| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08311885B2 |
System for display advertising optimization using click or conversion performance
An advertisement impression distribution system includes a data processing system operable to generate an allocation plan for serving advertisement impressions. The allocation plan allocates a first portion of advertisement impressions to satisfy guaranteed demand and a second portion of advertisement impressions to satisfy nonguaranteed demand. The data processing system includes an optimizer configured to establish a relationship between the first portion of advertisement impressions and the second portion of advertisement impressions. The relationship defines a range of proportions of allocation of the first portion and the second portion. The optimizer generates a solution maximizing guaranteed demand fairness, non-guaranteed demand revenue, and click value. The solution identifies a determined proportion of the first portion of advertisement impressions to serve and a determined proportion of the second portion of advertisement impressions to serve. The data processing system outputs the allocation plan to control serving of the advertisement impressions. |
| US08311884B2 |
System for allocating advertising inventory in a unified marketplace
An advertisement impression distribution system includes a data processing system operable to generate an allocation plan for serving advertisement impressions. The allocation plan allocates a first portion of advertisement impressions to satisfy guaranteed demand and a second portion of advertisement impressions to satisfy non-guaranteed demand. The data processing system includes an optimizer to establish a relationship between the first portion and the second portion. The relationship defines a range of possible proportions of allocation of the first portion and the second portion. The optimizer generates indicia in accordance with maximizing guaranteed demand fairness or representativeness, maximizing non-guaranteed revenue, and minimizing under-delivery penalties, where the indicia indentifies a determined proportion of the first portion to serve and a determined proportion of the second portion to serve. The data processing system outputs the allocation plan including the indicia to control serving of the advertisement impressions in the determined proportions. |
| US08311883B2 |
Method and system for sorting online advertisements
A method and system for sorting online advertisements to enable users of online advertising networks, auctions, merchants, etc. to identify known or trusted parties are provided. Users designate other users as friends. When a user searches for or browses through advertisements, those advertisements posted by the user's friends are easily identified. Advertisements posted by members of the user's network (i.e., friends of the user's friends) are also easily identified. |
| US08311882B2 |
System and method for forecasting an inventory of online advertisement impressions for targeting impression attributes
An improved system and method for forecasting an inventory of online advertisement impressions for targeting profiles of attributes is provided. An index of advertisement impressions on display advertising properties may be built for a targeting profile of attributes from forecasted impression pools. Impression pools of advertisements sharing the same attributes and trend forecast data for web pages and advertisement placements on the web pages may be integrated to generate the forecasted impression pools. An index of several index tables may be generated from forecasted impression pools. A query may be submitted to obtain an inventory forecast of advertisement impressions for targeting profiles of attributes and the index may be searched to match forecasted impression pools for the targeted profile of attributes. Then the inventory forecast of advertisement impressions on display advertising properties may be returned as query results for the targeting profile of attributes. |
| US08311881B2 |
Rewards for unseen web site activity
A method for maintaining a website by providing rewards for indirect unseen activities is disclosed. Individual reviewers are rewarded for reviewing and assigning rating scores to articles of media as a part of panel of reviewers consisting of more that one individual reviewer. The score from each individual reviewer does not directly determine whether or not the article of media is accepted and can be viewed by others, rather it is the score from the collective panel. Further, reviewers are rewarded for reviewing even if the media clip is rejected and cannot be viewed by others. Thus, reviewers are rewarded for their indirect unseen activities. |
| US08311880B1 |
Supplier performance and accountability system
A method and apparatus for measuring, managing and improving the quality and performance of supplied products and services across a large and potentially very diverse organization or enterprise. The invention provides a more accurate and comprehensive view of a supplier's overall quality and performance record than conventional systems and methods because it features real-time, interactive access to both quantitative and qualitative performance data throughout the entire life of the supplied product or service. The invention provides this real-time interactive access to the quality and performance data at multiple levels of detail according to user preference. In addition, the invention utilizes supplemental supplier performance indicators, such as customer satisfaction survey results and contract and diversity compliance statistics, to bring key supplier quality and performance issues into sharper focus, and provides corrective action plans to improve supplier quality, performance and accountability throughout and across an entire organization or enterprise. |
| US08311879B2 |
System and method for customer value creation
A system and related methods used by an organization to collect, manage, analyze and act on data (i.e., manage “customer value creation” or “CVC”) from customers. The system may be used by organizations without depending on consultants to manage customer value creation. The system comprises an integrated dataset and schema, termed “Customer Value Creation Data,” which comprises three data types: Differential Value Proposition; Demand Influence; and Opportunities. Differential Value Proposition is the ability of the organization's products and services to positively impact their customer's bottom line relative to the organization's competitors. The ability to create a DVP can be correlated to the investments and strategies made by the organization on an ongoing basis. The connection between an organization's investments and strategies, and their customer's bottom line, comprises three parts: the investments and strategies that an organization makes (Value Attributes); the relative importance or impact each investment or strategy has on a customer's bottom line (Value Attribute Scores); and the combined, quantified economic or financial impact that all the Value Attributes have on a customer's bottom line or profitability (Differential Value Proposition Percentage, or “DVP %”). The system may be embodied in a computer program that implements modules in the appropriate order, collects and stores relevant data, and perform necessary calculations. The program may be run through an Internet web browser. |
| US08311876B2 |
Computer-implemented systems and methods for behavioral identification of non-human web sessions
Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for analyzing session data generated by a website in response to a visitor requesting data from the website. A system and method can be configured for receiving the session data and analyzing the session data to determine a plurality of website interaction behavioral metrics of the session data. The website interaction behavioral metrics of the session data are compared to detection settings. A determination is made as to whether the visitor to the website was human or non-human based upon the comparing step. |
| US08311872B2 |
Computer modeling of project management process
Computer modeling process of project management based on Monte Carlo simulation of average quantum mechanical wave function of the project milestone predicting the project delay or project cost increase, based on presenting project milestones as superposition of wave functions of all tasks, averaged over multiple project samples, with each task's duration randomly distributed around its scheduled value. |
| US08311870B1 |
Computer-implemented method and computer program to assist in managing supplier capacity
A computer-implemented method to assist in managing supplier capacity to supply a supplied unit to at least a first user of the supplied unit by at least one supplier, for a series of periods, based on data as of a reference date, the series of periods being in the future relative to the reference date, comprising calculating a supplier capacity contingency ratio for each period, the supplier capacity contingency ratio for each period being a ratio between, a difference between the supplier future load for that period and the supplier reference-date available capacity for that period, and the supplier available capacity for that period. A computer-readable information storage device containing computer-executable instructions to carry out this method. |
| US08311869B2 |
Alert distribution and management system and interface components
A method for distributing product alerts among a plurality of facilities is provided. The method includes receiving alerts, processing the alerts into an alert repository, providing an interface to an external system, receiving, via the interface, a request from the external system for an alert related to a product at the facility, extracting the alert from the alert repository, and sending, via the interface, the alert to the external system. A system for managing product alert handling at a facility is also provided. The system includes an alert processor and an interface component. The alert processor maintains a database. The interface component receives a request from an external system for alert handling data, retrieves the alert handling data from the database, sends the data to the external system, receives an action based on the data from the external system, and implements the action to manage alert handling at the facility. |
| US08311861B1 |
Development and maintenance synergy tracker
A method of estimating synergy in a development process is provided. Project hours spent during a baseline time period by an adopted application in support of a phased-out application are estimated. Project hours spent during a subsequent time period by the adopted application in support of the phased-out application are estimated. Estimated project hours spent in the subsequent time period are subtracted from estimated project hours spent in the baseline time period to determine an indirect synergy result. Hours spent in the subsequent time period by the phased-out application are subtracted from hours spent in the baseline time period by the phased-out application to determine a direct synergy result. The direct synergy result is added to the indirect synergy result to create a combined synergy result to display to a development process user. |
| US08311859B2 |
Method and system for determining an optimal low fare for a trip
A method for determining an optimal fare for a trip comprising a departure location, an arrival location, the method comprises the following steps: sending a request for the trip wherein the request comprises a departure location, an arrival location and a corresponding fare for the trip; automatically modifying the request by searching in a predetermined database to determine a set of additional requests wherein each comprises at least one of the departure location, the arrival location or one or more additional locations which may form at least a part of the requested route wherein the predetermined database comprises said additional requests and a corresponding fare for each additional request; selecting one or more additional requests to form one or more alternative requests which include at least on of the departure location or the arrival location as the request; calculating the up to date fares for each alternative request in order to determine a resulting fare for each alternative request; comparing the fare and the resulting fares in order to determine the lowest resulting fare for the trip. |
| US08311858B2 |
Vehicle monitoring system
A data logging device tracks the operation of a vehicle or driver actions. The device includes a storage device, which may be removable or portable, having a first memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in a vehicle and a second memory portion that may be read from and may be written to in the vehicle. The second memory portion may retain data attributes associated with the data stored in the first removable storage device. A processor reads data from an automotive bus that transfers data from vehicle sensors to other automotive components. The processor writes data to the first memory portion and the second memory portion that reflect a level of risk or safety. A communication device links the storage device to a network of computers. The communication device may be accessible through software that allows a user to access files. |
| US08311856B1 |
Communication of insurance claim data
Aspects of the invention include methods and systems for a vehicle insurance claim management application which improves communication and streamline tasks between a vehicle repair shop and an insurance company system in three general task groups: assignment (comprising work requests, estimates/photos, and reinspections), financial management, and performance measurement. Aspects of the invention also provide interoperability with different types of estimating systems that do not necessarily follow an industry standard. This interoperability is provided through an adapter module with a claim processing system to communicate with the insurance company system and the vehicle insurance claim management application. The invention is preferably accessed by a user over a computer network such as the Internet, from a remote location such as a vehicle repair shop. |
| US08311854B1 |
Medical quality performance measurement reporting facilitator
A system and process evaluate the presence and absence of particular quality measure codes in a set of patient records and provide a medical service provider with options for taking corrective action when a quality measure code that should be in a patient's record is missing. Patient records are selected based on specific medical condition code combinations along with specifications with age and gender criteria. A quality measure identifier uniquely identifies a set of specification criteria, medical condition criteria, and quality measure criteria. |
| US08311853B1 |
Method and system for enrolling in a medication compliance packaging program
A method and system facilitate enrollment of a customer in a medication compliance packaging program. The medication compliance packaging program facilitates proper dosing of each included medication dispensing each medication in a customized package and thereby serving as a personalized, prepackaged pill organizer. The compliance package groups all of the customer's daily pills, separated by the day and time of day that the customer takes each dose. The disclosed method and system provide a convenient means for a customer to enroll in the program, select prescription medications to include in the medication compliance packaging, and set up a dose schedule for each medication. |
| US08311852B2 |
Medical information management apparatus
A medical information management apparatus is provided which enables the person in charge of the medical services to easily keep track of the amount of services. In a medical information management apparatus according to the present invention, a task information storing unit stores the information indicating the completion of task execution or the progress of task to be executed for the task generated in a plurality of the medical services. A task number counting unit counts for each medical service the number of the tasks to be executed, and a display control unit displays for the respective medical service the number of the counted tasks on a display apparatus. |
| US08311846B2 |
Target outcome based provision of one or more templates
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: receiving one or more requests indicating at least one or more target outcomes of one or more particular templates, the one or more particular templates designed to facilitate one or more end users to achieve the one or more target outcomes when one or more emulatable aspects included in the one or more particular templates are emulated; and providing from a plurality of templates the one or more particular templates, the providing being based at least on the one or more particular templates' association with the one or more target outcomes, the one or more particular templates developed based on one or more reported aspects of one or more source users In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08311844B2 |
Method and system for analyzing payload information
A method is provided for analyzing compliance of one or more pieces of equipment with a payload standard. A target payload for the one or more pieces of equipment is determined. Payload weight data is obtained for the one or more pieces of equipment. The payload weight data is then compared with the target payload, and compliance with the payload standard is analyzed based on the results of the comparison. |
| US08311842B2 |
Method and apparatus for expanding bandwidth of voice signal
A method and apparatus for expanding a bandwidth of an input narrowband voice signal is provided. The narrowband voice signal is analyzed separately for each frame, and a Degree of Voicing (DV) and a Degree of Stationary (DS) are calculated depending on the analysis. A Degree of Difficulty of Bandwidth Expansion (DDBWE) of the narrowband voice signal is calculated based on DV and DS. Bandwidth expansion is controlled according to DDBWE. |
| US08311834B1 |
Computerized information selection and download apparatus and methods
Methods and apparatus for providing information useful to a particular user of a computerized apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a portable computerized apparatus (such as for example a digital assistant or notebook computer) which obtains information configured according to a user profile after identification of the user via a short range wireless technology such as RFID. |
| US08311828B2 |
Keyword spotting using a phoneme-sequence index
In some aspects, a wordspotter is used to locate occurrences in an audio corpus of each of a set of predetermined subword units, which may be phoneme sequences. To locate a query (e.g., a keyword or phrase) in the audio corpus, constituent subword units in the query are indentified and then locations of those subwords are determined based on the locations of those subword units determined earlier by the wordspotter, for example, using a pre-built inverted index that maps subword units to their locations. |
| US08311824B2 |
Methods and apparatus for language identification
In a multi-lingual environment, a method and apparatus for determining a language spoken in a speech utterance. The method and apparatus test acoustic feature vectors extracted from the utterances against acoustic models associated with one or more of the languages. Speech to text is then performed for the language indicated by the acoustic testing, followed by textual verification of the resulting text. During verification, the resulting text is processed by language specific NLP and verified against textual models associated with the language. The system is self-learning, i.e., once a language is verified or rejected, the relevant feature vectors are used for enhancing one or more acoustic models associated with one or more languages, so that acoustic determination may improve. |
| US08311823B2 |
System and method for searching based on audio search criteria
A method of conducting a search includes tagging a user selected segment of audio content that includes search criteria to define an audio clip. The audio clip is captured from the audio content and transferred to a search support function to conduct a search based on the search criteria from the audio clip. |
| US08311822B2 |
Method and system of enabling intelligent and lightweight speech to text transcription through distributed environment
A system includes at least one wireless client device, a service manager, and a plurality of voice transcription servers. The service manager includes a resource management service and a profile management service. The client device communicates the presence of a voice transcription task to the resource management service. The resource management service surveys the plurality of voice transcription servers and selects one voice transcription server based on a set of predefined criteria. The resource management service then communicated an address of the selected server to the profile management service, which then transmits a trained voice profile or default profile to the selected server. The address of the selected server is then sent to the client device, which then transmits an audio stream to the server. Finally, the selected server transcribes the audio stream to a textual format. |
| US08311820B2 |
Speech recognition based on noise level
Presented is a method and system for speech recognition. The method includes determining a noise level in an environment, comparing the determined noise level with a predetermined noise level threshold value, using a first set of grammar for speech recognition, if the determined noise level is below the predetermined noise level threshold value, and using a second set of grammar for speech recognition, if the determined noise level is above the predetermined noise level threshold value. |
| US08311814B2 |
Efficient voice activity detector to detect fixed power signals
The present invention is directed to a voice activity detector that uses the periodicity of amplitude peaks and valleys to identify signals of substantially fixed power or having periodicity. |
| US08311813B2 |
Voice activity detection system and method
Discrimination between at least two classes of events in an input signal is carried out in the following way. A set of frames containing an input signal is received, and at least two different feature vectors are determined for each of said frames. Said at least two different feature vectors are classified using respective sets of preclassifiers trained for said at least two classes of events. Values for at least one weighting factor are determined based on outputs of said preclassifiers for each of said frames. A combined feature vector is calculated for each of said frames by applying said at least one weighting factor to said at least two different feature vectors. Said combined feature vector is classified using a set of classifiers trained for said at least two classes of events. |
| US08311812B2 |
Fast and accurate extraction of formants for speech recognition using a plurality of complex filters in parallel
A method and apparatus are provided for determining an instantaneous frequency and an instantaneous bandwidth of a speech resonance of a speech signal. The method includes receiving a speech signal having a real component; filtering the speech signal so as to generate a plurality of filtered signals such that the real component and an imaginary component of the speech signal are reconstructed; and generating a first estimated frequency and a first estimated bandwidth of a speech resonance of the speech signal based on both a first filtered signal of the plurality of filtered signals and a single-lag delay of the first filtered signal. |
| US08311804B2 |
On demand TTS vocabulary for a telematics system
A driving directions system loads into memory a limited subset of prerecorded, spoken utterances of geographic names from a mass media storage. The subset of spoken utterances may be limited, for example, to the geographic names within a predetermined radius (e.g., a few miles) of the driver's present location. The present location of the driver may be manually entered into the driving directions system by the driver, or automatically determined using a global positioning system (“GPS”) receiver. As the vehicle moves from its present location, the driving directions system loads into memory new names from the mass media storage and overwrites, if necessary, those which are now geographically out of range. Based on the current location of the driving, the driving directions system can audibly output geographic names from the run-time memory. |
| US08311796B2 |
System and method for improving text input in a shorthand-on-keyboard interface
A word pattern recognition system improves text input entered via a shorthand-on-keyboard interface. A core lexicon comprises commonly used words in a language; an extended lexicon comprises words not included in the core lexicon. The system only directly outputs words from the core lexicon. Candidate words from the extended lexicon can be outputted and simultaneously admitted to the core lexicon upon user selection. A concatenation module enables a user to input parts of a long word separately. A compound word module combines two common shorter words whose concatenation forms a long word. |
| US08311793B2 |
Method for evaluating a test program quality
The disclosure relates to a method for rating the quality of a test program for integrated circuits simulated by means of a computer. The method includes provision of a first file which describes an integrated circuit; simulation of a mutated integrated circuit which is obtained by incorporating mutations into the integrated circuit described in the first file; supplying input values to the mutated integrated circuit and recording of the output values produced for these input values by the mutated integrated circuit; comparison of the output values produced by the mutated integrated circuit with expected values which are provided by the test program, where the expected values have been generated in a reference system; and rating of the quality of the test program on the basis of the comparison results. |
| US08311792B1 |
System and method for ranking a posting
A method for training a ranking application. The method includes ranking the help postings to create an initial ranking using initial parameter values, and storing user interactions with the help postings to obtain stored interactions. Simulations are performed using the stored interactions to generate revised parameter values for the ranking application. Performing the simulations includes calculating relevance values from the stored interactions, creating a test posting, assigning, to the test posting, an initial score and a relevance value randomly selected from the relevance values to generate a test ranking, and simulating user interactions with the test ranking to generate simulated rankings. The simulated rankings are analyzed to obtain revised parameter values. The method further includes ranking, using the revised parameter values, the help postings to generate a revised ranking, and displaying the help postings in the forum according to the revised ranking. |
| US08311790B2 |
Reverse engineering genome-scale metabolic network reconstructions for organisms with incomplete genome annotation and developing constraints using proton flux states and numerically-determined sub-systems
A genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction for Clostridium acetobutylicum (ATCC 824) was created using a new semi-automated reverse engineering algorithm. This invention includes algorithms and software that can reconstruct genome-scale metabolic networks for cell-types available through the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. This method can also be used to complete partial metabolic networks and cell signaling networks where adequate starting information base is available. The software may use a semi-automated approach which uses a priori knowledge of the cell-type from the user. Upon completion, the program output is a genome-scale stoichiometric matrix capable of cell growth in silico. The invention also includes methods for developing flux constraints and reducing the number of possible solutions to an under-determined system by applying specific proton flux states and identifying numerically-determined sub-systems. Although the model-building and analysis tools described in this invention were initially applied to C. acetobutylicum, the novel algorithms and software can be applied universally. |
| US08311785B2 |
Methods and apparatus to minimize saturation in a ground fault detection device
Methods and apparatus to minimize saturation in a ground fault detection device are disclosed. An example method includes connecting a capacitor simulator to a node of the ground fault detector device to prevent saturation, and monitoring power-line conductors for ground fault conditions with the ground fault detector device. An example apparatus to simulate a saturation capacitance in a ground fault device includes a sense coil induced by power-line conductors, and at least one of an amplifier or a current detector including an input connected to the sense coil and an output connected to a ground fault detector. The example apparatus also includes a saturation capacitor simulator connected to a node of at least one of the amplifier or the current detector to prevent saturation. |
| US08311784B2 |
Method for designing concentric axis double hot gas duct for very high temperature reactor
Provided is a method of designing a coaxial dual-tube type hot gas duct for a very-high-temperature reactor. When determining the outer diameter of an inner tube and the inner diameter of a pressure tube, both of which defines an annular part of the hot gas duct having a dual-tube shape, one selected from hydraulic heads, flow rates, and hydraulic heads of very-high-temperature helium gas flowing to a very-high-temperature region and low-temperature helium gas flowing to a low-temperature region is taken into consideration as well as is a relation of about heat balance model, so that it is possible to minimize flow induced vibrations caused by the flow of a fluid. |
| US08311782B2 |
Method of routing the physical links of an avionics platform
A method of routing the physical links of a avionics platform inside an aircraft. A physical link connects a plurality (N) of equipment units and is composed of one or more branches, where each branch of the link connects a sender equipment unit to a receiver equipment unit. The method makes it possible to minimize the total cabling length of the platform and, where applicable, to choose among various positions of the equipment units inside the aircraft and/or various routing graphs. |
| US08311780B2 |
Enhanced prediction of atmospheric parameters
A method and software program for providing a weather prediction of atmospheric parameters for an aircraft, includes collecting (202) at least one of a statistical description of the weather forecast or the historical weather data, processing (210) current atmospheric data received from sensors on-board the aircraft, forming (230) modeled data based on the processed current atmospheric data and the at least one of a statistical description of the weather forecast or the historical weather data, blending (250) the modeled data with the at least one of a statistical description of the weather forecast or the historical weather data, and predicting (270) atmospheric parameters based on the blending step. |
| US08311776B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for throughput-testing of electronic data systems
The Data Throughput Tester (“DTT”) provides efficient and reliable methods to characterize the performance capabilities of electronic data systems. Embodiments of the DTT may allow test organizations to find the throughput limitations of a data system under test to the nearest whole packet in both an efficient and reliable manner. Embodiments of the DTT may allow determination of the throughput of a data system under test under the requirement that data output obtained from the data system is identical to the data input provided to the data system. Further embodiments of the DTT may allow determination of the throughput of a data system under test under the condition that specific performance characteristics of the data system under test satisfy pre-defined benchmark parameters. Further embodiments of the DTT may allow determination of the optimum throughput of a data system under test wherein different benchmark parameters are applied when testing the data system under different regimes of performance operating conditions. Further embodiments of the DTT highlighting various other advantageous aspects are discussed in the instant disclosure. |
| US08311774B2 |
Robust distance measures for on-line monitoring
An apparatus and associated method are utilized for monitoring an operation of a system characterized by operational parameters. A non-parametric empirical model generates estimates of parameter values in response to receiving a query vector of monitored parameters for a model characterizing the system. A distance estimation engine (a) determines robust distances between the query vector and each of a set of predetermined historical vectors for the non-parametric empirical model based on an implementation of an elemental kernel function; (b) determines weights for the monitored parameters based on the robust distances; and (c) combining the weights with the predetermined historical vectors to make predictions for the system. |
| US08311769B2 |
Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same
A portable monitoring device to calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user, in one aspect, comprising a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user, a motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample motion of the user in response to a motion sample signal and generate data which is representative thereof; an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample an altitude of the user in response to an altitude sample signal and generate data which is representative thereof; and processing circuitry, disposed in the housing to: (i) generate the altitude sample signal using the data which is representative of motion of the user, and (ii) determine a change in altitude of the user using the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user. |
| US08311767B1 |
Magnetic navigation system
A magnetic navigation system senses the three-dimensional magnetic fields of the Earth and compares them with a model of the Earth's magnetic fields. An initial guess as to system location is corrected toward the actual location by accessing magnetic amplitude from library pages in response to corrected location. Error detectors determine amplitude error, which is processed with magnetic gradient information from gradient models to generate the new attitude and location correction values. The correction values are subtracted from the guess to generate the new updated location. The system iterates to continually tend toward the actual location. |
| US08311765B2 |
Locating equipment communicatively coupled to or equipped with a mobile/portable device
Locating and/or marking equipment, such as a locate transmitter or locate receiver, a marking device, or a combined locate and marking device, may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the equipment. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electronically coupled to the equipment, and may be programmed so as to log and generate electronic records of various information germane to a locate and/or marking operation (e.g., locate information, marking information, and/or landmark information). Such records may be formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed on the mobile/portable device, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. The mobile/portable device also may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the equipment to enhance robustness. |
| US08311759B2 |
Inline inspection system and method for calibration of mounted acoustic monitoring system
An inline inspection system and method for calibrating an acoustic monitoring structure installed along a pipe. The system includes a pipe inspection vehicle; a microprocessor configured to attach a time stamp to a measured distance traveled by the pipe inspection vehicle; an acoustic source attached to the pipe inspection vehicle and configured to generate sound waves inside the pipe, the sound waves having predetermined frequencies and predetermined amplitudes; plural sensors disposed along the pipe and configured to record time of arrivals and intensities of the sound waves generated by the acoustic source; and a processing unit configured to communicate with the plural sensors and receive the time of arrivals, intensities and frequencies of the sound waves from the plural sensors. The processing unit calibrates the acoustic monitoring structure by calculating a distance between the acoustic source and a first sensor of the plural sensors. |
| US08311756B2 |
Calibration and setup unit for barrier operator control system
A setup and calibration unit for a barrier operator is operable to communicate with the operator's own controller. The calibration unit includes a control circuit connected to a visual display and to a set of switches controlled by switch actuators for placing the operator controller in a controller run mode or calibration mode, scrolling through selected actions displayed on the display in one direction or the other, a set/clear function and display backlighting for user interaction with the setup and calibration unit. The setup and calibration unit is particularly adapted for use with upward acting sectional and roll-up doors and other types of barriers movable between open and closed positions by motorized operators. The calibration unit may be operably connected to the operator controller via hard wiring, a radio frequency link or an infrared or visible light transmission link. |
| US08311753B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring and monitoring a power source
A system and method for monitoring power sources, such as the batteries making up a bank of batteries, is disclosed. There is provided a plurality of addressable sensors each adapted to communicate with one of the power sources, and to provide information concerning a characteristic of the power source in response to application of an event to the power source by the sensor. A controller that addressably communicates with the sensors, and that determines additional information, is also provided. In one embodiment, the sensor includes the power source, such as the battery. |
| US08311747B2 |
Method and system for patient-specific modeling of blood flow
Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model. |
| US08311743B2 |
Method for generating an estimation of incremental recovery from a selected enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process
A method is disclosed for generating an estimation of an incremental recovery that can be expected from an Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Process, comprising: selecting a set of reservoir properties; selecting an EOR process that is associated with the selected set of reservoir properties; and generating the estimation of the incremental recovery that can be expected from the selected EOR process. |
| US08311740B2 |
Use of accelerometer only data to improve GNSS performance
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for improving satellite navigation by assessing the dynamic state of a platform for a satellite navigation receiver and using this data to improve navigation models and satellite tracking algorithms. The dynamic state of the receiver platform may be assessed using only accelerometer data, and does not require inertial navigation system integration. The accelerometers may not need to be very accurate and may not need to be aligned and/or accurately calibrated. A method of accelerometer assisted satellite navigation may comprise: detecting a stationary condition of an accelerometer set; gross-calibrating the accelerometer set when in the stationary condition, wherein gross-calibrating includes determining a combined-bias of the accelerometer set; defining at least two acceleration levels using the combined-bias; collecting accelerometer data; categorizing the accelerometer data into one of the acceleration levels; and utilizing the categorized accelerometer data to enhance satellite navigation. |
| US08311736B2 |
Navigation device, navigation method and navigation system
A navigation device receives a differential map data from a map delivery server via a communication line. The map delivery server checks whether there is a new intersection on a navigation route searched by the navigation device after updating a map data. The navigation device acquires a differential map data containing the intersection from the map delivery server. Then, an update map data selection section determines whether the intersection can be updated in time. An update order determination section updates the differential map data which can be updated in time in ascending order of time required to reach the intersection. |
| US08311729B2 |
Traffic lane deviation preventing system for a vehicle
A traffic lane deviation preventing system includes a traffic line detecting unit for detecting traffic line positions on a road, a control unit for determining a possibility of a vehicle's deviation from a traffic line based on the traffic line positions detected by the traffic line detecting unit and setting a travel target point to which the vehicle is to travel if it is determined that there is a possibility of a traffic line deviation. The control unit moves the travel target point toward the center of a traffic lane according to the passage of a control operation time. |
| US08311728B2 |
Navigation system using hybridization by phase measurements
The invention relates to a navigation system for aircraft comprising inertial sensors, a GNSS receiver and potentially a baro-altimeter. The measurements from the inertial sensors are hybridized with the code and phase measurements from the receiver within a main Kalman filter and, possibly, secondary filters. The said measurements are corrected for several types of errors, notably those due to the passage of the satellite signals through the ionospheric layers. The precision of the determination of the position of the aircraft is greatly improved, both in the horizontal plane and in the vertical direction. This is also the case for the corresponding protection radii, which allows margins to be created in order to satisfy the integrity constraints for the navigation solution. |
| US08311727B2 |
Motor vehicle operator control system
A motor vehicle operating system includes a navigation system for providing road map information, a vehicle monitoring system for providing vehicle information, a display device for displaying road map information and vehicle information, an operating device for detecting an operating action and a control device. The control device is set up and coupled with the navigation system, the vehicle monitoring system, the display device and the operating device such that, in a zoom operating condition, in at least one predefined operating situation or zoom situation, particularly in the case of the adjustment of the zoom factor to a limit value. A switching-over takes place from the zoom operating condition to a monitoring operating condition by way of an additional zoom operating action. |
| US08311725B2 |
Eco-run control device and eco-run control method
An eco-run control unit performs an eco-run control of stopping an engine mounted on a vehicle automatically on the basis of stop conditions and of restarting the engine automatically on the basis of restart conditions while the engine is stopped automatically by the eco-run control. An acquiring unit acquires information for identifying a vehicle type of the vehicle on which the eco-run control device is mounted. A determining unit determines whether the identified vehicle type is coincident with any of vehicle types stored in a storage unit. A setting unit sets the eco-run control to a specific control depending on one of the vehicle types when the determining unit determines that the identified vehicle type is coincident with the one of the stored vehicle types. The setting unit sets the eco-run control to a default control corresponding to a default vehicle type and permit the eco-run control unit to stop the engine automatically until a determination of the determination unit is completed. The setting unit prohibits the eco-run control unit from stopping the engine automatically when the determining unit determines that the identified vehicle type is different from any of the stored vehicle types. |
| US08311724B2 |
Method of controlling engine system and engine system
A valve overlap period is increased as a desired torque of an engine increases by advancing an opening timing of an intake valve at a rate greater than that of retarding a closing timing of an exhaust valve in a low engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively low (step S16). The valve overlap period is increased as the desired torque of the engine increases by retarding the closing timing of the exhaust valve at a rate greater than that of advancing the opening timing of the intake valve in a high engine-torque area in which the desired torque of the internal combustion engine is relatively high (step S17). Accordingly, the drivability can be improved by obtaining the proper torque and the smooth torque curve in the wide driving area. |
| US08311719B2 |
Vehicle operation diagnosis device, vehicle operation diagnosis method, and computer program
Vehicle operation diagnosis devices, methods, and programs diagnose a driver's vehicle operation in a vehicle that is provided with an inter-vehicular distance control system. When an inter-vehicular distance between the driver's own vehicle and a vehicle ahead that is moving forward ahead of the driver's own vehicle is within a specified distance, the inter-vehicular distance between the driver's own vehicle and the vehicle ahead is controlled by performing deceleration control of the driver's own vehicle. The devices, methods, and programs acquire a first driving parameter and a second driving parameter and diagnose the driver's vehicle operation based on a difference between the first driving parameter and the second driving parameter. |
| US08311710B2 |
Linkage control system with position estimator backup
A linkage control system for a machine having a linkage and a work implement is disclosed. The linkage control system has an operator input device configured to control the movement of the linkage, at least one actuator configured to respond to the operator input device to control the movement of the linkage, and at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of sensor data on at least one actuator. The linkage control system has a controller in communication with at least one actuator, at least one sensor, and the operator input device. The controller is configured to calculate the position of the linkage, to detect anomalous sensor data from at least one sensor, and to predict the position of the linkage and work implement based on a last known accurate position, a last known accurate sensor data, and the operator input device. |
| US08311708B2 |
Adjustable grill shutter system
An adjustable grill shutter system is provided. In one embodiment, adjustment of the grill shutter system can be provided by a method of adjusting a grill shutter system for a vehicle, the method comprising adjusting opening of one or more grill shutters located at a front end opening of the vehicle in response to a non-driven vehicle condition. |
| US08311706B2 |
Integrated vehicle control system using dynamically determined vehicle conditions
A vehicle includes a control system that is used to control a vehicle system. The control system determines a roll condition in response to a yaw rate sensor and a pitch rate sensor without having to use a roll rate sensor. A relative roll angle, relative pitch angle, global roll angle, and global pitch angle may also be determined. A safety system may be controlled in response to the roll condition, roll angle, or the pitch angles individually or in combination. |
| US08311705B2 |
Constant force control methodology for shock absorption
A Constant Force Control methodology and system utilizing integrated sensors and unique control algorithms to determine required applied force to mitigate shock events in an adaptive energy absorption system, typically comprising of a spring and an adjustable energy absorber or damper element. By utilizing an expected acceleration profile and event duration for an anticipated shock event an acceleration amplitude can be determined from a measure impact velocity. From this and a measured payload mass a system controller can determine the force necessary to be applied by the energy absorber in order to stop the payload over the full desired length of the available energy absorber stroke in order to minimize the forces experienced by the payload. |
| US08311704B2 |
Control apparatus of variable damping force damper
A control apparatus of a variable damping force damper used to suspend a vehicle body of a vehicle is configured to set a target control quantity of the variable damping force damper based on a plurality of dynamic state quantities of the vehicle, wherein the plurality of dynamic state quantities include a vertical dynamic state quantity of the vehicle. |
| US08311703B2 |
Control system
A control system has a startup start device that generates and outputs a startup start signal that starts a startup of a vehicle based on an operation of starting up the vehicle, a power supply device that supplies power to each unit of the vehicle, a central control unit that generates and outputs to a motor device for driving the vehicle, a startup command signal that starts up the motor device based on the startup start signal, a startup control unit that performs a startup control of the motor device based on the startup command signal, a drive control unit that performs a drive control of a peripheral device configuring the vehicle, a storage unit that stores first data containing initial information of the peripheral device or setting information set in advance, and a data storage control unit that performs the startup control of the motor device by the startup control unit after storing second data indicating, when the operation of starting up the vehicle is performed, a state of the peripheral device at the time of the operation in a predetermined storage area in the storage unit. |
| US08311699B2 |
Automatic brake verification system
A method of testing a braking device in a drivetrain of a vehicle which includes at least one tractive element coupled to a traction motor. The method includes: (a) applying the braking device to a tractive element of the vehicle; (b) using an electronic controller, causing the traction motor to apply a predetermined force to the tractive element; and (c) using the controller, monitoring the tractive element for movement while the force is being applied. A dynamic braking or “retarder” function may also be tested. A system for carrying out the method is provided. |
| US08311698B2 |
Tracking vehicle maintenance using sensor detection
Radio frequency identification is used in cooperation with the computer system aboard a motor vehicle to track service and maintenance activities relating to the vehicle. Each component or part of the vehicle that may require maintenance is provided with a unique passive identification tag. The output data from the tag is read by a reader placed in proximity to the tag, and the data is transmitted to an on-board computer module where it is processed, and the service record is updated. A data stream converter may be used to process the information read by the reader into a format that is acceptable to the on-board computer. The data from the on-board computer is stored in a device external to the computer. Provisions are included for notification to the user, the auto dealer or service other agency as needed. |
| US08311695B2 |
Construction of evidence grid from multiple sensor measurements
A system includes at least one sensor device configured to transmit a first detection signal over a first spatial region and a second detection signal over a second spatial region. The second region has a first sub-region in common with the first region. The system further includes a processing device configured to assign a first occupancy value to a first cell in an evidence grid. The first cell represents the first sub-region, and the first occupancy value characterizes whether an object has been detected by the first detection signal as being present in the first sub-region. The processing device is further configured to calculate, based on the first and second detection signals, the probability that the first occupancy value accurately characterizes the presence of the object in the first sub-region, and generate a data representation of the first sub-region based on the probability calculation. |
| US08311694B2 |
Control apparatus for vehicular power transmitting system
A vehicular power transmitting system, which permits the power transmitting system to provide a sufficient vehicle drive force even when an input of an electric energy into an electric-energy storage device is restricted and which reduces the electric efficiency of at least one of an first electric motor and a second electric motor, when an input of an electric energy into a chargeable electric-energy storage device is restricted, during an operation of an engine. This provides a vehicle drive force and generation of the electric energy by at least one of the first electric motor and the second electric motor, so that the amount of electric energy generated by the first electric motor is reduced, and/or the amount of electric energy consumed by the second electric motor is increased, whereby a sufficient vehicle drive force can be obtained even when the input into the electric-energy storage device is restricted. |
| US08311689B2 |
Protection against exceeding the braking capability of remote controlled locomotives
A method for controlling a remote controlled locomotive that is part of a train to insure effective braking, the method including calculating an estimated total energy of a train, calculating a threshold representing a predetermined braking capability limit of the locomotive, determining whether the estimated total energy is at least one of approaching and exceeding the threshold, and decreasing a velocity of the train until the threshold is at least one of no longer being approached and is no longer exceeded. |
| US08311685B2 |
Method of distributing braking within at least one group of brakes of an aircraft
The invention provides a method of managing the braking of an aircraft having a plurality of brakes comprising friction elements, the method comprising the following steps for at least one group of brakes: estimating an energy level (□E) to be dissipated by the brakes of the group; and estimating individual braking setpoints (Fi) for each of the brakes of the group so that the individual braking setpoints make it possible, at least under normal operating conditions of the brakes, to implement braking that dissipates said energy level, the individual braking setpoints also being determined so as to satisfy at least one other given operating objective. |
| US08311681B1 |
System and method for conserving energy resources through storage and delivery of renewable energy
A system for encouraging the use of renewable energy sources and suitable for the conservation of energy resources through the efficient management of energy storage and delivery includes connections to a power source, an energy storage subsystem, and a power grid. The system includes a power routing subsystem coupled to the source and grid, and adapted to operate in a bypass mode, in which energy is transferred from the source to the grid. The system includes a conversion subsystem coupled to the routing and storage subsystems, and switchable in substantially real-time between a storage mode, in which energy is transferred from the routing to the storage subsystem, and a generation mode, in which energy is transferred from the storage to the routing subsystem for delivery to the grid. The system also includes a controller for directing the modes based at least in part on a market factor. |
| US08311677B2 |
Control device for legged mobile robot
A control device for a legged mobile robot has a unit which generates the time series of a future predicted value of a model external force manipulated variable as a feedback manipulated variable for reducing the deviation of the posture of the robot. A desired motion determining unit sequentially determines the instantaneous value of a desired motion such that the motion of the robot will reach or converge to a reaching target in the future in the case where it is assumed that the time series of an additional external force defined by the time series of a future predicted value of the model external force manipulated variable is additionally applied to the robot on a dynamic model. |
| US08311676B2 |
System and method for controlling a bipedal robot via a communication device
A system for controlling a bipedal robot via a communication device. The system acquires a mapping data and a current location of the bipedal robot via a Global Positioning System (GPS), determines a route on the mapping data, and directs movement of the bipedal robot until it reaches a preset destination. A method for controlling the robot and a storage device containing computer instructions for execution of the method are also provided. |
| US08311672B2 |
Robot and control method thereof
The present invention relates to a robot and a control method adapted for the robot. The method includes a) measuring time; b) performing a normal biological action when the time reaches a beginning time of a biological function; c) judging whether an instruction is received while during the biological function; d) if the instruction is received while during the biological function, fetching an action adjustment parameter of the biological function and performing an output; e) after the output is finished, resuming performing the normal biological action; and f) stopping the normal biological action when the time reaches an ending time of the biological function. |
| US08311665B2 |
Method for handling paper sheets
When handling paper sheets, the paper sheet present at the uppermost or lowest part of each batch of the paper sheets is assigned as a designated paper sheet, and then intrinsic information on this designated paper sheet is associated with transaction information corresponding to the batch of the paper sheets. Thereafter, a plurality of batches of the paper sheets are stacked, one on another, in a certain number corresponding to transactions, while the intrinsic information on each designated paper sheet is already associated with the corresponding transaction information. Then, such stacked batches of the paper sheets are handled, collectively, by a paper sheet handling system. Thereafter, each recognition result on the plurality of batches of the paper sheets, respectively handled by the paper sheet handling system, is separated by utilizing each designated paper sheet. As such, information on the association between each recognition result on the paper sheets and the transaction information can be obtained. |
| US08311663B2 |
Apparatus and method to store information
A method to store data is disclosed. The method provides a plurality of data storage media, an automated data library comprising one or more data storage devices, a first plurality of storage cells, and a robotic accessor. The method further provides a storage vault comprising a second plurality of storage cells but no data storage devices. The method selects the (i)th data storage medium and sets the (i)th data state, where that (i)th data state is selected from the group consisting of online, offline, and vault. If the method sets the (i)th data state is set to online, then the method mounts that (i)th data storage medium in one of the data storage devices. If the method sets the (i)th data state to offline, then the method removeably places the (i)th data storage medium in one of the first plurality of storage cells. If the method sets the (i)th data state is set to vault, then the method places the (i)th data storage medium in one of the second plurality of storage cells. |
| US08311662B2 |
Document profile detection
Systems and method of processing one or more documents are shown and described. The orientation of a magnetic character is sensed on the document. The orientation is processed and used to control a sort processing device. |
| US08311655B2 |
Apparatus for preparing a playlist in a sound source data player and a method therefor
An apparatus and method for preparing a playlist in a sound source data player are provided. For the preparation of the playlist, the position of a sampling of the sound source data is set by user's arbitrary selection or by searching out the thematic part of the sound source data. Then, if the sampling time taken for playing back the sampling has been set, the player plays back the sound source data file selected by moving a cursor from the position of the sampling. Finally, the user adds the individual information of the presently selected sound source data to the playlist. Thus, the user may quickly and readily sample a large number of songs stored in the player and thus more easily prepare the playlist. |
| US08311653B2 |
Apparatus and method for system identification and loop-shaping controller design in a process control system
One method includes obtaining a preliminary model associated with a system to be controlled and constructing a weighted model using one or more weighting factors. The method also includes identifying a final model of the system using the preliminary and weighted models, where the final model has a stability margin that is greater than an uncertainty associated with the final model. The method further includes controlling the system using a controller designed based on the final model. Another method includes identifying a first model associated with a system to be controlled, performing model order reduction to identify a second model, and controlling the system using a controller designed based on the second model. Performing the model order reduction includes reducing a weighted coprime factor model uncertainty between the first and second models. |
| US08311649B2 |
Cochlear lead
An electrode array design is provided which is intended for deep insertion into a human cochlea. The distal most portion of the lead can be very thin and flexible and have a wider arc than the remainder of the curved electrode array portion of the lead, which has a more aggressive arc. As a result, the distal most portion of the electrode array can be laterally positioned in a selected cochlear duct, whereas, concurrently, the remaining, more proximal part of the electrode array may be positioned medially (perimodiolar) within the cochlear duct. |
| US08311642B2 |
Adjustable implant electrode system and implant electrode assembly thereof
An adjustable implant electrode system comprises an adjustable implant electrode assembly and an adjustment device for adjusting the adjustable implant electrode assembly to a desired position. The adjustable implant electrode assembly comprises an implant, a plurality of electrodes, and a plurality of magnetic components. The electrodes are disposed in the implant for providing stimulating currents according to a control signal. The magnetic components are combined with the electrodes in one-to-one correspondence. The adjustment device comprises a control unit, an excitation unit, and one or more magnetic units. The control unit is used to select one or more magnetic components to be moved from the magnetic components, and the excitation unit is used to excite the selected one or more magnetic components for the same to generate a magnetic pole, and the magnetic unit is adapted to generate a magnetic field to drive the magnetic pole and accordingly move the implant. |
| US08311641B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a localized heating
A method and apparatus for generating a localized heating are provided, the method comprising: transmitting a spatially localized or shaped electromagnetic field via a plurality of coils to a subject and generating magnetic resonance signals; performing magnetic resonance imaging based on the magnetic resonance signals to generate an image of a region of interest of the subject; and controlling the plurality of the same imaging coils to radiate radio frequency (rf) energy to generate the localized heating on a region of interest. The invention provide a more efficient manner for generating localized heating and means for verifying the heating pattern without the need to measure temperature rises in the patient. This is useful to check the localization prior to the application of hyperthermia. |
| US08311639B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes
System and methods for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via an implanted portion of a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient. The electrical signal is delivered in accordance with a signal delivery parameter having a first value. Using the implanted portion of the patient stimulation system, a change in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device is detected. Based at least in part on the detected impedance change, the method can further include automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different from the first, without human intervention. |
| US08311638B2 |
External charger for a medical implantable device using field inducing coils to improve coupling
By incorporating magnetic field-inducing position determination coils (PDCs) in an external charger, it is possible to determine the position of an implantable device by actively inducing magnetic fields using the PDCs and sensing the reflected magnetic field from the implant. In one embodiment, the PDCs are driven by an AC power source with a frequency equal to the charging coil. In another embodiment, the PDCs are driven by an AC power source at a frequency different from that of the charging coil. By comparing the relative reflected magnetic field strengths at each of the PDCs, the position of the implant relative to the external charger can be determined. Audio and/or visual feedback can then be communicated to the patient to allow the patient to improve the alignment of the charger. |
| US08311635B2 |
Field focusing and mapping in a visual prosthesis
The present invention is a system for mapping a high resolution image to a lower resolution electrode array and, by applying varying stimulus to neighboring electrodes, creating a perceived image greater in resolution than the electrode array. The invention is applicable to a wide range of neural stimulation devices including artificial vision and artificial hearing. By applying a sub-threshold stimulus to two neighboring electrodes where the sum of the stimuli is above the threshold of perception, a perception is created in neural tissue between the two electrodes. By adjusting the stimulus on neighboring electrodes, the location of stimulation can be altered. Further, noise can be applied to the stimulating electrode or its neighboring electrodes to reduce the threshold of stimulation. |
| US08311633B2 |
Intravascular implantable device having superior anchoring arrangement
Anchoring methods, systems and devices anchor an intravascular implantable device within a vessel that is located superior to the heart, i.e. above the heart in a direction toward the head of a patient. A method of providing an intravascular device and instructions for implanting the intravascular device, includes providing an intravascular device having an elongate device body with a proximal end and a distal end that is adapted for chronic implantation within the vasculature of a patient and that includes a distal portion of the intravascular device proximate the distal end of the elongate device body, and providing instructions for chronically implanting the intravascular device substantially wholly within the vasculature of a patient in a target vessel superior to the heart of the patient. |
| US08311628B2 |
Integrated tank filter for a medical therapeutic device
A TANK filter is provided for a lead wire of an active medical device (AMD). The TANK filter includes a capacitor in parallel with an inductor. The parallel capacitor and inductor are placed in series with the lead wire of the AMD, wherein values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the TANK filter is resonant at a selected frequency. The Q of the inductor may be relatively maximized and the Q of the capacitor may be relatively minimized to reduce the overall Q of the TANK filter to attenuate current flow through the lead wire along a range of selected frequencies. In a preferred form, the TANK filter is integrated into a TIP and/or RING electrode for an active implantable medical device. |
| US08311625B2 |
Chlorine dioxide treatment for biological tissue
Methods, compositions, devices, and systems for administration to a biological tissue of a composition comprising a chlorine dioxide source are provided. |
| US08311623B2 |
Systems and methods for estimating surface electromyography
A rehabilitation device is presented that is inexpensive to produce and is easy to use. The device uses a predictable method to estimate the activity of muscle and therefore provide many ways to train and rehabilitate a person having a prosthetic limb or other neuromuscular disorder. |
| US08311620B2 |
Methods and apparatus to treat and prevent atrial tachyarrhythmias
The invention provides a cardiac rhythm management system which includes a tachyarrhythmia detection and classification circuit programmed to detect and classify a tachyarrhythmia, a biologic therapy delivery device configured to deliver or regulate an expression cassette suitable for terminating or preventing atrial fibrillation (AF), and a control circuit coupled to the tachyarrhythmia detection and classification circuit and the biologic therapy delivery device. Also provided is an implantable medical device for use in a body having a cardiovascular system, which includes an implantable device body including at least a cardiovascular portion configured to be in the cardiovascular system, and an expression cassette incorporated into the cardiovascular portion of the implantable device body, the expression cassette selected to express a gene product that terminates or prevents AF. Further provided are methods which employ particular expression cassettes to prevent, inhibit or treat AF. |
| US08311619B2 |
Detection of drastic blood pressure changes
A cardiac-activity based prediction of a rapid drop in a patient's blood pressure during extracorporeal blood treatment is disclosed. A proposed alarm apparatus includes a primary beat morphology analysis unit bank of secondary analysis units and an alarm generating unit. The primary beat morphology analysis unit discriminates heart beats in a received basic electrocardiogram signal, classifies each beat into one out of at least two different beat categories, and associates each segment of the signal with relevant event-type data. The event-type data and the basic electrocardiogram signal together form an enhanced electrocardiogram signal, based upon which the primary beat morphology analysis unit determines whether one or more secondary signal analyses should be performed. Depending on the enhanced electrocardiogram signal's properties, the bank of secondary analysis units performs none, one or more of up to at least two different types of secondary analyses, and for each analysis performed produces a respective test signal. The alarm generating unit receives the test signals, and triggers an alarm signal indicative of an estimated rapid blood pressure decrease, if at least one alarm criterion is fulfilled. |
| US08311616B2 |
Method and system for determination of physiological conditions and emotional states of a living organism
A method and system for non-invasive determination of at least one condition of a living organism selected from physiological conditions and emotional states of the living organism are described. The method comprises sensing electromagnetic waves emanated from a skin portion in an extremely high frequency (EHF) band, and obtaining from the sensed electromagnetic waves at least one unique biometric signature of the living organism indicative of the organism condition. The system includes an antenna array unit configured for sensing the electromagnetic waves emanated from the skin portion; and a receiving unit configured and operable for obtaining the unique biometric signature. The sensed electromagnetic waves are indicative of bioelectric activity of neurally connected and electromagnetically interacting structures distributed in a skin portion of the living organism. |
| US08311609B2 |
MRI thermometry involving phase mapping and reference medium used as phase reference
A computing unit is arranged to access phase images computed from the image data and representative of the target medium and the reference medium and carry out computing steps to yield temperature difference map. The operation of the computing is controlled by a computer program carrying computing steps programmed as instructions to a processor. The apparatus (1) includes a storage unit (8) arranged to store suitable image data which are accessed by the computer program during the computations. The storage unit (8) stores system parameters of the magnetic resonance apparatus, like the strength of the main field (B0), gyromagnetic ratio (γ), and suitable parameters of a target medium, like screen constant (α), in a file (3). The apparatus (1) further includes a working memory (6), typically based on RAM. An output (9) of the apparatus includes the computed temperature difference map, which can be used to control a suitable medical diagnostic or therapeutic device, or it may be visualized to a user or be stored for archiving purposes. For feed-back purposes, the apparatus includes a display (7) to visualize the computed temperature difference map. Preferably, the temperature difference map is visualized within a suitable interactive graphic user interface (7a). |
| US08311603B2 |
Device for an electrode part for a wireless biopotential measurement unit
A device for an electrode part for a wireless biopotential measurement unit for attaching to the body, the measurement unit comprising a signal processor and transmitter part, and the electrode part including at least one measuring electrode for measuring a biopotential, the at least one measuring electrode communicating with the signal processor and transmitter part, at least the electrode part being provided with, on its side facing away from the body, a substantially covering screen material which is electrically connected to an earth electrode, the earth electrode being in contact with the body. The measuring electrode is surrounded by and isolated from an electrically conductive material, which is earthed to the signal processor and transmitter part. |
| US08311601B2 |
Reflectance and/or transmissive pulse oximeter
According to various embodiments, a medical sensor assembly may be configured to switch between transmission and reflectance mode. Such sensors may include multiple optical sensing components that may be activated or silent, depending on the mode in use. A practitioner may switch between modes based on the particular situation of the patient or based on the signal quality. |
| US08311599B2 |
Short-side direction slide type radio apparatus
At a side end section of a second housing 3, there are provided an antenna 9 arranged along the short-side direction of the housing, a first housing 1, a slide mechanism section S which connects the first housing to the second housing slidably relative to each other in the short-side direction of the housing, and joining sections 31 to 34 which connect the slide mechanism section S to the second housing. The slide mechanism section is configured so that a large slide plate 17 and a small slide plate 15 are arranged in this order from the first housing between the first and second housings, so as to slide relative to each other. Further, in the direction intersecting the sliding direction, the joining sections are arranged, and reactance elements 41 to 44 are arranged at the same positions as those of the joining sections in the surface of the housing. |
| US08311595B2 |
Portable wireless communication device
A portable wireless communication device includes a case having a waterproof structure and floating on water, an operation portion arranged in a front face of the case; and a wireless communication processing portion arranged inside the case, wherein a position of the center of gravity in the case is shifted to a rear face side opposite to the front face with respect to a center of the case, in a state where all components including the wireless communication processing portion are housed. |
| US08311591B2 |
Closed-loop efficiency modulation for use in network powered applications
A method and a remote device such as a sealed expansion module (SEM) for reducing power dissipation from an input power source in a telecommunications system are disclosed. A SEM contains a network feed monitor that receives an input voltage and current on twisted wire pair cables. The input voltage is then transmitted to a DC/DC converter and the voltage is adjusted and then transmitted to a BUS feed monitor connected to an active load. A first I2C device is connected to the network feed monitor to provide information related to input voltage and current to a main microprocessor that calculates input power. A second I2C device is connected to the BUS feed monitor and the active load to provide information related to the output voltage and output current to the main microprocessor that calculates output power. The main microprocessor is further connected through a third I2C device to a digital power manager that provides a DAC trim output to the DC/DC converter for optimizing the efficiency of the system. |
| US08311589B2 |
Handsfree device
A handsfree device in communication with a remote communication device by one of wireless communication and wired communication for establishing a handsfree call includes a call interruption detection unit for detecting a call interruption by a second call while the remote communication device is involved in a first call and a response command transfer unit for transferring a response command to the remote communication device in response to the call interruption when the call interruption is detected by the call interruption detection unit. |
| US08311588B2 |
Device, methods, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text
The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface. |
| US08311585B2 |
Synchronized helper system using paired computing device
A helper system uses a computing device paired with a mobile computing device to provide help information associated with operation of the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device and the paired computing devices are synchronized so that the help information relevant to the current status of the mobile computing device is provided by the paired computing device. By providing the help information on the paired computing device, the user may conveniently access the user information without interrupting the use of application program running on the mobile computing device. |
| US08311584B2 |
Hands-free system and method for retrieving and processing phonebook information from a wireless phone in a vehicle
A method is provided for creating a phonebook for a hands-free telephone system in a vehicle using phonebook entries retrieved from a remote phonebook of a mobile phone over a wireless communication link between a control module of the hands-free telephone system and the mobile phone. The method includes receiving a remote phonebook from the mobile phone, the remote phonebook including a plurality of entries, each entry including text data and numeric data, identifying the text data in each entry, generating an acoustic baseform for each entry based on the text data for each entry, storing the acoustic baseform for each entry in a baseform list, and storing the plurality of entries in a mobile phonebook associated with the baseform list. |
| US08311579B2 |
Multi-mode mobile communication device with motion sensor and methods for use therewith
A mobile communication device includes a motion sensor for generating motion signals in response to motion of the mobile communication device. A motion data generation module generates motion data based on the motion signals. At least one transceiver sends the motion data to a game device in a gaming mode of operation and transceives wireless telephony data with a wireless telephony network in a telephony mode of operation. |
| US08311575B2 |
Handheld mobile phone and method for resetting the handheld mobile phone thereof
A handheld mobile phone includes at least two buttons, a logic circuit, and a processing unit, wherein each button is used for performing at least one specific function. The logic circuit is coupled to the at least two buttons for generating a corresponding specific signal when one of the at least two buttons is pressed alone, and for generating at least a control signal when all of the at least two buttons are pressed. The processing unit executes the specific function of the pressed button according to the corresponding specific signal. When all of the at least two buttons are pressed, the processing unit controls the handheld mobile phone to enter a reset state from an operating state according to at least the control signal. |
| US08311569B2 |
Radio channel control method and receiving apparatus
A radio channel control method for controlling, in a radio communication system having a transmitter and a receiver, a radio channel from the transmitter toward the receiver. The method includes receiving a signal transmitted from the transmitter by the receiver, measuring reception quality of the signal, generating information which indicates increment or decrement of the reception quality, and controlling a modulation or coding for the radio channel based on the information. |
| US08311565B2 |
Radio communication system
A radio communication system whereby one or a consecutive plurality of sub-carrier frequency intervals form sub-carrier groups each of which is assigned to a different user. The radio communication system includes a radio communication apparatus and a terminal configured to receive a control signal and a data signal from the radio communication apparatus. The terminal receives the control signal and the data signal according to a notified control signal position. |
| US08311564B2 |
Guard band utilization in multi-carrier mode for wireless networks
Various example embodiments are disclosed herein. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus may include a processor which may be configured to: permute subcarriers of a regular band, including subcarriers assigned to mobile station(s) operating in a single carrier mode and subcarriers assigned to mobile station(s) operating in a multiple carrier mode, to generate a first permuted regular band of subcarriers; and permute subcarriers of the first permuted regular band that are assigned to mobile station(s) operating in multiple carrier mode with subcarriers of an adjacent guard band. |
| US08311553B2 |
Base station, mobile station and target cell determination method
One feature of the present invention relates to a base station for operating multiple cells each having a predefined bandwidth, including: a load measurement unit configured to measure traffic status in each of the cells; a redirected cell determination unit configured to determine either a redirected cell or a cell layer as redirected cell information for redirecting a mobile station based on the traffic status, the redirected cell and the cell layer to which the mobile station is to be redirected; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the redirected cell information to the mobile station in a paging channel. |
| US08311550B2 |
Radio communication control method, base station apparatus and user apparatus
The base station apparatus includes: a distributed transmission determination unit (12) configured to determine a number (NDRB) of resource blocks to be used for data transmission of a distributed transmission scheme for a user apparatus at predetermined time interval; and a division number determination unit (13) configured to variably determine a division number of one resource block according to the determined number of resource blocks of the distributed transmission scheme. As a configuration example, a control information generation unit (19) may be provided for reporting the determined division number to the user apparatus. |
| US08311548B2 |
Automatic association of wireless devices to point names
A system and method automatically associate wireless devices to point names. An installation plan indicates that wireless devices are installed at designated locations. Each designated location in the installation plan includes an associated point name, each wireless device is configured to transmit a message indicating itself as the source of the message, and each wireless communication device is installed proximate to its designated location. Expected distances are determined between one or more pairs of designated locations on the installation plan. Range estimate data is gathered from the installed wireless devices for one or more pairs of the installed wireless devices. A unique identifier within a signal transmitted by one of the installed wireless devices is associated with a corresponding point name on the installation plan. The association is determined at least in part by the expected distances and the range estimate data. |
| US08311547B2 |
Method and system for maintaining response center information
A system for and method of maintaining response center information is presented. In one exemplary embodiment, the system for and method of maintaining response center information may comprise receiving, via an electronic interface, electronic data associated with emergency communications handling, processing, using a processor, the electronic data to associate a portion of the electronic data with a geographical boundary, identifying a modification to geographical boundary, and determining a communication address associated with the modification to the geographical boundary. |
| US08311543B2 |
Methods and devices for interworking of wireless wide area networks and wireless local area networks or wireless personal area networks
Embodiments describe utilizing time-based information to improve communication in a wireless network. A method can include receiving beacon information from at least one access point and utilizing time-stamp information associated with the beacon information to determine whether to hand off communication with a second access point. According to other embodiments the method can further include detecting beacon quality is below a threshold level and transmitting a poor beacon quality message. Information relating to a plurality of alternate access points can be received in response to the transmitted poor beacon quality message. |
| US08311540B2 |
Wireless communication terminal, wireless communication network system and handover timing determining method
A wireless communication terminal includes a first detecting section for detecting whether or not a reception signal level indicating a level of a received signal from a base station currently in connection as the first base station reduces to be equal to or lower than a first threshold level, a second detecting section for detecting whether or not a communication situation of a communication application program currently in communication is a situation suitable for handover, a third detecting section for detecting whether or not a predetermined handover forcedly performing condition is established, a determining section for determining whether or not the handover control is necessary, based on detection results of the first to third detecting section, and a communication control section for performing a handover control to switch from the first base station to a second base station when the switching to the handover control is necessary. |
| US08311539B2 |
Establishment of a connection in radio communication systems
In a method for establishment of a connection in a radio communication system, a user terminal selects an operator, based on information on at least one operator of a radio communication system in a country-specific pilot channel, selects a radio communication system based on information on at least one radio communication system in an operator-specific pilot channel for the selected operator and carries out an access to the selected radio communication system for establishment of a connection. |
| US08311537B2 |
Systems and methods to dynamically provision subscribers in a network
Systems and methods to dynamically provision subscribers in a network are disclosed herein. An example method to provision a subscriber in a communication network includes detecting that a location of the subscriber has changed from a first location to a second location, instructing a first customer profile repository to transfer a customer profile associated with the subscriber to a second customer profile repository corresponding to the second location in response to detecting the location change, and provisioning the customer profile at the second customer profile repository. |
| US08311534B2 |
Roaming in telecommunication networks
A method of providing telecommunication services in next generation networks involves at least one landline terminal (3). The terminal (3) has a home network (1) and is capable of registering via another network (2) so as to be used in the other network while charging telecommunication costs to the home network. Advantageously, the home network (1) is a private network, for example a next generation corporate network, while the other network (2) is a public network. An interface (4) between the home network (1) and the other network (2) may be constituted by a network-network interface. |
| US08311529B2 |
Coordination operation method and mobile communication terminal
A mobile communication terminal having a structure including a host section and an engine section is built compactly. —As a request for using a host-connecting device is received from an engine section 40, a host section 30 makes a judgment of whether or not a current state of an engine processor of the engine section 40 is an engine-mode state of controlling actively an operation of an engine-connecting device connected to the engine processor of the engine section 40, and the engine-mode state is estimated to be continued. Further, when a result of the judgment is affirmative, the host section 30 operates a host-connecting section, according to an operation mode specified by operation mode parameters. As a result, in a mode in which a request is made by an application executed by the engine processor, a specific host-connecting device which the application has desired to use is operated. |
| US08311528B2 |
Emergency call redirection systems and methods
Systems and methods are provided for connecting a caller to an alternate telephone number, such as 911, when a call to a private response center does not result in immediate assistance. In one example, when the call to the private response center does not connect, the communications device used to make the call may prompt the user to indicate that the call relates to an emergency, and the communications device may call the emergency services telephone number. Failure to connect may result when the call does not connect to a receiving party, or upon failure to timely reach a customer service representative. The communications device may prompt the user to indicate whether an alternate telephone number should be called. |
| US08311522B1 |
System and method for managing mobile communications
A device to automatically provide differing information levels according to a predetermined social hierarchy includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores social templates corresponding to unique social signatures and being selectable to provide, for each level of the predetermined social hierarchy, a corresponding differing amount of information to each member of the predetermined social hierarchy and/or a social networking service. The processor receives sensor data from a sensor set which detects sensor data related to an environment of a communication device, creates a detected social signature from the received sensor data, determines which of the social signatures of the social templates has the greatest correspondence with the created social signature, retrieves from the memory the determined one social template having the greatest correspondence, and provides only as much information as allowed in the retrieved social template. |
| US08311509B2 |
Detection, communication and control in multimode cellular, TDMA, GSM, spread spectrum, CDMA, OFDM WiLAN and WiFi systems
Detection device for detection and generation of detection device generated signal, processed with remote control device generated remote control signal, with location finder or location tracker or navigation signal and with Modulation Demodulation (Modem) Format Selectable (MFS) communication signal. Processor for processing a digital signal into cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase filtered signal and for processing a voice signal into Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) signal. Detection device generated signal and location finder signal, with OFDM or OFDMA processed voice signal is used in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network. Detection device generated signal and location finder signal with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global Mobile System (GSM) and spread spectrum Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signal is used in a cellular network. Polar and quadrature modulator and two antenna transmitter for transmission of provided processed signal. Transmitter with two amplifiers operated in separate radio frequency (RF) bands. One transmitter is operated as a Non-Linearly Amplified (NLA) transmitter and the other transmitter is operated as a linearly amplified or linearized amplifier transmitter. Two antenna receiver and demodulator. Diversity receiver and demodulator. |
| US08311508B2 |
Wireless enabled device tracking system and method
Systems and methods are provided for determining a location of one or more wireless devices. The method may include identifying an address associated with at least one wireless device and determining a phase relationship between a plurality of signals generated by the wireless device. The method further includes determining a location of the wireless device based on the phase relationship and the address associated with the wireless device. |
| US08311507B2 |
Telematics systems and related connection methods for establishing wireless communication links
Exemplary embodiments are provided of a telematics system for a vehicle with a main power supply. The telematics system includes a secondary power supply and a telematics unit that provides vehicle information. The telematics unit includes a communication device that selectively provides two-way communication between the telematics unit and an external device. The telematics system further includes a power management system that selectively causes the telematics unit to be powered by at least one of the main power supply and the secondary power supply. Further, the system includes a controller that controls the power management system such that the telematics unit is powered by the secondary power supply for communication between the telematics unit and the external device when the telematics unit is electrically disconnected from the main power supply. |
| US08311502B2 |
Communication device
A communication device includes a transmission signal processing unit, a driver amplifier coupled to the transmission signal processing unit, a selector coupled to the driver amplifier, a first attenuator coupled to the selector and an output portion of the communication device, a second attenuator coupled to the selector and the output portion of the communication device, and a controller coupled to the selector and the driver amplifier to switch between the first attenuator and the second attenuator based on a notification signal. |
| US08311500B2 |
Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device that obtains an analog received signal by receiving a wireless signal, adjusts amplitude by a variable gain amplifier, converts the analog received signal into a digital received signal by an A/D converter and obtains user data by demodulating the digital received signal, including: a received signal strength indication detecting section that detects a received signal strength indication that fluctuates over time; a gain controlling section that controls a gain of the variable gain amplifier; a propagation environment judging section that judges a propagation environment level of the wireless signal, and a time constant controlling section that controls a time constant, based on the judged propagation environment level such that the time constant becomes larger as the propagation environment level becomes lower, the time constant regulating a change speed of the gain at the variable gain amplifier. |
| US08311491B2 |
Adaptive data rate control for narrowcast networks
A system to provide narrowcast communications uses adaptive data rate control to individual subscribers such that the effects of precipitation or other link conditions, which are not common to all subscribers, is mitigated. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the narrowcast data consist of packets which are individually addressed to specific subscribers, or groups of subscribers. The narrowcast data is communicated on a plurality of channels, each of potentially differing data rates. The subscribers are assigned a particular channel, based upon their link quality, to receive packets addressed to them. The lower data rate channel will be less affected by adverse link conditions and are hence assigned to subscribers most likely to incur adverse link conditions. |
| US08311487B2 |
Multimedia playback calibration methods, devices and systems
A multimedia playback calibration method includes a calibration module operating on a mobile communications device to cause it to: introduce test data at a first end, in the mobile device, of a playback path and receive data, played back by a playback device at a second end of the playback path, at a sensor integral to the mobile device; compare the received data against the test data to determine a characteristic of the playback path; and configure the mobile device to compensate for this characteristic. The mobile device may comprise a handheld casing enclosing a central processing unit, a multimedia player module for initiating playback of at least one data stream on a playback device, communication capability for forwarding the at least one data stream from the mobile device to the playback device along a playback path and the calibration module. |
| US08311485B2 |
Method and system for receiver nulling using coherent transmit signals
A method and system are provided for canceling interference signals from a received signal. A ratio module receives as input a ratio of a filtered receiver output signal level and a filtered transmitter output signal level. A product module receives as inputs an output of the ratio module and a transmitter output. The product module calculates a product of the output of the ratio module and the transmitter output. An adjusted receiver signal module receives a difference calculated from the received signal level and the output of the product module. The method and system are suitable for use in a metal detection subsystem with a larger security system. |
| US08311482B2 |
Self-optimizing wireless network base station
A wireless base station apparatus is provided that is configured to automatically optimize the radiation pattern it uses when installed for operation in a wireless network in order to serve wireless client devices within a coverage area. The wireless base station is configured to determine its geographical location and to evaluate its geographical location based on stored geographical map data that indicates the physical geographical environment surrounding its geographical location. Based on the physical geographical environment surrounding the geographical location, the base station determines a radiation pattern best suited to serve wireless client devices within a coverage area. |
| US08311481B2 |
Data format conversion for electronic devices
Format converters and methods of performing data format conversion are provided. The format converters may convert compressed data into a different compressed format that is compatible with the Bluetooth transmission standard. The format converter may decompose the compressed data into frequency domain data streams of different frequency sub-bands. The format converter may transform each data stream of frequency domain information from a first encoding scheme to a second encoding scheme, and may then quantize the transformed data steams based on bit allocation information for each sub-band. The format converters may also include a bit allocation component which computes the bit allocation information for each sub-band based on an unfiltered version of the compressed data. |
| US08311479B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method, and program for performing near field communication with an external device
An information processing apparatus including a plurality of elements each configured to perform an independent process, a controller configured to control the plurality of elements, and a front end shared by the plurality of elements and configured to perform near field communication with an external device. At a time of activation, the controller allocates, to the plurality of elements, different time slots for communication. |
| US08311472B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
The image forming apparatus includes: an image holder that is movably provided; a first image forming unit that forms a first image on the image holder; a second image forming unit that forms a second image on the image holder including the first image formed thereon; a transfer portion that transfers, onto a recording medium, the first image and the second image formed on the image holder; a supply unit that transports the recording medium and that supplies the recording medium to the transfer portion; an acquisition unit that acquires information on a position of displacement on the recording medium in a transport direction of the recording medium, the displacement occurring between the first image and the second image transferred onto the recording medium; and an adjustment unit that changes a supply speed of the recording medium at the supply unit on the basis of the information on the position. |
| US08311471B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus forms a gloss mark with colored toner without using clear toner. This is accomplished by fixing an image composed of only part of the color toner required for forming an image, the rest of the required color toner being denoted as residual toner. Specifically, at an area of at which a decreased gloss is desired, an image is formed using a part of colored toner required for forming the image and fixed on a sheet, and then, applied to the sheet is the residual quantity of toner so as to be superimposed on the fixed colored toner. |
| US08311470B2 |
Image heating apparatus having an inclinable steering roller configured to support a belt member contacted by a heating member configured to heat an image on recording material
An image heating apparatus includes: a belt member; an inclinable steering roller configured to support the belt member; a heating member configured to contact the belt member and heat an image on a recording material; a detecting member configured to detect a position of a belt end in a widthwise direction of the belt member; a correcting device configured to correct a position of the belt member in the widthwise direction by inclining the steering roller in accordance with a detected position of the belt end by the detecting member; and a supporting device configured to support the detecting member. The supporting device is provided with a contact portion for press-contacting an end surface of one end portion of a pressing roller configured to press the belt member against the heating member. |
| US08311464B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer program product
An image forming apparatus includes a direct transfer control unit that controls a direct transfer unit and a first image forming unit so as to directly transfer an image onto a transfer sheet, an indirect transfer control unit that controls an intermediate transfer unit and a second image forming unit so as to transfer images onto the intermediate transfer unit, a secondary transfer control unit that controls contact/separation between the direct transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit, a first alignment control unit that corrects an amount of misalignment among the images formed on the intermediate transfer unit, thereby performing a first alignment control process, and a second alignment control unit that corrects an amount of misalignment of an image directly transferred onto the transfer sheet with respect to the image on which the first alignment control process has been performed, thereby performing a second alignment control process. |
| US08311462B2 |
Developer supply device
A developer supply device, including a developer holding body having a cylindrical developer holding surface so that the developer holding surface moves in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction and a developer held on the developer holding surface is carried to a developer supply position; a developer amount limiting member that limits an amount of the developer held on the developer holding surface by contacting the developer holding surface on an upstream side in a moving direction of the developer holding surface with respect to the developer supply position; and a carrying substrate that carries the developer to the developer holding body through a traveling electric field, wherein the carrying substrate faces the developer holding surface at a developer holding position, and wherein a position to which the developer scraped off the developer holding surface falls is different from the developer holding position. |
| US08311456B2 |
Cleaning control of image carrier in image forming apparatus
Process cartridges are driven by respectively corresponding DC brushless motors. In a cleaning sequence executed after image formation ends, the DC brushless motors operate according to the driving parameters such that acoustic operational noise decreases. |
| US08311445B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image bearing member on which a latent image is formed; a developing unit that develops the latent image using a liquid developer; a transfer member onto which the image is transferred; a cleaning unit that cleans the latent image bearing member; a cleaning roller, to which a bias is applied, that cleans the transfer member by making contact with the transfer member; a blade that cleans the cleaning roller by making contact with the cleaning roller; a cleaning blade that cleans the transfer member cleaned by the cleaning roller by making contact with the transfer member; a holding unit that holds collected material scratched by the blade and the cleaning blade; an application unit that applies the collected material to the cleaning roller; and a transport channel that transports the collected material collected by the cleaning unit to the holding unit. |
| US08311442B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; toner image forming means for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; a transfer member for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording material; an executing portion for executing a first cleaning mode in which the transfer member is cleaned by being supplied with a voltage of an identical polarity to a normal charge polarity of toner during non-image formation and executing a second cleaning mode in which the transfer member is cleaned by being supplied with a voltage of an opposite polarity to the normal charge polarity of the toner during the non-image formation; and a control portion for changing a ratio between a first cleaning mode execution period and a second cleaning mode execution period depending on an operation environment of the image forming apparatus. |
| US08311435B2 |
Displacement detection and correction in an image formation device
There is provided an image formation device, comprising: an image forming unit configured to execute image formation to form an image on a recording medium; a holding body configured to move relatively with respect to the image forming unit and to hold an image formed thereon by the image forming unit; a controller that controls the image forming unit to form a correction pattern in an area on the holding body, the area corresponding to an image formation area defined on the recording medium when the image formation is executed for the recording medium; a measurement unit configured to measure a position of the correction pattern formed on the holding body; and a correction unit configured to correct an image formation position of the image formation unit based on a measurement result of the measurement unit. |
| US08311428B2 |
Image forming apparatus with density correction function and density correction method
An image forming apparatus with a correction function for correcting density of an image, including: an image bearing member configured to convey the image in a first direction; and a controller configured to perform a bias correction and a γ correction for the density, wherein the controller includes: a test patch generator configured to generate on the image bearing member a test patch including a first test patch and a second test patch; a first density sensor configured to detect density of the first test patch; a second density sensor configured to detect density of the second test patch; a selector configured to select one of a first detection signal from the first density sensor and a second detection signal from the second density sensor as a bias-correction detection signal and another detection signal as a γ-correction detection signal. |
| US08311427B2 |
Image forming device and method
An image forming device and method improves image quality by detecting the density of a pattern and adjusting the voltage applied to a developer supply member if necessary in response to the detected density. The pattern can be a medium duty tone pattern, which is relatively sensitive to environmental changes that can affect image density. The density detection pattern can be produced and detected after every predetermined number of sheets are printed, to maintain an acceptable image density during large print jobs. The pattern is formed on the surface of a transferring unit, which transfers the sheets. |
| US08311425B2 |
Fixing unit controlling apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
A fixing unit controlling apparatus that includes a switching unit of a power supplier to supply power to a fixing unit according to a power supply controlling signal to control a temperature of the fixing unit, and a switching unit of a power shutter to shut off power supplied to the fixing unit when the fixing unit controlling apparatus operates abnormally, wherein the switching units of the power supplier and the power shutter are both connected to a snubber circuit of the power shutter. |
| US08311424B2 |
Fixing device usable with an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing roller to fix a toner on a recording medium; a heater to heat the fixing roller; an alternating current (AC) power source to generate an AC electric power such that the heater heats the fixing roller according to the AC electric power; a unit interposed between the heater and the AC power source to selectively supply the AC electric power from the AC power source to the heater so as to control the heater to heat the fixing roller; a relay including a first relay contact point disposed on a first AC power supply line between the AC power source and the unit and a relay coil to open and close the first relay contact point; the relay selectively supplying the AC electric power from AC power source to the heater and the power control switch; a direct current (DC) power supplier to supply a DC power to the relay coil; and a thermoswitch interposed on a DC power supply line between the DC power supplier and the relay coil to control the supply of the AC electric power from the AC power source to the heater and the unit according to an temperature of the fixing roller. |
| US08311423B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus that includes a latent image carrier, a latent image forming unit, a developing unit, a toner supplier, a toner concentration detector, a prediction calculator, and a toner supply controller. The toner supplier includes a single driving source and supplies toner to a two-component developer at a predetermined supply position by driving a toner supply member with the driving source. The toner concentration detector detects a toner concentration in the developer at a predetermined detection position located upstream of the supply position. The prediction calculator predicts changes in the toner concentration in the developer over time at a prediction position located at the supply position or downstream of the supply position and upstream of a developer feed position to the developer carrier when toner is not supplied. The toner supply controller adjusts an amount of the toner supplied based on the prediction. |
| US08311420B2 |
Toner cartridge
A toner cartridge comprises a toner container which contains toner, a driving member which rotationally drives a conveying member, an agitating member which agitates a toner in the toner container while being rotated, a driven member which rotates in association with the driving member which is for rotationally driving the agitating member, and a rotational body which rotates according to rotation of the driven member, has a plurality of slits in rotational circumference for identifying a type of the toner cartridge, and has 1/K or more of the slits when a ratio of a rotational speed R1 (rad/s) of the driving member and a rotational speed R2 (rad/s) of the driven member is K=R2/R1. |
| US08311412B2 |
Distributed cable modem termination system
Distributed CMTS device for a HFC CATV network serving multiple neighborhoods by multiple individual cables, in which the QAM modulators that provide data for the individual cables are divided between QAM modulators located at the cable plant, and remote QAM modulators ideally located at the fiber nodes. A basic set of CATV QAM data waveforms may be transmitted to the nodes using a first fiber, and a second set of IP/on-demand data may be transmitted to the nodes using an alternate fiber or alternate fiber frequency, and optionally other protocols such as Ethernet protocols. The nodes will extract the data specific to each neighborhood and inject this data into unused QAM channels, thus achieving improved data transmission rates through finer granularity. A computerized “virtual shelf” control system for this system is also disclosed. The system has high backward compatibility, and can be configured to mimic a conventional cable plant CMTS. |
| US08311410B2 |
Optical switch and optical waveform monitoring device utilizing optical switch
The polarization direction of an optical signal is changed by a polarization controller so as to be orthogonal to a main axis of a polarizer. A control pulse generator generates control pulses from control beam with a wavelength which is different from the wavelength of the optical signal. The optical signal and the control pulse are input to a nonlinear optical fiber. In the nonlinear optical fiber, the optical signal, during a time period in which the optical signal and the control pulse coincide, is amplified with optical parametric amplification around a polarization direction of the control pulse. The optical signal, during the time period in which the optical signal and the control pulse coincide, passes through the polarizer. |
| US08311409B2 |
Signal switching module for optical network monitoring and fault locating
The present invention provides an optical signal-selection switch module which is used in a method for simultaneous real-time status monitoring and troubleshooting of a high-capacity single-fiber hybrid passive optical network that is based on wavelength-division-multiplexing techniques. |
| US08311408B2 |
Method and apparatus for end of life of small form-factor pluggable (SFP)
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for visually indicating the remaining life of a small form factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver module. The total number of optical light pulse signals processed by an SFP are compared to a predetermined lifecycle number of signals that can be processed before the SFP enters a failed operating state. The remaining life of the SFP is calculated. A first display visually indicates that the total number of processed signals has not exceeded the lifecycle number of signals. A second display located on the SFP enclosure visually indicates the SFP has reached the end of its lifecycle. |
| US08311407B2 |
Camera system, camera body, and interchangeable lens
A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera body. A body controller in the camera body performs control to transmit a timing signal and a drive information signal to the interchangeable lens. A lens controller in the interchangeable lens controls drive of a focus lens based on the drive information signal and the timing signal which are received from the camera body. The drive information signal includes information of a driving time which is a period from a start of driving the focus lens until an end of driving the focus lens. |
| US08311402B2 |
Modular heater system
A heater system is provided that includes a plurality of carrier members, each carrier member defining an inner periphery surface, an outer receiving portion, and connecting portions. A plurality of resistive heating elements are disposed within the outer receiving portions of the carrier members, and end fittings are disposed proximate the carrier members and the resistive heating elements. A cover is disposed around the carrier members and the resistive heating elements, and the inner periphery surfaces of the carrier members are adapted to transfer heat to a target and the connecting portions are adapted to be secured to at least one of an adjacent carrier member and a heating target. In one form, at least one set of a carrier member and a resistive heating element are resiliently movable such that the heater system provides tactile feedback to an installer that the heater system is properly installed around a target. |
| US08311398B2 |
Data recording device, data recording method, and computer program
A method for initializing a recording medium on which data is recorded in compliance with the AVCHD standard is proposed.Under a root directory of partitions, an ICB and FIDs for each directory contained in a directory structure defined by the AVCHD standard are recorded with consideration of information on child directories. Thereafter, an SBD and a metadata bitmap file are recorded in a partition and also, an LVIS is recorded on the basis of information, such as the number of sectors used as a result of recording the ICBs and the FIDs of all the directories and the total number of directories. |
| US08311397B2 |
Method for supporting a still picture of data stream recorded in a disk recording medium
In the method, video data is reproduced from the recording medium, and an I-picture and a number of P-pictures are output as a still picture based on the reproduced video data. The output data may then be received and decoded for display. |
| US08311396B2 |
DVD video playback system and DVD disk playback method
In a DVD video playback system adapted to transmit data in the form of a PS (program stream) from a source device to each sink device, a navigation manager of the source device stores system parameters, which are necessary for each sink device to decode the PS, in an unused area of a NV_PACK received from a PS demultiplexer and transmits it to a PS multiplexer. The navigation manager of the source device also produces an ORG_PACK in which navigation data necessary for each sink device to decode the PS, and transmits it to the PS multiplexer. The PS multiplexer produces a PS by multiplexing ORG_PACK and NV_PACK received from the navigation manager, V_PACK received from a video transcoder, and A_PACK and SP_PACK received from the PS demultiplexer, and the PS multiplexer transmits the resultant PS to each sink device via an in-vehicle LAN interface. |
| US08311395B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium
The present invention comprises an input part for inputting image data, a receiving part for receiving production information relating to production transmitted from another apparatus, a recording part for recording the production information received by the receiving part and image data input by the input part, a detection part for detecting a recording position on a recording medium at an editing point of image data recorded by the recording part, and a transmission part for transmitting information of the recording position detected by the detection part, whereby identification information for identifying image data and voice data is recorded in a recording medium or a recording device, this relieving a burden on a photographer and an editor and facilitating extraction of image data and voice data. |
| US08311388B2 |
Recording medium capable of interactive reproducing and reproduction system for the same
On an optical disk, video object sets (VTST_VOBS) to be reproduced and video title set information (VTSI) serving as management information on the video object sets have been stored. In each video object set (VTST_VOBS), many data cells, each containing video, audio, and sub-picture data, are arranged. Management information on programs chains, which are combinations of programs to be reproduced one after another, has been written in a video title set PGC table (VTS_PGCIT). By referring to the program chain table (VTS_PGCIT) according to the user's input, the playback order of program chains can be changed, enabling the program chains to be reproduced one after another in various modes. |
| US08311386B2 |
Control signal transmitting and receiving techniques for video/audio processing IC and apparatus therefor
Control signal transmitting and receiving methods for video/audio processing integrate circuit (IC), the method applied to a video player, and an apparatus therefor are provided. The control signal transmitting method, in a video player having an integrated circuit (IC) for processing video/audio signals and a microprocessor generating control signals to control the IC, has the steps of mapping serial data corresponding to possible control states of the video/audio signal processing IC, and storing the mapped data in a lookup table, reading serial data corresponding to a control state of the video/audio signal processing IC requested by the microprocessor, from the lookup table; and transmitting the serial data to the video/audio signal processing IC, being synchronized to a clock signal. Since in the control signal transmitting and receiving method the number of pins of an A/V IC decreases greatly compared to the conventional parallel transmitting and receiving method, the cost of manufacturing A/V ICs can be reduced to strengthen the competitiveness of products. |
| US08311384B2 |
Image processing method, apparatus and system
An image processing method receives a sequence of image frames and generates a computer generated object. The method combines the object with the sequence of frames to generate a sequence of augmented reality images. The method divides each received image frame into a respective array of image motion cells, detects inter-image motion in successive image frames for each motion cell, and generates a motion object comprising one or more image motion cells. The image motion cells in the motion object correspond to a set of image motion cells detected as comprising inter-image motion over a threshold number of image frames. The method detects relative distance between the object and the motion object within the augmented reality images, and generates a point of interest within a current image frame so the object may appear to interact with an image region corresponding to an image motion cell at the point of interest. |
| US08311380B2 |
Spring-loaded splice tray holder
A splice tray holder includes a body with a first portion, a second portion, and a front surface. A retention portion is disposed on an outer periphery of each of the first and second portions and defines a receiving groove having an inner surface that faces toward the front surface of the body. A spring portion is disposed on each of the first and second portions, wherein the spring portion is adapted to provide a biasing force in a direction from the front surface of the body toward the inner surface of the receiving groove. |
| US08311375B2 |
Optoelectronic wiring board, optical communication device, and method of manufacturing the optical communication device
An optoelectronic wiring board includes a flex-rigid substrate and an optical communication unit. The flex-rigid substrate includes a flexible substrate provided with an electric wiring, and a pair of rigid sections provided on both sides of the flexible substrate. The pair of rigid sections each include a lamination formed of a conductive circuit and an insulating layer. The optical communication unit is made of a flexible material and has both end faces substantially perpendicular to its optical path of transmitting light. Both end portions of the optical communication unit are disposed and fixed on the rigid sections so that both end faces of the optical communication unit face an optical element mounting region provided on the rigid sections of the flex-rigid substrate. |
| US08311374B2 |
Beam generation and steering with integrated optical circuits for light detection and ranging
An integrated photonic beam steering device includes a planar photonic substrate. An input waveguide is configured to accept an electromagnetic energy from a source of electromagnetic energy radiation. A first splitter is configured to split the electromagnetic radiation into one or more paths. One or more phased array rows are optically coupled to each of the one or more paths. Each phased array row includes a row splitter configured to split the each of the one or more paths into two or more row paths. Two or more phase modulators are each optically coupled respectively to each of the two or more row paths. Two or more output couplers are optically coupled respectively to each phase modulator output of the two or more phase modulators. The two or more output couplers are configured to radiate a steered photonic beam away from the integrated photonic beam steering device. |
| US08311371B2 |
Optical modulation device
Herein disclosed is an optical modulation device, comprising: a substrate 1 having a polarization non-reversal region 17a and a polarization reversal region 17b; an optical waveguide 18 including first and second branched optical waveguide portions 18a, 18b; and a traveling waveguide including a center electrode 19a and a ground electrode 19b, 19c to have an electric signal applied thereto, said traveling waveguide and said first and second branched optical waveguide portions collectively forming an interaction portion to have said incident light interacted with said electric signal, said interaction portion being constituted by a first interaction sub-portion 20a and a second interaction sub-portion 20b, said first and second interaction sub-portions being respectively positioned in regions of said substrate having opposite polarization orientations with each other, in which said center electrode is positioned in face to face relationship with one of said first and second branched optical waveguide portions at said first and second interaction sub-portion to ensure that said incident light in said first and second branched optical waveguide portions are phase modulated, and in which said interaction portion includes an optical waveguide shift sub-portion sandwiched between said first and second interaction sub-portions to have positions of said first and second branched optical waveguide portions shifted therein in a transverse direction, ensuring that positions of said first and second optical waveguides relative to said center and ground electrodes are interchanged between said first and second interaction sub-portions. |
| US08311367B2 |
Image processing device
Adaptive image processing device performs image processing with a simple configuration on a composite image including areas having different characteristics by changing a process depending on the number of combined images in each area of the composite image configured by combining a plurality of images. The image processing device acquires a plurality of images and generates a composite image. When the composite image is generated, the image processing device realizes a process of determining the number of combined images for detecting the number of images to be combined for each area of the composite image and holding the number as information about the number of combined images, and an image processing parameter switching process for switching a parameter of image processing to be performed on each area of the composite image according to the information about the number of combined images. |
| US08311366B2 |
System and method for calibrating and adjusting a projected image of a projection apparatus
The invention relates to a calibration method and system for at least one projection apparatus, where the geometric data from at least one projection area has been or are stored in advance in a computer unit, wherein a) the at least one projection apparatus projects previously known calibration patterns onto at least one portion of the projection area, with the calibration patterns having at least one overlap region among one another, b) the calibration patterns are recorded by at least one camera apparatus as a calibration image, where c) the computer unit is used to automatically ascertain the difference between the recorded real calibration image and an ideal depiction result from the previously known calibration pattern on the projection area as a reference pattern, and where subsequently the difference between the real calibration image and the reference pattern is used to ascertain a correction transform. |
| US08311365B2 |
Analysis method for regional image
An analysis method for a regional image is disclosed for an image datum from a C-arm device. The analysis method includes: providing an indication module, reading the image datum, selecting a plurality of ROIs (Regions of Interest), calculating an average brightness of each of the ROIs, searching every of the steel ball image data, comparing each of the steel ball image data and analyzing each of the steel ball image data. By individually analyzing the regional image datum, the brighter or darker image signal can be excluded so that it can improve precision during searching the steel ball image data. Moreover, it is also more effective for comparing an image profile of the steel ball image datum with a real profile of the steel ball of the indication module. Thus, the steel ball image can be readily defined by its correspondence with the steel ball of the indication module. |
| US08311364B2 |
Estimating aesthetic quality of digital images
A method for estimating the aesthetic quality of an input digital image comprising using a digital image processor for performing the following: determining one or more vanishing point(s) associated with the input digital image by automatically analyzing the digital image; computing a compositional model from at least the positions of the vanishing point(s); and producing an aesthetic quality parameter for the input digital image responsive to the compositional model, wherein the aesthetic quality parameter is an estimate for the aesthetic quality of the input digital image. |
| US08311362B2 |
Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, image processing method and recording medium
Sharpness is calculated in all of focus-bracketed images on a pixel basis. Then, a first reference value indicating an image of the plurality of images to which a pixel whose sharpness is the highest among the pixels located on the identical positions in the plurality of images belongs is obtained on each pixel of the images, and a second reference value is calculated based on the first reference value on each pixel by spatially smoothing the first reference value on each pixel based on the first reference values on adjacent pixels. The focus-bracketed images are processed based on the second reference values to generate an omni-focus image or a blur-enhanced image. Accordingly, it is possible to judge a region having high contrast as an in-focus region and acquire a synthesized image having smooth gradation. |
| US08311349B2 |
Decoding image with a reference image from an external memory
Techniques, apparatus and systems for image decoding are described. A method performed by an image decoding apparatus includes generating motion compensation information and a quantized result of an error image that represents a difference between a current image to be decoded and a prediction image obtained by performing inter prediction on the current image from a bitstream of the current image. A reference image of the current image is received from an external memory unit based on the generated motion compensation information. The method includes restoring the current image based on the received reference image of the current image and the generated quantized result of the error image representing the difference between the current image and the prediction image. Receiving the reference image of the current image is performed while restoring a previous image, and restoring the current image is performed while receiving a reference image of a subsequent image. |
| US08311343B2 |
Vehicle classification by image processing with laser range finder
An image capture device captures a plurality of sequential images of a vehicle in motion. At substantially the same time a collocated rangefinder determines the distance between the vehicle and the image capture device. Each of the plurality of images may be segmented based on the rangefinder point of reference. The portion of each image representing the vehicle is extracted based on its motion with respect to a stationary background. Knowing the size of the vehicle with respect to the image and the distance that the vehicle is from the image capture device, the image data is converted to real world dimensions. Using these real world dimensions a vehicle classification is determined. |
| US08311339B2 |
Method to robustly match images with similar body and head pose from image sequence
During shopping, a shopper looks at herself in a mirror to evaluate clothing, jewelry, etc. because the mirror can provide a third-person view of the item. One thing a mirror cannot do is to show how two different items look at the same time, because only one item can be tried on at a time. Because of this, shoppers will often repeatedly try on items and must compare the look from memory. To enable self-comparison visually rather than from memory, embodiments can detect matches between images from two separate recorded single camera video sequences (corresponding to two different fittings). The matched images can then be played back to the user in close visual proximity for easy comparison shopping. |
| US08311338B2 |
Method and system for learning a same-material constraint in an image
In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, assembling a feature vector for the image file, the feature vector containing information regarding a likelihood that a selected pair of regions of the image file are of a same intrinsic characteristic, providing a classifier derived from a computer learning technique, computing a classification score for the selected pair of regions of the image file, as a function of the feature vector and the classifier and classifying the regions as being of the same intrinsic characteristic, as a function of the classification score. |
| US08311337B2 |
Systems and methods for organizing and accessing feature vectors in digital images
Systems and methods for incorporating restricted access to feature vectors are described. A method is described for storing and accessing feature vectors relating to individuals in digital images. One or more individuals are identified within photos, and feature vectors are generated for individuals in one or more photos. User profiles are downloaded from a database over a network. The feature vectors and downloaded user profiles are grouped. The face tagging system collects tags for the generated grouped feature vectors for generating enhanced user profiles for the individuals, and the enhanced user profiles are stored in a storage resource. |
| US08311334B2 |
Complexity regularized pattern representation, search, and compression
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for performing pattern representation, search and/or compression. In one embodiment, the method comprises extracting one or more target patterns from a portion of an image; forming a pattern matrix based on the one or more target patterns; approximating the pattern matrix using a complexity-regularized representation derived from the pattern matrix; and sending a query to search a library of images for vectors in the query to detect, using the a complexity-regularized representation, any image in the library that contains image patches similar to the one or more target patterns. |
| US08311326B2 |
Image processing using background estimation and removal
A histogram preparer reads image data scanned from an original sheet by the line, preparing a histogram of pixel numbers of respective background densities of a read line, a background density estimator estimates a background density of the read line as a density at a local maximal value in view of a highlight end of the histogram, a background removal reference value setter sets up a background removal reference value as a reference margin based on a pixel number normalized on the estimated background density, a background removal threshold determiner increments the estimated background density by the background removal reference value to set a provisional background removal threshold of the read line, and determines a background removal threshold of the read line as a weighting combination of the provisional background removal threshold and a background removal threshold of a previous line, and a background remover removes a background of the read line based on the determined background removal threshold. |
| US08311322B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes: an image dividing unit; a corresponding divided image extract unit; a difference extract unit; a first change unit; a second change unit; and an image output unit. |
| US08311319B2 |
L1-optimized AAM alignment
An Active Appearance Model, AAM, uses an L1 minimization-based approach to aligning an input test image. In each iterative application of its statistical model fitting function, a shape parameter coefficient p and an appearance parameter coefficient λ within the statistical model fitting function are updated by L1 minimization. The AAM further includes a canonical classifier to determine if an aligned image is a true example of the class of object being sought before the AAM is permitted to output its aligned image. |
| US08311317B1 |
Hierarchical spatial representation for multimodal sensory data
The present invention creates and stores target representations in several coordinate representations based on biologically inspired models of the human vision system. By using biologically inspired target representations a computer can be programmed for robot control without using kinematics to relate a target position in camera eyes to a target position in body or head coordinates. The robot sensors and appendages are open loop controlled to focus on the target. In addition, the invention herein teaches a scenario and method to learn the mappings between coordinate representations using existing machine learning techniques such as Locally Weighted Projection Regression. |
| US08311315B2 |
Pattern inspection method and apparatus
A color image of an inspection object is taken by an imaging means capable of taking a color image to obtain color information of an RGB color space. A gray-scale image of a color component of the RGB color space or another color space is generated, and the inspection object is detected by a pattern recognition technique. Alternatively, a binary image is generated from the generated gray-scale image, and the inspection object is detected by performing pattern recognition on the binary image. Color data of a pixel occupied by the detected inspection object is compared with color data of a non-defective inspection object which is previously prepared to judge whether or not the inspection object is defective. In addition, this judgment result is reflected in another manufacturing step through a network and product quality is improved. |
| US08311314B2 |
Pattern measuring method and pattern measuring device
An object of the present invention is to provide a sample measuring method and a sample measuring device suitable for evaluation of inclination of a pattern edge. To achieve the object, a method and a device for forming a plurality of contours of a pattern edge and evaluating the dimension between the contours are proposed below. Forming a plurality of contours allows evaluation of the degree of inclination of an edge portion of a pattern. Further, displaying evaluation values indicative of the degree of the inclination of the edge portion in an in-plane distribution form makes identifying the cause of taper formation easier. |
| US08311307B2 |
Structure detection apparatus and method, and computer-readable medium storing program thereof
A plurality of candidate points are extracted from image data. The plurality of candidate points are normalized, and a set of representative points composing form model that is most similar to set form is selected from the plurality of candidate points. Further, the candidate points and the form model are compared with each other, and correction is performed by adding a region forming structure or by deleting a region, or the like. Accordingly, the structure is detected in image data. |
| US08311306B2 |
System and method for image segmentation in generating computer models of a joint to undergo arthroplasty
Systems and methods for image segmentation in generating computer models of a joint to undergo arthroplasty are disclosed. Some embodiments may include a method of partitioning an image of a bone into a plurality of regions, where the method may include obtaining a plurality of volumetric image slices of the bone, generating a plurality of spline curves associated with the bone, verifying that at least one of the plurality of spline curves follow a surface of the bone, and creating a 3D mesh representation based upon the at least one of the plurality of spline curve. |
| US08311304B2 |
Computer-aided tubing detection
A method for detecting tubing in a radiographic image of a patient, executed at least in part by a control logic processor, obtains a radiographic image data for a patient and detects one or more possible tube segments in the image. At least one tubing candidate is formed by growing at least one detected tube segment or merging two or more detected tube segments. |
| US08311303B2 |
Method and system for semantics driven image registration
A method and system for automatic semantics driven registration of medical images is disclosed. Anatomic landmarks and organs are detected in a first image and a second image. Pathologies are also detected in the first image and the second image. Semantic information is automatically extracted from text-based documents associated with the first and second images, and the second image is registered to the first image based the detected anatomic landmarks, organs, and pathologies, and the extracted semantic information. |
| US08311301B2 |
Segmenting an organ in a medical digital image
A method for obtaining a segmented region corresponding to an anatomical organ in a volume image generates a smoothed image from the volume image and forms a core segmentation of the volume image according to the smoothed image. The size of the core segmentation of the volume image is increased to form the segmented region for the anatomical organ according to data obtained from the core segmentation. Data corresponding to the segmented region is stored in a memory. |
| US08311300B1 |
Medical image processing apparatus and method
There is provided a medical image processing apparatus matching a plurality of image data. The medical image processing apparatus includes: an image data storage that stores at least two image data of different phases of single target object; a node creating portion that creates nodes, wherein the nodes are related to positions in each of the at least two image data; a local force field calculating portion that calculates local force fields for the nodes, based on positions of the nodes and the at least two image data; a local force calculating portion that calculates local forces, each of which is acted in a corresponding one of the local force fields, from the local force fields; and an image deforming portion that deforms the positions of the nodes based on the local forces. |
| US08311299B2 |
Method and system for intelligent qualitative and quantitative analysis of digital radiography softcopy reading
The present invention describes a method and system for intelligent diagnostic relevant information processing and analysis. Information associated with a patient is processed via an image reading platform. Based on such processed information, a matrix of diagnosis decisions containing diagnostic related information is generated via a matrix of diagnosis decision platform. A diagnostic decision is made based on the diagnostic relevant information. The image reading platform and/or the matrix of diagnosis decision platform encapsulate information and toolkits to be used to manipulate the information. |
| US08311295B2 |
Avatars in social interactive television
Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment. |
| US08311292B2 |
Context aware, multiple target image recognition
In one embodiment, an apparatus may receive at least one image in which multiple targets are represented. The apparatus may assign possible identities to the targets based on probabilities associated with the identities. The apparatus may base a probability of a target being one of the identities, at least in part, on an identity-specific context and on a conditional probability that the target is the identity given that each one of at least two other of the targets is another respective one of the identities. The identity-specific context may be information that relates to a determined identity. The apparatus may identify the targets based on the identities and on the probabilities associated with the identities. |
| US08311287B2 |
Validation and correction of map data using oblique images
Technologies are described herein for validating and correcting map data using oblique images or aerial photographs taken at oblique angles to the earth's surface. Pixels within oblique images can be analyzed to detect, validate, and correct other sources of data used in generating maps such as vector data, elevation maps, projection parameters, and three-dimensional model data. Visibility and occlusion information in oblique views may be analyzed to reduce errors in either occluding or occluded entities. Occlusion of road segments due to foliage, z-ordering of freeways, tunnels, bridges, buildings, and other geospatial entities may be determined, validated, and corrected. A learning algorithm can be trained with image-based descriptors that encode visible data consistencies. After training, the algorithm can classify errors and inconsistencies using combinations of different descriptors such as color, texture, image-gradients, and filter responses. |
| US08311285B2 |
Method and system for localizing in urban environments from omni-direction skyline images
A location and orientation in an environment is determined by acquiring a set of one or more real omni-directional images of an unknown skyline in the environment from an unknown location and an unknown orientation in the environment by an omni-directional camera. A set of virtual omni-directional images is synthesized from a 3D model of the environment, wherein each virtual omni-directional image is associated with a known skyline, a known location and a known orientation. Each real omni-directional image is compared with the set of virtual omni-directional images to determine a best matching virtual omni-directional image with the associated known location and known orientation that correspond to the unknown location and orientation. |
| US08311284B2 |
Incapacity monitor
A method of monitoring incapacity of a subject which includes the steps of continuously monitoring eye and eyelid movement of at least one eye of the subject; analyzing eye and eyelid movements to obtain measures of ocular quiescence and the duration of an interval of no eye or eyelid movement; and if the duration of ocular quiescence exceeds a predetermined value providing a potential incapacity warning and requesting a response within a predetermined period, and applying an emergency procedure if no response is made within a predetermined interval. |
| US08311283B2 |
Method for detecting lane departure and apparatus thereof
A method for detecting the lane departure of a vehicle includes an image recognition process and a deviation estimation process. The image recognition process includes the following steps: an image capturing step for capturing image frame data by using an image capturing unit; and a lane line recognition for analyzing the image frame data for determining the lane lines. By using a quadratic curve fitting equation, a plurality of lane line being detected so as to establish a road geometry estimation model. The road geometry estimation model is inputted into the deviation estimation process to detect the lane departure of the vehicle so as to alert the driver. Furthermore, an apparatus for detecting the deviation of the vehicle, comprising: an image capturing unit, a processing unit and a signal output unit. |
| US08311282B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes: a motion prediction processing unit detecting an inter-image motion between a standard image and a reference image; a motion compensation processing unit generating a motion-compensated image by moving the reference image so as to be aligned with the standard image in a pixel position; an addition processing unit generating a noise-reduced image from which noise of the standard image is reduced; and an addition determination unit calculating an addition weight of the motion-compensated image. The addition determination unit includes a first motion region detection unit calculating a motion region determination value, a second motion region detection unit calculating a motion region determination value, a control map generation unit selecting and outputting one of two motion region determination values, a noise determination table generation unit generating or correcting a noise determination table, and an addition determination processing execution unit determining the addition weight. |
| US08311281B2 |
Object detection apparatus
In order to improve object detection precision, an object detection apparatus includes a posterior probability calculation portion utilizing an occurrence probability of a background and a foreground acquired by utilizing a characteristic quantity extracted from each pixel of an input image and a probability density function, a posterior probability of the previous background and foreground, and a conditional probability indicating a relation of an event (background or foreground) to the vicinity of an attentive pixel in a spatial direction and a relation of an event to the vicinity of the attentive pixel in a temporal direction so as to calculate a posterior probability of the background and the foreground from a probability model utilizing a tendency that the same event appears together in the vicinity of the attentive pixel in the spatial and temporal directions; and an object determination portion for determining an object from comparison between the posterior probabilities of the background and the foreground. |
| US08311280B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An apparatus stores a luminance signal and a color signal extracted from a tracking area in image data and determines a correlation with the stored luminance signal, thereby extracting an area where a specified object exists in another image data to update the tracking area using the position information of the extracted area. If a sufficient correlation cannot be obtained from the luminance signal, the apparatus makes a comparison with the stored color signal to determine whether the specified object is lost. The apparatus updates the luminance signal every time the tracking area is updated, but does not update the color signal even if the tracking area is updated or updates the color signal at a period longer than a period at which the luminance signal is updated. |
| US08311279B2 |
System and method for improved image analysis through gaze data feedback
The image analysis system includes a processor and memory and displays an image to a first user. The image analysis system tracks gaze of the first user and collects initial gaze data for the first user. The initial gaze data includes a plurality of gaze points. The image analysis system identifies one or more ignored regions of the image based on a distribution of the gaze data within the image; and displays at least a first subset of the image. The first subset of the image is selected so as to include a respective ignored region of the one or more ignored regions and the first subset of the image is displayed in a manner that draws attention to the respective ignored region. In some embodiments, the ignored region is visually emphasized within the image. In some embodiments, only the first subset of the image is displayed. |
| US08311277B2 |
Method and system for video indexing and video synopsis
In a system and method for generating a synopsis video from a source video, at least three different source objects are selected according to one or more defined constraints, each source object being a connected subset of image points from at least three different frames of the source video. One or more synopsis objects are sampled from each selected source object by temporal sampling using image points derived from specified time periods. For each synopsis object a respective time for starting its display in the synopsis video is determined, and for each synopsis object and each frame a respective color transformation for displaying the synopsis object may be determined. The synopsis video is displayed by displaying selected synopsis objects at their respective time and color transformation, such that in the synopsis video at least three points that each derive from different respective times in the source video are displayed simultaneously. |
| US08311270B2 |
Device and method for arranging block of vessel
A vessel block arranging device extracts image information on a vessel block loaded on a transporter, and determines whether to arrange the vessel block in an area in which the vessel block will be arranged by using location information of the arranged vessel block in the area and extracted image information, thereby reducing errors caused by determining the vessel block arrangement. |
| US08311269B2 |
Blocker image identification apparatus and method
Frequency analysis is performed on an image signal on a pixel by pixel basis or on a block by block basis, each block including a plurality of pixels, for each frame of the image signal. Then, a motion level or blur level is calculated on a pixel by pixel basis or on a block by block basis in accordance with a result of the frequency analysis. After the calculated motion level or blur level is converted into a binary value, 2-dimensional continuous regions are detected and a large region is extracted from the detected regions. It is then determined whether the large region is a blocker part based on at least one of an area ratio, a shape, and a position of the large region. |
| US08311268B2 |
Image object separation
Techniques and systems for segmenting one or more objects in a subject image resulting from subjecting one or more objects to imaging using an imaging apparatus are disclosed, such that limitations of image noise, object proximity, image intensity variations, shape complexity, and/or computational resources may be mitigated. Merely border edges of objects in a subject image can be generated, for example, by using edge detection and discarding interior edges. Geometric difference values of the identified boundaries of the objects in the subject image can be calculated. One or more transitions between objects can be identified by using the geometric difference values, for example, which may result in data that represents a location in the image of an object to be segmented. |
| US08311265B2 |
Embedding and detecting hidden information
A novel method is disclosed for embedding hidden information in a document comprising characters, including: determining hidden information to be embedded in each class of layout transformation respectively; acquiring a code sequence for each class of layout transformation by coding the hidden information to be embedded in the class of layout transformation; performing layout transformation on characters from the document according to the acquired code sequence for each class of layout transformation respectively. |
| US08311256B1 |
System, method and apparatus for holding a device and containing a microphone
An application for a music system includes an enclosure and at least one cavity formed in the enclosure. The cavity(s) have side slots sized to interface with a hand of a person and have an opening towards the top. The opening towards the top of each of the cavities is sized to accept and hold a microphone. The cavities are used to carry the system and alternately hold one or more microphones. |
| US08311254B2 |
Speaker system
An audio speaker comprises three modules stacked on one another to form a tower. The bottom module generates a magneto-strictive output that is coupled to the structure on which the bottom module stands to cause audio signal radiation from that structure. The top module has an upwardly facing cone speaker that radiates audio signals primarily in the upper audio frequency range. These two audio signal radiations combine to provide a more comprehensive frequency range signal than is normally obtained at the small size of the tower. An intermediate module plays media such as an audio card. The modules are releasably held together by embedded magnets in the adjacent facing surfaces of the modules. Signal information is transmitted between modules by terminals on adjacent facing surfaces. The upwardly facing surface has a set of recessed spring loaded upwardly extending terminals. The mating terminals on the downwardly facing surface are flush with the surface contact terminals. |
| US08311253B2 |
Earpiece positioning and retaining
An earpiece. The earpiece includes an electronics module for wirelessly receiving incoming audio signals from an external source. The earpiece further includes a positioning and retaining structure comprising at least an outer leg and an inner leg, each of the outer leg and inner leg being attached at an attachment end to the body and attached at a joined end to each other. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure is substantially stiffer in one direction than in another. In its intended position, one of the two legs contacts the anti-helix at the rear of the concha, the joined end is under the anti-helix; a planar portion of the body contacts the concha; and a portion of the body is under the anti-tragus. |
| US08311251B2 |
Electronic apparatus for connection to a hearing apparatus component with a two-part sleeve
An electronic component and, in particular, an external receiver of a hearing aid, are intended to be capable of being configured to be simpler and more robust. To this end, it is proposed that the electronic apparatus, which has an electronic component and a cable which is connected to the electronic component, is equipped with a first sleeve which is arranged around a part of the electronic component and a part of the cable and mechanically connects the two, and a second sleeve, which surrounds another part of the electronic component. The first sleeve and the second sleeve are coaxially directly connected to one another such that both sleeves together also completely surround the electronic component in the axial direction. The two sleeves can possibly be connected to one another by laser welding. |
| US08311250B2 |
Method for adjusting a hearing aid with high-frequency amplification
It should be possible to quickly and effectively adjust a hearing aid even in the high-frequency range above 8 kHz. For this purpose it is provided that an open-loop gain measurement is carried out in the upper frequency range and a maximum amplification or a frequency-dependent maximum amplification curve is fixed. This maximum amplification in the high-frequency range should not be exceeded. The hearing aid wearer can then optionally select one of a plurality of amplification curves located there below. In the low-frequency range a conventional amplification adjustment is carried out for example by a prescriptive audiogram-based formula. A hybrid adjustment procedure that is easy to carry out is thereby provided for the entire frequency range. |
| US08311249B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method and program
An information processing apparatus includes: a speaker setup section that sets up each of a plurality of speakers; and a display control section that controls display of information regarding arrangement of the plurality of speakers and setting of the plurality of speakers set up by the speaker setup section. |
| US08311244B2 |
Thermoacoustic device
A speaker includes a base and a thermoacoustic device. The base includes a first connector, a second connector for receiving external signals, a first engaging member, and an amplifier circuit device electrically connecting to the first connector and the second connector. The thermoacoustic device includes a second engaging member and a fourth connector. The thermoacoustic device is detachably installed on the base by a detachable engagement between the first engaging member and the second engaging member and a fourth connector corresponds to the first connector of the base. |
| US08311243B2 |
Energy-efficient consumer device audio power output stage
An energy-efficient consumer device audio power output stage provides improved battery life and reduced power dissipation. A power supply having a selectable operating mode supplies the power supply rails to the power amplified output stage. The operating mode is controlled in conformity with the audio signal level, which may be determined from a volume control setting of the device and/or from a signal level detector that determines the amplitude of the signal being amplified. The power supply may be a charge pump in which the operating mode uses a capacitive divider to provide for selection of a power supply output voltage that is a rational fraction of the power supply output voltage in a full-voltage operating mode. |
| US08311237B2 |
Howling suppression apparatus and computer readable recording medium
A howling suppression apparatus suppresses a howling caused in an acoustic system including a sound collection device and a sound emission device. An estimation part generates an estimated signal by estimating a feedback sound reaching the sound collection device from the sound emission device. An adjustment part generates an estimated signal by adjusting the estimated signal. A spectrum subtraction part generates an acoustic signal using a result of subtracting a frequency spectrum of the estimated signal from a frequency spectrum of an acoustic signal. A filter part generates an acoustic signal by suppressing a component of a frequency band including a howling frequency F among the acoustic signal. An acoustic signal in which the acoustic signal is amplified by an amplifier is supplied to the sound emission device. |
| US08311230B2 |
Speaker systems and methods having amplitude and frequency response compensation
A speaker system and method, in which the intelligibility of reproduced speech or music sound, derived from an audio program signal, is enhanced by means of at least one of a first and second transfer function of a signal process applied to the audio program signal. The first transfer function incrementally varies the volume of the reproduced sound directly as a function of the volume of ambient noise. The second transfer function incrementally or continuously varies the high frequency response of the reproduced sound inversely as a function of the volume of the ambient noise. The ambient noise can be measured by a microphone, for example, located on or near the speaker system and can also be electronically averaged over a predetermined time period. The signal process provides an audio output signal that is applied to at least one amplifier and at least one speaker. |
| US08311224B2 |
Method and system utilizing quantum authentication
A system and a method with quantum cryptography authentication. The system includes an optical link connecting a sender and a receiver. The sender transmitting a first optical pulse and a second optical pulse having a defined time delay therebetween. The first pulse is modulated with a first authentication phase shift; and the second pulse is modulated with phases selected from one basis of two non-orthogonal bases, and encoded with one of two orthogonal states within the one basis based on an information of the sender, and with a second authentication phase shift. The receiver includes a splitter receiving and splitting the first and the second pulse into pulses of interest. The split pulses of interest are modulated with the first authentication phase shift; and the second authentication phase shift, respectively. The receiver includes a second coupler whereby the split pulses of interest arrive at the second coupler simultaneously. The receiver includes a first set of detectors receiving the combined pulses, which determine the one basis of the two non-orthogonal bases; and a second set of detectors receiving the combined pulses, and determine the one of the two orthogonal states within the basis and thereby decoding the information of the sender. |
| US08311221B2 |
Architecture for reconfigurable quantum key distribution networks based on entangled photons directed by a wavelength selective switch
A system and method for securing communications between a plurality of users communicating over an optical network. The system utilizes a fixed or tunable source optical generator to generate entangled photon pairs, distribute the photons and establish a key exchange between users. The distribution of entangled photon pairs is implemented via at least one wavelength selective switch. |
| US08311220B2 |
AV data transmission apparatus and AV data transmission method
Provided is an AV data transmission apparatus including two or more output channels, an encryption unit encrypting AV data using an encryption key, and an AV data transmission unit transmitting the encryption key and the encrypted AV data to AV data reception apparatuses from each output channel. The apparatus also includes an encryption key switching unit switching an encryption key generation scheme to another one for the encryption key transmitted through a selected output channel, an output suspension unit suspending output of the encrypted AV data transmitted through a selected output channel, and a control unit (i) causing the output suspension unit to select an output channel and suspend the output of the encrypted AV data through the selected output channel, and then (ii) causing the encryption key switching unit to select the same output channel and switch the encryption key generation scheme to another one for the output channel. |
| US08311217B2 |
Data transmission method and terminal
Embodiments of the present invention provide a data transmission method, a Coaxial-Cable Network Unit (CNU) and a Coaxial-cable Line Terminal (CLT). The method is applied to a point-to-multipoint Coaxial-cable Network, wherein the point-to-multipoint Coaxial-cable Network includes a Coaxial-cable Line Terminal, CLT, and a plurality of Coaxial-Cable Network Units, CNUs; the CLT shares transmission medium with the CNUs. The method includes: obtaining, by the CLT, an uplink receiving scrambling code, and decrypting, by the CLT, with the obtained uplink receiving scrambling code, data sent from a CNU after being encrypted with an uplink transmission scrambling code; and obtaining, by the CNU, a downlink receiving scrambling code, and decrypting, by the CNU, data received by the CNU with the obtained downlink receiving scrambling code; wherein the uplink receiving scrambling code is different from the downlink receiving scrambling code. In embodiments of the present invention, the CNU includes a scrambling code obtaining unit, a decryption execution unit and a data interaction unit. The CLT includes a scrambling code processing unit, a decryption execution unit and a data interaction unit. With the embodiments of the present invention, the security of the uplink data transmission in an Ethernet Passive Coaxial Network (EPCN) system is guaranteed, and the QoS of services is greatly enhanced. |
| US08311212B2 |
Method of processing data protected against attacks by generating errors and associated device
A data processing method comprises the following steps: determining a first result data word from a first input data word and a first secret data word; obtaining a first compressed data word from the first result data word or the first input data word using a compression algorithm; determining a second result data word from a second input data word and a second secret data word; obtaining a second compressed data word from the second result data word using the compression algorithm; comparing the first compressed data word and the second compressed data word. |
| US08311210B1 |
Isolated high gain line amplifier circuit
Systems and methods for a line amplifier circuit are disclosed. The line amplifier circuit generally includes a first microphone transmit line, a second microphone transmit line, and a light emitting diode with a controllable variable light output. A photo-resistor cell is coupled across the first microphone transmit line and the second microphone transmit line. The photo-resistor cell is operable to attenuate gain on the first microphone transmit line and the second transmit line responsive to the controllable variable light output from the light-emitting diode. |
| US08311209B2 |
Peer to peer wireless communication conflict resolution
In accordance with a method for wireless communication, in a coexistence system comprising a plurality of different wireless interface devices within a single integrated circuit, wherein each of the plurality of wireless interface devices utilizes a corresponding different wireless communication standard, and when one of the plurality of wireless interface devices is receiving or will receive a packet, communicating from the one of the plurality of wireless interface devices, an indication to at least one of a remaining one or remaining ones of the plurality of wireless interface devices, which enables the at least one of the remaining one or ones of the plurality of wireless interface devices to delay corresponding transmission based on the indication. The indication may include status information for the receiving of the packet by the one of the plurality of wireless interface devices. |
| US08311203B2 |
User-initiated return communication
Techniques to defer an incoming communication and then schedule a follow up communication are disclosed. A communication recipient can defer an incoming communication and schedule a return communication time. The return communication may be manually deferred by a user and/or automatically deferred based at least in part on availability of a user on an appointment calendar. |
| US08311196B2 |
Automatic mute detection
A system and methodology for managing a mute function muting a connection to a conference call or other communication is disclosed. The system is implemented when the mute function is activated on a line connected to a conference call through a telecommunications network. The method includes receiving a sound, determining whether the sound meets predetermined criteria and if the sound meets predetermined criteria then performing a mute status operation. |
| US08311194B2 |
Method and system for establishing communications
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for establishing a communication between a first party and a second party, comprising: a data receiving subsystem for receiving from a third party details of the first and second party; and control logic for establishing a communication between the first and second party using the details supplied by the third party. |
| US08311192B2 |
Communication device, communication system and computer readable medium for communication
There is provided a communication device, comprising: a display screen; a communication unit; an image data storage unit storing of image data; a registration information storage unit to store registration information and area information in such a manner that the area information is associated with the registration information; and an output control unit to display an image corresponding to image data associated with registration information corresponding to a source which transmitted a communication request such that an area corresponding to the source is distinguished from other areas. |
| US08311191B2 |
Augmenting a call with context
A method and system for providing context of a caller to a callee when a call is initiated is provided. The context system executing on the calling device collects context for the call. The calling device initiates the call and sends a message to the callee that includes the context. Upon receiving the message, the callee device notifies the caller that a call has been initiated and displays the received context. The callee can decide based on the received context whether to answer the call or not answer the call. |
| US08311189B2 |
Method and device for enabling message responses to incoming phone calls
A computing device is configured to receive an incoming communication from another computing device. The incoming communication may be for purpose of initiating a voice-exchange session. In response to receiving the incoming call, the computing device may identify or determine a message identifier of the other computing device. The message identifier is determined based at least in part on data provided with the incoming communication. The computing device may programmatically address a message to the other computing device using the message identifier determined from the incoming communication. |
| US08311188B2 |
User interface with voice message summary
In one embodiment, a graphics user interface is provided. The graphics user interface includes a plurality of graphical representations. Each of the plurality of graphical representations identifies a separate voice message. A summary of content of each of the separate voice messages is displayed for each of the plurality of graphical representations, respectively. Each of the plurality of graphical representations is configured to be selected for playback of the respective voice message. |
| US08311186B2 |
Bi-directional dispenser cathode
A multi-directional dispenser cathode has a cathode body that supports a plurality of electron emitters which spanning open portions of the cathode body. Each electron emitter has an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface wherein the inward facing surfaces and an interior wall of the body define an interior volume that contains a heater. To selectively accelerate emitted electrons, an electrically distinct biasing electrode is in spaced relationship to the outward facing surface of each electron emitter and coupled to a biasing power supply effective to provide an intermittent positive voltage potential to the biasing electrode. The distinct biasing electrodes are provided with a positive voltage potential at different times thereby causing an intermittent burst of electrons. Among the applications for intermittent bursts of accelerated electrons are to generate radiation from a particle accelerator. |
| US08311183B2 |
Online energy dispersive X-ray diffraction analyser
An on-line EDXRD analyser including (i) a housing defining an analysis zone and having a passageway through it to allow transport of material in a process stream to pass through the analysis zone, (ii) a collimated source of polychromatic X-rays, (iii) an energy-resolving (ER)X-ray detector, (iv) a primary beam collimator disposed between the source of X-rays and the (ER)X-ray detector comprising an annular slit which defines an incident beam of polychromatic X-rays to irradiate a portion of the analysis zone, (v) a scatter collimator disposed between the primary beam collimator and the ERX-ray detector, the scatter collimator comprising an annular slit which defines a diffracted beam of X-rays scattered by the material to converge towards the ERX-ray detector, and (vi) a detector collimator comprising a conical opening which further defines the diffracted beam of X-rays scattered by the material. The ERX-ray detector measures an energy spectrum of the diffracted X-rays at a predetermined diffraction angle defined by the relative positioning of (ii) to (vi), and where one of (iv) and (v) comprises an aperture arranged to enable a detector to measure the transmission of a direct beam of X-rays through the material. |
| US08311174B1 |
Persistent synchronization within a media oriented systems transport network
A method of processing data within a controller for a network can include, while frame lock is not established, detecting a first preamble and a second preamble within a data stream of the network (1210, 1235). Biphase units between the first preamble and the second preamble can be counted (1215). Frame lock can be acquired on the data stream responsive to determining that the first preamble and the second preamble are separated by a number of biphase units corresponding to a frame (1235). A synchronization signal indicating that frame lock has been acquired can be output responsive to acquiring frame lock on the data stream (1240). |
| US08311169B2 |
Automatic frequency monitoring circuit, electronic device, automatic frequency monitoring method, and automatic frequency monitoring program
An automatic frequency monitoring circuit automatically monitors a frequency of a clock related to an operation of a device to be monitored. In the automatic frequency monitoring circuit, a frequency detecting unit detects, upon detecting a predetermined momentum, the frequencies of a monitoring target clock during a predetermined time for a predetermined number of times and treats as a detection frequency of the monitoring target clock, an average of the frequencies that are detected for the predetermined number of times. A frequency monitoring unit monitors, upon the frequency detecting unit detecting the detection frequency of the monitoring target clock, whether the frequency of the monitoring target clock during the predetermined time is within a predetermined fluctuation range based on the detection frequency. |
| US08311168B2 |
Adaptive noise filtering and equalization for optimal high speed multilevel signal decoding
A Signal Conditioning Filter (SCF) and a Signal Integrity Unit (SIU) address the coupled problem of equalization and noise filtering in order to improve signal fidelity for decoding. Specifically, a received signal can be filtered in a manner to optimize the signal fidelity even in the presence of both significant (large magnitudes of) ISI and noise. The present invention can provide an adaptive method that continuously monitors a signal fidelity measure. Monitoring the fidelity of a multilevel signal can be performed by external means such as by the SIU. A received signal y(t) can be “conditioned” by application of a filter with an electronically adjustable impulse response g(t). A resulting output z(t) can then be interrogated to characterize the quality of the conditioned signal. This fidelity measure q(t) can be used to adjust the filter response to maximize the fidelity measure of the conditioned signal. |
| US08311161B2 |
Sphere detector performing depth-first search until terminated
Systems and methods detect a communication received at receiving antennas from transmitting antennas. Each transmitting antenna transmits a symbol in a constellation. A sphere detector performs a depth-first search until the depth-first search terminates in response to a terminate signal requesting the result from the sphere detector. The depth-first search evaluates respective distances of one or mode leaf nodes in response to the communication received at the receiving antennas. The depth-first search selects the result from these nodes in response to the respective distances. The result includes a selected leaf node that identifies a corresponding symbol in the constellation for each transmitting antenna, with this symbol detected as transmitted by the transmitting antenna. |
| US08311160B1 |
Explicit beamformee method and apparatus for MIMO and MISO systems with single data stream
Channel state information (CSI) is determined for a single data stream transmitted via a plurality of antennas. Cophasing angles are determined for the plurality of antennas using the CSI. The cophasing angles are quantized, and explicit beamforming feedback is generated based on using the quantized cophasing angles as indices into a look-up table. |
| US08311157B2 |
Signal recovery circuit
A signal recovery circuit capable of expanding the receive margin is provided. The signal recovery circuit comprises for example a clock generator unit CLK_GEN for generating the clock signals CLKa, CLKb, and CLKc, a window width control unit WW_CTL, and a clock data discriminator unit CD_JGE for generating a phase detector signal (EARLY, LATE) when for example a data signal Di pulse edge enters between the CLKa and CLKb, or between the CLKb and CLKc, and the clock generator unit. Along with exerting control based on these phase detection signals to maintain the mutual phase differential of the overall phase of CLKa, CLKb, CLKc so as to prevent intrusion of the above described Di edge, the CLK_GEN also regulates the phase differential between CLKa and CLKb, and the phase differential between CLKb and CLKc based on a signal (Sww) from the WW_CTL. |
| US08311155B2 |
Electronic tuner and high frequency receiving device using the same
Demodulator includes reception quality evaluation circuit for evaluating the quality of a received signal by comparison with a first reference value, and outputting an evaluation signal; and driving circuit receiving the evaluation signal. If reception quality evaluation circuit evaluates that the quality of the received signal is acceptable, power supply from driving circuit to DC offset control loop is stopped. This offers a high-frequency receiver that reduces power consumption. |
| US08311153B2 |
Circuit and method for improved offset adjustment of differential amplifier within data receiving apparatus
A data receiving apparatus is provided to receive command data encoded by using a combination of high-level periods during which there is radio wave and low-level periods during which there is no radio wave. The data receiving apparatus is provided with a receiving circuit including a differential amplifier circuit receiving the command data through an antenna, and a demodulator outputting a reproduced signal corresponding to the command data in response to an output of the differential amplifier; and an offset adjustment switch circuit judging a logic level of the reproduced signal in the low level periods of the command data while the receiving circuit receives the command data, and generates offset switch signals based on the logic level of the reproduced signal in the low level periods. The differential amplifier circuit includes an offset control section adjusting an offset value of the differential amplifier circuit in response to the offset switch signals. |
| US08311147B2 |
Digital transmitter
An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer. |
| US08311145B2 |
Bit-error rate in fixed line-rate systems
A method of reducing bit-error rate is described. The method includes transmitting a data stream of data words at a line rate that is adjustable and equal to a positive delta value added to an established data rate. The method includes accumulating available time slots in the transmitted data stream, and selectively retransmitting a subset of the data words such that the retransmitted data words occupy no more than the accumulated available time slots. |
| US08311143B2 |
Scaling methods and apparatus using SNR estimate to avoid overflow
Methods and apparatus for avoiding overflow and underflow conditions through the determination of appropriate scaling factors in signal estimation processing in a receiver are described. The receiver estimates transmitted symbols from one or more transmitter device antennas, while avoiding underflow and overflow conditions. A pilot based noise estimate and an estimated expected received signal power, corresponding to a transmit antenna, are used to generate an SNR corresponding to the transmit antenna. The generated SNR is used to determine, e.g., select from a fixed size set of predetermined scale factor values, a scale factor to be used for estimation processing associated with the transmit antenna. In some embodiments, the generated scaling factors are used by a fixed point processing linear least squares error estimation module. Scaling factor determination is performed at a rate which is slower than the rate at which symbols are received from a transmit antenna. |
| US08311142B2 |
Self-adapting transmission scheme of the channel environment in the multi-antenna wireless transmission system
An adaptive transmission scheme of the channel environment in the multi-antenna wireless transmission system can raise the spectrum use rate and power efficiency of the communication system. Compared with traditional single antenna input and single antenna output, the channel environment in MIMO wireless communication system is more complex. When the terminal is moving, the different types of channels between terminal and base station can be gone through and then its capacity can be changed more largely. Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to systems that transmit high speed data by way of a plurality of transmitting and/or receiving antennae, and particularly to a transmission scheme in different channel environments in a multi-antenna wireless transmission system. |
| US08311138B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication method wherein even when the permissible delay amount of data is small, the permissible delay thereof can be satisfied. A data type determining part (101) determines whether the delay of transport data or control information should be allowed or not. A pilot signal insertion control part (102) decides, based on pilot insertion interval information and allowable delay information, that a pilot signal is placed adjacently to data that is not allowed to delay. A multiplexing part (106) multiplexes encoded and modulated transport data with the pilot signal generated by a pilot signal generating part (105) in such a manner that realizes the placement decided by the pilot signal insertion control part (102). |
| US08311128B2 |
Method of processing a coded data stream
A method of processing a coded data stream of a current image on a receiving device, the data stream being organized into packets, comprises a step of detecting a lost packet.It further comprises: a step of estimating, prior to the decoding of the current image, an importance criterion of the lost packet, the importance criterion being determined from at least one decoded preceding image; and a step of requesting retransmission of the lost packet depending on said estimated importance criterion. Use in particular for improving the transmission of a video. |
| US08311127B2 |
Method and apparatus to check for wrongly decoded macroblocks in streaming multimedia applications
A method to detect (identify) wrongly decoded data (I type macro-blocks), which can be subsequently concealed by error concealment techniques, thereby improving the visual quality of a decoded stream, is provided. Additionally, a method is provided. In use, a set of macro-block data is selected for validation. Additionally, a set of suspicious macro blocks is selected from the set of macro-block data based on location information for each suspicious macro block. |
| US08311124B2 |
Decoding method and apparatus
A decoding method and a decoding apparatus is provided. The decoding apparatus includes a control unit, a lookup unit, an arithmetic unit, a first switch and a second switch. The control unit receives a part of a bin string. The lookup unit finds out a flag, a length and an indicator, corresponding to the part of the bin string, from a lookup table according to the part of the bin string and a node, and judges whether the flag is equal to a predetermined value. The arithmetic unit finds out a syntax element symbol corresponding to the bin string according to a basic syntax element symbol. The first switch connects the control unit to the lookup unit or the arithmetic unit. The second switch outputs the indicator as the basic syntax element symbol to the arithmetic unit or feeds the indicator as a next node back to the lookup unit. |
| US08311122B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method
An information processing apparatus includes: a coding mechanism for generating hierarchical data hierarchized in descending order of importance with respect to resolution from image data, and coding the hierarchical data for each hierarchy; and a redundancy coding mechanism for blocking the hierarchical data for each of the hierarchies using a block size determined for each of the hierarchies on the basis of dependencies of the hierarchies between pieces of the hierarchical data generated by the coding mechanism or between the hierarchical data and the image data, and performing redundancy coding to generate redundant data of the hierarchical data for each of the blocks. |
| US08311121B2 |
Methods and apparatus for weighted prediction in scalable video encoding and decoding
There are provided methods and apparatus for weighted prediction in scalable video encoding and decoding. A scalable video encoder includes an encoder (100) for encoding a block in an enhancement layer of a picture by applying a weighting parameter to an enhancement layer reference picture. The weighting parameter used to encode the block in the enhancement layer is adaptively selected from between a weighting parameter applied to a lower layer reference picture to encode a block in the lower layer of the picture and a different weighting parameter applicable in the enhancement layer. The block in the enhancement layer corresponds to the block in the lower layer. The enhancement layer reference picture corresponds to the lower layer reference picture. |
| US08311120B2 |
Coding mode selection using information of other coding modes
This disclosure describes techniques for coding mode selection. In particular, an encoding device determines whether or not to code a block of pixels in a coding mode currently being considered for selection using information associated with at least one other coding mode with a different block partition. In one aspect, the encoding device uses information associated with at lest one coding mode that has block partitions that are sub-partitions of the block partitions of the coding mode currently being considered for selection. Additionally, the encoding device may use information associated with another coding mode that has the same block partitions as the coding mode currently being considered for selection or information associated with the coding mode currently being considered for selection. |
| US08311119B2 |
Adaptive coefficient scan order
A digital media codec adaptively re-arranges a coefficient scan order of transform coefficients in accordance with the local statistics of the digital media, so that the coefficients can be encoded more efficiently using entropy encoding. The adaptive scan ordering is applied causally at encoding and decoding to avoid explicitly signaling the scan order to the decoder in the compressed digital media stream. For computational efficiency, the adaptive scan order re-arranges the scan order by applying a conditional exchange operation on adjacently ordered coefficient locations via a single traversal of the scan order per update of the statistical analysis. |
| US08311117B2 |
Motion vector detecting apparatus and motion vector detecting method
A motion vector detecting apparatus includes a correlation detecting unit, a repetitive object detecting unit and a motion vector detecting unit. The correlation detecting unit detects correlations among plural pieces of pixel data in plural directions. The repetitive object detecting unit detects whether or not concerned pixel data in which a motion vector is to be detected is located in a repetitive object. The motion vector detecting unit decreases a difference value in a direction coincident with a direction of motion vector having detected at a past time when the concerned pixel data is located in the repetitive object and detects a motion vector. |
| US08311103B2 |
Image recording apparatus for recording image data with display order field
A recording apparatus includes a receiving unit to receive first moving image data of a first predetermined number of frames per second (fps) and second moving image data of a second predetermined number of fps converted from moving image data of a third predetermined number of fps using pull down, a coding unit to code the moving image data selectively using intra-frame coding, forward inter-frame coding, and bidirectional inter-frame coding in a predetermined order, a recording unit to record a coded stream on a storage medium, a switching unit to switch a first mode for recording the first moving image data and a second mode for recording the second moving image data, and a control unit to, in response to a recording start instruction in the second mode, control the coding and recording units to start recording at a specific frame of the frames of the second moving image data. |
| US08311102B2 |
Bitstream switching in multiple bit-rate video streaming environments
Bitstream switching for multiple bit rate video streaming uses a first algorithm to generate multiple encoded bitstreams of a piece of video at different bit rates. A different algorithm is used to generate multiple side bitstreams of the video. Each side stream is generated at respective ones of the different bit rates. The side bitstreams comprise switching frames to switch from a first bitstream encoded with the first algorithm at a first bit rate to a second bitstream encoded with the first algorithm at a different bit rate. At non-bitstream switching points, frames from respective ones of bitstreams generated with the first algorithm are streamed for presentation. At a bitstream switching point, a switching frame from a respective side bitstream is transmitted to a decoder to transition streaming from a first of the respective ones of the bitstreams to a second of the respective ones of the bitstreams. |
| US08311101B2 |
Rate control for real time transcoding of subtitles for application with limited memory
An apparatus comprising an estimation circuit, a rate control circuit, a queue circuit, and an encoder circuit. The estimation circuit may be configured to generate a size value in response to an input signal comprising (i) a plurality of frames and (ii) a plurality of embedded subtitle elements. The rate control circuit may be configured to (i) generate a control signal, (ii) pass through the plurality of frames, (iii) present a first one or more of subtitle elements for current processing in response to the size value, and (iv) present a second one or more of subtitle elements for subsequent processing. The queue circuit may be configured to (i) receive the second one or more subtitle elements, (ii) present the second one or more of subtitle elements for current processing when the control signal is in a first state and (iii) hold a second one or more subtitle elements for subsequent processing when the control signal is in a second state. The encoder circuit may be configured to generate an output signal in response to (i) the plurality of frames, (ii) the first one or more subtitle elements, and (iii) the second one or more subtitle elements. |
| US08311099B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding image information, method and apparatus for decoding image information, method and apparatus for coding and decoding image information, and system of coding and transmitting image information
An image encoding method for encoding an image in an image encoding apparatus. The encoding process includes performing, in a quantization unit in the image encoding apparatus, quantization on a chroma component of transform coefficients using a chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of a luma quantization parameter weighted by an addition operation that adds a weight parameter; and encoding, in an encoding unit in the image encoding apparatus, a chroma component of quantized coefficients. |
| US08311093B2 |
Signal transmission apparatus and signal transmission method
When transmitting an input image signal and an audio signal inputted in synchronization with the input image signal, each frame in the input image signal are divided into first, second, third, and fourth subimages and pixel samples of the subimages are mapped onto image data regions of two-channel HD-SDI signals, respectively, and the audio signal is mapped onto supplementary data regions included in horizontal ancillary data spaces of any of the two-channel HD-SDI signals onto which the subimages are respectively mapped. The pixel samples mapped onto the image data regions of the two-channel HD-SDI signals are multiplexed onto an image data region of a first transfer data stream and the audio signal mapped onto the supplemental data regions included in horizontal ancillary data spaces of any of the two-channel HD-SDI signals is multiplexed onto a horizontal ancillary data space of a second transfer data stream. |
| US08311092B2 |
Network packet aware data encoding
A communication device is operable to manage communication of data streams, which comprise data encoded utilizing scheme that generate plurality of frames with logical grouping and/or inter-frame dependencies, based on determination of network payload parameters that are utilized for the data transmission. Exemplary encoding schemes comprise MPEG encoding, which generates data streams comprised I-frames, P-frames and/or B-frames. Network packets that are utilized to perform data communication are generated such that packet payloads comprise only data corresponding to a single frame and/or logical grouping within the encoded data stream. Feedback from networking subsystem in the communication device may be provided during processing of the data streams to enable use of network payload parameters during encoding operations. Frame sizes may be adjusted, for example, so that a size of each frame is multiple of a size of a payload of the network packets that are utilized in data communication. |
| US08311086B2 |
CATV digital receiver intermodulation susceptibility tester
A method and apparatus are provided for testing susceptibility of a receiver to intermodulation distortion of a digital channel, the method including selecting a first digital channel from channels in a composite signal, determining a first power measurement from the first digital channel, determining a total power measurement from other channels in the composite signal, and determining susceptibility of the first digital channel to intermodulation distortion by comparing the first power measurement and the total power measurement with intermodulation distortion characteristics of the receiver. |
| US08311085B2 |
Digital intercom network over DC-powered microphone cable
A digital intercom system provides DC power and multi-channel bidirectional digital communications over existing cabling such as microphone cabling used in analog intercom networks. Three or more conductors in the cabling are used for both transmitting and receiving digital signals and carrying DC power. The digital intercom system includes digital user stations and a digital master station which can be used to retrofit an existing analog intercom network or deployed in a new network. User stations can be connected to the cabling via drop cables which do not use active electronic components. The master station routes digital audio and control data packets in three or more channels based on respective network addresses of the user stations to provide point-to-point, point-to-multi-point, and party line communications among the user stations. Sessions and groups can be configured which define talker and listener user stations. |
| US08311083B2 |
Joint transmit and receive I/Q imbalance compensation
Conventional transceivers do provide some compensation for in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) imbalance. However, these techniques do not separately compensate for I/Q imbalance for the transmitter and receiver sides of the transceiver. Here, a transceiver is provided that allows for compensation of I/Q imbalance in the transmitter and receiver irrespective of the other to allow for a more accurate transceiver. |
| US08311081B2 |
Frame synchronization method and receiver for communication modem using the same
Disclosed are a frame synchronization method and a receiver for a communication modem using the same. The frame synchronization method includes performing a correlation operation between a reception data stream and a preamble to output a synchronous signal; and computing correlation values between spreading codes and a reception data stream synchronized with the synchronous signal, wherein a maximum value of the computed correlation values is compared with a preset threshold value, and the outputting of the synchronous signal is performed again when the maximum value is smaller than the preset threshold value. |
| US08311080B2 |
Mobile communication terminal, synchronization judging circuit used in the mobile communication terminal, control method, synchronization judging control program
Disclosed is a mobile communication terminal employing a code division multiple access scheme, in which when it is decided that the common channel level is equal to or higher than a third threshold (common channel level threshold), an RLF decision control unit compares the SIR data with a first threshold and a second threshold to decide in sync state/out-of sync state between the local spread code and the reception spread code and outputs the decision signal. When it is decided that the common channel level is lower than the third threshold, the first threshold and the second threshold are set to the same value. In this state, when it is decided that the level of the SIR data is lower than the first threshold (=second threshold), the decision signal corresponding to an out-of sync state is output immediately after a predetermined delay time elapses, thereby reducing the power dissipation. |
| US08311079B2 |
Base station apparatus and radio communication method
A wireless communication apparatus capable of minimizing the degradation in separation characteristic of a code multiplexed response signal. In this apparatus, a control part (209) controls both a AC sequence to be used in a primary spreading in a spreading part (214) and a Walsh sequence to be used in a secondary spreading in a spreading part (217) so as to allow a very small circular shift interval of the ZC sequence to absorb the interference components remaining in the response signal; the spreading part (214) uses the ZC sequence set by the control part (209) to primary spread the response signal; and the spreading part (217) uses the Walsh sequence set by the control part (209) to secondary spread the response signal to which CP has been added. |
| US08311069B2 |
Direct ultrashort laser system
A direct ultrashort laser system is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of measuring laser pulse phase distortions is performed without requiring an adaptive pulse shaper or interferometry. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a system, a method of operating, a control system, and a set of programmable computer software instructions perform Multiphoton Intrapulse Interference Phase Scan processes, calculations, characterization and/or correction without requiring an adaptive pulse shaper. |
| US08311068B2 |
Method of controlling wavelength-tunable laser
A method of controlling a wavelength-tunable laser selecting an oscillation wavelength with a combination of a plurality of wavelength selection portions of which wavelength peak is different from each other, comprising: a first step of confirming a control direction of the wavelength selection portion in a case where a setting value is changed from a first setting value for achieving the first wavelength to a second setting value for achieving the second wavelength; a second step of setting a setting value that is shifted from the second setting value in a direction that is opposite of a pre-determined changing direction on the wavelength selection portion as a prepared setting value, when the control direction confirmed in the first step is opposite to the pre-determined changing direction; and a third step of changing the prepared setting value set in the second step to the second setting value. |
| US08311064B1 |
Programmable pre-emphasis circuit for serial ATA
A transmitter including an analog front end configured to receive a serial signal; a control circuit configured to generate a first gain signal and a second gain signal based on a characteristic of a serial channel; a first amplifier is configured to amplify the serial signal to generate a first amplified signal based on the first gain signal; a first delay device configured to delay the serial signal to generate a first delayed signal; a second amplifier configured to amplify the first delayed signal to generate a second amplified signal based on the second gain signal; and at least one summer is configured to sum the first amplified signal and the second amplified signal to generate an output signal. The output signal is transmitted on the serial channel. |
| US08311059B2 |
Receive coalescing and automatic acknowledge in network interface controller
An apparatus and method is disclosed for reducing the computational overhead incurred by a host processor during packet processing and improving network performance by adding additional functionality to a Network Interface Controller (NIC). Under certain circumstances the NIC coalesces multiple receive packets into a single coalesced packet stored within a coalesce buffer in host memory. The coalesced packet includes an Ethernet header, a coalesced Internet Protocol (IP) header, a coalesced Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) header, and a coalesced TCP payload containing the TCP payloads of the multiple receive packets. By coalescing received packets into fewer larger coalesced packets within the host memory, the host software needed to process a receive packet will be invoked less often, meaning that less processor overhead is incurred in the host. |
| US08311056B2 |
Device and method for selecting time slots based on resource use state
A time slot selection device is provided that can consider resource use states on its own and allocate time slots. The time slot selection device performs time slot allocation, based on data link identifiers that identify a group of data links specified by a path setup request, a time slot size that is information about a required band, and a required number that is the number of contiguous time slots required. In this time slot selection device, a resource allocation section performs time slot selection, based on the resource use state of each time slot. By the time slot selection with consideration given to the use state of each time slot in the group of data links, time slots to be used can be selected so that a maximum number of contiguous usable time slots will be left. Thus, it is possible to efficiently use resources. |
| US08311055B2 |
System and method for scheduling users on a wireless network
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a base station configured to operate with user devices includes scheduling transmission for the user devices. Scheduling transmission includes determining a first fading metric for at least one user device from the at least one user device to the base station, determining at a second fading metric for the at least one user device from the at least one user device to at least one other base station, and determining a priority metric for the at least one user device based on the first and second fading metrics. The priority metric is configured to assign a higher priority to a user device with a first fading metric indicating an up-fade and the second fading metric indicating a down-fade. The method further includes transmitting a transmission schedule to the at least one user device based the priority metric. |
| US08311053B2 |
Methods for controlling an uplink signal transmission power and communication devices
In an embodiment, a method for controlling an uplink signal transmission power in a communication device is provided. The method may include receiving a first message in a control channel modification time period, the first message including scheduling information about the timing of the transmission of a second message, the second message including an uplink signal transmission power related information, which will be transmitted by another communication device in the same control channel modification time period, controlling the communication device to receive the second message in accordance with the scheduling information, and controlling the uplink signal transmission power, which is used by the communication device for transmitting signals, depending on the uplink signal transmission power related information. |
| US08311052B2 |
Control of packet buffer using token buckets with different token bucket sizes
Control of readout of packets from a packet buffer is disclosed in which equal numbers of tokens are removed and used from token buckets having different bucket sizes; tokens are generated at token rates for the token buckets, wherein each token rate is preset such that the larger the token bucket size, the lower the token rate, and the generated tokens are added to the token buckets; a used-token count is measured for each token bucket, and a stored-token count is measured for each token bucket, with the stored-token count given a negative value if each token bucket is empty; and a number of data packets are read out of the packet buffer, which depends on the measured value of the used-token count for each token buffer. |
| US08311050B2 |
Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
The present invention is directed to a method for consecutively rendering one or more conversations on a first communication device. The method includes defining a set of conversations to be consecutively rendered among the one or more conversations and defining a priority hierarchy for rendering the media associated with the defined set of conversations. During operation, media associated with the defined set of conversations is received at the first communication device over a network. In accordance with the method, the available media is continually sequenced into a sequence order at least partially based on the hierarchy priority. The one or more conversations are consecutively rendered by continually rendering the media in the sequence order. |
| US08311043B2 |
Distribution of identifiers in serverless networks
A method for assigning identifiers in a distributed system involves establishing a circle as a locus of all identifiers, with the value of any point on the circle being the portion of one complete revolution in a first direction around the circle to the point, measured from a first zero point, and selecting values to be assigned as identifiers as needed by rounds of assignment, wherein the beginning and end of any round of assignment has identifiers assigned with point values that divide the circle into equal-length sectors. The method is useful in and applied to serverless telephony systems. |
| US08311042B2 |
System and method for automatic detection and reporting of the mapping between device identity and network address in wireless networks
A method and system for communicating the identity of devices detected in a wireless communication system. The devices connect to a mobile wireless network comprising a wireless access network and a core Internet Protocol (IP) network. The identities of devices so detected are specified by a combination of device and network-level identities and is communicated to a management server. In an exemplary embodiment, network elements of the core IP network are used to detect and convey the identity of wireless devices to a management server. |
| US08311039B2 |
Traffic information aggregating apparatus
Provided is a network system including a traffic information aggregating apparatus connected to a router for transferring data in a network, and a monitor server connected to the traffic information aggregating apparatus. In the network system, the traffic information aggregating apparatus receives traffic information from the router, assigns an aggregation identifier to the received traffic information, creates aggregated information by aggregating the traffic information based on the assigned aggregation identifier and by statistically processing the traffic information, transmits the created aggregated information and the assigned aggregation identifier to the monitor server, and retrieves, upon reception of a retrieval request including the aggregation identifier from the monitor server, requested traffic information from the received traffic information, based on the aggregation identifier included in the received retrieval request. Accordingly, an amount of data received by the monitor server can be reduced. |
| US08311038B2 |
Instant internet browser based VoIP system
The present invention is an instant Internet browser based VoIP system with a VoIP client in the form of temporary VoIP applets that can start in a Web browser and can establish an instant peer-to-peer connection with another web-based or hardware embedded/installed VoIP client using session initiation protocol (SIP) and real-time transport protocol (RTP) audio streaming. The applet is a small file that is easily loaded onto a user's browser and uses application program interfaces (APIs) that require no additional libraries. The applet is written in JAVA, although other programming languages may also be used to write the applet. |
| US08311033B2 |
DTMF tone signal transmission method and DTMF tone signal transmission system
It is made possible for a DTMF tone signal associated with a button depressed on an IP telephone terminal to arrive at the opposite party even if an IP telephone terminal does not have a function of sending a DTMF tone signal. If a DTMF tone signal transmission request signal detection unit in a proxy detects a DTMF tone signal transmission request signal inserted in an RTP packet or a SIP packet received from an IP telephone terminal or detects a DTMF digit signal contained in the DTMF tone signal transmission request signal, a DTMF tone signal generation unit generates a DTMF tone signal associated with the DTMF digit signal. A voice encoder encodes the DTMF tone signal in the same way as a voice signal. An RTP payload replacement unit replaces a voice signal in a payload of the RTP packet with the encoded DTMF tone signal. |
| US08311029B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating MAC protocol data unit in wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for generating a Media Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes reconstructing at least one MAC Service Data Unit (MSDU) according to scheduling information of the MAC layer and generating at least one MPDU data portion, adding control information to each MPDU data portion and generating at least one MPDU payload, adding a General MAC Header (GMH) to each MPDU payload and generating at least one MPDU, and transmitting the MPDU to a receive end. The control information includes at least one piece of MSDU information constituting each MPDU data portion. The GMH includes length information on the MPDU and Connection IDentifier (CID) information. |
| US08311024B2 |
Access category enforcement in wireless local area networks
The present invention provides a control function in an access point, switch, or like node on a wireless local area network. The control function operates to ensure frames transmitted by a user terminal are transmitted using an appropriate transmission priority scheme. The control function will assist and provide an appropriate priority level to the user terminal. Frames transmitted from the user terminal are passed through the control function, which will analyze priority level information provided in the frames to determine if the frames were transmitted using the appropriate transmission priority scheme. An enforcement action may be taken in response to identifying frames that were not transmitted using the appropriate transmission priority scheme. |
| US08311023B1 |
Intelligent backhaul radio
A intelligent backhaul radio is disclosed that is compact, light and low power for street level mounting, operates at 100 Mb/s or higher at ranges of 300 m or longer in obstructed LOS conditions with low latencies of 5 ms or less, can support PTP and PMP topologies, uses radio spectrum resources efficiently and does not require precise physical antenna alignment. |
| US08311022B2 |
Method for accessing hybrid network, and gateway apparatus, wireless terminal and communication system thereof
A method for accessing a hybrid network including a wide area network and a distributed network, a gateway apparatus, a wireless terminal and a gateway communication system are disclosed for reducing the power consumption of the wireless terminal which is an access gateway. The method comprises: sensing by a gateway apparatus a relay request slot on a downlink common control channel of the wide area network; transmitting by a wireless terminal a relay request signal requesting to relay a data packet to be transmitted, in the relay request slot on the downlink common control channel; and if the relay request signal from the wireless terminal is sensed in the relay request slot, establishing by the gateway apparatus a connection with the wireless terminal in a distributed network environment. As such, the gateway apparatus accesses the wireless distributed network only when the surrounding wireless terminals require data relay, without sensing signals on both networks simultaneously, in order to reduce the power consumption. |
| US08311018B2 |
System and method for optimizing location estimate of mobile unit
The location of a wireless mobile device may be estimated using, at least in part, one or more pre-existing Network Measurement Reports (“NMRs”) which include calibration data for a number of locations within a geographic region. The calibration data for these locations is gathered and analyzed so that particular grid points within the geographic region can be determined and associated with a particular set or sets of calibration data from, for example, one or more NMRs. Embodiments of the present subject matter also provide a method of improving a location estimate of a mobile device. Received signal level measurements reported by a mobile device for which a location estimate is to be determined may be evaluated and/or compared with the characteristics associated with the various grid points to estimate the location of the mobile device. |
| US08311017B2 |
Method for interleaving bits, a base station, a user terminal and a communication network therefor
The invention concerns a method for interleaving a dedicated set of bits that is divided in an appropriate number of blocks using for each block an interleaver matrix with a predefined first dimension for interleaving the bits within each block, whereby said appropriate number of blocks is estimated in such a way that a value of a second dimension of the interleaver matrix that is needed to interleave the bits within each block lies within a dedicated range, a base station (BS1-BS8), a user terminal (T1-T4) and a communication network (CN) therefor. |
| US08311010B1 |
Data integrity negotiation schemes in wireless communication systems
Techniques and system designs are described for providing mobile communication systems with negotiation mechanisms to select data integrity schemes based on quality of service (QoS) schemes to enhance system performance during mobile handover processes. In one aspect, a method for providing data integrity in a wireless communication network includes providing a quality of service (QoS) profile for a service flow for a mobile station to include information of one or more QoS requirements of the service flow and a data integrity indicator to indicate information of data integrity for the service flow during a handover of the mobile station from one base station to another base station; and using the data integrity indicator to assist selection of a data integrity scheme from one or more data integrity schemes available to the service flow during the handover of the mobile station. |
| US08311005B2 |
Methods and systems for allocation of macro cell resources in a distributed femto cell network and a distributed relay station network
Methods and systems for reusing macro cell resources in femto cell base stations or relay stations in a non-collaborative manner are disclosed. In addition, orthogonal resource allocation between a macro cell base station and femto cell base stations/relay stations may be dynamically adjusted by considering user-population variance. Moreover, an additional level of spatial reuse by femto cell base stations or relay stations can be provided by employing macro cell user location information. |
| US08311001B2 |
Radio resource allocation control apparatus and method and base station
A radio resource allocation control apparatus for controlling allocation of radio resources used in communication by a plurality of user equipment in a wireless communication system, the apparatus including a selecting unit for selecting a user equipment to which the allocation is performed by using a priority evaluation formula in which a plurality of user equipment having wireless communication characteristics that have a higher tendency of being selected as a target of the allocation vary when different coefficients are imparted. The apparatus includes a control unit for controlling the coefficients individually for the radio resources. |
| US08310999B2 |
Mesh deterministic access (MDA) procedure in wireless mesh network and wireless device supporting the same
Provided are a procedure for mesh deterministic access (MDA) in wireless mesh network and a wireless device supporting the procedure. In the method, an intended transmitter transmits an a mesh deterministic access opportunity (MDAOP) setup request message including information for specifying times of a new MDAOP set and information for identifying the new MDAOP set to intended receivers. In this case, the MDAOP setup request message is a setup request message for a broadcast MDAOP. And, the intended transmitter receives an MDAOP setup reply message including a reply code from the intended receivers. The reply code may indicate either accept or refusal of the request for the new MDAOP set. |
| US08310997B2 |
Apparatus and method for dynamic channel allocation in multiple channel wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for dynamic channel allocation in a multiple channel wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a scheduler for dividing resources to be used for a band Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) channel and a diversity channel, a generator for generating a MAP heading field including physical distribution information on the band AMC channel and the diversity channel, and a mapper for mapping the MAP heading field to a predetermined physical resource region. |
| US08310993B2 |
Acknowledging communication in a wireless network
A wireless network buffers and sends segments of transfer communication protocol (TCP) data to a user equipment (UE). The wireless network may count a number of the sent segments of the TCP data for allocation of uplink resources. The UE sends an uplink segment over the allocated uplink resources, which may include information indicating acknowledgment of receipt of the sent segments of TCP data. |
| US08310992B2 |
System and method of data access for mobile stations
Method and apparatus for data access for a mobile terminal comprising a module for determining whether first and second modes of wireless network coverage is available, a module for selecting the first mode if available, a module for attempting access via the second mode on failure to establish access via the first mode and a module for monitoring availability of the first mode. Even when a connection is established via the second mode, availability of the first mode is monitored and access attempted, when second mode connection is idle. |
| US08310990B2 |
System, method, and device for routing calls using a distributed mobile architecture
Methods and devices for routing communications between distributed mobile architecture (DMA) servers using DMA gateways are disclosed. Communications information is received at a first DMA gateway of a DMA gateway communications network. The communications information is associated with a communications network that is accessible by a second DMA gateway of the DMA gateway communications network. The communications information is stored at a memory of the first DMA gateway. The first DMA gateway receives a communication that is associated with a destination device indicated by the communications information to be served by the second DMA gateway. The communication is routed from the first DMA gateway to the destination device by relaying the communication from the first DMA gateway to the second DMA gateway via the DMA gateway communications network. |
| US08310986B1 |
Systems and methods for hybrid data rate scheduling based on modulation and coding schemes
In a data communications system a scheduler device and multiple client devices communicate with each other over a data communications network. The scheduler device assigns a portion of the system's client devices one or more data rate multiplier values that individually affect a maximum throughput associated with their respectively assigned modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The data rate multiplier value assignment is selected by the scheduler device based on a type MCS or a signal interference plus noise ratio (SINR) value. The assigned data rate multiplier values may result in a hybrid throughput scheduling scenario amongst the client devices. |
| US08310981B2 |
Common and dedicated modulation and coding scheme for a multicarrier system
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which at least one modulation and coding scheme (MCS) is determined based on feedback received for a plurality of downlink (DL) carriers and transmitted from a device. Data is modulated and coded, according to the at least one MCS, for transmission to the device on the DL carriers. |
| US08310977B2 |
Wireless repeater and operating method of the same
A repeater for relaying data signals between two nodes is provided. The repeater includes a first signal processor that amplifies the received data signals, a path controller that transmits initial information of the received data signal through a first path to determine if the received data signal is from a specific local area and transmits data signals following the initial information through a second path to amplify the data signals following the initial information, a second signal processor that amplifies and transmits the data signal, and a data selection processor that allows the data signals following the initial information to be transmitted through the second path when it is determined using the initial information received that the received data signal is from the specific local area. |
| US08310975B2 |
Optimal beam scheduling for multicasting in wireless networks
Systems and methods are disclosed to partition a multicast group into a plurality of partitions where each partition has a mutually exclusive subset of users or clients; scheduling beam transmission with switched beamforming antennas; and performing the multicast transmission in accordance with the beam scheduling. |
| US08310973B2 |
Method and system for managing multicast delivery content in communication networks
A method for managing multicast delivery of data packets in communication networks includes the steps of checking join requests coming from hosts to be a part of a multicast group to determine a delivery policy associated with that host and for the requested group and associating hosts with a multicast group according to their delivery policy. |
| US08310972B2 |
Mobile wireless communication system, access gateway, wireless base station, and mobile wireless communication control method
The present invention discloses a wireless mobile communication system for transferring MBMS data from an access gateway to plural wireless base stations and transmitting the MBMS data from the plural wireless base stations to a wireless mobile station at the same time. The system includes a transferring part included in the access gateway for copying the MBMS data in a number corresponding to the number of the plural wireless base stations, adding a header indicative of data transmission time to the MBMS data, and transferring the MBMS data to the plural wireless base stations; a transmitting part included in each the plural wireless base stations for extracting the data transmission time from the header of the transferred MBMS data, deleting the header from the MBMS data, and transmitting the MBMS data to the wireless mobile station. |
| US08310970B2 |
Method and apparatus for state/mode transitioning
A user equipment implements a method of processing indication messages, such as SCRI (signaling connection release indication) messages. For at least one RRC (radio resource control) state, if the current RRC state of the UE is a result of a previously sent indication, the UE inhibits itself from sending a further indication message. |
| US08310969B2 |
Mobile device and power saving method thereof
The present invention discloses a mobile device and a power saving method thereof. The mobile device comprises a modem processor and a data processor. The modem processor is electrically connected to a wireless network system for receiving/transmitting a network packet. When the data processor is in a hibernation mode, the IP packet protocol module of the modem processor unpacks the received network packets to access the packet data. If it is determined that the packet data need to be processed by the data processor, the modem processor wakes up the data processor; whereas the data processor remains in the hibernation mode. Thus, the time period in which the data processor is in the hibernation mode is extended so as to achieve power saving effect. |
| US08310967B1 |
Infrastructure and ad-hoc node device
An infrastructure and ad-hoc node device is described. In embodiments, a node device includes an ad-hoc interface for data communications via an ad-hoc network that includes peer devices of a first basic service set (BSS). The node device also includes an infrastructure interface for additional data communications via an infrastructure network of nodes that communicate via an access point of a second basic service set. A power save service can optimize a power save mode of the node device by minimizing a device communication mode during which the data communications and the additional data communications are received over a shared communication channel, or are received over different communication channels. |
| US08310959B2 |
Voice Communication with any of multiple terminals
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method for handling a voice communication in an integrated system includes receiving information indicating that a voice communication between a first party and a second party is to be initiated. The method includes identifying one of a plurality of terminal assignment records as being associated with the second party, each of the terminal assignment records configured to specify, for a particular party, at least one of a plurality of terminal units for receiving an alert to the particular party regarding the voice communication. The method includes generating at least one alert to the second party according to the identified terminal assignment record, the alert based on the received information. The method includes forwarding communication data to an application program available to the second party, the communication data obtained from the received information. |
| US08310957B1 |
Minimum-cost spanning trees of unicast tunnels for multicast distribution
A router determines a graph of unicast tunnels that connect a set of edge routers that will distribute multicast traffic in a network, wherein the graph comprises vertices and edges connecting one or more vertex pairs. The router calculates a minimum-cost spanning tree for the graph based on edge metric values, wherein the minimum-cost spanning tree includes the graph vertices and a selected subset of the graph edges, and wherein the minimum-cost spanning tree includes a first vertex that represents an ingress one of the set of edge routers for the multicast traffic and a second vertex that shares one of the edges with a third one of the vertices other than the first vertex representing the ingress edge router. The router then establishes an MPLS-based multicast distribution tree based on the calculated minimum-cost spanning tree to distribute the multicast traffic from the ingress router to the edge routers. |
| US08310956B2 |
System and method for implementing PNRP locality
A method is provided for a host node in a computer network to determine its coordinates in a d-dimensional network space, comprising discovering an address of a peer node in the network, measuring network latency between the host node and the peer node, determining whether network latency has been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, where, if network latency has not been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, estimating the network coordinates of the host node, and where, if network latency has been measured for at least d+1 peer nodes, calculating the network coordinates of the host node using d+1 measured latencies. |
| US08310951B2 |
Network coding method and system through consideration of channel state difference of receivers
Disclosed is a network coding method and system for receivers having a different channel state that may demodulate and extract a single coded packet using a different demodulation scheme according to a channel state of each receiver. The disclosed network coding method may use a different demodulation scheme to be suitable for a channel state of each receiver by applying a packet encoding scheme combined with a modulation scheme. When two receivers receive a network coded packet, a receiver having a poor channel state may receive a relatively small amount of information from the single packet compared to the other receiver having a relatively excellent channel state, but may enhance the reliability of packet reception. The other receiver having the relatively excellent channel state may decrease the reliability of packet reception, but may receive a relatively large amount of information. |
| US08310950B2 |
Self-configuring networking devices for providing services in a nework
A method for use in a datacenter for load balancing services. A native registry is operated to provide a naming service storing service access information for services active in a network. On a node, an instance of a service is provided, and the native registry is updated with access information for the service. The method includes providing a content switch with a node controller such as on a network device. The method includes obtaining, with the node controller, service configuration information for the service from the native registry that includes the service access information. The node controller activates the service on the network by configuring the content switch based on the obtained service configuration information. The method includes the service node publishing a service definition for the service that includes the service access information and other information such as a service name, an IP address, and a load balancing algorithm. |
| US08310945B2 |
Method for coding and transmitting transport format combination indicator
A method and matrixes for transmitting an transport format combination indicator is disclosed. The matrixes according to the invention comprising five column vectors of 32 elements of binary code derived from OVSF codes which are to be multiplied to the lower bits of a TFCI and one column vector of 32 elements of 1 when (32,6) codes are used. |
| US08310944B2 |
Signal-to-interference + noise ratio estimator and method, mobile terminal having this estimator
The SINR (signal-to-interference+noise ratio) estimator comprises a low-pass filter (66) to filter a variance σκ computed from the received pilot symbol amplitude to obtain an estimated variance σκ with a reduced bias, wherein the low-pass filter has an adjustable coefficient and the estimator comprises an electronic controller able to adjust the value of the adjustable coefficient according to the number of pilot symbols received during a timeslot. |
| US08310938B2 |
Detecting and discriminating between interference caused by different wireless technologies
There is provided a method and a device for detecting interfering radio technologies. The method in accordance with the invention is applicable in order to detect and identify possible interfering technologies that can be found, e.g., in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, by use of a device having a single transceiver which is adapted to employ a first wireless radio access technology. For example, a device having an IEEE 102.15.4 cordless transceiver is able to identify according to the method in accordance with the invention radio signals sent by disquieters which use other interfering technologies by use of only this transceiver. The device can for example be a sensor of a wireless body sensor network. |
| US08310937B2 |
Voice packet dynamic echo cancellation system
A voice packet dynamic echo cancellation system includes an input/output unit configured to communicate over a packet network and a storage unit configured to store network performance information associated with node segments on the packet network. The system also includes a processing unit in communication with the input/output unit and the storage unit and configured to: set-up a call from an originating call device to a terminating call device; determine the network performance of the call between the originating call device and the terminating call device; locate an echo signal of the call to the originating call device based on the network performance; produce a echo cancellation signal based on the echo signal; and cancel the echo signal with the echo cancellation signal. |
| US08310936B2 |
Link services in a communication network
In a communication network, links in a transmission path between source and destination terminals are sequentially switched to an operational state in response to a command or a group of commands for transmitting data prior to completion of assembling the data. Each node in the transmission path independently monitors transmission of data. After transmitting the data, the links are selectively switched to pre-determined power saving states. |
| US08310931B2 |
Discovering network topology from routing information
A method for inferring network link topology includes receiving an address of a seed node in a network, initializing a set of links and monitors of the network, refining, iteratively beginning at the seed node, the set of links and monitors of the network, wherein a local topology of links is inferred from routing information of a current node and a remote topology of links is inferred from routing information of the set of monitors, wherein the set of monitors is created from the local topology of links, and outputting the topology of links including the local and remote topology of links as a topology of the network. |
| US08310929B1 |
Method and system for controlling data rates based on backhaul capacity
A femtocell base station determines the capacity of its backhaul connection by exchanging test packets with a test server. Based on the backhaul capacity that it determines, the femtocell base station selects a maximum forward link data rate and a maximum reverse link data rate for communications with a mobile station. The femtocell base station adjusts the forward-link rate algorithm used by the mobile station so as to prevent the mobile station from requesting a forward link data rate that exceeds the maximum forward link data rate. The femtocell base station may also adjust the reverse-link rate algorithm used by the mobile station so as to prevent the mobile station from transmitting at a data rate that exceeds the maximum reverse link data rate. |
| US08310927B1 |
Priority scheme for control traffic in network switches
A method, apparatus, and computer program media for a network device comprises a processor; a forwarding engine comprising a plurality of ports to receive packets of data, wherein the packets comprise control packets each addressed to the processor and comprising a priority code representing one of M priorities; N queues each associated with one or more of the M priorities; a decoder to enqueue each of the control packets to one of the N queues according to the priority code in the control packet and a mapping between the N queues and the M priorities; and a scheduler to pass the control packets from the n queues to the processor according to a priority scheme for the N queues. |
| US08310925B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting data in customer premises equipment
An apparatus and method are provided for transmitting data by a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) that communicates with a first communication equipment supporting a first communication protocol and a second communication equipment supporting a second communication protocol. The apparatus and method includes receiving data packets from the second communication equipment, determining a data grant interval of the first communication equipment according to a preset Quality of Service (QoS) scheme of the first communication equipment, determining an amount of data to be transmitted for the data grant interval, collecting data packets from the received data packets below the determined amount of transmission data, and transmitting the collected data packets to the first communication equipment every data grant interval. |
| US08310923B1 |
Monitoring a network site to detect adverse network conditions
A network protection service is presented. The network protection service is configured to establish an arrangement with a subscribing host for providing assistance to the subscribing host upon detection of a triggering condition. A set of rules corresponding to the subscribing host for filtering network traffic directed to the subscribing host is determined. The network protection service monitors for a triggering condition for providing protective assistance for the subscribing host, and upon detection of a triggering condition, provides protective assistance to the subscribing host. The protective assistance includes causing network traffic directed to the subscribing host to be rerouted to the network protection service. The protective assistance further includes filtering the network traffic rerouted to the network protection service according to the set of rules corresponding to the subscribing host. At least some of the filtered network traffic is forwarded to the subscribing host. |
| US08310919B2 |
Cellular communication system, network controller and method for obtaining feedback from subscriber communication units
A method for obtaining feedback from one or more wireless subscriber communication unit(s) related to a broadcast service in a wireless communication system comprising at least one communication cell. The method comprises transmitting a request message by a network controller to one or more wireless subscriber communication unit(s); receiving and processing the request message by a wireless subscriber communication unit; transmitting a layer-1 response signal by the wireless subscriber communication unit in response to the request message; and detecting by the network controller the layer-1 response signal in a particular communication cell, and in response thereto, performs one of the following: (i) entering a point-to-multipoint broadcast mode of operation; (ii) modifying a delivery of the broadcast service in that communication cell. |
| US08310918B2 |
Systems and methods for seamless communications recovery and backup
A recovery network may provide communication recovery and backup services to an organization. The recovery network may be communicatively coupled to the existing communication infrastructure of an organization via one or more alternative communication paths. The alternative communication paths may couple the recovery network to the organization independently of a public communication network. Upon activation of recovery services, the recovery network may receive communication requests directed to the organization from the public communication network. The recovery network may service one or more of the requests using one or more of the alternative communication paths. Similarly, the recovery network may service outbound communication requests originating at the organization over an alternative communication path. Communication requests may be backed up (e.g., within a voicemail or other backup system) until an alternative path or communication network becomes available and/or may be redirected to other addresses within the public communication network. |
| US08310913B2 |
Optical recording medium capable of using wide ranges of linear velocity recording
An information recording medium having a disc shape and a recording layer configured to store information by light, the information being configured to be recorded on the recording layer with a mark and a space, wherein a channel clock period, represented by T, is provided for recording the mark on the recording layer. A mark corresponding to 2T or more can be recorded, and write parameter information is recorded on a particular area of the information recording medium. The parameter information includes a first peak power value used for a standard recording speed, and a second peak power value used for an increased recording speed which is a quadruple of the standard recording speed, the second peak power value being greater than the first peak power value. |
| US08310910B2 |
Optical pickup device
An optical system of an optical pickup device includes an astigmatism element which imparts astigmatism to BD light reflected on BD and CD light reflected on CD, and a spectral element which disperses four light fluxes of BD light and four light fluxes of CD light by diffraction, the four light fluxes of BD light and the four light fluxes of CD light being obtained by dividing the BD light reflected on the BD and the CD light reflected on the CD by a first straight line parallel to a converging direction by the astigmatism element, and a second straight line perpendicular to the first straight line. A photodetector of the optical pickup device is provided with first and second sensor groups for respectively receiving the four light fluxes of BD light and the four light fluxes of CD light dispersed by the spectral element. |
| US08310908B2 |
Spherical aberration correction appropriate position search apparatus, and spherical aberration correction appropriate position search method
A focus error amplitude obtaining device is configured to obtain amplitudes of a focus error signal. An error amplitude difference calculation device is configured to calculate an error amplitude difference which is a difference between the amplitudes of the focus error signal obtained at two different positions in a moving range of a spherical aberration correction device. An appropriate position search control device is in charge of overall control of structural elements; spherical aberration correction device movement control device, focus error amplitude obtaining device, and error amplitude difference calculation device. The appropriate position search control device decides an appropriate position of the spherical aberration correction device based on the error amplitude difference. |
| US08310906B2 |
Optical disc apparatus and optical disc recording/reproducing method
An optical disc apparatus includes an optical pickup including: a light source; an objective lens for converging a light flux emitted from the light source and forming an optical spot on an information recording plane of an optical disc; and an optical modulation unit divided into a plurality of areas for modulating an area containing a main beam of the light flux to change a shape of the optical spot, wherein data is reproduced by converting a reproduction signal read from the optical disc with the optical pickup into an NRZI signal of a predetermined modulation rule by a PRML method. An optical spot shape, laser power setting and PRML setting are changed with each optical disc and each drive operation state. |
| US08310905B2 |
Wobble signal extracting circuit, method for extracting wobble signal, and optical disk unit
A wobble signal extracting circuit includes: a readout signal generating circuit generating an RF signal by adding first and second detection signals corresponding to reflected light from inside and outside a recording track; a first subtractor generating a push-pull signal by subtracting the first and second detection signals, respectively; a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converting the RF signal to digital; a second ADC converting the push-pull signal to digital; a residual RF component generating circuit generating a residual RF signal component equivalent to the RF signal component remaining in the digitized push-pull signal; and a second subtractor generating the wobble signal by subtracting the residual RF signal component from the digitized push-pull signal. The residual RF component generating circuit generates the residual RF signal component so that it may approach the remaining RF signal component based on correlation between the wobble signal and the digitized RF signal. |
| US08310904B2 |
Information recording apparatus and information recording method
An information recording apparatus for recording additional content on a medium on which a title including one or more files is already recorded, includes means for designating a title to be added on the medium; means for transmitting disc package information, the disc package information and unique IDs; means for receiving and additionally recording on the medium the title to be added generated in the content server, file names of files so as not to be the same as the file names of the files constituting the titles already recorded on the medium; means for receiving and additionally recording a new title for display of a menu screen on the medium, which is generated in the content server, so that the title to be added can be selected, on the basis of the disc package information; and means for receiving and additionally recording new disc package information on the medium. |
| US08310902B1 |
Signal-extraction laser-pulse system architecture for thermally-assisted magnetic recording
A thermal-assisted magnetic recording (TAMR) system is described which generates laser-pulse signals from the write data line. Additionally, training signals for initial synchronization are fed to the preamp IC using the write data line during servo read cycle. This requires no increase in the number of wires going to read-write driver chip (R/W IC) (preamp). In embodiments of the invention the R/W IC also includes registers that are set using serial data from the system electronics to influence the characteristics of the drive signal to the laser. |
| US08310901B1 |
Method and system for providing separate write and optical modules in an energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive
An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser is described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing near a media during use. The EAMR transducer includes optical and writer modules. The optical module includes a waveguide and a near field transducer (NFT). The waveguide directs the energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT focuses the energy onto the media. The optical and writer modules are physically separate such that no portion of the waveguide is interleaved with a magnetic portion of the writer module. The writer module includes a write pole and coil(s). The write pole includes a pole-tip portion for providing a magnetic field to the media and a yoke. The pole-tip portion has an ABS-facing surface, a sloped surface, and a NFT-facing surface therebetween. The sloped surface is at least twenty-five and not more than sixty-five degrees from the NFT-facing surface. |
| US08310898B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
According to the embodiments, a semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and a row selector that multiply-selects the word lines, wherein the semiconductor storage device satisfies Ncell/NWL≦(4×Cbl×VDD)/(Icell×Tcyc), where Ncell is number of memory cells connected to each of the bit lines, NWL is a unit of number of word lines multiply-selected by the row selector, Cbl is a value obtained by dividing a capacitance of the bit line by Ncell, VDD is a power supply voltage, Tcyc is an operating frequency of each of the memory cells, and Icell is a target value of current read out via each of the bit lines. |
| US08310897B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and data processing system including the semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor device, includes a first memory cell array, a second memory cell array, a command decoder configured to produce a transfer command to transfer a data stored in a first area of the first memory cell array to a second area of the second memory cell array, when receiving a read command to the first memory cell array and sequentially a write command to the second cell memory array, a first address generator configured to produce a first internal address for designating the first area of the first memory cell array when receiving the transfer command from the command decoder; and a second address generator configured to produce a second internal address for designating the second area of the second memory cell array when receiving the transfer command from the command decoder. |
| US08310884B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A sense amplifier circuit senses and amplifies a signal read from memory cells arranged at intersections of word-lines and bit-lines. A write circuit reads first data held in a first memory cell of the memory cells, and writes second data corresponding to the first data in a second memory cell different from the first memory cell. A data latch circuit holds data read from the first memory cell. A logic operation circuit performs a logic operation using data read from the second memory cell and data held in the data latch circuit as input values and outputs third data as an operation value. A write-back circuit writes the third data back to the first memory cell. |
| US08310881B2 |
Semiconductor device testing memory cells and test method
Disclosed are a semiconductor device capable of testing memory cells and a test method. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of terminals, each terminal being configured to receive similar data during a test mode, a plurality of buffers, each buffer being configured to receive data from a corresponding terminal and output either the data or changed data to a corresponding memory cells in response to a control signal, and a control unit configured to generate a plurality of control signals, each control signal being respectively applied to a corresponding buffer. |
| US08310880B2 |
Virtual channel support in a nonvolatile memory controller
A controller uses N dedicated ports to receive N signals from N non-volatile memories independent of each other, and uses a bus in a time shared manner to transfer data to and from the N non-volatile memories. The controller receives from a processor, multiple operations to perform data transfers, and stores the operations along with a valid bit set active by the processor. When a signal from a non-volatile memory is active indicating its readiness and when a corresponding operation has a valid bit active, the controller starts performance of the operation. When the readiness signal becomes inactive, the controller internally suspends the operation and starts performing another operation on another non-volatile memory whose readiness signal is active and for which an operation is valid. A suspended operation may be resumed any time after the corresponding readiness signal becomes active and on operation completion the valid bit is set inactive. |
| US08310876B2 |
Methods of accessing storage devices
Methods of accessing storage devices. The methods include rearranging a writing order of continuous first and second data according to a reading order, and writing the first and second data in a first and second storage region of the storage device, respectively, according to the writing order. The reading order reads the second storage region first that provides interference on the first storage region. |
| US08310875B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes memory cell units including serially-connected memory cells, which includes a semiconductor pillar and conductive and insulation films surrounding the semiconductor pillar. The memory cell units constitute blocks each of which is the minimum unit of data erasure. A pipe layer in at least one pair of adjacent first and second memory cell units of the memory cell units includes a semiconductor layer connected to the semiconductor pillars in the first and second memory cell units, and are connected to first ends of the first and second memory cell units. A conductive plate between the first ends of the first and second memory cell units and the semiconductor substrate contain the pipe layers of at least two blocks and controls conduction of the pipe layers. A supply path structure is connected to the plate and transmitting a potential the plate. |
| US08310868B2 |
Spin torque transfer memory cell structures and methods
Spin Torque Transfer (STT) memory cell structures and methods are described herein. One or more STT memory cell structures comprise a STT stack including: a pinned ferromagnetic material in contact with an antiferromagnetic material; a tunneling barrier material positioned between a ferromagnetic storage material and the pinned ferromagnetic material; a multiferroic material in contact with the ferromagnetic storage material; and a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the antiferromagnetic material, the pinned ferromagnetic material, and the ferromagnetic storage material are located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The STT memory cell structure can include a third electrode and a fourth electrode, wherein at least a first portion of the multiferroic material is located between the third and the fourth electrode. |
| US08310866B2 |
MRAM device structure employing thermally-assisted write operations and thermally-unassisted self-referencing operations
A thermally-assisted MRAM structure which is programmable at a writing mode operating temperature is presented and includes an anti-ferromagnet, an artificial anti-ferromagnet, a barrier layer, and a free magnetic layer. The anti-ferromagnet is composed of a material having a blocking temperature Tb which is lower than the writing mode operating temperature of the magnetic random access memory structure. The artificial anti-ferromagnet is magnetically coupled to the anti-ferromagnet, and includes first and second magnetic layers, and a coupling layer interposed therebetween, the first and second magnetic layers having different Curie point temperatures. The barrier layer is positioned to be between the second magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer. |
| US08310862B2 |
Magnetoresistive effect element and magnetic memory
It is made possible to provide a highly reliable magnetoresistive effect element and a magnetic memory that operate with low power consumption and current writing and without element destruction. The magnetoresistive effect element includes a first magnetization pinned layer comprising at least one magnetic layer and in which a magnetization direction is pinned, a magnetization free layer in which a magnetization direction is changeable, a tunnel barrier layer provided between the first magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer, a non-magnetic metal layer provided on a first region in an opposite surface of the magnetization free layer from the tunnel barrier layer, a dielectric layer provided on a second region other than the first region in the opposite surface of the magnetization free layer from the tunnel barrier layer; and a second magnetization pinned layer provided to cover opposite surfaces of the non-magnetic metal layer and the dielectric layer from the magnetization free layer. |
| US08310859B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having balancing capacitors
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell blocks including a first memory cell block having bit lines, an edge sense amplifier block including edge sense amplifiers coupled to a portion of the bit lines of the first memory cell block, and a balancing capacitor unit coupled to the edge sense amplifiers. |
| US08310858B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with no decrease in read margin and method of reading the same
According to one embodiment, a plurality of memory cells, each composed of a variable-resistance element and a diode, are arranged at the intersections of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. The sense amplifier compares a voltage corresponding to current in a memory cell selected from the plurality of memory cells with a reference voltage to detect data read from the selected memory cell. The controller generates the reference voltage according to the logical value of a signal output from the sense amplifier. The controller, before detecting data in the memory cell, adjusts the reference voltage on the basis of current flowing in one of a plurality of bit lines connected to a plurality of memory cells in a half-selected state detected by the sense amplifier. |
| US08310856B2 |
Ferroelectric memories based on arrays of autonomous memory bits
A memory having a plurality of ferroelectric memory cells connected between first and second bit lines is disclosed. A read circuit is also connected between the first and second bit lines. A word select circuit selects one of the ferroelectric memory cells and generates a potential on the first hit line indicative of a value stored in the selected one of the plurality of ferroelectric memory cells. Each ferroelectric memory cell includes a ferroelectric capacitor and a variable impedance element having an impedance between first and second switch terminals that is determined by a signal on a control terminal. The ferroelectric capacitor is connected between the control terminal and the first switch terminal. First and second gates connect the ferroelectric memory cell to the bit lines in response to the word select circuit selecting that ferroelectric memory cell. |
| US08310853B2 |
Layout structure of bit line sense amplifiers for a semiconductor memory device
A layout structure of bit line sense amplifiers for use in a semiconductor memory device includes first and second bit line sense amplifiers arranged to share and be electrically controlled by a first column selection line signal, and each including a plurality of transistors. In this layout structure, each of the plurality of transistors forming the first bit line sense amplifier is arranged so as not to share an active region with any transistors forming the second bit line sense amplifier. |
| US08310840B2 |
Electromagnetic bandgap structure and printed circuit board
Disclosed are an electromagnetic bandgap structure and a printed circuit board including the same. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the printed circuit board can include a dielectric layer, a plurality of conductive plates, and a stitching via, which is configured to electrically connect the conductive plates to each other. The stitching via can pass through the dielectric layer, and a part of the stitching via can be placed in a planar surface that is different from a planar surface in which the conductive plates are placed. With the present invention, the electromagnetic bandgap structure can prevent a signal of a predetermined frequency band from being transferred. |
| US08310837B2 |
Circuit module and power line communication apparatus
A circuit module is mounted with an IC that modulates and demodulates a multicarrier signal. The circuit module has a laminated board, which is provided internally with a plurality of conductive layers laminated having insulating layers in between, and an IC, which is provided with a plurality of ground terminals to be grounded. Of the plurality of conductive layers, a conductive layer provided proximate to the IC configures a ground layer electrically connected to the plurality of ground terminals. |
| US08310832B2 |
Side-exhaust cooling system for rack mounted equipment
A cooling system for rack mount electrical or electronic equipment comprises a hollow, box-shaped exhaust shelf having a vent on at least one end face thereof. The exhaust shelf may be configured for rack mounting. A side duct, open on its inner side, is mounted between the exhaust shelf and a top rail adapted to be mounted between a front post and an opposing rear post in a four-post rack mount enclosure. A plenum in the side duct is in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the exhaust shelf. A chassis having a side-facing exhaust for cooling air may be mounted on or over the exhaust shelf such that warm air exiting the chassis is collected in the plenum of the side duct and channeled into the exhaust shelf and out through the vent. In this way, the desired front-to-back cooling air flow within a rack mount enclosure may be maintained even if one or more individual chassis mounted in the enclosure have side cooling air exhausts. In other embodiments of the invention, the airflow may be in the reverse direction—i.e., cooling air may be drawn into the shelf, pass through the side duct and enter the chassis. |
| US08310829B2 |
Integrated computer equipment container and cooling unit
A shipping container having an interior and a plurality of electronic equipment modules disposed within the interior of the container is cooled by an air conditioning unit adapted to be disposed within the interior of the container. The electronic equipment may include computing equipment and electronic data storage equipment. |
| US08310826B2 |
Protective cover and portable electronic device using the same
A protective cover used to install an electronic unit and a peripheral keyboard, includes a base, a first latching structure and a second latching structure, the base includes a first main section, a second main section and a bendable connecting section connecting the first main section to the second main section; The first latching structure is arranged on the periphery of the first main section; the second latching structure is arranged on the periphery of the second main section. The electronic unit is received in the first main section and secured by the first latching structure, the keyboard is received in the second main section and secured by the second latching structure. The electronic unit and the keyboard can be overlaid by bending of the connecting section. The disclosure also discloses a portable electronic device used the protective cover. |
| US08310822B2 |
Computer
A computer includes a display assembly, a base, a stand, and a keyboard. The base includes a supporting board and an engaging board. The stand is located on the base supporting the display assembly. The keyboard includes a main body and an extension board extending from the main body. The main body has a key area. The extension board is fixed to the engaging board to help stabilize the display assembly. |
| US08310819B2 |
Foldable electronic device
An electronic device includes a base with a first magnetic member, a connecting member slidably mounted to the base, and a cover with a second magnetic member. The cover is pivotably connected to the connecting member. The first and second magnetic members are aligned and attached with each other using magnetism, for retaining the cover in a closed state relative to the base. The cover is capable of being pushed to slide forward relative to the base to stagger and release the first and second magnetic members from each other, for releasing the cover from the base. |
| US08310818B1 |
Transfer switch housing having a removable wall for segmenting the housing into a pair of compartments
A power transfer device adapted for interconnection with the electrical system of a building includes a cabinet, a set of switches mounted to the cabinet, and wires adapted to connect the switches to an electrical distribution panel associated with a building electrical system. The power transfer device includes a first compartment and a second compartment partitioned from one another by a removable intermediate wall that slidably engages a base that defines a back wall of the cabinet. A first panel closes the first compartment and a second panel is adapted to selectively close the second compartment. The lower compartment provides an interior cavity in which electrical connection between a set of lead wires, connected to the switches, and power input wires can be made. |
| US08310805B2 |
Multilayer ceramic electronic component including plating material of external terminal electrode disposed in voids of inner conductor and method for manufacturing the same
A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes external terminal electrodes that are formed by direct plating on the first and second side surfaces of a ceramic body including stacked ceramic layers and inner conductors. The external terminal electrodes include base plating films formed so as to cover the exposed portions of inner conductors. Voids are provided that are open to the side surfaces of the ceramic body so as to be adjacent to the ends in the width direction of the exposed portions of the inner conductors. A plating metal defining the base plating films enters the voids and is electrically connected to the inner conductors in the ceramic body. |
| US08310800B1 |
Fault detector for surge suppressor
A fault sensor is disclosed for detecting the failure of a surge suppression device such as a metal oxide varister (MOV). The fault sensor comprises a fault sensor conductive layer overlaying an insulated portion of the surge suppression device. A fault sensor connector is connected to the fault sensor conductive layer for conducting a fault current upon a failure of the insulated portion of the surge suppression device. |
| US08310795B2 |
Power factor correction type switching power supply unit
A power factor correction type switching power supply unit can change reference values of an overcurrent limit at an optimum timing at a time of an overcurrent protection of a step-up type converter, so that no sudden change occurs in an inductor current. A detection level selection circuit selects one of first and second threshold values with a selection signal, and outputs it as an overcurrent detection level to an overcurrent detection circuit. An input voltage monitoring circuit determines the selection signal in such a way that the larger of two threshold values is selected when an alternating current input voltage exceeds a first reference voltage, and the smaller threshold value is selected when the alternating current input voltage does not exceed a second reference voltage, and outputs the selection signal to the detection level selection circuit at a timing at which the alternating current input voltage approaches a zero. |
| US08310789B2 |
Conductor suspension structure and electrical connection assembly for transmitting complementary signals in a hard disk drive
An integrated conductor/suspension structure for supporting and electrically connecting a write/read head in a hard disk drive and methods of making the conductor/suspension structure are provided. The integrated conductor/suspension structure may allow for an increased characteristic-impedance range, greater interference shielding and a reduction of signal loss that is contributed by a lossy conductive substrate. The suspension structure includes apertures formed therein that result in a reduction in the lossy material and its effect on the electrical signals. In addition, the conductor/suspension structure of the present invention provides shielding to reduce the interference from external electric fields. |
| US08310788B2 |
Protective film forming method
To provide a high-quality protection target by forming a protective film that is thin and excellent in corrosion resistance. Provided is a protective film forming method for forming a protective film at least on a surface of a protection target. The method comprises: a base film forming step for forming a base film on the surface of the protection target; and a DLC film forming step for forming a diamond-like carbon film on the base film. The base film forming step forms the base film on the surface of the protection target for a plurality of times by repeating a process of depositing the base film in a prescribed thickness and eliminating a part of or a whole part of the base film. Further, the method comprises, before the DLC film forming step, an insulating layer forming step for forming an insulating layer on the surface of the base film on which the diamond-like carbon film is to be formed. |
| US08310787B1 |
Thin-film magnetic head, method of manufacturing the same, head gimbal assembly, and hard disk drive
A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a shield magnetic layer. The shield magnetic layer is connected to the main magnetic pole layer. The shield magnetic layer has a lower front shield part. A front end angle representing an angle formed between a front end face of the lower front shield part and a lower end face is set at an obtuse angle. The front end face is disposed in the medium-opposing surface. The lower end face is disposed at a position closest to the substrate in the lower front shield part. |
| US08310781B2 |
Disk device
According to one embodiment, a disk device rotates a disk information storage medium to record and reproduce information on the information storage medium by use of a head that slides in contact with a lubricant coated on the information storage medium, wherein a sliding speed U, area A and normal force N are set to cause U×A/N to fall within a monotonously increasing region in which a coefficient of friction associated with a frictional force occurring in a contact area of the head that faces the information storage medium monotonously increases as U×A/N increases, where the sliding speed U represents a sliding speed at a sliding time of the head, the area A represents the contact area of the head, and the normal force N represents a normal force applied to the contact area of the head. |
| US08310778B2 |
Dual actuator for a read-write data storage device
A data storage device includes a first head module independently moveably mounted relative to the storage device. The first head module includes at least one of a read element and a write element. In addition, the data storage device includes a second head module independently moveably mounted relative to the storage device. The second head module includes at least one of a read element and a write element operatively associated with the at least one of a read element and write element of the first head module. The second head module is selectively shiftable relative to the first head module in order to align the at least one of the read element and the write element of the first head module and the at least one of the read element and the write element of the second head module to one another. |
| US08310775B1 |
Disk drive implementing a read channel optimization process
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk including a plurality of tracks, a head actuated over the disk, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is operable to: write a target track including a plurality of data wedges; determine optimization metrics for the data wedges of the plurality of data wedges as the data wedges are read; store the optimization metrics for the data wedges from the target track; and remove a first portion and a second portion of the optimization metrics such that a remaining portion of the optimization metrics remains. Further, the control circuitry is operable to calculate an average optimization metric value for the remaining portion of optimization metrics for use in read channel optimization. |
| US08310774B2 |
Lens drive device
According to one embodiment, a lens drive device comprises: a housing; a yoke provided on the inside of the housing; a magnet secured to the yoke; a carrier which is located on the inside of the yoke and which is provided with a lens; a coil which is connected to the carrier and which interacts with the magnet; a spring for resiliently supporting the carrier; and a magnetic member connected to the carrier. |
| US08310772B2 |
Method and arrangement for reducing thermal effects in compact adjustable optical lenses
The present invention provides thermal compensation for a lens assembly comprising a polymer lens body. Polymers do have different thermal expansion coefficients which makes it necessary to compensate for thermal expansions to keep optical characteristics of such lenses within specifications when used under different environmental conditions. Also, it is necessary to provide thermal compensation during manufacturing of such lenses due to high temperatures during manufacturing steps. |
| US08310771B2 |
LED light converting resin composition and LED member using the same
An LED light converting resin composition and an LED member using the same. The LED light converting resin composition having 20˜99 wt % of transparent resin, 0.8˜60 wt % of a lighting color converting fluorescent substance, and 0.2˜20 wt % of a light diffusing bead with an average particle diameter of 0.2˜30 μm. |
| US08310768B2 |
Optical imaging lens system
This invention provides an optical imaging lens system including five lens elements with refractive power, in order from an object side toward an image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power, a third lens element having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, a fourth lens element having both surfaces being aspheric, a fifth lens element having a concave image-side surface with at least one inflection point formed thereon. By such arrangement, the total track length and the sensitivity of the optical imaging lens system can be reduced while achieving high image resolution. |
| US08310762B2 |
Lens array, lens unit, LED head, exposure device, image forming device, reading device, method for manufacturing lens array, and forming die
A lens array includes a plurality of lenses having respective optical axes that are approximately parallel to each other, wherein the plurality of lenses are configured in a direction approximately perpendicular to the optical axes and are formed integrally with each other, and a maximum inclination angle of a lens surface on each of a predetermined number of the plurality of lenses is less than or equal 50.8 degrees or less, the maximum inclination angle being defined as a maximum value of an angle formed by an optical axis and a normal line of a lens surface of one of the predetermined number of the plurality of lenses. |
| US08310760B2 |
Micro-optic security and image presentation system presenting a synthetically magnified image that appears to lie above a given plane
A film material utilizing a regular two-dimensional array of non-cylindrical lenses to enlarge micro-images, called icons, to form a synthetically magnified image through the united performance of a multiplicity of individual lens/icon image systems. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system includes one or more optical spacers (5), a micro-image formed of a periodic planar array of a plurality of image icons (4) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes and positioned on or next to the optical spacer (5), and a periodic planar array of image icon focusing elements (1) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes, the axis of symmetry being the same planar axis as that of the micro-image planar array (4). A number of distinctive visual effects, such as three-dimensional and motion effects, can be provided by the present system. |
| US08310755B2 |
Reflection-type screen, projection system, front projection television system, and reflection-type screen manufacturing method
A reflection-type screen which reflects projection light from a projector is provided. The screen includes a base one surface of which has a plurality of curved portions having concave or convex surfaces. Each of the curved portions of the base has a reflection area and a non-reflection area. A reflection film is formed on each of the reflection areas. An anti-reflection film is formed on each of the non-reflection areas. Each of the anti-reflection films has a plurality of transparent columnar components. |
| US08310752B2 |
Method of manufacturing a projection objective and projection objective
The disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a projection objective, and a projection objective, such as a projection objective configured to be used in a microlithographic process. The method can include defining an initial design for the projection objective and optimizing the design using a merit function. The method can be used in the manufacturing of projection objectives which may be used in a microlithographic process of manufacturing miniaturized devices. |
| US08310750B2 |
Waveform shaping circuit and optical switching device
A waveform shaping circuit enhances a rise of a waveform of a voltage applied to a load and includes an input unit to which the voltage is input; a supply unit configured to apply the voltage input from the input unit to the load; a first resistor connected in series between the input unit and the supply unit; a second resistor branch-connected to a portion between the input unit and the supply unit; and a stub connected to the first resistor or the second resistor and including a transmission path of a given length configured to shuttle the voltage by transmitting and reflecting the voltage as a voltage wave. |
| US08310748B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel, a barrier layer, and a sealant. The display panel includes a backplane and a frontplane disposed on the backplane, wherein the frontplane includes a plurality of frontplane sidewalls. The frontplane sidewalls at least include a first frontplane sidewall and a second frontplane sidewall, forming a frontplane concavity. The barrier layer includes a first barrier layer sidewall and a second barrier layer sidewall, wherein the first barrier layer sidewall and the second barrier layer sidewall form a barrier layer concavity. The barrier layer concavity corresponds to the frontplane concavity, and at least one of the barrier layer concavity and the frontplane concavity does not include a right angle. The sealant is disposed in a sealant accommodating space defined by the frontplane sidewalls of the frontplane, an inner surface of the backplane and an inner surface of the barrier layer. |
| US08310747B2 |
Electronic paper display device and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided an electronic paper display device, and a method of manufacturing the same. The electronic paper display device includes a display side electrode formed of a transparent material, a rear electrode opposing the display side electrode, a substrate disposed between the display side electrode and the rear electrode, and including a plurality of partition walls separating a space between the display side electrode and the rear electrode and a plurality of cell spaces formed by the plurality of partition walls, and two or more types of rotary bodies disposed in the plurality of cell spaces and displaying different respective colors. The same type of rotary bodies displaying the same color among the rotary bodies includes a plurality of rotary bodies having different respective shades. The electronic paper display device has high image stability and uniformity and enables the expression of various shades. |
| US08310741B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus
An embodiment of an image reading device may include a light source, an image reading unit, a drive control unit, a white reference member, a chromaticity detecting unit, a reference value storage unit, a chromaticity change calculating unit, and/or a control unit. An embodiment may include a photoelectric conversion element that reads an image illuminated by the light source. In some embodiments, may measure the chromaticity of a white reference member. In some embodiments, a reference value storage unit may store a reference value representing the chromaticity of an image. In an embodiment, a control unit may control an operation of the device according to the calculated amount of chromaticity change. An embodiment may include measuring the luminous intensity of a light source and storing a reference value representing the luminous intensity of the light source. Some embodiments may include making adjustments to images. |
| US08310740B2 |
Image scanning device including a combine unit which superimposes conversion results of a plurality of photoelectric converters
An image scanning device includes a CCD pair provided with two rows of photodiode arrays for scanning an image on a paper, a motor drive circuit for causing the CCD pair to sub-scan the image on the paper, and an adder for superimposedly combining two outputs of the CCD pair with a predetermined time lag therebetween. A control unit controls the adder to add the two outputs of the CCD pair without the time lag when received an instruction of a low resolution that corresponds to ½ of a high resolution by a resolution switch and thereby doubles a speed of the sub-scan by the motor drive circuit. |
| US08310739B2 |
Optical scanner and image forming device using the optical scanner
An optical scanner includes an optical housing, which houses a light source, an aperture stop, a condensing lens and a rotary deflector, light from the light source entering into the rotary deflector via the aperture stop and the condensing lens, and the light deflected by the rotary deflector scanning a target to be irradiated, a fastener, which fastens the condensing lens to the optical housing, and a fastener attachment portion to which the fastener is attached, the fastener attachment portion being disposed in a downstream side of the condensing lens in a traveling direction of the light in the housing. |
| US08310736B2 |
Image reading device
An image reading device includes: a light-source adjusting device, a storage, a first converting device and a determining device. The adjusting device adjusts brightness of the light source to the brightness corresponding to the one of a plurality of reading modes. The storage stores an reference adjusting value and converting information, the reference adjusting value being adjusted in a state where external light is not incident on a platen, the converting information being for converting the reference adjusting value of the reference mode into the reference adjusting value of another reading mode. The first converting device refers to the converting information and converts the reference adjusting value into the value of the selected reading mode. The determining device determines presence or absence of external light incident on the platen, comparing the converted reference adjusting value with the light-source adjusting value adjusted by the adjusting device. |
| US08310731B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
In the present invention, paper fingerprint information of a document is read (step 801) and whether the paper fingerprint information is registered is judged (step 802). If it is judged that the paper fingerprint information is registered, read image data are acquired (step 814). Super-resolution processing is then applied to the read image data and read image data, which had been acquired from the document up to a previous time, and high-resolution image data are thereby acquired (step 816). Next, paper fingerprint information of a recording sheet is read (step 808), and the paper fingerprint information and added information, including information indicating a storage location of the read image data that have been acquired up until now in regard to the document, are stored in an associated manner (step 810). An image is then formed on the recording sheet based on the high-resolution image data (step 812). |
| US08310727B2 |
Method to generate random and density controllable dot patterns on an optical device
A method to generate random and density controllable dot patterns on an optical device includes steps of dividing a 2D domain into multiple cell units; determining dot density in each cell; creating at random initial location of dots in each cell; solving the force operation cut radius of the dot; setting up a residual force; solving the force control parameter in the cell; performing the force operation for the cell; making the dots in the cell to achieve balanced positions after repeated operation; completing the generation of a dot pattern within a 2D domain; and transferring the dot pattern to the optical device by a transfer printing equipment. |
| US08310721B2 |
Inkjet recording apparatus, color correction method and computer-readable medium
An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a treatment liquid deposition device which deposits a treatment liquid insolubilizing or aggregating inks of a plurality of colors, onto a recording medium; a recording head which has a plurality of nozzles ejecting the inks onto the recording medium on which the treatment liquid has been deposited; a data acquisition device which acquires density data of an image with respect to each color, the density data corresponding to the plurality of colors; a higher-order color correction device which corrects the density data, wherein when the inks of different colors are ejected in ejection order so that a preceding ink ejected precedingly to form a lower layer and a subsequent ink ejected subsequently to form an upper layer overlap each other, the higher-order color correction device corrects the density data for a nozzle ejecting the subsequent ink according to the density data for a nozzle ejecting the preceding ink; and an ejection controller which controls ejection of the inks from the recording head according to the density data that the higher-order color correction device has corrected in such a manner that the image is formed on the recording medium. |
| US08310720B2 |
Color adjustment apparatus, image forming apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium
A color adjustment apparatus comprises an input unit for receiving an input operation, a color adjustment display segment for displaying orthogonal coordinate systems between a pre color adjustment hue axis and an adjustment target axis indicative of a degree of adjustment of a hue, saturation, or lightness and an adjustment line indicative of a relationship between before color adjustment and after color adjustment on the orthogonal coordinate systems, an adjustment line changing unit for changing the adjustment line in response to an operation by the input unit, and a color adjustment unit for adjusting a hue, saturation, and lightness of a target image in correspondence with the adjustment line changed by the adjustment line changing unit. |
| US08310717B2 |
Application driven spot color optimizer for reprographics
A method for identifying one or more spot colors in a full color multi-bit image data, and processing the identified spot colors for output on an image printing system is provided. The method includes inputting the full color image data, wherein the full color image data includes a plurality of pixels; analyzing the inputted image to identify the pixels with a spot color from the pixels with a non-spot color, wherein each pixel with a spot color is within a predetermined threshold from a desired color value; processing the identified spot color pixels; and combining the processed spot color pixels with non-spot color pixels to form a data structure. |
| US08310714B2 |
Print control apparatus for controlling printing of an auxiliary image based on a number of sheets to be printed
A print control apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a binding position of sheets related to a binding processing for the sheets on each of which an image is printed based on print data, a setting unit configured to set a printing position of an auxiliary image of transparent color to be printed with the image that is printed based the print data, according to the binding position of the sheets input by the input unit, and a print control unit configured, based on the printing position of the auxiliary image set by the setting unit, to control printing of the auxiliary image. |
| US08310708B2 |
Image forming apparatus
To a multi-functional peripheral, an external terminal is connected by an external user who performs a remote operation or remote monitoring of an operation for the operation screen. The multi-functional peripheral has a specific user determination portion which determines whether or not the external user who has made the connection is a remote monitoring user who performs remote monitoring, and when the external user who has made the connection is not the remote monitoring user, an operation screen during connection displaying information to show that the external terminal is being connected is displayed, and when the external user is the remote monitoring user, a normal operation screen without the information to show that the external terminal is being connected is displayed. |
| US08310707B2 |
Image forming device, image forming system and image forming method for image with high-density area
An image forming device includes an image forming unit in communication with a printing data memory unit and configured to print first and second printing data on a front side of a recording medium, and a recording medium re-feeding mechanism unit configured to re-feed the recording medium to the image forming unit to enable the image forming unit to over-print one of the first printing data and the second printing data on the front side of the recording medium at the image forming unit. |
| US08310706B2 |
Dynamic and real-time print schema documents
A method and apparatus is provided for printing to a Web services-enabled printing device. A print driver executing on a client device receives, from the printing device, printing device capability data that specifies a plurality of features and options currently supported by the printing device. The print driver generates a second version of a PrintCapabilities Document from a first version. The PrintCapabilities Document indicates, in XML, a particular print feature and one or more options for the particular print feature that are indicated in the printing device capability data. A user interface may be generated based on the second version. As a result of one or more user (and/or default) selections, a PrintTicket Document may be generated that indicates that an option of the particular print feature is selected. The print driver generates a print job ticket based the PrintTicket Document. |
| US08310705B2 |
Image forming apparatus, program, recording medium, and preview display method
An image forming apparatus is provided that makes it possible to visually identify whether or not additional information is added to image data to be output in a screen in which a preview is displayed easily. The image forming apparatus is provided with an image display portion such as a touch panel for displaying a preview of image data and is capable of outputting such as printing the image data with additional information added thereto. When image data to be output is output with additional information added thereto, a digital multi-functional peripheral synthesizes an existence image showing an existence of the additional information, instead of the additional information, with a preview image to display on the image display portion in displaying the preview image. |
| US08310704B2 |
Print control mechanism for controlling printing of print data associated with short-range wireless terminal
An image forming apparatus implements a print restriction depending on the environment of the image forming apparatus, such as who is or is not near the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus communicates with a short-range wireless terminal for authenticating print data with reference to access right information in which document identifying information identifying the print data is associated with wireless terminal identifying information identifying the short-range wireless terminal. The image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring the wireless terminal identifying information from the short-range wireless terminal; a determining unit for determining whether the printing of the print data should be permitted or not based on the wireless terminal identifying information acquired by the acquiring unit and the access right information; and a control unit for controlling the printing of the print data depending on a result of the determination made by the determining unit. |
| US08310702B2 |
Information processing method, printing apparatus, and computer-readable medium for supressing light scattering
Print data is generated to form an image on a printing medium by superposing a plurality of types of printing materials in some or all pixels of an output image in an order complying with the intensities of the light scattering characteristics of the plurality of types of printing materials. The generated print data is transmitted to a printing apparatus. |
| US08310701B2 |
Print system having printer drivers that are installed in server device and client-terminal device and that restrict print functions, client-terminal device, and print-control method
A terminal-server-printer driver generates job-ticket data including function-restriction information set by a manager. Upon receiving a print instruction, the job-ticket data is added to print-job data and the print-job data is transmitted to a print-control module. The print-control module selects a first printer driver and/or a second printer driver for processing based on details on the print-job data, and outputs the print-job data and the job-ticket data in accordance with the first printer driver and/or the second printer driver. The first printer driver and/or the second printer driver rewrites the print-attribute settings thereon without fail on the basis of the job-ticket data, and transmits drawing data generated on the basis of the rewritten print-attribute settings to a printer. |
| US08310697B2 |
Image processing system, image processing apparatus and control method of the same, and computer program
An image processing apparatus includes a request information reception portion that receives a request to execute an image-related process relating to an image from another image processing apparatus and obtains limited functions information from another image processing apparatus relating to a right of a user that specified the request to use a function, a substitute allowance determining portion determining whether the user has the right to use the function necessary to execute the image-related process of the request, based on the obtained limited functions information, and a substitute process command portion controlling each portion of the image processing apparatus to execute the image-related process when it is determined that the user has the right, and not to execute that image-related process when it is determined that the user does not have such right. |
| US08310694B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
An information processing apparatus for communicating with an external apparatus via a network is provided that includes a generating unit for generating identification information capable of specifying a service in order to launch the service, a receiving unit for receiving input information input by a user with the external apparatus from the external apparatus via the network, a judging unit for judging whether or not the input information received by the receiving unit corresponds to the identification information generated by the generating unit, and a notifying unit for notifying the external apparatus of address information indicating an address of the information processing apparatus if the judging unit judges that the input information corresponds to the identification information. |
| US08310691B2 |
Printing system, method, program, and storage medium, having print and copy restriction
A printing system which is capable of preventing print restriction information from affecting the embedding of copy restriction information, thereby being capable of positively performing copy restriction on printed documents. An information processing apparatus includes a print restriction information-receiving section that acquires print restriction information for restricting use of functions concerning printing processing, a copy restriction information-acquiring section that acquires copy restriction information for restricting copying of a document printed based on print data, and a copy restriction information and print restriction information-adding section that adds the copy restriction information and print restriction information to the print data. A management server includes a copy restriction information and print restriction information incompatibility-determining section that determines compatibility between the print restriction information and printing conditions of the copy restriction information, and changes the print restriction information based on a result of determination of the compatibility. |
| US08310689B2 |
Document managing apparatus, document managing system, and document managing method
A disclosed device includes a document managing apparatus including an image data acquiring unit acquiring original data of original documents in a predetermined layout, a layout information storing unit storing IDs and layout information, an original document determining unit determining the IDs of the original documents, a partial area information storing unit storing partial area information for the original data respectively for the IDs, a partial area extracting unit, an arrangement information storing unit storing arrangement information on paper in association with the IDs respectively for the partial areas, a synthetic image data generating unit forming synthetic image data in conformity with the arrangement information and forming identification information into the synthetic image data, a data accumulating unit causing a data storing unit to store the identification information and the original data, and a printing unit that prints a synthetic document having the synthetic image data. |
| US08310676B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting small biomolecules
An object of the present invention is to detect a small biomolecule in a sample using simple and inexpensive equipment. To achieve this, the small biomolecule in a sample S is detected optically. Specifically, the sample S containing an aptamer capable of interacting with the small biomolecule is irradiated with an excitation light Le and irradiated with a measurement light L2 for measuring the photothermal effect produced in the sample S by the irradiation with the excitation light Le. The photothermal effect induced in the sample S by the excitation light Le is measured from the phase change in the measurement light L2, and the presence or absence of the interaction between the biomolecule and the aptamer is assessed based on the temporal variation in the measurement signal. |
| US08310674B2 |
Volume phase grating spectrometers
A spectrometer is provided including a camera and an axial symmetric camera mount configured to receive the camera and to rotate. The spectrometer furthers include an input for providing optical radiation to a spectrometer system; a diffraction grating for dispersing the optical radiation along a prescribed plane; at least one lens for focusing wavelength-dispersed light onto at least one array of a detector of optical radiation, wherein the camera has at least one linear array of elements for detecting optical radiation; a mechanical housing, wherein the axial symmetric camera mount is configured to couple the camera to the mechanical housing; and a means for rotating the camera coupled to the mechanical housing about an axis. Related systems and methods are also provided. |
| US08310670B2 |
Method for removal of wax from porous stones in historical monuments
Disclosed embodiments include methods for cleaning wax, substantially equivalent impurities, and other contaminants from porous stones in historical monuments and artworks using nondestructive means. According to one embodiment the method for removal of contaminants from porous stones using laser comprises the following method steps: (a) identifying regions of a contaminant on the porous stone monument; (b) characterizing the contaminant on the porous stone monument; (c) exposing the contaminant on the porous stone monument to irradiation from a laser characterized by a wavelength, a pulse length, a repetition rate, and a laser energy fluence determined and optimized for a given contaminant-porous stone system and the laser characteristics; and (d) adaptively evaluating the cleaning results by quantifying the thickness of the remaining contaminant. |
| US08310666B2 |
Apparatus of inspecting defect in semiconductor and method of the same
When size of a defect on an increasingly miniaturized pattern is obtained by defect inspection apparatus in the related art, a value is inconveniently given, which is different from a measured value of the same defect by SEM. Thus, a dimension value of a defect detected by defect inspection apparatus needs to be accurately calculated to be approximated to a value measured by SEM. To this end, size of the defect detected by the defect inspection apparatus is corrected depending on feature quantity or type of the defect, thereby defect size can be accurately calculated. |
| US08310665B2 |
Inspecting method and inspecting apparatus for substrate surface
An inspecting method and apparatus for inspecting a substrate surface includes application of a light to the substrate surface, detection of scattered light or reflected light from the substrate surface due to the applied light at a plurality of positions to obtain a plurality of electrical signals, extraction of a signal in a mutually different frequency band from each of the plurality of electrical signals, and calculation of a value regarding a state of film of the substrate through an arithmetical operation process of a plurality of extracted signals in the frequency bands. |
| US08310664B2 |
Refractive index distribution measuring method and refractive index distribution measuring apparatus
The method includes first and second steps of placing an object in first and second media whose refractive indices are lower than that of the object, and of causing the reference light to enter the object to measure first and second transmitted wavefronts. When light rays entering a peripheral portion of the object and passing through a same point of the object are defined as first and second light rays, the method causes these light rays to proceed in directions mutually different to change an NA of the reference light such that the reference light after being transmitted through the object is brought closer to collimated light than that before entering the object. The method calculates an effective thickness of the object using geometric thicknesses thereof and calculates a refractive index distribution thereof using the first and second transmitted wavefronts and the effective thickness. |
| US08310663B2 |
Methods and systems for calibrating an adjustable lens
A system for calculating intrinsic properties and an entry pupil location of an adjustable camera lens is disclosed. The system includes a camera and a calibration target. Methods for calculating intrinsic properties and an entry pupil location of an adjustable camera lens are also disclosed. |
| US08310659B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting and counting platelets individually and in aggregate clumps
A method for enumerating platelets within a blood sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: 1) depositing the sample into a sample container having an analysis chamber adapted to quiescently hold the sample for analysis, and an amount of colorant that platelets absorb and which fluoresces upon exposure to one or more predetermined first wavelengths of light; 2) imaging at least a portion of the sample disposed in the analysis chamber, including producing image signals indicative of fluorescent emissions from the platelets illuminated by first wavelengths of light; 3) identifying the platelets using the image signals; and 4) enumerating individual platelets and clumped platelets within the sample using one or more of fluorescent emissions, area, shape, and granularity. |
| US08310656B2 |
Mapping movements of a hand-held controller to the two-dimensional image plane of a display screen
A method for use in controlling a system includes tracking three-dimensional movements of a hand-held controller for the system, mapping the tracked three-dimensional movements of the handheld controller onto a two-dimensional image plane of a screen of a display for the system, and displaying one or more images on the two-dimensional image plane of the screen based on the mapping of the tracked three-dimensional movements of the handheld controller. Some embodiments may include one or more sensors configured to track three-dimensional movements of a hand-held controller for the system, and a processor configured to perform the above mentioned steps. |
| US08310654B2 |
Method for the detection of surroundings
A method for the detection of surroundings is performed using a source which emits pulsed signals. Signals backscattered from an object are detected by a sensor. When performing the method, a presence of the object is detected during coarse sampling. To determine a variable related to the detected object, operating parameters of the source are set for fine sampling. |
| US08310651B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, method and device manufacturing method
In an embodiment, a lithographic apparatus includes an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam; a 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, and a passive noise damper configured to dampen gas borne noise caused by movement of a movable part of the lithographic apparatus. |
| US08310650B2 |
Method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device with scribing groove, heating sealant and aligning liquid crystal
It is an object to prevent disordered orientation of liquid crystal molecules which is due to division of substrates even when a liquid crystal dripping method is used, and to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal is not adversely affected even when a sealant not cured and liquid crystal are in contact. In a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal dripping method, a scribe groove is provided for at least one of a pair of substrates with a diamond cutter or the like before the pair of substrates are attached under reduced pressure. After the scribing, the pair of substrates are attached under reduced pressure, heat treatment for curing the sealant and aligning the liquid crystal molecules is performed, and the substrates are divided by applying impact using a breaking apparatus. |
| US08310648B2 |
Method of fabricating liquid crystal display device having a light-sensing thin film transistor disposed at a pixel region
The disclosure describes a liquid crystal display device with a sensing function and a method of fabricating the same. The device comprising gate and data lines crossing each other on a substrate, so as to define a pixel region including a pixel electrode; a first switching thin film transistor disposed at a crossing of the gate and data lines; a sensing thin film transistor, disposed at a predetermined portion of the pixel region, that senses external light; a sensing storage capacitor that stores a signal sensed by the sensing thin film transistor; and a second switching thin film transistor that receives the sensing signal stored and reads information that is externally inputted, wherein the sensing storage capacitor and the second switching thin film transistor are provided with a reflective region including a reflective electrode. |
| US08310644B2 |
In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device
An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates facing each other, a gate line and a data line arranged on the first substrate crossing each other and defining a pixel region, a switching device at a crossing of the gate line and the data line, a common electrode and a pixel electrode alternately disposed in the pixel region, at least one of the common electrode and the pixel electrode including a multi-layer having a conductor layer and a reflectance reducing layer, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second substrates. |
| US08310642B2 |
Liquid crystal display with texture control portion between pixel and common electrodes and method thereof
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) having controlled texture and reduced response time includes first and second insulation substrates which are separated from each other and face each other, a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first and second insulation substrates and has liquid crystal molecules, a pixel electrode which is disposed on the first insulation substrate and includes a plurality of first linear electrode patterns, a common electrode which is disposed on the first insulation substrate and includes a plurality of second linear electrode patterns separated from the first linear electrode patterns by a predetermined gap, and a texture control portion which is disposed in an area corresponding to the gap and formed on the first or second insulation substrate, wherein the first and second linear electrode patterns are arranged in an alternating fashion. |
| US08310641B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, display device and manufacturing method thereof
Image display device having an electrode forming layer which includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of drain lines, a plurality of switching elements and the a plurality of pixel electrodes, and having reference electrode layer between the electrode forming layer and a substrate where the electrode forming layer formed thereon, and the reference electrode layer and the electrode forming layer are insulated by insulating layer. |
| US08310638B2 |
Pixel circuit and display apparatus
Disclosed is a display device that can achieve a reduction of power consumption without deteriorating the aperture ratio. A liquid crystal capacitance element (Clc) is formed by being sandwiched between a pixel electrode (20) and an opposite electrode (80). The pixel electrode (20), one end of a first switching circuit (22), one end of a second switching circuit (23), and the first terminal of a second transistor (T2) form an internal node (N1). The other end of the first switching circuit (22) and the other end of the second switching circuit (23) are connected to a source line (SL). The second switching circuit (23) includes a series circuit of a transistor (T1) and a diode (D1), and an output node (N2) is formed of the control terminal of the transistor (T1), the second terminal of the transistor (T2), and one end of a boost capacitance element (Cbst). The other end of the boost capacitance element (Cbst) is connected to a boost line (BST), and the control terminal of the transistor (T2) is connected to a reference line (REF). The diode (D1) has a rectifying function in the direction to the internal node (N1) from the source line (SL). |
| US08310632B2 |
Laminated structures using UV-curable adhesion promoters
An adhesion promoter for enhancing the bond between adjacent layers of a multilayer structure to prevent delamination thereof is disclosed. The adhesion promoter comprises an aromatic polyimide-based UV-cured acrylate. Also disclosed are laminated structures including liquid crystal displays and bonded missile domes that utilize an adhesion promoter of the invention, and methods for fabricating such structures. |
| US08310630B2 |
Electronic skin having uniform gray scale reflectivity
The invention features electronic skin including an active layer formed of bistable cholesteric liquid crystal material and articles comprising the skin, the electronic skin having uniform gray scale reflectivity. Also featured is method for producing suitable reduction pulses that will provide a display (e.g., the electronic skin) with uniform gray scale reflectivity. Reduction pulses of narrow width are used to create uniform levels of gray in the electronic skin to overcome display imperfections that cause discontinuity in the gray scale reflectivity. |
| US08310626B2 |
Liquid crystal light control device and method for producing the same comprising a step of emulsion polymerization of monomers of a liquid crystal resin composite
In the production method of the present invention, an emulsion including a copolymer with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of −50 to 20° C. is obtained by the emulsion polymerization of a monomer group including a monomer A that is a (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester (where the alkyl group is an open chain group with 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a cyclic group with 5 to 20 carbon atoms) as the main monomer and a monomer B having a carbon-carbon double bond and a nonionic hydrophilic group such as a polyoxyalkylene group, an amide group, and a hydroxyl group. Liquid crystals are dispersed in this emulsion, which is applied onto a conductive film-coated substrate. Another conductive film-coated substrate is laminated thereto, and thus a liquid crystal light control device is obtained. A monomer C having a carboxyl group and/or an amino group and a carbon-carbon double bond may be used in combination with a crosslinking agent so that a crosslinked structure is introduced into the copolymer. The present invention provides a liquid crystal light control device in which the transparency with a voltage applied and the shielding property with no voltage applied are compatible at high level. |
| US08310624B2 |
Backlight module and liquid crystal display apparatus
A backlight module includes a lighting unit and a brightness enhancement sheet. The brightness enhancement sheet is disposed beside the lighting unit. The brightness enhancement sheet includes a light-transmissive substrate, a plurality of lenses, a reflective layer, and a diffusion layer. The light-transmissive substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface is located between the second surface and the lighting unit. The lenses are disposed on the first surface. The reflective layer is disposed on the second surface. The reflective layer has a plurality of light-transmissive openings respectively located on the optical axes of the lenses. The diffusion layer is disposed on the reflective layer and covers the light-transmissive openings. The reflective layer is disposed between the diffusion layer and the second surface. A liquid crystal display apparatus is also provided. |
| US08310623B2 |
Optical sheet and liquid crystal display including the same
An optical sheet and a liquid crystal display including the same are disclosed. The optical sheet includes a reflective polarizing film, a first adhesive layer on one surface of the reflective polarizing film, and a first diffusion layer on the first adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer has first and second thicknesses. The first diffusion layer includes a first light transmitting material and a plurality of first diffusion particles. At least one of the first diffusion particles has a portion protruding above a surface of the first light transmitting material, and a height of the portion, h1, substantially satisfies the following equation: 0.1D1≦h1≦0.7D1, where D1 is a diameter of the at least one of the first diffusion particles. The first thickness, T1, and the second thickness, T2, substantially satisfy the following equation: 10 nm≦|T1−T2|≦2 μm. |
| US08310621B2 |
Illumination device and liquid crystal display device
An illuminator according to the present invention includes a backlight (110) for emitting light containing first and second polarization components having polarization directions which are orthogonal to each other; and a selective reflection polarizer (120) having a reflectance for the first polarization component which is higher than a transmittance for the first polarization component, and having a transmittance for the second polarization component which is higher than a reflectance for the second polarization component. The selective reflection polarizer (120) includes a transparent substrate (122) and a plurality of metal wires (124) arrayed on the transparent substrate (122). The ratio of a width of the metal wires (124) to a pitch of the metal wires (124) is greater than 30% and equal to or less than 42%, and the backlight (110) has a reflectance of 0.6 or more. |
| US08310612B2 |
Thin film transistor liquid crystal display panel having gate line and data line formed on same layer and method of fabricating the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display panel and fabrication method are described. The panel has a data line and a gate line connected with a TFT and formed on the same layer. One of data or gate lines is discontinuous and the other is continuous in a pixel region such that the continuous line bisects the discontinuous line. A passivation film protects the TFT. Contact holes penetrate the passivation film and expose segments of the discontinuous line. A contact electrode connects the segments through the contact holes. |
| US08310611B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is a display device including: a gate electrode (GT); a semiconductor film (S) which controls a current flowing between a source electrode (ST) and a drain electrode (DT), the semiconductor film including a channel region and two impurity regions formed of regions which sandwich the channel region; two Ohmic contact layers (DS) being interposed between the source electrode and the like and the two impurity regions; and an insulating film laminated on a partial region of the semiconductor film, the partial region being around a position corresponding to a substantial center of the semiconductor film, in which: the semiconductor film is formed of one of microcrystalline-silicon and polycrystalline-silicon; the two impurity regions are formed in regions on which the insulating film is absent; the two Ohmic contact layers cover the two impurity regions therewith; and the source electrode and the like cover the Ohmic contact layers therewith. |
| US08310609B2 |
Liquid crystal device, electronic apparatus, and method of manufacturing liquid crystal device
Provided is a lateral electric field mode liquid crystal device including: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer and pixel electrodes and common electrodes. A lateral electric field mode liquid crystal device drives the liquid crystal layer by an electric field generated between the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes, a light shielding layer is formed on a surface of the second substrate disposed close to the liquid crystal layer. A coloring layer is also formed so as to overlap with the pixel electrodes. An overcoat layer protects the coloring layer, and an alignment film is formed. An electrostatic shielding layer is formed of a transparent conductive material on a surface of the overcoat layer. |
| US08310606B2 |
Display device
This invention provides a display device capable of maintaining a high image quality of a display image even when a plurality of plasma tube array-type display sub-modules is joined horizontally to one another. A display device comprises a plasma tube array-type display sub-module in which a plurality of plasma tubes 31, 31, . . . , are arranged in parallel being held between an address electrode support sheet where address electrodes are formed and a display electrode support sheet 35 where display electrodes are formed, wherein the plurality of plasma tube array-type display sub-modules 30, 30, . . . , are joined horizontally to one another so that an interval between the adjacent plasma tube array-type display sub-modules 30, 30, . . . , and a clearance between the adjacent plasma tubes 31, 31 are substantially equal. |
| US08310604B2 |
Visual inspection apparatus having light source bank
A visual inspection apparatus can include a handset, elongated inspection tube extending from the handset and a light source bank disposed within a hand held housing of the handset. For reduction of heat energy radiating from the light source bank, the apparatus can include one or more of a thermal control system and a particularly designed heat sink assembly. |
| US08310601B2 |
Broadcast receiver system
An interface circuit configured to connect between (a) a broadcast receiver tuner and associated circuitry for the receiving and processing of broadcast radio frequency signals, and (b) a general purpose computer device programmed with software demodulation code configured to engage a general purpose processor in signal demodulation functions, the interface circuit comprising: a data interface comprising a packetisation buffer connected to receive (i) digital signal sample data from a signal path of the tuner and associated circuitry and (ii) indications of control settings which are applied to one or more configurable components during taking of the sample data, said packetisation buffer being operable to construct packets comprising blocks of sample data and header information carrying said control settings indications; a control interface configured to receive control instructions from tuner control code running on the general purpose computer device; and a microcontroller operable to receive the control instructions from the control interface and distribute corresponding control settings to configurable components of the tuner and associated circuitry, said microcontroller also being operable to supply indications of relevant control settings to said packetisation buffer. |
| US08310600B2 |
Supplying broadband HRC networks with non-harmonically related carriers
Non-harmonically related carriers may be provided for signals entering a harmonically related carrier (HRC) network. A modified carrier frequency may be assigned for any and/or all harmonics of a reference frequency. The modified carrier frequency may be computed by determining a nearest multiple of an index frequency value to the nominal harmonic frequency. The modified carrier frequency may then be used to carry video signals into the HRC network. |
| US08310599B2 |
Television set
A television set includes a television set body section which has a display panel in which pixels are arranged at intersections of scan lines and data lines in a matrix; and first and second input terminals provided for the television set body section. A first video signal is displayed on the display panel in a first drive system when the first video signal supplied to the first input terminal is selected. A second video signal is displayed on the display panel in a second drive system when the second video signal supplied to the second input terminal is selected. |
| US08310598B2 |
Apparatus for splitting signal and video device using the same
An apparatus for splitting a signal and a video device using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first splitting unit to split an inputted broadcast signal into a first broadcast signal and a second broadcast signal, and to supply the first broadcast signal to a first broadcast signal processing element, and a second splitting unit to split the second broadcast signal into a third broadcast signal and a fourth broadcast signal, and to supply the third broadcast signal to a second broadcast signal processing element. With this construction, the apparatus can distribute and provide a broadcast signal with a noise figure (NF) lower than that of other broadcast signals, to an element, which requires a broadcast signal with a low noise figure. In addition, the apparatus can split the inputted broadcast signal without using an active element, such as an amplifier or the like, thereby allowing the split broadcast signals to lower the NF thereof and to uniformly maintain a gain thereof. Also, the apparatus can prevent interferences, which are generated between adjacent ports. |
| US08310596B2 |
Method related to noise reduction
A pre-processing of video data before coding and transmission, for a method for noise reduction in High-Density video images. A low implementation-complex filter filters raw pixel data output of a video camera with a low pass property for both spatial and temporal noise and the filter is adapted based on the high frequency content of the picture, leaving most of the image content unaffected by the filtering process. |
| US08310593B2 |
Television apparatus
According to one embodiment, the apparatus has a first block configured to be connected to a receiving block for a television signal and a second block independent from the first block, configured to be connected to a network. A bypass route is configured to lead a bypass stream including an image signal from the first block to the second block. A processor is configured to generate a return stream by inserting the image signal from the network into the image signal on the bypass stream, at the second block. A return pass is configured to return the return stream to the first block. And a converter is configured to convert the image signal included in the return stream into a signal for output and display, at the first block. |
| US08310591B2 |
Image-taking apparatus
An image-taking apparatus includes a chassis which is disposed inside an outer package member of the image-taking apparatus and is a structural body of the image-taking apparatus, an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image, a first circuit which processes output signals from the image-pickup device, and a second circuit which generates an electromagnetic wave. Herein, the first circuit is disposed on the opposite side of the second circuit with respect to the chassis. |
| US08310590B2 |
Image sensor and image-capturing device with image-capturing and focus detection pixels
An image sensor includes: image-capturing pixels that generate first image signals with a charge storage time controlled by a first storage control signal; and focus detection pixels that generate second image signals with a charge storage time controlled by a second storage control signal generated independently of the first storage control signal. |
| US08310586B2 |
Photographing apparatus and in-focus position searching method
The present invention provides a photographing apparatus, in which an object image is formed on an image pickup element through a photographing lens, and a desired frequency component is extracted from an image signal obtained by the image pickup element through a filter so that the extracted frequency component is integrated to calculate a focus evaluation value and, based on the calculated focus evaluation value, an in-focus position of the photographing lens is searched, the apparatus comprising: a scene discrimination section which discriminates a photographing scene of an object image; and a control section which changes either of a searching range of the in-focus position of the photographing lens or the frequency component to be extracted by the filter based on the photographing scene discriminated by the scene discrimination section, and thereafter moves the photographing lens to search an in-focus position. |
| US08310579B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus with plural reset units each resetting a corresponding one of plural block wirings
The present invention is a solid-state imaging apparatus having a plurality of signal accumulating units for accumulating signals from a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element, a common signal transferring unit for transferring a signal outputted from the signal accumulating unit, a plurality of reset units for resetting a potential of a signal path of the common signal transferring unit, a horizontal scanning unit for outputting, to the common signal transferring unit, the signal accumulated in the plurality of signal accumulating units, and a plurality of reset controlling units for controlling the reset units, wherein the horizontal scanning unit includes a plurality of horizontal scanning blocks, an operation of the horizontal scanning unit is controlled by a reference pulse supplied to the horizontal scanning block, and the reset controlling unit is arranged in the horizontal scanning block. |
| US08310575B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate; photoelectric conversion units formed in array on the semiconductor substrate and forming a light receiving unit; and wiring sections formed in positions among the photoelectric conversion units. The wiring sections include wiring bodies formed by superimposing wiring layers on the light receiving unit and including a bottom wiring body on the semiconductor substrate side, a top wiring body on an uppermost side, and an intermediate wiring body between the bottom wiring body and the top wiring body, and contacts connecting the wiring bodies in order of vertical overlap, and in at least one of the wiring sections, the wiring bodies other than the bottom wiring body are superimposed while being shifted from a position right above the bottom wiring body, and amounts of shift of the intermediate wiring body and the contacts connected to the intermediate wiring body are the same. |
| US08310574B2 |
Configuration and method for driving physical information acquisition sensor control lines at multiple dividing points
In particular for a solid-state image sensor with high resolution, a control line is not driven at any of two end points of the control line, but the control line is driven at two arbitrary dividing points on the control line. Preferably, two points on control line whose distance from a closer end of a range in which skew is to be suppressed is equal to ¼ of the total length of the range may be selected as the dividing points at which the control line is driven. In this case, the time constant at points farthest from the driving points becomes ¼ of that which occurs when the control line is driven at both end points thereof and 1/16 of that which occurs when the control line is driven at one end point thereof, and thus, theoretically, the skew can be reduced to ¼ or 1/16 of that which occurs when the control line is driven at both end points or only one end point. |
| US08310572B2 |
Computer readable storage medium, image correction apparatus, and image correction method
An image correction apparatus includes an exposure-level calculating unit that calculates an exposure level using information on an image capturing unit, which captures image data, at the time of capture of an image, a brightness calculating unit that calculates brightness of the image using information on the image data captured by the image capturing unit, and an image correction unit that corrects the brightness of the image data in accordance with the exposure level calculated by the exposure-level calculating unit and the brightness of the image calculated by the brightness calculating unit. |
| US08310568B2 |
Clamp control method, clamp correction device, image sensor, and electronic apparatus
A clamp control method, a clamp correction device, an image sensor, and an electronic apparatus in which high-quality imaging without unnaturalness as a whole can be performed with low power consumption in an image sensor having a large number of pixels. |
| US08310567B2 |
Methods of modeling an integrated noise in an image sensor and methods of reducing noise using the same
A method is for processing a Bayer domain signal of an image sensor to model an integrated noise in the image sensor. The method includes receiving the Bayer domain signal of the image signal, setting a plurality of noise models using the Bayer domain signal, and determining an integrated noise level in the image sensor based on the plurality of noise models. The noise models include a dark-current noise model, a shot noise model and a fixed-pattern noise model. |
| US08310566B2 |
Image pickup system and image processing method with an edge extraction section
An image pickup system for processing a signal from a CCD includes a noise reducing unit for performing a noise reduction processing on the signal from the CCD, an edge direction detection unit for detecting an edge direction from the signal having been subjected to the noise reduction processing, and an edge extraction unit for extracting an edge component from the signal from the CCD on the basis of the edge direction. |
| US08310559B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving data
A method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving data in which a color gamut identifier is included using a synchronization section of an analog image signal are provided. In the method, it is determined whether an analog image signal is a color gamut signal. If the analog signal is a color gamut signal, a color gamut identifier is generated using a synchronization section of the analog image signal, and the analog image signal is transmitted after the color gamut identifier is added to the synchronization section of the analog image signal. |
| US08310558B2 |
Imaging apparatus having a recording function of a still image and a moving image and displaying a through image
An imaging apparatus fetches an optical image of an object so as to produce an image signal, records on a recording medium an image signal corresponding to a still-image-use image size according to a still-image recording instruction, records on the recording medium an image signal corresponding to a moving-image-use image size according to a moving-image recording instruction, repeatedly creates the image signal and causes a displayer to display a still-image-use through image corresponding to the still-image-use image size, repeatedly creates the image signal and causes the displayer to display a moving-image-use through image corresponding to the moving-image-use image size, switches the still-image-use through image and the moving-image-use through image, and accepts the still-image recording instruction or the moving-image recording instruction when the still-image-use through image or the moving-image-use through image is displayed. |
| US08310557B1 |
Camera arrangements with back lighting detection and methods of using same
The present invention relates to camera arrangements with backlighting detection. The camera arrangements are capable of simultaneously capturing real scene data from various viewpoints. This data may include illumination data impinging the scene. The illumination data may then be utilized to alter the apparent illumination of a second image, either real or virtual, which is to be superimposed over the real scene so that the illumination across the entire superimposed scene is consistent. The camera arrangements may utilize combinations of umbilical cables and light tubes to expand or contract the field of capture. The camera arrangements may also include in-line signal processing of the data output. |
| US08310554B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing coordinated multi-PTZ camera tracking
A system for tracking at least one object is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of communicatively connected visual sensing units configured to capture visual data related to the at least one object The system also includes a manager component communicatively connected to the plurality of visual sensing units. The manager component is configured to assign one visual sensing unit to act as a visual sensing unit in a master mode and at least one visual sensing unit to act as a visual sensing unit in a slave mode. The manager component is further configured to transmit at least one control signal to the plurality of visual sensing units, and receive the visual data from the plurality of visual sensing units. |
| US08310550B2 |
Portable terminal apparatus for capturing more than one image of identical object, and captured image processing system for obtaining high resolution image data based on the captured images and outputting high resolution image
A portable terminal apparatus consecutively more than once captures images of an identical image capture object. The portable terminal apparatus determines whether or not a plurality of pieces of captured image data captured include a combination of a given number (an integer not less than 2) of pieces of captured image data which are applicable to be subjected to the high resolution correction by the correction processing section and are offset by a given amount, and transmits, to an image output apparatus, the given number of pieces of captured image data which are determined to be the combination. The image output apparatus receives the given number of pieces of captured image data from the portable terminal apparatus, and carries out, in accordance with the given number of pieces of captured image data, the high resolution correction for preparing high resolution image data which has a higher resolution than the given number of pieces of captured image data received. Thereafter, the image output apparatus carries out an output process for outputting the high resolution image data prepared. This provides a captured image processing system which allows an image output apparatus to output an image captured by a portable terminal apparatus while the image is improving in resolution such as text readability. |
| US08310547B2 |
Device for recognizing motion and method of recognizing motion using the same
The present invention provides a device for recognizing a motion. The device for recognizing a motion includes: an input device that includes a light source and an inertial sensor; and a motion recognition mechanism that extracts the trajectory of a user's motion by detecting position change of the light source for a user's motion section that is determined in response to a sensing signal of the inertial sensor. |
| US08310534B2 |
Three-dimensional model data confirming method, and three-dimensional model data confirming apparatus
The present invention relates to an apparatus for confirming three-dimensional model data or the like, capable of confirming easily, efficiently, and precisely whether three-dimensional model data including an attached object attached to a machine tool and at least a part of the machine tool good are accurate. An apparatus 1 for confirming three-dimensional model data is provided with: CCD cameras 13 and 14 for imaging an actual attached object attached to a machine tool 30 to generate actual image data of the attached object; a model-data storing section 17 for storing in advance model data which include the attached object attached to the machine tool 30 and at least a part of the machine tool 30 and which are previously created; a virtual image data generating section 19 for generating, by a computer process, two-dimensional image data, which are virtual image data of the attached object, based on the model data stored in the model-data storing section 17; and an image-data comparing section 21 for comparing, by a computer process, the actual image data of the attached object and the virtual image data thereof to determine whether these image data match. |
| US08310527B2 |
Display device with 3D shutter control unit
A system for providing respective video signals to at least two viewers is disclosed. The system includes a control unit; and a display connected to the control unit. The control unit is operable to control the display to alternately display an image from a first video signal and an image from a second video signal, to synchronize a first shuttered filter to the display such that the first filter is shuttered when the second video signal image is displayed, and to synchronize a second shuttered filter to the display such that the second filter is shuttered when the first video signal image is displayed. In this way only the first video signal image is provided to a first viewer using the first shuttered filter and only the second video signal image is provided to a second viewer using the second shuttered filter. |
| US08310524B2 |
Stereoscopic image display apparatus
A stereoscopic image display apparatus having a function for tracking at least one observer is provided. The stereoscopic image display apparatus includes a detection and calculation module and a display unit. The detection and calculation module detects the position of the observer to configure N views of a displayed image corresponding to two eyes of the observer, and outputs a control information, wherein N≧4. The display unit receives the control information and generates N view images corresponding to the N views. Each eye of the observer receives at least two view images, and the two eyes respectively receive multiple view images in different views. |
| US08310523B2 |
Plug-in to enable CAD software not having greater than 180 degree capability to present image from camera of more than 180 degrees
A plug-in is provided to a CAD program on a vehicle to permit the CAD program to present an image from a vehicle-mounted video camera that exceeds a 180 degree field of view, even though the core CAD program without plug-in is designed to present no more than a 180 degree field of view image. |
| US08310519B2 |
Device for carrying out a video conference
The invention relates to an assembly for carrying out a video conference between a location A and at least one location W, during which it is possible for at least some participants to make eye-to-eye contact or face-to-face contact. To achieve this, location A is equipped with at least two image generation elements for generating images of the participants in location A, said elements being assigned to different participant positions in location W and is also equipped with at least one optical representation of each participant position in location W. The image generation elements are arranged in such a way that for at least one participant position in location A and at least two representations of participant positions in location W, which are assigned to different image generation elements, the image generation element that is assigned to the respective participant position in location W is positioned within a horizontal angular range of ±20° in relation to the connection lines between the participant position in location A and the representations of the participant positions in location W. Each participant position in location W is assigned the reproduction means that reproduces the image of the image generation element assigned to said participant position. |
| US08310518B2 |
Videoconference system and management method thereof
A videoconference system and a management method thereof are provided. The videoconference system includes: terminals; multipoint control units (MCUs), as the superior level for the terminals, for controlling the corresponding terminals; conference management systems, as the superior level for the MCUs, for performing dispatching and control for the local conference site; and conference coordination systems, as the superior level for the conference management systems, for coordinating corresponding conference management systems and neighboring conference coordination systems to perform dispatching and control for the entire conference. The videoconference management method includes: a subscriber requesting for conference dispatching to the home conference management system; the home conference management system managing the corresponding local conference site directly at the dispatching request, and transferring the dispatching across conference management systems to the corresponding conference coordination system; and the conference coordination system dispatching the corresponding master and slave conference management systems at the dispatching request. |
| US08310517B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning device includes a first optical a light source that has a plurality of luminous points; a first optical system that shapes a plurality of beams of light; a rotary polygon mirror an optical scanning system that causes the beams of light deflected to form images on a surface to be scanned, wherein β is assumed to be half of an angle formed between the optical axis of the first optical system and the optical axis of the optical scanning system within the deflecting/scanning surface, δ is assumed to be a distance between an intersection dc and an intersection hh, wherein δ is set to be zero or a negative value, given that δ is defined positive when the intersection dc is present on the optical-scanning side of the intersection hh. |
| US08310515B2 |
Exposure apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the same
An exposure apparatus which exposes an object includes an exposure member which has a plurality of blinking sections and which is elongated in a predetermined longitudinal direction; a support frame which supports the exposure member; a holder which supports the support frame to be movable relative to the holder; and a pressing member which is provided between the holder and the support frame and which presses the support frame in a direction away from the holder. Accordingly, the exposure apparatus can suppress the deformation of the exposure member. |
| US08310507B2 |
Display device drive circuit
Provided is a display device drive circuit capable of setting an optimum drive performance for each output amplifier without increasing the chip size. The display device drive circuit includes: at least two bias lines having different reference potentials; a selector that selects one of the bias lines based on a grayscale signal; and an output amplifier that is supplied with a reference potential of the one of the bias lines selected by the selector, generates a display signal, and supplies the display signal to a data line. |
| US08310502B2 |
System and method for adjusting display input values
Systems and methods of providing user-selected color characteristics for an LCD device to a host system are disclosed. An exemplary method includes receiving user input at the LCD device, the user input specifying color information for each of a plurality of color presets selected by the user. The method also includes each time the user changes color information for each of the plurality of color presets selected by the user, merging the color information with static information for the LCD device. The method also includes communicating the merged color information and static information to the host system in a standardized format. |
| US08310495B2 |
Method and apparatus for driving display data
In one aspect, an apparatus for driving display data includes an address mapping unit which generates second address units by dividing gradation data displayed on a plurality of pixels in a display panel into a plurality of first address units that are in the form of an a×b matrix, and mapping addresses of the gradation data in each of the first address units into the form of a b×a matrix, wherein the plurality of the first and second address units are arranged in the form of an M×N matrix, wherein a, b, M and N are natural numbers, and a is greater than b. The apparatus further includes a memory unit which stores the second address units having the mapped addresses in the form of a b×a matrix as units in the form of an M×N matrix, a data output unit which receives the data in a×N columns output from the memory unit and outputs the data as data in b×N columns, and a source driver block which receives the data in the b×N columns and transmitting the data to the display panel. |
| US08310488B2 |
Dynamic context switching between architecturally distinct graphics processors
Graphics processing in a computer graphics apparatus having architecturally dissimilar first and second graphics processing units (GPU) is disclosed. Graphics input is produced in a format having an architecture-neutral display list. One or more instructions in the architecture neutral display list are translated into GPU instructions in an architecture specific format for an active GPU of the first and second GPU. |
| US08310485B1 |
Creating animation effects
This specification describes technologies that relate to creating animation effects in an animation at runtime and without requiring the animation effects to be stored in every frame or time instance of the animation. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method that includes obtaining animation information having a primary object and a first effect object associated with the primary object. The method also includes generating an animation sequence using the animation information. The animation sequence includes the primary object on which the first effect object and a second effect object can be applied. The act of generating an animation sequence includes interpolating between the first and second effect objects to create at least one intermediate effect applied to the primary object in the animation sequence. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products. |
| US08310484B2 |
Efficient processing of operator graphs representing three-dimensional character animation
An operator graph representing three-dimensional animation can be analyzed to identify subgraphs of the operator graph in which operators are not required to operate in a serialized manner. Such a condition may arise, for example, when two operators are not dependent on each other for data. This condition may arise when the operators are operating on different elements in a scene. Such operators may be evaluated in parallel. To identify these operators, a dependency graph is created. The dependency graph indicates which operators have inputs that are dependent on outputs provided by other operators. Using this graph, operators that are independent of each other can be readily identified. These operators can be evaluated in parallel. In an interactive editing system for three-dimensional animation or other rich media, such an analysis of an operator graph would occur when changes are made to the animation. The creation and use of the dependency graph enables faster processing of a scene while changes to the scene are being made. |
| US08310483B2 |
Tinting a surface to simulate a visual effect in a computer generated scene
A tinted color value is produced for a surface of an object in a computer generated scene. The surface is illuminated by a light source having a lighting color value associated with the light source. A first reflected color value is calculated for the surface. The first reflected color value is calculated based on an assumption that the surface is illuminated by white light rather than the lighting color value associated with the light source. A desaturated color value is computed using the first reflected color value. A tinted color value is computed by combining the desaturated color value with the lighting color value associated with the light source. The tinted color value is stored. |
| US08310482B1 |
Distributed calculation of plane equations
A system for distributed of plane equation calculations. A work distribution unit is configured to receive a set of vertex data that includes meta data associated with each vertex in a modeled three-dimensional scene, to divide the set of vertex data into a plurality of batches of vertices, and to distribute the plurality of batches of vertices to one or more general processing clusters (GPCs). A processing cluster array includes the one or more (GPCs), where each GPC includes one or more shader-primitive-controller units (SPMs), and each SPM is configured to calculate plane equation coefficients for a subset of the vertices included in a batch of vertices. Advantageously, a distributed configuration of multiple plane equation calculation units decreases the size of the data bus that carries plane equation coefficients and increases overall processing throughput. |
| US08310473B2 |
Semiconductor device, display panel and electronic apparatus
A semiconductor device, includes a plurality of film transistors, and a buffer circuit, wherein the buffer circuit includes an outputting stage; a first inputting stage; a second inputting stage; a second outputting stage; and a transistor. |
| US08310466B2 |
Method of mounting thumbwheel switch on printed circuit board and handheld electronic device incorporating the same
A thumbwheel switch for a handheld electronic device is mechanically and electrically mounted on the substrate of a printed circuit board using SMT with the thumbwheel seated in a cutout in the substrate and with the top surface of the thumbwheel about flush with the top surface of the substrate so that the thumbwheel is ergonomically positioned on the side of the handheld electronic device at the level of the display. |
| US08310464B2 |
Simultaneous multiple location touch systems
Various apparatuses, methods and systems for detecting simultaneous touches at multiple locates are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus for detecting a touch, the apparatus including a resistive touch screen and a controller connected to the touch screen. The touch screen includes a number of electrically conductive columns and rows. In various embodiments, the touch screen is an analog matrix, with the overlapping columns and rows forming a matrix of cubics that can each detect one touch at a time, and with the location of the touch detectable in an analog fashion within each cubic. The resolution of the analog matrix in these embodiments is thus higher than that of the columns and rows. The controller includes an analog to digital converter switchably and sequentially connected to each of the columns and rows. The controller also includes a voltage source switchably and sequentially connected to each of the columns and rows. The controller is adapted to connect the voltage source to one of the rows when the analog to digital converter is sequentially connected to each of the columns and to connect the voltage source to one of the columns when the analog to digital converter is sequentially connected to each of the rows. |
| US08310462B2 |
Electronic device, display and touch-sensitive user interface
Display devices and methods for operating the same are provided. In one embodiment, the display device has an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content; a housing holding the electronic display and having an opening allowing a person to view a first portion of the active area; and a bezel about the opening, the bezel covering a second portion of the active area and providing a window through which at least a part of the second portion can be viewed. A sensor system senses when a person is close to touching the bezel or when a person is in touch with the bezel and generates a sensor signal; and a controller is operable to adjust the appearance of the active area in the part of the second portion when the controller determines that a person has touched the bezel or is close to touching the bezel. |
| US08310460B2 |
Touch display device
A display device with a touch panel includes a display panel, and an electrostatic-capacitance-coupling touch panel which is arranged on a viewer-side surface of the display panel. The touch panel includes a substrate; a first shield conductor which is formed on the viewer-side surface of the substrate; an insulation film which is formed on the first shield conductor; a plurality of first electrodes which are formed on the insulation film, extend in the first direction and are arranged parallel to each other in the second direction which intersects with the first direction; and a plurality of second electrodes which are formed on the insulation film, extend in the second direction and are arranged parallel to each other in the first direction which intersects with the second direction. A predetermined signal is inputted to the first shield conductor. |
| US08310456B2 |
Mobile terminal and screen displaying method thereof
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. Specifically to a mobile terminal including a display including a touchscreen, a sensing unit for sensing an object in near-proximity to the touchscreen, a controller for altering an image appearing on the display according to at least one of a duration of the object near the touchscreen and a distance of the object away from the touchscreen. |
| US08310455B2 |
Electronic apparatus and input interface thereof
An electronic apparatus includes an input interface, a controller and a processor. The input interface includes a first touch sensing region, a second touch sensing region and a third sensing region. The first touch sensing region has a plurality of touch pads arranged in a radial array. The second touch sensing region and the third touch sensing region are respectively adjacent to two sides of the first touch sensing region, and each includes a plurality of touch pads arranged in a matrix array. The controller is coupled to each of the touch pads for detecting a user input on the user interface and generating a plurality of sensing signals according to the user input. The processor is electrically coupled to the controller, and executes a corresponding function according to the plurality of sensing signals. |
| US08310454B2 |
Translucent touch screens including invisible electronic component connections
Disclosed is a touch screen of semi-transparent mesh that may be utilized by, for example, a mobile communication device. The mesh may be utilized for both a touch screen and an electrical circuit for an electronic component attached to it. That is, the mesh may be in part a touch screen, and in part an electrical circuit. The touch surface includes mesh composed of a conductive material configured to provide input signals from activation points of the touch surface to the control circuit of the device. The mesh of a conductive material also includes an electrical circuit configured to provide audio signals from the control circuit of the device to the speaker. Since the disclosed semi-transparent mesh acts an electrical circuit, artwork to hide electrical circuits from the electronic component to the controller is not necessary. A switchable ground eliminates interference between the touch screen and the electrical circuit. |
| US08310453B1 |
Touch-screen sign-in key
The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for maintaining the security of portable electronic devices. More specifically, the present invention leverages existing touch-screen technology to secure the electronic device. The electronic device may require a user to touch a key having a certain number of contact points to the touch-screen to verify that the user is allowed access to the electronic device or applications supported thereby. |
| US08310451B2 |
Information exchange device
An information exchange device contains the outside framework, the front panel and the back panel, a vacant space is formed inside of the outside framework. In the vacant space, a control circuit is disposed which includes a micro-control unit with the control procedure inside, a batter unit connected with the micro-control unit, a keyboard unit connected with the input of the micro-control unit, a RF unit having a two-way communication links with the micro-control unit, an antenna unit connected with the RF unit and used for receiving and sending at the working frequency of 2.45 GHz, a LCD display unit connected with the output of the micro-control unit, a near-distance RFID with a working frequency of 13.56 MHz. The information exchange device of the present invention adopts the 2.45 GHz as the working frequency and having a near-distance RFID disposed inside, as a result that the information exchange of long-distance, low-power, anti-collision achieves and the short distance RF communication achieves. |
| US08310450B2 |
Computer input apparatus
A computer input apparatus includes a keyboard and a mouse. The keyboard includes a housing, a number of input keys, and a telephone module for responding to a call or initiating a call according to a user's input. The input keys include standard keyboard keys and standard telephone keys. The mouse includes a main body, a number of buttons mounted on the main body, and a motion detecting unit for detecting motion of the mouse. The main body includes a mouse speaker configured for converting electrical signals into sound and a mouse microphone configured for converting sound into electrical signals. The buttons include a number of standard mouse buttons and an enable telephone button configured for enabling a telephone function of the mouse to answer a call. |
| US08310448B2 |
Wheel mouse
A wheel mouse includes a base, a circuit board, a scroll wheel, a wheel swing member, two tilt switches, and a mode-switching element. The wheel swing member has an extension arm. The mode-switching element has an engaging part. The mode-switching element is penetrated through the base and the circuit board and partially protruded outside the surface of the base. By moving the mode-switching element to a first position or a second position, the engaging part is engaged with or separated from the extension arm, so that the wheel mouse is selectively operated in a third-axial wheel operating mode or a tilt wheel operating mode. |
| US08310446B1 |
System for integrated coarse and fine graphical object positioning
A system for positioning a graphical object on an electronic display. A coarse positioning input control element provides a coarse position input signal and a fine positioning input control element provides a fine position input signal. A microprocessor is operatively connected to the coarse positioning input control element and the fine positioning input control element for integrating the coarse position input signal and the fine position input signal. The microprocessor output signal is provided to an electronic display. Manipulation of the coarse positioning input control element provides a rapid and coarse manual positioning of a graphical object and manipulation of the fine positioning input control element provides accurate positioning of the graphical object, thereby optimizing the efficiency for graphical object positioning on the electronic display. |
| US08310445B2 |
Remote-control system, remote-control apparatus, apparatus to be controlled, remote-control method, computer program, and storage medium
A remote-control system including a remote-control apparatus and an apparatus to be controlled that are connected to each other via a network has an input unit configured to transmit a control event used for controlling the apparatus to be controlled by the remote-control apparatus, a generation unit configured to generate a first control amount of a coordinate space displayed by the apparatus to be controlled based on a second control amount of the control event transmitted from the input unit, and a control unit configured to control the apparatus to be controlled based on the first control amount. |
| US08310444B2 |
Projected field haptic actuation
An electronic device includes a touch surface that can be physically engaged by a user. The touch surface is operably connected to an actuator arm which, in turn, is connected to an actuator array. Drive electronics sense a user's movement relative to the touch surface and, responsively, drive the actuator array effective to move the actuator arm and, in turn, provide haptic feedback to the user through the touch surface. |
| US08310442B2 |
Circuits for controlling display apparatus
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators. |
| US08310439B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving an electrophoretic display
An apparatus for driving an electrophoretic display comprising a data driver applying data voltages to a plurality of pixels where electrophoretic particles are respectively disposed includes a memory storing gray information, level information of data voltages, and application time information of the data voltage, and a signal controller, wherein the signal controller reads the gray information, the level information of the data voltage and the application time information of the data voltage stored in the memory to apply an output image signal to the data driver, again stores the updated application time information of the data voltage to the memory by counting the application time information of the data voltage, compares the gray information stored in the memory with the gray information newly input from the external device, and when the gray information stored in the memory and the gray information newly input are different from each other, again stores the level information of the data voltage and the application time information of the data voltage that are newly updated in the memory based on the gray information that is newly input. |
| US08310429B2 |
Discharge circuit and liquid crystal display using the same
An exemplary discharge circuit (220) includes a first input terminal (2202); a transistor (2204) having a gate electrode, a drain electrode, and a source electrode; a resistance (2205); and a control circuit (2203) provided to control a voltage applied to the gate electrode of the transistor. The source electrode of the transistor is connected to the first input terminal, and the drain electrode of the transistor is grounded via the resistance. Electric charge from the first input terminal is discharged through the transistor and the resistance under control of the control circuit. A liquid crystal display (LCD) (2) employing the discharge circuit exhibits few or no residual images. |
| US08310428B2 |
Display panel driving voltage output circuit
A driving voltage output circuit for a matrix display panel includes high-side voltage followers and low-side voltage followers. Each voltage follower includes a differential input stage, a control stage, and an output stage. First and second transistors in the differential input stage receive non-inverting and inverting inputs and produce first and second potentials that control the control stage. Third and fourth transistors of different channel types in the control stage are connected in a push-pull configuration between high-side and low-side power supply potentials to generate a control potential. Fifth and sixth transistors of identical channel types in the output stage are connected in series between an intermediate reference potential and one of the power supply potentials, and are controlled by the first potential and the control potential to generate an output potential. The output potential is fed back as the inverting input. |
| US08310419B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
The present invention relates to a display device and a driving method thereof. The display device includes a light emitting device, a capacitor connected between a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, a driving transistor, a switching transistor being controlled by a scanning signal to be connected between a data voltage and the first electrical contact, a first compensation transistor being controlled by a first compensation signal to be connected between the first electrical contact and a first voltage, and a second compensation transistor being controlled by a second compensation signal to be connected between the second electrical contact and a second voltage. The driving transistor includes an input terminal that is connected to a driving voltage, an output terminal that is connected to the second electrical contact, and a control terminal that is connected to the first electrical contact. |
| US08310418B2 |
Self-luminous display device and driving method of the same including a light emission interruption period during a light emission enabled period
A self-luminous display device includes: pixel circuits; and a drive circuit, wherein each of the pixel circuits includes a light-emitting diode, a drive transistor connected to a drive current channel of the light-emitting diode, and a holding capacitor coupled to a control node of the drive transistor, the drive circuit applies a light emission enabling bias to the light-emitting diode after correcting the drive transistor and writing a data voltage to the control node, provides, during a light emission enabled period in which the light emission enabling bias is applied, a light emission interruption period adapted to change the light emission enabling bias to a non-light emission bias with the data voltage held by the holding capacitor, and performs a light emission disabling process, adapted to reverse-bias the light-emitting diode to stop the light emission, for a constant period after the light emission enabled period. |
| US08310416B2 |
Method of driving pixel circuit, light-emitting apparatus, and electronic apparatus
There is provided a method of driving a pixel circuit. The method includes: performing a compensating operation of asymptotically causing the voltage across the storage capacitance to converge with a voltage corresponding to a threshold voltage of the driving transistor by applying a first reference voltage to the gate of the driving transistor, over a time duration variably set according to a gradation value designated to the pixel circuit, in a compensating period after the elapse of the resetting period; changing the voltage across the storage capacitance from a voltage set by the compensating operation to a voltage corresponding to the gradation value by applying a gradation voltage corresponding to the gradation value from a signal line to the gate of the driving transistor, in a writing period after the elapse of the compensating period. |
| US08310415B2 |
Medical devices using bistable displays
The invention relates to a novel display system for a drug delivery device that reduces power consumption and permits the user of the device to see messages when the device is not in a powered state or when the device has encountered an error condition. By using a bistable display, the medical device is able to maintain messages that can been seen by the user even when the device's power supply is exhausted or when the device has encountered an error that interrupts its normal operation. The use of such a display also improves the battery life by eliminating the need to provide power to the display screen when it is not being updated. |
| US08310412B2 |
Driving method of plasma display device
The driving method of the plasma display device has a plurality of combination sets for display that include a different number of combinations. Respective spatial differentiations of a red image signal, a green image signal, and a blue image signal are calculated. For an image signal of a large spatial differentiation, 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 small spatial differentiation. |
| US08310405B2 |
System of diversity dipole antennas
The present invention relates to a diversity antennas system comprising at least two antennas of the dipole type each formed by a first and a second conductive arm, supplied differentially wherein the two antennas comprise a common arm called first arm forming at least one cover for an electronic card and each one a second arm mounted in rotation at one extremity of the first arm. |
| US08310404B2 |
Lamp apparatus, antenna unit for lamp apparatus, communication system, and traffic signal controller
A lamp apparatus 1 includes an optical unit 2 and a patch antenna 4. The optical unit 2 includes an LED 7 and a substrate 8 having the LED 7 mounted at the front face, and a cover member 9 having visible-light transmittance, spread over the LED 7 at the front. In this optical unit 2 are stored the patch antenna 4 including a patch element 11 and a ground element 12 located at the rear of the patch element 11. |
| US08310397B2 |
System and method for effectively performing enhanced mobile-device location procedures
A system and method for effectively performing enhanced device location procedures to determine the current physical location of a mobile device includes a plurality of satellites that wirelessly transmit satellite beacon signals, a plurality of base stations that wirelessly transmit pilot signals, and a plurality of access points that wirelessly transmit access-point beacon signals. A location detector of the mobile device coordinates a device location procedure by measuring the satellite beacon signals, the pilot signals, and the access-point beacon signals to generate corresponding satellite information, base station information, and access point information. The location detector analyzes the satellite information, the base station information, and the access point information to select an optimal system configuration from the most effective satellites, base stations, and access points. The location detector then utilizes the optimal system configuration to accurately calculate the current physical location of the mobile device. |
| US08310394B2 |
Apparatus, method, manufacture, and system for sensing substitution for location-based applications
A method and apparatus for communicating over a network is provided. The method includes selecting between location-sensing methods for an LBA, such as between GPS and network triangulation. For each location-sensing method, a dynamic determination is made as to whether the accuracy of the location-sensing method, in the current environment, meets the application requirements. If two or more location-sensing methods meet the application requirements, then, location-sensing method selected is the location-sensing method that, from among the location-sensing methods that meet the application requirement, consumes the least power. Otherwise, the location-sensing method that is most accurate for the current environment is selected. |
| US08310388B2 |
Subrange analog-to-digital converter and method thereof
The configurations and adjusting method of a subrange analog-to-digital converter (ADC) are provided. The provided subrange ADC includes a X.5-bit flash ADC, a Y-bit SAR ADC and a (X+Y)-bit segmented capacitive digital-to-analog converter (DAC). |
| US08310385B2 |
Systems and methods for vector-based analog-to-digital converter sequential testing
A method for providing built-in self test (BiST) for an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) by automatic test equipment (ATE) is described. Output codes are received from the ADC. The output codes are translated to generate a functional pattern. Performance metrics are determined for the ADC using the functional pattern. The ADC may be on a device-under-test (DUT). |
| US08310384B2 |
Phase digitizing apparatus and method thereof
A phase digitizing apparatus for generating a corresponding digital value in response to a phase of an input signal is provided. The phase digitizing apparatus includes a coarse phase generator, for generating a coarse phase code according to the phase of the input signal and a first time unit; a fine phase code generator, for generating a fine phase code according to the phase of the input signal and a second time unit; and a calculating unit, for generating the digital value according to the coarse phase code and the fine phase code; wherein the first time unit is greater than the second time unit. |
| US08310378B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying prioritized photo realistic features on a synthetic vision system
An apparatus and method for displaying photo realistic features (230, 232, 234) on a display (116) of an aircraft (218) include storing (302) a plurality of photo realistic features (230, 232, 234), the photo realistic features including at least one of terrain (230) and obstacle (232) features. A priority factor is determined (304) that is based on one of, for example, aircraft type, speed, and altitude, and a plurality of display state is prioritized (304) for each of the plurality of photo realistic features (230. 232, 234) in accordance with the priority factor. One of the first and second display states is displayed (308) for each of the plurality of photo realistic features (230, 232, 234) as determined by the prioritizing step (306). |
| US08310376B2 |
Object classification method, parking assistance method, and parking assistance system
An object classification method in which a vehicle moves toward an object includes: (a) ascertaining a first characteristic quantity from the variation of a first signal received by a distance-measuring sensor; (b) ascertaining an additional characteristic quantity from the variation of a second signal received by the distance-measuring sensor; (c) ascertaining a distance traveled by the vehicle between step (a) and step (b); (d) ascertaining a predictive quantity associated with the distance ascertained in step (c); (e) comparing the predictive quantity with the additional characteristic quantity; and (f) generating an object classification signal. |
| US08310370B1 |
Smart circuit breaker with integrated energy management interface
A method, system, and apparatus for monitoring electrical safety conditions and managing energy consumption using a microcontroller embedded in a circuit breaker. The microcontroller receives a plurality of inputs detected by a plurality of sensors in the circuit breaker. An amount of energy consumed during a preset interval of time is determined. A temperature of a circuit breaker panel board detected by a temperature sensor is received and compared with a preset temperature alarm threshold value to determine a panel board overheating condition. A condition of the neutral conductor is determined based on a plurality of line voltages and currents received from a plurality of voltage and current sensors by comparing a voltage differential with a preset threshold differential voltage value. A plurality of data values derived from the plurality of sensor inputs and indicative of electrical safety conditions and energy consumption is transmitted via a secure communications link to a data processing system for translation, storage, and presentation to an energy consumer. |
| US08310368B2 |
Weight control device using bites detection
The present invention relates to a device that can be used in individual weight control protocols that is capable of detecting in real time information with regard to number of bites taken, time between bites, and so forth. The weight control device can detect bites through motion detection via a sensor worn on the wrist or hand of a user. The device can include notification capabilities that can alert a user as to excessive eating speed, excessive amounts of food intake, and the like so as to provide immediate feedback for purposes of weight control. |
| US08310366B2 |
RFID device and related method for providing assistance for locating it
A method of providing assistance for locating a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device is provided. The RFID device preferably comprises a power source having a power level and a feedback device. The method comprises determining the power level of the power source is below a first predetermined power level, and transmitting a first signal that indicates the power level of the power source is below the first predetermined power level. Thereafter, the method comprises receiving a second signal that instructs the RFID device to activate the feedback device, and operating the feedback device in response to receiving the second signal. |
| US08310362B2 |
Method and apparatus to receive location information in a diversity enabled receiver
A method of processing location information on a mobile device which includes a primary receiver for receiving a primary signal; a diversity receiver for receiving a diversity signal or location information; a diversity combiner which can combine primary and diversity signals to form a combined signal; and a first processing unit for processing the combined signal; the method comprising the steps of: identifying whether the device is in a location mode or a diversity mode; if the device is in location mode, disabling the diversity combiner; passing the output from the primary receiver directly to the first processing unit; and passing location information from the diversity receiver to a location processing unit. |
| US08310361B1 |
Creating and monitoring alerts for a geographical area
A geographical alert system creates an alert for a user-defined geographical area, detects a change to a feature stored in a map-related database, identifies whether the changed feature falls within the user-defined geographical area, and sends a notification to a user when the changed feature of the map-related database falls within the user-defined geographical area. To set up a geographical alert, an alert editor retrieves map data from a map-related database via an alert engine and displays the map data in a visual display to a user. The user then selects a geographical area that the system will automatically monitor for changes. The user may also specify a feature type, and an alert notification type for the alert. The alert engine then processes the user-specified geographical area into geographical area data and stores an alert and its corresponding geographical area data, feature type, and alert notification type in an alert database. When a change in the map-related database is detected, the alert engine obtains the geographic coordinate point data associated with the change and determines whether the geographical coordinate point data associated with the change falls within the geographical area of the stored alert in the alert database and if so, determines if the feature of the changed feature matches the feature of the stored alert. If the feature and geographical coordinate point data of the change corresponds to the feature and geographical area data of the stored alert, then the alert engine transmits an alert to the user using the alert notification type attributes of the stored alert. |
| US08310359B2 |
Wireless sensor networks
A wireless sensor network having mobile sensors (64, 65) is provided with a mobile sink (70). To re-position the sink, candidate sink positions are found using information from the sensors. The candidate sink locations are then assessed to give a measure of their suitability to act as the new permanent position. To do this, the sink moves to each of the candidate positions in turn and obtains data and/or signals from the sensors (64, 65) within range to estimate a total throughput expected if the sink is located at that position. The sink then transfers to the most suitable candidate position permanently, until the dynamic repositioning process is triggered again. In this way it is possible to achieve a better performance than if only the center of gravity of the sink range is taken into account to position the sink. In the second embodiment, sensors are allowed to have their say in future positioning of the sink; this involves providing a capability for the sensor that makes it possible to consider both distance from the sink and the remaining battery power to come up with the best desired maximum information rate. In effect, the sensors and sink make a collective decision on the future location of the sink. |
| US08310355B2 |
Vehicular collision warning system
A vehicular collision warning system comprises at least one image capture device capturing images of blind spots, a processing unit receiving the images of blind spots from the image capture device, and at least one alert device. The processing unit identifies at least one barrier from the images and calculates the speed and transverse displacement of the barrier according to the positional change with respect to time. The processing unit presets at least one attention area on the image, estimates whether the barrier will appear in the attention area, sends out an alert-triggering signal to trigger the alert devices to generate sound, light, or pictures to warn the driver early. Cooperating with the speed sensor, brake system and turn light system, the vehicular collision warning system can trigger different alert signals according to the grading of danger to actively warn the driver early. |
| US08310350B2 |
Mounting apparatus for a haptic surface
A haptic system including a compliant member which limits the direction of motion of an interface surface providing haptic feedback to motion along a single axis. The compliant member allows for easy assembly, reduced ports, lighter weight and improved longevity and performance. The compliant member typically has a longitudinal extent that is greater than its lateral extent and height, and its height is greater than its lateral extent. |
| US08310349B2 |
Haptic surface with mechanical buttons
A haptic system including a plurality of mechanical buttons driven by a single haptic feedback driver. The mechanical buttons are integrated within the haptic surface and are configured to move with the haptic interface relative to said base. The haptic surface may include a touch screen interface. |
| US08310347B2 |
Incrementing counter with extended write endurance
A method and device for writing a binary count of a length n to a memory having a limited number of write cycles, a physical storage location of bits (R-bits) of the count in the memory are periodically changed, fixed bits of the count are stored at fixed physical storage locations, and a bit value pattern of the fixed bits is used as an indicator for the physical storage locations of the changing bits (R-bits). |
| US08310346B2 |
Verification of movement of items
Apparatus and system for verifying a route taken during movement of an RFID tag, comprising a trusted platform module; sealed storage (80) comprising one or more stores (50, 52) for storing a public key (64), a private key (68) and a policy (62); and processors arranged to: receive data (60) read-out from the RFID tag (4) and comprising an RFID tag identity and an encrypted signature (9); use the public key (64) to decrypt the encrypted signature (9); verify that the decrypted signature (9) corresponds to a first entity from which, according to the policy (62), a second entity is authorised to receive the given RFID tag (4); use the private key (68) to provide an encrypted signature (9); and forward data comprising the encrypted signature (9) to an RFID tag writer (22). |
| US08310332B2 |
High current amorphous powder core inductor
A magnetic component and a method of manufacturing the same. The method comprises the steps of providing at least one shaped-core fabricated from an amorphous powder material, coupling at least a portion of at least one winding to the at least one shaped-core, and pressing the at least one shaped-core with at least a portion of the at least one winding. The magnetic component comprises at least one shaped-core fabricated from an amorphous powder material and at least a portion of at least one winding coupled to the at least one shaped-core, wherein the at least one shaped-core is pressed to at least a portion of the at least one winding. The winding may be preformed, semi-preformed, or non-preformed and may include, but is not limited to, a clip or a coil. The amorphous powder material may be an iron-based or cobalt-based amorphous powder material or a nanoamorphous powder material. |
| US08310326B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting displacement current in an energy transfer element
Example methods include calculating a first number of turns of a shield winding included in an energy transfer element of a power supply. A first number of turns of the shield winding is calculated for the power supply to have a low noise current in an input conductor of the power supply. The method then includes increasing the first number of turns to a second number of turns. The power supply is then operated, which generates a first voltage waveform of a voltage between the input conductor and an output conductor of the power supply. An impedance is then inserted between the shield winding and the input conductor. The noise current is reduced by adjusting a value of the impedance until a second voltage waveform of the voltage between the input conductor and the output conductor reverses polarity to be the opposite of a polarity of the first voltage waveform. |
| US08310322B2 |
Solenoid actuator with an integrated mechanical locking and unlocking fixture
Electric Solenoid Actuators are used in a wide range of industries that require the combination of electrical, electromagnetic and mechanical apparatus and systems to activate or de-activate a device, automatically, or semi-automatically. Solenoid actuators are used in a variety of applications ranging from valve controls, electrical switch controls or contactors, or other electrical, electronic, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical systems and/or combinations thereof. Electric solenoid actuators are preferred from pneumatic and hydraulic actuators for many practical reasons. There are disadvantages with the use of electrical solenoids and this may include the limitation of motion as well as the limited force which is dictated by the strength of the electromagnet developed by the armature. The solenoid actuator of this disclosure operates on either AC or DC power supply depending on the coil and armature design which is dictated by the force required for specific applications and the type of power supply available. |
| US08310321B2 |
Tunable filter including a variable capacitor connected with a surface acoustic wave resonator
A tunable filter includes a circuit configuration in which variable capacitors are connected with surface acoustic wave resonators. The surface acoustic wave resonators each include a piezoelectric substrate made of LiTaO3 or LiNbO3, an IDT electrode made of an electrode material filled in a recess in an upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, and a SiO2 film arranged to cover the piezoelectric substrate. |
| US08310320B2 |
Magnetic nano-resonator
A nano-resonator device comprising at least one fixed element and at least one mobile element with respect to the fixed element, first electromagnetic means, integrated or fixed on the fixed element, and second electromagnetic means, integrated or fixed on the mobile element, to generate an oscillating movement of the mobile element. |
| US08310319B2 |
Pulse width modulator with two-way integrator
An example two-way integrator includes a first current source, a second current source, a first offset current source, a second offset current source, a capacitor, a switching reference and a comparator. The capacitor integrates a sum of a first input current and a first offset current by charging with both the first current source and the first offset current source. The capacitor subsequently integrates a sum of the second input current and the second offset current by discharging with both the second current source and the second offset current source. The switching reference outputs a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage responsive to pulses of a pulse signal. The comparator is coupled to compare the switching reference with a voltage on the capacitor. |