate of change in velocity derived by dividing a change in velocity between the two locations into the time elapsed between the two locations. The CPU sends an alert message when the rate of change in velocity is beyond a preset value.
US08242918B2 Temperature monitoring for electrical wires and electrical connection apparatus
Monitoring apparatus (100, 200, 300) for registration and warning of overtemperature, particularly in connection with harmful heat development in electric installations, as for example outlets, switches and fuse equipment. The apparatus provides for timely warning of heat development, so that overheating and damage is avoided, whereby the operation of electric installation equipment for mounting in electric installations, will have a significantly improved safety. The temperature registration is performed in a unit (100) by means of a sensor (1) which provides an electrical magnitude that is influenced by the temperature, for example a thermistor, which is a temperature-dependent resistor. When a low current is applied to such a component, it will result in a temperature-dependent voltage drop that is measured and gives a direct measure of the temperature. If the temperature exceeds a given value, an alarm unit (200) is activated, and this is turn can provide for remote warning of a central block or plant (300).
US08242917B1 Somatosensory receptors for mobile device
Systems and methods for providing and/or simulating weather related information, including temperature information are provided. Weather related data can be obtained from any convenient source. A temperature indication surface can be used to match a temperature value from the weather related data. Indications can also be provided regarding wind speed and general weather condition corresponding to the weather related data.
US08242916B2 RFID tag
An RFID tag has an IC chip and an antenna connected to the IC chip, the RFID tag including: a spacer that has elasticity; a first locking section that is formed around the IC chip; a second locking section that is arranged in a position apart from the first locking section across the spacer, is displaced toward the first locking section and locked on the first locking section by pressing force with which the spacer is pressed, and applies reactive force against the pressing force around the IC chip via the first locking section when the pressing force is removed; and a destruction section that destroys the IC chip or the antenna with the reactive force from the second locking section.
US08242915B2 Closure assembly
A closure assembly is provided that prevents tampering and counterfeiting of a container while at the same time protecting the contents stored therein from contaminants such as air and moisture. The closure assembly may include an upper closure portion securable to the container and a lower closure portion attached to the upper closure portion and securable to the container and adapted to evidence disengagement from the container. The lower closure portion may include a first section having a first cross section and a second section having a second cross section. The second cross section may be smaller than the first cross section, and may be adapted to evidence disengagement from the container if the lower closure portion is disengaged from the container.
US08242914B2 System and case for tracking articles
The present invention provides an article tracking and control system that records articles when they are entered into or removed from a case. Each article is tagged with an RFID tag and is identified individually by the system. The system comprises: wireless identification device attached to each article; a case for containing the tagged articles; an antenna mounted close to the cover of the case so that the antenna is able to read the tagged articles entering or being removed from the case, while tagged articles inside the case are not detected by the antenna; processing means for tracking each entry and removal of a tagged article into or out of the case; and means for visualizing reports and/or alerts regarding the status of tagged articles inside the case.
US08242904B2 System and method for asset tracking and monitoring
A multi-mode asset tracking and monitoring system and method is provided that enables comprehensive reporting of asset position, status, and alerts. In one embodiment, the multi-mode system and method is based on the addition of a local network monitoring system to a wide area satellite network monitoring system. In this example, the local network monitoring system would add container presence and status monitoring in crowded environments (e.g., within a port facility, on-board a ship, etc.), while the wide area satellite network monitoring system would provide tracking and monitoring coverage when the container is in dispersed environments. Both the local and wide area monitoring systems work together to provide end-to-end container tracking and monitoring to thereby ensure continuous container tracking and monitoring from container loading to container unloading.
US08242897B2 Vehicle environment monitoring apparatus
A vehicle environment monitoring apparatus is equipped with a monitored object detecting unit 26 which detects an object having possibility of contact by applying an object detecting algorithm for short range when the distance calculated from data on one disparity by the first distance calculating unit 24 is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, and detects the object having possibility of contact by applying an object detecting algorithm for long range when the distance is longer than the predetermined distance, using the distance between the object and the vehicle calculated from a disparity gradient by the second distance calculating unit 25.
US08242894B2 Remote control system and remote control method
To realize a system for simplifying a user's operation to instruct a main device to operate as desired, using a remote control device such as a remote controller or the like. An operation device has an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in one or more directions of the operation device. A main device has an operation control section for causing the main device to begin a predetermined operation according to an acceleration pattern detected by the acceleration sensor.
US08242890B2 Multi-protocol RFID system using dynamic reconfiguration
A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGO™ RFID backscatter transponders, SEGO™ RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference.
US08242885B2 System for providing intermittent communication without compromising a sterile field
A system for providing intermittent communication while preserving a sterile area is provided. Sterility is preserved because the user can switch between transmitting and receiving mode without needing to touch a physical button, switch, or dial. The system is particularly valuable to doctors or dentists performing procedures. The system includes a two-way communication device coupled with a sensor, the sensor being capable of detecting the presence of an object, generally the user's hand or an instrumentality of the user, located closer than a predetermined distance from the sensor in a predetermined direction relative to the sensor. Upon such detection, the communication device is switched from receiving to tranmitting mode and remains in transmitting mode until a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the object has ceased to be located within the predetermined distance in the predetermined direction of the sensor.
US08242882B2 Biometric authentication apparatus and biometric authentication control method
A biometric authentication apparatus includes a part to retain first biometric data items extracted from living body parts of a user in correlation with the collation order of the first biometric data items; a part to acquire a second biometric data item from the user, to compare and collate the acquired second biometric data item with the first biometric data items in descending order of their collation priorities based on the collation order, and to determine that the user has been successfully authenticated in response to detecting one of the first biometric data items whose match rate with the second biometric data item exceeds a predetermined value; and a part to change the collation order in response to detecting, from the state of usage of the one of the first biometric data items, that the user has steadied at a change of her/his living body part to use for authentication.
US08242876B2 Dual thin film precision resistance trimming
A trimmable resistor for use in an integrated circuit is trimmed using a heater. The heater is selectively coupled to a voltage source. The application of voltage to the heater causes the heater temperature to increase and produce heat. The heat permeates through a thermal separator to the trimmable resistor. The resistance of the trimmable resistor is permanently increased or decreased when the temperature of the resistor is increased to a value within a particular range of temperatures.
US08242873B2 Transformer, switching power supply device, and DC-DC converter device
The transformer includes: first and second cores each including a magnetic center leg and a magnetic outer leg positioned outside of the magnetic center leg; a first adhesion part that adheres the magnetic center leg of the first core and the magnetic center leg of the second core to each other; a second adhesion part that adheres the magnetic outer leg of the first core and the magnetic outer leg of the second core to each other; a bobbin inserted through the magnetic center leg of the first core and the magnetic center leg of the second core, a primary coil and a secondary coil being wound on the bobbin; and an elastic member that applies pressure to the magnetic outer leg of the first core and the magnetic outer leg of the second core in a neighborhood of the second adhesion part, in an inward direction of the transformer.
US08242870B1 Magnetic component with a notched magnetic core structure
A magnetic component having a magnetic core structure includes a core body with a notched region for reducing non-essential core material. The notched region has the cross-sectional shape of a trapezoid and includes two notch walls separated by a middle wall. The notch walls are each oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the middle notch wall. The core structure reduces the cost of manufacture and the size of the magnetic component by eliminating non-essential core material from regions of the core that have little or no impact on the magnetic performance of the component. The desired magnetic flux path in the component remains substantially unaffected by the removal of the non-essential core material. The body of the core may also include one or more angled shoulders positioned at the corners of the core body to further eliminate non-essential core material.
US08242868B2 Methods and apparatus for configuring a magnetic attachment system
A magnetic attachment mechanism and method is described. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach at least two objects together in a preferred configuration without fasteners and without external intervention. The magnetic attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach an accessory device to an electronic device. The accessory device can be used to augment the functionality of usefulness of the electronic device.
US08242861B2 Acoustic wave filter device
An acoustic wave filter device is capable of increasing the steepness of a filter characteristic at a boundary between a passband and an attenuation band and achieving a low loss in the passband. The acoustic wave filter device has a ladder circuit configuration including a plurality of series arm resonators and at least one parallel arm resonator. The anti-resonant frequency of the series arm resonator is different from that of the series arm resonator. The series arm resonator having the lowest anti-resonant frequency has a resonant frequency located in the passband and an electromechanical coupling coefficient less than an average of electromechanical coupling coefficients of the series arm resonators.
US08242859B2 Line noise attenuator
To power-consume noise currents flown in power source lines, etc. in non-uniform wiring modes to such a level that noise obstructions can be suppressed by using a resistance without a capacitor that causes series resonance phenomena. It is a line noise attenuator for purifying electromagnetic environments by attenuating noise currents superimposed on a conductor line which supplies a signal power to a load from a signal power source. The conductor line operates as an antenna which receives high frequency noise currents. The conductor line has an inductor which tolerates flows of a low frequency signal power, and a resistance for changing the high frequency noise currents to heat and consuming the heat with a resistance value which is so set, with respect to a resistance value of the inductor replaced with a pure resistance value, that the high frequency noise current blocked at the inductor can be flown.
US08242858B2 Method and system for matching networks embedded in an integrated circuit package
Methods and systems for matching networks embedded in an integrated circuit package are disclosed and may include controlling impedance within an integrated circuit via one or more impedance matching networks. The impedance matching networks may be embedded within a multi-layer package bonded to the integrated circuit. The impedance of one or more devices within the integrated circuit may be configured utilizing the impedance matching networks. The multi-layer package may include one or more impedance matching networks. The impedance matching networks may provide impedance matching between devices internal to the integrated circuit and external devices. The impedance matching networks may be embedded within the multi-layer package, and may include transmission lines, inductors, capacitors, transformers and/or surface mount devices. The impedance matching networks may be deposited on top of and/or on bottom of the multi-layer package. The integrated circuit may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package.
US08242857B2 Single side band mixer and local oscillator having the same
A single side band (SSB) mixer includes an in-phase SSB mixer unit and a quadrature-phase SSB mixer unit. The in-phase SSB mixer unit generates an in-phase output current, and includes a first transformer load in which a portion of a quadrature-phase output current flows. The quadrature-phase SSB mixer unit generates the quadrature-phase output current, and includes a second transformer load in which a portion of the in-phase output current flows. The SSB mixer may be used in a wide frequency band without degrading frequency selectivity.
US08242855B2 Multi-primary distributed active transformer amplifier power supply and control
An integrated power combiner is disclosed. The power combiner includes a first circular geometry primary winding having one or more inductive elements, such as an active winding with one or more driver stages. A circular geometry secondary winding is disposed adjacent to the first primary winding, such as an active winding with one or more driver stages. A second circular geometry primary winding is disposed adjacent to the secondary winding and has one or more inductive elements. One or more connections are provided between one or more of the inductive elements of the first circular geometry primary winding and one or more of the inductive elements of the second circular geometry primary winding.
US08242854B2 Enhancing device reliability for voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) buffers under high voltage swing conditions
A circuit for a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) buffer is described. The circuit includes a first capacitor connected to an input of the VCO buffer that is connected to a VCO core. The circuit also includes a second capacitor connected to the input of the VCO buffer and the gate of a p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect (PMOS) transistor. The circuit further includes a first switch connected to the first capacitor and the gate of the PMOS transistor. The circuit also includes a third capacitor connected to the input of the VCO buffer. The circuit further includes a fourth capacitor connected to the input of the VCO buffer and the gate of an n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect (NMOS) transistor. The circuit also includes a second switch connected to the third capacitor and the gate of the NMOS transistor.
US08242852B2 Oscillator arrangement and method for generating a periodic signal
An oscillator arrangement is specified, in which a relaxation oscillator is refined to the extent that the comparator (2) to be used for comparing the voltage across a charge storage device (1) with a switching threshold (VTH) is a current comparator with two current branches (5, 6). One of these two current branches is used in the present case for guiding a charging or discharging current of the charge storage device (1). In this way, a current branch is eliminated, so that the proposed principle is preferably suitable for so-called ultra low power applications.
US08242851B2 Processes for stabilizing a VCSEL in a chip-scale atomic clock
A method to construct a chip-scale atomic clock is provided. The method comprises providing a scaffolding for components in a chip-scale atomic clock. The components include a laser and at least one other component. The method also includes operationally positioning the components on the scaffolding so that an emitting surface of the laser is non-parallel to partially reflective surfaces of the at least one other component.
US08242845B2 Radiofrequency signal power amplification method and device
A radiofrequency signal power amplification circuit may include a signal input for receiving the radiofrequency signal, an amplification stage coupled to the signal input and having at least one power transistor, a biasing stage for delivering a bias voltage to the amplification stage, and a processing stage. The processing stage may include a processing input coupled to the signal input, a processing output for delivering a bias current modulated at least in amplitude to the biasing stage, and an amplitude modulator coupled between the processing input and the processing output and configured to determine an envelope signal representative of the envelope of the radiofrequency signal, for modulating the amplitude of the envelope signal based on a variable voltage setpoint and for generating the amplitude-modulated bias current based on the modulated envelope signal.
US08242844B2 LNA circuit for use in a low-cost receiver circuit
A low-noise amplifier (LNA) includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal, an output terminal for providing an output signal related to the input signal. The LNA further includes a first transistor having a first source coupled to the input terminal through the first capacitor, a first gate configured to receive a first direct current (DC) bias signal, and a first drain coupled to the output terminal. The LNA also includes a second transistor having a second source coupled to the input terminal through the second capacitor, a second gate configured to receive a second DC bias signal, and a second drain coupled to the output terminal.
US08242842B2 Input common mode circuit
A circuit provides a first current corresponding to the differential input Inn and Inp, and a second current corresponding to the common mode input Vcm. The circuit then mirrors the differential current and the common mode current to a third current and a fourth current. Based on the difference between the mirrored differential current and the mirrored common mode current, the circuit pulls up or pulls down these currents to balance the corresponding difference between the differential input and the common mode input. In effect, the circuit adjusts the input common mode voltage to a desired level, without providing an opportunity for it to rise to an unwanted level.
US08242834B2 Charge pump circuit
A charge pump circuit includes an input end, a first reservoir capacitor, a second reservoir capacitor, a first output end, a second output end, and a charge pump unit. The input end is utilized for receiving an input voltage. The charge pump unit includes a first flying capacitor, a second capacitor, a plurality of switches, and a control unit. The control unit is utilized for controlling on/off state of the plurality of switches so that the first flying capacitor provides a positive charge pump voltage to the first output end or a negative charge pump voltage to the second output and the second flying capacitor provides a positive charge pump voltage to the first output end through charge and discharge process.
US08242833B2 Charge pump regulator and method of producing a regulated voltage
A charge pump regulator has a charge pump to establish a charge path and a discharge path alternately, so as to produce a regulated voltage on an output terminal. The charge pump has at least a current control element on the charge path or the discharge path to control the current flowing therethrough according to an output-dependent feedback signal.
US08242832B2 Solar cell device having a charge pump
A solar cell device includes a solar cell section configured to output a first voltage upon receiving light. A charge pump circuit includes a first charge pump. The first charge pump includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is configured to receive the first voltage from the solar cell section, and the second terminal is configured to output a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage. An output section is configured to receive an output voltage output by the charge pump circuit. The charge pump circuit is formed on a single semiconductor substrate.
US08242831B2 Tamper resistant fuse design
A tamper resistant fuse design is generally presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced comprising a plurality of fuses in an integrated circuit device to store values and a plurality of resistors in parallel to the fuses, wherein each fuse includes a parallel resistor to provide a potential dissipation path around the fuse. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08242822B2 Delay locked loop
A delay locked loop includes a replica delay oscillator unit, a division unit, a pulse generation unit, a code value output unit, and a delay line. The replica delay oscillator unit generates a replica oscillation signal having a period corresponding to a replica delay. The division unit receives the replica oscillation signal and a clock signal and divides the replica oscillation signal and the clock signal at a first or second ratio in response to a delay locking detection signal. The pulse generation unit generates a delay pulse having a pulse width corresponding to a delay amount for causing a delay locking. The code value output unit adjusts a code value corresponding to the pulse width of the delay pulse in response to the delay locking detection signal. The delay line delays the clock signal in response to the code value.
US08242821B2 Delay-locked loop for correcting duty ratio of input clock signal and output clock signal and electronic device including the same
A delay-locked loop includes a delay line and a duty correction block. The delay line includes receives an input clock signal and includes a cascade of delay cells for respectively generating a plurality of delayed input clock signals based on the input clock signal. The duty correction block is for correcting a duty ratio of the input clock signal based on a duty ratio of at least one clock signal from among the input clock signal and the plurality of delayed input clock signals in a first duty correction operation in which the duty ratio of the input clock signal is corrected, and correcting a duty ratio of an output clock signal based on the duty ratio of the output clock in a second duty correction operation in which the duty ratio of the output clock signal is corrected.
US08242819B2 Method and apparatus for tuning phase of clock signal
A method and apparatus for tuning a phase of a data clock signal having a different frequency than a main clock signal. The method of tuning includes coarse tuning by receiving the data clock signal, dividing the data clock signal to generate a frequency-divided clock signal having a same frequency as the main clock signal, repeatedly shifting the frequency-divided clock signal to generate multiphase frequency-divided clock signals at a predetermined phase interval, comparing a phase of each of the multiphase frequency-divided clock signals with a phase of the main clock signal, and determining a phase shift amount based on a comparison result, and fine tuning by comparing a phase of a multiphase frequency-divided clock signal corresponding to the phase shift amount with the phase of the main clock signal and adjusting the phase of the data clock signal by a predetermined phase step based on the comparison result.
US08242817B2 Power-on reset circuit with suppressed current
A power-on reset circuit includes a first monitor circuit that monitors a power supply voltage, an output circuit that outputs a reset release signal upon detection, by the first monitor circuit, of the power supply voltage exceeding a first predetermined value, and a control circuit having lower current consumption than the first monitor circuit, wherein the control circuit includes a second monitor circuit that monitors the power supply voltage, a suppression circuit that suppresses current flowing through the first monitor circuit upon detection, by the second monitor circuit, of the power supply voltage exceeding a second predetermined value higher than the first predetermined value, and an output fixing circuit that fixes the output of the output circuit to a predetermined potential upon detection, by the second monitor circuit, of the power supply voltage exceeding the second predetermined value.
US08242816B2 Restart circuit of server
A restart circuit includes a voltage input terminal, a diode, an electronic switch, a restart signal output terminal, and a timing chip. The voltage input terminal is connected to an anode of the diode. A cathode of the diode is connected to a power pin and a reset pin of the chip and connected to a trigger pin of the chip through a resistor. A trigger pin of the chip is grounded through a capacitor. A count pin of the chip is grounded through a capacitor. A discharge pin and a threshold pin of the chip are connected and grounded through a resistor and a capacitor in that order. An output pin of the chip is connected to a control terminal of the switch. A first terminal of the switch is grounded. A second terminal of the switch is connected to the restart signal output terminal.
US08242814B2 Clock generating circuit and clock generating method
A clock converting circuit (1) receives and then converts m-phase clocks of a frequency f having a phase difference of 1/(f×m) to n-phase clocks of the frequency f having a phase difference of 1/(f×n). A single-phase clock generating circuit (2) receives the n-phase clocks of the frequency f having a phase difference equivalent time of 1/(f×n) to generate single-phase clocks in synchronism with the rising or falling edges of the n-phase clocks. Since the frequency of the m-phase clocks inputted to the clock converting circuit (1) is ‘f’, if a desired frequency of the single-phase clocks is decided, then ‘n’ can be obtained from the equation: the frequency of the single-phase clocks is equal to (f×n). This value of ‘n’ is set to the clock converting circuit (1), thereby obtaining the n-phase clocks of the frequency f from the m-phase clocks of the frequency f to provide single-phase clocks of a desired frequency.
US08242813B1 Adaptive non-positive inductor current detector (ANPICD)
Systems and methods are disclosed to detect current for an output load with an inductor. The system includes a high side power transistor a low side power transistor coupled to the high side power transistor; and a controller coupled to the high and low side power transistors to provide cycle by cycle conduction of the low side power transistor, said controller adaptively turning off the low side power transistor when the high and low side power transistors are off and an inductor current is non-positive. Adaptation of the turn off of the low side transistor is based on the time position of the detection of the non-positive inductor current and serves to improve the power efficiency of the system.
US08242809B2 Comparator circuit
A comparator circuit, includes first and second terminals to which a reference voltage that determines a threshold voltage is inputted, a third terminal to which a standard voltage is inputted, a fourth terminal to which a target voltage that is to be detected and is based on the standard voltage is inputted, first and second transistors of a first conductivity type including control terminals connected to the first and second terminals, respectively, the first and second transistors flowing currents depending on a potential difference of the reference voltage, a third transistor of a second conductivity type connected in series with the first transistor, a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type connected in series with the second transistor, a fifth transistor of the second conductivity type through which a mirror current depending on a current flowing through the third transistor, a sixth transistor of the second conductivity type flowing a mirror current depending on a current flowing through the fourth transistor, a seventh transistor of the first conductivity type connected between the sixth transistor and the fourth terminal, and an eighth transistor of the first conductivity type connected between the fifth transistor and the third terminal, the eighth transistor flowing a mirror current depending on a current passing through the seventh transistor. A voltage depending on a voltage of an intermediate node between the fifth and eighth transistors is outputted as an output signal.
US08242802B2 Location-based bus termination for multi-core processors
A multi-core bus termination apparatus includes a location array and a plurality of drivers. The location array generates a plurality of location signals that indicate locations on the bus of a corresponding plurality of nodes that are coupled to the bus, where the locations comprise either an internal location or a bus end location. Each of the plurality of drivers has one of the corresponding plurality of nodes, and controls how the one of the corresponding plurality of nodes is driven responsive to a state of a corresponding one of the plurality of location signals. Each of the plurality of drivers has configurable multi-core logic. The configurable multi-core logic enables pull-up logic and first pull-down logic if the state indicates the bus end location. The configurable multi-core logic disables the pull-up logic and to enable the first pull-down logic and second pull-down logic if the state indicates the internal location.
US08242797B2 Cantilever-type micro contact probe with hinge structure
According to the present invention, allowable displacement can be increased from an excellent stress relaxation effect achieved by applying a hinge structure while adopting advantages of a dual beam cantilever-type probe that can reduce scrub. Since the hinge structure is a structure that does not receive a moment, an effect that is the same as eliminating a moment in a conventional prove can be achieved so that stress can be evenly applied and the allowable displacement of the probe can be increased.
US08242796B2 Transmit/receive unit, and methods and apparatus for transmitting signals between transmit/receive units
In one embodiment, apparatus for transmitting and receiving data includes a transmission line network having at least three input/output terminals; at least three transmit/receive units, respectively coupled to the at least three input/output terminals; and a control system. The control system is configured to, depending on a desired direction of data flow over the transmission line network, i) dynamically place each of the transmit/receive units in a transmit mode or a receive mode, and ii) dynamically enable and disable an active termination of each transmit/receive unit. Methods for using this and other related apparatus to transmit and receive data over a transmission line network are also disclosed.
US08242795B2 Method of testing durability of CIS based thin-film solar cell module
The property of CIS based thin-film solar cell modules that the modules recover their conversion efficiency, etc. upon irradiation with a weak light is correctly evaluated. A CIS based thin-film solar cell module is subjected to a conventional damp heat test with a constant-light solar simulator (solar simulator) 1D in such a manner that the power of the light source 1E is regulated so that the solar simulator 1D emits a weak light corresponding to the amount of solar radiation in cloudy weather, i.e., resulting in an irradiance of 100-300 W/m2, and the module is continuously irradiated with the weak light throughout the test period under the same temperature, humidity, and storage period conditions as those in the conventional conditions for the test (1,000-hour storage in the dark at a temperature of 85° C. and a relative humidity of 85%). Thus, the property of the module 2′ that the module 2′ does not show considerable deterioration even after storage in an open state for 1,000 hours can be correctly evaluated.
US08242791B2 Area-variable type capacitive displacement sensor having mechanical guide
An area-variable type capacitive displacement sensor includes: a stationary element; a movable element; an elastic member for providing a force biasing one of the stationary element and the movable member towards a remaining one thereof in a direction perpendicular to a driving direction so that the stationary element and the movable member are maintained in close contact with each other; a power supply; and a signal detecting circuit. The sensor further includes a guide means for correcting an initial alignment error and reducing an operation alignment error between the stationary element and the movable element.
US08242788B2 Calibration apparatus and method for capacitive sensing devices
A calibration apparatus and method for a capacitive sensing device, in which a calibration capacitor device connects to the capacitive sensing device which is connected to an integration circuit that generates a voltage output and a latch output, a transforming circuit transforms a sensitivity calibration parameter into a pair of corresponding analog signal outputs, and an offset calibration parameter into a corresponding analog signal output, at least two first switches between the pair of corresponding analog signal outputs and a fixed potential according to system clock's levels, and at least a third switch switches between the corresponding analog signal output and another fixed potential according to the system clock's levels. The apparatus determines the switch between the pair of signal outputs according to the latch output.
US08242784B2 Qualifying circuit board materials
A test structure for testing electrical properties of a material comprises a first loop and a second loop, which are connected to form a closed test loop. A signal generator, for generating a test signal, is coupled to the first loop and the second loop. A signal propagation switching logic is coupled to the first loop and to the second loop for alternatingly flipping the test signal between the first and second loops, such that the test signal moves uninterrupted through the closed test loop. A probe logic detects any degradation of the test signal as the test signal travels along the closed test loop.
US08242780B2 Magnetic resonance method and device to differentiate among pixels representing a silicon-dominated substance, water-dominated tissue and fat-dominated tissue
In a magnetic resonance method and device for automatic differentiation of respective pixels as representing either a silicon-dominated substance, or fat-dominated tissue, or water-dominated tissue, a first magnetic resonance signal and a second magnetic resonance signal are acquired per pixel, wherein the first magnetic resonance signal per pixel is acquired at a point in time at which the phase of a magnetic resonance signal originating from water-containing tissue exhibits a phase opposite to the phase of a magnetic resonance signal originating from fat-containing tissue, and the second magnetic resonance signal is acquired per pixel at a point in time at which the phase of the magnetic resonance signal originating from water-containing tissue exhibits a phase identical to the phase of the magnetic resonance signal originating from fat-containing tissue, and the phase of a magnetic resonance signal originating from a silicon-containing substance exhibits a phase opposite to the phase of the magnetic resonance signal originating from water-containing or fat-containing tissue. A first intermediate result is determined that indicates whether the pixel represents water-dominated tissue or fat-dominated tissue on the basis of first magnetic resonance signals. A second intermediate result is determined that indicates whether the pixel represents the silicon-dominated substance on the basis of second magnetic resonance signals. The pixel is designated as representing water-dominated tissue, fat-dominated tissue or the silicon-dominated substance on the basis of the first intermediate result and the second intermediate result.
US08242775B2 Tamper-detecting electronic system
An apparatus for detecting tampering with an integrated circuit (IC), the apparatus comprising a second circuit comprising at least one conductor for conducting electrical current, the electrical current comprising, during at least one period of time, current of known strength, the electrical current generating a magnetic field, at least one magnetic field sensing device operatively associated with the IC, the sensing device having at least one electrical characteristic responsive to changes in a sensed magnetic field, the magnetic field sensing device being positioned so as to sense the magnetic field generated by current in the at least one conductor, and an analyzer operatively associated with the at least one magnetic field sensing device and the IC, the analyzer determining that the IC is being tampered with based, at least in part, on changes in the at least one electrical characteristic of the at least one magnetic field sensing device in response to changes in the sensed magnetic field generated by the electrical current in the at least one conductor during the at least one period of time. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08242769B2 Method for measuring transconductance
A method for measuring transconductance of an oscillating circuit is provided. The oscillating circuit includes an inverter. When an input terminal and an output terminal of the inverter are floated, the bias voltage of the inverter is obtained by measuring the output terminal thereof. Based on floating the input terminal and respectively providing a first voltage and a second voltage to the output terminal, a first current corresponding to the first voltage and a second current corresponding to the second voltage are measured from the output terminal. The first voltage and the bias voltage have the same voltage levels. An output resistor value of the inverter is obtained according to the first and second voltages and the first and second currents. The transconductance of the oscillating circuit is obtained according to the output resistor value.
US08242766B2 Dimming control for a switching power supply
A controller for dimming control of a switching power supply includes a phase angle measurement block and a drive logic block. The phase angle measurement block is to be coupled to receive an input sense signal. The phase angle measurement block generates a phase angle signal representative of a phase angle of an input voltage of the power supply in response to the input sense signal. The drive logic block is to be coupled to control switching of a switch included in the power supply. The drive logic block controls the switch in a closed loop dimming control when the phase angle is less than or equal to a phase threshold and in a open loop dimming control when the phase angle is greater than the phase threshold.
US08242763B2 DC to DC converter having ability of switching between continuous and discontinuous modes and method of operation
A DC to DC converter has first and second transistor coupled at a first node and coupled between first and second power supply terminals. An inductor has a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to an output terminal for receiving a variable load. Transistor drive circuitry controls conduction of the first and second transistor in a non-overlapping conduction operation. A duty cycle controller controls a duty cycle for the first transistor and the second transistor. Control circuitry determines a mode of operation by monitoring cycles of operation and detecting a predetermined pattern of cycles in which inductor current becomes negative. A first mode of operation permits both the first transistor and the second transistor to alternately conduct and a second mode of operation does not permit the second transistor to conduct during each cycle when the inductor current is reduced to substantially zero.
US08242756B2 Load driving device and portable apparatus utilizing such driving device
A load such as an LED and a constant-current source are connected in series with each other between the node of a dc-dc conversion type power supply circuit providing an output voltage and the ground. The constant-current source provides a constant current Io, the magnitude of which can be adjusted. The power supply circuit controls the output voltage such that the voltage drop across the constant-current source serving as a detection voltage becomes equal to a reference voltage. Thus, the load current can be varied within a predetermined range while avoiding the power loss due to an increase in the load current, thereby always permitting efficient operation of the load.
US08242751B2 Charging device for alkaline battery
A charging device includes a hand-operated generating circuit, a steady-state voltage circuit electrically connected with the hand-operated generating circuit, a pulse charging circuit electrically connected with the steady-state voltage circuit, a voltage detection circuit electrically connected with the pulse charging circuit, a discharging voltage limiting circuit electrically connected with the pulse charging circuit, a load circuit electrically connected with the discharging voltage limiting circuit and a charging selection circuit electrically connected between the steady-state voltage circuit and the pulse charging circuit. Thus, the charging device can be used to charge an alkaline battery or a common chargeable battery. In addition, the alkaline battery can be replaced when it fails without having to replace the charging device.
US08242749B2 Battery testing apparatus
A battery testing apparatus includes a charge circuit, a discharge circuit, a computer, and a control circuit. The charge circuit is coupled to a direct current (DC) adapter, the DC adapter charges a battery through the charge circuit. The discharge circuit is coupled to the battery and configured to discharge the battery. The computer records charge/discharge time and charge/discharge cycles of the battery, and calculates capacity and cycle life of the battery according to the time and cycles of charge and discharge. The control circuit has an input terminal coupled to the computer, and a plurality of output terminals respectively coupled to the charge circuit and the discharge circuit, the control circuit controls the charge and discharge circuits charging and discharging the battery.
US08242747B2 Charging control circuit capable of constant current charging
In a charging control circuit for controlling charging of a secondary battery, a charging transistor generates a charging current according to a control signal input to a control electrode and outputs the charging current to the secondary battery. The proportional current generation transistor generates and outputs a proportional current proportional to the charging current output by the charging transistor. The constant current charging controller controls the charging transistor so that the proportional current generated by the proportional current generation transistor attains a predetermined first value. The constant current charging controller controls a voltage of a current output terminal of the proportional current generation transistor so that a voltage difference between the voltage of the current output terminal of the proportional current generation transistor and a voltage of a current output terminal of the charging transistor is maintained at a predetermined second value.
US08242745B2 Battery pack with balancing management
A battery management system for a battery pack comprising multiple battery modules is disclosed. Each of the battery modules includes multiple battery cells. The battery management system includes multiple first balancing units, multiple first controllers, a second balancing unit including multiple second balancing circuits, and a second controller coupled to the battery modules and the second balancing circuits. The first controllers are operable for controlling the first balancing units to adjust voltages of battery cells in the battery module if an unbalance occurs between the battery cells. The second controller is operable for controlling said second balancing circuits to adjust voltages of said battery modules if an unbalance occurs between battery modules.
US08242744B2 Battery charger and detection structure for detecting mounted compact electric apparatus
In a battery charger for charging a built-in secondary battery of a compact electric apparatus such as an electric shaver, an erroneous detection due to incomplete mounting of the compact electric apparatus on a mounting base is prevented with a simple and inexpensive configuration. A detection structure for detecting mounting of the compact electric apparatus on the mounting base comprises a charge contact member, a common contact member and a signal contact member which are electrically connected to a positive power source line, a negative power source line and a control signal line of the compact electric apparatus, respectively. A detection contact which electrically connects the signal contact member to the common contact member when the compact electric apparatus is not mounted on the mounting base is integrally formed on the signal contact member. When compact electric apparatus is mounted on the mounting base, the detection contact is displaced corresponding to mounting of the compact electric apparatus so that the signal contact member is electrically disconnected from the common contact member. Thereby, it is possible to detect that the compact electric apparatus is mounted on the mounting base.
US08242743B2 Mouse with battery chamber and battery charging circuit
A mouse includes a housing, a circuit board received in the housing, and a battery chamber received in the housing and configured for receiving a battery therein. The circuit board includes a USB mouse operating circuit, a charging circuit and a USB connector. The USB mouse operating circuit and the charging circuit are both connected to the USB connector. The battery chamber includes at least one charging connector connected to the charging circuit. The charging connector connects the charging circuit with the battery received in the battery chamber.
US08242742B2 Chargers, systems and methods for detecting a power source
A charger includes a detection pin, a voltage divider, and a comparator. The detection pin can couple the charger to a power source via a first data line. The voltage divider and the comparator are coupled to the detection pin. The voltage divider divides a power voltage provided by the power source and provides a detection voltage at the detection pin. The comparator compares the detection voltage with a predetermined reference voltage and identifies a type of the power source according to the comparing.
US08242738B2 Systems and methods for determining battery parameters following active operation of the battery
When the load of a battery powered device is removed or significantly reduced, the voltage response may be recorded or analyzed in real time. The parameters of a battery's equivalent circuit can be found by fitting recorded or real time voltage response to a model function. The model function may describe the equivalent circuit voltage response to the load transition through equivalent circuit parameters. The model function may account for a duration of a load application prior to a transition as well as values of the load before and after the transition. Response of battery voltage to load application or load release is time dependent. Modeling of this time dependence can provide significant advantages in fuel gauging implementation, for example, to significantly reduce the waiting time before measured voltages can be used for state of charge (SOC) correlation and to improve the accuracy of the prediction of run-time for devices that drain a battery in short high-current pulses.
US08242737B2 Motor-driven vehicle
In a motor-driven vehicle using power stored in a secondary battery as a source of motive power in which part of vehicle braking is achieved by regenerative braking by generating electrical energy absorbed by charging the secondary battery, the state of charge of the secondary battery is adjusted during charging so that, when charging is completed, the state of charge of the battery will be such that it is still capable of receiving energy generated during regenerative braking. During charging, after the battery has been charged to a target charge level, and battery temperature has subsequently changed, a state where the battery is still capable of receiving energy generated during regenerative braking can be achieved by slightly discharging the battery depending on the temperature of the battery. Such slight discharge of the battery can be obtained by powering an electric heater (22) in an engine cooling water circuit or operating a generator (7) as a motor for motoring the vehicle engine (8).
US08242735B2 Method and system for temperature-based power converter control
A method of controlling a power converter in an electric drive machine is disclosed. The method may include determining a first switching frequency and determining a second switching frequency. The method may also include comparing the first switching frequency and the second switching frequency. The method may further include selecting a power converter switching frequency from the lesser of the first switching frequency and the second switching frequency to control a power converter.
US08242734B2 Controller of spindle provided with encoder
The controller controls a spindle connected to an induction motor via a belt by controlling the rotational velocity of the induction motor. The spindle has an encoder attached thereto for detecting the position of the spindle, but the induction motor does not have a velocity detector attached thereto. The velocity of the induction motor is estimated from the spindle velocity obtained from output of the encoder, and slip of the belt is detected based on the estimated velocity of the induction motor. When occurrence of slip of the belt is detected, the estimated velocity of the induction motor will not be used for the control of the induction motor.
US08242720B2 Sensorless optimum torque control for high efficiency ironless permanent magnet machine
Embodiments of the present invention permit the optimization of torque control of a permanent magnet machine including obtaining instantaneous terminal voltages of the machine, transforming the instantaneous terminal voltages to a zero direct axis voltage and a non-zero quadrature axis voltage, using a mathematical transformation, regulating the electrical frequency of the permanent-magnet machine such that the zero direct-axis voltage is adjusted to have a value of zero, determining a non-final electrical angle of the permanent-magnet machine by applying an integrator to the regulated electrical frequency of the machine, determining a final electrical angle of the of the machine by integrating the non-final electrical angle and an electrical angle from a previous calculation cycle, and regulating the current vector of the machine such that the current vector is perpendicular to the final electrical angle of the machine, thereby optimizing the torque of the machine.
US08242713B2 LED illumination system with a power saving feature
An LED illumination system includes a control circuit having a timing unit, a control unit, a PWM signal generating unit and a micro-programmed control unit (MCU). The timing unit divides an operating period of an LED lamp into different time segments, and outputs clock signals. The control unit outputs different controlling signals corresponding to the clock signals to the PWM signal generating unit, which in turn generates different PWM signals with different duty cycles. A constant current circuit electrically connects the control circuit and outputs different electric currents to make the LED lamp emit light having different light intensities at the different time segments. The MCU is at an outside of the LED lamp and sets a program to control the timing unit, the control unit and the PWM signal generating unit.
US08242712B2 Power supply apparatus
A power supply apparatus includes an open loop power switcher, a power isolation transformer, a backlight driving circuit, and a power circuit. The open loop power switcher converts a direct current (DC) power into an alternating current (AC) input voltage. The power isolation transformer is coupled to the open loop power switcher and includes a primary-side winding, a first winding, and a second winding, wherein the first and second windings are disposed at the secondary-side of the power isolation transformer, and the first winding is employed for generating a first voltage signal according to the AC input voltage. The backlight driving circuit is employed for driving a backlight module according to the first voltage signal. The power circuit is employed for receiving a second voltage signal generated from the second winding according to the AC input voltage, in order to generate an output power signal.
US08242709B2 Optical transmitter
An optical transmitter includes a light-emitting device and an optical modulator that modulates light output from the light-emitting device by using an input signal. The optical transmitter includes a drive current switching controller that performs an ON/OFF switching control of a drive current of the light-emitting device, by using an ON/OFF signal as an input that controls ON/OFF of an optical output of the light-emitting device, in response to a switching of the ON/OFF signal. The optical transmitter also includes a drive current adjusting and generating unit that detects an ambient temperature, and generates a drive current that is adjusted according to the ambient temperature detected thereby. The drive current switching controller includes a differential circuit that is supplied a drive current that is generated by the drive current adjusting and generating unit and controls the drive current that is output to the light-emitting device, according to the ON/OFF signal.
US08242708B2 Multiple location load control system
A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load, and to be further coupled together via an accessory wiring. The remote devices can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system, such that the main device is wired “in the middle” of the load control system. The main device is operable to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are operable to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle.
US08242707B2 Ambient light calibration for energy efficiency in display systems
A method, system, and apparatus that can be used to operate a display device in an energy efficient manner. The energy efficient display device can effectively and efficiently compensate for changes in ambient light incident at a display screen of the display device using an internal ambient light sensor to provide control signals to a backlight driver.
US08242702B2 Method for driving a fluorescent lamp, and lamp ballast
A method for driving a fluorescent lamp and lamp ballast is disclosed. In one embodiment, an excitation AC voltage having an excitation frequency is applied to the series resonant circuit using a half-bridge circuit, having an output, to which the series resonant circuit is coupled, and having a first and a second switch, which are driven in the on state and in the off state with a fundamental frequency predetermined by a frequency signal or with an increased frequency. The switches are driven with the fundamental frequency or with the increased frequency with respect to the fundamental frequency in a manner dependent on a temporal change in the resonant circuit current between two temporally spaced-apart evaluation instants lying within a switched-on duration of one of the switches.
US08242699B2 Light emitting device and production system of the same
To provide a light emitting device without nonuniformity of luminance, a correcting circuit for correcting a video signal supplied to each pixel to a light emitting device. The correcting circuit is stored with data of a dispersion of a characteristic of a driving TFT among pixels and data of a change over time of luminance of a light emitting element. Further, by correcting a video signal inputted to the light emitting device in conformity with a characteristic of the driving TFT of each pixel and a degree of a deterioration of the light emitting element based on the over-described two data, nonuniformity of luminance caused by a deterioration of an electroluminescent layer and nonuniformity of luminance caused by dispersion of a characteristic of the driving TFT are restrained.
US08242697B2 Light emitting diode street lamp with sensors
An exemplary light emitting diode street lamp includes a light emitting diode array, a brightness sensor, a humidity sensor, and a controlling system. The brightness sensor senses the brightness of the environment. The humidity sensor senses the humidity of the environment. The controlling system is electrically connected to the light emitting diode array, the humidity sensor and the brightness sensor. Three ranges of humidity and three ranges of brightness are predefined in the controlling system. The controlling system controls the light emitting diode array to emit an amount of light according to a relationship between the sensed humidity value and the humidity ranges, and according to a relationship between the sensed brightness value and the brightness ranges.
US08242689B2 Organic electroluminescence display device
An organic electroluminescence display device includes a plurality of pixels and an array of lenses arranged thereupon. Each pixel includes a light emitting region provided with a lens and a light emitting region provided without a lens. The light emitting regions of each pixel includes an organic electroluminescence material. The lenses are arranged in a staggered pattern.
US08242687B2 Organic EL display with a color filter having a black matrix and method of manufacturing the same
An object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL display that enables accurate measurement of the thickness of a transparent resin in an effective pixel area. The organic EL display of the present invention has a structure in which an organic EL device (21) having a plurality of partitions (25) placed at intervals in a predetermined direction and an organic light emitting layer (26) provided between the adjacent partitions (25), and a color filter (22) having a black matrix (29) and a pigment layer (30) placed in each of frames of the black matrix (29) are bonded via a transparent resin (31), and a light transmissive opening (33) is provided in a section of the black matrix (29) other than a section facing the partition (25).
US08242684B2 LED wavelength-converting plate with microlenses
A wavelength-converting plate for a wavelength-converted light emitting diode (LED) assembly. The wavelength-converting plate includes microlenses deposited thereon. The microlenses may have an index of refraction different from the index of refraction of the wavelength-converting plate. The microlenses on the top surface of the plate increase lumen output in a direction normal to the top surface of a wavelength-converting plate.
US08242683B2 Electronic display including a light-emitting element and a color filter sandwiched between two polarizers
It is an object of the invention to achieve weight saving and downsizing of an electronic apparatus, in particular a portable electronic apparatus while enlarging a display screen thereof. The invention provides an electronic apparatus using a light emitting device which includes a light emitting element, a color filter provided on either side of an anode or a cathode of the light emitting element, and two polarizers sandwiching the light emitting element and the color filter, in which the anode and the cathode transmit light, deflection angles of the two polarizers are different from each other, and light obtained from the light emitting element is white.
US08242680B2 Green phosphors, methods of preparing the green phosphors, and white light-emitting devices including the green phosphors
A green phosphor, has an orthorhombic structure of a Pnma space group and the Formula 1: (M11-xDx)pM2qOrAs  [Formula 1] wherein M1 is magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and any combination thereof, D is at least one of metal selected from the group consisting of europium, manganese, antimony, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, terbium, dysprosium, erbium, ytterbium, bismuth, and any combination thereof, M2 is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, aluminum, gallium, and any combination thereof, A is at least one selected from the group consisting of chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine, and any combination thereof, and 2.7≦p≦3.3, 0.7≦q≦1.3, 3.5≦r≦4.5, 1.7≦s≦2.3, and 0
US08242669B2 LED light device
A LED light device includes a light-emitting diode assembly including a light body and one or more LEDs supporting thereat, and a heat dissipating arrangement including a plurality of heat dissipating fins radially and outwardly extended from the light body to define a heat dissipating channel between every two of the heat dissipating fins, and an air guiding member coupled at the front side of the light body. Each of the heat dissipating channels has a front opening extended at the front side of the light body and an elongated side opening for dissipating heat generated from the LED assembly. An air guiding member has a plurality of guiding inlets aligning with the front openings of the heat dissipating channels respectively for guiding air flowing to the heat dissipating channels so as to effectively dissipating the heat from the LED assembly through the heat dissipating fins.
US08242659B2 Mold commutator and commutator motor using the same
The mold commutator of the present invention comprises a plurality of commutator segments made of copper or copper alloy and circumferentially arranged, a plurality of spark absorbing elements, disposed between adjacent commutator segments, with paired parallel surfaces respectively having electrodes thereon, and a resin mold portion which integrates these portions into one piece. The spark absorbing element is electrically connected to the commutator segment via the electrode, and spark voltage generated at the commutator segment is absorbed by current flowing between the electrodes.
US08242657B2 Superconductive rotor, superconductive rotating machine and superconductive rotating-machine system
The main problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a superconductive rotor, a superconductive rotating machine and a superconductive rotating-machine system which are capable of inductive and synchronous rotation while employing the induction machine configuration and also offer satisfactory heat dissipation performance, stability under an excessive load, and easy magnetic flux trap for synchronous rotation. To solve the problem, the invention provides a superconductive rotor, as shown in FIG. 1, including a superconductive squirrel-cage winding formed by superconductive wires having a plurality of superconductive wires covered with a highly conductive metal; a normally conductive squirrel-cage winding formed by a normally conductive material; a cylindrical rotor core having a plurality of slots for accommodating the rotor bars of both of the squirrel-cage windings; and a rotor shaft coaxially provided to the rotor core, wherein, when the superconductive squirrel-cage winding is in a non-superconductive state, rotations are mainly made by an induced torque generated on the normally conductive squirrel-cage winding due to a rotating magnetic field and, when the superconductive squirrel-cage winding is in a superconductive state, rotations are mainly made by a synchronous torque generated by the superconductive squirrel-cage winding trapping magnetic flux of the rotating magnetic field.
US08242655B2 Engine cooling system and motor therefore
An engine cooling system, comprising a fan unit, cooling pipes and a coolant tank, the coolant tank, the cooling pipes and cooling channels of the engine being connected together and forming a cooling cycle, the fan unit being used to cool the cooling pipes and the coolant therein; wherein the fan unit comprises a motor and fan blades driven by the motor, the motor comprising a stator and a rotor rotatable mounted confronting the stator; the rotor comprising a shaft, a commutator fitted to the shaft, a rotor core fitted to the shaft adjacent to the commutator, windings wound about teeth of the rotor core and electrically connected to segments of the commutator; the windings being wound by aluminum cored wire that has a electrical insulation film around its peripheral surface.
US08242654B2 Rotor and motor
A motor is disclosed that includes a rotor having a consequent-pole structure. The rotor core of the rotor includes a magnetic flux dividing portion at each position that faces one of the magnets. Each magnetic flux dividing portion forcibly divides magnetic flux in the vicinity of the backside of the corresponding magnet to both sides in the circumferential direction.
US08242652B2 Coupling device for the transmission of torque, and method for the transmission of torque using such a coupling device
A coupling device for the transmission of torque. The coupling device includes a drivable rotor part, an output shaft rotatably connected with an armature part, a hysteresis part disposed on the armature part, permanent magnets configured to generate a magnetic field through which magnetic field a torque can be transmitted from the rotor part to the armature part, a stator part in which an electromagnet is disposed, the electromagnet being configured to induce a magnetic flux in the rotor part so as to adjust a torque from the rotor part to the armature part, and a synchronous coupling disposed between the stator part and the armature part.
US08242650B2 Vibration motor
A weight used in a vibration motor includes first and second weight parts that extend along adjacent wing parts to hold the wing parts therebetween; an insertion part that is formed between the first and second weight parts and into which the adjacent wing parts are inserted in the radial direction of the core; and a third weight part that is inserted between the adjacent wing parts (that is, slot) and connects the first weight part and the second weight part in a direction of the rotation axis line such that the insertion part is decoupled.
US08242646B2 Rotating electric machine and drive device
There is provided a rotating electric machine capable of preventing a coolant from being retained at an outer surface of a rotor. This rotating electric machine includes a rotation shaft provided so as to be rotatable, a core body secured to the rotation shaft, a permanent magnet embedded in the core body, and an end plate provided so as to be opposed to an axial end surface of the core body. A first coolant channel is formed in the rotation shaft to allow a coolant to flow therethrough. A second coolant channel is formed between the end plate and the axial end surface of the core body to communicate with the first coolant channel. A partition wall that partitions the second coolant channel in a circumferential direction and a path wall that guides the coolant in the second coolant channel toward an outer peripheral edge region of the axial end surface where the permanent magnet is placed are formed inside the second coolant channel.
US08242645B2 Rotating electric machine enabling cooling of a cooling target region
A rotating electric machine includes a rotation shaft arranged rotatably, a rotor having a storing hole capable of storing a permanent magnet, including the permanent magnet stored in the storing hole, and being fixed to the rotation shaft, a stator facing the rotor and including a coil, an end plate provided at an axial end of the rotor, a coolant passage formed in the end plate and running along an axial end of the permanent magnet for allowing a coolant to flow, and a discharge hole located at a radially inner side of the rotor with respect to a cooling target region including the permanent magnet and being located at an outer circumferential side of the rotor from a radially inner end of the permanent magnet, the discharge hole communicating with the coolant passage and being capable of discharging the coolant.
US08242643B2 Three-stable oscillating electromagnetic actuator
A three-stable oscillating electromagnetic actuator includes a cylindrical stator from which a plurality of first magnetic poles project toward a center direction, a mover that extends in a circumferential direction inside the stator and is reciprocatingly and rotatably supported along the circumference, and a plurality of coils that are wound around the first magnetic poles and bias the mover to cause it to stop in three positions, which are a first stable position that is on one end side of a rotation range of the mover, a second stable position that is on the other end side, and a neutral position that is an intermediate position. The three-stable oscillating electromagnetic actuator further includes a second magnetic pole made of a magnetic material that abuts against a rotation-direction end of the mover to stop the mover in the first stable position and the second stable position.
US08242642B2 Vibration actuator
A vibration actuator includes a coil that extends in a vibration direction and has a flat shape and a magnet that extends in the vibration direction and has a flat shape, so that a case can be made flat or low profile. A weight portion is supported by a shaft, so that, when a drop impact is applied, the weight portion can move along the shaft and the weight portion is not freely moved in the case. A coil spring is disposed between a spring receiving portion and a weight portion. Therefore there is no unnecessary space in the case, so that space can be saved and the vibration actuator can be made compact.
US08242639B2 Inductive rotary joint with low loss supply lines
An inductive rotary joint for computer tomographs includes an inverter and an inductive rotary coupler. A primary winding of the inductive rotary coupler is fed by the inverter via a line, with energy transmitted by the inductive rotary coupler being supplied to a load through a secondary winding. The line includes at least two coaxial lines, each coaxial line having an outer conductor or shield with the two outer conductors or shields being interconnected along a major part of their length, and an inner conductor, with the inner conductors being supplied by the inverter with voltages, the sum of which is substantially equal to zero.
US08242638B2 Device for transporting energy by partial influence through a dielectric medium
The invention proposes a means for transporting electrical energy and/or information from a distance by using, at a slowly varying regime, the Coulomb field which surrounds any set of charged conductors. The device according to the invention is composed of energy production and consumption devices situated a short distance apart, it uses neither the propagation of electromagnetic waves nor induction and cannot be reduced to a simple arrangement of electrical capacitors. The device is modeled in the form of an interaction between oscillating asymmetric electric dipoles, consisting of a high-frequency high-voltage generator (1) or of a high-frequency high-voltage load (5) placed between two electrodes. The dipoles exert a mutual influence on one another. The devices according to the invention are suitable for powering industrial and domestic electrical apparatus, they are especially suitable for powering low-power devices moving in a limit [sic] environment and for short-distance non-radiating transmission of information.
US08242631B2 Programmable electronic timer
A device and method to control a programmable portable electronic timer to selectively provide AC power to an external electrical device by selecting a plurality of varying start times and stop times for each of at least two days, where each start time and stop time may be unique, and whereby the start/stop times define a period of timer operation to provide AC power to an external electrical device. An uninterrupted “count down” of timer information stored within the timer while AC power is unavailable to the timer is also provided, such that when AC power is restored to the timer, the providing of AC power to the external electrical device is not skewed by any period of time that the AC power is unavailable to the timer.
US08242629B2 Hybrid load systems including a dynamic electronic load and passive resistive load modules
A hybrid load system includes a dynamic electronic load module, and a plurality of passive resistive modules coupled with the dynamic electronic load module. The hybrid system includes a control system in communication with the dynamic electronic load module and the passive resistive modules for determining when and how many of the passive resistive modules should be applied in parallel with the dynamic electronic load module for creating a desired load.
US08242624B2 Electric accumulator utilizing an ultra-capacitor array
Disclosed is an electric accumulator for selectively operating at least one aircraft device. The electric accumulator includes an ultra-capacitor array for storing electrical energy, which can later be used to power an aircraft device. The stored electrical energy can also be used as a source of emergency backup power. The distribution of the electrical energy is controlled by a power distribution controller. The electric accumulator may be charged by a power source on an aircraft, or it may be pre-charged by an external power source.
US08242620B2 Wind turbine generator system
A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter.
US08242617B2 Method and arrangement for damping of tower-oscillations
A method and an arrangement for the damping of tower-oscillations are provided. The method for the damping of tower-oscillations includes transforming a rotation into electrical power using a generator, which is located on top of the tower. The electrical power is transformed from AC to DC and back to AC by a converter. A power-reference-signal is used by the converter to control the delivered electrical power. A variable power-offset-signal is added to the power-reference-signal before it is used for the control. The variable power-offset-signal is based on a mean value of the power-reference-signal and a side-to-side-oscillation of the tower.
US08242616B1 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and molded structure
There is provided a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: forming an interconnection layer over a support base; mounting a plurality of semiconductor chips over the interconnection layer; molding the plurality of semiconductor chips with resin; forming an alignment mark in the resin; and obtaining a molded structure by removing the interconnection layer, the plurality of semiconductor chips and the resin from the support base after forming the alignment mark.
US08242615B2 Semiconductor chip on film package with dummy patterns and manufacturing method thereof
A COF package in exemplary form includes a flexible base film, inner leads each made of metal and having a thickness d1, which are disposed at a peripheral edge of a semiconductor chip-mounted predetermined spot on the base film and protruded into the semiconductor chip-mounted predetermined spot, dummy patterns having a thickness d2 (<(d1+d3), where d3 is the thickness of the electrodes), which are disposed at predetermined positions within the semiconductor chip-mounted predetermined spot, a semiconductor chip, and an encapsulating resin. The semiconductor chip has a plurality of the electrodes each protruded into a main surface thereof and having the thickness d3. The electrodes are bonded to the inner leads respectively. Further, the encapsulating resin is charged between the base film and the semiconductor chip. The shape and/or position of the dummy patterns may mark the function of one or more inner leads.
US08242613B2 Bond pad for semiconductor die
A semiconductor die has rows of bond pads along the edges of a major surface. The corners of the die are designated as keep out areas, with design layout rules prohibiting a probe-able bond pad from being placed in the keep out areas so that a minimum distance may be maintained between distal ends of adjacent rows of bond pads (i.e., bond pads along adjacent edges). The bond pads of each row have IO pad areas that are aligned with each other and IO probe areas that are aligned with each other. A generally L-shaped bond pad includes a first, vertical part that extends inwardly from an edge of the semiconductor die and a second, horizontal part connected to the vertical part. The L-shaped bond pad may be placed between a last bond pad in a row and a corner keep out area, and the second part of the L-shaped bond pad extends into the corner keep out area. The first part has an IO pad area that is in alignment with the IO pad areas of the other bond pads in the same row, and the second part has an IO probe area that is in alignment with the IO probe areas of the bond pads in the adjacent row. The L-shaped bond pad does not violate design rules even though a part of the pad extends into the corner keep out area.
US08242606B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip includes a well arranged to receive a first well bias voltage from a well biasing region, a through-chip-via arranged to penetrate the well, and a guard region disposed around the through-chip-via with space in-between and arranged to apply a second well bias voltage to the well.
US08242604B2 Coaxial through-silicon via
A through-silicon via (TSV) structure forming a unique coaxial or triaxial interconnect within the silicon substrate. The TSV structure is provided with two or more independent electrical conductors insulated from another and from the substrate. The electrical conductors can be connected to different voltages or ground, making it possible to operate the TSV structure as a coaxial or triaxial device. Multiple layers using various insulator materials can be used as insulator, wherein the layers are selected based on dielectric properties, fill properties, interfacial adhesion, CTE match, and the like. The TSV structure overcomes defects in the outer insulation layer that may lead to leakage. A method of fabricating such a TSV structure is also described.
US08242603B2 Chip identification using top metal layer
An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of memory bits including IC identification information and a plurality of alternating metal and via layers thereabove. The IC structure includes a bond pad layer formed over a top one of the metal layers. The bond pad layer includes a plurality of pins connected to respective ones of the plurality of memory bits through the metal and via layers, at least one first pad connected to a higher voltage power supply rail and at least one second pad is connected to a lower voltage power supply rail. The bond pad layer has a plurality of circuit segments therein that each connects a respective one of the plurality of pins to either the at least one first pad or the at least one second pad for programming the IC identification information into the memory bit corresponding to that pin.
US08242599B2 Electronic component with diffusion barrier layer
An electronic component is described that includes a metallic layer on a substrate that is made of a semiconductor material and a diffusion barrier layer that is made of a material that has a small diffusion coefficient for the metal of the metallic layer which is formed between the metallic layer and the substrate.
US08242598B2 Semiconductor module having semiconductor device mounted on device mounting substrate
A semiconductor module includes: an insulating resin layer; a wiring layer which is provided on one main surface of the insulating resin layer and which includes an external connection region; bump electrodes which are electrically connected to the wiring layer and each of which is formed such that it protrudes from the wiring layer toward the insulating resin layer; a semiconductor device which is provided on the other main surface of the insulating resin layer and which includes device electrodes connected to the bump electrode; and a wiring protection layer provided on the wiring layer and the insulating resin layer so as to expose the external connection region. In the semiconductor module, the outer edge portion of the wiring protection layer is in contact with the external edge portion of the semiconductor device such that it shields at least a part of the semiconductor resin layer at the side edge.
US08242597B2 Crystal structure of a solder bump of flip chip semiconductor device
A semiconductor device, includes a semiconductor substrate; and a solder bump part, which is formed on the semiconductor substrate and in which no grain boundary extends equal to or over ⅓ of a diameter dimension of said solder bump part from an outer circumferential surface between an end of a connection part with the semiconductor substrate and a lateral portion.
US08242595B2 Heatsink and semiconductor device with heatsink
A heatsink carries a UV-ray light emitting diode. Flow passages for causing circulation of a fluid that cools the UV-ray light emitting diode are opened in the heatsink. Supply ports and discharge ports are opened in a mount surface of a header where supply and discharge of the fluid for cooling purpose to and from the heatsink are performed. A pair of circulation orifices corresponding to the supply port and the discharge port are opened in the contact surface that contacts the mount surface in the heatsink. Recesses are formed around the respective circulation orifices, and an annular sealing member that exhibits rubber elasticity and that is compressed between the heatsink and the header is disposed in each of the recesses.
US08242594B2 Chip package structure and manufacturing method thereof for effectively lowering manufacturing costs and improving yield and reliability of the chip package structure
A chip package structure includes a circuit substrate, a chip, at least one bonding wire, and an adhesive layer. The circuit substrate has a bonding surface and at least one pad disposed on the bonding surface. The chip is disposed on the bonding surface of the circuit substrate and has an active surface away from the circuit substrate and at least one contact pad disposed on the active surface. The bonding wire is connected between the contact pad and the pad, such that the chip is electrically connected to the circuit substrate through the bonding wire. The bonding wire includes a copper layer, a nickel layer covering the copper layer, and a gold layer covering the nickel layer. The adhesive layer is disposed between the pad and the bonding wire and between the contact pad and the bonding wire and respectively covers two terminals of the bonding wire.
US08242593B2 Clustered stacked vias for reliable electronic substrates
A substrate via structure for stacked vias in a substrate/chip assembly includes: a center via stack and a plurality of stacked vias clustered around the center via stack. In this structure, the center via and the surrounding vias are made of copper. Some of the surrounding vias may be non-functional vias and these may be of a different height than the functional vias.
US08242592B2 IC chip, antenna, and manufacturing method of the IC chip and the antenna
An antenna used for an ID chip or the like is disclosed with planarized antenna unevenness and an IC chip having such the antenna with a flat surface is disclosed. Manufacturing an integrated circuit mounted with an antenna is facilitated. A laminated body formed by stacking a conductive film 11, a resin film 13, an integrated circuit 12, and a resin film 14 are rolled so that the resin film 14 is outside. Then, the laminated body is integrated in a roll form by softening the resin films 13, 14 by applying heat. By slicing the rolled laminated body along with the direction in which the rolled conductive film 31 appears in the cross section, an IC chip with antenna formed by the rolled conductive film 11 is formed.
US08242579B2 Capacitor structure
One or more embodiments are related to a semiconductor chip comprising a capacitor, the capacitor comprising: a plurality of conductive plates, each of the plates including a first conductive strip and a second conductive strip disposed over or under the first conductive strip, the second conductive strip of each plate being substantially parallel to the first conductive strip of the same plate, the second conductive strip of each plate electrically coupled to the first conductive strip of the plate through at least one conductive via, the second conductive strips of each group of at least two consecutive plates being spaced apart from each other in a direction along the length of the plates.
US08242575B2 Thin-film device including a terminal electrode connected to respective end faces of conductor layers
A thin-film device incorporates a device main body and four terminal electrodes. The device main body has four side surfaces. The terminal electrodes are disposed to touch respective portions of the side surfaces. The device main body includes a lower conductor layer that is not used to form a passive element, and an upper conductor layer used to form the passive element. The upper and lower conductor layers include respective lead electrode portions that have respective end faces located at the side surfaces of the device main body. At the side surfaces of the device main body, the end face of the lead electrode portion of the lower conductor layer and the end face of the lead electrode portion of the upper conductor layer are electrically and physically connected to each other. The terminal electrodes touch these end faces and are thereby connected to the upper and lower conductor layers.
US08242570B2 Truss structure and manufacturing method thereof
A truss structure is provided. The truss structure comprises a substrate; and plural sub-truss groups disposed on the substrate, wherein each sub-truss group comprises plural VIAs; and plural metal layers interlaced with the plural VIAs, wherein the plural sub-truss groups are piled up on each other to form a 3-D corrugate structure.
US08242567B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
In order that a top surface of a gate electrode does not have sharp portions, ends of the top surface of the gate electrode are rounded before refractory metal is deposited for silicidation. This reduces intensive application of film stresses which are generated in heat treatment, enabling formation of a silicide layer with a uniform, sufficient thickness.
US08242566B2 Stacked ESD protection
A stacked electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection clamp (99, 100-104) for protecting associated devices or circuits (24) comprises two or more series coupled (stacked) bipolar transistors (70, 700) whose individual trigger voltages Vt1 depend on their base-collector spacing D. A first (70-1, 700-1) of the transistors (70, 700) has a spacing DZ1 chosen within a D range Z1 whose slope (ΔVt1/ΔD) has a first value (ΔVt1/ΔD)Z1, and a second (70-2, 700-2) of the transistors (70, 700) has a spacing value D(Z2 or Z3) chosen within a D range Z2 or Z3 whose slope (ΔVt1/ΔD) has a second value (ΔVt1/ΔD)(Z2 or Z3) less than the first value (ΔVt1/ΔD)Z1. The sensitivity of the ESD stack trigger voltage Vt1STACK to base-collector spacing variations ΔD during manufacture is much reduced, for example, by as much as 50% for a 2-stack and more for 3-stacks and beyond. A wide range of Vt1STACK values can be obtained that are less sensitive to unavoidable manufacturing spacing variations ΔD.
US08242565B2 Electrostatic discharge protection device
An electrostatic discharge protection device includes a substrate where an active region is defined by an isolation layer, a gate electrode simultaneously crossing both the isolation layer and the active region, and a junction region formed in the active region at both sides of the gate electrode and separated from the isolation layer by a certain distance in a direction where the gate electrode is extended. The electrostatic discharge protection device is able to prevent the increase of a leakage current while securing an electrostatic discharge protection property that a semiconductor device requires.
US08242559B2 Integrated circuit system with a floating dielectric region and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit system includes: providing a second layer between a first layer and a third layer; forming an active device over the third layer; forming the third layer to form an island region underneath the active device; forming the second layer to form a floating second layer with an undercut beneath the island region; and depositing a fourth layer around the island region and the floating second layer.
US08242558B2 Semiconductor device and method for production of semiconductor device
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including: a gate electrode formed in a recess dug in the surface of a semiconductor substrate, with a gate insulating film interposed between the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate; a source-drain diffusion layer formed on that surface of the semiconductor substrate which is adjacent to both sides of the gate electrode; and a stress applying layer which is formed deep from the surface of the semiconductor substrate in such a way as to cover the surface of the source-drain diffusion layer.
US08242557B2 Trench gate type transistor
The invention provides a trench gate type transistor in which the gate capacitance is reduced, the crystal defect is prevented and the gate breakdown voltage is enhanced. Trenches are formed in an N− type semiconductor layer. A uniformly thick silicon oxide film is formed on the bottom of each of the trenches and near the bottom, being round at corner portions. A silicon oxide film is formed on the upper portion of the sidewall of each of the trenches, which is thinner than the silicon oxide film and round at corner portions. Gate electrodes are formed from inside the trenches onto the outside thereof. The thick silicon oxide film reduces the gate capacitance, and the thin silicon oxide film on the upper portion provides good transistor characteristics. Furthermore, with the round corner portions, the crystal defect does not easily occur, and the gate electric field is dispersed to enhance the gate breakdown voltage.
US08242552B2 Storage element, method of manufacturing same, and semiconductor storage device
Disclosed herein is a storage element including: a first electrode; a second electrode formed in a position opposed to the first electrode; and a variable-resistance layer formed so as to be interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is a tubular object, and is formed so as to be thicker on an opposite side from the variable-resistance layer than on a side of the variable-resistance layer.
US08242550B2 Semiconductor devices
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes providing a workpiece having a first orientation and at least one second orientation. The semiconductor device is implanted with a dopant species using a first implantation process in the first orientation of the workpiece. The semiconductor device is implanted with the dopant species using a second implantation process in the at least one second orientation of the workpiece, wherein the second implantation process is different than the first implantation process.
US08242547B2 Solid-state imaging device and camera
A solid-state imaging device which includes a plurality of pixels in an arrangement, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion element, pixel transistors including a transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion region, in which the channel width of transfer gate of the transfer transistor is formed to be larger on a side of the floating diffusion region than on a side of the photoelectric conversion element.
US08242546B2 Small pixel for image sensors with JFET and vertically integrated reset diode
A pixel and a pixel array of an image sensor device of the present invention have small pixel sizes by resetting sensed charge using a diode built vertically above a substrate. The pixel and the pixel array also have low noise performance by using a JFET as a source follower transistor for sensing charge. The pixel includes a floating diffusion node configured to sense photo-generated charge, a reset diode configured to reset the floating diffusion node in response to a reset signal, and a junction field effect transistor configured to output a signal having an output voltage level corresponding to a charge level of the floating diffusion node.
US08242535B2 IGBT and method of producing the same
A collector region is not formed in at least a portion of an ineffective region where an insulating film is formed on a front face of an IGBT. In this portion in which the collector region is not formed, a collector electrode and a buffer layer contact each other. Since the buffer layer and the collector region differ from each other in conductivity type, no electric charge is introduced from the collector electrode into the buffer layer. Thus, introduction of electric charges into a drift region at a portion in the ineffective region is suppressed, which alleviates electric field concentration in a semiconductor substrate. Further, in the IGBT, the semiconductor substrate and the collector electrode contact each other and heat transfer to the collector electrode is not hindered even in the range where the collector region is not formed. Thus, concentration of heat generation in the semiconductor substrate is alleviated.
US08242531B2 Light emitting diode package
A light emitting diode (LED) package including a carrier, a housing, at least one LED chip and at least one electrostatic discharge protector (ESD protector) is provided. The housing encapsulating a portion of the carrier has at least one first opening, at least one second opening and a barricade. The barricade separates the first opening from the second opening. The first opening and the second opening expose a first surface of the carrier. The LED chip is disposed on the first surface of the carrier, located in the first opening, and electrically connected to the carrier. The ESD protector is disposed on the first surface of the carrier, located in the second opening, and electrically connected to the carrier.
US08242530B2 Light emitting device and method for fabricating the same
There is provided a light emitting device, which comprises compound semiconductor layers including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer; a metal reflection layer formed on a region of the second conductive semiconductor layer; an insulating structure formed at least in a boundary region of the second conductive semiconductor layer; a metal material structure formed to cover the second conductive semiconductor layer having the metal reflection layer and the insulating structure formed; and a substrate bonded to the metal material structure, wherein the boundary region of the second conductive semiconductor layer includes an outer region of the second conductive semiconductor layer along an outer circumference of the second conductive semiconductor layer.
US08242527B2 Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting device for generating infrared light includes a substrate, a first metal layer, a dielectric layer and a second metal layer. The substrate has a first surface. The first metal layer is formed on the first surface of the substrate. The dielectric layer is formed on the first metal layer. A thickness of the dielectric layer is greater than a particular value. The second metal layer is formed on the dielectric layer. When the light emitting device is heated, the dielectric layer has a waveguide mode such that the infrared light generated by the light emitting device can be transmitted in the dielectric layer. A wavelength of the infrared light generated in the waveguide mode relates to the thickness of the dielectric layer.
US08242518B2 Solid state light sheet for general illumination having metal interconnector through layer for connecting dies in series
A solid state light sheet and method of fabricating the sheet are disclosed. In one embodiment, bare LED chips have top and bottom electrodes, where the bottom electrode is a large reflective electrode. The bottom electrodes of an array of LEDs (e.g., 500 LEDs) are bonded to an array of electrodes formed on a flexible bottom substrate. Conductive traces are formed on the bottom substrate connected to the electrodes. A transparent top substrate is then formed over the bottom substrate. Various ways to connect the LEDs in series are described along with many embodiments. In one method, the top substrate contains a conductor pattern that connects to LED electrodes and conductors on the bottom substrate.
US08242512B2 Compound semiconductor device
A compound semiconductor device includes: an electron transit layer made of GaN; a channel layer made of AlGaN; a source electrode, a gate electrode and a drain electrode that are provided on the channel layer; a cap layer that is provided at least between the source electrode and the gate electrode and between the gate electrode and the drain electrode and is made of GaN; a recess portion that is provided in the cap layer between the gate electrode and the drain electrode; and a thick portion that is provided in the cap layer between the recess portion and the drain electrode and has a thickness larger than the recess portion.
US08242509B2 Light emitting device
A light emitting device is provided. The light emitting device may include a plurality of light emitting elements formed on a first common electrode, each light emitting element having a first conductive layer formed over the first common electrode. The light emitting device may also include an active layer formed over the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer formed over the active layer, and an insulator formed between adjacent light emitting elements. A plurality of electrodes may be respectively formed on the plurality of light emitting elements, and a second common electrode may couple the plurality electrodes. Such a light emitting structure may improve emission characteristics, heat dissipation and high temperature reliability.
US08242508B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes a semiconductor film over a substrate, in which the semiconductor film includes a pair of first regions, a pair of second regions interposed between the pair of first regions, and a channel formation region interposed between the pair of second regions. A concentration of an impurity in the pair of second regions is smaller than a concentration of the impurity in the pair of first regions. The thin film transistor includes an insulating film, in which a portion of the insulating film is provided over the semiconductor film. The thin film transistor includes a conductive film over the portion, and the conductive film includes a taper shape.
US08242507B2 Pixel structure having capacitor compensation
A pixel structure having capacitor compensation includes a thin-film transistor, and the thin-film transistor includes a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconductor layer and a gate electrode. The gate electrode includes a bar-shaped main part, and at least a protrusion part or two indention parts. One of the characteristics of the present invention lies in layout patterns of the drain electrode and gate electrode. An overlapping area between the drain electrode and gate electrode, and the position of the overlapping area can both be kept by virtue of the arrangement of the protrusion part or the indention parts of the gate electrode, even when the alignment between the drain electrode and gate electrode is changed. Therefore, the gate-drain capacitor (Cgd) will not be changed so that the quality of the liquid crystal display will be improved accordingly.
US08242506B2 Array substrate and method of manufacturing the same
An array substrate includes a base substrate, a gate line, a gate insulation layer, a data line, a thin-film transistor (“TFT”) and a pixel electrode. The gate line includes a gate covering line formed in a first direction on the base substrate and a gate main line protruded from the gate covering line. The gate insulation layer is formed on the base substrate to cover the gate line. The data line is formed on the gate insulation layer in a second direction crossing the first direction. The TFT is electrically connected to the gate line and the data line. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the TFT. Therefore, a gate line is thicker than a gate covering line and a gate main line having a low resistance is further formed, so that a gate signal may be quickly transferred along the gate line without a signal delay.
US08242505B2 Display device
A display device for improving an aperture ratio of the pixel is provided. In the display device, a transparent oxide layer, an insulating film, and a conductive layer are sequentially stacked on a pixel region on a substrate, the conductive layer has a gate electrode of a thin film transistor connected to a gate signal line, and a region of the transparent oxide layer other than at least a channel region portion directly below the gate electrode is converted into an electrically conductive region, and a source signal line, a source region portion of the thin film transistor connected to the source signal line, a pixel electrode, and a drain region portion of the thin film transistor connected to the pixel electrode are formed from the conductive region.
US08242503B2 Multi-gate thin film transistor device
A system for displaying images includes a multi-gate thin film transistor (TFT) device including an active layer, first and second gate structures, and first and second light-shielding layers. The active layer is disposed on a substrate in a pixel region. The first and second gate structures are disposed on the active layer. The first and second light-shielding layers are disposed between the substrate and the active layer. The active layer includes first and second source/drain regions and first and second channel regions. The first light-shielding layer corresponds to a first lightly doped region and laterally extends under at least a portion of the first channel region. The second light-shielding layer corresponds to the second lightly doped region and laterally extends under at least a portion of the second channel region.
US08242499B2 Method of producing semiconductor device and SOQ (Silicon On Quartz) substrate used in the method
A method of producing a semiconductor device includes the steps of preparing an SOQ (Silicon On Quartz) substrate in which a semiconductor layer is formed on a quartz substrate; forming a plurality of semiconductor device forming regions in the SOQ substrate; forming a crack inspection pattern in the SOQ substrate; inspecting the crack inspection pattern to detect a crack in the crack inspection pattern in a first inspection step; and inspecting the semiconductor device forming regions to detect a crack in the semiconductor device forming regions in a second inspection step when the crack is detected in the crack inspection pattern in the first inspection step.
US08242498B2 Compound semiconductor substrate, semiconductor device, and processes for producing them
A compound semiconductor substrate 10 according to the present invention is comprised of a Group III nitride and has a surface layer 12 containing a chloride of not less than 200×1010 atoms/cm2 and not more than 12000×1010 atoms/cm2 in terms of Cl and an oxide of not less than 3.0 at % and not more than 15.0 at % in terms of O, at a surface. The inventors conducted elaborate research and newly discovered that when the surface layer 12 at the surface of the compound semiconductor substrate 10 contained the chloride of not less than 200×1010 atoms/cm2 and not more than 12000×1010 atoms/cm2 in terms of Cl and the oxide of not less than 3.0 at % and not more than 15.0 at % in terms of O, Si was reduced at an interface between the compound semiconductor substrate 10 and an epitaxial layer 14 formed thereon and, as a result, the electric resistance at the interface was reduced.
US08242496B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An object is to increase an aperture ratio of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a driver circuit portion and a display portion (also referred to as a pixel portion) over one substrate. The driver circuit portion includes a channel-etched thin film transistor for a driver circuit, in which a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed using metal and a channel layer is formed of an oxide semiconductor, and a driver circuit wiring formed using metal. The display portion includes a channel protection thin film transistor for a pixel, in which a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer are formed using an oxide conductor and a semiconductor layer is formed of an oxide semiconductor, and a display portion wiring formed using an oxide conductor.
US08242485B2 Source/drain technology for the carbon nano-tube/graphene CMOS with a single self-aligned metal silicide process
Electronic devices having carbon-based materials and techniques for making contact to carbon-based materials in electronic devices are provided. In one aspect, a device is provided having a carbon-based material; and at least one electrical contact to the carbon-based material comprising a metal silicide, germanide or germanosilicide. The carbon-based material can include graphene or carbon nano-tubes. The device can further include a segregation region, having an impurity, separating the carbon-based material from the metal silicide, germanide or germanosilicide, wherein the impurity has a work function that is different from a work function of the metal silicide, germanide or germanosilicide. A method for fabricating the device is also provided.
US08242483B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor light emitting device
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device, which is capable of providing high characteristic homogeneity and reproducibility, is disclosed. The disclosed method includes forming a buffer layer over a substrate, selectively growing a nitride crystal layer on the buffer layer, forming a nitride semiconductor layer having a multilayer structure over the nitride crystal layer, forming a first electrode on the nitride semiconductor layer, attaching an auxiliary substrate to the first electrode, separating the substrate from the nitride crystal layer, forming a second electrode on the nitride crystal layer exposed in accordance with the separation of the substrate, and removing the auxiliary substrate from the first electrode.
US08242482B2 Nanotip electrode electroluminescence device
An electroluminescence (EL) device and a method are provided for fabricating said device with a nanotip electrode. The method comprises: forming a bottom electrode with nanotips; forming a Si phosphor layer adjacent the nanotips; and, forming a transparent top electrode. The Si phosphor layer is interposed between the bottom and top electrodes. The nanotips may have a tip base size of about 50 nanometers, or less, a tip height in the range of 5 to 50 nm, and a nanotip density of greater than 100 nanotips per square micrometer. Typically, the nanotips are formed from iridium oxide (IrOx) nanotips. A MOCVD process forms the Ir bottom electrode. The IrOx nanotips are grown from the Ir. In one aspect, the Si phosphor layer is a SRSO layer. In response to an SRSO annealing step, nanocrystalline SRSO is formed with nanocrystals having a size in the range of 1 to 10 nm.
US08242476B2 LED object detection system and method combining complete reflection traces from individual narrow field-of-view channels
A multi-channel LED object detection system and a method for detecting an object are provided. The method includes providing and orienting a light source having a wide field-of-illumination to encompass the width of the environment; providing and orienting a detector having a wide field-of-view to encompass the width of the environment, the detector having a plurality of sub-detectors with individual narrow field-of-views, driving the LED source into emitting light to illuminate the width of the environment; receiving and acquiring an individual complete trace of a reflection/backscatter of the emitted light on the object at each sub-detector; converting the acquired individual complete trace into an individual digital signal; and detecting and identifying a presence of an object, a position of the object, a distance between the object and the LED source and/or a visibility, using the emitted light waveform and an individual digital signal.
US08242472B2 Extreme ultraviolet light source device and control method for extreme ultraviolet light source device
[Problem]An extreme ultraviolet light source device in accordance with the present invention corrects an optical performance of a laser beam in an appropriate manner.[Means for Resolution]A guide laser beam that has an optical axis and a beam diameter substantially equivalent to those of a driver pulsed laser beam is introduced into an amplification system 30 that amplifies a laser beam that is output from a driver laser oscillator 20. The guide laser beam is output from a laser device 50 as a continuous light, and is introduced into a light path of the driver pulsed laser beam via a guide laser beam introduction mirror 52. A sensor 44 detects an angle (a direction) of a laser beam and a variation of a curvature of a wave front. A wave front correction controller 60 outputs a signal to a wave front correction part 34 based on a measured result of a sensor 36. The wave front correction part 34 corrects a wave front of a laser beam to be a predetermined wave front according to an instruction from the wave front correction controller 60.
US08242469B2 Adjustable louvered plasma electron flood enclosure
An apparatus is provided for reducing particle contamination in an ion implantation system. The apparatus has an enclosure having an entrance, an exit, and at least one louvered side having a plurality of louvers defined therein. A beamline of the ion implantation system passes through the entrance and exit, wherein the plurality of louvers of the at least one louvered side are configured to mechanically filter an edge of an ion beam traveling along the beamline. The enclosure can have two louvered sides and a louvered top, wherein respective widths of the entrance and exit of the enclosure, when measured perpendicular to the beamline, are generally defined by a position of the two louvered sides with respect to one another. One or more of the louvered sides can be adjustably mounted, wherein the width of one or more of the entrance and exit of the enclosure is controllable.
US08242466B2 Activation device for activatable indicators used in product labeling
The invention relates to an activation device for temperature-sensitive and/or time-sensitive indicators for product labeling, said indicators being activated by UV light and said device comprising a UV light source. The device is equipped with a controller/regulator, which can be used to control and/or regulate the irradiation period and/or the irradiation intensity of the UV light source.
US08242465B2 Driving type patient platform, control device for driving type patient platform, control program for driving type patient platform, and particle beam therapy system utilizing these items
The objective is to obtain a driving type patient platform that can efficiently perform positioning work for making the position and the posture of a diseased site coincide with those established when a treatment plan is generated. There are provided translation units that translate a top board in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction, respectively, in a fixed coordinate system; rotation units that rotate the top board in the θ direction around the X axis, the φ direction around the Y axis, and the ξ direction around the Z axis, respectively; and a control device that controls the translation units and the rotation units, based on an inputted desired rotation center point and an inputted desired rotation angle. The control device is provided with a rotation drive signal generation unit that generates a rotation drive signal for moving the top board in a rotating manner from the reference state “a” of the translation units and the rotation units to a desired rotation angle; and a translation drive signal generation unit that generates a translation drive signal for translating the translation units in such a way that the amount of translation movement, of the desired rotation center point, that is caused by the rotation movement becomes the same as or smaller than a predetermined value.
US08242462B2 Lighting design of high quality biomedical devices
The invention relates to a plurality of light sources to power a variety of applications including microarray readers, microplate scanners, microfluidic analyzers, sensors, sequencers, Q-PCR and a host of other bioanalytical tools that drive today's commercial, academic and clinical biotech labs.
US08242460B2 Ultraviolet treatment apparatus
A process module for treating a dielectric film and, in particular, a process module for exposing, for example, a low dielectric constant (low-k) dielectric film to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is described. The process module includes a process chamber, a substrate holder coupled to the process chamber and configured to support a substrate, and a radiation source coupled to the process chamber and configured to expose the dielectric film to electromagnetic (EM) radiation. The radiation source includes a UV source, wherein the UV source has a UV lamp, and a reflector for directing reflected UV radiation from the UV lamp to the substrate. The reflector has a dichroic reflector, and a non-absorbing reflector disposed between the UV lamp and the substrate, and configured to reflect UV radiation from the UV lamp towards the dichroic reflector, wherein the non-absorbing reflector substantially prevents direct UV radiation from the UV lamp to the substrate.
US08242457B2 Charged particle optics with azimuthally-varying third-order aberrations for generation of shaped beams
A charged particle shaped beam column includes: a charged particle source; a gun lens configured to provide a charged particle beam approximately parallel to the optic axis of the column; an objective lens configured to form the charged particle shaped beam on the surface of a substrate, wherein the disk of least confusion of the objective lens does not coincide with the surface of the substrate; an optical element with 8N poles disposed radially symmetrically about the optic axis of the column, the optical element being positioned between the condenser lens and the objective lens, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and a power supply configured to apply excitations to the 8N poles of the optical element to provide an octupole electromagnetic field. The octupole electromagnetic field is configured to induce azimuthally-varying third-order deflections to the beam trajectories passing through the 8N-pole optical element. By controlling the excitation of the 8N poles a shaped beam, such as a square beam, can be formed at the surface of the substrate. The 8N-pole element can be magnetic or electrostatic.
US08242451B2 Aperture arrangement
An aperture arrangement is disclosed, such as an aperture arrangement suitable for use with a dual wavelength infrared detector. A detector is disclosed which includes a casing; an aperture defined in one end of the casing; and a filter having an inner region and an outer region substantially (e.g., greater than 50%) covering the aperture; wherein the outer region of the filter transmits radiation within a first range of wavelengths and reflects radiation within a second range of wavelengths.
US08242449B2 Light activated configuration of environmentally sealed metering products
A metering device and a method for reconfiguring the device to satisfy those regulatory agencies that require that a metering device be disassembled in some way prior to allowing any reconfiguration of the device, but do so without breaking or otherwise affecting the environmental sealing of the device.
US08242442B2 Method and apparatus for chemical and biological sample separation
The present invention involves a series of shifting reagents that selectively interact with a targeted functional group of biological molecules, pharmaceutical drugs, small molecules, chemicals, chemical agents, or explosives resulting in a structure selective based drift time shift in the IMS. The invention allows detecting and confirming samples using one or more ion mobility based spectrometers.
US08242441B2 Apparatus and methods for pneumatically-assisted electrospray emitter array
An electrospray ion source comprises a source of analyte-bearing liquid; a source of sheath gas; a plurality of liquid conduits, each configured so as to receive a portion of the analyte-bearing liquid; at least one electrode associated with the plurality of liquid conduits for producing electrospray emission of charged droplets from an outlet of each of the liquid conduits; a power supply electrically coupled to the at least one electrode for maintaining the at least one electrodes at an electrical potential; and either one or a plurality of sheath gas conduits, each sheath gas conduit comprising an inlet configured to receive sheath gas and an outlet configured to emit a sheath gas flow that circumferentially surrounds, in at least two dimensions, a portion of the emitted charged droplets.
US08242439B2 Method for the determination of the position of unsaturation in a compound
A mass spectrometric method for determining the position of unsaturation in a compound is disclosed.
US08242436B2 Neutron porosity logging tool using microstructured neutron detectors
A neutron porosity measurement device uses semiconductor detectors located at different distances from a cavity configured to accommodate a neutron source. Each of the semiconductor detectors includes (i) a semiconductor substrate doped to form a pn junction, and having microstructures of neutron reactive material formed to extend from a first surface inside the semiconductor substrate, and (ii) electrodes, one of which is in contact with the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and another one of which is in contact with a second surface of the semiconductor substrate, the second surface being opposite to the first surface. The electrodes are configured to acquire an electrical signal occurring when a neutron is captured inside the semiconductor substrate.
US08242435B2 Quantum entangled photon pair generating device
Excitation light is split into two components with mutually orthogonal polarization. One component is fed clockwise and the other component is fed counterclockwise into a polarization maintaining loop. An optical conversion generation unit including two second-order nonlinear optical media disposed on opposite sides of a half-wave plate in the loop generates up-converted light from each excitation component by second harmonic generation, and generates down-converted light from the up-converted light by spontaneous parametric down conversion. A polarization manipulation unit manipulates the polarization direction of at least one of the excitation or down-converted components. The clockwise and counterclockwise components of the down-converted light are recombined and output as quantum entangled photon pairs having substantially the same wavelength as the excitation light. The optical components can be optimized for operation at this wavelength without the need to consider the shorter wavelength of the up-converted light.
US08242432B2 System having light sensor with enhanced sensitivity including a multiplication layer for generating additional electrons
The optical device includes a waveguide and a light sensor on a base. The light sensor includes a ridge extending from slab regions positioned on opposing sides of the ridge. The ridge includes a multiplication layer and an absorption layer. The absorption layer is positioned to receive at least a portion of the light signal from the waveguide. Additionally, the absorption layer generates a hole and electron pair in response to receiving a photon of the light signal. The multiplication layer is positioned to receive the electron generated in the absorption layer and to generate additional electrons in response to receiving the electron.
US08242431B2 Automated de-icing system for low power lighting apparatus
An automated de-icing system for a low power lighting device having a light emitting face. The system includes one or more detectors for detecting conditions under which ice, frost or snow are likely to occur on the light emitting face. The system further includes a heat transfer system for transferring heat to the light emitting face and a controller for receiving data from the detector(s) and determining a likelihood of ice, frost or snow forming on the light emitting face. The controller engages the heat transfer system if the likelihood of ice, frost or snow forming on the light emitting face exceeds a threshold.
US08242428B2 Method and system for lidar using spatial information from a light source in combination with nonspatial information influenced by the subject to derive an image
A method and system for at least three dimensional imaging comprising a processor for processing information; at least one photon light source generating a beam of light; a modulator for modulating the light of the at least one photon light source; a plurality of first receivers operative to detect the influence of a subject on the beam; the plurality of first receivers being operatively connected to the processor and operating to transmit nonspatial information to the processor; the plurality of first receivers being spaced at known, different distances from the subject, whereby comparison of each of the outputs of the plurality of first receivers provides three dimensional information concerning the subject; the processor operating to correlate the outputs of the plurality of first receivers with spatial information derived from the modulated light at correlating intervals of time to create a three dimensional image of the subject.
US08242427B2 System and method for optically co-registering pixels
A system of the present disclosure has an optical element having a plurality of contiguous lenses, a detecting device having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels, the optical element having a lens in the plurality of lenses associated with each of the plurality of light-sensitive pixels, and intermediate imaging optics for receiving light indicative of an image and focusing the light onto the plurality of contiguous lenses such that the image is divided on each of the associated light-sensitive pixels.