| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08300769B2 |
Microminiature X-ray tube with triode structure using a nano emitter
A microminiature X-ray tube with a triode structure using a nano emitter is provided, which can increase a field emission region as much as possible by means of nano emitters fine-patterned in a cathode to not only increase an emission current per unit area as much as possible but secure high electrical characteristics, reliability, and structural stability by means of a cover and a bonding material. In addition, gate holes having a macro structure can be formed in the gate to promote electron beam focusing by means of the gate without using a separate focusing electrode and to prevent a leakage current from occurring on the gate. Further, an auxiliary electrode can be formed on a top or an inner surface of a cover applied for structural stability to further promote the electron beam focusing and to control the output amounts per individual X-ray tubes output. |
| US08300768B2 |
X-ray tube and X-ray CT apparatus
An X-ray tube includes: a Wehnelt electrode having a dent inside; a filament arranged in the dent of the Wehnelt electrode and configured to emit an electron beam when electricity is passed therethrough; an anode configured to emit an X-ray in response to the incident electron beam; an electrode part configured by at least one pair of electrode members, the electrode members facing each other across a path of the electron beam, a voltage being applied to each of the electrode members; a voltage controller configured to control the voltage applied to the electrode part; and a shield member arranged in contact with the Wehnelt electrode and configured to cover part of the dent by a projecting part. |
| US08300766B2 |
Radio tomography imaging method
A radio tomography imaging method includes calculating a conversion function based on transmission images picked up by using radiation emitted from first and second radiation sources. A position of the second radiation source when the radiation has been emitted coincides with a position of the first radiation source when the radiation has been emitted, and one of the first and second radiation sources emits the radiation when the other emits the radiation, picking up a plurality of first reconfiguration transmission images and a plurality of second reconfiguration transmission images by using a plurality of first reconfiguration radiations and a plurality of second reconfiguration radiations simultaneously emitted from the first radiation source and the second radiation source. The plurality of first and second reconfiguration transmission images are then corrected based on the conversion function. The plurality of corrected transmission images are reconfigured into three-dimensional data. |
| US08300764B2 |
Method and device for detecting placement error of an imaging plane of a radiographic image detector, as well as method and device for correcting images
For a radiographic image detector which includes an imaging plane including two-dimensional matrix of pixel sections, each pixel section storing, when exposed to radiation, a charge according to amount of the radiation, and which is used to be exposed to radiation transmitted through the same subject each time the detector is shifted along a predetermined axis of shift, an inclination of the two-dimensional matrix relative to the axis of shift of the radiographic image detector is detected. The inclination is detected by applying radiation two times to the detector at different radiation application positions effected by the shift of the detector so that a common marker is imaged during each radiation application; carrying out a reading operation after each radiation application to acquire image data representing image information of the marker; and detecting the inclination based on a positional relationship between marker images represented by the image data. |
| US08300762B2 |
X-ray CT imaging apparatus
In an X-ray CT imaging, an X-ray generator (11) and a two-dimensional X-ray detector (21) are opposed to each other between an object and are rotated by a rotary shaft (32) around the object. At least one of the rotary shaft supporter (61) and an object holder (40) includes a movement mechanism (42, 65) for moving a supporter (30) for the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector relative to the object. In offset scan CT imaging, the rotation of the supporter by the rotary shaft is performed simultaneously with the relative two-dimensional movement of the rotary shaft by the movement mechanism. In the relative two-dimensional movement, the position of the rotary shaft is moved according to the rotary angle of the supporter along a circular orbit around the center of a CT imaging region in a plane crossing the rotary shaft. Thus, it becomes possible to image a larger region of interest of the object. |
| US08300757B2 |
Methods for detection of failure and recovery in a radio link
A method, telecommunication apparatus, and electronic device for detecting a status of a radio link are disclosed. A transceiver 302 may maintain a radio link with a network base station 104. A processor 304 may map channel state information to a synchronization status associated with the radio link based on the received signal and determine the synchronization status via a block error rate estimate in the radio link based on the channel state information. |
| US08300756B2 |
Intermittent operative communication apparatus adaptively controlling the timing of waiting data reception and a method therefor
An intermittent operative communication apparatus can send data, received from a source communication device, to any receiver communication device at a predetermined interval and wait for receiving data at the predetermined interval. The communication apparatus has a selector for selecting one or multiple receiver communication devices as a reference communication device that gives a reference timing at which the communication apparatus waits for receiving data, and a timing controller for setting a timing, at which the communication apparatus waits for receiving data, to a timing according to operation of any reference communication device. |
| US08300754B2 |
Clock and data recovery with a data aligner
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving first and second input streams comprising first and second input data bits, respectively. The method includes generating first and second recovered clocks based on the first and second input streams, respectively. The method includes retiming and demultiplexing the first and second input data bits to generate n first recovered streams and n second recovered streams, respectively, each comprising first and second recovered data bits, respectively. The method further includes determining a phase difference between the first and second recovered clocks; aligning the first recovered data bits with the second recovered data bits based at least in part on a value of n and the phase difference; combining the first and second recovered data bits to generate an output stream; and retiming the first and second recovered data bits in the output stream based on either the first or second recovered clock. |
| US08300752B2 |
Method, circuit, and design structure for capturing data across a pseudo-synchronous interface
A structure for performing cross-chip communication with mesochronous clocks. The structure includes: a data delay line; a remote clock delay line; a structure that captures at least one value of a state of a delayed remote clock signal on the remote clock delay line; and a control that influences a delay associated with the data delay line and the remote clock delay line. |
| US08300744B2 |
Apparatus for rejecting image in receiver
The present invention relates to an apparatus for rejecting images in a receiver.The apparatus of the present invention relates to an apparatus for rejecting image signals in a receiver of a direct conversion structure and comprises a signal mismatch compensation unit configured to detect gain error and phase error between an In-phase (I) signal and a Quadrature (Q) signal received through the receiver, to reject image signals existing in the I and Q signals, and to output a result. The signal mismatch compensation unit detects the gain error and the phase error using an adaptive step method of reducing the step size of the gain error and the phase error step by step whenever the gain error and the phase error are converged.According to the present invention, high image rejection ratio is achieved and the adaptation time taken to obtain a high image rejection ratio is reduced simultaneously. Further, a bad influence of the DC offset on the image rejection ratio can be prevented by removing DC offset signals in a digital structure, accordingly, error can be accurately estimated. |
| US08300742B1 |
Systems and methods for channel based beamforming for stacked carrier multiple access
Methods and systems that enhance interference cancellation are described. Samples are obtained from stacked carriers in a received signal and a data vector is created from the samples. Stacked carriers are selected using a steering vector received during synchronization of the receiver. The steering vector is calculated to obtain cancellation of interference from another receiver and is calculated based on time domain channel estimation. Specialized time domain training sequences and simple cross correlation are used to obtain a channel estimate for use in stacked carrier beamforming and/or for use in OFDM based spatial beamforming. State space or filter based modeled interpolators in the frequency domain or time domain to interpolation of the channels, or whitening matrix-filters over time or frequency are used for maintaining linear beamforming weights as a function of time or frequency. Space time adaptive processing facilitates beamforming of communications signals OFDM and 802.16 (WiMax) systems. |
| US08300741B2 |
Interference detector and method thereof
An interference detector receives a data stream including predetermined symbols that include a first data and a second data, between which is a frequency offset. The interference detector includes a correlation apparatus that generates a first correlation result and a second correlation result according to the data stream; a power searching unit, coupled to the correlation apparatus, that generates a first maximum correlation result and a first neighboring power according to the first correlation result, and generates a second maximum correlation result and a second neighboring power according to the second correlation result; and a determining unit, coupled to the power searching unit, that generates a determination result according to the first maximum correlation result, the first neighboring power, the second maximum correlation result and the second neighboring power to indicate existence of interferences. |
| US08300739B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating soft bit values in reduced-state equalizers
A demodulator is provided that functions as a reduced-state equalizer and produces reliable soft bit values. According to an embodiment, soft bit values are generated for a sequence of transmitted symbols using a demodulator by updating an M-state trellis managed by the demodulator responsive to a transition from symbol time n−1 to symbol time n, where M is a function of the number of bits per symbol in the sequence of transmitted symbols. Survivor metrics associated with the M states of the trellis are saved each symbol time so that the demodulator can calculate soft bit values with regard to transitions from symbol time n+D−1 to symbol time n+D. The survivor metrics indicate the probability that each respective state represents the transmitted symbol associated with symbol time n+D−1. The trellis is traced back through to calculate soft bit values for a symbol detected at symbol time n−D based on survivor metrics saved for the M states at symbol time n−D. |
| US08300738B2 |
Power-saving method for Viterbi decoder and bit processing circuit of wireless receiver
A power-saving method for Viterbi decoder and bit processing circuit of wireless receiver is provided. In response to various computational load of bit processing circuit and/or Viterbi decoder of a wireless receiver, the method is used for adjusting duty cycle of the bit processing circuit and/or the Viterbi decoder so as to save power in addition, in response to various data rates of the wireless receiver, the Viterbi decoder and the bit processing circuit are provided with power based on various duty cycles of related time pulse signals, thereby preventing the Viterbi decoder and/or the bit processing circuit from consuming power while being idle (during time segments of idle operation), so as to reduce power consumption. |
| US08300732B1 |
DC offset removal using digital feedback
Apparatus and methods for removing dc offsets in feedback loops such as may be used in communication circuits are disclosed. A comparator may be used to sample the output of the feedback loop, with the comparator output applied to a DSP module. The DSP module is configured to determine a dc offset in the output signal and generate an offset correction signal, which may then be applied to the input of the feedback loop to adjust the de offset. |
| US08300731B2 |
Methods and systems to digitally switch between frequencies and corresponding bandwidths in a transceiver
Methods and systems to maintain a tuner at a fixed frequency and to switch between frequencies and bandwidths in a digital domain. IQ imbalance equalization coefficients may be determined with respect to a frequency and bandwidth of a first signal, and the coefficients may be applied to baseband data associated with one or more other frequencies and/or bandwidths. Methods and systems disclosed herein may be applied in a multi-mode Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) environment, such as to digitally switch between a MoCA 2 standard and a MoCA 1.x standard. |
| US08300729B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing high-frequency events in polar domain signals
Methods and apparatus for reducing high-frequency events in polar domain signals. An exemplary method includes first generating an unmodified rectangular-coordinate signal having in-phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) components that are modulated according to a predetermined modulation scheme. Next a first sample of the unmodified rectangular-coordinate signal is modified based on how close the first sample is to the origin in the complex signal plane and how fast a signal trajectory between the first sample and a subsequent sample changes. Finally, the modified rectangular-coordinate signal is converted to a polar domain signal having amplitude and phase components. By modifying the first sample in this manner, either or both the amplitude and phase components have reduced high-frequency content compared to a polar domain signal that would be generated without the first sample having been first modified. |
| US08300727B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting pre-coding vectors
A method for selecting pre-coding vectors in a base station of a multi-user MIMO system, comprising: transmitting a plurality of pilot signals without being precoded to the plurality of terminals; receiving a plurality of feedback signals from the terminals, wherein at least one feedback signal includes a plurality of recommended pre-coding vector information and a plurality of channel status information, and each of the channel status information corresponds to a recommended pre-coding vector information; generate a pre-coding codebook based on the plurality feedback signals, wherein at least one pre-coding vector in the pre-coding codebook is determined based on a correlation coefficient between at least two recommended pre-coding vectors; and performing a transmission operation using the pre-coding codebook. |
| US08300723B2 |
Channel quantization for multiuser diversity
A method and system for channel quantization for multiuser diversity are provided. A quantizer may utilize quantization levels determined based on an objective function J that corresponds to a performance metric for a finite-rate feedback multiuser downlink communication system. The quantization levels may be obtained based on the results of maximizing the objective function J by means of an optimization algorithm. The optimization algorithm may be a multivariate optimization algorithm that may be implemented utilizing an iterative approach. The quantizer may utilize the quantization levels to quantize channel state information (CSI) to achieve multiuser diversity in the finite-rate feedback multiuser system. The performance metric may be based on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), bit error rate (BER), and/or system capacity. The quantization levels may be utilized in a multiuser system where distributed quantization is needed for optimal selection. |
| US08300720B1 |
Methods and systems for diversity combining of synchronization statistics in OFDM systems
Various embodiments of the systems and methods described herein may be used to compute a minimum variance unbiased estimator by receiving a first OFDM signal at a pilot tone, receiving a second OFDM signal sent in the same frequency band and determining a differential phase metric between the first OFDM signal and the second OFDM signal. In some embodiments, the differential phase metric may be used to diversity combine synchronization statistics. In various embodiments, the differential phase metric may be used to detect a narrow-band interference. |
| US08300714B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing peak to average power ratio in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system
A method for reducing a Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) using reserved tones in a transmission apparatus of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication system is provided. The method includes detecting a subcarrier spacing interval and the number of spaced symbols based on a predetermined pilot pattern upon signal reception, and determining positions of shifted reserved tones obtained by shifting positions of reserved tones allocated to a predetermined symbol during the number of the spaced symbols at intervals of the spacing interval; determining an impulse waveform obtained by rotating a phase of a complex value of an impulse stored in a memory, using the determined positions of frequency-domain reserved tones of each symbol; calculating a subtrahend for a PAPR of an output signal using the phase-rotated impulse waveform; and reducing a PAPR of an input signal by performing a gradient algorithm using the phase-rotated impulse waveform. |
| US08300711B2 |
Adaptive differential pulse code modulation/demodulation system and method
An adaptive differential pulse-code modulation-demodulation system and method thereof is provided. The method includes steps of modulating an analog audio input signal into a data packet, including a plurality of digital data through adaptive differential pulse-code modulation, an initial value and a scale factor associated with the digital data, to be sent to the communication network, and demodulating the data packet according to the digital data, the initial value and the scale factor, thereby reconstructing the data packet to an analog audio output signal. |
| US08300709B2 |
Method of processing video data and wireless communication apparatus
A method of processing video data includes allowing a counter to start counting, receiving the video data to which a timestamp is applied, checking the amount of video data in a buffer memory, comparing the timestamp with a count if the amount of video data in the buffer memory is smaller than a predetermined threshold, and discarding the video data if the timestamp is smaller than the count and accumulating the video data in the buffer memory if the timestamp is greater than the count. The counter uses a value corresponding to a time earlier than the timestamp by a delay time when the video data is initially received. |
| US08300706B2 |
Apparatus for encoding and decoding header data in picture signal transmission
A picture decoding method and apparatus for encoding a video signal. The method includes performing an encoding process on the video signal to generate a bit stream compatible with MPEG 1 moving picture video standard. The method further includes controlling the encoding process so as to generate the bit stream which includes, a picture start code indicating a start point of a picture layer in a previous picture header, an extension start code indicating the beginning of extension data added when a picture header includes control data that is newly added in MPEG 2 standard format in the previous header, the extension data in the previous header, and the picture start code in a current picture header, and does not include the extension start code in the current picture header and the extension data in the current picture header. |
| US08300705B2 |
Method for generating and processing hierarchical PES packet for digital satellite broadcasting based on SVC video
A method for generating and processing a hierarchical packetized elementary stream (PES) packet for digital satellite broadcasting based on SVC (Scalable Video Coding) video is disclosed. That is, when SVC video is applied to a digital satellite broadcasting system, a transmitter side can generate a hierarchical PES packet in consideration of a hierarchical structure of SVC video and a receiver side can effectively process a received hierarchical PES packet. |
| US08300704B2 |
Picture processing via a shared decoded picture pool
An information handling system (IHS) may include a processor with multiple compute elements that decode pictures from an encoded video bitstream. Each compute element may perform a different part or sequential stage of a picture decoding process to obtain decoded pictures. A memory includes a decoded picture buffer that associates with a first stage of the sequential stages. The memory may also include respective decoded picture buffer snapshots for sequential stages other than the first sequential stage. A last sequential stage provides fully decoded pictures to a decoded picture pool in memory. The decoded picture buffer and decoded picture buffer snapshots may store pointers to decoded pictures in the decoded picture pool that the sequential stages need to perform decoding of pictures. In this manner, the sequential stages may share decoded pictures that the decoded picture pool stores. |
| US08300702B2 |
Data processing apparatus, data processing method, data processing program, data structure, recording medium, reproducing apparatus, reproducing method, and reproducing program
A data processing apparatus has: a decoding interval detecting unit detecting a second interval according to coding order of frames necessary to decode a first interval which is designated by display order of the frames in video data which has been compression-encoded by using an inter-frame compression according to a predictive coding; and a file forming unit forming a file to store the video data in the second interval detected by the decoding interval detecting unit. The file forming unit adds information showing the first interval by the frame display order to the file. |
| US08300699B2 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for reducing required throughput in an ultra-wideband system
A system, method and computer-readable medium for reducing the required throughput in an ultra-wideband system is provided. A temporal sub-sampling routine limits the number of frames, or portions thereof, to be transmitted to a sink over an RF link. The temporal sub-sampling routine may have a fixed, or static, sub-sampling rate that specifies the rate at which frames are discarded. In accordance with another embodiment, an automatic temporal sub-sampling mechanism is provided. Additionally, a tile copying mechanism may be implemented for reducing the throughput of the RF link. A WDV subsystem may include an interface to an external frame buffer that facilitates the temporal sub-sampling and tile copy routines disclosed herein. |
| US08300696B2 |
Transcoding for systems operating under plural video coding specifications
A system and method that computes a threshold based on an average sum of absolute residual (SAR) values and a standard deviation, each SAR corresponding to the sum of absolute values of the residual signal of a non-intra encoded macroblock in a frame of a first video stream encoded according to a first video specification, decodes the macroblocks of the frame, compares a SAR of one of the macroblocks to the threshold, the one of the macroblocks having a first motion vector; and provides the first motion vector for encoding the one of the macroblocks according to a second video specification if the SAR of the one of the macroblocks is less than the threshold. |
| US08300695B2 |
Image encoding apparatus and image encoding method
Since a global motion vector detector is disposed on the same chip as, for example, an image converter utilizing spatial correlations, a first problem is that an original frame is not completely reproduced in an image, since the frame to be referred to when detecting the global motion vector is an image obtained by inverse-converting a nonreversibly compression-converted image. A second problem is that, upon high-efficient image encoding, the detection process of the global motion vector is performed even when it is not necessary to detect the global motion vector. An image encoding apparatus is equipped with a mechanism for detecting a global motion vector. The mechanism is located outside an image converter that utilizes spatial correlations, such as high-frequency component removal by a DCT and round-down by a quantization, and variable encoding. |
| US08300685B2 |
Non-linear decision feedback equalizer
Embodiments include a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) that includes a first comparator configured to receive as inputs a soft value and a first threshold, a second comparator configured to receive as inputs the soft value and a second threshold, a selector configured to select an output of either the first comparator or the second comparator as a DFE output based on one or more previous bits output by the selector; an error calculator configured to determine an error for the first comparator and the second comparator, and a threshold adjuster configured to adjust the first threshold and the second threshold, the first threshold and the second threshold each being a non-linear combination of one or more previous outputs of the selector. |
| US08300683B1 |
Differential energy difference integrator
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a high-speed differential energy difference integrator (EDI) for adaptive equalizers. In an embodiment, the EDI includes two differential full-wave rectifiers providing differential outputs that are cross-coupled to the inputs of an integration capacitor. In one embodiment, the active areas of the transistors of the differential full-wave rectifiers are substantially the same. |
| US08300679B2 |
Systems and methods for enhancing performance of a low-power transceiver
According to some embodiments, a digital switching distortion canceller may receive Ethernet data along with an Ethernet class AB transceiver switching signal. A combiner may combine the output of the digital switching distortion canceller with a digital high switching distortion signal to generate a corrected output signal. According to other embodiments, a switching-signal-to-voltage-converter receives an Ethernet class AB transceiver switching signal and generates a common-mode compensation voltage adjustment. An analog combiner may combine the common-mode compensation voltage adjustment with a noisy common-mode signal to generate a stabilized common-mode voltage. Note that reduction of switching-related distortion might be achieved in the digital domain, in the analog domain, or in both domains according to the embodiments described herein. |
| US08300678B2 |
Multipath signal determination method, signal suitability determination method, positioning operation method, program, and multipath signal determination circuit
A multipath signal determination method includes carrying out correlation operation between a received signal of a positioning signal spread-modulated with a spread code and a replica signal of the spread code with respect to each of IQ components at a predetermined sampling phase interval, and determining whether the received signal is a multipath signal or not, in accordance with a plot position in the case where each correlation value in each of the sampling phases is sequentially plotted on an IQ coordinate. |
| US08300677B2 |
Signal detecting method and device for multi-codeword MIMO system
A signal detecting method and device for a multi-codeword multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system are provided, which are used in the field of communication and solve the problem that it is complex to implement a signal detecting method in the multi-codeword MIMO system and the error between the signal obtained through detection and the signal actually transmitted from the transmitting end is large. The method includes: converting a received complex number signal into a real number signal; performing channel estimation to obtain a channel matrix; correcting the channel matrix to obtain an equivalent corrected matrix; generating an equivalent detecting signal according to the equivalent corrected matrix and the real number signal obtained through conversion; quantizing the equivalent detecting signal to obtain an equivalent quantized detecting signal; and generating a signal transmitted from a transmitting end according to the equivalent quantized detecting signal. The method and device can be applied in a receiving device of a multi-codeword MIMO system. |
| US08300674B2 |
Method and apparatus for complexity reduction in detection of delay and Doppler shifted signature sequences
A signature sequence is employed in a wireless transmission over a channel and is detected by a receiving station. The signature sequence is selected from a subset of sequences chosen from a set of sequences formed by delay-Doppler shifts of a base sequence. Use of the subset of sequences simplifies detection of the signature sequence by, e.g., facilitating use of a simpler detector structure. A subset of N2 sequences of the specially-constructed delay-Doppler shifted sequence set is selected to facilitate more efficient computation of the detection metric. A simplified detector employs algebraic techniques (such as Discrete Fourier 'Transform (DFT)) that exploit prudent sequence assignment strategy. As an advantageous variation, for a particular class of base sequences that can be represented by segments of equal-length sinusoids, even greater complexity reduction can be achieved by segmenting the delay-Doppler correlation accordingly and reusing past outcome in subsequent overlapping segments. |
| US08300671B2 |
Surface emitting laser
A surface emitting laser includes a cavity region formed on a group-III-V compound substrate, which includes an active layer and a current confinement layer that has an aluminum oxide compound and confines a current path through which a current is injected into the active layer, an upper DBR mirror and a lower DBR mirror formed on the substrate, sandwiching the cavity region, and a graded-composition layer disposed to contact the current confinement layer, which has an aluminum composition ratio decreasing monotonically as a distance from the current confinement layer increases. The graded-composition layer includes a first region that contacts the current confinement layer and an oxidation stop layer that contacts the first region and that has a change rate of the aluminum composition ratio larger than that of the first region. The graded-composition layer is oxidized from an interface with the current confinement layer to at least a portion of the oxidation stop layer. |
| US08300668B2 |
Automatic delay compensated simulcasting system and method
A system and method of synchronizing transmissions in a simulcast system by continuously adjusting the signal transmission delay. Timing information that includes a GPS timestamp is continuously generated at a source site, encoded into a timing packet which along with a content signal can be transported over a network link such as T1/E1 or a packet switched network to multiple transmitter sites. Once received at a transmitter site, the timing packet along with the content signal is delayed by an adjustable delay. The GPS timestamp in the received timing packet is compared to a GPS timestamp that is generated at the transmitter site upon arrival of the timing packet. Based on a variance between that comparison and the value of a user-specified target delay, the delay of the received signal is adjusted to synchronize signal transmissions in the simulcast system. |
| US08300667B2 |
Buffer expansion and contraction over successive intervals for network devices
In one method embodiment, receiving from the network device a multiplex of a compressed video stream and a compressed audio stream, the multiplex comprising a succession of intervals corresponding to a video program corresponding to a first playout rate; and at the start of each interval, replacing the compressed audio stream with a compressed, pitch-preserving audio stream corresponding to a second playout rate different than the first. |
| US08300663B2 |
Dedicated acknowledgement and delivery of management messages in wireless communication systems
Techniques and systems for acknowledging management message reception in a wireless communication system can include operating a first radio station to generate a management message that contains a sequence number unique to the management message and to direct the management message to a second radio station; and operating the second radio station, after receiving the management message from the transmitter, to generate and transmit, before decoding the content of the received the management message, an acknowledgement to the transmitter identifying the received manage message by the sequence number unique to the management message. |
| US08300655B2 |
System and method for dynamic power control for energy efficient physical layer communication devices
A system and method for dynamic power control for energy efficient physical layer communication devices. Energy-efficiency features are continually being developed to conserve energy in links between such energy-efficient devices. These energy-efficient devices interoperate with many legacy devices that have already been deployed. In these links, energy savings can be produced by having a local receiver enter an energy saving state based upon the receipt of standard IDLE signals. |
| US08300652B2 |
Dynamically enabling a secondary channel in a mesh network
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for using a node in a mesh network to perceive a plurality of channels within a mesh network; selecting a first channel from the plurality of channels within the mesh network with the node; remaining on the first channel with the node for a predefined duration; remaining on the first channel beyond the predefined duration in order to receive a message if a signal is detected during the predefine duration; and selecting a second channel with the node once the predefined duration has elapsed without the signal detected. |
| US08300650B2 |
Configuring a three-stage Clos-network packet switch
Examples of are disclosed for configuring one or more routes through a three-stage Clos-network packet switch. |
| US08300647B2 |
Intelligent load balancing and failover of network traffic
A hash engine in a network device driver maintains data on the utilization and error rate for each network interface card (“NIC”) within a local computing device. From this data, the hash engine intelligently selects transmit NICs and receive NICs based on various networking parameters provided from a software driver program. Transmit packets sent from the operating system in a local computing device to a remote computing device are intercepted, modified and redirected to transmit NICs selected by the hash engine for transmission to remote computing devices. Similarly, address resolution protocol (“ARP”) response packets sent by the operating system in response to ARP request packets are intercepted, modified and redirected to receive NICs selected by the hash engine for transmission. By selecting receive NICs and transmit NICs in this fashion, the hash engine is able to intelligently load balance transmit and receive traffic in the local computing device, thereby improving overall network performance relative to prior art techniques. |
| US08300643B2 |
Method and system for providing user configurable differentiated service
An approach is provided for specifying class of service (CoS) information. A wireless device is configured to connect to a wireless access point that communicates with a data network. The wireless device generates a message including a header that specifies class of service information for establishing a communication path over the data network. The class of service information is configurable by a user of the wireless device. |
| US08300637B1 |
Attribute assignment for IP dual stack devices
Methods and computer-readable media are provided to allow for the assignment of domain-name system (DNS) servers, static IP addresses, and dynamic home agents to a device requesting the establishment of an IPv6 data session. DNS servers may be determined for a particular device based on one or more device capabilities, such as the type of device or certain products or services to which the device is subscribed. The device capabilities are determined by querying a customer-profile database that defines certain information about users and devices, such as static IP addresses and device capabilities. The DNS servers are used by a device to translate a host name into a host address, in addition to establishing an IPv6 data session. Once determined, a component, such as an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server may send the attributes to a packet-routing component, which assigns the DNS servers to the device. |
| US08300636B2 |
Method and system of routing media packets in a network device
Systems and methods for routing media packets between a plurality of processors and a digital signal processor (DSP) are disclosed. An exemplary device comprises: an egress processor; an ingress processor; conversion logic; and a DSP configured to transcode a payload in the packet. The ingress processor is configured to change a first layer-2 header of a received media packet to a second layer-2 header. The second layer-2 header includes a DSP address and an egress processor address. The first layer-2 header has a first format and the second layer-2 header having a second different format. The conversion logic is configured to change the second layer-2 header to a third layer-2 header, and to change the third layer-2 header to a fourth layer-2 header including the egress processor address in the first format. The third layer-2 header includes the egress processor address in the first format. |
| US08300628B2 |
Method and system for transmitting supplementary data, and communication terminal
Method for transmitting supplementary data whose content relates to a communication session which has been set up or terminated to a communication terminal, in which a message is generated which contains the supplementary data and which has an identification for the communication session, and the message is transmitted to the communication terminal. |
| US08300623B2 |
Frame synchronization method of OFDM communication system and receiver therefor
Provided are a new frame synchronization method, which is capable of shortening the time necessary for frame synchronization between a receiver and a base station of PHS based on an OFDM communication system, and the receiver therefor.A frame synchronization method of OFDM communication system includes: a symbol synchronization step of obtaining a synchronization timing for each OFDM symbol by executing calculation of correlation in the symbols on the basis of an autocorrelation factor included in each OFDM symbol transmitted from wireless base stations; a unique symbol correlation search stop of obtaining timing of a notification channel by executing calculation of correlation for a unique symbol included in the notification channel; and a notification channel decoding step of executing decoding of the notification channel or a channel synchronized with the notification channel on the basis of timing when a degree of correlation obtained by the unique symbol correlation search is highest. |
| US08300617B2 |
Subscriber station, time division multiplexing system and transmission timing control method suitable for wireless communication in synchronous PtoMP scheme
A transmitter transmits a ranging request message to a BS. A receiver receives response information in response to the ranging request message transmitted by the transmitter. A controller transmits the ranging request message from the transmitter at a transmission timing which has been previously set. Subsequently, if the receiver has not received the response information in response to the ranging request message within a predetermined period, the controller retransmits the ranging request message earlier than the transmission timing which has been previously set. |
| US08300612B2 |
Medium access control method and data transmission method using the same in wireless local area network
Provided are a MAC method and a method for transmitting data using the same in a WLAN. The MAC method includes: transmitting a bandwidth scheduling report frame for informing information on downlinks and uplinks allocated to a terminal by including the bandwidth scheduling report frame in one of the downlinks where the bandwidth scheduling report frame includes a plurality of downlinks, a plurality of uplinks, and a plurality of short uplinks and the number of the plurality of downlinks is equal to the number of the plurality of uplinks; receiving a bandwidth request frame for requesting bandwidth allocation through one of the uplinks; and allocating a bandwidth to each of the terminals by an unit of the downlink and the uplink. |
| US08300602B2 |
Arrangement and method relating to direct tunnelling in connection with handover in a communications network
The present invention relates to a packet data support node (201) with a serving functionality and supporting over at least a first radio access network. It comprises mobility handling means and session handling means. It further comprises detecting means, in communication with said mobility handling means and with said session handling means, which are adapted to detect or establish initiation of a handover of a mobile station from the first or source radio access network. The session handling means are adapted to keep information about support for a direct tunneling functionality between the gateway packet data support node and the first radio access network. The detecting means are adapted to, upon detecting initiation of an HO from a first mode supporting direct tunneling (10) activate initiation of a reset of the direct tunnel and set up of two tunnel tunnels (10A, 10B) replacing said direct tunnel (10), each having a respective end point in the packet data support node. |
| US08300600B2 |
System and method for releasing quality of service resources in mobile communication network
A system and a method for releasing quality of service (QoS) resources in a mobile communication network enable QoS resources allocated to a mobile terminal to be released, if, after the mobile terminal is allocated with resources for QoS through an Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) Revision A (rA) network to receive data serves, the mobile terminal escapes from the EVDO rA network without first performing a resource release request to the EVDO rA network. The system and method may be implemented in the mobile terminal, the access network, the text message server, or any combination thereof, for releasing the allocated QoS resources without requiring the mobile terminal to re-connect to the EVDO rA network. |
| US08300599B2 |
Apparatus, system and method capable of pre-allocating and communicating IP address information during wireless communication
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a wireless station (STA) operable to communicate with a first access point (AP) and roam to a next access point (AP), wherein said next AP pre-caches a number of IP addresses from a backend Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server; and wherein said wireless station (STA) gathers IP layer address and sub-network information from said next Access Point (AP) during roaming. |
| US08300595B2 |
Method for handover procedure of user terminal on radio interfaces, a base station and a network therefor
The invention concerns a method for a handover procedure of a user terminal (UE) on radio interfaces from a source base station (SBS) to a target base station (TBS) whereby the target base station (TBS) sends out user data to the user terminal (UE) before reception of a message indicating the termination of the handover procedure (HO Complete), the user terminal (UE) uses an uplink feedback for sending at least one message (Feedback) associated to the downlink transmission of said user data to the target base station (TBS), and the target base station (TBS) uses said at least one message (Feedback) associated to the downlink transmission of said user data as an indication of the presence of the user terminal (UE) within the range of the target base station (TBS), a base station (BS1-BS8) and a network (CN) therefor. |
| US08300591B1 |
Allocating resources in a frequency-time space to mobile station data
To allocate resources in an orthogonal frequency domain multiple access (OFDMA) system, two-dimensional rectangular regions are assigned in a frequency-time space to data bursts associated with mobile stations. At least one data burst does not fit in an available space in the frequency-time space is determined. In response to the determining, the assigned two-dimensional rectangular regions are reshaped. |
| US08300590B1 |
Intelligent backhaul system
A intelligent backhaul system is disclosed to manage and control multiple intelligent backhaul radios within a geographic zone. The intelligent backhaul system includes multiple intelligent backhaul radios (IBRs) that are able to function in both obstructed and unobstructed line of sight propagation conditions, one or more intelligent backhaul controllers (IBCs) connecting the IBRs with other network elements, and an intelligent backhaul management system (IBMS). The IBMS may include a private and/or public server and/or agents in one or more IBRs or IBCs. |
| US08300585B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting an ACK/NACK signal in a wireless communication system
Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for transmitting ACK/NACK signal in a wireless communication system are described. In some embodiments, a sequence corresponding to one of acknowledge (ACK) information and non-acknowledge (NACK) information may be determined. Then, the sequence may be mapped onto a transmission channel for later transmission from the mobile station to a base station. In some embodiments, the transmission channel may be allocated with at least a part of three feedback mini-tiles (FMTs), wherein each of the FMTs comprises two subcarriers contiguous in frequency domain by six orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols contiguous in time domain and the three FMTs being discontinuous in frequency domain. |
| US08300584B2 |
System and method for cell-edge performance management in wireless systems using distributed scheduling
A method is provided for scheduling transmission resources to a mobile station served by a plurality of base stations. According to the method of the invention, feedback information respecting data received by the mobile station from each of at least two of the plurality of base stations is received by the each of the plurality of base stations. An inference is then drawn at a second of the plurality of base stations of throughput parameters respecting a transmission channel between a first of the plurality of base stations and the mobile station. Transmission resources for the mobile station are then scheduled by the second base station as a function of the inferred throughput parameters. |
| US08300582B2 |
Uplink ACK transmission for SDMA in a wireless communication system
Techniques for transmitting acknowledgement (ACK) information in a wireless communication system are described. The system supports data transmission to multiple user equipments (UEs) on the same downlink resources with spatial division multiple access (SDMA). A base station sends a data transmission with multiple (M) layers to M UEs. The downlink resources used for the data transmission are associated with ACK resources used to send ACK information for the data transmission. The ACK resources may be partitioned into M portions, e.g., based on frequency division multiplexing (FDM). Each of the M layers is associated with a respective portion of the ACK resources. A recipient UE for each layer sends ACK for that layer on the associated portion of the ACK resources. For each ACK resource portion, one or more pilot symbols may be sent on one or more resource elements, and ACK symbols may be sent on remaining resource elements. |
| US08300581B2 |
Other protocol message routing over a wireless network of metering devices
Methods and apparatus are provided for routing DNP (or other) protocol messages over a network of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system that employs a different communications protocol. |
| US08300577B2 |
Using position for node grouping
A computer algorithm for grouping a derived spatial arrangement of wireless communication nodes. The wireless communication nodes form a wireless communication network and are configured to control the operation of luminaires in a lighting array. The position of each node in the communication network corresponds to the position of a particular luminaire in the lighting array. The algorithm divides the arrangement of nodes into a plurality of spatial groups, each of which is defined by a line which joins the group's member nodes together. The groups are ranked according to their statistical attributes and a number of groups are selected as control groups, such that the member nodes, and hence luminaires, of each control group may be controlled by a single switch or sensor. |
| US08300574B2 |
Method of uplink synchronization establishment based on the united transmission technology
An establishment method of uplink synchronization based on the joint transmission technology utilizes channel symmetry and channel time correlation of the downlink and the uplink in TDD mobile communication system, and then applies the joint transmission technology in the uplink synchronization establishment process in a TDD mobile communication system, and based on the simple processing performed by UE, the base station can accurately detect the timing of uplink signals by performing related calculations. The present invention has fundamentally solved the problem of low probability of success in uplink synchronization establishment. |
| US08300572B2 |
Method and system for controlling power in a communication system
A method and system for controlling power in a communication system are provided, in which a base station calculates a power control value for an mobile station based on feedback information received from the mobile station, transmits power control information including the power control value to the mobile station, measures the strength of a signal received corresponding to the transmit power control information from the mobile station, determines the status of the mobile station using the signal strength and the power control value, and schedules the mobile station according to the determination. |
| US08300571B2 |
Start of frame correlation for physical layer header synchronization
Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described which may be used for the reception of a wireless broadband signal at a user terminal from a gateway via a satellite. A wireless signal may include a series of physical layer frames, each frame including a physical layer header and payload. The received signal is digitized and processed using various novel physical layer headers and related techniques to synchronize the physical layer frames and recover data from physical layer headers for purposes of demodulation and decoding. |
| US08300570B2 |
Ranging regions for wireless communication relay stations
One embodiment of the present invention provides a unique ranging technique in wireless communication environments that employ relay stations associated with a base station. Each relay station, and optionally the base station itself, can be allocated a unique ranging region having unique ranging resources that may be used by a mobile station to initiate a ranging function with the corresponding relay station or base station. |
| US08300567B2 |
Method and apparatus for downlink multiple-user multiple output scheduling
Embodiment and methods and means for scheduling an access point (AP) traffic destined for multiple stations (STAs) in a downlink multiple-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) network transmission are provided. |
| US08300563B2 |
Aggregated transmission in WLAN systems with FEC MPDUs
A wireless device calculates a number of FEC MPDUs based on an indicator value determined by the quality of the communication channel that are combined with data MPDUs in an aggregated data packet. The wireless device uses the indicator value to calculate an expected error transmission rate to dynamically adjust the number of FEC MPDUs in the aggregated data packet to reduce data retransmissions. |
| US08300560B2 |
Using auxiliary information to direct users of wireless devices to safety in response to emergency alert system alerts
A method and a wireless device (120, 122) utilize auxiliary information associated with an emergency alert system alert message to direct a user of the wireless device (120, 122) to safety. A wireless communication system (102) wirelessly transmits an emergency alert system (EAS) alert message to a wireless device (120, 122). The wireless communication system (102) also wirelessly transmits an augmented EAS alert message to the wireless device (120, 122). The augmented EAS alert message includes auxiliary information that provides information to the wireless device (120, 122) to direct a user of the wireless device (120, 122) to move at least one of toward a safe zone (150) and away from a danger zone (158). The auxiliary information in the augmented EAS alert message is optionally adjusted based on any combination of: the location of the wireless device, the safe zone, and the danger zone, and the logistics of a vicinity affected by the danger zone. |
| US08300557B2 |
Breakout rooms in a distributed conferencing environment
Architecture that facilitates management and control of sidebar sessions (or breakout rooms) in a distributed conferencing environment. Distributed frontends (or MCUs) are provided for multi-party access into a main conferencing session. In one implementation, the main session can then be partitioned to provide one or more sidebar sessions for side conferencing. The sidebar sessions can all be contained on a single MCU or distributed across multiple MCUs. The leader of the main session can then freely roam among the sidebar sessions of a single MCU or among the sessions on the distributed MCUs. The protocol can be SIP-based, and also or alternatively use C3P commands for creating (or adding) a sidebar session, modifying the sidebar, moving users to and from a sidebar, and deleting the sidebar session. |
| US08300554B1 |
Layered approach for representing and analyzing virtual private network services
A method, apparatus and computer-program product for logically representing and analyzing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in a plurality of functional representation layers is disclosed. The method, which is typical of the invention, comprises the steps of representing selected physical and logical components of said VPN as a plurality of configuration non-specific objects determined for each said functional representation layers, organizing selected ones of said objects within selected ones of said functional representation layers, wherein said object are selected from the group consisting of: VPNService, ServiceConnectionPath, ForwarderEndpoint, TunnelGroup, Tunnel, TunnelHop, TunnelIn/Out, SignalingProtocolEndpoint, SignalingProtocollSession and SignalingProtocolService, representing relationships among said physical and logical components as configuration non-specific representations within and among said functional representation layers, wherein Endpoint objects provide communication among said functional representation layers, which are among a group of Service, Service connection, Transport and Protocol layers. |
| US08300553B2 |
System and method for multicast transmission
A system and method for multicast transmission are disclosed. In one embodiment, a virtual exchange network including interconnected nodes is embedded within a network. A sender is disposed in communication with a root node and receivers are disposed in communication with a set of edge nodes. The sender publishes a packetized data stream to which the receivers subscribe. The packetized data stream is promulgated by implicit signaling through optimum virtual exchange network connections from the sender through the virtual exchange network to the receivers. The interconnected nodes, responsive to receiving the published packetized data stream, are adapted to multicast N instances of the published packetized data stream to N recipients selected from the group consisting of receivers and other of the interconnected nodes. |
| US08300552B1 |
Network interface unit control system and method therefor
External-services data are processed for use in a user facility in a manner that enables easy user interface and control. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement for processing external-services data includes an audio, video, and data signal bussing arrangement adapted to distribute audio, video, and data to designated points in a user facility. A plurality of appliances are communicatively coupled to the bussing arrangement and adapted to receive and process one or more audio, video, and data signals. A user input device is adapted to command a network interface unit (NIU) to process the external-services data for use at a particular one of the plurality of appliances in the user facility. External-services data is delivered over the bussing arrangement and to one or more of the plurality of appliances using the (NIU). |
| US08300547B2 |
Circuit, system and method for communication between two nodes of a radio network
A circuit, system, and method for range finding between two nodes of a radio network, in particular in conformance with the industry standard IEEE 802.15.4. A mode for finding the range to a second node is initiated by the first node. A command for range finding with the address of the second node is transmitted from the first node to the second node in the mode for range finding. The second node is switched into the range finding mode by the command. A sequence is controlled by the command in the range finding mode. As a result of the control by the command, a first signal is transmitted by the first node in a transmission time window of the sequence and the first signal is received by the second node in an associated reception time window of the sequence, and a first phase value of the first signal is measured. As a result of the control by the command, a second signal is transmitted by the second node in a transmission time window of the sequence and the second signal is received by the first node in an associated reception time window of the sequence, and a second phase value of the second signal is measured. As a result of the control by the command, the first frequency of the first signal is changed by a frequency difference and the second frequency of the second signal is changed by the frequency difference in a subsequent time window of the sequence. |
| US08300539B2 |
Switching device and loopback detecting method
A switching device transmits a link code word to the partner device by one Ethernet port of the switching device for automatic negotiation with a partner device. The switching device receives a first response link code word, changes the link code word, transmits the changed link code word to the partner device, and receives a second response link code word. The switching device determines the Ethernet port of the switching device experiences loopback upon the condition that the first response link code word is unequal to the second response link code. |
| US08300530B2 |
Detecting media rate for measuring network jitter
A method and apparatus for measuring network performance. A stream of packets of encoded data, sent by a transmitter across a network, are received. The stream of packets includes (n+1) packets having transmittal timestamps from a clock local to the transmitter, where n is an integer greater than or equal to one. An (n+1)th transmittal timestamp and an nth transmittal timestamp are determined. A value is calculated based on the (n+1)th and the nth transmittal timestamps. The value corresponds to the size of a virtual buffer needed to store the packets during a measurement interval. The value is used to determine a performance measure for the network. |
| US08300527B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically allocating upstream bandwidth in passive optical networks
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates dynamic allocation of upstream bandwidth in a passive optical network which includes a central node and at least one remote node. Each remote node is coupled to at least one logical entity, which corresponds to a device or a user, that transmits upstream data to the central node and receives downstream data from the central node. The central node is coupled to an external network outside of the passive optical network through a shared out-going uplink. |
| US08300525B1 |
Managing a flow table
A device may include a flow table to store, in flow table records, statistics associated with a number of data flows, and a flow type table to store, in flow type table records, information that indicates whether to store statistics in the flow table for each of a number of types of data flows, information that indicates a manner for sampling data units associated with the data flows, and/or information that indicates when to delete flow table records from the flow table. |
| US08300520B2 |
Method and apparatus employed in a user equipment for interference signal code power and noise variance estimation
A method and apparatus for interference signal code power noise variance estimation employing a reduced number of samples is disclosed. A recursive technique may be employed wherein the noise variance is estimated from ignored coefficients of the estimated channel output and upgraded recursively. |
| US08300519B2 |
Method and device for crosstalk evaluation and communication system comprising such device
A method and a device are provided for crosstalk evaluation of a channel, wherein the channel is represented and/or modeled by a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system connecting a first network component with at least one second network component. The MIMO system contains first coefficients associated with transmission lines that are in particular associated with crosstalk. The crosstalk contains a near-end crosstalk (NEXT) portion and a far-end crosstalk (FEXT) portion. The first network component sends a signal to one second network component; the far-end crosstalk portion and the near end crosstalk portion are evaluated. |
| US08300514B2 |
Optical pickup device
In the invention, a movable lens varying the rate of convergence or divergence of light reaching an objective lens by moving in an optical axis direction has its position adjusted to correspond to ambient temperature. The objective lens is arranged to be tilted with respect to an optical axis of light reaching the objective lens from the movable lens. First coma aberration of which the amount produced varies according to movement of the movable lens, and second coma aberration of which the amount produced varies due to variation in the warping state of an optical disc that is caused along with variation in ambient temperature both occur in the radius direction of the optical disc, and the objective lens has its tilting direction adjusted such that the first coma aberration and the second coma aberration have their increasing and decreasing directions of the amount of coma aberration produced with respect to variation in ambient temperature reversed. |
| US08300510B1 |
Laser diode write driver
A laser diode write driver is described. This laser diode write driver comprises: a feedback loop coupled for receiving an input current signal, the feedback loop operative for reaching a steady state and comprising a Class AB driver in series with a Class A driver, wherein the feedback loop transmits a first current signal; a current mirror adapted to receive the first current signal, the current mirror operative for replicating the first current signal and transmitting a second current signal; a differential device adapted to receive the second current signal, the differential device operative for steering current in at least one direction and transmitting a first voltage signal; a second class AB driver adapted to receive the first voltage signal and transmit a first drive signal, a second Class A driver adapted to receive the first drive signal and transmit a second drive signal; and an output device coupled to the second drive signal and operative for transmitting a driver output signal that drives the light source in response to receiving the second drive signal. |
| US08300508B2 |
Method and apparatus for judging blank area and data recorded-area of optical disc
An apparatus for judging an optical disc includes a gain controller, an amplitude detecting unit and an amplitude comparing unit. The gain controller is used for receiving a radio frequency signal from an optical pickup head; and processing the radio frequency signal into an amplified radio frequency signal with a target amplitude according to an amplitude feedback signal. The amplitude detecting unit is used for receiving the amplified radio frequency signal, generating the amplitude feedback signal to the gain controller, and outputting a top envelope amplitude according to an top envelope signal of the amplified radio frequency signal. The amplitude comparing unit is used for comparing the top envelope amplitude with a threshold value to generate a resulting signal, and judging whether the laser beams emitted from the optical pickup head are irradiated on a blank area or a data-recorded area according to the resulting signal. |
| US08300507B2 |
Disk position system and method
A computing device and method determines a position of a disk when the disk works abnormally. The computer searches out problem disks by determining if each disk included in the just a bundle of disks (JBOD) works normally, and determining if the computer can obtain a serial number of each problem disk. The computer notifies a user of the order number of the problem disk and an order number of the JBOD, in response to a determination that the computer can obtain serial number of the problem disk. The computer obtains the order number of the problem disk by deleting the data of the disk that works normally from the disk table, and notifying the user of the order number of the disk and the order number of the JBOD, in response to a determination that the computer fails to obtain serial number of the problem disk. |
| US08300506B1 |
Overwrite parameter determination for optical drive
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method, comprising iteratively writing a plurality of test portions to a storage medium sing a corresponding plurality of test parameter sets; iteratively erasing the plurality of test portions from the storage medium using corresponding erase power levels included within the corresponding plurality of test parameter sets and determining an overwrite parameter set for writing user data to the storage medium, the determining based on write performance characteristics of the plurality of test portions after the plurality of test portions have been iteratively erased and rewritten for a predetermined number of iterations. |
| US08300504B2 |
Switch device, information processing device, and reproduction device
An operation signal corresponding to an input operation on a rotating body by a user is output to an information-processing unit 400 and the operation signal is processed by a processing condition in accordance with the condition of the input operation. Based on the information property such as sound volume processed based on the operation signal and output by the output unit 200 or a setting position such as a cue point that is set by the input operation on the switch section 340 and at which a reproducing position is changed by a processing unit 440 in accordance with a pressing operation on the rotating body 600, the location of the reproducing position that is moved in accordance with the condition of the input operation on the rotating body 600 is recognized. And the rotating body 600 is operated (conducting click-like movement restriction, vibration and the like) in accordance with output condition corresponding to the condition of the input operation based on the property. A touch such as the movement restriction and vibration can be provided in accordance with the input operation and the property of the information, thereby providing efficient information-processing by the input operation. |
| US08300498B2 |
Method for dynamic aperture determination for three-dimensional surface-related multiple elimination
Dips are calculated for a series of sets of adjacent multiple contribution traces, from seismic data representative of subsurface formations, in the vicinity of a boundary of an aperture of a multiple contribution gather, the seismic data acquired by deploying a plurality of seismic sensors proximate an area of the earth's subsurface to be evaluated, the seismic sensors generating at least one of an electrical and optical signal in response to seismic energy. The boundary of the aperture of the multiple contribution gather is recursively extended, based on the calculated dips. Multiple contribution traces in the multiple contribution gather with the extended aperture boundary are stacked to generate predicted multiple traces. The predicted multiple traces are subtracted from the seismic data to generate surface-related multiple attenuated data useful for imaging the subsurface formations. |
| US08300495B2 |
Block control command generation circuit
A block control command generation circuit includes first and second latch units, an input selection unit, a pull-down driving unit, and an output selection unit. The first and second latch units store initial values at different levels in response to initialization signals. The input selection unit selectively transmits a first block control signal to the first latch unit in response to an input enable signal. The pull-down driving unit selectively pull-down drives an input node of the second latch unit in response to a second block control signal and the input enable signal. The output selection unit outputs signals, which are stored in the first and second latch units, as first and second block control command signals in response to an output enable signal, respectively. |
| US08300491B2 |
Multiple bitcells tracking scheme for semiconductor memories
A semiconductor memory segment includes a first memory bank having a first tracking cell disposed in a first tracking column. A second memory bank includes a second tracking cell disposed in a second tracking column. A first tracking circuit is coupled to the first and second tracking cells and is configured to output a first signal to memory control circuitry when the first and second tracking cells are accessed. The memory control circuitry is configured to set a clock based on the first signal. |
| US08300490B2 |
Semiconductor memory and system
A semiconductor memory includes a word line coupled to memory cells that transmits a word line signal; at least one word repeater circuit that includes a first load circuit disposed on the word line; a first dummy word line disposed along the word line that transmits a first dummy word line signal; at least one dummy repeater circuit that includes a second load circuit disposed on the first dummy word line; bit lines coupled to the memory cells; column switches that couple the bit lines to data lines, respectively; a column selection line disposed along the word line that transmits a column selection signal for controlling each column switch; and at least one column repeater circuit disposed on the column selection line that outputs the column selection signal in synchronization with the first dummy word line signal input to the first dummy repeater circuit. |
| US08300486B2 |
Temperature detection circuit of semiconductor memory apparatus
A temperature detection circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a fixed period oscillator, a temperature variable signal generating unit and a counting unit. The oscillator is configured to generate a fixed period oscillator signal when an enable signal is enabled. The temperature variable signal generating unit is configured to generate a temperature variable signal whose enable interval varies based on temperature variations, when the enable signal is enabled. The counting unit is configured to count the oscillator signal during the enable interval of the temperature variable signal to generate a temperature information signal. |
| US08300481B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving signals at high speed
A semiconductor memory device includes: a data transferrer configured to transfer data; a main driver configured to apply the data to the data transferrer in response to a control signal; and a pre-driver configured to decrease a voltage level of the data transferrer when the voltage level of the data transferrer is higher than a logic threshold voltage, and to increase the voltage level of the data transferrer when the voltage level of the data transferrer is lower than the logic threshold voltage prior to activation of the control signal. |
| US08300479B2 |
Temporal alignment of data unit groups in a switch
Consistent with the present disclosure, a plurality of FIFO buffers, for example, are provided in a switch, which also includes a switch fabric. Each of the plurality of FIFOs is pre-filled with data for a duration based on a skew or time difference between the time that a data unit group is supplied to its corresponding FIFO and a reference time. The reference time is the time, for example, after a delay period has lapsed following the leading edge of a synch signal, the timing of which is a known system parameter and is used to trigger switching in the switch fabric. Typically, the delay period may be equal to the latency (often, another known system parameter) or length of time required for the data unit to propagate from an input circuit, such as a line card of the switch or another switch, to the FIFO that receives the data unit. At the reference time, temporally aligned data unit groups may be read or output from each FIFO and supplied to the switch fabric. Since the timing of the output from the FIFOs is based on known system parameters, instead of the actual arrival of the slowest data unit group at its corresponding FIFO, time aligned data unit groups may be output regardless of whether the slowest data unit group is available. |
| US08300478B2 |
Reducing distortion using joint storage
A method for data storage includes predefining an order of programming a plurality of analog memory cells that are arranged in rows. The order specifies that for a given row having neighboring rows on first and second sides, the memory cells in the given row are programmed only while the memory cells in the neighboring rows on at least one of the sides are in an erased state, and that the memory cells in the given row are programmed to assume a highest programming level, which corresponds to a largest analog value among the programming levels of the cells, only after programming all the memory cells in the given row to assume the programming levels other than the highest level. Data is stored in the memory cells by programming the memory cells in accordance with the predefined order. |
| US08300475B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
In general, according to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including memory cells; and a control unit to control a signal applied to the memory cells. Each of the memory cells are settable to: first, second and third states having first, second and third threshold voltage distributions (VD1, VD2 and VD3, VD1 |
| US08300472B2 |
Low noise sense amplifier array and method for nonvolatile memory
In sensing a page of nonvolatile memory cells with a corresponding group of sense modules in parallel, as each high current cell is identified, it is locked out from further sensing while others in the page continued to be sensed. The sense module involved in the locked out is then in a lockout mode and becomes inactive. A noise source from the sense module becomes significant when in the lockout mode. The noise is liable to interfere with the sensing of neighboring cells by coupling through its bit line to neighboring ones. The noise can also couple through the common source line of the page to affect the accuracy of ongoing sensing of the cells in the page. Improved sense modules and method isolate the noise from the lockout sense module from affecting the other sense modules still active in sensing memory cell in the page. |
| US08300471B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory having multiple external power supplies
A memory device includes core memory such as flash memory for storing data. The memory device includes a first power input to receive a first voltage used to power the flash memory. Additionally, the memory device includes a second power input to receive a second voltage. The memory device includes power management circuitry configured to receive the second voltage and derive one or more internal voltages. The power management circuitry supplies or conveys the internal voltages to the flash memory. The different internal voltages generated by the power management circuitry (e.g., voltage converter circuit) and supplied to the core memory enable operations such as read/program/erase with respect to cells in the core memory. |
| US08300469B2 |
Cost saving electrically-erasable-programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) array
A cost saving EEPROM array, having: a plurality of parallel bit lines, a plurality of parallel word lines, and a plurality of parallel common source lines. The bit lines contain a first group bit lines; the word line includes a first and a second word lines; and the common source line includes a first common source line. And, a plurality of sub-memory arrays are provided. Each sub-memory array includes a first and a second memory cells disposed opposite to each other and located on two different sides of the first common source line; the first memory cell is connected to the first group bit lines, the first common source line, and the first word line, and the second memory cell is connected to the first group bit line, the first common source line, and the second word line. |
| US08300468B2 |
Flash memory program inhibit scheme
A method for minimizing program disturb in Flash memories. To reduce program disturb in a NAND Flash memory cell string where no programming from the erased state is desired, a local boosted channel inhibit scheme is used. In the local boosted channel inhibit scheme, the selected memory cell in a NAND string where no programming is desired, is decoupled from the other cells in the NAND string. This allows the channel of the decoupled cell to be locally boosted to a voltage level sufficient for inhibiting F-N tunneling when the corresponding wordline is raised to a programming voltage. Due to the high boosting efficiency, the pass voltage applied to the gates of the remaining memory cells in the NAND string can be reduced relative to prior art schemes, thereby minimizing program disturb while allowing for random page programming. |
| US08300467B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and related method of operation
A flash memory device comprises alternately arranged odd and even memory cells. The odd and even memory cells are connected to corresponding odd and even bitlines, which are connected to corresponding odd and even page buffers. In a read operation of the flash memory device, data is sensed at two different times via the odd and even bitlines. In certain embodiments, data is read from the odd page buffers while data is being sensed via the even bit lines, or vice versa. |
| US08300464B2 |
Method and circuit for calibrating data capture in a memory controller
A memory controller comprises a multiplexer, a first-in, first-out memory (FIFO), a comparator, and a detection and adjustment circuit. The multiplexer receives a clock signal, a reference voltage, and a gating signal. The FIFO has a clock input coupled to an output of the multiplexer and a data input that receives data from a memory. The comparator has a first input coupled to an output of the FIFO, and a second input coupled to receive a calibration pattern. The calibration pattern is predetermined to match with a first portion of data from the FIFO, and is predetermined to not match with a second portion of data from the FIFO. The detection and adjustment circuit detects if a transition from the first portion to the second portion occurs within a predetermined time period. If the transition is not detected within the time period, a timing of the gating signal is adjusted. |
| US08300462B2 |
Single-transistor EEPROM array and operation methods
A method includes performing an operation on an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) array. The operation is selected from a program operation and an erase operation. The EEPROM array includes EEPROM cells arranged in rows and columns, and a plurality of word-lines extending in a column direction. Each of the plurality of word-lines is connected to control gates of the EEPROM cells in a same column. The EEPROM array further includes a plurality of source-lines extending in a row direction. Each of the plurality of source-lines is connected to sources of the EEPROM cells in a same row. During the operation, a first source-line in the plurality of source-lines is applied with a first source-line voltage, and a second source-line in the plurality of source-lines is applied with a second source-line voltage different from the first source-line voltage. |
| US08300460B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a page buffer unit comprising page buffers, each coupling first and second input and output (IO) lines and a latch circuit for outputting data together or coupling a sense node and the first or second I/O line together, in response to an operation mode; a Y decoder unit comprising decoders, each selecting one or more of the page buffers in response to address signals and outputting a first or second control signal to the selected page buffers in response to the operation mode; a mode selection unit outputting first and second operation selection signals for selecting the operation mode; and an I/O control unit comprising I/O control circuits, each detecting data, inputted and output through the first and second I/O lines, and outputting the detected data or coupling one of the first and second I/O lines to a data line. |
| US08300458B2 |
Nonvolatile memory with correlated multiple pass programming
A group of memory cells is programmed respectively to their target states in parallel using a multiple-pass programming method in which the programming voltages in the multiple passes are correlated. Each programming pass employs a programming voltage in the form of a staircase pulse train with a common step size, and each successive pass has the staircase pulse train offset from that of the previous pass by a predetermined offset level. The predetermined offset level is less than the common step size and may be less than or equal to the predetermined offset level of the previous pass. Thus, the same programming resolution can be achieved over multiple passes using fewer programming pulses than conventional method where each successive pass uses a programming staircase pulse train with a finer step size. The multiple pass programming serves to tighten the distribution of the programmed thresholds while reducing the overall number of programming pulses. |
| US08300457B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method with reduced neighboring field errors
A memory device and a method thereof allow programming and sensing a plurality of memory cells in parallel in order to minimize errors caused by coupling from fields of neighboring cells and to improve performance. The memory device and method have the plurality of memory cells linked by the same word line and a read/write circuit is coupled to each memory cells in a contiguous manner. Thus, a memory cell and its neighbors are programmed together and the field environment for each memory cell relative to its neighbors during programming and subsequent reading is less varying. This improves performance and reduces errors caused by coupling from fields of neighboring cells, as compared to conventional architectures and methods in which cells on even columns are programmed independently of cells in odd columns. |
| US08300453B2 |
Method for recording of information in magnetic recording element and method for recording of information in magnetic random access memory
Provided are a method for recording information in a magnetic recording element and a method for recording information in a magnetic random access memory. The method for recording information in a magnetic recording element includes preparing the magnetic recording element having a magnetic free layer in which a magnetic vortex is formed. A current or a magnetic field whose direction varies with time is applied to the magnetic free layer to switch a core orientation of a magnetic vortex formed in the magnetic free layer to an upward direction or downward direction from a top surface of the magnetic free layer “0” or “1” is assigned according to the direction of the core orientation of the magnetic vortex formed in the magnetic free layer. According to the method for recording information in a magnetic recording element of the present invention, the core orientation of the magnetic vortex formed in the magnetic free layer of the magnetic recording element can be selectively switched by applying a current or magnetic field whose direction varies with time to the magnetic recording element, so that information can be easily and correctly recorded, lower power is consumed in recording information, and the switching for recording information can be performed very rapidly. |
| US08300452B2 |
Structure and method for improving storage latch susceptibility to single event upsets
A digital logic storage structure includes cross coupled first and second complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) inverters formed on a semiconductor substrate, the CMOS inverters including a first storage node and a second storage node that is the logical complement of the first storage node; both of the first and second storage nodes each selectively coupled to a deep trench capacitor through a switching transistor, with the switching transistors controlled by a common capacitance switch line coupled to gate conductors thereof; wherein, in a first mode of operation, the switching transistors are rendered nonconductive so as to isolate the deep trench capacitors from the inverter storage nodes and, in a second mode of operation, the switching transistors are rendered conductive so as to couple the deep trench capacitors to their respective storage nodes, thereby providing increased resistance of the storage nodes to single event upsets (SEUs). |
| US08300451B2 |
Two word line SRAM cell with strong-side word line boost for write provided by weak-side word line
An integrated circuit having a static random access memory (SRAM) includes an array of SRAM cells arranged in rows and columns having a write word line and a read/write word line connected to provide row access to the array of SRAM cells. The SRAM also includes a coupling capacitance connected between the write word line and a detachable allocation of the read/write word line as well as an overdrive module connected to charge the coupling capacitance and provide an overdrive voltage on the detachable allocation of the read/write word line during activation of the write word line. A method of operating an integrated circuit having an SRAM includes providing an overdrive voltage on the detachable allocation of the read/write word line corresponding to a charge redistribution across the coupling capacitance during part of a write cycle. |
| US08300445B2 |
Nanowire and memory device using it as a medium for current-induced domain wall displacement
Disclosed herein are a nanowire and a current-induced domain wall displacement-type memory device using the same. The nanowire has perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and is configured in a manner that when a parameter Q, calculated by a saturation magnetization per unit area, a domain wall thickness and a spin polarizability of a ferromagnet that is a constituent material of the nanowire, has a value of (formula 1 should be inserted here) a domain wall thickness, a width “*′” and a thickness −* of the nanowire satisfy the relationship of (formula 2 should be inserted here) The present invention can be designed such that a current density capable of driving a memory device utilizing the current-driven domain wall displacement has a value of less than (formula 3 should be inserted here), through the determination of the optimal nanowire width and thickness satisfying a value of a critical current density, Jc for the domain wall displacement below a certain value required for commercialization, for a given material in the nanowire with perpendicular anisotropy. According to such a configuration of the present invention, the current density required for the domain wall displacement can be at least 10 times or further lowered than the current density in currently available nano wires. Therefore, the present invention is capable of solving the problems associated with high power consumption and malfunction of the device due to generation of Joule heat and is also capable of achieving low-cost production of memory devices. 3 × 10 8 A / cm 2 ≤ Q ≤ 10 9 A / cm 2 , ( 1 ) 1.39 T / λ + 4.51 ≤ W λ ≤ 1.53 T / λ + 4.44 ( 2 ) 10 7 A / cm 2 , ( 3 ) |
| US08300443B2 |
Semiconductor module for use in power supply
A series connection circuit of IGBTs and an AC switch are contained in one package. The series connection circuit is connected between the positive and negative terminals of a DC power source, and the AC switch is connected between a neutral point of the DC power source and a series connection point between the IGBTs. Straight conductor strips can be used to connect terminals on the package to the DC power source, thereby reducing inductance and thus also reducing voltage spikes. |
| US08300439B2 |
Data acquisition apparatus and methodology for self-diagnosing of AC modules
Method and apparatus for monitoring, measuring and recording the operating values of each of a plurality of inter-connected AC PV modules and performing a diagnostic analysis, including comparing the those operating values to each other and to operating values recorded at an earlier time to determine laminate degradation and the performance-attenuating effect of temperature, soiling, shading, and snow cover on the modules. |
| US08300434B2 |
Method and apparatus to control a power converter having a low loop bandwidth
An example controller includes a feedback sensor circuit that receives a feedback signal representative of an output of a power converter. A feedback sampling signal generator is coupled to generate a feedback sampling signal. The feedback sensor circuit samples the feedback signal in response to the feedback sampling signal. A state machine controls switching of a switch of a power converter circuit according to one of a plurality of operating condition states in response to the feedback sensor circuit. Each of the plurality of operating condition states includes a substantially fixed switch on time. A feedback time period signal generator generates a feedback time period signal received by the state machine. A period of the feedback time period signal is substantially greater than a period of the feedback sampling signal. The state machine is updated in response to the feedback time period signal. |
| US08300433B2 |
Isolated primary circuit regulator
An isolated primary circuit regulator is applied to a primary side of a transformer of a power supply. The isolated primary circuit regulator outputs a switching signal, and switches the transformer by using the switching signal, thereby stabilizing an output current. The isolated primary circuit regulator includes a discharge time detector, an oscillator, a pulse width modulator and a control circuit. The discharge time detector is used for detecting a discharge time of a switching current generated at a secondary side of the transformer. The oscillator is used for generating an oscillation signal. The control circuit is used for outputting an adjustment signal. The pulse width modulator outputs a switching signal according to the oscillation signal output by the oscillator and the adjustment signal output by the control circuit. The switching signal has a duty cycle and a frequency corresponding to the oscillation signal and the adjustment signal. |
| US08300432B2 |
Power converter utilizing a RC circuit to conduct during the rising edge of the transformer voltage
An isolated power converter comprising a transformer arranged in such a way that the mirrored primary voltage on the secondary side has a positive potential relative to ground, said converter comprising a derivating net arranged to cause the second transistor to conduct in dependence of the voltage across the secondary winding, the source of the second transistor being connected to the negative end of the secondary winding, the drain of a third transistor further being connected to the positive end of the secondary winding, a second capacitor and a second resistor being connected between the gate and the source of the third transistor, a third resistor connected between the second resistor and the drain of the second transistor, a third capacitor connected between the sources of the second and third transistors to provide a first output voltage on one terminal of the third capacitor and a second output voltage on the other terminal of the third capacitor. |
| US08300430B2 |
Compensation device for synchronous rectifier control and method thereof
The configurations of a compensation device configured in a circuit having a synchronous rectifier (SR), a controller and a load, and a compensation method thereof are provided in the present invention. In the proposed circuit, the SR includes a first terminal, a first inductor electrically connected to the first terminal in series, a second terminal and a second inductor electrically connected to the second terminal in series, the controller is coupled to the first and the second inductors, and the device includes a voltage source having a positive terminal coupled to the controller and a negative terminal coupled to the second inductor and providing a compensation voltage to reduce or eliminate the influence of the first and the second inductors towards a voltage value across the first and the second terminals. |
| US08300429B2 |
Cascaded PFC and resonant mode power converters
A power supply includes a PFC (power factor correction) converter that has an input and an output. The PFC converter input is coupled to an input of the power supply. The power supply also includes a resonant mode converter that has an input and an output. The resonant mode converter input is coupled to the PFC converter output and the resonant mode output is coupled to an output of the power supply. A control unit is also included in the power supply and is coupled to receive a feedback signal that is representative of the output of the power supply. The control unit is coupled to provide control signals coupled to control switches of the resonant mode converter at a controlled switching frequency to control the output of the power supply. The control unit is further coupled to provide a PFC control signal coupled to control a switch of the PFC converter at a switching frequency that is harmonically related to the controlled switching frequency. |
| US08300426B2 |
Converter for enhanced efficiency power conversion
Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can he DC, single phase AC, or multi-phase AC. Conversion is accomplished by a plurality of bi-directional conducting and blocking semiconductor switches which alternately connect an inductor and parallel capacitor between said portals, such that energy is transferred into the inductor from one or more input portals and/or phases, then the energy is transferred out of the inductor to one or more output portals and/or phases, with said parallel capacitor facilitating “soft” turn-off, and with any excess inductor energy being returned back to the input. Soft turn-on and reverse recovery is also facilitated. Said hi-directional switches allow for two power transfers per inductor/capacitor cycle, thereby maximizing inductor/capacitor utilization as well as providing for optimum converter operation with high input/output voltage ratios. Control means coordinate the switches to accomplish the desired power transfers. |
| US08300422B2 |
Printed circuit board equipped with piezoelectric element
An electronic apparatus includes, for example, a circuit board with an electronic component and a piezoelectric element, a reference potential pattern that gives a reference potential to at least one of the electronic component and the piezoelectric element, and a solder land connected to the reference potential pattern. On the circuit board, the electronic component is located on a downstream side in a transport direction of the circuit board during mounting of the piezoelectric element and the electronic component on the solder land, and the piezoelectric element is located on an upstream side in the transport direction. |
| US08300420B2 |
Circuit substrate for mounting electronic component and circuit substrate assembly having same
A circuit substrate includes an electrically conductive layer having electrically conductive patterns formed therein, an insulating layer having a through hole, and a composite layer positioned between the electrically conductive layer and the insulating layer. The through hole is configured for having an electronic component mounted thereon. The composite layer includes a polymer matrix and at least one carbon nanotube bundle embedded in the polymer matrix. One end of the at least one carbon nanotube bundle contacts the electrically conductive patterns, and the other is exposed in the through hole of the insulation layer. |
| US08300417B2 |
Apparatus for adapting mezzanine cards
There is provided an apparatus for accommodating at least two different sized cards, the apparatus comprising a card housing comprising one or more card slots, each card slot being adaptable for inserting the at least two different sized cards; and a card guide system for adapting said one or more card slots for insertion of at least one of the at least two different sized cards. There is also provided a modified mezzanine card having at least one increased non-standard physical dimension relative to a standard mezzanine card suitable for insertion in the apparatus using the card guide system. |
| US08300411B2 |
Fan mounting apparatus
A mounting apparatus for fixing a fan defining fixing notches in an exterior surface of the fan to a chassis includes a frame. The frame includes a base panel fixed to the chassis, two side panels respectively extending up from opposite ends of the base panel, and two elastic fixing portions respectively extending up from the side panels away from the base panel. When the fan is disposed in the frame, the base panel, the side panels, and the fixing portions of the frame resist the exterior surface of the fan and the fixing portions are received in the corresponding fixing notches of the fan. |
| US08300409B2 |
Fan duct for electronic components of electronic device
A fan duct includes a top plate, two side plates extending downward from opposite sides of the top plate, and plural guiding plates extending downward from the top plate. The side plates and the top plates cooperatively define an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet and the air outlet are located at another two opposite sides of the top plates, respectively. The guiding plates are located between the side plates and adjacent to the air outlet. Each of the guiding plates forms a guiding face facing the air inlet. The guiding face is obliquely oriented with respect to the top plate. An electronic device incorporating the fan duct is also provided. |
| US08300408B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a first unit and a second unit. The second unit that rotates, about a rotation axis, between a closed state and an open state with respect to the first. The second unit includes, in at least a part in a lateral direction of a top face in the upright position, a first face formed to extend from a rear face to a front face of the second unit as a horizontal face or an ascending slope up to a midpoint and a second face formed as a descending slope following the first face, and an enclosure having a front housing positioned on the front face side in the upright position and a rear housing positioned on the rear face side in the upright position. The second face is formed at the front housing, and the locking release projection projects from the second face. |
| US08300405B2 |
Airflow duct
An airflow duct for guiding air toward two heat sink apparatuses in computer includes a duct body fixed in a computer case, a first air guide channel and a second air guide channel defined in the duct body. The duct body has an air inlet and an air outlet. The first air guide channel forms a first air outlet, which opens towards a first heat sink apparatus in the computer case. The second air guide channel forms a second air outlet, which opens towards a second heat sink apparatus in the computer case. The first and second air guide channels guide air from the air inlet to the first and second heat sink apparatuses, through the first and second air outlet openings to dissipate heat respectively from the first and second heat sink apparatuses. A first air guide channel height is greater than that of the second air guide channel. |
| US08300404B2 |
Fan holder including cable channels
A fan holder includes a casing structure having a first side and a second side. The casing structure includes a base, fan compartments extending from the base, and cable channels extending from the first side to the second side within the base. Each of the cable channels is configured to removably secure at least one of a plurality of cables. |
| US08300401B2 |
Holder of magnetic storage apparatus, magnetic storage apparatus and electric device including the same
A holder of a magnetic storage apparatus is suggested that can efficiently absorb the shock when a vibration or shock is applied to the magnetic storage apparatus. A plurality of holding members (first shock absorbing material foam rubber 340 and second shock absorbing material foam rubber 350) that hold at least two corner parts of the magnetic storage apparatus 320 is included. The holding members are configured in a way that a total sum of holding power to hold one of opposite angles of the magnetic storage apparatus 320 and a total sum of holding power to hold the other of opposite angles are different. The first shock absorbing material foam rubber 340 is disposed on one of opposite angles, and the second shock absorbing material foam rubber 350 is disposed on the other of the opposite angles. The first shock absorbing material foam rubber 340 has greater hardness than the hardness of the second shock absorbing material foam rubber 350. |
| US08300400B2 |
Fixing mechanism and hard disk assembly using the same
A fixing mechanism for fixing a number of hard disks includes a first frame; a second frame facing the first frame, and a fixing structure for fixing the hard disk. One side of each hard disk is fixed on the first frame, and the fixing structure is positioned and fixed on the second frame and also fixed on the other side of the hard disk. |
| US08300399B2 |
Electronic module with shockproof function
An electronic module includes a case, a holding frame, a removable disk drive, a transmission cable, a fixing part, and a shock-absorbing structure. An opening is formed on the case. The holding frame is disposed at a position of the case corresponding to the opening. The removable disk drive is disposed on the holding frame and is removable from the opening. The transmission cable is connected to the removable disk drive. The fixing part is disposed on the holding frame. The shock-absorbing structure is movably disposed between the fixing part and the holding frame and envelops the transmission cable. |
| US08300396B2 |
Mounting frame for hard disk
A mounting frame for hard disk includes a frame and latching members, the frame includes two opposite frame arms including a wall and supporting bases laterally extending from one wall toward the other wall, the wall defines receiving grooves to form wall sections, and a compartment is defined between opposite wall sections. The compartments respectively receive hard disks, the supporting bases support the hard disks and secure with the hard disks to prevent the hard disks from moving along a first direction; Each latching member engages with the opposite receiving grooves, separate adjacent hard disks, and prevent hard disk from sliding along a second direction perpendicular with the first direction. |
| US08300394B2 |
Track guided hinge for a portable electronic device
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a track guided hinge assembly for a portable electronic device. According to one embodiment, the portable electronic device includes a base housing and a panel configured to cover a top surface of the base housing. A first mounting bracket having a first guide track is mounted within the base housing. A second mounting bracket having a second guide track is positioned adjacent to the first mounting bracket. Furthermore, the portable electronic device includes a panel bracket member including a hinge pivot shaft that extends perpendicularly therefrom and configured to follow the second guide track, and a guide plate having a guide pin extending perpendicularly therefrom and configured to follow the first guide track. When the panel pivots and rotates away from the base housing, the guide pin moves along the first guide track simultaneously as the pivot shaft moves along the second guide track. |
| US08300393B2 |
Display device and stand therefor
A display device or stand therefor, intended to promote frequent changes in a (5) user's posture by the continuous movement of its display screen (1) in a horizontal and/or vertical manner. In a preferred embodiment the display device comprises a vertical hollow column (10) slidably attached by a saddle (11) to a horizontal hollow column (20). The display screen (1) is mounted on a support (30) fitted with a pivot (32) to a moveable collar (31) slidably mounted on vertical column (1). The saddle (11) and (10) collar (31) are driven by respective electric motors (41, 40). The support (30) may incorporate an arm (33) and a rotating wheel (34) running on an offset bar (35) mounted on column (10) by blocks (36, 37). Because of the pivot (32) and due to the slope of the bar (35) the display screen (1) tilts forwards or backwards as it is raised or lowered. |
| US08300392B2 |
Electronic device having a movable display screen and keyboard
An electronic device includes a mainframe having a receiving space, two curved slide grooves, and an elongated slide groove. A display screen is slidable along the curved slide grooves between a stored position and a use position. A keyboard includes a side plate connected slidably to the elongated slide groove, and is movable relative to the mainframe between stored and use positions. The spring member biases a movable arm to press against the side plate. The keyboard is pushed by the movable arm to move automatically toward the use or stored position when the keyboard moves a distance relative to the mainframe. |
| US08300387B1 |
Hermetically sealed electrolytic capacitor with enhanced mechanical stability
A capacitor assembly that is thermally and mechanically stable in high temperature environments is provided. Thermal stability is provided by enclosing and hermetically sealing the capacitor element within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas, thereby limiting the amount of oxygen and moisture supplied to the solid electrolyte of the capacitor. To provide the assembly with good mechanical stability, a polymeric restraint is also employed that is positioned adjacent to and in contact with one or more surfaces of the capacitor element. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the strength and rigidity of the polymeric restraint can help the capacitor element better withstand vibrational forces incurred during use without resulting in delamination. In this manner, the capacitor assembly is able to better function in high temperature environments. |
| US08300386B2 |
Porous valve metal thin film, method for production thereof and thin film capacitor
A porous valve metal thin film, a method for the production thereof, and a thin film capacitor utilizing the thin film as an anode. The porous valve metal thin film has an integral continuous structure that includes the valve metal, an outside surface, and micropores connected to the outside surface. The thin film has a surface area that is at least double a surface area of the outside surface if the outside surface of the thin film were flat. The valve metal is niobium, tantalum, a niobium alloy or a tantalum alloy and has a particle diameter within a range of 10 nm to 1 μm. The micropores have pore diameters within a range of 10 nm to 1 μm. |
| US08300381B2 |
Low cost high speed spark voltage and flame drive signal generator
A system for generating a high DC voltage for a spark to ignite a flame in a combustion device, and a high AC voltage for a flame rod to sense a flame in the device, from a low voltage for combustion device control. The system may be an inexpensive mechanism. |
| US08300378B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting power systems from extraordinary electromagnetic pulses
One form of the invention provides a method and apparatus for preventing an extraordinary electromagnetic pulse from reaching and rendering inoperative an electrical component of an electrical power system, wherein the component is located in a conductive path of the system that receives the pulse. The method and apparatus comprises the steps or means for detecting the presence of the pulse in the conductive path prior to the pulse reaching and rendering inoperative the electrical component. The pulse is diverted around the electrical component with a low inductance, high current capacity circuit relative to the electrical component before the pulse can reach and render the electrical component inoperative. The foregoing invention may beneficially utilize a high-speed current shunt comprising a flat conductive metal strap having a defined current-measuring region, a tapered parallel-plate transmission-line matching transformer attached to the current-measuring region and an output via a coaxial cable. |
| US08300376B2 |
Temperature protection circuit
A temperature protection circuit includes a detection circuit, a comparison circuit, a switching circuit, and a control circuit. When the temperature of an electronic device is below a preset temperature, a detecting voltage signal exceeds a reference temperature signal, and the comparison circuit outputs a control signal to open the switching circuit. The control circuit directs a power circuit to provide voltage to an operating circuit. When a temperature of the electronic device exceeds the preset temperature, the detecting voltage signal is below the reference temperature signal, and the comparison circuit outputs a control signal to close the switching circuit. The control circuit directs the power circuit to stop supplying voltages to the operating circuit. |
| US08300372B2 |
Apparatus, system, and/or method for protection and control of an electrical device
An electrical device protection apparatus, such as an overload relay, can include a microprocessor 102 that can receive a wide range of current signals from a current transformer or other current sensor. Also microprocessor 102 can employ a voltage sensor 112 to measure line voltage, for representing true power, and as a power supply 114 source for the microprocessor 102. The microprocessor can then generate annunciation signals 118, control signals 120, and/or communication signals 122 as necessary for the control and/or protection of an attached electrical device. |
| US08300368B2 |
Circuit interrupting device with end-of life testing, reverse wiring and high voltage surge capability
The present invention provides a circuit interrupting device, preferably a ground fault circuit interrupter, which provides a quick and reliable connection/disconnection of electrical continuity through a combined use of a reset spring and a quick trip spring; an innovative circuit interrupting assembly containing a pair of input flexible metal pieces, a pair of user accessible load flexible metal pieces, and two pairs of fixed contacts on the load terminals; an automatic end-of-life testing mechanism by way of a simulated leakage current metal piece assembly; a reverse wiring protection by way of a reset start switch; an electrical surge protection through a power discharge mechanism; and a periodical end-of-life testing using a timer chip. |
| US08300367B2 |
Magnetoresistance sensors pinned by an etch induced magnetic anisotropy
Magnetoresistance sensors with magnetic pinned layers that are pinned by anisotropic etch induced magnetic anisotropies and methods for fabricating the magnetoresistance sensors are provided. The method comprises forming a seed layer structure. The seed layer is etched to form an anisotropic etch along a top surface of the seed layer. A magnetic pinned layer is formed on the top surface of the seed layer structure. The anisotropic etch on the top surface of the seed layer structure induces a magnetic anisotropy in the magnetic pinned layer, which pins the magnetization of the magnetic pinned layer structure. |
| US08300360B2 |
Compliant air bearing slider
A compliant, flexible air bearing slider (ABS) reduces the contact forces between the slider and disk, thereby reducing excessive burnishing and wear and increasing the reliability of the slider. According to an embodiment, an ABS has at least one “compliance-enhancing feature” which reduces the bending mode vibration frequency of the slider. By causing the slider to flex, and bringing the bending mode vibration frequency closer to the pitch 2 eigenmode frequency, coupling of the different vibration modes can be obtained. Thus, the different vibration modes can effectively dampen each other and result in reduced contact forces between the slider and disk. |
| US08300358B2 |
Magnetic head having write pole, first soft magnetic films separately disposed on both sides of the main pole, and a second soft magnetic film disposed on a trailing side of the main pole
Embodiments of the present invention help to suppress broadening of a write field of a main pole of a perpendicular recording head and realize high-quality write operation. According to one embodiment, a main pole of a write head extends to an air bearing surface or a medium-facing surface and has an inverted trapezoid in cross-section. First soft magnetic films called side shields are separately disposed through a nonmagnetic film on both sides of the main pole. The air bearing surface side end of the first soft magnetic film is provided to recede from the air bearing surface. The first soft magnetic film and the main pole are formed in the same layer. A second soft magnetic film called a trailing shield is provided above the main pole on the air bearing surface side via a nonmagnetic film. |
| US08300356B2 |
CoFe/Ni Multilayer film with perpendicular anistropy for microwave assisted magnetic recording
A spin transfer oscillator with a seed/SIL/spacer/FGL/capping configuration is disclosed with a composite seed layer made of Ta and a metal layer having a fcc(111) or hcp(001) texture to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in an overlying (A1/A2)X laminated spin injection layer (SIL). Field generation layer (FGL) is made of a high Bs material such FeCo. Alternatively, the STO has a seed/FGL/spacer/SIL/capping configuration. The SIL may include a FeCo layer that is exchanged coupled with the (A1/A2)X laminate (x is 5 to 50) to improve robustness. The FGL may include an (A1/A2)Y laminate (y=5 to 30) exchange coupled with the high Bs layer to enable easier oscillations. A1 may be one of Co, CoFe, or CoFeR where R is a metal, and A2 is one of Ni, NiCo, or NiFe. The STO may be formed between a main pole and trailing shield in a write head. |
| US08300352B1 |
Disk drive having mounting inserts with cantilevered beams
A novel disk drive includes a disk drive base that includes a plurality of mounting recessions. Each of a plurality of mounting inserts at least partially protrudes into a respective one of the plurality of mounting recessions, and contacts the disk drive base. Each of the plurality of mounting inserts includes a body portion that is adapted to be attached to a host computer system. Each of the plurality of mounting inserts also includes at least one cantilevered beam having a root end that is attached to the body portion and having a distal end that is in contact with the disk drive base in a respective one of the plurality of mounting recessions. The root end is not in contact with the disk drive base when the mounting insert is in an undeformed state. |
| US08300350B2 |
Magnetic disk drive using offset in positioning head to read data and head positioning method
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises a write count memory, a read offset setting module and a controller. The write count memory stores a write count for each track or for each zone on a disk. The read offset setting module sets, in accordance with a write count for an adjacent track to a target track or for a zone to which the adjacent track belongs, an offset from a predetermined position on the target track in a read position in which a head is to be positioned when the head is positioned on the target track for data read. The write count is stored in the write count memory. The controller positions the head in a position shifted from the predetermined position by the set offset. |
| US08300345B2 |
Variable track width recording compensation
Method and apparatus for providing a storage medium with variable track widths. In accordance with various embodiments, a data storage medium is rotated by a motor. A write transducer is used to write concentric data tracks to the storage medium during said rotation. The tracks are provided with variable track widths established by selectively changing a rotational velocity of the medium. The variable track widths can be gradual and/or abrupt, depending on the requirements of a given application. Gradual variations in track width can be used by a linear actuator with a linear translation path to emulate tracks written along a pivot translation path of a rotary actuator. Abrupt variations in track width can be used to provide different zones of tracks having different specified track widths. The tracks may be written using an electron beam recorder (EBR) with a constant write beam power level. |
| US08300341B2 |
Magnetic recording device, magnetic recording method, and magnetic storage medium
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording device based on shingled-write recording method comprises a magnetic storage medium, a recording head, and an actuator. The magnetic storage medium comprises dot rows wherein a phase shift is between adjacent rows. The recording head covers a predetermined number of dot rows of the magnetic storage medium and comprises an edge at one of the dot rows. The actuator configured to move a recording head by an amount equivalent to a dot row after recording is performed on one of the dot rows by the recording head. |
| US08300340B2 |
Magnetic recording medium
According to one embodiment, a servo area of a magnetic recording medium includes magnetic dots arrayed at a period L0. The magnetic dots include a plurality of magnetic dot regions divided in the cross track direction. A width Wm in the down track direction of the mth magnetic dot region from the innermost circumference and a number Nm of dot rows in the down track direction of the mth region meet a relationship represented by L0{Nm√3/2−0.3}≦Wm≦L0{Nm√3/2+0.3} (1). |
| US08300335B2 |
Image device having color filter array
An image device includes a substrate having a die region defined thereon, a layout pattern positioned in the die region, and a color filter array including a plurality of color filters arranged in a matrix in the die region. The die region includes at least a die corner. The color filter array further includes at least a color filter array corner, and at least two apexes of the color filters arranged in the color filter array corner are separated from the corresponding layout pattern by a shortest distance. |
| US08300333B2 |
Lens barrel and photographing apparatus including the same
A lens barrel and a photographing apparatus including the lens barrel include a clutch assembly disposed on a plane orthogonal to an optical axis between a manual adjustment ring and a distance adjustment ring. The clutch assembly rotates on a fixing part of the lens barrel and includes first, second, and third clutch wheels and one or more rollers, wherein the first clutch wheel includes an operator disposed on an end thereof and that receives a rotation force of the manual adjustment ring, the second clutch wheel is disposed on an inner surface of the first clutch wheel, the third clutch wheel is disposed on an inner surface of the second clutch wheel and fixed to the distance adjustment ring, and the rollers are radially disposed with respect to the optical axis and comprise surfaces contacting the operator and other surfaces contacting an outer surface of the third clutch wheel, wherein the first and second clutch wheels are elastically fixed to each other by first elastic members, a second elastic member is disposed between the second clutch wheel and the fixing part, and a third elastic member is disposed at both ends of the second clutch wheel, supports ends of circumferential surfaces of the rollers, and controls positions of the rollers. |
| US08300328B2 |
Lens unit composed of different materials and camera module and method for manufacturing the same
A lens unit composed of different materials includes a base and a lens. A part of a camera module of a different material from the lens is used as the base. The lens of optical resin is directly replicated on the base such that the lens is integrally formed on the base. A camera module is provided with the lens unit. The lens/lenses is/are formed on the single base/multiple bases to form the lens unit/units, using a die whose surface contacting the base slopes in relation to its central axis to allow the base to self-align. |
| US08300327B2 |
Production method of optical element, optical element forming mold and optical element
A method of producing an optical element, in which a first and a second die are cooperated with each other so as to press-mold a material in order to produce an optical element including a lens portion, the first die has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the second die defines therein an interior space having a polygonal cross-sectional shape with respect to the direction of die-fastening, the first die is adapted to enter into the interior space of the second die in the direction of die-fastening in the interior space so to press-mold the material in order to form the lens surface while the material is bulged out through gaps between the first die and the second die around the lens surface whereby forming protrusions. An optical element and a mold assembly for an optical element are also provided. |
| US08300323B2 |
Collimators assemblies
Collimators and methods of making collimators. According to certain embodiments a collimator may be used with a light source, where the light source emits light along a light source axis. The base of the collimator may be angled such that the collimator refracts the light in a direction that is angled relative to the light source axis. There may also be provided methods for making a collimator. According to one method, a mold is first provided that produces an uncut collimator having an extended portion. The uncut collimator may be cut at an angle to produce a collimator with an angled base. In another method, there may be a mold with a base cavity, and a wedge may be inserted in the base cavity. The wedge forms a collimator with an angled base. |
| US08300322B2 |
Variable magnification optical system and imaging apparatus
A variable magnification optical system includes a negative first lens group, a stop and a positive second lens group, arranged from the object side in the order mentioned above. The magnification of the variable magnification optical system is changed by changing a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group in the direction of an optical axis. The first lens group includes a negative plastic lens, and the second lens group includes a positive plastic lens. Further, the following formulas (1) and (2) are satisfied: 5.0 |
| US08300318B2 |
Zoom lens system, imaging device and camera
A zoom lens system of the present invention has a plurality of lens units each composed of at least one lens element and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises: a first lens unit having negative optical power and composed of two lens elements; a second lens unit having positive optical power; and a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit during image taking, the individual lens units are moved along an optical axis such that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit should decrease and that an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit should increase, so that magnification change is achieved, and wherein on the image side relative to the second lens unit, an aperture diaphragm is arranged that moves along the optical axis integrally with the second lens unit during zooming. |
| US08300309B2 |
OCT measuring method and system
A microscopy system and method allow observing a fluorescent substance accumulated in a tissue. The tissue can be observed at a same time both with visible light and with fluorescent light. It is possible to observe a series of previously recorded fluorescent light images in superposition with the visible light images. An end of the series of images may be automatically determined. A thermal protective filter may be inserted into a beam path of an illuminating system at such automatically determined end of the series. Further, the fluorescent light image may be analyzed for identifying a coherent fluorescent portion thereof. A representation of a periphery line of the coherent portion may be generated, and depths profile data may be obtained only from the coherent portion. An illuminating light beam for exciting the fluorescence may be modulated for improving a contrast of fluorescent images. |
| US08300306B2 |
Multi-stage raman amplifier
A Raman amplifier includes at least a first and a second optical Raman-active fiber disposed in series with each other. A first pump source is connected to the first Raman-active fiber, and is adapted for emitting and coupling into the first Raman-active fiber a first pump radiation including a first group of frequencies. A second pump source is connected to the second Raman-active fiber, and is adapted for emitting and coupling into the second Raman-active fiber a second pump radiation including a second group of frequencies. The whole of said first and second group of frequencies extends over a pump frequency range having a width of at least the 40% of the Raman shift. The minimum and the maximum frequency in each of said first and second group of frequencies differ with each other of at most the 70% of said Raman shift. |
| US08300303B1 |
Acoustically focused optical lens
An acoustically-focused optical lens is provided that uses acoustic transducers arranged in diametrically-opposed pairs around an exterior surface of a cylindrical tube in order to concentrate (heavier-than-water metallic) particles suspended in water within the interior of the tube to be along a central axis of the tube. The transducers are activated in accordance with higher order (and odd order) Bessel functions to create an asymmetric mode in order to create the central axis node. Distortions in the optical lens can be further reduced by arranging two or more of the tubes in series with their central axes aligned. |
| US08300301B2 |
Method of manufacturing substrate and display apparatus having the same
A method of manufacturing a substrate includes; disposing a preliminary planarization layer on a first surface of a plastic substrate, bonding a second surface of the plastic substrate onto a carrier substrate, wherein the second surface of the plastic surface is substantially opposite to the first surface, curing the preliminary planarization layer to form a planarization layer, and separating the carrier substrate from the plastic substrate. |
| US08300294B2 |
Planar gradient index optical metamaterials
An apparatus comprises a metamaterial including a first conducting layer, a second conducting layer, and a dielectric layer located between the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer. Each conducting layer has holes formed therethrough, for example as an array of holes formed through the metamaterial. The holes are configured so that the metamaterial has a gradient refractive index at an operational wavelength. The operational wavelength may be an IR or visible wavelength. The apparatus may be an optical element, and for example may have the functionality of a lens or prism through the gradient refractive index. Interfaces may be parallel planar interfaces. |
| US08300291B2 |
Optical scanning device and two-dimensional image display device using the same
An optical scanning device includes at least one laser light source for emitting a laser light; a deflection section for deflecting and scanning the laser light emitted from the at least one laser light source; and a light guide plate of which a side surface is irradiated with the laser light deflected and scanned by the deflection section. The at least one laser light source includes a multi-mode fiber light source, or a broad-stripe semiconductor laser light source arranged such that a vertical direction of a stripe structure is parallel to a scanning direction. An exit pupil in a thickness direction, which is perpendicular to the scanning direction, is formed at least in one area on the side surface of the light guide plate. |
| US08300290B2 |
Piezoelectric mirror device, optical equipment incorporating the same, and piezoelectric mirror device fabrication process
A piezoelectric mirror device (11) comprises a frame portion (12) having a centrally located opening (13), a mirror portion (14) positioned at the opening (13), a pair of mirror support portions (15) adapted to support the mirror portion (14) rotatably relative the frame portion (12) and a pair of drive portions (16) that is a multilayer structure of lower electrodes (17), piezoelectric element (18) and an upper electrode (19). The mirror support portions (15) are formed of a material having a Young's modulus of up to 160 GPa, and the frame portion (12) includes a cutout (13a) at a part of a site wherein there are the drive portions (16) positioned. The cutout (13a) is in contact with the opening (13). |
| US08300288B2 |
Color adjusting apparatus and method for light source
Color adjusting apparatus and method for a light source. A reflector of a required color is added to a light source of a scan module, a plating film of the required color is formed on a lens, or the lens is dyed with the required color. Or alternatively, the color of the light source is directly changed into the required color. As a result, the inconsistent intensities for the light in the primary color, red, green and blue output from the charge-coupled device caused by different brightness of the light source, different wavelength transmission of the lens, and different light sensitivity of the charge-coupled device is improved. |
| US08300286B2 |
Photosensitive chip with shifted rows of photosensors and methods thereof
A photosensitive chip, including first and second sets of photosensors aligned in a Y direction and separated in a perpendicular X direction and third and fourth sets of photosensors aligned in the Y direction and separated in the X direction. The first and third sets are aligned in the X direction. The second and fourth sets are aligned in the X direction. The first and third sets are offset in the Y direction from the second and fourth sets by a distance about equal to a length of a photosensor divided by the number of sets. A time interval between activation of two sequential photosensors from the first through fourth sets of photosensors is substantially equal to the time period of a scan line for the first through fourth sets of photosensors divided by the number of photosensors in the first through fourth sets of photosensors. |
| US08300284B2 |
Apparatus and method for pattern-based configuration of optical sensing systems
According to a method and apparatus taught herein, an optical sensor uses pattern recognition in its optical detection processing to “see” detection patterns that correspond to predefined configuration settings. In one embodiment, for example, an optical sensing system selects an operational configuration by detecting a pattern embodied in received light data and comparing the detected pattern to one or more internally stored patterns. Each stored pattern represents a different operational configuration of the optical sensing system. If the detected pattern matches one of the stored patterns, the optical sensing system adopts the operational configuration corresponding to the matched stored pattern. Further, in one or more embodiments, the optical sensing system enters a configuration mode by an external stimulus, e.g., responsive to a configuration mode input, and the aforementioned pattern detection-based configuration selection is enabled only while in the configuration mode. |
| US08300283B2 |
Scanning system having brightness compensation apparatus and method thereof
A scanning system having a brightness compensation apparatus and method thereof are described. The brightness compensation apparatus includes a statistics window control unit, a brightness statistics logic unit, and a comparing logic unit. The statistics window control unit sets a statistics window setting area. The brightness statistics logic unit generates the current brightness statistics data corresponding to the current page. The comparing logic unit compares the current brightness statistics data with brightness target value to determine whether the brightness compensation apparatus compensates the brightness of next page based on the comparison result and/or image gain of the current page for adjusting the brightness of the scanning system according to the compared result between the brightness statistic data and the brightness target value. |
| US08300282B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes an image reading portion that moves in a predetermined direction and has an image reading sensor that reads an image on a sheet. A sheet feeder feeds the sheet. A first transparent member has a reference surface that supports the sheet thereon, and a second transparent member contacts the sheet fed by the sheet feeder. The image reading portion moves along a lower surface of the second transparent member, and the second transparent member is positioned to overlap a portion of the first transparent member as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the reference surface. The image reading portion moves along a lower surface of the first transparent member and moves along a lower surface of the second transparent member. |
| US08300281B2 |
Calibrating device, mapping method and compensation method using the same
A calibrating device including a pixel unit array and a pattern is provided. The pixel unit array comprises parallel warp lines and parallel weft lines. Each warp line crosses each weft line to define pixel units all over the pixel unit array. The pattern comprises some pixel units having a gray level different from a gray level of remainder pixel units in the pixel unit array. The pattern comprises spaced bars parallel to one another and not parallel to the warp lines and the weft lines. A characteristic of the pattern is utilized to define target pixel units and comparison pixel units, and the comparison procedure is implemented with the characteristic of the pattern. Positions and gap sizes of gaps between image sensors are mapped out by comparing the target pixel units with the comparison pixel units. The quality of a scanned image is improved with compensation for the gaps. |
| US08300280B2 |
Image scanning apparatus and method
An image scanning apparatus and method accurately sense a leading edge and a tail edge of a scanned document and determine the leading margin and the tail margin of the document. The image scanning method includes feeding the document to a scanning position through a feeding path according to a command to scan the document; operating a sensor unit disposed on the feeding path according to a location of the document; scanning the document in response to operation of the sensor unit; sensing a leading edge of each document using a document sensing pattern disposed oppositely to the scanning unit; and scanning the document when the leading edge of the document is sensed. |
| US08300277B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for determining document scanning area from an apex position and a reading reference position
In a method for reading a document set on a document positioning plate to output image data, an edge area of an image of an entire reading area is extracted to form a first rectangle area including the extracted edge area. If a position of an apex of the first rectangle area farthest from a reading reference position and a size of the first rectangle area satisfy predetermined conditions, image data corresponding to a second rectangle area including the first rectangle area and the reading reference position are output. |
| US08300273B2 |
Image generating devices and printing devices that generate elliptical radial gradations and image generating methods for generating elliptical radial gradations
An image generating device comprises an acquisition unit which acquires an image drawing instruction for drawing an elliptical radial gradation from accepted target data, an extraction unit which extracts elliptical shape parameters and gradation pattern parameters from the acquired image drawing instruction, a transformation matrix generating unit which generates a transformation matrix for transforming an elliptical shape specified by the elliptical shape parameters into a perfect circular shape based on the elliptical shape parameters, an inverse matrix calculating unit which calculates an inverse matrix of the transformation matrix, a transformation unit which transforms the gradation pattern parameters using the transformation matrix, a drawing unit which draws a gradation for the perfect circular shape based on the transformed gradation pattern parameters, and a gradation generating unit which generates the elliptical radial gradation by inversely transforming the perfect circular shape (including the gradation drawn by the drawing unit) using the inverse matrix. |
| US08300271B2 |
Image process system, image process method and image process program
An image process system applies a specific process to image data inputted via an input device and outputs the image data, to which the specific process has been applied, to an output device. The system includes: an input information acquisition portion that acquires information about the input device through which the image data is inputted; an output information acquisition portion that acquires information about the output device to which the image data inputted via the input device is to be outputted; a process execution portion that executes the specific process to the image data inputted via the input device on the basis of the information acquired by the input information acquisition portion and the output information acquisition portion; and a data output portion that outputs the image data, to which the specific process has been applied in the process execution portion, to the output device. |
| US08300269B2 |
Dot forming element arrays at different resolutions
A printing device includes a first array of dot forming elements disposed on a substrate along an array direction at a first array-direction spacing to provide a first dot forming resolution R1 for dots of a first color; and a group of N arrays of dot forming elements, wherein the dot forming elements in each array of the group of N arrays are disposed on the substrate along the array direction at a second array-direction spacing to provide a dot forming resolution equal to R1/N; at least one of the N arrays of dot forming elements forms dots of a different color than at least one of the other arrays of the N arrays in the group; and N is greater than 1. |
| US08300260B2 |
Image forming apparatus, print control method, and computer-readable recording medium storing print control program
An image forming apparatus and a print control method prevents a disadvantageous effect to a user due to print failure, before an image forming operation is started. The image forming apparatus includes an interface for connecting an external storage device to the image forming apparatus. Data stored in the external storage device is read via the interface and printed by the image forming apparatus. A memory usage at the time of printing the data is calculated based on a parameter obtained from various information about the data. The calculated memory usage and a memory capacity that is available in the image forming apparatus during printing are compared. An image forming operation for printing the data is controlled depending on a comparison result. |
| US08300251B2 |
Printing apparatus and control method thereof and program
It is determined whether or not a change request for changing an array of a plurality of items of job information on a job list screen to a second array being different from a first array is inputted via a user interface. If it is determined that the change request is inputted, a job list screen is displayed in which the array of the plurality of items of job information is changed to the second array. Display contents of the user interface are changed in response to a user operation with respect to a print job displayed on the job list screen. If the change request is inputted prior to the user operation, the job list screen in the second array is redisplayed upon the conclusion of processing due to the user operation. If the change request is not inputted prior to the user operation, the job list screen in the first array is redisplayed. |
| US08300250B2 |
Method and system for print job processing
Print jobs received at a printer are assigned a reference which is incorporated as a visible representation of the reference in the printed print job. When the user recovers the print job, the reusable print job addendum. is fed back into the printer, for reuse in later print jobs. |
| US08300248B2 |
Printing control system with suspend modes and method thereof
A printing control system includes a host interface, a user interface, a printing unit, and a controller. The host interface communicates with a host device that submits a print job. The user interface communicates with a user. The printing unit executes the print job. The controller suspends operation at the printing unit in response to a suspend request received at one of the host interface and user interface. The controller measures an elapsed time since the suspension, and transmits one of first and second commands upon determining that the elapsed time exceeds a given reference time. The first command causes the printing unit to automatically resume the suspended operation. The second command causes the host interface to send a notification of the suspension. |
| US08300247B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A disclosed image processing apparatus executes an application relevant to image processing. The image processing apparatus includes a request analyzing layer configured to analyze a user-specified request requesting a service; and a workflow control layer configured to control a workflow corresponding to the service in response to a request requesting execution of the service received from the request analyzing layer, the workflow causing one or more function process units to be combined and to serve as application. |
| US08300234B2 |
Estimating spectral distribution of reflections from object surface based on low frequency illumination
A system for estimating the specular roughness of points on a surface of an object may include a lighting system, an image capture system and a computer processing system. The lighting system may be configured to illuminate the surface of the object at different times with different illumination patterns. Each illumination pattern may illuminate the surface from a plurality of different directions and form an intensity gradient having an order of no more than two. The image capture system may be configured to capture an image of the surface of the object when illuminated by each of the different illumination patterns at each of the different times. The computer processing system may be configured to compute the specular roughness of each point on the surface of the object based on the images captured by the image capture system. |
| US08300228B2 |
Matched pulse stimulated raman scattering
Methods and apparatus for selectively driving the vibrations of normal modes of a target molecule into coherence using stimulated Raman scattering. In concert, many vibrations produce a larger anti-Stokes signal than a single vibration. The same illumination does not drive other molecules to have coherent vibrations, so these molecules produce a weaker signal. Target and confounder molecules can be distinguished by pulses that drive many vibrations coherently, with applications in coherent Raman microspectroscopy. |
| US08300226B2 |
Method for detecting surface plasmon resonance
There is disclosed a method and system for detecting a surface plasmon resonance associated with a fluid sample. The method includes the step of providing a piezoelectric substrate having at least two electrodes thereon, wherein at least one of said electrodes is coupled to a fluid sample. A light beam is transmitted toward the fluid sample to induce a oscillation frequency in the piezoelectric substrate. The oscillation frequency from said electrodes is then measured during transmittance of the light to detect the surface plasmon resonance associated with the fluid sample. |
| US08300225B2 |
Method for optical measurement and optical measurement apparatus
An optical measurement apparatus can be provided, in which the sample is optically measured without loss of the illuminating light with high sensitivity. A glass plate as the transparent member 50 is placed in the interface between the end face 43 of the optical waveguide 40 guiding the illuminating light L generated by the laser light source 20 and the wall face of the capillary 30. According to the above feature, the air layer is prevented from existing in the interface between the end face 43 of the optical fiber 40 and the wall face of the capillary 30, thus the sample S can be optically measured with high sensitivity and few variability without causing the loss of the illuminating light L. |
| US08300221B2 |
Minute measuring instrument for high speed and large area and method thereof
The present invention relates to a minute measuring instrument for high speed and large area and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a minute measuring instrument for high speed and large area which measures properties of a specimen in high speed by a focused-beam ellipsometric part and then minutely remeasures the position showing a singular point by a minute measuring part and a method thereof. |
| US08300220B2 |
Device and method for non-invasively evaluating a target of interest of a living subject
A probe using integrated confocal reflectance imaging, confocal Raman spectroscopy, and gross spatial imaging for non-invasiveIy evaluating a target of interest of a living subject. In one embodiment, the probe includes a casing with first and second ends, and first, second and third optical pons The firsi and second optical ports are located at the first end of the casing and the third optical port is located at the second end of the casing such that the first and third optical ports define a first optical path therebetween and the second and third optical ports define a second optical path therebetween, respectively. Each optical path has first and second portions, where the second portions of the first and second optical paths arc substantially overlapped and proximal to the third optical port. |
| US08300219B1 |
Apparatus, system, and methods of precision aiming and installation of pre-aimed devices and method of composite lighting on target area
Methods and apparatuses are provided that can be utilized for accurate pre-aiming and installation of devices. The devices are pre-set to an aiming orientation relative to a universal reference plane. The reference plane is then correlated to a feature of a pole, tower, or other structure that will be used to elevate or suspend the devices. A position sensing subsystem is utilized to inform a worker when each device is correctly angularly oriented to the reference plane. The worker simply moves the mounting structure for the device to the correct three-dimensional angular orientation, uses the position sensor to confirm the correct orientation to within a highly accurate margin of error, and either locks the device in that orientation or marks the orientation. The pole, tower, or other elevating structure is then preliminarily erected at its pre-designed location and pre-designed rotational orientation with the pre-aimed devices. |
| US08300214B2 |
System and method for an adjusting optical proximity effect for an exposure apparatus
A method for matching a first OPE curve (700) for a first exposure apparatus (10A) used to transfer an image to a wafer (28) to a second OPE curve (702) of a second exposure apparatus (10B). The method can include the step of adjusting a tilt of a wafer stage (50) that retains the wafer to adjust the first OPE curve. As provided herein, the first exposure apparatus (10A) has the first OPE curve (700) because of the design of the components used in the first exposure apparatus (10A), and the second exposure apparatus (10B) has a second OPE curve (702) because of the design of the components used in the second exposure apparatus (10B). Further, the tilt of the wafer stage (50) can be selectively adjusted until the first OPE curve (700) approximately matches the second OPE curve (702). With this design, the two exposure apparatuses (10A) (10B) can be used for the same lithographic process. Stated in another fashion, exposure apparatuses (10A) (10B) from different manufacturers, when using the same reticle (26), will transfer similar images to the wafer (28). |
| US08300211B2 |
Catadioptric projection objective
Catadioptric projection objective (1) for microlithography for imaging an object field (3) in an object plane (5) onto an image field (7) in an image plane (9), including a first partial objective (11) imaging the object field onto a first real intermediate image (13), a second partial objective (15) imaging the first intermediate image onto a second real intermediate image (17) and a third partial objective (19) imaging the second intermediate image onto the image field (7). The second partial objective (15) has exactly one concave mirror (21) and at least one lens (23). The minimum distance between an optically utilized region of the concave mirror (21) and an optically utilized region of a surface (25)—facing the concave mirror—of a lens (23) adjacent to the concave mirror is greater than 10 mm. |
| US08300209B2 |
Exposure method, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A method for exposing a substrate by an exposure apparatus having an illumination optical system which is configured to illuminate an original and includes an adjusting mechanism that adjusts an effective light source distribution, and a projection optical system which projects a pattern of the original illuminated by the illumination optical system onto a substrate. The method includes steps of obtaining correlation information indicating a correlation between an effective light source distribution and a line width difference in a pattern formed on a substrate by exposure, determining an effective light source distribution corresponding to a target line width difference based on the correlation information, controlling the adjusting mechanism so as to obtain the effective light source distribution determined in the determining step, and exposing the substrate after the controlling step. |
| US08300197B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal layer between a pair of substrates, a light unit arranged in overlapping with the liquid crystal display panel for illuminating the liquid crystal display panel, the light unit including a front case and a back case for housing a light member, and a flexible printed circuit board. The flexible printed circuit board has a folding back portion which is housed at the housing portion provided at the bottom of the case of the backlight unit to adjust its length. The printed circuit board is drawn out from the housing portion to outside and connected to the outer circuits. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a compact and slim type liquid crystal display device. |
| US08300196B2 |
Display device having film-chip complex including a film having a connection region along one side
A film-chip complex includes a film which includes a connection region along one side, a chip which is mounted on the film, a gate signal line which is disposed on the film, wherein the gate signal line includes a gate lead which is disposed in the connection region and a gate main line which connects the chip with the gate lead and a signal line which is disposed on the film, wherein the signal line includes a signal lead which is disposed in the connection region, a signal main line which extends substantially toward an exterior of the connection region and a signal pad which is connected with the signal main line. |
| US08300195B2 |
Balance board and liquid crystal display having the same
A balance board includes; a substrate, a first wire disposed on the substrate, a second wire disposed on the substrate and spaced apart from the first wire, a plurality of first balance coils connected to the first wire and which uniformly distribute a first power supply voltage, a plurality of second balance coils connected to the second wire and which uniformly distribute a second power supply voltage, and a conductive pattern disposed on the substrate and spaced apart from the first and second wires, wherein the first and second wires are disposed substantially in parallel with each other, the second wire being divided into a plurality of parts with respect to an area where the first wire and the second wire cross over one another and the plurality of parts of the second wire are connected by a plurality of jumper connectors overlapping the first wire. |
| US08300191B2 |
Vertically aligned liquid crystal display
A vertically aligned type liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between pixel electrodes and a common electrode and containing vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules being controlled by an electric field. An orientation controller is formed on the common electrode at a position opposing the pixel electrode and an aspect ratio, i.e., a vertical to horizontal length ratio of the pixel electrode is set to at least 2. Alternatively, the pixel electrode is partitioned into at least two electrode regions so that each region represents a divided pixel electrode. An orientation controller is formed on the common electrode so as to correspond to each divided pixel electrode, an aspect ratio of each divided pixel electrode is set to at least 2. As such, the influence at the edge sections of the pixel electrode is reduced, viewing angle characteristic and transmittance are improved, and average response time is shortened. |
| US08300189B2 |
Liquid crystal device and methods thereof
Provided is a liquid crystal (LC) device and method thereof. The device comprises (i) a body of liquid crystal, (ii) a first layer comprising a first material, and (iii) a second layer comprising a second material; wherein the first layer is located between the body of liquid crystal and the second layer; the first layer alone aligns the liquid crystal in a first orientation; the second layer alone aligns the liquid crystal in a second orientation; and the first orientation is different from the second orientation. With optimized first layer thickness, the invention can be used in sensor applications to improve detection sensitivity, and in LCD applications with enhanced control over LC pretilt transition. |
| US08300187B2 |
Reflective liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
A reflective liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a first alignment layer, and a second alignment layer. The first substrate and the second substrate are disposed oppositely to each other. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules for reflecting light within a wavelength range and allowing light beyond the wavelength range to pass through. The second alignment layer is disposed on an inner side of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and the second alignment layer is employed to absorb the light passing through the liquid crystal layer and align the liquid crystal molecules. |
| US08300185B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal display panel; and first and second light diffusing layers, each of which has a first major surface and a second major surface and each of which is arranged such that the first major surface opposes a viewer side surface of the liquid crystal display panel. Each of the first and second light diffusing layers includes a first region formed of a first substance which has a first refractive index N1 and a plurality of second regions formed of a second substance which has a second refractive index N2( |
| US08300184B2 |
Color filter substrate
A color filter substrate is provided. In the color filter substrate, transparent protective films are formed on respective sub-pixels of a color filter. The color filter substrate has improved electric field characteristics without the need for additional optical or circuit compensation to achieve an improvement in contrast and a reduction in color difference. |
| US08300181B2 |
Method of fabricating liquid crystal display and liquid crystal display obtained by the method
A method of fabricating liquid crystal display (LCD) that may improves picture quality by removing uncured monomers in a liquid crystal panel and an LCD obtained by the method are provided. The method includes forming a liquid crystal layer between a first substrate and a second substrate by injecting liquid crystal molecules and monomers between the first substrate and the second substrate, the first and second substrates facing each other; applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer; performing a primary curing operation on the monomers; and removing the electric field and performing a secondary curing operation on remaining monomers, wherein at least one of the primary curing operation and the secondary curing operation includes maintaining a temperature of the liquid crystal layer below a phase transition temperature of the liquid crystal molecules. |
| US08300178B2 |
Flexible display and manufacturing method of the same
A flexible display of the present invention is an active matrix flexible display in which a TFT is provided for each pixel. In the flexible display, an adhesive layer, a protective layer, a gate electrode for the TFT, which is buried in the protective layer, a gate insulating layer for the TFT, source and drain electrodes for the TFT, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode, an organic active layer for the TFT, an organic EL layer including a red (R) emitting layer, a green (G) emitting layer and a blue (B) emitting layer, which are formed on a plurality of the pixel electrodes, a metal electrode, and a sealing layer are formed on a plastic film. |
| US08300177B2 |
Backlight device, liquid crystal display device and illuminating device
A backlight device (10) includes: an LED package (12) including an LED chip (12A) and an Ag reflective layer (12B); and an optical member (for example, a prism sheet (16)) for adjusting light emitted from the LED package (12). The optical member (16) adjusts an amount of a halogen thus contained and the like so that emission of halogen is decreased to a degree in which no silver halide is generated on the Ag reflective layer (12B). |
| US08300171B2 |
Repairing structure of liquid crystal display and repairing method thereof
A repairing structure of an LCD is provided, which includes at least a first conductive layer, an insulating layer located on the first conductive layer, at least a second conductive layer located on the insulating layer, and an opening located on the first conductive layer in a crossing region where the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are overlapped. A repairing method of the repairing structure is further provided. |
| US08300166B2 |
Display panel and method of manufacturing the same
A display panel includes a gate line dividing a pixel region into a first region and a second region and including a gate electrode, a data line crossing the gate line and including a source electrode, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line and including the gate electrode, the source electrode, and a drain electrode facing the source electrode, a protective layer disposed on the thin film transistor and comprising a first contact hole and a second contact hole, and first and second sub-pixel electrodes disposed on the first and second regions of the divided pixel region, respectively. The drain electrode is directly connected to the first sub-pixel electrode through the first contact hole, and the drain electrode is directly connected to the second sub-pixel electrode through the second contact hole. |
| US08300162B2 |
Multi-view display
A multi-view display (49) is arranged to provide large viewing zones (23, 24) while producing little or no cross-talk. The display may include a barrier (20) comprising a plurality of color portions (20a, 20b, 20c) that co-operate with color filters (19a-19f) in a display panel (14) to selectively direct light to the viewing zones (23, 24). A lenticular screen (30) may be arranged to create or image light lines onto imaging units (32a, 32f) of the display panel (14) that are spaced from one another, so that adjacent units (32a, 32f) are illuminated by light from different lenses (30a, 30b, 30c), directed towards different viewing zones (23, 24). A light source (35) may generate the light at positions aligned with boundaries between adjacent lenses (30a, 30b, 30c). The imaging units may be operated so that units (32a, 32b) displaying information for the first viewing zone (23) are separated from units (32d, 32e) displaying information for the second viewing zone (24) by units (32c, 32f) not used to display information. Adjacent columns of units (32a, 32b) may be used to display information to one viewing zone (23). The viewing zones (23, 24) may be enlarged using a scatterer (36). A switchable diffuser (40) or barrier (48) may be provided so that the display (49) can operate in different multi-view and/or single view modes. |
| US08300158B2 |
Polarization element and projector
A polarization element includes: a substrate; and a plurality of grid sections arranged on the substrate, wherein the grid sections each have protruding sections and recessed sections alternately arranged in a longitudinal direction of the grid sections at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of incident light, and an arrangement pitch of the protruding sections is different between the grid sections adjacent to each other. |
| US08300150B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus includes a pixel difference calculator, a summing unit, a determining unit, and an output unit. The pixel difference calculator receives a present image having first pixels and a previous image having second pixels, calculates pixel differences between corresponding first and second pixels, and outputs positive and negative pixel difference values. The summing unit obtains a first output value by adding up those of the positive pixel difference values and a second output value by adding up those of the negative pixel difference values. The determining unit determines a noise level of the present image from the first and second output values, and outputs a blended value. The output unit adds together weights of pixels at the same positions of the present and previous images according to the blended value to generate an output image. An image processing method is also disclosed. |
| US08300147B2 |
System and method for in-band A/V timing measurement of serial digital video signals
A system and method for characterizing the relative offset in time between audio and video signals and enables the receiver of the audio and video signals to resynchronize the audio and video signals. Signal characterization data is dynamically captured and encoded into frames of video and audio data that is output by a television origination facility. The signal characterization data is extracted by the receiver and signal characterization data is captured for the received frames. The extracted signal characterization data is compared with the captured signal characterization data to compute the relative offset in time between the video and one or more audio signals for a frame. The receiver may then resynchronize the video and audio signals using the computed relative offset. |
| US08300146B2 |
Display frequency boosting system for increasing image display frequency
A display frequency boosting system for increasing image display frequency includes a buffer to receive a first frame, a second frame, and a third frame of image data and store the frames in a form of zero to fifth fields, a motion estimation device to perform a motion estimation on the fields to produce a motion vector, an interpolator connected to the buffer to perform an interpolation on the fields to produce an interpolated field, a motion compensation device to perform a motion compensation according to the motion vector, the fields and the interpolated field to produce sixth and seventh fields, and a controller to control read and write operations of the buffer, wherein each frame is composed of an odd field and an even field, and a fourth frame corresponding to the sixth and the seventh fields locates between the first and second frames in a display time axis. |
| US08300144B2 |
Camera module capable of calibration
A camera module includes a circuit board; a lens electrically connected to the circuit board; a adjusting base disposed on the circuit board and having at least two through-hole disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the lens; at least two fixed posts; at least two adjusting screw respectively passing through the through-holes of the adjusting base so as to be secured in the fixed posts; and at least two springs respectively encircling the adjusting screws, wherein two ends of each spring are positioned against the adjusting base and one of the fixed post respectively. |
| US08300143B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of fabricating the same, and camera module
Image quality degradation due to external light irradiated to an edge section of a transparent cover of a solid-state imaging device and external light propagating in the cover is prevented with a simple structure.A glass cover 60 formed to cover the whole surface of an imaging region 26 of a solid-state imaging element 10 is constituted by a transmission section 60a corresponding to the imaging region 26, and an edge section 60b that surrounds the transmission section 60a outside the transmission section 60a. The edge section 60b of the cover 60 is selectively removed around a periphery of the edge section 60b, thereby forming a frustum-shaped part whose cross-sectional area decreases monotonously from its exit side to its incidence side in the cover 60. An optical function film 63 having an optical absorption, reflection, or scattering action is formed on an outer face of the frustum-shaped part. |
| US08300142B2 |
Imaging apparatus having adjustable power supply based on imager sensitivity
An imaging apparatus includes: a power supply; a first voltage converter producing first and second voltages which are different from each other based on an output of the power supply and outputting them to first and second output systems, respectively; a second voltage converter producing the first voltage based on the second voltage and outputting the first voltage to a third output system; an imaging element operated by the first voltage; at least one circuit element operated by at least one of the first and second voltages; a sensitivity setting section setting an input sensitivity of the imaging element based on at least one of a user's operation and information of a photographic subject; and a power supply switching section switching to supply the first voltage of the first output system to the imaging element in the case where the input sensitivity is lower than a predetermined sensitivity and switching to supply the first voltage which is outputted from the third output system to the imaging element in the case where the input sensitivity is higher than the predetermined sensitivity. |
| US08300141B2 |
Portable terminal apparatus, image output apparatus, method of controlling portable terminal apparatus, and recording medium
The invention accomplishes an image capture apparatus capable of allowing a user to more easily attain, as compared to a conventional image capture apparatus, image data of a captured image which includes no blown-out highlights or loss of shadow detail throughout an entire image. A portable terminal apparatus 100 includes (i) an image capture section 120 capable of consecutively carrying out image capture of a same image capture object a plurality of times; and (ii) a captured image determination section 130 for determining whether or not blown-out highlights or loss of shadow detail is included in an image indicated by captured image data obtained by the image capture, and in a case where the captured image determination section 130 determines that the blown-out highlights or loss of shadow detail is included in the image, the image capture section 120 consecutively carries out image capture of the image capture object under a plurality of exposure conditions different from the exposure condition in the image capture carried out to obtain the captured image data, and the communication section 150 transmits obtained captured image data to the image output apparatus 500. |
| US08300139B2 |
Image pickup apparatus and image pickup method
An image pickup apparatus which can reduce the time required for automatic focus scanning. The size of the face is determined based on information on a subject's face, which is detected from image data acquired by shooting by an image pickup device. The subject distance is estimated based on the determined size of the face. The depth of field is calculated. A range over which the focus lens is driven varies according to the estimated subject distance and the calculated depth of field. |
| US08300137B2 |
Image sensing apparatus providing driving direction of focus lens for attaining in-focus state and control method therefor
In an image sensing apparatus including an image sensing unit with an image sensor and an EVF, first image signals obtained every preset number of frames, of image signals output from the image sensing unit are displayed on the EVF, focus evaluation values indicating a focus state of an image are obtained from second image signals obtained in frames other than the frames for the first image signals of the image signals output from the image sensing unit, a direction of driving a focus lens for an in-focus state is determined on the basis of the obtained focus evaluation values, and the determined driving direction is displayed on the EVF. Further, the focus lens is moved for image sensing in the frames for the second image signals to carry out image sensing of the subject at different focus lens positions for each frame. |
| US08300136B2 |
Imaging apparatus for detecting a face image and imaging method
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to receive an optical image transmitted through a lens unit and configured to convert the image into image data, a target image detection unit configured to detect a target image satisfying a predetermined form from the image data converted by the imaging unit, and a focus control unit configured to move a focus position of the lens unit by a predetermined amount according to a result of the target image detected by the target image detection unit. The target image detection unit detects the target image from image data converted by the imaging unit in the moved focus position when the focus control unit moves the focus position of the lens unit by the predetermined amount according to the detected result of the target image. |
| US08300134B2 |
Image-taking apparatus, image-taking region displaying method, and image-taking region displaying program
An image-taking apparatus is provided which includes a first extracting unit that extracts an image corresponding to a first region having a first aspect ratio and an image corresponding to a second region having a second aspect ratio from a video image to record the images, a second extracting unit that extracts an image having an aspect ratio of a display region of a display device from the video image in a range where the first region is maximally displayed, a producing unit that produces a notification image indicating that the second region exists outside the display region when the second region exists outside the region of the image extracted by the second extracting unit, a combining unit that produces a display image by combining the notification image with the image extracted by the second extracting unit, and a control unit that displays the display image on the display device. |
| US08300131B2 |
Image pickup device for wide dynamic range at a high frame rate
An image pickup device includes an image sensing device and a driving unit. The image sensing device includes a first pixel group and a second pixel group. The first pixel group includes a plurality of pixels arranged as a two-dimensional array in a semiconductor substrate surface portion that receives incidence light from a subject. The second pixel group includes a plurality of pixels arranged as a two-dimensional array in the semiconductor substrate surface portion in an area overlapping the first pixel group while the pixels in the first pixel group do not disposed in the same positions as the pixels in the second pixel group. The driving unit outputs a picked-up image signal of one frame from the first pixel group exposed over one vertical synchronizing time period for each vertical synchronizing signal. |
| US08300125B2 |
Method and apparatus for using thin-film transistors and MIS capacitors as light-sensing elements in charge mapping arrays
A method and apparatus for using TFT transistors or MIS capacitors as light-sensing elements in charge mapping arrays. A bias stress may be applied to a plurality of pixels in a charge map array. As a result, charge carriers may be trapped in each of the plurality of pixels responsive to the bias stress, which may be observed as a value shift such as a threshold voltage VT shift. Light may then be transmitted toward the plurality of pixels in the charge map array causing some of the pixels to absorb the light. The trapped charge carriers are released in the pixels that absorbed the light and not released in the pixels that did not absorb the light. The value shift in each of the pixels can be compared to determine which of the pixels absorbed the light. |
| US08300121B2 |
Image apparatus and image processing method
An image capturing apparatus includes an image obtaining unit adapted to obtain a captured image of an object captured by an imaging optical system, a parameter value setting unit adapted to set a value of a parameter indicating a factor determining optical characteristics of the imaging optical system, an optical characteristics obtaining unit adapted to obtain optical characteristics of the imaging optical system during capture of the captured image, a recovery filter determining unit adapted to determine a recovery filter to be used for correcting deterioration of the image quality of the captured image due to optical characteristics of the imaging optical system, based on the obtained optical characteristics and the value of the parameter, and an image recovery unit adapted to perform recovery processing by applying the recovery filter to the captured image. The factor determining optical characteristics does not depend on only an optical design parameter of the imaging optical system. |
| US08300119B2 |
Compact lens optical system and digital camera module including the same
A lens optical system includes a first optical system and a second optical system. The lens optical system includes at least one reflection member to selectively redirect optical paths of light representing objects from first and second directions toward a photographing device. The first optical system includes, in order from an object to the photographing device along the optical axis, a first lens group including a first reflection member, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power. The second optical system shares at least one optical element with the first optical system. |
| US08300116B2 |
Two-path sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter and image sensor including the same
A two-path sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter and an image sensor including the same are provided. The two-path sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter includes at least one integrator configured to integrate a first integrator input signal during a second half cycle of a clock signal and integrate a second integrator input signal during a first half cycle of the clock signal by using a single operational amplifier; a quantizer configured to quantize integrated signals from the at least one integrator and output a first digital signal and a second digital signal; and a feedback loop configured to feed back the first and second digital signals to an input of the at least one integrator. A first analog signal and a second analog signal respectively input from two input paths are respectively converted to the first and second digital signals using the single operational amplifier, thereby increasing power efficiency and reducing an area. |
| US08300114B2 |
Mixed format media transmission systems and methods
Systems and methods for operating cameras are described. An image signal received from an image sensor can be processed as a plurality of video signals representative of the image signal. An encoder may combine baseband and digital video signals in an output signal for transmission over a cable. The video signals may include substantially isochronous baseband and digital video signals. The baseband video signal can comprise a standard definition analog video signal and the digital video signal may be modulated before combining with the baseband video signal and/or transmitting wirelessly. The digital video signal may be a compressed high definition digital video signal. A decoder demodulates an upstream signal to obtain a control signal for controlling the position and orientation of the camera and content of the baseband and digital video signals. |
| US08300106B1 |
Image stabilizer and image capturing device having same
An image stabilizer includes a stationary frame with four sidewalls, a moveable frame including four side panels, magnets, a plurality of fine pattern coils, and a resilient plate holding the moveable frame in the stationary frame. Each sidewall includes a receiving hole, a support portion received in the receiving hole, and a raised engagement portion extending from the support portion. The magnets are fixed on the side panels. The fine pattern coils are fixed in the receiving holes and aligned with the magnets and compensate for vibration and movement of the device to which it is affixed. The resilient plate is configured for returning the moveable frame to a resting position when a power supply is cut off. |
| US08300102B2 |
Apparatus and method for inferencing topology of multiple cameras network by tracking movement
Provided are an apparatus and a method for tracking movements of objects to infer a topology of a network of multiple cameras. The apparatus infers the topology of the network formed of the multiple cameras that sequentially obtain images and includes an object extractor, a haunting data generator, and a haunting database (DB), and a topology inferrer. The object extractor extracts at least one from each of the obtained images, for the multiple cameras. The haunting data generator generates appearing cameras and appearing times at which the moving objects appear, and disappearing cameras and disappearing times at which the moving objects disappear, for the multiple cameras. The haunting DB stores the appearing cameras and appearing times and the disappearing cameras and disappearing times of the moving object, for the multiple cameras. The topology inferrer infers the topology of the network using the appearing cameras and appearing times and the disappearing cameras and disappearing times of moving objects. Therefore, the apparatus accurately infers topologies and distances among the multiple cameras in the network of the multiple cameras using the cameras and appearing and disappearing times at which the moving objects appear and disappear. As a result, the apparatus accurately track the moving objects in the network. |
| US08300100B2 |
Video surveillance recording system
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a system and method for providing airflow through a video surveillance system enclosure. A video surveillance system enclosure may have a first hole and a second hole. An incoming conduit may have a first incoming opening fitted into the first hole. A first plurality of holes may along at least a portion of a length of the incoming conduit. An outgoing conduit may have a first outgoing opening fitted into the second hole. A second plurality of holes may run along at least a portion of a length of the outgoing conduit. |
| US08300098B1 |
Techniques for providing access to video data using a network attached storage device
An improved technique provides access to video data using a network attached storage (NAS) device. The technique involves detecting access to a video camera from the NAS device through a network, and receiving a video store command from a user workstation through the network. The video store command directs the NAS device to store video data provided by the video camera to the NAS device through the network. The technique further involves storing the video data provided by the video camera to the NAS device through the network in response to the video store command. |
| US08300093B2 |
Endoscope image processing method and apparatus, and endoscope system using the same
A method capable of obtaining a fluorescence image and a background image with a simple configuration. A color image is obtained, when excitation light is emitted on a subject, by imaging excitation light reflected from the subject and fluorescence emitted from the subject. Thereafter, an estimated spectral image that includes a background image representing the excitation light and a fluorescence image representing the fluorescence is generated by allocating a wavelength component of the excitation light and a wavelength component of the fluorescence included in the obtained color image to different primary color components. |
| US08300092B2 |
In-vivo image acquiring apparatus, in-vivo image receiving apparatus, in-vivo image displaying apparatus, and noise eliminating method
An in-vivo image acquiring apparatus includes an operation control unit which controls a black image acquiring operation, in which the operation control unit controls an imaging unit and an illuminating unit in such a manner the imaging unit conducts an image acquiring operation in a state the illuminating unit does not conduct an illuminating operation. The in-vivo image acquiring apparatus also includes an average calculating unit which calculates the average value of pixel value in a predetermined determining area, and a black image determining unit, which determines whether the image information acquired by the image acquiring operation is the black image by comparing the average value with a predetermined threshold value. The image information determined as the black image by the black image determining unit is transmitted, as the black image information, to an external apparatus by radio. |
| US08300087B2 |
Method and system for response time compensation for 3D video processing
A sequential pattern comprising contiguous black frames inserted between left and right 3D video and/or graphics frames may be displayed on an LCD display. The pattern may comprise two or three contiguous left frames followed by contiguous black frames followed by two or three contiguous right frames followed by contiguous black frames. The left and/or right frames may comprise interpolated frames and/or may be displayed in ascending order. The contiguous black frames are displayed longer than liquid crystal response time. 3D shutter glasses are synchronized with the black frames. A left lens transmits light when left frames followed by contiguous black frames are displayed and a right lens transmits light when right frames followed by contiguous black frames are displayed. A 3D pair of 24 Hz frames or two 3D pairs of 60 Hz frames per pattern are displayed on a 240 Hz display. |
| US08300084B2 |
Method for real-time prompting stitching degree of panoramic image
A method for real-time prompting a stitching degree of a panoramic image applied to a digital image pickup device. At first, a boundary band of a first image is captured to obtain an boundary image, and a second image is detected. Next, the boundary image and a local image of the second image are merged, and an association value of the boundary image and the local image of the second image is calculated. Then, the second image after being merged with the boundary image and a prompt signal corresponding to the association value are displayed on a screen. |
| US08300082B2 |
Apparatus and method for video conferencing
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to determine video conferencing capability of a group of communication devices associated with a user where the group of communication devices comprises a set top box and where the determination of the video conferencing capability is performed in temporal proximity with establishing a voice call over an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network between a mobile communication device and at least one device of the group of communication devices; and establish a video conference for participating devices in response to a request from one device of the mobile communication device and the group of communication devices, where the video conference is established over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network, and where the participating devices comprise the mobile communication device and the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08300076B2 |
Line head and an image forming apparatus using such a line head
A line head, includes: a substrate which is provided with a plurality of luminous element groups which respectively include a plurality of luminous elements in a first direction which emit light beams; a lens array which includes a plurality of imaging lenses which are provided corresponding to the plurality of luminous element groups; and a light shielding member which is disposed between the substrate and the lens array and includes a plurality of light guiding holes which correspond to the plurality of luminous element groups, wherein the lens array is away from the light shielding member, an inner diameter of each of the plurality of light guiding holes in the first direction is a first light guiding hole diameter, and a bore diameter of each of the plurality of imaging lenses in the first direction is a first lens diameter, and the first light guiding hole diameter is smaller than the first lens diameter. |
| US08300072B2 |
Electrophoretic display having improved gray-scale generator and method thereof
An electrophoretic display (“EPD”) includes a display panel displaying an image and a gray-scale generator generating a gray-scale and providing a gray-scale voltage to the display panel. The gray-scale generator generates a gray-scale value of a white color using gray-scale values of red, green and blue colors and a brightness ratio between the red, green and blue colors. When a pure color is displayed, the EPD prevents the gray-scale of the white color from being fixed to 0. Thus, the EPD may enhance a chroma of the pure color and color brightness, thereby improving a display quality thereof. |
| US08300071B2 |
Method for generating a gamma table
A method for generating a gamma table is provided. The method is applied to a display, and the display obtains n-bit corrected gray levels [y(1), . . . , y(2m)] from m-bit original gray levels [x(1), . . . , x(2m)] by using the gamma table, wherein m and n are positive integers. The method comprises calculating the corrected gray levels [y(1), . . . , y(2m)] corresponding to the original gray levels [x(1), . . . , x(2m)] according to a gamma curve; and successively calculating differences of two adjacent corrected gray levels (y(i+1)−y(i)) and recording the differences as a plurality of gamma reference values z(i+1) (i=1˜(2m−1)) corresponding to the original gray levels x(i+1), in which the value z(1) corresponding to x(1) is y(1), in order to generate the gamma table. |
| US08300067B2 |
Distance camera having a memory module
A method is provided for displaying information from a distance on a monitor. By defining an image plane, the inventive system displays an area of focus of the plane on the monitor while storing the image in short-term memory. When the user selects a subsequent area of focus it is stored in short-term memory also, along with the first area of focus. The user is allowed to toggle between the stored images without having to recapture previously viewed information by retaining subsequent areas of focus in short-term memory. The user can discard, or delete, unwanted areas of focus or choose to move them to permanent memory. It is also possible to organize multiple areas of focus into groups or albums or save them individually. |
| US08300066B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for displaying images thereon
A mobile terminal includes a first and a second storage modules. The first storage module stores a plurality of display images, layout data and resource files corresponding to different display states. The second storage module stores the plurality of layout data and resources files read from the first storage module when the mobile terminal is powered on. If the module terminal has been reoriented, the mobile terminal determines if a current image needs to be changed and generates an interface change event if the current image needs to be changed. Then, the mobile terminal reads corresponding layout data and resource file from the second storage module, reads a corresponding display image from the first storage module according to the read resource file, generates a redraw command, and sends the redraw command and the read layout data and the read display image to a display module to display a new image. |
| US08300065B2 |
Rotatable display device and method of adjusting image on display screen of the same
A rotatable display device and a method of adjusting an image on a display screen of the same include a command input unit which allows a user to input an image adjustment command, a display unit which displays images on a display screen, a first pivot processor which rotates the images corresponding to input signals according to a rotating direction of the display unit and outputs signals of the rotated images to the display unit, and a controller which adjusts the images on the display screen according to a relationship between the image adjustment command and the rotating direction of the display unit. |
| US08300063B2 |
Projection system, information processing apparatus
A projection system includes an information processing apparatus; a projector; and a signal transmission unit that carries signals between the information processing apparatus and the projector. The information processing apparatus includes a shape conversion unit that generates shape-converted image data that is properly represented when projected from the projector; a converted-image preservation unit that sequentially preserves the shape-converted image data; a modified-part detection unit that compares latest shape-converted image data with preceding shape-converted image data, and detects, as a modified part, part of the latest shape-converted image data that is modified from the preceding shape-converted image data; and a modified-image data generation unit that generates modified-image data of the modified part by adding color-tone data to each pixel in the modified part, and where the projector includes a current-image frame generation unit that generates a new current-image frame based on the modified-image data. |
| US08300062B2 |
Method, system and computer program for using a suggestive modeling interface
A method, computer system and computer program is provided for using a suggestive modeling interface. The method consists of a method of a computer-implemented rendering of sketches, the method comprising the steps of: (1) a user activating a sketching application; (2) in response, the sketching application displaying on a screen a suggestive modeling interface; (3) the sketching application importing a sketch to the suggestive modeling interface; and (4) the sketching application retrieving from a database one or more suggestions based on the sketch. The method is operable to allow a user interactively using the sketching application to create a drawing that is guided by the imported sketch by selectively using one or more image guided drawing tools provided by the sketching application. The present invention is well-suited for three-dimensional modeling applications. |
| US08300061B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image displaying apparatus
An image processing apparatus for correcting image signals corresponding to a plurality of color images constituting an image, includes: a correction table storage unit storing one or more correction tables; a control register in which control data for specifying one of the one or more correction tables stored in the correction table storage unit for every color image is set; a correction amount calculating unit calculating a correction amount of each color image on the basis of the correction table specified by the control register; and an image signal correcting unit independently correcting the image signals of the color images on the basis of the correction amounts calculated by the correction amount calculating unit. |
| US08300058B2 |
ELUT: enhanced look-up table signal processing
An electronic device including an array of addressable registers storing data. An input register connected to the array stores an input command parameter (e.g an opcode of a command) and its associated operands in one or more input registers connected to the addressable register array. A single instance of a command accesses the at least one register of the array. Based on the input command parameter, the command for all of the address operands: reads a datum of the data previously stored in at least one register, updates the datum thereby producing an updated datum, and writes the updated datum into at least one register. The command has multiple address operands referencing the one or more registers and supports two or more of the address operands being identical. The device includes logic circuitry which provides a logical output signal to the processing circuitry indicating which, if any, of the address operands are identical. The processing circuitry based on the logical output, processes first any identical address operands prior to writing the updated datum into the at least one register so that a new instance of the command begins processing by the processing circuitry on a consecutive clock pulse and the command throughput is one command per clock pulse. |
| US08300050B2 |
Temporary low resolution rendering of 3D objects
3D scenes may be rendered a resolution lower than a resolution associated with the resultant image. A graphics application or 3D editor may render the 3D artwork at a lower resolution while the user modifies or manipulates the 3D model from which the artwork is derived. In some embodiments, an image may include multiple image layers, each representing a portion of the overall finished image. Graphics programs generally associate a target resolution with an image. Rendering 3D artwork at high resolutions may take extra time and result in poor performance. Thus, in some embodiments, a graphics program may be configured to render 3D artwork at a lower resolution than the resultant image's target or associated resolution while a user is modifying the 3D model. Subsequently, after the user has completed manipulating the 3D model, the graphics program may render the 3D model again at the image's associated resolution. |
| US08300045B2 |
Rasterization engine and three-dimensional graphics system for rasterizing in order adapted to characteristics of polygon
A three-dimensional graphics system is provided. The three-dimensional graphics system rasterizes each of a plurality of polygons generated from vertexes in an order adapted to characteristics of each polygon. The three-dimensional graphics system includes a rasterization engine including a polygon setup unit receiving the vertexes and generating the polygons and rasterization information for each polygon, and a rasterizer rasterizing pixels using the rasterization information received from the polygon setup unit in an order adapted to the characteristics of each polygon. Accordingly, the coherence of the pixels is increased and the hit ratio of cache memory is thus increased. As a result, the performance of the three-dimensional graphics system is improved. With the increase of the hit ratio of the cache memory, buss traffic in the system is reduced and power consumption is thus reduced. |
| US08300044B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium which stores knitting structure model generation program, knitting structure model generation apparatus and knitting structure model generation method
A knitting structure model generation program, apparatus and method are provided to generate a three-dimensional model of a warp knit to reproduce a realistic knitting structure. An initial model generation portion (160) generates in a virtual three-dimensional space an initial model of a warp knit representing one column of yarn path in a warp direction and array information representing an array position in a weft direction of one column of yarn path. A position correction portion (170) sets mass points of a yarn on the yarn path, generates a dynamic model of the warp knit by connecting the mass points, and corrects the position of each mass point. A three-dimensional model generation portion (180) forms a surface expressing a yarn surface on a yarn path represented by the edge connected to the mass points whose positions are corrected, and thereby generates a three-dimensional model of the warp knit. |
| US08300041B2 |
LCD display and backlight apparatus and driving method thereof
The backlight apparatus includes a light source module having a plurality of light sources connected in series, and a power supply module which generates a driving signal for driving the light source module according a synchronous control signal. A first switch is disposed between the light source module and power supply module, or between a last light source in the light source module and a reference voltage level. The first switch is turned on or off according to the synchronous control signal. In addition, a second switch determines whether or not to couple a function terminal of the power supply module to the reference voltage level to disable the driving signal without power off according to the synchronous control signal. |
| US08300036B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing glare and/or increasing privacy of a self-service device
A method for minimizing glare and/or increasing privacy for a user of a self-service device is provided. The method may include mechanical means such as a fixed visor and/or hood or a user operated hinged glare reducing overlay screen. The method may further include as using sensors that detect the user's eyes and other sensors to detect a source of light that produces glare. Information from these sensors may be sent to a computer controlled system that operates system of actuators. The actuators are operated by the computer in response to sensor inputs to adjust the screen angle relative the user to minimize glare for that user and/or increase privacy from surreptitiously observing eyes or cameras. |
| US08300034B2 |
Drive circuit and liquid crystal display apparatus including the same
A drive circuit for a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is provided, where the LCD panel includes a plurality of pixels located at intersection regions of a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines. The drive circuit includes a gate line drive unit and a data line drive unit. The gate line drive unit is configured to simultaneously enable two of the plurality of gate lines during each of successive horizontal scanning periods, where the two gate lines enabled during a horizontal scanning period are interleaved with the two gate lines enabled during a next horizontal scanning period. The data line drive unit configured to apply gray-scale voltages corresponding to image data to the plurality of data lines. |
| US08300033B2 |
Method and apparatus for driving display panel
A method and apparatus for driving a display panel in which a bus link between a timing controller and a source driver block is altered in order to simplify the structure of a circuit. The apparatus includes a timing controller to generate signals including data and a reference signal for driving the display panel at a display driving time. A plurality of source drivers generate signals for driving data lines of the display panel using the signals generated by the timing controller. First signal transmission means are provided for transmitting the data from the timing controller to each of the plurality of source drivers using a point-to-point connection link, and a bus for transmitting the reference signal generated by the timing controller to one of the plurality of source drivers. Also, second signal transmission means are provided for transmitting the reference signal between the plurality of source drivers using a serial cascade connection link. |
| US08300031B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising transistor having gate and drain connected through a current-voltage conversion element
When a signal inputted to a pixel is erased by setting potentials of a gate terminal and a source terminal of a driving transistor to be equal, a current slightly flows through the driving transistor in some cases, which leads to occur a display defect. The invention provides a display device which improves the yield while suppressing the increase in manufacturing cost. When a potential of a scan line for erasure is raised, a potential of the gate terminal of the driving transistor is raised accordingly. For example, the scan line and the gate terminal of the driving transistor are connected through a rectifying element. |
| US08300030B2 |
Tablet and coordinate computation circuit thereof
The present invention discloses a space-bound-free tablet and its coordinate determining circuit for determining a coordinate of a stylus pen. The coordinate is computed by the coordinate determining circuit in which first voltage, a second voltage, and a third voltage is obtained, where the first voltage equals the maximum detection voltage, the second voltage and third voltage are obtained from two antennas, and both of the two antennas are at the same side of the antenna that induces the maximum detection voltage. |
| US08300029B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel including first and second substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates, each of the first and second substrates defining a central display region and a peripheral non-display regions; a cover glass integrated touch sensor on the liquid crystal panel, the touch sensor including a plurality of transparent first electrodes and second electrodes formed on a surface of the cover glass facing the liquid crystal panel, wherein the first electrodes and second electrodes cross each other; and a touch signal applicator at a side of the cover glass away from the display region of the liquid crystal panel. |
| US08300026B2 |
Touch sensible display device
A display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a display panel; a plurality of pixels disposed on the display panel; a plurality of sensor data lines disposed on the display panel and disposed between two adjacent pixels; and a plurality of sensing units disposed on the display panel and disposed between two adjacent pixels. |
| US08300020B2 |
Hybrid inertial and touch sensing input device
A method and apparatus for tracking coarse and fine motions associated with an electronic input device is disclosed. The electronic input device can have both an inertial sensor and a touch sensor. The method includes receiving inputs from an inertial sensor and a touch sensor, and dynamically adjusting a velocity estimate of the electronic input device based on weighting or predetermined thresholds of the inputs to maximize a tracking range of the input device. |
| US08300007B2 |
Self assembling display with substrate
Various embodiments of methods and systems for designing and constructing displays from multiple light-modulating elements are disclosed. Display elements having different light-modulating and self-assembling characteristics may be used during display assembly and operation. |
| US08300005B2 |
Display that implements image displaying and light reception concurrently or alternately
The present invention is to reduce power consumption in a display that concurrently (or alternately) implements light emission and light reception in parallel. A display is provided with a display panel configuration including a plurality of display elements arranged in a matrix and a plurality of light-receiving elements that are disposed adjacent to the plurality of display elements and receive light incident on a display plane. In addition, the display includes a position detector that determines the position of contact or proximity to the display plane based on a light reception signal arising from light reception by the light-receiving elements. Furthermore, the display includes a controller that shifts the displaying state or the position detection state from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode if the position detector has determined the presence of contact or proximity in a predetermined state. |
| US08300004B2 |
Display apparatus and driving method thereof synchronizing frequencies of a synchronization signal and dimming signal
A display apparatus includes; a display panel which displays an image in response to a gate voltage and a data voltage, a panel driver which receives a control signal, and which supplies the gate voltage and the data voltage to the display panel according to the control signal, a backlight which supplies a light to the display panel, an inverter which receives a backlight dimming signal, and which controls a brightness of a light emitted from the backlight according to the backlight dimming signal, and a timing controller which receives a synchronization signal, determines a frame frequency of the display panel according to the synchronization signal, outputs the control signal, and modulates the synchronization signal based on a ratio of a predetermined backlight dimming frequency to the frame frequency, and which outputs the backlight dimming signal according to the modulated synchronization signal. |
| US08300003B2 |
Driver for reducing a noise, display device having the driver, and method thereof
A driver may include a plurality of data output units and/or a multi-phase clock generator. The plurality of data output units may be configured to output data based on a plurality of clock signals. The multi-phase clock generator may be configured to receive a master clock signal to generate the plurality of clock signals having different phases in a period of the master clock signal and/or to provide the clock signals to the data output units. A number of the clock signals may correspond to a number of the data output units. |
| US08300002B2 |
Gate drive circuit having at least three clock signals and having forward and reverse driving modes and driving method thereof
A gate driving circuit receives a plurality of clock signals in a sequence and includes a plurality of cascaded drive units sequentially outputting an output signal, wherein a first-stage drive unit of the gate driving circuit receives a scan start signal or a scan end signal while a last-stage drive unit thereof receives a scan end signal or a scan start signal; wherein a driving direction of the gate driving circuit is reversed by reversing the sequence of the clock signals and exchanging the scan start signal and the scan end signal. The present invention further provides a driving method of a gate driving circuit. |
| US08300001B2 |
Demultiplexer drive circuit
A demultiplexer drive circuit includes a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth switching devices. The first switching device is connected to the first and the second scan clock signals. The control terminal of the second switching device is connected to the first switching device, and the rest of its terminals are connected to the data line and a first pixel electrode. The control terminal of the third switching device is connected to the first switching device, and the rest of its terminals are connected to the data line and a second pixel electrode. The fourth switching device is connected to the first and the second scan clock signals and its control terminal is connected to the third switching device. The control terminal of the fifth switching device is connected to the fourth switching device, and the rest of its terminals are connected to the data line and a third pixel electrode. The first scan clock signal and the second scan clock signal have a substantially identical pulse width and a phase difference of substantially half of the pulse width. |
| US08300000B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof with varying line row inversions
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device with a driving method includes an LCD panel, a data driving circuit, a common voltage generating circuit, and a gate driving circuit. The LCD panel includes multiple data lines and multiple scanning lines intersecting with the data lines, and a common electrode. The gate driving circuit provides multiple gate-scanning signals to scan the scanning lines. The common voltage generating circuit provides a common voltage to the common electrode. The data driving circuit provides a gray level voltage signal including multiple voltage levels to the data lines. The common voltage is serial square waves having at least two non-identical frame periods. The square waves in each non-identical frame period of the common voltage in one frame have a constant period. |
| US08299996B2 |
Driving method for reducing image sticking
A driving method with reducing image sticking effect is disclosed. The driving method includes applying a voltage on the data lines for trapping impurities crossing the data lines and lowering the degree of the image sticking effect, and applying different asymmetric waveforms to different data lines for trapping impurities crossing the data lines and lowering the degree of the image sticking effect. |
| US08299995B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of controlling common voltage thereof
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of pixels, a lookup table which stores information about a plurality of digital common voltages, each of the plurality of digital common voltages corresponding to at least one gray value, a timing controller which analyzes gray characteristics of image signals to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel and which selects one of the digital common voltages based on an analysis result, and a common voltage generator which generates an analog common voltage in response to the digital common voltage selected by the timing controller and which supplies the analog common voltage to the liquid crystal panel. |
| US08299994B2 |
Liquid crystal display and control method thereof
A liquid crystal display and a control method thereof are disclosed. The pixel of the liquid crystal display comprises: a first switch element, a second switch element, a first storage capacitor, a second storage capacitor, a first liquid crystal capacitor, and a second liquid crystal capacitor. The control method comprises: providing a first sub-pixel charge stage, a second sub-pixel charge stage, and a normal display stage. The first sub-pixel charge stage comprises: turning on the first switch element and the second switch to input a first gray level signal to the first storage capacitor, the second storage capacitor, the first liquid crystal capacitor, and the second liquid crystal capacitor. The second sub-pixel charge stage comprises: turning off the second switch element and inputting a second gray level signal to the first storage capacitor and the first liquid crystal capacitor. The normal display stage comprises: turning off the first switch element. |
| US08299991B2 |
Display driver method and apparatus
A method of providing an LCD overdrive drive scheme, which comprises measuring a stabilized transmission level of an LCD display pixel corresponding to a target drive level. An overdrive transmission level is measured corresponding to an overdrive drive level. The measured overdrive transmission level is compared with the measured stabilized transmission level to determine if the overdrive drive level is too high or too low. An iterative process then changes the overdrive drive level until a suitable overdrive drive level is found. This is used to derive overdrive drive scheme parameters which are stored in a memory of the LCD device. This method enables an overdrive scheme to be determined during use of the device. It can therefore take account of temperature and display ageing, without the effects of these being modeled. |
| US08299987B2 |
Modulation method and apparatus for dimming and/or colour mixing utilizing LEDs
There is provided apparatus for controlling a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) comprising at least one current source for powering the set of LEDs; a main controller for receiving dimming and/or color mixing information and for translating the information into LED control information and transmitting the LED control information to control the set of LEDs; wherein the LED control information is based on and off times. |
| US08299982B2 |
Emission control line driver and organic light emitting display using the emission control line driver
An emission control line driver capable of being mounted on a panel, of improving driving speed, and of minimizing power consumption. The emission control line driver includes stage circuits each having clock, inverted clock, and start pulse inputs and each generating an emission control signal pulse. The stage circuits are cascaded to provide a series of emission control signals. |
| US08299979B2 |
Integral eye-path alignment on telephony and computer video devices using two or more image sensing devices
A two-way visual communication system using multiple imaging devices, and a method for operating such a device is described. An embodiment of the present invention may use an image processor to analyze and modify image data from one or more imaging devices, and from the far-end party, in order to improve the perceived level of eye contact experienced by the users. The output signals from the imaging devices may be individually selected for transmission to the far end party, or may be used in combination in the synthesis of a composite image, using information derived from the imaging devices and/or from the image of the far-end party. |
| US08299977B2 |
Shock- and moisture-resistant connector assembly
A shock- and moisture-resistant connector assembly includes a first component, a second component, and an antenna. The first component has an end fitted with an adapter. A non-annular fastener is mounted around a connecting section of the adapter for tightly fastening the second component inserted in the first component. The second component is provided therein with at least one watertight O-ring which, after the first and second components are assembled, furnishes moisture and shock resistance to a coaxial cable passing through the second component. The antenna includes a dielectric spacer externally mounted with a coupling element and having an end formed as a shaft. A plastic washer, a wave washer, and a positioning washer are sequentially mounted around the shaft such that the entire assembled antenna has sufficient frictional resistance to maintain restrained displacement during a fine-tuning operation. |
| US08299975B2 |
Embedded antenna apparatus for utility metering applications
An embedded antenna for facilitating wireless transmission of utility meter data is disclosed, where in one embodiment an RF antenna is a part of the faceplate of the utility meter. In another embodiment the utility meter faceplate is a single-layer or a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) with the RF antenna printed on any desired layer. Such faceplates may be labeled to be viewable from outside of the meter housing and/or have openings to accommodate visual access to an output display of the meter consumption information. |
| US08299974B2 |
Method of making a vehicle antenna
The invention relates to a method for producing a vehicle antenna device (1) and to a vehicle antenna device (1) which is produced using this method and has a carrier film (2) which is composed of an electrically non-conductive material, wherein antenna structures (3) which are composed of an electrically conductive material are applied to the carrier film (2), wherein provision is made, according to the invention, for a plug connector (4) or an electronic device (6) to be fixed and electrically contact-connected directly to the carrier film (2) at a base point of the antenna structure (3). |
| US08299973B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device with human interface diversity antenna and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable handheld housing, and a wireless transceiver carried by the housing. A pair of an antennas are positioned in side-by-side relation preferably in the upper portion of the portable handheld housing. A human interface diversity controller is connected to the wireless transceiver to preferentially operate with the plurality of antennas based upon a relative position of the portable handheld housing with respect to a hand of a human user. The device can select or weight the antennas based upon the position of the device when being held by a user. |
| US08299960B2 |
Methods and systems for deriving seed position of a subscriber station in support of unassisted GPS-type position determination in a wireless communication system
In a method and system for deriving a seed position of a subscriber station in a wireless communications system in supporting unassisted GPS-type position determination is provided, the subscriber station receives overhead messages from the wireless communications system, and derives the seed position from the parameter values. The subscriber station may use a data structure in its memory and map possible parameter values to corresponding positions that may serve as the seed positions. |
| US08299959B2 |
Apparatus and imaging method with synthetic aperture for determining an incident angle and/or a distance
The invention relates to an imaging method with synthetic aperture for determining an incident angle and/or a distance of a sensor from at least one object in space, wherein at each of a number of aperture points one echo profile is sensed. Advantageously, for several angles assumed as the incident angle, one phase correction value and/or one distance correction value is calculated, adapted profiles are generated based on the echo profiles by adapting the phase with the phase correction value for each assumed angle and/or by shifting the distance with the distance correction value, for the assumed angle, the adapted profiles are summed or integrated, and a probability distribution is derived, and a probability value for the incident angle and/or for the distance is determined therefrom. A determination of the incident angle is also possible independently of the distance, wherein it is possible to only consider velocities or accelerations. |
| US08299958B2 |
Airborne radar having a wide angular coverage, notably for the sense-and-avoid function
An airborne radar device having a given angular coverage in elevation and in azimuth includes a transmit system, a receive system and processing means for carrying out target detection and location measurements. The transmit system includes: a transmit antenna made up of at least a first linear array of radiating elements focusing a transmit beam, said arrays being approximately parallel to one another; at least one waveform generator; means for amplifying the transmit signals produced by the waveform generator or generators; and means for controlling the transmit signals produced by the waveform generator or generators, said control means feeding each radiating element with a transmit signal. The radiating elements being controlled for simultaneously carrying out electronic scanning of the transmit beam in elevation and for colored transmission in elevation. |
| US08299957B2 |
Method for detecting a vehicle type, a vehicle speed and width of a detecting area by a vehicle radar sensor
A method for detecting a vehicle type, a vehicle speed and width of a detecting area by a vehicle radar sensor is disclosed. A radio wave is transmitted to a tracked vehicle. Subsequently, the reflective radio wave from the vehicle is received. The Doppler frequency versus time distribution is generated from the reflective radio wave. Because the reflective radio wave is influenced by the Doppler Effect, a parallelogram or a shape close to a parallelogram of a consecutive motion diagram is shown in the Doppler frequency versus time distribution of the vehicle. According to the consecutive motion diagram, certain information, such as the length and speed of the tracked vehicle and the width of the detecting area, can be acquired. |
| US08299956B1 |
Method of maneuvering a moving platform with on-board obstruction
A target in a mobile platform's obstructed zone can be cleared from the obstructed zone and engaged in the most time-efficient manner by determining the direction of the maneuver that would require the shortest amount of time to clear the target and then maneuvering the mobile platform in that direction. |
| US08299951B1 |
Clocking analog components operating in a digital system
A system and method are provided for operating first and second components in first and second domains. In one embodiment, the method includes: generating a plurality of clock signals shifted relative to one another; operating a first component in a first domain using a first one of the plurality of clock signals; operating a second component in a second domain using a second one of the plurality of clock signals selected using a selection component; and comparing a present output of the second component to a stored value, determining whether a variation between the present output and the stored value is greater than a threshold, and, if the variation is greater than the threshold, using a controller to cause the selection component to select a third clock signal from the plurality of clock signals that is shifted relative to the second clock signal to drive the second component. |
| US08299948B2 |
Receiving circuit and sampling clock control method
A receiving circuit includes: a clock generating circuit to generate a plurality of clock signals in a cycle; an oversampling circuit to oversample input data based on the plurality of clock signals and output a plurality of samples of digital data in a unit interval; a data boundary determining circuit to detect a changing point of the digital data, determine data boundaries of the unit interval based on the changing point, and output digital data corresponding to a central data between the data boundaries; and a clock phase control circuit to control a phase of at least one of the plurality of clock signals so that a first number of the plurality of samples becomes a certain value when a second number of samples between the data boundaries is larger than a threshold value. |
| US08299947B2 |
Sampling/quantization converters
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for converting a continuous-time, continuously variable signal into a sampled and quantized signal. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus includes multiple continuous-time quantization-noise-shaping circuits, each in a separate processing branch and having an adder that includes multiple inputs and an output; an input signal is coupled to one of the inputs of the adder; the output of the adder is coupled to one of the inputs of the adder through a first filter; and the output of a sampling/quantization circuit in the same processing branch is coupled to one of the inputs of the adder through a second filter, with the second filter having a different transfer function than the first filter. |
| US08299946B2 |
Noise shaping for digital pulse-width modulators
A noise shaper that compares an input signal to a feedback output signal, which is a truncated version of the input signal, and generates the difference between the two signals (i.e., the error). The noise shaper then integrates the errors by adding to the error multiple of its delayed versions, and quantizes the integrated errors in such a way that the spectrum of the quantization noise is shaped toward high frequencies to be removed by a LC low-pass filter used in conjunction with the noise shaper. The low frequency content of the desired signal is mostly unaffected. |
| US08299944B2 |
System and method for creating deduplicated copies of data storing non-lossy encodings of data directly in a content addressable store
Systems and methods are disclosed for storing deduplicated images in which a portion of the image is stored in encoded form directly in a hash table, the method comprising: organizing unique content of each data object as a plurality of content segments and storing the content segments in a data store; receiving content to be included in the deduplicated image of the data object; determining if the received content may be encoded using a predefined non-lossy encoding technique and in which the encoded value would fit within the field for containing a hash signature; if so, placing the encoding in the field and marking the hash structure to indicate that the field contains encoded content; otherwise, generating a hash signature for the received content and placing the hash signature in the field and placing the received content in a corresponding content segment if it is unique. |
| US08299940B2 |
Road-vehicle communication system and vehicle-mounted device
A road-vehicle communication system comprises roadside apparatuses, a center device, and a vehicle-mounted device mounted in a vehicle. The roadside apparatuses are each given identification information for identifying itself. The center device transmits to the vehicle the identification information about a first roadside apparatus installed on the road where the vehicle is traveling as first identification information via the first roadside apparatus and the identification information about a second roadside apparatus via which the vehicle is expected to travel to the destination as second identification information when the vehicle is traveling in the lane of the road where the first roadside apparatus is installed. The vehicle-mounted device stores the transmitted first identification information. If the secondarily transmitted second identification information includes the stored first identification information, the vehicle-mounted device reproduces content information transmitted together with the second identification information. The vehicle-mounted device judges whether or not the content information is for the lane where the vehicle is traveling and reproduces the content information if so. |
| US08299939B2 |
Method and apparatus for utility usage monitoring
An approach is provided for monitoring utility usage and generating notifications. A platform collects utility data from a utility meter of a subscriber and determines whether the utility data satisfies a usage threshold. The platform generates a notification based on the determination and presents the notification. |
| US08299935B2 |
Test apparatus and test method
A test apparatus comprising a plurality of test units that test a device under test; a plurality of housing sections that respectively house the test units therein; a plurality of opening/closing sections that are disposed respectively in the housing sections and that expose the test units to the outside or isolate the test units from the outside; and a control section that independently controls whether each of the opening/closing sections is allowed to be opened. The control section may allow test units that are not supplied with power to be exposed to the outside. For at least one of (i) a period during which one of the test units is performing a predetermined operation, (ii) a predetermined period before the period during which one of the test units is performing the predetermined operation, and (iii) a predetermined period after the period during which one of the test units is performing the predetermined operation, the control section may prohibit other test units from being exposed to the outside. |
| US08299933B2 |
Display blanking controller for portable electronic device
A portable electronic device comprises a battery, a display, a switch and a processor. The battery is for supplying operating power. The switch includes a magnetic element and a sensor configured for detecting the magnetic flux of the magnetic element. The sensor has a first predetermined value for turning on the switch. The switch is turning on in response to the magnetic flux of the magnetic element detected by the sensor being equal to the first predetermined value of the sensor. The processor is coupled to the switch, the battery and the display. The processor responsive to turning on of the switch for controlling supply of operating power from the battery to the display. The processor maintains supply of operating power from the battery to the display in response to turning on of the switch. |
| US08299932B2 |
Closed-loop monitoring system
In a closed-loop monitoring system, a host device is operable to output encoded signals at a coupling side to a single transmission line. Each of monitoring devices includes: a current inducting generating unit generating induced encoded signals when the encoded signals pass through a signal current generating element coupled across an input side coupled to the transmission line; a control unit identifying a monitoring signal from the induced encoded signals generated by the current inducting generating unit; and a detecting unit detecting, in response to the monitoring signal, whether each of electronic devices coupled thereto is activated ox deactivated and transmitting a reply signal associated with states of the electronic devices to the transmission line based on a detection result made thereby. The host device receives the reply signal from each monitoring device through the transmission line and the coupling side to obtain state information associated with the electronic devices. |
| US08299927B2 |
Electromagnetic radiation decoupler
An electromagnetic radiation decoupler for decoupling radiation in the wavelength range λmin to λmax. The decoupler has a first conductor layer in contact with a dielectric layer which comprises at least one area of absence and the thickness of the decoupler is less than λmin/4n, where n is the refractive index of the dielectric. The dielectric layer may be sandwiched between two conductor layers, one of which has the structure described above. The invention is also directed to methods of using and various articles comprising such a decoupler. |
| US08299920B2 |
Sensor based logistics system
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for tracking one or more items. The method may include periodically detecting, by a sensor device, sensor information of the one or more items, and periodically transmitting, by the sensor device, the sensor information. The method may also include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information. The method may also include transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties. The method may further include determining if the one or more parties is authorized to receive the sensor information and the periodically transmitting the sensor information to the one or more authorized parties based on a set of one or more permissions that grants or restricts access of the one or more parties to the sensor information based on the set of one or more permissions. |
| US08299918B2 |
System and method for remote monitoring of an individual with objects configured as household items
In embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for remotely monitoring an individual may include providing a sensor integrated in a monitoring object at a first location where the monitoring object may be configured as a household item. The sensor may be associated with an environment of an individual at the first location. The sensor may also be associated with a network. The sensor data may be processed to obtain monitoring information for the activity of the individual in the environment. The monitoring information may be transmitted over the network from the first location to a receiving object at a second location where the receiving object may be configured as a household item. |
| US08299911B2 |
Testing device for hazard alarm systems
A testing device for hazard alarm systems, particularly fire alarm systems, having a hazard alarm control panel connected with a variety of devices via a device loop configured as a ring bus system, and has at least one communication circuit for communication with the individual devices. The communication circuit comprises multiple functional units. The current measurement unit is checked and monitored by a device simulation unit that is completely integrated into the communication circuit and is controlled by a control unit configured as a microcontroller. |
| US08299909B2 |
Apparatus, method and program for detecting decrease in tire air pressure including means to reject data
An apparatus for detecting a decrease in a tire air pressure includes; a rotation velocity information detection means for regularly detecting tire rotation velocity information regarding the respective wheels of a vehicle; a resonance frequency estimation means for estimating a resonance frequency of the rotation velocity information based on the rotation velocity information obtained by the rotation velocity information detection means; and a determination means for determining, based on the estimated resonance frequency, a decrease in the tire air pressure. The apparatus includes a data rejecting means for rejecting data of rotation velocity information hindering the estimation of the resonance frequency. |
| US08299905B2 |
System for applying tactile stimulation to the controller of unmanned vehicles
A system 1 for applying tactile stimulation to the controller of a remote vehicle. The system 1 includes one or more sensors 2 disposed on the remote vehicle and configured to measure a physical property of the remote vehicle and generate output data indicative thereof. A transmitter 3 is disposed in the remote vehicle and is in communication with the sensor(s) 2 to receive the output data where the transmitter 3 is configured to send the output data to the controller at a remote location. The system 1 further includes a tactile stimulator 4 configured to be placed in directly or indirectly in contact with a skin surface of the controller of the remote vehicle to whom an output of the tactile stimulation is to be provided. The tactile stimulator 4 is in communication with the output of the sensor 2 to deliver tactile stimulation corresponding to the magnitude of the sensed physical property. |
| US08299901B2 |
Control lockout for an electronic apparatus
An electronic system including a user interface for transmitting an operational parameter control signal in response to manual manipulation of the user interface. A processor is coupled to the user interface and adjusts an operational parameter of the electronic system in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal. An actuatable device is actuated by a user. In response to the user actuation, the actuatable device prevents the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic system. |
| US08299899B2 |
AIMD external programmer incorporating a multifunction RFID reader having a limited transmit time and a time-out period
A system is provided for identifying implanted medical devices, leads and systems, as well as objects in close proximity to a patient having an implanted medical device (IMD), using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having retrievable information relating to the IMD, lead system and/or patient. An RFID tag communicator includes a circuit for limiting the total continuous transmit time of an interrogation signal, and a time-out circuit for delaying a second and any subsequent interrogation of the RFID tag. An external IMD programmer incorporating a multi-functional RFID reader is capable of identifying and communicating with various types of implanted medical devices, even if such devices are made by different manufacturers. |
| US08299896B2 |
Hand hygiene delivery system
Hand hygiene apparatuses and methods for monitoring hand hygiene and for dispensing hand soap or hand sanitizers. An illustrative hand hygiene apparatus includes a computer, a database stored on the computer, a biometric sensor operatively coupled to the computer, a hand hygiene dispenser operatively coupled to the computer, and a hand soap or hand sanitizer disposed adjacent to the hand hygiene dispenser. The database might include a collection of partial biometric data for a group of persons. An illustrative method may include collecting a set of partial biometric data, providing a biometric sensing apparatus and a hand hygiene dispenser coupled to the biometric sensing apparatus, sensing biometric data from a first individual from the group of persons with the biometric sensing apparatus, identifying the first individual by comparing the sensed biometric data with the set of partial biometric data, and dispensing a hand soap or hand sanitizer from the hand hygiene dispenser onto the hands of the first individual. |
| US08299895B2 |
Cellular phone entry techniques
A cell phone is mated with the vehicle system and thereafter used to obtain access to the vehicle. A user who has a cell phone automatically can obtain access to the vehicle. An embodiment describes a USB key that provides access to the vehicle, and in an emergency, either a complete or partial version of the key can be downloaded from a server. |
| US08299893B2 |
Operator system utilizing a position detector to initiate a closing sequence
Mobile transmitter configured to control any compatible barrier operator so as to move an access barrier to a closed position based on the change in angular and/or linear position of a carrying device. The mobile transmitter includes a position sensor and an activity sensor to monitor the change in position of the carrying device. Thus, when the angular and/or linear position of the carrying device changes by an amount greater than a predetermined threshold, the mobile transmitter automatically communicates a mobile command signal to the barrier operator commanding it to close the access barrier. |
| US08299886B2 |
Transformer and electronic apparatus including the same
Provided are a transformer, capable of simplifying a manufacturing process and enhancing heat dissipation characteristics and insulating characteristics by adopting a dual-bobbin structure and configuring a secondary winding as a metallic plate extending to the outside, and an electronic device including the same. Heat dissipation from a primary winding is facilitated by forming a primary winding at the outer side. Furthermore, a secondary metallic plate, although formed inside, includes extension portions to thereby facilitate heat dissipation from the secondary metallic plate. Also, by adopting a dual bobbin structure for outer and inner bobbins, a sufficient distance for insulation between the primary winding and the secondary metallic plate is ensured to thereby enhance an insulating function. Further, a manufacturing process can be simplified by forming a secondary winding as a metallic plate manufactured in advance. |
| US08299885B2 |
Method for making magnetic components with M-phase coupling, and related inductor structures
An M phase coupled inductor includes a magnetic core including a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, and M legs disposed between and connecting the first and second end magnetic elements. M is an integer greater than one. The coupled inductor further includes M windings, where each winding has a substantially rectangular cross section. Each one of the M windings is at least partially wound about a respective leg. |
| US08299883B2 |
Laminated inductive device
An inductive electrical device comprises multiple laminations, each lamination comprising: a generally planar electrically nonconductive substrate that has a central axis normal to its plane, a first surface and a second surface; at least one electrically conductive layer pattern along the first surface in the form of a narrow strip that starts from a first point displaced from the central axis and extends along the first surface about the central axis through a first angle of rotation to a second point; a least one electrically conductive layer pattern along the second surface in the form of a narrow strip that starts from the second point and extends along the second surface about the central axis through a second angle of rotation to at least the first point; an electrically conductive coupling region passing through the substrate proximate the second point that couples the electrically conductive layer pattern along the first surface to the electrically conductive layer pattern along the second surface; wherein stacking the laminations upon each other form at least one winding with multiple turns for the inductive device. |
| US08299881B2 |
Transformer improved in leakage inductance
There is provided a transformer improved in leakage inductance including: a core having first, second and third legs electromagnetically coupled to one another; a primary winding formed of a conductor having one end and another end receiving power from the outside and dividedly wound around the first, second and third legs; and a secondary winding wound around at least one of the first, second and third legs and receiving induced power by electromagnetic induction with the primary winding. |
| US08299878B2 |
RF circuit substrate comprised of guide portions made of photocurable layers and including a protruding surface features
A radio frequency circuit structure for transmitting radio signals includes a lower guide portion having a plurality of photocurable layers deposited on a substrate and an upper guide portion interfacing with the lower guide portion to define a guiding geometry. The upper guide portion may also include a plurality of photocurable layers deposited on a second substrate. A method for fabricating the radio frequency circuit structure includes depositing the plurality of photocurable layers on the substrate. A portion of each photocurable layer of the plurality of photocurable layers is exposed to ultraviolet light to form a latent image. The plurality of photocurable layers is developed to remove the portions not exposed to ultraviolet light to form a guide portion. The guide portion may be metalized and closed to form a guiding geometry. A lower guide portion may be closed by an upper guide portion formed in substantially the same manner as the lower guide portion. |
| US08299877B2 |
Resonator for wireless power transmission
Disclosed is a resonator for wireless power transmission used in a mobile device. The resonator includes a substrate, at least one microstrip line, and a magnetic core. The microstrip line is formed on the substrate and is provided at one side thereof with a slit to have an open-loop shape. The magnetic core is formed on the substrate and is disposed on a space defined by the microstrip line to increase coupling strength. |
| US08299875B2 |
Cavity filter with tuning structure
A cavity filter defines a cavity with an opening on a top portion thereof and includes a lid to cover the opening of the cavity. A plurality of resonators are secured on a bottom portion opposite to the top portion of the cavity. The lid includes a plurality of bases extending from the lid toward the plurality of the resonators, respectively. A plurality of threaded holes penetrating the lid and one of the bases faces to the plurality of resonators, respectively. Each threaded hole includes a stopper portion extending from an inner surface of the threaded hole inward to form a step defining a hole in communication with the threaded hole. Each threaded hole corresponds to a tuning post to adjust a resonating frequency of the cavity filter. |
| US08299870B2 |
Programmable gain attenuator with a wide attenuation range and a fine attenuation step size
A programmable gain attenuator (PGA) configured to receive a signal at an input and provide an attenuated version of the signal at an output is provided herein. The PGA includes a resistor coupled between a first tap and a second tap, where the first tap is coupled to the input of the PGA. The PGA further includes two sets of switches. The first set of switches is coupled in parallel between the first tap and the output, and the second set of switches is coupled in parallel between the second tap and the output. The attenuation setting of the programmable gain attenuator can be determined by controlling each set of switches. |
| US08299868B2 |
High frequency coupler and communication device
A high frequency coupler includes a ground, a first coupling electrode connected via a first resonator unit to an input and output terminal of a communication circuit, and one or more second coupling electrodes connected via a second resonator unit designed utilizing a ground to a ground terminal of the communication circuit. |
| US08299867B2 |
Adaptive impedance matching module
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF input port, an RF output port connected to the RF input port via a multichip adaptive impedance matching module (AIMM), and the multichip AIMM comprising one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements, wherein the multichip AIMM is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the bias voltage or bias current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port. |
| US08299866B2 |
Method and device including signal processing for pulse width modulation
A method and system process a signal for PWM modulation. An amplitude control signal adjusts the amplitude of an input signal, and an offset is added to the amplitude-adjusted signal to produce an offset-adjusted signal. The offset is selected according to the amplitude adjustment applied to the input signal. The offset-adjusted signal is pulse-width modulated the to produce a pulse-width modulated signal, and the pulse-width modulated signal is filtered to reduce high frequency components thereof. |
| US08299865B2 |
Quadrature modulator and semiconductor integrated circuit with it built-in
A quadrature modulator has first to fourth transistors, a first node, a second node, and a first output node. A non-inversion in-phase analog signal, an inversion in-phase analog signal, a non-inversion quadrature analog signal, and an inversion quadrature analog signal are supplied to input electrodes of the first to fourth transistors, respectively. Control electrodes of the first to fourth transistors respond to a non-inversion in-phase RF signal, an inversion in-phase RF signal, a non-inversion quadrature RF signal, and an inversion quadrature RF signal, respectively. Output electrodes of the first and second transistors are coupled to the first node, and output electrodes of the third and fourth transistors are coupled to the second node. A first high-pass filter is coupled between the first node and the first output node, and a second high-pass filter is coupled between the second node and the first output node. |
| US08299864B2 |
Voltage controlled temperature compensated crystal oscillator
The invention provides a multifunctional VC-TCXO that, as well as promoting miniaturization, selectively configures the functions as needed, and furthermore, is suitable for power savings. In a VC-TCXO provided with a chamber body that accommodates an IC chip and a crystal blank, the IC chip has; basic functions consisting of a first oscillator output function, and a temperature compensating function, and additional functions comprising of a second oscillator output function, an operation/non-operation function of the first oscillator output, and a temperature voltage output function, and basic IC terminals and additional IC terminals for these functions, and basic mounting terminals, and additional mounting terminals. Two of the additional IC terminals are two functions among the additional functions, which are selectively connected according to changes in a circuit pattern of a surface layer of the circuit formation surface, and the basic mounting terminals are provided on four corner portions of an outside bottom surface of the chamber body, and the two additional mounting terminals that are connected to the two additional IC terminals are provided on a central portion of a long side facing the outside bottom surface. |
| US08299860B2 |
Fabrication techniques to enhance pressure uniformity in anodically bonded vapor cells
A method of fabricating vapor cells comprises forming a plurality of vapor cell dies in a first wafer having an interior surface region and a perimeter, and forming a plurality of interconnected vent channels in the first wafer. The vent channels provide at least one pathway for gas from each vapor cell die to travel outside of the perimeter of the first wafer. The method further comprises anodically bonding a second wafer to one side of the first wafer, and anodically bonding a third wafer to an opposing side of the first wafer. The vent channels allow gas toward the interior surface region of the first wafer to be in substantially continuous pressure-equilibrium with gas outside of the perimeter of the first wafer during the anodic bonding of the second and third wafers to the first wafer. |
| US08299857B2 |
RF power amplifier including broadband input matching network
An RF power amplifier is disclosed that has improved input matching or reduced return losses over a wider frequency range. The amplifier includes an input impedance matching network, a resistive element, a transistor, and an output impedance matching network. The resistive element is coupled between the input impedance matching network and the input of the transistor. The resistive element is configured to lower the quality factor (Q) of the input impedance matching network. This has the effect of reducing the input impedance variation over a given frequency range. As a result, the overall impedance matching over the given frequency range is improved, thereby reducing the input return losses. This allows the RF power amplifier to be used in wider bandwidth applications. |
| US08299854B2 |
Circuit for power amplification of an input signal and signal emission system incorporating such a circuit
A circuit for power amplification of an input signal includes an input stage and an output stage, the said input stage including: a drive means incorporating a so-called main drive transistor, and a first so-called main input transistor able to receive the input signal, and mounted as a current mirror with the main drive transistor The first main input transistor is coupled to the output stage via a second so-called main input transistor incorporated into the input stage and controlled by the drive means, the first and second main input transistors being coupled together and with the earth according to a structure of Darlington type by way of a resonant circuit |
| US08299853B2 |
Class D amplifier
A class D amplifier includes an amplifier that generates a digital signal for driving a load based on an input signal, an attenuator that attenuates the input signal according to an attenuation command signal, and a clip prevention controller that outputs the attenuation command signal to intermittently attenuate the input signal when the digital signal is brought into a clip state or a near-clip state. |
| US08299852B2 |
Method and apparatus for a gain control circuit via a high frequency signal
A gain control amplifier provides amplitude variation of an input signal that is coupled to the amplifier, by adding or combining a higher frequency signal that overdrives or distorts the amplifier to one or more degree(s), to provide the gain variation of the input signal. A predistortion circuit may be included to further reduce distortion of the input signal at the output of the amplifier. |
| US08299848B2 |
Multi-layered semiconductor apparatus
Provided is a multi-layered semiconductor apparatus with improved heat diffusion and improved heat release. The multi-layered semiconductor apparatus (100) includes a plurality of layered semiconductor chips (20-1, 20-2) that each include at least one circuit region, and the circuit regions are arranged such that heat generated by the circuit regions as a result of the circuit regions being driven is spread out. The multi-layered semiconductor apparatus (100) further comprises a heat releasing section (50) that releases the heat generated by the circuit regions, and the circuit regions are arranged such that there is less thermal resistance between the heat releasing section and circuit regions that generate a greater amount of heat per unit area. |
| US08299847B2 |
Semiconductor device and data processing system including the same
A pair of power nodes of a logic circuit that needs to output a high level at the time of standby is connected to third and fifth dummy power lines and a pair of power nodes of a logic circuit that needs to output a low level at the time of standby are connected to second and sixth dummy power lines. Fourth, third, sixth, and fifth potentials of the second, third, fifth, and sixth dummy power lines satisfy fourth potential |
| US08299845B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a first voltage dividing circuit. The first circuit is coupled to a first terminal. The first circuit is operable by a first voltage supplied from the first terminal. The second circuit is coupled through a first resistive element to the first terminal. The second circuit is operable by a second voltage supplied through the first resistive element from the first terminal. The second voltage is smaller in absolute value than the first voltage. The first voltage dividing circuit is coupled to a first node between the first resistive element and the second circuit. The first voltage dividing circuit has a conductive state and a non-conductive state. The first voltage dividing circuit is kept in the conductive state while applying the first voltage to the first terminal to allow the first circuit to operate by the first voltage. |
| US08299844B2 |
System and circuitry to provide stable transconductance for biasing
An amplifier system can include an input amplifier configured to receive an analog input signal and provide an amplified signal corresponding to the analog input signal. A tracking loop is configured to employ delta modulation for tracking the amplified signal, the tracking loop providing a corresponding output signal. A biasing circuit is configured to adjust a bias current to maintain stable transconductance over temperature variations, the biasing circuit providing at least one bias signal for biasing at least one of the input amplifier and the tracking loop, whereby the circuitry receiving the at least one bias signal exhibits stable performance over the temperature variations. In another embodiment the biasing circuit can be utilized in other applications. |
| US08299843B2 |
Three-pole three-throw switch and communication device
A three-pole three-throw switch and a communication device employing the three-pole three-throw switch includes six diodes and six inductors. The six diodes are connected in series with a same direction. Common nodes of each two diodes form three poles and three throws. The three poles and the three throws are linked together in circular form. The three poles and the three throws receive control signals via the six inductor, respectively. |
| US08299839B2 |
Capacitively and conductively coupled multiplexer
A capacitively and conductively coupled multiplexer (C3mux) circuit is described. This C3mux circuit includes a set of nonlinear coupling capacitors, such as metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors, that can multiplex multiple input signals while minimizing the parasitic capacitance penalty associated with the ‘off’ paths. In particular, the capacitance of a given MOS transistor depends on whether its channel is present or absent. Furthermore, this channel is formed based on whether the gate-to-source and drain voltages for the MOS transistor are greater than the MOS transistor's threshold voltage. Note that the capacitance of the MOS transistors in the C3mux circuit is low for the unselected inputs. Consequently, the parasitic loading and the delay increase slowly as a function of the number of inputs. Moreover, the conductive feedback can be used to maintain a DC level of the input signals. |
| US08299838B2 |
Combined mixer and balun design
A circuit with inputs for first (LO) and second (IF) unbalanced signals at respective first and second frequencies, also comprising a mixer for the first and second input signals to produce a third signal (RF) at a third frequency at an output port. The mixer comprises first and second transistors which are cross-coupled to each other. Output terminals of the transistors are connected to the output port, and the mixer also comprises a first impedance connected to ground. The mixer, by means of the transistors and the first impedance is an active balun for the first input signal (IF), and the input port for the second signal (LO) comprises a second impedance, so that the first and second impedances together act as a passive balun for the second signal (LO). |
| US08299834B2 |
Current-controlled CMOS logic family
Various circuit techniques for implementing ultra high speed circuits use current-controlled CMOS (C3MOS) logic fabricated in conventional CMOS process technology. An entire family of logic elements including inverter/buffers, level shifters, NAND, NOR, XOR gates, latches, flip-flops and the like are implemented using C3MOS techniques. Optimum balance between power consumption and speed for each circuit application is achieve by combining high speed C3MOS logic with low power conventional CMOS logic. The combined C3MOS/CMOS logic allows greater integration of circuits such as high speed transceivers used in fiber optic communication systems. |
| US08299829B2 |
Clock generation circuit, semiconductor device including the same, and method of generating clock signal
To provide a DLL circuit incorporating a duty adjustment circuit that is independent of the frequency of a clock signal. The DLL circuit includes: a delay line that delays a first internal clock signal to generate a second internal clock signal; a counter circuit that specifies an amount of delay of the delay line; a counter control circuit that adjusts a count value of the counter circuit; and a subtraction circuit that determines a difference between first and second count values at which the rise edge of the first internal clock signal coincides with that of a replica clock signal. The fall edge of the second internal clock signal is adjusted based on a value equivalent to one-half of the difference obtained. This prevents the applicable frequency range from being limited as with a type of duty adjustment circuit that alternately discharges capacitors. |
| US08299827B2 |
High-speed frequency divider and a phase locked loop that uses the high-speed frequency divider
A frequency divider includes a least significant (LS) stage, multiple cascaded divider stages, and an output stage. The LS stage receives an input signal, a program bit and a first mode signal, and generates a first frequency-divided signal and an output mode signal. Each of the plurality of divider stages divides the frequency of an output of an immediately previous stage by a value specified by a corresponding program bit and a corresponding mode signal. A first divider stage in the plurality of divider stages is coupled to receive the first frequency-divided signal and to generate the first mode signal. The output stage receives the output mode signal and a control signal, and generates an output signal by dividing a frequency of the output mode signal by two if the control signal is at one logic level. The output stage forwards the output mode signal without division otherwise. |
| US08299826B2 |
Phase locked loop circuitry having switched resistor loop filter circuitry, and methods of operating same
Phase-locked loop circuitry to generate an output signal, the phase-locked loop circuitry comprising oscillator circuitry, switched resistor loop filter, coupled to the input of the oscillator circuitry (which, in one embodiment, includes a voltage-controlled oscillator), including a switched resistor network including at least one resistor and at least one capacitor, wherein an effective resistance of the switched resistor network is responsive to and increases as a function of one or more pulsing properties of a control signal (wherein pulse width and frequency (or period) are pulsing properties of the control signal), phase detector circuitry, having an output which is coupled to the switched resistor loop filter, to generate the control signal (which may be periodic or non-periodic). The phase-locked loop circuitry may also include frequency detection circuitry to provide a lock condition of the phase-locked loop circuitry. The frequency detection circuitry includes (i) circuitry to generate a signal which is representative of the frequency of the output signal of the phase-locked loop circuitry, (ii) comparison circuitry to compare the signal which is representative of the frequency of the output signal of the phase-locked loop circuitry to a reference input to the phase-locked loop circuitry, and (iii) a switched capacitor network including at least one capacitor. |
| US08299825B2 |
Electronic age detection circuit
An aging detection circuit is disclosed. An aging detection circuit may include at least an inverter and a half-latch. During a power-up sequence, if an input voltage of the first inverter changes sufficiently to cause the output of the inverter to change states, the output of the half-latch may be set to a state indicating aging of the circuit. This indication may be used in determining whether or not a supply voltage should be changed to compensate for the aging. A first transistor of the inverter may be arranged such that it remains active subsequent to power-up of the circuit. When active, the first transistor may be subject to degradation mechanisms associated with aging and which change its threshold voltage. The threshold voltage may change such that on a successive power-ups of the circuit, the first transistor is at least momentarily deactivated, leading to the setting of the state indicating aging by the half-latch circuit. |
| US08299819B2 |
Peak or zero current comparator
The present invention relates to a simple and small-sized circuit configuration (10) for significantly reducing resettling time of a peak or zero current comparator. This circuit configuration (10) provides the comparator input stage with an alternative current path at the comparator input submitted to a large voltage variation able to disturb the DC-settings. This circuit configuration (10) comprises a pair of small transistors (P3, P4) coupled to a differential pair of transistors (N1, N2) of the comparator input stage and having a polarity different from said pair of transistors (P3, P4). The gates of the transistors P3 and P4 share a common terminal connected to said comparator input. The currents and voltages across the comparator are always maintained close to the normal DC-setting values during the voltage transition phase. This circuit configuration (10) can be used in any current comparator for detecting a peak or a zero current, in particular, in DC-DC converters based on a switched operating mode. |
| US08299817B2 |
Circuit and method for adding dither to vertical droop compensation using linear feedback shift registers
Vertical dithering is performed for vertical droop compensation in image processing using Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSRs). Line memories are not used. A compensation circuit includes a signature reload input signal coupled to the input of five LFSRs. Each LFSR includes a signature store. The output of each LFSR provides a sequence output signal that is gated with a corresponding enable signal in a first logic circuit. The output of all of the first logic circuits are combined in a second logic circuit to provide a control signal output. |
| US08299814B2 |
PDU testing apparatus
A power distribution unit (PDU) testing apparatus includes a main power plug, a number of branch power plugs, a main switch, a number of branch switches, and a number of loads. The main switch and the branch switches are single-pole double-throw switches. A first terminal of the main power plug is connected to the first throw of the main switch. The second throw of the main switch is idle. The pole of the main switch is connected to the second throws of the branch switches. The first throws of the branch switches are respectively connected to first terminals of the branch power plugs. Second terminals of the branch power plugs are connected a second terminal of the main power plug. The poles of the branch switches are respectively connected to first terminals of the loads. Second terminals of the loads are connected to the second terminal of the main power plug. |
| US08299809B2 |
In-line characterization of a device under test
An apparatus is provided and includes a thermally isolated device under test to which first and second voltages are sequentially applied, a local heating element to impart first and second temperatures to the device under test substantially simultaneously while the first and second voltages are sequentially applied, respectively and a temperature-sensing unit to measure the temperature of the device under test. |
| US08299807B2 |
Foreign object detection sensor and method for manufacturing the same
A foreign objection detection sensor has a lengthy sensor part having a sensor electrode having a first sensor electrode which detects a proximity of a foreign object and a second sensor electrode which detects a contact of the foreign object, a sensor terminal part provided at one end of the sensor part, a leading wire pulled out from the sensor terminal part, the leading wire being electrically connected to the sensor electrode at the sensor terminal part to provide a proximity detecting function for detecting the proximity of the foreign object to the sensor part and a contact detecting function for detecting the contact of the foreign object to the sensor part. The sensor terminal part has a support member which supports a detection circuit unit electrically connected to the sensor electrode to carry out the proximity detecting function and the contact detecting function together with the sensor electrode. The detection circuit unit is disposed in the support member. |
| US08299802B2 |
Method to digitize analog signals in a system utilizing dynamic analog test multiplexer for diagnostics
An integrated circuit capable of monitoring analog voltages inside an analog block is presented. The integrated circuit has an analog test multiplexer (mux) whose inputs are connected to analog voltages of interest inside an analog block. The analog test multiplexer directs a selected analog voltage from an analog block to the output of the analog test mux. The integrated circuit further includes an analog monitor state machine which provides the selection bits to the analog test multiplexer, enabling random access to the analog voltages inside the analog block. The integrated circuit also includes an analog to digital converter for converting the selected analog voltage from the analog test multiplexer into a digital representation. |
| US08299799B2 |
Electrical device with miswire protection and automated testing
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an actuator assembly that is responsive to the fault detection signal. The actuator assembly includes a breaker coil configured to generate an actuation force in response to being energized. A circuit interrupter includes four sets of movable contacts configured to be driven into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus, the four sets of movable contacts being configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the actuation force. A self-test circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the at least one sensor. The self-test circuit is configured to automatically generate a test signal from time to time during a predetermined portion of an AC power line cycle. The self-test circuit is configured such that the test signal is sensed by the at least one sensor when the at least one sensor is operational, the sensor output signal being a function of the test signal. A monitor circuit is configured to monitor the fault detection circuit or the actuator assembly; the mechanical actuation force is substantially inhibited when the fault detection circuit or at least a portion of the actuator assembly properly respond to the test signal. The monitor circuit generates an end-of-life response if the fault detection circuit or the actuator assembly do not respond to the test signal within a predetermined period of time. |
| US08299792B2 |
Device for monitoring a living object during a magnetic resonance experiment
A device for monitoring a living object during a magnetic resonance (MRI) experiment in an MRI tomograph, wherein the device comprises one or more individual electrodes which are connected in an electrically conducting fashion to the living object to be examined, and are connected to a monitoring device via signal lines, wherein each signal line comprises individual parts that are electrically connected to each other via impedances. The eigenfrequencies of these parts are higher than the NMR measuring frequency, preferably more than twice as high, and the parts are electrically connected to each other via frequency-dependent impedances Zn. The electro-magnetic coupling from the RF antenna and the gradient coils to the signal lines can thereby also be minimized in a simple fashion. |
| US08299782B2 |
Position sensor, optical head device, head moving mechanism, information recording and reproduction device and position control system
As imaging devices are miniaturized, and optical devices are miniaturized, lens moving mechanisms are also miniaturized. Thus, position sensors for them are required to be miniaturized and have high accuracy at low cost. A magnet of a pillar shape and a yoke which move in the X axis direction with respect to a magnetic field detection element are provided, and a shape of a cross section of the yoke which is orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the magnet changes along the longitudinal direction. |
| US08299779B2 |
Device for measuring the intensity of an electric current and electric appliance including such device
A device for measuring the intensity of an electric current which has a simple and economical design and offers a high measurement dynamic compatible with combined measurement, protection and energy metering applications. The device (1) is insensitive to parasitic fields and to the position of the electric conductor to be measured, and that can be opened to facilitate placement thereof. The device (1) defines a closed path (C), about a conductor (2) for the circulation of the lines of magnetic field induced by the current to be measured, and the path is formed by two plates (30) having a high magnetic permeability separated by two air gaps (E) closed by two identical and opposed electric coils (4) for supplying a voltage proportional to the derivative of the intensity (I) of the current to be measured. The device (1) reduces the is compact so that it can be easily integrated into any type of electric appliance. |
| US08299768B2 |
PWM voltage converter with redundancy and feedback adjustment
A pulse-width modulated (PWM) DC-DC converter has a multitude of redundant channels supplying PWM signals to a voter whose output voltage controls the regulated DC output voltage. To ensure that single transient events, single permanent faults, or mismatches in the electrical characteristics of the various components disposed in the redundant channels do not adversely affect the regulated DC output voltage, transitions of the PWM signal in each channel are compared to the corresponding transitions of the voter's output signal. If a PWM signal transition of a redundant channel is detected as occurring relatively earlier/later than the corresponding transition of the voter's output signal, the width of the PWM signal is increased/decreased. If a PWM signal transition of a redundant channel is detected as occurring within a predefined window of the corresponding transition of the voter's output signal, the width of the PWM signal is not changed. |
| US08299765B2 |
Power supply control device and power supply control method
A power supply control device includes a boost type power supply controller boosting an input voltage, a step down power supply controller reducing an output of the boost type power supply controller to output an output voltage, a first control loop including the boost type power supply controller, and a second control loop including the step down power supply controller, wherein the output voltage is controlled by the second control loop during a predetermined period beginning after the power supply control device enters a power-on state, and wherein the output voltage is controlled by the first control loop after the predetermined period passes. |
| US08299764B2 |
System and method for determining output voltage level information from phase voltage for switched mode regulator controllers
A controller integrated circuit for a switched mode regulator which converts an input voltage to an output voltage. The controller includes a phase pin, a modulation circuit and a filter. The modulation circuit is configured to regulate the output voltage using the input voltage and output voltage level information. The filter has an input coupled to the phase pin and an output providing the output voltage level information which approximates the output voltage based on phase pin voltage. Various filters are contemplated, including passive and active low pass filters and the like. A regulator using such a controller is disclosed. A method of determining a voltage level of an output voltage includes receiving a phase voltage from a phase pin coupled to the phase node, and filtering the phase voltage to provide an output sense voltage having a voltage level approximating the voltage level of the output voltage. |
| US08299762B2 |
Starting/generating system with multi-functional circuit breaker
A pre-charge circuit limits in-rush currents on a direct current (DC) link that includes a first DC link bus and a second DC link bus. The pre-charge circuit includes a switching device connected in series with the first DC link bus. The switching device has an ON state in which power flow is enabled on the DC link and an OFF state in which power is disabled on the DC link. A controller selectively modulates the state of the switching device to limit in-rush currents on the DC link. |
| US08299758B2 |
Charging controller
A charging controller connected to at least one of secondary cells and detachably connected to a charger or a cell driver, the charging controller including: a charging amount control circuit detecting a cell voltage of each secondary cell and outputting a charging control signal for instructing the charger to reduce a charging current when the detected cell voltage exceeds the target voltage; and a protection circuit detecting a cell voltage of each secondary cell and cutting off a current path from the charger to the secondary cell when the detected cell voltage exceeds the upper limit voltage, the protection circuit operating by using the secondary cell as a power source while at least the charger is not connected. In the charging controller, while neither the charger nor the cell driver are connected, the charging amount control circuit does not operate. |
| US08299752B2 |
Information processing apparatus, program, and information processing system
An information processing apparatus includes an antenna having a variable Q value, the antenna being used for performing communication with an external apparatus in a noncontact manner by using a carrier of a predetermined frequency and charging a battery in a noncontact manner by using the carrier, an obtaining unit configured to obtain information about charging of the battery, a determining unit configured to determine whether charging of the battery is to be performed or not on the basis of the information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a setting unit configured to selectively set the Q value of the antenna to a first value or a second value in accordance with a determination result generated by the determining unit, the second value being larger than the first value. |
| US08299749B2 |
Cordless power tool battery and charging system therefore
A cordless power tool battery pack including an onboard circuit configured to electronically communicate with an associated battery charging system. The onboard circuit communicates information relating to the batter pack to a microprocessor or the like within the battery charging system and charging of the battery pack is controlled based on such communication. |
| US08299748B2 |
Vehicle, vehicle control method and computer-readable recording medium bearing program for causing computer to execute the vehicle control method
In response to detection of connection between a power supply outside a vehicle and a charge plug, control device invalidates key verification performed for determining whether a key of a user is regular or not, when a shift position is parking and a parking brake is active. This satisfies system start conditions, and the control device turns on respective relays to start a system, and executes charge control for charging a power storage device from the power supply outside the vehicle. |
| US08299746B2 |
Move-sled-home device and method for use in optical disc drive
A move-sled-home device is used in an optical disc drive. The move-sled-home device includes a processing unit, a motor actuator, a sled, a sled motor, and a current-detecting unit. The processing unit outputs a control signal. The motor actuator generates a driving voltage according to the control signal. The sled motor generates a driving current according to the driving voltage to move the sled. The current-detecting unit is used for receiving and converting the driving current into an indicating signal, and issuing the indicating signal to the processing unit. During a move-sled-home action, the processing unit realizes a magnitude of the driving current according to the indicating signal, thereby determining whether the move-sled-home action is finished. |
| US08299743B2 |
Machine tool and controlling method thereof
A machine tool a tool includes a supporting member relatively movable to a workpiece along a predetermined axis, a servo motor configured to drive the tool supporting member to the workpiece along the predetermined axis, a sizing sensor configured to measure a profile of the workpiece and to output a size deviation of measured values from a target profile, and a position detector configured to detect at least one of a relative position of the tool supporting member to the workpiece and a rotational position angle of the servo motor. The a servo driver is configured to drive the servo motor, and has a first feedback control having an output based on the size deviation, and a second feedback control based on an output of the position detector. The servo drives the servo motor by combining the outputs of the first and second feedback controls. |
| US08299737B2 |
Motor driving circuit
A motor driving circuit includes a three-phase inverter circuit 8, including three upper-arm switching elements 56a to 56c for driving upper arms of different phases of a three-phase motor 3, and three lower-arm switching elements 56d to 56f for driving lower arms of different phases. At least one of the upper-arm switching elements 56a to 56c and the lower-arm switching elements 56d to 56f is a semiconductor element that performs a diode operation. The diode operation is an operation in which a voltage less than or equal to a threshold voltage of a gate electrode G is applied to the gate electrode G with reference to a potential of a first ohmic electrode S, thereby conducting a current flow from the first ohmic electrode S to a second ohmic electrode D and blocking a current flow from the second ohmic electrode D to the first ohmic electrode S. |
| US08299729B2 |
System and method for non-linear dimming of a light source
In one embodiment, a light dimming module is disclosed. The light dimming module has a dimming engine coupled to a digital input interface and an output interface. The dimming engine is configured to provide a N-segment piecewise linear exponential digital control signal, and the output interface is configured to control the intensity of a light source. |
| US08299725B2 |
Driver for driving light emitting device
A driver for driving a light emitting device includes an output stage and a driving stage. The output stage is for outputting a driving current to the light emitting device according to a driving signal, wherein the light emitting device is coupled between the output stage and a second reference voltage different from the first reference voltage. The driving stage is for generating the driving signal to the output stage, wherein one of the third reference voltage and the fourth reference voltage is within a range between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage, and the other of the third reference voltage and the fourth reference voltage is outside the range between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage. |
| US08299724B2 |
AC LED lamp involving an LED string having separately shortable sections
An LED lamp includes a rectifier, an integrated circuit and a string of series-connected LEDs. The lamp receives an incoming AC signal such that a rectified version of the signal is present across the LED string. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of power switches. Each power switch is coupled so that it can separately and selectably short out a corresponding one of several groups of LEDs in the string. As the voltage across the string increases the integrated circuit controls the power switches such that the number of LEDs through which current flows increases, whereas as the voltage across the string decreases the integrated circuit controls the power switches such that the number of LEDs through which current flows decreases. LED string current flow is controlled and regulated to provide superior efficiency, reliability, anti-flicker, regulation against line voltage variations, power factor correction, and lamp over-voltage, over-current, and over-temperature protection. |
| US08299721B2 |
Systems and methods for rules based, automated lighting control
A lighting control system comprising a plurality of intelligent switches designed to replace a conventional light switch, each of the intelligent switches including a receiver configured to receive communication signals that include rules based instructions for controlling one or more lighting circuits; a circuit interrupter configured to control the amount of current flowing to a lighting circuit; a memory configured to store the rules based instructions; and a processor coupled with the receiver, memory, and circuit interrupter, the processor configured to control the operation of the circuit interrupter based on the rules based instructions stored in memory. |
| US08299716B2 |
Lighting device comprising a plurality of controllable light-emitting diodes
A lighting device comprising a plurality of lighting modules which include a module carrier on which a light source with a plurality of controllable light-emitting diodes emitting light of different wavelengths and arranged on a board, a temperature sensor and a module electronic are arranged. Said module electronic contains a digital circuit with a microcontroller for the local and autonomous signal processing, which actuates the LEDs in dependence on the temperature such that the brightness, color and chrominance of the light mixture composed of the LEDs emitting light of different wavelengths is constant. Said lighting modules being connected with other lighting modules or an external controller via a digital interface for transmitting the board temperature of the respective lighting module detected by means of the temperature sensor. A central master module or the external controller actuates the lighting modules such that a uniform brightness is obtained over the radiating surface. |
| US08299713B2 |
Charged particle accelerator and radiation source
A method of accelerating charged particles using a laser pulse fired through a plasma channel contained in a capillary, wherein the plasma waveguide has deviations along its length that cause deviations in the plasma density contained therein, the deviations in plasma density acting to promote charged particle injection into a wake of a passing laser pulse. A radiation source based on a laser-driven plasma accelerator in a plasma waveguide in which the plasma waveguide and/or laser injection process is/are controlled so as to produce an undulating path for the laser pulse through the waveguide, the undulation exerting a periodic transverse force on charged particles being accelerated in the wake of the laser pulse, the resulting charged particle motion causing controlled emission of high frequency radiation pulses. |
| US08299703B2 |
Blue light emitting compound and organic light emitting diode device comprising the same
A blue light emitting compound is provided. The blue light emitting compound has a structure of the following Chemical Formula 1: wherein A1, A2, and A3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, a hetero ring group, and an aliphatic group. |
| US08299702B2 |
Luminescence display panel with auxiliary electrode and method for fabricating the same
A luminescence display panel, which can be manufactured without any damage to an organic layer thereof, and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. According to one of the embodiments in the present invention, the luminescence display panel includes a first electrode formed on a lower substrate, an organic layer formed on the first electrode, the organic layer including a luminescence layer, a second electrode formed on the organic layer, the second electrode having a thin film structure, and an auxiliary electrode formed on an upper substrate and facing the lower substrate, the auxiliary electrode being connected to the second electrode. The second electrode is thinner than at least one of the first electrode and the auxiliary electrode. |
| US08299700B2 |
Electron emitting element having an electron acceleration layer, electron emitting device, light emitting device, image display device, cooling device, and charging device
An electron emitting element of the present invention includes an electron acceleration layer provided between an electrode substrate and a thin-film electrode, which electron acceleration layer includes (a) conductive fine particles and (b) insulating fine particles having an average particle diameter greater than that of the conductive fine particles. The electron emitting element satisfies the following relational expression: 0.3x+3.9≦y≦75, where x (nm) is an average particle diameter of the insulating fine particles, and y (nm) is a thickness of the thin-film electrode 3. Such a configuration allows modification of the thickness of the thin-film electrode with respect to the size of the insulating particles, thereby ensuring electrical conduction and allowing sufficient current to flow inside the element. As a result, stable emission of ballistic electrons from the thin-film electrode is possible. |
| US08299698B2 |
Field emission display
A field emission device includes a transparent plate, an insulating substrate, one or more grids located on the insulating substrate. Each grid includes a first, second, third and fourth electrode down-leads and a pixel unit. The first, second, third and fourth electrode down-leads are located on the periphery of the grid. The first and the second electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The third and the fourth electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The pixel unit includes a phosphor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one electron emitter. The first electrode and the second electrode are separately located. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode down-lead, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the third electrode down-lead. The phosphor layer is directly located on the corresponding first electrode. |
| US08299697B2 |
High performance fluorescent lamp
A high performance fluorescent lamp includes an air-vacuum glass envelope having sealed ends, and a light cavity filled with inert gas and coated with a phosphor layer at an inner wall of said light cavity; two electrodes sealed at each of the sealed ends of the glass envelope; and a narrowing channel integrally formed at one of the sealed ends of the glass envelope at a location communicating with the light cavity of the glass envelope. Therefore, the amalgam is contained within the narrowing channel at a position forming a preset distance between one of the electrodes sealed at the corresponding sealed end and the amalgam. |
| US08299695B2 |
Screw-in LED bulb comprising a base having outwardly projecting nodes
An LED-based light can include a highly thermally conductive base having multiple radially outward projecting nodes. The nodes can be spaced apart in an axial and circumferential directions of the base. An electrical connector and at least one LED can be attached to the base, and a light transmitting bulb can be attached to the base and can cover the at least one LED. The geometry of the base can promote heat dissipation, which can allow the at least one LED to use enough power to produce an amount of luminosity that allows the LED-based light to replicate, for example, an incandescent light without overheating. |
| US08299691B2 |
Advanced synjet cooler design for LED light modules
An LED light source (101) is provided which comprises an LED module (103) containing an LED (113); a heat sink (107) disposed about the periphery of the LED module; and a tabular synthetic jet ejector (105) disposed on said LED module and being adapted to direct a plurality of synthetic jets across surfaces of said heat sink. |
| US08299687B2 |
Ultrasonic array transducer, associated circuit and method of making the same
A transducer system includes a multi-layer flexible circuit. The flexible circuit includes a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The circuit engages a piezoelectric material/electrode subassembly. Vias are used to operatively connect ground electrodes of individual transducer elements to grounds in the third layer of the circuit. The vias extend through the first and second layers to the third layer of the circuit. When the flexible circuit is diced during the assembly of the transducer system, no cuts are made in the third layer of the circuit. As a result, a common ground connection is maintained by way of the grounds in the third layer of the circuit. Thus, no subsequent operation of reconnecting the common ground electrode is required. |
| US08299677B2 |
Transverse regulated flux machine
A machine has a rotor to be associated with a shaft. The rotor is provided with permanent magnets. A stator has pole pieces, including a main winding and flux diverters separating the main winding from a control coil. Control is provided for controlling the power passing through the control coil. The machine is a transverse flux machine. The machine may be utilized as a generator, an electric motor, or for other application. |
| US08299676B2 |
Axial gap type coreless rotating machine
A high-output and highly efficient axial gap type rotating machine capable of reducing an eddy current generated in a winding wire and supplying a larger current is provided. The axial gap type rotating machine may include a housing, a rotating shaft rotatably supported in the housing; two rotors capable of rotating integrally with the rotating shaft, and a stator fixed to the housing, the stator disposed in an air gap formed by the rotating plates disposed to face each other, the stator including a fixing plate and coils disposed in a circle on the fixing plate so as to face the circles of the permanent magnets, wherein each of the coils includes a winding wire formed by a bundle of at least two coil conductors having rectangular cross sections by aligning at least one of long sides and short sides thereof, and the winding wire has an outer circumference covered with an insulating coating and is wound such that the long sides in cross section of the coil conductors are positioned perpendicular to the magnetic pole surfaces of the permanent magnets. |
| US08299671B2 |
Processing apparatus
A rotary floater (30) for supporting an object to be processed (W) is floated by the magnetic attraction of a floating electromagnet assembly (F), and the rotary floater (30) is rotated by the magnetic attraction of a rotary electromagnet assembly (R) while its horizontal position being controlled by the magnetic attraction of a positioning electromagnet assembly (H). The floating electromagnet assembly (F) causes the magnetic attraction to act vertically upwardly, so that the rotary floater (30) is floated and suspended without contact with the inner wall of a processing container (2). |
| US08299670B2 |
CT scanner gantry with aerostatic bearing and segmented ring motor
Disclosed is a device having a rotor that is adapted to be rotated relative to a stator, with hydrostatic bearings being used as radial bearings and as axial bearings of the rotor. A motor is provided as a direct drive, having a ring-shaped part and also a plurality of motor segments which are in magnetic engagement with the ring-shaped part. In order to generate additional bearing load force, additional motor segments having permanent magnets are provided. For reasons of safety, axial support rolls are provided which, when the motor has attained a given bearing load force, are spaced from a running face of the rotor, and which, in a case of too low or an absence of load force, prevent a displacement of the rotor away from the axial bearings. |
| US08299669B2 |
Rim driven thruster having transverse flux motor
A rim driven thruster comprises an annular housing, a propulsor assembly, a magnetic rotor assembly and a transverse flux stator assembly. The annular housing defines a flow path extending along an axis. The propulsor assembly is supported within the housing and comprises propeller blades extending radially from the axis of the flow path. The propeller blades are configured to rotate about the axis. The magnetic rotor assembly is mounted to radially outer ends of the propeller blades. The transverse flux stator assembly is mounted to the annular housing and is configured to provide electromagnetic torque to the magnetic rotor assembly. |
| US08299663B2 |
Arrangement for cooling of an electrical machine
An arrangement for cooling an electrical machine is provided. The electrical machine includes a rotor and a stator, an air-gap being between the rotor and the stator. The stator includes a plurality of stacked laminate-plates. The laminate-plates include on a first side, which is facing the air-gap, a plurality of slots containing metal-windings of a stator-coil. The laminate-plates are positioned and fixed by a structural support and by end-plates in relation to a central-part of the stator. A joint cavity is formed by the end-plates, the central-part of the stator and an internal surface of the laminate-plates. The internal surface is defined by a second side of the laminate-plates, the second side being opposite to the first side. The cavity is coupled with an air-cooling-arrangement, which is arranged and used to circulate a cooling gaseous medium from the cavity to the air-gap and the laminate-plates back into the cavity. |
| US08299658B2 |
Horizontal linear vibrator
A horizontal linear vibrator includes: a bracket providing an internal space; a vibration unit mounted in the internal space and making a horizontal, linear movement; a magnetic field unit providing an electromagnetic force to allow the vibration unit to move horizontally; and a cover unit formed to cover an upper portion of the bracket, wherein the bracket includes a support plate part so as to support the vibration unit to make a horizontal, linear movement, and the cover unit is formed to overlap with the support plate part. |
| US08299657B2 |
Linear motor
This invention provides a linear motor at least including an electrically controlled actuator and an elastic member. The electrically controlled actuator at least comprises a fixed element, a movable element, and an electrical unit, and at least provides an axial displacement. The elastic member at least comprises a fixed portion, a movable portion, an elastic portion, and a pair of power supply terminals. The fixed portion of the elastic member is connected to the fixed element of the actuator. The movable portion of the elastic member is connected to the movable element of the actuator. Various portions of the elastic member have different thicknesses depending on desired stiffness of each portion, such that the elastic member can be thinned to facilitate miniaturization of the linear motor. The needs to have an elastic member with desired stiffness and to provide good electrical contact are both met by the present linear motor. |
| US08299655B2 |
Method and apparatus for an optical frequency rectifier
The present invention is a method and apparatus for receiving and converting incident radiation into DC current. The method begins with selection of an antenna having a terminal tip with a sharp edge. The antenna is layered with a substrate and a first coating. A first electrode and a metallic/mCNT antenna are layered on the first coating, and a plasmonic layer is then added. A gap is formed which is bounded on one side by the terminal ends of the plasmonic layer and the first coating, and a second electrode and a second coating on the other. The second electrode is layered upon the second coating which is layered upon the substrate. A set of AC currents is induced along the length of the antenna. The method then calculates whether or not the induced AC currents are large enough to create voltages for field emission. If the voltages are large enough, then a forward bias and a reverse bias are initiated. Due to the asymmetry in these tunneling barriers, a positive net DC current is delivered to an external circuit. |
| US08299652B2 |
Wireless power transfer apparatus and method thereof
In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method and apparatus is disclosed that includes features of transmitting power from a transmitter of a wireless power system at a multiplicity of frequencies between a first transmission frequency and a second transmission frequency at a first power level and transmitting power from the transmitter at a second power level and at one or more frequencies between the first transmission frequency and the second transmission frequency if the one or more receiving devices are determined to be coupled to the transmitter. |
| US08299649B2 |
Passive audio/video component unbalanced network to balanced network adapter
A method and apparatus are disclosed for reducing distortions originating from a balanced link between a video transmitter connected to a first ground and a video receiver connected to a second ground, the method comprising isolating a connection to one of the first ground and the second ground and connecting the isolated connection to the other ground via a dedicated link. In particular, there is disclosed a passive circuit enabling additional channels to become available. |
| US08299647B2 |
Switchable current supply for auxiliary current circuits in a current converter
A circuit arrangement with a switchable voltage supply for a control apparatus may include a DC voltage supply terminal; and an AC voltage supply terminal; a control apparatus including at least one input, an output and at least one supply terminal; three electronic switches, each having a control electrode, a reference electrode and a working electrode, wherein the reference electrode of the first electronic switch and of the second electronic switch is coupled to the first node; wherein the working electrode of the first electronic switch is coupled to the supply terminal of the control apparatus; wherein the control electrode of the first electronic switch is coupled to a reference potential, wherein at least one further load is coupled to the working electrode of the second electronic switch. |
| US08299643B2 |
Wind turbine generator, active damping method thereof, and windmill tower
A wind turbine generator, an active damping method thereof, and a windmill tower in which vibrations of the wind turbine generator itself or the windmill tower can be reduced at low cost are provided. The acceleration due to vibrations of a nacelle is detected with an accelerometer attached to the nacelle. In an active damping unit, a pitch angle of windmill blades for generating a thrust on the windmill blades so as to cancel out the vibrations of the nacelle is calculated on the basis of the acceleration, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping. On the other hand, in a pitch-angle control unit, a pitch angle of the windmill blades for controlling the output to be a predetermined value is calculated, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control. The blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping is combined with the blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control using a subtracter. The pitch angle of the windmill blades is controlled on the basis of the resulting blade-pitch-angle command after combining. |
| US08299639B2 |
Starter for starting internal combustion engine
In a starter for starting an internal combustion engine with a first output shaft to which a ring gear is coupled, a motor has a second output shaft to which a movable pinion member is coupled and is operative to, when energized, rotate the second output shaft. A solenoid device includes a solenoid actuator linked to the movable pinion member. The solenoid actuator is configured to, when activated, shift the movable pinion member toward the ring gear to be engaged with the ring gear. The solenoid device includes a solenoid switch configure to, when activated, energize the motor. The solenoid actuator and the solenoid switch are integrated with each other to provide the solenoid device. A controller module is configured to individually control an activation of the solenoid actuator and an activation of the solenoid switch. The controller module is mounted on the solenoid device. |
| US08299635B2 |
Power generator
A portable generator unit has a frame, a generator fixed on the frame, a combustion engine fixed on the frame and coupled to the generator to drive it, a fuel tank, and means securing the tank to the frame for pivoting between a use position with the tank overlying and closely juxtaposed with the engine and generator and a maintenance position pivoted up and spaced from and giving access to the engine and generator. |
| US08299631B2 |
Semiconductor element and display device provided with the same
Provided is a semiconductor element in which decrease in reliability of wiring is suppressed. A driver IC (10) has a plurality of output bumps (12) arranged in the direction (direction A) along the long sides (11a and 11b). The output bumps include a plurality of source bumps (12a) arranged near the center section of the long side, and a plurality of gate bumps (12b) arranged towards the end portions of the long side. The source bumps are arranged close to the long side (11a), and the gate bumps are arranged closer to the long side (11b) than the source bumps. |
| US08299628B2 |
Conductive ball mounting apparatus having a movable conductive ball container
There is provided a method of mounting conductive balls on pads on a substrate. The method includes: (a) placing the substrate having the pads coated with an adhesive over a container for containing the conductive balls therein and whose top surface is open such that the pads faces the top surface of the container; and (b) throwing up the conductive balls in the container by moving the container up and down at a given stroke, thereby allowing the conductive balls to adhere to the adhesive coated on the pads. Step (b) is repeatedly performed. |
| US08299623B2 |
Semiconductor package
A semiconductor package includes a wiring board and a semiconductor device mounted on the wiring board. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a penetration electrode penetrating the semiconductor substrate. A cavity part is formed in the semiconductor substrate to isolate the penetration electrode from the semiconductor substrate. A connection terminal is provided at a position where the connection terminal does not overlap the penetration electrode in a plan view. The connection terminal electrically connects the semiconductor device to the wiring board. |
| US08299618B2 |
Metal programmable logic and multiple function pin interface
Some of the embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated circuit device including a first metal interconnect, an end of which is coupled to a core of the integrated circuit device, a second metal interconnect, an end of which is coupled to a first input/output (I/O) pin, and a third metal interconnect configured to be coupled to the first metal interconnect and to the second metal interconnect. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08299616B2 |
T-shaped post for semiconductor devices
A T-shaped post for semiconductor devices is provided. The T-shaped post has an under-bump metallization (UBM) section and a pillar section extending from the UBM section. The UBM section and the pillar section may be formed of a same material or different materials. In an embodiment, a substrate, such as a die, wafer, printed circuit board, packaging substrate, or the like, having T-shaped posts is attached to a contact of another substrate, such as a die, wafer, printed circuit board, packaging substrate, or the like. The T-shaped posts may have a solder material pre-formed on the pillar section such that the pillar section is exposed or such that the pillar section is covered by the solder material. In another embodiment, the T-shaped posts may be formed on one substrate and the solder material formed on the other substrate. |
| US08299614B2 |
Interconnection structure, a thin film transistor substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof, as well as a display device
An interconnection structure, containing a substrate and, in the following order from a side of the substrate: (I) a semiconductor layer; (II) a multilayer structure including (II-a) a first layer containing at least one type of an element selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, carbon and fluorine and (II-b) an Al—Si diffusion layer containing Al and Si; and (III) an Al film of pure Al or an Al alloy, wherein the at least one of element selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, carbon, and fluorine in the first layer is bonded with Si contained in the semiconductor layer. |
| US08299613B2 |
Method for connecting two joining surfaces
The invention relates to a method for connecting two joining surfaces, particularly in the field of semiconductors, wherein at least one joining surface is produced by depositing a layer comprising 20 to 40% gold and 80 to 60% silver onto a substrate and selectively removing the silver from the deposited layer in order to produce a nanoporous gold layer as a joining surface. The joining surface with the nanoporous gold layer and an additional joining surface are disposed one above the other and pressed together. |
| US08299612B2 |
IC devices having TSVS including protruding tips having IMC blocking tip ends
A through substrate via (TSV) die includes a plurality of TSVs including an outer dielectric sleeve, an inner metal core and protruding TSV tips including sidewalls that emerge from the TSV die. A passivation layer lateral to protruding TSV tips is on a portion of the sidewalls of protruding TSV tips. The passivation layers is absent from a distal portion of protruding TSV tips to provide an exposed portion of the inner metal core. The TSV tips include bulbous distal tip ends which cover a portion of the TSV sidewalls, are over a topmost surface of the outer dielectric sleeve, and have a maximum cross sectional area that is ≧25% more as compared to a cross sectional area of the protruding TSV tips below the bulbous distal tip ends. |
| US08299606B2 |
Semiconductor device includes a ceramic substrate and heat sink
A semiconductor device is provided that may include an insulating substrate having a ceramic substrate and metal coating layers on opposite surfaces of the ceramic substrate, a semiconductor chip mounted on one surface of the insulating substrate, and a heat sink directly or indirectly fixed to the other surface of the insulating substrate and thermally connected to the semiconductor chip through the insulating substrate. The heat sink may include a housing that is made of a metal sheet and radiating fins that are fixed in the housing and made of aluminum. The metal sheet may have a coefficient of thermal expansion between those of the insulating substrate and the radiating fin. |
| US08299603B2 |
Power semiconductor device
A power semiconductor device in which transfer molding resin seals: a metallic circuit substrate; a power semiconductor element joined to a wiring pattern; and a side surface of a cylindrical external terminal communication section provided on the wiring pattern and to which an external terminal can be inserted and connected. The cylindrical external terminal communication section is substantially perpendicular to a surface on which the wiring pattern is formed. An outer surface of a metal plate of the metallic circuit substrate and a top portion of the cylindrical external terminal communication section are exposed from the transfer molding resin. The transfer molding resin is not present within the cylindrical external terminal communication section. |
| US08299602B1 |
Semiconductor device including leadframe with increased I/O
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor package (e.g., a QFP package) including a uniquely configured leadframe sized and configured to maximize the available number of exposed leads in the semiconductor package. More particularly, the semiconductor package of the present invention includes a generally planar die pad or die paddle defining multiple peripheral edge segments. In addition, the semiconductor package includes a plurality of leads. Some of these leads include exposed bottom surface portions which are provided in at least one row or ring which at least partially circumvents the die pad, with other leads including portions which protrude from respective side surfaces of a package body of the semiconductor package. Connected to the top surface of the die pad is at least one semiconductor die which is electrically connected to at least some of the leads. At least portions of the die pad, the leads, and the semiconductor die are encapsulated by the package body, with at least portions of the bottom surfaces of the die paddle and some of the leads being exposed in a common exterior surface of the package body. |
| US08299600B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device is provided with improved reliability. A semiconductor chip is mounted over a chip mounting portion of a lead frame via solder. A metal plate is arranged over a source pad of the semiconductor chip and a lead portion of a lead frame via solder. A solder reflow process is performed thereby to bond the semiconductor chip over the chip mounting portion with a solder, and to bond the metal plate to the source pad and the lead portion with the other solders. The lead frame is formed of a copper alloy, and thus has its softening temperature higher than the temperature of the solder reflow process. The metal plate is formed of oxygen-free copper, and has its softening temperature lower than the temperature of the solder reflow process, whereby the metal plate is softened in the solder reflow process. Thereafter, a gate pad electrode of the semiconductor chip is coupled to a lead portion via the wire, a sealing resin portion is formed, and then the lead frame is cut. |
| US08299580B2 |
Semiconductor wafer and a method of separating the same
A semiconductor wafer includes a plurality of predetermined separation lines extending from an upper surface to a bottom surface; and a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of chip regions segmented by the predetermined separation lines. Tensile stress is applied to regions of the semiconductor substrate provided with the predetermined separation lines. |
| US08299575B2 |
High-density capacitor configured on a semiconductor
A switched-capacitor circuit on a semiconductor device may include accurately matched, high-density metal-to-metal capacitors, using top-plate-to-bottom-plate fringe-capacitance for obtaining the desired capacitance values. A polysilicon plate may be inserted below the bottom metal layer, and bootstrapped to the top plate of each capacitor in order to minimize and/or eliminate the parasitic top-plate-to-substrate capacitance. This may free up the bottom metal layer to be used in forming additional fringe-capacitance, thereby increasing capacitance density. By forming each capacitance solely based on fringe-capacitance from the top plate to the bottom plate, no parallel-plate-capacitance is used, which may reduce capacitor mismatch. Parasitic bottom plate capacitance to the substrate may also be eliminated, with only a small capacitance to the bootstrapped polysilicon plate remaining The capacitors may be bootstrapped by coupling the top plate of each capacitor to a respective one of the differential inputs of an amplifier comprised in the switched-capacitor circuit. |
| US08299559B2 |
Re-configurable mixed-mode integrated circuit architecture
An analog portion of a mixed-mode integrated circuit system includes a plurality of analog input cells, a plurality of analog output cells, and an interconnect array. The input cells are, configured to program analog functions. The output cells are configured to provide Analog and digital outputs corresponding to the programmed analog functions. The interconnect array processes the programmed analog functions into signals indicative of the analog functions. The interconnect array selectively provides the signals to the plurality of analog output cells. |
| US08299555B2 |
Semiconductor optoelectronic structure
A method of fabricating a semiconductor optoelectronic structure is provided. First, a substrate is provided, and a waveguide is formed therein, and then a plurality of dielectric layers is formed on the waveguide. Next, a contact pad and a passivation layer are provided on the dielectric layers and a patterned mask layer is formed thereon. Last, an etching process is provided by using the patterned mask layer to expose the contact pad and remove a portion of the passivation layer and the dielectric layers to form a transformer. |
| US08299554B2 |
Image sensor, method and design structure including non-planar reflector
A solid state image sensor, a method for fabricating the solid state image sensor and a design structure for fabricating the solid state image sensor structure include a substrate that in turn includes a photosensitive region. Also included within solid state image sensor is a non-planar reflector layer located over a side of the photosensitive region and the substrate opposite an incoming radiation side of the photosensitive region and the substrate. The non-planar reflector layer is shaped and positioned to reflect uncaptured incident radiation back into the photosensitive region while avoiding optical cross-talk with an additional photosensitive region laterally separated within the substrate. |
| US08299552B2 |
Magnetoresistive element and magnetic memory
A magnetoresistive element includes a first underlying layer having an NaCl structure and containing a nitride orienting in a (001) plane, a first magnetic layer provided on the first underlying layer, having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a film surface, having an L10 structure, and containing a ferromagnetic alloy orienting in a (001) plane, a first nonmagnetic layer provided on the first magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer provided on the first nonmagnetic layer and having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a film surface. |
| US08299551B2 |
Semiconductor pressure sensor and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor pressure sensor comprises: a substrate having a through-hole; a polysilicon film provided on the substrate and having a diaphragm above the through-hole; an insulating film provided on the polysilicon film; first, second, third, and forth polysilicon gauge resistances provided on the insulating film and having a piezoresistor effect; and polysilicon wirings connecting the first, second, third, and forth polysilicon gauge resistances in a bridge shape, wherein each of the first and second polysilicon gauge resistances is disposed on a central portion of the diaphragm and has a plurality of resistors connected in parallel, a structure of the first polysilicon gauge resistance is same as a structure of the second polysilicon gauge resistance, and a direction of the first polysilicon gauge resistance is same as a direction of the second polysilicon gauge resistance. |
| US08299548B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method can include simultaneously forming a first field insulating film and at least one second field insulating film on a front face side of a semiconductor layer. The at least one second field insulating film is separated from the first field insulating film and thinner than the first field insulating film. The method can include forming a drift region of a first conductivity type in a region of the semiconductor layer including the first field insulating film and the second field insulating film. The method can include forming a drain region of the first conductivity type in the front face of the semiconductor layer on a side of the first field insulating film. In addition, the method can include forming a source region of the first conductivity type in the front face of the semiconductor layer on a side of the second field insulating film. |
| US08299547B2 |
Lateral extended drain metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (LEDMOSFET) with tapered dielectric plates
A lateral, extended drain, metal oxide semiconductor, field effect transistor (LEDMOSFET) with a high drain-to-body breakdown voltage (Vb) incorporates gate structure extensions on opposing sides of a drain drift region. The extensions are tapered such that a distance between each extension and the drift region increases linearly from one end adjacent to the channel region to another end adjacent to the drain region. In one embodiment, these extensions can extend vertically through the isolation region that surrounds the LEDMOSFET. In another embodiment, the extensions can sit atop the isolation region. In either case, the extensions create a strong essentially uniform horizontal electric field profile within the drain drift. Also disclosed are a method for forming the LEDMOSFET with a specific Vb by defining the dimensions of the extensions and a program storage device for designing the LEDMOSFET to have a specific Vb. |
| US08299545B2 |
Method and structure to improve body effect and junction capacitance
A method and structure implant a first-type impurity within a substrate to form a channel region within the substrate adjacent a top surface of the substrate; form a gate stack on the top surface of the substrate above the channel region; and implant a second-type impurity within the substrate to form source and drain regions within the substrate adjacent the top surface. The channel region is positioned between the source and drain regions. The second-type impurity has an opposite polarity with respect to the first-type impurity. The method and structure implant a greater concentration of the first-type impurity, relative to a concentration of the first-type impurity within the channel region, to form a primary body doping region within the substrate below (relative to the top surface) the channel region; and to form secondary body doping regions within the substrate below (relative to the top surface) the source and drain regions. |
| US08299537B2 |
Semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and structure including multiple order radio frequency harmonic supressing region
A semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and a related semiconductor structure, as well as a method for fabricating the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and the related semiconductor structure, provide for a multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region located and formed within a base semiconductor substrate at a location beneath an interface of a buried dielectric layer with the base semiconductor substrate within the semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. The multiple order radio frequency harmonic suppressing region may comprise an ion implanted atom, such as but not limited to a noble gas atom, to provide a suppressed multiple order radio frequency harmonic when powering a radio frequency device, such as but not limited to a radio frequency complementary metal oxide semiconductor device (or alternatively a passive device), located and formed within and upon a surface semiconductor layer within the semiconductor structure. |
| US08299535B2 |
Delta monolayer dopants epitaxy for embedded source/drain silicide
Semiconductor structures are disclosed that have embedded stressor elements therein. The disclosed structures include at least one FET gate stack located on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. The at least one FET gate stack includes source and drain extension regions located within the semiconductor substrate at a footprint of the at least one FET gate stack. A device channel is also present between the source and drain extension regions and beneath the at least one gate stack. The structure further includes embedded stressor elements located on opposite sides of the at least one FET gate stack and within the semiconductor substrate. Each of the embedded stressor elements includes, from bottom to top, a first layer of a first epitaxy doped semiconductor material having a lattice constant that is different from a lattice constant of the semiconductor substrate and imparts a strain in the device channel, a second layer of a second epitaxy doped semiconductor material located atop the first layer, and a delta monolayer of dopant located on an upper surface of the second layer. The structure further includes a metal semiconductor alloy contact located directly on an upper surface of the delta monolayer. |
| US08299534B2 |
FET with replacement gate structure and method of fabricating the same
A MUGFET and method of manufacturing a MUGFET is shown. The method of manufacturing the MUGFET includes forming temporary spacer gates about a plurality of active regions and depositing a dielectric material over the temporary spacer gates, including between the plurality of active regions. The method further includes etching portions of the dielectric material to expose the temporary spacer gates and removing the temporary spacer gates, leaving a space between the active regions and a remaining portion of the dielectric material. The method additionally includes filling the space between the active regions and above the remaining portion of the dielectric material with a gate material. |
| US08299531B1 |
CMOS ESD clamp with input and separate output voltage terminal for ESD protection
In a snapback NMOS ESD protection structure, the output voltage presented to an internal circuit for ESD protection is limited by providing for a separate output terminal at a lower voltage than the input terminal. The voltage drop between the two terminals is achieved by connecting the input and output terminals to different parts of a ballast region of the structure and using the saturation resistance of the portion of the ballast region between the terminals to achieve the voltage drop. |
| US08299529B2 |
Method for producing thin film transistor and thin film transistor
A metallic wiring film, which is not exfoliated even when exposed to plasma of hydrogen, is provided. A metallic wiring film is constituted by an adhesion layer in which Al is added to copper and a metallic low-resistance layer which is disposed on the adhesion layer and made of pure copper. When a copper alloy including Al and oxygen are included in the adhesion layer and a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed from it, copper does not precipitate at an interface between the adhesion layer and the silicon layer even when being exposed to the hydrogen plasma, which prevents the occurrence of exfoliation between the adhesion layer and the silicon layer. If the amount of Al increases, since widths of the adhesion layer and the metallic low-resistance layer largely differ after etching, the maximum addition amount for permitting the etching to be performed is the upper limit. |
| US08299528B2 |
Transistor and method thereof
An electronic device can include a first well region of a first conductivity-type and a second well region of a second conductivity-type and abutting the first well region. The first conductivity-type and the second conductivity type can be opposite conductivity types. In an embodiment, an insulator region can extend into the first well region, wherein the insulator region and the first well region abut and define an interface, and, from a top view, the insulator region can include a first feature extending toward the first interface, and the insulator region can define a first space bounded by the first feature, wherein a dimension from a portion of the first feature closest to the first interface is at least zero. A gate structure can overlie an interface between the first and second well regions. |
| US08299527B2 |
Vertical LDMOS device and method for fabricating same
A vertically arranged laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device comprises a trench extending into a semiconductor body toward a semiconductor substrate. The trench includes sidewalls, a bottom portion connecting the sidewalls, a dielectric material lining the trench and a diffusion agent layer lining the dielectric material. A lightly doped drain region adjoins the trench and extends laterally around the sidewalls from the diffusion agent layer into the semiconductor body. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a vertically arranged LDMOS device comprises forming a trench extending into a semiconductor body toward a semiconductor substrate, the trench including sidewalls, a bottom portion connecting the sidewalls, a dielectric material lining the trench and a diffusion agent layer lining the dielectric material. The method further comprises diffusing impurities from the diffusion agent layer through the dielectric material to form a lightly doped drain region extending laterally around the sidewalls into the semiconductor body. |
| US08299523B2 |
Semiconductor device
In general, according to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first electrode, a first and a second semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, a fourth semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type in this order. A device region includes a gate electrode inside a first trench. A second trench having a ring-shaped structure forms a first region penetrating through the fourth and third semiconductor layers to the second semiconductor layer and including the device region inside and a second region surrounding the first region outside. A first opening is provided between adjacent ones of the first trenches. A second opening having a wider width than the first opening is provided in the first region outside the device region. A second electrode is electrically connected to the third and fourth semiconductor layers through the first and second openings. |
| US08299522B2 |
Semiconductor device
A super-junction semiconductor substrate is configured in such a manner that an n-type semiconductor layer of a parallel pn structure is opposed to a boundary region between an active area and a peripheral breakdown-resistant structure area. A high-concentration region is formed at the center between p-type semiconductor layers that are located on both sides of the above n-type semiconductor layer. A region where a source electrode is in contact with a channel layer is formed over the n-type semiconductor layer. A portion where the high-concentration region is in contact with the channel layer functions as a diode. The breakdown voltage of the diode is set lower than that of the device. |
| US08299521B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a nonvolatile memory device having a vertical folding structure and a method of manufacturing the nonvolatile memory device. A semiconductor structure includes first and second portions that are substantially vertical. A plurality of memory cells are arranged along the first and second portions of the semiconductor structure and are serially connected. |
| US08299514B2 |
High density integrated circuitry for semiconductor memory having memory cells with a minimum capable photolithographic feature dimension
Processes are disclosed which facilitate improved high-density memory circuitry, most preferably dynamic random access memory (DRAM) circuitry. A semiconductor memory device includes i) a total of no more than 68,000,000 functional and operably addressable memory cells arranged in multiple memory arrays formed on a semiconductor die; and ii) circuitry formed on the semiconductor die permitting data to be written to and read from one or more of the memory cells. At least one of the memory arrays contains at least 100-square microns of continuous die surface area having at least 128 of the functional and operably addressable memory cells. More preferably, at least 100 square microns of continuous die surface area have at least 170 of the functional and operably addressable memory cells. |
| US08299513B2 |
High conversion gain image sensor
An image sensor includes a photosensitive element, a reset circuit, an amplifier transistor, and a current source. The photosensitive element is coupled to generate an image charge in response to incident light and transfer the image charge to a circuit node. The reset circuit is coupled to selectively reset a voltage at the circuit node. The amplifier transistor includes a gate terminal responsive to the voltage at the circuit node. A current source is coupled between a high level power rail and a second terminal of the amplifier transistor. |
| US08299508B2 |
CMOS structure with multiple spacers
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having shallow trench isolation and source/drain regions located therein, a gate stack located on the substrate between the source/drain regions, a first gate spacer on the sidewall of the gate stack, and a second gate spacer on the sidewall of the first gate spacer. |
| US08299505B2 |
Pixel sensor cell with a dual work function gate electode
Pixel sensor cells, methods of fabricating pixel sensor cells, and design structures for a pixel sensor cell. The pixel sensor cell has a gate structure that includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode on the gate dielectric. The gate electrode includes a layer with first and second sections that have a juxtaposed relationship on the gate dielectric. The second section of the gate electrode is comprised of a conductor, such as doped polysilicon or a metal. The first section of the gate electrode is comprised of a metal having a higher work function than the conductor comprising the second section so that the gate structure has an asymmetric threshold voltage. |
| US08299504B2 |
Image sensing device and method of
A two-dimensional, temporally modulated electromagnetic wavefield, preferably in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectral range, can be locally detected and demodulated with one or more sensing elements. Each sensing element consists of a resistive, transparent electrode (E) on top of an insulated layer (O) that is produced over a semiconducting substrate whose surface is electrically kept in depletion. The electrode (E) is connected with two or more contacts (C1; C2) to a number of clock voltages that are operated synchronously with the frequency of the modulated wavefield. In the electrode and in the semiconducting substrate lateral electric fields are created that separate and transport photogenerated charge pairs in the semiconductor to respective diffusions (D1; D2) close to the contacts (C1; C2). By repetitively storing and accumulating photocharges in the diffusions (D1; D2), electrical signals are generated that are subsequently read out for the determination of local phase shift, amplitude and offset of the modulated wavefield. |
| US08299502B2 |
Semiconductor heterostructures and manufacturing therof
A semiconductor heterostructure (10) includes a crystalline substrate of a first semiconductor material and a mask (11) disposed over a surface of the crystalline substrate. The mask (11) has openings (12) including a plurality of elongated opening sections (13, 14) with a width (w) less than or equal to 900 nm. At least one first section (13) of the elongated opening sections is directed non-parallel relative to at least one second section (14) of the elongated opening sections. The semiconductor heterostructure (10) further includes an overgrowth crystalline layer of a second semiconductor material, filling the openings (12) and covering the mask. A method for manufacturing of such a semiconductor heterostructure is also presented. |
| US08299501B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device
In the nitride semiconductor device using the silicon substrate, the metal electrode formed on the silicon substrate has both ohmic contact property and adhesion, so that the nitride semiconductor device having excellent electric properties and reliability is obtained. The nitride semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate (2), a nitride semiconductor layer (10) formed on the silicon substrate (2), and metal electrodes (8, 8′) formed in contact with the silicon substrate (2). The metal electrodes (8, 8′) has first metal layers (4, 4′) which are formed in a shape of discrete islands and in contact with the silicon substrate (2), and second metal layers (6, 6′) which are in contact with the silicon substrate (2) exposed among the islands of the first metal layers (4, 4′) and are formed to cover the first metal layers (4, 4′). Further, the second metal layers (6, 6′) are made of a metal capable of forming ohmic contact with silicon, and the first metal layers (4, 4′) are made of an alloy containing a metal and silicon, in which the metal is different than that in the second metal layer (6,6′). |
| US08299498B2 |
Semiconductor device having hetero junction
A semiconductor device 10 is provided with a first hetero junction 40b configured with two types of nitride semiconductors having different bandgap energy from each other, a second hetero junction 50b configured with two types of nitride semiconductors having different bandgap energy from each other, and a gate electrode 58 facing the second hetero junction 50b. The second hetero junction 50b is configured to be electrically connected to the first hetero junction 40b. The first hetero junction 40b is a c-plane and the second hetero junction 50b is either an a-plane or an m-plane. |
| US08299497B1 |
Near-infrared photodetector with reduced dark current
A photodetector is disclosed for the detection of near-infrared light with a wavelength in the range of about 0.9-1.7 microns. The photodetector, which can be formed as either an nBp device or a pBn device on an InP substrate, includes an InGaAs light-absorbing layer, an InAlGaAs graded layer, an InAlAs or InP barrier layer, and an InGaAs contact layer. The photodetector can detect near-infrared light with or without the use of an applied reverse-bias voltage and is useful as an individual photodetector, or to form a focal plane array. |
| US08299496B2 |
Semiconductor device having semiconductor substrate including diode region and IGBT region
Provided is a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate in which a diode region and an IGBT region are formed. A separation region formed of a p-type semiconductor is formed in a range between the diode region and the IGBT region and extending from an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a position deeper than both a lower end of an anode region and a lower end of a body region. A diode lifetime control region is formed within a diode drift region. A carrier lifetime in the diode lifetime control region is shorter than that in the diode drift region outside the diode lifetime control region. An end of the diode lifetime control region on an IGBT region side is located right below the separation region. |
| US08299494B2 |
Nanotube semiconductor devices
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer of opposite conductivity type, a first epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type formed on sidewalls of the trenches, and a second epitaxial layer of the second conductivity type formed on the first epitaxial layer where the second epitaxial layer is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer. The first epitaxial layer and the second epitaxial layer form parallel doped regions along the sidewalls of the trenches, each having uniform doping concentration. The second epitaxial layer has a first thickness and a first doping concentration and the first epitaxial layer and a mesa of the first semiconductor layer together having a second thickness and a second average doping concentration where the first and second thicknesses and the first doping concentration and second average doping concentrations are selected to achieve charge balance in operation. |
| US08299492B2 |
Light-emitting devices
Light-emitting devices are provided, the light-emitting devices include a light-emitting structure layer having a first conductive layer, a light-emitting layer and a second conductive layer sequentially stacked on a first of a substrate, a plurality of seed layer patterns formed apart each other in the first conductive layer; and a plurality of first electrodes formed through the substrate, wherein each of the first electrodes extends from a second side of the substrate to each of the seed layer patterns. |
| US08299491B2 |
Phosphor coating method for fabricating light emitting semiconductor device and applications thereof
In one aspect, a light emitting unit comprises: a first semiconductor layer having a first electric property; a second semiconductor layer having a second electric property disposed over the first semiconductor layer; an active layer disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode disposed on the second semiconductor layer; a second electrode disposed under the first semiconductor layer; and a phosphor layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer. The phosphor layer covers the active layer and the second semiconductor layer. The first electrode is exposed out of the phosphor layer. |
| US08299490B2 |
Nitride-based semiconductor device having electrode on m-plane
A nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device 100 includes: a GaN substrate 10 with an m-plane surface 12; a semiconductor multilayer structure 20 provided on the m-plane surface 12 of the GaN substrate 10; and an electrode 30 provided on the semiconductor multilayer structure 20. The electrode 30 includes an Mg layer 32 and an Ag layer 34 provided on the Mg layer 32. The Mg layer 32 is in contact with a surface of a p-type semiconductor region of the semiconductor multilayer structure 20. |
| US08299483B2 |
Light-emitting semiconductor apparatus
A light-emitting semiconductor apparatus includes a light-emitting structure, a reflective structure, and a carrier. The light-emitting structure includes a first type semiconductor layer, a second type semiconductor layer, and a light-emitting layer positioned between the first type semiconductor layer and the second type semiconductor layer. The reflective structure has a first transparent conductive layer, a first patterned reflective layer, a second transparent conductive layer, and a second patterned reflective layer. The first patterned reflective layer is disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer, and has an opening for physically connecting the first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer. The second transparent conductive layer is disposed between the first patterned reflective layer and the second patterned reflective layer. The second patterned reflective layer is positioned on an area corresponding to the opening. The light-emitting structure and the carrier are respectively on two sides of the reflective structure. |
| US08299481B2 |
Wafer-scaled light-emitting structure
This invention discloses a wafer-scaled light-emitting structure comprising a supportive substrate; an anti-deforming layer; a bonding layer; and a light-emitting stacked layer, wherein the anti-deforming layer reduces or removes the deformation like warp caused by thinning of the substrate. |
| US08299480B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and method for manufacturing same, and epitaxial wafer
A semiconductor light emitting device includes: an upper growth layer including a light emitting layer; a transparent substrate through which a radiant light from the light emitting layer passes; and a foundation layer provided between the upper growth layer and the transparent substrate, the foundation layer having a surface-controlling layer and a bonding layer bonded with the transparent substrate. The surface-controlling layer is made of compound semiconductor including at least Ga and As. The upper growth layer is formed on an upper surface of the surface-controlling layer. A lattice constant difference at an interface between the surface-controlling layer and the upper growth layer is smaller than that at an interface between the bonding layer and the transparent substrate. |
| US08299479B2 |
Light-emitting devices with textured active layer
A device includes a textured substrate having a trench extending from a top surface of the textured substrate into the textured substrate, wherein the trench comprises a sidewall and a bottom. A light-emitting device (LED) includes an active layer over the textured substrate. The active layer has a first portion parallel to the sidewall of the trench and a second portion parallel to the bottom of the trench. |
| US08299478B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device having a pixel defining layer and method of fabricating the same
An OLED display device includes a substrate, a TFT on the substrate, the TFT including a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes, a first electrode electrically connected to one of the source and drain electrodes, a pixel defining layer on the substrate, the pixel defining layer exposing the first electrode and having a reversed trapezoidal shape, an emitting layer on the exposed first electrode, and a second electrode on the emitting layer. |
| US08299477B2 |
Light emitting device and method for fabricating the same
A light emitting device that includes a conductive substrate, an insulating layer on the conductive substrate, a plurality of light emitting device cells on the insulating layer, a connection layer electrically interconnecting the light emitting device cells, a first contact section electrically connecting the conductive substrate with at least one light emitting device cell, and a second contact section on the at least one light emitting device cell. |
| US08299476B2 |
Light emitting diode having light emitting cell with different size and light emitting device thereof
There is provided a light emitting diode operating under AC power comprising a substrate; a buffer layer formed on the substrate; and a plurality of light emitting cells formed on the buffer layer to have different sizes and to be electrically isolated from one another, the plurality of light emitting cells being connected in series through metal wires.According to the present invention, light emitting cells formed in an LED have different sizes, and thus have different turn-on voltages when light is emitted under AC power, so that times when the respective light emitting cells start emitting light are different to thereby effectively reduce a flicker phenomenon. |
| US08299473B1 |
Polarized white light devices using non-polar or semipolar gallium containing materials and transparent phosphors
A light emitting device includes a substrate having a surface region and a light emitting diode overlying the surface region. The light emitting diode is fabricated on a semipolar or nonpolar GaN containing substrate and emits electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength. The diode includes a quantum well region characterized by an electron wave function and a hole wave function. The electron wave function and the hole wave function are substantially overlapped within a predetermined spatial region of the quantum well region. The device has a transparent phosphor overlying the light emitting diode. The phosphor is excited by the substantially polarized emission to emit electromagnetic radiation of a second wavelength. |
| US08299467B2 |
Thin film transistor and fabrication method thereof
A thin film transistor is provided with a high crystallized region in a channel formation region and a high resistance region between a source and a drain, and thus has a high electric effect mobility and a large on current. The thin film transistor includes an “impurity which suppresses generation of crystal nuclei” contained in the base layer or located on its surface, a first wiring layer over a base layer, an impurity semiconductor layer over the first wiring, a semiconductor layer over the impurity semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer comprises a crystalline region and a region containing an amorphous phase which is formed adjacent to the base layer. |
| US08299464B2 |
Comparator receiving expected and mask data from circuit pads
Test circuits located on semiconductor die enable a tester to test a plurality of die/ICs in parallel by inputting both stimulus and response patterns to the plurality of die/ICs. The response patterns from the tester are input to the test circuits along with the output response of the die/IC to be compared. Also disclosed is the use of a response signal encoding scheme whereby the tester transmits response test commands to the test circuits, using a single signal per test circuit, to perform: (1) a compare die/IC output against an expected logic high, (2) a compare die/IC output against an expected logic low, and (3) a mask compare operation. The use of the signal encoding scheme allows functional testing of die and ICs since all response test commands (i.e. 1-3 above) required at each die/IC output can be transmitted to each die/IC output using only a single tester signal connection per die/IC output. In addition to functional testing, scan testing of die and ICs is also possible. |
| US08299463B2 |
Test structure for charged particle beam inspection and method for defect determination using the same
A test structure and method thereof for determining a defect in a sample of semiconductor device includes at least one transistor rendered grounded. The grounded transistor is preferably located at least one end of a test pattern designed to be included in the sample. When the test structure is inspected by charged particle beam inspection, the voltage contrast (VC) of the transistors in the test pattern including the grounded transistor is observed for determination of the presence of defect in the sample. |
| US08299453B2 |
CMOS transistors with silicon germanium channel and dual embedded stressors
A p-type MOSFET of a CMOS structure has a silicon-germanium alloy channel to which a longitudinal compressive stress is applied by embedded epitaxial silicon-germanium alloy source and drain regions comprising a silicon-germanium alloy having a higher concentration of germanium than the channel of the p-type MOSFET. An n-type MOSFET of the CMOS structure has a silicon-germanium alloy channel to which a longitudinal tensile stress is applied by embedded epitaxial silicon source and drain regions comprising silicon. The silicon-germanium alloy channel in the p-type MOSFET provides enhanced hole mobility, while the silicon-germanium alloy channel in the n-type MOSFET provides enhanced electron mobility, thereby providing performance improvement to both the p-type MOSFET and the n-type MOSFET. |
| US08299444B2 |
Ion source
This invention relates to a desorption/ionization source operated under ambient conditions for direct analysis of solid or liquid samples on a surface. The source comprises of a laser desorption system and a UV/electrospray combined ionization system. The source is suitable for simultaneously ionizing samples with different polarity in a complex mixture. At the same time, the compact design of the source with multiple channels can maintain the level of local concentration of the analyte ions inside the source for higher efficiency of sample ionization and introduction. |
| US08299439B2 |
Radiation detecting device and method of operating
A method of operating a radiation-detecting device includes charging a first charge storage region of a charge storage structure to place a first charge value at the first charge storage region, and charging a second charge storage region of the charge storage structure to place a second charge value at the second charge storage region. The method further includes conducting a first read operation to determine a change in the first charge value at the first charge storage region at a first time after charging the first charge storage region, and determining a first radiation flux value for an environment containing the charge storage structure based on the change in the first charge value at the first time. |
| US08299438B2 |
Model based estimation of a complete or partial positron emission tomography attenuation map using maximum likelihood expectation maximization
Example embodiments are directed to a method of correcting attenuation in a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner and a positron emission tomography (PET) unit. The method includes acquiring PET sinogram data of an object within a field of view of the PET unit. The method further includes producing an attenuation map based on a maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) of a parameterized model instance and the PET sinogram data. |
| US08299437B2 |
Gamma ray detector and gamma ray reconstruction method
Provided are a gamma ray detector and a gamma ray reconstruction method which can be used in SPECT and PET and which combine and reconstruct the information on “Compton-scattered” gamma rays, thereby remarkably increasing gamma ray detection sensitivity, decreasing the amount of a radioactive substance given to a subject, and remarkably reducing the concern about the amount of radiation exposure. The gamma ray detector comprises an absorber scintillator 12 made from an absorptive substance exhibiting a high rate of absorption with respect to gamma rays 1 in an energy region, emitted from a subject, a Compton scattering scintillator 14 made from a Compton scattering substance exhibiting a high probability of Compton scattering, and an energy detector 16 which combines the amounts of gamma ray energy absorption simultaneously measured by the two types of scintillators to reconstruct the gamma rays emitted from the subject. The two types of scintillators 12 and 14 are arranged in multiple layers so as to absorb or Compton-scatter the whole energy of the gamma rays 1. |
| US08299435B2 |
Tunable broadband anti-relfection apparatus
A broadband anti-reflection apparatus for use with terahertz radiation includes a layer having an outer surface comprising a plurality of pyramid structures having about a 30 μm to about a 110 μm period, and wherein reflectance of the terahertz radiation is reduced compared to a layer comprising a planar outer surface. Also disclosed is a method for modifying terahertz radiation which includes receiving terahertz radiation on a device having an anti-reflection layer having an outer surface comprising a plurality of pyramid structures having about a 30 μm to a 110 μm period, and modifying the terahertz radiation passing through the device or processing the terahertz radiation in the device. |
| US08299431B2 |
Method for examining a sample by using a charged particle beam
A method for examining a sample with a scanning charged particle beam imaging apparatus. First, an image area and a scan area are specified on a surface of the sample. Herein, the image area is entirely overlapped within the scan area. Next, the scan area is scanned by using a charged particle beam along a direction neither parallel nor perpendicular to an orientation of the scan area. It is possible that only a portion of the scan area overlapped with the image area is exposed to the charged particle beam. It also is possible that both the shape and the size of the image area are essentially similar with that of the scan area, such that the size of the area projected by the charged particle beam is almost equal to the size of the image area. |
| US08299430B2 |
Electron microscope and observation method
An electron microscope includes an electron gun for generating an electron beam, an accelerator for accelerating the electron beam to apply the electron beam to a sample, a spectroscope for selecting electrons having a specific energy out of the electron beam transmitted through the sample and losing an energy by an interaction with the sample, and a detector for detecting the electrons of the specific energy selected by the spectroscope and giving a transmission signal or a diffraction signal at a depth of the sample corresponding to a lost energy quantity of the electrons. |
| US08299427B2 |
Mass spectrometer
An object of the present invention is to provide a mass spectrometer having an optical ion transport system where the efficiency for generating and converting fragment ions can be increased, and which can transport the generated fragment ions efficiently to the rear stage, and in order to achieve this object, the mass spectrometer for ionizing a sample in an ionization chamber 10 and drawing the ionized sample into a mass spectrometric chamber 18 is provided with an ion transport optical system having electrodes 17, 200-1 and 200-2 provided so as to surround an optical ion axis, and is characterized in that the above described electrodes 17, 200-1 and 200-2 have an inclined surface which is inclined so as to spread in the direction in which ions progress along the above described optical ion axis. |
| US08299421B2 |
Low-pressure electron ionization and chemical ionization for mass spectrometry
A sample is ionized by chemical ionization by flowing the sample and a reagent gas into an ion source at a pressure below 0.1 Torr. While maintaining the ion source at a pressure below 0.1 Torr, the reagent gas is ionized in the ion source by electron ionization to produce reagent ions. The sample is reacted with the reagent ions at a pressure below 0.1 Torr to produce product ions of the sample. The product ions are transmitted into an ion trap for mass analysis. |
| US08299420B2 |
Neutron shielding for downhole tool
A downhole tool for performing measurement of a formation. The tool comprising a housing surrounding a source for generating neutrons and a detector for detecting the neutrons. A shield is located outside of, or embedded in, the housing and focuses the neutrons. |
| US08299415B2 |
Photodetector, electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus
An photodetector includes: a first light receiving element that receives light including ambient light; a second light receiving element that receives light including the ambient light; and a red color filter disposed on an optical path through which the ambient light is incident on the second light receiving element. |
| US08299414B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging device comprises pixel units, column signal lines, column circuits, a switching unit, and a mode control unit. Pixel units are two-dimensionally disposed in a matrix direction, and each of them comprises a photoelectric conversion unit and an amplifying unit. Column signal lines are provided for each column and the pixel signals from the amplifying units are output to each of rows. Column circuits are provided for each column and process signals from the column signal lines. A switching unit switches connection between the column signal lines and the column circuits. A mode control unit outputs signals to the switching unit and controls switching between a first mode in which the column signal lines are connected to the column circuits on the same column thereof and a second mode in which the column signal lines are connected to the column circuits on another column. |
| US08299410B2 |
Casing structure for electronic equipment
A fan motor is mounted on the upper wall of the casing. The lower surface of this upper wall is formed into an inclined surface in which inclination is formed from the front wall side of the casing toward a back wall across from the front wall. When the fan motor is driven, oil mist or moisture contained in the air are condensed into water droplets or oil droplets. These water droplets or oil droplets fall and flow to the inner wall surface of the upper wall of the casing along the inner peripheral wall of a vent hole. Then the water droplets or oil droplets flow along the profile line of a vent hole smoothly (without stopping) and roll down the side wall of the casing. |
| US08299406B2 |
Electronic temperature-sensing probe
An electronic temperature-sensing probe comprises a shell, a control base plate, a probe and a key group, wherein the control base plate is placed inside the shell; the probe with one end extending outside of the shell and the other end connected to the control base plate electrically is mounted in the shell; the key group with their inner ends connected to control contacts of the control base plate are depressibly mounted on the surface of the shell; the key group comprises a power switch key, temperature-adjusting keys and a high temperature switch key; the control base plate controls the power on/off of the heating element based on the temperature control signals provided by the temperature-adjusting keys and the high temperature switch key and the temperature signal provided by the probe and the switch control signal provided by the power switch key. |
| US08299396B2 |
Method for laser scribing of solar panels
A method and device for ablation of thin layers on the rim region of the surface of a plane substrate coated with a thin film. The rim region runs along the edge or edges of the substrate, and the thin layers should be ablated in at least two, not necessarily unconnected areas of the rim region along edge pieces not parallel to one another. A laser beam is pointed toward an ablation area. The areas of the rim region to be ablated are guided through the area so that in a plane of the surface of the substrate, during the whole ablation process, there is basically a constant distance in the space that lies partly in the ablation area and has its starting point outside the substrate surface and its end point within the substrate surface. |
| US08299390B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling plasma density profile
A number of RF power transmission paths are defined to extend from an RF power source through a matching network, through a transmit electrode, through a plasma to a number of return electrodes. A number of tuning elements are respectively disposed within the number of RF power transmission paths. Each tuning element is defined to adjust an amount of RF power to be transmitted through the RF power transmission path within which the tuning element is disposed. A plasma density within a vicinity of a particular RF power transmission path is directly proportional to the amount of RF power transmitted through the particular RF power transmission path. Therefore, adjustment of RF power transmitted through the RF power transmission paths, as afforded by the tuning element, enables control of a plasma density profile across a substrate. |
| US08299389B2 |
Insert weld repair
A method of repairing an aperture and adjacent defect wherein one or more defects proximate an aperture are removed from the base material proximate the aperture in an arc shape. An insert containing a profile that corresponds to the arc shaped section of the base material removed is welded to the base material. The weld is accomplished with a single curved path. Next, the insert is removed to create a repaired aperture and a surrounding section that has essentially the same dimensions as the aperture and surrounding section prior to the repair. |
| US08299386B2 |
Device designed to cut off the spent wire on a spark erosion machine
Cutting device for spark-erosion machine wires in which, after passing through a machining region, the wire-electrode is cut up into sections which are disposed of as waste products into a recovery receptacle. The device comprises electrical contacts connected to a voltage/current source. The wire is subjected to a dielectric fluid whose flow rate is sufficiently high to generate a turbulent flow regime and cause random lateral movements of the wire which sporadically brushes against the contacts. |
| US08299380B2 |
Position indicating apparatus for circuit breaker and circuit breaker having the same
Disclosed are a position indicating apparatus for a circuit breaker and a circuit breaker having the same. The circuit breaker having a position indicating apparatus comprises a cradle having a bus bar terminal and a load terminal; a main body having a bus bar connection unit and a load connection unit respectively connected to the bus bar terminal and the load terminal, and configured to be movable to a run position that the terminals and the connection units are connected to each other, and to a test position that the terminals and the connection units are separated from each other; and a position indicating apparatus configured to outwardly display a position of the main body by interworking with motion of the main body, wherein the position indicating apparatus comprises: a movable pin interworking with motion of the main body; and a display unit configured to display a position of the main body corresponding to a position of the movable pin by interworking with motion of the movable pin. Accordingly, the position of the main body of the circuit breaker can be intuitively checked rapidly and precisely. |
| US08299377B2 |
Interlocks for withdrawable breakers
A circuit breaker interlock apparatus can include a circuit breaker, a first moveable arm that is moveable when the circuit breaker is open, a second moveable arm pivotally coupled to the first moveable arm that is movable when the first moveable arm is moveable and a blocking arm, configured to interlock with the second movable arm. |
| US08299376B2 |
Key button mechanism and electronic device using the same
A key button structure for entering data in an electronic device comprises a first key element and a second key element. The second key element is retained to the first key element by a retaining mechanism. The second key element has a joint positioned at a side thereof opposite to the first key element and two actuators located at an opposite side thereof facing the first key element. The joint pivotably couples the second key element to a housing of the electronic device. |
| US08299375B2 |
Draft protection device for a laboratory instrument, providing a weighing compartment of adjustable volume
A draft protection device for a laboratory instrument according to the invention encloses a weighing compartment that surrounds a balance pan and includes a rear wall, a front wall, two sidewalls, a top cover with at least one opening, and a floor that is delimited by border edges. The top cover is connected at least to one of the two sidewalls and/or the front wall and/or the rear wall in an arrangement where the top cover and the walls connected thereto are vertically movable together in relation to the balance pan. In addition, the vertically movable wall(s) are vertically moveable past the adjacent border edge(s) of the floor. In any vertical position of the top cover, at least one of the sidewalls is horizontally slidable relative thereto. |
| US08299369B2 |
Power-ground plane partitioning and via connection to utilize channel/trenches for power delivery
An apparatus that includes a plurality of metalized planes, one or more dielectric layers separating the plurality of metalized planes; and one or more conductive trenches connecting to at least one of the plurality of metalized planes. |
| US08299368B2 |
Interconnection element for electric circuits
An interconnection element and method for making same is disclosed. The interconnection element may include a plurality of metal conductors, a plurality of solid metal bumps and a low melting point (LMP) metal layer. The solid metal bumps overly and project in a first direction away from respective ones of the conductors. Each bump has at least one edge bounding the bump in at least a second direction transverse to the first direction. The low melting point (LMP) metal layer has a first face joined to the respective ones of the conductors and bounded in the second direction by at least one edge and a second face joined to the bumps. The edges of the bumps and the LMP layer are aligned in the first direction, and the LMP metal layer has a melting temperature substantially lower than the conductors. |
| US08299363B2 |
Polycrystalline thin film, method for producing the same and oxide superconductor
An object of the invention is to provide a polycrystalline thin film which includes an intermediate layer that is made thinner while keeping high crystal orientation so as to prevent warpage of a substrate resulting from internal stress of the film. A polycrystalline thin film according to the invention includes an intermediate layer formed by a first layer and a second layer laminated in this order and provided on a metal substrate. The first layer has a rock-salt crystal structure and the second layer has a fluorite crystal structure. |
| US08299362B2 |
Cable adapter and adapted system
An electrical adapter enables the conductors of a flexible cable to be extended into an armored conduit with electrical ground continuity and a rigid structural attachment. The adapter is cylindrical and has removable cover over an oblique aperture providing a highly rigid and strengthened fixture, which has a ground wire clamp for securement of the wires of the cable. An adapter collar is secured rotationally to one end of the adapter body for connecting the adapter to a nipple of an armored conduit mounted to a wall structure. The ground wire is secured to the ground wire fixture, and with the adapter collar secured to the armored conduit, electrical ground continuity is extended from the flexible cable to the armored conduit. With the removable cover secured over the access aperture, exposure of the ground wire clamp and the conductors of the flexible cable is eliminated. |
| US08299356B2 |
Bonding wire for semiconductor devices
A semiconductor-device bonding wire includes a core member formed of an electrically-conductive metal, and a skin layer mainly composed of a face-centered cubic metal different from the core member and formed thereon. An orientation ratio of <111> orientations in crystalline orientations |
| US08299355B2 |
Quantum dot solar cell
A solar cell including a quantum dot and an electron conductor, with a bifunctional ligand disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The bifunctional ligand molecule may include an electron conductor anchor that bonds to the electron conductor and a first quantum dot anchor that bonds to the quantum dot. A hole conductor such as a conductive polymer may include a second quantum dot anchor. In some instances, the first quantum dot may include selenium. |
| US08299352B2 |
Dye-sensitized solar cell using conductive fiber electrode
Provided is a dye-sensitized solar cell including a flexible electrode. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes: first and second electrodes facing each other, and an electrolyte layer interposed between the first and second electrodes, wherein the first electrode comprises a structure formed of conductive fibers, a nano-particle semiconductor oxide layer formed on a surface of the structure of the conductive fibers, and dye molecules adsorbed in the nano-particle semiconductor oxide layer. |
| US08299346B2 |
Polyphonic tuner
The present invention relates to a musical instrument tuner, e.g. a guitar tuner, featuring tuning as a part of a user session. |
| US08299344B2 |
Key and keyboard apparatus
A key having a key-depression surface with a woody characteristic and durability without the need of a surface treatment and capable of being formed from a simple-shaped uncompressed wood. A key for use as a black key includes a resin part and a compressed wood part secured at its lower surface to an upper surface of the resin part. The compressed wood part is used to constitute a portion of a key top including an upper surface and positioned above an upper surface of white keys which are in a non-key-depression state. The compressed wood part is obtained by compression molding of unprocessed wood. The compressed density in the vertical direction in the compressed wood part is higher toward rearward from a front end of the compressed wood part. |
| US08299343B2 |
G-pan musical instrument
An ensemble of acoustic steelpan musical instruments, being an innovation which significantly improves upon traditional acoustic steelpan prior art. Improvements include an extension of note range across the assemblage of G-Pans, a substantial reduction in the number of steelpans required to effectively cover the steelpan musical range, the use of a compound design whereby individual component parts of the instrument, specifically the playing surface, chime, rear attachment, or skirt and the playing stick or mallet, are optimized for their specific function, the application of a variety of techniques for eliminating or reducing non-musical sympathetic vibrations, and the inclusion of a variety of mechanical and acoustic resonator designs to enhance optimally the sound projection of the aforementioned instrument. |
| US08299340B1 |
Inbred maize variety PH18KN
A novel maize variety designated PH18KN and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18KN with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18KN through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH18KN or a locus conversion of PH18KN with another maize variety. |
| US08299336B1 |
Maize variety inbred PHH4V
A novel maize variety designated PHH4V and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHH4V with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHH4V through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHH4V or a locus conversion of PHH4V with another maize variety. |
| US08299335B2 |
Corn seed comprising novel opaque modifiers and related methods
Novel corn opaque modifier loci, associated molecular markers and methods for obtaining the loci, markers, and resultant seed are provided. Vitreous seed with reduced alpha-zein storage protein content that contain the opaque modifier loci are also described. Processes for obtaining milled corn seed products from the vitreous seed with reduced alpha-zein storage protein content that contain the opaque modifier loci are also provided. |
| US08299334B1 |
Soybean cultivar 02194504
A soybean cultivar designated 02194504 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 02194504, to the plants of soybean cultivar 02194504, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 02194504, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 02194504. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 02194504. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 02194504, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 02194504 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08299333B2 |
Soybean variety A1024289
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024289. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024289. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024289 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024289 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US08299332B1 |
Soybean variety XBP28005
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP28005 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP28005, cells from soybean variety XBP28005, plants of soybean XBP28005, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP28005. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP28005 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XBP28005, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP28005. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP28005 are further provided. |
| US08299331B1 |
Soybean variety XB28N10
A novel soybean variety, designated XB28N10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB28N10, cells from soybean variety XB28N10, plants of soybean XB28N10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB28N10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB28N10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB28N10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB28N10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB28N10 are further provided. |
| US08299330B1 |
Soybean variety XBP19003
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP19003 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP19003, cells from soybean variety XBP19003, plants of soybean XBP19003, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP19003. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP19003 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XBP19003, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP19003. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP19003 are further provided. |
| US08299329B1 |
Soybean variety XB28J10
A novel soybean variety, designated XB28J10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB28J10, cells from soybean variety XB28J10, plants of soybean XB28J10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB28J10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB28J10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB28J10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB28J10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB28J10 are further provided. |
| US08299328B2 |
Soybean variety XB31G10
A novel soybean variety, designated XB31G10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB31G10, cells from soybean variety XB31G10, plants of soybean XB31G10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB31G10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB31G10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB31G10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB31G10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB31G10 are further provided. |
| US08299327B2 |
Soybean cultivar 94334045
A soybean cultivar designated 94334045 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 94334045, to the plants of soybean 94334045, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 94334045, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 94334045 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 94334045, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 94334045, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 94334045 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08299324B2 |
Insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis
The invention pertains to novel insecticidal compounds derived from Bacillus thuringiensis strains. New proteins designated Cry1Jd, Cry9Fa, and Cry1Bf, and insecticidal fragments thereof are provided, as well as DNA sequences encoding these proteins or their insecticidal fragments. Further provided are recombinant hosts expressing such proteins, particularly plant cells and plants. |
| US08299322B2 |
Polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. |
| US08299321B2 |
Nucleic acid molecules and other molecules associated with plants and uses thereof for plant improvement
Polynucleotides useful for improvement of plants are provided. In particular, polynucleotide sequences are provided from plant sources. Polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide sequences are also provided. The disclosed polynucleotides and polypeptides find use in production of transgenic plants to produce plants having improved properties. |
| US08299320B2 |
Modulating plant carbon levels
Methods and materials for modulating (e.g., increasing or decreasing) carbon levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding carbon-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased carbon levels. |
| US08299317B2 |
Absorbent articles with external access to internal conductors
An absorbent article includes a liner and an outercover in facing relation and at least one conductive element located between the liner and the outercover. At least a portion of the conductive element is exposed through the liner and/or the outercover to define at least one external contact point. The external contact point defines a perimeter and the liner and/or the outercover is sealed about the perimeter. The contact points provide external access to the internal conductive elements. |
| US08299312B2 |
Process for dimerizing olefins
A process for dimerizing olefins in the presence of a catalyst, a hydrocarbon feedstock containing C4 to C6 isoolefins is subjected to dimerization. The process comprises the steps of contacting the C4 to C6 isoolefins at conditions conducive to dimerization with a catalytic material comprising an acidic mesoporous molecular sieve, the catalytic material being thermally stable at a temperature of at least 900° C., and carrying out the contacting step essentially in the absence of butadiene and water in the feedstock. By means of the invention, the dimerization process can be operated over extended periods of time with prolonged maintenance intervals. |
| US08299306B2 |
Accelerated synthesis of substituted hydroxymethyl phenols
This disclosure relates to process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) wherein R is hydrogen, a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl-carbonyl group or a phenylcarbonyl group, or a salt thereof, comprising the following steps: a) adding to a suspension of Mg a compound of formula (II) R1(MgX)n—LiY wherein n is 1 or 2; R1 is an aromatic, aliphatic, carbocyclic or heterocyclic organic group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms; X and Y are independently selected from Cl, Br and I, b) reacting said reaction mixture with a suitable halogenated compound in a solvent to form a Grignard reagent, c) reacting said Grignard reagent with a suitable linear, branched or cyclic carbonate to obtain a compound of formula (IV) wherein A is a linear, branched or cyclic C1-C6 alkyl group, and preferably a methyl group, and then further reacting the compound of formula (IV) in a known manner to obtain a compound of formula (I) and optionally salt formation. |
| US08299305B2 |
Method for preparing atomoxetine
The present invention provides an efficient method for preparing atomoxetine in high yield. (R)-methylhydroxylaminopropanol compound of formula (II) in the present invention is used as an intermediate without the need for resolution processes. |
| US08299303B2 |
Process for producing a concentrated solution for a photoresist-stripping liquid having low water content
There is provided a process for producing a concentrated solution of quaternary ammonium hydroxide which is characterized in that quaternary ammonium hydroxide in a form of water-containing crystals or of an aqueous solution is mixed with a water-soluble organic solvent selected from the group consisting of glycol ether, glycol and triol and the resulting mixed solution is subjected to a thin-film distillation in vacuo so as to evaporate the low boiling material. In accordance with this process, a concentrated solution of quaternary ammonium hydroxide having low water content is able to be easily produced. |
| US08299302B2 |
4-Cycloalkyl or 4-substituted phenoxyphenylamidines and use thereof as fungicides
The present invention relates to 4-cycloalkyl- or 4-aryl-substituted phenoxyphenylamidines of the general formula (I), to a process for their preparation, to the use of the amidines according to the invention for controlling unwanted microorganisms and also to a composition for this purpose, comprising the phenoxyphenylamidines according to the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling unwanted microorganisms by applying the compounds according to the invention to the microorganisms and/or their habitat. |
| US08299301B2 |
Fluoralkylphenylamidines and the use thereof as fungicides
The present invention relates to fluoroalkylphenylamidines of the general formula (I), to a process for their preparation, to the use of the amidines according to the invention for controlling unwanted microorganisms and also to a composition for this purpose, comprising the phenoxyamidines according to the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling unwanted microorganisms by applying the compounds according to the invention to the microorganisms and/or their habitat. |
| US08299299B2 |
Process for separating acrylic acid present as a main constituent and glyoxal present as a by-product in a product gas mixture of a partial heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase oxidation of a C3 precursor compound of acrylic acid
A process for separating acrylic acid present as a main product and glyoxal present as a by-product in a product gas mixture of a partial gas phase oxidation of a C3 precursor compound, in which a liquid phase P is obtained, which consists of acrylic acid to an extent of at least 70% of its weight and, based on the molar amount of acrylic acid present therein, comprises at least 200 molar ppm of glyoxal, in which the glyoxal is separated from the acrylic acid in the liquid phase P by crystallization. |
| US08299296B2 |
Spiro compounds and pharmaceutical use thereof
The spiro compound represented by the following general formula [Ia], its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof |
| US08299294B2 |
Process for producing vinyl sulfonic acid
The subject invention provides: a method for producing vinyl sulfonic acid, comprising conducting demetallation of vinyl sulfonate salt, wherein the demetallation rate is not less than 95% according to the following formula: Demetallation rate(%)={(acid value after demetallation)/(acid value before demetallation)}×100; a method for producing vinyl sulfonic acid, comprising conducting demetallation of vinyl sulfonate salt, wherein demetallation is carried out using a strongly acidic ion exchange resin; and said method further comprising the step of purifying a product of the demetallation using a thin film evaporator. |
| US08299292B2 |
Method of preparing of 60% or more CIS-DI(C4-C20)alkyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate
Provided is a method for preparing 60% or more cis-di(C4-C20)alkyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate which exhibits superior plasticizing property for PVC resin. Instead of a phthalate- or terephthalate-based aromatic ester derivative, 60% or more cis-dimethyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate is used as a starting material. The 60% or more cis-dimethyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate is subjected to transesterification with (C4-C20) primary alcohol to prepare 60% or more cis-di(C4-C20)alkyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate. Methanol produced as a byproduct during the transesterification is removed and some of the primary alcohol, which is evaporated, is recycled. Thus prepared 60% or more cis-di(C4-C20)alkyl cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate exhibits superior plasticizer characteristics, including good plasticizing efficiency for PVC resin, high absorption rate, good product transparency after gelling, less bleeding toward the surface upon long-term use, and the like. |
| US08299291B2 |
Methods of synthesizing 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl carbamate prodrugs
The present disclosure relates to methods of synthesizing 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl carbamate prodrugs and to intermediates used in the methods. |
| US08299290B2 |
Boron containing functionalizing agent
The present invention relates to functionalizing agents that are particularly useful for functionalizing living rubbery polymers to make the polymer more compatible with fillers, such as carbon black and silica. These functionalizing agents are comprised of a boron containing compound having a structural formula selected from the group consisting of: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups and aryl groups, wherein R1, R2, and R3 can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, and aryl groups, and wherein R4 represents an alkylene group or a bridging aromatic group. |
| US08299289B2 |
Isomerized alpha olefin sulfonate and method of making the same
The present invention is directed to an isomerized alpha olefin sulfonate and a method of making the same wherein the isomerized alpha olefin sulfonate is derived from sulfonating an isomerized alpha olefin with sulfur trioxide in the presence of air thereby producing an isomerized alpha olefin sulfonic acid, wherein the isomerized alpha olefin is derived from the isomerization of C12-C40 normal alpha olefins; and neutralizing the isomerized alpha olefin sulfonic acid with a source of a mono-valent cation. |
| US08299288B2 |
Method for producing α-hydroxyester compound
Disclosed is a method for producing a compound represented by Formula (4), the method including Step I of adding a solution in which hydrogen chloride is dissolved in an alcohol, to a mixture containing an organic solvent and a compound represented by Formula (1), and Step II of mixing a compound obtained in Step I, represented by Formula (3), with water. |
| US08299284B2 |
Frustrated lewis pair compositions
A compound having the formula (I) where each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is independently C6-C18 aryl-, C5-C8 cycloalkyl-, C6-C18 aryl having at least one C1-C20 alkyl substituent, C5-C8 cycloalkyl having at least one C1-C20 alkyl substituent, C4-C20 branched alkyl-, C16-C20 linear alkyl-, RO—, —NRR′, —PRR′, —SR, fluoro substituted forms thereof, and perfluoro forms thereof: and R5 is C6-C18 aryl-, C5-C8 cycloalkyl-, C6-C18 aryl having at least one C1-C20 alkyl substituent, C5-C8 cycloalkyl having at least one C1-C20 alkyl substituent, C3-C20 branched alkyl-, C2-C30 linear alkyl-, fluoro substituted forms thereof, and perfluoro forms thereof; where R and R′ are each independently C6-C18aryl-, C5-C8 cycloalkyl-, C6-C18 aryl having at least one C1-C20 alkyl substituent, C5-C8 cycloalkyl having at least one C1-C20 alkyl substituent, C4-C20 branched alkyl-, C2-C30 linear alkyl-, fluoro substituted forms thereof, and perfluoro forms thereof; A is N, P, S, or O with the proviso that when A is S, R2 is a nullify; and M is B, Al, Ga or In. |
| US08299280B2 |
Recovery of components making up a liquid mixture
A process for recovering hexafluoropropylene and hexafluoropropylene oxide from a liquid mixture of these components is provided. The process includes, in a stripping stage, contacting the mixture with a gaseous stripping agent, thereby to strip hexafluoropropylene from the mixture. A gaseous product comprising hexafluoropropylene and gaseous stripping agent is withdrawn from the stripping stage, as is a liquid product comprising hexafluoropropylene oxide. |
| US08299278B2 |
Terephthalic acid composition and process for the production thereof
Terephthalic acid is prepared by reacting a 2,5-furandicarboxylate with ethylene in the presence of a solvent to produce a bicyclic ether; and then dehydrating the bicyclic ether. The process of the present invention effectively produces terephthalic acid, while reducing or eliminating the impurities, color bodies and carbon oxides produced in commercial practice by the liquid-phase oxidation of methyl-substituted benzene feedstocks. |
| US08299277B2 |
Radiation protection drug containing tocopherol or tocotrienol compound ester derivative as active ingredient
Administration of either a tocopherol represented by the general formula (1) or a tocotrienol compound ester derivative before or after exposure to radiation is effective in preventing or treating health disorders caused by the radiation exposure. |
| US08299275B2 |
Process for producing carnosol from carnosic acid using hydrogen peroxide or peracids
Catalytic processes for the production of carnosol from carnosic acid using hydrogen peroxide or a peracid are presented. The carnosic acid may be in pure form, in an impure form, part of a plant extract, or may be present in rosemary needles. The catalyst may be iron, iron salts, a minor amount of water, rosemary needles, or a mixture thereof. |