| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08300733B1 |
Post-distortion filter for reducing sensitivity to receiver nonlinearities
Methods and apparatus for reducing sensitivity to nonlinearities in the receiver of a digital communications system are disclosed. One aspect can be referred to as a Post-Distortion Decision Feedback Equalizer (PDFE). A gain stage is often implemented as a variable gain amplifier (VGA), and can introduce significant nonlinearities, a problem exacerbated by signals with a large peak-to-average ratio (PAR). One embodiment provides feed forward information from the VGA regarding its status to a DFE, and the DFE adjusts its filtering based on the provided information. The advantages are also applicable to fixed-gain amplifiers and to transversal filters. |
| US08300730B2 |
Multiplier-less data processing techniques and related implementations adapted for use in polar modulator
A modulator performs data processing operations such as interpolation and fractional delay adjustment on amplitude and/or phase data by performing shift operations in lieu of multiplication operations. In selected embodiments, the modulator samples input data at a first rate, processes the sampled input data using the first rate, and then interpolates the processed data to produce interpolated data. The modulator then samples the interpolated data at a second rate higher than the first rate and generates output data at the second rate. |
| US08300726B2 |
Interpolation method and apparatus for increasing efficiency of crosstalk estimation
Techniques are disclosed that efficiently obtain channel crosstalk estimates in DSL systems and other communication systems that may include unsynchronized channels. For example, a method includes obtaining a first set of estimated measures of crosstalk for a first portion of a plurality of communication channels over which data signals are to be transmitted from a transmitter to a plurality of receivers, and interpolating a second set of estimated measures of crosstalk for a second portion of the plurality of communication channels based on the first set of estimated measures of crosstalk. The first portion of the plurality of communication channels may be a subset of the plurality of communication channels and the second portion of the plurality of communication channels is a remainder of the plurality of communication channels. Each estimated measure of crosstalk may relate to at least one tone associated with at least one of the plurality of communication channels. |
| US08300725B2 |
Radio transmission device, radio reception device, radio transmission method, and radio reception method
It is possible to provide a radio reception device, a radio transmission device, a radio reception method, and a radio transmission method which can improve the channel estimation accuracy and the reception quality. The radio reception device (200) includes: reception units (203, 204) which receive a data sequence added by a reference signal for channel estimation of a spatial propagation path at a predetermined interval; demodulation units (205, 206) which demodulate the data sequence; a channel estimation unit (208) which estimates a propagation path fluctuation state according to the reference signal in the data sequence and outputs a channel estimation value obtained by interpolating or extrapolating the data sequence; and a decoding processing unit (210) which decodes the data sequence by using the interpolated or extrapolated channel estimation value. |
| US08300724B2 |
Digital transceiver
Digital Transceiver (DTRX) usable in a radio communications systems for transmitting and receiving digital base-band signals, wherein the DTRX (300) comprises: at least one digital up-converter (DUC) (310) for transmitting digital base-band signals and at least one digital down-converter for receiving digital base-band signals. In one aspect of the teachings disclosed herein the DUC (310) comprises at least two over-sampling units (314, 315), at least one quadrature modulation unit (340), and at least one time-discrete sigma delta band-pass modulator (318). The digital down-converter comprises at least one quadrature demodulation unit (360), at least two decimator units (356,357), and at least two sub-sampling units (354, 355). The digital base-band signal comprises an in-phase component (I-signal) and a quadrature component (Q-signal). |
| US08300722B2 |
Retransmission of data in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system
A method for retransmission of data in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system, the method comprising space-time block code (STBC) encoding multiple data streams including one or more retransmission data streams using a STBC matrix, the STBC matrix multiplying at least one of the retransmission data streams with respective variable weighting factors. |
| US08300721B2 |
Pseudorandom noise code acquisition in direct sequence spread spectrum systems
A method for receiving spread spectrum signals and for initial code acquisition from the received signals comprises de-spreading the received signals, based on code phase synchronization, to produce a de-spread signal; and performing a modulation detection based on a change of time-domain characteristic of the de-spread signal. |
| US08300719B2 |
Apparatus for detecting digital video signal parameters and method thereof
A method for detecting digital video signal parameters detects an integer carrier frequency offset (ICFO), a pilot pattern and a carrier mode of a signal received by an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication system. The method includes receiving a first OFDM symbol comprising a plurality of first frequency-domain sub-carriers and a second OFDM symbol comprising a plurality of second frequency-domain sub-carriers; generating a plurality of sub-carrier correlation results according to the first frequency-domain sub-carrier and the second frequency-domain sub-carrier; and determining a maximum sub-carrier correlation result from the plurality of sub-carrier correlation results; and outputting an ICFO, a pilot pattern and a carrier mode corresponding to the maximum sub-carrier correlation result. |
| US08300717B2 |
Sampling frequency offset estimation apparatus and method of OFDM system
A sampling frequency offset estimation apparatus of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system includes a first differential operation unit performing complex conjugate multiplication of scattered pilots of complex symbols subjected to a fast Fourier transform (FFT) in an OFDM receiver, an interpolation unit repeating an operation of obtaining a median complex symbol between two consecutive symbols among complex symbols having first phase difference information from the first differential operation unit by a predetermined number, a second differential operation unit performing complex conjugate multiplication of two consecutive median complex symbols among median complex symbols from the interpolation unit, and a sampling frequency offset estimation unit estimating sampling frequency offset using complex symbols having second phase difference information from the second differential operation unit. |
| US08300710B2 |
Node structure for representing tactile information, and method and system for transmitting tactile information using the same
The present invention relates to a node structure for representing tactile information, and method and system for transmitting tactile information using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a node structure that represents tactile information for driving a tactile display device including an array of drivers as a tactile video, and to method and system for transmitting tactile information using the same. The invention provides a node structure for representing information for driving a driver array of a tactile display device. The node structure includes: a url field that indicates the position of the tactile video storing information on the driving strength of the driver array as intensity values of pixels! a start time field that indicates the playback start time of the tactile video; and a stop time field that indicates the playback stop time of the tactile video. In addition, the invention provides method and system for transmitting tactile information using the node structure. |
| US08300708B2 |
Method allowing compression and protection parameters to be determined for the transmission of multimedia data over a wireless data channel
A method allowing operating parameters, such as the compression ratio and/or the protection ratio for a multimedia data transmission channel to be determined, wherein it includes at least one step during which several values of sensitivity are determined for pairs of values fixed source bit-rate, desired compression ratio, a step where the different values obtained for an operating point of the fixed channel are compared with one another, and a step where the optimum sensitivity value is selected, the sensitivity value being defined taking the desired source bit-rate and the compression ratio into account. |
| US08300707B2 |
Block noise reduction device and image display device
A frame correlation determination part is for determining a level of correlation of decoded image signals between frames. A flat region detection part is for detecting an image region in which a difference in brightness between neighboring pixels is small as a flat region from the decoded image signals. A high-frequency region detection part is for detecting an image region including a high spatial frequency component as a high-frequency region from the decoded image signal. A smoothing processing part is for performing smoothing processing to the decoded image signal corresponding to a predetermined region. A processing region setting part is for setting an image region in which the smoothing processing part is to perform smoothing processing to the decoded image signal are included. The processing region setting part sets at least a region in frames in which a correlation between frames is low and which is a flat region and not a high frequency region in the decoded image signals, as a processing region. |
| US08300703B2 |
System and method for adaptively allocating resources in a transcoder
An adaptive transcoder is provided that includes a shared memory containing a plurality of decoder buffers to store incoming data packets, a plurality of decoder instances to control a decoding process to generate image raw data based on the incoming data packets, and a plurality of encoder instances configured to control an encoding process to generate outgoing packets based on the image raw data; and a data processing element containing a plurality of processing cores, and a core controller. Each decoder instance is paired with an encoder instance; and each decoder buffer is associated with a decoder instance. Each decoder buffer includes a monitoring element to monitor a respective decoder buffer, and provide buffer data corresponding to the status of the decoder buffer. Each encoder instance is associated with a processing core; and the core controller uses the buffer data to associate each decoder instance with a processing core. |
| US08300701B2 |
Offspeed playback in a video editing system of video data compressed using long groups of pictures
An editing system handles offspeed and full speed playback of long GOP compressed video information by having one decoder for full-speed or slower forward playback of long GOP compressed motion video information, and a second single-frame, stateless decoder for use for off-speed playback. When compressed data is read from a file, the compressed data for at least one complete group of pictures is read into a buffer, herein called a compressed data buffer. A data structure, herein called a frame ring, is constructed to describe each image in the compressed data buffer. The single-frame, stateless decoder receives decompression parameters in addition to the compressed data for each image from this buffer. If the compressed data is a B-frame or P-frame, then uncompressed data for any other images (i.e., reference frames) required by the decoder to decompress the frame also is input to the single-frame, stateless decoder. If the uncompressed data for the reference frames is not already in a cache, these reference frames are decompressed and the uncompressed data for the reference frames as used by the decoder is stored in the cache prior to the decompression of the B-frame or P-frame. |
| US08300698B2 |
Signalling of maximum dynamic range of inverse discrete cosine transform
Techniques are described to signal a maximum dynamic range of inverse discrete cosine transform (“IDCT”) output values that may be produced when a set of encoded media data is decoded. In accordance with these techniques, an encoding device may generate a media file that includes encoded media data associated with a set of one or more video frames. The media file may also include a range indication element that indicates the maximum dynamic range of IDCT output values produced when the encoded media data is decoded. A decoding device that receives the media file may, prior to decoding the encoded media data, use the range indication element to determine whether to decode the encoded media data. For instance, the decoding device may not decode the encoded media data when the decoding device is not capable of producing IDCT output values in the indicated range of IDCT output values. |
| US08300690B2 |
Method for random access and gradual picture refresh in video coding
A Method, And Associated Apparatus for providing random access to, and gradual refresh of, encoded video sequences. Gradual decoder refresh is enabled through the use of isolated regions, flexible macroblock order, and turn-off of loop filter at slice boundaries. Mechanisms are also provided for reliable detection of random access operations and for the reliable signaling of leading frames and ODR (open decoder refresh) pictures. |
| US08300688B2 |
Method for video transcoding with adaptive frame rate control
A video transcoding method is provided for transcoding a first signal stream compressed by a first coding scheme to a second signal stream compressed by a second coding scheme. The method employs an adaptive frame rate and a joint temporal-spatial rate control technique, such that the overall quality of compressed MPEG video can be significantly enhanced when the transcoding is controlled in the joint temporal (picture or frame rate) and spatial (quantization) domains. One embodiment considers transcoding from high bit rate video with larger image size (e.g. 4CIF/4SIF, CIF) coded by one coding technique, e.g., MPEG-2 to a lower bit rate video with smaller image size (e.g. CIF, QCIF) coded by the same or another coding technique, e.g., MPEG-4. |
| US08300687B1 |
Timing and time information extraction in a radio controlled clock receiver
A novel and useful system and method for extracting timing, time and additional information from a broadcast received in a radio controlled clock (RCC) receiver. The RCC receiver extracts timing information represented by a known synchronization sequence that is used for acquisition and tracking purposes. The RCC receiver extracts time information as a merged 26-bit time information word linearly coded into 31 bits comprising the number of minutes (or hours) since the turn of the current century. A minute counter representing the 26 bits is converted into the date, hour, and minute. The RCC extracts additional information including the schedule for the next daylight saving time transition and for an imminent leap second. The communications protocol optionally employs error correcting codes to provide protection for data fields in the frame, which the RCC may use to enhance reception reliability in the presence of noise and interference. |
| US08300686B2 |
Scaled signal processing elements for reduced filter tap noise
An adaptive transversal filter having tap weights Wj which are products of corresponding tap coefficients Cj and tap gains Mj is provided. A filter control loop controls all of the tap coefficients Cj such that an error signal derived from the filter output is minimized. One or more tap control loops controls a tap gain Mk such that the corresponding tap coefficient Ck satisfies a predetermined control condition. For example, |Ck| can be maximized subject to a constraint |Ck| Cmax, where Cmax is a predetermined maximum coefficient value. In this manner, the effect of quantization noise on the coefficients Cj can be reduced. Multiple tap control loops can be employed, one for each tap. Alternatively, a single tap control loop can be used to control multiple taps by time interleaving. |
| US08300682B2 |
Signal processing system, filter device and signal processing method
A multi-channel signal processing system includes a filter unit arranged at a signal transmitting end and a feedback unit arranged at a signal receiving end. The filter unit includes a signal synthesis unit and a filter, where the filter is adapted to filter crosstalk source signals of signals to be transmitted and perform subsequent filtering in accordance with received feedback information; the signal synthesis unit is adapted to receive the signals to be transmitted which are input and the crosstalk source signals filtered by the filter, and synthesize the signals to be transmitted and the crosstalk source signals; and the feedback unit is adapted to make a feedback to the filter in accordance with the received signals to be transmitted. |
| US08300681B2 |
Translational switching system and signal distribution system employing same
A frequency translation system includes first and second translational switches, and a signal bus coupled therebetween. The first translational switch includes one or more inputs configured to receive a respective one or more first input signals, a first plurality of outputs, and a second plurality of outputs. The second translational switch includes one or more inputs configured to receive a respective one or more second input signals, a first output, and a second output. The signal bus, coupled between the first and second translational switches, includes (i) a first bus line coupled to a first one of the first plurality of outputs of the first translational switch, and to the first output of the second translational switch, and (ii) a second bus line coupled to a first one of the second plurality of outputs of the first translational switch, and to the second output of the second translational switch. |
| US08300680B2 |
Apparatus and method for dynamic scaling of ADC sampling rate to avoid receiver interference
A method and apparatus for avoiding receiver interference is described herein. One or more potential interferers are determined and the frequency associated with the interferers is also determined A desired sampling frequency for the receiver is calculated to avoid the potential interferers. |
| US08300676B2 |
Apparatus and method for communication
A communication apparatus generates a digital detection signal including a plurality of time symbols by digital-converting a detection signal corresponding to a received signal, estimates an average power value of the detection signal by calculating average power of the digital detection signal based on the digital detection signal, and performs UWB communication through a predetermined first channel when a predetermined reference power value is greater than the average power value. |
| US08300673B2 |
System, method and apparatus for managing communication in a public safety communication network
A method, system and apparatus for managing communication in a Public Safety Communication Network (PSCN). The PSCN includes a plurality of Mobile Stations (MSs) (110, 115, 120) and a master controller (105). The method includes initiating a communication between one or more MSs and the master controller using a primary channel (405). The primary channel corresponds to a primary frequency spectrum in the PSCN. The method further includes identifying one or more available channels in one or more of the primary frequency spectrum and a secondary frequency spectrum (410). Each of the primary frequency spectrum and the secondary frequency spectrum include one or more channels. Thereafter, a channel hopping pattern is generated for one or more MSs based on one or more available channels (415). The channel hopping pattern corresponds to a sequence of frequency hops for a MS. |
| US08300672B2 |
Two-dimensional photonic crystal laser
A two-dimensional photonic crystal laser light is provided. The two-dimensional photonic crystal laser includes a two-dimensional photonic crystal made of a plate-shaped member provided with a periodic arrangement of identically-shaped modified refractive index areas having a refractive index different from that of the plate-shaped member; and an active layer provided on one side of the two-dimensional photonic crystal. The modified refractive index areas are arranged at lattice points of a lattice with a same period at least in two directions; each modified refractive index area is shaped so that a feedback strength is different with respect to directions of two primitive lattice vectors of the lattice; the two-dimensional photonic crystal has a periodic structure of a supercell, which contains a plurality of lattice points; and the sum of the feedback strengths by all modified refractive index areas in the supercell is identical in each direction of the two primitive lattice vectors. |
| US08300670B2 |
Method for deriving precise control over laser power of an optical pickup unit, and associated automatic power calibration circuit
A method for deriving precise control over laser power of an optical pickup unit (OPU) includes: providing an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) within an automatic power calibration (APC) circuit to derive a path gain and/or a path offset from the APC circuit; and selectively performing compensation according to the gain and/or the path offset, in order to maintain precision of a relationship between the laser power and a target command utilized for controlling the laser power. An associated APC circuit comprising an ADC and at least one compensation module is further provided. The ADC is utilized for deriving a path gain and/or a path offset from the APC circuit. The compensation module is utilized for selectively performing compensation according to the path gain and/or the path offset, in order to control the laser power by a target command. |
| US08300669B2 |
Control system and apparatus for use with ultra-fast laser
A control system and apparatus for use with an ultra-fast laser is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a laser, pulse shaper, detection device and control system. A multiphoton intrapulse interference method is used to characterize the spectral phase of laser pulses and to compensate any distortions in an additional aspect of the present invention. In another aspect of the present invention, a system employs multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan. Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention locates a pulse shaper and/or MIIPS unit between a laser oscillator and an output of a laser amplifier. |
| US08300666B2 |
Inline power-based common mode communications in a wired data telecommunications network
Communications over a wired data telecommunications network between and among power sourcing equipment (PSE), powered devices (PDs), and the like, take place over the wired medium by modulating an inline power signal. Any suitable communications protocol may be used and any suitable modulation scheme can be used. Examples of information to be communicated include: changing power requirements or capabilities (higher or lower) and acknowledgements thereof (permitting finer power class gradation than available under existing standards); sensor data; wireless data converted to wired data; status signaling, and the like. Such communications may be used for a number of purposes including supporting redundant provision of services over a network. |
| US08300664B2 |
Enhanced allocation and signaling of radio frames containing multimedia broadcast single frequency network subframes
The Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide at least a method, apparatus, and computer program for signaling parameters to at least one network node in a communications network. In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the signaling is performed by operations that include, signaling a first parameter A, and jointly signaling, to the at least one network node in the communications network, a second parameter B and a third parameter C. In addition, the exemplary embodiments of the invention provide at least a method, apparatus, and computer program for receiving parameters from at least one network node in a communications network by operations that include receiving signaling comprising a first parameter A and joint signaling indicating a second parameter B and a third parameter C, and extracting the parameters from the received signaling. |
| US08300661B2 |
System and method for wireless communication of uncompressed video using mode changes based on channel feedback (CF)
Method and system for transmission of uncompressed video information from a sender to a receiver over wireless channels are disclosed. For example, according to one embodiment, when channel conditions (e.g., noise or interference) worsens, one or more least significant bits (LSB) of pixel data are not transmitted to save bandwidth for more efficient transmission. Furthermore, the remaining one or more of the most significant bits (MSB) of the pixel data are transmitted with coding and/or modulation schemes that provides extra error protection, relative to what is needed in regular channel conditions. |
| US08300657B2 |
Modified range requests enabling bandwidth requests and state of health reporting
A modified ranging request in a broadband communications system. The modified ranging request includes a header, a management message header attached to the header, a management message payload attached to the management message header, and a CRC attached to the management message payload. The management message header enables bandwidth requests to be made by subscriber equipment without contention. The management message header also includes state of health information on the status of a downstream transmission for enabling a central location to determine how to assign subscribers to queues in an adaptive modulation scheme. |
| US08300656B2 |
TDMA receiver
The TDMA receiver comprises a control unit for allocating to each of a plurality of transmitters time intervals during which the transmitter is allowed to transmit signals towards the TDMA receiver, a receiving unit for receiving an incoming signal resulting from the multiplexing of different signals which are output by the plurality of transmitters during the allocated time intervals and in the predetermined frequency band, the incoming signal thus consisting, in the predetermined frequency band, of a TDM signal, a processing unit for extracting and processing the TDM signal, and a spectrum determination unit for determining the spectrum of the incoming signal. The control unit is designed to synchronize the operation of the spectrum determination unit as a function of the time intervals allocated to the transmitters for the determination of the spectrum of the incoming signal in the predetermined frequency band. |
| US08300654B2 |
Broadband multi-drop local network, interface and method for multimedia access
A broadband multi-drop local network, interface and method for multimedia access. A local network architecture include a wired bus coupleable directly to an external data network terminal and configured for carrying broadband packetized data traffic over a frequency spectrum uninterrupted by other defined data channels or services; and one or a plurality of network transceivers operable individually for coupling an addressable network device processing a defined class of information to the bus wherein each network appliance is configured for and further operable for providing communication interfacing of the class of information of each addressable network appliance with the packetized IP data traffic on the wired bus. |
| US08300653B2 |
Systems and methods for assured communications with quality of service
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for facilitating communication of data. A method includes communicating data including prioritizing a block of data, setting an indicator in a header of the block of data, transmitting the block of data, and retransmitting the block of data. The indicator indicates that reliable delivery of the block of data is desired. The indicator is set based at least in part on a rule. The indicator is set on a per-message basis. The block of data is retransmitted when a predetermined time has elapsed and when an acknowledgement of delivery of the block of data has not been received. |
| US08300648B2 |
System, method and computer program product for residential gateway monitoring and control
A system, method and computer program product is provided that allows an end user to monitor and/or control various data streams appearing on one or more customer premises equipment (CPE) interfaces of a residential gateway, even where the data streams are of different types such as voice, video or computer data. The invention provides a user interface, implemented as part of a CPE device or as a stand-alone device, that is accessed by an end user to transmit commands to a residential gateway. A processor within the residential gateway executes gateway monitoring and control software that receives the commands and, in response, performs the necessary routing and conversion of data streams to execute the desired monitoring and/or control functions. |
| US08300646B2 |
Message handling in a local area network having redundant paths
Message handling in a local area network including switches and clients is provided. At least one of the switches is a peer switch that is capable of monitoring a status of another switch, and at least one switch connects the clients redundantly. A station announcement message is sent by the peer switch for at least one client of the other switch. In each station message announcement, there is inserted a source address of the other switch. The other switches handle the station message announcement as though the station message announcement came from the client. |
| US08300644B2 |
Coordination of user information across session initiation protocol-based proxy servers
An improvement in the design and operation of telecommunications networks is disclosed, in which when a calling party's telecommunication terminal does not know the address of the called party's terminal, the calling party's telecommunication terminal contacts its home Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server (or “home proxy”). Upon determining that it does not already have the called party's address, the home proxy employs one or more techniques in order to obtain that party's address, as well as to retain that address. The first technique of the illustrative embodiment features the usage of a registration event package, which includes SIP-based subscribe and notify mechanisms. The second technique of the illustrative embodiment features the usage of a data distribution service, which operates in a data distribution layer in contrast to utilizing, for example, a SIP mechanism. |
| US08300642B2 |
Prioritized segmentation and reassembly methods and systems
The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for accommodating a diversity of services (e.g., telephone, video broadcasting, email, etc.) using a fixed connection of a certain service type. A method and system of communicating data using a fixed connection, including, based on at least two service data units (SDUs), associating a priority and a channel identifier with the at least two SDUs, iteratively (i) selecting one of the at least two SDUs based on priority to provide a selected SDU, and, (ii) forming at least one data packet, the at least one data packet including (a) data associated with the selected SDU, and, (b) the channel identifier associated with the selected SDU; and, transmitting the formed at least one data packet using the fixed connection. |
| US08300641B1 |
Leveraging physical network interface functionality for packet processing
High-speed processing of packets to, and from, a virtualization environment can be provided while utilizing segmentation offload and other such functionality of commodity hardware. Virtualization information can be added to extension portions of protocol headers, for example, such that the payload portion is unchanged and, when physical address information is added to a frame, a frame can be processed using commodity hardware. In some embodiments, the virtualization information can be hashed and added to the payload or stream at, or relative to, various segmentation boundaries, such that the virtualization or additional header information will only be added to a subset of the packets once segmented, thereby reducing the necessary overhead. Further, the hashing of the information can allow for reconstruction of the virtualization information upon desegmentation even in the event of packet loss. |
| US08300640B2 |
Multi-service PHY box
A data communication system includes multiple Media Access Control (MAC) units, multiple physical layer (PHY) interface units, and logic to communicate between the MAC units and the PHY units using a single tunneling protocol over Internet Protocol (IP). |
| US08300639B2 |
Forwarding groups of multicast flows
A routing element and method for forwarding multicast traffic in a network includes grouping a collection of path-related multicast information flows from a source and associating each information flow of the collection with a multicast address from a set of multicast addresses. Forwarding information is placed in routers within the network between the sources and destinations wherein the forwarding information includes a single entry in a forwarding table using an identifier, e.g., a representative address, for the collection. |
| US08300635B2 |
Programmable crossbar structures in asynchronous systems
Methods, systems, and circuits for forming and operating a crossbar structure in an asynchronous system are described. One or more input ports of a programmable crossbar structure may be connected to send data to one or more output ports. A group of output ports each receiving data from an input port may be connected to send, in response, control signals via a programmable element to the input port. The number of programmable elements used may be determined by the number of input ports being copied to more than one output port. Additional methods, systems, and circuits are disclosed. |
| US08300634B2 |
Mobile device communications routing
A variety of methods, systems, devices and arrangements are implemented for communications using a mobile communications device. In connection with various embodiments, one such method relates to routing calls specifying an endpoint device, from a mobile communications device to the endpoint device, using a call forwarding/routing service provider that establishes a connection with the endpoint device. The established connection may include, for example, a Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection. In some implementations, the authentication server is contacted (e.g., via the Internet) to authenticate the call to be made via the call forwarding/routing service provider. |
| US08300632B2 |
System and method for distributed call monitoring/recording using the session initiation protocol (SIP)
The system and method described herein allows for full monitoring and recording of SIP calls by using standard SIP messages. During the call set up between a first SIP device and a second SIP device, information is derived from a first SIP INVITE message from a first SIP device. Information is then derived from a response message from the second SIP device.The monitor/recorder receives one or more SIP INVITE messages to set up a first media stream from the first SIP device and a second media stream from the second SIP device to the monitor/recorder. The monitor/recorder receives the first and/or second media stream. The monitor/recorder then records the first and/or second media stream. In addition, the system and method provide for recording on demand, required recording, and pause-and-resume recording of SIP calls. |
| US08300629B2 |
Device and method for providing interaction management for communication networks
Systems and methods for providing interaction management to network devices in a communication network are described. A gateway may be used to implement the interaction capabilities on packet flows for IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) and multimedia domain (MMD) architectures. Interaction managers and proxy agents can be provided by the gateway, such as a service control interaction manager (SCIM). The SCIM can be a layer and manage interactions between network devices such as mobile nodes and application servers and can provide abstraction of network devices. This can allow the gateway to provide interworking between network devices and handle mobile nodes with different capabilities. |
| US08300627B2 |
Forwarding one or more preferences during call forwarding
In one embodiment, a telephony system includes a memory that stores one or more call preferences of a user, and a central call routing entity that enables a user to set a call forwarding rule. In accordance with the call forwarding rule and in response to an incoming call to a first telephone device of the user, the call routing entity routing the incoming call to a second telephone device along with a message indicating that the one or more call preferences of the user are stored in the memory. The one or more call preferences are then fetched and applied at the second telephone device. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. |
| US08300625B2 |
Call control using a layered call model
An aspect of the present invention provides a method of controlling a multi-layer transport network. In accordance with the invention a determination is made as to whether a connection supporting a performance requirement of a call can be established within a first layer of the network. If the connection cannot be established, an association is defined between the call and a second call instantiated within a respective server layer of the network. By this means a network call controller in a client layer relies on a call and connection in a server layer instead of a connection in the client layer. |
| US08300621B2 |
System and method for timing acquisition and carrier frequency offset estimation in wireless communication based on OFDM
The present invention relates to a method for timing acquisition and carrier frequency offset estimation of an OFDM communication system and an apparatus using the same.For this purpose the present invention provides a method for calculating at least one auto-correlation and calculating an observation value by performing a sliding sum on the at least one auto-correlation, and calculating a peak point of an absolute value of the observation as frame timing.In addition, the present invention provides a method for generating a third OFDM symbol that is generated by delaying a second OFDM symbol, calculating an observation value through the second and third OFDM symbols, and calculating a phase difference from a result of multiplication of the observation value and a conjugate complex value of the observation value such that a carrier frequency offset can be estimated.According to the present invention, the number of OFDM symbols is sufficient for obtaining timing acquisition with high reliability, and the offset estimation algorithm having a lower implementation complexity is provided such that superior performance is expected and carrier frequency offset with high reliability can be achieved. |
| US08300615B2 |
Synchronization of time in a mobile ad-hoc network
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for synchronizing network time in a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET). Each node in the MANET may be synchronized with all of its neighbors for effective communications. More specifically, a local timing reference may be adjusted according to measured errors in incoming control packets so that time slotted transmissions can be scheduled without collisions with other nodes. The method and system is a low overhead protocol that only requires a small amount of data attached to each scheduled transmission avoiding the requirement for separate messaging. This may reduce the overhead of maintaining the MANET providing additional efficiency and robustness. |
| US08300611B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide air time fairness in multiple physical transmission rate wireless systems
A method for providing bandwidth fairness in a wireless network includes determining bandwidth requirement for a particular service interval for each of a plurality wireless stations in a network. The method also includes determining an allocated transmission time for each of the plurality of wireless stations based on a minimum physical transmission rate. Additionally the illustrative method includes fragmenting a packet of at least one of the wireless stations if the at least one wireless station transmits at other transmission rates that are less than the minimum physical transmission rate. An apparatus is adapted to effect the illustrative method. |
| US08300610B2 |
Synchronization device and synchronization method
There is provided a synchronization device capable of, even when transmission timings of a plurality of other ships are different, almost reliably synchronizing with the other ships during a transmission of a ship concerned and is also provided a synchronization method. The synchronization device 1, when the ship concerned performs a transmission, obtains timing differences DTi occurring over the past one minute from the transmission timing of the ship concerned (S102) and creates a histogram of the timing differences DTi (S103). The synchronization device 1 selects a class with the highest frequency from classes of the timing differences DTi (S104) and obtains a corrected timing DT′ associated with the selected class (S105). The synchronization device 1 corrects a reference timing of the transmission of the ship concerned using the corrected timing DT′ and performs the transmission of the ship concerned (S106). |
| US08300609B2 |
Adaptive scheduling
A communication device arranged to communicate data with another device at a given time instant according to either a first communication protocol or a second communication protocol, the communication device being constrained to transmit data according to the first communication protocol during a transmission window of predetermined duration that commences at a predetermined time instant and being arranged to, in dependence on a data communication according to the second communication protocol to be made by the communication device during that transmission window, select a time instant in that same transmission window for commencing a data transmission according to the first communication protocol. |
| US08300607B2 |
Method for using a base station to selectively utilize B and D channels to support a plurality of communications
A method for using a wireless digital base station to receive, process and transmit a plurality of communications having independent data rates establishing a first communication channel having a first data communication rate to support a first communication; determining the data rate required to support the first communication; selecting one or more transmission channels, from a plurality of available transmission channels, required to support said required data rate; and transmitting the first communication using one or more selected transmission channels. The plurality of available transmission channels includes at least one B or D channel. |
| US08300606B2 |
Method and telecommunication device for selecting number of code channels and associated spreading factor for CDMA transmission
A set of permissible parameter pairs with the parameters being a number of code channels and an associated spreading factor is determined according to at least one first selection criterion. Then a parameter pair from the set of permissible parameter pairs for the CDMA transmission is selected according to at least one second selection criterion. In this selection process, the spreading factor is used as a second selection criterion with a higher value being preferred over a lower value if both spreading factors are below or equal to a threshold spreading factor value. This accounts for the fact that in a certain regime low spreading factor involve a prohibitively high processing load and lead to increase inter symbol interference. |
| US08300601B2 |
System and method for implementing effective channel quality indication
A method for implementing effective channel quality indication includes, at an endpoint of a wireless network, establishing a communication session with an access station via a wireless connection. The method also includes determining a highest modulation and coding scheme (“MCS”) value supported by the endpoint using the wireless connection. The method further includes determining whether an immediately preceding MCS level is supported by the endpoint using the wireless connection. The method additionally includes transmitting a message from the endpoint. The message comprises an effective channel quality indication (“ECQI”) provides an indication of the highest supported MCS level for the wireless connection and an indication of whether the endpoint supports the immediately preceding MCS value for the wireless connection. |
| US08300598B2 |
Handover method in mobile network, mobile terminal and mobile network system thereof
A method of performing handover in a mobile communication network, a mobile communication terminal using the same, and a mobile network system are provided. The method of performing handover in a mobile communication network includes: receiving QoS requirement on a mobile service basis from a user terminal; determining a most suitable mobile network to QoS requirement of a mobile service as a network for handover; and requesting handover to a base station of a mobile network determined as a network for handover. Therefore, in consideration of characteristics of a mobile network and a quality of a service used by a user, by determining handover to an optimum mobile network on a service quality basis, service interruption due to performing unnecessary handover can be prevented and by effectively distributing traffic of a mobile network, overload of a system can be prevented. |
| US08300597B1 |
Method and system of cell switching while ping-ponging
An access terminal may be operating in a first mode in which it sends DSC transmissions that each indicate a cell in which the access terminal will be requesting data after sending the transmission. The access terminal may then detect that it is located at a boundary between two cells. In response, the access terminal may switch from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode by reducing a number of timeslots that each DSC transmission occupies and beginning to alternate between sending a DSC transmission indicating the first cell and a DSC transmission indicating the second cell. In turn, the BTSs serving the two cells may receive these DSC transmissions and responsively switch from operating in a first mode to operating in a second mode in which both BTSs continue receiving the access terminal's data (e.g., by suspending the sending of “ForwardStopped” messages to an RNC). |
| US08300594B1 |
Method and apparatus supporting out of band signaling for WLAN using network name
A method and apparatus for communicating wireless network landscape information to a mobile device is shown and described. Strategic placement of beaconing devices that are encoded with pre-defined, specialized SSIDs allows information to be forwarded to the mobile clients to trigger specific behavior in the clients and to enable the clients to pro-actively control network transitions, thereby increasing their ability to provide seamless communications. |
| US08300588B2 |
System and method for user equipment measurement timing in a relay cell
A system and method for user equipment (UE) measurement timing in a relay cell are provided. A method for controller operations includes broadcasting a first pattern of time intervals to communications devices served by a controller, and for a communication device served by the controller, determining a second pattern for the communications device, where the second pattern is based on the first pattern, and transmitting the second pattern to the communications device. |
| US08300586B2 |
Wireless broadband resource allocation indexing
Wireless broadband resource allocation indexing is generally presented. In this regard a method is introduced comprising determining a total number of allowable continuous logical resource unit (LRU) allocations for a bandwidth, removing allowable allocations to generate a set of allocations that can be indexed with fewer bits than the total number of allowable allocations, and storing an index of the set of allocations in a memory. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US08300580B2 |
Call setup method for mobile virtual private network and access point apparatus thereof
A call setup method is provided for a MVPN which includes at least one access point apparatus, at least one database, and a plurality of users. The database records a private extension number, a user phone number, and a user identity module of each user and a link address of the corresponding access point apparatus. The access point apparatus corresponding to a MO user receives a call setup request message for setting up a call with a MT user from the MO user. The access point apparatus corresponding to the MO user determines whether the link address of the access point apparatus corresponding to the MT user is valid according to the database. If the link address of the access point apparatus corresponding to the MT user is valid, the MO user and the MT user set up the call through the access point apparatuses corresponding to the link addresses. |
| US08300579B2 |
Method for improving reverse gain
A method for improving reverse coverage is disclosed, comprising: A, when a base station requests a terminal to enable the reverse repetition, under the condition that the service quality requirement and the transmission speed of the terminal are persistent, then step B is executed; B, if the reverse gain still cannot be improved after repetition, the reverse repetition will not be enabled; or, the reverse repetition will be enabled. The method of the present invention can take account of subchannelization gain, repetition gain and the interaction of both as an integration, to ensure that the whole gain of reverse link increases after the enabled repetition, and to prevent the system from sacrificing the bandwidth without improving but deteriorating the reverse coverage capability in certain circumstances after the enabled repetition occurs. |
| US08300573B2 |
Timer handling in a transmitter in a telecommunication system for voice and data packet transmission
The invention relates to a wireless telecommunication system for voice and data packet transmission. The system comprises a transmitting unit for transmitting voice and data packets to a receiving unit. The transmitting unit comprises a first discard timer set for a first time period and arranged to start when a first data packet is transmitted from the transmitting unit. The transmitting unit is arranged to suspend the first discard timer when a second power is lower than or equal to a selected second threshold level. |
| US08300568B2 |
Transmitter, receiver, multi-class multimedia broadcast/multicast service system and modulation method thereof
A multi-class multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) system includes a transmitter and at least one receiver. The transmitter transmits N primary signals by N primary channels and an auxiliary signal by an auxiliary channel, wherein a resolution of the auxiliary signal is identical to the highest resolution of the N primary signals and the constellation mappings of the auxiliary signal and the primary signal with the highest resolution among said N primary signals on the corresponding modulation constellations are coupled. The receiver couples the primary signal with the corresponding auxiliary/virtual auxiliary signal to obtain a lower-resolution virtual auxiliary signal, which can also be coupled with the primary signal having the same resolution. Therefore, receiving quality of each resolution is improved by combining the primary signal and the corresponding auxiliary/virtual auxiliary signal. |
| US08300566B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing receiving efficiency of an multimedia broadcast multicast service in a wireless communications system
A method for enhancing receiving efficiency of a multimedia broadcast multicast service, know as MBMS, in a wireless communications system includes setting an indicator for indicating whether an MBMS service is transmitted on an MBSFN, an abbreviation of MBMS over a Single Frequency Network, carrier or not, and sending the indicator to a user equipment of the wireless communications system. |
| US08300565B2 |
Multi mode host interface for and remote register and memory access of a wireless communication module
Techniques and systems are provided for a wireless communication module to identify whether a host is present and may configure the module in response. Different modes of operation in a wireless communication module enable a full host mode, a simplified host mode, or a host-less mode of operation of a communication module, such as a low end extension of Bluetooth communication module. Other techniques and systems control a communication module remotely. A wireless connection may be used to write to and read from registers and a memory space associated with the remote wireless communication module. |
| US08300562B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for sending a status report
A method, an apparatus, and a system for sending a status report are disclosed according to the present invention. The method includes receiving a short message sent by a sender; assigning a first ID to the short message; incorporating the first ID in the short message and sending the short message; receiving a first status report carrying a second ID and the first ID and generating a second status report based on the first ID; sending the second status report to the sender. For the short message which has not been delivered successfully by the Short Message Service Router (SMS Router) for the first time, the SMS Router may replace the second ID in the first status report with the first ID based on the relationship between the first ID and the second ID to obtain a second status report and send the second status report to a sender. |
| US08300561B2 |
Methods and apparatus for canceling distortion in full-duplex transceivers
Methods and apparatus for canceling distortion in full-duplex transceivers are disclosed. Some example methods to reduce distortion in a full-duplex transceiver include generating a first digital signal, generating a first analog signal based on the first digital signal for transmission over a full-duplex channel, receiving a second analog signal via the full-duplex channel, and generating a second digital signal based on the second analog signal, wherein the second digital signal includes coupling distortion based on the first analog signal. The example methods further include generating an adaptive filter signal based on the first digital signal, and reducing the coupling distortion from the second digital signal by subtracting the adaptive filter signal from the second digital signal. |
| US08300556B2 |
Optimizing bandwidth in a multipoint video conference
A plurality of multipoint conference units (MCUs) may optimize bandwidth by selecting particular video streams to transmit to endpoints and/or other MCUs participating in a video conference. An endpoint may generate video streams and audio streams and transmit these streams to its managing MCU. During the video conference, an endpoint may also receive and display different video streams and different audio streams. In a particular embodiment, a controlled MCU receives video streams from its managed endpoints, selects potential video streams based upon the maximum number of video streams that any endpoint can display concurrently, and transmits those potential video streams to a master MCU. The master MCU may also receive video streams from its managed endpoints and may select active video streams for transmission to its managed endpoints and to the controlled MCU, which transmits selected streams to its managed endpoints. |
| US08300551B2 |
Ascertaining presence in wireless networks
One of many aspects of the invention relates to an ad hoc network in which inbound messages are communicated from an originating node to a gateway node via a plurality of intermediate nodes. In this respect, a method performed by an intermediate node in communicating the inbound message to the gateway node includes: maintaining a routing table; and using the routing table, selecting a node for use as the next hop by determining whether a maximum number of allowable hops for an inbound message is exceeded by using such node, and comparing a preference of using such node to preferences of using other known nodes by which the maximum number of allowable hops would not be exceeded. Another aspect includes sending a “leave” message when an intermediate node leaves the ad hoc network, whereby the intermediate node is removed from similar routing tables maintained by other intermediate nodes. |
| US08300550B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a virtual posting service
Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing virtual posting services. Methods include receiving content from a communications device located in a geographic proximity that is serviced by an access node, storing the content in a storage device that is in communication with the access node, and tracking an amount of time the content item is stored. If the amount of time does not reach a pre-established threshold, the methods include transmitting the content to another communications device in response to detecting the presence of the other communications device within the geographic proximity and in response to an inquiry from the other communications device. |
| US08300546B2 |
Wireless communication terminal and connection setup method for use in wireless network
A wireless communication terminal comprises a trigger reception section, a join request reception section, and a connection setup section. The trigger reception section receives a predetermined trigger. The join request reception section receives a join request to a wireless network by wireless communication from an external terminal which doesn't join the wireless network of the wireless communication terminal. The connection setup section which performs connection setup to join the wireless network for each join request received by the join request reception section from a plurality of external terminals during a reception period corresponding to one trigger received by the trigger reception section, and doesn't perform the connection setup for the join request received from the external terminal after expiration of the reception period. |
| US08300545B2 |
Application service level mediation and method of using same
A method and apparatus for using an application layer demarcation point are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises monitoring end-to-end performance of a network application at an application demarcation point in a network, and mediating between provider infrastructure and customer infrastructure based on results of monitoring. |
| US08300544B2 |
Wireless subscriber uplink (UL) grant size selection
A method and apparatus of a wireless subscriber requesting an Uplink (UL) grant size from a base station (BS) are disclosed. One method includes the subscriber analyzing traffic patterns of uplink data, the subscriber selecting a new grant size based on the analyzed traffic patterns, and the subscriber requesting the new grant size by signaling the new grant size to the BS. |
| US08300543B2 |
Method and system for establishing a communications connection
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for establishing a communications connection is provided. The method includes transmitting, by a digital subscriber line access multiplexer to a communications device, a plurality of parameters each representing a different indication of a same feature of the digital subscriber line access multiplexer. Each parameter is correlated with one or more communications settings. The method also includes establishing a plurality of digital subscriber line connections with the communications device. Each connection corresponds with a particular one of the parameters. The method also includes selecting one of the connections as meeting a predetermined criteria. The method also includes identifying one of the parameters that corresponds to the selected connection. The method also includes establishing a digital subscriber line connection with the communications device using at least one communications setting correlated with the identified parameter. |
| US08300541B2 |
Apparatus and methods for utilizing statistical multiplexing to ensure quality of service in a network
Methods and apparatus for utilizing bitrate or other data associated with statistically multiplexed video (e.g., programs) or other content within a network to ensure quality of service (QoS) at a subscriber premises or local network. In one embodiment, the present invention provides improved multiplexing apparatus and methods that allow a consumer premises device to obtain QoS data and employ that data to enforce and maintain one or more QoS policies. In another embodiment of the present invention, an improved consumer premises device is provided which is adapted to receive a multiplexed program stream and subsequently demultiplex and time stamp the resulting single program streams. The time stamps are then utilized to generate QoS data which is utilized to enforce and maintain a QoS policy. Business methods associated with the various features described above are also disclosed. |
| US08300538B2 |
Method and system for setting routing path considering hidden node and carrier sense interference, and recording medium thereof
A method of setting a routing path for transmitting a packet from a source node to a destination node in a wireless multi-hop network including plural nodes and plural links for connecting two nodes with each other. The method includes calculating carrier sense interference weights representing carrier sense interference related to the respective links and combining the carrier sense interference weights of the links included in at least one specific path connecting the source node with the destination node. The method further includes calculating hidden node weights representing hidden node problems related to the respective links and accumulating the hidden node weights of the links included in the path. The method further includes calculating a metric value for the specific path by combining the carrier sense interference weights and the hidden node weights, and determining the specific path with the least metric value as the routing path. |
| US08300537B2 |
Method and apparatus for diagnosing faults in a hybrid internet protocol network
An Ethernet switch (112) has a communications interface (122), and a controller (124). The controller is programmed to receive (202) an IP query packet generated by a receiver for collecting telemetry data between a source and the receiver in a multicast network, translate (206) the IP query packet to an Ethernet query packet, collect (208) in the Ethernet query packet telemetry data from the Ethernet switch, and submit (218) the Ethernet query packet to the next network element of the multicast network. Additional embodiment are disclosed. |
| US08300534B2 |
Programmable packet processor with flow resolution logic
A programmable packet switching controller has a packet buffer, a programmable packet classification engine and an application engine. The packet buffer stores inbound packets, and includes a header data extractor to extract header data from the inbound packets and store the extracted header data in a header data cache. The header data extractor also generates a header data cache index and provides it to the packet classification engine for it to retrieve the extracted header data. The application engine has a number of programmable sub-engines arrayed in a pipelined architecture. The packet classification engine provides start indicators based on the packet classification to the programmable sub-engines to identify application programs to be executed. |
| US08300533B2 |
Uplink pilot multiplexing in single user MIMO and SDMA for single carrier frequency division multiple access systems
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate adaptive uplink pilot multiplexing schemes. In various embodiments, frequency position and pilot channel bandwidth can be adaptively varied in a block over time based on the uplink channel data, such as the number of streams to be multiplexed. Thus, the provided adaptive uplink pilot multiplexing schemes provide flexible uplink pilot allocation schemes while maintaining single carrier waveform for improved transmit power efficiency and orthogonality of pilots within blocks for improve channel estimation and suppression of interference. |
| US08300532B1 |
Forwarding plane configuration for separation of services and forwarding in an integrated services router
A method may include receiving a packet at an ingress line interface in a forwarding plane of a network element, the packet including header information. The method may also include conducting a flow table lookup in the forwarding plane to identify an existing flow for the packet and determining, in the forwarding plane and based on the header information, whether a predicted flow can be identified for the packet if an existing flow can not be identified. The method may further include performing a service access control list (ACL) lookup in the forwarding plane if a predicted flow can not be identified; and forwarding the packet to one of a services plane or an egress line interface in the forwarding plane based on one of the existing flow, the predicted flow, or the service ACL lookup. |
| US08300529B2 |
Service-centric communication network monitoring
Service-centric communication network monitoring apparatus and methods are provided. Service traffic, associated with a third-party service provided by an external service provider that is controlled independently of a communication network, is identified in communication traffic that is being transferred through that communication network. The identified service traffic is monitored, for example, to compile service usage statistics, to police usage of the service, to generate billing records for usage of the service, and/or to mirror the identified service traffic. A registry in which the service is registered may interact with a monitoring system of the communication network so as to establish monitoring for the service traffic. |
| US08300528B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating data over a data network including controlling bandwidth over a DSL line
Providing an interface device interfacing between an access network and a back-bone network comprises: providing a management device, receiving data readings from a transceiver device indicative of the current or recent line rate of a DSL connection of the access network, and providing the interface device to restrict data flowing to the DSL connection to a new maximum rate selected in accordance with the received data readings from the transceiver device indicative of the current or recent line rate of the DSL connection. When the new maximum rate is greater than the existing maximum rate for the DSL connection at which the interface device is currently provided, the interface device is provisioned (or re-provisioned) only after a delay period. The delay period depends upon the increase amount of in the new maximum rate compared to the existing maximum rate so that the greater the increase, the shorter the delay period. |
| US08300526B2 |
Network relay apparatus and packet distribution method
The present invention provides a network relay apparatus capable of assuring the prevention of occurrence of order reversion of packets within flows and shifting a packet distribution destination according to load information. The network relay apparatus includes: a packet distribution processor for distributing input packets to thereby achieve load dispersion of packet processing; a statistical information collector for regularly collecting load conditions of respective packet processors; and a distribution information holder for retaining information for specifying the packet distribution destinations upon distribution of the packets. Information about the load conditions of the respective packet processors are compiled and distributed to the packet processor smallest in load. Timing provided to change the packet distribution destination is assumed to be given when a processing waiting queue does not include a packet corresponding to its flow. |
| US08300524B1 |
Authenticating a data transmission by varying a rate thereof
An apparatus and method for authenticating a data transmission across a network. Variations in data rate of data received across the network are detected, and the received data are authenticated when the variations conform to a preselected variable data rate profile. Preferably, an average data rate is first determined, and the data rates of individual data rates of blocks of the received data are compared to the average data rate. Some of the data rates are preferably faster than a selected threshold. Different portions of the received data preferably take different, parallel paths through the network from a transmitter to a receiver. Preferably, the received data are transmitted via packets. The data rate is preferably varied by using different densities of data packets, or by selectively delaying selected packets. Data authentication preferably results in grant of user access to the received data. |
| US08300521B2 |
Radio reception apparatus and radio reception method
A radio transmission apparatus performs communications with high transmission efficiency. In this apparatus, a modulator modulates data and outputs to a first spreader. A second modulator modulates data under a modulation scheme having a higher M-ary number than the first modulator and outputs the modulated data to a second spreader. The first spreader spreads the data and outputs the spread data to a frequency domain mapping section. The second spreader spreads the data and outputs the spread data to a time domain mapping section. A frequency domain mapping section maps chips with spread data on subcarriers in the frequency domain and outputs the data with chips mapped on subcarriers to an IFFT section. The time domain mapping section maps chips with spread data on subcarriers in the time domain and outputs the data with chips mapped on subcarriers to the IFFT section. |
| US08300518B2 |
Fast seamless joining of channels in a multi-channel communication system
At least one channel is joined to a group of active channels in a communication system by transmitting control signals to configure respective customer premises equipment (CPE) of the active channels into a joining mode of operation, and transmitting a joining signature sequence to CPE of the joining channel over a downstream data signal path of the joining channel. A central office (CO) or other access node of the system receives correlation results from respective active channel CPE, estimates crosstalk from the joining channel into the active channels based on the correlation results, configures a precoder based on the estimated crosstalk, and adds the joining channel to the group of active channels. The channels may comprise respective subscriber lines of a DSL communication system. |
| US08300517B2 |
Optical recording medium, apparatus and method of manufacturing optical recording medium, and apparatus and method of recording/reproducing data of optical recording medium
An optical recording medium, an apparatus and method of manufacturing an optical recording medium, and an apparatus and method of recording/reproducing data of an optical recording medium, allocated with a wobble address suitable for a capacity of a high density recording disc, the optical recording medium including a first area and a second area on which data is recorded/reproduced by a recording/reproducing apparatus, the optical recording medium including: a recording unit block on which the data is recorded or reproduced, and a wobble address corresponding to the recording unit block and indicating a location of the recording unit block in the optical recording medium, the wobble address including a plurality of address units (ADIPs), wherein last two bits in the ADIPs in the first area are one of: 00, 10, and 01, and last two bits in at least one ADIP in the second area are 11. |
| US08300515B2 |
Method and device for recording soundtracks onto film
The invention relates to the recording of soundtracks onto analogue cinema film, in particular the recording of digital created and/or digital/electronically stored representations of soundtracks onto film. The method according to the invention for comprises converting sound data from the digital soundtracks to sound image data, modulating light based on the sound image data, and imaging the modulated light onto a photosensitive film. The device according to the invention comprises at least one light source, processing electronics for converting sound data from the digital soundtracks to sound image data, at least one full frame device connected to the processing electronics, adapted for modulating light from the light source according to the sound image data, imaging optics for imaging the modulated light onto a photosensitive film. |
| US08300513B2 |
Optical head, optical head manufacturing method and optical disc device
It is aimed to provide an optical head, an optical head manufacturing method and an optical disc device capable of correcting coma aberration generated due to different positions of emission points of a plurality of laser lights having different wavelengths.A two-wavelength laser light source 1 is arranged to correct coma aberration generated in a radial direction of a CD 80 in the case where an objective lens 6 is tilted to locate an inner peripheral end of the objective lens 6 in the radial direction of the CD 80 lower than an outer peripheral end thereof, and an objective lens actuator 9 tilts the objective lens 6 to locate the inner peripheral end of the objective lens 6 in the radial direction of the CD 80 lower than the outer peripheral end thereof. |
| US08300512B2 |
Liquid crystal element, optical head device, and variable optical modulation element
A liquid crystal element includes: a transparent substrate; and a liquid crystal layer including: a liquid crystal material; and a concavo-convex portion including periodic concaves and convexes, wherein the concavo-convex portion is aligned so that a longitudinal direction of liquid crystal molecules that are positioned on a side of the transparent substrate and on a concavo-convex surface that is an interface of the concavo-convex portion substantially becomes a vertical direction with respect to a concavo-convex surface on the side of the transparent substrate, or a longitudinal direction of liquid crystal molecules that are positioned on a side, in which a medium is disposed and which is opposite to the transparent substrate, and on the concavo-convex surface that is the interface of the concavo-convex portion substantially becomes the vertical direction with respect to a concavo-convex surface on the side, in which the medium is disposed, to form a diffraction grating. |
| US08300511B2 |
Optical information record/reproduction apparatus and reproduction apparatus
A holographic memory apparatus comprises first phase modulation means that adds phase information to each pixel of a signal beam to generate page data at recording time; oscillator light generation means that generates an oscillator light that is superimposed on, and interferes with, a diffracted light from a holographic recording medium at reproduction time; second phase modulation means that adds phase information to the oscillator light; and light detection means that detects an interference light generated by superimposing the oscillator light and the diffracted light from the holographic recording medium. |
| US08300509B2 |
Recording determination apparatus and recording determination program
A movement device of a recording determination apparatus moves a pickup in a radial direction of an optical disc. The pickup irradiates laser light to the optical disc to output an electric signal, based on reflected light from a laser spot. A control device acquires address information relating to an arrangement position of the laser spot, based on the electric signal. The control device controls the movement device to move the laser spot from a data area to a recordable area. The control device determines whether or not data is recorded in the recordable area, based on the electric signal until a reference time has elapsed from a border potion between the data area and the recordable area, the border portion being specified based on the address information. |
| US08300503B2 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head
In a thermally assisted magnetic recording head having a light source and a waveguide to lead a laser beam radiated from the light source to a front end of the magnetic head, while blocking an adverse effect of heat generated in the light source and securing a good floating characteristic, the light source and the magnetic head are optically coupled with high efficiency and the magnetic head itself is reduced in size. This invention provides a reflection mirror that is formed of a part or whole of one inclined end surface of the semiconductor laser mounted on the first submount. Near one end surface of the slider is provided the optical waveguide that pierces through the slider in a direction of the thickness thereof. The slider is mounted on the second submount and the positions of the first submount and the second submount are adjusted to practically align the light axis of the beam emitted from the mirror with the light axis of the optical waveguide, thereby realizing a novel thermally assisted magnetic recording head. |
| US08300499B2 |
Linear and circular downscan imaging sonar
A method for providing a combined linear and circular downscan sonar display may include receiving linear downscan sonar data from a linear downscan transducer, receiving conical downscan sonar data from a circular downscan transducer, and combining the linear downscan sonar data and the conical downscan sonar data to produce combined downscan sonar data. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also provided. |
| US08300497B1 |
Method for reducing flow induced vibration and noise in towed arrays
A method for reducing noise in a towed acoustic array includes providing a towed array having a length, diameter, frequency range and tow speed. The relationship between tension in the towed array and wall pressure fluctuation spectral levels is determined. Wall pressure fluctuation spectral levels are related to the noise in the array. An optimal towed array tension is calculated using the determined relationship. Tension is increased to the optimal towed array tension by either provided additional towed array hose or a drogue at the end of the towed array. |
| US08300496B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus and test method thereof
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a clock control unit configured to receive a first clock when an enable signal is activated and generate a second clock which has a cycle closer in length to a target clock cycle than the first clock; a DLL input clock generation unit configured to output one of the first clock and the second clock as a DLL input clock according to a DLL select signal; and an address/command input clock generation unit configured to output one of the first clock and the second clock as an AC input clock according to the enable signal. |
| US08300489B2 |
Charge pump system and method utilizing adjustable output charge and compilation system and method for use by the charge pump
Charge pump circuit includes a plurality of boost capacitors. An output charge of the charge pump circuit is adjusted by selecting a number of the boost capacitors at least one of using a digital control word and programming of a wiring level. A method of boosting supply voltage uses a charge pump circuit. The method includes adjusting an output charge of the charge pump circuit by selecting a number of boost capacitors at least one of using a digital control word and by programming of a wiring level. |
| US08300488B2 |
Dynamic random access memory device and method for self-refreshing memory cells with temperature compensated self-refresh
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device has an array of DRAM cells of rows by columns. Each DRAM cell of the array is coupled with a wordline of a corresponding row and a bitline of a corresponding column. An entry into and an exit from the self-refresh mode are detected by a mode detector and a self-refresh mode signal is provided. An oscillation circuit generates in response to the self-refresh mode signal generates a basic time period. A first frequency divider/time period multiplier changes the basic time period in accordance with a process variation factor relating to the DRAM device. A second frequency divider/time period multiplier further changes the changed time period in accordance with a temperature change factor relating to the DRAM device. In the self-refresh mode, data stored in the DRAM cells is refreshed. In accordance with the two factors, the DRAM devices perform and achieve reliable self-refresh for variable DRAM cell retention time. |
| US08300484B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor device comprises a memory cell array including memory cells, a first bit line transmitting data stored in a selected memory cells, a single-ended first sense amplifier amplifying a signal voltage of the first bit line and converting the voltage into an output current, a second bit line selectively connected to the first bit line via the first sense amplifier, a second sense amplifier determining a level of the signal voltage, and a sense amplifier control circuit detecting a temperature of the memory cell array during an operation and controlling an end of an activation period of the first and/or second sense amplifiers in accordance with a detection result of the temperature. In the semiconductor device, the sense amplifier control circuit controls to delay the end of the activation period at least at a predetermined high temperature indicated by the detection result relative to at an ordinary temperature. |
| US08300482B2 |
Data transfer circuit and semiconductor memory device including the same
A data transfer circuit has a reduced number of lines for transferring a training pattern used in a read training for high speed operation, by removing a register for temporarily storing the training pattern, and a semiconductor memory device including the data transfer circuit. The data transfer circuit includes a latch unit and a buffer unit. The latch unit latches one bit of a training pattern data input together with a training pattern load command whenever the training pattern load command is input. The buffer unit loads a plurality of bits latched in the latch unit, including the one bit of training pattern data, in response to a strobe signal. |
| US08300477B2 |
Piecewise erasure of flash memory
Embodiments of a circuit are described. This circuit includes control logic that generates multiple piecewise-erase commands to erase information stored in a storage cell of a memory device formed within another circuit. Note that execution of a single one of the multiple piecewise-erase commands within the memory device may be insufficient to erase the information stored in the storage cell. Moreover, the first circuit includes an interface that receives the multiple piecewise-erase commands from the control logic and that transmits the multiple piecewise-erase commands to the memory device. |
| US08300473B2 |
Non-volatile memory with improved sensing by reducing source line current
One or more sense amplifiers for sensing the conduction current of non-volatile memory is controlled by signals that are timed by a reference sense amplifier having similar characteristics and operating conditions. In one aspect, a sensing period is determined by when the reference sense amplifier sensing a reference current detects an expected state. In another aspect, an integration period for an amplified output is determined by when the reference sense amplifier outputs an expected state. When these determined timings are used to control the one or more sense amplifiers, environment and systemic variations are tracked. |
| US08300470B2 |
Two terminal programmable hot channel electron non-volatile memory
A programmable two terminal non-volatile device uses a floating gate that can be programed by a hot electron injection induced by a potential between a source and drain. The floating gate layer can also function as a FET gate for other circuits in an integrated circuit containing an array of the devices. The invention can be used in environments such as data encryption, reference trimming, manufacturing ID, security ID, and many other applications. |
| US08300466B2 |
NAND flash memory
A NAND flash memory, in a read operation, a p-type semiconductor substrate is set at a ground potential, a bit line is charged to a first voltage, a source line, a n-type well and a p-type well are charged to a second voltage, which lies between a ground potential and a first voltage, and in a block not selected by said row decoder, said drain-side select gate line and said source-side select gate line are charged to a third voltage, which is higher than said ground potential and is equal to or lower than said second voltage. |
| US08300465B2 |
Semiconductor and flash memory systems
A flash memory device and a flash memory system are disclosed. The flash memory device includes a first non-volatile memory including a plurality of page data cells, storing page data, and reading and outputting the stored page data when a read command is applied from an external portion; and a second non-volatile memory including a plurality of spare data cells respectively adjacent to the plurality of page data cells, storing spare data, scanning the spare data and temporarily storing corresponding information when a file system is mounted, reading and outputting the stored spare data when the read command is applied. |
| US08300463B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and related programming method
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory blocks each divided into a plurality of regions, and a control logic component. The control logic component selects a memory block to be programmed based on program/erase cycles of the memory blocks, and selects a program rule used to program the regions of the selected memory block. |
| US08300456B2 |
Magnetic random access memory and method of manufacturing the same
An MRAM has a pinned layer and a magnetic recording layer connected to the pinned layer through a tunnel barrier layer. The magnetic recording layer has a first free layer, a second free layer being in contact with the tunnel barrier layer, and an intermediate layer provided between the first free layer and the second free layer. The first free layer includes a magnetization switching region whose magnetization direction can be switched by domain wall motion method. The second free layer has no domain wall. The intermediate layer is formed to cover at least the magnetization switching region. The magnetization switching region and the second free layer are magnetically coupled to each other through the intermediate layer. |
| US08300450B2 |
Implementing physically unclonable function (PUF) utilizing EDRAM memory cell capacitance variation
A method and embedded dynamic random access memory (EDRAM) circuit for implementing a physically unclonable function (PUF), and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. An embedded dynamic random access memory (EDRAM) circuit includes a first EDRAM memory cell including a memory cell true storage capacitor and a second EDRAM memory cell including a memory cell complement storage capacitor. The memory cell true storage capacitor and the memory cell complement storage capacitor include, for example, trench capacitors or metal insulator metal capacitors (MIM caps). A random variation of memory cell capacitance is used to implement the physically unclonable function. Each memory cell is connected to differential inputs to a sense amplifier. The first and second EDRAM memory cells are written to zero and then the first and second EDRAM memory cells are differentially sensed and the difference is amplified to consistently read the same random data. |
| US08300449B2 |
Resistive random access memory and verifying method thereof
A resistive random access memory (RRAM) and a verifying method thereof are provided. The RRAM comprises at least one resistive memory cell. The resistive memory cell comprises a resistive memory element and a transistor, wherein one terminal of the resistive memory element is coupled to a first terminal of the transistor. The verifying method comprises the following steps: Whether the resistive memory cell passes verification is determined. During a first time period and under the circumstance that the resistive memory cell fails to pass verification, a reference voltage is applied to the other terminal of the resistive memory element and a voltage pulse is applied to a second terminal of the transistor according to a voltage signal to write a reverse voltage to the resistive memory cell. |
| US08300446B2 |
Ferroelectric random access memory with single plate line pulse during read
A ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) with reduced cycle time. During a read cycle, plate line voltages are boosted to a voltage to both transfer charge from the selected row of FRAM cells to corresponding bit lines, and to fully polarize a data state in the selected FRAM cells. In one embodiment of the invention, the fully polarized data states is present in those cells that previously stored that data state; for those cells storing the opposite state, a write-back pulse is executed. In another embodiment of the invention, the fully polarized data state results for each of the selected memory cells, by applying a plate line boost voltage of a higher magnitude. Those cells that are to store the opposite data state, as may be determined following error correction, are written back with that data state. |
| US08300444B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array of electrically erasable programmable nonvolatile memory cells arranged in matrix, each memory cell using a variable resistor. A pulse generator generates plural types of write pulses for varying the resistance of the variable resistor based on write data. A selection circuit applies write pulses generated by the pulse generator to the memory cell. A sense amplifier executes verify read to the memory cell. A status decision circuit decides the verify result based on the output from the sense amplifier. A control circuit executes additional write to the memory cell based on the verify result from the status decision circuit. |
| US08300441B2 |
Active centerpoint power bus balancing system
An active centerpoint bus balancing system which actively maintains centerpoint voltage balance of the output capacitors in a power supply having a multi-level voltage output. The centerpoint voltage balance is maintained by a novel control circuit which efficiently transfers charge from one capacitor to the other capacitor so as to maintain the same voltage on each output capacitor. The centerpoint voltage balance minimizes the effect of loading conditions. It operates even with no load, and allows severe load unbalance on the two output capacitors without creating voltage unbalance. |
| US08300438B1 |
Power factor corrected 3-phase Ac-dc power converter using natural modulation
A 3-phase pfc 100% duty-ratio buck converter and a 3-phase 0% duty-ratio boost converter can be used in parallel with their outputs in series to greatly reduce the ripple voltage in the output. They can also be used in series with their outputs in parallel to greatly reduce the ripple current in the output. A 3-phase 0% duty-ratio boost converter having isolated primary circuits for each phase is used when the inputs are in series. |
| US08300436B2 |
Device for protection of power factor correction in three phase power supply and control method thereof
A power factor correction (PFC) protection device used when an abnormal current of a three-phase inverter occurs and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. If any mis-connection (or non-connection) occurs due to a mistake of a producer at a power-supply input terminal applied to the reactor and the switching element, a current applied to the switching element becomes an abnormal current, such that the PFC cannot be controlled. During the PFC control, the device detects a current waveform generated from the switching element at a current sensor of the common potential terminal, and determines whether there is a mis-connection caused by the abnormal current. If the mis-connection is decided, the device compares a current pattern with a mis-connection pattern, and changes the PFC control output applied to the switching element according to the searched mis-connection pattern, such that the PFC control can be normally carried out. |
| US08300428B2 |
Resonant power conversion apparatus
A resonant power conversion apparatus includes a transformer T1 having a primary winding n1, a secondary winding n2, a tertiary winding n3, and a reset winding nR, a series circuit of switches S1 and S2, a capacitor Cr1 and diode D1 to the switch S1, a capacitor Cr2 and diode D2 to the switch S2, a series circuit of the winding n1 and a diode Dn1, a series circuit of the winding nR and a diode DR, a reactor Lr connected between a connection point of the switches S1 and S2 and a connection point of the windings n2 and n3, a switch S10 connected between the DC power source and the winding n2, a switch S20 connected between the DC power source and the winding n3, and a controller 10 configured to perform a zero-voltage switching operation of the switches S1 and S2. |
| US08300418B2 |
Electronic device with fixing member for mounting flexible printed circuit board
An electronic device includes a chassis, a motherboard installed in the chassis, a fixing member, and a flexible printed circuit board electronically coupled to the motherboard. The chassis forms two hooks adjacent to the motherboard. The fixing member includes a plate resisting against the flexible printed circuit board, and two legs extending down from the plate. Two latches extend from the corresponding legs to engage with the corresponding hooks. |
| US08300416B2 |
Electronic device with two electronic members rotatably and slidably coupled to each other
An electronic device includes a cover, a body, and two sliding members. The body includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and two sliding slots. Each sliding slot extends along the first surface to the second surface. The two sliding members are pivotally coupled to the cover. The cover is rotatably and slidably coupled to the body by the two sliding members engaging with the two sliding slots, and is capable of sliding along the two sliding slots from the first surface to the second surface. |
| US08300415B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component for an integrated mechatronic system has at least two housing parts with at least one housing base, a housing cover, and an electrical connection between the components disposed in the interior of the housing and components located outside the housing. The electrical connection is fixed on the housing base. The housing cover is glued directly to the electrical connection and/or the housing base and, in this manner, enables lasting hermetically sealed protection for the sensitive electronic components. |
| US08300413B2 |
Fixing device and heat sink assembly using the same
A fixing device for fixing a first element to a second element is provided. The fixing device includes a main body including at least one leg, at least one biasing member movably mounted on the at least one leg for generating a compressive force. At least one hook member rotatably connected to an end of the at least one leg, cooperating with the biasing member to fix the first element to the second element. A heat sink assembly using the fixing device are also provided. |
| US08300412B2 |
Heat exchanger for motor controller
A heat exchanger apparatus is provided and includes a motor controller housing, supportively disposed with a turbofan within an aircraft engine nacelle, in which motor controller components are mounted, a fuel cooled cold plate, forming a surface of the housing, which forms a heat transfer path by which motor controller component generated heat is dissipated during first conditions and an air cooled cold plate, disposed in thermal communication with the fuel cooled cold plate, which extends into a flow path of nacelle air generated by the turbofan to form an extended heat transfer path by which the motor controller component generated heat is dissipated during second conditions. |
| US08300410B2 |
Apparatus and method for regulating various conditions affecting electronic equipment
A system for thermal management of electronic equipment. The system can include a cabinet forming an enclosure for the electronic equipment, wherein the cabinet has an inlet and an outlet. Additionally, the system can include a supply channel connected with the cabinet inlet, wherein the cabinet is positioned on a floor and the supply channel is under the floor; an exhaust channel, wherein at least a portion of the exhaust channel is in proximity to the cabinet outlet. Furthermore, the system can include a plurality of flexible barriers forming a thermal curtain for directing air exiting the outlet of the cabinet to the exhaust channel, and wherein a position of the barriers is adjustable. |
| US08300402B2 |
Server system with heat dissipation device
An exemplary server system includes a server cabinet, racks arranged in the server cabinet, servers mounted on the racks, and a heat dissipation device. The heat dissipation device includes a heat exchanger arranged over the racks, a first fan module arranged under the racks for drawing cooling air from the heat exchanger to the servers to exchange heat, and a second fan module including drawing fans respectively arranged on the racks for drawing up heated air from the servers to the heat exchanger. |
| US08300398B2 |
Hard disk drive holder
An exemplary holder for a hard disk drive includes a mounting frame and a handle. The mounting frame includes a first mounting arm, a second mounting arm, a connecting arm, and a clipping assembly. One end of the handle is pivotally connected with one end of the connecting arm. The clipping assembly is attached at another end of the connecting arm. The clipping assembly includes a base, a button, a elastic member and a sliding member. The button is slidable in the connecting arm. The resilient member is located between and abuts against the button and the base. One end of the sliding member is pivotally connected with the connecting arm. Another end of the sliding member is slidably connected with the button. The sliding member defines a locking groove, and the other end of the handle forms a locking hook received in the locking groove of the sliding member. |
| US08300389B2 |
Module for expanding function of mobile device and mobile device having the same
A mobile device includes a main body having a coupling element mounted thereon, and an expansion module electrically connected to the main body, wherein the expansion module comprises a magnet disposed to apply a magnetic force to the coupling element to couple the expansion module with the main body, and a movement converter configured to move the magnet away from the coupling element so as to decrease the magnetic force between the coupling element and the magnet thereby decoupling the main body from the expansion module. |
| US08300384B2 |
Air variable capacitor comprising an interdigital mobile comb and fixed comb, accelerometer and gyrometer comprising such a capacitor
The invention relates to an air variable capacitor including a mobile comb and a fixed comb. Each of the combs include a body and teeth each having an end fixed to the body and free end. The teeth of the mobile and fixed combs being interdigital and an the air-gap of the capacitor is adjustable by the transverse movement of the teeth of the mobile comb. The teeth of the mobile comb have geometric differences between one another, in order to attenuate the transverse resonance modes of the mobile comb. |
| US08300383B2 |
Variable capacitor
A variable capacitor includes: a dielectric sheet disposed on a substrate and covering an electrode pattern on the substrate; a resilient conductive supporting seat mounted on the dielectric sheet for supporting an insulating operating cap on a central portion thereof; a conductive cover body covering the conductive supporting seat and permitting the operating cap to extend outward; and a biasing member for biasing the central portion of the conductive supporting seat to move away from the substrate. The cover body is connected electrically to the conductive supporting seat and a conductive contact on the substrate. When the operating cap is depressed, the operating cap forces a contact portion of the conductive supporting seat to deform such that a surface area of the deformed contact portion that contacts the dielectric sheet is increased, thereby changing the capacitance between the conductive supporting seat and the electrode pattern. |
| US08300382B2 |
Portable transformer with safety interlock
A portable apparatus for voltage transformation is capable of temporarily augmenting a power transformer. A transformer with a first medium voltage primary winding, a second medium voltage primary winding and a low voltage secondary winding is selectably coupled to a plurality of medium voltage electrical power input couplings capable of temporarily coupling with medium voltage power on a plant. An interlocked switch selectably couples the medium voltage electrical power input couplings to the medium voltage primary windings of the transformer such that only one medium voltage primary winding of the transformer is coupled at a time to the medium voltage electrical power input couplings. The interlocked switch can use a captive key system to prevent more than one secondary winding from being simultaneously connected. Medium voltage circuit protection devices such as fuses are included. A low voltage circuit protection device, operatively coupled to the low voltage secondary windings, provides low voltage power. An interlocked couplings door lockably covers the medium voltage electrical power input couplings and a fuse door lockably covers the fuses such that no door can be unlocked when a medium voltage primary winding of the transformer is coupled to the medium voltage electrical power input couplings. The portable apparatus can be carried on a vehicular trailer. |
| US08300379B2 |
High-voltage insulator and a high-voltage electric power line using said insulator
The high-voltage insulator for securing a high-voltage conductor in an electrical plant or in an electric power line comprises an insulating core, the first end of which is used for mechanically connecting to a high voltage conductor and/or to its coupling elements, the second end being provided with a metal fastening element for fixing the insulator to a support, such as a tower. In order to impart lightning protection properties to the insulator, it is additionally provided with a multi-electrode system including m electrodes which are mechanically attached to the insulating core and are arranged between the ends thereof. The electrodes are disposed in such a way as to support a formation of an electric discharge between the adjacent electrodes, between the electrode adjacent to the first end of the insulating core and to the high voltage conductor or to said coupling elements, and between the electrode adjacent to the second end of the insulating core and the metal fastening element attached to the tower. The insulator is provided with elements for compensating the reduction of the insulator creepage distance caused by the multi-electrode system. The electric power line using the insulator of this type does not require any lightning arresters. |
| US08300377B2 |
Swell sustaining transient voltage surge suppressor
A transient voltage surge suppressor assembly comprising: a first energy absorbing device; a second energy absorbing device in parallel with the first device; and a voltage sense circuit configured to take the first device off-line when a voltage swell lasts for a duration. The first and second devices may be wired in parallel between a line and a neutral. The assembly may include a third energy absorbing device wired between the line and a ground, the third device also being configured to be taken off-line when the voltage swell lasts for the duration. The voltage sense circuit may be powered by a line voltage or a lower supply voltage. The first device may be more sensitive than the second device. For example, the first device may have a lower clamping voltage than the second device. The first device may be smaller and/or include fewer components than the second device. |
| US08300371B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection circuit and electronic device using the same
An electrostatic discharge protection circuit includes an input terminal, a first diode, a second diode, a third diode, a fourth diode, a plurality of voltage stabilizer circuits, and a power terminal. The input terminal and the cathode of the second diode connect to the anode of the first diode; the voltage stabilizer circuits connect in parallel between the cathode of the first diode and the anode of the second diode. The power terminal connects to the anode of the third diode, the cathode of the third diode connects to the cathode of the first diode. The cathode of the fourth diode connects to ground, the anode of the fourth diode connects to the anode of the second diode. |
| US08300370B2 |
ESD protection circuit and circuitry of IC applying the ESD protection circuit
A circuitry of an IC is provided, including a pad, an internal circuit, and an ESD protection circuit. The pad transmits or receives a signal and is coupled to a first node. The internal circuit is coupled to the first node for processing the signal. The ESD protection circuit includes an ESD clamping circuit, a first current limiting and shunting unit and a second current limiting and shunting unit. The ESD clamping circuit is coupled to the first node, for clamping an ESD current flowing through the first node. The first current limiting and shunting unit is through the first node coupled to the pad, for limiting the ESD current and shunting part of the ESD current to a first voltage path. The second current limiting and shunting unit is coupled to the first current limiting and shunting unit, for limiting the ESD current and shunting part of the ESD current to a second voltage path. |
| US08300369B2 |
System and method for polyphase ground-fault circuit-interrupters
A ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) system is provided that provides reliable and timely tripping of faulted circuits while minimizing so-called “nuisance” tripping. The GFCI includes a voltage unbalance detection device coupled to the main bus circuit for detecting a voltage unbalance during a fault condition. A computer processor in communication with the voltage unbalance detection device is programmed to determine when an actual fault condition exists based on a state of the voltage unbalance and certain predetermined among the fault signal generated by a GFCI unit in the main bus circuit and the fault signals generated by GFCI units in individual feeder circuits. |
| US08300366B2 |
Magnetic storage device which includes a three terminal magnetic sensor having a collector region electrically isolated from a slider body
In one illustrative example, a magnetic storage device includes a three terminal magnetic sensor having a collector region made of a semiconductor material, a base region, and an emitter region. An insulator layer is formed between the collector region and a slider body which carries the three terminal magnetic sensor. The insulator layer serves to reduce a capacitance otherwise present between the collector region and magnetic media at a magnetic field sensing plane of the three terminal magnetic sensor. Thus, the insulator layer electrically isolates the collector region from the slider body. The structure may be formed through use of a separation by implanting oxygen (SIMOX) technique or a wafer-bonding technique, as examples. |
| US08300365B2 |
Electronic substrate and magnetic disk apparatus
An electronic substrate includes: a flexible printed circuit comprising a head connecting portion being provided with a first terminal to be electrically connected to a magnetic head, and a board connecting portion being provided with a second terminal to be electrically connected to a main printed board; a first reinforcing member provided on the head connecting portion of the flexible printed circuit, the first reinforcing member reinforcing the head connecting portion; and a second reinforcing member provided on the board connecting portion of the flexible printed circuit, the second reinforcing member reinforcing the board connecting portion, wherein the second reinforcing member includes a additional enhancement portion formed with a sterically enhanced shape. |
| US08300362B2 |
Slider-gimbal scratch mitigation
A head gimbal assembly for use with a load beam includes a gimbal, a slider for carrying a transducing head, and first and second tabs. The gimbal is configured to be supported by the load beam, and includes a gimbal tongue. At least a portion of the slider is secured to the gimbal tongue. The first tab extends from the gimbal tongue proximate a first corner of the slider. The second tab is spaced from the first tab and extends from the gimbal tongue proximate a second corner of the slider. |
| US08300359B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording head and magnetic recording device
A perpendicular magnetic write head includes: a magnetic pole; a pair of side shields on both sides, in a write-track width direction, of the magnetic pole with respective side gaps in between; a trailing shield on a trailing side of the magnetic pole and the pair of side shields with a trailing gap in between. Each of the magnetic pole, the side shield, the trailing shield, the side gap, and the trailing gap has an end face exposed on an air bearing surface. The trailing gap has a first regional part and a second regional part. The first regional part separates a trailing edge of the magnetic pole from the trailing shield, and the second regional part separates the pair of side shields from the trailing shield. All or a part of the second regional part has a thickness larger than a thickness of the first regional part. |
| US08300351B2 |
Magnetic recording apparatus
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording apparatus includes a magnetic recording medium for perpendicular magnetic recording system, a magnetic head including a read head to read data from the magnetic recording medium, and an actuator to actuate the magnetic head on the magnetic recording medium. The magnetic recording medium includes a first magnetic pattern recorded in a servo area by applying a magnetic field horizontally to a disk surface, and the first magnetic pattern corresponding to positioning data used for positioning the magnetic head. The magnetic recording medium further includes a second magnetic pattern recorded in the servo area by applying a magnetic field perpendicularly to the disk surface, and the second magnetic pattern corresponding to position correction data used for correcting the positioning data. The position correction data is derived from modulated original position correction data. The original position correction data is created for correcting the positioning data. |
| US08300349B2 |
Systems and methods for format efficient calibration for servo data based harmonics calculation
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for servo data based harmonics calculation. For example, a method for calculating harmonics is disclosed that includes: providing a data processing circuit; receiving a first data set derived from a data source during a servo data processing period; performing a first harmonics calculation using the first data set to yield a first harmonics ratio; receiving a second data set derived from a source other than the previously mentioned data source during a user data processing period; performing a second harmonics calculation using the second data set to yield a second harmonics ratio; and calculating a ratio of the first harmonics ratio to the second harmonics ratio. |
| US08300332B2 |
Lens mounting assembly and method of aligning lenses in a mounting assembly
A lens mounting assembly includes a lens barrel with a first lens assembly. A lens mount includes an image sensor, and the lens barrel matingly connects with the lens mount in a manner which allows the first lens assembly to be moved along an optical axis to adjust a focus on the image sensor. A second lens assembly is provided for adjusting the focus on the image sensor during use of the lens. An alignment projection is provided on at least one of the first or second lens assemblies, the alignment projection being adapted to mate with a portion of the other of the first or second lens assemblies in order to directly optically align the first and second lens assemblies with the image sensor. |
| US08300326B2 |
Miniaturized optical head with high spatial resolution and high sensitivity, especially for fibred confocal fluorescence imaging
A miniaturized optical head provided to equip the distal end of a beam of flexible optical fibers scanned by a laser beam, is designed to come in contact with a sample and to excite the sample confocally. This optical head includes elements for correcting spherical aberrations and focusing members. The focusing members include: at least a first lens (L4) of high convergence associated with a spherical or hemispherical lens (L5) arranged at the distal end of the optical head, and elements for correcting the axial and lateral chromatic aberration provided with a single divergent lens (3b) whose curvature is substantially centered on the pupil of the optical fiber beam and arranged at the exact distance for this pupil for which the conditions of lateral achromatization coincide with the conditions of axial achromatization; this divergent lens being associated with a second convergent lens (L3a) in the form of a doublet (L3). |
| US08300324B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging device
The lens barrel of the present invention includes: a lens; and a light blocking member provided in the vicinity of the lens for blocking part of light traveling toward the lens, a main constituent of the light blocking member being a thermoplastic elastomer resin. |
| US08300320B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens, including: a first lens unit and a second lens unit, in which the first lens unit includes: a first lens sub unit which does not move; a second lens sub unit which moves for focusing; and a third lens sub unit which does not move; and in which the following expression is satisfied, −2.27×10−3<(θp−θna)/(νp−νna)<−1.9×10−3, where νna and θna represent an average value of an Abbe number ν and an average value of a partial dispersion ratio θ of negative lenses included in the first lens sub unit, respectively, νp and θp represent an Abbe number and a partial dispersion ratio of a positive lens having a smallest Abbe number among lenses constituting the first lens sub unit, respectively, θ=(Ng−NF)/(NF−NC), and Ng, NF and NC denote refractive indexes at the g-line, the F-line and a C-line, respectively. |
| US08300315B2 |
Head-mounted display
A head-mounted display includes: a double-sided display device displayed a image on a first side and a second side opposed the first side; a first optical system that forms the image displayed on the first side of the double-sided display device on one eye of a wearer; and a second optical system that forms the image displayed on the second side of the double-sided display device on the other eye of the wearer. The first optical system and the second optical system have switching mechanisms which make at least a part of view being different from the image displayed on the double-sided display devise visible in eyes of the wearer. |
| US08300314B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a display part containing a first display region visually recognized by a viewer; an object of view arranged in a second display region; an imaging optical system of real specular image for defining a first space in which the first display region exists and a second space in which the second display region exists, the imaging optical system of real specular image including a semitransparent substrate with a plane of symmetry, the imaging optical system of real specular image forming a real image of the object of view in the first space of the first display region with light passing through the substrate; and a half mirror arranged in the first space of the first display region, the half mirror reflecting light beams emitted from the imaging optical system of real specular image to guide the reflected light beams to the viewer, while allowing an image formed in the first display region to be seen by the viewer. |
| US08300313B2 |
Method for manufacturing an optical transmission filter with extended out-of-band blocking
In accordance with the invention, a filter is fabricated to take into account the effect of absorption by filter material. The method is exemplified by the fabricating of an ultraviolet light transmission filter for transmitting a band within the range 230-320 nanometers. The resulting filter comprises plurality of hard-coating, thin-film layers of alternating high and low index of refraction. The improved filter provides high transmission, sharp edge slopes, and deep and extended out-of-band blocking. As compared with currently available filters, the filter provides transmission up to three or more times greater, edge slopes up to four times sharper, and deep extended out-of-band blocking extending further, even through the visible range. |
| US08300308B2 |
Eyepiece base unit and microscope
An eyepiece base unit and a microscope with which a phase contrast observation function can be easily added to the microscope. The eyepiece base unit is removably attached to a main unit of the microscope, and includes, in a state of being attached to the microscope, a pupil conjugate plane, which is a plane conjugate with an image side focal plane of an objective lens in an observation optical system of the microscope. By rotating a turret around a central axis, phase plates installed in the turret can be inserted into the pupil conjugate plane. |
| US08300307B2 |
Concept for detecting images with sub-wavelength resolution
A microscope with sub-wavelength resolution with a light source for monochromatic light with a predetermined wavelength, an object carrier for an object to be examined, and an image sensor with an optical structure with a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the optical structure having a negative refractive index, and a pixel array extending along the second side of the optical structure at a predetermined distance, wherein the first side of the optical structure of the image sensor is arranged at a near-field distance smaller than the wavelength of the monochromatic light to the object carrier. |
| US08300299B2 |
MEMS devices with multi-component sacrificial layers
Methods of forming a protective coating on one or more surfaces of a microelectromechanical device are disclosed comprising the steps of forming a composite layer of a sacrificial material and a protective material, and selectively etching the sacrificial material to form a protective coating. The protective coatings of the invention preferably improve one or more aspects of the performance of the microelectromechanical devices in which they are incorporated. Also disclosed are microelectromechanical devices formed by methods of the invention, and visual display devices incorporating such devices. |
| US08300298B2 |
Electrochromic devices
Conventional electrochromic devices frequently suffer from poor reliability and poor performance. Improvements are made using entirely solid and inorganic materials. Electrochromic devices are fabricated by forming an ion conducting electronically insulating interfacial region that serves as an IC layer. In some methods, the interfacial region is formed after formation of an electrochromic and a counter electrode layer. The interfacial region contains an ion conducting electronically insulating material along with components of the electrochromic and/or the counter electrode layer. Materials and microstructure of the electrochromic devices provide improvements in performance and reliability over conventional devices. |
| US08300295B2 |
Thin film semiconductor device, electrooptic device, and electronic equipment
A thin film semiconductor device includes, on a substrate, a thin film transistor of which channel is N-type, and a thin film transistor of which channel is P-type, wherein a source region of the N-type thin film transistor and a source region of the P-type thin film transistor are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other at least in some region and are electrically connected to a first electrode through one contact hole formed on the some region, and a drain region of the N-type thin film transistor and a drain region of the P-type thin film transistor are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other at least in some region and are electrically connected to a second electrode through one contact hole formed on the some region. |
| US08300293B2 |
Micro-optical beam-forming array for projecting images of a divergent isotropic cloud of light points, primarily for the entertainment sector
The invention relates to a beam-forming array for projecting a divergent isotropic cloud of light points. The array comprises a source (4) for emitting electromagnetic radiation, a receiving or connecting possibility for a power source (2), an electrical or electronic subassembly (5), and an optical unit (6) that is arranged in a housing (1) along with the radiation source (4). The radiation source (4) is a semiconductor diode laser or a light emitting diode (LED) while the optical unit (6) is composed of at least two superimposed and grid-shaped spectral films that are offset relative to each other or a diffractive optical element. The optical unit (6) limits the intensity of the emitted radiation and the distance of the light point beams relative to one another to a value that does not pose any risk to a human eye. The invention has the advantage of providing a miniature portable array that is inexpensive to produce and easy to handle for a large spectrum of indoor and outdoor uses in order to project any clouds of light points, particularly of real constellations. |
| US08300289B2 |
Method for compensating for color variations across a printed page using multiple-pass printing
A method for compensating for color variations introduced by printer hardware limitations and other factors is described. First, for each printer model or each individual printer, the extent of color variation throughout a printed page is determined. Based on this determination, each page is partitioned into a plurality of image areas. Then, in an actual printing process, the page of image is printed in a multi-pass process where each image area is printed in a separate pass. The digital image data is shifted and/or rotated for each pass, and the paper is shifted and/or rotated correspondingly, so that the different image areas printed in different passes form a complete image on the final printed page. From the standpoint of the pointer hardware, all passes involve printing the same area of a physical page, resulting in reduced color variation across the page. |
| US08300285B2 |
Scanning circuit structure
A scanning circuit having rearranged circuit modules at each end of a flat cable. After the rearrangement, the flat cable carries scanning control signals produced by a conventional IC communication interface instead of timing signals and carries digital image data instead of easily distorted and interfered analog image signals. |
| US08300275B2 |
Method for reducing the area coverage of a printing plate
Before image data are screened for the subsequent exposure of a printing form, files needed for the screening step are changed in such a way that the values of individual elements in the data fields are changed. The number of elements whose values are changed is determined by evaluating contiguous regions within the data fields. These can be, for example, threshold value matrices in which individual matrix elements are set to a value corresponding to the color white, or which, for the half-tones, are calibrated to a reduced value of the full-tone density. In the latter case, the full-tone image points are screened with a frequency-modulated screen. |
| US08300274B2 |
Process for marking substrates with information using a texture pattern and related substrates
The present invention provides processes to encode substrates (e.g., paper, synthetics, etc.) with information, and substrates including signals encoded therein. One claim recites a substrate-making process including: obtaining an element to be utilized in a substrate-making process, the element including a property to introduce a texture pattern including an encoded signal into a substrate, the encoded signal being machine-detectable from image data corresponding to at least a portion of the texture pattern, the encoded signal including a variable component; and utilizing the element to impart the texture pattern into a substrate during the substrate-making process. Another claim recites a physical substrate including: a surface having a texture pattern provided in the surface during a substrate-making process. The texture pattern includes a machine-readable signal that is detectable from image data corresponding to at least a portion of the texture pattern. The signal includes a variable component that has discernable properties in a frequency domain. The texture pattern is provided in the surface during the substrate-marking process by a non-printing element. Of course, other claims and combinations are also provided. |
| US08300268B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device includes an acquiring unit, a calculating unit, a color data determining unit, an appending unit, and a converting unit. The acquiring unit acquires print data. The print data includes a plurality of sets of text data. Each set of text data has character data and color data. The calculating unit calculates, for each set of color data, an appearance ratio at which a subject set of color data appears in the print data. The color data determining unit determines the color data having a highest appearance ratio among a plurality of appearance ratios of a plurality of sets of color data as first color data, and determines the color data except for the first color data as second color data. The appending unit appends first attribute data to the character data included in the text data having the first color data, and appends second attribute data to the character data included in the text data having the second color data. The converting unit converts a plurality of sets of character data into binary data, based on one of the first attribute data and the second attribute data which is appended to the subject set of character data. |
| US08300267B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method, and storage medium for selecting different mode to increase a degree of gloss of a print product
An image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire image data, a generation unit configured to generate a histogram based on a signal value of each pixel in the image data acquired by the acquisition unit, a derivation unit configured to derive the number of pixels matching a first condition in the histogram generated by the generation unit, and a selection unit configured to select, according to the number of pixels derived by the derivation unit, one of a fixing processing adjustment mode for increasing a degree of gloss of a print product by adjusting fixing processing and a transparent toner mode for increasing a degree of gloss of a print product by using a transparent toner. |
| US08300262B2 |
Method of playing video using handheld display device
A method of playing video using a handheld display device having a touch-sensitive screen and a transceiver for sending and receiving digital information. The method comprises the steps of: imaging an area of a printed substrate and generating image data using an optical sensor, the printed substrate containing printed content associated with a video; determining interaction data using the image data, the interaction data identifying a substrate identity; retrieving video data associated with the printed content; and playing, on the touch-sensitive screen, the video based on the retrieved video data. |
| US08300261B2 |
Systems and methods for retrieving printable media templates
The present invention relates to a system for retrieving a printable media template from an identifier that is associated with printable media. The identifier is retrieved by a reader and a controller that are operatively coupled to receive and process the information. The controller includes a template engine that retrieves a printable media template corresponding to the information received from the identifier. A method for retrieving and generating a printable media template is also provided. A printable media package is also included that identifies a printable template for printing content on the printable media. |
| US08300259B2 |
Methods and systems for user controlled reproduction job removal
A driver module can be configured to generate a driver interface. The driver module can be configured to include, in the interface, various menus, selectors, and buttons to allow the user to specify the parameters and settings of the job. The driver module can be configured to include, in the interface, an option for the user to remove a job, sent to the reproduction device, after the job is processed by the reproduction device. |
| US08300256B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for associating an image with a communication characteristic
Methods, systems, and computer program products for associating an image with a communication characteristic are disclosed. According to one method, a content characteristic of a first image is identified. A communication characteristic of a communication associated with the first image is identified. The content characteristic is associated with the communication characteristic. The content characteristic of the first image is identified in a second image. The communication characteristic is associated with the second image based on the association between the content characteristic and the communication characteristic. |
| US08300253B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method of controlling image forming apparatus, and memory medium for storing computer program for executing method, with interpreter for control programs that are provided for execution on OS-independent platform
An image processing apparatus including: an interpreter unit configured to interpret control programs including a command train represented in byte codes, the control programs being provided for execution on an OS-independent platform and each being an object provided in an object-oriented paradigm; a memory unit configured to store predetermined function programs for controlling a function of the image processing apparatus, the function programs being defined as an interface between the control programs and a device driver program for controlling the function and being used commonly by the control programs, the device driver program operating a hardware resource unit that includes at least one of a printing unit and an image pickup unit; and an execution unit configured to execute the device driver program using the function programs stored in the memory unit in accordance with the interpretation of the control programs by the interpreter unit. |
| US08300252B2 |
Managing objects with varying and repeated printed positioning information
A system and method for identifying captured written data associated with a writing surface using a pen-based computing system are described. In one embodiment, a series of writing surfaces, such as notebooks, are produced, each including a plurality of pages that have an encoded pattern. In an embodiment, each writing surface is also associated with an identifier recognizable by a smart pen or other data capture device. When the smart pen captures written data from a writing surface, the smart pen determines whether the pen-based computing system includes stored written data previously captured from a writing surface having the same encoded pattern as the writing surface from which written data is currently being captured. |
| US08300249B2 |
Command information management apparatus, print system and computer readable medium
A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for managing print processing, the process includes: acquiring plural pieces of command information; acquiring, when receiving a request for list information from a printer of the printers, retrieval information including request location information which indicates location of the requesting printer; generating the list information including a first group; providing, to the printer requesting the list information, screen information including the list information generated in the generating process. The first group includes at least one of the pieces of command information, each piece of command information contained in the first group satisfies a condition that the location indicated by the request location information, belongs to the same area as the location indicated by the print location information. |
| US08300245B2 |
Device to edit documents for printout and method thereof
A device and method of editing documents created in different application programs and stored in a storage unit of a printer to create a new document according to a minimum unit. |
| US08300241B2 |
Image reading device and control method thereof
An image reading device which performs an original reading processing in a push scan mode in which image data read from an original document is output to an output destination terminal through a network, and which includes a judging unit that judges whether or not the image data can be output to the output destination terminal, and an image reading unit that cancels the original reading operation when it is judged by the judging unit that the output is impossible. |
| US08300236B2 |
Image forming system, apparatus, method and computer readable medium for selecting print requests according to post-processing speeds
An image forming system includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on paper sheets, plural post-processors that execute post-processing for paper sheets on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit, a calculator that calculates a waiting period for image forming that post-processing by a post-processor in response to a first print request entails, a selector that selects out of succeeding print requests a print request that requires the use of a different post-processor from the post-processor being used for the first print request as a second print request according to the waiting period calculated by the calculator, and an image forming controller that controls the image forming unit so as to execute image forming in response to the second print request selected by the selector in the waiting period for the image forming in response to the first print request. |
| US08300235B2 |
Image scanner configured to detect size of original
An image scanner has a scanning unit which captures an image of an original placed on a platen, a scanning unit moving mechanism which moves the scanning unit in an auxiliary scanning direction, and an image processing unit which processes the image of the original scanned by the scanning unit. The image processing unit includes a sheet size candidate determining unit which determines sheet size candidates based on a width of the original, and a scan/non-scan section determining unit which determines a non-scan section and a scan section based on the sheet size candidate. The scanning unit moving mechanism moves the scanning unit at a first speed in the scan section and at a second speed which is faster than the first speed, and the scanning unit scans the image of the original in the scan section and does not scan the image in the non-scan section. |
| US08300233B2 |
Interferometric encoder systems
A method for determining information about changes along a degree of freedom of an encoder scale includes directing a first beam and a second beam along different paths and combining the first and second beams to form an output beam, where the first and second beams are derived from a common source, the first and second beams have different frequencies, where the first beam contacts the encoder scale at a non-Littrow angle and the first beam diffracts from the encoder scale at least once; detecting an interference signal based on the output beam, the interference signal including a heterodyne phase related to an optical path difference between the first beam and the second beam; and determining information about a degree of freedom of the encoder scale based on the heterodyne phase. |
| US08300231B2 |
System and method for using slow light in optical sensors
An optical sensor includes at least one optical coupler and an optical waveguide in optical communication with the at least one optical coupler. The optical waveguide is configured to receive a first optical signal from the at least one optical coupler. The first optical signal has a group velocity and a phase velocity while propagating through at least a portion of the optical waveguide, the group velocity less than the phase velocity. An interference between the first optical signal and a second optical signal is affected by relative movement between the optical waveguide and the at least one optical coupler. |
| US08300230B2 |
System and method to determine chromatic dispersion in short lengths of waveguides using a 3-wave interference pattern and a single-arm interferometer
The present invention relates to a system and method to determine chromatic dispersion in short lengths of waveguides using a three wave interference pattern and a single-arm interferometer Specifically the invention comprises a radiation source operable to emit radiation connected to an apparatus for separating incident and reflected waves; the apparatus for separating incident and reflected waves having an output arm adjacent to a first end of the waveguide; the apparatus for separating incident and reflected waves connected to a detector; a collimating apparatus positioned at a second end of the waveguide; and a reflecting apparatus positioned at a balanced distance from the collimating apparatus operable to reflect a test emission from the radiation source back through the collimating apparatus, the waveguide, and the apparatus for separating incident and reflected waves thereby generating an interference pattern that is recorded by the detector. |
| US08300224B2 |
Photoacoustic apparatus, and probe for receiving photoacoustic waves
A photoacoustic apparatus obtains information on a specimen by receiving photoacoustic waves which are generated from the specimen resulting from light irradiated to the specimen. The apparatus includes a light source for irradiating light to the specimen, an acoustic wave receiver for receiving the photoacoustic waves, and a light reflection member for causing the light, which is radiated out of the specimen by optical diffusion thereof after having entered an interior of the specimen from the light source, to reenter the interior of the specimen, wherein the light reflection member allows elastic waves to pass therethrough. As a result, a photoacoustic apparatus and a probe are provided which can confine scattered light from the specimen into the specimen, and which can reliably prevent photoacoustic waves from being generated from a receiving element region of the probe by the scattered light. |
| US08300223B2 |
Measurement device for the distribution of chemical concentration
A material distribution measuring device (1) for measuring a reaction distribution or a concentration distribution of a material contained in a solution. The material distribution measuring device (1) comprises a material detecting plate (5) comprising a material-sensitive film (21) provided on an insulator (22) provided on a semiconductor (23), a flow passage forming part (6) forming a solution flow passage (12) on the material detecting plate (5), means for stabilizing the potential of the solution, means for applying a pulsed laser beam (9) from the semiconductor (23) side to the flow passage (12) side, means for scanning the material detecting plate (5) two-dimensionally with use of the pulsed laser beam (9), means for measuring the amplitude strength of pulsed electromagnetic waves generated upon the application of the pulsed laser beam (9) to the material detecting plate (5), and means for obtaining a reaction distribution or a concentration distribution of the material contained in the solution within the flow passage by qualitatively or quantitatively measuring the material to be detected from the amplitude strength. |
| US08300222B2 |
System and method for calibrating optical characteristics
A miniaturized spectrometer/spectrophotometer system and methods are disclosed. A probe tip including one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers is provided. A first spectrometer system receives light from a first set of the plurality of light receivers. A second spectrometer system receives light from a second set of the plurality of light receivers. A processor, wherein the processor receives data generated by the first spectrometer system and the second spectrometer system, wherein an optical measurement of a sample under test is produced based on the data generated by the first and second spectrometer systems. |
| US08300218B2 |
Gas analyzer
Gas analyzer systems and methods for measuring concentrations of gasses and in particular dry mole fraction of components of a gas. The systems and method allow for rapid measurement of the gas density and/or dry mole fraction of gases for a number of environmental monitoring applications, including high speed flux measurements. A novel coupling design allows for tool-free removal of a cell enclosing a flow path to enable in field cleaning of optical components. |
| US08300217B1 |
Sheet identifying device
A sheet identifying device comprising a light-receiving section (26) for reading each pixel on a sheet which involves color information including a brightness, has a predetermined size, and is handled as one unit, a RAM (114) for storing image data constructed of read pixels, a pixel data increasing/decreasing section (116a) for increasing/decreasing the number of pixels of the image data, and a judging section for judging authentication of the sheet on the basis of the increased/decreased image data. |
| US08300216B2 |
Sheet identifying device
A sheet identifying device comprising a light-receiving section (26) for reading each pixel on a sheet which involves color information including a brightness, has a predetermined size, and is handled as one unit, a RAM (114) for storing image data constructed of read pixels, a pixel data increasing/decreasing section (116a) for increasing/decreasing the number of pixels of the image data, and a judging section for judging authentication of the sheet on the basis of the increased/decreased image data. |
| US08300208B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and a method to compensate for the effect of disturbances on the projection system of a lithographic apparatus
Embodiments of the invention provide a lithographic apparatus including an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a patterning device support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate, an active air mount to support the projection system, the active air mount including at least one actuator, and a feed-forward device, the feed-forward device being configured to provide on the basis of a set-point signal of a movable object, a feed-forward signal to the at least one actuator, wherein the feed-forward signal is designed to decrease a disturbance effect on the projection system due to movement of the movable object. |
| US08300207B2 |
Exposure apparatus, immersion system, exposing method, and device fabricating method
An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate with exposure light through a liquid. The exposure apparatus comprises: a liquid immersion member, which has a liquid contact surface that includes a liquid recovery area; and a porous member, which are disposed at a first side of the liquid contact surface; wherein, the liquid on an object, which is disposed at the first side of the liquid contact surface, is recovered from the liquid recovery area. |
| US08300205B2 |
Apparatus and method for washing alignment film printing mask and method for fabricating a liquid crystal display device
The present invention relates to an alignment film printing mask, and more particularly, to a jig for an alignment film printing mask. A jig according to the present invention includes a plurality of supporting members each having at least one bent portion, arranged at regular intervals along a width direction of the alignment film printing mask for supporting the alignment film printing mask, at least one connection member for connecting the supporting members, and fastening units for securing the alignment film printing mask supported by the supporting members. |
| US08300203B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus has a first chamber accommodating a display panel, a second chamber accommodating a circuit board which controls the panel, and a heat radiating unit arranged at the rear side of the second chamber. |
| US08300201B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
A pixel TFT formed in a pixel region is formed on a first substrate by a channel etch type reverse stagger type TFT, and patterning of a source region and a drain region, and patterning of a pixel electrode are performed by the same photomask. A driver circuit formed by using TFTs having a crystalline semiconductor layer, and an input-output terminal dependent on the driver circuit, are taken as one unit. A plurality of units are formed on a third substrate, and afterward the third substrate is partitioned into individual units, and the obtained stick drivers are mounted on the first substrate. |
| US08300199B2 |
Flexible printed circuit board and liquid crystal display device including the same
A flexible printed circuit board includes a base film made of an insulating material, a power application wiring disposed on a first surface of the base film, a bypass wiring disposed on a second surface, opposite the first surface, of the base film, a first connection wiring which electrically connects the power application wiring to the bypass wiring, a second connection wiring spaced apart from the first connection wiring and which electrically connects the power application wiring to the bypass wiring, and a first cover film disposed on the first surface of the base film to cover at least a first portion of the second connection wiring. At least a first portion of the first connection wiring is exposed through the first cover film. |
| US08300198B2 |
Liquid crystal panel
A liquid crystal panel includes a signal transmission section and a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The signal transmission section includes electrical conductive terminals. The FPC includes an insulating film and conductive lines disposed on a first surface of the insulating film. The conductive lines are electrically connected to the electrical conductive terminals. The insulating film substantially covers the electrical conductive terminals. |
| US08300193B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and pixel
A liquid crystal display panel including an opposite substrate, an active device array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer is provided. The opposite substrate has a common electrode. The active device array substrate has a plurality of scan lines, data lines, and pixels. Each of the pixels is controlled by one of the scan lines and one of the data lines, correspondingly. Each pixel has an active device, a first pixel electrode having a first slit and electrically connected to the active device, a dielectric layer covering the first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode having a second slit and disposed between the dielectric layer and the opposite substrate. The first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the second pixel electrode. The first and second slits are substantially aligned to each other, and the width of first slit is smaller than that of second slit. |
| US08300192B2 |
Liquid crystal display and thin film transistor array panel usable with the liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display with improved viewing angle and uncompromised transmittance is provided, along with a thin film transistor (TFT) array panel usable for such liquid crystal display. The TFT array panel includes a substrate, a plurality of gate lines formed on the substrate, a plurality of data lines formed on the substrate and intersecting the gate lines, and a plurality of thin film transistors. Each of the thin film transistors includes a gate electrode connected to one of the gate lines, a source electrode connected to one of the data lines, and a drain electrode. The TFT array panel also includes a plurality of pixel electrodes, each of the pixel electrodes connected to one of the drain electrodes and having a pair of oblique edges parallel to each other, and covering at least a portion of the drain electrodes. |
| US08300190B2 |
Liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal display unit, and television receiver equipped with the same
Projecting sections controlling alignment directions of liquid crystal molecules are provided on at least one of an active matrix substrate and a counter substrate. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to a surface of the active matrix substrate or of the counter substrate, an outline shape of the projecting sections is constituted by continuously arranging a plurality of unit patterns each having a side in parallel with the polarization axis of the first polarizing plate and a side in parallel with the polarization axis of the second polarizing plate. This makes it possible to provide a liquid crystal panel that performs better display with high contrast by reducing a light leakage during a black display period and by ensuring a light transmittance during a gray level display period and a white display period. |
| US08300188B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel with micro-lens array and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display panel includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of pixels; a microlens array provided on a light-incident side of the liquid crystal panel; a first polarizing plate and a first optical compensation element provided on a light-outgoing side of the liquid crystal panel; and a second polarizing plate and a second optical compensation element provided on a light-incident side of the microlens array. The retardation of the first optical compensation element along the thickness direction is greater than the retardation of the second optical compensation element along the thickness direction. |
| US08300183B2 |
Single layer high brightness full color reflective cholesteric displays
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, more specifically, to a single layer reflective full color cholesteric display employing full spectrum circularly polarization. The display has not only zero-field long time memory but also paper-like super high brightness and contrast. |
| US08300179B2 |
Fluorescent tube, illuminating apparatus for display device, and display device
A fluorescent tube 30 of the present invention includes a glass tube 31 and electrodes 32 opposed to each other on both end portions 31a of the glass tube 31, characterized in that the electrode 32 has a closed-end hollow shape opened on the opposite side from the end portion 31a of the glass tube 31, and the electrode 32 constituting the closed-end hollow shape has an inner surface 35 configured to be tapered toward the end portion 31a of the glass tube 31. With this configuration, it is possible to contain accelerated electrons not only in the bottom face 33 of the electrode 32 but also in the inner surface 35 of the electrode 32, thereby suppressing sputtering. Consequently, it is possible to increase the life of the fluorescent tube 30. |
| US08300173B2 |
Reflective liquid crystal display device integrated with organic light-emitting device
A system for displaying images is provided. The system includes a reflective liquid crystal display device including a first substrate having a pixel unit array thereon. A second substrate is disposed above the first substrate and a liquid crystal layer is disposed therebetween. A plurality of first electrodes is disposed between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer and corresponds to each pixel unit including a reflective electrode. A second electrode is disposed between the plurality of first electrodes and the liquid crystal layer to serve as a common electrode that controls the liquid crystal layer. An organic light-emissive layer is disposed between the plurality of first electrodes and the second electrode. A light-emitting device is constituted by the plurality of first electrodes, the second electrode, and the organic light-emissive layer to provide light onto the reflective electrode. |
| US08300168B2 |
Display device comprising an antioxidant film formed on a microcrystalline semiconductor film wherein the antioxidant film has a recessed portion overlapping a channel region
It is an object to provide a manufacturing method by which display devices can be manufactured in quantity without degrading the characteristics of thin film transistors. In a display device including a thin film transistor in which a microcrystalline semiconductor film, a gate insulating film in contact with the microcrystalline semiconductor film, and a gate electrode overlap with each other, an antioxidant film is formed on a surface of the microcrystalline semiconductor film. The antioxidant film on the surface of the microcrystalline semiconductor film can prevent a surface of a microcrystal grain from being oxidized, thereby preventing the mobility of the thin film transistor from decreasing. |
| US08300167B2 |
Display panel, display device, and method for manufacturing display panel
A display panel includes: pairs of electrodes each forming an auxiliary capacitor (Cs2) by overlapping each other, wherein one electrode of each pair of the electrodes is an electrode (79) to have a picture element electrode potential, and the other one electrode of each pair of the electrodes is an auxiliary capacitor electrode (91); and auxiliary capacitor bus lines (CSLj+1) for applying voltages to the auxiliary capacitor electrodes (91), respectively each auxiliary capacitor electrode (91) being provided on an upper side of a corresponding auxiliary capacitor bus line (CSLj+1) in a film thickness direction and being connected with the corresponding auxiliary capacitor bus line (CSLj+1) through a contact hole (82), and each electrode (79) to have the picture element electrode potential being provided on an upper side of the auxiliary capacitor electrode (91) paired therewith, in the film thickness direction. This makes it possible to achieve a display panel in which the variation in the auxiliary capacitance within substrates can be minimized even if the auxiliary bus line is patterned by wet etching. |
| US08300165B2 |
Liquid crystal display with an increased aperture ration
A liquid crystal display includes a pixel group including a first pixel having a first thin film transistor and a second pixel having a second thin film transistor. A gate line provides a driving signal to a gate of the first and second thin film transistors. A first storage capacitor line is arranged substantially parallel with the gate line and adjacent to one side of the first pixel. A second storage capacitor line is arranged substantially parallel with the gate line and adjacent to an opposite side of the first pixel. The liquid crystal display includes a first storage capacitor arranged in the first pixel and connected between the first thin film transistor and the first storage capacitor line. A second storage capacitor is arranged in the second pixel and is connected between the second thin film transistor and the second storage capacitor line. |
| US08300164B2 |
Liquid crystal device
A liquid crystal device have an element substrate including a scanning line, a data line and a pixel electrode, a cutout is formed on the pixel electrode. A capacitor line for providing a storage capacitor is formed on the element substrate. The capacitor line has a first and second portions. The first portion extends along with the scanning line, and a second line portion overlaps the cutout of the pixel electrode. |
| US08300161B2 |
Reduction of cross-talk for a dual view display device
Display devices for displaying a first and second view are provided. A representative display device includes a color generating layer (CF) and an array layer (AR). The color generating layer incorporates a plurality of color elements arranged in a two-dimensional array extending in a plurality of rows in a horizontal direction (X) and a plurality of columns in a vertical direction (Y). The array layer includes array metal circuitry covering a portion of each of the color elements. The color generating layer includes means for preventing light generated for one of the first and second views from being transmitted by reflection by at least a portion of a surface of the array metal circuitry in a direction of the other of the first and second views. |
| US08300160B2 |
Projector system
A projector system includes a light source module, a light guiding plate, a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) module and a projection lens module. The light source unit includes a red-color light source, a green-color light source and a blue-color light source respectively for emitting red, green and blue light. The light guiding plate optically combines light emitted from the red-color light source, the green-color light source and the blue-color light source. The PBS module is positioned opposite to the light output surface of the light guiding plate and is configured for splitting the combined light into s-polarization light and p-polarization light, reflecting the s-polarization light and converting the reflected s-polarization light into p-polarization light, modulating and outputting the converted p-polarization light using a display information signal. The projection lens module projects light with information onto a screen. |
| US08300157B2 |
Method for estimating frequency offsets and frequency offset estimation circuit thereof
A method for estimating frequency offsets is disclosed. The method includes shifting a target signal from a first specific frequency band to a second specific frequency band to generate a pre-offset signal according to a frequency shifting direction, performing a specific filtering operation upon the pre-offset signal to generate a filtered pre-offset signal, shifting the filtered pre-offset signal from the second specific frequency band to a base band to generate a base-band (BB) signal according to the frequency shifting direction, and performing a frequency offset estimation upon the base-band signal. The target signal complies with a specific TV format. The specific TV format is an advanced television system committee (ASTC) format or a digital multimedia broadcast-terrestrial/handheld (DMB-T/H) format. |
| US08300154B2 |
Television receiver
A television receiver cuts power supply to its built-in device which is overlapped with that of the external unit connected to the television receiver for reducing power consumption to cope with diversification of the external unit. The television receiver includes the tuner which receives a television broadcast signal, an external unit connection portion which connects the external unit with the HDMI cable, the HDMI process unit which acquires unit information data from the connected external unit to transmit video/audio data, and the power supply circuit which supplies power to the tuner. If the HDMI process unit determines that the connected external unit includes the same function as the tuner, the control unit allows the power supply circuit to stop power supply to the tuner. |
| US08300153B2 |
Video selection display unit for multiple devices
Video selection display unit that is capable of routing real-time output signals having a video component from different video signal sources, e.g., different instruments or home entertainment devices, to a single output for display on a monitor or other type of video display. The video selection display unit may be part of an automatic test system or home entertainment system. Control of the video selection display unit can be effected locally via a user interface, such as one or more pushbuttons, and/or remotely over a network which may be the same network used for communication with the instruments or devices or using an infrared remote control unit. |
| US08300152B2 |
TV image adjusting method and apparatus thereof
A television (TV) image adjusting method includes performing a variance calculation on luminance values of a plurality of pixels adjacent to target pixels of an image frame to generate a weight index; performing a decay function calculation according to the weight index to generate a weight distribution corresponding to the plurality of pixels adjacent to the target pixels. A function value of the decay function is inversely proportional to both the weight index and a target pixel distance between the target pixels and the plurality of pixels adjacent to the target pixels. The target pixel distance is a sum of vertical distances and horizontal distances between the target pixels and the plurality of pixels adjacent of the target pixels. The method further performs a weight calculation on the luminance values of the plurality of pixels adjacent to target pixels according to the weight distribution to generate an output luminance value. |
| US08300133B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes: an ocular-type finder; a display section provided below the finder and having a display screen capable of displaying an image; processing means for detecting where a finger touches the display screen and carrying out a process according to the touched position; and a grip serving for gripping purposes provided to the right of the display section, wherein an angled area formed of a right end area and a lower end area is defined in the right half of the display screen, and the processing means includes limited processing means for carrying out a process associated with a touching operation detected only in the angled area when an eye has approached the finder. |
| US08300129B2 |
Pixel drive circuit, image capture device, and camera system
A pixel drive circuit includes a plurality of pixel circuits each including a photoelectric converting unit for converting an incident light into an electric charge and accumulating the converted electric charge, the plurality of pixel circuits being arranged in a matrix shape, an address decoder for selecting the pixel circuits to be controlled which are arranged on an identical line, a storage circuit for storing operation information to be executed by the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder, and a control circuit for controlling an operation of the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder in accordance with a storage state of the storage circuit. The control circuit controls a charge discharging operation of discharging an electric charge remaining in the photoelectric converting unit of each of the pixel circuits. The storage circuit holds the storage state until the charge discharging operation is completed. |
| US08300128B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device and electronic apparatus
A solid-state image pickup device includes a semiconductor substrate having a light-incident surface, a plurality of pixels arranged on the light-incident surface, a photodiode arranged in each of the pixels, an insulating film arranged on the semiconductor substrate and configured to cover the photodiodes, wirings embedded in the insulating film, an etching stopper film distant from the lowermost wiring among the wirings, arranged adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, configured to cover at least a region where each of the photodiodes is arranged, and composed of silicon carbide, a trench arranged above each of the photodiodes so as to reach the etching stopper film, and an optical waveguide with which each of the trenches is filled, the optical waveguide having a higher refractive index than the insulating film. |
| US08300127B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of fabricating solid-state imaging device, and camera
Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device receiving incident light from a backside thereof. The imaging device includes a semiconductor layer on which a plurality of pixels including photoelectric converters and pixel transistors are formed, a wiring layer formed on a first surface of the semiconductor layer, a pad portion formed on a second surface of the semiconductor layer, an opening formed to reach a conductive layer of the wiring layer, and an insulating film extendedly coated from the second surface to an internal side-wall of the opening so as to insulate the semiconductor layer. |
| US08300117B2 |
System and method for exposing video-taking heuristics at point of capture
Described is a system and methods for embedding standard video-taking heuristics into video-recording devices to help improve the quality of captured video for consumer devices. The described approach uses a combination of audio, visual, and haptic feedback that responds to video as it is recorded. This feedback can help users compose better shots as well as help them develop an understanding of the fundamentals of good video-taking. |
| US08300112B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method therefor
This invention improves the operability of an apparatus when the user focuses on the target object to obtain an image with an appropriate image quality. An image capturing apparatus includes an object detection unit, which detects an object from an image based on a signal output from an image sensor, a display unit which displays a marker corresponding to the position of the object detected by the object detection unit, and a change unit which changes the position of the marker displayed on the display unit. The change unit moves the marker to the position of an object detected by the object detection unit, that is different from the current position of the marker displayed on the display unit. |
| US08300110B2 |
Image sensing apparatus with correction control
An image sensing apparatus that includes an image sensing portion outputting the image data of an image by shooting and that generates an output image based on the output data of the image sensing portion obtained in response to a predetermined shooting command has: a first correction portion which, based on the image data of a first image shot by the image sensing portion and the image data of a second image shot by the image sensing portion with an exposure time longer than the exposure time of the first image, performs position adjustment between the first and second images and then synthesizes the first and second images to generate the output image; a second correction portion which generates the output image by reducing noise in the first image without using the second image; and a correction control portion which executes selection processing to alternatively select one of the first and second correction portions based on a shooting condition set for shooting of the second image or based on the output data of the image sensing portion, and which makes the so selected correction portion generate the output image. |
| US08300109B2 |
Image sensing apparatus
An image sensing apparatus comprises: a pixel array; a driving unit; a readout unit which, when performing still image shooting parallel to movie shooting, reads out, in each of successive frame periods, first signals from a first pixel group, and reads out, over the successive frame periods, second signals of a first frame period from pixels of a second pixel group that are different from each other between the successive frame periods; and a generation unit which generates an image signal for a movie of one frame in each of the successive frame periods from the first signals read out in each of the successive frame periods, and also generates an image signal for a still image of one frame in the first frame period by composing the first signals read out in the first frame period and the second signals read out over the successive frame periods. |
| US08300108B2 |
Multi-channel imaging devices comprising unit cells
A multi-channel imaging device is provided. The multi-channel imaging device includes a focal plane array having an array of pixels configured to detect radiation in a predetermined wavelength band. Subsets of the array of pixels are arranged to define a plurality of unit cell image areas. The multi-channel imaging device also includes a lens array having a plurality of lens elements configured to image a scene onto the plurality of unit cell image areas. The lens elements and the unit cell image areas define a plurality of unit cells having at least one lens element and at least one unit cell image area. Each of the plurality of unit cells is configured to create a complete image of the scene. Additionally, a plurality of unit cell filters corresponding to the plurality of unit cells is configured to filter radiation such that each unit cell is dedicated to an image channel is also provided. |
| US08300103B2 |
Optical testing apparatus and testing method thereof
An optical testing apparatus can be operated according to a testing method to test quality of an imaging module of an electronic device. The optical testing apparatus includes a projector, a temperature control device, a processor, and a controller. The controller can control the imaging module to capture an image from the projector and transmit the captured image to the processor. The processor processes the captured image to determine the quality of the imaging module. |
| US08300101B2 |
Image processing method, image processing system, image pickup device, image processing device and computer program for manipulating a plurality of images
A system using an in-vehicle camera mounted on a vehicle for an image pickup object of the face of the driver, for: continuously taking an image of the image pickup object; performing manipulation, such as enlargement of an area including the image pickup object with a reference point being the center, for a second image based on image pickup after a first image, on the basis of the range of the image pickup object detected from the first image, the width of the facial contour of the driver, for example, and also a reference point such as the center of the face to be decided based on the location of the eyes and nose of the driver; and performing image processing, such as detection of the range of the image pickup object and decision of the reference point, for the manipulated second image. |
| US08300096B2 |
Apparatus for measurement of vertical obstructions
Accurate measurements of flight path obstructions are taken from a moving aerial platform. Platform position, including altitude, is combined with dynamic data including target distance and target elevation data to calculate obstruction height or altitude. An optical subsystem on the aerial platform images the obstructions and provides a video stream showing the obstructions. The video stream and aerial platform data are wirelessly communicated to a control terminal where an operator observes a presentation of obstructions and obstruction altitudes or heights. The operator can issue commands to the aerial platform. |
| US08300094B2 |
Image pickup module, manufacturing and assembling methods of the same, endoscope and capsule type endoscope using the same
An image pickup module comprises a lens assembly including a lens having a flange part, and a frame component for shading a circumferential surface excluding a neighborhood of a top portion of the flange part in the lens; an image pickup element which the top portion of the flange part touches; and an illumination element arranged around the lens assembly and the image pickup element. The image pickup module is constituted so that exit light from a luminescent surface of the illumination element does not reach directly to an exposed portion that is not shaded by the frame component of the flange part. |
| US08300090B2 |
In-vivo image acquiring system, in-vivo image processing method, and body-insertable apparatus
An in-vivo image acquiring system having a body-insertable apparatus and a processing apparatus. The body-insertable apparatus has an imaging unit which captures images of the inside of the subject, and a transmitting unit which attaches type information to the image information and transmits the image information to the outside of the subject. The processing apparatus has an image processing unit which acquires optical information corresponding to the type information attached to image information to be processed and processes the image information to be processed using an image processing program which corresponds to the acquired optical information. The type information indicates an applied portion of the body-insertable apparatus. The processing apparatus also processes image information corresponding to portions other than the applied portions of the body-insertable apparatus as image information to be processed. |
| US08300086B2 |
Image processing for supporting a stereoscopic presentation
An image processing is applied in common to image data for a first image and to image data for a second image. The image data for the first image and the image data for the second image are moreover compared as a basis for matching a visual appearance of images for a stereoscopic presentation. The visual appearance can be matched in the current pair of images by adjusting at least one of the images accordingly and/or in future pairs of images by adjusting parameters of at least one of the image capturing components providing the image data. |
| US08300083B2 |
Position relationships associated with image capturing devices
A method for determining a plurality of spatial relationships associated with a plurality of image capturing devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present method acquires sets of a plurality of source images from a plurality of image capturing devices. The present method then determines a plurality of transforms for each such set of source images for combining the acquired source images into a plurality of seamless images. The present method then determines a plurality of relative positions associated with the plurality of image capturing devices based on the plurality of transforms The present method then determines a plurality of spatial relationships associated with the plurality of image capturing devices based on the transforms and plurality of relative positions associated with the plurality of image capturing devices. |
| US08300078B2 |
Computer-processor based interface for telepresence system, method and computer program product
A computer-implemented interface for a local telepresence video conferencing facility, pre-assigns displays at the local telepresence video conferencing facility to respective video images from remote telepresence video conference facilities such that respective video images from the remote telepresence video conference facilities will be displayed on corresponding displays at the local telepresence video conferencing facility once communications connections are made. A controller pre-assigns the displays according to control commands from a tactile input device prior to establishing the communication connections with the remote telepresence video conference facilities. A touchscreen display presents avatars of remote conference participants to illustrate pre-assignments of displays to particular remote telepresence video conference facilities prior to the communication connections being made. |
| US08300074B2 |
Exposing device for controlling the exposure of a photoconductor
An exposing device includes a plurality of exposing units which forms a latent image, wherein exposing units includes: an exposure light source; a rotating polyhedron that reflects light from the exposure light source; a driving source that rotates the rotating polyhedron; a first detecting unit that detects the number of rotations of the driving source; a second detecting unit that detects the light from the exposure light source at a position; and a control unit that performs a first control of the driving source based on a detection signal of the first detecting unit at a start of the rotation of the rotating polyhedron and thereafter performs a second control of the driving source based on a detection signal of the second detecting unit. |
| US08300073B2 |
Print apparatus and control method for the same
One of mark sensors is automatically selected in accordance with specifications of a thermal sheet. A cutting position on the thermal sheet is decided on the basis of an output of the selected one mark sensor. |
| US08300070B2 |
Moving image display device and moving image display method
To provide a technology for performing brightness range expansion processing suitable for a scene change when a scene change occurs. If an expansion coefficient output mode determination module 250 detects a scene change, it changes an expansion coefficient output mode from a normal mode to a scene change mode. An expansion coefficient derivation module 200 outputs an ideal expansion coefficient Gid(n) if the scene change is detected, and outputs a corrected expansion coefficient G(n) if the scene change is not detected. |
| US08300064B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming a combined image by combining images in a template
The image forming apparatus and method combine images to form one combined image by using an image formed by clipping, from images including the same person, parts of a face and a body of the person and combining the parts. The apparatus and method select, from images stored in advance, images to be combined in image combination frames of a template for the combined image, the template being stored in advance and including the image combination frames for which image editing conditions are defined, edit the selected images according to each of the image editing conditions for each of the image combination frames of the template and arrange the edited images in the image combination frames of the template and combining the arranged images. |
| US08300060B1 |
Object transformation for object trees utilized with multiprocessor systems
A system creates a first set of objects in a first structure that describe a graphical scene. A second set of objects is created in a second structure based on the first set of objects in the first structure. The system also performs one or more of the following: i) converting coordinate values in a first coordinate system to coordinate values in a second coordinate system, ii) converting color values in a first color space to color values in a second color space, and/or iii) converting data having first data types or formats to data having second data types or formats, where the first data types or formats are different than the second data types or formats. The system further associates the converted coordinate values, color values and/or data types or formats with the second set of objects and enables a graphical processing unit to use the second set of objects for rendering the graphical scene. |
| US08300056B2 |
Seamless display migration
Exemplary embodiments of methods, apparatuses, and systems for seamlessly migrating a user visible display stream sent to a display device from one rendered display stream to another rendered display stream are described. For one embodiment, mirror video display streams are received from both a first graphics processing unit (GPU) and a second GPU, and the video display stream sent to a display device is switched from the video display stream from the first GPU to the video display stream from the second GPU, wherein the switching occurs during a blanking interval for the first GPU that overlaps with a blanking interval for the second GPU. |
| US08300055B2 |
User interface for controlling three-dimensional animation of an object
A user can control the animation of an object via an interface that includes a control area and a user-manipulable control element. The control area includes an ellipse. The user-manipulable control element includes a three-dimensional arrow with a straight body, a three-dimensional arrow with a curved body, or a sphere. In one embodiment, the interface includes a virtual trackball that is used to manipulate the user-manipulable control element. |
| US08300053B2 |
System and method for fitting images in an electronic device
An electronic device includes an image fitting system to fit an image to identify characters of the image and graphics of the image in the electronic device. Operations of fitting the image by the image fitting system includes generation of a standard character database to fit characters of the image, generation of character fitting results by fitting each character of the image according to the standard character database, and generation of graphic fitting results by fitting each graphic of the image according to a standard graphic that is defined by a graphic equation. |
| US08300052B1 |
Application of bevel curves to splines
The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for application of bevel curves to splines. |
| US08300048B2 |
Three-dimensional shape data recording/display method and device, and three-dimensional shape measuring method and device
A three-dimensional shape data recording/display method including: a data inputting step S1 for inputting into a computer coordinate values on a three-dimensional shape; a model structuring step S3 for structuring an environment model for partitioning a spatial region into a plurality of voxels made from rectangular solids, of which the boundary surfaces are mutually perpendicular, and stores the positions of the individual voxels; a matching step S4 for setting and recording a representative point and an error distribution within the voxel corresponding to the coordinate value; a model updating step S5 for updating the environment model; and an outputting step S6 for outputting, to an outputting device, at least one of the voxel position, representative point, and error distribution. |
| US08300047B2 |
System and method for colon unfolding via skeletal subspace deformation
A system and method for colon unfolding via skeletal subspace deformation comprises: performing a centerline computation on a segmented image for deriving a centerline thereof; computing a distance map utilizing said centerline and said segmented image to derive said distance map; generating a polyhedral model of the lumen of said colon; and utilizing said polyhedral model, said distance map, and said centerline for performing a straightening operation on said centerline. |
| US08300046B2 |
Attraction system and attraction providing method
A theater (54) can be divided into a plurality of booths (64) by booth partition walls (68). By moving the booth partition walls (68), the plurality of booths (64) are combined to form a combined theater (66). When the theater (54) is divided in the plurality of booths (64), each booth (64) provides a booth picture in which images of visitors seated in the booth (64) are incorporated as characters. The combined theater (66) provides a combined-theater picture with the use of screens (70) of all the booths (64). Each booth (64) provides a default picture when a fault occurs in the function of generating a booth picture. |
| US08300043B2 |
Proximity assisted 3D rendering
A mobile device for rendering or transforming three-dimensional images is disclosed. The mobile device determines a distance and/or location of a user relative to the device and adjusts the three-dimensional image to provide improved viewing of the three-dimensional image at the sensed distance and/or location. |
| US08300042B2 |
Interactive video display system using strobed light
An interactive video display system uses strobing light to allow easy and unencumbered interaction between a person and projected video images. A camera may be synchronized to the strobing light and the strobing light may be in an infrared spectral range. A processing system detects images of a human in the field of view of the camera and controls the display so that the projected video images are changed based on an interaction between the human and the projected video images. The system may project the video images on a surface around the person and may move the projected video images on the surface based on a movement of the person. The projected video images may include computer-generated characters and/or virtual objects that react to the movement of a person. |
| US08300035B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A display device includes a display panel, a printed circuit board, a plurality of semiconductor devices which are film-like substrates with an IC chip, and a monolithic anisotropic conductive film disposed on the printed circuit board. Each of the semiconductor devices has a first side portion and a second side portion opposite to the first side portion. The first side portion is connected to the printed circuit board via the monolithic anisotropic conductive film, and the second side portion is connected to the display panel. Further the first side portion of each of the semiconductor devices is respectively connected at separated portions of the monolithic anisotropic conductive film. |
| US08300032B2 |
Method for transmitting image data to driver of display
A method for transmitting image data to a driver of a display is provided, in which the image data include pixel values each represented by a number of bits. The method includes the steps of sequentially transmitting at least two bits of one of the pixel values during a first period through a data line; and sequentially transmitting at least two bits of another one of the pixel values during a second period next to the first period through the data line, in which an order of the last bit transmitted during the first period is the same as that of the first bit transmitted during the second period. |
| US08300027B2 |
Vibration touch sensor, method for vibration touch sensing and vibration touch screen display panel
A vibration touch sensor includes; a first substrate, a second substrate arranged to face the first substrate with a predetermined gap therebetween, a first electrode disposed on the first substrate, a second electrode disposed on the second substrate, a piezoelectric material layer disposed on one of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the piezoelectric material layer generates an electrical signal in response to an external touch applied to at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and a controller which receives the electrical signal generated from the piezoelectric material layer and generates a touch input signal, the controller controlling an alternating current voltage applied to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08300025B2 |
Head mount display
A HMD photographs at least a portion of a field of view of a user, and detects a hand of the user based on a result of analysis of an imaged image. The HMD performs a control of deciding and displaying a position of an operation part of a virtual operation panel based on a position of the detected hand of the user. A position associated with the hand visible to the user is set as a display position of the virtual operation panel which tracks the position of the hand of the user. The HMD determines whether or not the virtual operation panel is operated based on a contact position of a finger of the user detected by a touch panel, and performs a control corresponding to an operation position of the virtual operation panel when it is determined that the virtual operation panel is operated. |
| US08300023B2 |
Virtual keypad generator with learning capabilities
Methods and systems enable defining customized virtual keyboards on a touch sensitive surface, such as a touchscreen. Using learning algorithms, a computing device may learn the typing patterns of a user and “morph” the keys of a virtual keyboard into locations, sizes, and orientations that are comfortable for the user and which may reduce typing errors. A user may create a custom keypad layout by performing a series of key strokes on a touch sensitive surface. The computing device may correlate the touch locations to particular keys and generate keypad layout data that can be used to display the virtual keyboard and interpret touches on the touch sensitive surface. The computing device may monitor user typing activity and refine the keypad layout data based on detected or corrected typing errors. Keypad layout data may be exported to other devices to enable users to take their virtual keyboards with them. |
| US08300019B2 |
Capacitive sensor coupling correction
Methods and apparatus for normalizing the effects of the changes to the parasitic capacitive coupling that can occur in touch sensor panels so as to reduce or eliminate the appearance of erroneous touch events. In some embodiments, at some time prior to regular device use (e.g. during factory calibration), a conductive sheet is initially positioned so as to entirely cover a touch surface of a touch sensor panel. A set of sensed signals may be determined upon driving the drive lines and sensing the sense lines of the panel. Correctional coefficients may then be calculated based in part upon the difference between a sensed signal and an expected signal. The correctional coefficients may then be stored in the device and used to determine signal corrections for a set of measured signals during normal operation. |
| US08300018B2 |
Tactile sensor
A tactile sensor for detecting a variation in pressing real-time. The tactile sensor is simple in structure, detects a variation in pressing by using reduced wires, has increased reliability and reduced cost, and can obtain information accurately. A sheet has, along its surface, resistors arranged in an X direction and Y direction, has a resistor in Z direction corresponding to the thickness direction of the sheet, and has a pressure sensitive resistor sheet (4) whose resistance in the Z direction varies according to pressing in the thickness direction. At least a pair of electrodes (9, 10, 11, 12) is placed in the periphery of the pressure sensitive sheet (4), and the electrodes conduct a current to at least either of the resistor in the X direction or the resistor in the Y direction. Also, at least a pair of conductors (5, 6) for conducting a current to the resistor in the Z direction is provided on the surface of the pressure sensitive sheet (4). |
| US08300016B2 |
Electronic device system utilizing a character input method
A character input method is implemented in a device with a plurality of keys. If a key is activated by a first operation matching a first input pattern, a first route is selected to traverse a plurality of characters corresponded by the key during presentation of the plurality of characters. If the first key is activated by a second operation matching a second input pattern, the plurality of characters corresponded by the first key are orderly retrieved and presented according to a second route in response to operations on the first key. The order for presenting two characters corresponded by the first key in the first route is reversed in the second route. |
| US08300015B2 |
Method of detecting the movement of an entity equipped with an image sensor and device for implementing same
In relation to a current image from a sequence of images captured by an image sensor, in a first step, a temporary motion vector is determined as a function of reference data comprising a preceding image and a motion vector associated to the preceding image. Then, in a second step, if the temporary motion vector does not satisfy a reliability criterion, the first step is repeated in relation to a following image, on the basis of the same reference data. Otherwise, the temporary motion vector is associated with the current image. |
| US08300013B2 |
Mouse with a finger triggered sensor
A computer input device (e.g. a mouse) with a finger-triggered sensor is described. The sensor generates input signals in addition to the conventional mouse signals generated by click buttons, tracking device and scrolling wheel. The sensor may be an optical sensor, a touch-sensitive sensor or other types of sensors. The signals generated by the sensor, either alone or in combination with other signals generated by the buttons, tracking device or scrolling wheel, may be interpreted to generate various messages for the operating system and/or application programs. The interpretation may be performed by a circuit on the input device, by a driver program on the host computer, or both. The sensor may be provided on a mouse, a laptop keyboard that has a pointing device, an external keyboard equipped with a pointing device, or on a stand-alone device that can be electrically connected to a computer through its available ports. |
| US08300009B2 |
Electrophoretic display, method for driving electrophoretic display, and storage display
An electrophoretic display according to the present invention includes a first reset step for applying a first voltage to electrophoretic devices such that no image is displayed and no afterimages are present in the electrophoretic devices between a first step for displaying a first image on the electrophoretic devices and a second step for displaying a second image on the electrophoretic devices and a second reset step for applying a second voltage higher than the first voltage such that no image is displayed and no afterimage is present in the electrophoretic devices at a frequency less than that at which the first reset step is performed. |
| US08300008B2 |
Method for operating electrophoretic display apparatus, electrophoretic display apparatus, and electronic system
A method for operating an electrophoretic display apparatus including a first substrate; a second substrate; an electrophoretic device being held between the first substrate and the second substrate and containing electrophoretic particles; a first electrode formed on a surface of the first substrate, the surface facing the electrophoretic device; and a second electrode formed on a surface of the second substrate, the surface facing the electrophoretic device is provided. The method includes image displaying in which a voltage is applied to the electrophoretic device. The image displaying includes device driving in which the electrophoretic device is driven by inputting a first potential into the first electrode and inputting a second potential into the second electrode, and accumulated-charge removing in which a potential of the first electrode is changed, from the first potential to the second potential, stepwise or uniformly at a potential change velocity lower than a potential change velocity upon starting of the device driving. |
| US08299997B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A display device includes a TFT substrate with gate signal lines, drain signal lines, thin-film transistors connected thereto, a gate driver connected to the gate signal lines, a drain driver having output terminals connected to drain signal lines, and a film substrate having first wirings. The first wirings are disposed between the drain driver and the film substrate. The drain driver is mounted on the film substrate, and the output terminals are connected to the first wirings between the film substrate and the drain driver. The output terminal includes first group terminals formed in parallel with a longer edge of the drain driver, and second group terminals formed in parallel with the longer edge and disposed between the loner edge and the first group terminals. |
| US08299990B2 |
Flat panel display and method of driving the flat panel display
A flat panel display sequentially supplying data signals to a pixel portion using a demultiplexer and a method of driving the flat panel sufficiently supply scan signals in a horizontal period to prevent deformation and distortion of the data signal supplied to each pixel and compensate for a threshold voltage of a drive transistor of the pixel. The flat panel display includes a pixel portion having a plurality of pixels, a scan driver to supply scan signals to the pixel portion, a data driver to generate data signals, a demultiplexer portion to sequentially supply the data signals to the pixel portion, and a lighting tester to supply a lighting test signal and an initialization signal to the pixel portion. Alternatively, the flat panel display includes a pixel portion having a plurality of pixels, a scan driver to supply scan signals to the pixel portion, a data driver to output data signals and a demultiplexer portion to sequentially supply an initialization signal and the data signal to the pixel portion. |
| US08299989B2 |
Electronic system including pixel units with shifted operating voltages
A system for displaying image is provided. The system includes a pixel unit coupled to a source driver and including a first switch, a second switch, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a driving transistor, and a luminiferous device. The first switch includes a first control terminal receiving a first scan signal, a first terminal receiving a first operation voltage, and a second terminal. The second switch includes a second control terminal receiving a second scan signal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal coupled to the source driver. The first capacitor is coupled between the first and the second terminals. The second capacitor is coupled between the second and the third terminals. The driving transistor includes a gate coupled to the second terminal, a source receiving the first operation voltage, and a drain. The luminiferous device is coupled to the drain and receiving a second operation voltage. |
| US08299985B2 |
Method of power conservation for organic light-emitting display according to light emitting area ratio
Provided is an organic light-emitting display device. The organic light-emitting display device includes a light-emitting unit having a plurality of OLEDs to emit light, a light-emitting level setting unit setting a light-emitting level depending on a light-emitting area and/or change in a light-emitting degree of the light-emitting unit, a look-up table in which data for the light-emitting degree of the light-emitting unit that corresponds to each light-emitting area for each light-emitting level is set and stored, a light-emitting control unit controlling the light-emitting area of the light-emitting unit and/or the light-emitting degree depending on a light-emitting level with reference to the data set on the look-up table. |
| US08299983B2 |
Electroluminescent display with initial nonuniformity compensation
A method of compensating for differences in characteristics of a plurality of electroluminescent (EL) subpixels having readout transistors, includes providing a first voltage source connected through a first switch to each subpixel's drive transistor and a second voltage source connected through a second switch to each subpixel's EL emitter; providing a current source connected through a third switch, and a current sink connected through a fourth switch, to the readout transistor; providing a test voltage to a subpixel; closing only the first and fourth switches and measuring the readout transistor voltage to provide a first signal representative of characteristics of the drive transistor; closing only the second and third switches and measuring the voltage to provide a second signal representative of characteristics of the EL emitter; repeating for each subpixel; and using the first and second signals for each subpixel to compensate for differences in characteristics of the EL subpixels. |
| US08299981B2 |
Driving method of plasma display device
The driving method of the plasma display device has a plurality of combination sets for display that includes a different number of combinations. The signal levels of a red image signal, a green image signal, and a blue image signal are compared with each other. For an image signal of a color that has a low signal level, a combination set for display is used where the number of combinations is smaller than that in the combination set for display used for an image signal of a color that has a high signal level. |
| US08299980B2 |
Image display device
An image display device main roughly includes a floating image display unit 1 and a floating image recognizing unit 2. The floating image displaying unit 1 includes a display unit 10 having an image screen 11 for displaying a two-dimensional image, and an image transfer panel 20 located far from the image screen 11, the floating image display unit 1 being to focus light left from the image screen 11 on an image plane 30 in a space to thereby display a floating image, the space being located on one side of the image transfer panel 20 opposite to the other side thereof facing the display unit 11. The floating image recognizing unit 2 is formed of a light-transmissive plate 40 that is light transmissive. The light-transmissive plate 40 has a size that allows all light left from the image screen 11 and focused on the image plane 30 to be passed therethrough. The light-transmissive plate 40 is placed to be obliquely-crossed to the image plane 30. |
| US08299972B2 |
Antenna for portable device
The disclosure provides an antenna used for a portable device. The antenna includes a feed part, a ground part, a bent part, a main body, and an extended part. The main body connects with the feed part and the ground part. The main body further includes several gaps and slots so that the main body is divided into several radiating areas by the gaps and slots. The bent part is extended from the ground part. The extended part perpendicularly connects with the main body. |
| US08299971B2 |
Control module chassis-integrated slot antenna
A control module has a conductive metal chassis with a chassis body and a chassis lid. A non-conductive opening is formed within the chassis body and a tab extends from the chassis lid engaging edges of the non-conductive opening to create a rectangularly-shaped non-conductive aperture with a longitudinal axis having a predetermined length for forming a slot antenna structure. The predetermined length is designed to communicate with a specific communications frequency. The slot antenna structure is signally interconnected to a transceiver housed within the chassis. |
| US08299970B2 |
Dual antenna device
A dual antenna device includes a first antenna of a first polarization, a second antenna of a second polarization, and a conducting wall. The first antenna includes a grounding unit, a first substrate positioned on the grounding unit, a first radiating unit positioned on the first substrate, and a first feeding unit coupled to the first radiating unit. The conducting wall is coupled to the grounding unit and the first radiating unit, and forms a space above the grounding unit. The second antenna includes a second radiating unit and a second feeding unit coupled to the second radiating unit and placed through the space. |
| US08299969B2 |
Multiband antenna
A multiband antenna includes a radio unit and a base circuit board. The radio unit includes a first radio member and a second radio member connected to the first radio member. The first radio member and the second radio member have similar shapes and sizes to each other and are aligned with each other. The base circuit board is connected to the second radio member to provide feed signals to the radio unit and connect the radio unit to the ground. The first radio member independently sends/receives wireless signals at a first frequency, and the second radio member is coupled with the first radio member, thereby cooperating with the first radio member to send/receive wireless signals at a second working frequency. |
| US08299966B2 |
Robust low-frequency spread-spectrum navigation system
Methods and apparatus are described for a navigation system. A process includes providing a plurality of transmitters distributed throughout a desired coverage area; locking the plurality of transmitters to a common timing reference; transmitting a signal from each of the plurality of transmitters. An apparatus includes a plurality of transmitters distributed throughout a desired coverage area; wherein each of the plurality of transmitters comprises a packet generator; and wherein the plurality of transmitters are locked to a common timing reference. |
| US08299964B2 |
System and method for adaptive correction to phased array antenna array coefficients through dithering and near-field sensing
A system and method of adaptively correcting the excitation or receive coefficients for a phased array antenna. For a transmitting antenna, a sensor located in the near field of the antenna is used to sense the antenna transmission. A reference signal that represents the sensor response to a desired antenna transmission that is accomplished with predetermined excitation coefficients is determined. The magnitudes and phases of the excitation coefficients are modified in a predetermined manner to create a modified antenna transmission. An actual signal that represents the sensor response to the modified antenna transmission is then determined. The excitation coefficients are then corrected using the differences between the reference signal and the actual signal, such that the modified antenna transmission becomes closer to the desired antenna transmission. The method and system also apply to a receiving antenna. |
| US08299955B2 |
Method for cleaning signals for centralized antijamming
The present invention relates to a method for cleaning signals for centralized antijamming. The invention makes it possible to provide as many cleaned antenna channels as sub-arrays with limited computational requirements. The method proceeds in two steps. Initially, an antijamming matrix is computed. This matrix depends on the noise covariance matrix, on a weighting vector representing the form of the desired antenna pattern on reception in an unjammed environment, and on constraints for preserving the shape of this antenna pattern. Subsequently, the signals arising from the antenna sub-arrays undergo a linear recombination effected by the antijamming matrix. The antijamming method is termed centralized since the data necessary for the antijamming processing are concentrated in the lone antijamming matrix. The invention applies notably to radar systems, notably to airborne radar systems. |
| US08299954B2 |
Proxy remote control
A method includes receiving, at a proxy remote control signal receiver device, first control data from a remote control device that is associated with a first device. The first control data is prevented from being received at a remote control signal receiver associated with the first device. The first control data is associated with execution of a first action at the first device. The method includes communicating the first control data from the proxy remote control signal receiver device to a proxy controller and receiving second control data from the proxy controller. The second control data is associated with execution of a second action at the first device that is different from the first action. The second control data is communicated to the first device via the proxy remote control signal receiver device. The incoming commands may be superseded with another command set destined for the second device or ignored based on the context of the incoming commands. |
| US08299953B2 |
Apparatus and methods for processing remote control information
A message transmitting signal comprised of a sequence of high level and low level pulses arranged to provide a message, such as the IR bit pattern output by a remote control device, is analysed. Distinct durations during which pulses are at a high level are formed into a first table and distinct durations during which the pulses are at low level are formed into a second table. An index is linked to the first and second tables, the index identifying the order, level and distinct duration of the pulses in the signal. The index can be categorised to identify the protocol of the message and can be used to recognise protocols and, in a universal remote control device, to generate message transmitting signals. |
| US08299950B2 |
Pipelined recycling ADC with shared operational amplifier function
A pipelined recycling analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which converts a first analog input signal into a first digital output signal, including a first conversion stage and a second conversion stage is disclosed. The first conversion stage includes a first processing unit and a second processing unit. The first and the second processing units execute a number of conversion operations. For each conversion operation, an analog value and a digital code are generated by the first or the second processing unit. The first and the second processing units share an operational amplifier, and for each conversion operation. The second conversion stage includes a comparing unit which determines a specific analog value among the analog values generated by the first and the second processing units. When the specific analog value is not located within a predetermined range, the comparing unit generates a reset pulse to reset the operational amplifier. |
| US08299949B2 |
Method and system for variable resolution data conversion in a receiver
A received plurality of signals may be filtered to select an in-band signal and/or an out-of-band. A signal strength of the selected signal(s) may be measured. A resolution of an analog-to-digital converter may be controlled based on the measured signal strength(s). The selected in-band signal may be converted to a digital representation via the analog-to-digital converter. The resolution may be decreased when the strength of the in-band signal is higher, and increased when the strength of the in-band signal is lower. The resolution may be increased when the strength of the out-of-band signal is higher, and decreased when the strength of the out-of-band signal is lower. A signal-to-noise ratio and/or dynamic range of the selected signal(s) may be determined based on the measured signal strength(s), and may be utilized to adjust the resolution of the analog-to-digital converter. |
| US08299937B2 |
Self-powered in-pipe fluid meter and piping network comprising a plurality of such fluid meters
A self-powered in-pipe fluid meter to be mounted inside of a pipe carrying a fluid therein. The fluid meter comprises at least one sensing unit capable of measuring one or more parameters of the fluid inside of the pipe; a telemetric data transmission unit capable of telemetrically transmitting data including a measured fluid parameter to a host terminal and/or another fluid meter; and at least one fluid-driven power source unit capable of generating power from the fluid flow within the pipe and supplying power to the sensing unit and/or the transmission unit. |
| US08299934B2 |
Shake responsive media player
A shake responsive media player is provided. The media player comprises a vibration switch that changes its state between an electrically open state and an electrically closed state during the media player is shaken. The media player also comprises a storage unit, a motion state determining unit, a media file determining unit, and a processing unit. The storage unit stores a plurality of media files and a table that defines relationships between shaking levels and the sampling rates of the at least one group of media files. The motion state determining unit determines a duration of the shaking of the media player and the times of state changing of the vibration switch according to signals from the vibration switch and determines a shaking level according to the duration of the shaking of the media player and the times of state changing of the vibration switch. |
| US08299929B2 |
Inductively coupled module and item with inductively coupled module
An inductively coupled module includes a wireless IC chip and a feeder circuit substrate which is connected to the wireless IC chip and which includes a feeder circuit including an inductance element and a capacitance element. The feeder circuit substrate is made of a biodegradable plastic so as to prevent a negative impact of the module on the environment and the human body. The inductively coupled module is adhered on a radiation plate and is used as a wireless IC device of an RFID system. |
| US08299926B2 |
System and method for safeguarding wafers and photomasks
A system and a method for safeguarding wafers and photomasks. The system includes a container for storing an article, the article being a wafer or a photomask; a flashing unit for flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function, the anti-theft unit being attached to the container; and a trigger unit electrically connected to the anti-theft unit for triggering the anti-theft function of the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern of the flashing unit. The method includes providing a container having an anti-theft unit capable of performing an anti-theft function; storing an article in the container, the article being a wafer or a photomask; providing a flashing light with a pre-determined light pattern; detecting the pre-determined light pattern; and performing the anti-theft function by the anti-theft unit, in response to detecting the pre-determined light pattern. |
| US08299925B2 |
RFID tag and manufacturing method thereof
The RFID tag has a base sheet having a recess, a first element provided on the base sheet astride the recess, a second element which is provided between the first element and the base sheet and which is electrically connected to the first element, and a communication antenna which is provided on the base sheet and which is connected to at least any of the first element and the second element. |
| US08299923B2 |
Electronic mail box system
An electronic mailbox system features: a mailbox housing with an inner cavity and slot for holding mail, a lid, an electrically-operable lock system for the lid, a mail sensor for detecting the mail being inserted into the slot, a first transmitter, a first receiver and a mailbox microprocessor; and a control box with a second transmitter, a second receiver, a control box indicator light, an unlock button, a reset button, and a control box microprocessor. When the mail sensor detects mail delivery the control box indicator light becomes illuminated. When the unlock button is pushed the lock system unlocks. When the reset button is pressed the indicator light is deactivated. An alarm system may be activated upon receipt of mail and/or if a tamper sensor detects tampering. |
| US08299922B2 |
System and method for article and proximity location
A system and method which enable an airline passenger who is traveling with articles, such as baggage and the like, to easily locate them upon arrival to the airport luggage retrieval point, even among a mass of look-alike baggage articles around it. According to an embodiment of the invention a luggage location unit is described, having a transmitter for transmitting an identifying code, a sensor to sense cargo compartment environment and an indicator unit having a receiver for receiving the identifying code and for indicating that the luggage article is in proximity with the indicator unit. The system may be activated automatically by a light sensor. The system and method according to the invention may be used for other uses such as for locating a vehicle in a parking lot or for keeping a child in a close distance form an adult. |
| US08299914B2 |
Method and system for providing tracking services to locate an asset
In a method of asset location data is received from a cellular transmitter associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made. The location data is communicated to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers. The database is queried with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including data representative of a location of the selected asset. The geographic tracking data is communicated to an associated security agency for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset. |
| US08299913B2 |
Blood pressure measurement and reminder system
A blood pressure measurement and reminder system comprising a blood pressure measuring unit, a reminder unit, and an input unit is disclosed. The system is configured to transmit reminder signal(s) noticeable to its users for alerting them to take blood pressure measurement within a pre-determined measurement time schedule, and send confirmation signal(s) to the reminder unit to switch off the reminder state once the user has successfully taken a blood pressure measurement. |
| US08299912B2 |
Wireless sensor network context data delivery system and method
A system has a sensing device for detecting a signal and logic configured to discover the sensing device at a location on a user's body, the logic further configured to monitor the signal for an event and upon receiving information indicating an event has occurred the logic is further configured to transmit event data indicative of the event to a controller via a network. |
| US08299908B2 |
Tire pressure monitoring system and pressure monitoring unit
A tire pressure monitoring system distinguishes a mounted tire from a non-mounted tire, and which automatically changes over IDs and tire-pressure thresholds without any exclusive apparatuses. A tire pressure monitoring unit stores an identification code of a tire pressure sensor unit and a tire-pressure set value as a pair. While a vehicle is traveling at a speed equal to or faster than a predetermined vehicle speed, if an identification code received within a predetermined time coincides with any one of identification codes of registered tires and the number of coinciding identification codes is equal to the number of tires, and, at least one of the coinciding identification codes is an identification code other than specified identification codes, the specified identification codes are replaced with those coinciding identification codes which are newly specified as respective identification codes of tire pressure sensor units mounted in tires mounted on the vehicle. |
| US08299903B2 |
Screw-in LED light and sound bulb
A combination light and sound producing fixture and combination screw-in light with speakers element is disclosed where the fixture is installed in a wall or ceiling or on a wall or ceiling. The light bulb/speaker can be screwed or secured into a standard light bulb socket. The sound producing elements is a coaxial arrangement of speakers having a low frequency transducer and one or more high frequency transducers that can be directed to emit sound in a particular direction. The fixture or bulb may further include digital signal processing to modify the sound to account for obstructions in or near the fixture. The surface of the sound transducer can be reflective in nature to provide focusing or diffusion of the light from the lighting elements. The lighting elements are incandescent, fluorescent or low voltage LED type that may include adjustment for lighting intensity and color. |
| US08299902B1 |
Ensuring an alarm activation of a mobile communications device
Systems, products, and methods are disclosed for helping to ensure that an alarm of a mobile communications device is activated when desired. An illustrative method includes receiving an indication of a desired time that the alarm is intended to be activated, determining a power level of a power source that is powering the mobile communications device, determining whether the power level will provide sufficient power to the mobile communications device to enable it to activate the alarm at the desired time and, if so, then enabling the alarm to be set. Further, the power source could be monitored as the alarm-activation time approaches so that if variables change that might prevent the alarm from activating, then changes or preventive measures can be taken. |
| US08299900B2 |
Anonymous tracking using a set of wireless devices
In one embodiment, a method for estimating the number of tags in a set of tags in a system of tags and readers. The method includes, during each of a plurality of time intervals: (i) transmitting a command requesting that each tag that receives the command determine whether to transmit a reply; and (ii) receiving, in one or more timeslots of a frame corresponding to the time interval, replies from one or more tags. The method further includes providing an estimate of the number of tags in the set of one or more tags based on (i) timeslots in each of the plurality of time intervals that are zero timeslots, i.e., timeslots having no received reply, and (ii) the total number of timeslots in each frame. |
| US08299898B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing radio frequency indentification reader
An apparatus for managing a plurality of RFID readers includes a service policy managing unit that defines demands in the form of service policies to be understood by the plurality of RFID readers, a data processing rule managing unit that generates a data processing rule on the basis of the service policies, a collected data processing unit that receives a plurality of RFID tag data from the plurality of RFID readers, and generates integrated RFID events by applying the data processing rule to the plurality of RFID tag data, and a service report processing unit that provides results corresponding to the integrated RFID events. |
| US08299897B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes an identification information acquisition unit configured to acquire identification information that is contained in a tag whose registration has been instructed by a user and that identifies the tag from among a plurality of tags indicating user feelings; a registration information generation unit configured to acquire information corresponding to a user feeling indicated by the tag whose registration has been instructed by the user and to generate registration information including the information corresponding to the user feeling added in association with the identification information; and a display unit configured to display a list of images of tags corresponding to identification information contained in the registration information and display information corresponding to a user feeling added in association with identification information corresponding to a tag selected from the list of the images of the tags, on the basis of the generated registration information. |
| US08299894B1 |
Vehicle unlocking systems
A system relating to assisting persons locked out of their vehicle to unlock the vehicle. The system preferably uses a coded acoustic signal transmitted through a mobile phone to trigger a control device connected to the vehicle's onboard computer system. A microphone of the control device picks up the tone, which is subsequently processed by the system. If the acoustic signal is validated, the vehicle computer will be signaled to unlock a power-locked vehicle entry point. The system comprises security elements and easy-to-access phone assistance. |
| US08299892B2 |
Antitheft system
In a system for preventing an equipment such as lawnmower from theft, there are equipped with an internal combustion engine that is mounted on the equipment and is equipped with a generator that generates electric operating power when the engine is operated, a recoil starter to be manipulatable by an operator to operate the engine, an electronic key that is adapted to be carried by the operator and stores authenticating data for identifying the operator who carries the electronic key; and an authenticator that is installed at the equipment and performs authentication check as to whether the electronic key is an authorized key using stored key-checking data, when the authenticating data is outputted from the electronic key. In the system, the authenticator performs the authentication check when the electric operating power is supplied from the generator, thereby enabling to be installed in battery-less equipment and ensure to prevent the equipment from theft. |
| US08299891B2 |
Antitheft system for vehicle
In a keyless entry system, a CPU in an ECU and a CPU in a remote control key each have an associated memory for storing respective function formulas, which are specified by primary function formula data. With this structure, function formulas used in the remote control key and the ECU can be changed to respective new function formulas. This technique makes it difficult to predict the function formulas used in the remote control key and the ECU, thereby further reducing any regularity of rolling codes generated by the function formulas. |
| US08299889B2 |
Home entertainment system providing presence and mobility via remote control authentication
An apparatus in one embodiment is operable to receive, from a remote control device associated with a video display device, biometric input of a user. Responsive to a match of the biometric input with stored biometric data of the user, the user is authenticated. The remote control device and/or the video display device are then configured based on user settings associated with the stored biometric data of the user. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. |
| US08299880B2 |
Transformer assembly
A transformer assembly is disclosed which includes a housing and an electrical transformer having a tank which is positioned inside the housing. A device for electrically connecting the transformer to an electrical article outside the housing includes a shaped body having a first face which is suitable to be connected to one of the walls of the tank, and a second face which is suitable to be connected to one of the walls of the housing. The shaped body can include a deformable portion which is adapted to adjust the positioning of the second face relative to the wall of the housing to which it is suitable to be connected. |
| US08299879B2 |
Transformer assembly using an internal load and method for forming same
A transformer assembly (300) for use with an internal load (307) includes a transformer core (323) having a primary winding (405). A first electrode (303) and second electrode (319) are used for contacting an internal load (307). A secondary circuit is formed that includes the first electrode (303), the second electrode (319) and conductors (301,313, 317) positioned between the first electrode (303) and second electrode (319). The transformer assembly (300) is arranged so that the conductors (301, 313, 317) surround the primary winding (405), transformer core (323), the first electrode (301) and second electrode (319). The transformer assembly (300) may be used in an electrode furnace or other high current and voltage applications requiring high efficiency in a small package. |
| US08299874B2 |
Rolled resonant element
A material including a conductor may be rolled to form a resonant element. |
| US08299873B2 |
Millimeter wave transmission line for slow phase velocity
A grounding plate and a transmission line are provided in a stack of dielectric material layers. First transmission line portions having a first width are alternately interlaced with second transmission line portions having a second width in the transmission line. The second width is greater than the first width so that inductance of the transmission line is increased relative to a transmission line having a fixed width. Metal fins may be provided between the grounding plate and the transmission line in the stack of the dielectric material layers. The metal fins may be grounded to the grounding plate to increase capacitance between the transmission line and the grounding plate. The increase in the inductance and the capacitance per unit length between the transmission line and the grounding plate is advantageously employed to provide a reduced phase velocity for electromagnetic signal transmitted through the transmission line. A design structure for the transmission line structure is provided. |
| US08299872B2 |
Ultra wide-band dual-frequency combiner
An ultra wideband dual-frequency combiner includes a combination port (Port 1), a first port (Port 2), a second port (Port 3), two coaxial resonator band pass filters and two direct current channels. The first direct current channel is connected between the first port (Port 2) and the combination port (Port 1). The second direct current channel is connected between the second port (Port 3) and the combination port (Port 1). One end of the first coaxial resonator hand pass filters (610, 611) is electrically connected with the first port (Port 2) via a first blocking capacitor. One end of the second coaxial resonator hand pass filter (620, 621) is electrically connected with the second port (Port 3) via a second blocking capacitor. The other ends of the first coaxial resonator band pass filter and the second coaxial resonator band pass filter are connected with the combination port (Port 1) via a third blocking capacitor. The blocking capacitors are parameter distributed capacitors. |
| US08299871B2 |
Directional coupler
In a directional coupler having flaps on a pair transmission lines to be coupled, structural characteristics such as the distance between adjacent flaps, the length and width of a flap, the direction of projection of the flaps, and whether and to what degree the flaps on the two transmission lines overlap can be selected in order to optimize electrical characteristics of the coupler. |
| US08299863B2 |
Flexural mode resonator element, resonating device, and electronic apparatus
A flexural mode resonator element includes: a vibration arm extending from a base end toward a tip; a base joined to the vibration arm at the base end; and supporting arms arranged on both sides of the base in a width direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the vibration arm and joined to the base, wherein the base has a reduced cross-section portion disposed along the extending direction of the vibration arm between a joint portion with the vibration arm and a joint portion with the supporting arms, and the reduced cross-section portion is disposed so as to satisfy a relationship 2×W1≦L≦6×W1 where L is the length of the reduced cross-section portion in the extending direction of the vibration arm, and W1 is the arm width of the vibration arm. |
| US08299861B2 |
Modular microwave source
The present invention comprises a modular microwave source comprising a novel electromagnetic oscillator based on a modified Blumlein architecture with an integrated antenna. In one or more embodiments, the invention comprises a triplate Blumlein in which the plates are configured and arranged to act as a waveguide and antenna. In one or more embodiments, high-permittivity dielectric materials are disposed between the center plate and one or both of the top and bottom plates to increase the energy storage and lengthen the duration of a damped sinusoid output. In one or more embodiments, photo-conductive semiconductor switches are disposed between the center plate and one or both of the top and bottom plates to act as high-speed switches. In one or more embodiments, a plurality of the modular microwave sources of the invention are arranged in an array, creating a compact, tunable, high-power microwave source suitable for mobile applications. |
| US08299856B2 |
Power transistor output match network with high Q RF path and low Q low frequency path
A power circuit includes a power device, an output match network and a bypass network. The output match network is coupled to an output of the power device and includes a blocking capacitor which forms part of a high quality factor RF path of the output match network. The output match network is operable to provide a range of impedance matching over a signal bandwidth and a low frequency gain peak outside the signal bandwidth which corresponds to a low frequency resonance of the high quality factor RF path. The bypass network is coupled in parallel with the blocking capacitor of the output match network. The bypass network is operable to attenuate the low frequency gain peak while maintaining the high quality factor RF path. |
| US08299855B2 |
Power amplification systems and methods
A power amplifier system includes a power amplifier element that provides a power output signal in response to a bias signal, and a voltage converter. The voltage converter provides at least one discrete voltage output level to the power amplifier element, where the discrete voltage output level is used to develop the bias signal. |
| US08299851B2 |
High efficiency linear amplifier
A high efficiency linear amplifier is disclosed. The amplifier comprises an input module having an input coupled to receive an input signal, a first output configured to provide a first signal component, and a second output configured to provide a second signal component. The amplifier also comprises a switching module having a switch input coupled to receive a switch signal, a first input coupled to the first output of the input module, a second input coupled to the second output of the input module, and at least a first output configured to provide a first composite signal. The amplifier further comprises an amplifier module having at least a first input coupled to the first output of the switching module and at least a first output, wherein the first and second signal components comprise constant envelope phase varying signals having different phase relationships and which correspond to the input signal, and wherein the first composite signal comprises temporally sequenced portions of the first and second signal components. |
| US08299849B2 |
Binarization circuit, demodulation circuit, and tuner for vehicle
A binarization circuit includes a comparator that outputs a signal according to a differential voltage between the input and reference voltages. The first charging-discharging circuit generates a first voltage. The second charging-discharging circuit generates a second voltage. The control circuit compares the differential voltage with the threshold voltage, and switches between turn-on and turn-off of the second charging-discharging circuit based on a difference between the differential voltage and the threshold voltage. A sum of the reference and first voltages of the preceding clock is supplied to the comparator when the second charging-discharging circuit is turned off. A sum of the reference and the first and second voltages of the preceding clock is supplied to the comparator when the second charging-discharging circuit is turned on. |
| US08299842B2 |
Bidirectional switch
A bidirectional switch includes a semiconductor switch Q3 having a gate and main electrodes serving as a drain and source. The semiconductor switch has a HEMT structure so that one of the main electrodes having a lower voltage than the other serves as a virtual source and the other main electrode as a virtual drain. The semiconductor switch receives a gate signal between the gate and the virtual source, to turn on/off a current in both directions. A gate signal generator 13 is connected between the gate and virtual source of the semiconductor switch, to apply the gate signal to the gate of the semiconductor switch. An overvoltage protection circuit is connected between the virtual drain and gate of the semiconductor switch. The overvoltage protection circuit has a resistor 16 and a constant voltage diode 15. |
| US08299833B2 |
Programmable control clock circuit including scan mode
A programmable clock control circuit includes a base block configured to control operation of the programmable clock control circuit and a chop block configured to control the width of an output clock signal of the programmable clock control circuit. The circuit also includes a pulse width variation block providing a pulse width variation output to the base block, the base block output being variable to provide at least three different output pulse widths. The circuit also includes a launch clock delay block coupled to delay the output of the base block and a scan clock delay block to delay the output pulse and a selector that causes either the scan clock delay block or the launch clock delay block to be active based on a value of a scan gate signal. |
| US08299831B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a slew rate controller configured to receive a mode register set signal and data and to activate a driving strength control signal for controlling the driving strength of a driving unit using the data in response to a code value of the mode register set signal. The driving unit is configured to pull a data output terminal up and down in response to the driving strength control signal. |
| US08299830B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device having a nonvolatile variable resistor, includes: a resistance value conversion circuit unit configured to convert a resistance value of the nonvolatile variable resistor into a potential or a current and which outputs the converted potential or current; a comparison circuit unit configured to compare the output from the resistance value conversion circuit unit and a potential or current at a node of a portion within the semiconductor device; and a resistance value changing circuit unit configured to change the resistance value of the nonvolatile variable resistor based on the comparison results from the comparison circuit unit. |
| US08299823B2 |
Preventing metastability of a divide-by-two quadrature divider
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for receiving true and complement clock signals at high or low frequencies into inputs of a divide-by-two quadrature divider, and providing true and complement clock signals, which are one-half the measured frequencies of the clock input signals, at the output of the quadrature divider. A tri-state clock mux coupled with combinatorial reset logic, with pull-up and pull-down devices at the output of the tri-sate clock mux, and/or pull-up and pull-down devices between the quadrature divider latches provide a defined logic state during startup at the input of the quadrature divider. The defined logic state ensures the output of the quadrature divider is metastability-free during high frequency application. Specifically, the quadrature divider has two output clock signals that are true and complement with measured frequencies that are one-half of the measured frequencies of the two clock input signals coming into the quadrature divider. |
| US08299822B2 |
Driver and output buffer circuit
A driver circuit transmits a signal generated by a signal level generation circuit to a circuit to be measured by transmitting the signal to a output buffer circuit via a circuit (prebuffer circuit) that drives the output buffer circuit and causing the output buffer circuit to drive a transmission line. The driver circuit includes the prebuffer circuit and a replica buffer circuit formed by imitating the prebuffer circuit. The prebuffer circuit and the replica buffer circuit are disposed in parallel. The driver circuit temporarily increases input bias current to be supplied to output-stage transistors of the output buffer circuit on the basis of output current of the replica buffer circuit during transition of an input or output signal. |
| US08299821B2 |
Integrated gate driver circuit
An integrated gate driver circuit includes an output drive circuit and a voltage stabilizing circuit. The voltage stabilizing circuit is configured to stabilize an output voltage outputted by the output drive circuit thereby reducing the ripple of the output voltage. |
| US08299820B2 |
Circuit including a resistor arrangement for actuation of a transistor
A circuit for actuation of a transistor. One embodiment provides an actuation output for connection to the actuation connection of the transistor. A measurement arrangement is provided for ascertaining a load current flowing through the load path or a voltage across the load path and for providing a measurement signal. An actuation current source having an actuation current output is connected to the actuation output and supplied with the measurement signal and designed to produce an actuation current at the actuation current output. The actuation current is at a current level dependent on the measurement signal. |
| US08299815B2 |
Reconfigurable semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a plurality of the functional blocks; a plurality of configuration data memories in which a plurality of configuration data are stored; and a plurality of programmable switches configured to control connection between said plurality of functional blocks based on one of the plurality of configuration data which is stored in a common one of said plurality of configuration data memories. |
| US08299810B2 |
Test apparatus and electronic device
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test including an external interface circuit that transfers signals between an internal circuit inside a device and the outside of the device, the test apparatus comprising a pattern generating section that inputs, to the external interface circuit, a test pattern for testing the external interface circuit; an interface control section that causes the external interface circuit to loop back and output the test pattern; and an interface judging section that judges acceptability of the external interface circuit based on the test pattern looped back and output by the external interface circuit. |
| US08299808B2 |
Apparatuses and systems for density gauge calibration and reference emulation
Apparatuses and systems for emulating electrical characteristics of a material having a known dielectric response are disclosed for standardizing and calibrating of electromagnetic devices. The emulator apparatus can include an electrically non-conductive layer having a dielectric constant less than the material dielectric constant and an electrically conductive layer adjacent the non-conductive layer. Artificial dielectrics for emulating the dielectric response of a material are also disclosed including a substrate matrix having a dielectric constant less than the material dielectric constant and an additive combined with the substrate, the additive having a dielectric constant higher than the material dielectric constant. |
| US08299803B2 |
Protection of unsealed electrical connectors
A monitoring system for connector pins exposed to conductive/corrosive fluids and/or corrosive environments includes a first sensing portion having a pin monitoring section configured to measure a pin current flow of at least one conductor pin, and transfer a first signal. A second sensing portion produces a second signal indicating by a contactless determination the presence of a fastener providing physical connection between an interface member and a component. A decision logic device receives the first and second signals, compares the pin current flow to a predetermined range of values, and isolates electrical power to the conductor pin when the first signal indicates the pin current flow is outside the predetermined range of values. A sensor body created of a non-ferrous material and connected to the component includes a first insert member having the conductor pin and a second insert member defining a sensor sensing proximal presence of the fastener. |
| US08299801B2 |
Car battery system
The car battery system of the present invention is provided with a battery block 2 that retains a plurality of battery cells 1 in a stacked configuration and has a terminal plane 2A, which is coincident with terminal surfaces 1A established by positive and negative battery cell 1 electrode terminals 13; and with a battery state detection circuit 30 that connects with the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1. The battery system is provided with a circuit board 7 with surface-mounted electronic components 40 that implement the battery state detection circuit 30. The circuit board 7 is a single-sided board with electronic components 40 mounted on only one side, and the circuit board 7 is attached to the battery block 2 opposite the terminal plane 2A with the side having no electronic components 40 facing the battery block 2. The positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1 are connected with the circuit board 7 for connection to the battery state detection circuit 30. |
| US08299797B2 |
Method and apparatus for well logging resistivity image tomography
A method and apparatus for evaluating an earth formation penetrated by a borehole comprises taking resistivity measurements using a plurality of resistivity arrays or pads positioned within the borehole proximal the borehole wall. In one embodiment, pads are spaced apart azimuthally around the perimeter of a tool body, each pad carrying at least one electrode thereon. A sequence of resistivity measurement operations are performed involving sequentially operating each pad, in turn, as a transmitter, with remaining pads and electrodes operated as return electrodes. The sequence preferably involves a succession of adjacent pads around the perimeter of the tool body, resulting in a full rotational (360°) imaging of the formation penetrated by the borehole. In one embodiment, the pads include at least two electrodes spaced vertically apart from one another, such that helical current paths are defined between transmitting electrodes and return electrodes. |
| US08299796B2 |
High resolution voltage sensing array
An apparatus and method for performing high transverse resolution voltage measurements in downhole logging tools utilized to determine the resistivity of an adjacent portion of a borehole wall. Two current electrodes 508 and 509 are energized by an excitation source to create an oscillatory electric field in a borehole wall. The voltage drop from each voltage electrode in a row of laterally spaced voltage electrodes 604 is measured relative to a shared voltage electrode 606 longitudinally spaced from the row of electrodes. The differential voltage is used in combination with a measured current flow to determine a resistivity value for the borehole. A second row of laterally spaced voltage electrodes 608 having electrodes laterally offset from the electrodes of the first row is included to provide high transverse resolution. A common mode voltage at the shared voltage electrodes is measured and utilized to minimize the resistivity measurement error. |
| US08299794B2 |
Method for electromagnetic geophysical surveying of subsea rock formations
A method for electromagnetic geophysical surveying of rock formations (1) under a sea-floor (3) comprising the following steps: *—towing first and second alternating field (E1, E2) emitting sources (s1, S2) in first and second depths below the sea surface, said first field (E1) having a first phase (Φ1);—said second alternating field (E2) given a second phase (Φ2) different from said first phase (Φ1), said sources (S1, S2) constituting a phased array emitter antenna with directivity for transmitting a major proportion of the combined electromagnetic energy downwards;—said first and second fields (E1, E2) for propagating partly down through the sea-floor (3) and being reflected and/or refracted through said rock formations (1) and partly propagating back through the seafloor (3);—said first and said second fields (E1, E2) for merging to a total field and being measured by electromagnetic receivers (r1, r2, . . . , rn) recording corresponding field registrations (Er1(t), Er2(t), Er3(t), . . . , Ern(t)). |
| US08299791B2 |
Slice selective MRI excitation with reduced power deposition using multiple transmit channels
Described are embodiments for slice-selective excitation for MRI that utilize multiple RF transmit coils, each of which are driven with a separate independent current waveform. These embodiments allow slice-selective excitation with slice profile and excitation time similar to other single-channel excitation, but with reduction in SAR caused by the transverse component of the RF field by a factor up to the number of excitation coils. |
| US08299788B2 |
MRI using hybrid image
Magnetic resonance images (MRI) are generated by acquiring a plurality of N>2 image data sets for an imaged patient volume using respectively corresponding different data acquisition imaging parameters. At least one hybrid image data set X is generated for the imaged patient volume based on a combination of at least a subset of the plurality of image data sets. If desired, a further subtraction image (e.g., MRA) data set is generated based on a difference between the at least one hybrid image data set and another image data set, and the subtraction image data set, which may, depending upon implementation, optimize flowing fluids such as blood within arteries or veins, CSF, etc within the imaged patent volume, is output for storage or display as an MR image of the imaged patient volume. |
| US08299787B2 |
Multicolor phosphorescent organic electroluminescent element and lighting system
This invention provides a multicolor phosphorescent organic electroluminescent element having an excellent electric power efficiency, a prolonged service life, an excellent storage stability, and an excellent stability of chromaticity against drive current, and a lighting system using the multicolor phosphorescent organic electroluminescent element. The multicolor phosphorescent organic electroluminescent element contains a plurality of phosphorescent dopants different from each other in luminescence wavelength and particularly exhibits white luminescence. Specifically, the multicolor phosphorescent organic electroluminescent element contains two or more phosphorescent dopants different from each other in luminescence wavelength and comprises two or more luminescent layers, the luminescent dopant being a phosphorescent dopant. The multicolor phosphorescent organic electroluminescent element is characterized in that at least one layer formed of luminescent layer A containing two or more phosphorescent dopants different from each other in luminescence wavelength in the same layer is provided, the content of the luminescent dopant having the highest concentration used in the luminescent layer A is not less than 4% by mass and not more than 20% by mass, and luminescent layer B having a maximum luminescence wavelength of not more than 480 nm is provided at a position near the cathode side as compared with the luminescent layer A. |
| US08299785B2 |
Device for the non-destructive testing of parts in a turbomachine
A device for the non-destructive testing of parts of a turbomachine motor, including a longitudinal rod carrying at its distal end a longitudinal finger carrying a retractile or deployable flexible blade supporting an inspection probe, this blade being guided in axial translation on the finger between a retracted position in which it extends along the finger and an advanced or deployed position in which it extends in front of the finger. |
| US08299784B2 |
Device for transporting magnetic head, device for inspecting magnetic head, and method for manufacturing magnetic head
A device for transporting a magnetic head, a device for inspecting a magnetic head, and a method for manufacturing a magnetic head are provided. The device for transporting a magnetic head is capable of freely changing a posture of a thin film magnetic head when transporting a row bar-shaped thin film magnetic head. The transporting device for transporting a slender rectangular plate-like, that is, row bar-shaped magnetic head, cut from a wafer is capable of performing vertical installation and horizontal installation. The transporting device for transporting a slender rectangular plate-like, i.e., row bar-shaped magnetic head, is capable of performing the vertical installation and horizontal installation, and changing the posture of the magnetic head from vertical installation into horizontal installation and from horizontal installation into vertical installation when transporting the magnetic head between processes. The transporting device is capable of performing a slantwise installation in a slantwise state between the vertical installation and the horizontal installation. Therefore, with respect to a vertically or horizontally installed tray when transporting the magnetic head between processes, the row bar-shaped thin film magnetic head can be transported easily. |
| US08299781B2 |
Reactance sensors of radial position for magnetic bearings and bearingless drives
A radial position sensor includes a rotating element configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, which subject to displacement. The displacement from a first position to a second position can be represented by polar coordinates, e.g., (ρ, φ), where ρ is a distance and φ is an angle. The sensor also includes a non-rotating emitting element configured to provide a plurality of electromagnetic fields and a non-rotating receiving element configured to receive the plurality of electromagnetic fields. The plurality of electromagnetic fields are electromagnetically coupled to the non-rotating receiving element through the rotating element. The electromagnetic coupling varies in dependence on the radial position of the axis of rotation of the rotating element. The non-rotating receiving element produces an output signal in response to the amount of coupling of the plurality of electromagnetic fields, and so the output signal is an indication of the radial position of the axis of rotation. |
| US08299780B2 |
Hand and press-button dual-way manual pulse generator with built-in indicator lamps
The present invention discloses a hand and press-button dual-way manual pulse generator with built-in indicator lamps, which comprises a rotation pulse input unit and a CPU. The CPU is connected with a forward rotation indicator lamp and an inverse rotation indicator lamp. The rotation signal input unit and/or the press-button signal input unit transmit the output signal to the CPU. The rotation pulse input unit transmits the output signal to the CPU where the output signal is processed and the control signal is then output through the difference chip. Meanwhile, the CPU collects control signals through the feedback circuit to realize self-check when the machine is turned on. The pulse generator has a non-contact structure extending significantly its service life than the prior art, which makes it durable. In addition, by installing a controller, built-in indicator lamps, and press-button control on the manual pulse generator, it offsets the technical defects of the current manual pulse generator, reduces the fault incidence, and greatly enhances work efficiency. Besides, the manual pulse generator has a simple structure that it is easy to manufacture and to widely spread in the field of the machine tool control. |
| US08299777B2 |
Calculating a parasitic capacitance of an oscillator circuit
Described herein are techniques for determining a board parasitic capacitance of a crystal oscillator circuit. A crystal's frequency is measured under load condition off-circuit. After coupling the crystal to the oscillator circuit, external capacitors may be adjusted to produce frequencies approximating the off-circuit measurement with upper and lower margins. Calculation of the load capacitor values at the exact frequency measured off-circuit allows for derivation of the board parasitic capacitance by subtracting the calculated capacitor values from the original total load value used in the off-circuit measurement. |
| US08299774B2 |
Family of current/power-efficient high voltage linear regulator circuit architectures
Power efficient power supply regulator circuits are disclosed. The circuits are configured to modify their overhead current according to current load. This is particularly advantageous for use in display devices with widely varying current loads. Such displays include bi-stable displays, such as interferometric modulation displays, LCD displays, and DMD displays. |
| US08299773B2 |
System and method for limiting input-current surge in a switching mode power supply
A power supply comprises an input voltage detector that detects a drop in input voltage that corresponds to an input voltage loss. A power converter is coupled to the input voltage detector. The power converter, which may be a boost converter or a power factor correction converter, has a switching device that is actuated in accordance with a duty cycle. A duty cycle adjuster is responsive to detection of the drop in the input voltage to adjust the duty cycle of the switching device in order to limit an input current surge through the switching device below a desired level after the input voltage returns. |
| US08299772B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing slew rate control using bypass capacitor
An example circuit includes a regulator circuit coupled to first and second nodes. A capacitance circuit and a slew rate control circuit are coupled between the first and second nodes. The regulator circuit is coupled to charge a capacitance of the capacitance circuit with a charge current. The slew rate control circuit is coupled to control a change in voltage over change in time between the first and second nodes during a power up mode of the circuit. The slew rate control circuit further includes a switch and a resistor. The slew rate control circuit is coupled to switch the switch in response to a voltage between the first and second nodes. A voltage drop across the resistor is limited to a base-emitter voltage drop of a transistor coupled between the first and second nodes to set the change in voltage over change in time. |
| US08299771B2 |
Methods and systems for driving a load
In one embodiment, a circuit can selectively adjust a current for driving a load. The circuit includes a sensor configured to measure a magnetic field associated with the current and provide a sensor voltage representative thereof. A control circuit is configured to selectively adjust the current as a function of the sensor voltage and a time-varying voltage threshold. Other methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08299770B2 |
Threshold voltage monitoring and control in synchronous power converters
A method of providing threshold voltage monitoring and control in synchronous power converters is provided. The method includes establishing a threshold voltage level for at least one of a gate drive voltage for an upper and a lower power switch in a synchronous power converter, each threshold voltage level controlling a switching delay time for one of the upper and lower power switches. The method further includes detecting body diode conduction levels for at least one of the upper and lower power switches and adjusting the threshold voltage level for at least one of the upper and lower power switches, based on the detected body diode conduction levels, to fine-tune a body diode conduction time around an equilibrium for the at least one of the upper and lower power switches. |
| US08299769B2 |
Multi-output buck converting apparatus with shutdown protection
A multi-output buck converting apparatus with a shutdown protection includes a main buck converter and at least one auxiliary buck converter to provide multi-output voltages. The multi-output buck converting apparatus further includes an abnormal voltage signal generating unit. The abnormal voltage signal generating unit generates a control signal to control switch devices of the auxiliary buck converter when the multi-output buck converting apparatus shuts down. Therefore, the stored energy in the auxiliary buck converter can be released through internal loops or external loops with connected operational loads so as to avoid the recovering energy rebounding a main output voltage of the main buck converter. |
| US08299767B1 |
Dynamic safe operating area control
In some implementations, a method of dynamically maintaining a device's operation within a safe operating area (SOA) may include sensing instantaneous voltage and current of the device; determining, based on the sensed instantaneous voltage and current, a value that represents a power dissipated in the device; using the determined dissipated power and a model of thermal behavior of the device to model a junction temperature of the device; and controlling operation of the device based on the modeled junction temperature. A programmable SOA circuit including sensing, scaling, filtering, and controlling functions may be packaged on a single die or in a package with a power transistor. |
| US08299766B2 |
Switching output circuit
A high-side transistor and a low-side transistor each has gate electrodes configured so as to allow signals to be input and output via a driving contact and a detection contact provided at different positions. When a control signal is at a first level and a signal output from the detection contact on the low-side transistor side is at a low level, the high-side driver applies a low-level signal to the driving contact on the high-side transistor side. When the control signal is at a second level and a signal output from the detection contact on the high-side transistor side is at a high level, the low-side driver applies a high-level signal to the driving contact on the low-side transistor side. |
| US08299760B2 |
Battery charger
A battery charger includes: a circuit board including terminal portions provided to be exposed to the outside from an insertion portion, in which a secondary battery is inserted, and electrically connected to the secondary battery; a power circuit portion obtaining a voltage from an external power source and supplying a charging current to the secondary battery; a temperature detection unit detecting a battery temperature of the secondary battery; a charging control switch turning on/off the charging current; and a controller controlling the power circuit portion or the charging control switch based on a voltage and a current of the power circuit portion and the battery temperature, wherein the temperature detection unit is provided in a part of the circuit board opposed to the insertion portion at a distance from electronic components constituting the power circuit portion and the controller based on a heat generation temperature of the electronic components. |
| US08299757B2 |
Secondary battery module, battery information management device, battery information management system, secondary battery reuse system, secondary battery recovery and sales system, secondary battery reuse method, and secondary battery recovery and sales method
A secondary battery module includes a battery information storage unit for storing electric characteristic information and usage history information of the secondary battery module. A battery information management device and a terminal device respectively include interfaces to be connected to the secondary battery module. The battery information management device is provided with a battery information database. The battery information management device is connected to the terminal device through a communications network. In this way, battery information stored in the battery information storage unit, which is acquired by the battery information management device and the terminal device, is accumulated in the battery information database. Moreover, the battery information management device grades the secondary battery module for reuse based on the battery information and a predetermined threshold. |
| US08299756B2 |
System and method for battery control
A system and method are provided for battery control of hybrid vehicles such as, but not limited to, hybrid locomotives. The system and method are implemented to sense a present state of charge (SoC) of one or more batteries and generate present SoC data there from, sense a present excursion defined by a relationship represented as maximum SoC−minimum SoC for a desired cycle and generate present excursion data there from, and control the one or more battery power/current charging limits in response to the present SoC data and the present excursion data. |
| US08299754B2 |
Stored energy and charging appliance
A charging system detachably drawing from a power source comprising: (a) an electrical output configuration; (b) an electrical input configuration; and (c) an energy store configuration; and methods of provisioning the energy store, the charging system, and electric vehicle charger devices. |
| US08299751B2 |
Proximity power pad
A polygonal power pad includes an optional connector to connect to a power supply and a power network in the power pad. At least one power connector is coupled to the power network and is disposed on a periphery of the pad. The power connector is operable to receive and provide power to a provided adjacent pad. At least one power transfer coil embedded in the pad, is coupled to the power network to transfer power to a device proximate the pad. |
| US08299750B2 |
Electronic device with charging station and main unit recharged by the charging station
An electronic device includes a charging station and a main unit. The charging station has a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode form an angle therebetween, and the main unit has a third electrode and a fourth electrode. When the main unit is connected to the charging station, the main unit firstly contacts the second electrode with the fourth electrode, and then contacts the first electrode with the third electrode, so as to be recharged by the charging station. |
| US08299741B2 |
Motion control using electromagnetic forces
Motion control using electromagnetic forces. The control of motion in unpowered apparatus and an apparatus driven by electric motors and/or other prime movers utilizes electromagnetic force/torque for control of motion. One objective is to extend the domain of electric motor speed control, traditionally characterized by electronic techniques, to small apparatus such as bubble vibration toys, paper dispensers, toothbrushes and other appliances. |
| US08299738B2 |
Multi-tasking power processor for a vehicle electric system
A multi-tasking power processor (104) for a vehicle electric system (100) is provided. The multi-tasking power processor (104) includes a low voltage direct current bus interface (201), a high voltage direct current bus interface (202), and a motor interface (203). The multi-tasking power processor (104) also includes converter circuitry (200) selectively configurable as a direct current boost converter and a direct current buck converter between the low voltage direct current bus interface (201) and the high voltage direct current bus interface (202). The multi-tasking power processor (104) is further configurable as a motor drive between the motor interface (203) and the high voltage direct current bus interface (202). |
| US08299734B2 |
High efficiency roller shade
The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket. |
| US08299733B2 |
Methods for hybrid velocity control of at least partially resonant actuator systems and systems thereof
A method, computer readable medium, and system for controlling velocity of an at least partially resonant actuator system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes determining with an actuator controller computing device a sequence of full bridge and half bridge outputs to control an output velocity of an at least partially resonant actuator device. The actuator controller computing device controls a driver system to output a driving signal based on the determined sequence of full bridge and half bridge outputs. The driver system provides the driving signal to the at least one at least partially resonant actuator device. |
| US08299732B2 |
Power conversion system and method
Power conversion systems and methods are provided for driving a plurality of motor loads, in which an autotransformer receives AC input currents and provides a plurality of multiphase outputs at a non-zero phase angle relative to one another, and the individual multiphase outputs are provided to corresponding motor drives with rectifiers to convert the multiphase outputs to DC electrical power, and inverters to convert the DC power to AC to drive corresponding motor loads. |
| US08299730B2 |
Integrated on-time extension for non-dissipative bleeding in a power supply
An example controller for a switched mode power supply includes a zero-crossing detector, drive logic, and an on-time extension block. The zero-crossing detector is coupled to generate a first signal prior to a zero-crossing of an input voltage of the power supply. The drive logic is to generate a drive logic output signal in response to a feedback signal, where the drive logic output signal is representative of an initial on-time. The on-time extension block is coupled to the zero-crossing detector and to the drive logic to generate a drive signal in response to the drive logic output signal. The drive signal controls switching of a switch to remove charge from a filter capacitor of the power supply. The drive signal is representative of a total on-time of the switch equal to a sum of the initial on-time and an extended on-time, where the extended on-time is responsive to the first signal. |
| US08299728B2 |
Precharge controlling method and display device using the same
An embodiment of the invention provides a precharge controlling method, including the steps of: providing a voltage generating circuit with an output circuit for outputting a voltage having a necessary level, and a comparator; judging an output voltage from the output circuit in the comparator during a precharge time period, and feeding back an output signal from the comparator to the output circuit; and controlling a precharge voltage until the voltage having the necessary level outputted from the output circuit is reached. |
| US08299727B1 |
Anti-arcing protection circuit for an electronic ballast
An arc protection circuit is provided for a current-fed, parallel-resonant inverter ballast. The circuit includes a lamp current rate of change sensing circuit coupled with one or more lamps to detect a total lamp current; a ballast shutdown circuit to disable the ballast in response to a disturbance in the detected signal; a startup delay circuit, at least a portion of which defines a first time delay from a predetermined condition during which the ballast can not be disabled by the shutdown circuit; and an automatic restart circuit to enable restarting of the ballast, at least a portion of which defines a second time delay during which the ballast remains disabled, after which the ballast is restarted. |
| US08299726B2 |
OMNI voltage direct current power supply
A battery operated LED lighting apparatus including: a battery outputting a battery voltage; a light emitting diode or array of light emitting diodes; and a power supply including a boost regulating circuit. The power supply being in communication with the battery and the light emitting diodes such that a constant voltage or constant current is supplied to the light emitting diodes as the battery discharges and the battery voltage falls below the output voltage. In a preferred embodiment the power supply further includes a buck regulator to maintain the proper output voltage when the battery voltage is greater than the output voltage. |
| US08299723B2 |
Electronic ballast with lamp flicker suppression during start-to-steady state transition
An electronic ballast is provided for powering a discharge lamp and suppressing lamp flicker during startup transition. A power converter receives DC input power and converts it into an AC power output. A resonant circuit is coupled with the lamp and also between output terminals of the power converter. A controller controls the power converter with respect to particular modes of operation. The controller in a starting operation sets the output frequency of the power converter to a predetermined start frequency upon lamp startup to make the lamp begin discharging. The controller shifts from the starting operation to steady-state operation by setting the output frequency of the power converter at a predetermined steady-state frequency lower than the start frequency. The predetermined start frequency is set to a frequency identical or close to 1/(an odd whole number) of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit with the lamp unlit, and also to a frequency identical or close to the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit with the discharge lamp lit. The start frequency is sufficient to make the discharge lamp start discharging, and to raise a temperature of each electrode of the discharge lamp after lamp startup and by an end of the starting operation. |
| US08299722B2 |
Time division light output sensing and brightness adjustment for different spectra of light emitting diodes
In at least one embodiment, brightness multiple LEDs is adjusted by modifying power to subgroups of the multiple LEDs during different times and detecting the brightness of the LEDs during the reductions of power. In at least one embodiment, once the brightness of the LEDs are determined, a controller determines if the brightness meet target brightness values, and, if not, the controller adjusts each LED with the goal meet the target brightness values. In at least one embodiment, a process of modifying power to the subgroups of multiple LEDs over time and adjusting the brightness of the LEDs is referred as “time division and light output sensing and adjusting. Thus, in at least one embodiment, a lighting system includes time division light output sensing and adjustment for different spectrum light emitting diodes (LEDs). |
| US08299720B2 |
Operating resonant load circuit, dimming circuit and dimming method
An operating resonant load circuit, a dimming circuit and a dimming method are disclosed. The operating resonant load circuit includes: an input unit including a plurality of input terminals, for receiving an AC voltage; a rectifier, for transforming the AC voltage received by the input unit into a DC bus voltage; and a controller, for dividing the DC bus voltage based on an conducting status of the input terminals to output a corresponding DC reference voltage. The dimming circuit and dimming method use the operating resonant load circuit to perform dimming. |
| US08299715B2 |
Temperature compensated driver for pulsed diode light source
A pulsed diode light source driver includes a variable output power supply, an output capacitor, a switchable linear current driver, a temperature sensor, a conditioning circuit, and a voltage monitor. The temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the capacitor while the voltage monitor circuit monitors the output voltage level. The conditioning circuit and the voltage monitor cooperatively control the output voltage of the variable output power supply, so that temperature-related changes in the characteristics of the capacitor are compensated for, and a constant current is maintained through the diode load over a desired range of temperature. The driver is suitable for laser diodes and light emitting diodes. |
| US08299712B2 |
Light unit with internal power failure detection
A light unit that includes an internal power supply that may be used in the event of an external power failure to provide power to the light unit. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a lighting apparatus, comprising (a) a power input configured to receive external power from an external power source; (b) a solid state light element that is interconnected to the power input; (c) a detection circuit interconnected to the power input and that, when power is not provided to the power input, measures input impedance at the power input and determines if there is a lack of external power; and (d) a back-up power source that is interconnected to the solid state light element and the power input and that provides power to the solid state light element when the light element is; not provided with power from the power input. |
| US08299710B2 |
Method and apparatus to reduce arcing in electrodeless lamps
A lamp and methods of forming are shown. In one example, a dielectric layer is formed over a gap between conductors in a plasma lamp. Electric arcing is reduced or eliminated, thus allowing tighter gaps and/or higher voltages. In one example a glass frit method is used to apply the dielectric layer. A lamp is shown with a barrier layer that prevents tarnish such as tarnish from sulfur exposure. The barrier layer reduces or prevents degradation of the lamp due to conversion of a conductor material to non-conductive tarnish material. |
| US08299709B2 |
Lamp having axially and radially graded structure
A lamp is provided with an axially and radially graded structure to reduce the possibility of thermal stresses, cracks, and other defects in the lamp. In one embodiment, a system includes a ceramic lamp having a ceramic arc envelope and an end structure coupled to the ceramic arc envelope, wherein the end structure is graded both axially and radially into a plurality of regions. In another embodiment, a system includes a lamp having a layered end structure with a plurality of layers disposed one over another and that extend in both axial and radial directions relative to an axis of the lamp, wherein the plurality of layers include different materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, Poisson's ratios, or elastic moduli, or a combination thereof. |
| US08299705B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is a manufacturing method of an organic light emitting display device, which allows a frit to be sufficiently fused by illuminating a laser beam such that a width of the laser beam may be above a width of the frit by adjusting power of the laser beam. The manufacturing method of an organic light emitting display device comprises the steps of: a) forming an organic light emitting element comprising a first electrode, an organic thin film and a second electrode on a pixel region of a first substrate divided into the pixel region and a non-pixel region; b) forming a flit along a surrounding of a second substrate corresponding to the non-pixel region; c) arranging the second substrate on an upper side of the first substrate to be superposed to a part of the pixel region and the non-pixel region; and d) attaching the first substrate and the second substrate by illuminating laser beam with a width above a width of the frit from a back surface of the second substrate. |
| US08299701B2 |
Lighting device having illumination, backlighting and display applications
Provided are a lighting device, a backlighting device, and a display device that comprise a radiation source such as LED and wavelength converting members comprising phosphors. In one embodiment, self-absorption within the devices is suppressed or reduced by placing a selective reflector between two wavelength converting members, and the wavelength converting member emitting light with longer peak wavelength is substantially isolated from the irradiation of another wavelength converting member emitting light with shorter peak wavelength. In other embodiments, the wavelength converting members are arranged in strip configuration; or in adjacent hexagons configuration. |
| US08299699B2 |
Double-sided light emitting field emission device and method of manufacturing the same
A double-sided light-emitting field emission device and method of manufacturing same, said device comprising at least two transparent conductive layers, mixed field emission layers, and transparent package device. Wherein, the mixed field emission layer of field emission source and phosphor are utilized directly to serve as anode and cathode alternatively, such that on applying an AC power supply, roles of anode and cathode are changed alternatively along with frequency, hereby forming double-sided light-emitting structure. Therefore, the applications of said double-sided light-emitting field emission device are pretty wide, and having advantages of protecting field emission source, activating field emission source, reducing field emission arcing effect, having conductive phosphor, and raising illumination. |
| US08299693B2 |
Lamp device of high heat dissipation efficiency
A lamp device comprises a lamp seat, having a body; a heat installed at an upper end of the body for electrically connecting to an external power source; an electric joint extending from the head; and a connecting shaft extending downwards; and a heat dissipation assembly including: a heat dissipating mask having an axial hole; the connecting shaft passing through the axial hole so that the heat dissipating mask is connected to the body; and the heat dissipating mask is rotatable; a conductive unit installed at an upper side of the heat dissipating mask; the conductive unit being electrically connected to the electric joint even the heat dissipating mask rotates with respect to the body; and a lamp set driven electrically and installed at a lower side of the heat dissipating mask; and the lamp set being retained to the conductive unit through the heat dissipating mask. |
| US08299690B2 |
Stator structure and rotating electrical machine using the same
The invention provides a rotating electrical machine provided with stable rotation characteristics for enabling each core to be reliably fixed in arranging a plurality of cores annularly around the rotor even when the dimensional error occurs in manufacturing accuracy of each core, causing each division core itself to enhance the cooling property, and resolving instability of magnetic reluctance between division cores, where the rotating electrical machine has a plurality of stator cores obtained by laminating electromagnetic steel plates, winding coils wound around the stator cores via insulators, a pair of first and second bracket members that hold the plurality of stator cores from the front and back in the rotary shaft direction of the magnet rotor, and a fastening member that couples the first and second bracket members, in the first bracket member is formed a first contact surface for striking one end face of each of the stator cores to regulate so as to arrange the plurality of stator cores annularly, in the second bracket is formed a second contact surface for striking the other end faces of the stator cores to regulate, the first contact surface constitutes a reference plane to align one end faces of the plurality of stator cores on the same plane, the second contact surface is formed of a deformation surface deformable to follow the other end faces of the plurality of stator cores, and at least one of the pair of first and second brackets is formed of a ring-shaped magnetic material for magnetically coupling between the division cores. |
| US08299689B2 |
Quartz crystal resonator element, quartz crystal device, and method for producing quartz crystal resonator element
A quartz crystal resonator element includes an AT-cut quartz crystal substrate, the substrate having edges parallel to each of a Z″ axis obtained by rotating a Z′ axis in a range of −120° to +60° about a Y′ axis and an X′ axis perpendicular to the Z″ axis when an angle formed by rotating a +Z′ axis in a direction of a +X axis about the Y′ axis is a positive rotation angle; a thin section that forms a resonating section; and a thick section adjacent to the resonating section, the thin section and the thick section being formed on the quartz crystal substrate by wet etching. The thin section is formed either on a main surface of the substrate corresponding to a +Y′-axis side or on a main surface of the substrate corresponding to a −Y′-axis side. When the thin section is formed by the etching on the main surface of the +Y′-axis side, the thick section is provided at least a +Z″-axis-side end of the thin section, whereas when the thin section is formed by the etching on the main surface of the −Y′-axis side, the thick section is provided at least a −Z″-axis-side end of the thin section. |
| US08299685B2 |
High power ultrasonic transducer
A high power ultrasonic transducer includes a first ultrasonic transducer cell and at least one second ultrasonic transducer cell disposed on the first ultrasonic transducer cell. The at least one second ultrasonic transducer cell oscillates together with the first ultrasonic transducer cell. |
| US08299683B2 |
Ultrasonic motor
In an ultrasonic motor, an elliptical vibration is generated by combining a longitudinal primary resonance vibration resulting from an expansion and a contraction of a vibrator in a direction of a central axis and a torsional secondary resonance vibration or a torsional tertiary resonance vibration resulting from twisting of a rotation axis. A dimension ratio of a rectangle of the vibrator is chosen such that a resonance frequency of the longitudinal primary resonance vibration and a resonance frequency of the torsional secondary resonance vibration or the torsional tertiary resonance vibration match. The vibrator includes a plurality of regions in a surface orthogonal to the central axis, and deformations of the regions adjacent to each other along the direction of the central axis are mutually different. The vibrator expands and contracts in a direction along a polarization direction thereof. |
| US08299680B2 |
Surface acoustic wave resonator, surface acoustic wave oscillator, and surface acoustic wave module unit
It is possible to reduce the size of a surface acoustic wave resonator by enhancing the Q value. In a surface acoustic wave resonator in which an IDT having electrode fingers for exciting surface acoustic waves is formed on a crystal substrate, a line occupying ratio is defined as a value obtained by dividing the width of one electrode finger by the distance between the center lines of the gaps between one electrode finger and the electrode fingers adjacent to both sides thereof, and the IDT includes a region formed by gradually changing the line occupying ratio from the center to both edges so that the frequency gradually becomes lower from the center to both edges than the frequency at the center of the IDT. |
| US08299679B2 |
Surface-wave passive sensor including an integrated antenna, and medical applications using such a type of passive sensor
A remotely interrogatable passive sensor is provided. The sensor comprises an antenna and at least one surface wave resonator including a transducer with inter-digitated electrodes with two ports on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate, in which the antenna comprises conducting elements connected to the two ports and integrated onto said piezoelectric substrate. Advantageously, the antenna elements are folded on the substrate to enhance compactness. The passive sensor can be used for medical applications such as tissue analysis or arterial pressure measurement. |
| US08299678B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device and method for production of same
A method for fabricating a small and low-profile surface acoustic wave device which can be formed collectively by a wafer process without causing deterioration in characteristics is provided. The surface acoustic wave device has a piezoelectric substrate 1, an IDT 2 formed on one major surface of the piezoelectric substrate 1 and having at least one comb-shaped electrode, and a protective cover 6 forming a hollow containing space 7 with the one major surface by covering the IDT 2 above the one major surface. The protective cover 6 is provide with a through hole 15 and composed, at least partially, of a photocurable material containing an acid generator which contains fluorine. |
| US08299675B2 |
Brushless DC motor and stator thereof
A stator for a brushless DC motor includes a cylindrical member and a positioning member. The cylindrical member is formed by a plurality of metal wires. Each metal wire includes two ends each forming a terminal. The cylindrical member includes first and second ends separated along a longitudinal axis. The positioning member includes an annular body received in the first end of the cylindrical member and separated from the second end of the cylindrical member along the longitudinal axis. The positioning member maintains a shape of the cylindrical member. The stator can be mounted in a space defined by a housing and a base engaged with the housing, forming a brushless DC motor. A bearing and a circuit board are mounted in the space. The bearing rotatably supports a shaft. A permanent magnet is mounted to the shaft and aligned with the stator. |
| US08299673B2 |
Aspects of winding symmetry in HPO motor design
A high phase order induction machine wound and permitted by coil symmetry to operate at fewer than the magnetically optimal number of poles is constrained by symmetry to be a two pole machine and be capable of operating on odd harmonics only, but with back-iron, end rings, and rotor core optimized for 10 pole operation, might be used normally in ‘5th harmonic’ mode, with ‘7th harmonic’ utilized to engage the ‘mesh effect’. Such a machine thus appears to be operating in the ‘1.4 harmonic’. A high phase order induction machine driven by a second harmonic drive, in which a symmetry imposed by full span windings is broken. This may be most simply accomplished through the use of short pitch windings. Other possible approaches include using non-wound slot drive, and using toroidal windings which localize coils to individual slots. |
| US08299672B2 |
Flux-focused shaped permanent magnet, magnetic unit having the magnets, device having the magnetic units and method for asymmetrically focusing flux fields of permanent magnets
A flux-focused, shaped permanent magnet includes a body of magnetic material having multiple surface contouring to form a reduced flux side with convex surfaces and an increased flux side with concave surfaces. The surfaces develop high and low resistance external flux paths creating focused asymmetric flux fields. A magnetic unit having the shaped permanent magnet and a magnetic flux attracter or two shaped permanent magnets interconnected by two segmented permanent magnets and a kinetic device having a stationary stator ring, a rotor disc rotating within the stator ring and a multiplicity of the magnetic units on the stator ring and the rotor disc, are also provided. |
| US08299666B2 |
Control apparatus-integrated dynamoelectric machine
A dynamoelectric machine main body, power circuit modules and a field circuit module, and a control apparatus that has a heatsink that is prepared by die casting, and that is mounted integrally onto the dynamoelectric machine main body are included, the heatsink including a plurality of convex heat receiving portions that are disposed so as to project from a front surface of a base plate, and that have heat receiving surfaces, the power circuit modules and the field circuit module including seal main body portions that are constituted by an electrically insulating resin that seal switching elements so as to expose bottom surfaces of element heat radiating portions on reference surfaces that have a surface shape that corresponds to a shape of the heat receiving surfaces, and electrical insulation supporting layers being interposed between the bottom surfaces of the heat receiving surfaces and the element heat radiating portions. |
| US08299664B2 |
Drive apparatus and semiconductor module
A special terminal may project from an encapsulation body of a semiconductor module and may be engaged with an engaging portion of a motor case to limit a positional deviation of the semiconductor module relative to the motor case. Additionally or alternatively, a module side engaging portion may be formed in the encapsulation body and may be engaged with a case side engaging portion to position the semiconductor module relative to the motor case. |
| US08299662B2 |
Motor connecting box and converter motor
In a converter motor, the converter electronics are integrated into the motor connecting box. The lower part of the motor connecting box is formed in one piece with a housing of the converter motor and at the front end than at the rear end. The edge of the upper part of the motor connecting box is shaped appropriately slantwise, so that the upper side is aligned to be straight. Connecting cables for power current and data communications issue from a stepped gradation in the upper part. The upper part has a plurality of openings for passing through cables which are oriented at an angle of less than 90° to one another and to the motor axis. |
| US08299660B2 |
Motor fixing structure and motor assembly
A motor fixing structure and a motor assembly capable of reducing vibration of a motor and also maintaining a compact configuration. The motor assembly includes a motor, a fixing member disposed to be spaced from the motor by a predetermined spacing distance, and a vibration absorbing member to prevent vibration of the motor from being transferred to the fixing member, wherein the vibration absorbing member is formed to be longer by a predetermined specified length than the predetermined spacing distance between the motor and the fixing member and is disposed outside of a periphery of the motor. |
| US08299656B2 |
Feature module connection system
A refrigerator module connection system for connecting a feature module to a utility source and transferring a plurality of utilities between the feature module and the utility source. The feature module connection system includes a utility source that has a connection capable of removably engaging the feature module to the utility source. Also included is at least one feature module that independently supplies one or more functionalities. Further included is an interface between the utility source and the feature module, where the interface includes a detection and recognition device, such as a reed switch, a DIP switch, or a comparator circuit, that operates to detect when the feature module is connected to the utility source. One or more predetermined utilities are transferred between the utility source and the feature module based upon which feature module is connected to the utility source. |
| US08299654B2 |
High frequency electric wire
A high frequency electric wire is provided in such a manner that a large number of wires are bundled, twisted and insulated with an outer sheath S. Each wire has an extra-fine hollow pipe structure of a capillary shape. The wire is provided to make its hollow section with the extra-fine hollow pipe structure an air cavity or to cause its hollow section to house an insulating material. In the latter case, the wire is provided by causing a metal conductor to adhere to the outer periphery of an extra-fine insulating yarn, which serves as the insulating material, by plating or vapor-deposition. The electric wire is used as a circuit cable or a coil in a non-contact power feeding device which supplies power based on a mutual induction action of the electromagnetic induction. In this manner, the electric wire fulfills its function to suppress and reduce an increase of the alternating current resistance due to a high frequency alternating current. |
| US08299645B2 |
Renewable energy trailer
A trailer includes a frame defining a body of the trailer. The trailer also includes a power system stored in the body of the trailer. At least a portion of the power system is integral to the body of the trailer. The power system includes at least one power generating device stored in the body and removable from the body. |
| US08299644B2 |
Energy storage system utilizing compressed gas
An energy storage and recovery system employs air compressed utilizing power from an operating wind turbine. This compressed air is stored within one or more chambers of a structure supporting the wind turbine above the ground. By functioning as both a physical support and as a vessel for storing compressed air, the relative contribution of the support structure to the overall cost of the energy storage and recovery system may be reduced, thereby improving economic realization for the combined turbine/support apparatus. In certain embodiments, expansion forces of the compressed air stored within the chamber, may be relied upon to augment the physical stability of a support structure, further reducing material costs of the support structure. |
| US08299642B2 |
Wind power generation system
A wind power generation system includes an excessive current consumption device, an AC input of which is connected between a generator rotor and an excitation converter on a system failure to detect a DC voltage ascent of the excitation converter and operate a shunt circuit on the system failure. |
| US08299630B2 |
Microstructure with reactive bonding
A microstructure has at least one bonding substrate and a reactive multilayer system. The reactive multilayer system has at least one surface layer of the bonding substrate with vertically oriented nanostructures spaced apart from one another. Regions between the nanostructures are filled with at least one material constituting a reaction partner with respect to the material of the nanostructures. A method for producing at least one bonding substrate and a reactive multilayer system, includes, for forming the reactive multilayer system, at least one surface layer of the bonding substrate is patterned or deposited in patterned fashion with the formation of vertically oriented nanostructures spaced apart from one another, and regions between the nanostructures are filled with at least one material constituting a reaction partner with respect to the material of the nanostructures. A microsystem is formed from two bonding substrates and a construction lying between the bonding substrates, the construction having a reacted reactive layer system. The microsystem is a sensor coated with biomaterial and/or has elements composed of polymeric material and/or at least one magnetic and/or piezoelectric and/or piezoresistive component. |
| US08299629B2 |
Wafer-bump structure
A wafer-bump structure includes a wafer-state semiconductor die, a pre-treatment layer, a first ENIG laminate and at least one pillar bump. The wafer-state semiconductor die includes at least one die pad embedded therein and a passivation layer formed on the wafer-state semiconductor die and the die pad. The passivation layer includes an aperture for allowing access to a portion of the die pad. The pre-treatment layer is formed on the un-covered portion of the die pad. The first ENIG laminate is formed on the pre-treatment layer and an annular portion of the passivation layer around the pre-treatment layer. The pillar bump includes a conductive metal layer and a second ENIG laminate. The conductive metal layer is formed on the first ENIG laminate and another annular portion of the passivation layer around the first ENIG laminate. The second ENIG laminate is formed on the conductive metal layer and another annular portion of the passivation layer around the conductive metal layer. |
| US08299627B2 |
Semiconductor packages and electronic systems including the same
Provided are semiconductor packages and electronic systems including the same. A substrate is provided. A plurality of semiconductor chips may be stacked the substrate, and each of them may include at least one electrode pad. At least one of the plurality of semiconductor chips may include at least one redistribution pad configured to electrically connect with the at least one electrode pad. |
| US08299621B2 |
Semiconductor device having wiring layer with a wide wiring and fine wirings
Provided is a semiconductor device having a wiring layer formed of damascene wiring. The semiconductor device includes: a first wiring having a width equal to or larger than 0.5 μm; a second wiring adjacent to the first wiring and arranged with a space less than 0.5 μm from the first wiring; and a third wiring adjacent to the second wiring and arranged with a space equal to or smaller than 0.5 μm from the first wiring. In the semiconductor device, the second wiring and the third wiring are structured to have the same electric potential. |
| US08299620B2 |
Semiconductor device with welded leads and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method for preventing mechanical and thermal damage to the semiconductor chip. A laser beam welds a first connection pad formed on a first external lead to a first electrode formed on the surface of the semiconductor chip. A first connection hole is formed in the first connection pad, and the first connection hole overlaps the first connection electrode. A laser beam irradiates an area including the first connection hole, and the first connection pad in a portion around the first connection hole is melted to form a melting section, that is welded to the first connection electrode to easily form a semiconductor device with more excellent electrical characteristics. |
| US08299617B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming metal-metal oxide etch stop/barrier for integrated circuit interconnects
Described is a method and apparatus for forming interconnects with a metal-metal oxide electromigration barrier and etch-stop. In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes depositing a metal layer on the top of a planarized interconnect layer, the interconnect layer having an interlayer dielectric (ILD) with a top that is planar with the top of an electrically conductive interconnect. In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes reacting the metal layer with the ILD to form a metal oxide layer on the top of the ILD. At the same time, the metal layer will not be significantly oxidized by the electrically conductive interconnect, thus forming a metal barrier on the electrically conductive interconnect to improve electromigration performance. The metal barrier and metal oxide layer together comprise a protective layer. A second ILD may be subsequently formed on the protective layer, and the protective layer may act an etch-stop during a subsequent etch of the second ILD. |
| US08299611B2 |
Ball-limiting-metallurgy layers in solder ball structures
A solder ball structure and a method for forming the same. The structure includes (i) a first dielectric layer which includes a top dielectric surface, (ii) an electrically conductive line, (iii) a second dielectric layer, (iv) a ball-limiting-metallurgy (BLM) region, and (v) a solder ball. The BLM region is electrically connected to the electrically conductive line and the solder ball. The BLM region has a characteristic that a length of the longest straight line segment which is parallel to the top dielectric surface of the first dielectric layer and is entirely in the BLM region does not exceed a pre-specified maximum value. The pre-specified maximum value is at most one-half of a maximum horizontal dimension of the BLM region measured in a horizontal direction parallel to the top dielectric surface of the first dielectric layer. |
| US08299608B2 |
Enhanced thermal management of 3-D stacked die packaging
A die stack package is provided and includes a substrate, a stack of computing components, at least one thermal plate, which is thermally communicative with the stack and a lid supported on the substrate to surround the stack and the at least one thermal plate to thereby define a first heat transfer path extending from one of the computing components to the lid via the at least one thermal plate and a fin coupled to a surface of the lid and the at least one thermal plate, and a second heat transfer path extending from the one of the computing components to the lid surface without passing through the at least one thermal plate. |
| US08299604B2 |
Bonded metal and ceramic plates for thermal management of optical and electronic devices
A ceramic assembly includes one or more electrically and thermally conductive pads to be thermally coupled to a heat generating device, each conductive pad is electrically isolated from each other. The ceramic assembly includes a ceramic layer to provide this electrical isolation. The ceramic layer has high thermal conductivity and high electrical resistivity. A top surface and a bottom surface of the ceramic layer are each bonded to a conductive layer, such as copper, using an intermediate joining material. A brazing process is performed to bond the ceramic layer to the conductive layer via a joining layer. The joining layer is a composite of the joining material, the ceramic layer, and the conductive layer. The top conductive layer and the joining layer are etched to form the electrically isolated conductive pads. The conductive layers are bonded to the ceramic layer using a bare ceramic approach or a metallized ceramic approach. |
| US08299601B2 |
Power semiconductor module and manufacturing method thereof
A power semiconductor module includes: a circuit board having a metal base plate, a high thermal conductive insulating layer, and a wiring pattern; power semiconductor elements electrically connected to the wiring pattern; tubular external terminal connection bodies provided to the wiring pattern for external terminals; and a transfer mold resin body encapsulated to expose through-holes in the metal base plate and used to fixedly attach cooling fins to the face of the metal base plate on the other side with attachment members, the face of the metal base plate on the other side, and top portions of the tubular external terminal connection bodies, to form insertion holes for the attachment members communicating with the through-holes and having a larger diameter than the through-holes, and to cover the one side and side faces of the metal base plate and the power semiconductor elements. |
| US08299599B2 |
Semiconductor device
To improve the performance and reliability of semiconductor devices. For the semiconductor chip CP1, power MOSFETs Q1 and Q2 for the switch, a diode DD1 for detecting the heat generation of the power MOSFET Q1, a diode DD2 for detecting the heat generation of the power MOSFET Q2, and plural pad electrodes PD are formed. The power MOSFET Q1 and the diode DD1 are arranged in a first MOSFET region RG1 on the side of a side SD1, and the power MOSFET Q2 and the diode DD2 are arranged in a second MOSFET region RG2 on the side of a side SD2. The diode DD1 is arranged along the side SD1, the diode DD2 is arranged along the side SD2, and all pad electrodes PD other than the pad electrodes PDS1 and PDS2 for the source are arranged along a side SD3 between the diodes DD1 and DD2. |
| US08299597B2 |
Semiconductor chip, wiring substrate of a semiconductor package, semiconductor package having the semiconductor chip and display device having the semiconductor package
A semiconductor chip can include a semiconductor substrate, an input portion and an output portion. A circuit element can be formed in the semiconductor substrate. The input portion can be formed on the semiconductor substrate. The input portion can include a first input pad to receive an input signal from the outside and a second input pad spaced apart from the first input pad, the second input pad being electrically connected to the first input pad through an external connection line such that the second input pad inputs the input signal to the circuit element. The output portion can be formed on the semiconductor substrate. The output pad can include an output pad to output an output signal from the circuit element. |
| US08299596B2 |
Integrated circuit packaging system with bump conductors and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a base substrate having a component side; mounting a base device having a base circuit connector directly on the component side; attaching conformal interconnects, having the same pre-deformation height from the component side, directly on the component side and offset from the base device; and attaching a stack substrate having stack interconnects directly on the conformal interconnects, portions of the stack interconnects covered by the conformal interconnects having different deformation heights from the component side. |
| US08299593B2 |
Stack package made of chip scale packages
A stack package of the present invention is made by stacking at least two area array type chip scale packages. Each chip scale package of an adjacent pair of chip scale packages is attached to the other in a manner that the ball land pads of the upper stacked chip scale package face in the opposite direction to those of the lower stacked chip scale package, and the circuit patterns of the upper stacked chip scale package are electrically connected to the those of the lower stacked chip scale package by, for example, connecting boards. Therefore, it is possible to stack not only fan-out type chip scale packages, but to also efficiently stack ordinary area array type chip scale packages. |
| US08299591B2 |
Semiconductor package and stacked semiconductor package having the same
A semiconductor package includes a substrate having a substrate body possessing a first region, a second region which is defined around the first region and a third region which is defined around the second region. Wiring lines are placed on the substrate body, and the wiring lines have first ends that extend to the third region. Connection patterns are placed in the third region and are electrically connected to the first ends of the wiring lines. A semiconductor chip is disposed in the first region and is electrically connected to the respective wiring lines, and a molding member is disposed in the first and second regions and covers the semiconductor chip. |
| US08299590B2 |
Semiconductor assembly having reduced thermal spreading resistance and methods of making same
Semiconductor assemblies having reduced thermal spreading resistance and methods of making the same are described. In an example, a semiconductor device includes a primary integrated circuit (IC) die and at least one secondary IC die mounted on the primary IC die. A heat extraction element includes a base mounted to the semiconductor device such that each of the at least one secondary IC die is between the primary IC die and the heat extraction element. At least one dummy fill is adjacent the at least one secondary IC die, and each thermally couples the primary IC die to the heat extraction element. |
| US08299588B1 |
Structure and method for uniform current distribution in power supply module
A synchronous Buck converter in a molded package (thickness 101 between 0.8 and 1.0 mm) has vertically assembled control (110) and sync (120) power FET chips and a driver chip (630). The sync chip has one power terminal attached to the leadframe pad (104) and the opposite power terminal covered by a first copper layer (125) connected (210) to a first leadframe terminal (105), the first layer providing a smaller resistance to a current between first terminal and pad than the resistance through the sync chip. The control chip has one power terminal attached to the first layer and the opposite power terminal covered by a second copper layer (115) connected (410) to a second leadframe terminal (106), the second layer providing a smaller resistance to a current from the first to the second terminal than the resistance through the control chip. Connections (210, 410) of layers (125, 115) to leadframe terminals (105, 106) are copper wires of 20 to 50 μm diameter, enabling currents between 3 and 30 A. |
| US08299586B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A disclosed semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having an electrode pad on a circuit forming face of the semiconductor chip, an internal connection terminal formed on the electrode pad, a stepped portion formed along an outer edge portion of the circuit forming face of the semiconductor chip, a first insulating layer formed on the circuit forming face of the semiconductor chip to cover at least the stepped portion, a second insulating layer formed on the circuit forming face of the semiconductor chip to cover the first insulating layer, and an interconnection formed on the second insulating layer and electrically connected to the electrode pad via the internal connection terminal. |
| US08299584B2 |
Alignment of wafers for 3D integration
A method of aligning substrates, e.g., semiconductor wafers, is provided in which a first substrate can be at least coarsely aligned atop a second substrate. Each substrate can have a pattern thereon, wherein the pattern of the first substrate can be aligned with a window of the first substrate. A return signal can be returned from simultaneously illuminating the patterns of the first and second substrates through the window in the first substrate. The return signal can be compared to at least one stored signal to determine relative misalignment between the first and second substrates. A position of at least one of the first and second substrates can be altered relative to a position of the other of the first and second substrates to address the misalignment. |
| US08299583B2 |
Two-sided semiconductor structure
Deep via trenches and deep marker trenches are formed in a bulk substrate and filled with a conductive material to form deep conductive vias and deep marker vias. At least one first semiconductor device is formed on the first surface of the bulk substrate. A disposable dielectric capping layer and a disposable material layer are formed over the first surface of the bulk substrate. The second surface, located on the opposite side of the first surface, of the bulk substrate is polished to expose and planarize the deep conductive vias and deep marker vias, which become through-substrate vias and through-substrate alignment markers, respectively. At least one second semiconductor device and second metal interconnect structures are formed on the second surface of the bulk substrate. The disposable material layer and the disposable dielectric capping layer are removed and first metal interconnect structures are formed on the first surface. |
| US08299579B2 |
Method for generating a signal representative of the current delivered to a load by a power device and relative power device
An integrated power transistor includes emitter or source regions, and a comb-like patterned metal electrode structure interconnecting the emitter or source regions and defining at least one connection pad. The comb-like patterned metal electrode structure includes a plurality of fingers. A current sensing resistor produces a voltage drop representative of a current delivered to a load by the integrated power transistor. The current sensing resistor includes a portion of a current carrying metal track having a known resistance value and extending between one of the fingers and a connectable point along the current carrying metal track. |
| US08299578B1 |
High voltage bipolar transistor with bias shield
In a SOI process, a high voltage BJT structure with BVCEO versus FT control is provided by including a bias shield over the laterally extending collector region and controlling the bias of the shield. |
| US08299576B2 |
Circuit with high-density capacitors using bootstrapped non-metal layer
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. |
| US08299573B2 |
Trench capacitor
A trench and method of fabrication is disclosed. The trench shape is cylindrosymmetric, and is created by forming a dopant profile that is monotonically increasing in dopant concentration level as a function of depth into the substrate. A dopant sensitive etch is then performed, resulting in a trench shape providing increased surface area, yet having relatively smooth trench walls. |
| US08299571B2 |
Resistance-change memory cell array
According to one embodiment, a resistance-change memory cell array in which a plurality of horizontal electrodes extending horizontally and a plurality of vertical electrodes extending vertically are arranged to configure a cross-point structure includes rectifying insulating films formed in contact with side surfaces of the vertical electrodes in facing regions between the horizontal electrodes and the vertical electrodes, variable resistance films formed in contact with side surfaces of the horizontal electrodes in the facing regions between the horizontal electrodes and the vertical electrodes, and conductive layers formed between the rectifying insulating films and the variable resistance films. |
| US08299570B2 |
Efuse containing sige stack
An eFuse, includes: a substrate and an insulating layer disposed on the substrate; a first layer including a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon disposed on the insulating layer; a second layer including a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon germanium disposed on the first layer, and a third layer including a silicide disposed on the second layer. The Ge has a final concentration in a range of approximately five percent to approximately twenty-five percent. |
| US08299569B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of cutting electrical fuse
A method of cutting an electrical fuse including a first conductor and a second conductor, the first conductor including a first cutting target region, the second conductor branched from the first conductor and connected to the first conductor and including a second cutting target region, which are formed on a semiconductor substrate, the method includes flowing a current in the first conductor, causing material of the first conductor to flow outward near a coupling portion connecting the first conductor to the second conductor, and cutting the first cutting target region and the second cutting target region. |
| US08299567B2 |
Structure of metal e-fuse
Structures of electronic fuses (e-fuse) are provided. An un-programmed e-fuse includes a via of a first conductive material having a bottom and sidewalls with a portion of the sidewalls being covered by a conductive liner and the bottom of the via being formed on top of a dielectric layer, and a first and a second conductive path of a second conductive material formed on top of the dielectric layer with the first and second conductive paths being conductively connected through, and only through, the via at the sidewalls. A programmed e-fuse includes a via; a first conductive path at a first side of the via and being separated from sidewalls of the via by a void; and a second conductive path at a second different side of the via and being in conductive contact with the via through sidewalls of the via. |
| US08299565B2 |
Semiconductor nanowires having mobility-optimized orientations
Prototype semiconductor structures each including a semiconductor link portion and two adjoined pad portions are formed by lithographic patterning of a semiconductor layer on a dielectric material layer. The sidewalls of the semiconductor link portions are oriented to maximize hole mobility for a first-type semiconductor structures, and to maximize electron mobility for a second-type semiconductor structures. Thinning by oxidation of the semiconductor structures reduces the width of the semiconductor link portions at different rates for different crystallographic orientations. The widths of the semiconductor link portions are predetermined so that the different amount of thinning on the sidewalls of the semiconductor link portions result in target sublithographic dimensions for the resulting semiconductor nanowires after thinning. By compensating for different thinning rates for different crystallographic surfaces, semiconductor nanowires having optimal sublithographic widths may be formed for different crystallographic orientations without excessive thinning or insufficient thinning. |
| US08299564B1 |
Diffusion regions having different depths
Formation of transistors, such as, e.g., PMOS transistors, with diffusion regions having different depths for equalization of performance among transistors of an integrated circuit is described. Shallow-trench isolation structures are formed in a substrate formed at least in part of silicon for providing the transistors with at least substantially equivalent channel widths and lengths. A series of masks and etches is performed to form first recesses and second recesses defined in the silicon having different depths and respectively associated with first and second transistors. The second recesses are deeper than the first recesses. A silicon germanium film is formed in the first recesses and the second recesses. The silicon germanium film in the second recesses is thicker than the silicon germanium film in the first recesses, in order to increase performance of the second transistor so it is closer to the performance of the first transistor. |
| US08299563B2 |
Methods for forming a bonded semiconductor substrate including a cooling mechanism
Bottom sides of two semiconductor substrates are brought together with at least one bonding material layer therebetween and bonded to form a bonded substrate. A cavity with two openings and a contiguous path therebetween is provided within the at least one bonding layer. At least one through substrate via and other metal interconnect structures are formed within the bonded substrate. The cavity is employed as a cooling channel through which a cooling fluid flows to cool the bonded semiconductor substrate during the operation of the semiconductor devices in the bonded substrate. Alternatively, a conductive cooling fin with two end portions and a contiguous path therebetween is formed within the at least one bonding layer. The two end portions of the conductive cooling fin are connected to heat sinks to cool the bonded semiconductor substrate during the operation of the semiconductor devices in the bonded substrate. |
| US08299562B2 |
Isolation structure and device structure including the same
An isolation structure is described, including a doped semiconductor layer disposed in a trench in a semiconductor substrate and having the same conductivity type as the substrate, gate dielectric between the doped semiconductor layer and the substrate, and a diffusion region in the substrate formed by dopant diffusion through the gate dielectric from the doped semiconductor layer. A device structure is also described, including the isolation structure and a vertical transistor in the substrate beside the isolation structure. The vertical transistor includes a first S/D region beside the diffusion region and a second S/D region over the first S/D region both having a conductivity type different from that of the doped semiconductor layer. |
| US08299561B2 |
Shielding for high-voltage semiconductor-on-insulator devices
Integrated circuits having doped bands in a substrate and beneath high-voltage semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) devices are provided. In one embodiment, the invention provides an integrated circuit comprising: a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) wafer including: a substrate; a buried oxide (BOX) layer atop the substrate; and a semiconductor layer atop the BOX layer; a plurality of high voltage (HV) devices connected in series within the semiconductor layer; a doped band within the substrate and below a first of the plurality of HV devices; and a contact extending from the semiconductor layer and through the BOX layer to the doped band. |
| US08299558B2 |
Self-aligned Schottky diode
A Schottky barrier diode comprises a doped guard ring having a doping of a second conductivity type in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The Schottky barrier diode further comprises a first-conductivity-type-doped semiconductor region having a doping of a first conductivity type, which is the opposite of the second conductivity type, on one side of a dummy gate electrode and a Schottky barrier structure surrounded by the doped guard ring on the other side. A Schottky barrier region may be laterally surrounded by the dummy gate electrode and the doped guard ring. The doped guard ring includes an unmetallized portion of a gate-side second-conductivity-type-doped semiconductor region having a doping of a second conductivity type. A Schottky barrier region may be laterally surrounded by a doped guard ring including a gate-side doped semiconductor region and a STI-side doped semiconductor region. Design structures for the inventive Schottky barrier diode are also provided. |
| US08299557B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and manufacturing method
A photoelectric conversion device is provided which is capable of improving the light condensation efficiency without substantially decreasing the sensitivity. The photoelectric conversion device has a first pattern provided above an element isolation region formed between adjacent two photoelectric conversion elements, a second pattern provided above the element isolation region and above the first pattern, and microlenses provided above the photoelectric conversion elements with the first and the second patterns provided therebetween. The photoelectric conversion device further has convex-shaped interlayer lenses in optical paths between the photoelectric conversion elements and the microlenses, the peak of each convex shape projecting in the direction from the electro-optical element to the microlens. |
| US08299556B2 |
Using 3d integrated diffractive gratings in solar cells
A multi-junction opto-electronic device including a stack of wavelength selective absorption layers is proposed. The absorption layers include each a first layer with a grating of a specific pitch defining the wavelength of the incident light to be absorbed within a subjacent second electrically active layer itself on a third electrically inactive layer. The second electrically active layer within the different absorption layers is in electrical connection with lateral contacts to extract the electrical charge carriers generated by the absorbed incident light within the active layer. The grating within the first layer of the absorption layers is defined by periodic stripes of specific width depending on the wavelength to be absorbed by the respective absorption layers. The period of the stripes alignment is defined by the pitch of the grating. Advantageously, ordinary silicon technology can be used. |
| US08299550B2 |
Electromechanical transducer
When the initial displacement greatly varies among cells in an element, there is a need to reduce a bias voltage to be applied between electrodes. This decreases the sensitivity. An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes an element having a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided with a cavity being disposed therebetween. A groove is provided at a position at a predetermined distance from the cavity of the cell on the outermost periphery of the element. |
| US08299546B2 |
Semiconductor devices with vertical extensions for lateral scaling
A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided, in which extension regions are formed atop the substrate in a vertical orientation. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a semiconductor substrate doped with a first conductivity dopant. Raised extension regions are formed on first portions of the semiconductor substrate that are separated by a second portion of the semiconductor substrate. The raised extension regions have a first concentration of a second conductivity dopant. Raised source regions and raised drain regions are formed on the raised extension regions. The raised source regions and the raised drain regions each have a second concentration of the second conductivity dopant, wherein the second concentration is greater than the first concentration. A gate structure is formed on the second portion of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08299543B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device having plural transistors formed in well region and semiconductor device
A semiconductor device, includes a substrate, an element isolating film formed in the substrate, a first element formation region isolated by the element isolating film, a second element formation region positioned adjacent to the first element formation region and isolated by the element isolating film, a first well of a second conductive type formed in a whole area of the first element formation region, a first transistor of a first conductive type formed on the first element formation region, a second transistor of the first conductive type which is formed on the first element formation region and whose threshold voltage is the same as a threshold voltage of the first transistor, a second well of the second conductive type formed in a whole area of the second element formation region, and a third transistor of the first conductive type formed on the second element formation region. |
| US08299540B2 |
High performance MOSFET
A semiconductor structure which exhibits high device performance and improved short channel effects is provided. In particular, the present invention provides a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOFET) that includes a low dopant concentration within an inversion layer of the structure; the inversion layer is an epitaxial semiconductor layer that is formed atop a portion of the semiconductor substrate. The inventive structure also includes a well region of a first conductivity type beneath the inversion layer, wherein the well region has a central portion and two horizontally abutting end portions. The central portion has a higher concentration of a first conductivity type dopant than the two horizontally abutting end portions. Such a well region may be referred to as a non-uniform super-steep retrograde well. |
| US08299538B2 |
Differential nitride pullback to create differential NFET to PFET divots for improved performance versus leakage
Disclosed are embodiments of an integrated circuit structure with field effect transistors having differing divot features at the isolation region-semiconductor body interfaces so as to provide optimal performance versus stability (i.e., optimal drive current versus leakage current) for logic circuits, analog devices and/or memory devices. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method of forming the integrated circuit structure embodiments. These method embodiments incorporate the use of a cap layer pullback technique on select semiconductor bodies and subsequent wet etch process so as to avoid (or at least minimize) divot formation adjacent to some but not all semiconductor bodies. |
| US08299530B2 |
Structure and method to fabricate pFETS with superior GIDL by localizing workfunction
A semiconductor structure and a method of forming the same are provided in which the gate induced drain leakage is controlled by introducing a workfunction tuning species within selected portions of a pFET such that the gate/SD (source/drain) overlap area of the pFET is tailored towards flatband, yet not affecting the workfunction at the device channel region. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate having at least one patterned gate stack located within a pFET device region of the semiconductor substrate. The structure further includes extension regions located within the semiconductor substrate at a footprint of the at least one patterned gate stack. A channel region is also present and is located within the semiconductor substrate beneath the at least one patterned gate stack. The structure further includes a localized workfunction tuning area located within a portion of at least one of the extension regions that is positioned adjacent the channel region as well as within at least a sidewall portion of the at least one gate stack. The localized workfunction tuning area can be formed by ion implantation or annealing. |
| US08299526B2 |
Integrated circuit utilizing trench-type power MOS transistor
An integrated circuit includes a power MOS transistor which comprises a drain region, a trench gate, a source region, a well region, a deep well region and a substrate region. The drain region has a doping region of a first conductivity type connected to a drain electrode. The trench gate has an insulating layer and extends into the drain region. The source region has a doping region of the first conductivity type connected to a source electrode. The well region is doped with a second conductivity type, formed under the source region, and connected to the source electrode. The deep well region is doped with the first conductivity type and is formed under the drain region and the well region. The substrate region is doped with the second conductivity type and is formed under the deep well region. The drain region is formed at one side of the trench gate and the source region is formed at the opposing side of the trench gate such that the trench gate laterally connects the source region and the drain region. |
| US08299525B2 |
Power IC device and method for manufacturing same
In a power IC device, a surface layer channel CMOS transistor and a trench power MOS transistor are formed on the same chip. In one embodiment, a source region of the trench power MOS transistor is arranged at the same level as a gate electrode of the surface layer channel CMOS transistor. Thus, the power IC device and a method for manufacturing the power IC device are provided for reducing manufacturing cost in the case of forming the trench power MOS transistor and the surface layer channel CMOS transistor on the same chip. |
| US08299510B2 |
Solid state imaging device and fabrication method for the same
A solid state imaging device with an easy structure in which have the high sensitivity which reaches the wide wavelength region from visible light to near infrared light wavelength region, and dark current is reduced, and a fabrication method for the same, are provided.A solid state imaging device and a fabrication method for the same, the solid state imaging device comprising: a circuit unit formed on a substrate; and a photoelectric conversion unit including a lower electrode layer placed on the circuit unit, a compound semiconductor thin film of chalcopyrite structure which is placed on the lower electrode layer and functions as an optical absorption layer, and an optical transparent electrode layer placed on the compound semiconductor thin film, wherein the lower electrode layer, the compound semiconductor thin film, and the optical transparent electrode layer are laminated one after another on the circuit unit. |
| US08299507B2 |
Semiconductor device
It is made possible to optimize the effective work function of the metal for a junction and suppress the resistance as far as possible at the interface between a semiconductor or a dielectric material and a metal. A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor film; a Ti oxide film formed on the semiconductor film, and including at least one element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, and Pt; and a metal film formed on the Ti oxide film. |
| US08299506B2 |
Integration of MEMS and CMOS devices on a chip
A method of forming CMOS circuitry integrated with MEMS devices includes bonding a wafer to a top surface layer having contacts formed to CMOS circuitry. A handle wafer is then removed from one of the top or bottom surfaces of the CMOS circuitry, and MEMS devices are formed in a remaining silicon layer. |
| US08299503B2 |
Memory cell for modification of revision identifier in an integrated circuit chip
A memory cell for reducing the cost and complexity of modifying a revision identifier (ID) or default register values associated with an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and a method for manufacturing the same. The cell, which may be termed a “Meta-Memory Cell” (MMCEL), is implemented on metal layers only and utilizes a dual parallel metal ladder structure that traverses and covers each metal and via layer from the bottom to the top of the metal layer structure of the chip. One of the metal ladders is connected to a power supply at the bottom metal layer, corresponding to a logic 1, and another metal ladder is connected to ground at the bottom metal layer, corresponding to a logic 0. The output of the MMCEL can thus be inverted at any metal or via layer and can be inverted as often as required. Significant cost savings are achieved because a revision ID or default register bits may be modified by altering only those metal layers where design changes are necessary. |
| US08299495B2 |
Reverse conducting IGBT
In a reverse conducting IGBT, diode cathode regions are formed dispersedly on the back side of a device chip. When the distribution density of the diode cathode region becomes low, VF of a fly-back diode, that is, a forward voltage drop becomes large. On the other hand, when the distribution density of the diode cathode region becomes high, it becomes hard for a PN junction at a collector part to turn ON and a snap back occurs. In contrast to this, there is a method of providing about one to several diode cathode absent regions having a macro area, however, the arrangement of the regions itself directly affects the device characteristics, and therefore, it is difficult to control the device characteristics and variations thereof.In the present invention, dot-shaped diode cathode regions on the back side of the device chip are distributed into the shape of a substantially uniform XY lattice and at the same time, the lattice constant in a Y direction is made longer than that in an X direction in parallel with a linear gate electrode in a reverse conducting IGBT having a large number of the linear gate electrodes. |
| US08299493B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a semiconductor light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer. The first conductive type semiconductor layer includes an insulation layer including protrusions having a predetermined interval and a void between the protrusions of the insulation layer. The active layer is disposed on the first conductive type semiconductor layer. The second conductive type semiconductor layer is disposed on the active layer. |
| US08299488B2 |
LED chip
The present invention provides a LED chip structure. The LED chip structure comprises a substrate and an N type layer disposed on the substrate; a P type layer disposed on the N type layer; a N type contact pad and a P type contact pad disposed below the substrate; conductive through holes disposed through the substrate to electrically connect the N type layer to the N type contact pad and the P type layer to the conduct heat generated by the P type layer and the N type layer downward. |
| US08299487B2 |
White light emitting device and vehicle lamp using the same
A white light emitting device includes a semiconductor light emitting element that has a peak of an emission spectrum in a range of 370 nm to 480 nm, and at least one kind of phosphor that is excited by light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element to emit visible light. The phosphor is represented by the formula: Sr1-x-yBaxSi2O2N2:Eu2+y, wherein x is in the range of 0.3 |
| US08299475B2 |
Interlevel conductive light shield
A CMOS image sensor pixel includes a conductive light shield, which is located between a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer. At least one via extends from a top surface of the second dielectric layer to a bottom surface of the first dielectric layer is formed in the metal interconnect structure. The conductive light shield may be formed within a contact level between a top surface of a semiconductor substrate and a first metal line level, or may be formed in any metal interconnect via level between two metal line levels. The inventive CMOS image sensor pixel enables reduction of noise in the signal stored in the floating drain. |
| US08299472B2 |
Active pixel sensor with nanowire structured photodetectors
An imaging device formed as an active pixel array combining a CMOS fabrication process and a nanowire fabrication process. The pixels in the array may include a single or multiple photogates surrounding the nanowire. The photogates control the potential profile in the nanowire, allowing accumulation of photo-generated charges in the nanowire and transfer of the charges for signal readout. Each pixel may also include a readout circuit which may include a reset transistor, a charge transfer switch transistor, source follower amplifier, and pixel select transistor. A nanowire is generally structured as a vertical rod on the bulk semiconductor substrate to receive the light energy impinging onto the tip of the nanowire. The nanowire may be configured to function as either a photodetector or a waveguide configured to guild the light beam to the bulk substrate. In the embodiments herein, with the presence of the nanowire photogate and a substrate photogate, light of different wavelengths can be detected. |
| US08299470B2 |
Flat display device and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a flat display device, and more particularly, an active matrix (AM) flat display device having a thin film transistor (TFT). The flat display device includes a substrate, a plurality of TFTs (thin film transistors) provided on the substrate, each TFT comprising an active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode that contact the active layer, and an ohmic contact layer interposed between the active layer and the source and drain electrodes, and a light emitting device electrically connected to the TFT, wherein the ohmic contact layer and a layer including the source and drain electrodes are formed to have the same pattern. |
| US08299469B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel with overlapping floating electrodes and pixel electrodes
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a thin film transistor array panel includes a gate line and a data line insulated from each other on an insulating substrate where the gate line and the data line cross each other to define a pixel region, a thin film transistor (TFT) disposed at an intersection of the gate line and the data line, a floating electrode where at least a portion of the floating electrode overlaps the data line, and a pixel electrode disposed at the pixel region where the pixel electrode is connected to the TFT and overlaps the at least a portion of the floating electrode. |
| US08299468B2 |
Display substrate having reduced defects
A three mask process for forming an LCD substrate includes, depositing in sequence on a base substrate a gate metallic layer, a gate insulation layer and a channel layer. A first photoresist pattern is used to form a gate electrode of a switching device, a channel pattern and a gate line on the gate electrode. A transparent conductive layer and a source metallic layer are deposited in sequence on the base substrate having the channel pattern. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the switching device, a pixel electrode and a source line electronically connected to the drain electrode, are formed by a second photoresist pattern. A first protective insulation layer is formed, and the first protective insulation layer on the pixel electrode is removed by a third photoresist pattern. Therefore, by the three masks process yields a simplified manufacturing process in which the lower portion of the source metallic pattern is not formed and display quality is improved. |
| US08299466B2 |
Thin film transistors having multiple doped silicon layers
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a TFT and a method for its fabrication. The TFT disclosed herein is a silicon based TFT in which the active channel comprises amorphous silicon. Over the amorphous silicon, multiple layers of doped silicon are deposited in which the resistivity of the doped silicon layers is higher at the interface with the amorphous silicon layer as compared to the interface with the source and drain electrodes. Alternatively, a single doped silicon layer is deposited over the amorphous silicon in which the properties of the single doped layer change throughout the thickness. It is better to have a lower resistivity at the interface with the source and drain electrodes, but lower resistivity usually means less substrate throughput. By utilizing multiple or graded layers, low resistivity can be achieved. The embodiments disclosed herein include low resistivity without sacrificing substrate throughput. |
| US08299465B2 |
X-ray detector
An X-ray detector constructed as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer, a data line including a source electrode covering a first portion of the semiconductor layer, a drain electrode disposed opposite to the source electrode, a first lower electrode formed on the upper portion of a second portion of the semiconductor layer and a gate insulating layer and elongated from the drain electrode, and a passivation layer formed on the upper portion of one part of the lower electrode including the drain electrode. Further, the second lower electrode is formed approaching the gate electrode. The X-ray detector constructed as the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a second lower electrode formed on the passivation layer and placed approaching a gate electrode. The area in which a diode is disposed may be maximized, and the amount of leakage current may be reduced. |
| US08299462B2 |
Constructions comprising hafnium oxide and/or zirconium oxide
The invention includes a dielectric mode from ALD-type methods in which two or more different precursors are utilized with one or more reactants to form the dielectric material. In particular aspects, the precursors are aluminum and hafnium and/or zirconium for materials made from a hafnium precursor, the hafnium oxide is predominantly in a tetragonal crystalline phase. |
| US08299461B2 |
Thin film transistor, method of producing the same, electrooptic apparatus, and sensor
A thin film transistor includes: a substrate; and, on the substrate, an oxide semiconductor film which serves as an active layer and contains In, Ga, and Zn, a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, wherein, when a molar ratio of In, Ga, and Zn in the oxide semiconductor film is expressed as In:Ga:Zn=(2.0−x):x:y, wherein 0.0 |
| US08299460B2 |
Pixel structure, organic electro-luminescence display unit, and fabricating method thereof
A pixel structure is disposed on a substrate and includes a gate, a gate insulating layer, a patterned metal-oxide layer, an etching stop layer, a source, and a drain. The gate is disposed on the substrate. The gate insulating layer is disposed on the substrate to cover the gate. The patterned metal-oxide layer is disposed on the gate insulating layer and includes an active layer located above the gate and a pixel electrode. The etching stop layer is disposed on a portion of the active layer. Conductivity of a portion of the patterned metal-oxide layer uncovered by the etching stop layer is greater than conductivity of a portion of the patterned metal-oxide layer covered by the etching stop layer. The source and the drain are electrically connected to a portion of the active layer uncovered by the etching stop layer. The drain is electrically connected to the pixel electrode. |
| US08299459B2 |
Diindenopicene compound and organic light emitting device using the same
The present invention provides an organic light emitting device which shows a blue light emission hue of remarkably good color purity and has a high-efficiency and high-luminance optical output. An organic light emitting device including an anode 2, a cathode 4 and an organic compound layer sandwiched between the anode 2 and the cathode 4, wherein at least one diindenopicene compound represented by general formula [1] described below is contained in the organic compound layer: |
| US08299457B2 |
Filler for sealing organic light emitting device and method for manufacturing the organic light emitting device using the same
A sealing filler for an organic light emitting device display includes a siloxane polymer having a surface tension of about 20 dyn/cm or less. The siloxane polymer may be represented by where each of R1 to R10 is independently a non-polar substituent, and n ranges from 20 to 50. |
| US08299455B2 |
Semiconductor structures having improved contact resistance
Self-assembled polymer technology is used to form at least one ordered nanosized pattern within material that is present in a conductive contact region of a semiconductor structure. The material having the ordered, nanosized pattern is a conductive material of an interconnect structure or semiconductor source and drain diffusion regions of a field effect transistor. The presence of the ordered, nanosized pattern material within the contact region increases the overall area (i.e., interface area) for subsequent contact formation which, in turn, reduces the contact resistance of the structure. The reduction in contact resistance in turn improves the flow of current through the structure. In addition to the above, the inventive methods and structures do not affect the junction capacitance of the structure since the junction area remains unchanged. |
| US08299454B2 |
Nano line structures in microelectronic devices
A method of forming a microelectronic device includes forming a groove structure having opposing sidewalls and a surface therebetween on a substrate to define a nano line arrangement region. The nano line arrangement region has a predetermined width and a predetermined length greater than the width. At least one nano line is formed in the nano line arrangement region extending substantially along the length thereof and coupled to the surface of the groove structure to define a nano line structure. Related devices are also discussed. |
| US08299451B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting diode
A semiconductor light-emitting diode 20 is provided with a silicon single crystal substrate 201, an intervening layer 203 formed of a Group III nitride semiconductor and stacked on the silicon single crystal substrate 201, and a light-emitting part (205, 206, 207) formed with a p-n-junction hetero-junction structure and stacked on the intervening layer 203. The intervening layer 203 is formed of an aluminum-containing Group III nitride semiconductor. The intervening layer 203 and the light-emitting part (205, 206, 207) have interposed therebetween a superlattice structure 204 formed of a plurality of Group III nitride semiconductor layers that contain aluminum and have mutually different aluminum composition ratios. A DBR film formed of the superlattice structure 204 is enabled to excel in reflectance and enhance the light-emitting property. |
| US08299449B2 |
Apparatus and method for environmental monitoring
Apparatus (1) for environmental monitoring, allowing to determine the mass concentration of air-dispersed particulate matter by operating or spy filters (F1-F6), comprising a beta radiation emitter (16) and detector (18) for detecting the mass of particulate matter settled on the operating or spy filters (F1-F6), wherein it is further provided the same beta measurement on spy filters (S 12-S1 6) exposed to the same environmental conditions of the operating filters (F1-F6) and the determination of in-air particulate matter concentration by compensation of the two measurements. |
| US08299447B2 |
Rotating irradiation apparatus
There is provided a rotating irradiation apparatus that can secure as large an access floor as possible, reduce noise during the formation of an access floor, and stably operate with a simple structure. The rotating irradiation apparatus includes an irradiation device 7 that irradiates a charged particle beam, a frame 1 on which the irradiation device is mounted and which rotates the irradiation device so that a patient lying on a treatment table 8 fixed to a stationary floor surface is irradiated with the charged particle beam, a ring 10 that is rotatably held on an inner periphery of the frame, an opening/closing-type floor 20 which is provided inside the ring and of which a portion through which the irradiation device passes is openable and closable, and drive means 28 that reversely rotates the ring in synchronization with the rotation of the irradiation device so as to maintain the opening/closing-type floor horizontal. |
| US08299446B2 |
Sub-field enhanced global alignment
Sub-field enhanced global alignment (SEGA) methods for aligning reconstituted wafers in a lithography process are disclosed. The SEGA methods provide the ability to accommodate chip placement errors for chips supported by a reconstituted wafer when performing a lithographic process having an overlay requirement. The SEGA methods include measuring chip locations to determine sub-fields of the reconstituted wafer over which enhanced global alignment (EGA) can be performed on the chips therein to within the overlay requirement. The SEGA methods further included individually performing EGA over the respective sub-fields. The SEGA methods take advantage of the benefits of both EGA and site-by-site alignment and are particularly applicable to wafer-level packing lithographic processes such as fan-out wafer-level packaging. |
| US08299445B2 |
Lighting apparatus for controlling plant disease
Disclosed is a lighting device for use in the control of a plant disease, which has a light source capable of emitting light containing ultraviolet ray. The light source can emit both of UV-B having a wavelength component with a wavelength of about 280 to 340 um and UV-C in which a wavelength component with a wavelength of about 255 nm or less is cut off from wavelength components with wavelengths of about 100 to 280 nm to plant in a superimposed manner. The irradiation of a plant with the UV-C and the UV-B ensures to further inhibit the spore formation or the hypha growth of a filamentous fungus that causes a disease or the like, and to induce a resistance against a disease in the plant. |
| US08299443B1 |
Microchip and wedge ion funnels and planar ion beam analyzers using same
Electrodynamic ion funnels confine, guide, or focus ions in gases using the Dehmelt potential of oscillatory electric field. New funnel designs operating at or close to atmospheric gas pressure are described. Effective ion focusing at such pressures is enabled by fields of extreme amplitude and frequency, allowed in microscopic gaps that have much higher electrical breakdown thresholds in any gas than the macroscopic gaps of present funnels. The new microscopic-gap funnels are useful for interfacing atmospheric-pressure ionization sources to mass spectrometry (MS) and ion mobility separation (IMS) stages including differential IMS or FAIMS, as well as IMS and MS stages in various configurations. In particular, “wedge” funnels comprising two planar surfaces positioned at an angle and wedge funnel traps derived therefrom can compress ion beams in one dimension, producing narrow belt-shaped beams and laterally elongated cuboid packets. This beam profile reduces the ion density and thus space-charge effects, mitigating the adverse impact thereof on the resolving power, measurement accuracy, and dynamic range of MS and IMS analyzers, while a greater overlap with coplanar light or particle beams can benefit spectroscopic methods. |
| US08299442B2 |
Particle beam apparatus having an annularly-shaped illumination aperture
A particle beam apparatus has an optical axis (OA), an illuminating system (1, 2, 3, 4) for illuminating an object, which is positioned in an object plane (7), with a beam of charged particles and an objective (6) for imaging the illuminated object. The beam of charged particles is split at the object into a null beam and higher diffraction orders. The illuminating system is so configured that it generates an annularly-shaped illuminating aperture in a plane Fourier transformed to the object plane (7). A phase-shifting element (9) is mounted in a focal plane (15) of the objective (6) or in a plane conjugated thereto. The focal plane (15) faces away from the object plane (7). The phase-shifting element can be an einzel lens having two outer electrodes and one or several inner electrodes disposed therebetween when seen in the direction of the optical axis. The phase-shifting element can have an additional electrode at or near the optical axis. |
| US08299441B2 |
Directional gamma radiation detector system
A directional gamma radiation detector system for determining an angle under which a measured gamma radiation hits a gamma radiation detector system, includes gamma radiation detectors arranged in close distance; detector electronics for operating the at least two gamma radiation detectors as spectrometers in a way that the detector electronics are collecting energy spectra of the detected gamma rays for each gamma radiation detector; and system electronics allowing the directional gamma radiation detector system to identify coincident events in the at least two gamma radiation detectors. |
| US08299440B2 |
Radiation detector for counting or integrating signals
A radiation sensitive detector array (112) includes a photo sensor (204) that detects a photon and generates a signal indicative thereof. The radiation sensitive detector array (112) also includes a signal analyzer (214) that energy bins and counts the signal when the signal analyzer (214) is able to identify the signal in the output of the photo sensor (204), and that integrates the output of the photo sensor (204) over an integration period when the signal analyzer (214) is not able to identify the signal in the output of the photo sensor (204). |
| US08299433B2 |
Multi-channel optical cell
An apparatus is provided that includes a field reflector and a plurality of pairs of object reflectors. The apparatus also includes a plurality of source and detector port pairs, where each source port is configured to pass a beam of radiation, and each detector port is configured to receive a beam of radiation. The source and detector ports of each pair are positioned proximate an outer edge of the field reflector such that an optical axis of the field reflector lies between the respective source port and detector port. The object reflectors and source and detector port pairs are arranged such that each source and detector port pair is associated with a respective pair of object reflectors forming a distinct channel, where the source and detector port pair, and centers of the associated pair of object reflectors, of each channel lie in a distinct plane. |
| US08299432B2 |
Scanning transmission electron microscope using gas amplification
A scanning transmission electron microscope operated with the sample in a high pressure environment. A preferred detector uses gas amplification by converting either scattered or unscattered transmitted electrons to secondary electrons for efficient gas amplification. |
| US08299428B2 |
Detectors and ion sources
A field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer (FAIMS) has an analyte ion source assembly by which an analyte substance is ionized and supplied to the inlet of the spectrometer. The ion source assembly has an upstream source of clean, dry air and two ion sources of opposite polarity arranged at the same distance along the flow path. The ion sources are arranged so that the overall charge of the plasma produced is substantially neutral. The analyte substance is admitted via an inlet downstream of the ion sources and flows into a reaction region of enlarged cross section to slow the flow and increase the time for which the analyte molecules are exposed to the plasma. |
| US08299426B2 |
Conductive conduits for chemical analyses, and methods for making such conduits
A method for making a fluid-processing apparatus involves mixing a colloidal suspension with a matrix material, applying the mixture to a surface of a conduit, and curing the applied mixture to provide a conductive coating. A fluid-processing apparatus includes a conduit and a conductive layer adjacent to a surface of the conduit. The conductive layer includes graphite particles embedded in a matrix. The fluid-processing apparatus supports, for example, electrospray-ionization for mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, or capillary electro-chromatography. |
| US08299423B2 |
Ion mobility spectrometer including spaced electrodes for filtering
An ion mobility spectrometer has an inlet for an analyte substance opening into an ionization region that produces ions of the substance. Parallel grid electrodes extend laterally across the ion flow path and apply an electric field to the ions that is switchable between a relatively low magnitude alternating field that varies in magnitude over multiple periods and an asymmetric alternating field of sufficiently high magnitude to cause differential mobility effects. A collector collects the passed ions, and an indication of the nature of the analyte substance is produced from the collected ions passed during both the low and high field intervals. Also disclosed is the application of a substantially alternating field between the electrodes, which field varies between a low value and a higher value over a time exceeding that of the alternating period. |
| US08299418B2 |
Imaging device unit and photographing apparatus comprising a piezoelectric element mounted on a plate
Provided are an imaging device unit and a photographing apparatus. The imaging device unit includes an imaging device having an imaging plane on which an optical image of a subject is formed, wherein the imaging unit is configured to convert the optical image into an electrical signal; an optical unit disposed nearer to the subject than the imaging device; a plate that is mounted on a boundary portion of the optical unit, wherein at least an outer portion of the plate extends over an outer edge of the optical unit; a piezoelectric element that is mounted on the plate and configured to vibrate the plate and the optical unit; and a supporting frame that supports the at least outer portion of the plate extending over the outer edge of the optical unit. |
| US08299417B2 |
Variable optical attentuator (VOA) having an absorber for receiving residual light outputfrom the VOA
A variable optical attenuator (VOA), which may include a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, is configured such that a substantial part of an input signal is output on a first waveguide, and a relatively small part of the input signal may be output on a second waveguide due to manufacturing process variations and/or other non-idealities. Such residual or extraneous light may interfere with light in the first waveguide, especially if the VOA is integrated on substrate. Accordingly, consistent with an aspect of the present disclosure, a photodiode may be provided to receive and absorb the residual light, thereby minimizing interference or cross-talk with light in the first waveguide. |
| US08299413B2 |
Method for pixel shift calculation in digital subtraction angiography and X-ray diagnostic imaging system for generating images in digital subtraction angiography
An X-ray diagnostic imaging system for generating images in digital subtraction angiography is proposed. A mask image frame of a patient and a series of live image frames of the patient acquired in the same imaging position of the mask frame acquisition are accessed. One of the mask and the live image frames is contrast-enhanced. Possible shift vectors in a region of interest are assumed being a difference vector between the mask and a respective live image frame and a scoring is calculated. Possible shift vector with the highest scoring is chosen as an elected shift vector. A likelihood representing a quality value of the elected shift vector is calculated. The mask image frame is shifted with respect to the respective live image frame by a modified shift vector depending on the likelihood. The shifted mask image frame is subtracted from the respective live image frame and is displayed. |
| US08299412B2 |
Intelligent solar panel array
An intelligent solar panel array is disclosed. The array comprises a master panel and a plurality of client panels connected by a predetermined scheme. All panels further comprise a plurality of solar energy collection modules, a supporting, pivoting and tilting mechanism, a controller and a short range communication unit. The communication units of panels form an ad hoc communication network. The master panel further comprises another communication unit for communicating with a server through an existing communication network such as the Internet. At a moment of operation, the optimized position of the master panel towards the sun is determined by measuring current-voltage curve at multiple positions. The optimized position is transmitted to all client panels through the ad hoc communication network. All panels therefore generate electrical power based upon the optimized positions towards the sun. |
| US08299411B2 |
Control surface actuation system
Systems for controlling flow effector control surfaces. The system comprises a flow effector control coupled to an elongated bar at one end of the bar. The elongated bar is coupled at the other end to the middle of a T-shaped member. A compliant link is coupled to the bar between the control surface and the T-shaped member. At each end of the T-shaped member is coupled a shape memory alloy wire which acts as an actuating means. When one of the shape memory alloy wire contracts, the elongated bar pivots about the compliant link and activates or retracts the flow effector control surface. |
| US08299409B2 |
Fuzzy logic-based control of microwave dryers
A fuzzy logic-based system and method for controlling the drying of material by a microwave applicator. The system includes power output controller that controls applicator output power; material sensor that detects amount of material in the applicator; and fuzzy logic controller that receives a signal from the material sensor indicating the current amount of material in the applicator and adjusts the microwave output power based on the current amount of material in accordance with fuzzy logic rules by sending a control signal to the power output controller. A membership function divides the expected range for the amount of material into multiple regions, each region having precomputed regional output settings. The regional output settings of the regions that include the current amount of material are used to compute the control signal. |
| US08299405B2 |
Household appliance for heating liquid
Household electrical appliance for heating liquid including a tank, a heating element having at least one resistive track screen-printed on an electrically insulating plate secured to part of said tank, and a device controlling the electrical supply of said heating element. The control device includes several electronic components among which are at least one thermometric component, a switching component capable of opening and closing the electrical power supply circuit for said heating element, and a control component for controlling said switching component according to signals output from said thermometric component. At least said thermometric, switching and control components are located on said insulating plate within a single area free of resistive track, said area being surrounded by a peripheral region free of resistive track and of electronic components. |
| US08299402B2 |
Disassemblable structure, electric equipment and non-electric equipment having disassemblable structure, and disassembling method
The present invention relates to a disassemblable structure including: a double-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or a double-coated pressure sensitive adhesive sheet including a substrate and pressure-sensitive adhesive layers formed on both surfaces of the substrate, at least one of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layers being a thermal foaming agent-containing pressure-sensitive adhesive layer; a heating element which foams the thermal foaming agent-containing pressure-sensitive adhesive layer by heating; and a pair of adherends joined to each other through the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet and the heating element. |
| US08299397B2 |
Laser dicing apparatus and dicing method
Performing a high precision dicing without being affected by a step on a wafer surface, and preventing a particle generation caused by ablation is enabled. A laser dicing apparatus (10), which forms a reformed layer in a wafer (W) by irradiating the wafer (W) with a laser beam, includes: a condensing lens (26) that condenses the laser beam; an astigmatic optical measuring section (29) that measures an unevenness of a surface of the wafer (W) based on the laser beam radiated by a laser oscillating apparatus (21); an actuator (27) that moves the condensing lens (26) to adjust the position of the condensing point of the laser beam; and a control section (50) that controls the actuator (27). The control section (50) switches between a control based on the unevenness measured by the astigmatic optical measuring section (29) and a control for maintaining the position of the condensing lens (26) constant, in accordance with the position of the laser beam. |
| US08299394B2 |
Approach for assembling and repairing probe assemblies using laser welding
An approach for assembling and repairing probe assemblies using laser welding includes aligning a beam element to a post element on a probe substrate. The beam element is positioned in contact with the post element on the probe substrate. The beam element is then attached to the post element on the probe substrate by laser welding the beam element to the post element on the probe substrate. The approach may include the use of a vacuum capillary pickup tool to align and position the beam element. The vacuum capillary pickup tool may also operate in conjunction with a laser beam delivery system for guiding the laser beam to the correct location for welding and also to assist in removing gases and debris attributable to the laser welding process. The approach allows probe elements to be connected directly to a probe substrate without requiring an intermediate layer. |
| US08299393B2 |
Selective thermal conditioning components on a PCB
An embodiment of the invention comprises a method associated with a PCB having a first component, and a second component, that has substantially less thermal mass than the first component. During an initial time period, the PCB and its components are placed at an initial position proximate to a first heat source, which is operable to provide heat energy in accordance with a thermal profile comprising successive phases. After the initial time period, the first heat source is operated during each of the phases in accordance with the thermal profile to selectively apply heat to the PCB and to the plurality of components thereon. During the initial time period or a specified one of the phases, selectively, heat energy from a focused heat source is directed only to the first component, and not to other components. |
| US08299392B2 |
Rotating laser welding pressure unit
A laser welding pressure unit comprises a housing, a rotating element, and a foot. The housing may attach to a laser head. The rotating element may include an outer ring rotatably coupled to an inner ring, wherein the outer ring is coupled to the housing. The foot may couple to the inner ring such that the foot rotates with respect to the housing. The foot may also be configured to contact an upper surface of a metal sheet and may be oriented such that while the metal sheet is being welded, the foot rotates about a central vertical axis and the laser welding pressure unit is able to move in any direction without the foot breaking contact with the surface. |
| US08299385B2 |
Valve for gas circuit breaker and gas circuit breaker with the same
Disclosed are a valve for a gas circuit breaker, and a gas circuit breaker having the same. The gas circuit breaker comprises a cylinder constituting appearance of the gas circuit breaker, and providing a gas flow path therein, a partition plate having passing holes, and configured to partition inside of the cylinder, a sleeve concentrically disposed in the cylinder, a valve body inserted into the sleeve, and mounted below the partition plate so as to perform a reciprocation along the sleeve, an elastic means configured to upwardly apply an elastic force on a bottom surface of the valve body, and a blocking plate inserted into the sleeve, and mounted between the valve body and the partition plate so as to be moveable in upper and lower directions, wherein the valve body is provided with discharge openings, and the discharge openings are open and closed by movements of the blocking plate. |
| US08299383B2 |
Push switch
A push switch includes a housing, a button slidably connected to the housing including a protrusion protruding therefrom, a first elastic member, and a securing member. The securing member includes a rotating block rotatably connected to the housing defining a recess and a second elastic member. The protrusion drives the rotating block to rotate when the button is pushed. After the external force has ceased, the button and the rotating block move back by the rebounding force of elastic members, respectively. The button stays in the predetermined position when the protrusion is retained in the recess. The protrusion disengages from the rotating block when the button is driven again. After the external force has ceased, the rotating block moves to an initial state by the rebounding force of the second elastic member. The button moves to its initial state by the rebounding force of the first elastic member. |
| US08299382B2 |
Key switch and keyboard
A key switch including a base section, a key top, a pair of link members and a switching mechanism. Each link member is provided, at one end region thereof, with a toothed portion meshable with a toothed portion of another link member in a gearing manner and a pivot axle pivotably joined to the base section, and at another end region, with a slide portion slidably engaged with the key top. The base section includes a support plate and a frame member, the frame member being fixedly attached to the upper surface of the support plate. The frame member is provided with a bearing portion pivotably receiving and supporting the pivot axle of each link member. The first end region of each link member is disposed on a lateral side of the frame member and closely to the upper surface of the support plate. |
| US08299378B2 |
Position indicating device
Disclosed is a position indicating device for a pull-out type circuit breaker used to cut off a current, the position indicating device including a position indicating plate installed at a lower surface of the circuit breaker to be rotatable up and down and having an arrow marked thereon, an indication supporter installed at a cradle and having stepped pressing surfaces for pressing up the position indicating plate, and a frame portion of a movable carriage, the frame portion having windows for externally showing a rotated state of the position indicating plate, whereby when the circuit breaker is docked with the cradle, the position indicating plate is rotated by the indication supporter so as to indicate the position of the circuit breaker through the windows, thereby allowing a fast and precise recognition of the position of the circuit breaker. |
| US08299372B2 |
Antenna universal mount joint connectors
An antenna mount assembly is disclosed. The antenna mount assembly includes an output contact and an antenna mount body. The antenna mount body includes an output portion, a shielding compartment for housing and electromagnetically shielding a connection between a coaxial cable and the output contact, and an access port to permit access to the shielding compartment around the connection between the coaxial cable and the output contact. An antenna mount nut is mechanically attachable to the output portion of the antenna mount body. The antenna mount nut is configured for mechanically attaching an antenna to the antenna mount body. The output contact is coupled to the antenna mount body. The output contact extends from the output portion and into the shielding compartment for electrically connecting the coaxial cable to the output portion. Antenna mount bodies, connector assemblies and methods of making and installing antenna mounts, and connectors are also disclosed. |
| US08299371B2 |
Circuitized substrate with dielectric interposer assembly and method
A circuitized substrate and method of making same in which quantities of thru-holes are formed within a dielectric interposer layer. The substrate includes two printed circuit board (PCB) layers bonded to opposing sides of the interposer with electrically conductive features of each PCB aligned with the interposer thru-holes. Resistive paste is positioned on the conductive features located adjacent the thru-holes to form controlled electrically resistive connections between conductive features of the two PCBs. A circuitized substrate assembly and method of making same are also disclosed. |
| US08299364B2 |
Grommet
A grommet includes a smaller diameter tubular section, an increasing diameter tubular section, and a larger diameter tubular section. The smaller diameter tubular section is connected through the increasing diameter tubular section to the larger diameter tubular section in an axial direction. A U-shape folded portion is provided on a connecting portion (a middle diameter tubular section) between the smaller diameter tubular section and the increasing diameter tubular section. A flap section that spreads conically toward the increasing diameter tubular section is provided on an outer periphery of the smaller diameter tubular section or an outer periphery of the folded portion. The folded portion is stretched straightly when the grommet is inserted into a through-hole. When a vehicle body latching recess is engaged with a peripheral edge around the through-hole, the folded portion returns to the original shape, and a distal end peripheral edge of the flap section contacts with a vehicle body panel at a passenger room side to define a sound absorbing closed space. |
| US08299361B2 |
Method and terminal device for implementing audio connector interface conversion
A method for implementing audio connector interface conversion is provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes installing a 4-pin jack of an audio connector inside a terminal device, and connecting the power end, signal end, and grounding end of an infrared interface on the terminal service control unit and the serial signal transmitting end, serial signal receiving end, power end, and grounding end on the terminal service control unit directly or through a logical circuit unit to the four connecting ends on the jack of the audio connector. In the technical scheme provided in an embodiment of the present invention, control and switching can be performed on the basis of the working mode, so that the electronic terminal device with an audio interface can use its audio interface to provide an infrared signal interface and a serial communication port. |
| US08299360B2 |
Busbar and electrical junction box incorporating the same
A busbar includes a first busbar component as a busbar body and a second busbar component connected thereto. The first busbar component is made of an electrically-conductive metal material having superior spring property. The first busbar component includes a male-terminal-connecting portion for clamping a male terminal of a device and a power input part provided upstream of the male-terminal-connecting portion. The second busbar component is made of an electrically-conductive metal material having electrical conductivity superior to that of the first busbar component. The second busbar component is connected to the first busbar component via a first section of the second busbar component in register with the power input part of the first busbar component and a second section of the second busbar component in register with a portion of the first busbar component, the portion being upstream of the male-terminal-connecting portion at which the current is divided. |
| US08299358B2 |
Outlet or switch panel
A panel for mounting to a power outlet or switch comprises a panel holder configured to secure to the power outlet or switch. A slide lock is configured to clip onto the panel holder in a sliding way. A panel case is configured to clip to the slide lock. The panel case is secured to the panel holder through the slide lock. |
| US08299351B2 |
Epitaxial growth of III-V compounds on (111) silicon for solar cells
A multi-junction device can be used as a high efficiency solar cell, laser, or light-emitting diode. Multiple epitaxial films grown over a substrate have very low defect densities because an initial epitaxial layer is a coincidence-site lattice (CSL) layer that has III-V atoms that fit into lattice sites of Silicon atoms in the substrate. The substrate is a Si (111) substrate which has a step height between adjacent terraces on its surface that closely matches the step height of GaAs (111). Any anti-phase boundaries (APBs) formed at terrace steps cancel out within a few atomic layers of GaAs in the (111) orientation since the polarity of the GaAs molecule is aligned with the (111) direction. A low CSL growth temperature grows GaAs horizontally along Si terraces before vertical growth. Tunnel diode and active solar-cell junction layers can be grown over the CSL at higher temperatures. |
| US08299350B2 |
Solar cell module and method for manufacturing the same
With the method for manufacturing the solar cell module 100 according to the present embodiment, the width W1 of the connection region C in which the wiring member 11 and the connecting electrode 40 are electrically connected is set to be larger than the substantially half of the width W2 of the wiring member 11 in the thermocompression bonding process of the wiring member 11 using the resin adhesive 12 including the particles 13 onto the principal surface of the solar cell 10. |
| US08299342B2 |
Board capable of generating a harmonic sound
A board includes a board body having a striking face and first and second symmetric axes defined in the striking face and perpendicular to each other and intersect with each other at a center of the striking face. The body includes first and second edges symmetric to each other relative to the first symmetric axis. The body further includes first and second wavy edges symmetric to each other relative to the second symmetric axis. The striking face is surrounded by the first and second edges and the first and second wavy edges. When an area around the center of the striking face is stricken, a plurality of natural frequencies is generated. The overtones of the natural frequencies are approximately integer multiple of the fundamental frequency, providing a harmonic sound and enhancing the sweetness of the sound. |
| US08299341B2 |
Fabrication of vertically aligned metallic nanopillars
Solid and hollow cylindrical nanopillars with nanoscale diameters are provided. Also provides is a method of making such nanopillars using electron beam lithography followed by the electroplating. |
| US08299323B2 |
AXMI-010, a delta-endotoxin gene and methods for its use
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, as well as variants thereof. |
| US08299319B2 |
Plants having improved growth characteristics and a method for making the same
The present invention concerns a method for improving plant growth characteristics by increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a CCS52 protein and/or by increasing level and/or activity in a plant of a CCS52 protein. The invention also relates to transgenic plants having improved growth characteristics, such as increased plant size, increased organ size or increased number of organs, which plants have increased expression of a nucleic acid encoding a CCS52 protein. |
| US08299316B2 |
Hemostatic device
A hemostatic device comprising (i) a carrier comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate, cellulose acetate phthalate; polyvinylacetate phthalate, cellulose acetate phthalate, acetaldehyde dimethylcellulose acetate, polymethacrylate-based polymers, and derivatives, salts, copolymers or combinations thereof; and (ii) thrombin. |
| US08299315B2 |
Method and apparatus for converting organic material
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for intensifying the energy content of an organic material by converting the material into hydrocarbons and the resulting product thereof. A method for converting an organic material into hydrocarbon fuels is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of pressurizing said organic material being in a fluid to a pressure above 225 bar, heating said organic material in said fluid to a temperature above 200 C in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst comprising a compound of at least one element of group IA of the periodic table of elements. The disclosed method further comprises the steps of contacting said organic material in said fluid with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a compound of at least one element of group IVB of the periodic table and/or alpha-alumina assuring that said fluid has initially a pH value of above 7. |
| US08299314B2 |
Method and system for regenerating catalyst from a plurality of hydrocarbon conversion apparatuses
The present invention is directed to a method and system for integrating a catalyst regeneration system with a plurality of hydrocarbon conversion apparatuses, preferably, a plurality of multiple riser reactor units. One embodiment of the present invention is a reactor system including a plurality of reactor units, at least one reactor unit preferably comprising a plurality of riser reactors. The system also includes a regenerator for converting an at least partially deactivated catalyst to a regenerated catalyst. A first conduit system transfers the at least partially deactivated catalyst from the reactor units to the regenerator, and a second conduit system transfers regenerating catalysts from the regenerator to the plurality of reactor units. Optionally, catalysts from a plurality of hydrocarbon conversion apparatuses may be directed to a single stripping unit and/or a single regeneration unit. |
| US08299311B2 |
Process for reacting iso-pentane
A process for reacting an iso-pentane with an olefinic feedstock, comprising: a) partially converting one or more olefins in the olefinic feedstock with an ionic liquid catalyst to make a converted olefinic feedstock, wherein linear internal olefins remain unconverted; and b) alkylating the converted olefinic feedstock with the iso-pentane. A process, comprising: alkylating an iso-pentane with a converted olefinic feedstock comprising at least 5 wt % C5 olefins, wherein the C5 olefins in the converted olefinic feedstock are predominantly 2-pentene, to make a naphtha and a middle distillate, and wherein a formation of iso-butane during the alkylating is low. Also a process, comprising: a) partially converting an olefinic feedstock comprising at least 15 wt % iso-pentene to make a converted olefinic feedstock, wherein the iso-pentene is reduced and an amount of 2-pentene is retained; and b) alkylating the iso-pentane with the converted olefinic feedstock to make a naphtha and a middle distillate. |
| US08299310B2 |
Processes for catalytic conversion of lignin to liquid bio-fuels and novel bio-fuels
Processes for conversion of lignin to products such as phenolic compounds and biofuels prepared from such phenolic compounds are disclosed and described. A process for conversion of a lignin material to bio-fuels can include subjecting the lignin material to a base catalyzed depolymerization reaction to produce a partially depolymerized lignin. The partially depolymerized lignin can then be subjected to a stabilization/partial hydrodeoxygenation reaction to form a partially hydrodeoxygenated product. Following partial hydrodeoxygenation, the partially hydrodeoxygenated product can be reacted in a hydroprocessing step to form a bio-fuel. Each of these reaction steps can be performed in single or multiple steps, depending on the design of the process. The production of an intermediate partially hydrodeoxygenation product and subsequent reaction thereof can significantly reduce or eliminate reactor plugging and catalyst coking. A variety of useful bio-fuels such as fuels, fuel additives, and the like, including gasoline and jet or rocket fuels are describe which can be readily produced from renewable lignin materials in an improved conversion process. |
| US08299309B2 |
Synthesis of hydrofluoroalkanols and hydrofluoroalkenes
Described herein is a process for the manufacture of hydrofluoroalkanols of the structure RfCFClCHROH. Also described herein are methods of manufacturing hydrofluoroalkenes of the structure RfCF═CHR from halofluorocarbons of the structure RfCFX2. In particular, 2,3,3,3,-tetrafluoro-1-propene may be manufactured with this process. Also described are compounds of the formula RfCFClCHROC(═O)R′. |
| US08299308B2 |
Specific branched aldehydes, alcohols, surfactants, and consumer products based thereon
A process for preparing a detergent alcohol mixture comprising the steps of providing one or more poly-branched poly-olefins, wherein the poly-branched poly-olefins must contain one non-branched terminal olefin and one or more additional branched olefins in the molecule; hydroformylating said poly-branched poly-olefins to produce a poly-branched olefin containing aldehyde product with one or more olefins or mixture thereof; reducing the aldehyde product of step (b) in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst to form a poly-branched detergent alcohol mixture; and removing said poly-branched alcohol mixture from said catalyst and branched aldehydes, alcohols and surfactants produced from the products of this process. |
| US08299307B2 |
Alkynyl phenyl derivative compounds for treating ophthalmic diseases and disorders
Provided are alkynyl phenyl derivative compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of treating ophthalmic diseases and disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt's Disease, using said compounds and compositions. |
| US08299300B2 |
Method for preparing difluoroacetic acid and salts thereof
The invention relates to a method for preparing difluoroacetic acid and the salts thereof. The invention also relates to the preparation of difluoroacetyl fluoride used as an intermediate product in the preparation of difluoroacetic acid. The method for preparing difluoroacetic acid according to the invention is characterized in that the same comprises the step of preparing difluoroacetyl fluoride by reacting dichloroacetyl chloride with hydrofluoric acid in a gaseous phase and in the presence of a chromium-based catalyst, followed by the step of hydrolysing the difluoroacetyl fluoride thus obtained. |
| US08299297B2 |
Process for the production of glycolic acid
Process for the production of glycolic acid by contacting carbon monoxide and formaldehyde with a catalyst containing an acidic polyoxometalate compound encapsulated within the pores of a zeolite. The zeolite has cages larger than the acidic polyoxometalate compound, and has pores with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the acidic polyoxometalate compound. |
| US08299293B2 |
Process for preparing α-keto acids and derivatives thereof
A method for preparing α-keto acids, especially α-ketomethionine, and/or derivatives thereof, whereby an aldehyde is reacted with thiols to give a corresponding dithioacetal, the dithioacetal formed, is reacted with an electrophile in the presence of a strong base, and the resulting α,α-(dithio)carboxylic acid is solvolyzed with acid-catalysis to release thiol and give the α-keto acid or a derivative thereof. Umpolung of aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes is effected by reaction with thiols. |
| US08299287B2 |
Metallocene compounds, catalysts comprising them, process for producing an olefin polymer by use of the catalysts, and olefin homo- and copolymers
Certain metallocene compounds are provided that, when used as a component in a supported polymerization catalyst under industrially relevant polymerization conditions, afford high molar mass homo polymers or copolymers like polypropylene or propylene/ethylene copolymers without the need for any α-branched substituent in either of the two available 2-positions of the indenyl ligands. The substituent in the 2-position of one indenyl ligand can be any radical comprising hydrogen, methyl, or any other C2-C40 hydrocarbon which is not branched in the α-position, and the substituent in the 2-position of the other indenyl ligand can be any C4-C40 hydrocarbon radical with the proviso that this hydrocarbon radical is branched in the β-position. This metallocene topology affords high melting point, very high molar mass homo polypropylene and very high molar mass propylene-based copolymers. The activity/productivity levels of catalysts including the metallocenes of the present invention are exceptionally high. |
| US08299286B2 |
Source reagent compositions and method for forming metal films on a substrate by chemical vapor deposition
A β-diketonate alkoxide metal compound and a source reagent composition are provided. The β-diketonate alkoxide metal compound may include a metal M selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Ti, Zr, Hf, Pr, V, Nb, Ta, Nd, Cr, W, Pm, Mn, Re, Sm, Fe, Ru, Eu, Co, Rh, Ir, Gd, Ni, Tb, Cu, Dy, Ho, Al, Tl, Er, Sn, Pb, Tm, Bi, Lu, Th, Pd, Pt, Ga, In, Au, Ag, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mo, and Yb. The metal may be complexed to at least one alkoxide ligand and one β-diketonate ligand. |
| US08299285B2 |
Compounds for imaging and therapy
A metal complex of formula (III) wherein: M is a transition metal and A1, A2, X, X′, Y, L1′, R1′ and R2′ are as defined herein, is useful in medical imaging and therapy. |
| US08299283B2 |
Contrast agent containing silsesquioxane
The present invention provides a contrast agent which ensures 1) high contrast performance, 2) low toxicity, and 3) a simple production process.The present invention provides a contrast agent containing a silsesquioxane represented by General Formula (I), wherein R1, the same or different, is a substituent bonded to Si through a carbon atom, the substituent having, at its terminal, a group represented by General Formula (II), wherein p represents an integer of from 1 to 5; q is the same or different, and represents an integer of from 1 to 5; R2 is the same or different, and represents hydrogen atom, alkyl group, aralkyl group or acyl group, or a group represented by General Formula (III), wherein p, q and R2 are the same as above. |
| US08299282B2 |
Continuous method for the heterogenically catalyzed esterification of fatty acids
Continuous method for the esterification of free fatty acids in plant and animal fats with alcohols using a heterogenic acid catalyst. |
| US08299281B2 |
Process for making triglyceride plasticizer from crude glycerol
Provided are processes for making, and processes for using triglycerides as plasticizers. Mixed triglyceride plasticizers can be produced by recovery of linear or branched C4 to C13 aldehydes from a hydroformylation product, oxidation to the acid with oxygen and/or air, recovery of the resulting acid, and esterification with a crude glycerol, wherein the total carbon number of the triester groups is from 20 to 25 for greater than or equal to 45 wt % of the plasticizer. The product selectivity obtained from esterifying with crude glycerol is comparable to that of esterifying with pure glycerol. Such plasticizers can be phthalate-free and provide outstanding properties including a suitable melting or glass transition or pour point, low volatility, increased compatibility, and excellent low temperature properties in a range of polymeric resins. |
| US08299279B2 |
Semi-synthetic process for the preparation of taxane derivatives
This invention relates to an improved semi-synthetic process for the preparation of taxane derivatives like paclitaxel, docetaxel, canadensol and its derivatives, the process, which has shorten reaction route, simple procedure, high yield and low materials cost, therefore facilitates the commercial manufacture of these derivatives. |
| US08299276B2 |
Interlocked molecules and related components, compositions, methods and systems
[c2] daisy chain macromers, dimers and polymers and related compositions, materials, methods and systems are described. |
| US08299272B2 |
Process for production of fused ring compound
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a fused ring compound, with which a fused ring compound that has excellent charge transport property and that has excellent solubility in solvents can be obtained efficiently. The method of the present invention for manufacturing a fused ring compound involves reacting a compound expressed by the following General Formula (1a) and a compound expressed by the following General Formula (1b) in the presence of an amine and a metal complex catalyst: (where Ar11 and Ar12 are each independently an atom group constituting an aromatic ring or a heterocyclic ring; X11 and X12 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, and at least one is a halogen atom; and R11 and R12 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkylamino group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, or a cyano group, provided that at least one of R11 and R12 is not a hydrogen atom). |