| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08259981B2 |
Horn-loaded acoustic line source
A sound reproduction system is disclosed in which a sound enclosure defines a soundwave path having a first end, a second open end and at least one bend therebetween. At least one driver is provided at the first end for producing a driver soundwave that is confined by the sound enclosure for travel along the soundwave path. At least one baffle member is situated in the soundwave path, defining a reflective surface of preselected shape that reflects and constricts the soundwave therethrough. |
| US08259974B2 |
Configuration and method for detecting feedback in hearing devices
A configuration and associated methods are used for detecting acoustic feedback in a hearing device. One embodiment contains a first feedback detection unit, which determines the probability of feedback, a second feedback detection unit, which determines a weighting factor, and an arithmetic unit, which multiplies the feedback probability by the weighting factor. As an alternative to determining the weighting factor, a threshold value may also be controlled. This offers the advantage of improved acoustic feedback detection by a combination of two different feedback detection methods. |
| US08259972B2 |
Hearing aid adapted to a specific type of voice in an acoustical environment, a method and use
A hearing aid having a microphone for converting an ambient sound signal to an electric sound signal, a voice detector adapted to determine if a voice is present in said electric sound signal and a frequency analyzer to determine a fundamental frequency of a voice present in said electric sound signal, a signal processor adapted to process said electric sound signal, or an electric signal derived from it, independent of adjustable processing parameters, a memory having corresponding sets of processing parameters and fundamental voice frequencies, a decision unit to select and forward from the memory to the signal processor a set of processing parameters in accordance with a fundamental frequency determined by the frequency analyzer. Further, a method of adapting a hearing aid and to the use of such hearing aid. |
| US08259971B2 |
Hearing apparatus with controlled programming socket
A Hearing apparatuses is provided. The hearing apparatus includes a programming socket that features at least a first connection and a second connection, with a signal processing system that is connected to the second connection, and with a control system. The control system taps the potential of the first connection. The control system furthermore engages the signal processing system in a first function when the first connection reaches the predetermined potential and in a second function when the potential of the first connection deviates from the predetermined potential. This enables multiple usages for example of the input of a programming interface of a signal processing IC. |
| US08259965B2 |
Loudspeaker device with sound enhancing structure
A loudspeaker device comprising: a loudspeaker and a reflecting member positioned opposite to the loudspeaker, the loudspeaker comprising an electromagnet actuator, a dish-like frame and a vibrating drum, the electromagnetic actuator being attached on one side of the frame, the vibrating drum adhered to an inner side of the dish-like frame, the electromagnetic actuator being configured for driving the vibrating drum to vibrate, the vibrating drum being configured for generating sound of different frequencies and intensities; and the reflecting member shaped in a bowl configuration, comprising a concave shaped reflecting surface opposite to the vibrating drum; wherein the area of the reflecting surface is larger than an area of the vibrating drum. |
| US08259963B2 |
Microphone assembly with P-type preamplifier input stage
A microphone assembly is provided that includes a condenser transducer element having a displaceable diaphragm and a back-plate. The displaceable diaphragm and the back-plate are arranged to form a capacitor in combination. A preamplifier circuit has an input stage, the input stage comprising a P-type field effect transistor. The displaceable diaphragm and the back-plate are operatively connected between a source input and a gate input of the P-type field effect transistor. |
| US08259957B2 |
Communication devices
The disclosure relates to communication devices which monitor an audio environment at a remote location and convey to a user a representation of that audio environment. The “representation” may be an abstraction of the audio environment at the remote location or may be a measure of decibels or some other quality or parameter of the audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are two-way devices which allow users at remote locations to share an audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are one way devices. In some embodiments, the communication devices may have the form of a window and be arranged to present sound in a manner that mimics sound received through a window. In such embodiments, the more open the window is, the more sound is relayed by the communication device. |
| US08259954B2 |
Enhancing comprehension of phone conversation while in a noisy environment
In one embodiment, one or more users may be participating in a conversation. In one example, a first user may be speaking into a speaker end device and a second user may be listening at a listener end device. The second user may be in an environment where noise may be present. Particular embodiments determine characteristics of the noise at the listener end device. Characteristics of a voice signature for a user speaking with the speaker end device are also determined. Comprehension enhancement of voice signals received from speaker end device is then performed based on characteristics of the noise at the listener end device and characteristics of the voice signature. For example, the signature of the voice signals may be altered to lessen the overlap with the noise. |
| US08259950B2 |
Method for secure key management using multi-threshold secret sharing
A method and apparatus are disclosed for managing components of a secret key according to a secret sharing scheme. The disclosed secret sharing scheme divides a secret value, R, into n secret components (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) and one super component, S, in such a way that R can be computed from (i) any k or more R1 components (k |
| US08259949B2 |
Methods and apparatus for protecting digital content
A processing system to serve as a source device for protected digital content comprises a processor and control logic. When used by the processor, the control logic causes the processing system to receive a digital certificate from a presentation device. The processing system then uses public key infrastructure (PKI) to determine whether the presentation device has been authorized by a certificate authority (CA) to receive protected content. The processing system may also generate a session key and use the session key to encrypt data. The processing system may transmit the encrypted data to the presentation device only if the presentation device has been authorized by the CA to receive protected content. Presentation devices and repeaters may perform corresponding operations, thereby allowing content to be transmitted and presented in a protected manner. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08259947B2 |
Recreating a cryptographic key in a replacement device
Embodiments describe a method and/or system whereby a secret key in a cryptographic system may be replaced without revealing the secret key. One embodiment comprises creating a first private key and corresponding first public key. A second private key associated with the first private key and a second public key corresponding to the second private key are also created. The second private key is output once such that it can be re-created and the second public key is output when outputting the first public key. The first private key is used for authentication. The method further comprises re-creating the second private key; and using the second private key for authentication. Another embodiment comprises creating a private key and corresponding public key with associated system parameter; outputting the system parameter when outputting the public key; and using the private key for authentication. The method may further comprise creating a new private key using the previous key and the system parameter. |
| US08259946B2 |
Communication apparatus, reader/writer, communication system, and communication method
There is provided a communication apparatus including a non-contact communication unit for performing a non-contact communication with a reader/writer; a storage unit for storing data for every logic system corresponding to at least one encryption method, and retransmission interval information of each communication command transmitted from the reader/writer for every encryption method; and a selection unit for selecting the retransmission interval information of each communication command in the encryption method to which the logic system specified by the reader/writer corresponds from the storage unit. The retransmission interval information selected by the selection unit is transmitted from the non-contact communication unit to the reader/writer. |
| US08259945B2 |
Communication system, information processing apparatus, information processing method, recording medium and program
A portable server has an antenna and radio communicating portion having a receivable distance of several m to several tens of m and an authentication antenna and authentication radio communicating portion having a receivable distance of several mm to several cm, which is extremely shorter than the receivable distance of the radio communicating portion. When an authentication button is operated by a user and when another apparatus is arranged within a range of the receivable distance of the authentication radio communicating portion, the authentication radio communicating portion performs authentication processing with the other apparatus through the authentication antenna and registers authentication data resulting from the authentication with a memory. The radio communicating portion connects to the authenticated other apparatus through an antenna based on the authentication data and performs data communication. The invention is applicable to a radio communication system including a mobile terminal. |
| US08259944B2 |
System and method for pathological pattern protection
In a frame synchronous scrambled communications network, communications are protected from pathological bit patterns that may lead to loss of receiver lock by detecting a pathological bit pattern in an incoming traffic stream using a pathological pattern detector. When a pathological bit pattern, such as a transition-less bit pattern, is detected, a corrective bit pattern is generated and inserted or substituted into the incoming traffic stream before transmission to the receiver. The receiver can be configured to revert the modified traffic stream back to the original traffic stream. |
| US08259943B2 |
Method for decrypting serial transmission signal
A method for decrypting a serial transmission signal includes the following steps. First, the serial transmission signal including a serial data signal and a serial clock signal is received. Then, m bits are sequentially read from the serial data signal according to the serial clock signal. Next, values corresponding to the m bits are generated. Thereafter, each value is added to a content value of a register by an addition operation to obtain an addition result, and then the addition result replaces the content value and is stored in the register. |
| US08259942B2 |
Arranging data ciphering in a wireless telecommunication system
Arranging data ciphering in a telecommunication system comprising at least one wireless terminal, a wireless local area network and a public land mobile network. At least one first ciphering key according to the mobile network is calculated in the mobile network and in the terminal for a terminal identifier using a specific secret key for the identifier. Data transmission between the mobile network and the terminal is carried out through the wireless local area network. A second ciphering key is calculated in the terminal and in the mobile network using said at least one first ciphering key. The second ciphering key is sent from the mobile network to the wireless local area network. The data between the terminal and the network is ciphered using said second ciphering key. |
| US08259941B2 |
Image processor, image processing method, and computer program product for storing images and related code information
In an MFP, an image on an original is read and the image is stored as a document (input image) in an HDD. A marking-information generation module generates marking information (two-dimensional code information) expressing at least one of information relating to storage of the document and an output parameters of the document. A document-relevance-information management module relates the marking information to the stored image, and an encryption/decryption module encrypts the marking information. A marking generation module generates a marking image from the encrypted marking information, and the marking image is printed out. |
| US08259938B2 |
Efficient and secure forensic marking in compressed
Methods, devices, and computer program products enable the embedding of forensic marks in a host content that is in compressed domain. These and other features are achieved by preprocessing of a host content to provide a plurality of host content versions with different embedded watermarks that are subsequently compressed. A host content may then be efficiently marked with forensic marks in response to a request for such content. The marking process is conducted in compressed domain, thus reducing the computational burden of decompressing and re-compressing the content, and avoiding further perceptual degradation of the host content. In addition, methods, devices and computer program products are disclosed that obstruct differential analysis of such forensically marked content. |
| US08259936B2 |
Generating a traffic encryption key
Apparatus and method for generating a traffic encryption key includes generating a traffic encryption key for encrypting data transmitted as part of a service, the traffic encryption key having a validity equal to a traffic encryption key validity time period; checking whether a period for the service is longer than the traffic encryption key validity time period; and if the period of the service is longer than the traffic encryption key validity time period, ascertaining a residual period which indicates by what period the service is longer than the traffic encryption key validity time period of the traffic encryption key; generating a residual traffic encryption key which is used for encrypting data transmitted as part of a service; ascertaining a residual traffic encryption key validity time period which indicates for how long the residual traffic encryption key is valid; and associating the residual traffic encryption key validity time period with the residual traffic encryption key. |
| US08259933B2 |
Secure open-air communication system utilizing multi-channel decoyed transmission
A secure, open-air communication system utilizes a plurality of “decoy” data signals to hide one or more true data signals. The true data signal(s) are channel hopped with the plurality of decoy data signals to form a multi-channel “scrambled” output signal that is thereafter transmitted in an open-air communication system. The greater the number of decoy signals, the greater the security provided to the open-air system. Further security may be provided by encrypting both the true and decoy signals prior to scrambling and/or by utilizing a spatially diverse set of transmitters and receivers. Without the knowledge of the channel assignment(s) for the true signal(s), an eavesdropper may be able to intercept (and, with time, perhaps descramble) the open-air transmitted signals, will not be able to distinguish the true data from the decoys without also knowing the channel assignment(s). |
| US08259931B2 |
Sliding mechanism and electronic device having the same
A sliding mechanism comprises a sliding plate, a main plate, a first slide enabling member and a biasing member. The sliding plate has two angled portions. The main plate has two side walls. The first slide enabling member is coupling the angled portions of the sliding plate to the side walls of the main plate such that the sliding plate is slid relative to the main plate from a closed position or to retract from an open position. The first slide enabling member comprises a set of first roller assembly and a set of first tracks that engage the first roller assembly, when the sliding plate slide relative to the main plate, the first roller assembly are rotated and slid relative to the first tracks. The biasing member biases the sliding plate to slide to the open position when the sliding plate crosses an intermediate position. |
| US08259928B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing timestamp noise in audio echo cancellation
A communication end device of a two-way communication system is shown. The device includes an audio signal capture device for capturing local audio to be transmitted to another end device, an audio signal rendering device for playing remote audio received from the other end device, and buffers for buffering the captured and rendered audio signals. The device also includes an audio echo canceller operating to predict echo from the rendered audio signal at a calculated relative offset in the captured audio signal based on an adaptive filter, and subtract the predicted echo from the signal transmitted to the other end device The calculated relative offset that is used by the audio echo canceller for a current signal sample is adjusted if a difference between it and an adjusted relative offset of a preceding sample exceeds a threshold value. |
| US08259927B2 |
Method and arrangement for the adaptive filtering of signals
The invention relates to a method for adaptive filtering in which a level of a reference signal necessary for the adaptive filtering is determined in the context of an adaptation by estimation, using a quantity equivalent to the reference signal, wherein the filtering is dependent on the electrical power of at least one signal extracted from a transmission channel to be filtered, and the equivalent quantity is determined by means of a mathematical function based on the electrical power of at least the extracted signal. The invention further relates to an arrangement with means for carrying out the method. |
| US08259917B2 |
System and method for generating one-way speech signal samples
A system and method for generating one-way speech signal samples may include, in a telecommunications network, establishing a call connection between a far-end telephone and a near-end telephone. A resistance component may be selectively configured in parallel with the far-end telephone, where the resistance component has a value representative of resistance produced by the far-end telephone being off hook. A speech signal being communicated from the near-end telephone may be recorded. |
| US08259908B2 |
Method and apparatus for metallic line testing of a subscriber line
A method for performing metallic line testing on a communication system is provided. The communication system includes an isolation transformer disposed between a provider circuit operable to provide a digital subscriber line signal and a subscriber circuit. The isolation transformer has a center tap. A test signal is injected at the center tap. A response of the subscriber circuit to the test signal is sensed. |
| US08259906B2 |
System and method for testing a DSL and POTS connection
A handset test adapter includes a telephone jack operable to receive a cord for testing a communications connection. The communications connection being POTS or DSL service. The handset test adapter includes a switch in communication with the telephone jack and a telephone plug in communication with the switch. The telephone plug is operable to communicate with a handset tester for testing the DSL service. The handset test adapter includes electrical plugs in communication with the switch. The electrical plugs are operable to communicate with the handset tester for testing the POTS. The switch is operable to receive a user selection of POTS or DSL service. The switch connects the telephone jack to the telephone plug in response to the user selection indicating DSL service, and the switch connects the telephone jack to the electrical plugs in response to the user selection indicating POTS. |
| US08259902B2 |
Raman analysis of tissue and/or calcifications
Non invasive in-vivo measurement of composition of a tissue within a part of a human or animal subject is carried out by detecting a Raman spectral characteristic in light scattered through the part using a transmission, rather than a backscattering geometry. The technique is applied to the detection of calcifications in human breast tissues. |
| US08259899B2 |
Multi-modality tomography apparatus
The invention relates to a multi-modality tomography apparatus (11) including a first tomograph (13) and a second tomograph or imaging system (14) using different tomography techniques, such as X-ray CT tomography and PET or SPECT tomography, or a tomographic or planar optical imaging system, which are located on the same face of a support means (12) which can rotate in both directions of rotation around an axial support shaft (12), such that a subject undergoing examination and placed on a subject support does not have to be moved during a tomographic examination with any of the two tomographs (13, 14) installed on the same face of the support (12). |
| US08259898B2 |
Method for predicting specific cycle phases of a beating heart in a patient within the scope of a CT examination and CT system
A method and a CT system are disclosed for predicting specific cardiac cycle phases within the scope of a CT examination, wherein signal profiles of the heart are continuously recorded during the examination over a plurality of cardiac cycles, wherein times of successive cycle positions with the same characteristics are determined with the aid of the signal profiles and the successive cycle lengths of the cardiac cycles are determined with the aid of the determined times, wherein typical patterns in successive cycle lengths over a first number of past and successive cardiac cycles are sought after and a current or future cycle length is determined by recording cycle patterns in a second, smaller number of cycle lengths including their typical successive cycle length within the first number of current past cycle lengths, and predicting, using probabilistic methods, the cycle length that follows the last determined cycle pattern on the basis of the cycle patterns currently determined during the CT examination. |
| US08259894B2 |
Method of suppressing deposition of radioactive isotope
A formic acid aqueous solution that contains Fe (II) ions is produced by dissolving metal iron in a formic acid aqueous solution. Nitrogen is supplied from a nitrogen supply device to a chemical liquid tank and then discharged from a discharge line to reduce the dissolved oxygen concentration in the aqueous solution. The chemical liquid tank is filled with the formic acid aqueous solution sealed with nitrogen, and transferred from a factory to a nuclear reactor building designated as radiation-controlled areas. Inside the nuclear reactor building, the chemical liquid tank is installed in a film deposition apparatus connected to a reactor water recirculation pipeline. The formic acid aqueous is supplied from the chemical liquid tank to the inside of the reactor water recirculation pipeline, and then a ferrite film is formed on the inner surface of the reactor water recirculation pipeline. |
| US08259893B2 |
Device for cleaning and/or securing a safe containment defined in a device for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials
A method for underwater packaging of radioactive materials includes creating a vacuum in a cavity of a cleaning device to automatically cause a portion of the cleaning device to move upward to actuate the cleaning device from an open position to a closed position; mounting the cleaning device inside a safe containment area of a transportation and/or storage device; placing the transportation and/or storage device in a pool after filling the safe containment area with water; loading a radioactive material into the safe containment area; closing the transportation and/or storage device using at least one cover; extracting the transportation and/or storage device from the pool; draining the water inside the safe containment area; and creating a pressure differential in the safe containment area to dry the safe containment area, wherein the pressure differential causes the cleaning device to automatically actuate from the closed position to the open position. |
| US08259891B2 |
Adaptable phase lock loop transfer function for digital video interface
A digital video interface receiver adjusts a transfer function of a phase-locked loop circuit having a programmable charge pump, a programmable phase-locked loop filter, or a programmable gain voltage controlled oscillator. The digital video interface receiver monitors and detects errors in a data stream associated with the phase-locked loop circuit. Moreover, the digital video interface receiver changes the transfer function of the phase-locked loop circuit, in response to the detected errors, by changing parameters associated with the programmable charge pump, the programmable phase-locked loop filter, or the programmable gain voltage controlled oscillator of the phase-locked loop circuit so as to change the transfer function of the phase-locked loop circuit. |
| US08259889B2 |
Apparatus and method for frequency synthesis using delay locked loop
An apparatus and method for frequency synthesis using a Delay Locked Loop (DLL) are provided. The apparatus includes the DLL, an edge pulse generator, and an inductive-capacitive (LC) tank switch. If phases of a reference frequency signal and a feedback signal are the same and thus are locked, the DLL delays the reference frequency signal. The edge pulse generator generates a plurality of pulse signals representing phase delay amounts of signals. The LC tank switch combines the plurality of pulse signals and generates frequency. |
| US08259885B2 |
Mobile station apparatus, base station apparatus, communication method and communication system
In the case that periodical transmission of transmission signal number-of-sequence quality indicative signal cannot be performed, the number of transmission signal sequences is clarified in association with reception quality information that is generated immediately after the case, and the base station apparatus performs appropriate communication resource allocation. A mobile station apparatus has a feedback information control section 65 that generates feedback information including reception quality information, transmission signal preprocessing information and transmission signal number-of-sequence information, and a radio transmission section 51 that periodically transmits the generated feedback information to the base station apparatus, where when the radio transmission section 51 does not transmit the transmission signal number-of-sequence information with communication resources periodically allocated from the base station apparatus so as to transmit the transmission signal number-of-sequence information, the radio transmission section 51 transmits the transmission signal number-of-sequence information to the base station apparatus with communication resources enabling transmission of the feedback information allocated from the base station apparatus subsequently to the communication resources. |
| US08259877B2 |
Method and device for automatic gain control with limited jitter
The invention concerns controlling automatic gain control for a digital signal receiver. The method includes receiving a digital feedback signal for controlling an amplifier and processing the digital feedback signal to deliver a driving signal to an analog amplifier. Processing the digital feedback signal comprises regulating the evolution of the driving signal so that it is maintained constant during a predetermined period of time after every change. |
| US08259875B2 |
Technique for determining a frequency offset
A technique for determining a frequency offset between components of a communication network based on a Constant Amplitude Zero Auto-Correlation (CAZAC) sequence is described. A method implementation of this technique comprises a provision of a set of correlation signals at different frequencies, with each correlation signal being indicative of a specific frequency offset hypothesis and comprising the CAZAC sequence. Once a synchronization signal comprising the CAZAC sequence is received, this synchronization signal is correlated with each of the correlation signals to obtain a correlation result for each frequency offset hypothesis. In a next step, at least one of the frequency offset hypotheses is selected based on a comparison of the correlation results. The frequency offset may then be determined based on the at least one selected frequency offset hypothesis. |
| US08259873B2 |
Method and apparatus for correlating two data sections
Watermarking of audio signals intends to manipulate the audio signal in a way that the changes in the audio content cannot be recognized by the human auditory system. The watermark data are decoded from the received watermarked audio signal by correlation with corresponding candidate reference sequences. One or more of the sync symbols are embedded twice in the watermark data frame in the encoder. Thereafter a circular correlation is calculated instead of a standard correlation. |
| US08259871B2 |
Reception device, transmission device, and adaptive transmission rate control method
In a receiver, a channel estimation unit estimates channel characteristics of each channel, and a weight generation unit generates a weight matrix used in equalization processing by an equalizer in accordance with the estimated values of channel characteristics for each channel as estimated by the channel estimation unit. Furthermore, a likelihood calculation unit calculates a likelihood indicating a degree of certainty for each transmission stream using the weight matrix generated by the weight generation unit, and an adaptive control unit determines a transmission rate appropriate for transmission of a signal from a transmitter to the receiver in accordance with the likelihood of each transmission stream calculated by the likelihood calculation unit, notifying the transmitter of the determined transmission rate. |
| US08259865B2 |
Methods and apparatus for adapting channel estimation in a communication system
Methods and apparatus for adapting a channel estimation scheme in a transceiver in a communication system are disclosed to adapt channel estimation to the transceiver environment, particularly for high Doppler environments. The disclosed methods and apparatus effect determination of an estimate of a power delay profile of a channel or a time correlation of the channel, or both. A channel estimation scheme is then determined based on at least one of the determined power delay profile and time correlation of the channel. By basing determination of a channel estimation scheme on the power delay profile and/or the time correlation of the channel, the channel estimation scheme is adapted to the particular environment of the transceiver by accounting for the delay spread of the channel and/or the speed of the transceiver. |
| US08259863B2 |
Method for transmitting and decoding signals considering repeatedly transmitted information
Signal transmitting and decoding methods considering repeatedly transmitted information in transmitting informations in various types are disclosed. Both a first type information varying with a long period and a second type information varying with a short period are simultaneously transmitted by a same period. A receiving side receiving these informations is able to perform fast decoding by unmasking the corresponding information prior to decoding of a next received signal after obtaining the first type information in a manner of considering a fact that the first type information is repeatedly transmitted for a prescribed period of time. |
| US08259857B2 |
Methods and systems for increased communication throughput
Systems and methods for increasing communication throughput by superimposing multiple signal components in the same bandwidth are disclosed. Cochannel interference is reduced by using signal separation algorithms. The signal separation algorithms may use both a priori information about the superimposed signals and measured channel parameters. In addition, error correction encoding and interleaving may be used to reduce signal power and obviate the need for ideal signal separation. |
| US08259846B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating a multicarrier communication signal having a reduced crest factor
An apparatus for generating a multicarrier communication signal having a reduced crest factor enables efficient power amplifier operation. The apparatus includes a plurality of shaping filters (205-n) for outputting a plurality of shaped baseband transmission signals. A plurality of mixers (210-n) then multiplies each signal by one of a plurality of complex carrier signals. A window function generator (235) generates a clipping window signal based on power levels of the unshaped baseband transmission signals. A plurality of window output units (245-n) outputs a plurality of subtraction-based clipping window signals. At least one summing unit (260) then generates the multicarrier communication signal having the reduced crest factor from the plurality of subtraction-based clipping window signals and the plurality of shaped baseband transmission signals. |
| US08259845B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating with root-nyquist, self-transform pulse shapes
A communication system (20) comprises a transmitter (22) and a receiver (24). The transmitter (22) comprises a source of information symbols (30); a pulse shaping wave function generator (32); and a combiner (34) configured to express the information symbols received from the source as signals which are shaped in time and frequency domains by the wave function. The pulse shaping wave function generator (32) is configured to provide a wave function which has the Nyquist property and has a same shape as its own Fourier transform. The combiner (34) is configured to combine the wave function with a stream of digital data symbols to produce a filtered stream for transmission by the transmitter. |
| US08259843B2 |
Dynamic digital pre-distortion system
A Dynamic Digital Pre-Distortion (DDPD) system is disclosed to rapidly correct power amplifier (PA) non-linearity and memory effects. To perform pre-distortion, a DDPD engine predistorts an input signal in order to cancel PA nonlinearities as the signal is amplified by the PA. The DDPD engine is implemented as a composite of one linear filter and N−1 high order term linear filters. The bank of linear filters have programmable complex coefficients. To compute the coefficients, samples from the transmit path and a feedback path are captured, and covariance matrices A and B are computed using optimized hardware. After the covariance matrices are computed, Gaussian elimination processing may be employed to compute the coefficients. Mathematical and hardware optimizations may be employed to simplify and reduce the number of multiplication operands and other operations, which can enable the DDPD system to fit within a single chip. |
| US08259841B2 |
Digital transmitter
An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer. |
| US08259840B2 |
Data communication via a voice channel of a wireless communication network using discontinuities
A system and method for data communication over a cellular communications network that allows the transmission of digital data over a voice channel using a vocoder that operates in different modes depending upon characteristics of the inputted signal it receives. To prepare the digital data for transmission, one or more carrier signals are encoded with the digital data using one of a number of modulation schemes that utilize differential phase shift keying to give the modulated carrier signal certain periodicity and energy characteristics that allow it to be transmitted by the vocoder at full rate. The modulation schemes include DPSK using either a single or multiple frequency carriers, combined FSK-DPSK modulation, combined ASK-DPSK, PSK with a phase tracker in the demodulator, as well as continuous signal modulation (ASK or FSK) with inserted discontinuities that can be independent of the digital data. |
| US08259839B2 |
Method for avoiding interference radiation of AM transmitters used in digital transmission
A method for avoiding spurious emissions in an AM transmitter for digital transmission includes converting a digital modulation for controlling the AM transmitter into an amplitude signal for an amplitude branch, and a phase-modulated RF signal for a RF branch. Non-linear distortions in an amplitude response and a delay-time characteristic of an amplitude branch are compensated for using a pre-equalization with inverse shapes by measuring and storing the amplitude response and the delay-time characteristic of the RF branch. An inverse transfer function is determined using respective shapes of the measured amplitude response and delay-time characteristic by an inverse Fourier transform. An equalizing network is dimensioned for the determined inverse transfer function. The equalizing network is connected in series upstream of the RF branch. The amplitude and RF branches are combined downstream of the amplitude and RF branches. |
| US08259836B2 |
Method and system for generating candidate beamforming coefficients for transmission of data over a wireless medium
A method and system for generating a number of candidate beamforming vectors for transmission of data over a wireless medium, is provided. One implementation involves determining the number (N) of transmitter antennas; determining the number (n) of candidate beamforming vectors to be constructed as an algebraic function of N; providing a Fourier transform matrix W comprising (n+1) rows and (n+1) columns; selecting N rows from the Fourier transform matrix W; and generating an abridged matrix using the selected N rows, wherein each column of the abridged matrix is configured to be used as a candidate beamforming vector for transmission of a data signal, such that the abridged matrix comprises a N×n sub-matrix of the Fourier transform matrix W. |
| US08259828B2 |
Sub-carrier alignment mechanism for OFDM multi-carrier systems
A method of aligning sub-carriers of radio signals of two adjacent frequency channels and devices therefor are described. The method comprises aligning a first plurality of sub-carriers of a first radio signal and a second plurality of sub-carriers of a second radio signal within an overlapped frequency region in-between the two adjacent frequency channels by shifting a center frequency of the first radio signal with a frequency offset. The first radio signal and the second radio signal are adapted for transmission over the two adjacent frequency channels and the first frequency channel is one of the two adjacent frequency channels. |
| US08259826B2 |
Receiving apparatus, communication system, receiving method and program
A receiving apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of synchronizing circuits which is provided corresponding to different preamble signals of a reception signal and operate simultaneously at the time of receiving the preamble signals so as to output synchronous signals, a correlation value comparing section which compares correlation values of the synchronous signals output from the plurality of synchronizing circuits, and a synchronizing section which determines whether the received signal is for the subject apparatus based on a comparison result from the correlation value comparing section. |
| US08259825B2 |
Mapping and signaling of common reference symbols for multiple antennas
A method, a network base station, and a user communication device for transmitting data on an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing carrier are disclosed. An antenna array may transmit a signal decodable by a legacy user communication device designed for compatibility with a legacy set of transmission antennas. A processor 210 may encode a subframe of the signal with a legacy set of common reference symbols and a supplemental set of common reference symbols referring to the antenna array. |
| US08259824B2 |
Nested precoding codebook structures for MIMO systems
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter is for use with NT transmit antennas and includes a precoder unit configured to precode data for transmission using a preceding matrix selected from a nested codebook, wherein the nested codebook provides codebooks corresponding to different transmission layers that are derived from column subsets of multiple NT×NT preceding matrices. The transmitter also includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the precoded data. In another embodiment, the receiver includes a receive unit configured to receive preceded data. The receiver also includes a precoder selection unit configured to select a preceding matrix from a nested codebook for the preceded data, wherein the nested codebook provides codebooks corresponding to different transmission layers that are derived from column subsets of multiple NT×NT preceding matrices. |
| US08259822B1 |
Polar and quadrature modulated cellular, WiFi, WiLAN, satellite, mobile, communication and position finder systems
Polar and quadrature modulator for receiving a baseband processed voice signal and for processing, modulating and transmitting voice signal. Voice signal processor and modulator for processing voice signal into Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) signal. A location finding signal receiver, demodulator and processor for receiving, demodulating and processing a location finder signal into demodulated processed location finder signal. Location finder signal receiver receiving signal from two or more satellite and two or more ground based transmitters. Diversity receivers for signal reception from cellular and from Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). Filtered polar modulated signal used in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system including Global Mobile System (GSM). Receiver for receiving transmitted signal has a radio frequency (RF) unit which is located at a remote location from demodulator. |
| US08259815B2 |
Encoding and decoding traffic information using encoding fields
A method for identifying traffic information includes receiving traffic data including a first identifier, information that is encoded, and information corresponding to a field indicative of an encoding scheme. The first identifier enables a determination of a type of information that is included within the received traffic data. The method also includes determining a type of information included within the received traffic data based on the first identifier and determining encoding information based on the field indicative of an encoding scheme included in the received traffic data only if the first identifier enables a determination that the received traffic data includes a field indicative of an encoding scheme. The method further includes identifying the information that is encoded based on the determined encoding information. |
| US08259811B2 |
Method for determining a number of items of encoded data that can be stored in a memory, and method for controlling sizes of items of encoded image data to be stored in a memory
Methods are provided for an apparatus which encodes items of data by variable-length coding and which stores the encoded items of data in a memory, wherein a size of one of the items of encoded data is variable by varying a value of a control parameter of the variable-length coding. One method includes: determining an amount of available memory space in the memory; determining a value of the control parameter for the variable-length coding of the items of data; and determining a number of items of encoded data that can be stored in the available memory space, based on an upper limit of the size of one of the items of encoded data at the determined value of the control parameter. |
| US08259808B2 |
Low complexity video decoder
A low complexity video decoder includes: a fast variable length decoding (VLD) and inverse quantization module arranged to perform fast VLD and inverse quantization on an input bit stream to generate inverse quantization results; an inverse transform unit arranged to perform inverse transform on the inverse quantization results to generate inverse transform results; a motion compensation module arranged to perform motion compensation according to the input bit stream and generate associated prediction outputs, wherein the motion compensation module includes a temporal/spatial prediction unit arranged to perform temporal/spatial prediction to generate at least a portion of the prediction outputs; an arithmetic unit arranged to sum up the inverse transform results and the prediction outputs to generate compensated outputs; a reconstructed frame output unit arranged to generate reconstructed frames according to the compensated outputs; and a frame storage arranged to store some reconstructed frames. |
| US08259806B2 |
Extracting features of video and audio signal content to provide reliable identification of the signals
Signatures that can be used to identify video and audio content are generated from the content by generating measures of dissimilarity between features of corresponding groups of pixels in frames of video content and by generating low-resolution time-frequency representations of audio segments. The signatures are generated by applying a hash function to intermediate values derived from the measures of dissimilarity and to the low-resolution time-frequency representations. The generated signatures may be used in a variety of applications such as restoring synchronization between video and audio content streams and identifying copies of original video and audio content. The generated signatures can provide reliable identifications despite intentional and unintentional modifications to the content. |
| US08259802B2 |
Reference pictures for inter-frame differential video coding
A video encoder using inter-frame differential coding has a store (3) for containing a plurality of reference pictures. For each incoming picture it chooses one (or more) of the stored reference pictures to use. Control means (10) select which locally decoded pictures are to be entered into, and removed from, so that the store always contains at least one relatively older picture that lies within a defined time window and at least one relatively younger picture that is more recent than the time window. When it receives an error message from a receiver, it switches the coder from its normal a state (in which it is allowed to choose any picture as predictor) into a state in which it is permitted to choose only a said relatively older picture for prediction. The beginning of the time window is preferably set according to the estimated (or observed) round trip time between the encoder and decoder such that at least one of the relatively older pictures always predated the error message. |
| US08259801B2 |
Methods for coding digital media data with prediction information and prediction error information being respectively carried by different bit stream sections
A method for encoding digital media data includes deriving a portion of prediction information and a portion of prediction error information of the digital media data, and encoding the digital media data into a bit stream. The bit stream comprises a first bit stream section and a second bit stream section that respectively carry the portion of prediction information and the portion of prediction error information. In addition, within the bit stream, the portion of prediction information and the portion of prediction error information are not carried in the same macroblock (MB) or the same sub-unit of an MB. A method for decoding encoded digital media data and a method for coding digital media data and a method for processing bit stream of digital media data are also provided. |
| US08259798B2 |
Distributed video encoder and decoder and distributed video decoding method
A distributed video encoder and decoder and a distributed video decoding method using adaptive quantization are provided. Adaptive quantization is performed at the time of encoding and decoding so that limited resources and information can be efficiently used, and a predetermined bit which is previously defined is included in a position of a bit which does not need to be transmitted for channel coding, thereby improving a bit rate-distortion performance as a whole. |
| US08259796B2 |
Image coding apparatus and image coding method
An image coding apparatus calculates an image change rate with respect to input image data, predicts an average activity appropriate for a coding target picture that is included in the input image data based on the image change rate, and normalizes an activity using the predicted value of the average activity. Based on the normalized activity, the image coding apparatus performs a quantization of the image data. |
| US08259793B2 |
System and method of fast MPEG-4/AVC quantization
A system and method for coding moving pictures according to MPEG-4/AVC is described which performs rapid quantization of the transformed residue signal is described. The system and method may employ a number of techniques, which may be considered separately or in combination, including: extreme macroblock (MB) analysis, pre-execution table generation, conditional skipping, and picture level scaling. For example, MBs are detected wherein the quantization scale is adapted prior to quantization processing. The quantization process can be skipped for DCT coefficients which do not meet a threshold criterion. Weighted quantization can be readily performed in response to generating sets of scaled quantization tables in the beginning of encoding each picture, wherein the quantization scale of the DCT coefficients need not be scaled in response to position. |
| US08259782B2 |
Method and device for estimating a gaussian white noise power in a channel, and receiver
A method and device for estimating a Gaussian white noise power in a channel and a receiver are provided. The method includes performing a multi-path search on a received signal to find out paths of the signal; performing a noise estimation on one of the paths to acquire a total noise power of the path; performing an inter-path interference noise estimation on N paths spaced apart from the path by an integral number of chips to obtain an inter-path interference noise power of a single path of the signal, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and subtracting the inter-path interference noise power from the total noise power to obtain the Gaussian white noise power. Through the technical solution of the disclosure, the Gaussian white noise power in a channel is obtained with a higher accuracy, so that the performance of equalization is enhanced. |
| US08259780B2 |
Downlink communication
A method for conserving bandwidth in a communication system includes spreading a data frame and a broadcast frame. A complex data stream having a first component and a second component is generated. The data frame is assigned to the first component and the broadcast frame is assigned to the second component. The complex data stream is transmitted to a tag. |
| US08259779B2 |
Method and apparatus with notched transmit frequency bins
A wireless network (20) with at least a first radio communication unit (24) and a second radio communication unit (26) transmits and receives signals with minimal interference from the surrounding environment of the first unit (24) and second unit (26). The first radio communication unit (24) determines frequencies (54) having power level above a threshold (52), and creates a list of these frequencies (50) to be transmitted to the second radio communication unit (26). The second radio communication unit (26) places notches (140) in its transmission band (88) based on frequencies (54) in the list (50), reserved frequencies (132), and local frequencies (92) having signal energy above a threshold (90). When transmitting a signal (42), the second radio communication unit (26) avoids transmitting in frequencies that have notches (140). |
| US08259777B2 |
Systems and methods for rapid uplink air interface synchronization
Rapid uplink synchronization is enabled by reducing a 2D search problem to two 1D search problems, which can generally be performed in less time. Advantage is taken of fact that a mobile device sends a ranging code on multiple sub-carriers. Using the assumption that adjacent sub-carriers will have approximately equivalent channel characteristics, phase ambiguity can be removed by differentially combining pairs of adjacent sub-carriers. Once the phase ambiguity is removed, the code, timing, and power level may be determined relatively quickly. In one embodiment, the values of correlations between received signals and possible codes are compared with a threshold. |
| US08259772B2 |
Fabrication of lasing microcavities consisting of highly luminescent colloidal nanocrystals
A method of producing a lasing microsource of colloidal nanocrystals. The method includes the steps of preparing a nanocrystal solution in a solvent; depositing at least a drop of the nanocrystals solution with a drop volume below 1 nl on a flat substrate; and evaporating the solvent to dryness thereby to obtain at the edge of the evaporated drop a single annular stripe including a domain wherein the nanocrystals are arranged in an ordered array, wherein the ordered nanocrystals in the domain constitute an active region capable of lasing and the radially inner and outer edges of the stripe define a resonant cavity in which the active region is inserted. |
| US08259771B1 |
Initiating laser-sustained plasma
A laser-sustained plasma light source with a bulb for enclosing a relatively cool gas environment, and an electrode disposed at least partially within the gas environment. A power supply applies a potential to the electrode, where the power supply is sufficient to create a corona discharge at the electrode within the gas environment, and the power supply is not sufficient to produce an arc discharge within the gas environment. The corona discharge thereby produces a relatively heated gas environment. A pump laser source focuses a laser beam within the gas environment, where the laser beam is sufficient to ignite a plasma in the relatively heated gas environment, but is not sufficient to ignite a plasma in the relatively cool gas environment. |
| US08259770B2 |
Laser array
Electrophotographic print system, comprising a photosensitive medium, and a laser array being provided with a plurality of laser diodes arranged to emit light onto the photosensitive medium for varying an electrical potential on a surface of the photosensitive medium, and a plurality of heat dissipation diodes, each heat dissipation diode being arranged in proximity to a corresponding laser diode, wherein each laser diode and the corresponding heat dissipation diode are coupled to a common drive circuit and are arranged in opposite current flow directions with respect to each other, so that in use the current flows either through the laser diode or through the heat dissipation diode depending on the current flow direction in the drive circuit. |
| US08259768B2 |
Optical fiber component and optical module using the same
An optical fiber component comprises an optical fiber that transmits light; and a coreless fiber that is connected to the end surface of the optical fiber and prevents foreign matter from adhering to the end surface of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the coreless fiber are connected by fusing one end surface of the coreless fiber to the end surface of the optical fiber. The core section on the end surface of the optical fiber is no longer exposed to the air. Moreover, the power density of light that is input at the core of the optical fiber is greatly reduced more than when there is no coreless fiber, so it is possible to prevent compounds of C, H and O from adhering to the core of the optical fiber. |
| US08259767B2 |
High-power quantum cascade lasers with active-photonic-crystal structure
Semiconductor laser array devices capable of emitting mid- to long-wavelength infrared (i.e., 4-12 μm) radiation are provided. The devices include a quantum cascade laser (QCL) structure comprising one or more active cores; an optical confinement structure; a cladding structure; and a plurality of laterally-spaced trench regions extending transversely through the optical confinement and cladding structures, and partially into the QCL structure. The trench regions, each of which comprises a lower trench layer comprising a semi-insulating material and an upper trench layer comprising a material having a refractive index that is higher than that of the semi-insulating material, define a plurality of laterally-spaced interelement regions separated by element regions in the laser array device. |
| US08259766B2 |
Laser diode drive circuit, electronic circuit, method for controlling laser diode drive circuit, and method for controlling duty
A laser diode drive circuit includes: a duty control amplifier (23) that controls the duty ratio of a main signal for laser control in accordance with a duty control signal; and an AND gate (22) that outputs the duty control signal to the duty control amplifier (23), and outputs a duty control signal that controls the duty ratio of the main signal to be 0% in the duty control amplifier in accordance with a shutdown signal of a laser diode. With this structure, there is no need to input the main signal having the duty ratio controlled to a logic circuit that becomes unstable. Thus, outputs from a semiconductor laser can be shut down, and the output duty can be controlled in a stable manner. |
| US08259765B2 |
Passive phase control in an external cavity laser
An external-cavity laser module includes a package defining an enclosure, the package including a base having a surface internal to the enclosure, a thermoelectric cooler within the enclosure, the thermoelectric cooler including an upper carrier plate and a lower carrier plate, the lower carrier plate being placed on the internal surface of the base and the thermoelectric cooler (TEC) being configured to stabilize the temperature of the upper carrier plate at a substantially constant temperature. The laser module further includes a laser assembly housed within the enclosure, including a gain medium for emitting an optical beam into the external cavity and an end mirror. Variations of the environmental temperature with respect to the thermally stabilized temperature cause mechanical deformations of the TEC upper carrier plate that is in thermal coupling with the laser assembly. The mechanical deformations in turn induce variations in the optical path length of the laser cavity. Thermal bridge of the gain medium to the environmental temperature is achieved by the use of a thermal bridge element for conducting heat either from or to the gain medium. |
| US08259761B2 |
Method and system for managing multimedia traffic over ethernet
Aspects of a method and system for managing multimedia traffic over Ethernet are provided. In this regard, multimedia traffic comprising one or more Ethernet frames may be identified via one or more headers comprising the frames and processed according to the identification. In this regard, general Ethernet traffic may be multiplexed into egress frames based on the identification. Similarly, ingress Ethernet frames may be demultiplexed into multimedia traffic and general traffic based on the identification. Headers utilized to identify and/or route multimedia traffic and general traffic may comprise Ethertype and/or subtype fields. Headers utilized to identify and/or route multimedia traffic and general traffic may comprise a connection identifier field. Similarly, Headers utilized to identify and/or route multimedia traffic and general traffic may comprise a data type field. |
| US08259760B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting and recovering multi-lane encoded data streams using a reduced number of lanes
A method includes receiving first encoded data associated with one or more first lanes and decoding the first encoded data to produce decoded data. The method also includes encoding the decoded data to produce second encoded data associated with one or more second lanes and transmitting the second encoded data. In some embodiments, the method may further include multiplexing a plurality of code group sequences (the second encoded data) into the one or more second lanes, and the number of first lanes may be greater than the number of second lanes. In other embodiments, the method may also include demultiplexing a plurality of code group sequences from the one or more first lanes into a plurality of the second lanes, and the number of first lanes may be less than the number of second lanes. |
| US08259755B2 |
Alignment and deskew for multiple lanes of serial interconnect
Methods and apparatus are provided for data communication between a transmitter and receiver over a plurality of serial links, which cause the transmitter to send serialized groups of bits down each lane, in such a way that the first bit of each group (each lane) is guaranteed to arrive in the correct order at the receiving end. Various embodiments of the present invention include declaring a budget for the maximum skew between lanes. In such embodiments, subsequent to determining the skew budget between lanes, the data to be transmitted is divided into groups of N bits, where N is any convenient number larger than M times S, with M being the number of lanes and S being the budgeted skew, in bit times. |
| US08259753B2 |
Systems and methods for short range RF communication
A method transmitting a message over at least one of a plurality of channels of a communications network is provided. The method comprises the steps of detecting a presence of jamming pulses in the at least one of the plurality of channels. The characteristics of the jamming pulses in the at least one of the plurality of channels is determined wherein the determined characteristics define at least interstices between the jamming pulses. The message is transmitted over the at least one of the plurality of channels wherein the message is transmitted within the interstices of the jamming pulse determined from the step of determining characteristics of the jamming pulses. |
| US08259752B2 |
Medium access control layer architecture for supporting enhanced uplink
A medium access control (MAC) layer architecture and functionality for supporting enhanced uplink (EU). A MAC entity for EU, (i.e., a MAC-e entity), is incorporated into a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a Node-B and a radio network controller (RNC). The WTRU MAC-e handles hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) transmissions and retransmissions, priority handling, MAC-e multiplexing, and transport format combination (TFC) selection. The Node-B MAC-e entity handles H-ARQ transmissions and retransmissions, E-DCH scheduling and MAC-e de-multiplexing. The RNC MAC-e entity provides in-sequence delivery and handles combining of data from different Node-Bs. |
| US08259751B2 |
Bandwidth-allocating device and method
In the bandwidth-allocating method of the present invention for PON (: Passive Optical Network), a bandwidth is allocated from an optical line terminal to each optical network unit. The optical line terminal stores a bandwidth contract table for indicating a correspondence relationship between communication flow IDs and service quality parameters, each communication flow ID identifying each communication flow between the optical line terminal and each optical network unit. The bandwidth-allocating method includes a step of transmitting a service-quality request message including the communication flow IDs and the service quality parameters from each optical network unit to the optical line terminal, and a step of the optical line terminal's updating the bandwidth contract table based on the service quality parameters, and performing the bandwidth allocation to a communication flow specified by the corresponding communication flow ID based on the bandwidth contract table. |
| US08259750B2 |
Method and device for mapping ethernet code blocks to OTN for transmission
A method and a device for mapping Ethernet code blocks to an optical transport network (OTN) for transmission are provided. In the method, 10G Ethernet code blocks are mapped to an OTN frame corresponding to an optical channel payload unit 2 (OPU2) as a bit stream within a justification range according to an asynchronous bit-stream mapping manner, an identifier for indicating the asynchronous bit-stream mapping manner is set at an overhead (OH) portion of the OTN frame, an offset of a certain code block in the bit stream relative to a certain position of the OTN frame is recorded, and an indicator for indicating the offset position is set. Thus, specific solutions for mapping 10G Ethernet code blocks having an encoding rate lower than a minimum payload bandwidth of the OPU2 to the OTN for transmission is provided without changing the mature OTN architecture. |
| US08259748B2 |
Multiple channels and flow control over a 10 Gigabit/second interface
A transmitter transmits a data frame as an uninterrupted stream of codeblocks of predefined size on a first 10 Gigabit/second data path between a MAC and PHY. It inserts a first idle block of predefined size within the data frame if there is insufficient data. A receiver receives a second idle block on a second data path, the second idle block including a request to slow down the transmission on the first data path. The receiver causes the transmitter to insert a third idle block in response to receiving the second idle block. The transmitter may further send a stream identifier including an identifier for a data stream and a bandwidth factor. The transmitter may send one codeblock chosen from data blocks for the data stream and idle blocks, and then send the bandwidth factor number of codeblocks chosen from data blocks for other data streams and idle blocks. |
| US08259736B2 |
Selecting a path through a network
In a method for selecting a path through a network of nodes from a source device to a destination device, per hop behaviors (PHB) of the nodes is identified and a path entropy for a plurality of candidate paths through the network between the source device and the destination device are derived based upon the PHBs of the nodes. In addition, one of the plurality of candidate paths is selected to communicate data from the source device to the destination device based on the path entropies of the plurality of candidate paths. |
| US08259733B2 |
Systems and methods for rapid optical transport network circuit provisioning
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for rapid circuit provisioning in Optical Transport Networks (OTN) using signaling and routing protocols thereby enabling fast mesh restoration. The present invention utilizes a shim layer between OTN messaging (e.g., GCC or High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC)) and the associated signaling and routing protocol (e.g., OSRP, GMPLS, etc.). If an ODUk Connection CTP or TTP needs to be created, the shim layer runs a fast “OTN Setup” protocol, while buffering out going OTN messages. Incoming messages are still processed and do not require additional buffering. The purpose of the OTN Setup protocol is to allow the OTUk to re-frame on its client ODUk, while buffering out-going messages. When re-framing completes, buffers are released and the OTN messaging resumes without dropping any of the signaling frames. |
| US08259730B2 |
MPLS virtual private network using dual network cores
A multi-protocol label switching system using multiple cores. In establishing a virtual private network in a MPLS system, more than one core is available. Paths are established over each core separately and weights are assigned to the two routes. Thus, the route which is preferred by manually configuring in advance will be chosen. |
| US08259715B2 |
System and method for traffic load balancing to multiple processors
A method for load balancing selects one of a set of distribution formulas to associate packets of each of multiple communications sessions traversing a link to one of a plurality of output links and assigns the associated packets of at least one of the communications sessions to a different output link. |
| US08259714B2 |
Packet transferring node
In the case of a “distributed” integrated network node (architecture), a specific judgment process cannot be executed in any routing and transferring unit. The routing and transferring unit has been required to share such judgment process related information with an enhanced processing unit or with other routing and transferring units. Thus the manufacturing cost has increased when using an enhanced processing unit and the processing speed has been lowered unavoidably when cooperation is required among routing and transferring units. Those have been conventional problems. Furthermore, if any flow is disposed during a transfer from a packet transferring unit provided in a routing and transferring unit to a processing unit, the packet is disposed regardless of the packet priority. This has also been another conventional problem. According to the present invention, however, it is ruled that a packet related to a specific judgment process is always transmitted to a specific routing and transferring unit from a line interface unit. And if a flow is inputted and it is over the transferring capacity between a line interface unit and a routing and transferring unit, the line interface unit analyzes the packet header and determines the type, transport priority, and disposal priority of the packet. |
| US08259711B2 |
Method and apparatus for quality assurance in a multimedia communications environment
The present invention relates to a method and system for monitoring and evaluating multimedia telephonic and computer-communication interactions. The multimedia quality monitoring system may include an event manager, which may receive a notification associated with a VoIP communication between an agent and a customer and recording servers, which record data associated with the VoIP communication. |
| US08259710B1 |
Packet handler for high speed data networks
An improved packet handler for VoIP cable modems and other high-speed digital devices includes a direct communication link via hardware among internal processing components. Incoming and outgoing digital information packets are filtered into MAC packets, voice PDU packets, and non-voice PDU packets, such that priority can be given to relaying voice packets and minimizing potential voice delay within the cable network. Hardware components, including specialized logic circuitry, modify voice packets to an appropriate signal form for subsequent signal processing or signal transmission. Proprietary bus communication protocols can also be provided to facilitate relay of packets between a central processing unit (CPU) and a digital signal processor (DSP) within a VoIP cable modem. Line cards including subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) and subscriber line audio processing circuit (SLAC) components provide analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion functionality. |
| US08259709B2 |
Method and arrangement for controlling a multimedia communication session
A method and arrangement for controlling a multimedia communication session between a first terminal and a second terminal, the session being divided into a circuit-switched part and a packet-switched part. A notification on an event occurring in one of said circuit-switched and packet-switched parts is received in a common session server. The session server then reports to the other part of the communication session about said event, such that said other part can be controlled in response to said event. |
| US08259708B2 |
Wireless access point network system supported through existing transmission lines
A system for establishing a universal or overlapping wireless broadband network composed of a plurality of Access Points (AP). These APs, or nodes, may be coupled to existing copper transmission lines, and may work alone or in groups to provide wireless network access. Different types of APs may be utilized to perform various communication-functions, and these nodes may obtain power and/or communication resources from the existing copper transmission lines, and communication resources from either the existing copper transmission lines or from fiber optic transmission lines. Further, peripheral devices may be coupled to nodes to provide ancillary functionality to the system. |
| US08259706B2 |
Multistage prioritization of packets within a session over internet protocol (SOIP) network
A method includes receiving, at a first endpoint, session data associated with a first Internet Protocol (IP) packet. The IP packet is associated with a session within a Session over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network and the session is associated with a call. An instruction, based on the session data, is sent from the first endpoint to a second endpoint. The instruction is configured to trigger the second endpoint to modify a priority indicator associated with at least one of the first IP packet or a second IP packet associated with the call. |
| US08259705B2 |
System and method for proxy signaling manipulation in an IP telephony network
A call services manager and methods for improving the quality and efficiency of voice of Internet Protocol (“VOIP”) calls are provided. In an embodiment a method to improve communication link utilization on a call requiring the use of a central service platform is provided. An additional method is provided to validate caller identification information exchanged between originating and terminating communication devices in an IP voice network. In a further aspect of the invention, a method using a call services manager is provided to dynamically switch from one call route to another based on quality of service considerations. A call services manager is also provided. The call services manager is a software proxy that can reside at any type of network element. The call services manager includes software modules to implement the above methods for improving VOIP quality, and can include other call service and quality improvement modules. |
| US08259704B2 |
System and method for load sharing among a plurality of resources
A media gateway includes a non-packet switching matrix operable to switch non-packetized data, a packet switching matrix operable to switch packetized data, a plurality of processing resources coupled to the non-packet and packet switching matrices, each processing resource processing a substantially equal load of multimedia sessions processed by the media gateway without inactive protecting resources. |
| US08259702B2 |
Efficient over the air address methods and apparatus
Addressing methods and apparatus which use airlink resources in an efficient manner are described. In order to use airlink resources efficiently, a variety of address types are supported. The number of bits in the address may vary depending on the type. In order to support a variety of different address types, of different lengths, in one embodiment, an address used for communications over an airlink is constructed by including in the address an address type field used to communicate an address type indicator and, optionally, an address field used to communicate an address value. The address field is variable in length and may be null, requiring the communication of no bits in this field, for certain types of addresses. Four types of addresses which may be supported include: i) an Access Terminal assisted address, ii) a Network assisted address, 3) a Pilot PN based address; and 4) a reserved address. |
| US08259700B2 |
Method for transmitting a sounding reference signal in a LTE TDD system
A method for transmitting an uplink Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) by a Long Term Evolution (LTE) User Equipment (UE). The UE receives information indicating an SRS transmission, generates an SRS, and transmits the SRS in two OFDM symbol in a half-frame or frame, if the information indicates that a period of SRS transmission is 2 ms. |
| US08259698B2 |
Method of transmitting channel information in wireless communication system
A method of transmitting channel information in a wireless communication system includes generating a channel quality indicator (CQI) including a channel variation indicating temporal changes in downlink channel condition, and transmitting the CQI through an uplink physical channel. Since a modulation and coding scheme is determined by considering changes in channel environment, reception performance of a user equipment can be improved and reliable service can be provided. |
| US08259695B2 |
Method and apparatus for packet wireless telecommunications
In a wireless telecommunications network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) scheme is applied to data to encode it. The encoded data transmitted in the uplink using an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) frame structure including a cyclic prefix (CP). The CDMA encoded data may be time multiplexed with Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) transmissions. The CDMA transmissions may be used for relatively small payloads, such as those associated with voice traffic and control signals, and the SC-FDMA transmissions used for higher date rate transmissions. This enables autonomous transmission, without scheduling, for smaller payloads. A transmitter includes a selector 3 for performing time multiplexing in the uplink, the required mode being indicated by the Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) ID. A first branch 1 carries SC-FDMA data and a second branch 2 carries data to be transmitted as a CDMA scheme. A CAZAC code may be used in encoding the CDMA data. |
| US08259694B2 |
Methods, devices, systems, and computer program products for registration of multi-mode communications devices
A method of registering a multi mode communications device for service can include registering a multi-mode communications device by receiving and transmitting registration information over separate communications networks. |
| US08259691B2 |
System and method for identifying an access point
An apparatus and method are disclosed to communicate, from a first device to a wireless device, information by which the wireless device may identify an access point as a potential network device. The information is encoded in a packet stream by the first device, and wirelessly communicated from the access point to the wireless device. The information may be encoded by varying a packet characteristic, such as packet length, that is preserved even if the packets are encoded by the access point. The information may include a beacon, a SSID and/or a key. |
| US08259690B2 |
System and method for pausing an ongoing transmission in a communication system
A system and method for pausing communications from a transmitting radio for a certain period of time in order to allow transmission of other messages. When a first radio determines that a message needs to be transmitted either to a second radio or the transmitting radio, the first radio determines whether there are any available forward channels to transmit the call. If no forward channel is available, the first radio determines a period of time required to transmit the message and sends, on a reverse channel, a “request to pause” signal to the transmitting radio identifying that period of time. Upon receiving the “request to pause” signal, the transmitting radio ceases transmission on the forward channel for the specified period of time, during which time the first radio transmits the message. |
| US08259689B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving a mobile station cell change operation in the general packet radio system (GPRS)
A mobile station executed method, wherein upon changing from a current cell to a new cell in a wireless packet data network the mobile station enters the new cell; generates a cell change packet data unit (PDU) message for informing the network of the location of the mobile station in the new cell; buffers the cell change PDU message into a PDU transmit queue before any buffered PDUs that were present before the mobile station entered the new cell; and transmits the buffered cell change PDU before any of the buffered PDUs that were present before the mobile station entered the new cell. In accordance with another method for informing the wireless network of the MS cell change, the following steps are executed: (i) in response to the MS making access in a new cell, sending a Channel Request that indicates a Cell Update operation; (ii) establishing an uplink (UL) Temporary Block Flow (TBF) for transferring Logical Link Control (LLC) Packet Data Units (PDUs) from the MS to the network; (iii) in response to the network receiving an unknown Temporary Logical Link Identifier (TLLI) from the MS, sending a message to a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and (iv) based on the message, determining with the SGSN the new cell location of the MS. |
| US08259688B2 |
Pre-allocated random access identifiers
Systems and methods of pre-allocating identifiers to wireless devices for use in requesting resources over a random access channel are described. A wireless communication system includes a random access channel over which wireless devices can anonymously send requests for resources. The base stations receiving and processing the anonymous requests reduces the probability of random access channel collisions and conserves the resources needed to support the anonymous requests by pre-allocating one or more codes to select wireless devices. The wireless devices having the pre-allocated codes can transmit a particular code over the random access channel as a request for resources that uniquely identifies the requester. |
| US08259673B2 |
System and method for providing voice service in a mobile network with multiple wireless technologies
User Equipment (UE) receiving non-voice packet switched service in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) cell undergoes handover to a circuit switched GSM/Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN)/UTRAN cell in response to a requirement for voice service. The voice service is established in the circuit switched domain of a GERAN/UTRAN cell to ensure service continuity regardless of UE mobility that would otherwise not be possible if the voice service was established in the eUTRAN cell. A Gs-like interface between a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the CS Core Network and the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the Evolved Packet Core provides an interface for page requests and location update procedures to be performed. |
| US08259669B2 |
On-demand reverse-link pilot transmission
Pilots are transmitted on demand on a reverse link and used for channel estimation and data transmission on a forward link. A base station selects at least one terminal for on-demand pilot transmission on the reverse link. Each selected terminal is a candidate for receiving data transmission on the forward link. The base station assigns each selected terminal with a time-frequency allocation, which may be for a wideband pilot, a narrowband pilot, or some other type of pilot. The base station receives and processes on-demand pilot transmission from each selected terminal and derives a channel estimate for the terminal based on the received pilot transmission. The base station may schedule terminals for data transmission on the forward link based on the channel estimates for all selected terminals. The base station may also process data (e.g., perform beamforming or eigensteering) for transmission to each scheduled terminal based on its channel estimate. |
| US08259668B2 |
Communication systems
A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and one or more intermediate apparatuses, said source apparatus being operable to transmit information in a communication direction along a series of links forming a communication path extending from the source apparatus to the destination apparatus via the or each intermediate apparatus, and the or each intermediate apparatus being operable to receive information from a previous apparatus along the path and to transmit the received information to a subsequent apparatus along the path, the system having access to a time-frequency format for use in assigning available transmission frequency bandwidth for transmission in the communication direction during a discrete transmission interval, said format defining a plurality of transmission windows within such an interval, each window occupying a different part of that interval and having a frequency bandwidth profile within said available transmission frequency bandwidth over its part of that interval, each said window being assignable for such a transmission interval to one of said apparatuses for use in transmission. The method includes transmitting reservation information for use in a particular such transmission interval from a first one of said apparatuses to a second one of said apparatuses, the second apparatus being the or one of the intermediate apparatuses, and the reservation information specifying at least one transmission window to be reserved of the particular transmission interval. The method also includes, in the second apparatus, reserving the specified window(s) of the particular transmission interval in dependence upon the received reservation information. |
| US08259666B2 |
Femto-BTS RF access mechanism
Femto cells that extend mobile network coverage into customer premises operate in a frequency band typically assigned to a macro network. To facilitate system discovery and registrations of mobile stations with femto cells, a carrier designates one the channels within the band as a primary channel for its femto cells. For example, neighbor list messages transmitted by macro network base stations can provide frequency and PN code information directing mobile stations to search the primary channel for a PN code of the femto cells. The mobile station preferred roaming list (PRL) may identify femto cells by SID/NID. The SID is that of the carrier's macro network, whereas the NID may be a NID of the macro network or one specifically assigned to femto cell operations. The PRL uses frequency acquisition information for the femto cells that is the same as or similar to that for one of the macro networks. |
| US08259661B2 |
Method for enabling interoperability between data transmission systems conforming to IEEE 802.11 and HIPERLAN standards
Mechanisms, in a transmission channel shared by 802.11 systems and HIPERLAN/2 systems are provided to prevent 802.11 terminals from transmitting during time periods allocated to HIPERLAN, so that a single channel can be shared between the two standards. In a particular embodiment, a “super frame” format is used where HIPERLAN transmissions are offered the highest level of protection possible within 802.11, which is needed within the 802.11 Contention Free Period (CFP). |
| US08259658B2 |
Method for setting subbands in multicarrier communication, and radio communication base station apparatus
A wireless communication base station apparatus wherein when a frequency scheduling transmission and a frequency diversity transmission are performed in a multicarrier communication at the same time, the adaptive control of a channel for performing the frequency scheduling transmission can be prevented from being complicated. In this apparatus, a modulating part (12) modulates an encoded Dch data to generate Dch data symbols. A modulating part (22) modulates an encoded Lch data to generate Lch data symbols. An assigning part (103) assigns the Dch and Lch data symbols to subcarriers constituting OFDM symbols and outputs them to a multiplexing part (104). At this moment, the assigning part (103) assigns a set of Dch and Lch data symbols to each subcarrier for a respective subband. |
| US08259657B2 |
Method for measuring channel quality and base station in mobile communications system
A channel quality measurement method that accomplishes efficient channel quality measurement for each mobile station is presented. In a frequency band including a plurality of frequency blocks, a base station measures the channel quality of each of a plurality of mobile stations. With respect to each mobile station, when a pilot resource for demodulation is not allocated in at least one of the frequency blocks, the base station allocates a specific pilot resource for channel quality measurement in that frequency block. The channel quality of each mobile station in the plurality of frequency blocks is measured by using one or both of the pilot resource for demodulation and the dedicated pilot resource for channel quality measurement. |
| US08259654B2 |
Wireless base station apparatus, frequency deviation detecting method, and mobile communication system
A wireless base station apparatus includes a path detecting unit configured to detect a preamble signal sent from a terminal and obtain a back-diffusion timing; a back-diffusion unit configured to execute back-diffusion processing on a message signal sent from the terminal, by using the back-diffusion timing reported from the path detecting unit; and a calculating unit configured to calculate a frequency deviation of the message signal that has been subjected to the back-diffusion processing, based on a pilot signal of the message signal that has been subjected to the back-diffusion processing. The path detecting unit includes an information detecting unit configured to detect a frequency deviation of the preamble signal when detecting the preamble signal and supply the frequency deviation of the preamble signal to the calculating unit as initial value information. The calculating unit includes an information adding unit that calculates the frequency deviation of the message signal by using the initial value information. |
| US08259651B2 |
System and method for multiplexing on an LTE uplink control channel
A wireless communication network comprising a plurality of base stations capable of wireless communication with a plurality of subscriber stations within a coverage area of the network, wherein at least one of the plurality of base stations is capable of: determining a multiplexing scheme for multiplexing a frequency-selective channel quality information/precoding matrix index (FS CQI/PMI) feedback report with a wideband channel quality information/precoding matrix index (WB CQI/PMI) feedback report and a rank information (RI) report on a physical uplink control channel; transmitting the multiplexing scheme to a subscriber station; and receiving, from the subscriber station, an FS CQI/PMI feedback report multiplexed with a WB CQI/PMI feedback report and a RI report on the physical uplink control channel according to the multiplexing scheme. |
| US08259650B2 |
Communication device connectable to an access point based on setting information wirelessly provided from another device, a system having such communication device, and a method utilizing such communication device
A communication device is disclosed. The communication device includes a radio communication section and a switching section. The switching section switches a function between a station function and an access point function. In a state that the function of the communication device has been switched to the access point function, the communication device is connected to another communication device contained in a radio communication network through the radio communication section. The communication device receives connection setting information from the other communication device through the communication section. The connection setting information has been set to the communication section. The communication device stores the received connection setting information. After the function of the communication device has been switched from the access point function to the station function, the communication device is connected to the radio communication network containing the other communication device based on the stored connection setting information. |
| US08259649B2 |
Route optimization with location privacy support
The invention relates to a method for route optimization of packet switched data transmissions between a first mobile node and a second mobile node in a mobile communication system comprising a plurality of access networks. The method comprises the step of transmitting return routability protocol packets and data packets. The return routability protocol packets and data packets are analysed, and at least part of an address comprised in headers of the return routability protocol packets and data packets is removed. |
| US08259646B2 |
Apparatus and method for acquiring frame synchronization and frequency synchronization simultaneously in communication system
An apparatus and method for acquiring reliable frame synchronization performance and frequency synchronization simultaneously in a communication system includes a differential correlator outputting a result value obtained by performing a differential operation based on an input signal having symbol timing synchronization and a value pre-defined with a sender sending the input signal, a frequency error calculator compensating for a frequency error based on the result value of the differential correlator and a frequency compensation control signal, and a frame synchronization determiner outputting the frequency compensation control signal if the result value of the differential correlator is greater than a threshold set having at least one value. By introducing a correlation scheme, i.e. Differential Generalized Post Detection Integration (DGPDI), in which differential information corresponding to a half of a symbol duration length is used within a duration from a frame start symbol to a UW symbol duration in a TDM/TDMA transmission structure in which a low SNR and a high frequency error must be considered, a more reliable frame synchronization estimation value can be acquired in comparison to a conventional frame synchronization scheme in which differential information between single neighbor symbols is used. |
| US08259640B2 |
Broadband demodulator for modified downstream waveform
Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described for the transmission and reception of broadband signals between a gateway and subscriber terminals via satellite. In one set of embodiments, a wireless signal is generated and transmitted including a series of frames including a physical layer header and payload. A sub-channel identifier may be included in the physical layer header to identify the sub-channel for the payload, and allow for various novel filtering techniques at the subscriber terminal. The frames may be generated to be of substantially equal duration. Novel subscriber terminal configurations are described to leverage this formatting. |
| US08259637B2 |
In-band backhaul for wireless relays in wireless networks
This invention extends the coverage and improves the capacity of wireless communication networks using relay nodes. The relay nodes are wirelessly connected to the base station. The base station uses the same radio access technology for a link between the base station and user equipment and between the base station and the relay node. The relay node uses the same radio access technology for a link between the base station and the relay node and between the relay node and the user equipment. The relay node supports at least a Physical Layer (PHY), a Medium Access Control (MAC) sub-layer and a Radio Link Control (RLC) sub-layer protocol. |
| US08259629B2 |
System and method for transmitting and receiving wideband speech signals with a synthesized signal
A system for transmitting and receiving a wideband speech signal includes an A/D converter for receiving an analog speech signal to convert it into a digital speech signal, encoding a difference between a baseband speech signal and a standard baseband between a synthesized standard baseband signal, and an IP network interface for multiplexing the coded standard and additional baseband signals and enhancement residual band signal. |
| US08259628B2 |
Method and system for handling connection setup in a network
Certain embodiments of a method and system for handling connection setup in a network may comprise a network interface hardware device (NIHW) that may be operable to receive a services list and/or connection acceptance criteria from a first guest operating system running on a host system, receive a connection request from a second guest operating system running on the host system, and determine whether to allow establishment of the requested connection based on one or both of the services list and the connection acceptance criteria. The determination may be made prior to or during connection set up. The NIHW may maintain a connection state comprising information regarding set up of the requested connection. The services list may comprise one or more of a local network address, a local transport address, a network protocol, and a transport protocol. The communicated acceptance criteria may comprise packet filtering operations and/or security operations. |
| US08259623B2 |
Content capability clearing house systems and methods
A content capability clearing house that can act as a trusted and neutral mediator among network providers to manage rich content capabilities among multiple networks is provided. Content capabilities that can be brokered include, but are not limited to, quality of service and content screening. In an embodiment, a content capability clearing house includes a receiver that receives content capability request messages and other messages from network providers. A content capability request message includes a quality of service request and/or a subscriber profile request for use with content screening and subscriber specific advertisements. The present invention includes a series of methods for determining content capabilities for data transmission over a transaction between a content provider and a subscriber in which a content capability clearing house is used to efficiently broker and manage the capability among multiple network providers. |
| US08259615B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for displaying topology information of wireless sensor network
A method, apparatus and system for displaying topology information of a wireless sensor network includes a plurality of sensor nodes. The method typically includes: receiving node information collected and extracted from the sensor nodes; comparing the received node information with stored node information; computing, when the received node information is unequal to the stored node information, visualization information on a sensor node whose information is not present in the stored node information; and displaying the sensor nodes on concentric circles using the visualization information. |
| US08259613B2 |
Autonomic network connections
A method of selecting a network connection for use with a data processing system includes detecting environmental information indicative of a current environment in which the system is operating, determining whether the current environment is a known environment, and, rapidly selecting a current network connection by identifying a known environment network connection. Detecting environmental information may include detecting time information and detecting whether specified hardware (e.g., docking station, external monitor, printer, external network adapter) is present. The determining may include accessing a network connection data structure containing historical network connection information. The network connection data structure may include a plurality of records, each record identifying an environmental state and a network connection used in conjunction with the respective environmental state. The system may be a laptop system having a dial up modem connection, a wired network interface card (NIC) connection, a wireless connection, and a broadband connection. |
| US08259608B2 |
Method and apparatus for evaluating component costs in a communication network
A method and apparatus for calculating a cost index in a communication network. In one embodiment, a plurality of first cost factors associated with a first set of network elements is obtained. Subsequently, a plurality of second cost factors associated with a second set of network elements is obtained. A first cost index is then determined based on the plurality of first cost factors associated with the first set of network elements. Similarly, a second cost index is determined based on the plurality of second cost factors associated with the second set of network elements. Afterwards, the first cost index is compared to the second cost index to determine a point in time when a service provider should minimize new investment in the first set of network elements. |
| US08259607B2 |
Method and system for adjusting configuration of border object
The present disclosure relates to communication technologies and discloses a method for adjusting BO configuration and an EMS for use in a mobile communication network. The method includes: exchanging, by an Element Management System, EMS, information about BOs managed by other EMSs with each of the other EMSs; and negotiating with each of the other EMSs to adjust configuration of the BOs managed by each of the other EMSs according to the information about BOs received from the other EMSs. The embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to adjustment and optimization of a BO in a mobile communication network. |
| US08259606B1 |
Using differentiated reverse activity bits (RABs) based on mobile-station revision
Methods and systems are provided for improving reverse-link performance by using differentiated reverse activity bits (RABs) based on mobile-station revision. In an embodiment, an access node provides wireless service to first and second mutually exclusive sets of access terminals, the first operating according to IS-856, Release 0, the second according to IS-856, Revision A. The access node maintains first and second RAB thresholds, and periodically (a) measures reverse noise rise (RNR), (b) compares the RNR to the first and second thresholds, (c) transmits a first RAB to the first set of access terminals, and (d) transmits a second RAB to the second set of access terminals. The first RAB is set when the measured RNR exceeds the first threshold, and clear when it does not. The second RAB is set when the measured RNR exceeds the second RAB threshold, and clear when it does not. |
| US08259604B2 |
Return link power control
Satellite communication methods and systems are disclosed. Various embodiments employ dummy bursts to monitor the communication channel between a user terminal and a hub. In some embodiments, dynamic link adaptation can also be employed to optimize channel performance. In some embodiments, the link margin can be estimated based on the signal quality of a traffic or dummy burst that is received at the hub and compared with a threshold value. If the link margin is less than a first/low threshold then the hub can instruct the terminal to change any of various communication parameters according to a predetermined algorithm to mitigate channel fading. If the link margin is greater than a second/high threshold then the hub can instruct the terminal to change any of various communication parameters according to a predetermined algorithm to reduce overcompensation for channel fading. |
| US08259603B2 |
Cellular system, communication path quality measuring method, base station, and mobile station
A cellular system comprises a mobile station and a base station. The mobile station includes a means for transmitting a pilot signal synchronized with data transmission and a means for transmitting a pilot signal not synchronized with data transmission. The base station includes a means for measuring an interference power based on the received power of the field of the pilot signal synchronized with data transmission, a means for measuring a desired wave power based on the received power of the field of the pilot signal not synchronized with data transmission, and a means for estimating the channel quality of the mobile station based on the interference power and the desired wave power. |
| US08259600B1 |
Air interface quality
A throughput of an air interface is recorded during a plurality of intervals to produce a set of recorded throughputs. A slot utilization is also recorded during each of the plurality of intervals to produce a set of recorded slot utilizations. A slot is an allocation of time and frequency. A linear regression on the data points of the set of recorded throughputs and the set of recorded slot utilizations is performed to produce a regression line of throughput versus slot utilization. An indicator of air interface quality is calculated based on the slope of the regression line. |
| US08259598B2 |
Random access structure for optimal cell coverage
Apparatus and method for accessing a wireless telecommunications network by transmitting a random access signal. The random access signal includes a cyclic prefix signal and a guard interval. The cyclic prefix signal and the guard interval are adapted to optimize random access channel coverage in a telecommunications cell. The disclosed method for transmitting a random access signal includes transmitting a cyclic prefix signal. The duration of the cyclic prefix signal is approximately the sum of a maximum round trip delay duration of the telecommunications cell and a maximum delay spread duration. The method further includes providing a guard interval. The guard interval duration being approximately the duration of the maximum round trip delay of the telecommunications cell. |
| US08259597B1 |
System for managing IP addresses in a network gaming environment
Disclosed are systems and methods for managing Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses in a network gaming environment comprising a plurality of electronic gaming machines, having one or more in-game network devices. In particular an in-game switch is provided, which is configured to receiving an external IP address from a centrals DHCP server and to determine a scope of internal IP addresses associated with the one or more in-game network devices. Once the scope is determined, the in-game switch is configured to lease IP addresses from the address scope block to the associated in-game network devices. |
| US08259593B2 |
Apparatus and method for segmenting a communication network
A gateway is used to segment a network, such as a FAULT TOLERANT ETHERNET (FTE) network, into islands. The gateway receives traffic from a first island, forwards part of the traffic to a second island, and blocks another part of the traffic from being forwarded to the second island. The forwarded traffic could include unicast traffic. The blocked traffic could include broadcast or multicast traffic, including diagnostic messages from one or more nodes in the first island. |
| US08259591B2 |
Apparatus and method for receiving signal in a communication system
A signal reception method and apparatus for a communication system. One input unit and dc−1 delay nodes each receive one input message. A comparison unit compares magnitudes of the input messages being input to the dc−1 delay nodes, and outputs an input message having a minimum magnitude as an output message. After the comparison unit outputs the output message, a controller cyclic-shifts the input messages being input to the one input unit and the dc−1 delay nodes according to a control signal. |
| US08259583B2 |
Adaptive CQI-based HSDPA flow control method
The adaptive CQI-based HSDPA flow control method selectively eliminates flow control to greatly improve scheduler performance and increase the overall system throughput at low traffic load in a 3G High Speed Downlink Packet Access system. The method utilizes channel quality information (CQI) to predict potential handover conditions and adjusts the degree of flow control applied to classes of users to tune buffer levels accordingly. By regulating buffer levels, the adaptive HSDPA flow control method improves scheduler performance and significantly reduces handover data loss, thereby enhancing the effective Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) throughput. |
| US08259580B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting a happy bit on an E-DCH dedicated physical control channel
A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) determines (1) whether the WTRU is transmitting as much scheduled data as allowed by a current Serving_Grant, (2) whether the WTRU has enough power to transmit at higher data rate, and (3) based on a same power offset as a currently selected E-DCH transport format combination (E-TFC), whether total E-DCH buffer status (TEBS) would require more than predetermined period to be transmitted with the current Serving_Grant×a ratio of active processes to a total number of processes. If criteria (1)-(3) are met, the WTRU sets the happy bit to “unhappy.” If MAC-i/is is configured, the WTRU evaluates criteria (2) by identifying an E-TFC that has a transport block size at least x bits larger than a transport block size of the currently selected E-TFC, and determining whether the identified E-TFC is supported based on a same power offset as the currently selected E-TFC. |
| US08259576B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing interrupt coalescing
In one embodiment, the invention includes a controller that interrupts a CPU based on a counter that uses a decrement step which may increase as high priority data packets are received by the controller. |
| US08259574B2 |
System and method for identifying multiple paths between network nodes
Aspects of the invention pertain to transmitting packet data across a computer network. The packets may be sent via one or more distinct routes from a source to a destination. Each route may employ multiple routers disposed along the network. Non-colliding routes are determined by transmitting pairs of probe packets along the routes. A first probe packet has a maximal length, and a second probe packet has a minimal length. Depending on the order of arrival of the probe packets, the system determines whether two transport layer ports at the destination device collide. If there is a collision, then the system searches for a set of non-colliding ports. Once the non-colliding ports are determined, application data may be sent as packets along the different routes to those ports. |
| US08259572B2 |
Communication method and transmitting apparatus utilizing the same
An IF unit to an RF unit generate a packet signal containing a control signal and a data signal and transmits the thus generated packet signal. A radio control unit performs a first retransmission control or a second retransmission control on the packet signal transmitted. The radio control unit causes the IF unit to the RF unit to have first control information for the first retransmission control contained in the control signal and have second control information for the second retransmission control contained in the data signal. |
| US08259570B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling packet transmission from a transmitter to a receiver via a channel that employs packet queuing when overloaded
The invention provides a method of controlling transmission of packets from a transmitter to a receiver via a channel, and a corresponding transmitter and receiver. The method comprises: transmitting packets from a queue, each packet having a packet size based on data in the packet; determining a transmission time for each packet, based on a transmission clock; determining a reception time of each packet, based on a reception clock; supplying to an estimation function successive sets of observations including in each set transmission time, reception time and packet size, the estimate function being arranged to provide an estimate of bandwidth for the channel using the relationship between the bandwidth, the amount of data in the queue, packet size and the delay between transmitting successive packets from the queue; and using the estimated bandwidth to control transmission of packets. |
| US08259568B2 |
System and method for controlling mobile device access to a network
The invention provides a method for managing access to a network resource on a network from a mobile device, the method including the steps of intercepting a data stream from the mobile device attempting to access the network resource, extracting information from the intercepted data stream relating to at least one of the mobile device or a user of the mobile device, accessing at least one of enterprise service based information and third party information regarding at least one of the mobile device or the user of the mobile device, determining whether the mobile device is authorized to access the network resource, preparing an access decision that specifies whether the mobile device is authorized to access the network resource, and storing the access decision in a database on the network. The method may also include the step of enforcing the access decision by granting access to the mobile device to the network resource if the mobile device is determined to be authorized and denying access to the mobile device to the network resource if the mobile device is determined not to be authorized. |
| US08259560B2 |
Communication system allocating pilot sub-carriers and related methods
A communication system may include a wireless communications device having a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith, and a wireless base station having a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith for communicating with the wireless communications device using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) based upon pilot sub-carriers. The controller of the wireless base station may randomly allocate the pilot sub-carriers over time. |
| US08259556B2 |
Information recording medium, recording apparatus, reproducing apparatus and reproducing method
An information recording medium, comprising N number (N is an integer fulfilling N≧3) of information layers on which information is recordable, and allowing information to be recorded on each of the information layers and allowing information recorded on each of the information layers to be reproduced by being irradiated with laser light. The N number of information layers include an N'th information layer, an (N−1)th information layer, an (N−2)th information layer, . . . a second information layer and a first information layer sequentially located from a laser light incidence side. A reflectance of the N'th information layer is RN, and a reflectance of an M'th information layer (M refers to every integer fulfilling N>M≧1) is RM. The laser light used to irradiate the N'th information layer for reproducing information recorded on the N'th information layer has an upper limit reproduction power PrNmax, and the laser light used to irradiate the M'th information layer for reproducing information recorded on the M'th information layer has an upper limit reproduction power PrMmax. The following expressions (1) and (2) are concurrently fulfilled: RN>RM (1) PrNmax |
| US08259555B2 |
Optical pickup and optical information processing device
A disclosed optical pickup includes an aberration correction unit with a phase shifter surface. On the phase shifter surface, rectangular or staircase-like steps are formed in a concentric manner around an optical axial center, in certain regions where a light beam passes through. The steps have different heights in the optical axial direction. A light beam having a wavelength of 405 nm is directly transmitted through the steps so that a phase difference is applied for correcting spherical aberration that occurs on a first optical recording medium. A light beam that passes through an annular region without any steps is focused on a second optical recording medium. A light beam that passes through an outside region is focused by an object lens on the second optical recording medium, and is not focused on the first optical recording medium. |
| US08259554B2 |
Optical head device, optical information device, and diffractive element
An optical head device includes a diffraction grating which diffracts a part of the light beam which is selectively emitted from a semiconductor laser having two luminous points and is divided along a tangential direction of the track of the optical disk, a relationship of arrangement of the second and third regions corresponds to a relationship of the optical axes of the first and second light beams on the diffraction grating, the second region is located at a position crossing an optical axis of the first light beam, a phase difference between phases of the first and third regions is 180°, a phase difference between phases of the third and fourth regions is 180°, and the third region has a width which is not larger than amount of a position deviation of ±first-order diffracted light of the second light beam from zeroth-order diffracted light. |
| US08259552B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus comprising a first laser unit including a first laser light source and a second laser unit including second and third laser light sources, being respectively disposed on a reflection (transmitting) surface side and a transmitting (reflection) surface side of a first beam splitter, laser lights of the first, second, and third wavelengths being guided onto a common optical path through the first beam splitter and guided to the respective sorts of optical recording mediums, each of the laser lights being divided by a diffraction grating disposed on the common optical path into a main beam and sub-beams, a second beam splitter being disposed on the upstream side of the diffraction grating on a return path of each of the laser lights, the laser lights through the second beam splitter being branched from the common optical path and being received by a photodetector. |
| US08259550B2 |
Record carrier as well as an apparatus and method for applying image data as a visually detectable pattern at an optical record carrier
A method of applying image data as a visually detectable pattern with at least one embedded data element at an optical record carrier is disclosed, comprising the step of physically mapping at least one channel symbol onto the record carrier, the channel symbol being selected from a set of mutually different channel symbols, the channel symbols each comprising an area of size s1 with a relatively low value v1 for an optical property and an area with size s2 with a relatively high value v2 for said optical property, the channel symbols being distributed over a plurality of subsets each having a plurality of channel symbols wherein the plurality of channel symbols within a subset have a distance that is substantially less than the distance between channel symbols of mutually different subsets, wherein the distance between two channel symbols is defined as the absolute difference between the ratios s1/(s1+s2). wherein the step of selecting comprises the step of determining a subset on the basis of the image data to be mapped in the visually detectable pattern and selecting one symbol from that subset on the basis of the at least one data symbol to be mapped. The invention further includes an apparatus, and a record carrier. |
| US08259548B2 |
Optical disc device and disc identification method
To identify the type of a loaded disc, there is provided an optical disc device, comprising: a light source driven by a drive signal with a high frequency signal superimposed; a detector for detecting return light emitted from the light source; and a controller for controlling the amplitude of the high frequency signal to be superimposed on the drive signal, the optical disc device being configured to read data from an optical disc loaded therein by a signal outputted from the detector, wherein: the controller causes the light source to irradiate the loaded optical disc with light in a condition in which a high frequency signal different from a high frequency signal for data reading is superimposed on the drive signal; and the controller identifies a type of the loaded optical disc based on the return light from the loaded optical disc. |
| US08259546B2 |
Optical disc device, tracking control start method, and tracking control start program
The present invention can promptly start the tracking control. According to an embodiment of the present invention, after making it possible to discriminate the groove G and land L by the initial drive for the objective lens, the servo control and brake control are executed under an optimum condition when the objective lens is initially driven to the inner circumference direction to be outer eccentricity where a spot Pt is easily pulled in so as to pull in the spot Pt and start tracking control, and, in case the TR control error is raised when pulling in the spot Pt in an eccentricity speed minimum region AR1 for the first time, assuming that the eccentricity speed minimum region AR1 is inner eccentricity, the spot Pt is pulled in at the next eccentricity speed minimum region AR2 in which the eccentricity direction becomes opposite and the tracking control is started. |
| US08259541B2 |
Optical recording/reproduction method, optical recording/reproduction device, program, and optical recording medium
In optical recording and/or reproduction using an SIL optical system that performs a tilt servo using light for recording and/or reproduction, the SIL and an optical recording medium have a high probability of colliding with each other before the tilt servo is started. To prevent the collision, an optical recording/reproduction method performs a gap servo that controls a gap between a surface of an optical recording medium and a bottom surface of an SIL using reflected light that is generated from light traveling from the bottom surface of the SIL and reflecting on the optical recording medium, a focus servo that controls a distance between a focal point of the light and the bottom surface of the SIL, and a tilt servo that controls a tilt of the bottom surface of the SIL relative to the surface of the optical recording medium using the reflected light. The method includes acts which are performed sequentially: starting the gap servo with the gap being set larger than when optical recording and/or reproduction is performed, and shifting the focal point to an optical recording medium side from the bottom surface of the SIL, starting the tilt servo, and setting the gap smaller and arranging the SIL at a predetermined position. |
| US08259539B1 |
Integration of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) on an energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head
An energy-assisted magnetic recording apparatus comprises a magnetic recording head having an end surface and an interface surface perpendicular to the end surface. The apparatus further comprises a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) bonded to the interface surface and configured to emit laser light through the interface surface and into the magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head includes one or more light redirecting structures for redirecting the laser light towards the end surface. A method of making an energy-assisted magnetic recording apparatus comprises the steps of aligning a first wafer including a plurality of VCSELs with a second wafer including a plurality of magnetic recording heads, such that an emitting region of each of the plurality of VCSELs is disposed over a light redirecting structure of a corresponding one of the plurality of magnetic recording heads, and bonding the first wafer to the second wafer. |
| US08259538B2 |
Locking mechanism for timepiece drive module
A device for the locking and unitary incrementation of a drive module (1) for a timepiece gear train is provided. The module (1) includes an actuator (2) fitted with an active click (5) cooperating with a toothed wheel (7), and the device includes a first (8) and a second (9) finger cooperating with the toothed wheel (7). The device is characterized in that the first finger (8) entirely locks the rotation of the toothed wheel (7) when it is engaged in one of the teeth of the toothed wheel (7); and in that the second finger (9) is arranged between a first (10) and a second (11) stop member, wherein the space between the stop members (10, 11) limits the angular travel of the toothed wheel (7) when the second finger (9) is engaged in one of the teeth of the toothed wheel (7). |
| US08259537B2 |
Time base device for a watch
The time base device for a watch includes at least one electric motor coil (30), an electronic module (1) that has at least one time base oscillator circuit mounted in a case of the module, and an electric power source (8). The electric motor coil (30), the electronic module (1) with an oscillator circuit and the voltage source (8), which is preferably a battery, are connected to each other mechanically and electrically without the use of a printed circuit board to form a compact unit. The electronic module includes four connection terminals (14, 15, 16, 17) on an external surface for connecting the voltage source on one side and the wires (31, 32) of a winding of the coil (30) on the other side. |
| US08259536B2 |
Analog electronic timepiece and stepping motor driving method
An analog electronic timepiece including, a plurality of hands, a plurality of stepping motors, a maximum speed of at least one stepping motor being different from that of another stepping motor, and a fast-forward control section to simultaneously drive at least two of the plurality of stepping motors, the fast-forward control section composed of, a speed judging section to judge the slowest speed among maximum speeds of stepping motors, a drive control section to simultaneously drive the stepping motors at the speed judged by the speed judging section, an end judging section to judge whether a further hand to be moved remains when drive of the stepping motors at the speed judged by the speed judging section ends, and a control section to make the speed judging section, the drive control section, and the end judging section operate again when the hand to be moved remains. |
| US08259532B2 |
Hybrid modeling in the tau-p domain
A method for generating a synthetic seismogram. In one implementation, the method may include generating a first seismogram in a tau-p domain for a wavefront that moves through an overburden to an upper boundary of a reservoir. The first seismogram is based on a common shot point gather. The method may further include generating a second seismogram in the tau-p domain for the wavefront moving from the upper boundary to a lower boundary of the reservoir and reflected back up to the upper boundary; generating a third seismogram in the tau-p domain for the wavefront moving from the upper boundary of the reservoir through the overburden; and adding the first seismogram in the tau-p domain, the second seismogram in the tau-p domain, and the third seismogram in the tau-p domain. |
| US08259529B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and driving method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of wordlines and a driver configured to, when an wordline of the plurality of wordlines is activated by an active command, drive at least one non-activated wordline neighboring the activated wordline and remaining non-activated wordlines with different wordline driving voltage levels during a period of time that the activated wordline is driven to a high voltage level. |
| US08259523B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a first memory, a second memory and a control circuit. The first memory includes a first bank number. The second memory includes a second bank number larger than the first bank number. The control circuit controls a precharge operation with respect to bit lines provided in the first and second memories. When performing, with respect to the first memory, a synchronous operation that is effected in synchronization with a clock, the control circuit changes over a second precharge operation to an operation time different from a first precharge operation during a period from the end of the initial first precharge operation to the start of the subsequent second precharge operation after receiving an address. |
| US08259521B2 |
Method and circuit for testing a multi-chip package
A method and circuit for testing a multi-chip package is provided. The multi-chip package includes at least a memory chip, and the memory chip includes a number of memory cells. The method includes performing a normal read operation on the memory cells to check if data read from the memory cells is the same with preset data in the memory cells; and performing a special read operation on the memory cells to check if data read from the memory cells is the same with an expected value, wherein the expected value is independent from data stored in the memory cells. |
| US08259520B2 |
Columnar replacement of defective memory cells
Circuits and methods to compensate for defective memory in BEOL third dimensional memory technology are described. An integrated circuit is configured to perform columnar replacement of defective BEOL multi-layered memory. For example, the integrated circuit can include a primary BEOL memory array having a plurality of BEOL memory cells being configured to change resistivity, a secondary BEOL memory array having another plurality of BEOL memory cells being configured to change resistivity, and a FEOL restoration module associated with the primary BEOL memory array and the secondary BEOL memory array, the FEOL restoration module being configured to locate a BEOL memory cell within the secondary BEOL memory array to replace a defective BEOL memory cell within the primary BEOL memory array. The FEOL portion can be fabricated on a substrate and the BEOL portion can be fabricated above and in contact with the FEOL portion to form the integrated circuit. |
| US08259517B2 |
Random access memory for use in an emulation environment
A Random Access Memory (RAM) and method of using the same are disclosed. The RAM includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in columns and in rows with each memory cell coupled to at least one word line and at least one bit line. The RAM includes a plurality of switches with at least one of the switches coupled between two of the memory cells to allow data to be copied from one of the two memory cells to the other of the two memory cells. In another aspect, the two memory cells can be considered a dual bit cell that contains a copying mechanism. There are two interleaved memory planes, assembled from bit cells that contain two bits of information. One bit is the primary bit that corresponds to the normal RAM bit. The second bit is able to receive a copy and hold the primary value. When the copying mechanism is over, the two memory planes may act as two completely independent structures. |
| US08259510B2 |
Disturb-free static random access memory cell
A disturb-free static random access memory cell includes: a latch circuit having a first access terminal and a second access terminal; a first switching circuit having a first bit transferring terminal coupled to the first access terminal, a first control terminal coupled to a first write word line, and a second bit transferring terminal; a second switching circuit having a third bit transferring terminal coupled to the second access terminal, a second control terminal coupled to a second write word line, and a fourth bit transferring terminal coupled to the second bit transferring terminal; a third switching circuit having a fifth bit transferring terminal coupled to the fourth bit transferring terminal, a third control terminal coupled to a word line, and a sixth bit transferring terminal coupled to a bit line; and a sensing amplifier coupled to the bit line, for determining a bit value appearing at the bit line. |
| US08259509B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method with auxiliary I/O line assist circuit and functionality
A semiconductor memory device includes an I/O line for transmitting read data that has been read from a memory cell, a plurality of driver circuits for driving the I/O line on the basis of the read data, a read circuit for receiving the read data transmitted through the I/O line, and an assist circuit for amplifying the read data transmitted through the I/O line. The assist circuit is disposed farther away from a prescribed drive circuit included in the plurality of drive circuits as viewed from the read circuit. The signal level can thereby rapidly change levels even in memories having relatively long I/O lines. |
| US08259502B2 |
NAND flash memory
A NAND flash memory having a memory cell array formed of a plurality of blocks including memory cell transistors arranged in a matrix form. The NAND flash memory has a first bit line; a first sense amplifier connected to the first bit line, the first sense amplifier sensing or controlling a potential on the first bit line; a second bit line; and a second sense amplifier connected to the second bit line to sense or control a potential on the second bit line. The NAND flash memory has a first drain side selection gate line; a second drain side selection gate line; a third drain side selection gate line; a fourth drain side selection gate line; a first source side selection gate line; and a second source side selection gate line. The NAND flash memory has a first block; a second block; and a decoder which turns on one of the first and third drain side selection MOS transistors and turns off the other, and which turns on one of the third and fourth drain side selection MOS transistors and turns off the other. |
| US08259492B2 |
Method of reading dual-bit memory cell
A method of reading a dual-bit memory cell includes a controlling terminal, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The dual-bit memory cell has a first bit storage node and a second bit storage node near the first terminal and the second terminal respectively. First, a controlling voltage and a read voltage are applied to the controlling terminal and the first terminal respectively. The second terminal is grounded to measure a first output current value of the first terminal. Then, the controlling voltage and the read voltage are applied to the controlling terminal and the second terminal respectively. The first terminal is grounded to measure a second output current value of the second terminal. Afterward, the bit state of the first bit storage node and the bit state of the second bit storage node is read simultaneously according to the first output current value and the second output current value. |
| US08259490B2 |
Multi-level phase-change memory device and method of operating same
A multi-level cell (MLC) phase-change memory device divides data into data groups each comprising multiple bits of data, and stores each of the data groups in a selected phase-change memory cell. A data group is stored in a selected phase-change memory cell by applying a pulse current to the selected phase-change memory cell with a pulse current characteristic corresponding to a data value of the data group. The pulse current characteristic can comprise, for instance, a magnitude, downward slope, or duration of the pulse current. Data is read from a selected phase-change memory cell by sensing a voltage of a bitline connected to the selected phase-change memory cell and comparing the sensed voltage simultaneously with a plurality of reference voltages. |
| US08259489B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device generating different write pulses to vary resistances
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array of electrically erasable programmable nonvolatile memory cells arranged in matrix, each memory cell using a variable resistor. A pulse generator is operative to generate plural types of write pulses for varying the resistance of the variable resistor in three or more stages based on ternary or higher write data. A selection circuit is operative to select a write target memory cell from the memory cell array based on a write address and supply the write pulse generated from the pulse generator to the selected memory cell. |
| US08259486B2 |
Self-timed write boost for SRAM cell with self mode control
A write boost circuit provides an automatic mode control for boost with different modalities with respect to the external supply voltage and also with respect to the extent of boost required at different process corners. The write boost circuit also takes care of the minimum boost provided to process corners with good writability where less boost is required. The boost is realized in terms of ground raising in the particular context and in general applicable to all other methods. |
| US08259481B1 |
Voltage adapter system
A voltage adapter system includes a voltage modifier to invert and regulate voltage. A primary female plug is mounted on the voltage modifier and is electrically coupled to the control actuator. The primary female plug is an electrical inlet. An electrical outlet is mounted on the voltage modifier and is electrically coupled to the control actuator. A pair of clamps is provided and each of the clamps is positionable on and electrically coupled to a pair of leads of a vehicle battery. A male plug is electrically coupled to the clamps. The male plug attached to the clamps is removably extended into and electrically coupled to the primary female plug to supply electricity to the voltage modifier from the vehicle battery. A plug from an electrically powered apparatus is extendable into the electrical outlet to receive electrical power from the voltage modifier. |
| US08259480B2 |
Arrangement for exchanging power
An arrangement for exchanging power with a three-phase electric power network comprises a Voltage Source Converter having three phase legs with each a series connection of switching cells. The three phase legs are interconnected by forming a delta-connection. The arrangement also includes a control unit configured to calculate a value for amplitude and phase position for a zero-sequence current for which, when circulated in the delta-connection circuit of the three phase legs, the balance of the total direct voltage of each of the three phase legs with respect to the other two phase legs is restored will there be an unbalance and control the semiconductor devices of switching cells of the phase legs to add such a zero-sequence current to the currents of each phase leg of the converter. |
| US08259479B2 |
Methods and systems for operating a two-stage power converter
A power conversion system for providing power to an electrical grid is described. The system includes a boost converter coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) array and configured to control a PV array voltage. The system also includes an inverter coupled to the boost converter by at least one conductor and configured to regulate a voltage drop across the at least one conductor. The system also includes a system controller configured to control operation of the boost converter and the inverter. |
| US08259478B2 |
Power inverter
A power inverter is provided for converting DC power into AC power. The inverter may be operable to couple to two or more transformer modules each operable to convert at least a portion of the DC power to at least a portion of the AC power. In one embodiment, two or more transformer modules are removably coupled to the inverter. In an alternative embodiment, the inverter is capable of electrically coupling to an externally-housed transformer module. In an alternative embodiment, the inverter may include two or more transformer modules hard-wired into the device. The inverter may include an AC safety plug for releasably connecting to an AC power network and outputting AC power. The inverter may include one or more sensors configured to detect one or more properties of the AC power network for the purposes of determining whether a connection to the power network should be established. |
| US08259476B2 |
Self-adjusting switched-capacitor converter with multiple target voltages and target voltage ratios
A method for constructing a direct-current to direct current (DC-DC) converter from an input voltage to an output voltage. The DC-DC converter has multiple capacitors and multiple switches connectible the capacitors. A target voltage ratio is obtained based on the input voltage and the output voltage. The target voltage is expressed as a radix number. The radix number is spawned into a code of the target voltage ratio. The code is translated into a switched-capacitor converter (SCC) configuration including the switches and the capacitors. The code may be an extended binary representation code or a Generic Fractional Numbers code. The switched-capacitor converter (SCC) configuration is preferably modified to obtain charge balance. |
| US08259472B2 |
Switching power converter having optimal dynamic load response with ultra-low no load power consumption
A switch controller is disclosed that adaptively controls the operating frequency of a switching power converter in order to improve one-time load response and repetitive dynamic load responses. During a transition from a high load to low load condition, the switch controller clamps the operating frequency of the switching power converter at an intermediate frequency for a period of time before allowing the operating frequency to return to a frequency associated with the low load condition. The clamped frequency is higher than the frequency associated with the low load condition thereby allowing improved response to a subsequent load change to a high load condition. Thus, the system improves dynamic load response without compromising no-load power consumption. |
| US08259470B2 |
Control circuit, control method, and power supply device
A control circuit, a control method, and a power supply device are provided. The control circuit includes an obtaining sub-circuit, adapted to obtain a voltage signal from a reverse surge current when the reverse surge current appears on a primary side of a switch power circuit of a synchronous rectification circuit; a maintaining sub-circuit, adapted to continuously output a first control signal in a preset first time period when the voltage signal is greater than a preset first voltage threshold; and a control sub-circuit, adapted to control and switch off switch tubes of the secondary side of the switch power circuit of the synchronous rectification circuit according to the first control signal. Thus, a reverse current surge of the switch power circuit of the synchronous rectification circuit can be effectively suppressed, and the safety of a switch power supply of the synchronous rectification circuit can be effectively protected. |
| US08259465B2 |
Chip card holder and electronic device using the same
A chip card holder is secured to a circuit board. The chip card holder comprises a hollow frame including an opening, a first board, a second board opposite to the first board, two opposite sidewalls and an end board opposite to the opening. The frame has two securing blocks protruding from the first board toward the second board and two latching blocks protruding from the end board; the securing blocks and the latching blocks are for latching the chip card holder to the circuit board. |
| US08259463B2 |
Semiconductor device and display device
If misalignment in a line width direction of an electrode (pad) of a connection terminal is caused in attachment of a substrate and an FPC, a connection area of the FPC terminal and the connection terminal becomes smaller and contact resistance is increased. In particular, an increase in contact resistance of the connection terminal to which a power supply potential serving as a power source is inputted is a cause of defective display. In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to decrease the resistance of a power supply line, to suppress a voltage drop in the power supply line, and to prevent defective display. A connection terminal portion includes a plurality of connection terminals. The plurality of connection terminals is provided with a plurality of connection pads which is part of the connection terminal. The plurality of connection pads includes a first connection pad and a second connection pad having a line width different from that of the first connection pad. Pitches between the plurality of connection pads are equal to each other. |
| US08259462B2 |
Electrical connector assembly with low profile
An electrical connector assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (2), a micro chip (1) arranged on the insulative housing, a PCB (3) located below the insulative housing, a number of contacts (5) received in the insulative housing and a locking element (4) interconnecting the insulative housing onto the PCB. The contacts extend beyond an upper surface of the insulative housing and solder with the micro chip. The contacts extend below a lower surface of the insulative housing and contact with the PCB. |
| US08259458B2 |
Battery cover assembly for portable electronic device
A battery cover assembly for a portable electronic device includes a housing, a battery cover, and a pivot member. The housing forms a first latch portion and a second latch portion, the first latch portion and the second latch portion being arranged at a circle. The battery cover forms a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion engaging with the first latch portion and a second latch portion to allow the battery cover to releasably latch to the housing. The pivot member rotatably connects the battery cover to the housing. |
| US08259453B2 |
Card device
Disclosed herein is a card device including a semiconductor package section having memory functions and a substrate section joined to the semiconductor package section by superposition and mounted by a variety of electronic components. The semiconductor package section includes a card-side connector section having card-side terminals for inputting and outputting information signals, and package-side terminals at a location at which the semiconductor package section is joined to the substrate section by superposition. The substrate section includes substrate-side terminals at a location at which the substrate section is connected to the semiconductor package section by superposition. The substrate section is electrically joined to the semiconductor package section by making use of the package-side terminals and the substrate-side terminals. The superposition junction between the semiconductor package section and the substrate section is provided with such an offset that the card-side connector protrudes out off the card device. |
| US08259452B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device according to the present invention comprises a pair of housings coupled to each other openably and closably by a hinge mechanism, and each of the housings comprises a front cabinet and a back cabinet joined to each other. The back cabinet of at least one of the housings is formed from a material having a greater expansion coefficient than that of a material forming the front cabinet, and the back cabinet of at least one of the housings has a cutting part extending in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof and longitudinally cutting at least a part of the back cabinet. |
| US08259444B2 |
Highly portable media device
An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device can also function as a solid-state drive for data storage. The form factor of the portable media device can be hand-held or smaller, such that it is highly portable. The portable media device can use one or more status indicators. The portable media device can also include a peripheral bus connector, a rechargeable battery, and one or more input devices. According to another aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to still another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner. |
| US08259440B2 |
Display module having a mountable and removable display panel, electronic device having the display module, and assembly of a computing device and a display casing
An electronic device includes a display module and a computing device. The display module includes a display casing, a connecting unit disposed on the display casing, and a display panel. The connecting unit includes a first electrical connecting member. The display panel includes a panel unit and a second electrical connecting member disposed on the panel unit. The first and second electrical connecting members are configured such that one is a slot with terminals and the other is a circuit board provided with copper foil circuits. The panel unit is connectible electrically to the computing device by coupling insertably the second electrical connecting member to the first electrical connecting member, thereby permitting the display panel to be easily assembled to or disassembled from the display casing. |
| US08259437B2 |
Adjustable display screen for a portable computing device
Technologies are generally described for an adjustable display screen such as for a notebook computer or other portable device. In some examples, at least one display screen rail may be rotatably coupled to a back edge of a notebook computer base unit at a hinge rod. The display screen of the notebook computer may slide along and/or pivot on the at least one display screen rail in a direction to bring the display screen toward a user of the notebook computer while leaving room for the user to access a keyboard located on a top surface of the base unit. Mechanisms may be coupled to the notebook computer to transmit motion of the display screen along a first display screen rail to motion of the display screen along a second display screen rail, thereby mitigating binding of the display screen as it slides along the display screen rails. |
| US08259433B2 |
Ceramic electronic component
In a ceramic electronic component having a thin structure, the occurrence of cracks due to stress applied when the ceramic component is being mounted or in a mounted state are prevented. Each of first and second external terminal electrodes has a substantially rectangular region on a principal surface of a ceramic element body, the principal surface being directed to the mounting surface side. An end of the first external terminal electrode, which is arranged in contact with a gap region, and an end of the second external terminal electrode, which is positioned in contact with the gap region, each preferably have a concave-convex shape on the principal surface. |
| US08259429B2 |
Amplification relay device of electromagnetic wave and a radio electric power conversion apparatus using the device
The present invention provides an amplifying repeater, which is constructed in such a manner that a ferrite core is inserted into a coil with a predetermined number of winds to increase an induced electromotive force caused by an increase in flux linkage using a time-varying magnetic field of electromagnetic waves at a position distant from various electromagnetic wave generating sources by a predetermined distance and the induction coil and a variable condenser for inducing resonance are connected to each other to increase current while reducing a resistant component existing in the induction coil to intensify and amplify the magnetic field of electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, the present invention provides a wireless power conversion charging device using the magnetic field of electromagnetic waves, which is located between an electromagnetic wave generating source transmitter and a receiving coil or attached to the transmitter and receiving coil. The wireless power conversion charging device includes a rectifying diode for rectifying an electromotive force induced in a construction in which a resonance and impedance matching variable condenser is connected to a coil in series or in parallel in order to transmit maximum induced power to a charging battery that is a load using electromagnetic waves amplified by the amplifying repeater, and a smoothing condenser for smoothing the rectified voltage. Accordingly, charging power required for various small power electronic devices can be provided and power can be supplied to various loads. |
| US08259420B2 |
TMR device with novel free layer structure
A composite free layer having a FL1/insertion/FL2 configuration where a top surface of FL1 is treated with a weak plasma etch is disclosed for achieving enhanced dR/R while maintaining low RA, and low λ in TMR or GMR sensors. The weak plasma etch removes less than about 0.2 Angstroms of FL1 and is believed to modify surface structure and possibly increase surface energy. FL1 may be CoFe, CoFe/CoFeB, or alloys thereof with Ni, Ta, Mn, Ti, W, Zr, Hf, Tb, or Nb having a (+) λ value. FL2 may be CoFe, NiFe, or alloys thereof having a (−) λ value. The thin insertion layer includes at least one magnetic element such as Co, Fe, and Ni, and at least one non-magnetic element selected from Ta, Ti, W, Zr, Hf, Nb, Mo, V, Cr, or B. When CoFeBTa is selected as insertion layer, the CoFeB:Ta ratio is from 1:1 to 4:1. |
| US08259418B2 |
Head suspension assembly and disk device with the same
According to one embodiment, a head suspension assembly includes an arm includes upper and lower surfaces, a suspension extending from the arm, a head supported by the suspension, and restriction plates bonded on the upper and lower surfaces of the arm. The restriction plates includes extending portions projecting from the arm to a downstream side of an airflow, respectively, and the extending portions are bent in a direction in which the extending portions approach each other. |
| US08259409B2 |
Spin torque oscillator sensor
A spin torque oscillation magnetoresistive sensor for measuring a magnetic field. The sensor uses a change in precessional oscillation frequency of a magnetization of a magnetic layer to determine the magnitude of a magnetic field. The sensor can include a magnetic free layer, a magnetic pinned layer and a non-magnetic layer sandwiched therebetween. Circuitry is connected with these layers to induce an electrical current through the layers. Spin polarization of electrons traveling through the device causes a spin torque induced precession of the magnetization of one or more of the layers. The frequency of this oscillation modulates in response to a magnetic field. The modulation of the oscillation frequency can be measured to detect the presence of the magnetic field, and determine its magnitude. |
| US08259406B2 |
Head/disk contact determination
A disk drive including a sensor element that senses contact between a head slider and a disk, a head integrated circuit (IC) comprising an amplification circuit section that amplifies a signal of the head slider, a controller IC comprising a controller that accesses a register of the head IC for controlling the head IC, and an identification section, within the head IC, that determines a contact frequency of the contact by the sensor element by using a timing control signal of the controller IC. |
| US08259403B2 |
Objective and assembling method for the same
An objective comprises: a first group including a plurality of lens groups arranged at a predetermined interval; a second group composed of a single lens-group; a pressing ring which is screwed in, the pressing ring being for fixing the first group; and an outer frame accommodating the first group, the second group, and the pressing ring, wherein the outer frame includes a first hole at a position facing the second group. |
| US08259402B2 |
Lens assembly and camera module having same
A lenses assembly includes a first lens, a second lens, and adhesive material. The first lens includes two axially extending protrusions. The second lens includes two radially extending protrusions. The second lens engages with the first lens by engagement between the axially extending protrusions and radially extending protrusions. The axially extending protrusions and radially extending protrusions are alternately arranged around a circumferential direction of the first lens. The adhesive material is filled into gaps between the engaged protrusions to fixedly interconnect the first lens and the second lens. |
| US08259398B2 |
High numerical aperture catadioptric objectives without obscuration and applications thereof
Disclosed are high numerical (NA) catadioptric objectives without a central obscuration, and applications thereof. Such objectives can operate through a wide spectral bandwidth of radiation, including deep ultraviolet (DUV) radiation. Importantly, refractive elements in the catadioptric objectives can be manufactured from a single type of material (such as, for example, CaF2 and/or fused silica). In addition, the elements of such catadioptric objectives are rotationally symmetric about an optical axis. The catadioptric objectives eliminate the central obscuration by (1) using a polarized beamsplitter (which passes radiation of a first polarization and reflects radiation of a second polarization), and/or (2) using one or more folding mirrors to direct off-axis radiation into the pupil of the catadioptric objective. An example catadioptric objective is shown in FIG. 2. |
| US08259395B2 |
Erect life-size lens array
An erect life-size lens array having a deep focal depth is realized. The erect life-size lens array includes a first lens array, a second lens array and an aperture, and when a thickness of the second lens is ξ1, a refractive index of the second lens is n, a distance between an exit surface of the second lens and a design image surface is ξ2, a radius of a circular hole of the aperture is ra, and a defocus amount is ξ3, the erect life-size lens array is for causing an MTF at a spatial frequency (line-pair/mm) ν to become MTFtarget or more, and satisfies (J1(2π·ra·((n/ξ1)+(1/ξ2))·ν·ξ3))/(π·ra·((n/ξ1)+(1/ξ2))·νξ3)≧MTFtarget, where J1 is a first type first-order Bessel function. |
| US08259392B2 |
Method of producing a diffractive optical element and diffractive optical element produced by such a method
A microlithography projection exposure system has an illumination system with an illumination optical system. The latter can have at least one diffractive optical element, which is divided into multiple adjacently arranged individual elements, each of which has one specified bundle-forming and polarizing effect. |
| US08259390B2 |
Optical amplifier apparatus
An optical amplifier apparatus includes an optical amplifier including an amplification medium doped with an active substance, the amplification medium excited in order to amplify light; a semiconductor optical amplifier arranged after the optical amplifier; a driver for supplying a driving current with respect to the semiconductor optical amplifier in order that the semiconductor optical amplifier has an amplification characteristic with respect to an input light, the amplification characteristic including a gain non-saturated region and a gain saturated region; and an input-light level adjuster for adjusting an out put light of the optical amplifier to the input light level of the semiconductor optical amplifier, the input light level being set up between the gain non-saturated region and the gain saturated region. |
| US08259387B2 |
Optical amplifier
An optical amplifier for determining the attenuation of a length of optical fiber (7) to which it is adapted to be connected comprising means (5) to receive an input signal from the optical fiber (7), means (6) to output an amplified signal to the optical fiber (7), a gain medium (2) and a pump means (3) arranged to generate the amplified signal from the input signal, the amplifier (1) further comprising means (13) to measure the optical power of the signal leaving the gain medium and means (14) to measure the optical power of the signal backscattered from the optical fiber (7), wherein the pump means (3) is controlled by a control means (4), the control means (4) being adapted to modulate the pump means (3) with a determination signal, the control means (4) being adapted to change the frequency of the determination signal over a plurality of determination frequencies while keeping the amplitude of the determination signal constant, the control means (4) further being adapted to calculate the attenuation of the length of the optical fiber (7) from the length of the optical fiber (7), the effective refractive index of the fiber (7), and the power of the signal from the gain medium and the power of the backscattered signal measured at each of the plurality of determination frequencies. |
| US08259382B2 |
Image projection using curved reflective surfaces
A method of projecting images uses an array of pixels having curved reflective surfaces. |
| US08259380B2 |
Electrodes of electrochemical/electrically-driven devices
An electrochemical/electrocontrollable device having variable optical and/or energetic properties, including at least one carrier substrate including an electroactive layer or an electroactive layer stack arranged between a lower electrode and an upper electrode. At least one of the lower or upper electrodes includes at least four layers including at least one metal functional layer having intrinsic electrical conductivity properties, the functional layer being associated with an electrochemical barrier layer of an electrically conductive material transparent in the visible range, the electrochemical barrier layer being associated with a humidity protection layer of an electrically conductive material transparent in the visible range, and the functional layer being associated with a first sublayer of electrically conductive material transparent in the visible range. |
| US08259378B2 |
Scanning apparatus for scanning electromagnetic radiation
A scanning apparatus operable in the microwave, mm-wave, sub mm-wave (Terahertz) and infrared ranges comprises a primary drum (10) mounted for rotation about a central axis A of the primary drum being hollow and of rectangular polygonal form to provide a number of sides or facets (12, 14) each adapted to transmit such radiation, from a field of view, which is plane polarized in a first direction at 45° with respect to the rotary axis of the drum and to reflect radiation which is plane polarized in an orthogonal direction. Thus, radiation passing into the drum though whichever said side of the drum is currently facing the field of view and passing towards the diametrically opposite side will be plane polarized with a polarization direction such as to be reflected back by that diametrically opposite side towards the rotary axis of the drum. Each polygon side of the drum is configured so as to act, when reflecting radiation striking that side from within the drum, as a concave mirror, to focus the radiation towards a receiver assembly which includes a radiation detector for such radiation. In another embodiment scanning apparatus operable in the microwave, sub mm-wave, mm-wave and infrared ranges may comprise a reflective disc or mirror (50′, 52′) mounted for rotation relative in a support (74, 76) is itself mounted for rotation with respect to a second support (86) about a second axis inclined with respect to the first axis. |
| US08259376B2 |
Delayed optical logic gates
A system, method, and apparatus for delayed optical logic gates based on slow light and enhanced nondegenerate four-wave mixing processes, where a single or multiple delayed optical routers are utilized for dark resonance interactions in which two-color lasers interact with a three-level nonlinear optical medium comprised of two ground states and one excited state through the nondegenerate four-wave mixing processes. The delayed optical logic mechanism is based on combination of single or multiple dark resonance-induced two-photon coherence conversion via slow light phenomenon. The two-photon coherence induced on the ground states is optically detected via nondegenerate four-wave mixing processes. The nondegenerate four-wave mixing generation is enhanced owing to dark resonance or electromagnetically induced transparency. The gating time and bandwidth of the present delayed optical logic gates is invariant to the delayed time of the delayed optical router because IN and OUT bandwidth across the nonlinear medium must be same. |
| US08259374B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes: a first determination unit that determines whether each of an image regions is for a vector image; a color number counting unit that counts the number of colors in the pixels of high-resolution image data; a frequency counting unit that counts a number of times where the difference between the colors of each of the pixels in the high-resolution image data and the colors of at least one pixel located around each of those pixels is greater than or equal to a threshold; a second determination unit that determines that the image region is not an image region for a vector image; and a generation unit that generates image data in which a process for rendering images in the image regions determined by the first determination unit to be image regions for vector images is defined by numerical values or numerical formulas. |
| US08259372B2 |
Method, system, program and medium for displaying read image
Image information of an original(s) is displayed, for example, after rotated to assume an easily viewable orientation for a user. The placement state of an original(s) on an original support of an image reading apparatus is detected and the image information may be displayed after rotated by 90 degrees based on the detection result. In addition, display orientation may be set, so that a thumbnail(s) is displayed in the set orientation. |
| US08259370B2 |
Image reading device having line sensor performing pre-scan based on condition set for main-scan
An image reading device includes a reading unit for reading a document. The reading unit includes red color green color and blue color light sources and a plurality of light receiving elements aligned in a main scanning direction. In a pre-scan performed precedent to a main-scan, the reading unit reads a part of the document with a lower reading resolution than the reading resolution in the main-scan in order to gather information about the document placed on a document reading table. An optimum light amount to be emanated from the light source at the time of main-scan is set while changing the light amount from the light source and checking the outputs from the light receiving elements. An optimum light amount to be emanated from the light source at the time of pre-scan is calculated based on the optimum light amount set for the main-scan. |
| US08259367B2 |
In tray media sensing
A method and apparatus align an adjuster with an edge of media supported by a tray. The adjuster is operably coupled to a gauge that moves in response to movement of the adjuster. A sensor senses the gauge to detect a dimension of the media while the media is supported by the tray. |
| US08259366B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a drive source, a speed change mechanism provided in a transmission unit that transmits a driving force from the drive source to a scanning drive unit. The speed change mechanism is configured to change a transmission ratio of the transmission unit by selectively bringing one of first and second couplings into a connected state. The image reading apparatus further includes a selector configured to selectively bring one of the first and second couplings into the connected state, a detector configured to detect the connected state of the second coupling, and a controller configured to control a scanning position of the reading unit based on the transmission ratio changed via the second coupling after the detector detects the connected state of the second coupling after the selector changes selection from the first coupling to the second coupling. |
| US08259363B2 |
Image processing apparatus and printing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an image, the image comprising an image printed on a printing sheet, and a first demarcation line added by a writing tool and demarcating a region of the image, a demarcation line extracting unit that extracts the first demarcation line from the image read by the image reading unit, and an image extracting unit that extracts the region of the image demarcated by the first demarcation line from the image as an extracted image. |
| US08259362B2 |
Image forming system, image forming apparatus and copying apparatus
An image forming system includes a first data compressing device, a data decompressing device, and an image forming device. The first data compressing device stores image data of a top line to be formed on a recording medium first and image data of a designated line other than the top line in a memory area with a data format capable of forming the original image data by itself, while generating difference data which indicates a difference between image data of a non-designated line other than the top and the designated lines and the image data of a line adjacent to the non-designated line, and stores the difference data in the memory area. The data decompressing device sequentially decompresses the image data of each line, based on the image data and the difference data. The image forming device forms an image on the recording medium, based on the decompressed image data. |
| US08259352B2 |
Image generating device, image generating method and printing device
An image generating device comprises an extraction unit that extracts parameters (specifying an elliptical shape and a gradation pattern) from an instruction for drawing an elliptical radial gradation, a transformation matrix generating unit that generates a transformation matrix for transforming the elliptical shape into a perfect circular shape based on the parameters, an inverse matrix calculating unit that calculates an inverse matrix of the transformation matrix, a perfect circle parameter calculating unit that calculates perfect circle parameters specifying each perfect circle (drawn with a uniform color value inside the perfect circular shape) based on the parameters, an ellipse parameter calculating unit that calculates ellipse parameters specifying each ellipse (drawn with a uniform color value inside the elliptical shape) by inversely transforming the perfect circle parameters using the inverse matrix, and a gradation generating unit that generates the elliptical radial gradation from the ellipse parameters and the gradation pattern parameters. |
| US08259350B2 |
Job-specific print defect management
A print defect management device that supports job-specific print defect management automatically assesses print job pages to determine the severity of image quality defects likely to occur on one or more selected printers. Views of identified troubled pages may be rendered to include approximations of color and image quality defects based on the original page image data, and each printer's color rendition data and defect data, thereby allowing troubled pages for one or more selected printers to be viewed prior to printing. Suggested changes may be automatically or manually applied. Once satisfied with the image quality of print job pages rendered for a specific printer, a user may submit the print job to the same printer, thereby assuring that the user's image quality expectations are met in the printed product. The device may support job-specific print defect management with both local and/or remote printers via LAN, WAN and/or Internet based connectivity. |
| US08259347B2 |
Image processing apparatus and computer readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes: a first holding unit that holds a pixel value data sequence in which each of the data sequences is formed by a pixel value and a range of the pixel value or by the pixel value, the range of the pixel value, reference to a pixel, and a range of the reference; a second holding unit that holds a transparency data sequence in which each of the one-dimensional data sequences is formed by a coefficient representing transparency of a pixel in the image element and a range of the coefficient or by the coefficient, the range of the coefficient, reference to coefficient, and a range of the reference; and an image generation unit that forms an image from the pixel value data sequence, and that generates information about transparency of the image from the transparency data sequence. |
| US08259345B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method of image processing apparatus, program, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus retrieves attribute values of image data in a storing unit for storing image data read by a reading unit or image data received from an external unit, and sets the retrieved attribute values as at least a part of read settings for document reading to be performed by the reading unit. |
| US08259344B2 |
Ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet printing method
There is provided an ink jet printing apparatus in which unevenness that may occur at the edges of printing areas can be reduced also for various printing media including unspecified printing media. In the ink jet printing apparatus which uses a print head for ejecting ink and performs printing by scanning a predetermined area on a printing medium with the print head multiple times, the multiple times of scan including a forward scan and a backward scan, the apparatus comprising: a control unit that cases the print head to print patterns each of which is printed through multiple times of scan of the print head and has different portions in a time interval between the multiple times of scan, with different printing ratios for the multiple times of scan; and a setting unit that sets the printing ratios based on the test patterns. |
| US08259340B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus having: image forming means for visualizing image data read out by image reading means and forming it onto transfer materials; post-processing means for executing a post-process including a stapling process, a folding process, and/or a sorting process in order to execute a book-binding process to the transfer materials on which the image data has been formed; and a trimmer for executing a trimming process to a bundle of the transfer materials subjected to the binding process by the post-processing means, wherein when the trimming process by the trimmer is executed, the image forming means sets a non-image forming area including a processing portion to which the trimming process is executed and a valid image forming area excluding the non-image forming area onto the transfer material and forms the image data read out by the image reading means into the valid image forming area of the transfer material. |
| US08259326B2 |
Image readout system, server apparatus, image readout apparatus, and terminal apparatus
An application folder associated with a client PC and an application software of the client PC is generated in a storage section of a station PC. Scan data stored in the application folder is then moved to an application data folder of the client PC, which folder corresponds to the client PC and application software associated with the application folder. As a result, in a network scanner system in which a scanner apparatus is connected to the client PC over a network, it is possible to efficiently store scan data read out by the scanner apparatus and perform data processing to the scan data by an application software. |
| US08259324B2 |
Printer/storage integrate system, controller, control method, and control program for automatic installation of control software
A printer/storage integrated system, capable of using both printer and storage device from host devices with a single connection setting, is provided. A controller is connected with a first network with which host devices are connected, and a second network with which a printer and a storage device shared by the host devices are connected. The controller includes a communication relay unit which receives a control instruction or data transmitted from a host device over the first network, determines whether the destination of the control instruction or the data is either the printer or the storage device based on information included in the header of a communication protocol of the fourth layer or higher used in the transmission, and transfers the control instruction or the data to the printer or the storage device determined as the destination over the second network. |
| US08259321B2 |
Methods and systems for scheduling disturbance jobs
A method is provided for managing the scheduling of a plurality of print jobs for a print shop. The method includes obtaining a print job input stream including the plurality of print jobs. Each of the plurality of print jobs is scheduled for processing unless at least one of the plurality of print jobs is determined to be a disturbance job, the disturbance job causing delays in processing of other print jobs in the plurality of print jobs that would not occur but for the existence of the disturbance job in the print job input stream. The disturbance job is then assigned a processing related value that decreases over time, and scheduling of the disturbance job is delayed until the processing related value is less than a selected threshold value. |
| US08259319B2 |
Communication device
A communication device may be provided with a main control unit, a condition storage unit, and a sub control unit. The sub control unit may judge, in a case where data is received while the main control unit is being in the sleeping state, whether the sleeping state is to be maintained by referring to a condition stored in the condition storage unit. The sub control unit may release the sleeping state in a case where a negative judgment is made. When object data is received, at least one of the main and sub control units may register a new condition in the condition storage unit. The registration of the new condition is executed in a case where the sleeping state of the main control unit would be released although the sleeping state of the main control unit should not be released under a presumption of the object data being received while the main control unit is being in the sleeping state. |
| US08259315B2 |
Information processing apparatus, print setting method, and storage medium for changing default setting information
An information processing apparatus having a printer driver installed thereon and configured to be in communication with a printing apparatus includes a setting changing unit configured to generate an instruction to the printer driver to change a setting value for default setting information stored in the printer driver described in a setting file for instructing changing of a setting value for the printer driver. |
| US08259309B2 |
Optical position detection apparatus and display apparatus having position detection function
An apparatus for optically detecting an object position includes: position detection light sources irradiating light onto the object; a light guide plate receiving the light and emitting it onto a detection area to form an intensity distribution in the detection area; a light detector having light receiving portions receiving the light reflected by the object; and a signal processing portion detecting the object position based on the intensity distribution, wherein light incident portions receiving the light and side portions except for the light incident portions are provided on outer periphery side portions of the light guide plate, a light emission surface emitting the light incident from the light incident portions toward the detection area is provided on a plane portion of the light guide plate, and at least a portion of the side portions is an anti-reflection surface. |
| US08259307B2 |
Device for optically detecting position and/or orientation of objects and associated detection methods
The present invention relates to a device for optically detecting position and/or attitude of an object (5) moving in a given travel range (4), said device comprising electro-optical sensors positioned on said object and distributed in groups, called clusters (6), analysis and computation means (2) making it possible to find the position and/or the attitude of said object, electronic image generation means (1) and optical projection means (1) comprising a display and a projection optic. The optical projection means emit, in a projection cone, a clear image (3) at any point of the travel range, the analysis of the signals received by the sensors of at least one cluster making it possible to identify the position and/or the attitude of the object in the frame of reference defined by the projection means, the latter consisting of a plane perpendicular to the projection axis, called image plane, and the projection axis. |
| US08259305B2 |
Surface shape measuring system and surface shape measuring method using the same
The surface shape measuring system includes an illumination unit including a main light source, a focusing lens, and a projection lens; a beam splitter to split illumination light emitted respectively irradiated onto a reference surface and a measurement surface; a light detecting element to capture an interference pattern; and a control computer to obtain surface shape data through white-light interference pattern analysis from an image captured and detect whether or not the measurement surface is defective from the obtained data, wherein a subsidiary light source to provide falling illumination to the target object; and two-dimensional data and three-dimensional data regarding the surface shape of the target object are obtained by selectively intermitting the turning-on of the main light source and the subsidiary light source and the irradiation of the illumination light onto the reference surface. |
| US08259301B2 |
Cavity length modulation in resonator fiber optic gyroscopes
Systems and methods for reducing rotation sensing errors in a resonator fiber optic gyroscope. An example method propagates a primary light wave through a resonator having an optical fiber and a plurality of optical surfaces for directing the light wave exiting a first end of the optical fiber back into an opposite end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is wound onto a piezo-electric transducer (PZT) tube. A sinusoidal voltage is applied to the PZT tube to modulate a length of a fiber cavity within the optical fiber. The amplitude and frequency of the fiber cavity length modulation is selected to produce a relative phase modulation between the primary light wave and a double-back reflected light wave, such that the rotation sensing errors resulting from double backscatter of light is at a frequency above a frequency band of interest. This allows the associated error to be filtered out of the rotation rate signal. |
| US08259295B2 |
Fabrication method of semiconductor integrated circuit device
In the fabrication of a semiconductor integrated circuit device, a 2D-3D inspection technique for solder printed on a substrate is provided which permits easy preparation of data and easy visual confirmation of a defective portion. In a substrate inspecting step, first, a 3D inspection is performed, followed by execution of 2D inspection, whereby a 2D picked-up image of the portion of a pad determined to be defective can be displayed on a larger scale simultaneously with the end of inspection, thereby providing an environment for efficient visual confirmation of the defect. Further, by subjecting a raw substrate to measurement at the time of preparing inspection data, a relation between an original height measurement reference generated automatically by the inspection system and the height of a pad upper surface is checked, whereby it is possible to measure the height and volume of printed solder based on the pad upper surface. |
| US08259293B2 |
Deep submicron and nano CMOS single photon photodetector pixel with event based circuits for readout data-rate reduction communication system
An avalanche photodiode is disclosed. The avalanche photodiode includes a substrate of a first conductivity type. A first well of a second conductivity type is formed within the substrate. A second well of the second conductivity type is formed substantially overlying and extending into the first well. A heavily doped region of the first conductivity type is formed substantially overlying and extending into the first well, the junction between the heavily doped region and the second well forming an avalanche multiplication region. A guard ring is formed from a first conductivity material positioned substantially about the periphery of the multiplication region at least partially underlying the heavily doped region. An outer well ring of the second conductivity type is formed about the perimeter of the deep well and the guard ring. |
| US08259286B2 |
Lithography and associated methods, devices, and systems
An apparatus for forming an energy pattern on a target, comprising a projector including a first row of spaced-apart energy outlets arranged in a first pattern, a second row of spaced apart energy outlets arranged in a second pattern, wherein the first pattern is different than the second pattern, and comprising a platform on which the target can be mounted, a motor and a controller. A method of forming a pattern in a layer of energy-sensitive material, comprising projecting a first energy pattern onto the energy-sensitive material, moving the first energy pattern relative to the layer of energy-sensitive material, projecting a second energy pattern onto the energy-sensitive material, wherein the second energy pattern is different than the first energy pattern, and moving the second energy pattern relative to the layer of energy-sensitive material. |
| US08259280B2 |
Image display device and manufacturing method thereof
An image display device having a display panel in which a first substrate and a second substrate are disposed to each other, in which the first substrate includes an insulating substrate composed of a resin, a circuit layer having a circuit where a plurality of Thin-film transistors are arranged in a matrix, and a polarizer disposed between the insulating substrate and the circuit layer, the insulating substrate has a thickness of 20 μm or more and 150 μm or less, a transmittance of 80% or more for a visible light at a wavelength of 400 nm or more and 800 nm or less, and a 3% weight reduction temperature of 300° C. or higher, and has no melting point or has a melting point of 300° C. or higher. |
| US08259273B2 |
Liquid crystals and liquid crystal display apparatus employing the same
A liquid crystal includes about 60 wt % to about 80 wt % of a first compound material, about 2 wt % to about 15 wt % of a second compound material, and a neutral compound material. The first compound material has a dielectric anisotropy of a first polarity, and the second compound material has a dielectric anisotropy of a second polarity. |
| US08259272B2 |
Array substrate for in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device having double-layered metal patterns and method of fabricating the same
An array substrate of an in-plane switching liquid crystal display device includes, among other features, a gate electrode and a gate line having a first double-layered structure consisting of a first barrier layer and a first low resistance metallic layer; a data line defining a pixel region with the gate line, the data line having a second double-layered structure consisting of a second barrier layer and a second low resistance metallic layer; a plurality of common electrodes disposed in a direction opposite to an adjacent gate line; a thin film transistor (TFT) near a crossing of the gate and data lines, each of the source and drain electrodes of the TFT having the same double-layered structure as the data line; and a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in an alternating pattern with the common electrodes and disposed in the direction opposite the adjacent gate line. |
| US08259268B2 |
Polarizer and liquid crystal display
Provided are a polarizer having high in-plane uniformity and high heat resistance, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) using the polarizer and having the following characteristics: the LCD is excellent in mass productivity, has the contrast ratio being improved, and has high image quality. The LCD includes: a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent; a liquid crystal layer placed between the pair of substrates; an electrode group for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer, the electrode group being formed on at least one substrate of the pair of substrates; multiple active elements connected to the electrode group; and an alignment control film placed on at least one substrate of the pair of substrates, in which the molecules of a dichroism pigment aligned on at least one surface of the alignment control film and the dichroism pigment are cross-linked with a crosslinkable monomer. |
| US08259265B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel, liquid crystal display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof
The invention provides a liquid crystal display panel, a liquid crystal display apparatus and a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate which are opposite to each other and a liquid crystal layer between the two substrates. On one side of the first substrate which is opposite to the second substrate, there is a solar battery unit and a Thin Film Transistor; and the solar battery unit includes a first electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion layer and a second electrode layer which are sequentially disposed in stack. In the invention, the solar battery is configured between the two substrates, and therefore the size of the panel is not increased and the structure is simple. |
| US08259257B2 |
Back light device, liquid crystal display apparatus and image display apparatus using the same
The liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel and the back light device for emitting the light from a light source to the liquid crystal panel through a lens. The light source includes a first LED for emitting the light of a first color, a second LED for emitting the light of a second color, a third LED for emitting the light of a third color, a fourth LED for emitting the light of the third color, a fifth LED for emitting the light of the second color, and a sixth LED for emitting the light of the first color. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth LEDs are arranged on the wiring board in such a manner as to offset the deviation of the light distribution. |
| US08259255B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display using same
An exemplary backlight module includes a light guide plate (210), a light source (211), and a retardation layer (214). The light guide plate includes a light incident surface (2120) and a light emitting surface (2121) adjacent to the light incident surface. The light source is configured to emit polarized light with a first polarization orientation, and is located at a side of the light incident surface. The retardation layer is disposed at a side of the light emitting surface, and is configured to rotate the first polarization orientation of the polarized light to a second polarization orientation. |
| US08259252B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In a thin liquid crystal display device having a front window, a cushion material is interposed between a liquid crystal display panel and a mold in which a backlight is housed. When an external force is applied to the front window, the cushion material helps to avoid concentration of stress on a TFT substrate constituting the liquid crystal display panel. Thus, it is possible to prevent the TFT substrate from being cracked. Further, a peripheral wall portion is formed in the mold and is bonded to the front window, in order to prevent the phenomenon that the liquid crystal display panel is removed from the front window when an excess force is applied to a transparent adhesive material that bonds the front window and the liquid crystal display panel together. |
| US08259242B2 |
Stereoscopic display device
A stereoscopic display device is disclosed. The stereoscopic display device includes a backlight module, a first liquid crystal display panel, a first polarizer, a second liquid crystal display panel, a second polarizer, and a detachable polarizer. The backlight module has a light emitting side. The first polarizer, the first liquid crystal display panel, the detachable polarizer, the second liquid crystal display panel, and the second polarizer are disposed sequentially from the light emitting side. The detachable polarizer is detachably inserted. By designing arrangements of the first polarizer, the second polarizer, and the detachable polarizer, and by limiting the pixel scale relationship between the first liquid crystal display panel and the second liquid crystal display panel, various types of stereoscopic display technologies can be implemented according to the present invention. |
| US08259241B2 |
Autostereoscopic display apparatus and filter therefor
An autostereoscopic display apparatus (8), comprising: a plurality of individually addressable display elements (2) arranged in an array of rows and columns; and light directing means (15) comprising a plurality of light directing elements (16) at a slant angle (α) to the column direction (6); wherein the shape of the individually addressable display elements (2) substantially comprises the shape remaining from a rectangular footprint when one or more cut-outs (2c) is removed; the one or more cut-outs (2c) being positioned relative to the slanted angle (α) of the light directing elements (16) such as to provide a reduction in brightness variation along the row direction (4) compared to what individually addressable display elements shaped according to the rectangular footprint would provide. |
| US08259239B2 |
Polarized head-mounted projection display
An image display system and associated method for image displaying The system includes an image source configured to generate image light, projection optics configured to project the image light, and a polarizing beam splitter optically coupled to the projection optics and configured to propagate into a first optical path first polarized light having a first polarization and to propagate into a second optical path second polarized light having a second polarization The system includes a quarter wave converter disposed in the first optical path and configured to rotate the first polarization by a quarter phase as the first polarized light first passes through the quarter wave converter, and includes a reflective screen disposed in the first optical path and configured to reflect rotated first polarized light from the quarter wave converter back through the quarter wave converter for further quarter phase rotation. |
| US08259238B2 |
Optical unit and projection-type liquid crystal display device using the same
An optical unit is provided which includes inorganic polarizing plates used as output polarizing plates. Even if a defect such as a flaw or a pinhole is present in the polarizing plate, the defect is not projected on the display screen. Instead of output polarizing plates for liquid crystal panels for R, G, and B, a common polarizing plate for R, G, and B is disposed on the output side of a photosynthesis prism. A color selective polarization rotator which rotates the polarization of light of a selected wavelength band is disposed between the photosynthesis prism and the common polarizing plate. Or, alternatively, instead of output polarizing plates for R and G to be individually disposed along with an output polarizing plate for B, a common output polarizing plate for R and G is disposed on the output side of the photosynthesis prism. |
| US08259237B2 |
Image display apparatus and image display method
A detection surface of an optical detector is divided into regions C, E, F, G, and H. The optical detector outputs detection signals corresponding to the amounts of light incident on the respective regions. A position detection controller calculates an image projection position based on timing at which a laser beam is incident on region C. A laser control circuit adjusts the intensity of the laser beam emitted by a laser based on laser beam intensities detected in regions E to H arranged around region C. |
| US08259236B2 |
Image display apparatus and method for providing Xlet thereof
An image display apparatus and a method for providing an Xlet of the image display apparatus, are provided. The image display apparatus operated by a remote controller having a plurality of function keys, the image display apparatus comprises: an Xlet unit which performs Xlet included in a data broadcast signal; and a display unit which displays the preoccupied state of the plurality of function keys by the performed Xlet. Accordingly, a user may easily recognize the performed state of the Xlet. |
| US08259235B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method thereof
An image processing apparatus includes an image decoding unit and an image adjusting unit. The image decoding unit decodes a data stream to generate a first image comprising a first pixel. The image adjusting unit comprises a pixel edge determining module and a chrominance adjusting module. The pixel edge determining module determines an edge luminance parameter according to an initial luminance value of the first pixel and a plurality of initial luminance values of pixels neighboring the first pixel, and determines an edge chrominance parameter according to an initial chrominance value of the first pixel and a plurality of initial chrominance values of pixels neighboring the first pixel. The first chrominance adjusting module determines a first weight according to the edge luminance parameter and the edge chrominance parameter, and generates a first adjusted chrominance value by weighted calculating a first predetermined chrominance value and the initial chrominance value of the first pixel. |
| US08259232B2 |
Image display apparatus and image display method
An image display apparatus including an image receiving unit that receives an image signal on which additional display information is superimposed, an image display unit that displays the image signal on which the additional display information is superimposed in a screen, and an information display unit that displays predetermined display information at a display position of the additional display information so that the additional display information displayed in the screen is hidden. |
| US08259231B2 |
Portable navigation device with TV function, processing module and operation method thereof
A portable navigation device with a TV function includes a TV module, a navigation module, a display module, a sound module, a first processing unit, a second processing unit and a TV command storage module. The TV module generates baseband TV signals, the navigation module generates position information, the display module displays image information, the sound module plays sounds, the first processing unit performs navigation programs, the second processing unit performs TV programs, and the TV command storage module stores TV commands from the first processing unit and the second processing unit. TV command transmission between the first processing unit and the second processing unit is achieved by sending interrupt signals or reset signals. |
| US08259228B2 |
Method and apparatus for high quality video motion adaptive edge-directional deinterlacing
A method for deinterlacing video includes constructing a temporary frame of deinterlaced video based on a first (i.e., current) field of interlaced video, wherein the temporary frame includes pixels in lines of the temporary frame associated with the first field of interlaced video, placeholder pixels in identified areas of motion in lines of the frame associated with a missing field of interlaced video, and pixels from an opposite field of polarity of interlaced video in areas without motion. The method further includes replacing the placeholder pixels in the identified areas of motion with pixels interpolated using an edge direction interpolation scheme based on pixels in the first field of interlaced video, resulting in a reconstructed frame. In one example, a motion adaptive interpolator may construct the temporary frame, and an edge directional interpolator may generate the reconstructed/deinterlaced the frame. |
| US08259224B2 |
Method of setting position of imaging device
A method of setting a location of an imaging device includes (a) preparing a base unit, the base unit including a lens and a mounting boss; (b) mounting an imaging device, on which a reference point is formed, to a circuit board; (c) forming a mounting hole at a predetermined location of the circuit board based on the reference point of the imaging device; and (d) mounting the circuit board to the base unit by inserting the mounting boss into the mounting hole. |
| US08259217B2 |
Fast focusing method for digital camera
A fast focusing method for a digital camera is applied in an auto focusing stage for judging whether the digital camera needs to be refocused. The fast focusing method includes recording a system time after a previous focusing (defined as a first time); capturing a system time before a current focusing (defined as a second time); performing a fuzziness detection procedure to acquire a focus value when a difference obtained by subtracting the first time from the second time is greater than a focusing time threshold; setting a focusing focal length range covering a reference focal length when the focus value is between a lower limit focusing threshold and an upper limit focusing threshold; capturing images at different focusing focal lengths respectively in the focusing focal length range; calculating a contrast value of each image; calculating a target focal length from the contrast values through a quadratic curve approximation method. |
| US08259213B2 |
Digital camera and digital camera system
A digital camera includes: a lens unit that forms a subject image on an imaging plane; an image sensor that includes color filters each disposed at one of pixels disposed in a lattice-like pattern over pixel intervals (a, b) along two directions, an x direction and a y direction, extending perpendicular to each other, with color filters corresponding to a first color component among first through nth (n≧2) color components, disposed in a checkered pattern at pixels amounting to at least half an entire color filter density and color filters corresponding to remaining color components disposed at other pixels, and outputs image signals expressing the subject image; and an optical low pass filter unit at which light having passed through the lens unit and yet to enter the image sensor undergoes light beam separation along two diagonal directions ((1/2)a, (1/2)b)×(√2/α) and ((1/2)a, −(1/2)b)×(√2/α) relative to (x, y) coordinate axes, so as to achieve frequency modulation for the subject image to become extinct at a band formed by connecting spatial frequencies (α/(2a), 0) and (0, α/(2b)) at positions calculated by multiplying, by a multiplier α, a Nyquist frequency 1/(2a) and a Nyquist frequency 1/(2b) at the image sensor assumed respectively along the x direction and the y direction. When the pixel intervals (a, b) assumed along the two directions at the image sensor are both within a 2.5˜5 μm/pixel range, a position of an extinction frequency band is set for the optical low pass filter by setting the multiplier α for the Nyquist frequencies at the image sensor within a range of 1.5≦α≦3.5. |
| US08259211B2 |
Lens driver and image pickup apparatus
A lens driver includes a lens unit, a polymer actuator, and an orthogonal transformation mechanism. The lens unit includes a lens holding frame having a pressed portion at an outer peripheral surface of the lens unit, a lens being held thereby. The lens unit is movable in an optical-axis direction of the lens. The polymer actuator is arranged outside the outer peripheral surface and having an electrode to which a voltage is applied. The polymer actuator is bent in a direction orthogonal to the optical-axis direction and presses the pressed portion in that direction when the voltage is applied to the electrode. The orthogonal transformation mechanism converts a force in a pressing direction into a moving force in the optical-axis direction and moves the lens unit in the optical-axis direction when the pressed portion of the lens holding frame is pressed by the bent polymer actuator. |
| US08259210B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging system
The spherical aberration of an imaging lens changes from an object side of image-plane base position Zo toward the other side thereof as a distance from optical axis Z1 increases, and formulas 0.02 |
| US08259209B2 |
Optical device and control method thereof
Provided is an optical device having image capturing means that converts an optical image of an object to an electric signal, and an optical element arranged before the image capturing means. In the optical device, an insulation member is arranged at a position facing the optical element in a way to be movable in a substantially entire area of a light entering surface of the optical element, and an electric control unit is provided for at least electrostatically charging or neutralizing the insulation member. |
| US08259208B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing touch-based adjustments within imaging devices
A camera and method which selectively applies image content adjustments to elements contained in the image material. By way of example, the method involves registration of user touch screen input and determination of the arbitrary extent of a specific element in the captured image material at the location at which touch input was registered. Once selected, the element can be highlighted on the display, and additional user input may be optionally input to control what type of adjustment is to be applied. Then the element within the captured image material is processed to apply automatic, or user-selected, adjustments to the content of said element in relation to the remainder of the captured image. The adjustments to the image element may comprise any conventional forms of image editing, such as saturation, white balance, exposure, sizing, noise reduction, sharpening, blurring, deleting and so forth. |
| US08259203B2 |
Method and apparatus for achieving panchromatic response from a color-mosaic imager
A method and apparatus for achieving monochromatic response from a low-cost color imager are presented. In this method and apparatus, the out-of-band response to infrared (IR) light by solid state sensors is exploited to produce a monochrome image. The monochrome image is produced by omitting the IR blocking filter from the sensor of the color imager and illuminating the scene to be imaged including IR radiation from an LED. The wavelength emitted from the LED is matched to the wavelength or wavelengths that correspond to a region where the sensor's response to IR light is relatively even, despite the color-mosaic filter permanently attached to the sensor. |
| US08259202B2 |
Image processing device and image processing program for acquiring specific color component based on sensitivity difference between pixels of an imaging device
In a high precision image processor and image processing program, an output of a one-chip Bayer array CCD is A/D converted and noise reduced, and then entered in a G interpolation circuit which comprises interpolation circuit B which implements interpolation processing of a less resolving power but does not reflect on the result of interpolation an apparent sensitivity difference occurring at a pixel value of a G pixel of the one-chip CCD, and interpolation circuit A which implements interpolation processing of an improved resolving power but reflects an apparent sensitivity difference on the result of interpolation. G interpolation circuit estimates a sensitivity difference at a pixel of interest and combines outputs of interpolation circuits A and B such that for a large sensitivity difference, the output of circuit B is used more, and for a small sensitivity difference, the output of circuit A is used more. |
| US08259201B2 |
Color image sensor
A color image sensor has a plurality of pixels. On the pixels zero-order diffractive color filters (DCFs) (1) are arranged. Different zero-order DCFs (1), e.g., DCFs (1) transmitting red, green and blue light, respectively, are allocated to the pixels of the color image sensor. The use of DCFs (1) for color imaging devices brings better defined band-pass or notch filters than the presently used lacquers. The DCFs (1) are more stable with respect to time, temperature and any environmental aggression. The manufacture of the DCF pattern is simpler and cheaper than that of a conventional dye-filter pattern, since the different types of DCFs can be manufactured simultaneously. |
| US08259198B2 |
System and method for detecting and correcting defective pixels in an image sensor
Various techniques are provided for the detection and correction of defective pixels in an image sensor. In accordance with one embodiment, a static defect table storing the locations of known static defects is provided, and the location of a current pixel is compared to the static defect table. If the location of the current pixel is found in the static defect table, the current pixel is identified as a static defect and is corrected using the value of the previous pixel of the same color. If the current pixel is not identified as a static defect, a dynamic defect detection process includes comparing pixel-to-pixel gradients between the current pixel a set of neighboring pixels against a dynamic defect threshold. If a dynamic defect is detected, a replacement value for correcting the dynamic defect may be determined by interpolating the value of two neighboring pixels on opposite sides of the current pixel in a direction exhibiting the smallest gradient. |
| US08259195B2 |
Camera module
A camera module is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the camera module includes a lens unit, an image sensing unit, which converts light received through the lens unit to an electrical signal, a housing, which supports the lens unit, and a shield can, which supports a lower side of the housing and is made of a conductive metallic material so as to shield an electromagnetic wave. |
| US08259194B2 |
Photographing apparatus having functions of portable multimedia player
A photographing apparatus having portable multimedia player (PMP) functions. The photographing apparatus provides the PMP functions to store multimedia content such as images, music and moving image files and to play back the stored multimedia content using recording and playback functions of the photographing apparatus so that portability can be improved and a user can enjoy the multimedia content. Specifically, the photographing apparatus includes a photographing module to provide a photographing function and a PMP module to record and play back the photographed image and to provide the PMP function. Therefore, if a display unit is part of the PMP module and the PMP module is attached to the photographing apparatus, the display unit may be used as a part of the photographing apparatus, and if the display unit is separated from the photographing apparatus, the display unit may be used as a PMP. |
| US08259191B2 |
Backlight adjustment device of camera-equipped terminal and terminal
A backlight adjustment device of a camera equipped terminal of an example of the invention comprises a storage unit which stores relational data indicating relationship between an integrated value and a luminance, an integrated value calculation unit which determines an integrated value of imaging data of a camera or data in a predetermined range of the imaging data, a first control unit which determines a luminance with respect to the integrated value determined by the integrated value calculation unit based on the relational data stored in the storage unit, and a second control unit which controls brightness of a backlight of an image display unit according to the luminance determined by the first control unit. |
| US08259189B2 |
Electronic camera
An electronic camera includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels and a control section that sets an imaging sensitivity at a time of imaging. Each of the pixels includes a first light receiving element that generates a first image signal, a second light receiving element that generates a second image signal higher in the sensitivity than the first image signal under a same condition, and an output circuit capable of adding the first image signal and the second image signal. The control section specifies an output signal of each of the pixels from the first image signal, the second image signal, and an additional image signal of the first image signal and the second image signal in accordance with an SN ratio at the imaging sensitivity. |
| US08259188B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method thereof
Upon applying a demosaicing process to a photographic image, a display image is generated from the photographic image to which the demosaicing process is applied, and an instruction indicating a reference region on the display image, and an adjustment instruction of parameters for a development process are input. Then, an image region having a high correlation with the reference region is extracted as a similar region, and display images of the reference region and similar region are generated by applying the parameters for the development process to the photographic image before the demosaicing process, which corresponds to the reference region, and that before the demosaicing process, which corresponds to the similar region. |
| US08259186B2 |
Communication terminal that shares electronic data with other communication terminals
A communication terminal comprises a storage unit, a selection unit, and a communication unit. The storage unit stores electronic data and condition information indicating a selection condition of the electronic data. The selection unit selects the electronic data from among the electronic data stored in the storage unit and the electronic data indicated by possession information indicating the electronic data possessed by other communication terminals joining data sharing based on the condition information. The communication unit receives the possession information from the other communication terminals between a first timing and a second timing when the selection unit selects the electronic data. |
| US08259184B2 |
Imaging apparatus with shake correction
In an imaging apparatus with a shake correction function, the influence of front curtain shock is prevented from being exerted on a shake correction function section (shake correction drive). The imaging apparatus includes a shake detection sensor 171 that detects an amount of shake applied to a digital camera, a shake correction unit 200 that performs a shake correction drive of an imaging device 101 on the basis of a shake amount detection signal, a shutter unit 40 that is arranged immediately in front of the imaging device 101 and performs an optical-path opening operation and an optical-path blocking operation for opening and blocking an optical path of light guided to the imaging device 101, a timing control circuit 51 that supplies a predetermined reset signal to each pixel for each predetermined pixel line so as to start exposure on the imaging device 101, and a shutter control section 623 that controls exposure of the imaging device 101. At the time of shooting, the shutter control section 623 executes an electronic shutter control (electronic focal plane shutter) for starting exposure on the imaging device 101 by means of the reset signal supplied to each pixel from the timing control circuit 51. |
| US08259183B2 |
Shooting lens having vibration reducing function and camera system for same
The invention includes a vibration reduction mechanism, a vibration detecting part, a reference signal generating part, a target drive position calculating part, and a driving part. The vibration reduction mechanism reduces a vibration of a subject image. The vibration detecting part outputs a vibration detection signal. The reference signal generating part estimates a reference signal of the vibration detection part. The target drive position calculating part obtains a vibration component from a difference between the vibration detection signal and the estimated reference signal to obtain a target position to which the vibration reduction mechanism is driven. The driving part controls the vibration reduction mechanism to follow the target position. Particularly, the reference signal generating part corrects the reference signal according to a motion signal obtained from a captured image. An accurate reference signal can be obtained by the correction, thereby improving the performance of the vibration reduction. |
| US08259182B2 |
Optical apparatus and camera system having a function of moving a focus lens in an optical axis direction to reduce focus shake generated in the optical axis direction
The optical apparatus includes an image pickup optical system including a focus lens, a controller controlling movement of the focus lens in an optical axis direction of the image pickup optical system, a shake detector detecting a shake amount of the optical apparatus in the optical axis direction, and a memory storing plural shake amounts sequentially detected by the shake detector. The controller calculates, in response to a start instruction of exposure for the image pickup and before start of the exposure, a predictive value of the shake amount for a time point of the exposure based on the plural shake amounts stored in the memory and including at least one shake amount detected after the start instruction of exposure. The controller moves the focus lens to a position corresponding to the predictive value before the start of the exposure. |
| US08259178B2 |
System and method for creating and manipulating synthetic environments
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for synthesizing a virtual window. The method includes receiving an environment feed, selecting video elements of the environment feed, displaying the selected video elements on a virtual window in a window casing, selecting non-video elements of the environment feed, and outputting the selected non-video elements coordinated with the displayed video elements. Environment feeds can include synthetic and natural elements. The method can further toggle the virtual window between displaying the selected elements and being transparent. The method can track user motion and adapt the displayed selected elements on the virtual window based on the tracked user motion. The method can further detect a user in close proximity to the virtual window, receive an interaction from the detected user, and adapt the displayed selected elements on the virtual window based on the received interaction. |
| US08259174B2 |
Camera auto-calibration by horizon estimation
A method for estimating the horizon in an image of a camera to provide camera auto-calibration in the pitch direction. The method includes taking an image of a scene and generating a texture map of the image using horizontal edge detection analysis to locate horizontal edges in the scene. The method also includes providing a motion map by providing image differencing between subsequent images to find areas in the scene with no motion while the vehicle is moving. The texture map and the motion map are combined to identify the areas in the image that do not move and contain horizontal edges. A horizontal projection is generated from the combined map by counting white dots in the map in the horizontal direction. The horizontal projection is smoothed to eliminate noise and the location of the horizon is estimated in the image by identifying the maximum peak in the horizontal projection. |
| US08259173B2 |
Image generating apparatus and image generating method
An image generating apparatus, which generates monitor image data from camera image data through a viewpoint transformation, includes a rear camera, an image processing controller, and a monitor. The image processing controller sets a virtual stereoscopic imaging plane as a virtual imaging plane of a virtual camera set at a position higher than the rear camera, transfers each picture element by a coordinate transformation between a position of each picture element of single camera image data captured by the rear camera and a position of each picture element on the virtual stereoscopic imaging plane of the virtual camera through a virtual projection plane set on ground, and generates corresponding monitor image data. |
| US08259169B2 |
Eye-gaze detecting device and eye-gaze detecting method
Accurately and quickly calculated is a calibrating parameter for detecting an eye-gaze coordinate, of an operator, in an input image from a capturing unit worn on a user.An eye-gaze detecting device (100) detects an eye-gaze coordinate of a user in an input image from a capturing unit (104) wearable on the user, and includes: an eye movement detecting unit (101) detecting an eye movement of the user; a calibration object detecting unit (105) (i) receiving the input image, (ii) determining whether or not there is an object available as a calibration object in the input image, and (iii) providing a position coordinate indicating a position of the object in the case where the available object is determined to be included in the input image; a voice instructing unit (108) providing an instruction to the user to look at the calibration object indicated in the position coordinate; a calibration parameter calculating unit (106) calculating a calibration parameter with a use of the eye movement information of the user receiving the instruction and the position coordinate of the calibration object; and a calibrating unit (102) calibrating the eye movement information to the eye-gaze coordinate with a use of the calculated calibration parameter. |
| US08259165B2 |
Image display device for an autostereoscopic display with a sweet spot unit containing an image matrix and a corrective matrix for correcting field curvature
The invention relates to an image display device comprising an imaging matrix, which consists of imaging elements which are arranged in a lateral manner, for example, lenticulars or a lens array, and a plurality of point elements which are disposed on a object plane and which are formed from the imaging elements in an observation chamber. In order to reduce imaging errors resulting in the image field curvature of the individual imaging elements of a large observation angle, compensation by a correction matrix, which contains a plurality of optical corrections elements, takes place. An optical correction element is associated with each individual optical imaging element. Said invention can be used, for example, in image or video display devices, such as autostereoscopic displays, multi-user-displays with sweet-spot-units and multi-view-displays, in order to image illuminating elements. The invention also relates to displays comprising a sweet-spot-unit, which can be switched for one or more observers into a two-dimensional mode and also in an autostereoscopic mode. |
| US08259157B2 |
Teleconference terminal apparatus and image transmitting method
A teleconference terminal apparatus includes: imaging field changing control means for carrying out control of an imaging field changing unit designed to change the position of the imaging field of an imaging unit; preset information managing means; image signal transmitting means for outputting and transmitting an image signal to another teleconference terminal apparatus; still image generating means for generating still image information based on an image signal obtained by the imaging unit; and transmitted image control means for controlling the image signal transmitting means to transmit an image signal based on an image signal obtained by the imaging unit during a first period in which the imaging field changing control means does not carry out position changing control, and controlling the image signal transmitting means to transmit, during a second period in which the position changing control is carried out, an image signal based on still image information generated by the still image generating means when the second period is initiated. |
| US08259155B2 |
Providing perspective-dependent views to video conference participants
During a video conference between a local endpoint and a remote endpoint, a display at the local endpoint may be configured to provide perspective-dependent views to local video conference participants. A local endpoint may receive a plurality of video streams and identify a first video stream that provides a first view of a remote participant and a second video stream that provides a second view of that participant taken concurrently from a different angle. A display at the local endpoint may display the first video stream at a first viewing angle that only allows the first view of the remote participant to be seen from a first region. The display may also concurrently display the second video stream at a second viewing angle that only allows the second view of the remote participant to be seen from a second region different than the first region. |
| US08259150B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a light source that emits a light beam; a photosensitive member; a driving motor; a rotary polygon mirror, which is rotated by the driving motor, and which periodically deflects the light beam emitted from the light source to sequentially form scanning lines on the photosensitive member; a position detecting unit, which detects a rotational position of the driving motor, and which outputs a detection signal; a sensor, which receives the light beam deflected by the rotary polygon mirror, and which outputs a light receiving signal; a detecting unit, which receives the detection signal and the light receiving signal, and which detects a rotation direction of the driving motor based on a timing pattern of a detection of the rotational position of the driving motor and a reception of the light beam by the sensor. |
| US08259145B2 |
Image forming apparatus with scanning position corrected by non-imaging laser beam
An image forming apparatus capable of enhancing the accuracy of the scanning position of a laser beam to thereby obtain a more precise image. Optical sensors detect reflected light from a surface of a photosensitive drum. During image formation, the apparatus detects the scanning speed of the laser beam in a main scanning direction based on detection signals from the respective optical sensors in each of divisional sections of an image forming area in the main scanning direction. The apparatus corrects magnification of the image in the main scanning direction, based on results of detection of the scanning speed of the laser beam in the main scanning direction. |
| US08259144B2 |
Thermal marking system
One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus. |
| US08259143B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A structure for a transport path for a recording material within a transfer portion varies between a margin-less print mode and a normal print mode. A necessity of cleaning of a transfer member also varies between both modes. Thus, provided is an image forming apparatus in which the structure of the transfer portion is switched between the normal print and the margin-less print, and the margin-less print cannot be carried out with a structure of the transfer portion for the normal print. This is because, when the so-called margin-less print is carried out with the structure of the transfer portion for the normal print, there is a possibility that an image defect of a print image to be outputted is caused, or a stain of toner on a rear surface of the recording material is caused. |
| US08259142B2 |
Image forming apparatus with developer passage amount control electrodes
An image forming apparatus comprises a toner-bearing member that bears toner and makes the toner clouded thereon. A toner passage control device including plural widthwise lines of toner passage holes in a printing medium conveyance direction is provided. Each of the toner passage holes includes a control electrode that controls passage of the toner through each of the toner passage holes toward a printing medium. a control pulse proving device provides a control pulse to the control electrode to operate. The control pulse applied to the control electrode of the one of the plural lines is different from that applied to the control electrode of the other one of the plural lines. |
| US08259140B2 |
Method of controlling an image display apparatus
A method is provided to control an image display apparatus having a display panel in which a plurality of display devices are arranged in matrix with a plurality of column wires and a plurality of row wires. The method includes the steps of outputting a selection electric potential to a row wire to be driven, and generating a modulated pulse based on image data and outputting the modulated pulse to the column wires. |
| US08259139B2 |
Use of on-chip frame buffer to improve LCD response time by overdriving
A method and system is disclosed for improving the response time of displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The method includes receiving a target picture frame and comparing it to a current picture frame. If the comparison shows that a display may be unable to transition from a current pixel intensity level to a target pixel intensity level within a specified time period, then the pixels that correspond to those current pixel intensities that may not be reach target pixel intensities may be overdriven. This overdriving of one or more pixels may allow the pixel to reach the target pixel intensity within the specified time period. |
| US08259127B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing desaturation of images rendered on high brightness displays
In one embodiment of the display system, the display system comprises an image pipeline that accepts input color image data of one color gamut to be rendered on a display having high brightness subpixel layouts. In one embodiment, the system comprises a boost function that maps the input color data onto another color gamut that boosts the luminance of colors that might appear dark if rendered against a white or very light background. |
| US08259126B2 |
System and method for real-time co-rendering of multiple attributes
Systems and methods for enhancing the combined image of multiple attributes without comprising the image of either attribute. The combined image of the multiple attributes is enhanced for analyzing a predetermined property revealed by the attributes. The combined image can be interactively manipulated to display each attribute relative to an imaginary light source or highlighted using a specular component. The systems and methods are best described as particularly useful for analytical, diagnostic and interpretive purposes. |
| US08259123B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus processes compression encoded data of a moving picture and outputs image data divided into a plurality of frames for displaying of the moving picture on a display device. A host CPU outputs a decoding command and a drawing command separately from each other. The decoding process on the compression encoded data can be performed in an independent manner from the drawing process of reflecting the image data, which are the decoding results, on the display object. At this time, a display control section executes the drawing process based on the image data stored in a ring buffer in accordance with the drawing command. Therefore, the host CPU can freely control timings at which the moving pictures are displayed on the display device. |
| US08259122B1 |
System, method and article of manufacture for a programmable processing model with instruction set
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for programmable processing in a computer graphics pipeline. Initially, data is received from a source buffer. Thereafter, programmable operations are performed on the data in order to generate output. The operations are programmable in that a user may utilize instructions from a predetermined instruction set for generating the same. Such output is stored in a register. During operation, the output stored in the register is used in performing the programmable operations on the data. |
| US08259121B2 |
System and method for processing data using a network
Systems and methods are disclosed for video processing modules. More specifically a network is disclosed for processing data. The network comprises a register DMA controller adapted to support register access and at least one node adapted to the data. At least one link communicates with the node, and is adapted to transmit data and at least one network module communicates with at least the link, and is adapted to route data to at least the link. |
| US08259119B1 |
System and method for switching between graphical processing units
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for dynamically switching between a power-saving integrated graphics processing unit (IGPU) and a higher-performance discrete graphics processing unit (DGPU). This technique uses a single graphics driver and a single digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and leverages the GPU switching capability of the operating system to ensure a seamless transition. When additional graphics performance is desired, the system enters a hybrid graphics mode. In this mode, the DGPU is powered-up, and the graphics driver maintains the current display, while the operating system switches applications running on the IGPU to the DGPU. While in the hybrid graphics mode, the DGPU performs the graphics processing, and the graphics driver transmits the rendered images from the DGPU to the IGPU local memory and, then, to the IGPU DAC. This image transmission allows applications to fully exploit the processing capabilities of the DGPU, while using the display device connected to the IGPU. |
| US08259114B2 |
System and method for visualizing parameter effective data sets
A system and method for visualizing a plural dimensional data. One of a plurality of potential visualization formats is selected in a processor for each dimension of a plural dimensional data set. The selected visualization format is used to display the associated dimension on an electronic display. User interface elements are provided to navigate between elements of the plural dimensional data set within the displayed visualization format. |
| US08259113B2 |
Method, apparatus, and medium for transforming graphic data of an object
A method, apparatus, and medium for transforming a graphic data of an object and a computer readable recording medium storing a program for executing the method are provided. The method includes; determining at least one triangle to be collapsed among one or more triangles comprised in the object, determining a collapsing vertex to be created by collapsing the at least one triangle, and transforming the graphic data of the object based on information regarding the at least one triangle determined to be collapsed and information regarding the determined collapsing vertex. Thus, a large three-dimensional object can be efficiently rendered with a small amount of resources. |
| US08259112B2 |
Image generating apparatus, method of generating image, program, and recording medium
The object is to smoothly move the position of the viewing point of the virtual camera with existence of an object between the position of the viewing point of the virtual camera and the position of the subject avoided. A camera peripheral area that has a viewing point as its center and has the radius of R, a subject peripheral area that has a subject toward which a viewing axis of the virtual camera is aligned as its center and has the radius of r, and a camera-to-subject area formed by a circular truncated cone area therebetween are set as a camera collision in which an obstacle cannot exist. When an obstacle exists in the camera collision, the position of the viewing point is adjusted. The radius R and the radius r are adjusted each time the reference distance D is changed. |
| US08259110B1 |
Method and apparatus for computing direct lighting for global illumination rendering in 3-D computer graphics
A method and apparatus for computing direct lighting in a scene is described. For a sparse set of points in the scene, occlusion information for the points and each of one or more light sources may be computed and stored. For all other surface points in the scene, nearby sample points are examined to determine if their occlusion information agrees. For any light source for which nearby sample points do not agree, lighting computation may be performed, e.g. by the casting of shadow rays. Such areas comprise regions in penumbra or shadow boundaries. For all other regions, it is assumed that they are fully lit or fully occluded, and thus the casting of shadow rays can be avoided. |
| US08259100B2 |
Fixed path transitions
Fixed path transitions in a virtual universe environment are provided. In one embodiment, tracking data that identifies a location of an avatar in relation to a range of an object in a virtual universe is received. The range comprises a viewable field. In response to the tracking data indicating an occurrence of a trigger condition associated with a fixed path rule, a fixed path defined by the fixed path rule is identified. A speed of movement and an orientation of the object associated with the fixed path rule is identified. Movement of the object along the fixed path defined by the fixed path rule is initiated. The object then moves along the fixed path at the identified speed and with the orientation associated with the fixed path rule. |
| US08259094B2 |
System and method for a digital projection advertising display
A projection advertising display system which can withstand the environmental conditions of the projection site, allows for remote operation and monitoring and provides for long-term, legitimate projected advertising in or on third-party structures. The digital projection advertising display system comprises a projection surface, such as the exterior side or interior wall of a building, which is covered by a long-term agreement allowing the projection of advertising images on said projection surface, and a projection unit comprising a projector, an environmental control system, a monitoring camera, and a computer. Each of the components of the projection unit is operatively coupled to a computer which controls and monitors the function of each of the components. The computer is networked to a central computer remote from said projection unit and can remotely control and monitor the functions of the projection unit. A plurality of projection units may be networked to the central computer to allow central control and monitoring of each of the projection advertising displays. The method provides for obtaining long-term agreements for the use of the projection surfaces and the sites for mounting the projection units. |
| US08259088B1 |
Touch sensor and touch system including the same
A touch sensor for a touch system includes a housing having a light sensing window, a light blocking section, and a reference window, the light sensing window and the reference window configured to allow light to pass therethrough, the light blocking section configured to prohibit light from passing therethrough, a rotating assembly disposed within the housing, and a light sensor. The rotating assembly is configured to transmit light received from the light sensing window and the reference window to the light sensor, and the light sensor is configured to output a signal that is utilized to identify an angular location of a touch. A touch system including such touch sensors is also described herein. |
| US08259082B2 |
Multimodal portable communication interface for accessing video content
A portable communication device has a touch screen display that receives tactile input and a microphone that receives audio input. The portable communication device initiates a query for media based at least in part on tactile input and audio input. The touch screen display is a multi-touch screen. The portable communication device sends an initiated query and receives a text response indicative of a speech to text conversion of the query. The portable communication device then displays video in response to tactile input and audio input. |
| US08259077B2 |
Electronic device for inputting user command 3-dimensionally and method for employing the same
An electronic device for 3-dimensionally inputting a user command and a method employing the same are provided. The electronic device includes a touch pad sensing a 3-dimensional interface and a controller controlling a GUI (graphical user interface) in response to the 3-dimensional interface sensed by the touch pad. Thus, a user command can be 3-dimensionally input so as to harmonize a 3-dimensional varying method of a 3-dimensional GUI with a 3-dimensional input manipulation of a user. |
| US08259076B2 |
Closed-loop sensor on a solid-state object position detector
The present disclosure discloses an object position detector. The object position detector comprises a touch sensor formed as a closed loop and having a physical constraint formed on an upper surface of the touch sensor and coextensive with the closed loop. The touch sensor is configured to sense motion of an object proximate to the closed loop. The object position detector also comprises a processor coupled to the touch sensor and is programmed to generate an action in response to the motion on the touch sensor. |
| US08259067B2 |
Apparatus for capturing and analyzing light and method embodied therein
An apparatus including an image sensor is disclosed. The apparatus includes a polarization filter, an image sensor, and a processor connected to the image sensor. The polarization filter is adapted to filter out light polarized in a first direction from a first scene. The image sensor is adapted to capture the filtered light, and the image sensor includes support circuits to convert the captured filtered light to image data. The processor is adapted to process the image data to detect features of the first scene. The polarization filter filters out noise component of the image, thus increasing contrast. In another embodiment, a mosaic polarization filter is used to capture a scene in a first image including light from the scene having first polarity and to capture the scene in a second image including light from the scene having first polarity. The two images can be analyzed to determine various characteristics of the scene. |
| US08259064B2 |
Terminal device
An operation estimating portion estimates an input operation on the basis of motions of a nail and a finger which are shot, the directions, the number thereof or others. On the basis of estimation results of the input operation, a controller controls display content on a display and an application now in execution. The operation estimating portion includes a skin region extractor for extracting a skin region (first region) containing a nail region (second region) from a shot image, a nail region extractor for extracting the nail region from the thus extracted skin region, and a motion detector for following up a temporal change in the thus extracted nail region to detect motions of the nail region, thereby estimating the input operation on the basis of detection results of the motion detector. |
| US08259058B2 |
Method and device for controlling the backlighting of a flat screen
Electronic circuit designed to control the level of lighting produced by light diodes in a flat screen. The circuit uses a PDM modulator in order to generate a control signal (Vc) with a number of pulses by period that depends on the desired level of lighting. The advantage is to reduce the energy in the low frequencies. |
| US08259055B2 |
Display device
A display device comprises a driver circuit having a shift register circuit having a level conversion function is provided with a simple circuit configuration of first, second, and third basic circuits connected in tandem at multistages. A common clear signal is supplied to a control electrode or a third transistor of each basic circuit, a first clock is supplied to a control electrode of a first transistor of each of the first and third basic circuits, a second cock different in phase from the first clock is supplied to a control electrode of a first transistor of the second basic circuit, outputs of the first and second basic circuit are respectively supplied to control electrodes of second transistors of the second and third basic circuits, and an inversion output of the third basic circuit is supplied to a control electrode of a fourth transistor of the first basic circuit. |
| US08259051B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a plurality of subpixels respectively having switching elements and arranged in a matrix, a plurality of gate lines connected to the subpixels via the switching elements and transmitting a gate signal for turning on or off the switching elements, and a plurality of data lines connected to the subpixels via the switching elements and transmitting a data voltage. The respective subpixels are located in areas defined by two adjacent gate lines and two adjacent data lines, which are uniquely connected to a pair of gate line and data line, and at least one of the subpixels is connected to the different gate lines or the data line positioned at opposite side with respect to the other subpixel of the same row. In this case, a pair of subpixels adjacent above and below are connected to the gate line therebetween or the gate lines positioned at opposite side each other. In this way, any inversions for each color can be performed without changing conventional driving ICs. |
| US08259049B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display (LCD) which can provide uniform vertical and horizontal visibility while improving lateral visibility is provided. The LCD includes a first insulating substrate, first and second gate lines which are formed on the first insulating substrate, and a data line which is insulated from the first and second gate lines and intersects the first and second gate lines. The LCD also includes first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) which are formed in each pixel and are connected to the first and second gate lines, respectively, and to the data line, first sub-pixel electrodes which are connected to the first TFT, and a second sub-pixel electrode which is separated from the first sub-pixel electrodes by predetermined gaps and is connected to the second TFT. The LCD includes a second insulating substrate which faces the first insulating substrate, a common electrode which is formed on the second insulating substrate and comprises a plurality of domain dividers, and a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first and second insulating substrates, wherein a display region of the second sub-pixel electrode is divided into 4 domain groups by the domain dividers, and the 4 domain groups have substantially the same area. |
| US08259045B2 |
Flat panel display
A flat panel display is disclosed. The flat panel display includes a display panel including data lines, gate lines crossing the data lines, pixels arranged in a matrix format, and a pixel array that allows images to be simultaneously displayed on one screen by suitably disposing the images on one screen, a data drive circuit supplying data to the data lines, a gate drive circuit supplying scan signals to the gate lines, a scalar board converting a resolution of each of the images, and a control board that supplies data received from the scalar board to the data drive circuit and controls operation timing of the data drive circuit and operation timing of the gate drive circuit. a ratio of a horizontal length to a vertical length of the pixel array is 21.3-26.7:10. |
| US08259043B2 |
Hybrid driver for light-emitting diode displays
Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for controlling the luminance of a display. One apparatus includes a pre-charge circuit configured to supply a pre-charge voltage to a column of LED pixels, a programming circuit configured to supply current to the column, and a switch configured to selectively couple the pre-charge circuit or the programming circuit to the column. A system includes an array of LED pixels arranged in a plurality of columns. A plurality of pre-charge circuits, each configured to selectively supply a pre-charge voltage to at least one column of pixels, and a plurality of current sources, each configured to selectively supply current to at least one column of pixels are also included. One method includes determining a pre-charge voltage for each of a plurality of columns based on a target luminance level selected from the plurality of luminance levels and supplying the determined pre-charge voltages to the columns. |
| US08259039B2 |
Display apparatus and method for driving display panel
A difference between the black level potential VB and the white level potential VW in the effective bright environment is smaller than a difference between the black level potential VB and the white level potential VW in the effective dark environment, and the black emission luminance in the effective bright environment is lower than or equal to a diffuse reflection luminance in the effective bright environment and higher than a black emission luminance in the effective dark environment. |
| US08259037B2 |
Plasma display and driving apparatus thereof
A plasma display and a driving apparatus thereof with an improved energy recovery circuit configured to reduce resonances between a plurality of capacitors. Accordingly to an embodiment of the present invention, a plasma display has an energy recovery circuit that includes an energy recovery capacitor. The energy recovery circuit is configured to form a first path between the energy recovery capacitor and a display electrode to change a voltage at the display electrode in a sustain period. The energy recovery capacitor includes a plurality of capacitors configured to be charged concurrently, and the energy recovery circuit is configured to form a second path between the plurality of capacitors. A product of an inductance formed on the second path and a capacitance formed on the second path is greater than twice a product of an inductance formed on the first path and a capacitance formed on the first path. |
| US08259035B2 |
Display device able to operate in low power partial display mode
The display device includes a display cell including liquid crystals and a matrix of electrodes arranged in lines and columns in a closed cavity. The lines and columns define display cell pixels. The display device includes a control circuit for lines and columns for display of data on the display cell. In complete display mode, all lines and columns are addressed at several voltage levels by successive line-by-line multiplexing. In low power partial display mode, two groups of adjacent lines are joined so they are each controlled by a respective line control signal from the control circuit. The N lines and groups of lines are simultaneously addressed in active manner at two voltage levels. N line control signals include a series of N-bit binary line words that change every determined period of time, T, so 2N combinations of binary line words are present in each successive cycle of length 2N·T. |
| US08259034B2 |
Image displaying apparatus and image display program
An original monochrome image recorded with an FPD (flat panel detector) which comprises an array, m rows and n columns, of pixels is reduced and converted into a display image which comprises an array, q rows and (3*n*q/m) columns, of pixels before the display image is transferred to a monochrome liquid crystal display equipped with a monochrome LCD which comprises an array, q rows and P columns, of pixels, where m, n, q, and P are natural numbers and m≦n, q |
| US08259032B1 |
Metamaterial and finger slot for use in low profile planar radiating elements
An array antenna may include a substrate, an array of metamaterial elements including radiating elements suspended in the substrate and integrated with the array of dipoles, where the metamaterial elements include a first metal layer and a second metal layer connected by a via, an array of dipoles, a groundplane coupled with a first side of the substrate, the ground plane having a symmetric slot aperture and not contacting the array of metamaterial elements, and a stripline feed for the radiating elements, where the stripline feed passes from a groundplane first side through the symmetric slot aperture to a groundplane second side. |
| US08259030B2 |
Antenna of the helix type having radiating strands with a sinusoidal pattern and associated manufacturing process
The invention relates to an antenna of the helix type, comprising a plurality of radiating strands wound in a helix in an axisymmetric form (15), characterized in that each radiating strand is made up of at least one reference pattern (MR1, MR2, MR3) defined by an analytic function defined in a reference frame, the axis of the abscissae of which is the director axis of the radiating strands and is a periodic function of (I) or (II) and Ak correspond respectively to the frequency and to the amplitude of the sinusoid of index k. y = A 0 sin ( 2 π x T ) + ∑ k = 1 ∞ A k sin ( 2 π σ k x T ) ( I ) 2 π σ k 1 T ( II ) |
| US08259029B2 |
Implementation of diversity antennas in small portable media devices and cell phones
A mobile telecommunications apparatus includes a portable media device adapted to receive electronic data through a network, the portable media device comprising a first antenna adapted to receive electromagnetic signals of a particular frequency, the frequency is at least one of a radio frequency and a television (TV) frequency, and a headset in electrical communication with the portable media device and adapted to receive the electronic data through the network, the headset includes a switch coupled to the first antenna, a second antenna coupled to the switch, and a headset speaker comprising at least one of a mono headset speaker and a stereo headset speaker, the switch is adapted to combine operation of the first antenna and the second antenna into a dual operation diversity receiver. The network may comprise a Digital Video Broadcasting over Handheld (DVB-H) network. |
| US08259028B2 |
Reflector antenna radome attachment band clamp
A band clamp for coupling a radome to a distal end of a reflector dish for improving the front to back ratio of a reflector antenna, the band clamp provided with an inward projecting proximal lip and an inward projecting distal lip. The distal lip dimensioned with an inner diameter equal to or less than a reflector aperture of the reflector dish. The proximal lip provided with a turnback region dimensioned to engage an outer surface of a signal area of the reflector dish in an interference fit. A width of the band clamp may be dimensioned, for example, between 0.8 and 1.5 wavelengths of an operating frequency. |
| US08259027B2 |
Differential feed notch radiator with integrated balun
A differential feed notched radiator. A notched radiator includes a planar dielectric substrate having a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface, and a first conductive layer on the first surface and a second conductive layer on the second surface. The first and second conductive layers are patterned to provide a tapered notch in a first region of the planar dielectric substrate, the tapered notch having a first end and a second end wider than the first end, and the first and second conductive layers patterned to provide a balun in a second region of the planar dielectric substrate, the balun connected with the first end of the tapered notch. A conductive strip for transferring differential signals is embedded in the planar dielectric substrate between the first and second conductive layers, a portion of the conductive strip intersecting a portion of the tapered notch near the first end. |
| US08259024B2 |
Radio wave receiver with an antenna structure
A radio wave receiver comprising an antenna structure placed within a case. The antenna structure has a rod-like core around which a coil is wound. A pair of opposite external magnetic members are each provided in a respective one of a pair of cavities provided so as to extend along the inner periphery of the case from adjacent the respective ends of the rod-like core toward the end points of an inner diameter of the case parallel to the axis of the rod-like core. The pair of external magnetic members is substantially the same permeability as the core. Thus, the antenna core is magnetically coupled to the pair of external magnetic members. |
| US08259022B2 |
Ultra low loss waveguide for broadband Terahertz radiation
An apparatus comprising a parallel plate waveguide (PPWG) comprising two plates separated by a distance that supports a multimode wave, and a transmitter configured to emit a wave having a frequency from about one hundred Gigahertz (GHz) to about ten terahertz (THz) and to couple to one mode of the PPWG. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising two plates substantially parallel to one another and separated by at least about five millimeters (mm), and an antenna coupled to the two plates and configured to transmit or receive a wave having a frequency from about one hundred GHz to about ten THz. Disclosed is a method comprising polarizing an electromagnetic beam in the first transverse electric (TE1) mode with respect to a PPWG comprising two plates, adjusting the diameter of the electromagnetic beam based on the separation between the plates, and sending the electromagnetic beam into the PPWG. |
| US08259021B2 |
Electromagnetic radiation apparatus and method for forming the same
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electromagnetic radiation apparatus includes a ground plane and an integrally formed antenna structure. The integrally formed antenna structure may include a radiation plate perpendicular to or with an angle larger than 45 degrees to the ground plane and a shielding structure configured to restrict radiation of the radiation plate. |
| US08259020B1 |
Antenna system for satellite communication
An antenna system for satellite communication, mounted on a moving platform, includes an antenna assembly, a control and display unit, and an antenna steering unit. The antenna assembly includes a dipole driven element assembly and at least one director element mounted on an antenna mast. The antenna steering unit includes a support housing, a rotary joint comprising a BNC connector, an electronic magnetic compass. an angular velocity-sensing gyroscope, a global positioning system receiver, a signal processor and a motor. The direction of the antenna's azimuth axis is determined based on the heading of the moving platform determined by the signal processor. In one embodiment, the director elements, the antenna mast and the azimuth mast are all articulated on flexible joints comprising a cable and spring mechanism allowing the director elements to fold toward the antenna mast and allowing the antenna assembly to fold toward the azimuth mast for stowing. |
| US08259019B2 |
Antenna mount adapter
The invention concerns a rugged antenna mount adapter (100) for mounting an antenna (112) used by NATO vehicles to an existing antenna mount opening (113) of a non-NATO type armored vehicle, regardless of the thickness of the armor (110) on the vehicle. The antenna mount adapter has an upper member (116) and a lower member (118). The upper member (116) has two flanges (120, 122) separated by a hollow cylindrical body (116) having internal threads (134). The top flange (120) is adapted to receive a NATO style antenna and the bottom flange (122) is adapted to be attached to the outside surface and aligned with the antenna mount opening (113) of a non-NATO type armored vehicle. The lower member (118) is a hollow cylindrical body having a flange (140) at one end and a screw thread (136) which extends along the outside surface of the cylinder at the other end. The screw thread end of the lower member is designed to screw into the upper member from the interior of the vehicle until the flange on the lower member abuts the inside wall of the vehicle. |
| US08259018B2 |
Coaxial antenna device for use with non-magnetic option coupler
An antenna device includes a housing having a lower portion for coupling to a non-magnetic option coupler of a vehicle, an insulating member engaged in an upper chamber of the housing, a conductor member engaged into a central bore of the insulating member for engaging with the non-magnetic option coupler, a conductive coupling element having a lower portion engaged into the housing, and a coaxial radiating assembly includes a coaxial radiating device having a central radiating member for connecting to the conductor member, and a peripheral radiating member for connecting to the conductive coupling element, and an insulating element mounted between the central radiating member and the cylindrical radiating member. |
| US08259015B2 |
Antenna module
An antenna module includes first, second, and third conductor arms. The second conductor arm has first and second end portions, and is coupled to an end portion of the first conductor arm to form a substantially T-shaped connection. The third conductor arm is spaced apart from the first and second conductor arms by first and second gaps, respectively, and is disposed parallel to the first conductor arm. The first end portion of the second conductor arm and the third conductor arm are electrically coupled to a coaxial cable for receiving two signals therefrom, respectively. The second end portion of the second conductor arm is electrically coupled to a ground cable for grounding. |
| US08259008B2 |
DGNSS correction for positioning
Techniques for supporting positioning with differential corrections are described. In an aspect, differential correction for a satellite may include (i) a user differential range error (UDRE) indicating an uncertainty in a pseudo-range correction for the satellite, (ii) a UDRE growth rate, which may be a scaling factor for the UDRE, and (iii) a time of validity for UDRE growth rate, which may be a time unit used to apply the scaling factor. In one design, a terminal may send a request message to ask for differential correction information and may receive a response message. The terminal may obtain differential correction (e.g., a UDRE, a UDRE growth rate, and a time of validity for UDRE growth rate) for each of at least one satellite from the response message. The terminal may derive a location estimate for itself based on the differential correction for each satellite. |
| US08259002B2 |
Radar altimeter antenna performance monitoring via reflected power measurements
Systems and methods for radar altimeter antenna performance monitoring via reflected power measurements are provided. In one embodiment, a single antenna radar altimeter comprises: an antenna; a circulator coupled to the antenna; a transmitter coupled to the circulator; a receiver coupled to the circulator; wherein the circulator provides coupling of the transmitter and the receiver to the antenna while providing isolation between the transmitter and the receiver; a reflected power monitor positioned between the circulator and receiver; and a processor coupled to the reflected power monitor via a first analog-to-digital converter, the processor configured to compute and track reflected power measurement statistics from data generated by the reflected power monitor and provide a performance output indicating when one or more of the reflected power measurement statistics exceed a predetermined deviation threshold. |
| US08259001B2 |
Weather radar and weather observation method
A weather radar includes an antenna unit configured to transmit a radio wave from a plurality of antenna elements, and receive a reflected wave from a weather target by carrying out beam scanning in an elevation angle direction by phase control, a drive unit configured to control an elevation angle of an aperture of the antenna unit, and a controller configured to cause the antenna unit to carry out the beam scanning in a state where the aperture is faced to a point which presents a maximum range in the observational range by the drive unit, and direct, at a time point when the weather target is detected based on a received signal of the reflected wave, the aperture toward the weather target by the drive unit. |
| US08259000B2 |
Reply detection in a secondary surveillance radar
The present invention relates to a detecting device for detecting an SSR signal having a characteristic structure. The detecting device comprises filtering means matched to the characteristic structure of the SSR signal, and means for maintaining a false-alarm rate at a substantially constant value. The characteristic structure of the SSR signal comprises either a preamble or an initial pulse and a final pulse separated by a fixed dwell time. The means for maintaining a false-alarm rate at a substantially constant value comprise computing means configured to compute a detection threshold on the basis of a signal supplied by the filtering means, and decision means configured to detect the SSR signal on the basis of the detection threshold and of the signal supplied by the filtering means. |
| US08258996B2 |
Synthetic aperture radar hybrid-quadrature-polarity method and architecture for obtaining the stokes parameters of radar backscatter
A synthetic aperture radar hybrid-quadrature-polarity method and architecture comprising transmitting both left and right circular polarizations (by alternately driving, at the minimum (Nyquist) sampling rate, orthogonal linear feeds simultaneously by two identical waveforms, +/−90° out of phase), and receiving two orthogonal linear polarizations, coherently. Once calibrated, the single-look complex amplitude data are sufficient to form all Stokes parameters, which fully characterize the radar backscatter. |
| US08258994B2 |
IR jamming system for defense against missiles with IR-sensitive homing heads
In an IR jamming system for defense against missiles with IR-sensitive homing heads, one or more jamming beams are generated, whose diameter is less than that of the optical aperture of the IR-sensitive homing head of the missile. The optical aperture of the IR-sensitive homing head of the missile is at least partially illuminated by the jamming beam or beams. |
| US08258992B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter
A sequential comparison-type analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that has improved precision and which is capable of high-speed operation is disclosed, the analog-to-digital converter comprising a digital-to-analog converter that outputs a plurality of different reference analog signals according to a multibit digital signal, a plurality of comparators that compare an input analog signal with the plurality of reference analog signals, and a sequential comparison control circuit that changes bit values of the multibit digital signal in order from higher bits so that at least one of the plurality of reference analog signals becomes closer to the input analog signal and decides the bit values in order from higher bits based on the comparison results and at the same time, correcting the decided higher bit values, wherein the sequential comparison control circuit decides the bit values of the multibit digital signal down to a predetermined bit based on the comparison results of the plurality of comparators and at the same time, correcting the bit values, and decides the bits lower than the predetermined bit based on the comparison result of one of the plurality of comparators. |
| US08258988B2 |
Encoding apparatus, encoding method, and program
Provided is an encoding apparatus including an encoding unit that converts, based on a first conversion rule group according to which a total value for a base-K symbol sequence is X and a second conversion rule group according to which the total value for the base-K symbol sequence is −X among conversion rule groups for converting an L-bit bit sequence into the base-K symbol sequence (K>2) of N/2 symbol, an M-bit (M≧2*L) bit sequence into the base-K symbol sequence of N symbols. When converting the M-bit bit sequence into the base-K symbol sequence of N symbols, the encoding unit converts a first-half N/2 symbol based on the first conversion rule group and converts a second-half N/2 symbol based on the second conversion rule group. |
| US08258987B2 |
Icon illumination for capacitive touch switch
A capacitive touch switch is disclosed which includes a substrate having a channel formed between a first surface and a second surface thereof, thereby defining a flexible section of the substrate. The capacitive touch switch also includes an insulating panel having a first face and a second face, the second face adapted to be touched by a user. The capacitive touch switch may further include a capacitive electrode disposed on the flexible section, a light source coupled to the first surface of the flexible section, and one or more spacers secured to the first surface of the flexible section. Either the light source or the one or more spacers cause the flexible section of the substrate to be deflected away from the insulating panel when the substrate and the insulating panel are urged into contact. Deflection of the flexible section creates a gap which allows the light source to illuminate an icon disposed on the insulating panel. A method of manufacturing a capacitive touch switch is also disclosed. |
| US08258982B2 |
Safe driving evaluation system and safe driving evaluation program
Safe driving evaluation systems, methods, and programs acquire traffic signal information that indicates the display status of a traffic signal present ahead in the traveling direction of a vehicle, determine the vehicle is within a prescribed stop supplement zone set up in front of the traffic signal installation point, and determine a red light encounter, which is a state where the vehicle is within the stop supplement zone and the traffic signal information indicates that the traffic signal is red. The systems, methods, and programs perform a stop supplementary operation with respect to a driver in order to stop the vehicle at the traffic signal installation point based on a driving operation of the vehicle during the red light encounter, and calculate a stop supplement percentage. |
| US08258980B2 |
Method and device for driver assistance by generating lane information for supporting of replacing lane information of a video-based lane information device
A method for driver assistance by generating lane information for supporting or for replacing lane information of a video-based lane information device includes: generating the lateral lane information based on the video-based lane information device of the vehicle; ascertaining at least one reliability parameter of the lateral lane information received from the lane information device; receiving navigation system-based lateral lane information from at least one other vehicle via a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device; and supporting or replacing the lateral lane information received from the lane information device based on the received navigation system-based lateral lane information as a function of the ascertained reliability parameter. |
| US08258978B2 |
Speed limit change notification
Techniques are described that may be implemented in a mobile electronic device providing navigation functionality to furnish a notification that the indicated speed limit of a roadway being traversed has changed. In an implementation, the display of the mobile electronic device is configured to display navigation information including a roadway graphic representing a roadway being traversed by the mobile electronic device and a speed limit indicator graphic for indicating the speed limit associated with the roadway. When a change in the indicated speed limit is encountered, an attribute of the navigation information is temporarily altered to provide a notification of the change. |
| US08258975B2 |
Communication system for communication with and remote activation of downhole tools and devices used in association with wells for production of hydrocarbons
A system for communicating with downhole tools and devices is disclosed. The system includes multiple communication devices which, in combination, permit operators at the surface to operate downhole tools and to receive feedback regarding the state of the tools. |
| US08258974B2 |
Casino time control unit
Disclosed herein is a method and system for signaling requests for services at a facility, for example, a gaming table in a casino. A control device is provided on the gaming table. The control device comprises multiple switches associated with one or more indicators. Each of the services is assigned to one or more of the indicators. A dealer or a player at the gaming table activates the switches for turning on the indicators based on service requirements of the dealer or the player at the gaming table. The turned on indicators signal the requests for the services. The method and system disclosed herein increases the speed of services, increases the income of each gaming table in the casino, enables determination of performance of employees of the casino attending to the requests for the services, and enables real time allocation of resources to different sections of the casino. |
| US08258973B2 |
Transferable patient care equipment support
A patient care equipment support includes power and data connectors configured to be coupled to power and data connectors of patient care equipment when the patient care equipment is coupled to the equipment support to provide a power coupling and a data coupling between the patient care equipment and the equipment support. The equipment support is transferable between a first device, such as a hospital bed, and a second device, such as an overhead support arm. |
| US08258971B2 |
Low voltage warning circuit
A low voltage warning circuit includes an input terminal configured to receive a supply voltage, a reference voltage connected to the input terminal for providing a reference voltage, a transistor connected to the reference voltage circuit and the input terminal, and a silicon controlled rectifier connected to the transistor and the input terminal via a indicating device, the low voltage warning circuit raise a warning through the indicating device when the supply voltage is below the reference voltage. |
| US08258968B2 |
Remote transponder breathalyzer
Hand held Remote Transponder Breathalyzer comprises of a portable breathalyzer device having a breath sensor circuitry used for converting given breath sample content into electronic signals; and a processor for storing a toxic breath setting and processing received conditioned electronic signals, and for comparing the received electronic conditioned signals with a preset threshold setting stored in the memory storage of the processor, and accordingly controlling the functional operation of a uniquely coded transponder circuitry.If given breath sample into the transponder breathalyzer sensor generated electronic conditioned signal is below toxic breath setting threshold. The processor upon receipt of the non-toxic electronic signal transmits a signal to activate for a preset time the functional operation of the transponder circuitry.In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the Remote Transponder Breathalyzer additionally utilizes a voice recognition method, accordingly only given user be able to operate the Remote Transponder Breathalyzer. |
| US08258966B2 |
Pest detector
A device and related method for monitoring, detecting and/or controlling pests such as rodents and insects, including termites, are disclosed which comprises: (a) encouraging a first characteristic behavior by the pests that is indicative of the presence of one or more of the pests; (b) discouraging a second characteristic behavior by the pests that at least partially interferes with detection of the first characteristic behavior; and (c) observing, detecting or sensing an occurrence of the first characteristic behavior by one or more of the pests. In one embodiment, the device comprises at least one photonic device; a light conductive assembly in optical association with the at least one photonic device, the assembly comprising first and second spaced apart components having first and second opposed light transmitting surfaces forming between them a spatial region adapted to contain a pest bait member comprised of one or more materials susceptible to consumption or displacement by the pests. |
| US08258962B2 |
Multi-mode communication ingestible event markers and systems, and methods of using the same
Aspects of the invention include multi-mode communication ingestible event marker devices. Ingestible event marker devices of the invention include an ingestible component comprising a conductive communication module and at least one additional non-conductive communication module. The non-conductive communication module may be integrated with the ingestible component or at least a portion or all of the non-conductive communication module may be associated with a packaging component of the ingestible event marker device. Additional aspects of the invention include systems that include the devices and one or more receivers, as well as methods of using the same. |
| US08258958B2 |
Dual antenna RFID tag
A dual antenna RFID tag which can perform both Near Field (NF) communication and Far Field (FF) communication using a single RF tag is presented. The RFID tag includes an antenna unit and a voltage rectification unit. The antenna unit can perform communications in either or both a first and a second bandwidth. The voltage rectification unit can rectify and boost one or more radio signals received through the antenna unit and generate one or more power voltage impulses corresponding to the radio signals respectively. |
| US08258956B1 |
RFID tag filtering and monitoring
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system that tracks tags in real-time based on EPC codes and on other priority codes written into transponder memory fields of the tags. As an example, a priority code may be written into a memory of an RFID transponder identifying a high-value item or a small high-value item that is likely to be stolen. Based on the use of this priority code, those items can be preferentially tracked as opposed to items of low value or size such that they are unlikely to be stolen. Such use of priority codes and local filtering alleviates the need to go back to large centralized databases associating unique numbers with other parameters and potentially the history of the item. |
| US08258953B2 |
Displaying radio frequency identification (RFID) read range of an RFID reader based on feedback from fixed RFID beacon tags
The present disclosure describes a system, methods and apparatus for displaying read range of a nomadic Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader based on feedback from fixed RFID beacon tags. For instance, the nomadic RFID reader can transmit an interrogation signal within a space that includes a plurality of fixed RFID beacon tags at known locations, and can receive response signals from a group of the fixed RFID beacon tags. Based on known locations of the group of fixed RFID beacon tags, a read range of the RFID reader can be determined. The read range is defined by the group of the fixed RFID beacon tags. The read range of the nomadic RFID reader can then be displayed on a display along with other information about the fixed RFID beacon tags and/or RFID item tags that are within the read range of the nomadic RFID reader. |
| US08258949B1 |
Intruder detection alarm and deterrent device
A combined night light and alarm device preferably includes a portable housing, a light emitting section located inside the housing, an alarm section located inside the housing, and a plug attached to the housing and adapted to be removably connected to an existing electrical outlet. An audible alarm is included for notifying residents/occupants when the device senses motion of unauthorized persons. Such a plug may be electrically coupled to the light emitting section and the alarm section respectively. A logic gate may be located inside the housing. Such a logic gate may be electrically coupled to the light emitting section and the alarm section respectively. In this manner, the logic gate cooperates with the light emitting section and the alarm section in such a manner that light and sound are automatically emitted upon simultaneously detecting first and second triggering events around the housing. |
| US08258948B2 |
Remote vehicle starting system providing a tactile indication relating to remote starting and associated methods
A remote starting system for an engine of a vehicle includes a remote start handheld unit. A remote start controller may be positioned at the vehicle for starting the engine based upon the remote start handheld unit and causing the engine to run for a run time period before shutting off the vehicle engine. The remote start controller is resettable based upon the remote start handheld unit to cause the engine to run for an additional run time period while the engine is still running and before shutting off the engine. The remote start handheld unit includes a tactile indicator for providing a tactile indication to a user prior to expiration of the run time period to permit a user to use the remote start handheld unit to reset the run time period while the engine is still running and before shutting off the engine. |
| US08258947B2 |
Auto-translation of source strings in global verification testing in a functional testing tool
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for translation verification of source strings for controls in a target application graphical user interface (GUI). In an embodiment of the invention, a method for translation verification of source strings for controls in a target application GUI can include loading a target GUI for an application under test in a functional testing tool executing in memory by a processor of a computing system, retrieving different translated source strings in a target spoken language for respectively different control elements of the target GUI and, determining a score for each one of the translated source strings. Thereafter, an alert can be provided in the functional testing tool for each translated source string corresponding to a determined score failing to meet a threshold value, such as a score that falls below a threshold value, or a score that exceeds a threshold value. |
| US08258940B2 |
Power line communications system
A power line communications system includes slave apparatuses individually connected to multiple electric power line wirings; a master apparatus connected to one of the multiple electric power line wirings; and couplers each connected between the master apparatus and the others of the multiple electric power line wirings. The master apparatus includes a communicator for performing power line communications with the slave apparatuses via the electric power lines; a power supply terminal device connected to the one electric power line wiring; a communication connector provided between the communicator and the power supply terminal device; and a coupler connecting terminal device connected to each of the couplers via a signal line. The communication connector has a first capacitor connected to the power supply terminal device for cutting off a frequency component of commercial power supply and transmitting a frequency component for use in the power line communications, and a first transformer connected between the first capacitor and the communicator. The coupler connecting terminal device is connected between the first capacitor and the first transformer. |
| US08258938B2 |
Tire inflation pressure detecting device
A pressure detection unit includes a front-wheel transmitter and a rear-wheel transmitter operatively connected to wheel rims of a front wheel and a rear wheel, respectively. Inflation pressure signals transmitted from the front-wheel transmitter and the rear-wheel transmitter are received by a receiver. The receiver is arranged to be offset outward of a straight line connecting the front-wheel transmitter and the rear-wheel transmitter in the vehicle-body width direction. More specifically, the receiver is arranged in a space surrounded by a front cowl and a side panel, the space being between a coolant reserve tank and a radiator. The single receiver receives the signals transmitted from the front-wheel transmitter and the rear-wheel transmitter. |
| US08258937B2 |
System for transmitting data between a hybrid electric vehicle and a remote transceiver
A method of transmitting driver specific vehicle data includes entering driver specific hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) operating parameter settings for a plurality of drivers into a vehicle controller; identifying a vehicle driver; displaying driver specific HEV data within the vehicle; and configuring HEV operating parameters in accordance with the driver specific HEV operating parameter settings. |
| US08258936B2 |
Method and system for acquiring integrated operational and support data for a vehicle
Methods and apparatus are provided for acquiring integrated operational data and support data regarding a vehicle. The apparatus comprising a network interface for communicating with the vehicle and a processor that is coupled to the network interface. The processor is configured to transmit a first request for operational data to the vehicle, receive the requested operational data from the vehicle, the requested operational data including at least one event indicator, and retrieve the support data that corresponds to a selected event indicator from a stored location. |
| US08258935B2 |
Device and method for warning of lane deviation detection
In a driving lane deviation detection and warning system, a deviation detection ECU suppress a warning unit to supply a warning when an obstacle placed in a front of a vehicle is detected, and the driver's operation allows the vehicle to deviate from a driving lane. That is, when the driver's operation allows the vehicle to deviate from the driving lane in order to escape any collision with an obstacle, the deviation detection ECU instructs the warning unit to prevent the supply of a warning to the driver. This prevents the warning unit to provide an unnecessary warning to the driver even if the driver intends for the vehicle to deviate from the current driving lane of the vehicle. That is, it is possible to reliably instruct the warning unit to supply the warning to the driver when the vehicle deviates from the current driving lane against the driver's will. |
| US08258930B2 |
Apparatus, method, and medium for controlling devices in a remote control system
A remote control method and medium, a control device and a controlled device of a remote control system. The control device of the remote control system includes an identification information storage unit for storing identification information of the control device and attribute information on a single control function of one or more controlled devices controlled by the control device, a signal generation unit for generating a signal including the identification information and the attribute information, a switch unit for receiving a user's input and activating the signal generation unit, a modulation unit for modulating the generated signal into an omni-directional signal, a transmission unit for broadcasting the modulated signal to the one or more controlled devices, and an attachment unit, positioned on a back face of the control device, for attaching the control device thereto. |
| US08258926B2 |
Method for automatically checking in passengers and their luggage
A method for automatically checking in passengers and their luggage by an electronic input of the passenger data or travel data by the passenger himself into an automatic check-in terminal is provided. In the automatic check-in terminal, possibly following selection of various criteria, the boarding pass and one or more information media for attachment to the luggage are created and output. The information medium created is a luggage tag which is easy to affix to the luggage item and which contains, in machine-readable form, at least all the data and information which are required for a later generation of an internationally standardized, preferably self-adhesive luggage band which is affixed to the luggage item within a conveying and sorting system in addition to the luggage tag. |
| US08258925B2 |
Frequency synthesizer and frequency synthesizing method
A frequency synthesizer for providing clock signals with different frequencies for corresponding band transceivers and associated frequency synthesizing method are provided. The frequency synthesizer includes a phase-locked loop module having a single voltage controlled oscillator, a first frequency divider and a second frequency divider. At first, the single voltage controlled oscillator is activated to generate a primary clock signal. The first frequency divider frequency-divides the primary clock signal to generate a first clock signal for a first band transceiver. The first clock signal is further frequency-divided into a second clock signal for a second band transceiver. Therefore, the frequency synthesizer with the single voltage controlled oscillator can generate clock signals covering more than one frequency band. |
| US08258918B1 |
RFID reader controllers limiting theft of confidential information
An RFID reader controller and methods of controlling an RFID reader by an RFID reader controller are provided to limit or prevent the issuing of confidential information such as encryption keys, passwords, shared secrets, and the like to RFID tags if a reader is not authorized. A controller may determine the authorization status of a reader and limit its communication with the reader or instruct the reader to limit an operational aspect of the reader. |
| US08258916B2 |
Meander resistor
The present invention relates in general to the field of integrated circuits, and more specifically to a meander resistor. Basically, a meander resistor can be considered as a bar resistor with the exception of the corner squares (right-angle bends). The Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) sensitivities of on-chip resistors can be a problem for both electronic manufactures and electronic component users. As others components, passive devices are known to be susceptible to ESD events. The context of this invention is to improve the reliability of the resistors during an ESD event. An ESD stress means that high current and high voltage levels are applied to the device. The device has to be able to dissipate this energy without failure. |
| US08258915B2 |
NTC thermistor ceramic and NTC thermistor using the same
A NTC thermistor ceramic having higher voltage resistance and a NTC thermistor are provided. The NTC thermistor ceramic either contains manganese and nickel, the manganese/nickel content ratio being is 87/13 to 96/4, or the manganese/cobalt content ratio being is 60/40 or more and 90/10 or less. The NTC thermistor ceramic includes a first phase, which is a matrix, and a second phase composed of plate crystals dispersed in the first phase, the second phase has an electrical resistance higher than that of the first phase and a higher manganese content than the first phase, and the first phase has a spinel structure. A NTC thermistor includes a ceramic element body composed of the NTC thermistor ceramic having the above-described features, internal electrode layers formed inside the ceramic element body, and external electrode layers disposed on two side faces of the ceramic element body. |
| US08258912B2 |
Iron core for stationary apparatus and stationary apparatus
Magnetic flux in a magnetic flux distribution inside a wound iron core for a stationary apparatus is mal-distributed toward the inner periphery side where the magnetic path of a laminated magnetic steel sheet is short with respect to the total lamination thickness and magnetic resistance is small and the inner periphery side on which magnetic flux is concentrated has a high magnetic flux density and increased iron loss, and therefore magnetic steel sheets of different magnetic characteristics are disposed at an arbitrary lamination ratio to make uniform the magnetic flux distribution inside the same wound iron core. In order to make uniform the magnetic flux distribution inside the wound iron core for a stationary apparatus, such a structure is adopted that a magnetic steel sheet having a magnetic characteristic inferior to that on the outer periphery side is disposed on the inner periphery side having a shorter magnetic path and smaller magnetic resistance and a magnetic steel sheet having a magnetic characteristic superior to that on the inner periphery side is disposed on the outer periphery side having a longer magnetic path and greater magnetic resistance to thereby make uniform the magnetic flux distribution in a sectional area of the iron core. |
| US08258911B2 |
Compact power transformer components, devices, systems and methods
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of compact coil power transformers configured to provide high voltage isolation and high voltage breakdown performance characteristics in small packages. Compact coil transformers are provided across which power may be transmitted and received by primary and secondary coils disposed on opposing sides of a substrate without high voltage breakdowns occurring therebetween. At least portions of the compact coil transformer are formed of an electrically insulating, non-metallic, non-semiconductor, low dielectric loss material. The compact coil transformers may be formed in small packages using, by way of example, printed circuit boards, flex circuits, lead frames, CMOS and other fabrication and packaging processes. |
| US08258910B2 |
Planar transformer
A planar transformer suitable for intrinsically safe electronic circuits with a core, a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board. The first printed circuit board has a first winding and the second printed circuit board has a second winding. The planar transformer can be produced at a low cost and is compact, but is still suitable for connection to intrinsically safe operating circuits is implemented by at least one gap being asymmetrically split on the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board. |
| US08258907B2 |
Highly coupled inductor
A highly coupled inductor includes a first ferromagnetic plate, a second ferromagnetic plate, a film adhesive between the first ferromagnetic plate and the second ferromagnetic plate, a first conductor between the first plate and the second plate, and a second conductor between the first plate and the second plate. A conducting electromagnetic shield may be positioned proximate the first conductor for enhancing coupling and reducing leakage flux. A method of manufacturing a highly coupled inductor component includes providing a first ferromagnetic plate and a second ferromagnetic plate, placing conductors between the first ferromagnetic plate and the second ferromagnetic plate, and connecting the first ferromagnetic plate and the second ferromagnetic plate using a film adhesive. |
| US08258904B2 |
Magnetic latching solenoid and method of optimization
A magnetic latching solenoid having a coil assembly, a ferromagnetic core slideably fitted to linearly translate upon excitation of the coil assembly by a pulse of electric current, a stationary electromagnetic pole positioned in line with the ferromagnetic core, at least one flux conductor and a frame, all forming a magnetic flux circuit. A contact area between a face of the ferromagnetic core and a face of the stationary electromagnetic pole is reduced by respective recesses in the ferromagnetic core and the electromagnetic pole, each recess having opposing inclined walls extending from the respective face to a common apex defining a depth of the recess, and forming a residual planar surface of concentrated flux density surrounding the recesses. |
| US08258901B2 |
Energy-saving electromagnetic switch device
An energy-saving electromagnetic switching device in the present invention includes a housing, and an electromagnetic assembly and a movable magnetic pole within the housing. The movable magnetic pole connects a resilience means which engages with the movable magnetic pole to control the electromagnetic switching device switched on and off. At least one locking assembly is set between the movable magnetic pole and the housing, via which the electromagnetic switching device can automatically and repeatably change from an on-state to an off-state if the electromagnetic assembly is momentarily energized. The electromagnetic switching device is energy-saved, has higher automatization degree, simple operation, and lower cost. |
| US08258899B2 |
Nano-electro-mechanical systems switches
NEMS (Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems) apparatuses are described. By applying a static electric field, an arm or beam in a NEMS apparatus is made to bend so that one electrical conductor is made to contact another electrical conductor, thereby closing the NEMS apparatus. Some apparatus embodiments make use of electrostatic coupling to cause the arm or beam to bend, and some apparatus embodiments make use of piezoelectric materials to cause the arm or beam to bend. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08258895B2 |
Electroacoustic component
An electroacoustic component includes a carrier substrate and a piezosubstrate having piezoelectric properties. The electroacoustic component also includes a layer system between the carrier substrate and the piezosubstrate. |
| US08258894B2 |
Coupled resonator filter with a filter section
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filter device includes a first port, a second port, a first coupled resonator filter stage, a second coupled resonator filter stage and a filter section. The first coupled resonator filter stage includes a first BAW resonator connected to the first port and a second BAW resonator acoustically coupled to the first BAW resonator. The second coupled resonator filter stage includes a third BAW resonator connected to the second port and a fourth BAW resonator acoustically coupled to the third BAW resonator. The filter section includes a fifth BAW resonator, the fifth BAW resonator connected between the second BAW resonator and the fourth BAW resonator. |
| US08258891B2 |
Acoustic wave device, duplexer, communication module, communication apparatus, and manufacturing method for acoustic wave device
An acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate, interdigital electrodes arranged on the piezoelectric substrate, a first dielectric element arranged between the interdigital electrodes, a second dielectric element that covers the interdigital electrodes and the first dielectric element, and an adjustment element that has been formed on the first dielectric element. The adjustment element has been formed from a material whose specific gravity is greater than that of the first dielectric element and that of the second dielectric element. |
| US08258890B2 |
Methods of achieving linear capacitance in symmetrcial and asymmetrical EMI filters with TVS
A transient voltage suppressing (TVS) circuit with uni-directional blocking and symmetric bi-directional blocking capabilities integrated with an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter supported on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The TVS circuit integrated with the EMI filter further includes a ground terminal disposed on the surface for the symmetric bi-directional blocking structure and at the bottom of the semiconductor substrate for the uni-directional blocking structure and an input and an output terminal disposed on a top surface with at least a Zener diode and a plurality of capacitors disposed in the semiconductor substrate to couple the ground terminal to the input and output terminals with a direct capacitive coupling without an intermediate floating body region. |
| US08258889B2 |
Broadband directional coupler with adjustable directionality
A directional coupler for the directional transmission of high-frequency signals provides at least three lines and at least three ports. Two lines of the three lines are connected in a conductive manner at least at their ends. A third line is arranged between the two first lines and coupled to the latter in an electromagnetic manner. In this context, the high-frequency signal is transmitted from the third line to the first line and second line. The coupling is implemented via a coupling gap. |
| US08258882B2 |
Clock signal distributing device
A clock signal distributing device includes a plurality of LC resonant oscillators, each resonating at a frequency conforming to values of a first inductor and a first capacitor to oscillate a signal, an injection locked LC resonant oscillator that resonates at a frequency conforming to values of a second inductor and a second capacitor to oscillate a signal which is synchronous with an input clock signal, and transmission lines that connect oscillation nodes of the plurality of LC resonant oscillators and the injection locked LC resonant oscillator with one another. |
| US08258881B2 |
Method and system for drift reduction in a low power oscillator (LPO) utilized in a wireless communication device
A radio circuit may be driven by a high frequency oscillator such as a crystal oscillator that may have sleep and wake time intervals. The sleep time interval length may be adjusted. A low frequency oscillator or low power oscillator (LPO) that may experience frequency drift may regulate the sleep and/or wake time intervals. The frequency drift may be detected based on two or more LPO calibrations and/or one or more clock adjustments. The LPO frequency drift may be detected based on an LPO frequency sampled after a first LPO calibration and a corresponding LPO clock adjustment, a second LPO frequency sampled after a second LPO calibration and a time interval between the two frequency samples. The LPO may be calibrated based on the HFCXO output. Sleep time intervals may be adjusted by adding and/or subtracting a time interval to an expected time to wake the radio circuit. |
| US08258880B2 |
Ring oscillator for providing constant oscillation frequency
Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to techniques for providing a relatively constant oscillation frequency. In some instances, these techniques can make use of a ring oscillator that is powered by an adaptive voltage supply. The adaptive voltage supply provides a temperature-dependent supply voltage to respective delay elements in the ring oscillator, such that the oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator is approximately constant over a predetermined temperature range. For example, if temperature increases, the supply voltage can be increased proportionally, thereby tending to limit variation in the oscillation frequency delivered by the ring oscillator. |
| US08258879B2 |
Capacitor coupled quadrature voltage controlled oscillator
A quadrature oscillator includes a first oscillator having a first second-order harmonic node, a second oscillator having a second second-order harmonic node, and at least one capacitor coupling the first second-order harmonic node and the second second-order harmonic node. The first oscillator is configured to supply an in-phase signal and the second oscillator is configured to supply a quadrature signal. |
| US08258876B1 |
Power amplifier protection circuit
A protection circuit for a power amplifier connected as a negative feedback loop around the power amplifier. The negative feedback loop comprises a detector circuit, a driver circuit and an attenuator circuit. The detector circuit receives output voltage from the power amplifier and generates a signal when the output voltage exceeds a predefined threshold. The driver circuit filters the signal received from the detector circuit to maintain feedback loop stability and adjusts the feedback loop bandwidth and gain to provide a filtered signal. The attenuator circuit receives the filtered signal and attenuates the input voltage of the power amplifier to reduce the output voltage of the power amplifier to a level below the predefined threshold. |
| US08258873B2 |
Constructive feedback traveling wave device and method
An apparatus and method include a transmission line carrying a propagating signal between an inlet port and an outlet port. The propagating signal can include a forward traveling wave and optionally a backward traveling wave. A feedback stage samples a the propagating signal at the outlet port, generates a feedback signal the includes a time translation and a gain translation in the feedback energy, and routes the feedback signal to the inlet port such that the gain translation constructively interferes with the forward traveling wave and thereby increases the amplitude of the forward traveling wave. |
| US08258871B1 |
Amplifier
The invention relates to a configurable low noise amplifier circuit which is configurable between a first topology in which the low noise amplifier circuit includes a degeneration inductance whereby the low noise amplifier circuit operates as an inductively degenerated low noise amplifier, and a second topology in which the low noise amplifier circuit includes a feedback resistance whereby the low noise amplifier circuit operates as a resistive feedback low noise amplifier. |
| US08258866B2 |
Power amplifiers
Various aspects of the disclosure provide high power and high efficiency power amplifier systems that can be integrated on a chip using integrated circuit processes such as a standard CMOS and SiGe process. A power amplifier system is disclosed according to one aspect. The power amplifier system comprises a first power amplifier, a Wilkinson power splitter, second-stage amplifiers, and a Wilkinson power combiner. The first power amplifier pre-amplifies an RF input signal. The Wilkinson power splitter then splits the power of the amplified RF signal outputted by the first power amplifier among the second-stage amplifiers. Each of the second-stage amplifiers amplifies the respective RF signal from the Wilkinson power splitter. The Wilkinson power combiner then sums the powers of the amplified RF signals outputted by the second-stage amplifiers and outputs the resulting combined RF signal. |
| US08258864B1 |
Ultra low voltage multi-stage high-speed CMOS comparator with autozeroing
A pre-amplifier circuit can be cascaded and drive a latch for use in a precision analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The pre-amplifier has a main section and a feedback section connected by feedback resistors that do not produce voltage drops in the main section. Offset is stored on offset capacitors during an autozeroing phase and isolated by transmission gates during an amplifying phase. The offset capacitors drive the gates of feedback transistors that drive output nodes in the main section. Autozeroing sink transistors in the feedback section operate in the linear region while current sink transistors in the main section operate in the saturated region. Kickback-charge isolation transistors may be added for charge isolation. The output may also be equalized by an equalizing transmission gate. A very low power-supply voltage is supported even for high-speed operation with offset cancellation, due to the folded feedback resistor arrangement. |
| US08258860B2 |
Circuit, an adjusting method, and use of a control loop
A circuit, an adjusting method, and use of a control loop for adjusting a data retention voltage and/or a leakage current of a CMOS circuit for a sleep mode, wherein the CMOS circuit is operated to control in a measuring mode, whereby in the measuring mode a leakage current exclusively flows through the CMOS circuit, the control loop in the measuring mode adjusts the data retention voltage and/or the leakage current, and the adjustments of the control loop for the sleep mode are stored. |
| US08258857B2 |
Charge pump circuits and methods
Embodiments of the present invention include charge pump circuits and methods. In one embodiment, a first charge pump receives a voltage and generates a first charge pump output voltage and current for supplying the power requirements of a circuit. A second charge pump is coupled in series with the first charge pump. The second charge pump generates a second charge pump output voltage and current for supplying different power requirements of the circuit. In one embodiment, the first charge pump provides a high current low voltage output to a first circuit and the second charge pump provides a low current high voltage output to a second circuit. Capacitors of the first charge pump may be external to an integrated circuit and capacitors of the second charge pump may be internal to the integrated circuit. |
| US08258855B2 |
Method for controlling a servo system
The invention relates to a method for commanding a system controlled by means of a time-division multi-level command. The invention consists in acquiring two measurements by means of the sensor, each during a period, the two periods being dissymmetrical relative to the division of the command, determining an offset of the control subsystem and a corrected response without offset of the system to the command as a function of the measurements and of the measurement periods. With the aid of these two measurements, the invention makes it possible to eliminate the effect of the offset in the control subsystem of the system. |
| US08258850B1 |
Configurable analog signal processor
A general-purpose Analog Signal Processing System (ASPS) is disclosed. An ASPS can be realized though an array of Configurable Integrator Blocks (CIBs). The CIBs can be identical to each other, and arranged in rows and columns. A CIB can merge multiplication, integration, and sample-and-hold functions into a single programmable circuit block. Within the ASPS, CIBs are interconnected in a manner that allows CIB inputs to be a combination of external signals and outputs of other CIBs, and allows CIB outputs to be combined to produce system (external) outputs or inputs to other CIBs. This networked architecture combined with the basic functionality of each CIB, enables implementation of a broad range of analog signal processing operations. The ASPS can be field programmable. The field programmability permits end users to be able to quickly and inexpensively fabricate customized analog integrated circuits. |
| US08258848B2 |
Level shifter
A level shifter includes first and second NMOS transistors with gates connected to inverted circuit and circuit inputs, respectively, sources connected to the ground, and drains connected to circuit and inverted circuit outputs, respectively. First and second PMOS transistors have their gates connected to the inverted circuit and circuit outputs, respectively, and sources connected to the high voltage supply. A third PMOS transistor of the multiple independent gate type has its source connected to the drain of the first PMOS transistor, drain and back-gate connected to the circuit output, and front-gate connected to the inverted circuit input. A fourth PMOS transistor of the multiple independent gate type has its source connected to the drain of the second PMOS transistor, drain and back-gate connected to the inverted circuit output, and front-gate connected to the circuit input. |
| US08258846B2 |
Method and apparatus for regenerating sampling frequency and then quickly locking signals accordingly
A receiving method and apparatus is disclosed. The method comprising steps of: receiving a plurality of data according to a symbol clock signal, and reading out the plurality of data according to a first clock signal and generating a water level; receiving a second clock signal so as to generate a third clock signal, and adjusting the speed of the third clock signal according to the water level; determining a sampling frequency of the plurality of data according to a data amount of the plurality of data during a unit time period or parameters of the plurality of data; and dividing the third clock signal by a dividing value or multiplying the third clock signal by a multiplying value so as to obtain the first clock signal and adjust the water level by a clock generator. |
| US08258845B1 |
Clock auto-phasing for reduced jitter
The relative timing of triggering switching events in a circuit block of an IC device is dynamically adjusted in response to fluctuations in device's supply voltage to minimize clock jitter caused by supply voltage noise. A control circuit monitors supply voltage fluctuations, and in response thereto dynamically phase-shifts a clock signal that triggers the switching events so that the switching events occur during relatively quiet time intervals in which fluctuations in the supply voltage are minimal. |
| US08258843B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for operating the same
A semiconductor device includes a clock delay section configured to receive an external clock signal, reflect different delay amounts on the external clock signal, and generate a plurality of synchronization clock signals, a clock synchronization section configured to synchronize a clock enable signal with each of the plurality of synchronization clock signals in an order beginning with a synchronization clock signal, on which a largest delay amount is reflected, to a synchronization clock signal, on which a smallest delay amount is reflected, and to generate a synchronized clock enable signal, and an internal clock generation section configured to generate an internal clock signal corresponding to the external clock signal, and to be on/off controlled in its operation in response to the synchronized clock enable signal. |
| US08258836B2 |
Locked loops, bias generators, charge pumps and methods for generating control voltages
Locked loops, bias generators, charge pumps and methods for generating control voltages are disclosed, such as a bias generator that generates bias voltages for use by a clock signal generator, such as a voltage controlled delay line, in a locked loop having a phase detector and a charge pump. The charge pump can either charge or discharge a capacitor as a function of a signal from the phase detector to generate a control voltage. The bias generator can receive the control voltage from the capacitor, and it generates bias voltages corresponding thereto. A portion of the bias generator can have a topography that is substantially the same as at least a portion of the topography of the charge pump. As a result, it can cause the charge pump to charge the capacitor at the same rate that it discharges the capacitor over a relatively wide range of control voltages. |
| US08258835B1 |
Cancellation system for phase jumps at loop gain changes in fractional-N frequency synthesizers
A fractional-N frequency synthesizer having a cancellation system for phase discontinuity due to loop gain changes may include a phase detector, a current-changeable charge-pump, a loop filter for providing a tuning signal, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) controlled by the tuning signal for providing a VCO output signal, a divider for providing a divided VCO signal, a modulator for generating a modulating signal for fractional-N functionality, wherein the phase detector has a first input for receiving a reference signal oscillating at a reference frequency; a second input for receiving the divided signal; and the phase detector and charge-pump is configured to compare a phase of the first input and a phase of the second input, and generate a charge-pump current on and off, featuring that the cancellation system is implemented inside the modulator having an additional input defined by the changeable charge-pump current values. |
| US08258833B2 |
Phase locked loop circuits
A phase locked loop circuit is provided. The PLL circuit receives an input clock signal and generates an output clock signal according to internal clock signals with phase shifting which are generated according to the input clock signal. The PLL circuit includes a selector, a dividing unit, a converter, a low pass filer (LPF), and a modulator. The selector selects one of the internal clock signals to serve as a selection clock signal according to an enable signal. The first dividing unit performs dividing operations to the selection clock signal to generate the output clock signal and a feedback clock signal. The converter detects phase difference between the feedback clock signal and a reference clock signal to generate a detection signal. The LPF performs a filtering operation to the detection signal to generate a filtering signal. The modulator modulates the filtering signal to generate the enable signal. |
| US08258832B2 |
Loop filter and phase locked loop including the same
Provided is a loop filter which receives first and second currents whose current ratio is n (where n is a natural number). The loop filter includes a first-order filter path, a second-order filter path, and a third-order filter path. The first-order filter path includes an operational amplifier generating an output impedance by increasing by as much as n times an impedance of a second input node to which the second current is applied. The first-order filter path performs a first-order filtering on the first current applied to a first input node by using the operational amplifier. The second-order filter path performs a second-order filtering on the first current applied to the first input node. The third-order filter path performs a third-order filtering on the first current applied to the first input node. |
| US08258830B2 |
Methods for calibrating gated oscillator and oscillator circuit utilizing the same
An oscillator circuit is provided. The oscillator circuit includes a gated oscillator and a calibration circuit. The gated oscillator is arranged to generate an oscillator signal according to a control signal, and receive a gating signal to align an edge of the oscillator signal with an edge of the gating signal. The calibration circuit coupled to the gated oscillator is arranged to receive a first clock signal and a second clock signal, detect an alignment operation of the gated oscillator according to the first clock signal and a second clock signal and generate the control signal according to the detected alignment operation. |
| US08258824B2 |
Heterodyne dual slope frequency generation method for the load change of power supply
A heterodyne dual-slope frequency generation method for the load change of the power supply, which comprises a power transformer, a feedback control circuit, and a dual-slope charge-discharge circuit. The power supply generates different charge current to fit different operating mode through the feedback control circuit, feedback voltage generated into power transformer, and passes through the dual-slope charge-discharge circuit in accordance with the different outer load device and the different outer voltage rising speed. When the outer loading is changed, the feedback control circuit detects error voltage, feeds through power transformer, further changes the supplied current, and finally automatically adjusts the driving current and the output power. |
| US08258820B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for generating a drive signal for a transistor
Disclosed is a circuit arrangement for generating a drive signal for a transistor. In one embodiment, the circuit arrangement includes a control circuit that receives a switching signal, a driver circuit that outputs a drive signal, and at least one transmission channel. The control circuit transmits, depending on the switching signal for each switching operation of the transistor, switching information and switching parameter information via the transmission channel to the driver circuit. The driver circuit generates the drive signal depending on the switching information and depending on the switching parameter information. |
| US08258818B2 |
Operating a switched-capacitor circuit with reduced noise
Techniques for operating a switched-capacitor circuit to reduce input and feedback dependence and/or reduce reference modulation. A switched-capacitor circuit can be operated in four phases. In a first phase at a start of a cycle, the capacitor is charged/discharged by a common mode signal to mask any residual charge stored in the capacitor from a previous cycle. In a second phase, the capacitor is charged with an input signal. During a third phase, the capacitor is charged with a wide-bandwidth auxiliary reference signal, and during a fourth phase the capacitor is charged with a reference signal. During the third and fourth phases, the capacitor may be coupled to an integrating circuit to integrate a difference between the input signal and the reference signal. |
| US08258817B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes first to six transistors and a constant current source circuit. The first and second transistors form a current mirror circuit connected to a first power source node. The third and fourth transistors form a differential pair circuit. The third and fourth transistors receive first and second external signals at their gates, respectively. The constant current source circuit has one end connected to source terminals of the third and fourth transistors, and the other end connected to a second power source node. The fifth and sixth transistors form a current pathway between a common gate node of the first and second transistors and the constant current source circuit. The gate of fifth transistor is connected to a signal output node. The gate of sixth transistor receives a signal of logic opposite to a signal to be obtained at the signal output node. |
| US08258815B2 |
Clock generator circuits for generating clock signals
The present invention relates to a circuit for generating a clock signal. The circuit comprises a current source to generate a reference current and provide a first voltage V1, a first current generator to generate a first mirror current during a first half cycle based on the reference current, a first capacitor including a first end, and a first transistor having a first threshold voltage VTH1. The first transistor includes a gate to receive the first voltage V1, a drain coupled to the first current generator and a source coupled to the first end of the first capacitor so as to allow the first mirror current to charge the first capacitor during the first half cycle, wherein the period of the first half cycle is a function of the first bias voltage V1 minus the first threshold voltage VTH1. |
| US08258814B2 |
Clock distribution circuit and layout design method using the same
A layout design method in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention is a layout design method for a clock tree circuit, including disposing a first clock distribution circuit in a clock tree circuit, wiring the clock tree circuit in which the first clock distribution circuit is disposed, verifying timing of the wired clock tree circuit, and replacing the first distribution element by a second clock distribution circuit based on a result of the timing verification, the second clock distribution circuit having roughly a same input load capacitance as the first clock distribution circuit and a different delay value from the first clock distribution circuit. |
| US08258813B2 |
Circuit and method for driving at least one differential line
In the case of a circuit arrangement which can be supplied by way of at least one voltage source, in particular a driver output stage, for driving at least one differential line which can be connected to at least one first output connection as well as to at least one second output connection for the purpose of, in particular digital, data transmission, wherein the circuit arrangement has at least two paths which are arranged in a mirror-image fashion relative to one another and which connect the voltage source to at least one reference potential, in particular earth potential or ground potential or zero potential, as well as in the case of a method for driving at least one differential line using at least one such circuit arrangement, an increased output impedance is avoided during the switching phase, and this ensures high signal quality. |
| US08258808B2 |
System for testing power supply performance
A system for testing DC power supply performance includes a control circuit electrically connected to the DC power supply, a test device, and a control device electrically connected to the test device. The control circuit includes a micro controller capable of outputting control signals, a switch control module, and a switch module. The switch control module receives the control signals and powers up according to the control signals. The switch module is electrically connected to the DC power supply input and output terminals respectively, under control of the switch control module. The test device is electrically connected to the switch module and is electrically connected with the DC power supply input and output terminals according to the control signals. The test device reads voltages at the DC power supply input and output terminals which are transmitted to the control device. |
| US08258799B2 |
MEMS dosimeter
In various embodiments, a dosimeter is employed to passively record a peak pressure (e.g., a peak blast pressure) and/or a maximum acceleration experienced by the dosimeter. |
| US08258798B2 |
On chip duty cycle measurement module
A method and a circuit for measuring an on chip duty cycle. The circuit includes a capacitor, a switching circuit, a current source, a comparator circuit and a counter. The circuit receives a first clock signal and a second clock signal. The first clock signal has a 50% duty cycle and the second signal has an unknown duty cycle signal. The switching circuit first receives the first clock signal and then the second clock signal for measuring the duty cycle. The comparator circuit compares a comparator voltage with a reference voltage for the first clock signal to measure a first elapsed cycle using the counter. The comparator circuit again compares a comparator voltage with a reference voltage for the second clock signal to measure a second elapsed cycle using the counter. The counter measures the first elapsed cycle and the second elapsed cycle corresponding to the first clock signal and the second clock signal for a duration in which the comparator voltage equals the reference voltage. The duty cycle for the second clock signal is then calculated using the first elapsed cycle and the second elapsed cycle. |
| US08258795B2 |
Procedure for checking the operational capability of an electric circuit
A procedure for checking the operational capability of an electric circuit, which has a sensor module and a diagnosis mechanism with the sensor module including an integrated switching circuit, wherein the sensor module has at least one output terminal connected to the diagnosis mechanism and power supply terminals, and wherein an operating voltage is applied via cables to the power supply terminals. The sensor module is switched to a test mode, in which a communication test signal is emitted from the output terminal. This signal is read in by the diagnostic mechanism and compared with a tolerance band range, in order to verify that the communication with the sensor module is operational. In the event of operational communication, the operational capability of the switching circuit is tested. |
| US08258794B2 |
Measuring device for purity measurements in a media circuit of a power station and method for operating said measuring device
A measuring device for carrying out purity measurements in a media circuit of a power station with an ion exchanger device and a measuring means for measuring a parameter of a media current flowing through the ion exchanger device is described. In order to obtain measurements in a rapid and reliable manner at the start up of the ion exchanger device, for example during the start-up phase of the power station, it is suggested that the ion exchanger device has two flow paths for two different operating modes of the power station. |
| US08258792B2 |
Monitoring system and method
A method and system for monitoring a voltage of a battery cell or a battery stack. A first monitoring unit has a first plurality of battery monitoring nodes, first and second data ports, a first supply port switchably coupled to the first plurality of battery monitoring nodes, a second supply port switchably coupled to the first plurality of battery monitoring nodes, and a third supply port. A controller is connected to the first monitoring unit. Alternatively, a reference voltage may be connected to the controller or it may be connected to the first monitoring unit. |
| US08258786B2 |
Method for mapping of the radio frequency field amplitude in a magnetic resonance imaging system using adiabatic excitation pulses
A method for determining the spatial distribution of the magnitude of the radio frequency transmission field B1 in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, wherein the method comprises performing an MRI experiment in which a B1-sensitive complex image (SI) of a sample is obtained, wherein the phase distribution within the B1-sensitive complex image (SI) depends on the spatial distribution of the magnitude of the field B1. For establishing the dependency of the phase distribution within the B1-sensitive complex image (SI) on the spatial distribution of the field B1, one or more adiabatic RF pulses are applied. The method provides a simple procedure for mapping the B1 field of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus with an improved accuracy and a wider measurement range. |
| US08258785B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance spectroscopic image computing method
An object of the invention is to obtain a magnetic resonance spectroscopic image to which the MAC summation is applied with high accuracy and in short time, even though a phase characteristic distribution of the MAC has a spatial non-uniformity, in the MRSI measurement using a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus provided with a MAC. Using a non-water-suppressed image signal with high SNR, obtained in the non-water-suppressed measurement (a reference measurement) without water suppression, a correction value for correcting the phase distortion for the MAC summation is calculated on each pixel in each coil. After correcting a phase on each pixel in each coil of a main-scan image signal measured under suppressing water (water-suppressed image signal) using the corrective value, signal adding operation (summation) is performed. Then, a phase correction in a spectrum-axis is to be performed on the summed spectrum signal. |
| US08258784B2 |
System and method for measuring a time-varying magnetic field and method for production of a hydrocarbon fluid
In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and a method are disclosed for measuring a time varying magnetic field. In one aspect, a system comprises a plurality of induction coils arranged to measure the time varying magnetic field using at least one voltage induced in at least one of the induction coils in the plurality of induction coils, a plurality of snubber circuits connected to the plurality of induction coils, each of the snubber circuits of the plurality of snubber circuits arranged to suppress a resonance of a respective one of the induction coils of the plurality of induction coils, and a summing circuit connected to each of the snubber circuits of the plurality of snubber circuits, the summing circuit arranged to sum voltages induced in each of the induction coils in the plurality of induction coils. |
| US08258782B2 |
Angle detecting apparatus and angle detecting method
An angle detecting apparatus includes a rotor fixed to a rotating shaft, a pair of magnetic sensors arranged close to the outer periphery of the rotor so as to have a difference in angle (π/2) with respect to the center of rotation of the rotor, a differential operational circuit performing differential operation on detection signals output by the magnetic sensors to output a differential signal, and the angle calculating circuit calculating the angle of rotation of the rotating shaft based on the differential signal. The planar shape of the rotor is such that the sum of the distances between the center of rotation and the respective two points where two straight lines crossing at the center of rotation at a crossing angle of (π/2) cross the outer periphery of the rotor is constant, and the planar shape is symmetric with respect to a straight line passing through the center of rotation. |
| US08258778B2 |
Simplified micro-magnetic sensor for acceleration, position, tilt, and vibration
A simplified micro-magnetic based sensor and a system built with it for detecting or measuring acceleration, speed, position, placement, tilt, and vibration are disclosed for a reduced product size, simplified manufacturing process, and reduced product cost. Both simplified micro-magnetic sensor and simplified micro-magnetic sensor system include a primary micro inductor and a secondary micro inductor coupled with a micro magnetically permeable dynamic medium element that is small, simple and low cost to manufacture. |
| US08258774B2 |
System and method for implementing low-cost electronic gyroscopes and accelerometer
Accelerometers have a number of wide-ranging uses, and it is desirable to both increase their accuracy while decreasing size. Here, millimeter or sub-millimeter wavelength accelerometers are provided which has the advantage of having the high accuracy of an optical accelerometer, while being compact. Additionally, because millimeter or sub-millimeter wavelength signals are employed, cumbersome and awkward on-chip optical devices and bulky optical mediums can be avoided. |
| US08258772B2 |
DC-DC converter
The present invention is a DC-DC converter characterized by including a switch element that is provided between one end of a DC power source and one end of a load and turns ON and OFF current input from the DC power source, an inductance element that is provided between one end of the switch element on a load-side end and includes a doughnut-shaped magnetic core and a conductive wire wound around the magnetic core, a commutation switch provided between a node between the switch element and the inductance element and a ground potential, and a capacitance element provided between a node between the inductance element and the load and the ground potential, wherein a magnetic flux density of the magnetic core varies partially. |
| US08258769B2 |
Method of switching a PWM multi-phase voltage converter
A circuit may generate a clock signal with a variable period given by a ratio between an initial switching period and a number of phase circuits through which a current of a multi-phase PWM voltage converter flows. The circuit may include an adjustable current generator driven by a signal representing the number of phase circuits through which the current flows and configured to generate a current proportional to the number of phase circuits through which the current flows, and a tank capacitor charged by the adjustable current generator. The circuit may include a comparator of a voltage on the tank capacitor with a threshold value configured to generate a pulse of the clock signal when the threshold value is attained, and a discharge path of the tank capacitor, the discharge path being enabled during the pulses of the clock signal. |
| US08258768B2 |
Low EMI producing switch-mode power supply within an intelligent electronic device
An apparatus for varying the timing of a SMPS, including a microcontroller configured to output a first PWM signal. A converter is coupled to the microcontroller and is configured to receive the first PWM signal and output an analog signal to a SMPS timing capacitor coupled to a SMPS. The analog signal varies the discharge time of the timing capacitor to vary a switching frequency of the SMPS. |
| US08258764B2 |
Driving device
The present invention relates to a driving device. The driving device according to the present invention includes a main transistor that supplies a current to a load by using a power supply, an auxiliary transistor that drops a predetermined voltage of the voltage of the power supply and transmits the dropped voltage to the main transistor in a turn-on state, and a bypass switch that transmits the voltage of the power supply to the main transistor when the auxiliary transistor is turned off. |
| US08258763B2 |
Switching power supply unit and control circuit for same
There is provided a switching power supply unit having an overcurrent detection circuit capable of automatically selecting either a current detection method using an resistor or a current detection method using an external current detection resistor and of performing optimized overcurrent protection depending on applications. In the control circuit of the switching power supply unit for detecting a current flowing through a high-side switch as a current detection signal and comparing it with an overcurrent detection threshold value to detect an overcurrent and turning off the high-side switch to protect the switching power supply unit, a first current detection terminal connected to a power supply side terminal of the high-side switch or to a load side terminal of the high-side switch and a temperature compensating means to switch for temperature compensation on an overcurrent detection threshold value or on a current detection signal are provided. |
| US08258759B2 |
Anti-islanding for grid-tie inverter using covariance estimation and logic decision maker
An anti-islanding implementation that introduces a small, continuously varying phase shift pattern in the output current of an inverter. In grid-connected mode, this phase shift pattern has no impact on the frequency of the inverter's output voltage. However, when islanded, the phase shift will cause the voltage frequency to deviate from nominal. Changes in the output current phase thus correlate well with the voltage frequency, so a covariance index is used to detect an islanding configuration. When this index exceeds a threshold, a larger phase shift pattern is introduced in the output current, large enough to cause the voltage frequency to fall outside the inverter's trip protection window without compromising the inverter's power quality yet ensuring reliable tripping of the inverter. |
| US08258758B2 |
System to improve a multistage charge pump and associated methods
A system to improve a multistage charge pump may include a capacitor, a first plate carried by the capacitor, and a second plate carried by the capacitor opposite the first plate. The system may also include a clock to control charging and discharging of the capacitor. The system may further include a power supply to provide a power supply voltage across the first plate and the second plate during charging of the capacitor. The system may also include a voltage line to lift the second plate to an intermediate voltage during discharging of the capacitor. The system may further include an output line connected to the first plate during discharging of the capacitor to provide an output voltage. |
| US08258753B2 |
Secondary battery remaining capacity estimating apparatus
A secondary battery remaining capacity estimating apparatus basically includes a secondary battery, a charge/discharge determining section, a remaining capacity estimating section, a remaining capacity indicating section and a remaining capacity indication limiting section. The charge/discharge determining section determines if the secondary battery is charging or discharging. The remaining capacity estimating section estimates a remaining electric power capacity of the secondary battery. The remaining capacity indicating section indicates a remaining capacity of the secondary battery based on an estimation value by the remaining capacity estimating section. The remaining capacity indication limiting section limits a decrease of a remaining capacity indicated upon determining that the secondary battery is charging and the estimation value will decrease, and limits an increase of a remaining capacity indicated upon determining that the secondary battery is discharging and the estimation value will increase. |
| US08258747B2 |
Method for automatic battery controller identification and cell indexing via a multi-purpose signal line
A method and system for identifying individual cell monitoring controllers in an electric vehicle battery pack. Several cell monitoring controllers are serially connected to each other and to a master battery pack controller via a signal line, which is also used for communicating alarm signals between the controllers. The master battery pack controller sends a wake-up signal on the signal line. The first cell monitoring controller in the signal line wiring route receives the wake-up signal and receives an identification number from the master battery pack controller. Only then does the first cell monitoring controller allow the wake-up signal to be passed along to the second cell monitoring controller, which activates and receives its identification number, and so forth. In this way, identical cell monitoring controllers can be used in a battery pack, yet each cell monitoring controller can be uniquely identified by the master battery pack controller. |
| US08258741B2 |
Solar power management system
A solar power management system is provided for managing electric energy conversion by a photovoltaic cell module, supplying the converted electric energy to an external load, and storing the converted electric energy in a battery. The solar power management system comprises a multiphase maximum power tracking (MPT) module, a charging circuit, and a voltage conversion module. The multiphase MPT module regulates output current of the photovoltaic cell module to output maximum power within the high limit thereof and obtain improved solar energy conversion efficiency. The voltage conversion module converts the electric energy generated by the photovoltaic cell module into different voltage formats, such as 5.6V DC, 1.0V DC, 0.6˜0.3V DC low voltage, or −1.2V DC negative voltage, to meet different external load requirements. The solar power management system has simple circuitry and can be configured as a system on chip (SoC) at reduced cost while provides very wide applications. |
| US08258740B2 |
Fuel cell system and method of starting operation of fuel cell system
A fuel cell system and method comprising a fuel cell stack formed by stacking fuel cells, a high voltage energy storage capable of being directly coupled to the fuel cell stack, a DC-DC converter connected to the fuel cell stack and the energy storage, a load operated by consuming at least electrical energy generated by the fuel cell stack or electrical energy discharged from the energy storage, a fuel cell warming up control unit for warming up the fuel cell stack, and a voltage adjustment unit for implementing voltage control to control the output voltage of the fuel cell stack to become equal to, or higher than the terminal voltage of the energy storage, at the time of warming up the fuel cell stack. |
| US08258738B2 |
Low current electric motor starter
A low cost motor starter is shown having a PTC resistor 12 serially connected to a triac 14 and a bias resistor in turn adapted to be connected to the start winding of a single phase motor. A reed relay 16 having a sense coil 16a serially connected to the main winding in one preferred embodiment and in parallel with the main and start windings in a second preferred embodiment, is magnetically coupled to reed contacts 16b, 16c. Reed contact 16b is connected to a location intermediate the PTC resistor 12 and the triac 14 while reed contact 16c is connected to the gate of the triac. A gate signal phase shifting network comprising capacitor C1-R2 is also connected to reed contact 16c and the gate. |
| US08258735B2 |
Power converting apparatus for motor driving
A second control unit includes a current-command generating unit that generates, based on a torque command T*, a current command of the motor, a voltage-amplitude-index calculating unit that calculates, based on the current command, a voltage amplitude index (a modulation ratio PMF), a current-command adjusting unit that generates, based on the modulation ratio PMF and a frequency FINV of the motor, a current command adjustment amount dV, and a voltage command/PWM signal generating unit including a pulsation-suppression-signal generating unit that generates, based on a DC voltage EFC, a pulsation suppression signal for suppressing a pulsation component of a power supply 2f component to generate a gate signal (a PWM signal) to an inverter. |
| US08258733B2 |
Washing machine and method for controlling the same
A washing machine and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The washing machine detects a back electromotive force of a washing motor, and controls output of an alarm sound by analyzing periodicity of a waveform period of the back electromotive force. The washing machine determines whether a child or pet is in a drum washing machine on the basis of the back electromotive force generated from the washing motor, and informs a user or guardian of the determined result. |
| US08258723B2 |
Light-emitting element array, driving device, and image forming apparatus
A light-emitting element array has a plurality of three-terminal light-emitting elements such as light-emitting thyristors with anode, cathode, and gate terminals. The anode terminal of each light-emitting element is connected to a driving circuit. The cathode terminal is grounded. The gate terminals of at least some of the three-terminal light-emitting elements are driven from a common buffer, and within this group of three-terminal light-emitting elements, the anode terminals are driven individually. This enables the array of three-terminal light-emitting elements to be driven in essentially the same way as an array of two-terminal light-emitting elements, but without the need for large power transistors between the cathode terminals and ground. |
| US08258722B2 |
Lighting device with defined spectral power distribution
Solid state lighting devices and illumination methods involve use of multiple solid state emitters of different colored outputs (optionally including at least one white or near-white emitter). Operation of the solid state emitters is controlled with at least one circuit element to emphasize and/or deemphasize perception of at least one color of a target surface based upon a reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface. At least one emitter may have an associated passive or active filter; the filterable emitter and/or active filter may be operated to deemphasize perception of at least one color of a target surface. Activation and/or alteration of emphasis or deemphasis of perception of color of a target surface may be selected by a user or automatically controlled. |
| US08258718B2 |
Lighting device and display device
A lighting device (8) including a cold-cathode fluorescent tube (light source) (9) includes an inverter circuit (16) connected to the cold-cathode fluorescent tube (9) and configured so as to driving the cold-cathode fluorescent tube (9), using PWM dimming. The inverter circuit (16) drives the cold-cathode fluorescent tube (9) while a dimming signal in the PWM dimming and a driving signal for driving the cold-cathode fluorescent tube (9) are synchronized. |
| US08258717B2 |
High pressure discharge lamp light source device
In order to maintain a stable arc and avoid wear of the projections of electrode tip ends even if the lamp is lighted with a lamp power of at most 70% of the nominal electric power, a high pressure discharge lamp light source device is provided with a power supply device for supplying alternating current to the high pressure discharge lamp in a low electric power lighting mode having a defined current value in the range of 40 to 70% of a nominal electric power consumption, and wherein the power supply device, in the low electric power lighting mode supplies an alternating current with a low frequency which is lower than the steady-state lighting frequency, and supplies a boost current at least two times during a half cycle of the alternating current with a low frequency which is larger than the alternating current with a low frequency. |
| US08258714B2 |
LED controller with phase-shift dimming function and LED phase-shift dimming circuit and method thereof
The present invention discloses an LED controller with phase-shift dimming function and an LED Phase-Shift dimming circuit and method thereof. The LED controller includes: a power circuit for supplying DC power to multiple LED channels; and an LED phase-shift dimming circuit for receiving a pulse width modulation (PWM) input signal and generating multiple phase-shifted PWM signals with a shifted phase between one another, wherein a turn-ON timing of each of the multiple phase-shifted PWM signals follows a turn-OFF timing of a previous PWM signal which is the input PWM signal or a previous one of the multiple phase-shifted PWM signals. |
| US08258709B2 |
LED control using modulation frequency detection techniques
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling a plurality of LED channels. The method includes receiving an LED brightness signal having a plurality of superimposed pulse width modulated (PWM) brightness signals each having a duty cycle and amplitude at a unique modulation frequency, each PWM brightness signal being proportional to the brightness of a respective LED channel. The method also includes determining a pulse area of each PWM brightness signal at each respective unique frequency. The pulse area is proportional to the product of the amplitude and the duty cycle. The method also includes generating pulse area signals proportional to the respective pulse area and comparing the respective pulse area signals to user defined and/or preset photometric values to generate respective error signals proportional to the difference between the respective pulse area signals and the user defined and/or preset photometric values. |
| US08258708B2 |
Interactive light system for a clothing rack
The invention relates to a an interactive light system for a clothing rack, particularly for creating attraction lighting for clothes hanging on a rail of the clothing rack. A basic idea of the invention to control light sources integrated in the clothing rack depending on the detection of an object such as a person. This allows implementing a kind of an interactive lighting function, and furthermore attraction functions for shoppers. An interactive light system (10) according to an embodiment of the invention for a clothing rack (12) comprises one or more light sources (14) integrated in the clothing rack (12), one or more sensors (16, 18, 20) adapted to detect an object (22), and a control unit (24) which receives signals (26) from the sensors (16, 18, 20) and is adapted to evaluate the received signals (26) and to generate control signals (28) for the light sources (14) controlling the lighting depending on the evaluation. |
| US08258707B2 |
Lighting device with a LED used for sensing
A lighting device (10) comprises a LED (4), a driver (3), and a controller (2) which regularly switches from a drive state to a measuring state and back. In the measuring state, the controller controls the driver such that the driver does not generate any LED current. The LED produces a measuring signal (Sm) indicating a measured light level. The controller processes the measuring signal received from the LED, and makes a decision on the desired light output of the LED. In the drive state, the controller controls the driver such that the average light output produced by the LED corresponds to the desired light output as determined in the measuring state. In a possible embodiment, the driver generates a nominal LED current INOM, and sets the duration (τ1) of the drive state on the basis of the desired light output of the LED as determined in the measuring state. |
| US08258701B2 |
Plasma display panel having a MgO crystal powder layer for improved discharge characteristics and method of manufacturing same
A plasma display panel equipped with a front substrate and a back substrate facing each other to form a discharge space. On the discharge space side of the front substrate there are disposed a metal oxide layer and magnesium oxide crystal particles. Among the magnesium oxide crystal particles there are magnesium oxide crystal particles having a particle diameter of at least 3500 angstroms. |
| US08258700B2 |
Plasma display panel
A plasma display panel has a front substrate (3) and a back substrate (2) arranged opposed to each other through a discharge space (4). On the back substrate, a fluorescent layer (5) is formed. On the front substrate, display electrodes are formed extending in a horizontal direction, a discharge cell area is demarcated corresponding to the display electrodes, and a plurality of shielding films (13) extending in the horizontal direction are moreover formed at each position which is among the display electrodes and within the discharge cell area. When the distance between the shielding films and the fluorescent layer is set to be D, the width L of a shielding film and the distance S between the shielding films satisfy 0.58≦L≦D and D≦S≦1.73D. This reduces the reflectance ratio of outdoor daylight to improve lighted room contrast. |
| US08258697B2 |
Light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a first lead, a light emitting element, a second lead and a molded body. The first lead includes a die pad portion having a major surface and a recess provided in the major surface, a bent portion bent toward above the major surface, and a thermally conductive portion extending outward from the die pad portion. The first lead is provided with a slit at an end of a fold. The light emitting element is bonded to a bottom surface of the recess. The second lead with one end portion is opposed to one end portion of the first lead. The molded body covers the light emitting element, the bent portion, the die pad portion, the thermally conductive portion, and the one end portion of the second lead, penetrates through the slit, and is made of a resin. |
| US08258696B2 |
Light emitting display and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention is to provide an organic light emitting display and a method of manufacturing the same. The light emitting display according to the present invention includes: a first substrate on which a plurality of light emitting devices having first electrodes, organic light emitting layers, and second electrodes are disposed; a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate; a dam member disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to surround the plurality of light emitting devices; an inorganic sealing material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate in an outer area of the dam member and attaching the first substrate to the second substrate; and a silicon filling material provided between the first substrate and the second substrate inward of the dam member to be in contact with the second electrodes. |
| US08258694B2 |
Method for manufacturing flexible display device having an insulative overcoat and flexible display device having the same
A flexible display device and a method for manufacturing a flexible display are provided. The flexible display device includes a flexible substrate, a display element layer formed on the flexible substrate; an insulating protective layer covering the display element layer; and a rigid substrate. The rigid substrate has an etching selectivity at least 20 times greater than that of the insulating protective layer. |
| US08258687B2 |
Coaxial waveguide electrodeless lamp
The present invention relates to a coaxial waveguide electrodeless lamp. The lamp is formed in analogy to coaxial waveguide cables, with an outer conductor, a central conductor, and a gas-fill vessel made of dielectric material between the outer conductor and the inner conductor. The gas-fill vessel is substantially hollow and filled with substances that form a plasma and emit light when RF radiation carried by the central conductor and ground conductor interacts with the substances in the gas-fill vessel. The present invention also relates to a leaky waveguide electrodeless lamp. The lamp is formed in analogy to leaky waveguides, with a conductor, a ground conductor, and a gas-fill vessel made of dielectric material butted against the conductor and encompassed by the ground conductor. The leaky waveguide electrodeless lamp emits light from a plasma similar to light-emission action of the coaxial waveguide electrodeless lamp described above. |
| US08258685B2 |
Multi-panel display screen having a supporting film layer
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an apparatus and method for forming a display screen assembly that comprises multiple panel assemblies which are positioned to form a tiled display device that has improved visual characteristics, is easy to assemble and has a reduced manufacturing cost. In general, each panel assembly is formed so that when it is positioned in a display screen assembly the grid pattern, formed by the gap between the illuminated regions in adjacent panel assemblies, can be minimized. In one embodiment, the unwanted visual effect of the grid pattern is mitigated by minimizing and controlling the space, or gaps, formed between the illuminated area in adjacent panel assemblies. Embodiments of the present invention may also provide an apparatus and method for forming a single panel assembly that is used to display an image. |
| US08258683B2 |
Insulation reinforcing light bulb
An insulation reinforcing light bulb includes a light penetrable shell, a power receiving base, a heat sink and an assembling holder located between the light penetrable shell and the power receiving base, at least one light source baseboard located in the light penetrable shell and a power conversion board electrically connected to the light source baseboard and the power receiving base. The heat sink has a housing chamber to hold the power conversion board. The light bulb further includes an isolation element held in the housing chamber. The isolation element has an isolation wall interposed between the power conversion board and the heat sink to form a circuit housing compartment to hold the power conversion board, and a wiring outlet formed on the isolation wall to allow wires to be led from the power conversion board to connect to the light source baseboard. |
| US08258682B2 |
High thermal conductivity packaging for solid state light emitting apparatus and associated assembling methods
One or more solid state light emitting elements are mounted on a hardcoat anodized aluminum substrate. One or more bars also may be provided that slidably contact an edge of the hardcoat anodized aluminum substrate. The substrate and the bar(s) may be mounted in a housing with the bars mounted in apertures in the housing wall. Related assembling methods for solid state light emitting apparatus also are disclosed. |
| US08258677B2 |
Piezoelectric component with directly structured external contacting, method for manufacturing the component and use of said component
The embodiments relate to a piezoelectric component including at least one fully active piezoelectric element comprising electrode layers and piezoelectric layers arranged therebetween. The electrode layers are conveyed to a lateral edge of the piezoelectric element and contacted there. The external electrode is attached in a structured fashion for electrical contacting and/or a structured external electrode is made available: The external electrode essentially includes two components, namely the contacting field and the contacting path. In the event of several piezoelectric elements (piezoelectric actuator in multilayer structure) stacked one above the other, the contacting path functions as a collector electrode, which connects the contacting fields of the piezoelectric elements to one another. The insulation path exists for the electrical insulation of the contacting path from electrode layers which are not to be contacted. A reliable contacting of the electrode layers is possible with the structure according to the invention. A fully active, piezoceramic multilayer actuator with the described contacting is used in automotive engineering for activating fuel injection valves. |
| US08258674B2 |
Surface acoustic wave sensor and system
A surface acoustic wave sensor to measure physical, biological or chemical parameters is claimed. Using different piezoelectric substrate materials, piezoelectric substrates with different thicknesses or metallizations with different thicknesses or patterns are used to distinguish between the effects of different physical, biological or chemical parameters. |
| US08258671B2 |
Methods and apparatus for a continuous wound laminate rotor flux path
A rotor assembly is assembled by providing an elongated rectangular strip of material having a first edge and a second edge defining a width, cutting the elongated rectangular strip to form a first patterned strip having a first side corresponding to the first edge, winding the first patterned strip portion around the perimeter of the rotor core such that the first edge is adjacent to the perimeter and the patterned strip portion forms a continuous laminated ring structure. Two laminated ring structures can be cut from a single strip, thereby reducing waste material and forming a strong structure. |
| US08258670B2 |
Motor including supporting portion contacting stator
A motor includes a stator, a case and a supporting portion. The stator formed by laminating plural disc plates includes a yoke portion having a plurality of first and second portions alternately formed in a circumferential direction of the stator, and plural tooth portions respectively radially protruding from an inner circumferential surface the yoke portion at the second portion of the yoke portion towards an axial center of the stator. The case provided at an outer circumference of the stator includes a first communicating passage extending in an axial direction of the stator to be in communication with both axial ends of the stator and defined by an inner circumferential surface of the case. The supporting portion protrudes from an inner circumferential surface of the first communicating passage towards the stator and contacts an outer surface of the stator at one of the first portions of the stator. |
| US08258668B2 |
Stator and rotating electric machine employing the same
A stator in which coil conductors of three phases are disposed in a plurality of slots provided in a stator core, wherein the coil conductors are formed by connecting a plurality of slot conductor portions disposed in the slot, a plurality of coil end conductor portions extending in a circumferential direction of the stator core on an outer side of an axial end surface of the stator core, and a plurality of upstanding conductor portions, each of which connects the coil end conductor portion and the slot conductor portion. |
| US08258667B2 |
Reverse electromotive force generating motor
A reverse electromotive force generating motor includes a stator yoke; a rotor disposed in the stator yoke; a first coil disposed in the stator yoke and connected to a first input line of a power source with a first phase; a second coil disposed in the stator yoke and connected to the first coil in series, said second coil being connected to a first neutral point; a third coil disposed in the stator yoke and connected to the first neutral point; a fourth coil disposed in the stator yoke and connected to the third coil in series, said fourth coil being connected to a first output line for outputting power; and a rotational shaft disposed in the rotor. |
| US08258666B2 |
Manufacturing of segments with special end coils for cross-segment connection
A stator segment for a stator of a ring generator is provided. The stator segment includes a base element and a coil element attached to the base element. The base element includes a connection region, wherein the connection region is adapted for attaching a connecting coil element which connects the stator segment to a further stator segment. |
| US08258664B2 |
Permanent magnet synchronous motor and drive system
A hybrid motor for powering a compressor of a chiller system includes a first rotor portion and a first stator portion configured as a permanent magnet motor and a second rotor portion and a second stator portion configured as a reluctance motor. The second rotor portion includes a reluctance-type rotor, and the second stator portion includes electromagnetic windings capable of inducing a rotary magnetic field. The first rotor portion and the second rotor portion are attached to a common drive shaft. The reluctance motor is arranged to generate start-up torque and initiate rotation of the drive shaft until the drive shaft achieves a predetermined rotational speed. The permanent magnet motor is arranged to power the drive shaft between the predetermined rotational speed and a maximum rotational speed. |
| US08258657B2 |
Vibration motor
A vibration motor is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the vibration motor includes a base, a vibrator, which reciprocates in the base, a protruding part, which is formed on at least one of the base and the vibrator, and an elastic body, which is interposed between the base and the vibrator and has a through-part formed therein and in which the protruding part is inserted into the through-part and the elastic body is coupled to the base or the vibrator by caulking or bending the protruding part which is protruded through the through-part. Thus, the vibration motor can have a uniform resonant frequency characteristic since a spring is coupled by way of caulking or bending. |
| US08258652B2 |
Power transmission device
A power transmission device includes: a power transmission coil to transmit electric power to a power receiving coil by an electromagnetic induction method; a driving unit to supply a driving voltage to the power transmission coil; a detection unit to detect an electric current flowing in the power transmission coil based on the driving voltage; a control unit to change an amplitude of the driving voltage; a starting point detection unit to detect the amplitude of the driving voltage as a characteristic point at which an electric current starts to flow in the power receiving coil, on a characteristic line representing a relationship between the driving voltage supplied to the power transmission coil and the electric current detected by the detection unit; and a transmission stopping control unit to stop power transmission by the power transmission coil if the characteristic point is not detected by the starting point detection unit. |
| US08258649B2 |
Communicating over power distribution media
A system includes a first communication module to be coupled to a first transmission medium for distributing power using a voltage waveform having a first amplitude; and a second communication module to be coupled to a second transmission medium for distributing power using a voltage waveform having a second amplitude different from the first amplitude, the second transmission medium being coupled to the first transmission medium. Each of the first and second communication modules is configured to use signals that propagate between the first and second transmission media. |
| US08258643B2 |
Method and system for control of wind turbines
A method of controlling at least one wind turbine, comprising selecting a first effective operational curve from a plurality of operational curves, and applying the first effective operational curve to control at least one wind turbine. The operational curves may be operational curve segments. |
| US08258639B2 |
Two-phase contactor for starting device for internal combustion engine
A starting device for an internal combustion engine, especially that of a motor vehicle, comprises: a stator, or inductor, comprising an inductor coil (5), said inductor coil comprising at least first (43), second (41) and third (42) windings that are all electrically connected in parallel; a rotor associated with said stator and having a longitudinal axis; a starter element that can be rotated by the rotor; and a contractor designed to supply power, in a prerotation first phase, only to the first winding (43) of the inductor coil and, in a full-speed second phase, following the first phase, to the first, second and third windings (41, 42) of the inductor coil. |
| US08258637B2 |
Bonding structure and method for manufacturing same
A bonding structure that a bonding region can endure a high temperature environment and the bonding can be maintained with high reliability is provided as a bonding material capable of maintaining reliable bonding in high temperature environment in place of solder including Pb. In the bonding structure for a first member and a second member, solder and glass are used to bond the first member and the second member together and the glass seals the solder. Thereby, electrical conductivity is ensured and the outflow of melting solder in high temperatures can be inhibited to improve the durability. |
| US08258635B2 |
Implantable microelectronic device and method of manufacture
An implantable hermetically sealed microelectronic device and method of manufacture are disclosed. The microelectronic device of the present invention is hermetically encased in a insulator, such as alumina formed by ion bean assisted deposition (“IBAD”), with a stack of biocompatible conductive layers extending from a contact pad on the device to an aperture in the hermetic layer. In a preferred embodiment, one or more patterned titanium layers are formed over the device contact pad, and one or more platinum layers are formed over the titanium layers, such that the top surface of the upper platinum layer defines an external, biocompatible electrical contact for the device. Preferably, the bottom conductive layer is larger than the contact pad on the device, and a layer in the stack defines a shoulder. |
| US08258633B2 |
Semiconductor package and multichip arrangement having a polymer layer and an encapsulant
A polymer layer is generated on a wafer. The wafer is then separated into semiconductor chips. At least two semiconductor chips are placed on a carrier with the polymer layer facing the carrier. The at least two semiconductor chips are covered with an encapsulating material to form an encapsulant. The carrier is removed from the encapsulant, and the encapsulant and the polymer layer are thinned. |
| US08258632B1 |
Optically-initiated silicon carbide high voltage switch with contoured-profile electrode interfaces
An improved photoconductive switch having a SiC or other wide band gap substrate material with opposing contoured profile cavities which have a contoured profile selected from one of Rogowski, Bruce, Chang, Harrison, and Ernst profiles, and two electrodes with matching contoured-profile convex interface surfaces. |
| US08258630B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes: a first layer; a second layer above the first layer; first and second multi-layered structures; and a supporter. The first and second multi-layered structures extend from the first layer to connect to the second layer. The supporter extends from the first layer to connect to the second layer. The supporter is between the first and second multi-layered structures. The supporter is separated from the first and second multi-layered structures by empty space. |
| US08258625B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a structure for connecting a semiconductor element having a fine pitch electrode at 50 μm pitch or less and a pad or wirings on a substrate, for preventing inter-bump short-circuit or fracture of a connected portion due to high strain generated upon heating or application of load during connection, the substrate and the semiconductor element are connected by way of a bump having a longitudinal elastic modulus (Young's modulus) of 65 GPa or more and 600 GPa or less and a buffer layer including one of tin, aluminum, indium, or lead as a main ingredient and, further, protrusions are formed to at least one of opposing surfaces of the bump and the pad or the wirings on the substrate to each other, and the surfaces are connected by ultrasonic waves. |
| US08258624B2 |
Method for fabricating a semiconductor and semiconductor package
A method for fabricating a semiconductor chip module and a semiconductor chip package is disclosed. One embodiment provides a first layer, a second layer, and a base layer. The first layer is disposed on the base layer, and the second layer is disposed on the first layer. A plurality of semiconductor chips is applied above the second layer, and the second layer with the applied semiconductor chips is separated from the first layer. |
| US08258623B2 |
Circuit layout of circuit substrate, light source module and circuit substrate
A circuit layout of a circuit substrate having a plurality of device bonding areas is provided. The circuit layout includes first pads, second pads, bridging lines, first outer leads and second outer leads. Each device bounding area is configured with one first pad and one second pad. The bridging lines are respectively disposed between any two adjacent device bounding areas and extended from a side of the first pad inside one device bounding area to a side of the second pad inside another one device bounding area adjacent to the first pad. Each first outer lead and each second outer lead are respectively corresponding to one first pad and one second pad, are respectively correspondingly extended into the device bounding area which the first pad and the second pad are located at, and are beside the first pad and the second pad correspondingly. |
| US08258622B2 |
Power device package and semiconductor package mold for fabricating the same
Provided are a power device package coupled to a heat sink using a bolt and a semiconductor package mold for fabricating the same. The power device package includes: a substrate; at least one power device mounted on the substrate; a mold member sealing the substrate and the power device; and at least one bushing member fixed to the mold member to provide a through hole for a bolt member for coupling a heat sink to the mold member. |
| US08258619B2 |
Integrated circuit die stacks with translationally compatible vias
An integrated circuit die stack including a first integrated circuit die mounted upon a substrate, the first die including pass-through vias (‘PTVs’) composed of conductive pathways through the first die with no connection to any circuitry on the first die; and a second integrated circuit die, identical to the first die, shifted in position with respect to the first die and mounted upon the first die, with the PTVs in the first die connecting signal lines from the substrate through the first die to through silicon vias (‘TSVs’) in the second die composed of conductive pathways through the second die connected to electronic circuitry on the second die; with the TSVs and PTVs disposed upon each identical die so that the positions of the TSVs and PTVs on each identical die are translationally compatible with respect to the TSVs and PTVs on the other identical die. |
| US08258618B2 |
Power semiconductor module
The power semiconductor module includes: a circuit substrate; power semiconductor elements joined to element mounting portions of the wiring pattern on the circuit substrate; the cylindrical external terminal communication section joined to the wiring pattern; circuit forming means for connecting between portions that require electrical connection therebetween; and transfer molding resin for sealing these components. The cylindrical external terminal communication section is a metal cylinder, and the cylindrical external terminal communication section has a hole filled with gel. |
| US08258614B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with package integration
An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing a substrate having a cavity; sealing a package over the cavity of the substrate; and forming an encapsulant over the package and a portion of the substrate substantially preventing the encapsulant from forming in the cavity. |
| US08258612B2 |
Encapsulant interposer system with integrated passive devices and manufacturing method therefor
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package system includes: forming a leadframe having a passive device; encapsulating the passive device to form an encapsulant interposer; attaching a first die to the encapsulant interposer; forming a substrate interposer having a second die; and stacking the encapsulant interposer over the substrate interposer. |
| US08258608B2 |
Lead frame and intermediate product of semiconductor device
In a lead frame used for manufacturing a semiconductor device by forming a circuit pattern group including unit lead frames having plural upper side terminal parts in the periphery of a semiconductor element mounting region in one line or plural lines and an outer frame surrounding the circuit pattern group in a state of having a gap in a lead frame material and then mounting a semiconductor element every the unit lead frame and carrying out necessary wiring and enclosing the entire surface of the circuit pattern group in which the semiconductor element is mounted and a part of the outer frame with a resin from an upper surface side and further etching from a lower surface side and forming lower side terminal parts joined to the upper side terminal parts of the circuit pattern group, the circuit pattern group and the outer frame are had and the inner edge of the outer frame is formed in an uneven portion in plan view and bonding between the resin and the outer frame is enhanced. |
| US08258605B2 |
Semiconductor device
Disclosed is a semiconductor device which includes a semiconductor chip and a base substrate. The semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate, an interconnect layer and a high-frequency interconnect. The interconnect layer is provided on the substrate. The high-frequency interconnect is formed within the interconnect layer. The semiconductor chip is mounted onto the base substrate. An electromagnetic shield layer is provided between the high-frequency interconnect and the interconnect. |
| US08258603B2 |
Solid-state high-luminance far ultraviolet light emitting element including highly pure hexagonal boron nitride single crystal
A solid-state far ultraviolet light emitting element is formed by a hexagonal boron nitride single crystal, excited by electron beam irradiation to emit far ultraviolet light having a maximum light emission peak in a far ultraviolet region at a wavelength of 235 nm or shorter. |
| US08258600B2 |
Capacitor element and semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a capacitor element including a first comb-shaped interconnection formed over a substrate and including a first comb tooth, a second comb-shaped interconnection formed over the substrate and including a second comb tooth opposed to the first comb tooth, and a first electrode and a second electrode opposed to each other with opposed surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode intersecting a longitudinal direction of the first comb tooth and the second comb tooth, a first dielectric layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode being connected to the first comb tooth, and the second electrode being connected to the second comb tooth. |
| US08258598B2 |
E-fuse and associated control circuit
An e-fuse and an e-fuse control circuit are provided. The e-fuse includes a polysilicon layer and a metal silicide layer stacked on the polysilicon layer. The e-fuse operates in an open state when the silicide layer is broken by burning while one portion of the polysilicon layer is exposed. |
| US08258597B2 |
Pyroelectric detector, pyroelectric detection device, and electronic instrument
A pyroelectric detector includes a support member, a capacitor and a fixing part. The support member includes a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, with the first side facing a cavity. The capacitor includes a pyroelectric body between a first electrode and a second electrode such that an amount of polarization varies based on a temperature. The capacitor is mounted and supported on the second side of the support member with the first electrode being disposed on the second side of the support member. A thermal conductance of the first electrode is less than a thermal conductance of the second electrode. The fixing part supports the support member. |
| US08258594B2 |
Avalanche photodiode
The invention relates to an avalanche photodiode (1) for detecting radiation, including a semiconductor substrate (11), an upper diode layer (15), an oppositely doped, laterally delimited lower diode layer (16), an avalanche region situated between the upper diode layer (15) and the lower diode layer (16), wherein the radiation to be detected triggers an avalanche breakdown in the avalanche region, and also including a contact-making layer (12) at the underside (10) of the semiconductor substrate (11), a laterally delimited quenching resistance layer (18) arranged in the semiconductor substrate (11) between the lower diode layer (16) and the contact-making layer (12), wherein the quenching resistance layer (18) quenches the radiation-generated avalanche breakdown in the avalanche region, and also including a depletion electrode (15) arranged laterally alongside the laterally delimited lower diode layer (16), such that the depletion electrode (15) depletes the semiconductor substrate (11) laterally alongside the laterally delimited lower diode layer (16), while the quenching resistance layer (18) is screened from the depletion electrode (15) by the lower diode layer (16) and is therefore not depleted. |
| US08258592B2 |
Semiconductor device including a magnetic tunnel junction device including a laminated structure and manufacturing method therefor
A semiconductor device having a MTJ device excellent in operating characteristics and a manufacturing method therefor are provided. The MTJ device is formed of a laminated structure which is obtained by laminating a lower magnetic film, a tunnel insulating film, and an upper magnetic film in this order. The lower and upper magnetic films contain noncrystalline or microcrystalline ferrocobalt boron (CoFeB) as a constituent material. The tunnel insulating film contains aluminum oxide (AlOx) as a constituent material. A CAP layer is formed over the upper magnetic film and a hard mask is formed over the CAP layer. The CAP layer contains a substance of crystalline ruthenium (Ru) as a constituent material and the hard mask contains a substance of crystalline tantalum (Ta) as a constituent material. The film thickness of the hard mask is larger than that of the CAP layer. |
| US08258589B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a gate stack structure. The gate stack structure includes an interfacial layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, a high-k dielectric formed on the interfacial layer, a silicide gate including a diffusive material and an impurity metal, and formed over the high-k dielectric, and a barrier metal with a barrier effect to the diffusive material, and formed between the high-k dielectric and the metal gate. The impurity metal has a barrier effect to the diffusive material so that the diffusive material in the silicide gate can be prevented from being introduced into the high-k dielectric. |
| US08258588B2 |
Sealing layer of a field effect transistor
An exemplary structure for a gate structure of a field effect transistor comprises a gate electrode; a gate insulator under the gate electrode having footing regions on opposing sides of the gate electrode; and a sealing layer on sidewalls of the gate structure, wherein a thickness of lower portion of the sealing layer overlying the footing regions is less than a thickness of upper portion of the sealing layer on sidewalls of the gate electrode, whereby the field effect transistor made has almost no recess in the substrate surface. |
| US08258587B2 |
Transistor performance with metal gate
The present disclosure provides a method for making a semiconductor device having metal gate stacks. The method includes forming a high k dielectric material layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a metal gate layer on the high k dielectric material layer; forming a top gate layer on the metal gate layer; patterning the top gate layer, the metal gate layer and the high k dielectric material layer to form a gate stack; performing an etching process to selectively recess the metal gate layer; and forming a gate spacer on sidewalls of the gate stack. |
| US08258585B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a fin-type semiconductor region (13) formed on a substrate (11); a gate insulating film (14) formed so as to cover an upper surface and both side surfaces of a predetermined portion of the fin-type semiconductor region (13); a gate electrode (15) formed on the gate insulating film (14); and an impurity region (17) formed on both sides of the gate electrode (15) in the fin-type semiconductor region (13). An impurity blocking portion (15a) for blocking the introduction of impurities is provided adjacent both sides of the gate electrode (15) over an upper surface of the fin-type semiconductor region (13). |
| US08258583B1 |
Conductive channel pseudo block process and circuit to inhibit reverse engineering
A technique for and structures for camouflaging an integrated circuit structure. The integrated circuit structure is formed by a plurality of layers of material having a controlled outline. A layer of conductive material having a controlled outline is disposed among said plurality of layers to provide artifact edges of the conductive material that resemble one type of transistor (operable vs. non-operable), when in fact another type of transistor was used. |
| US08258581B2 |
Integrated circuit including cross-coupled transistors with two transistors of different type formed by same gate level structure and two transistors of different type formed by separate gate level structures
A semiconductor device includes first and second p-type diffusion regions, and first and second n-type diffusion regions that are each electrically connected to a common node. Each of a number of conductive features within a gate electrode level region is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature having a centerline aligned parallel to a first direction. The conductive features respectively form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices are electrically connected. However, the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices are physically separate within the gate electrode level region. The gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices are electrically connected. However, the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices are physically separate within the gate electrode level region. |
| US08258576B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including epitaxially growing semiconductor epitaxial layers on a surface of semiconductor substrate
A semiconductor device has a first MOS transistor formed on first active region of the first conductivity type, having first gate electrode structure, first source/drain regions, recesses formed in the first source/drain regions, and semiconductor buried regions buried and grown on the recesses for applying stress to the channel under the first gate electrode structure, and a second MOS transistor formed on second active region of the second conductivity type, having second gate electrode structure, second source/drain regions, and semiconductor epitaxial layers formed on the second source/drain regions without forming recesses and preferably applying stress to the channel under the second gate electrode structure. In a CMOS device, performance can be improved by utilizing stress and manufacture processes can be simplified. |
| US08258572B2 |
SRAM structure with FinFETs having multiple fins
A static random access memory (SRAM) cell includes a straight fin and a bended fin physically disconnected from the straight fin. The bended fin has a first portion and a second portion parallel to the straight fin. The distance between the first portion of the bended fin and the straight fin is smaller than the distance between the second portion of the bended fin and the straight fin. The SRAM cell includes a pull-down transistor including a portion of a first gate strip, which forms a first and a second sub pull-down transistor with the straight fin and the first portion of the bended fin, respectively. The SRAM cell further includes a pass-gate transistor including a portion of a second gate strip, which forms a first sub pass-gate transistor with the straight fin. The pull-down transistor includes more fins than the pass-gate transistor. |
| US08258564B2 |
Integrated circuit with floating-gate electrodes including a transition metal and corresponding manufacturing method
An integrated circuit is described. The integrated circuit may comprise a multitude of floating-gate electrodes, wherein at least one of the floating-gate electrodes has a lower width and an upper width, the lower width being larger than the upper width, and wherein the at least one of the floating-gate electrodes comprises a transition metal. A corresponding manufacturing method for an integrated circuit is also described. |
| US08258563B2 |
Multi-layer memory devices
A nonvolatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first well region of a first conductivity type, and at least one semiconductor layer formed on the semiconductor substrate. A first cell array is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a second cell array formed on the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer includes a second well region of the first conductivity type having a doping concentration greater than a doping concentration of the first well region of the first conductivity type. As the doping concentration of the second well region is increased, a resistance difference may be reduced between the first and second well regions. |
| US08258562B2 |
Semiconductor device having tri-gate structure and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device of an example of the invention comprises a memory cell and a select gate transistor provided for the memory cell. A gate electrode of the select gate transistor has a Tri-gate structure in which an upper surface of a gate insulating film formed above a channel of the select gate transistor is set higher than a portion of an upper surface of an element isolation region of the select gate transistor. |
| US08258561B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
In connection with a semiconductor device including a capacitor element there is provided a technique capable of improving the reliability of the capacitor element. A capacitor element is formed in an element isolation region formed over a semiconductor substrate. The capacitor element includes a lower electrode and an upper electrode formed over the lower electrode through a capacitor insulating film. Basically, the lower electrode and the upper electrode are formed from polysilicon films and a cobalt silicide film formed over the surfaces of the polysilicon films. End portions of the cobalt silicide film formed over the upper electrode are spaced apart a distance from end portions of the upper electrode. Besides, end portions of the cobalt silicide film formed over the lower electrode are spaced apart a distance from boundaries between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. |
| US08258560B1 |
Image sensors with stacked photo-diodes
This describes color filter arrangements for image sensor arrays that are formed using image sensor pixels with stacked photo-diodes. The stacked photo-diodes may include first and second photo-diodes and may have the ability to separate color signal according to the depth of carrier generation in a silicon substrate. A single color filter may be formed over the stacked photo-diodes to provide full red-green-blue sensing capability. Charge drain regions may also be formed at different depths in the silicon substrate. If the charge drain regions are formed beneath the stacked photo-diodes in the substrate, full red-green-blue color sensing may be achieved without the use of color filters. |
| US08258553B2 |
Standard cell, semiconductor device having standard cells, and method for laying out and wiring the standard cell
The chip area of a semiconductor device having a plurality of standard cells is to be made smaller. A semiconductor device includes first and second standard cells. The first standard cell includes a diffusion region, a functional device region opposed to the diffusion region, and a metal layer. The second standard cell includes another diffusion region continuous with the diffusion region, another functional device region opposed to the other diffusion region, and further another diffusion region formed between the other diffusion region and the other functional device region. The metal layer and the other functional device region are coupled together electrically through the diffusion regions. |
| US08258547B2 |
Semiconductor device with linearly restricted gate level region including two transistors of first type and two transistors of second type with offset gate contacts
A restricted layout region includes a diffusion level layout including a number of diffusion region layout shapes that define at least one p-type diffusion region and at least one n-type diffusion region separated by a central inactive region. A gate electrode level layout is defined above the diffusion level layout to include linear-shaped layout features placed to extend in only a first parallel direction. Adjacent linear-shaped layout features that share a common line of extent in the first parallel direction are separated from each other by an end-to-end spacing that is substantially equal across the gate electrode level layout and that is minimized to an extent allowed by a semiconductor device manufacturing capability. A number of PMOS transistor devices is equal to a number of NMOS transistor devices in the restricted layout region. The restricted layout region corresponds to an entire gate electrode level of a cell layout. |
| US08258542B2 |
Semiconductor devices and semiconductor apparatuses including the same
Semiconductor devices and semiconductor apparatuses including the same are provided. The semiconductor devices include a body region disposed on a semiconductor substrate, gate patterns disposed on the semiconductor substrate and on opposing sides of the body region, and first and second impurity doped regions disposed on an upper surface of the body region. The gate patterns may be separated from the first and second impurity doped regions by, or greater than, a desired distance, such that the gate patterns do not to overlap the first and second impurity doped regions in a direction perpendicular to the first and second impurity doped regions. |
| US08258541B2 |
Gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device
A gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device including a positive electrode having openings, which is excellent in light extraction efficiency. The gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device includes a substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer, the layers being formed of a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor and being stacked in this order on the substrate; a positive electrode which is provided so as to contact the p-type semiconductor layer; and a negative electrode which is provided so as to contact the n-type semiconductor layer, where the positive electrode is a positive electrode having openings, and at least a portion of the surface of the p-type semiconductor layer corresponding to the openings are roughened surface derived from spherical particulates. |
| US08258540B2 |
LED package
An LED package includes a base, an LED chip and an encapsulation. The LED chip is mounted on the base. The encapsulation encapsulates the LED chip. A heat dissipating plate is sandwiched between the LED chip and the base. The heat dissipating plate includes a first surface and a second surface. The LED chip is mounted on the first surface of the heat dissipating plate and has an interface engaging with the first surface of the heat dissipating plate. The first surface of the heat dissipating plate has an area greater than that of the interface. The second surface of the heat dissipating plate is attached to the base. |
| US08258539B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device
The invention relates to a high-output nitride light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a first conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer deposited in their order on a substrate. The light emitting device also includes first and second insulation layers formed in different upper surface portions of the nitride semiconductor light emitting device, and first and second bonding pads formed respectively on the first and second insulation layers. The light emitting device further includes first and second extension electrodes extended from the first and second bonding pads and coupled respectively to the first and second conductivity semiconductor layers. The electrode arrangement according to the present invention prevents direct coupling between the bonding pads and the light emitting device, thus allowing a symmetrical structure that can achieve more uniform current spreading using only the extension electrodes. |
| US08258534B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes an active layer; at least a portion of the active layer constitutes a gain region. The gain region is continuous from a first end surface and a second end surface. The gain region includes a first portion extending from the first end surface to a first reflective surface in a direction tilted with respect to a normal to the first side surface as viewed two-dimensionally; a second portion extending from the second end surface to the second reflective surface in a direction tilted with respect to a normal to the first side surface as viewed two-dimensionally; and a third portion extending from the first reflective surface to the second reflective surface in a direction tilted with respect to a normal to the first reflective surface as viewed two-dimensionally. |
| US08258533B2 |
Light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
Disclosed are a light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same. The light emitting device includes a substrate; first and second light emitting cells, each including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer; and a connector located between the first and second light emitting cells and the substrate, to electrically connect the first and second light emitting cells to each other. The connector extends from the second semiconductor layer of the first light emitting cell, across the substrate, and through central regions of the second semiconductor layer and active layer of the second light emitting cells, to contact the first semiconductor layer of the second light emitting cell. |
| US08258530B2 |
Light-emitting devices and methods of fabricating the same
A light-emitting device includes: a substrate; a light-emitting element is mounted on a first surface of the substrate; at least one uneven heat dissipation pattern is formed on at least one surface of the substrate; and an electrode covers at least a portion of the at least one uneven heat dissipation pattern and is connected to the light-emitting element. |
| US08258527B2 |
Lighting device and semiconductor light source device
A small-sized lighting device can achieve wider light distribution patterns. The lighting device can include a semiconductor light emitting element configured to emit light from a first face and a second face thereof. A mounting substrate can be provided on which the semiconductor light emitting element is mounted. Light emitted from the second face can transmit through the mounting substrate, and a first optical system can be provided and configured to impart a first light distribution pattern to the light emitted from the first face of the semiconductor light emitting element. A second optical system can be provided and configured to impart a second light distribution pattern to light emitted from the second face of the semiconductor light emitting element. |
| US08258524B2 |
Light emitting diode device
A light emitting diode device which includes at least one light emitting diode, a heat-sink chassis having a surface upon which the at least one light emitting diode is mounted, and a waveguide having one end coupled to the at least one light emitting diode for receiving light therefrom. The waveguide has another end which includes a light extraction and redistribution region, and the waveguide is configured to guide light received from the at least one light emitting diode away from the heat-sink chassis and towards the light extraction and redistribution region. The light extraction and redistribution region is configured to extract and redistribute the light from the waveguide. |
| US08258522B2 |
Light-emitting diode apparatus
An LED apparatus includes a base having thermal conductivity, an insulative substrate provided on one surface of the base and including electrodes provided on a surface of the substrate, at least one base-mounting area that is an exposed part of the base, exposed within a pass-through hole provided in the substrate, a plurality of LED elements mounted on the base in the base-mounting area and some of the LED elements in a unit electrically connected to the electrodes in series, a plurality of the units are electrically connected in parallel, and a frame disposed to surround the base-mounting area and configured to form a light-emitting area. |
| US08258519B2 |
Light emitting diode device having uniform current distribution
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a novel semiconductor. In one aspect, the semiconductor may include a transparent layer having a first surface, a first doped layer, a second doped layer, and an active layer. The first doped layer may be formed over the first surface of the transparent layer and have a plurality of first-type electrodes formed thereon. The second doped layer may be formed over the first surface of the transparent layer and have a plurality of second-type electrodes formed thereon. The active layer may be formed between the first doped layer and the second doped layer. A distance between at least one of the first-type electrodes and a nearest other one of the first-type electrodes may be greater than each of respective distances between the at least one of the first-type electrodes and more than two of the second-type electrodes. |
| US08258517B2 |
Semiconductor device having driving transistors
One embodiment exemplarily described herein can be generally characterized as a semiconductor device that includes a lower level device layer located over a semiconductor substrate, an interlayer insulating film located over the lower level device layer and an upper level device layer located over the interlayer insulating film. The lower level device layer may include a plurality of devices formed in the substrate. The upper level device layer may include a plurality of semiconductor patterns and at least one device formed in each of the plurality of semiconductor patterns. The plurality of semiconductor patterns may be electrically isolated from each other. Each of the plurality of semiconductor patterns may include at least one active portion and at least one body contact portion electrically connected to the at least one active portion. |
| US08258514B2 |
Semiconductor device and display apparatus using the semiconductor device
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device which employs a thin-film transistor. In addition, the semiconductor device has a gate electrode, a gate insulation film, an organic semiconductor layer, a structure, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an electrode material layer. |
| US08258505B2 |
Organic electroluminescence display apparatus and manufacturing method therefor
Provided is a manufacturing method for an organic electroluminescence display apparatus in which processing uniformity is kept during partial removal processing of an electrode layer or an organic compound layer. The organic electroluminescence display apparatus includes: a substrate; and a light-emitting device including an organic compound layer including an emission layer sandwiched between electrodes formed on the substrate, in which: two or more of the light-emitting devices are provided, and the light-emitting devices are stacked in a direction perpendicular to the substrate; at least one of the electrodes and the organic compound layers in the two or more light-emitting devices includes openings; and the openings are positioned so as not to overlap with one another in the direction perpendicular to the substrate. |
| US08258487B1 |
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. |
| US08258480B2 |
High energy photon detection using pulse width modulation
Methods and systems for processing an analog signal that is generated by a high energy photon detector in response to a high energy photon interaction. A digital edge is generated representing the time of the interaction along a first path, and the energy of the interaction is encoded as a delay from the digital edge along a second path. The generated digital edge and the delay encode the time and energy of the analog signal using pulse width modulation. |
| US08258477B2 |
Inspection apparatus and inspection method
An inspection apparatus for inspecting a subject (sample) (for example, performing identification or imaging of the subject) using an expansion coefficient with a relatively small amount of data. The inspection apparatus includes a transforming unit that performs a wavelet transform on a terahertz time waveform obtained using a terahertz wave detected by a detecting unit. In addition, the inspection apparatus includes a selecting unit that selects, from a first expansion coefficient in the wavelet transform, a second expansion coefficient stored in advance and included in the first expansion coefficient. Furthermore, the inspection apparatus includes a comparing unit for comparing a first value of the second expansion coefficient with a second value of the second expansion coefficient selected by the selecting unit. |