| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08340303B2 |
Method and apparatus to generate spatial stereo sound
A method of processing a 2-channel stereo sound signal into a spatial stereo sound includes generating stereo signals of first and second channels from a first input channel signal and a second input channel signal by applying a time difference of times taken for each channel signal to arrive at two ears, and a sound pressure difference formed between the two ears and varying with respect to a frequency band or constant, to each of the first and second input channel signals, generating a center channel of the first and second channel by adding the first and second input channel signals, generating a surround signal of the first channel by subtracting one of the first and second input channel signals, from the other one of the first and second input channel signals, and generating a surround signal of the second channel by making the surround signal of the first channel out of phase, generating a plurality of reflected sounds from the generated surround signals, and applying the time difference and the sound pressure difference to each reflected sound, processing reflected signals of the first and second channels from the reflected sounds, and adding the generated signals of the first channel and adding the generated signals of the second channel. |
| US08340302B2 |
Parametric representation of spatial audio
In summary, this application describes a psycho-acoustically motivated, parametric description of the spatial attributes of multichannel audio signals. This parametric description allows strong bitrate reductions in audio coders, since only one monaural signal has to be transmitted, combined with (quantized) parameters which describe the spatial properties of the signal. The decoder can form the original amount of audio channels by applying the spatial parameters. For near-CD-quality stereo audio, a bitrate associated with these spatial parameters of 10 kbit/s or less seems sufficient to reproduce the correct spatial impression at the receiving end. |
| US08340300B2 |
Non-disruptive authentication administration
A configurable timer may be used for seamless authentication administration. A network administrator may set the timer value. Then the network administrator may begin to update the authentication configuration or key and the timer may begin to count down. While the timer counts down, the network device may still send outgoing packets using the old authentication configuration or key and may begin to authenticate incoming packets using both the old authentication configuration or key and the new authentication configuration or key. Once it expires, the network device may begin to send outgoing packets using just the new authentication configuration or key. The counter may then be reset and counted down again. Once the counter expires a second time, the new authentication configuration or key may be used for both incoming and outgoing packets. Two-timer implementations are also possible. |
| US08340296B2 |
Method and system for registering and verifying smart card certificate for users moving between public key infrastructure domains
Disclosed herein is a method and system for registering and verifying a smart card certificate for users moving between public key infrastructure domains, which allows a user moving between domains to have a smart card certified in a terminal located in an external domain other than a home domain. According to the present invention, when a user wants his/her own smart card to be certified in a terminal of an external domain, a certification authority of the external domain can certify the smart card using a certificate stored in the smart card and signed electronically by a certification authority of a home domain. Additionally, a new certificate issued by the certification authority of the external domain is stored in the certified smart card, so that a certificate of the moving user can be verified regardless of domains and a new certificate of a moved domain can be easily obtained. |
| US08340292B1 |
Lawful intercept management by an authorization system
An authorization system in a home wireless network comprises a communication interface and a processing system, wherein a wireless communication device associated with the home wireless network transfers a request to a visited wireless network for access to an internet. The communication interface is configured to receive an authorization request for the wireless communication device transmitted from the visited wireless network. The processing system is configured to select a visited internet connection for the wireless communication device and determine whether a lawful intercept is required. The processing system is further configured to include an intercept attribute in an authorization response indicating a destination for collecting intercepted information pursuant to the lawful intercept. The communication interface is configured to transfer the authorization response for delivery to the visited wireless network, wherein the visited wireless network provides the access to the internet in response to the authorization response and transfers the intercepted information for delivery to the destination. |
| US08340284B2 |
Key generation device, key derivation device, encryption device, decryption device, method and program
A key generation device (900) receives therein a public key (901) including a hierarchical element (902), a master key (903) including a secret hierarchical element (911), an identity θ (904), and a random number (905). The key generation device (900) generates two random number elements (906a, 906b) from the random number (905), and generates a secret key (908) including an element obtained by raising the secret hierarchical element (911) to a power of the two random numbers. |
| US08340279B2 |
Interference cancellation system
An adaptive interference cancellation system is described. In one example the system operates by receiving a data signal using a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and receiving a reference signal, the reference signal corresponding, in part, to noise on the data signal. The reference signal is classified and a noise cancellation signal is applied to the data signal based on the classification. |
| US08340268B2 |
Method and system for providing a user interface to a portable communication device for controlling a conferencing session
A conferencing system for an enterprise is disclosed. The conferencing system allows a conferencing session conducted on a conferencing device within a premises to be controlled from a portable communication device. The system provides a generic user interface to the portable communication device for controlling the conferencing session. Commands for controlling the conferencing session are entered on the portable communication device and signaled to the conferencing device. |
| US08340266B2 |
Online reporting tool for conferencing customers
Embodiments consistent with the present invention provide an integrated system for conferencing services reporting to support customer billing needs. Systems consistent with the present invention enable a customer to retrieve and use integrated usage data, including data for unbilled conferencing services. Furthermore, systems consistent with the present invention provide an integrated account management interface to enable a customer to retrieve and use account information in real time and to manage a conferencing services account with ease. Still further, systems consistent with the present invention enable a customer to establish multiple levels of security to easily manage multiple users with multiple information needs and responsibilities. Systems consistent with the present invention also provide tools to analyze and track moderator conferencing schedules to enhance accurate timekeeping and billing. |
| US08340265B2 |
System for processing recorded messages
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network element operating in a communication system having a controller element to receive from an initiating party a message directed to a subscriber of the communication system, receive from the subscriber a request to present the message, identify the initiating party supplying the message, transmit the identity of the initiating party to a telephone number mapping (ENUM) system with a request for a communication ID of a presence system that monitors the initiating party, transmit to the presence system according to the communication ID a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) SUBSCRIBE message requesting presence information of the initiating party, and present the subscriber one or more options to communicate with the initiating party according to the presence information received in a SIP NOTIFY message supplied by the presence system. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08340263B2 |
System and method for incremental do-not-disturb
A system and method for incremental do-not-disturb. User input is received to activate the incremental do-not-disturb. The incremental do-not-disturb is activated for a time period in response to receiving the user input to activate the incremental do-not-disturb. The incoming calls are diverted during the time period in response to activating the incremental do-not-disturb. |
| US08340261B2 |
Method and apparatus for ubiquitous access to dialing plans for enterprise networks
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for providing at least one network endpoint of an enterprise customer network access to at least one dialing plan. Specifically, the method comprises receiving at least one dialing plan request from the at least one network endpoint, retrieving at least one address mapping in response to the at least one dialing plan request, and responding to the at least one dialing plan request using the at least one address mapping. |
| US08340260B1 |
Inmate management and call processing systems and methods
Disclosed are systems and methods that provide centralized or nodal inmate management and telephone call processing capabilities to controlled environment facilities. An inmate management and call processing system serves a plurality of facilities and includes an inmate information database. The database is shared across the facilities and contains inmate records that may be accessed and modified by each facility as the inmate is transferred among those facilities. Each inmate record may include, among other information, contact information of third parties whom may be notified of the inmate's arrest and/or subsequent transfers of the inmate to different facilities. The inmate management and telephone call processing system may use third party contact information to establish accounts used to charge calls or transactions made by an inmate while residing at the facility. Some systems may also provide call processing, video conferencing, e-mail, voicemail, and/or videomail applications, and the like to the facilities. |
| US08340259B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing fraud detection using hot or cold originating attributes
An approach provides fraud detection in support of data communication services. A list of single-event attributes (e.g., hot or cold attributes) is generated and includes a network address of an end user host originating a data call or a calling party identification (e.g., Automatic Number Identification (ANI) or an originating Calling Line Identification (CLI)) for network access, wherein entries of the list specify values of the hot attributes. An attribute value associated with the data call is compared with the entries. A fraud alert is generated if the attribute value matches one of the entries. |
| US08340256B2 |
Method for minimizing message collision in a device
A method for minimizing message collision in a device is presented. Two or more overlapping real-time streaming simplex audio messages are received. One of the audio messages is forwarded to be reproduced while the other is stored. Forwarding of the delayed audio message is delayed such that overlapping reproduction of the audio messages is minimized. Reproduction is delayed until a predetermined clock time expires or is dependent on one or more of: the length of the second audio message or the amount of overlap of the first and second audio messages. |
| US08340250B2 |
System and method for generating X-rays
In one embodiment, an X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube comprises at least one thermionic cathode configured to generate an electron beam, a target assembly configured to generate X-rays when impinged with the electron beam emitted from the thermionic cathode, a high voltage supply unit for establishing an output voltage across the thermionic cathode and the target assembly for establishing an accelerating electric field between the thermionic cathode and the target assembly and a mesh grid disposed between the thermionic cathode and the target assembly, the mesh grid configured to operate at a voltage so as to lower the electric field applied at the surface of the thermionic cathode. Further, the voltage at the mesh grid is negatively biased with respect to the voltage at the thermionic cathode. |
| US08340246B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus and method for reducing X-ray scattering
An X-ray imaging apparatus and method for reducing X-ray scattering are provided. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray source, a collimator, a detector, and a controller. The X-ray source emits X-rays, the collimator collimates the X-rays into an X-ray beam, and the detector may include a two-dimensional array of pixels. The controller controls the collimator such that the X-ray beam scans a subject while moving over time. In addition, the controller operates the detector to only operate pixels at an exposure area of the detector where the X-ray beam arrives without scattering such that photocharges generated due to the X-ray exposure can be accumulated and stored in the pixels. |
| US08340242B2 |
Device to transfer high frequency electrical signals between a rotating component and a stationary component
A device for the transfer of high frequency electrical signals between a rotating component and a stationary component, in particular for use in a CT system, in particular in a gantry of a CT system has a rotor, a stator; at least one brush attached at the stator, with a number of electrically conductive fibers that establish sliding contact with the rotor, and a slideway arranged to the side of the rotor and facing toward the stator. The fibers of the at least one stator-side brush rest on the slideway. A lubricant is provided on the slideway, a rotor has a capture device for the lubricant that is arranged around the outside of the slideway, and at least one return element for the captured lubricant is attached at the stator. |
| US08340238B2 |
Receiving device for receiving time-multiplexed signals, transmitting system, and method for time synchronization of time-multiplexed signals
In a receiving device for receiving a time-multiplexed signal on one carrier frequency and for reading out a content datum of a further time-multiplexed signal on a further carrier frequency, a receiving unit and a context changing unit are provided in order to change, for the duration of a data symbol in the frame of the time-multiplexed signal of the carrier frequency, to reception of the further time-multiplexed signal on the further carrier frequency, in order to receive a data symbol of the further time-multiplexed signal. |
| US08340227B2 |
Techniques to improve digital demodulator performance utilizing automatic gain control target adjustment
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a digital demodulator including an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit with a self-adapting target to provide optimum performance under all signal conditions. |
| US08340226B2 |
Multiantenna receiving device
A multiantenna receiving device is provided to make it possible to cope with both improvement in error rate characteristic and simplification in structure. The multiantenna receiving device is comprised of soft judgement output units for carrying out a soft judgement of a modulation signal in accordance with signal point distances between a plurality of candidate signal points with respect to a plurality of multiplexed modulation signals and a receiving signal, decoding units for obtaining digital data of the modulation signals by using the judged results obtained by the soft judgement output units, and signal point decreasing units for decreasing the number of the candidate signal points used in the soft judgement output units by recursively using a part of the digital data except self-modulation signals obtained by the decoding units. |
| US08340225B2 |
System and method for performing blind IQ-imbalance estimation and compensation
An IQ-imbalance of a complex receiver can be corrected by compensating the in-phase signal component and the quadrature-phase signal component produced by the complex receiver for an IQ-imbalance estimated by analyzing the in-phase signal component and the quadrature-phase signal component. A carrier signal can be received at the complex receiver. An in-phase signal component and a quadrature-phase signal component can be generated from the carrier signal. The generated in-phase signal component and the generated quadrature-phase signal component can be analyzed to estimate an IQ-imbalance. Based on the estimated IQ-imbalance, the in-phase signal component and quadrature-phase signal component can be compensated to correct the IQ-imbalance. |
| US08340222B2 |
Parameter and scattered pilot based symbol timing recovery
Methods and systems to resolve the cyclic time ambiguity of a scattered pilot based channel impulse response, including to determine a channel impulse response from a combination of scattered pilots and encoded parameters, such as L1-pre signaling within P2 symbols of a terrestrial digital video broadcast (DVD) in a single frequency network (SFN), and including to re-use a corresponding window time to track the channel impulse response in the absence of encoded parameters. Methods and systems disclosed herein may be implemented with respect to channel acquisition and tracking, including adjusting a Fast Fourier Transform trigger point to reduce inter-symbol interference. |
| US08340210B2 |
Apparatus and method for crest factor reduction architecture
A device and a method for crest factor reduction reduces peak-to-average ratio (PAR) to increase power amplifier efficiency. A first hard clipping block performs hard clipping on an input signal when the amplitude of the input signal is greater than a first threshold. A shaping filter reshapes the spectrum of the hard clipped signal. An interpolator increases the sampling rate of the reshaped signal. A second hard clipping block performs hard clipping on the interpolated signal when the amplitude of the interpolated signal is greater than a second threshold. |
| US08340209B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing high efficiency cartesian modulation
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for providing efficient signal transmission. Conventional linear amplifiers are most efficient when operated in compressed mode. In the compressed mode, the digital power amplifier switches between the on and off modes. A digital power amplifier operates in compressed mode only if the incoming signal is an on-off constant envelop signal. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a method and apparatus for converting a digital baseband signal to on-off constant envelop signals for processing through binary-weighted or thermometer-weighted amplifier which are operated in compressed mode. |
| US08340208B2 |
Information processing device and signal processing method
An information processing device is provided that includes a signal receiving portion, an absolute value conversion portion, and an input data decoding portion. The signal receiving portion receives a signal that is encoded such that mutually distinct first and second bit values are respectively expressed by pluralities of mutually distinct first amplitude values and second amplitude values, the first and second bit values also being encoded such that the same amplitude value does not occur twice in succession and such that the polarities of the amplitude values are inverted with each cycle. The absolute value conversion portion converts into absolute values the amplitude values of the signal that has been received by the signal receiving portion. The input data decoding portion decodes the first and second bit values based on the amplitude values in the signal that have been converted into absolute values by the absolute value conversion portion. |
| US08340202B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient soft modulation for gray-mapped QAM symbols
In one aspect, the present invention greatly simplifies soft modulation calculations, in part by exploiting certain properties of Gray-mapped QAM constellations used in modulating symbols of interest. In at least one embodiment, the simplified processing includes performing the soft modulation separately for the real and imaginary parts of each symbol of interest, by using the Gray mapping to decompose each of the real and imaginary parts into binary soft modulations for each bit, and then using a computationally-efficient table lookup to calculate the binary soft modulation. Here, the look-up table comprises pre-computed bit contributions to the complex soft symbol value to be formed for the symbol of interest. |
| US08340199B2 |
8-transmit antenna reference signal design for downlink communications in a wireless system
Systems and methods are disclosed for mapping reference signals for antenna ports in a plurality of resource blocks among resource blocks in a subframe within an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system. This method includes selecting at least one predetermined resource elements for transmitting in the plurality of resource blocks using a first number of antenna ports. This method also includes selecting a second number of antenna ports and mapping a plurality of reference signals relating to the second number of antenna ports using a second number of OFDM symbols. |
| US08340196B2 |
Video motion menu generation in a low memory environment
A method of generating a motion menu in a low memory environment. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a plurality of encoded streams in a buffer by encoding a fixed duration from each of a plurality of title streams received in a video program, (B) generating a plurality of thumbnails frames in the buffer by decoding each of the encoded streams and (C) generating the motion menu in the buffer by combining one of the thumbnail frames from each respective one of the encoded streams into a respective one of plurality of menu frames such that a sequential display the menu frames appears as a plurality of thumbnails having dynamic content in the motion menu. |
| US08340194B2 |
High-yield multi-threading method and apparatus for video encoders/transcoders/decoders with dynamic video reordering and multi-level video coding dependency management
Disclosed is an exemplary video coder and video coding method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The exemplary video coder includes a scheduler, a plurality of processors and a multiplexer. The scheduler can examine processing units in an input buffer to determine an order for the processing unit to be coded by a processor. If the processing unit under examination depends on a processing unit not yet processed, the processing unit under examination can be merged with other processing units, if any, that share a similar dependency. If the processing unit under examination does not depend on any processing units not yet processed, it can be sent to a next available processor for coding. When a processing unit is sent to a processor, any merged processing units that depend on sent processing unit can also be sent to a next available processor. |
| US08340193B2 |
Wyner-Ziv and wavelet video coding
Wyner-Ziv and wavelet video coding is described. In one aspect, Wyner-Ziv frames from multiple frames of source video content are zero-tree entropy encoded to generate encoded Wyner-Ziv content. The zero-tree entropy encoding operations are based on high-order statistical correlations among wavelet transforms from the Wyner-Ziv frames. The encoded Wyner-Ziv content is communicated to a decoder for decoding to generate reconstructed Wyner-Ziv frames for presentation to a user. |
| US08340191B2 |
Transcoder from first MPEG stream to second MPEG stream
A system is configured to transcode a first MPEG stream to a second MPEG stream. The system includes a first MPEG decoder capable of decoding the first MPEG stream and a second MPEG encoder capable of producing the second MPEG stream. The second MPEG encoder is configured to maintain a decoded picture type of I, P, or B. The second MPEG encoder is also configured to maintain a decoded picture structure of frame or field, identify a metadata per each macroblock (MB) of an MB pair of the first MPEG stream, and determine whether to re-encode the MB into the second MPEG stream using one of a frame or a field mode based on the identified metadata. The second MPEG encoder is further configured to re-encode the MB pair into the second MPEG stream using one of the frame or the field mode based on the identified metadata. |
| US08340190B2 |
Moving picture encoding method and decoding method
A moving picture decoding method including a prediction mode, including: in said prediction mode, in which prediction mode motion vector information of a current block in a current frame is not transmitted from an encoding side; selecting, from among multiple candidate reference frames, a frame(s) to be referenced to in the prediction mode; determining motion vector information to be used in the prediction mode, and performing prediction processing using the selected reference frame and the determined motion vector, wherein when candidate blocks within a current frame and adjacent to a current block include blocks that use forward reference frames and blocks that use backward reference frames, a forward reference frame having a smallest index number is selected as the forward reference frame for the current block from the forward reference frames that said blocks using the forward reference frames have, and a backward reference frame having a smallest index number is selected as the backward reference frame for the current block from the backward reference frames that said blocks using the backward reference frames have. |
| US08340184B2 |
Motion vector encoding device and decoding device
A prediction error generating unit generates a predictive vector from the motion vectors of a plurality of adjacent blocks, and obtains a difference from a target vector. A plurality of variable-length coding units respectively encode the output of the prediction error generating unit with different encoding methods. A determining unit estimates the accuracy of the predictive vector generated by the prediction error generating unit based on the degrees of non-uniformity of the motion vectors of the plurality of adjacent blocks. A selecting unit selects one of the encoding results obtained by the plurality of variable-length coding units. |
| US08340181B2 |
Video coding and decoding methods with hierarchical temporal filtering structure, and apparatus for the same
A method and apparatus for video coding and decoding with hierarchical temporal filtering structure are disclosed. A video encoding method in a temporal level having a hierarchical temporal filtering structure, includes generating prediction frames from two or more reference frames that temporally precede the current frame; generating a residual frame by subtracting the prediction frames from the current frame; and encoding and transmitting the residual frame. |
| US08340180B2 |
Camera coupled reference frame
Techniques are provided for managing long-term reference frames (LTRFs) for two or more video sources. A first video source is selected from a plurality of video sources. The first video source is encoded to produce an encoded video stream, where a reference frame message identifies a recent video frame as long-term reference frame (LTRF) associated with the first video stream. The process is repeated for other video streams. The LTRF associated with the first video stream is used as a reference for temporal predictive coding upon receiving a signal that the first video source has been re-selected. |
| US08340179B2 |
Methods and devices for coding and decoding moving images, a telecommunication system comprising such a device and a program implementing such a method
The method of scalable coding of moving images using at least one reference image for at least one image to code, comprises, at least on passing, for a so-called “current” image, from an initial quality level to an intended quality level different from the initial quality level: a step (705) of coding the current image as far as the intended quality level to provide a coded current image, a step (710) of reconstructing the current image at the intended quality level to provide a reconstructed current image of intended quality level, a step (715) of obtaining at least one reference image of the current image at the initial quality level, to provide a prediction image for the initial quality level, a step (720, 725) of determining a differential texture refinement depending on the prediction image for the initial quality level and on the reconstructed current image of intended quality level and a step (730) of coding the differential texture refinement. |
| US08340171B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving communication system performance in Tomlinson Harashima Precoding (THP) mode with a zero edge filter
An improved Tomlinson Harashima Precoding (THP) communication system through special configuration of its feedback coefficients is disclosed. Improvement, in terms of THP system robustness against analog-to-digital (ADC) sampling phase variation, is achieved either by deriving feedback coefficients of the Decision Feedback Equalizer at worst ADC sampling phase or by inserting a Zero Edge Filter (ZEF) at the receiver. The ZEF modifies the communication system such that the feedback filter coefficients derived in the Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) mode and later used in the THP mode is capable to compensate the zero at Nyquist Frequency due to a non-optimum sampling, phase of the ADC. The THP communication system, modified and improved with the insertion of ZEF, is operable to switch from an adaptive Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) mode to a THP mode having an adaptive Linear Equalizer (LE) at the receiver. |
| US08340167B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring and correcting receiver parameters
A method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a receiver having a mixer for generating an I signal and a Q signal using an input signal, an I channel circuit for processing the I signal, and a Q channel circuit for processing the Q signal. The method includes feeding the receiver a first testing signal before the mixer. The method includes feeding the receiver a second testing signal on the I channel circuit. The method includes feeding the receiver a third testing signal on the Q channel circuit. The method includes measuring I/Q quadrature deviation and I/Q delay imbalance of the receiver using the first, the second, and the third testing signals. This separates the I/Q quadrature deviation and I/Q delay imbalance. |
| US08340165B2 |
Method and system for analyzing error probability of communication system using Gaussian Q function
Provided is a method and system for calculating a bivariate Gaussian Q function using a univariate Gaussian Q function to thereby analyze an error probability of a communication system. A method of calculating an error probability of a communication system may include: receiving encoded communication information from another communication system; restoring information desired to be transmitted by another user by decoding the encoded communication system; and calculating the error probability by analyzing the restored information using a bivariate Gaussian Q function, the error probability indicating a probability that the restored information is different from the information desired to be transmitted by the other user. The calculating may include calculating the bivariate Gaussian Q function using a univariate Gaussian Q function. |
| US08340164B2 |
Evaluation of the feedback quality in communications systems
A measuring system is used for testing a feedback signal transmitted by a communications device within a communications system. The measuring system comprises an antenna system and a measuring device. The measuring device transmits a signal to a communications device via the air interface and the antenna system. The communications device receives the signal and generates a feedback signal dependent upon transmission conditions of the signal, which it has determined, and transmits it to the measuring device. The measuring device measures the actual reception quality of the signal in the communications device. |
| US08340160B2 |
Dynamic combining threshold for a rake receiver
Described is a method that includes receiving a signal through a channel; considering at least one channel-related criterion and, in response to the considered at least one channel-related criterion, setting a value of an adaptive combining threshold for a maximum ratio combiner that receives the outputs of a plurality of fingers of a rake receiver. |
| US08340152B2 |
Spread spectrum clocking with transmitted modulation
An electronic system having a spread spectrum clock is disclosed. A spread spectrum clock source creates and transmits both a spread spectrum clock signal and a modulation signal. A spread spectrum clock generator uses a modulation waveform on the modulation signal to frequency modulate a reference oscillator frequency. A logic unit comprises a Phase Locked Loop that receives the spread spectrum clock signal and the modulation signal and generates a logic unit clock signal. |
| US08340151B2 |
V-shaped resonators for addition of broad-area laser diode arrays
A system and method for addition of broad-area semiconductor laser diode arrays are described. The system can include an array of laser diodes, a V-shaped external cavity, and grating systems to provide feedback for phase-locking of the laser diode array. A V-shaped mirror used to couple the laser diode emissions along two optical paths can be a V-shaped prism mirror, a V-shaped stepped mirror or include multiple V-shaped micro-mirrors. The V-shaped external cavity can be a ring cavity. The system can include an external injection laser to further improve coherence and phase-locking. |
| US08340150B2 |
High-power, phase-locked, laser arrays
High-power, phased-locked, laser arrays as disclosed herein utilize a system of optical elements that may be external to the laser oscillator array. Such an external optical system may achieve mutually coherent operation of all the emitters in a laser array, and coherent combination of the output of all the lasers in the array into a single beam. Such an “external gain harness” system may include: an optical lens/mirror system that mixes the output of all the emitters in the array; a holographic optical element that combines the output of all the lasers in the array, and an output coupler that selects a single path for the combined output and also selects a common operating frequency for all the coupled gain regions. |
| US08340149B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes, a lower DBR layer; an upper DBR layer; an active layer existing between the lower DBR layer and the upper DBR layer; and a laser emitting region provided on a surface layer of the upper DBR layer, in which the upper DBR layer includes a doped first semiconductor multilayer film layer and an undoped second semiconductor multilayer film layer; an electrode provided on the upper DBR layer is formed in a region which is on an upper part of the first semiconductor multilayer film layer and is surrounded by the second semiconductor multilayer film layer; the laser emitting region is formed on a surface layer of the second semiconductor multilayer film layer; and the surface layer of the first semiconductor multilayer film layer is formed by a contact layer and the second semiconductor multilayer film layer is stacked on the contact layer. |
| US08340147B2 |
Laser diode
A laser diode includes an n-type semiconductor region, a p-type semiconductor region, a semiconductor mesa provided between the n-type semiconductor region and the p-type semiconductor region, the semiconductor mesa including an active layer, and a semiconductor burying region located between the n-type semiconductor region and the p-type semiconductor region, the semiconductor burying region being provided on a side face of the semiconductor mesa. The semiconductor burying region includes an n-type semiconductor burying layer and a p-type semiconductor burying layer. The n-type semiconductor burying layer is provided between the p-type semiconductor region and the p-type semiconductor burying layer. The p-type semiconductor burying layer is doped with an element that forms an electron trapping level in the band gap of the p-type semiconductor burying layer. |
| US08340144B1 |
Compression mount for semiconductor devices, and method
A mount for semiconductor laser devices comprises thermally conductive anode and cathode blocks on either side of a semiconductor laser device such as a laser diode. Interposed between at least the anode block and the anode of the semiconductor laser device is a sheet of conformable material with high thermal conductivity such as pyrolytic highly-oriented graphite. In some embodiments, a second sheet of such thermally conductive conformable material is interposed between the cathode of the semiconductor laser device and the cathode block. The semiconductor laser device can be either a single laser diode or a diode bar having a plurality of emitters. A thermally conductive, but electrically insulating, spacer of essentially the same thickness as the laser diode or bar surrounds the diode or bar to prevent mechanical damage while still permitting the conformable material to be maintained in a compressed state. |
| US08340143B2 |
Passively mode-locked picosecond laser device
A passively mode-locked picosecond laser device comprising a pump source, a laser crystal, a laser cavity, a mode-locked output structure is provided. In the device, the pump source is placed at the side of the incident end surface of the laser crystal; the laser cavity includes a plane reflective mirror and a first plano-concave mirror, the reflective mirror is placed opposite to the concave surface of the plano-concave mirror and located on the position of the focal radius of the plano-concave mirror. The normal direction of the reflective mirror and the axis of the plano-concave mirror form a small angle therebetween; the laser generated from the laser crystal oscillates in the laser cavity, and output through the mode-locked output structure. The device uses a stable cavity design of the equivalent confocal cavity, which can increase the optical path, reduce the repetition frequency, and significantly reduce the cavity length and volume. |
| US08340142B2 |
Pulsed microchip laser
The invention relates to a passively triggered microchip laser (1) formed by a cavity closed by an input mirror (4) and an output mirror (5), characterized in that the cavity includes deflection means (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) designed to deflect a light beam (14) between the input mirror (4) and the output mirror (5). |
| US08340137B2 |
Segmented and overlapped skew tracking method for SERDES frame interface level 5
A method and device for performing skew detection on data transmitted over a data channel and a high speed optical communication interface including the device are disclosed, wherein data of a reference frame over a reference channel is composed sequentially of a reference data segment with a length of Umax over each of data channels to be subject to skew detection. The method includes: S1) performing the following on one frame of data transmitted over one data channel in a period of one frame: a) dividing the frame of data into a plurality of data blocks according to the maximum allowable skew detection range Rmax; b) dividing each of the data blocks into a plurality of segments each with the length of Umax; c) serially comparing each of the segments in the respective data blocks with the corresponding reference data segment, respectively, to derive skew detection results of all the segments in the respective data blocks; and d) for each of the data blocks, selecting the skew detection result of one of all the segments in the data block as a skew detection result of the data block; and S2) selecting a skew detection result with the maximum skew from among the skew detection results of all the data blocks as a skew detection result of the frame of data. |
| US08340134B1 |
Method and system for controlling count information in generic mapping procedure
A method of communicating count value information in an Optical Transport Network (OTN) signal frame. The method comprises determining a count value indicating a number of payload bytes to be sent in a next OTN signal frame; determining that a change in the count value (Δ) with respect to a current count value is within a predetermined range; selecting an inversion pattern indicating the change in the count value; determining a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code associated with the inversion pattern; and, inserting the inversion pattern and the CRC code in a Generic Mapping Procedure (GMP) overhead of the OTN signal frame. |
| US08340133B2 |
Method of processing traffic information and digital broadcast system
A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system and a method for processing data are disclosed. The method for processing data may enhance the receiving performance of the receiving system by performing additional coding and multiplexing processes on the traffic information data and transmitting the processed data. Thus, robustness is provided to the traffic information data, thereby enabling the data to respond strongly against the channel environment which is always under constant and vast change. |
| US08340130B2 |
Methods and systems for generating playback instructions for rendering of a recorded computer session
A type of input stored by a packet in a recorded session is identified, this recorded session comprises a plurality of packets that represent display data that is generated by an application program. At least one of the packets can be marked responsive to determining the type of input stored in that packet. A destination for rendering the contents of the packet can also be stored in a playback data structure in response to marking at least one of the packets. |
| US08340127B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for allocating IPTV resources
The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for allocating Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) resources to save bandwidth resources in the IPTV service. The method includes the following: a multicast access control entity allocates resources to a unicast access control entity through an intermediate network entity when unicast resources are not enough; and the unicast access control entity allocates resources to the multicast access control entity through the intermediate network entity when multicast resources are not enough. The present invention is primarily applicable to IPTV technologies. |
| US08340126B2 |
Method and apparatus for congestion control
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method of congestion control. The method includes transmitting by a first apparatus to a second apparatus a packet stream corresponding to stream data generated by a variable data rate application, determining a round-trip-time of a packet in the packet stream, updating a congestion measure based on the round-trip-time, and informing the variable data rate application based on the congestion measure to adjust a data rate for generating the stream data. |
| US08340121B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmission of circuit switched voice over packet switched networks
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate and/or effectuate transmission of circuit switched voice over packet switched networks. The systems and methodologies provide for the receiving a first packet originating from access terminals and/or user equipment, determining within which hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) the first packet is received, ascertaining an amount of delay that is applied to the first packet before the first packet is forwarded into a core circuit switched network; and establishing a periodic time interval within which to convey subsequent packets that originate from the communicating access terminal and/or user equipment. |
| US08340112B2 |
Implementing enhanced link bandwidth in a headless interconnect chip
A method and circuit for implementing enhanced link bandwidth for a headless interconnect chip in a local rack interconnect system, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The headless interconnect chip includes a cut through switch and a store and forward switch. A packet is received from an incoming link to be transmitted on an outgoing link on the headless interconnect chip. Both the cut through switch and the store and forward switch are selectively used for moving packets received from the incoming link to the outgoing link on the headless interconnect chip. |
| US08340111B1 |
Method and apparatus for power reduction in network
Aspects of the disclosure can provide a network switch having reduced power consumption. The network switch can include a plurality of ports that are configured to receive and transmit network traffic. The plurality of ports can be configured in a power-on mode and a power-off mode. Further, at least a first port among the plurality of ports can be configured to remain in the power-on mode and to receive power control instructions. In addition, the network switch can include a power controller. The power controller can change the power modes of selected ports among the plurality of ports in response to the power control instructions received through the first port. |
| US08340108B2 |
Apparatus and method for switch zoning via fibre channel and small computer system interface commands
An apparatus for assigning a device to a network zone comprises a switch component operable to receive an attachment request, port and device name data and device operating characteristics data from the device; and a rules engine operable to acquire the device operating characteristics data from the switch component; the rules engine being operable to apply rules logic to the device operating characteristics data to select a zone for the device. The rules engine may be further operable to apply the rules logic to the port and device name data. The network zone may be a network zone of a fiber channel network. |
| US08340107B2 |
VLAN numbering in access networks
VLAN numbering in access networks which bi-directionally connect subscribers and service providers. For an outgoing packet flowing in a direction from a network side to a subscriber side through a network terminator (NT), a port number appearing in a packet header on the network side is not copied by the NT into a header of a corresponding packet applied to the subscriber side, but the NT copies VLAN numbers for the services from the former to the latter packet headers. All services from one specific service provider are delivered to the subscriber through one specific physical port on the subscriber side which corresponds to the port number. For incoming packet flow from the subscriber side into the network side, the NT inserts a port number into a header of a packet applied to the network side, corresponding to the physical port on the NT at which an associated packet was received on the subscriber side, with NT copying the VLAN numbers for the services from the header of the subscriber-side packet into that of the network-side packet. |
| US08340106B2 |
Connecting multi-hop mesh networks using MAC bridge
A multi-hop mesh network may be connected to a Local Area Network (LAN) using a MAC Bridge. One or more nodes on the mesh network may be configured as a bridge node that employs a MAC bridge. Packets that travel between stations on the LAN to nodes on the mesh network flow through one of the bridge nodes on the mesh network. The bridge nodes do not receive all the packets on mesh network, but they receive the packets that are to be transmitted across the MAC bridge. As the bridge nodes learn of new stations on the LAN they advertise routes to the other nodes within the mesh network specifying how to reach those stations. This enables MAC Bridge functionality between wireless mesh networks and 802 LANs. |
| US08340100B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling quality of service in universal plug and play network
A universal plug and play (UPnP) network is provided. In the UPnP network, a QoS policy holder of a UPnP QoS architecture manages information on QoS modes that are previously set, and a QoS manager controls QoS devices by importing traffic policies for a predetermined QoS mode from the QoS policy holder. Accordingly, a user can suitably control traffic items in the network only by selecting a desirable QoS mode according to situations. |
| US08340097B2 |
Generic packet block applicable to multiple routing schemes in low-power sensor networks and method of providing the same
The present invention relates to a generic packet block applicable to multiple routing schemes in low-power sensor networks and a method of providing the same which reduces operations and information required for a routing scheme in the low-power sensor network and provides flexible extension applicable to various multi-hop routing schemes. The generic packet block includes a generic routing header and routing block, and the method of providing the same is widely applicable to a multi-hop routing. The generic routing header includes a routing packet type, routing address information, and the like, commonly required for the multi-hop routing. The routing block is located in a routing packet body and includes routing cost information changeable depending on a routing scheme, and information changeable depending on a routing operation scheme. |
| US08340096B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving of the object-based audio contents
The present invention relates to a system for transmitting and receiving audio, particularly, to a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving of object-based audio contents, which packetizes audio objects having the same characteristic. To achieve the above, the present invention includes filtering a plurality of ESs according to common information, adding a packet header to the respective filtered ESs and generate ES packets, aggregating all the generated ES packets and then adding a multi-object packet header to the aggregated ES packets to generate an object packet, and multiplexing the generated object packet, packetizing the multiplexed object packet according to a transmitting media and transmitting the packetized object packet. |
| US08340091B2 |
Packet processing with adjusted access control list
Network devices and methods are provided for packet processing. One method includes using logic embedded in an application specific integrated circuit on a network device to dynamically adjust an access control list. According to the method, the access control list is adjusted in response to information received from a checking functionality related to packets received by the network device from a particular port. The method also includes handling packets later received from the particular port according to the adjusted access control list. |
| US08340090B1 |
Interconnecting forwarding contexts using u-turn ports
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-readable media, mechanisms, and means for interconnecting forwarding contexts using U-turn ports. A U-turn port typically comprises an egress port and an ingress port such that packets placed in the egress port are automatically forwarded to the ingress port. Other forwarding contexts are able to communicate packets to a next-destination forwarding context by sending these packets to the U-turn port of the next-destination forwarding context. |
| US08340088B2 |
Methods and apparatus related to a low cost data center architecture
In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a first edge device that can have a packet processing module. The first edge device can be configured to receive a packet. The packet processing module of the first edge device can be configured to produce cells based on the packet. A second edge device can have a packet processing module configured to reassemble the packet based on the cells. A multi-stage switch fabric can be coupled to the first edge device and the second edge device. The multi-stage switch fabric can define a single logical entity. The multi-stage switch fabric can have switch modules. Each switch module from the switch modules can have a shared memory device. The multi-stage switch fabric can be configured to switch the cells so that the cells are sent to the second edge device. |
| US08340087B2 |
Storage subsystem
Deadlock is avoided in a grid storage system having superior scalability. Provided is a storage subsystem connected to a host computer for receiving a write or read access from the host computer. This storage subsystem includes a plurality of modules respectively having a storage resource, a switch for connecting the plurality of modules, a controller for controlling the transfer of a packet based on the write or read access from the host computer to a target module among the plurality of modules via the switch, and a memory storing a transfer rule of the packet. The controller controls the transfer of the packet based on the transfer rule. |
| US08340086B2 |
Methods and apparatus to protect and audit communication line status
Methods and apparatus to protect and audit communication line status are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a set of available communication lines from a media gateway, associating a plurality of destination numbers with respective ones of the available communication lines, and dialing the plurality of destination numbers from the media gateway to identify the communication line status information. |
| US08340084B2 |
System and method for indicating circuit switched access at IMS registration
In IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) IMS Control Channel Protocol (ICCP) is used between a user equipment (UE) and IMS Control Channel Function (ICCF) and Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) interface (between to ICCF, Call Session Control Function and Application Server) to support the indication of Circuit Switched (CS) access utilizing P-Access-Network-Information header. The indication can be used by an S-CSCF or AS for different purposes such as routing decision, charging, and presence info. |
| US08340083B2 |
Border control system, method, and software
Embodiments disclosed herein include systems, methods, and software that reduce processing burdens on host soft switches. A method of operating a communication network comprises receiving a plurality of update messages from a plurality of border controllers that interface communications between a first packet network and a second packet network. The update messages are processed to determine operational states of the plurality of border controllers. Responsive to receiving a query from a soft switch in the first packet network for a session between the first and second packet networks, the query is processed to select a first border controller for the session from the plurality of border controllers based on the operational states of the plurality of border controllers. A response is transferred to the soft switch indicating the first border controller. |
| US08340075B2 |
Method for transferring MPOA packet
A method for transferring a packet that is capable of permitting address resolution based on layer 3 packet filter information and that is further capable of preventing establishing an undesirable short cut path is provided. In a network, a server that receives an address resolution request packet from a client determines if the address resolution request packet should be forwarded to another server or another client based on a layer 3 packet filter information. |
| US08340074B2 |
Enhanced polling method for preventing deadlock in a wireless communications system
A method of polling in a wireless communications system includes prohibiting polling within a predetermined period and triggering a poll function while polling is prohibited. After the predetermined period has expired the method determines that there are no protocol data units (PDUs) scheduled for transmission or re-transmission and that the poll function was triggered by a “window-based” trigger, and selects a PDU to schedule for re-transmission to fulfill the poll function. |
| US08340069B2 |
Method, base station, UE, and system for sending and receiving PDCCH signaling
A method, a base station, a User Equipment (UE) and a system for sending and receiving Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) signaling are disclosed. The method for sending PDCCH signaling includes the following steps: the base station determines locations of a first search space and second search space; and the base station sends only PDCCH signaling exclusive of a Carrier Indication Field (CIF) to the UE in a physically overlapped region between the first search space and the second search space if the physically overlapped region exists and length of PDCCH signaling exclusive of a CIF in the first search space is equal to length of PDCCH signaling inclusive of a CIF in the second search space. |
| US08340067B2 |
Systems and methods for wireless transfer of content between aircraft
A system for wirelessly transferring content between aircraft. The system includes a first local controller positioned on a first aircraft of the plurality of aircraft and a respective second local controller positioned on each of the other aircraft of the plurality of aircraft. The aircraft are positioned on the ground within a boundary of an airport. The first local controller cannot detect a regional controller or any of the second local controllers. The first local controller: identifies content assigned to but not available on the first local controller and the one or more second local controllers, the content assigned by an administrator; detects content available on the first local controller and the one or more second local controllers; and controls transfer of content between the first local controller and the one or more second local controllers. |
| US08340066B2 |
View sharing between in-range devices
A system and method for sharing a view between systems in a dynamic wireless communication network. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise a first system communicating information of a view to a display resource of the first system. The first system may establish a two-way wireless communication link between the first system and a second system in the dynamic wireless communication network. The second system may, for example, communicate a request to the first system for the first system to share a view with the second system. The first system may, for example, receive such a request and respond to such a request by communicating information of a view to the second system. The second system may then communicate information of the view to a display resource of the second system. Various aspects may comprise the first and second systems communicating view modification information between the systems. |
| US08340065B2 |
Technique for managing wireless networks
Network connectivity may be managed on a computing device. An identifier of each wireless access point or network that is available at a given location is determined. The identifier determined without the device attempting to connect to any available wireless access point or network at the given location. Each determined identifier is compared to one or more network identifiers that are known to the device. The device connects to an available wireless access point having the identifier that is known and detected. |
| US08340061B2 |
Transmission terminal, reception terminal, and information distribution system
A transmission terminal includes an information generation unit, a transmission unit, a delivery management unit, and a reception unit. The information generation unit generates information that is to be transmitted to a destination reception terminal. The transmission unit transmits information that the information generation unit has generated. The delivery management unit manages transmission of information. The reception unit receives information that the destination reception terminal transmits. Furthermore, the information generation unit generates or receives transmission information that is to be transmitted to the destination reception terminal and generates redundant information for the destination reception terminal to restore the transmission information. The delivery management unit causes the information generation unit to generate, and causes the transmission unit to retransmit, the redundant information when the reception unit has not received a successful reception reply from the destination reception terminal. |
| US08340058B2 |
Headphone with enhanced voice communication
A headphone having ability to communicate using Internet Protocol (IP) standard. The capability may be used as a basis to facilitate a user to conduct voice calls using voice over IP (VOIP). The headphone may also facilitate voice calls with users connected via cellular networks (e.g., GSM, CDMA, etc.). In an embodiment, the headphone is provided a wireless LAN (WLAN) network interface such that VOIP calls are conducted using wireless medium. Similarly, a Bluetooth protocol type interface is also provided to communicate with a cellular phone and the communication forms the basis for the voice calls between the headphone and other cellular phones connected via the cellular network. |
| US08340057B2 |
Automated wireless access to peripheral devices
A mobile device is provided with access to peripheral devices networked at a wireless hotspot. The mobile device is authenticated to a service provider server using a wireless network at the wireless hotspot. An authorization is received from the service provider server to the peripheral devices networked at the wireless hotspot, and the mobile device wirelessly accesses services of an authorized peripheral device via the wireless network at the hotspot. |
| US08340054B2 |
Wireless network beacon timing
An apparatus and method of a wireless network timing transmission of multiple BSSID beacons is disclosed. One method includes a method of a wireless access node within a wireless mesh network timing transmission of multiple BSSID beacons. The method includes the access node identifying multiple personalities of the wireless mesh network, wherein a separate MAC address corresponding with each of the personalities. The access node assigns a beacon type for each of the personalities. During each transmission frame, the access node consecutively transmits a plurality of the beacon types, wherein the different beacon types are consecutively spaced during transmission by a predetermined period. The predetermined period is substantially less than a time duration of each transmission frame. |
| US08340050B2 |
Transfer between cells in a communications system
A method for transferring user equipment from a current cell during an ongoing communication is disclosed. The current cell belongs to a first network. In the method capability information for at least one available cell of a second network is determined in a controller of the current cell, where after at least one cell of the second network is selected based on the capability information to prepare a transfer of the user equipment from the current cell. Information regarding the selected at least one cell of the second network is then sent from the controller to the user equipment. |
| US08340049B2 |
Mobile terminal and handover method thereof
A method of performing handover of a mobile terminal includes performing a registration procedure by accessing a first network, storing registration information in the first network, and performing handover to a second network upon completion of the registration procedure in order to perform data communication by accessing the second network. The method also includes determining if handover from the second network back to the first network is necessary while the mobile terminal accesses the second network and performing the handover to the first network using the registration information stored in the first network if it is determined that handover from the second network back to the first network is necessary. |
| US08340048B2 |
Mobile terminal and communication control method for urging a connected communication terminal to perform a handover
An object is to urge a communication terminal connecting (or belonging) to a mobile terminal, to carry out a handover. A cell phone 1 has a relay unit 15 for relaying data transmitted between a digital camera 5 and a network, and a relay controller 17 for controlling the relay unit 15, based on a location state in a wireless LAN 3 derived based on a reception situation of a beacon from a base station 3a of the wireless LAN 3 different from a mobile communication network 2. The relay controller 17 cancels a connection to the digital camera 5 when the mobile terminal is located inside an area of the wireless LAN 3. |
| US08340047B2 |
Integrated antenna device, integrated demodulating device, and integrated receiving device
An integrated antenna device includes: a multiplexing processing portion for multiplexing received signals received at antennas of mutually different signal systems; a serial communication portion for outputting a multiplex signal to the outside and for receiving a control signal from the outside; a power-feeding switch for individually controlling power feeding of tuner units on the basis of the received control signal; and a pseudo-signal generating portion for generating a pseudo-signal that simulates a signal input to the multiplexing processing portion. The multiplexing processing portion uses the pseudo-signal generated at the pseudo-signal generating portion instead of a received signal corresponding to a tuner unit that is stopped from being fed power by the power-feeding switch. |
| US08340041B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating ranging channel in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of allocating a ranging channel in a wireless communication system is provided. A base station (BS) allocates at least one first ranging channel, having a first structure, and at least one second ranging channel, having a second structure, to a ranging subframe. The first structure or the second structure can be one of the ranging channel structures of an IEEE 802.16e system. A number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols included in the first structure and a number of OFDM symbols included in the second structure differs from each other. And a guard time including at least one OFDM symbol is allocated between the at least one first ranging channel and the at least one second ranging channel. |
| US08340039B2 |
Deduplicated data processing congestion control
Various embodiments for deduplicated data processing congestion control in a computing environment are provided. In one such embodiment, a single congestion metric is determined from a sampling of a plurality of combined deduplicated data processing congestion statistics in a number of active deduplicated data processes. The congestion limit is calculated from a comparison of the single congestion metric to a congestion target setpoint, the congestion target setpoint being a virtual dimension setpoint and the congestion limit being a manipulated variable. The number of active deduplicated data processes is compared to the congestion limit. If the number of active deduplicated data processes is less than the congestion limit, a new deduplicated data process is spawned. |
| US08340033B2 |
Wireless communication device and emergency signal transmission method
Provided is a wireless communication device which can transmit an emergency signal without deteriorating data transmission efficiency. In the device, a modulating section (105) performs modulation processing to an emergency signal and generates an emergency signal symbol, an arranging section (106) arranges the emergency signal symbol at a frequency of a guard carrier wherein a normal signal is not arranged, a diffusion section (107) performs diffusion processing to the emergency signal symbol by using an emergency signal diffusion code, and a wireless transmission section (108) performs transmission processing to the diffused emergency signal symbol and transmits the symbol from an antenna (109). |
| US08340032B2 |
Method of retransmitting data in a wireless communication system and apparatus for implementing the same
A method of transmitting data in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes receiving a first group index and a second group index, wherein the first group index represents indices of a group having channel power below a specified threshold value and the second index group index represents indices of a group having channel power greater than or equal to the specified threshold value, and transmitting the data after swapping mapping locations of the first group index and the second group index. |
| US08340028B2 |
Mobile station, radio access network apparatus, mobile communication system and discontinuous reception method
A mobile station includes: means that performs discontinuous reception only for a signaling control channel, means that determines presence or absence of traffic data addressed to the own mobile station, and means that, when it is determined that there is traffic data addressed to the own mobile station, receives corresponding shared data channel. A radio access network apparatus includes: means that determines a discontinuous reception state, means that determines a discontinuous reception channel, means that reports the determined discontinuous reception channel to the mobile station, and means that, when transmission data arises, transmits a control signal using the determined discontinuous reception channel and that transmits traffic data using a corresponding shared data channel. |
| US08340021B2 |
Wireless communication unit
A wireless communication unit includes a baseband module and a radiofrequency module. A communication interface connects the baseband module to the radiofrequency module. Data can be communicated from the baseband module to the radiofrequency module and/or vice versa via the interface. The communication interface includes one or more data compression arrangement, for compressing original data to be transmitted over the communication interface, from a transmitting side of the communication interface to a receiving side of the communication interface, into compressed data and decompressing the compressed data after transmission and restoring the original data. The data compression arrangement may include a data compression unit at the transmitting side of the communication interface, and a data decompression unit at the receiving side of the communication interface. |
| US08340020B2 |
Method and gateway for routing international mobile telephone calls
A gateway for routing an international mobile telephone call comprises a storage device and a cost-saving routing module. The storage device is configured to store a mapping table and a call record table. The mapping table records a mobile phone number of a roaming subscriber and a fixed network number, and the call record table records a caller's phone number and the mobile phone number of the roaming subscriber. The cost-saving routing module is configured to establish a connection in accordance with the mapping table and call record table. |
| US08340019B2 |
Radio communication system, radio communication method, and base station for controlling a transmission rate of uplink user data
A base station includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not a total of an initial transmission rate and assigned transmission rates exceeds a maximum receiving transmission rate when the base station receives a communication start request from a radio terminal; a selecting unit that selects a decrease target terminal when the total of the initial transmission rate and the assigned transmission rates exceeds the maximum receiving transmission rate; and a transmitting unit that transmits transmission rate decrease data to the decrease target terminal, and the base station causes the total of the initial transmission rate and the assigned transmission rates to be equal to or less than the maximum receiving transmission rate by transmitting the transmission rate decrease data. |
| US08340015B1 |
Incremental gateway deployment in a hub-spoke satellite communication system using static spot beams
A method for communicating includes providing a hub-spoke satellite comprising receivers, transmitters, transmit switches, and a gateway switch structure. Prior to a time T, each of at least P receivers are used to receive one of at least P signals from P gateway terminals. During one frame, the gateway switch structure is used to switch the at least P signals to the plurality of transmit switches. Each of the at least P signals are switched into fixed location beams. After time T, each of at least Q receivers are used to receive a different one of at least Q signals from Q gateway terminals. During one frame, the gateway switch structure is used to switch the at least Q signals to the plurality of transmit switches. Each of the at least Q signals are switched into fixed location beams. Q and P are non-zero positive integers and Q>P. |
| US08340009B1 |
Systems and methods for disabling a quick paging channel in a wireless communication system
Embodiments disclosed herein provide methods and systems for disabling a quick paging channel to reduce missed pages. In an embodiment, a method includes, during at least an initial period of time corresponding to a mobile communication device of the plurality of mobile communication devices, enabling the quick paging channel used for transferring paging information to the mobile communication device. The method also includes processing a device profile for the mobile communication device to determine if the quick paging channel should be disabled during a next period of time corresponding to the mobile communication device. In response to determining that the quick paging channel should be disabled, the method also includes disabling the quick paging channel during the next period of time corresponding to the mobile communication device. |
| US08340002B2 |
Load control of UE MBMS measurement reporting
An improved method and a communication means node implementing the method for load control in connection with a multimedia service transmission intended for multiple receivers over a wireless network are disclosed. The receivers in the wireless network are able to respond to requests communicated from an ordering entity by feeding back responses to a management entity in said wireless network. The feedback of these responses uses a different communication means, separate from said wireless network. This different communication means has limited communication resources. A transmission load caused in said different communication means by said feedback of said responses is according to the invention controlled by the different communication means itself. |
| US08340000B2 |
Radio communication system, radio communication apparatus and method, and program
A radio communication system and apparatus is disclosed wherein setting necessary for communication with a desired radio communication apparatus with which a user wants to communicate can be performed with certainty by an operation system familiar to the user and a high security level can be assured for the communication which uses the setting. When a first radio communication apparatus receives a request for communication information necessary for communication through a radio network from a second radio communication apparatus through a radio circuit, it transmits identification information for the radio network and information regarding the security set in advance as communication information therein to the second radio communication apparatus through the radio circuit. The second radio communication apparatus sets the communication information to itself. The invention can be applied to a radio LAN for which a household electric appliance is used. |
| US08339997B2 |
Media based collaboration using mixed-mode PSTN and internet networks
A method which allows standard telephone users to audio conference with video conferencing participants over IP networks in a private secure environment. A dial-out is performed from one or more conference client terminals bridging audio between the Internet and the PSTN networks. The process uses a mixed mode hybrid network architecture for call set-up, initialization and teardown including the method to mix audio at the desktop terminal instead of in a general purpose server as in the prior art. The method conferences video and audio between multiple clients and include audio from a standard telephone network within the conference. A virtual private network connects all of the IP clients together including the voice over IP server used to transcode the proprietary audio into the H.323 standard for transport into the telephony network. |
| US08339996B2 |
PIM sparse-mode emulation over MPLS LSP's
An apparatus and method for emulating a shared or source distribution tree within an MPLS network. In one embodiment of the method, a router receives a multicast data packet. The router transmits the multicast data packet to a first router via a first point-to-point label switched path (LSP). The router replicates the multicast data packet to produce a replicated multicast data packet. Then the router transmits the replicated multicast data packet to a second router via a second point-to-point LSP. The first point-to-point LSP is distinct from the second point-to-point LSP. |
| US08339993B2 |
Dynamic fault-tolerant configuration support and re-configuration of a braided ring network
A method of configuring a node comprises receiving a first message having a count field value from a first direct link; receiving a second message having a count field value from a first skip link; adjusting the count field value in the first message by a first adjustment amount; adjusting the count field value in the second message by a second adjustment amount; comparing the adjusted count field value in the first message with the adjusted count field value in the second message; if the adjusted count field value in the first message matches the adjusted count field value in the second message, using the adjusted count field value in the first message to determine a node identity for the node; and processing subsequent messages based on the node identity. |
| US08339990B1 |
System and method for matching capabilities of access points with those required by an application
A system and method uses a communication request and/or historical data collected by one or more devices to identify whether to fulfill the request using ad hoc networking or access points. If an access point is determined to be used, the system and method attempts to identify those access points that can best fulfill the request and then attempts to use such access points to fulfill the request. |
| US08339985B2 |
Method and system for announcing traffic engineering parameters of composite transport groups
An approach is provided for announcing aggregate characteristics of a composite transport group (CTG) for traffic engineering. Information specifying characteristics of a plurality of component links of the CTG is received. An aggregate characteristic of the CTG is determined based the information. The aggregate characteristic is announced to a label switched network for provisioning label switched paths on the CTG. |
| US08339984B2 |
Automatic network retrieval and display device
An automatic network retrieval and display device including: a transmission/reception processing unit 2 that receives information on at least one existing network and extracts error information and the like; a data conversion processing unit 4 that decides a connection state of each network on the basis of extracted information and outputs packet information lists in descending order of excellence in connection state; a network monitor processing unit 3 that extracts radio field intensity information from a network identifier and creates network identification information lists in decreasing order of radio field intensity; a network information establishment processing unit 5 that establishes a connection priority based on a communication state of the network on the basis of the network identification information list and the packet information list; a network switch processing unit 6 that connects to a network with a high priority on the basis of the connection priority of the network; and, a display unit 7 that displays a terminal on the connected network. This device can keep track of the communication state without requiring transmission of a packet used exclusively for displaying a communication state or requiring any terminal as a destination for transmission, and is connectable automatically to a network with a high priority. |
| US08339983B2 |
Method of determining transmission rate of control response frame for acknowledging data receipt in wireless LAN
A method is provided for determining a transmission rate of a control response frame for acknowledging data receipt in a wireless local area network. The method includes obtaining transmission parameters of a transmitting station from a data transmission frame received from the transmitting station, searching a receiving station for transmission parameters which correspond to the transmission parameters of the transmitting station, determining the transmission rate of the control response frame according to transmission parameters of the receiving station if the transmission parameters corresponding to the transmission parameters of the transmitting station are found in the receiving station, and determining a maximum rate among a set of basic transmission rates to be the transmission rate of the control response frame if the transmission parameters corresponding to the transmission parameters of the transmitting station are not found in the receiving station. |
| US08339979B2 |
Method and system for detecting a single data flow in an aggregate packet data flow and for identifying the application generating said single data flow
The invention relates to a method and a system for detecting a single data flow in an aggregate packet data flow and identifying the application generating the single data flow, this single data flow being divided into messages, each message comprising a plurality of blocks, each block (g) having n bits for identifying 2n block values (i). The method comprises the steps of providing, for each block value (i), an expected frequency value (Ei), measuring, for a predefined number (G) of blocks (g), the values Formula (I) of frequency with which each block (g) identifies each block value (i) so as to obtain a plurality of measured frequency values Formula (I), processing, for each block (g), the measured frequency values Formula (I) and the expected frequency values (Ei) in order to generate a frequency deviation value Formula (II) representative of the deviation of the measured frequency values Formula (I) with respect to the expected frequency values (Ei), and processing the frequency deviation values Formula (II) generated for each block (g) with at least one frequency deviation threshold value (χth) in order to detect the single data flow and identify the application generating said single data flow. |
| US08339977B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocation of parameters for radio transmission in wireless communication network
A method for allocation of parameters for radio transmission in a wireless communication network using channel feedback compression is provided. At least one channel impulse response in the time domain for at least one connection (CH13-CH24) between an antenna (A1, A2) of a transmitter (BS) and an antenna of a receiver (MS) is determined. Only the at least one complex coefficient related to one or more time intervals of the at least one channel impulse response with a power higher than a predefined threshold is fed back. Parameters for radio transmission are allocated to the at least one connection (CH13-CH24) based on the at least one channel impulse response which is fed back. Network elements and a wireless communication network associated with the method are also provided. |
| US08339971B2 |
Network protection via embedded controls
The present disclosure provides a method for providing network protection. A method according to one embodiment may include detecting an infected data packet at an in-line device. The method may further include receiving a first instruction from the in-line device at a central management server, the instruction identifying the origin of the infected data packet. The method may also include receiving a marking instruction from the central management server at an infected endpoint device and marking outgoing data packets at the infected endpoint device to create marked data packets. Of course, many alternatives, variations and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US08339968B2 |
Transient video anomaly analysis and reporting system
A system and method for detecting and analyzing transient video anomalies in AV broadcast networks includes AV signal monitors associated with each decoding device in the network for continuously monitoring AV signals received by their associated video decoding device for detecting signal anomalies which are outside predetermined signal parameter levels during normal operation of the broadcast network. |
| US08339965B2 |
Uncovering the differences in backbone networks
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that discover comparative differences in performance of Internet Service Provider networks. The system can include devices, components, and/or processes that partitions measurement processes into cycles and measures at least one Internet Service Provider network every cycle, develops and distributes to interrogation nodes a list of destination Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to interrogate, and utilizes results delivered or retrieved from interrogation nodes to generate a report on the comparative performance of Internet Service Provider networks queried. |
| US08339961B2 |
Dynamic bandwidth allocation method and dynamic bandwidth allocation device
A dynamic bandwidth allocation method that can allocate bandwidth dynamically so as to guarantee communication in a minimum guaranteed bandwidth from each subscriber device and enable communication within a maximum communicable bandwidth from each subscriber device. A subscriber device asks a control functional unit at least once for bandwidth in which to transmit packets to switching office equipment, and the control function unit allows transmission in a minimum guaranteed bandwidth determined in advance for every subscriber device and generates control data for allocating to each subscriber device the bandwidth that it may use so as to maximize the bandwidth that can be used for packet transmission within the maximum transmittable bandwidth while maintaining fairness. The control functional unit transmits the control data to each subscriber device, thereby notifying each subscriber device of the bandwidth it can use, and each subscriber device transmits packets in the specified bandwidth. |
| US08339954B2 |
Providing trigger based traffic management
Systems and methods for providing trigger based dynamic changes to a packet flow in a communication network are described. The trigger based dynamic changes can include upgrading and downgrading quality of service (QoS), processing the packet flow, and providing services to the packet flow. These changes can be provided by inspecting packets at a gateway for trigger conditions and setting up a proxy instance for the packet flows. The proxy can coordinate QoS changes and management of packet flows. The triggers can be based on the destination of the packet, for example, the uniform resource locator (URL) and/or by the services (e.g., email, video, messaging) that the subscriber is accessing. The triggers can also be based on the identity of the user or agreements a provider might have with an operator of network equipment for users accessing the provider's website. |
| US08339951B2 |
Method for configuration of a load balancing algorithm in a network device
A method for configuration of a network device is described herein. Counter information for one or more ports of a plurality of ports of the network device is managed. The one or more ports are aggregated to a logical port in a logical communication channel. The counter information may be determined by the network device. A current load balancing algorithm is determined. The current load balancing algorithm is set for use on network packets on egress out of the logical port. Statistics are determined using the counter information and the current load balancing algorithm. Based on the statistics, the network device is configured with an available load balancing algorithm of a plurality of load balancing algorithms available to the network device. |
| US08339942B2 |
RSVP-TE graceful restart under fast re-route conditions
According to one embodiment, in response to at least one of a link failure and node failure of a protected label switched path (LSP), network traffic is switched onto a protection path according to a fast re-reroute (FRR) scheme. A HELLO session is established with the remote node that is not immediately adjacent to the network element, including exchanging one or more HELLO messages with the remote node, each HELLO message having a time-to-live (TTL) value of greater than one if IP forwarding is used. The TTL value of the HELLO message is set to one if the HELLO message is sent via tunnel. In response to a request to restart, a resource reservation protocol (RSVP) traffic engineering (TE) graceful restart (GR) procedure is performed using information obtained from the one or more HELLO messages exchanged with the remote node during the HELLO session. |
| US08339940B2 |
Multi-active detection method and stack member device
The present invention discloses a method of multi-active detection and a stack member device. Each member device in a stack is configured with a detection interface that is assigned an IP address, wherein the IP address of the detection interface on the designated active device is activated. Each member devices is also configured with an active device election rule, and with a correspondence between the IP address of the detection interface on each member device and the active device election parameter of the member device. Upon detection that the stack has become split, each designated standby device transitions to become an active device and activates the IP address of its detection interface. Each active device then uses the IP address of its detection interface as the source IP address to establish a session with other active devices, finds the active device election parameter according to the source IP address in the received session packet, and elects an active device that maintains its active state according to the configured active device election rule. The present invention implements multi-active detection in a stack. |
| US08339939B2 |
Re-routing traffic flow in a packet switched communications transport network
In a packet switched communications transport network a method for re-routing traffic flow is provided. The invention based on the recognition of actual utilization of transport resources. In accordance with the implementation, Fast Re-Route detour paths are recalculated each time after new bandwidth information is received. The detours are re-established on new computed paths if needed, i.e., if an optimized path has been found. A node and a system are also disclosed, referring to MPLS network. Also a node is described acting as a Point of Local Repair for link failures. The node comprises a Routing engine, a Link state database, a Detour path calculator and a Detour path establisher in order to capture bandwidth information of the network links and to calculate detour path information for the nodes. |
| US08339936B2 |
Method of resolving overlaps in data transmission and user equipment therefor
A user equipment and corresponding method of transmitting symbols by the user equipment in a wireless communication system. The method includes: generating a first symbol and a second symbol, each symbol including a cyclic prefix and a data part; manipulating a part of the second symbol to be ignored in transmission so that the first symbol and a remaining part of the second symbol are transmitted without overlapping, when the first symbol and the second symbol are overlapped due to a transmission timing advance of the second symbol; and transmitting the first symbol and the second symbol at each transmission timing to the base station. |
| US08339935B2 |
Adaptive time diversity and spatial diversity for OFDM
An adaptable orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing system (OFDM) that uses a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) to having OFDM signals transmitted either in accordance with time diversity to reducing signal fading or in accordance with spatial diversity to increase the data rate. Sub-carriers are classified for spatial diversity transmission or for time diversity transmission based on the result of a comparison between threshold values and at least one of three criteria. The criteria includes a calculation of a smallest eigen value of a frequency channel response matrix and a smallest element of a diagonal of the matrix and a ratio of the largest and smallest eigen values of the matrix. |
| US08339932B2 |
Hybrid multiple access apparatus and method in a mobile communication system
A hybrid multiple access apparatus and method in a mobile communication system supporting various multiple access schemes are provided, in which an initial service negotiation is performed in a non-orthogonal transmission scheme between an MS and a BS, the BS receives from the MS an orthogonal resource request for high-speed packet data transmission, and the BS allocates orthogonal resources to the MS based on channel estimation information indicating a channel status between the MS and the BS. |
| US08339930B2 |
Pilot transmission and channel estimation with pilot weighting
Techniques to perform channel estimation with pilot weighting are described. A receiver receives at least one transmission symbol for a pilot transmitted by a transmitter. Each transmission symbol may be generated with a single-carrier multiplexing scheme (e.g., IFDMA or LFDMA) or a multi-carrier multiplexing scheme (e.g., OFDMA). The receiver processes each received transmission symbol and obtains received pilot values. The receiver may derive an interference estimate based on the received pilot values and may estimate the reliability of the received pilot values based on the interference estimate. The receiver determines weights for the received pilot values based on the transmitted pilot values, the estimated reliability of the received pilot values, and/or other information. The receiver derives a channel estimate based on the received pilot values and the weights. The receiver then performs data detection (e.g., equalization) on received data values with the channel estimate. |
| US08339926B2 |
Electric field read/write apparatus and method
Provided are an electric field read/write apparatus and method, which reproduce information written in a recording medium by using an electric field read/write head including a channel. In the electric field read/write apparatus and method, an electric field generated from the recording medium is modulated by using a modulation signal, a variation in the modulated electric field is detected, and a voltage signal determined according to the detected variation is demodulated and information written in the recording medium is determined according to a result of the demodulation. |
| US08339924B2 |
Optical pickup device capable of emitting first and second light beams having different wavelengths and including a light blocking member for blocking light of a specific wavelength, and a optical information device, computer, optical disk player, car navigation system, optical disk recorder, and optical disk server performing the same
An optical pickup device preventing damage or performance degradation of a second optical system. The optical pickup device includes first laser light source emitting a first light beam having a first wavelength, a first optical system guiding the first light beam emitted from the first laser light source to a first optical disc. Further, the optical pickup device includes a DVD integration unit emitting a second light beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, a second optical system guiding the second light beam emitted from the DVD integration unit to a second optical disc different from the first optical disc, and a filter disposed at a position blocking incident light, of an unwanted light beam having the first wavelength and derived from the first optical system, from entering into the second optical system, so as to block the first light beam having the first wavelength. |
| US08339922B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a diffraction grating configured to diffract laser light from a laser diode so that signals recorded in first and second optical discs are selectively reproduced, thicknesses of protective layers between surfaces and signal recording surfaces of the first and second optical discs being different from each other; a polarization beam splitter configured to divide laser light from the diffraction grating into first and second laser lights whose light amounts are substantially the same; a first objective lens configured to focus the first laser light onto the signal recording surface of the first optical disc; a second objective lens configured to focus the second laser light onto the signal recording surface of the second optical disc; and a photodetector configured to be applied with return lights of the first and second laser lights reflected from the signal recording surfaces of the first and second optical discs. |
| US08339918B2 |
Optical reading method and optical reading system
An optical reading system is provided to improve read signal quality with increasing its linear recording density. An optical recording medium in which the distance from a light incident surface to an information recording layer is less than 100 μm is irradiated with a laser beam through an objective lens and information stored in the information recording layer is read by means of a PRML detection method. At this time, the constraint length n in the PRML detection method is set to an integer which satisfies 0.5×(λ/NA)/(LV/f)−1 |
| US08339917B1 |
Supplementary timing recovery
Aspects of the disclosure provide a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to receive an analog input signal, sample the analog input signal based on a sampling clock signal, and convert the sampled analog input signal into a digital output signal, an equalizer configured to equalize the digital output signal, a phase-shift module configured to phase-shift the equalized digital output signal based on a phase-shift signal, and a timing compensation module coupled to the phase-shift module to detect a timing error, and to adjust the phase-shift signal based on the timing error. |
| US08339914B2 |
Digital broadcast receiver
Provided is a digital broadcast receiver capable of displaying a message, a list of titles of contents or the like together with a viewing screen without interrupting viewing of contents. The digital broadcast receiver includes a controller 25 configured to determine whether an optical disc inserted into the receiver is a read-only optical disc or a recordable optical disc and also to control a display screen. Upon insertion of an optical disc, the controller 25 causes a display screen including a first display area and a second display area to be displayed, the first display area displaying digital broadcast or external input contents, the second display area displaying a message indicating that the optical disc is being prepared. In a case where the optical disc is a read-only optical disc, the controller 25 causes only a playback screen of contents recorded in the optical disc to be displayed upon completion of the preparation of the optical disc. In a case where the optical disc is a recordable disc, the controller 25 causes a list of titles of contents recorded in the optical disc to be further displayed in the second display area, and deletes the message in the second display area upon completion of the preparation of the optical disc. |
| US08339912B2 |
Record carrier as well as an apparatus and method for applying image data as a visually detectable pattern at an optical record carrier
A record carrier is described comprising a zone with a visually detectable pattern composed of pattern elements arranged along at least one track. The pattern elements comprise a marked zone having an optical property deviating from a background, the marked zones having a width Wm transverse to the track direction and a length Lm along the track direction, wherein at least two or more pattern elements have a marked zone with a mutually different width Wm.In this way, an increased visibility of the visual pattern is achieved. Likewise a method and an apparatus for recording an optical record carrier is included. |
| US08339898B2 |
Processing seismic data using combined regularization and 4D binning
To process seismic data, a combined four-dimensional (4D) binning and regularization procedure is performed on the seismic data, where the combined 4D binning and regularization procedure includes computing measures associated with regularization of the seismic data, computing measures associated with 4D binning, and processing the seismic data according to the regularization measures and 4D binning measures. |
| US08339894B2 |
Address delay circuit of semiconductor memory apparatus
An address delay circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a control pulse generation unit configured to generate a control pulse following a time corresponding to a predetermined multiple of cycles of a clock after a read write pulse is inputted; and a delay unit configured to output internal addresses when the control pulse is inputted, wherein the internal addresses are input as external addresses. |
| US08339890B2 |
Memory leakage and data retention control
A circuit with leakage and data retention control includes at least one memory cell in a first memory array. The at least one memory cell is coupled to a first power supply voltage and a virtual ground. The circuit includes a current source and an NMOS transistor. The drain of the NMOS transistor is coupled to the virtual ground and the gate of the NMOS transistor is coupled to the current source. |
| US08339886B2 |
Amplifier sensing
A circuit comprises a first read bit line, a second read bit line, and a sense amplifier. First and second read bit lines couple a plurality of memory cells and a reference cell of a memory array, respectively. The sense amplifier is configured to receive the first read bit line as a first input and the second read bit line as a second input. When a memory cell of the first plurality of memory cells is read, the memory cell is read activated, the first reference cell is configured to be off, the second reference cell is configured to be on, and the sense amplifier is configured to provide an output reflecting a data logic stored in the memory cell based on a voltage difference between a first voltage of the first read bit line and a second voltage of the second read bit line. |
| US08339881B2 |
Techniques for increasing a lifetime of blocks of memory
Techniques are described for increasing a lifetime of blocks of memory. In operation, respective life expectancy scores for each of the blocks are calculated based at least in part on a respective number of times each of the blocks is respectively erased, and further based at least in part on at least one other factor that affects the lifetime of the blocks. An order to write and recycle the blocks is determined, based at least in part on at least some of the respective lifetime expectancy scores. A total amount of the blocks that are erased and written is minimized while lifetime expectancy score variation between the blocks is equalized. |
| US08339878B2 |
Integrated circuit with staggered signal output
A memory controller having a time-staggered request signal output. A first timing signal is generated while a second timing signal is generated having a first phase difference relative to the first timing signal. An address value is transmitted in response to the first timing signal and a control value is transmitted in response to the second timing signal, the address value and control value constituting portions of a first memory access request. |
| US08339876B2 |
Memory with improved read stability
A static random access memory (SRAM) includes a data line for transferring data to and from the memory and at least one reset line, a plurality of storage cells, each cell including an asymmetric feedback loop; an access device for selectively providing a connection between the at data line and the cell's first access node; a reset device for selectively providing a connection between a reset line and the cell's second access node. The SRAM further includes data access control circuitry for generating control signals for independently controlling the access device and the reset device and to generate a data access control signal. The SRAM also generates a reset control signal to trigger the reset device to provide the connection between the at least one reset line and the second access node in response to a write request to write the complementary predetermined value to the storage cell. |
| US08339870B2 |
High voltage generating circuit and semiconductor memory device having the same and method thereof
A high voltage generating circuit may include a pulse signal generator, a counter, a plurality of transmitters, and/or a plurality of pumpers. The pulse signal generator may be configured to be enabled in response to a refresh command signal to output a pulse signal. The counter may be configured to count the pulse signal and sequentially output a plurality of selection signals. The plurality of transmitters may be configured to be sequentially enabled in response to individual selection signals of the plurality of selection signals to transmit the pulse signal. The plurality of pumpers may correspond to the plurality of transmitters. Each of the plurality of pumpers may be configured to collectively generate a high voltage based on the transmitted pulse signal from a corresponding transmitter of the plurality of transmitters. |
| US08339867B2 |
Fuse elements based on two-terminal re-writeable non-volatile memory
A margin restore fuse element is described, including a latch configured to store data, a first memory element coupled to the latch and configured to store a first resistive value, a second memory element coupled to the latch and configured to store a second resistive value, a restore circuit coupled to the latch, the first memory element, and the second memory element, the restore circuit being configured to perform a restore data operation to substantially restore the first and second memory elements to the first and second resistive values, respectively. The latch, restore circuit, and other circuitry can be formed FEOL on a substrate (e.g., a semiconductor wafer) as part of a microelectronics fabrication process and the fuse element and memory elements can be formed BEOL over the substrate as part of another microelectronics fabrication process. The fuse and memory elements can be included in a two-terminal non-volatile memory cell. |
| US08339866B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A NAND type flash memory for erasing data every block including plural memory cell transistors that are provided every block and have floating gates formed through first gate insulating film above a well formed in a semiconductor substrate and control gates formed through second gate insulating film above the floating gates, data in the memory cell transistors being rewritable by controlling charge amounts accumulated in the floating gates, and a row decoder having a plurality of MOS transistors having drains that are respectively connected to corresponding word lines connected to the control gates of the plurality of memory cell transistors, the row decoder controlling gate and source voltages of the MOS transistors. |
| US08339860B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
This invention offers a semiconductor memory device, with which a resolution to read-out data is not reduced even at the time of verify and a stable read-out operation is possible even when a power supply voltage is reduced. A read-out circuit is provided with a current-voltage conversion circuit, that converts a cell current into a data voltage, and a sense amplifier that compares the data voltage with a reference voltage. The current-voltage conversion circuit is formed to include a variable load resistor that is connected to the memory cell through a bit line. The variable load resistor is formed to include P channel type MOS transistors that make load resistors and P channel type MOS transistors that constitute a switching circuit. |
| US08339850B2 |
Semiconductor device
The present invention provides a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory function capable of shortening an erase time and executing data access efficiently. When, under the control of a command register/control circuit, an erase voltage is applied to an embedded erase gate wiring disposed in a memory cell boundary region, and an electrical charge is transferred between a floating gate and an embedded erase gate to thereby perform an erase operation, a read selection voltage is applied to a memory gate line and an assist gate line during the application of the erase voltage to thereby carry out the reading of data. |
| US08339848B2 |
Programming of a charge retention circuit for a time measurement
A method of controlling an electronic charge retention circuit for time measurement, including at least a first capacitive element, the dielectric of which has a leakage, and at least a second capacitive element, the dielectric of which has a higher capacitance than the first, the two elements having a common electrode defining a floating node that can be connected to an element for measuring its residual charge, in which a charge retention period is programmed or initialized by injecting or extracting charges via the first element. |
| US08339844B2 |
Programmable vias for structured ASICs
A semiconductor device may be created using multiple metal layers and a layer including programmable vias that may be used to form various patterns of interconnections among segments of metal layers. The programmable vias may be formed of materials whose resistance is changeable between a high-resistance state and a low-resistance state. |
| US08339841B2 |
Magnetoresistive element including upper electrode having hexagonal cross-section shape and method of manufacturing the same
A magnetoresistive element of an aspect of the present invention including a lower electrode provided on an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, a first ferromagnetic layer provided on the lower electrode, a first tunnel barrier layer provided on the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer provided on the first tunnel barrier layer, and an upper electrode provided on the second ferromagnetic layer, wherein the upper electrode has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape, and a maximum size of the upper electrode in a first direction is larger than a size of the first tunnel barrier layer in the first direction, the first direction being horizontal relative to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08339840B2 |
Storage element and memory
A memory is provided that is capable of improving the thermal stability without increasing the write current. The memory is configured to include: a storage element which has a storage layer that holds information according to a magnetization state of a magnetic substance and in which a magnetization fixed layer is provided on the storage layer with an intermediate layer 16 interposed therebetween, the intermediate layer is formed of an insulator, the direction of magnetization of the storage layer is changed by injecting electrons spin-polarized in a lamination direction such that the information is recorded in the storage layer, and distortion is applied to the storage layer from an insulating layer which exists around the storage layer and has a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than the storage layer. A wiring line for supplying a current flowing in the lamination direction of the storage element. |
| US08339835B2 |
Nonvolatile memory element and semiconductor memory device including nonvolatile memory element
A nonvolatile memory element includes a current controlling element having a non-linear current-voltage characteristic, a resistance variable element which changes reversibly between a low-resistance state and a high-resistance state in which a resistance value of the resistance variable element is higher than a resistance value of the resistance variable element in the low-resistance state, in response to voltage pulses applied, and a fuse. The current controlling element, the resistance variable element and the fuse are connected in series, and the fuse is configured to be blown when the current controlling element is substantially short-circuited. |
| US08339831B2 |
Single polysilicon non-volatile memory
A one-time-programmable memory device comprises a one-time-programmable memory cell array, a voltage pumping circuit, and a programming verification circuit. The one-time-programmable memory cell array comprises a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell is arranged at an intersection of a bit line and a word line. The voltage pumping circuit comprises a plurality of local voltage boost circuits. Each local voltage boost circuit is shared by a corresponding memory cell of the plurality of memory cells. The programming verification circuit is coupled to the one-time-programmable memory cell array for verifying that conduction current of programmed memory cells of the plurality of memory cells is greater than a predetermined current level after programming. Each local boost circuit isolates leakage current of a corresponding programmed memory cell, and prevents programming voltage failure due to current overloading at a corresponding voltage pumping circuit. |
| US08339830B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor storage
According to one embodiment, a memory cell is configured using a field effect transistor and includes n anti-fuse elements, one ends of which are connected in common. A program voltage selection circuit selects, out of the n anti-fuse elements, an anti-fuse element to which a program voltage is applied. A sense amplifier is provided for the each memory cell and determines, based on data stored in the n anti-fuse elements, three or more values of readout levels. |
| US08339829B2 |
Information storage devices using movement of magnetic domain walls and methods of manufacturing the same
An information storage device using movement of magnetic domain walls includes a writing magnetic layer having a magnetic domain wall. A stack structure is formed on the writing magnetic layer. The stack structure includes a connecting magnetic layer and an information storing magnetic layer stacked sequentially. The information storage device also includes a reader for reading information stored in the information storing magnetic layer. |
| US08339826B2 |
Stacked semiconductor devices including a master device
A stack that includes non-volatile memory devices is disclosed. One of the non-volatile memory devices in the stack is a master device, and the remaining memory device or devices is a slave device(s). |
| US08339823B2 |
Voltage source converter
A Voltage Source Converter having at least one phase leg connected to opposite poles of a direct voltage side of the converter and comprising a series connection of switching elements including at least one energy storing capacitor and configured to obtain two switching states, namely a first switching state and a second switching state, in which the voltage across said at least one energy storing capacitor and a zero voltage, respectively, is applied across the terminals of the switching element, has semiconductor chips of said switching elements arranged in stacks comprising each at least two semiconductor chips. The converter comprises an arrangement configured to apply a pressure to opposite ends of each stack. |
| US08339822B2 |
Method and device for operating a transformer
A method for operating a single-phase, mid-frequency welding transformer formed with a transformer core having a primary coil and a secondary coil connected into a secondary circuit has several steps. The several steps include regulating a magnetic flux density (B) in the transformer core between an upper flux density threshold value (Bm) and a lower flux density threshold value (−Bm), by applying, in alteration, a first voltage (UDC) and a second voltage (−UDC) to the primary coil of the transformer, and regulating a load current (ibr) in the secondary circuit between an upper load current threshold value (ibr-zg) and a lower load current threshold value (ibr-sp), by applying, in alternation, a third voltage (0V)to the primary coil of the transformer. |
| US08339819B2 |
Booster circuit and display device
A booster circuit has: a charge pump configured to perform a booster operation that boosts a voltage supplied from an external power source and outputs the boosted voltage as an output voltage through an output capacitor; and a feedback circuit section configured to control the booster operation depending on the output voltage. A mode of the booster operation includes: a charge mode that charges the output capacitor with the voltage supplied from the external power source; and a discharge mode that discharges the output capacitor. The mode of the booster operation is switched between the charge mode and the discharge mode depending on the output voltage. The feedback circuit section has a booster operation control section that secures a period during which the mode is not switched between the charge mode and the discharge mode in accordance with an external synchronizing signal. |
| US08339818B2 |
Method and device to compensate for an asymmetrical DC bias current in a power transformer connected to a high voltage converter
A method and a device to compensate for an asymmetrical DC bias current in a multi-phase transformer. The transformer is connected between an AC power system and an AC/DC or DC/AC high voltage converter. For each phase of the AC side of the transformer a current quantity is determined. The current quantity reflects the time dependent behavior of the magnetizing current in the phase. Time intervals in the current quantity are determined during which the current quantity reaches a positive or a negative maximum, respectively. A DC magnetizing quantity is determined from a difference between the amplitude of the positive maximum and the amplitude of the negative maximum. An asymmetrical quantity is determined from a difference between the amplitudes of the positive and/or negative maxima of at least two of the phases and a control signal is generated from the asymmetrical quantity and provided to a control device of the converter in order to adjust the generation of the AC or DC voltage in the particular phase of the converter which corresponds to the phase of the AC side of the transformer. |
| US08339815B2 |
Frequency modulation controller, switch mode power supply including the same, and switching operation frequency modulation method
Ripple of an input voltage is used to modulate a switching operation frequency of a switch mode power supply. A sensing voltage corresponding to the input voltage is received, a current ripple that is proportional to a difference between a peak value of the sensing voltage and the sensing voltage is generated, and a modulation control signal that is variable by the current ripple is generated. A switching frequency is modulated using an oscillator signal that is variable by the modulation control signal, and reduces the output voltage ripple. |
| US08339813B2 |
Burst mode resonant power converter with high conversion efficiency
A burst mode resonant power converter with high conversion efficiency has a rectifier, a power factor correction circuit, a resonant circuit, a controller, and a burst mode triggering unit. The maximum frequency switching end of the controller is connected to a maximum frequency variable circuit. When the load is medium or heavy, the maximum frequency variable circuit increases the maximum switch frequency of the controller. When the load is in the no-load or the light conditions, it reduces the maximum switch frequency thereof. Therefore, the controller reduces the number of times that the resonant circuit switches the bridge switch circuit. The conduction cycle of the 50% pulse signal output to the bridge switch circuit becomes longer. Larger energy can be transmitted at a time to the secondary coil of the transformer. This increases the overall efficiency. |
| US08339810B2 |
Wide input voltage power supply
A ground power unit having a power supply unit capable of accepting a wide range of AC input voltages and producing one or more DC power signals for powering components of the GPU is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply unit includes a rectifier that converts an AC input power to a DC link power. The power supply unit includes a gate driving circuit that has a power MOSFET transistor which, under the control of a PWM controller, produces a switched DC signal. The DC link power and the output of the gate drive circuitry are provided to a transformer, which modulates the signals and produces a first DC output power signal that is load independent and a second DC output power signal that is load dependent. |
| US08339808B2 |
Switching power supply unit
The switching power supply unit includes: a transformer having a primary winding and two secondary windings; and a rectifying-smoothing circuit having two rectifying elements, three choke coils and a capacitive element. A first rectifying element is between a junction of ends of the first secondary winding and the second choke coil, and one end of the capacitive element. A second rectifying element is between a junction of ends of the second secondary winding and the third choke coil, and the one end of the capacitive element. The other end of the first secondary winding and the other end of second secondary winding are connected to the one end of the first choke coil. The other end of the first choke coil, the other end of the second choke coil, and the other end of the third choke coil are connected to the other end of the capacitive element. |
| US08339807B2 |
EM shield for internal antenna of handheld terminals
A portable terminal has a first enclosure of a housing having a first interior to contain a plurality of electronic components and a ground. The terminal has a second enclosure of the housing for coupling to the first enclosure, the second enclosure having a second interior to contain an antenna and for facilitating at least one of receiving or transmitting of electromagnetic (EM) signals between the antenna and an environment external to the second enclosure. The terminal has an EM shield positioned at an interface between the first interior and the second interior, the EM shield including electrically conductive material to absorb EM radiation generated by the plurality of electronic components. Also included is an electrically conductive coupling to couple the EM shield to the ground of the first enclosure. |
| US08339806B2 |
Network communication component
A network communication component includes a case, a plurality of channels and at least one shielding. The channels are formed in the case. The shielding is disposed between two adjacent channels. Through the shielding between the channels, mutual interferences between the channels are avoided to enhance the signal communication quality. |
| US08339803B2 |
High-speed ceramic modules with hybrid referencing scheme for improved performance and reduced cost
A multi-layered ceramic package comprises: a signal layer with identified chip/device area(s)/site(s) that require a supply of power; and a voltage power (Vdd) layer and a ground (Gnd) layer disposed on opposite sides directly above or below (adjacent to) the signal layer and providing a first reference mesh plane and a second reference mesh plane configured utilizing a hybrid mesh scheme. The hybrid mesh scheme comprises different mesh configurations from among: a full dense mesh in a first area directly above or below the identified chip/device area(s); a half dense mesh in a second area that is above or below the edge(s) of the chip/device area; and a wider mesh pitch in all other areas, and the Vdd traces are aligned to run parallel and adjacent to signal lines in those other areas. Wider traces are provided within the mesh areas that run parallel and adjacent to signal lines. |
| US08339798B2 |
Printed circuit boards with embedded components
Printed circuit boards are provided with embedded components. The embedded components may be mounted within recesses in the surface of a printed circuit board substrate. The printed circuit board substrate may have grooves and buried channels in which wires may be mounted. Recesses may be provided with solder pads to which the wires may be soldered or attached with conductive adhesive. An integrated switch may be provided in an opening within a printed circuit board substrate. The integrated switch may have a dome switch member that is mounted within the opening. A cover member for the switch may be formed from a flexible layer that covers the dome switch member. Terminals for the integrated switch may be formed from conductive structures in an interior printed circuit board layer. Interconnects may be used to electrically connect embedded components such as switches, integrated circuits, solder pads for wires, and other devices. |
| US08339796B2 |
Embedded printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an embedded printed circuit board, in which electronic devices having different thicknesses can be embedded together, thus achieving highly dense electronic devices, and when electronic devices having considerably different thicknesses are embedded, two electronic devices which are comparatively thinner can be embedded in a perpendicular direction, thus reducing an embedding area and suppressing warping of the printed circuit board, and an insulating member the thickness of which is variably adjusted is interposed between base substrates, so that spaces between the electronic devices are completely filled therewith, thus solving the problem of void defects, resulting in reliable printed circuit boards, and, when a base substrate includes a core made of metal, the printed circuit board can less warp. Also a method of manufacturing the embedded printed circuit board is provided. |
| US08339795B2 |
Transmission control apparatus and mechanically and electrically integrated type electronic control apparatus
An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanically and electrically integrated type electronic control apparatus which can be embedded in a compact mechanical part, and has a compact structure while having a high wiring freedom, a high heat dissipation and a high reliability. In a mechanically and electrically integrated type electronic control apparatus provided with a control signal generating part, and an angular wiring member connecting the control signal generating part and a controlled part controlled by a control signal of the control signal generating part, installed within a conductive casing, at least the wiring member has a fixed hole, a surface including the fixed hole is coated in an insulative manner, and the fixed hole is fixed to the conductive casing mechanically while keeping an insulating property. |
| US08339791B2 |
Power supply unit
A power supply unit includes a box, a circuit board, and a power connector. A first connector is set on the sidewall of the box and electrically connected to a rectifier of the box. The circuit board includes a number of output terminals set on a first side, and a second connector set on a second side and electrically connected to the first connector. Each of the output terminals is connected to the second connector. The power connector is selectively connected to some of the output terminals via a cable and connected to a power interface, the power connector is connected to the first end of the cable, and the second end of the cable is selectively connected to corresponding output terminals according to a required input voltage of different motherboards, the power connector outputs power signals to the motherboard and receives control signals from the motherboard. |
| US08339787B2 |
Heat valve for thermal management in a mobile communications device
A thermal valve for controlling heat transfer between two electronic components is disclosed. The thermal valve includes a first thermally conductive strip that is secured to the first electronic component and a second thermally conductive strip that is secured to the second electronic component. The first strip and the second strip are located between the two electronic components. The first strip changes its shape toward making contact with the second strip in response to a temperature increase of the first electronic component, and the second strip changes its shape away from making contact with the first strip in response to a temperature increase of the second electronic component. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08339785B2 |
Water-cooling type cooler and inverter having the same
A water-cooling type cooler and an inverter employing the same are disclosed. A guide pin for distributing cooling water is formed in the middle of a cooling water flow path having a bent face, to make a flow rate of cooling water at the bent portion of the cooling water flow path uniform to thus improve cooling performance of the water-cooling type cooler. In addition, because the cooling performance of the water-cooling type cooler is improved without extending the cooling pin, an increase in the weight of the water-cooling type cooler can be reduced and a fabrication cost of the water-cooling type cooler can be reduced. |
| US08339777B2 |
Portable electronic device with improved pivoting range
A portable electronic device includes a first body, a first pivot element fixed to the first body, a shaft, a second pivot element and a second body fixed to the second pivot element. The shaft having a first block is pivoted to the first pivot element. The second pivot element having a second block is pivoted to the shaft. When the second body covering the first body rotates together with the second pivot element pivoting relatively to the shaft to form a first included angle between the first and second bodies, the second block leans against the first block to restrict the relative pivoting of the second pivot element and the shaft. Then, the second body rotates together with the shaft pivoting relatively to the first pivot element to form a second included angle greater than the first included angle between the first and second bodies. |
| US08339776B2 |
Display device and electronic device
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a base, a display module, and an connection portion. The display module includes a display screen that stands upright. The connection portion includes an extending portion that extends above the base. The connection portion is connected to the display module and is supported by the base to be rotatable about a rotation axis that extends vertically. The rotation axis is located on the display screen side with respect to the center axis of the extending portion extending along the vertical direction. |
| US08339775B2 |
Portable computing device
A portable computing device includes at least a base portion of a lightweight material that includes at least a wedge shaped top case having a trough formed at an interfacing edge thereof. The trough includes a raised portion having a first contact surface and a receiving area, and a bottom case coupled to the top case to form a complete housing for at least a portion of the portable computing device for enclosing at least a plurality of operational components and a plurality of structural components. The portable computing device also includes at least a lid portion pivotally connected to the base portion by a hinge assembly. In the described embodiments, the lid portion has a display in communication with one or more of the plurality of components in the base portion by way of or more electrical conductors that electrically connect the base portion to the lid portion. |
| US08339774B2 |
Connecting mechanism and electronic device using the same
A connecting mechanism includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, a first conduit and a second conduit. The first connecting member includes a first cylinder and a first piston movably accommodated within the first cylinder to divide the first cylinder into a first space on the one side of the first piston and a second space on the opposite side of the first piston. The second connecting member includes a second cylinder and a second piston movable accommodated within the second cylinder to divide the second cylinder into a third space on the one side of the second piston and a fourth space on the opposite side of the second piston. The first conduit communicates the first space with the third space. The second conduit communicates the second space with the fourth space. An electronic device using the connecting mechanism is also provided. |
| US08339773B2 |
Device for connecting an electric line to a circuit breaker
A device for connecting an electric line to a connection terminal for direct or indirect connection with a circuit breaker, which comprises at least one first electrically conducting body having a first end portion intended to be operatively connected to the terminal, and a second end portion intended to be operatively connected to a conductor element of the electric line, and at least one thermal conducting body comprising a hermetically sealed cavity containing a cooling fluid. The thermal conducting body is operatively coupled to the first electrically conducting body such that the hermetically sealed cavity has a first surface arranged in proximity to the first end portion and a second surface arranged in proximity to the second end portion. |
| US08339771B2 |
Conductive adhesive for use in a solid electrolytic capacitor
A capacitor containing a solid electrolytic capacitor element and a conductive adhesive disposed between the capacitor element and another optional capacitor element, an electrode termination, or both, is provided. The conductive adhesive contains a plurality of spacer particles that are substantially spherical and have a relatively large diameter. The present inventors have discovered that the use of spacer particles having the desired size and shape can provide multiple benefits to the resulting capacitor. For example, the spacer particles can limit the degree to which the adhesive is compressed during manufacture, thereby ensuring that it will have the minimum thickness needed to achieve a reliable mechanical connection to the desired part. Further, when multiple capacitor elements are employed, the spacer particles can also help ensure that proper spacing is achieved between the different elements upon manufacture of the capacitor. |
| US08339769B2 |
Method of producing a capacitor
A method of making an electrolytic capacitor includes providing a first electrode that includes a metal substrate, a carbide layer, and a carbonaceous material. The metal substrate includes a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, silver, steel, and alloys and combinations thereof. The method further includes providing a second electrode and an electrolyte. |
| US08339766B2 |
Method of manufacturing thin film capacitor and thin film capacitor
A method of manufacturing a thin film capacitor, having: a base electrode; dielectric layers consecutively deposited on the base electrode; an internal electrode deposited between the dielectric layers; an upper electrode deposited opposite the base electrode with the dielectric layers and the internal electrode being interposed therebetween; and a cover layer deposited on the upper electrode, has depositing an upper electrode layer which is to be the upper electrode, and a cover film which is to be the cover layer on the unsintered dielectric film which is to be the dielectric layer, to fabricate a lamination component, and sintering the lamination component. |
| US08339764B2 |
MEMs devices
A MEMS device comprises first and second opposing electrodes (42,46), wherein the second electrode (46) is electrically movable to vary the electrode spacing between facing first sides of the first and second electrodes. A first gas chamber (50) is provided between the electrodes, at a first pressure, and a second gas chamber (52) is provided on the second, opposite, side of the second electrode at a second pressure which is higher than the first pressure. This arrangement provides rapid switching and with damping of oscillations so that settling times are reduced. |
| US08339761B2 |
Relay failure detecting device
A relay failure detecting device able to detect reliably a fault in a relay circuit that provides alternating current power to a load through a relay that is a double-pole switch. Individual common terminals of first and second relays are connected individually to a pair of outputs terminals of an alternating current power supply, individual normally-open terminals of the first and second relays are connected to a pair of power supply input terminals, and a dummy load that is driven by the alternating current power supply through a diode between the individual normally-closed terminals of the first and second relays is provided. A fault in the first and second relays is evaluated from the state of operation of the dummy load when the first and second relays are not driven. |
| US08339760B2 |
Thermal protection circuits and structures for electronic devices and cables
Connectors for cables such as a 30-pin connector are provided. The connectors may have thermal protection circuits and may carry a power supply voltage and a ground voltage. The thermal protection circuits may disable the power supply voltage when the temperature of the connector exceeds a threshold value. The connectors may have structures that encourage any dendritic failure to occur in a preferred location. |
| US08339759B2 |
Relocatable power tap with surge protector
A relocatable power tap that includes a surge protector. The surge protector provides three modes of transient voltage surge protection while limiting leakage current caused by the relocatable power tap to less than a current limit value (e.g., 100 micro-amperes [“μA”]). The surge protector includes a first transient voltage clamp connected between a line conductor and a neutral conductor, a second transient voltage clamp connected between the line conductor and a ground conductor, and a third transient voltage clamp connected between the neutral conductor and the ground conductor. The transient voltage clamps are, for example, varistors having non-linear current-voltage characteristics. In the presence of voltages that exceed the clamping threshold voltages of the transient voltage clamps, the transient voltage clamps are configured to conduct the current associated with the transient voltage. |
| US08339758B2 |
Transient voltage suppressor and method
A transient voltage suppressor and a method for protecting against surge and electrostatic discharge events. A semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type has gate and anode regions of a second conductivity type formed therein. A PN junction diode is formed from a portion of the gate region and the semiconductor substrate. A cathode is formed adjacent to another portion of the gate region. A thyristor is formed from the cathode, the gate region, the substrate, and the anode region. Zener diodes are formed from other portions of the gate region and the semiconductor substrate. A second Zener diode has a breakdown voltage that is greater than a breakdown voltage of a first Zener diode and that is greater than a breakover voltage of the thyristor. The first Zener diode protects against a surge event and the second Zener diode protects against an electrostatic discharge event. |
| US08339748B2 |
Suspension assembly having a microactuator bonded to a flexure
Disclosed is a suspension assembly for a disk drive that includes: a mounting plate having a top-side and a bottom-side; a microactuator mounting structure formed in the mounting plate; a microactuator mounted in the microactuator mounting structure in which the microactuator has a top-side and a bottom-side; and a flexure attached to the bottom-side of the of mounting plate and the microactuator. The flexure includes a pad layer and a through-hole, in which the through-hole extends through the pad layer. An epoxy on the pad layer bonds widely to the microactuator and extends through the through-hole. |
| US08339747B1 |
Removable actuator assemblies for testing head gimbal assemblies of a storage device
Removable actuator assemblies for testing head gimbal assemblies of a storage device are provided. One such removable test assembly for a head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes an actuator base including at least one guide pin, a shoe assembly including a body including a first end portion opposite to a second end portion, a first attachment means for releaseably coupling the shoe assembly with the actuator base, the first attachment means positioned along the first end portion and including at least one hole in the body configured to receive the at least one guide pin, and a locking cam configured to rotate such that a portion of the cam is positioned over a portion of the at least one hole, and a second attachment means for releaseably coupling the shoe assembly with the HGA, the second attachment means positioned along the second end portion. |
| US08339746B2 |
Head suspension with base plate having flange aligned with and attached to auxiliary member
A head suspension has a base plate including a flange. The flange has a first face attached to the carriage arm and a second face attached to an auxiliary member. A first-face contact is circumferentially formed along an outer circumferential edge of the first face of the flange, so that the first-face contact among parts of the base plate except the boss is most proximal to the carriage arm. A second-face contact is circumferentially formed along an outer circumferential edge of the second face of the flange, so that the second-face contact among parts of the base plate including the boss is most proximal to the auxiliary member. This configuration allows the auxiliary member to be correctly aligned with and attached to the second face of the flange. |
| US08339744B2 |
Disk drive suspension
In a disk drive suspension including a baseplate and a load beam, a boss portion and protrusions are formed on the baseplate. The protrusions are formed in positions on a first surface of the baseplate off a reference mounting surface in contact with a suspension bearing surface of an actuator arm. Further, the protrusions are formed on a second surface located opposite from the first surface and project relative to the thickness of the baseplate. These protrusions serve to prevent a plurality of baseplates from closely contacting one another during their manufacture. |
| US08339743B2 |
Substrate for suspension, and production process thereof
A main object of the present invention is to provide a substrate for suspension which is produced at low costs and can sufficiently attain the prevention of damage by electrostatic discharge and restraint of noises. To attain the object, the present invention provides a substrate for suspension, comprising: a metallic substrate, an insulating layer formed on the metallic formed in substrate and having an opening from which the metallic substrate is exposed, a grounding-wiring layer formed on the insulating layer and arranged near the opening, and a ground terminal formed in the opening and contacting the metallic substrate and the grounding-wiring layer, characterized in that the ground terminal is made of a metal having a melting point of 450° C. or lower. |
| US08339740B2 |
Recording head for heat assisted magnetic recording with diffusion barrier surrounding a near field transducer
An apparatus includes a near field transducer positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface, a first magnetic pole, a heat sink positioned between the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, and a diffusion barrier positioned between the near field transducer and the first magnetic pole. The diffusion barrier can be positioned adjacent to the magnetic pole or the near field transducer. |
| US08339739B2 |
Thermally assisted recording head with near field transducer having integral heatsink
A write head structure for use with thermally assisted recording is disclosed. Improved heat sinking is provided for removing thermal energy created by a ridge aperture near field light transducer. Metal films conduct heat away from the region near the ridge aperture to the high pressure air film at the ABS between the head and media. This heat is further dissipated by the media. The metal films have varying thickness to improve lateral conductivity and may be composed of Au combined with a harder metal such as Ru to improve wear characteristics at the ABS. |
| US08339737B2 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording head including non-magnetic protruding layer
A perpendicular magnetic write head capable of suppressing damage and corrosion of a magnetic pole to secure a stable writing performance is provided. A non-magnetic protruding layer protruding from a main magnetic pole layer (tip portion) toward an air bearing surface side is formed on both sides of the tip portion in a writing track width direction. The non-magnetic protruding layer is located closer to a recording medium than the tip portion during writing operation, and is more likely to be in contact with the writing medium instead of the tip portion. Since the protective film portion covering the tip portion hardly peels off (e.g., compared to the protective film portion covering the non-magnetic protruding layer), the tip portion is hardly damaged or corroded. Since the tip portion is protected physically and chemically by the non-magnetic protruding layer, deterioration of the soft magnetic characteristics of the tip portion is suppressed. |
| US08339725B2 |
Magnetic head slider and magnetic disc drive
The invention provides a magnetic head slider and a magnetic disc drive which can position at a high precision and in a simple manner. A magnetic head slider (4) includes a recording and reproducing element (20) writing and reading data, a heat generating element (21) arranged at least in one side of directions (that is, a width direction of the magnetic head slider (4)) corresponding to a width direction of a recording track with respect to the recording and reproducing element (20), and generating heat on the basis of a current application, and a member (25) interposed at least between the recording and reproducing element (20) and the heat generating element (21) and expanding in correspondence to the heat generation of the heat generating element (21). |
| US08339722B1 |
Methods of demodulating a servo positon error signal on patterned media
Systems, methods and computer program products for estimating a position of a head in relation to a storage medium are described. A read channel can be used to receive a readback signal containing servo information obtained from a storage medium, and to demodulate the received servo information including position error signals to deduce a position of a read/write head in relation to the storage medium. The read channel can demodulate the received servo information to obtain amplitude and/or phase information. In some implementations, digital sampled values can be generated based on the readback signal, and the digital sampled values can be integrated using an integrator to obtain accurate and reliable amplitude and phase information that are used to determine the position of the read/write head. |
| US08339717B2 |
Optical lens
An optical lens includes a lens group and a diaphragm. The diaphragm is located in front of the lens group. The lens group includes three lenses, respectively the first, the second and the third lens, which are sequentially arranged as a “negative-positive-positive” separated focal power system, wherein the first lens is a negative meniscus lens, the second lens is a positive meniscus lens, the third lens is a positive meniscus lens, all the curved surfaces of the first lens, the second lens and the third lens are bent in the direction towards the diaphragm, and the focal length of the entire optical system is f, the focal lengths of the first, the second and the third lens are respectively f1, f2, and f3, and the ratio between the focal length of each lens and the focal length f of the entire optical system satisfies the following requirement: −0.7 f−0.,4; 0.9 f f0.9. |
| US08339713B2 |
Zoom optical system, optical apparatus and method for manufacturing zoom optical system
A zoom optical system comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power; and a rear lens group GR having positive refractive power; the rear lens group GR including at least a third lens group G3 that is disposed to the most object side and has positive refractive power, the third lens group G3 including at least four positive lenses L31-L33, L35 and at least one negative lens L34, at least a portion of a lens group disposed to an image side of the first lens group G1 being movable as a vibration reduction lens group in a direction including a component perpendicular to an optical axis, and a given conditional expression being satisfied, thereby providing a zoom optical system having excellent optical performance. |
| US08339711B2 |
Active matrix device and method of driving the same
An electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device which includes a plurality of array elements configured to manipulate one or more droplets of fluid on an array, each of the array elements including a corresponding array element driver circuit, wherein each array element driver circuit includes: a top substrate electrode and a first drive electrode between which the one or more droplets may be positioned, the top substrate electrode being formed on a top substrate, and the first drive electrode being formed on a lower substrate; and circuitry configured to selectively provide drive voltages to the first drive electrode to move the one or more droplets among the plurality of array elements, and wherein at least one of the plurality of array elements includes: a heater element also formed on the lower substrate and configured to heat the one or more droplets when positioned between the top substrate electrode and the first drive electrode of the at least one array element; and circuitry configured to control the heater element. |
| US08339710B2 |
Head up display device
A head up display device for a vehicle, includes a display, a reflective member, a stepping motor, and a control part. The reflective member reflects an image displayed by the display and projects the image onto a projection member, thereby displaying a virtual image. The stepping motor rotates the reflective member to adjust a display position of the virtual image. A stabilization point, at which detent torque of the stepping motor is maximized, is defined as a target rotation angle of a magnet rotor. The control part performs normal rotation control that controls amplitude of a drive signal to rotate the magnet rotor to the target rotation angle. After the control part performs the normal rotation control, the control part performs application continuation control that continues application of the drive signal for a predetermined period, with the amplitude of the drive signal at the target rotation angle being maintained. |
| US08339702B2 |
Microscope system, storage medium storing control program, and control method
A microscope system improves the operability of a user in performing a microscope observation. The microscope system attains the improvement by including: a microscope apparatus including a plurality of drive units; a display unit for displaying an operation screen for operation of the microscope apparatus; a pointing device for inputting by a pointer an operation instruction to the microscope apparatus on the operation screen; and a control unit for switching the drive units depending on the position of the pointer on the operation screen, and controlling the operation of the switched drive units depending on the operation of the pointing device. |
| US08339701B2 |
Catadioptric projection objective
A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective comprises: a first objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; a third objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging directly onto the image plane; wherein a first concave mirror having a first continuous mirror surface and at least one second concave mirror having a second continuous mirror surface are arranged upstream of the second intermediate image; pupil surfaces are formed between the object plane and the first intermediate image, between the first and the second intermediate image and between the second intermediate image and the image plane; and all concave mirrors are arranged optically remote from a pupil surface. The system has potential for very high numerical apertures at moderate lens material mass consumption. |
| US08339699B2 |
Method for amplification by spatio-temporal frequency conversion and device for carrying out said method
The present invention relates to a method of amplification based on spatio-temporal frequency drift for a pulse laser comprising a so-called CPA (Chirped Pulse Amplification) frequency-shift amplifying chain, the various spectral components spatially spread. The various components separately amplified. |
| US08339698B2 |
Raman amplifier and raman amplifier adjustment method
A pumping unit supplies pumping light to a fiber connecting medium; a light monitoring unit detects light power of multiple-wavelength light; and a control unit controls the pumping light based on light power detected by the light monitoring unit and connecting medium information indicating optical characteristics in the connecting medium. The connecting medium information includes information indicating a fiber type of the fiber connecting medium, information indicating a length of the fiber connecting medium, an average fiber loss coefficient of the fiber connecting medium and an intra-station loss value. |
| US08339695B2 |
Controllable illumination device
The invention relates to a controllable illumination device for an autostereoscopic or holographic display, which illumination device contains an illumination matrix of primary light sources having at least one luminous element per light source and a controllable light modulator (SLM) and a reproduction matrix. A computer-generated hologram (CGH) illuminated by the primary light sources (11, . . . , 1n) is coded on the controllable light modulator (SLM) and generates, in at least one plane downstream of the SLM, a matrix—reconstructed from the computer-generated hologram (CGH)—of secondary light sources (2) having a secondary light distribution for the purpose of illuminating the reproduction matrix (4) and for the purpose of focussing in light bundles onto each eye of the viewer via an imaging matrix. The CGH is calculated and reconstructed on the basis of the number of and the positions of the viewers and the system parameters. Owing to the reconstruction of the secondary light sources in a plurality of planes, it is possible for the image information of the display to be tracked for the viewers not only in the case of lateral movements but also in the axial direction. |
| US08339691B2 |
Profile creation method and profile creation apparatus
A profile creation apparatus determines whether a medium used for printing contains a fluorescent brightener, based on measured values of the medium, corrects measured values of color patches formed on the medium, based on a result of the determination, and creates a color profile based on the corrected measured values of the color patches and measured values of a viewing environment in which color patches have been formed. |
| US08339690B2 |
Halftone printing with different screens
A method of enabling preparing a printing system calibrated with a first halftone screen for printing with a second halftone screen. The calibration is represented by calibration data. Calibration data for the second halftone screen is produced from the existing calibration data of the first halftone screen without resorting to previous calibration data for the second halftone screen, based on correlation data which represent a first-order correlation between the halftone screens. |
| US08339685B2 |
Image reading apparatus
The image reading apparatus is provided with: a manuscript table on which a manuscript is placed; a reflection mirror that moves relative to the manuscript table, and that reflects light which is emitted to and then reflected by the manuscript placed on the manuscript table; an image data generating unit that includes plural light receiving pixels receiving the light reflected by the reflection mirror, and that generates image data on the basis of the light received by the plural light receiving pixels; and a positional information acquiring unit that acquires the image data generated by the image data generating unit with movement of the reflection mirror, and that acquires, on the basis of a density value of each pixel in the image data, information on a position of a pixel affected by an adhesion substance adhering to the reflection mirror. |
| US08339684B2 |
Image reading device and image reading method
An image reading device 1 includes an output acquiring unit 21 acquiring outputs from a plurality of light receiving elements 17 arranged to form an image reading surface for reading an image of an original, a difference detecting unit 22 detecting edges in the original or an end portion of the original on the basis of the outputs from at least some of the light receiving elements 17 in the outputs acquired by the output acquiring unit 21, and an image information generating unit 23 generating the image information of the original by use of the outputs from the plurality of light receiving elements 17 when the difference detecting unit 22 detects the edges or the end portion of the original. |
| US08339680B2 |
Printer image log system for document gathering and retention
A system and method for document image acquisition and retrieval which find application in litigation for responding to discovery requests are disclosed. The method includes automatically acquiring image data and associated records for documents being processed by a plurality of image output devices within an organization and archiving the image data and associated records as image logs for the processed documents. When a request for document production is received by the organization, the image logs (and/or information extracted therefrom) are automatically filtered through at least one classifier trained to return documents responsive to the document request, and documents corresponding to the filtered out image logs are output. One of the filters may be configured for filtering privileged from non-privileged documents. |
| US08339678B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method of process control based on the determination of embedded information
An apparatus, system, and method for image processing are disclosed, each of which obtains a mark from image data, detects additional information in the mark, determines whether the mark is detected in the mark to generate a determination result, and controls processing performed by an image processing apparatus with respect to the image data based on the determination result. |
| US08339675B2 |
Dynamic image dithering
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for dynamic image dithering for a printing device are described herein. Embodiments may include an image processing module to process a source image file to provide a dithered image file with print data for each of a plurality of image locations. Printing substance may be deposited and the image processing module may provide the dithered image file with additional print data based at least in part on the deposited printing substance. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08339672B2 |
Methods and systems for rendering data using graphic-list partitions and associated rendering processors
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for rendering graphical objects in a printing system. According to one aspect of the present invention a graphic list may be partitioned, and the graphic-list partitions may be rendered “out-of-order” or concurrently. |
| US08339671B2 |
Methods and systems for rendering data by partitioning a graphics list
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for rendering graphical objects in a printing system. According to one aspect of the present invention a graphic list may be partitioned, and the graphic-list partitions may be rendered “out-of-order” or concurrently. |
| US08339669B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method with sheet slip compensation
An LD switch is turned ON to output image data outputted from an image processing section to a laser diode, and to irradiate a laser light to a photosensitive drum. The number of pixel dots included in the image data outputted from the image processing section is computed by line basis to detect an image density based on the total sum of the pixel dots of each color at a timing when the image data of Nth line is outputted from the image processing section. The detected image density is compared with a threshold value to turn OFF the LD switch at a timing when the image data of (N+α)th line is outputted when the image density is greater than the threshold value. This suppresses a variation in a rear-end-void length due to sheet slippage. |
| US08339666B2 |
Color processing apparatus and method thereof
A profile for converting color data dependent on a source device into color data dependent on a destination device, and generation information used in generation of the profile are acquired. Adjustment conditions of the profile designated on a device independent color space are inputted. Color data stored in the profile and dependent on the destination device is converted into first color data on the device independent color space using the generation information. Adjustment is applied to the first color data in accordance with the adjustment conditions. The first color data, to which the adjustment is applied, is converted into second color data dependent on the destination device using the generation information. Color data stored in the profile and dependent on the destination device is modified based on the second color data. |
| US08339665B2 |
Texture map of paint colors, and its production method, production program, production system and data structure
A method including: determining at least three characteristic quantities, using a plurality of spectral reflectances measured at a plurality of light-receiving angles, for each of the plurality of paint colors; subjecting a data group including the at least three characteristic quantities to principal component analysis so as to determine a First Principal Component and Second Principal Component expressed as linear expressions, using the characteristic quantities; calculating values of the First Principal Component and Second Principal Component for the plurality of paint colors; and positioning the paint colors on a two-dimensional plane that has the First Principal Component and Second Principal Component as the two parameters and has values of the First Principal Component and Second Principal Component as coordinates. |
| US08339664B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and control method thereof
A raster image processor (RIP) can process data for one page for each of a plurality of small areas, and handles each individual small area as a display list. Each individual display list holds information required to determine a rendering resolution. The RIP renders a small area including a text object with a high resolution, and a small area which does not include any text object with a low resolution. The RIP renders the respective small areas with the designated resolutions, and temporarily holds the rendering results in a memory for respective small areas. Upon generating a page image, the RIP directly transfers the high-resolution rendering result to a page memory. The RIP transfers the low-resolution rendering result to the page memory with applying an enlarging pixel process to the rendering result. |
| US08339663B2 |
Encoding of non-indexed data for printing using indexed RGB
Machine-enabled methods of, and devices and systems for, encoding color bitmap data as indexed red-green-blue (RGB) data for printing and optional multi-functional peripheral (MFP) device raster image processor (RIP) bypass. |
| US08339657B2 |
Image data processing apparatus
An image data processing apparatus includes an execution device, a use determination device, an identification device, an execution determination device, and a control device. The execution device executes a predetermined data processing of image data. The use determination device determines at least one used amount in at least one specified portion which is used when the data processing is executed. The identification device identifies an attribute of the image data. The execution determination device determines whether or not to execute the data processing of the image data based on the attribute of the image data identified by the identification device and the at least one used amount determined by the use determination device. The control device makes the execution device execute the data processing of the image data when it is determined by the execution determination device to execute the data processing. |
| US08339656B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a profile storage section that stores distortion characteristic of a scanning line, a correcting section that corrects image data by lines in the sub scanning direction, and a registration sensor that detects a pattern image for detecting color misregistration amounts in a sub scanning direction of images formed on an intermediate transfer member. When the pattern image is formed, the distortion correcting section shifts image data of the pattern image by lines in the sub scanning direction so that, with reference to a detection position of the registration sensor, a positional displacement amount of the pattern image in the sub scanning direction becomes less than or equal to ½ of a scanning-line distance, in accordance with a positional displacement amount of the scanning line in the sub scanning direction at a detection position of the registration sensor along a main scanning direction. |
| US08339655B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method for displaying a first image while a corresponding second image is being processed
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a display section for executing display based on image data including a plurality of images; a first image processing section for generating first images respectively corresponding to the images included in the image data, to which an image process based on information of a job is not executed; a second image processing section for generating a second image obtained by executing the image process based on the information of the job to the image data of the first image currently displayed in the display section; and a control section for causing the display section to display the first image corresponding to the image data to which the job is set and to switch the currently displayed first image to the corresponding second image after completing a generation of the second image by the second image processing section. |
| US08339653B2 |
Methods and systems for rendering data based on overlap characteristics
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for rendering graphical objects in a printing system. According to one aspect of the present invention a graphic list may be partitioned, and the graphic-list partitions may be rendered “out-of-order” or concurrently. |
| US08339645B2 |
Managing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and processing method for the same, wherein a first user stores a temporary object having attribute information specified but not partial-area data, at a later time an object is received from a second user that includes both partial-area data and attribute information, the storage unit is searched for the temporary object that matches attribute information of the received object, and the first user is notified in response to a match
A temporary object is registered in a document managing system in advance on the basis information about an object that a user wants to use. Then, when an object is registered by another user, it is determined whether the registered object is a similar object corresponding to the temporary object. If the registered object is a similar object, the user is notified of that fact, and the temporary object in target document data is updated with the similar object. |
| US08339644B2 |
Printer driver, printer driver program recording medium, print data importing device, print data importing program recording medium, and installer recording medium
One embodiment of a printer driver according to the present invention includes a document data obtaining means for obtaining document data indicated by a received print instruction, a conversion means for converting the obtained document data into print data written in page description language, a transmission-use data generation means for obtaining application information indicating an application program that issued the print instruction and inserting the application information into the print data and a transmission means for transmitting the print data into which the application information was inserted to a printer device. |
| US08339641B2 |
Systems and methods for processing packaged print data streams
Systems and methods consistent with embodiments presented facilitate packaged print data processing. In some embodiments, an initial fragment of print data is parsed to determine if the print data occurs in the form of an OPC print package. If the print data is an OPC package, a language processor for a PDL is invoked using a language entry point function for the PDL, which can be determined using a text string that is present in the print job filename and in a Content Types list in a Content Types file associated with the OPC package. If the PDL language processor cannot be determined using the Content Types list then a language entry point may be determined using a file extension associated with the print job. |
| US08339638B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image reading apparatus, and image processing system
An image reading apparatus scans an original and generates image data of the original, sequentially transmits the image data while scanning the original, detects a predetermined particular image from the image data, and transmits a detection result of detecting the particular image. An image processing apparatus receives the image data and the detection result from the image reading apparatus, stores the image data in a storage unit, determines whether the detection result is received, and when it is determined that the detection result is received, restricts usage of the image data stored in the storage unit. |
| US08339637B2 |
Management apparatus, management system, operation status determination method, and image forming apparatus
A data collecting unit receives a plurality of types of status data from an image forming apparatus and stores the status data in a status database. A data generating unit generates a plurality of types of target data for determining a maintenance sign, based on the status data. A first determining unit determines whether each of the status data exceeds a predetermined reference value. A second determining unit performs weighted majority decision based on a determination result from the first determining unit and a weight value set for each of the status data, and determines whether there is a maintenance sign taking all the status data into consideration. |
| US08339635B2 |
Printer redirection
In client-server architectures, systems and methods for XPS based printer redirection are disclosed. In an implementation, a client computing device issues a print command to print an application hosted on a server computing device. The server computing device implements a generic printer driver to emulate exact properties of a client printer driver installed in the client computing device. The generic printer driver redirects one or more calls related to printer settings to the client printer driver. The client computing device returns the printer settings which are combined with the application (to be printed) to generate an XPS file. The XPS file is redirected to a printer connected to the client computing device for printing. |
| US08339634B2 |
Method for setting configuration data
A method is for setting configuration data to a print data supplying device. The print data supplying device is operable to: store data associated with at least one of a plurality of items of group information in a first storage area; generate print data based on: (1) internal print data generated by an internal print data generation program; and (2) configuration data associated with one of the items of group information corresponding to a printer to which the print data is supplied; and supply the print data to the printer. The method includes: determining whether or not a target printer is connected; generating a new item of group information corresponding to the target printer when the target printer is connected; and storing reference configuration data that is stored in a second storage area to the first storage area, as the configuration data, in association with the new item of the group information. |
| US08339631B2 |
Image forming apparatus and warming up method thereof
An image forming apparatus having a plurality of operations and a warming up method thereof, the image forming apparatus including: a user interface to receive a setting of a usage right of a user for a plurality of operations of the image forming apparatus and a login of the user while the image forming apparatus is in a power save mode; and a controller to perform a warming up for at least one operation corresponding to the usage right according to the login. |
| US08339627B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method and program
An image processing apparatus (110), which is equipped with multiple image processing functions, processes an input image using an image processing function set at the time of image input. An image processing apparatus (100) registers setup information relating to processes of respective ones of the multiple image processing functions to be applied to an image of interest, encodes the setup information and generates an identification indicator. The image of interest and the identification indicator are formed on the same print medium and output. The image processing apparatus (110) reads the print medium, extracts the image of interest and the identification indicator, analyzes the identification indicator to thereby acquire the setup information, and uses the setup information to process the image of interest by the image processing function set in the image processing apparatus (110) when the print medium was read. |
| US08339624B2 |
Image processing apparatus, and method of displaying messages in plural languages
An image processing apparatus has a function of processing a plurality of jobs in parallel. The image processing apparatus includes a job processing section, a language information receiving section, a job managing section and a display controlling section. The job processing section processes each job. The language information receiving section receives language information relating to each job. The job managing section manages the plurality of jobs while associating each job with the language information relating to each job. The display controlling section displays display information relating to each job in a language corresponding to the language information relating to each job. |
| US08339623B2 |
Paper document processing apparatus, paper document processing method, and computer readable medium
A paper document processing apparatus includes: a document image acceptance unit that accepts an image acquired; a document image recording unit that records a document image in a storage; an attribute information acquisition unit that acquires attribute information based on the document image; an acquisition result evaluation unit that evaluates whether an acquisition result of the acquired attribute information is affirmative or negative; a medium output unit that outputs information indicating a scan status of the paper document that is formed on a medium while specifying the document image for which the acquisition result of attribute information is evaluated negative; a medium acceptance unit that accepts the information formed on the medium; and an attribute information reacquisition unit that reacquires the attribute information of the document image by specifying the document image in accordance with the accepted information. |
| US08339620B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product configured for output through plural output units at corresponding output timing
An image processing apparatus subjects input image information to a predetermined image processing and outputs the image information. The image processing apparatus includes an UI processor that receives a plurality operation requests for the image information; and a request processor that interprets a combination of an input mode, of a plurality of input modes, which performs input processing, and an output mode, of a plurality of output modes, which performs output processing, and that requests the input processing from the input mode and requests the output processing from the output mode. |
| US08339616B2 |
Method and apparatus for high-speed unconstrained three-dimensional digitalization
A method and a system for optical three-dimensional (3-D) digitalization of physical objects, suitable for moving scenes, unattached to locating devices, utilizing structured light in the form of a plurality of overlapped patterns free of any intensity features, capable of obtaining frames of 3-D coordinates and textural color at video frame rates. |
| US08339603B1 |
Mapping ellipsometers and polarimeters comprising polarization state compensating beam directing means, and method of use
Mapping ellipsometer and polarimeter systems which comprise polarization state change compensating beam directing means. |
| US08339601B2 |
Counting bacteria and determining their susceptibility to antibiotics
A method for detecting and counting particles suspended in fluids, such as bacteria suspended in urine, utilizing dynamic features of the suspended particles and employing light scattering measurements. The disclosed method is suitable for determining the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. A cuvette for detecting bacteria in fluids, which is especially suited for the light scattering measurements, is provided. |
| US08339598B2 |
Compact, low cost raman monitor for single substances
Apparatus for performing Raman analysis may include a laser source module, a beam delivery and signal collection module, a spectrum analysis module, and a digital signal processing module. The laser source module delivers a laser beam to the beam delivery and signal collection module. The beam delivery and signal collection module delivers the laser source beam to a sample, collects Raman scattered light scattered from the sample, and delivers the collected Raman scattered light to the spectrum analysis module. The spectrum analysis module demultiplexes the Raman scattered light into discrete Raman bands of interest, detects the presence of signal energy in each of the Raman bands, and produces a digital signal that is representative of the signal energy present in each of the Raman bands. The digital signal processing module is adapted to perform a Raman analysis of the sample. |
| US08339597B2 |
Chemical/biological sensor employing scattered chromatic components in nano-patterned aperiodic surfaces
A label-free multiplexed sensing platform is based on light interaction with aperiodic photonic structures with an advantage of a broadband operation. Multiple-scattering-induced “fingerprinting” colorimetric signatures can be used as a transduction mechanism. Aperiodic sensing platforms can operate in the infrared to provide an overlap with spectral fingerprints of biological molecules. Miniaturized optical biosensors may be based on engineered colorimetric scattering signatures (structural color), sharp spectral features, non-uniform angular distributions of scattered light, and broadband manipulation of the local density of states in nano-textured scattering surfaces with deterministic aperiodic order. The biosensors can be fabricated in semiconductor, metal, low- and high-index dielectric platforms using standard nanofabrication techniques such as electron-beam lithography, ion-beam milling, etc, and can be replicated over large areas by standard nano-imprint lithography. |
| US08339592B2 |
Apparatus for photo reduction of contaminants in blood and blood products with calibration means
An apparatus for irradiating blood or blood products, preferably with ultra violet or visible light, to reduce contaminants in the blood or blood products. A removable radiometer having light integrating chambers detects the light intensity, allowing the radiation characteristics of the apparatus to be calibrated. A control circuit uses the measurements to control the delivery of an effective dose of illumination to blood or blood products in a bag or container. One or more light integrating optical chambers in the radiometer allow a single light sensor to sense light across an entire field. Thermistors in the irradiating apparatus or the radiometer or both sense the temperature of photo sensors. The control circuit compensates for temperature-dependant variations in the output of the photo sensors. |
| US08339589B2 |
Check and U.S. bank note processing device and method
A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes. The device comprises an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes and an output receptacle. The device further comprises a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner. The image scanner is configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner. The device is configured to determine the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner. The device further comprises a memory configured to store the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes. |
| US08339587B2 |
Method for detecting a malfunctioning egg picker
Methods and apparatus are provided that automatically determine whether or not eggs designated for removal from an egg carrier have been removed by an egg removal apparatus. Light is emitted along a path above and across an egg carrier as an egg picker moves to pick up an egg. The length of time that the light path is blocked when the egg picker is moved is measured and used to determine whether or not the egg has been removed from the carrier. Another apparatus and method is provided for detecting a malfunctioning egg picker. A detection device detects a number of eggs in the egg carrier. A control device monitors the egg picker and the detection device. The control device calculates the number of eggs in the egg carrier for determining when the number of eggs varies a predetermined amount from an egg count number for the egg carrier. |
| US08339585B2 |
Transducer module
Transducer modules for use in a blood analysis instrument and methods for analyzing a blood sample. The transducer modules presented generally include a light source, a focus-alignment system, a flow cell, and a light scatter detection system. Electrodes within the flow cell allow for the measurement of the DC impedance and RF conductivity of cells passing through a cell-interrogation zone in the flow cell. Light scatter from the cells passing through the cell-interrogation zone is measured by the light scatter detection system. The light scatter detection system measures the light scatter parameters of upper median light scatter, lower median angle light scatter, low angle light scatter, and axial light loss. The presented methods for analyzing a blood sample generally include aspirating a whole blood sample into a blood analysis instrument, preparing the blood sample for analysis, passing the blood sample through a flow cell in a transducer system, and measuring axial light loss, multiple angles of light scatter, DC impedance and/or RF conductivity. |
| US08339584B2 |
Velocity measuring system
A laser Doppler velocimeter uses self-mixing amplification of backreflections from scatterers below the surface of a flow.A time domain signal is divided into segments that are roughly equal to a transit time of particles through a focus of a laser beam. The segments are connected to a frequency domain through the use of an FFT algorithm to produce frequency domain data segments. Signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced through signal processing techniques using the segments to produce a final enhanced signal spectrum. |
| US08339583B2 |
Visual detection of clear air turbulence
Presented is a system and method for detecting clear air turbulence comprising an image capturing element, a lens having focal length adapted to focus a scene onto the image capturing element such that the combination of the lens and array of pixels are capable of optically resolving any visual distortions of features in the scene that are caused by turbulent air, and a processor. The processor compares the image with a subsequent image, or a stored image of the scene, to detect a change in refraction of light received from the feature in the scene that is due to turbulence and produces an indication of the area of turbulence in the scene. |
| US08339582B2 |
Apparatus and method to correct image
An apparatus and method of correcting an image are provided. The apparatus includes a receiver to receive a depth value and a luminous intensity, the depth value and the luminous intensity being measured by at least one depth sensor, and a correction unit to read a correction depth value of a plurality of correction depth values mapped to different depth values and different luminous intensities from a first storage unit and to correct the measured depth value using the read correction depth value, the correction depth value being mapped to the measured depth value and the measured luminous intensity. |
| US08339581B2 |
Systems and methods for quantum receivers for target detection using a quantum optical radar
A quantum-illumination receiver is described comprising a phase-conjugation and mixing system for mixing and/or conjugating the idler beam from an entangled light transmitter and the return beam from the target to produce an output beam that is representative of the presence or absence of the target, a light beam collector for receiving a return light beam from the target region and directing the return light beam from a target region to the phase-conjugation and mixing system input, an optical input for receiving an idler light beam from a transmitter and directing the idler light beam from the transmitter to the phase-conjugation and mixing system, a sensor for measuring the output of the phase-conjugation and mixing system, and a processor to process the output of the sensor to make an determination about the presence of the target. |
| US08339580B2 |
Sensor-guided threat countermeasure system
A countermeasure system for use by a target to protect against an incoming sensor-guided threat. The system includes a laser system for producing a broadband beam and means for directing the broadband beam from the target to the threat. The countermeasure system comprises the steps of producing a broadband beam and directing the broad band beam from the target to blind or confuse the incoming sensor-guided threat. |
| US08339578B2 |
Optical system, exposure system, and exposure method
An optical system is able to achieve a substantially azimuthal polarization state in a lens aperture while suppressing loss of light quantity, based on a simple configuration. The optical system of the present invention is provided with a birefringent element for achieving a substantially circumferential distribution or a substantially radial distribution as a fast axis distribution in a lens aperture, and an optical rotator located behind the birefringent element and adapted to rotate a polarization state in the lens aperture. The birefringent element has an optically transparent member which is made of a uniaxial crystal material and a crystallographic axis of which is arranged substantially in parallel with an optical axis of the optical system. A light beam of substantially spherical waves in a substantially circular polarization state is incident to the optically transparent member. |
| US08339576B2 |
Projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
A projection lens of a projection exposure apparatus, for imaging a mask which can be positioned in an object plane onto a light-sensitive layer which can be positioned in an image plane, includes a housing, in which at least one optical element is arranged, at least one partial housing which is arranged within said housing and which at least regionally surrounds light passing from the object plane as far as the image plane during the operation of the projection lens, and a reflective structure, which reduces a light proportion which reaches the image plane after reflection at the at least one partial housing, by comparison with an analogous arrangement without said reflective structure. |
| US08339575B2 |
Off-axis objectives with rotatable optical element
An objective and a method for operating an objective, in particular a projection objective or an illumination objective for microlithography for imaging a reticle onto a wafer, with a plurality of optical elements that are arranged along a ray path, wherein at least one optical element of a first kind (1) is provided, which is irradiated only partially by a ray bundle, wherein the one or more optical element(s) of the first kind are rotatably mounted or positionable about the optical axis or an axis parallel thereto, wherein, for each optical element of the first kind at least two mounting positions are provided, and wherein the rotation angle between the two mounting positions is defined by the surface (7) irradiated by the ray bundle such that, in the various mounting positions, the surfaces irradiated by the ray path do not overlap. |
| US08339570B2 |
Mark position detection device and mark position detection method, exposure apparatus using same, and device manufacturing method
The mark position detection device of the present invention, which detects a position of a mark provided on a substrate, includes an image sensor with changeable resolution and readout area, an optical system that directs light reflected from the mark to the image sensor, and a control unit configured to detect the position of the mark based on an output of the image sensor. The control unit performs a first position detection based on the output of the image sensor with a first resolution and a first readout area, and a second position detection based on the output of the image sensor with a second resolution, which has higher resolution than the first resolution, and a second readout area, which is determined to be narrower than the first readout area and lies within the first readout area based on the first position detection. |
| US08339566B2 |
Low-twist chiral liquid crystal polarization gratings and related fabrication methods
A polarization grating includes a substrate and a first polarization grating layer on the substrate. The first polarization grating layer includes a molecular structure that is twisted according to a first twist sense over a first thickness defined between opposing faces of the first polarization grating layer. Some embodiments may include a second polarization grating layer on the first polarization grating layer. The second polarization grating layer includes a molecular structure that is twisted according to a second twist sense that is opposite the first twist sense over a second thickness defined between opposing faces of the second polarization grating layer. Also, a switchable polarization grating includes a liquid crystal layer between first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules having respective relative orientations that are rotated over a thickness defined between opposing faces thereof by a twist angle that is different from a relative phase angle between respective first and second periodic alignment conditions of the first and second substrates. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed. |
| US08339561B2 |
Wiring substrate, tape package having the same, and display device having the same
A wiring substrate includes a base film, a plurality of first wirings and a plurality of second wirings. The base film has a chip-mounting region configured for mounting a semiconductor chip thereon. The first wirings extend in a first direction from inside the chip-mounting region to outside the chip-mounting region, and include first connection end portions extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The first connection end portions may be formed inside the chip-mounting region and configured to electrically connect to the semiconductor chip. The second wirings extend in the first direction from inside the chip-mounting region to outside the chip-mounting region, and include second connection end portions extending in the opposite direction to the second direction in which the first connection end portions extend, and the second connection end portions may be formed inside the chip-mounting region and configured to electrically connect to the semiconductor chip. |
| US08339554B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus having the same
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate; a second substrate arranged to face the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a pixel electrode disposed over the substrate; and a common electrode overlapping the pixel electrode, and the common electrode having curved portions between slits in the common electrode. |
| US08339544B2 |
Display panel, thin film transistor array panel, and method for repairing display panel
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a display panel having a plurality of pixels, the display panel including a first substrate, and a color filter including a plurality of first color filters disposed on the first substrate and a second color filter having a black color and disposed in the same layer as the first color filters. |
| US08339535B2 |
Display, front cover thereof, mold of front cover, and manufacturing method for front cover
The present invention provides a display improved in an exterior appearance by a front cover, and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the front cover covers a display panel and includes a translucent layer which transmits colored light, and a transparent layer to receive and transmit the colored light, wherein the translucent layer and the transparent layer are integrally formed. The front cover may be capable of implementing a natural tone variation thereon. |
| US08339534B2 |
Display device
A display device includes gate lines; data lines; charge control lines each including a charge control voltage input pad; first and second thin film transistors (TFTs) each including control and input electrodes connected to the gate and data lines, respectively; a first liquid crystal capacitor connected to an output electrode of the first TFT; a second liquid crystal capacitor connected to an output electrode of the second TFT; a charge control TFT including a control electrode and an input electrode connected to one of the charge control lines and the second pixel electrode, respectively; and a charge-down capacitor connected to an output electrode of the charge control TFT. A duration time of a turn-on voltage pulse applied to the charge control TFT is different from a duration time of a turn-on voltage pulse applied to the first TFT transistor or the second TFT. |
| US08339533B2 |
Vertical alignment mode liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A vertical alignment liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate. The first substrate includes a first insulation substrate, as well as a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode disposed in a same layer with the first pixel electrode on the first insulation substrate. The second substrate includes a second insulation substrate, a first patterned conductive layer disposed on only a portion of the second insulation substrate which is above the first pixel electrode, and a second patterned conductive layer disposed on only a portion of the second insulation substrate which is above the second pixel electrode. |
| US08339532B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An active matrix liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal layer; two substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal layer; and electrodes respectively provided in the two substrates, the electrodes applying voltage across the liquid crystal layer. A first electrode (15) in the substrate including a pixel selecting element (11) has a striped electrode pattern (15c) aligning liquid crystal molecules along a stripe line direction when voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer. A contact (25h) of the first electrode (15) with the selecting element (11) is formed in a region opposed to, along a film thickness direction, a first region to which a signal liner (GLi) is allocated. This provides a liquid crystal display device in which a contact is made with the pixel electrode having the striped electrode pattern having the periodical arrangement, while alignment disorder of the liquid crystal molecules is not reflected on display. |
| US08339531B2 |
Display device
A display device in which a pixel voltage is held at low power consumption without any influence from fluctuation in threshold voltage is provided. A liquid crystal capacitor element (Clc) is formed between a pixel electrode (20) and a counter electrode (80). A counter voltage (Vcom) is applied to the counter electrode (80). The pixel electrode (20), one ends of a first switch circuit (22) and a second switch circuit (23), and a first terminal of a second transistor (T2) form an internal node (N1). The other end of the first switch circuit (22) is connected to a source line (SL). The second switch circuit (23) has the other end connected to a voltage supply line (VSL) and is a series circuit of transistors (T1 and T2). A control terminal of the transistor (T1), a second terminal of the transistor (T2), and one end of the boost capacitor element (Cbst) form an output node (N2). The other end of the boost capacitor element (Cbst), the control terminal of the transistor (T2), and the control terminal of the transistor (T3) are connected to a boost line (BST), a reference line (REF), and a selecting line (SEL), respectively. |
| US08339530B2 |
Display device, electronic device and method of driving display device
The present invention provides a display device which can display characters clearly and display images smoothly. An area gray scale method is adopted and a configuration of one pixel is changed depending on a mode, by selecting one or more display regions in each pixel. When characters are needed to be displayed clearly, one pixel is configured by selecting a stripe arrangement. Thus, clear display can be conducted. When images are needed to be displayed, one pixel is configured by selecting an indented state. Thus, smooth display can be conducted. |
| US08339528B2 |
Erasing device and method of display medium, and erasing signal setting method
To provide an erasing device whose power consumption required for erasing operations is suppressed, which does not spoil the portability of an optical writing type display medium. In a first display function layer, voltages applied to two cholesteric liquid crystal layers when an erasing voltage is applied between a pair of electrodes are defined as V1, V2, respectively, and threshold voltages with which the cholesteric liquid crystal layers change to the homeotropic alignment are defined as Vth1, Vth2, respectively. In that case, in a state the voltages V1 and V2 are determined according to only each resistance of the cholesteric liquid crystal layers and resistance of a photoconductive layer, i.e., a sufficient time has passed from a point at which the erasing voltage is applied, V1≧Vth1 and V2≧Vth2 apply. |
| US08339527B2 |
Thin touch panel
A thin touch panel includes a transparent substrate with a black bordering around the inner surface of the transparent substrate. A plurality of metal connecting structures, metal guiding lines, transparent insulating structures and a transparent sensing layer are formed on the inner surface, so that the transparent substrate not only provides a touch surface, but also has the touch sensing ability, to decrease the manufacture material and increase the transmittance of the touch panel. Besides, the manufacture of the thin touch panel may not use any optical adhesive to decrease the manufacture cost and improve the yield. Further, the thin touch panel may satisfy the trend of thin design. |
| US08339524B2 |
Projection system and expansion module
A projection system and an expansion module adapted to a projector are provided. The projection system includes a projector and an expansion module. The expansion module includes a housing, a logic circuit, and an output port. The logic circuit is disposed in the housing to control an operation of the expansion module. The output port is disposed in the housing and coupled to the logic circuit. The output port is connected to an input port of the projector and outputs a data stream to the input port, such that the projector generates an image and projects the image according to the data stream. |
| US08339521B2 |
Electronic apparatus and method for assisting in remote control
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a display controller, a communication module and a determination module. The display controller is configured to display an operation screen, which is used for operating another electronic apparatus, on a display. The communication module is configured to transmit an operation signal, which indicates an operation in accordance with the operation screen, to the another electronic apparatus. The determination module is configured to determine that a function of the another electronic apparatus is activated in response to transmission of the operation signal. The display controller includes an object generation module configured to generate an object representing an operation button for activating a function of the another electronic apparatus with one operation and to arrange the generated object on the operation screen, when the determination module determines that the function is activated through a plurality of operations. |
| US08339520B2 |
Digital broadcast receiver and method for receiving digital broadcast
The digital broadcast receiver 10 includes the first tuner 106 and the second tuner 107. The first tuner 106 receives a certain channel, whereas the second tuner 107 performs channel detection at a predetermined cycle. If the reception level of the certain channel currently received by the first tuner 106 becomes lower than a threshold, the digital broadcast receiver 10 switches the channel received by the first tuner 106 to a channel whose reception level is equal to or higher than the threshold among channels detected by the second tuner 107. |
| US08339516B2 |
Noise reduction method and unit for an image frame
A method and unit for noise reduction in a current image frame, wherein the current image frame is a part of a sequence of image frames. The method compares a current pixel value of a pixel within the current image frame with a corresponding pixel value of the pixel in at least one adjacent image frame, and determines a piled-up value of the current pixel value and the corresponding pixel value if a pixel difference between the current pixel value and the corresponding pixel value is below a pixel threshold, wherein the pixel threshold depends on the corresponding pixel value and/or the current pixel value. The method and unit can be applied for block and color processing as well. |
| US08339515B2 |
Image signal generating apparatus, image signal generating method, and image signal generating program
Disclosed is an image signal generating apparatus that includes a video information obtaining unit that obtains a plurality of video information, a characteristic information obtaining unit that obtains a plurality of predetermined characteristic information from each of the plurality of video information obtained by the video information obtaining unit, and a sorting unit that changes an order of displaying the plurality of the video information based on each of the plurality of characteristic information obtained from the characteristic information obtaining unit. The image signal generating apparatus further includes a display image signal generating unit that generates a video signal to display the plurality of video information based on information obtained, as a result of changing the order of displaying the plurality of the video information, from the sorting unit. |
| US08339514B2 |
Modular flexible software architecture for TV
Rather than have a unique code set per TV product, a common code base is provided to service multiple products and even multiple product lines. Embedded systems can be upgraded through a network connection. The software architecture provides a flexible approach to supporting multiple product offerings through a plug-in modular middle-ware and to providing standardized hardware acceleration for both 2D and 3D graphics. The plug-in capability provides for feature additions and upgrades after sale. |
| US08339510B2 |
Vibrating device and image equipment having the same
A vibrating device includes a vibrator having a dust-screening member which is shaped like a plate as a whole and has at least one side that is symmetric with respect to a symmetry axis, and a vibrating member secured to the dust-screening member and configured to produce, at the dust-screening member, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to a surface of the dust-screening member, and a hold and support member configured to hold and support the vibrator to a fixed member. The hold and support position by the hold and support member is arranged at position along a circle or ellipse concentric to the centroid of the vibrator such that peak ridges of the vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface of the dust-screening member form closed loops. |
| US08339508B2 |
Method and apparatus for low-light imaging enhancement
A device and methods are provided for low-light imaging enhancement by a digital imaging device. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an image associated with ambient lighting of a scene, detecting an image associated with artificial lighting of the scene, aligning the image associated with ambient lighting relative to the image associated with artificial lighting based on a motion parameter of ambient lighting image data and artificial lighting image data, and calculating data for a combined image based on aligned ambient lighting image data and artificial lighting image data, wherein image data for the combined image is selected to maximize an objective quality criterion of the combined image. The method may further include determining an image parameter based on ambient lighting image data, blending image data associated with the artificial lighting and the combined image based on the image parameter to generate a tone rendered image. |
| US08339507B2 |
Flash device and image capture device having same
A flash device includes a stationary frame, a light emitting portion, a driving unit and a resilient plate. The light emitting portion is moveably received in the stationary frame and is spaced from the stationary frame. The driving unit includes a first magnetic assembly and a second magnetic assembly. The first magnetic assembly is positioned on the stationary frame. The second magnetic assembly is positioned on the light emitting portion and faces the first magnetic assembly. The driving unit is configured for driving the light emitting portion to move relative to the stationary frame through magnetical interaction between the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly. The resilient plate interconnects the stationary frame and the light emitting portion. The resilient plate is configured for moving the light emitting portion relative to the stationary frame. |
| US08339505B2 |
Electronic camera
An electronic camera includes an imaging device. The imaging device has an imaging surface irradiated with an optical image of an object scene that undergoes a focus lens, and outputs an object scene image produced on the imaging surface. A CPU predicts a focus direction based on a focus position registered in a register when a shutter button is half-depressed. The CPU also changes a position of the focus lens by referencing a prediction result of the focus direction, and based on the object scene image outputted from the imaging device in parallel with this change process, adjusts the position of the focus lens to the focus position. The CPU further registers the adjusted position of the focus lens, as the focus position, into the register. |
| US08339504B2 |
Optical element drive mechanism and image pickup apparatus having the same
An image pickup apparatus including a lens barrel with a bending optical system, in which a reflection optical element is movable between a storage state and a photographing state. When a rotary cylinder that retains a lens group to which light beams from an object are incident is being driven by a drive source to advance and retreat between a storage state and a photographing state, the coupling between a cam mechanism for rotary cylinder operation and a driving force transmission gear train for optical element operation is automatically established and released, whereby the operation for moving the reflection optical element between the storage state and the photographing state can be achieved by a single drive source. |
| US08339503B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging device
The lens barrel is a lens barrel for forming an optical image of a subject on an imaging element, comprising a first lens unit, a second lens unit, a focus lens unit, a zoom mechanism, and a focus actuator. The focus lens unit is movably supported by the second lens unit in the optical axis direction. The operating force inputted to the zoom control is mechanically transmitted to at least one of the first lens unit and the second lens unit. The focus actuator is fixed to the second lens unit and electrically drives the focus lens unit relative to the second lens unit in the optical axis direction. The second lens unit or the focus lens unit is disposed nearest to the image plane in the optical system including the first lens element, the second lens element, and the focus lens. |
| US08339498B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying luminance, and digital photographing apparatus using the same
Provided are a method and apparatus for displaying luminance. The method includes displaying luminance information corresponding to horizontal and vertical axes of an image. Accordingly, the total luminance of the image and luminance information on positions and regions of the image can be detected intuitively. |
| US08339493B2 |
Electric camera
An electric camera includes an image sensing device with a light receiving surface having N vertically arranged pixels and an arbitrary number of pixels arranged horizontally, N being equal to or more than three times the number of effective scanning lines M of a display screen of a television system, a driver to drive the image sensing device to vertically mix or cull signal charges accumulated in individual pixels of K pixels to produce, during a vertical effective scanning period of the television system, a number of lines of output signals which corresponds to 1/K the number of vertically arranged pixels N of the image sensing device, K being an integer equal to or less than an integral part of a quotient of N divided by M, and a signal processing unit having a function of generating image signals by using the output signals of the image sensing device. |
| US08339492B2 |
Image sensor inhibiting electrical shorts in a contract plug penetrating an image sensing device and method for manufacturing the same
An image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. An image sensor comprises a readout circuitry, an interlayer dielectric, an interconnection, an image sensing device, and a contact. The readout circuitry is formed at a first substrate. The interlayer dielectric is formed on the first substrate. The interconnection is formed in the interlayer dielectric. The interconnection is electrically connected to the readout circuitry. The image sensing device is formed on the interconnection. The image sensing device comprises a first conductive type layer and a second conductive type layer. The contact connects the first conductive type layer of the image sensing device and the interconnection electrically. The contact is isolated from the second conductive type layer by a trench formed in the second conductive layer around the contact. |
| US08339487B2 |
Color filter array, imaging device, and image processing unit
A color filter array includes a plurality of filters, each having one of a plurality of types of spectral sensitivity and being disposed at the location of a corresponding one of a plurality of pixels. The filters of a predetermined type selected from among the plurality of types are arranged at the locations of the pixels in a checkered pattern, and the filters of some or all of the other types are randomly arranged at the pixel locations at which the filters of the predetermined type are not present. |
| US08339486B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus, imaging method, and imaging system
A solid-state imaging apparatus 10 includes a solid-state imaging device 40, and a color filter 16 constituted of a first color filter 16a (first filter) and a second color filter 16b (second filter). The solid-state imaging device 40 photoelectrically converts light incident to a face S1 (first face) thereof to thereby capture an image of an object to be imaged. Arranged on the face S1 of the solid-state imaging device 40 is the first color filter 16a and second color filter 16b. The first color filter 16a is a filter that allows first wavelength band light to be selectively transmitted therethrough; the second color filter 16b is a filter that allows second wavelength band light in the longer wavelength side relative to the first wavelength band to be selectively transmitted therethrough. |
| US08339484B2 |
Image processing method
An image processing method for executing edge enhancement for an original image includes: extracting edge components based upon the original image; correcting the extracted edge components by attenuating the individual edge components so that a frequency distribution related to intensity of the edge components approximates a Gaussian distribution assuming a specific width; and executing edge enhancement for the original image based upon the corrected edge components. |
| US08339483B2 |
Image processing device, solid-state imaging device, and camera module
According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes a shading correcting unit, a distortion correcting unit, a lens-characteristic estimating unit, and a resolution restoring unit. The shading correcting unit, the distortion correcting unit, the lens-characteristic estimating unit, the resolution restoring unit carry out signal processing for each of image data obtained by a plurality of sub-camera modules. |
| US08339477B2 |
Digital camera capable of detecting name of captured landmark and method thereof
A digital camera capable of detecting a name of a captured landmark is described. The digital camera includes an environmental condition capturer, a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit, and a map data table. The map data table includes a plurality of landmark names and a plurality of landmark coordinates corresponding to the landmark names. A method for detecting the name of the captured landmark using by the digital camera includes the steps of capturing an image, and obtaining a focusing distance, in which the image includes at least one of the captured landmark; capturing an environmental condition including shooting information and searching information; obtaining a search focus range according to the environmental condition and the focusing distance; and looking up the map data table according to the search focus range and the shooting information to obtain an output coordinate and the landmark name corresponding to the captured landmark. |
| US08339476B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and control method for same, and image sensing system
An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor including a plurality of pixels, a control unit that, during an exposure operation that generates an image in the image sensor, reads out signals of a first portion of pixels among an entire frame of pixels from the image sensor, outputs an image based on the signals of the first portion of pixels to a display unit, and, when the exposure operation is completed, reads out signals of the entire frame of pixels from the image sensor, and an image processing unit that generates an image by adding the signals of the first portion of pixels to signals of the entire frame of pixels for corresponding pixels. |
| US08339474B2 |
Gain controlled threshold in denoising filter for image signal processing
An image processing system is disclosed which uses gain information from an input image to determine a threshold value used to filter the input image. The gain information is indicative of the amount of illumination of the input image and thus the noise level. The image processing system includes an image processor, a converter and a filter. The image processor receives and processes first image information into second image information and extracts the gain information from the first image information. The converter converts the gain information into a filter threshold, which is used by the filter to filter the second image information to provide filtered image information. The converter may include a lookup table storing noise characteristic estimates or the threshold values. The threshold values may further be based on subband size. The filter may be a wavelet-based transform denoising filter. |
| US08339468B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and image pickup apparatus
In an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image pickup apparatus according to an aspect of the invention, a compression characteristic is generated based on one of multiple smoothed images to be generated based on an input image, and a compressed base component image having a smaller dynamic range than the dynamic range of a base component image is generated by using the compression characteristic. The image processing device, the image processing method, and the image pickup apparatus enable to more advantageously define a proper compression characteristic, and compress the dynamic range of the input image in a simplified manner and with high quality, as compared with the background art. |
| US08339464B2 |
Universal test system for controlling a plurality of parameters concerning the operation of a device for presenting optoelectronic information of various types
According to the invention, the test system uses a digital photography device (4) that can be remotely controlled from a computer system including a processor (20) coupled to a man/machine interface (21) and to the presentation device to be tested by a remote transmission means. A means is further provided for centering the photographic apparatus (4) opposite the presentation device (5) to be tested. The processor (20) is programmed so as to carry out a self-positioning phase of the photographic apparatus, an automatic focalization phase of the lens, and a test phase of the information presentation device. |
| US08339461B2 |
Signal converting apparatus capable of linearly or non-linearly updating reference parameters
A signal converting apparatus includes the following elements. A converting section converts an input signal into output signals on the basis of the values of reference parameters, serving as references of a plurality of parameters for signal conversion, and the values of newly proposed parameters. An evaluation input receiving section receives an evaluation input indicating the selection of either the output signal based on the values of the reference parameters or the output signal based on the values of the newly proposed parameters. A parameter updating section linearly changes the values of the newly proposed parameters when the evaluation input indicates the selection of the output signal based on the values of the newly proposed parameters, and nonlinearly changes the values of the reference and newly proposed parameters when the evaluation input indicates the selection of the output signal based on the values of the reference parameters. |
| US08339460B2 |
Video signal processing integrated circuit
A video signal processing integrated circuit comprising: a test signal generation circuit configured to generate a test signal in conformity with video additional data superimposed on a video signal; a data slicer configured to binarize the test signal through comparison with a slice level, the test signal being supplied from the test signal generation circuit; and a data processing circuit configured to perform data processing of the video additional data binarized by the data slicer. |
| US08339453B2 |
Apparatus for use in association with a vehicle
An apparatus for use in association with a vehicle having a windshield (38) includes a module (30) having an end portion which pivotally engages a bracket (40) connected with the windshield. The module (30) is pivotal relative to the bracket (40) to press a rain sensor coupler (34) connected with the module against the windshield (38) with a predetermined force. A camera assembly (72) may be disposed in the module (30). The camera assembly (72) may include an image sensor (154) and a camera lens (150). A polarizer lens (202) is disposed adjacent to the camera lens (150). |
| US08339448B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit operable to capture a subject to generate image data, an extracting unit operable to extract feature quantity information indicative of a feature of the subject from the image data generated by the imaging unit, a storing unit operable to store the feature quantity information extracted by the extracting unit as a registration candidate, a determining unit operable to determine whether a subject indicated by the feature quantity information extracted by the extracting unit is a same face indicated by the feature quantity information stored in the storing unit as the registration candidate, and a display unit operable to display a screen for prompting a user to perform an operation concerning registration in accordance with number of times the determining unit determines that the subject indicated by the feature quantity information extracted by the extracting unit is the same subject indicated by the feature quantity information stored in the storing unit as the registration candidate. |
| US08339446B2 |
Adaptive camera and illuminator eyetracker
An eye tracker includes at least one illuminator for illuminating an eye, at least two cameras for imaging the eye, and a controller. The configuration of the reference illuminator(s) and cameras is such that, at least one camera is coaxial with a reference illuminator and at least one camera is non-coaxial with a reference illuminator. The controller is adapted to select one of the cameras to be active to maximize an image quality metric and avoid obscuring objects. The eye tracker is operable in a dual-camera mode to improve accuracy. A method and computer-program product for selecting a combination of an active reference illuminator from a number of reference illuminators, and an active camera from a plurality of cameras are provided. |
| US08339441B2 |
Frame processing device, television receiving apparatus and frame processing method
A three-dimensional video is appropriately displayed. A frame processing device includes: a frame extraction module configured to sequentially extract image frames for left eye and for right eye from a three-dimensional video signal; a frame group generation module configured to alternately generate frame groups for left eye and for right eye based on the extracted image frames for left eye and for right eye; a frame storage module configured to sequentially store the alternately generated frame groups for left eye and for right eye; a video processing module configured to sequentially extract the image frames from the frame storage module, and sequentially rewriting a display screen; and a display invalidation module configured to invalidate the display on the display screen during periods of rewriting the image frame for left eye to that for right eye and the image frame for right eye to that for left eye. |
| US08339440B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling multipoint conference
A method and an apparatus for controlling a multipoint conference are disclosed. The method includes: determining resolution-layered coding parameters of each terminal, and sending them to their corresponding terminals; receiving the code streams sent by each terminal, selecting code streams to be displayed by each terminal among the received code streams according to the display requirements of each terminal, and transcoding or mapping the selected code streams to the code streams decodable by the terminal; and sending the code streams decodable by each terminal to their corresponding terminals. The embodiments of the present invention use an MCU to control the resolution-layered coding, and therefore, the system can include both the terminal supporting the layering protocol and the terminal supporting no layering protocol. In addition, the calculation is reduced, and the system efficiency is improved. |
| US08339437B2 |
Video communication method, video communication system and integrated media resource server
The present invention discloses a video communication method and system, wherein, during an audio conversation between a calling party and a called party, an IMRS (Integrated Media Resource Server) plays a video to the calling party or the called party; or when a calling party initiates a video phone call request to a called party which does not support video phone call, an audio channel is established between the calling party and the called party and a video channel is established between the calling party and an IMRS, and when an audio conversation is established between the calling party and the called party, the IMRS plays video to the calling party; or when an audio conversation and a video conversation are established between a calling party and a called party, one party replaces its video with that played to the other party by the IMRS, therefore capabilities of developing new communication services are improved. |
| US08339435B2 |
Image forming apparatus and optical scanning unit
An optical scanning unit may include a light source unit configured to emit a light beam, an optical housing configured to receive and support the light source unit, an optical device configured to deflect the light beam and to focus the light beam on a light receiving member, and a fixing member configured to fix the light source unit to the optical housing by applying pressure to the light source unit, wherein the pressure is applied in a direction, which is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the light source unit. |
| US08339432B2 |
Conveyance mechanism, recording apparatus including the conveyance mechanism, and roll paper conveyance method using the conveyance mechanism
A conveyance mechanism is configured to convey a leading part of a roll paper pulled out of a wound part of the roll paper via a conveyance path including a curved portion bent toward an opposite direction to a winding direction of the roll paper wound in a roll shape. The conveyance mechanism includes a control unit configured to control conveyance of the roll paper in such a manner that a front end portion of the roll paper becomes greater with respect to number of times or total time in passing through the curved portion compared to a central portion of the leading part of the roll paper pulled out of the roll paper wound in the roll shape in a longitudinal direction. |
| US08339431B2 |
Thermal head and printer
Provided is a thermal head including an intermediate layer between a support substrate and an upper substrate, which is capable of suppressing heat dissipation toward the support substrate while maintaining printing quality. Employed is a thermal head (1) including: an upper substrate (5); a support substrate (3) bonded in a stacked state on one surface side of the upper substrate (5); a heating resistor (7) provided on another surface side of the upper substrate (5); and an intermediate layer (6) including a concave portion that forms a cavity portion (4) in a region corresponding to the heating resistor (7), the intermediate layer (6) being provided between the upper substrate (5) and the support substrate (3), in which the intermediate layer (6) is formed of a plate-shaped glass material having a lower melting point than melting points of the upper substrate (5) and the support substrate (3). |
| US08339420B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing size-appropriate images to be displayed by an electronic device with a small display area
The contents of a small image displayed on the back side can be made easy to understand. A layout managing portion outputs display area information indicating display areas of respective small images displayed on the small image list, and arrangement information of respective small images displayed on the small image list. An image zooming portion produces a zoom image by zooming in or out an image of a main area of an original image extracted by a main area extracting portion in response to an area of the display area being output from the layout managing portion produces the small images displayed on the small image list by expanding or contracting the produced zoom image. An image layout designing portion produces the small image list by arranging respective generated small images at predetermined locations of the small image list, based on arrangement information output from the layout managing portion. |
| US08339419B1 |
Systems and methods for collecting and providing map images
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to collecting images of maps at plurality of client devices, orienting the images with respect to the Earth, and providing the oriented maps to users. The map images may be collected by users who orient the maps by arranging the position of the image over a picture of the Earth. In another example, users may orient the maps by using “pushpins” to indicate the location of two or more points in the map image to two or more locations on the image of the Earth. The images may be processed in order to generate high quality images which may then be downloaded and used by other users. |
| US08339413B2 |
Multiplied occluding transparency graphics processing
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for rendering an artwork comprising a plurality of surfaces, wherein the plurality of surfaces comprises a plurality of semi-transparent surfaces. Each of the semi-transparent surfaces may be rendered to a first image buffer at a multi-sampled resolution. Each of the rendered semi-transparent surfaces at the multi-sampled resolution may be multiplied by one or more transparency values of one or more of the plurality of surfaces nearer than the rendered semi-transparent surface. Each of the rendered and attenuated semi-transparent surfaces may be reduced from the multi-sampled resolution to a display resolution and added at the display resolution to a second image buffer. |
| US08339412B2 |
Video processing device, recording medium, video signal processing method, video signal processing program, and integrated circuit
It is possible to realize a novel video processing device that can utilize the compatibility between the spaces of an encoded image in an xvYCC system with a wide color gamut and an encoded image in the conventional YCbCr system. The video signal processing device detects the type of the recording medium with a video medium type detection portion, obtains the color gamut of the video signal with a video color gamut obtaining portion, determines a color adjustment parameter with a color adjustment parameter determining portion, performs color adjustment on the video signal with a video color adjustment portion based on that parameter, records the color-adjusted video signal to the recording medium. |
| US08339410B2 |
Computer-aided methods and systems for pattern-based cognition from fragmented material
A method for obtaining and analyzing information objects including generating, collecting or discovering information objects. The information objects are signified at least in part using deliberately ambiguated signifier prompts, for example, linear scale opposing negatives or positives, and/or multi-dimensional signifier prompts. The information objects may comprise text or non-text fragments, and may be generated or selected. The responses to the signifier prompts are stored with the fragments to provide a dataset of signified fragments. The signified fragments may be analyzed based on the signifiers and can be utilized as part of an explorable knowledge repository, or objective measures can be created to aid in mass opinion capture or human attitude auditing. The fragments may be represented on a graphical template. In one embodiment, fragment exemplars are identified that exemplify significant locations on the template, and the exemplar signifiers are used to automatically locate other signified fragments on the template. |
| US08339409B2 |
Tile-based graphics system and method of operation of such a system
A tile-based graphics system, and method of operation of such a system, are provided for generating graphics data for a frame comprising a plurality of tiles. Graphics processing circuitry is provided which is arranged to be switched between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. In the first mode of operation, the graphics processing circuitry receives the plurality of graphics primitives for the frame, and performs a binning operation to determine, for each of the plurality of tiles, a tile list identifying the graphics primitives which intersect that tile. In the second mode of operation, the graphics processing circuitry receives the tile list for an allocated tile, and performs a rasterization operation to generate the graphics data for the allocated tile dependent on the tile list. This enables the same graphics processing unit to be used for both binning and rasterization operations, significantly reducing the size of the graphics system, while also allowing improvements in performance and energy consumption. |
| US08339407B2 |
Information processing device, display switching method and program
There is provided an information processing device including: a light emitting unit to supply light to an operating means mounted on an IC card, the operating means being capable of switching display contents on a display unit of the IC card by a potential difference occurring due to photoelectric conversion; a communication unit to transmit given data to the IC card for causing the IC card to record the data; and a light emission adjusting unit to cause the data recorded on the IC card through the communication unit to be displayed on the IC card by adjusting the number of times of emitting light or a light emitting pattern from the light emitting unit. |
| US08339401B2 |
Curved surface importing device and method
A curved surface importing device and method imports character strings of graphic parameters and graphic attributes of graphs from an initial graphic exchange specification (IGES) document, and analyzes the character strings of each of the graphs to generate a graphic model. The curved surface importing device converts the graphic model to a plurality of free-form curves and a free-form curved surface, connects each of the free-form curves to generate a closed boundary curve, and cuts out a contour surface from the free-form curved surface according to the closed boundary curve. The curved surface importing device further meshes the contour surface using a plurality of triangles, and determines an approximate poly-line of a boundary of the contour surface. The plurality of triangles and the approximate poly-line of a boundary of the contour surface are displayed on a display screen. |
| US08339400B2 |
Graphic display meter
The object of the invention is to provide an improved graphic display meter which is prevented from causing inconvenience to the vehicle operator, when a motion blur display mode is switched to a normal display mode.When a motion blur pointer image 10 is switched to a normal pointer image 20a, multiple pointer images 20 including the normal pointer image 20a are displayed adjacent to or in abutment with a leading part of the motion blur pointer image 10 in a direction where the pointer is rotating. The multiple pointer images 20 are consisted of the normal pointer image 20a and a plurality of auxiliary pointer images 20b, which are aligned with one another and are positioned in close proximity to the normal pointer image 20a. The multiple pointer images 20, a plurality set of which have been stored as data in advance, are selected on the basis of a space between the motion blur pointer image 10 prior to the switching of the pointer image and the normal pointer image 20 after the switching of the pointer image. |
| US08339399B2 |
Declustering point-of-interest icons
Super-clusters of point-of-interest locations are created based on how close the point-of-interest locations are to one another. Additionally, one or more mini-clusters are created in each of the super-clusters based on how close the point-of-interest locations within each super-cluster are to one another. For each of one or more mini-clusters, some point-of-interest icons corresponding to the point-of-interest locations are placed based at least in part on a mean out positioning vector that is based at least in part on a center of the mini-cluster and a center of the super-cluster that includes the mini-cluster. Additionally, some point-of-interest icons are attempted to be placed as a group, while others are attempted to be placed individually. |
| US08339398B2 |
Integrated acceleration data structure for physics and ray tracing workload
According to embodiments of the invention, a data structure may be created which may be used by both an image processing system and by a physics engine. The data structure may have an initial or upper portion representing bounding volumes which partition a three dimensional scene and a second or lower portion representing objects within the three dimensional scene. The integrated acceleration data structure may be used by an image processing system to render a two dimensional image from a three dimensional scene, and by a physics engine to perform physics based calculations in order to simulate physical phenomena in the three dimensional scene. Furthermore, the physics engine may update the integrated acceleration data structure in response to changes in position or shape of objects due to physical phenomena. |
| US08339395B2 |
Method and apparatus for model compression
Aspects of the disclosure provide a lossless compression method for 3D mesh models. The method can be combined or layered with other compression methods to provide additional data compression capability. The method for compressing a mesh model having geometry information and connectivity information of vertices can include defining a first set of vertices having a same connectivity property, determining a subset of the first set of vertices that are encompassed by an area defined by the first set of vertices, and encoding the mesh model without the connectivity information for the subset of the first set of vertices. |
| US08339393B2 |
Three-dimensional map data generating system, three-dimensional map data generating method and three-dimensional map data generating program
A three-dimensional map data creation system and a three-dimensional map data creation method ensuring high in a height direction of a structure near a base station of a wireless communication system so as to highly accurately estimate radio propagation characteristics from the base station of the wireless communication system are provided. An external shape of each of structures is acquired from already acquired two-dimensional map data and a height is acquired using a photograph in which structures described in the two-dimensional map data are imaged. At that time, as the photograph, a photograph taken from a floor identical to a floor on which a base station antenna of the wireless communication system that provides a wireless communication service is disposed in an area including one of the structures. |
| US08339389B2 |
Electro-optical device, driving method thereof, and electronic apparatus with adjustable ratio between positive and negative field using black display voltage
A method of driving an electro-optical device having scanning lines, data lines, a switching transistor and a pixel electrode. The device also has an electro-optical layer interposed between the pixel electrode and a counter electrode. The method includes: supplying a data signal alternate between a positive and a negative voltage to the pixel electrode. The positive voltage has a potential greater than a counter electrode potential applied to the counter electrode and the negative voltage is a potential lower than the counter electrode potential; setting the counter electrode potential to reduce a flicker; supplying a first voltage that is either the positive or negative voltage to the pixel electrode in a first period; the other voltage to the pixel electrode in a second period. A ratio of the first period to the second period is variable. |
| US08339384B2 |
Display driving apparatus, display apparatus and drive control method for display apparatus
A data acquisition circuit sets one of the potential value at one end of a signal line and the value of a current flown thereto when one end of a current path of a drive device is connected to a light emitting device with the other end thereof set to a potential value where no current flows to the light emitting device. Then the circuit causes current to flow via the current path and the signal line and acquires one of the value of the current flown to the signal line and the potential value at the one end of the signal line according to the set value. A correction operation circuit acquires a threshold voltage and a current amplification factor of the drive device based on one of the current and potential values thus acquired as well as on one of the potential and current values thus set. |
| US08339380B2 |
Optical operating apparatus and method for determining operation motion
An optical operating apparatus includes a soft plate, a transparent supporting plate, a deformable unit, a light source, and an image sensing module. The soft plate is configured for being pressed. The transparent supporting plate is disposed under the soft plate. The deformable unit is disposed between the transparent supporting plate and the soft plate, and has a pattern configuration. The deformable unit deforms as applying an external force on the soft plate and restores after the external force is removed. The light source is configured for providing a light beam to the transparent supporting plate and the deformable unit, and the light beam is reflected by the deformable unit. The image sensing module is arranged on a transmitting path of the light beam reflected by the deformable unit, and a visual field of the image sensing module covers the whole deformable unit. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for determining operation motion. |
| US08339378B2 |
Interactive input system with multi-angle reflector
An interactive input system comprises a pointer input region; and a multi-angle reflecting structure located along a single side of the pointer input region and operable to reflect radiation from a pointer within the pointer input region from at least two surface locations of the multi-angle reflecting structure, wherein the at least two surface locations each have different respective angles. An imaging system is operable to capture within at least a portion of the pointer input region images of the reflected radiation located within a field of view of the imaging system. Processing structure is provided for determining the location of the pointer relative to the pointer input region based on the at least one image. |
| US08339374B2 |
Multi-touch interfaces for user authentication, partitioning, and external device control
Multi-touch interfaces allow user interaction with multiple points of contact to control external devices such as game consoles, authenticate users, partition the interface for multiple users, and so forth. The multi-touch interface may provide graphical representations that are manipulated by users through multiple points of contact to participate in games running on an external game console. Additionally, user authentication may occur through multiple points of contact with the multi-touch interface where each user has a unique contact pattern that includes points of contact, location of points of contact, rhythm of points of contact, and so forth. The graphical representations may be customized based on the authentication of a user, and the multi-touch surface may be partitioned based on the number of users present. |
| US08339373B2 |
Touch panel display with infrared light source
An exemplary touch panel display includes a display panel, a backlight module, two infrared cameras, and a processor. The display panel has a touch surface. The backlight module includes a light guide plate and a light source module. The light source module includes a first visible light source and a second infrared light source. The light guide plate is capable of transmitting the visible light and the infrared light through to the display panel. The infrared cameras are disposed in the light guide plate. The infrared cameras are to detect infrared light that is reflected from an object in contact with or adjacent the touch surface of the display panel and form images based on the detected infrared light. The processor is to receive the images outputted from the infrared cameras, and process the images to obtain a position of the object at the touch surface. |
| US08339368B2 |
Input device
An input device includes an input section formed of a display sheet and a coordinate input sheet, and a switch section allowing a push-input and placed on a substrate at a place corresponding to a display section of the display sheet. A foamed layer containing air and working as an insulating resin layer is placed between the input section and the substrate. The input section is supported via the foamed layer. |
| US08339366B2 |
Game console control to initiate system directives
A method and system for utilizing a game console and an input device is disclosed. The method and system comprise mapping commands to system directives of the game console and generating an input signal having predefined characteristics corresponding to the input device being utilized to engage the system directives. The method and system include performing system functions using an input controller associated with the input device after the system directives are engaged. |
| US08339365B2 |
Computer mouse and operating method thereof
A computer mouse includes a housing, a first container secured in the housing, and a second container secured in the first container, a timing unit, and a processor. The first container defines through holes. The first container and the second container are spaced by a distance to define a receiving space being partly filling in liquid. Suspending members extends through the through holes. One end of the suspending member is received in the receiving space. The density of the suspending members is less than that of the liquid Sensitive switches are attached to the first container. A method for the mouse includes determining whether any one of the second contacts is charged; generating a position signal, controlling the timing unit to time; determining the movement direction of the a cursor; determining the movement distance of the cursor; and generating cursor control signal for controlling movement of the cursor. |
| US08339362B2 |
User interface for multifunction device
A system implements a circular navigation paradigm that matches a physical input device to a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI may be displayed on a personal navigation device, music player, or any other electronic device that employs a GUI. The match between the physical input device and the GUI facilitates ready understanding and intuitive interaction with the GUI by the device operator. The circular navigation paradigm may also extend over multiple screens within an application, and across multiple applications, to provide consistency of operation throughout the entire feature set of this device. |
| US08339358B2 |
Input apparatus and image forming apparatus
An input apparatus for enabling a user to enter an instruction into a main apparatus has high durability and offers superior operability. The input apparatus includes a table device having a table with a variable size. An image of plural virtual keys that is adapted to the size of the table is projected by a projector unit onto the table. Position information about a finger of the user that is placed on the table is detected by a position detecting device contactlessly. One of the plural virtual keys that corresponds to the position of the finger of the user detected by the position detecting device is detected by a key detecting device based on information about the image of the plural virtual keys and a result of the detection made by the position detecting device. |
| US08339356B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus capable of maintaining high color purity
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a white color light source and a coloring light source, a detection circuit which detects a brightness of an input image signal, an image quality processing calculation circuit, a light source control circuit, and an image control circuit. The coloring light source includes a blue light source. The image quality processing calculation circuit outputs to the light source control circuit a light source control signal for (1) increasing a light intensity of the coloring light source when an average luminance of the input image signal is detected to be higher than a predetermined luminance based on a detection result of the detection circuit, and for (2) turning-on only the white color light source without turning-on the coloring light source when the average luminance of the input image signal is detected to be lower than the predetermined luminance. |
| US08339351B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a memory unit formed in each pixel to store video data and including a first inverter circuit whose input terminal is connected to a first node and whose output terminal is connected to a second node and a second inverter circuit whose input terminal is connected to the second node and whose output terminal is connected to the first node, a first transistor connected between the output terminal of the second inverter circuit and the video line, and a second transistor connected between the first node and the video line, in which at the time of reading the video data, the first transistor is turned ON, and the second transistor is turned OFF, to output the video data stored in the memory unit to the video line. |
| US08339347B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of operating the same
A liquid crystal display includes; a liquid crystal panel, and a DC-DC converter which receives an input voltage to generate an analog drive voltage and a gate-on voltage used to operate the liquid crystal panel, wherein the DC-DC converter includes a pulse width modulation circuit which modulates a pulse width of the analog drive voltage and the gate-on voltage, a boost converter which boosts the input voltage to output the analog drive voltage, and a charge pump which boosts one of the input voltage and the analog drive voltage to output the gate-on voltage, wherein when a high voltage stress test is performed, the DC-DC converter outputs the analog drive voltage boosted to a voltage level higher than a voltage level of the analog drive voltage during a normal operation, and outputs the gate-on voltage having a voltage level substantially equal to a voltage level of the gate-on voltage during the normal operation. |
| US08339345B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, instrument panel, automotive vehicle, and liquid crystal display method
In one embodiment of the present invention, a liquid crystal display device is provided with a gray scale conversion section which converts a gray scale conveyed by an input video signal into a gray scale value of a high gray scale region, and then outputs it to the liquid crystal drive device if the gray scale value of the input video signal is of a low gray scale region. |
| US08339343B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The LCD device comprises an upper substrate and a lower substrate. Every two data lines and two scan lines define two pixels. Each pixel comprises a pixel electrode and a transistor, and a biased electrode is arranged under a slot between two pixel electrodes of the two pixels. When positive frame, the voltage of the biased electrode, VE, is greater than the voltage the pixel electrode, VP; when negative frame, the voltage of the biased electrode, VE, is smaller than the voltage the pixel electrode, VP. |
| US08339339B2 |
Light emitting device, method of driving the same, and electronic device
A light emitting device in which flickers on a screen can be reduced is provided. In the present invention, each pixel has memories and at the start of a frame period, all of bits of digital vide signals are written in the memories. Then, in the frame period, according to information in all of the bit of digital video signals, the light emitting device sequently emit a light in a determined period. |
| US08339337B2 |
Display apparatus, display-apparatus driving method and electronic instrument
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: a pixel array section including pixel circuits each having an electro optical device, a signal writing transistor, a signal storage capacitor, and a device driving transistor; and a pixel driving section, wherein: in a no-light emission period, the pixel driving section carries out a threshold-voltage correction process by changing an electric potential appearing on an electrode of the device driving transistor close to the electro optical device toward an electric potential obtained by subtracting the threshold voltage of the device driving transistor from the initialization electric potential of the gate electrode of the device driving transistor and a mobility correction process of negatively feeding a current flowing through the device driving transistor back to the gate electrode of the device driving transistor; and when a current is not flowing through the device driving transistor, the pixel driving section applies a positive bias voltage to the gate electrode of the signal writing transistor. |
| US08339334B2 |
Plasma display panel driving circuit and driving method
A driving circuit of a data electrode is provided which includes a drive controlling unit, a first driving transistor and a second driving transistor. The drive controlling unit compares a previous data signal and a present data signal in response to an energy recovery enable signal and outputs a first driving signal and a second driving signal, which correspond to the comparison result. The first driving transistor transmits an address driving signal to an output node connected to the data electrode in response to the first driving signal. The second driving transistor transmits a reference voltage to the output node in response to the second driving signal. |
| US08339323B2 |
Antenna with near-field radiation control
An antenna and a wireless mobile communication device incorporating the antenna are provided. The antenna includes a first conductor section electrically coupled to a first feeding point, a second conductor section electrically coupled to a second feeding point, and a near-field radiation control structure adapted to control characteristics of near-field radiation generated by the antenna. Near-field radiation control structures include a parasitic element positioned adjacent the first conductor section and configured to control characteristics of near-field radiation generated by the first conductor section, and a diffuser in the second conductor section configured to diffuse near-field radiation generated by the second conductor section into a plurality of directions. |
| US08339318B2 |
RFID UHF antenna and matching network embedded in disposable conducting covers
A UHF RFID antenna is integrated into the disposable metal cover of foam, plastic, metal or cardboard containers. |
| US08339317B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for determining the location of a mobile device based on simulcast communication signals
A method for determining a position of a mobile device may include receiving a communication signal at the mobile device simulcast from a plurality of transmitters. One of the plurality of transmitters is identified based on information obtained from the received simulcast communication signal, and an identifiable signal associated with the identified one of the plurality of transmitters is received at the mobile device. A range of the identified one of the plurality of transmitters from the mobile device is determined based on the received identifiable signal. |
| US08339316B1 |
Smart GPS use
In one embodiment, a client device generates a location fingerprint. The fingerprint may include various data identified by scanning for WiFi network devices such as the MAC addresses of nearby WiFi access location as well as the respective signal strengths. For each fingerprint location, the client device attempts to use a GPS receiver to scan for GPS satellite signals and identify current GPS latitude and longitude coordinates. After a predetermined period of time, the success or failure of the attempt is recorded and included in the fingerprint. When the client device returns to the location, identified by reviewing the fingerprint, the client device may activate or inhibit the GPS receiver based on the success information of the fingerprint. If the stored data indicates a low success rate, other location identification techniques may be used. |
| US08339300B2 |
Digital-to-analog converter, analog-to-digital converter, and semiconductor device
A DA conversion device includes the following elements. A higher-bit current source cell portion includes uniformly weighted higher-bit current source cells to generate an identical constant current. A lower-bit current source cell portion includes a lower-bit current source cells that are weighted to generate 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers constant currents. A constant current source selection controller includes a lower-bit controller having a scaler that uses clocks scaled down to 1/two-to-the-power-of-certain-numbers to select the lower-bit current source cells, and a higher-bit controller having shift registers and using a signal indicating a carry bit or a borrow bit used in the lower-bit controller to sequentially activate shift outputs of the shift registers, and uses the shift outputs to select the higher-bit current source cells. Constant current outputs of the selected current source cells are added and output so that an output current corresponding to the digital input signal is obtained. |
| US08339297B2 |
Delta-sigma modulator and dithering method including a dithering capability for eliminating idle tones
A delta-sigma modulator (100) including a dithering capability for eliminating idle tones is provided according to the invention. The delta-sigma modulator (100) includes a bitstream converter (107) configured to generate a digital signal output substantially corresponding to an analog signal input, a periodicity detector (111) coupled to the bitstream converter (107) and configured to detect periodicity in the digital signal output, and a dithering sequence generator (116) connected to and activated by the periodicity detector (111). The dithering sequence generator (116) generates a dithering sequence. The delta-sigma modulator (100) further includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) generator (119) coupled to the dithering sequence generator (116) and receiving the dithering sequence. The PWM generator (119) modulates the dithering sequence onto the analog signal input of the delta-sigma modulator (100) as a dithering signal. |
| US08339290B2 |
Control method of alterable key and portable electronic device having alterable key
A control method of an alterable key is applied in a portable electronic device including switch a plurality of function modes. The portable electronic device has an opaque key portion, a pattern template layer, and a plurality of light emitting portions. A pattern template layer has many groups of operating patterns. Light emitting portions are corresponding to the operating patterns and emit the specific light, and the operating patterns are corresponding to the function modes. The control method includes the following steps of receiving a first command to switch the corresponding function mode, brightening the light emitting portion corresponding to the function mode to show the corresponding operating patterns on the opaque key portion, receiving a second command to switch another corresponding function mode, and brightening the light emitting portion corresponding to another function mode to show another corresponding operating patterns on the opaque key portion. |
| US08339287B2 |
Device to control an electronic or computer system utilizing a fluid flow and a method of manufacturing the same
A device to facilitate a user interface of a computer system utilizing breath includes a body, a user side inlet defined by the body to receive a fluid flow generated by a user, an exhaust opening defined by the body, a conduit positioned between the user side inlet and the one exhaust opening, at least one segment positioned inside the body and one or more contactors positioned to be intermittently in contact with the at least one segment. The contact may occur responsive to the fluid flow generated by the user. The device may include a sensor to react to a movement of the at least one segment. |
| US08339283B2 |
Viewing device intended for comprehending the aerial environment
Device for viewing the aerial environment for aircraft, including a display, a processor and memory configured to generate and to provide a first data processing resource, the data being a graphical representation of the aerial environment composed of colored zones, each color being associated with a danger level for the aircraft, said data comprising environmental data; and a second data processing resource for cartographic data. The device further comprises a graphical mixer to overlay the graphical representation arising from the environmental data onto a representation of the cartographic data on one viewing screen, each zone of a color of the representation of environmental data having a transparency coefficient dependent on the danger level. |
| US08339282B2 |
Security systems
A vehicle detection system for detecting the presence of at least part of a vehicle in image data, the system comprising: an interface configured to receive image data; an identifier module configured to identify a plurality of linear regions in an image represented by the image data; a comparator configured to compare at least one of the number, cumulative size, and density of the linear regions with a respective threshold value; and an output configured to issue a signal indicating the detection of a vehicle based on the results of the comparison. |
| US08339277B2 |
Communication via fluid pressure modulation
In some embodiments, an apparatus [100] and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to transmit downhole data in a drilling fluid via fluid pressure modulation, and receive the downhole data at a fluid pulse receiver included in a conduit [104] coupled to a drill pipe downstream from a Kelly hose. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US08339272B2 |
Circuit breaker locator
An arrangement that includes a transmitter unit and a receiver for locating a wire or a circuit interrupter associated with a selected branch circuit of a power distribution system. The transmitter is electrically interconnected with the selected branch circuit and produces a sequence of current pulses in a branch circuit that is to be traced to locate an associated circuit interrupter. Each current pulse is of a predetermined duration, a predetermined rise time, and a predefined fall time, which in one embodiment is equal to the current pulse rise time. The receiver is a handheld unit that is positioned in close proximity with the various circuit interrupters of the power distribution system and provides an indication that the desired wire or circuit interrupter has been located upon detecting current pulses that are with a predefined pulse duration, pulse separation and amplitude. |
| US08339270B2 |
Electrical ground protection device, circuit tester and method of circuit condition detection
An apparatus and method for protecting against electrocution hazards that arise when an appliance is electrically connected to a miswired single-phase AC electrical source which includes an energized ground lead are described. The apparatus includes one or more sensors that detect electrical energy in the ground lead combined with a miswiring condition in the hot and common leads. A tester embodiment is also illustrated. The method includes the steps of detecting if the putative ground of the electrical source is energized and whether the hot and common leads are reversed. |
| US08339269B2 |
Adjustable sensor for sensing a level of liquid
A liquid level sensing device for sensing liquid in a container. The liquid level sensing device has a base and a rotatable member which extends from and is rotatable relative to the base. A cord extends from the rotatable member and has a sensor provided at a free end thereof. The sensor may be accurately positioned at various heights relative to a bottom of the container to allow a user to fill the container with the liquid to the desired level. An alarm and a signal transmitter are provided in electrical communication with the sensor, such that as a liquid is introduced to the container, the alarm and the signal transmitter will be activated when the level of the liquid reaches the sensor. |
| US08339265B2 |
Method of assigning and deducing the location of articles detected by multiple RFID antennae
In accordance with preferred embodiments or the invention, a method (and corresponding apparatus) is provided for deducing the location of one or more items or objects to be monitored. In exemplary embodiments, the method (and corresponding apparatus) is implemented in RFID (radio frequency identification) applications (e.g., reading RFID tags at 13.56 MHz and approximately 900 MHz) by deducing the location of an item associated with a unique RFID tag in one or more areas of detection covered by multiple RFID reader antennae. |
| US08339264B2 |
Control unit for an EAS system
A control unit for an EAS system is described, the unit comprising a controller area network (CAN) communication device operatively coupled with a remote communications link. A master control (MC) module interfaces the CAN device and the remote communications link. Machine readable executable instructions reside on a digital signal processor (DSP). The unit further includes at least one system module having a targeted feature within the EAS system. |
| US08339260B2 |
Securing a hazardous area in the regin surrounding the automatic loading of reels on a reel changer
A hazardous area in the region surrounding a reel transport of a reel changer is secured. A contactless protective device is located at the access boundaries of the region. This protective device can be deactivated for feeding and/or removing a known object and comprises an evaluation unit. The protective device is configured as a light curtain that is comprised of a plurality of light beams that run in parallel to each other. The evaluation unit includes an assembly for detecting the sequence of the interruption of the light beams during the feeding and/or the removal of an object. Based on the detected sequence of interruption of the light beams, a known object, that is permitted to access the hazardous area, is detected. The protective device is deactivated in this situation. Securing the hazardous area further includes the provision of a second contactless protective device that is permanently active. |
| US08339259B1 |
System and method for setting an alarm by a third party
An alarm device is provided. The alarm device comprises a processor, an alerting component, a communication interface, and an alarm application. The communication interface receives messages encapsulating an alarm control message from a third party. The alarm application, when executed by the processor, receives the message from the communication interface, validates the message based on a code embedded in the message, parses a body of the message to extract the encapsulated alarm control message, schedules an alarm event based on the body of the message, and activates the alerting component when the alarm event occurs. |
| US08339257B2 |
Firearm and system for notifying firearm discharge
A firearm equipped with a capability of wireless communication reports a discharge of the firearm to a reporting center terminal via a wireless communication link. The firearm includes a firearm housing including a trigger assembly. A sensor is coupled to the firearm housing for sensing the discharge of the firearm. The housing, e.g., portion of a pistol grip, also encases a wireless communication unit for transmitting a message indicating occurence of the firearm discharge to the terminal via wireless communication network. A GPS receiver installed in the firearm receives GPS signals from GPS satellites to enable calculation of the location of the firearm, either at the firearm or by a Position Determining Equipment (PDE), to identify the location of the firearm to the reporting center terminal. Upon detection of the discharge of the firearm, the firearm initiates activities of the GPS receiver and the wireless communication unit. |
| US08339256B2 |
Radiofrequency safety of switchable segmented transmission lines
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes an interventional instrument and a switched, segmented transmission (Tx) line which ensures safety during an MRI protocol while the interventional instrument is located in the system. The transmission line includes at least two electrically conductive Tx line segments separated by a non-conductive gap. An electrically conductive bridge, having an open and a closed state, and a parallel connected impedance bridge, having a known impedance which suppresses RF current between the line segments, bridge the non-conductive gap. A measurement unit measures the impedance across the Tx line while the conductive bridges are open. The line segments are verified to be decoupled if the measured impedance of the line is substantially equal to that of the impedance bridge. |
| US08339251B2 |
Information transmission and processing systems and methods for freight carriers
Methods and systems for remotely monitoring trailer or trailers attached to a vehicle is provided. The method includes associating an identification tag or ABS ECU that is configured to broadcast a trailer identification signal with a trailer. The method further includes receiving the trailer identification signal on-board the vehicle, associating the trailer identification signal with the vehicle, transmitting the trailer identification signal to a remote processor and receiving the trailer identification signal at the remote processor. The system comprises a mobile data terminal capable of generating and responding to telematic events comprising at least one processor, a graphical user interface, an input device, a memory and a set of executable instructions which may include a plurality of modules, such as a vehicle location module capable of receiving a GPS signal and transmitting the GPS signal to a remote processor for determining a location of a transportation unit. |
| US08339250B2 |
Electronic device with localized haptic response
An electronic device (100) configured to provide a localized haptic response to a user is provided. The electronic device (100) includes an interface assembly (102) having a user interface surface (600) with a display (206) disposed beneath the user interface surface (600). A compliance member, such as a haptic feedback bezel (209) is disposed beneath the display (206). The compliance member includes one or more cantilever members (210) having motion generation devices (402) coupled thereto. Each cantilever member (210) includes an ell (303) that passes about the display (206) and couples to the user interface surface (600). When the motion generation device (402) is actuated, a haptic force is delivered to the user interface surface (600) through the ell (303). |
| US08339247B2 |
Lighting control
The invention relates to a data tag (6, 21, 32) storing at least one setting (13, 43) for controlling one or more lights (4, 18, 29). There is also provided a system and method for controlling a plurality of lights by receiving information (43) indicative of lighting settings for the plurality of lights (18, 29) from a data tag (21, 32) and controlling the plurality of lights (18, 29) in accordance with the lighting settings. |
| US08339245B2 |
Semiconductor device and IC label, IC tag, and IC card provided with the semiconductor device
A charge accumulation circuit having a structure in which a capacitor is divided into a plurality of pieces and the divided capacitors are connected in parallel through switches is provided. The charge accumulation circuit controls the switch provided between the capacitors and thus can dynamically vary electrostatic capacitance of the charge accumulation circuit which applies a voltage to a constant voltage circuit. |
| US08339241B2 |
Method of displaying messages in digital home appliances and display control device
Provided are a method of displaying messages in a digital home appliance and a display control method therefore. The method includes storing user setting information regarding output of messages and displaying a message based on the stored user setting information, where the user setting information is received from a user. |
| US08339234B2 |
Inductance coil for electric power grids with reduced sound emission
The invention relates to an inductance coil, in particular an inductance coil without an iron core for use in electric power grids, comprising at least two cylindrical winding layers (1), which are disposed concentrically with respect to a coil central axis (7) and are connected electrically in parallel. The inductance coil comprises at least one means for reducing or minimizing sound emissions produced during the operation of the inductance coil. At least the outermost winding layer (1) is designed in this case as a current-conducting, acoustic shield winding (18) opposite the winding layer (1) adjacent in the direction of the coil central axis (7), wherein the shield winding (18) is dimensioned electrically such that it is designed for the transmission of a current intensity, which is only a fraction of the current intensity, to be transmitted by the adjacent winding layer (1). Furthermore, the invention relates to a bracket-like holding element arranged on at least one end face of the inductance coil for reducing sound emissions. |
| US08339231B1 |
Leadframe based magnetics package
A magnetics package comprising: a primary coil configured to conduct a current flow; a secondary coil electrically isolated from the primary coil and configured to conduct a current flow, wherein the secondary coil is embedded in a mold compound; and a magnetic core inductively coupling the primary coil and the secondary coil, wherein a current flow in the primary coil produces a magnetic field in the magnetic core, and the magnetic field in the magnetic core induces a current flow in the secondary coil. |
| US08339227B2 |
Inductance part and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an inductance part including a coiled conductor formed from a metal conductor, a magnetic body formed by pressure-molding a mixture of metal magnetic powder and bonding material in such a manner that the coiled conductor is embedded in the mixture, and a terminal derived from the coiled conductor. The coiled conductor is formed in a single layer with no insulating film on its surface. The metal magnetic powder of the magnetic body penetrates into the surface of the coiled conductor so as to make the filling factor of the metal magnetic powder in the magnetic body not less than 80% by volume. |
| US08339225B2 |
Electromagnetic actuating device
An electromagnetic actuating device (1) having a housing (2) and two actuator pins (3, 4) that are supported in the housing so as to be movable independently of each other between a retracted rest position and an extended working position, and locking pins (7, 8) that hold the actuator pins in the rest position via locking mechanisms and that can be moved relative to the actuator pins in the movement direction of the actuator pins. A force is applied to the locking pins in the extension direction by further spring elements (15), and the locking pins are moved in the retraction direction by electromagnetic force application in order to unlock the locking mechanisms. The actuating device is an electromagnet (22) associated with the locking pins in common and having a reversible direction of the magnetic field, and the end sections (19) of the locking pins facing away from the actuator pins are provided with bipolar permanent magnets (20, 21) that are oriented with opposite polarities in the movement direction. |
| US08339224B2 |
Vibration device
A vibration device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes upper and lower cases combined with each other to form a case, a magnetic force generating unit provided on at least one surface of the upper and lower cases, a vibrating unit including at least one magnet disposed to be opposite to the magnetic force generating unit, and a weight, and at least one elastic unit configured to support the vibrating unit elastically, the elastic unit having a first portion directly contacting the upper case and a second portion contacting the vibrating unit. Further, the first portion is arranged on a first circumference and the second portion is arranged on a second circumference, and wherein a diameter of the first circumference is larger than a diameter of the second circumference. |
| US08339217B2 |
Low band side filter of duplexer, high band side filter of duplexer, and duplexer
A duplexer formed on a piezoelectric substrate includes a low band side filter and a high band side filter, and has an improved isolation characteristic in a pass frequency band of the high band side filter. Transmission and reception of signals are respectively performed from either of the low band side filter and the high band side filter and the other filter with respect to an input/output port. Series arms and parallel arms each formed of an elastic wave resonator form the low band side filter. A shield electrode is disposed close to either of the input/output port and a low band side filter port, and is grounded for capacitive coupling with same. |
| US08339215B2 |
Charge domain filter with controllable transfer functions and transfer function control methods thereof
A charge domain filter with controllable transfer function is disclosed. The charge domain filter has a plurality of switched-capacitor networks, a switching device and a current adder. The switched-capacitor networks are interleaving controlled, and each have an input terminal and an output terminal, and the input terminals of all of the switched-capacitor networks are connected together to be coupled to an input signal. The switching device is designed for transfer function control, and is operated according to a switch control signal. The switching device determines connections between the output terminals of the switched-capacitor networks and how the output terminals of the switched-capacitor networks are coupled to the current adder and thereby generates at least one current adder input. The at least one current adder input is received by the current adder, and the current adder outputs an output signal accordingly. |
| US08339213B2 |
Communication device and high-frequency coupler
A communication device includes a communication circuit unit, a transmission path, a ground, a coupling electrode, and a resonating unit. The resonating unit includes a first resonating unit connected to the transmission path and a second resonating unit having one end connected to the first resonating unit and another end short-circuited to the ground, the second resonating unit having terminals of the coupling electrode connected thereto. A microdipole is formed of a line segment connecting a center of charges stored in the coupling electrode and a center of mirror-image charges stored in the ground. The high-frequency signal is transmitted to a distant side disposed so as to face the communication device with an angle θ formed relative to a direction of the microdipole being approximately 0 degree. |
| US08339212B2 |
Filtering device and differential signal transmission circuit capable of suppressing common-mode noises upon transmission of a differential signal
A filtering device is capable of suppressing common mode noises upon transmission of a differential signal, and includes a differential transmission line, a grounding layer, a dielectric unit and a conductive structure. The differential transmission line has a pair of conductive traces spaced apart from each other. The grounding layer is spaced apart from the differential transmission line. The dielectric unit is disposed between the differential transmission line and the grounding layer. The conductive structure is embedded in the dielectric unit, is coupled electrically to the conductive traces and the grounding layer, and cooperates with the differential transmission line, the grounding layer and the dielectric unit to form a stacked structure that has an effective negative permittivity, thereby suppressing the common mode noises coupled to the conductive traces. A differential signal transmission circuit is also disclosed. |
| US08339211B2 |
Voltage-controlled oscillator
This invention provides a voltage-controlled oscillator, comprising a first voltage-controlled oscillator circuit and a second voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. The first voltage-controlled oscillator circuit comprises a plurality of inductors, a plurality of variable capacitors, and a plurality of MOS transistors. The circuit configuration of the second voltage-controlled oscillator circuit is symmetrical to that of the first voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. The inductors of the first voltage-controlled oscillator circuit are cross-coupled to the inductors of the second voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. |
| US08339210B2 |
Low noise oscillator
An oscillator for use in generating a signal having a desired frequency includes a first inductor element being electrically coupled from one end of a first capacitive element to a first voltage connection point, a second inductor element being electrically coupled from one end of a second capacitive element to a second voltage connection point, a third inductor element being electrically coupled from another end of the first capacitive element to the first voltage connection point, a fourth inductor element being electrically coupled from another end of the second capacitive element to the second voltage connection point. The first, second, third, and fourth inductor elements being configured such that a first conductive trace loop formed by the first and third inductor elements is interleaved with a second conductive trace loop formed by the second and fourth inductor elements such that said conductive trace loops are configured to operate in substantially a same magnetic field. A first drive circuit is electrically coupled to the first and second inductor elements forming a first resonance circuit with the first and second capacitive elements and a second drive circuit is electrically coupled to the third and fourth inductor elements forming a second resonance circuit with the first and second capacitive elements, such that the first and second drive circuits are mutually configured to establish and maintain a unified oscillation in the first and second resonance circuits at the desired frequency. |
| US08339207B2 |
System and method for effectively implementing a loop filter device
A system and method for effectively generating an electronic control signal includes a loop filter that has a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a damping resistor. The first capacitor typically has a significantly greater capacitance than said second capacitor. A primary charge pump provides a primary charge current to the loop filter, and a damping charge pump provides a damping charge current to the loop filter. The loop filter responsively generates the electronic control signal for regulating the output frequency of a voltage-controlled oscillator. All components of the loop filter are sized to be implemented as part of an integrated circuit device. |
| US08339202B2 |
Current sensing system and method
There is provided a current sense circuit (134). An exemplary current sense circuit (134) comprises a voltage-to-current converter circuit (218) that is adapted to receive a voltage that is proportional to a load current drawn from a battery (110) by a load (202) and to produce a current proportional to the load current, and a current-to-voltage converter circuit (228) that is adapted to receive the current proportional to the load current and to produce a voltage proportional to the load current based on a regulated voltage source (230). |
| US08339200B2 |
Wide-swing telescopic operational amplifier
An apparatus includes a telescopic operational amplifier. The telescopic operational amplifier includes an input stage, a load, and a first cascode circuit. The first cascode circuit is coupled to a first differential node and an output node. The first differential node is coupled to one of the input stage and the load. The apparatus includes a first negative transconductance circuit coupled to the first differential node. In at least one embodiment, the first negative transconductance circuit is operable to provide a negative transconductance to compensate at least a first component of an output resistance of the telescopic operational amplifier. In at least one embodiment, the first negative transconductance circuit includes a pair of cross-coupled devices coupled to the first differential node and a current source. |
| US08339196B2 |
Combined cell doherty power amplification apparatus and method
A Doherty power amplification apparatus and method using a combined cell are provided. The Doherty power amplification apparatus includes, a power splitter for splitting an input power, and outputting the split powers to a carrier amplification unit and (N−1) peaking amplification units, wherein the carrier amplification unit, including M carrier power amplifiers, for amplifying power output from the power splitter; the (N−1) peaking amplification units, each of which includes M peaking power amplifiers, for amplifying the respective split powers output from the power splitter, and a power combiner for combining a power amplified by the carrier amplification unit and the respective split powers amplified by the (N−1) peaking amplification units, and for outputting the combined power, wherein N represents an integer obtained by adding a number of the carrier amplification units and a number of the (N−1) peaking amplification units, and M represents an integer which is equal to or more than 1. |
| US08339192B2 |
Line filter and use of a line filter
A line filter includes at least one X capacitor located between two supply lines and at least one discharge resistor that discharges the X capacitor, wherein the discharge resistor is arranged in series with at least one switching element, and at least one detector circuit that detects a network disconnection and closes the switching element to discharge the X capacitor via the discharge resistor when a network disconnection is recognized. |
| US08339180B2 |
RF switching device and method therefor
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for switching RF signals. An RF switching apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of FETs passing or blocking high-frequency signals depending on driving voltage applied to a gate; a control power supply generating control voltage for controlling the passing or blocking of the high-frequency signals; and a charge pump increasing the level of the control voltage and outputting the corresponding voltage as the driving voltage. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to minimize insertion loss generated in an RF switch. |
| US08339175B2 |
Phase generating apparatus and method thereof
A phase generating apparatus generates an output clock having a desired phase according to a digital signal. The apparatus includes a phase selecting unit and a phase generating unit. The phase selecting unit selects one of a plurality of input clocks according to a portion of bits of the digital signal to generate a reference clock. Each of the input clocks respectively has a difference phase. The phase selecting unit divides the frequency of the reference clock, and selectively delays the frequency-divided reference clock according to another portion of bits of the digital signal to generate the output clock. |
| US08339173B2 |
Enable pin using programmable hysteresis improvement
An apparatus for providing programmable hysteresis control using an enable pin of a device is disclosed. An enable pin is configured to receive an input signal to enable and disable an associated device responsive to the input signal. A current sink is attached to the enable pin and is responsive to circuitry that disables the current sink responsive to application of the input signal at a first voltage level and enables the current sink responsive to application of the input signal at a second voltage level. |
| US08339162B2 |
Circuit device and method of controlling circuit device
A circuit device has a first output buffer including a first adjustment circuit for adjusting a level of the first output signal, a first input buffer connected to the first output buffer, an adjustment controller for outputting a test signal to the first output buffer, outputting a control signal to the first adjustment circuit so that the level of the first output signal is adjusted on the basis of the control signal, monitoring an output of the first input buffer, and adjusting the control signal on the basis of the monitoring the output of the first input buffer, a second output buffer connected to the adjustment controller and operable to assume either an active or a non-active state, for outputting a second output signal when controlled to assume an active state, including a second adjustment circuit, and a second input buffer. |
| US08339153B2 |
Fault current test equipment of direct current thyristor valve
The present invention relates to a test equipment of direct current thyristor valve, and particularly relates to a fault current test equipment of direct current thyristor valve. This present invention equipment includes high voltage low current circuit and low voltage high current circuit, said test equipment includes fault current circuit, said fault current circuit includes resonant circuit, said high voltage low current circuit, low voltage high current circuit and fault current circuit are all connected with the thyristor sample Vt respectively. In his present invention, the thyristor sample is first heated through the high voltage circuit and low voltage high current circuit to reach the stable state. And then shut off the switch and carries out the test using the fault current which is produced by the fault current circuit. This prevents the power system from the short-circuit impact. Further more, the peak current and the current duration of the fault current circuit can be adjusted flexibly by changing the voltage of the adding energy circuit. |
| US08339150B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a bump pad through which data is outputted, a probe test pad having a larger size than the bump pad, a first output drive unit configured to drive the bump pad at a first drivability in response to output data, a second output drive unit configured to drive the probe test pad at a second drivability higher than the first drivability in response to the output data, and a multiplexing unit configured to transfer the output data to the first output drive unit or the second output drive unit in response to a test mode signal. |
| US08339146B2 |
Method for calibrating a transmission line pulse test system
Calibration method for calibrating transient behavior of a TLP test system. The system comprises a TLP generator, probe needles, nominally impedance matched transmission lines and measurement equipment, connected between the transmission lines and the TLP generator, for detecting transient behavior of a device under test by simultaneously capturing voltage and current waveforms as a result of generated pulses. The calibration method comprises (a) applying the TLP test system on an open and capturing first voltage and current waveforms; (b) applying the TLP test system on a calibration element having a known finite impedance and a known transient response and capturing second voltage and current waveforms; (c) transforming the captured first and second current and voltage waveforms to the frequency domain, and (d) determining calibration data for the transient behavior of the TLP test system on the basis of the transformed first and second voltage and current waveforms. |
| US08339145B2 |
Line testing
A signal generator is disclosed that generates a test signal to be applied to a first and second wire of a subscriber line. The signal generator is configured to generate the test signal at the first and second test signal outputs in a first time section such that a first potential at the first test signal output is changed from a first value to a second value and a second potential at the second test signal output is maintained constant at least during the change of the first potential. The signal generator is further configured to generate the test signal during a second time section such that the first potential at the first output and the second potential at the second output are oscillating with a predetermined frequency. |
| US08339143B2 |
Lens connector-testing device
Provided is a lens connector-testing device including a base, a circuit tester, a probe, and a positioning unit. The positioning unit includes a positioning housing, a lift block, an insulating plate, a press spring, a latch member and a supporting seat. The positioning housing has a lift-guiding groove. The insulating plate is fixedly connected to an upper end of the lift block. A lower end of the lift block is slidably received in the lift-guiding groove. A holding space is defined between the insulating plate and the positioning housing. The supporting seat is disposed on the positioning housing and has at least one electrical contact. The latch member has a fixing section, a hooking section, and a pressing section. The lift block has a projecting portion matched with the hooking section of the latch member. The press spring is located between the pressing section and the positioning housing. |
| US08339134B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing a transient signal in a magnetic field sensor
A magnetic field sensor includes a compensation loop coupled in series with normal circuit couplings in order to reduce a transient signal that would otherwise be generated when the magnetic field sensor experiences a high rate of change of magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor is a current sensor responsive to a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor. |
| US08339126B2 |
Position-measuring device for determining relative positions and method of its operation
A position-measuring device includes a measuring standard, on which at least one graduation track is applied, and a support member. Disposed on the support member is at least one exciter winding through which an excitation current is able to be conducted in order to generate an electromagnetic field, as well as at least one detector system for scanning the electromagnetic field, The position-measuring device further includes a capacitor which, together with the exciter winding, forms an LC oscillating circuit, an evaluation element and a switching element that is switchable by the evaluation element. The measuring standard and the support member are disposed in a manner allowing movement relative to each other, and in response to a movement of the measuring standard relative to the support member, the electromagnetic field is able to be influenced by the at least one graduation track. The LC oscillating circuit is operable by switching the switching element with an excitation current which induces in the detector system at least one voltage that is able to be processed electronically by the evaluation element to ascertain position information. The excitation current is generated by switching the switching element with switch-on pulses that have an ON time period, and the at least one voltage induced in the detector system is measured in the area after the cut-off edge of the switch-on pulse for ascertaining the position information. |
| US08339121B2 |
Oscillograph and signal identifying method of a serial data bus using the oscillograph
An oscillograph can identify signals of a serial data bus. The signal identifying method triggers communication channels of the oscillograph, measures a rise time and a fall time for each captured signal, and sets a sender terminal (ST) and a receiver terminal (RT) for each of the captured signals according to the measured results. The signal identifying method determines the ST and RT for each of the captured signals after the oscillograph is triggered. If the determined ST of each of the acquired signals is identical to the set ST and the determined RT of the each of the acquired signals is identical with the set RT, the signal identifying process is completed and a report is generated to record the signal identifying result. |
| US08339115B2 |
Voltage regulator bypass resistance control
Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of controlling a bypass resistance of a voltage regulator are disclosed. One method includes generating a regulated output voltage based upon a switching voltage. The switching voltage is generated through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element, the series switch element and the shunt switch element being connected between voltages based on an input voltage. Control of a duty cycle of the switching voltage is provided by sensing and feeding back the regulated output voltage. The bypass resistance is controlled based on an integration of a difference between the duty cycle and a maximum duty cycle. |
| US08339111B2 |
Reactive power compensator
A capacitor bank unit includes three capacitor banks that have respective capacitances that are multiples of a basic capacitance in accordance with a number sequence of the n-th power of 2. One of the capacitor banks has the basic capacitance, remaining two of the capacitor banks includes two subbanks each. The capacitance of a subbank is set to a capacitance that is a multiple of the basic capacitance in accordance with a number sequence of the m-th power of 2. When any one of the capacitor banks fails, each of capacitor banks following the failed capacitor bank substitutes for a capacitor bank located immediately before itself. |
| US08339107B2 |
Portable device and battery pack for the same
A portable device is disclosed that includes a charge control circuit configured to control charging of a secondary battery included in a battery pack, the secondary battery being configured to supply power to the portable device; a temperature detection terminal at which the temperature of the secondary battery is detected from a temperature detection part of the battery pack; positive and negative power terminals to be connected to the battery pack; a control circuit configured to control the operation of the portable device; and an interface circuit connected between the temperature detection terminal and each of an input terminal of the charge control circuit and an input terminal of the control circuit, in which a signal detected at the temperature detection terminal is fed to each of the charge control circuit and the control circuit through the interface circuit. |
| US08339106B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device which can operate normally even when the communication distance is extremely short, and which stores excess electric power which is not needed for circuit operation of the semiconductor device when a large amount of electric power is supplied thereto. The following are included: an antenna; a first AC/DC converter circuit which is connected to the antenna; a second AC/DC converter circuit which is connected to the antenna through a switching element; a detecting circuit which controls operation of the switching element in accordance with the value of a voltage output from the first AC/DC converter circuit; and a battery which stores electric power supplied from the antenna through the second AC/DC converter circuit. When the switching element is operated, electric power supplied from outside is at least partly supplied to the battery through the second AC/DC converter circuit. |
| US08339103B2 |
Life safety device with extended shelf life
A life safety device includes a battery assembly with a rechargeable battery. Extended shelf life is achieved by annually initiating an over-discharge protection mode in which a battery protection circuit prevents current flow from the battery. The life safety device remains in the over-discharge protection mode until the device is connected to a charging power source at the time of installation. The battery assembly then exits the protection mode and enters its normal mode of operation. |
| US08339102B2 |
System and method for regulating loading on an integrated circuit power supply
A load adjustment circuit and a method for adjusting a load are provided. The circuit may include a power source to supply power to a load, and a control unit to control a property of the load. The control unit may be adapted to adjust a property of the load based on a signal received from the power source. The method may include supplying power to a load and adjusting a property of the load to decrease the power supplied to the load if the power supplied to the load is greater than a maximum threshold. |
| US08339099B2 |
Multi-series battery control system
A multi-series battery control system comprises a plurality of unit battery cell of which unit consists of multiple battery cells connected in series; a plurality of control IC comprising a control circuit for controlling the unit battery cell; a main controller that sends and receives signal to/from the control ICs via an insulation; means for sending an abnormality signal, which represents the existence or the absence of abnormality of the control ICs or the battery cells, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the first signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation; and means for searching contents of the abnormality in the control ICs or the battery cells and sending the abnormality contents signal based on the search, to the main controller from the control ICs, responding to the second signal outputted from the main controller via the insulation. |
| US08339092B2 |
Output contact for feedback in integrated circuit motor driver
An integrated circuit has drive circuitry to drive the windings of an electrical motor, means to make a measurement from the drive circuitry during rotation of the motor, suitable for use as motor control feedback, and has an output contact through which the motor control feedback measurement is available as an analog output signal. It can be used with an external motor control circuit coupled to receive the analog output signal to generate motor control signals, to control the drive circuitry. The analog feedback output gives more flexibility to the design of a motor control loop in terms of bit resolution, bandwidth and choice of discrete time or continuous time control. |
| US08339089B2 |
Power converter
In a power converter, a voltage command signal shifting part shifts a first duty command signal such that a first duty center value related to a voltage applied to a first set of windings is shifted downwards than an output center value of a possible duty range. The voltage command signal shifting part also shifts a second duty command signal such that a second duty center value related to a voltage applied to a second set of windings is shifted upwards than the output center value. First and second shift amounts of the first and second duty center values from the output center value are varied depending on amplitude. Accordingly, ripple current of a capacitor can be decreased, and a difference in heat loss between switching elements can be minimized. |
| US08339088B2 |
Motor arrangement
The invention relates to a motor arrangement (1) comprising a motor (4) on which a transmitter device (6) is arranged, a regulating device (2) which is spatially separated from the motor, communicates with the motor (4) via at least one motor line/connection line (10), and controls the movement of the motor, and at least one sensor device (8) which is arranged on the motor (4), detects at least one physical property of the motor, and emits a signal characterising said physical property, the transmitter device (6) being connected to the regulating device (2) via the connection line. According to the invention, there is a direct communication connection (9) between the sensor device (8) and the transmitter device (6), by which means the sensor device (8) transmits the characteristic signal directly to the transmitter device (6). |
| US08339086B2 |
System for syncronizing a plurality of roller shades using variable linear velocities
Presented is a system for synchronizing movement of roller shades each from a first position to a common second position. The system includes a master controller, a plurality of optical assemblies each configured to obtain information related to the position of one of the roller shades, and a plurality of motor assemblies. Each of the motor assemblies is configured for receiving the position information from one of the plurality of optical assemblies, receiving a master shade movement time from the master controller, and moving one of the of roller shades from the first position to the common second position in response to the received position information so that the roller shade arrives at the common second position simultaneously with the other roller shades in a time equal to the master shade movement time. |
| US08339085B2 |
Method for synchronizing a plurality of roller shades using variable linear velocities
Presented is a method for synchronizing movement of a plurality of roller shades each disposed at a first position to a common second position. The method includes obtaining information related to the position of each of the plurality of roller shades with a respective one of a plurality of optical assemblies, and moving each of the plurality of roller shades from the first position to the common second position in response to the respective obtained position information so that each of the plurality of roller shades arrives at the common second position at the same time. |
| US08339084B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring current in an electric motor
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring current in an electric motor. An electrical system comprises a direct current (DC) interface, an electric motor, and an inverter module between the DC interface and the electric motor. A first current sensor is configured to measure a DC current flowing between the DC interface and the inverter module. A second current sensor is configured to measure a first phase current flowing through the first phase of the electric motor. A control module is coupled to the current sensors, and the control module is configured to determine an expected value for the first phase current based at least in part on the DC current measured by the first current sensor and take remedial action based on a difference between the expected value and the measured first phase current. |
| US08339081B2 |
Method and apparatus for low speed permanent magnet motor operation
Methods and apparatus are provided for startup of a permanent magnet alternating current (AC) motor. The method comprises the steps of detecting startup of the permanent magnet AC motor; detecting a mechanical oscillation of the permanent magnet AC motor when startup of the permanent magnet AC motor is detected; and, in response to detection of the mechanical oscillation of the permanent magnet AC motor when startup is detected, suppressing the mechanical oscillation of the permanent magnet AC motor. |
| US08339079B2 |
Power semiconductor chip, power semiconductor module, inverter apparatus, and inverter-integrated motor
Provided is an inverter-integrated motor including a motor and an inverter integrated in an efficient manner. Also provided is a semiconductor chip that can be used in this motor. An IGBT chip is constructed with an emitter terminal being provided at the apex of one face of a die having a regular triangular surface shape, a gate terminal being provided adjacent the opposite side to the apex, and a collector terminal being provided on the other face. A power semiconductor module is constructed with placing apices of the IGBT chips having the emitter terminals in abutment against each other. Six such power semiconductor chips are arranged in a regular hexagonal pattern to together constitute an inverter for converting DC power into three-phase AC power. |
| US08339074B2 |
Power converter control apparatus
Generation voltage control or generation torque control is performed as suitable control based on an external command or a load of a generator motor, to thereby prevent a rapid change of a generation torque or excessive power generation. A power converter control apparatus includes: a power conversion unit including a bridge circuit for controlling energization of an armature winding and a field circuit for controlling energization of a field winding; and a control device including B-terminal voltage detection means, field current detection means, generation voltage control means, generation torque control means, and control selection means. The control selection means selects the one of the generation voltage control means and the generation torque control means based on one of a command from an outside and a load of the generator motor. |
| US08339072B2 |
Single general purpose input/output (GPIO) pin motor control circuit
System and method for operating a motor using a single general purpose input/output (GPIO) pin of a controller. In one embodiment, a control circuit may include a first terminal coupled to a GPIO pin of a controller. The first terminal can be configured to receive, and output, at least one or more signals. The control circuit may include a plurality of elements coupled to the first terminal, and motor driver circuit output terminal, such that the control circuit may be configured to output one more control signals to the motor driver circuit output terminal for control the motor driver circuit. Motor driver control signals may be based, at least in part, on one or more signals received from the first terminal. |
| US08339071B2 |
Particle accelerator having wide energy control range
A particle accelerator system for producing a charged particle beam having pulses of charged particles that have different energy levels from pulse to pulse. The system enables independent adjustment of the RF power delivered to first and second accelerating sections thereof without adjustment of the RF power generated by an RF source. Such independent adjustment enables the RF power provided to the first accelerating section to be maintained at a level appropriate for optimal particle capturing therein and for producing a tightly bunched beam of particles having different energy levels from pulse to pulse, while enabling the RF power provided to the second accelerating section to be varied in order to vary the energy levels of the charged particles of the charged particle beam from pulse to pulse. |
| US08339070B2 |
Light emitting diode lamp
An LED lamp includes first and second LED strings connected in parallel to each other and a variable resistor interconnected therebetween. The variable resistor includes a resistance track with resistance coils wound thereon and a slider moveable along the resistance track. One portion of resistance of the variable resistor is connected in series with the first LED string, and the other portion of the resistance of the variable resistor is connected in series with the second LED string. When a position of the slider of the variable resistor is changed, a first electric current flowing through one of the first and second strings is increased, while a second electric current flowing through the other one of the first and second strings is decreased, such that the color temperature of the LED lamp is changed accordingly. |
| US08339062B2 |
Method for dimming non-linear loads using an AC phase control scheme and a universal dimmer using the method
A universal dimmer has a switching element, a load current measurement element, a current evaluator for evaluating the current passing through the load, and a firing angle adjuster such as a regulator or transforming element. The current passing through the load is measured and evaluated so as to direct the firing angle adjuster to adapt firing angles of the switching element so that a load RMS current is proportional to a dimmer input signal, regardless of the type of load being controlled. The universal dimmer is capable of dimming the output from linear and non-linear loads using AC power line phase angle control to vary output power of linear and non-linear loads, ranging from regular linear loads such as incandescent lamps, to non-linear loads, such as LED lamps, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs'), etc. as well as linear loads with large phase shift, that is, inductive and capacitive loads. |
| US08339059B2 |
Light emitting device for AC operation
An AC light emitting device is disclosed. The AC light emitting device includes at least four substrates. Serial arrays each of which has a plurality of light emitting cells connected in series are positioned on the substrates, respectively. Meanwhile, first connector means electrically connect the serial arrays formed on respective different substrates. At least two array groups each of which has at least two of the serial arrays connected in series by the first connector means are formed. The at least two array groups are connected in reverse parallel to operate. Accordingly, there is provided an AC light emitting device capable of being driven under an AC power source. |
| US08339048B2 |
Hybrid light source
A hybrid light source comprises a discrete-spectrum lamp (for example, a fluorescent lamp) and a continuous-spectrum lamp (for example, a halogen lamp). A control circuit individually controls the amount of power delivered to the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to a phase-controlled voltage generated by a connected dimmer switch, such that a total light output of the hybrid light source ranges throughout a dimming range. The discrete-spectrum lamp is turned off and the continuous-spectrum lamp produces all of the total light intensity of the hybrid light source when the total light intensity is below a transition intensity. The continuous-spectrum lamp is driven by a continuous-spectrum lamp drive circuit, which is operable to conduct a charging current of a power supply of the dimmer switch and to provide a path for enough current to flow through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds rated latching and holding currents of a thyristor of the dimmer. |
| US08339047B2 |
Electrode for a plasma generator
The invention relates to an electrode for a plasma generator for generating plasmas at atmospheric pressure or near-atmospheric pressures by means of excitation using microwaves. The invention provides an electrode made of a sheet metal strip (1), in the longitudinal direction of which at least one slot (2) is introduced at a length that is one time or multiple times that of a quarter of the wavelength of the open-circuit voltage of the microwave such that at least two partial electrodes (3) are formed, wherein the voltage supply line is provided on the partial electrodes (3) in the region of the closed slot end or ends. |
| US08339046B2 |
Lighting control device of lighting device for vehicle
A lighting control device of a lighting device for a vehicle includes a switching regulator for supplying a driving current to a semiconductor light source. The lighting control device also includes control means having a current detecting portion for detecting the driving current and serving to control dimming of the semiconductor light source in order to reduce a mean current of the driving current by repeating driving and stopping operations of the switching regulator at a high speed upon receipt of a dimming control signal. The current detecting portion has a current holding portion for holding the driving current, detected for a driving period of the switching regulator, for a stopping period after a passage of the driving period. |
| US08339044B2 |
Mercury-free ceramic metal halide lamp with improved lumen run-up
Disclosed herein are mercury free ceramic metal halide high intensity discharge lamps of specified arc tube geometry and composition of ionizable fill. Embodiments herein generally employ a discharge vessel formed of a ceramic material having an aspect ratio satisfied by 1 |
| US08339041B1 |
Plasma-shell gas discharge device with combined organic and inorganic luminescent substances
A gas discharge device constructed out of one or more plasma-shells with an organic luminescent substance(s) located in close proximity to each plasma-shell. Each plasma-shell is a hollow geometric body filled with an ionizable gas. Photons from the gas discharge inside the plasma-shell excite the luminescent substance. In one embodiment the luminescent substance is located on the external surface of the plasma-shell. In another embodiment, the luminescent substance is located inside the plasma-shell. The plasma-shell may be made of an inorganic luminescent material with organic luminescent material located on the inside or outside of the plasma-shell. The plasma-shell is of any suitable geometric shape and includes plasma-sphere, plasma-disc, and plasma-dome. A plasma-shell may be used in combination with a plasma-tube. |
| US08339032B2 |
Light source with luminophore layer
The invention relates to a light source comprising a primary radiation source and a luminescent substance, and to a method for producing this light source. The invention relates, in particular, to a method for producing an electric light source using one or more luminescent substances emitting in the visible spectrum range, and at least one primary source emitting preferably in the UV range, and which is preferably, but not exclusively, an LED. |
| US08339030B2 |
Method of manufacturing an electric optical device in which external connection terminals are formed
An electro-optical device includes an effective display region including a pixel, the pixel including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a wiring line connected to the second electrode at a position to the periphery of the effective display region, the wiring line including a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer that are electrically connected to each other and that overlap each other, the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer both extending in a direction in which an edge of the effective display region extends, the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer extending in the direction a distance that is longer than a distance in which the edge of the effective display region extends in the direction. |
| US08339025B2 |
Luminescent ceramic and light-emitting device using the same
Some embodiments provide luminescent ceramics which have a lower amount of dopant than conventional luminescent ceramics. In some embodiments, the luminescent ceramic comprises a host material comprising a rare earth element and at least one rare earth dopant, wherein the rare earth dopant may be about 0.01% to 0.5% of the rare earth atoms present in the material. Some embodiments provide luminescent ceramic comprising: a polycrystalline phosphor represented by the formula (A1-xEx)3B5O12. Some embodiments provide a light-emitting device comprising a luminescent ceramic disclosed herein. |
| US08339024B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for reducing heat on an emitter exit window
An exit window can include an exit window foil, and a support grid contacting and supporting the exit window foil. The support grid can have first and second grids, each having respective first and second grid portions that are positioned in an alignment and thermally isolated from each other. The first and second grid portions can each have a series of apertures that are aligned for allowing the passage of a beam therethrough to reach and pass through the exit window foil. The second grid portion can contact the exit window foil. The first grid portion can mask the second grid portion and the exit window foil from heat caused by the beam striking the first grid portion. |
| US08339023B2 |
Discharge lamp
A discharge lamp includes an airtight tube including a light-emitting unit in which a space is formed and seal portions formed at least on one end of the light-emitting unit, a discharge medium including a metal halide and a rare gas sealed in the light-emitting unit, a metal foil sealed into the seal portion, and a pair of electrodes one ends of which are overlapped and connected to the metal foil and the other ends of which are provided such that they are led into the space of the light-emitting unit and arranged in opposition to each other. A concavity is formed on at least a portion of the back surface side of the metal foil on which the electrode is overlapped, and a compression distortion is formed on the seal portion in the vicinity of the concavity. |
| US08339022B2 |
Field emission electron source having carbon nanotubes
A field emission electron source having carbon nanotubes includes a CNT string and a conductive base. The CNT string has an end portion and a broken end portion. The end portion is contacted with and electrically connected to the surface of the conductive base. The CNTs at the broken end portion form a tooth-shape structure, wherein some CNTs protrude and higher than the adjacent CNTs. Each protruded CNT functions as an electron emitter. |
| US08339019B1 |
Structure for an electromagnetic machine having compression and tension members
A structure of an electromagnetic machine includes an outer support member configured to support a conductive winding or a magnet. The structure further includes an inner support member, a first elongate compression member, a second elongate compression member, and an elongate tension member. The first elongate compression member and the second elongate compression member each include a first end portion coupled to the outer support member and a second end portion coupled to the inner support member to resist radial and axial deflection of the outer support member relative inner support member. The elongate tension member includes a first end portion coupled to the first compression member and a second end portion coupled to one of the inner support or the second elongate compression member to resist rotational deflection of the outer support member relative to the inner support member. |
| US08339017B2 |
Multi-layer piezoelectric element and injection apparatus using the same
To provide a multi-layer piezoelectric element having high strength against breakage, high insulation and excellent displacement performance, and an injection apparatus that incorporates the same.The multi-layer piezoelectric element comprising a stack 4 constituted from a plurality of piezoelectric layers 1 stacked one on another via internal electrode layers 2, wherein at least a part of peripheral areas 31, that are disposed between two piezoelectric layers 1, 1 located adjacently in the stacking direction and are located between an edge 2a of the internal electrode layer 2 and side face 4a of the stack 4, is dispersed areas where a plurality of metallic regions are dispersed via voids 21. |
| US08339013B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of controlling electrostatic actuator
A semiconductor device controls an electrostatic actuator having first and second electrodes formed so as to come close to each other when transition occurs from opened state to closed state by electrostatic attraction against elastic force. The semiconductor device includes: a voltage generation unit generating different applied voltages to be applied to the first and second electrodes; a control unit controlling the voltage generation unit to switch the applied voltages; and a detection unit detecting voltage of the first or second electrode or a rate of change in the voltage. The control unit controls a target voltage of the voltage generation unit to be switched from a first voltage to a second voltage lower than the first voltage according to a detection output by the detection unit. |
| US08339009B2 |
Magnetic flux conducting unit
The present invention relates to a magnetic flux conducting unit (10) for electromagnetic apparatus, the electromagnetic apparatus being operative to convert one of mechanical energy and electrical energy into the other of mechanical energy and electrical energy. The magnetic flux conducting unit comprises at least one magnetic flux conducting element (12a, 12b) formed of a magnetically permeable material. Also, the at least one magnetic flux conducting element defines: a coil receiving space (18) for receiving a coil assembly (32) of the electromagnetic apparatus; and at least one material receiving space (16, 30a, 30b), which accommodates a substantially magnetically impermeable material. |
| US08339006B2 |
Permanent magnet arrangement for generator rotor
An electric generator rotor having one or more permanent magnets coupled thereon. The permanent magnets provide a constant magnetic field in the rotor at all times, therein minimizing the effect of rotor residual magnetism on the start-up characteristics of the electric generator. The type and placement of the one or more permanent magnets on the rotor and/or magnetic field confinement techniques may be utilized to control spatial distribution of magnetic field within the rotor. |
| US08339005B2 |
Assembly and method for mounting magnets on a steel sheet rotor pack
An assembly for mounting magnets on a steel sheet rotor pack, the assembly including a plurality of baseplates made of a magnetic material and fixed to the rotor pack, and a plurality of magnets being in turn fitted to each baseplate. In one embodiment, the baseplates are fixed to the rotor pack by means of inner locking bars housed in axial ducts provided inside said rotor pack. The baseplates are fitted to the inner locking bars by fixing means passing through longitudinal channels connecting the axial ducts and the outer surface of the rotor pack. |
| US08339004B2 |
Control box for motor
A motor, including a body, including a housing, a stator, and a rotor, and a controller, including a control box, and a control circuit board. The body is disposed at the top of the motor. The controller is disposed at the bottom of the motor. The control circuit board is disposed in the control box. A rotary dip switch is disposed at the bottom of the control box. The control circuit board includes a power board, and a control board. The rotary dip switch is electrically connected to the control board. The rotary dip switch controls different functions of the motor. |
| US08339002B2 |
End winding for an electrical machine, and method for its production
An end winding is described for a stator of an electrical machine. The end winding includes at least two round connectors via which the current is passed out from the winding bars of the stator, as well as a plurality of supporting brackets, via which the end winding is attached to the stator. The end winding has at least two round connectors having a radial section at whose end a phase connection block is in each case arranged. At least two phase connection blocks of one phase are arranged alongside one another in the circumferential direction. The adjacent phase connection blocks are connected via at least one pin element and is mounted at least partially integrally in recesses in the mutually facing side surfaces of the phase connection blocks. A method for fitting an end winding such as this is also described. |
| US08338998B2 |
Electronic circuit-integrated motor apparatus
An electronic circuit including semiconductor modules and capacitors is positioned in the axial direction of a motor. Each semiconductor module is longitudinally positioned in contact with a heat sink. More specifically, a line perpendicular to the surface of a semiconductor chip included in the semiconductor module is perpendicular to the axis line of the motor. Consequently, each capacitor is positioned so that at least a part of the positional range of the capacitor in the axial direction of the motor coincides with the positional ranges of the semiconductor module and the heat sink in the axial direction. |
| US08338996B2 |
Scavenging concept for a hydrogen cooled generator
A hydrogen cooled generator assembly includes a hydrogen cooled generator and a fundament, wherein the generator is mounted on the fundament, and wherein the fundament includes at least one cavity underneath the generator. The at least one cavity includes at least one terminal box disposed adjacent to the generator and extending downward from the generator for collection of a plurality of electrical links from the generator; at least one collection box disposed beneath the at least one terminal box having a top wall and a first and a second side wall and configured to guide the plurality of electrical links from the at least one terminal box in a further downward direction; a lateral space; and a seal plate covering the lateral space at an upper end of the lateral space. |
| US08338995B2 |
Cooling fluid path structure for superconduction rotating machine
Disclosed is a cooling fluid path structure for a superconducting rotating machine, which includes: a fixed inlet fluid path fixed together with the fluid supply means; a rotating inlet fluid path adjacently connected to an outlet of the fixed inlet fluid path, which is for transferring the cooling fluid transferred from the fixed inlet fluid path to a cooling fluid path inlet provided in the rotor while rotating together with the rotor; a rotating outlet fluid path rotating together with the rotor, to which the cooling fluid discharged from a cooling fluid path outlet of the rotor is transferred; and a fixed outlet fluid path adjacently connected to the rotating outlet fluid path, which is for transferring the cooling fluid transferred from the rotating outlet fluid path to the fluid supply means while being fixed together with the fluid supply means, wherein the rotating outlet fluid path and the fixed outlet fluid path are disposed in such a manner that they surround outside of the rotating inlet fluid path and the fixed inlet fluid path. |
| US08338994B2 |
Power tool
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a power tool including: a commutator motor including a rotor and a stator having a substantially cylindrical stator core; a fan provided to face one axial end of the stator core so as to be rotatable coaxially with the rotor; and a stator coil bundle fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the stator core, the stator coil bundle having a coil end portion that protrudes more than the stator core in a rotational axis direction of the rotor, wherein a minimum internal diameter of the coil end portion is smaller than a maximum external diameter of the fan, and wherein the coil end portion has a fan facing portion that faces the fan along a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction. |
| US08338993B2 |
Actuator using magnetic force, and drive device and sensor using the same
To provide an actuator that can flexibly and softly move like muscles, can maintain a stable operation over a long period of time, can generate a strong driving force, has a rapid input response, has a favorable sensitivity, has a high energy conversion efficiency, and can be accurately controlled, a coil is embedded in a magnetic elastomer obtained by mixing a powder-like ferromagnetic or highly magnetic permeable material with an elastomer, so that the coil can be electrically connected. By electrically connecting the coil, a magnetic field generates in the coil and around the coil. The magnetic field penetrates the magnetic elastomer. When the magnetic field generates in the magnetic elastomer, deformation force acts on the magnetic elastomer by the magnetic force acting on each portion in the magnetic elastomer. Thus, driving force can be obtained. |
| US08338992B2 |
Transmission device using a plurality of elementary return conductors
The invention relates to a device for pseudo-differential transmission through interconnections used for sending a plurality of electrical signals.An interconnection comprises 4 transmission conductors and 5 elementary return conductors which are distinct from the reference conductor. One end of the interconnection is connected to a termination circuit. A transmitting circuit receives at its input the signals from the 4 channels of a source, and is connected to the conductors of the interconnection. Each output signal of a receiving circuit is mainly determined by one or more of the voltages between one of its signal terminals connected to the transmission conductors and its common terminal connected to the elementary return conductors. The signals of the 4 channels of the source are sent to the four channels of the destinations without noticeable external crosstalk. |
| US08338991B2 |
Adaptive impedance tuning in wireless power transmission
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A wireless power receiver includes a receive antenna for coupling with near field radiation in a coupling-mode region generated by a transmit antenna operating at a resonant frequency. The receive antenna generates an RF signal when coupled to the near field radiation and a rectifier converts the RF signal to a DC input signal. A direct current-to-direct current (DC-to-DC) converter coupled to the DC input signal generates a DC output signal. A pulse modulator generates a pulse-width modulation signal to the DC-to-DC converter to adjust a DC impedance of the wireless power receiver by modifying a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal responsive to at least one of a voltage of the DC input signal, a current of the DC input signal, a voltage of the DC output signal, and a current of the DC output signal. |
| US08338990B2 |
Inductive power supply system with multiple coil primary
An inductive power supply including multiple tank circuits and a controller for selecting at least one of the tank circuits in order to wirelessly transfer power based on received power demand information. In addition, a magnet may be used to align multiple remote devices with the inductive power supply. In one embodiment, different communication systems are employed depending on which coil is being used to transfer wireless power. |
| US08338989B2 |
Inverter power system
A photovoltaic system may include a DC to AC inverter, a voltage sensor configured to measure an input voltage from a photovoltaic array, and a controller configured to calculate a voltage differential. |
| US08338974B2 |
Wind turbine
A wind turbine for generating an electric voltage from mechanical energy derived from wind is provided. The invention includes a specially designed turbine enclosure through which the wind passes. The enclosure has a Venturi area which results in movement of the wind at a rapid speed through the turbine. An electric generator with a rotable blade also is provided within the Venturi area in order to take advantage of the faster moving wind. The faster the wind moves, the more energy can be converted by the generator. The generator can be constructed with a plurality of electric coils and magnets which can be arranged in series/parallel combinations depending on the power requirements of a particular application. |
| US08338971B2 |
Engine-driven generator speed control system and method
A system and method are provided for controlling an internal combustion engine driving a generator/welder or a stand-alone generator. Controlling the engine may include altering the engine speed based upon a detected demand on the generator and/or operating parameters of a welder. For example, the engine speed may be increased based on a detected draw on the generator and/or the operating parameters of the welder. In addition, the engine speed may be automatically decreased to a non-standard idle speed or the engine may be automatically turned off if no demand is detected for a period of time. Additionally, the engine speed may be increased if only frequency-insensitive demands are detected on the generator. Combinations of these and further methods may be executed. Various devices are provided for implementing the above methods. |
| US08338970B2 |
Integrated circuit with adjusting elements and method for its manufacture
An integrated circuit is disclosed with adjusting elements, which in a first manufacturing stage are connected via tracks to terminal pads lying outside the integrated circuit. At least one of the tracks of the integrated circuit lies on a surface of a region, which includes semiconductor material and in a second manufacturing stage is isolated by a pn junction from additional semiconductor material, which is adjacent to the region. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing this type of integrated circuit is also disclosed. |
| US08338969B2 |
Serial advanced technology attachment interface storage device
A serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface storage device. The SATA interface storage device can be used in cooperation with an electrical apparatus and comprises a substrate, a chip set, a SATA interface and a shell. The substrate has a first surface, a second surface corresponding to the first surface and a plurality of connectors between the first surface and the second surface. The chip set is disposed on the first surface. The SATA interface is disposed on the second surface and is electrically connected to the chip set via a part of the connectors so that the electrical apparatus may be electrically connected to the chip set via the SATA interface to access the chip set. The shell has a width and a thickness and defines a receiving space for receiving the substrate, the chip set and the SATA interface, where the width and the thickness conform to a micro-memory card standard. |
| US08338967B2 |
Stress buffering package for a semiconductor component
The present invention relates to a stress buffering package for a semiconductor component, wherein a stress buffering means comprises individual stress buffering elements that do not influence the stress buffering effect from each other. Furthermore the invention relates a method for manufacturing a stress buffering package for a semiconductor component. |
| US08338966B2 |
Joint structure, joining material, and method for producing joining material containing bismuth
The present invention provides a semiconductor component having a joint structure including a semiconductor device, an electrode disposed opposite the semiconductor device, and a joining material which contains Bi as main component and connects the semiconductor device to the electrode. Since the joining material contains a carbon compound, joint failure due to the difference in linear expansion coefficient between the semiconductor device and the electrode can be reduced compared with conventional materials. The joining material which contains Bi as main component enables provision of a joint structure in which a semiconductor device and an electrode are joined by a joint more reliable than a conventional joint. |
| US08338965B2 |
Semiconductor chip and semiconductor device, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor chip is provided comprising a semiconductor substrate on which an integrated circuit is formed. The semiconductor chip, which is provided on the semiconductor substrate in an area array, further comprises a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled with the inside of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the electrodes are arranged into a plurality of first groups respectively lined along a plurality of paralleling first straight lines and, further, into a plurality of second groups respectively lined along a plurality of second straight lines which extend so as to intersect with the first straight lines. |
| US08338964B2 |
Stacked-chip device
A stacked-chip device includes a first inductive chip having a first function, a second inductive chip having a second function different from the first function, which is stacked on the first inductive chip, and a third inductive chip having the second function, which is stacked on the second inductive chip. Each of the first, second and third inductive chips has transmitting inductors which transmit data and receiving inductors which receive data. The transmitting inductors and the receiving inductors are disposed in line symmetry to an axis of symmetry. The axes of symmetry of the first, second and third inductive chips are overlapped. Each of the second and third inductive chips is disposed in upside-down or back to front to the first inductive chip. |
| US08338963B2 |
Multiple die face-down stacking for two or more die
A microelectronic assembly is disclosed that comprises a substrate having first and second openings, a first microelectronic element and a second microelectronic element in a face-down position. The first element has an active surface facing the front surface of the substrate and bond pads aligned with the first opening, a rear surface remote therefrom, and an edge extending between the front and rear surfaces. The second microelectronic element has a front surface facing the first microelectronic element and projecting beyond an edge of the first microelectronic element, and bond pads at the front surface of the second microelectronic element aligned with the second opening. |
| US08338960B2 |
Method of manufacturing photomask and method of repairing optical proximity correction
A method of manufacturing a photomask is described. The graphic data of the photomask are provided, and than an optical proximity correction is performed to the graphic data. A process rule check is then performed to the graphic data with the optical proximity correction. When at least one failed pattern not passing the process rule check is found in the graphic data, a repair procedure is performed only to the failed pattern so that the failed pattern can pass the process rule check. The patterns of the photomask are then formed according to the corrected and repaired graphic data. |
| US08338957B2 |
Low resistance through-wafer via
The present invention provides a wafer (3) comprising a through-wafer via (7) through the wafer (3) formed by a through-wafer via hole (9) and at least a first conductive coating (25). A substantially vertical sidewall (11) of the through-wafer via hole (9) except for a constriction (23) provides a reliable through-wafer via (7) occupying a small area on the wafer. The wafer (3) is preferably made of a semiconductor material, such as silicon, or a glass ceramic. A method for manufacturing such a wafer (3) is described. |
| US08338951B2 |
Metal line of semiconductor device having a diffusion barrier with an amorphous TaBN layer and method for forming the same
A metal line in a semiconductor device includes an insulation layer formed on a semiconductor substrate. A metal line forming region is formed in the insulation layer. A metal line is formed to fill the metal line forming region of the insulation layer. And a diffusion barrier that includes an amorphous TaBN layer is formed between the metal line and the insulation layer. The amorphous TaBN layer prevents a copper component from diffusing into the semiconductor substrate, thereby improving upon the characteristics and the reliability of a device. |
| US08338947B2 |
Solder interconnect pads with current spreading layers
Structure and methods of making the structures. The structures include a structure, comprising: an organic dielectric passivation layer extending over a substrate; an electrically conductive current spreading pad on a top surface of the organic dielectric passivation layer; an electrically conductive solder bump pad comprising one or more layers on a top surface of the current spreading pad; and an electrically conductive solder bump containing tin, the solder bump on a top surface of the solder bump pad, the current spreading pad comprising one or more layers, at least one of the one or more layers consisting of a material that will not form an intermetallic with tin or at least one of the one or more layers is a material that is a diffusion barrier to tin and adjacent to the solder bump pad. |
| US08338944B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor module, radiating fin and fitting portions
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor module that has a joint surface, a first fitting portion and a second fitting portion provided on the joint surface of the semiconductor module, the second fitting portion having a shape different from the first fitting portion; and a radiating fin that has a joint surface, a third fitting portion and a fourth fitting portion provided on the joint surface of the radiating fin, the fourth fitting portion having a shape different from the third fitting portion. The semiconductor module is bonded to the radiating fin so that the first fitting portion is fitted into the third fitting portion or the third fitting portion is fitted into the first fitting portion, and the second fitting portion is fitted into the fourth fitting portion or the fourth fitting portion is fitted into the second fitting portion. |
| US08338937B2 |
Flange package for a semiconductor device
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a flange package comprises a flange and an interposer having two or more fingers disposed in an interposer trench. The flange has a mold lock formed about a periphery of the interposer trench. A dielectric ring comprising a dielectric material is formed in the interposer trench, and in and around the periphery of the mold lock. A semiconductor die is disposed within the dielectric ring having gate pads and source pads formed on a first side, and having drain pads disposed on a second side of the die. The gate pads are coupled to the interposer and the source pads are coupled to the flange. A gate lead is coupled to the interposer and a drain lead is coupled to the drain pads. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08338936B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method
A semiconductor device and manufacturing method. One embodiment provides a semiconductor chip. An encapsulating material covers the semiconductor chip. A metal layer is over the semiconductor chip and the encapsulating material. At least one of a voltage generating unit and a display unit are rigidly attached to at least one of the encapsulating material and the metal layer. |
| US08338935B2 |
Thermally enhanced electronic package utilizing carbon nanocapsules and method of manufacturing the same
A thermally enhanced electronic package comprises a chip, a substrate, an adhesive, and an encapsulation. The adhesive or the encapsulation is mixed with carbon nanocapsules. The substrate includes an insulation layer and a wiring layer formed on the substrate. The adhesive covers the chip and the substrate. The chip is electrically connected to the wiring layer. The encapsulation covers the chip and the substrate. |
| US08338930B2 |
Integrated circuit with electromagnetic intrachip communication and methods for use therewith
An integrated circuit includes a substrate and a first integrated circuit die having a first circuit coupled to the substrate via a first bonding wire, the first circuit having a first intra-chip interface. A second integrated circuit die has a second circuit coupled to the substrate via a second bonding wire, the second circuit having a second intra-chip interface, the second bonding wire electrically isolated from the first bonding wire. The first circuit communicates with the second circuit via the first intra-chip interface and the second intra-chip interface, and wherein the first intra-chip interface and the second intra-chip interface communicate via a first electromagnetic coupling between the first bonding wire and the second bonding wire. |
| US08338929B2 |
Stacked-type chip package structure and fabrication method thereof
A stacked-type chip package structure in which stacked chips and stacked flexible circuit boards are disposed on a substrate. A plurality of spacer layers is respectively sandwiched between two adjacent chips and stacked on top of each other. In addition, conductive bumps are disposed on the substrate and between the stacked flexible circuit boards, such that the stacked flexible circuit boards are electrically connected to the substrate. Besides, conductive wires are electrically connected between the flexible circuit boards and the chips, so as to form a package structure with multi-layer chips on the substrate. Thereby, electrical performance and reliability of the chips are improved. |
| US08338926B2 |
Lead frame for optical semiconductor devices, method of producing the same, and optical semiconductor device
A lead frame for optical semiconductor devices in which a layer 2 composed of silver or a silver alloy is formed on an electrically-conductive substrate 1, having: a surface layer 4 composed of a metal or alloy thereof excellent in corrosion resistance as an outermost layer, wherein a concentration of a metallic component excellent in corrosion resistance of the surface layer is 50% by mass or more at the uppermost portion of the surface layer, and wherein a solid-solution layer 3 of silver and a metallic material which is a main component of the surface layer is formed between the surface layer and the layer composed of silver or a silver alloy. |
| US08338923B1 |
Package structure of multi-layer array type LED device
A package structure of multi-layer array type LED device is disclosed, wherein a peripheral area of a substrate and a surface of lead frame are respectively installed with a convex/concave surface structure. The convex/concave surface structure increases the surface roughness of the peripheral area of the substrate and the surface of the lead frame, so a liquid package material can be filled in cavities and concave parts; thus a package member formed through the package material being solidified can be firmly combined with the substrate and the lead frame as one piece. In addition, the bottom of a lens is provided with a binder for increasing the sealing level of the lens. Moreover, the present invention adopted a soldering paste added with material having good heat conductivity, so heat generated by LED dices can be rapidly dissipated to the exterior. |
| US08338911B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device including a substrate provided with a semiconductor element, and first and second interconnects provided above the substrate, each of the first and second interconnects having a line shape in a plan view, and the first and second interconnects being substantially parallel to each other. The device further includes a first via plug provided above the substrate, electrically connected to a lower surface of the first interconnect on a second interconnect side, and including a first recess part at an upper end of the first via plug under a first region between interconnects, the first region between interconnects being a region between the first interconnect and the second interconnect. The device further includes a via layer insulator provided above the substrate and including the first via plug, and a first trench under the first region between interconnects, the first trench including a region adjacent to the first via plug in a width direction of the first and second interconnects. Furthermore, an air gap is included in the first region between interconnects and in the first trench. |
| US08338908B2 |
Semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a substrate in which, on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a buried layer of a second conductivity type and a semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type are stacked; trench that define an element forming region in the substrate; element isolation insulation film formed in the trench; and a semiconductor element formed in the element forming region. The trench include first trench formed from the surface of the substrate to boundary depth and second trench formed from the boundary depth to the bottom and having a diameter smaller than that of the first trench. First diffusion layers connected to the buried layer are formed around the first or second trench according to inter-element breakdown voltage required of the semiconductor element. |
| US08338905B2 |
Photodiode and photodiode array with improved performance characteristics
The present invention is a photodiode and/or photodiode array, having a p+ diffused area that is smaller than the area of a mounted scintillator crystal, designed and manufactured with improved device characteristics, and more particularly, has relatively low dark current, low capacitance and improved signal-to-noise ratio characteristics. More specifically, the present invention is a photodiode and/or photodiode array that includes a metal shield for reflecting light back into a scintillator crystal, thus allowing for a relatively small p+ diffused area. |
| US08338903B2 |
Photoelectric transducer and manufacturing method therefor
The surrounding length of a junction separation portion can be shortened to improve an insulating resistance in order to provide a solar cell with highly efficiency.In a photoelectric transducer of the type where a light-receiving surface electrode is wired to another electrode on a back surface via a through electrode passing through a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type, the photoelectric transducer comprises: a junction separation portion made around the through electrode on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer formed for covering the junction separation portion, the through electrode penetrating the dielectric layer; and a back electrode provided on the dielectric layer and coupled to the through electrode which is connected to the light-receiving surface electrode. |
| US08338900B2 |
Image sensor having curved micro-mirrors over the sensing photodiode and method for fabricating
The invention involves the integration of curved micro-mirrors over a photodiode active area (collection area) in a CMOS image sensor (CIS) process. The curved micro-mirrors reflect light that has passed through the collection area back into the photo diode. The curved micro-mirrors are best implemented in a backside illuminated device (BSI). |
| US08338898B2 |
Micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) microphone having a thin-film construction
An MEMS microphone is bonded onto the surface of an IC component containing at least one integrated circuit suitable for the conditioning and processing of the electrical signal supplied by the MEMS microphone. The entire component is simple to produce and has a compact and space-saving construction. Production is accomplished in a simple and reliable manner. |
| US08338894B2 |
Increased depth of drain and source regions in complementary transistors by forming a deep drain and source region prior to a cavity etch
Deep drain and source regions of an N-channel transistor may be formed through corresponding cavities, which may be formed together with cavities of a P-channel transistor, wherein the lateral offsets of the cavities may be adjusted on the basis of an appropriate reverse spacer regime. Consequently, the dopant species in the N-channel transistor extends down to a specific depth, for instance down to the buried insulating layer of an SOI device, while at the same time providing an efficient strain-inducing mechanism for the P-channel transistor with a highly efficient overall manufacturing process flow. |
| US08338891B2 |
Arrangement of MOSFET's for controlling same
An arrangement of a plurality of MOSFET's on a chip that includes a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal is provided, the arrangement having at least one first MOSFET used as a first control cell and at least one second MOSFET used as a second control cell, each MOSFET having respectively a gate terminal, a source terminal and a drain terminal. The source terminals of all the MOSFET's are connected to one another and contacting the first terminal of the chip. The drain terminal of the at least one second MOSFET, which is used as a power cell, contacts the second terminal of the chip. The gate terminals of all the MOSFET's are connected to one another and contact the third terminal of the chip. The gate terminal and the drain terminal of the at least one first MOSFET, which is used as the first control cell, are connected to one another. |
| US08338890B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of external terminals; a plurality of semiconductor substrates that are layered; a through electrode penetrating through at least one of the semiconductor substrates and electrically connected with any of the external terminals; and a plurality of electrostatic discharge protection circuits provided on any one of the semiconductor substrates. In the device, the through electrode is electrically connected with the plurality of electrostatic discharge protection circuits. |
| US08338886B2 |
Semiconductor device with (110)-oriented silicon
A vertical semiconductor device includes a bottom metal layer and a first P-type semiconductor layer overlying the bottom metal layer. The first P-type semiconductor layer is characterized by a surface crystal orientation of (110) and a first conductivity. The first P-type semiconductor layer is heavily doped. The vertical semiconductor device also includes a second P-type semiconductor layer overlying the first P-type semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer has a surface crystal orientation of (110) and is characterized by a lower conductivity than the first conductivity. The vertical semiconductor device also has a top metal layer overlying the second P-type semiconductor layer. A current conduction from the top metal layer to the bottom metal layer and through the second p-type semiconductor layer is characterized by a hole mobility along a <110> crystalline orientation and on (110) crystalline plane. |
| US08338871B2 |
Field effect transistor with electric field and space-charge control contact
A group III nitride-based transistor capable of achieving terahertz-range cutoff and maximum frequencies of operation at relatively high drain voltages is provided. In an embodiment, two additional independently biased electrodes are used to control the electric field and space-charge close to the gate edges. |
| US08338868B2 |
Shared photodiode image sensor
An image sensor with a shared photodiode is provided. The image sensor includes at least two unit pixels, each of which includes a photodiode, a diffusion region which gathers electrons from the photodiode, a transfer transistor which connects the photodiode with the diffusion region, and a readout circuit which reads out a signal from the diffusion region. Photodiodes of neighboring unit pixels are disposed symmetrically to be adjacent to one another to form a shared photodiode. The image sensor does not have a STI region which causes a dark current restricting its performance and does not require a basic minimum design factor (a distance or an area) related to a STI region. A region corresponding to a STI region may be used as a region of a photodiode or for additional pixel scaling. Therefore, a limitation in scaling of a photodiode is overcome, and pixel performance is improved in spite of pixel scaling. |
| US08338866B2 |
Microwave semiconductor device using compound semiconductor and method for manufacturing the same
An undoped AlGaN layer 13 is formed on a buffer layer composed of a GaN series material formed on a semiconductor substrate, a drain electrode 15 and a source electrode 16 forming ohmic junction with the undoped AlGaN layer 13 are formed separately from each other on the undoped AlGaN layer 13. A gate electrode 17 composed of metal Ni and Au laminated in this order is formed between the drain electrodes 15 and the source electrode 16 on the undoped AlGaN layer 13. The end portion 17-2 of the gate electrode 17 is formed on the underlying metal 18 formed by a metal containing Ti via an insulating film 14 on a GaN buffer layer 12 surrounding the undoped AlGaN layer 13. |
| US08338861B2 |
III-nitride semiconductor device with stepped gate trench and process for its manufacture
A III-nitride heterojunction power semiconductor device that includes a passivation body with a gate well having a top mouth that is wider than the bottom mouth thereof, and a method of fabrication for the same. |
| US08338860B2 |
Normally off gallium nitride field effect transistors (FET)
A heterostructure field effect transistor (HFET) gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor power device comprises a hetero-junction structure comprises a first semiconductor layer interfacing a second semiconductor layer of two different band gaps thus generating an interface layer as a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer. The power device further comprises a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on two opposite sides of a gate electrode disposed on top of the hetero-junction structure for controlling a current flow between the source and drain electrodes in the 2DEG layer. The power device further includes a floating gate located between the gate electrode and hetero-junction structure, wherein the gate electrode is insulated from the floating gate with an insulation layer and wherein the floating gate is disposed above and padded with a thin insulation layer from the hetero-junction structure and wherein the floating gate is charged for continuously applying a voltage to the 2DEG layer to pinch off the current flowing in the 2DEG layer between the source and drain electrodes whereby the HFET semiconductor power device is a normally off device. |
| US08338855B2 |
Voltage-controlled bidirectional switch
A voltage-controlled vertical bi-directional monolithic switch, referenced with respect to the rear surface of the switch, formed from a lightly-doped N-type semiconductor substrate, in which the control structure includes, on the front surface side, a first P-type well in which is formed an N-type region, and a second P-type well in which is formed a MOS transistor, the first P-type well and the gate of the MOS transistor being connected to a control terminal, said N-type region being connected to a main terminal of the MOS transistor, and the second main terminal of the MOS transistor being connected to the rear surface voltage of the switch. |
| US08338853B2 |
Substrate for forming light-emitting layer, light emitter and light-emitting substance
Light emitters and substrates for light emitters are provided to improve light-emitting efficiency and achieve improvement in crystal quality. A light emitter includes a single-crystal substrate, an oriented microcrystal layer, and a light-emitting layer. The light-emitting layer is made of a nitride semiconductor by means of a vapor-phase growth method. In the oriented microcrystal layer, the proportion of crystals, in which one of crystal axes is oriented with respect to the single-crystal substrate, is 5-9 out of 10 crystals. An average diameter of the crystal grains of the respective crystals, contained in the oriented microcrystal layer, is 1-1,000 nm. A light emitter may be equipped with an intermediate layer, a light-emitting layer, and a clad layer. These layers are formed on the oriented microcrystal layer by a vapor-phase growth method. The light-emitting layer contains microcrystal grains whose average grain diameter is 1-1,000 nm. |
| US08338846B2 |
Wavelength converted light emitting diode with reduced emission of unconverted light
A method for the manufacture of a wavelength converted light emitting device is provided. A light curable coating material is arranged on the outer surface of a wavelength converted light emitting diode. The light curable coating material is cured, in positions where a high intensity of unconverted LED-light encounters the curable coating material. The method can be used to selectively stop unconverted light from exiting the device, leading to a wavelength converted LED essentially only emitting converted light. |
| US08338844B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting apparatus having stacked reflective dielectric films
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes causing a semiconductor light emitting device and a mounting member to face each other. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a stacked structure unit including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a light emitting layer provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, a first electrode provided on a major surface of the stacked structure unit to connect to the first semiconductor layer, a second electrode provided on the major surface of the stacked structure unit to connect to the second semiconductor layer, and a dielectric stacked film provided on the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer of the major surface not covered by the first electrode and the second electrode, formed of stacked dielectric films having different refractive indexes, and including a protruding portion erected on at least a portion of a rim of at least one of the first and second electrodes. The mounting member includes a connection member connected to at least one of the first and second electrodes. The method further includes causing the connection member to contact and join to the at least one of the first and second electrodes using the protruding portion as a guide. |
| US08338840B2 |
Solid state light sheet or strip having cavities formed in bottom substrate
A solid state light sheet and method of fabricating the sheet are disclosed. In one embodiment, bare LED chips have top and bottom electrodes, where the bottom electrode is a large reflective electrode. The bottom electrodes of an array of LEDs (e.g., 500 LEDs) are bonded to an array of electrodes formed on a flexible bottom substrate. Conductive traces are formed on the bottom substrate connected to the electrodes. A transparent top substrate is then formed over the bottom substrate. Various ways to connect the LEDs in series are described along with many embodiments. In one method, the top substrate contains a conductor pattern that connects to LED electrodes and conductors on the bottom substrate. |
| US08338834B2 |
Diamond semiconductor device
The diamond semiconductor device is a diamond semiconductor device where a pair of electrodes are fixed on a diamond substrate, and wherein at least one interface to the electrode on the surface of the diamond substrate has a hydrogen termination and at least the surface of the substrate between the pair of two electrodes is controlled to have a larger electric resistivity value than inside the substrate. Accordingly, a diamond semiconductor device can be realized, capable of attaining the device work stability, especially the device work stability in severe environments such as high temperature with exhibiting the function of the hydrogen termination thereof to the utmost extent. |
| US08338831B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Recesses are formed in a pMOS region 2, and a SiGe layer is then formed so as to cover a bottom surface and a side surface of each of the recesses. Next, a SiGe layer containing Ge at a lower content than that in the SiGe layer is formed on each of the SiGe layers. |
| US08338830B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, which is able to improve on-current and mobility of a polycrystal TFT without disturbing a high integration level, and also provide a semiconductor device obtained in accordance with the manufacturing method. The manufacturing method comprises steps of adding a catalytic element to a semiconductor film and heating the semiconductor film to form a more crystallized first region; forming a less crystallized second region than the first region; irradiating first laser light to the first region to form a more crystallized third region than the first region; irradiating second laser light to the second region to form a more crystallized fourth region than the second region; and patterning the third region to form a first island-shaped region and the fourth region to form a second island-shaped region, wherein the first laser light has the same energy density from the second laser light, and a scan speed of the first laser light is faster than that of the second laser light. |
| US08338828B2 |
Semiconductor package and method of testing same
A packaged integrated circuit includes a substrate having a wire layout pattern and a solder mask layer. An integrated circuit attached to a surface of the substrate is electrically connected to the wire layout pattern. An encapsulation material covers at least the integrated circuit and the solder mask layer. One or more crack seal rings are disposed on the solder mask surface. The crack seal rings are copper traces with terminals that allow current to be applied to the traces. A broken trace (open circuit condition) is indicative of a crack in the package. Thus, electrical testing is performed to detect physical defects. |
| US08338827B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
In a thin film transistor which uses an oxide semiconductor, buffer layers containing indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, and nitrogen are provided between the oxide semiconductor layer and the source and drain electrode layers. |
| US08338826B2 |
Suspension or solution for making organic optoelectronic device, making method thereof, and applications
A suspension or solution for an organic optoelectronic device is disclosed. The composition of the suspension or solution includes at least one kind of micro/nano transition metal oxide and a solvent. The composition of the suspension or solution can selectively include at least one kind of transition metal oxide ions or a precursor of transition metal oxide. Moreover, the method of making and applications of the suspension or solution are also disclosed. |
| US08338821B2 |
Pressure detection apparatus, Josephson device, and superconducting quantum interference device that include superconductor thin film that undergoes transition from superconductor to insulator by pressure
A pressure detection apparatus (30) detects, among a plurality of superconductor thin films (11 to 14) having different critical pressures at which a transition from a superconductor to an insulator occurs, the superconductor thin films (12 to 14) that have undergone the transition to the insulator with ammeters (242, 252, 262); and to detect, as an internal pressure of a housing (10), the maximum critical pressure among the critical pressures of the detected superconductor thin films (12 to 14). |
| US08338820B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer. The first conductivity type layer has a superlattice structure. First semiconductor layers and second semiconductor layers are alternately provided in the superlattice structure. The first semiconductor layers include a first nitride semiconductor and the second semiconductor layers include a second nitride semiconductor having a larger lattice constant than the first nitride semiconductor. The light emitting layer has a multi-quantum well structure. Quantum well layers and barrier layers are alternately provided in the multi-quantum well structure. The quantum well layers include a third nitride semiconductor having a smaller lattice constant than the second nitride semiconductor and the barrier layers include a fourth nitride semiconductor having a smaller lattice constant than the third nitride semiconductor. At least one of the quantum well layers has lattice spacing equal to the lattice constant of the third nitride semiconductor. |
| US08338817B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Any of a plurality of contact plugs which reaches a diffusion layer serving as a drain layer of an MOS transistor has an end provided in contact with a lower surface of a thin insulating film provided selectively on an interlayer insulating film. A phase change film constituted by GST to be a chalcogenide compound based phase change material is provided on the thin insulating film, and an upper electrode is provided thereon. Any of the plurality of contact plugs which reaches the diffusion layer serving as a source layer has an end connected directly to an end of a contact plug penetrating an interlayer insulating film. |
| US08338815B2 |
Memory units and related semiconductor devices including nanowires
Methods of fabricating a memory unit are provided including forming a plurality of first nanowire structures, each of which includes a first nanowire extending in a first direction parallel to the first substrate and a first electrode layer enclosing the first nanowire, on a first substrate. The first electrode layers are partially removed to form first electrodes beneath the first nanowires. A first insulation layer filling up spaces between structures, each of which includes the first nanowire and the first electrode, is formed on the first substrate. A second electrode layer is formed on the first nanowires and the first insulation layer. A plurality of second nanowires is formed on the second electrode layer, each of which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second electrode layer is partially etched using the second nanowires as an etching mask to form a plurality of second electrodes. Related memory units, methods of fabricating semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices are also provided. |
| US08338813B2 |
Bit-erasing architecture for seek-scan probe (SSP) memory storage
An apparatus comprising a substrate, a heater formed on the substrate, and a phase-change layer formed on the heater. The heater comprises a heater layer and first and second electrodes electrically coupled to the heater layer. A process comprising forming a heater on a substrate and forming a phase-change layer on the heater. The heater comprises a heater layer and first and second electrodes electrically coupled to the heater layer. |
| US08338806B2 |
Gas cluster ion beam system with rapid gas switching apparatus
A processing system is provided for irradiating a substrate with a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB). The system includes a nozzle for forming and emitting gas cluster beams through a nozzle outlet, and a stagnation chamber that is located upstream of and adjacent the nozzle. The stagnation chamber has an inlet, and the nozzle is configured to direct a single gas cluster beam toward the substrate. An ionizer is positioned downstream of the outlet and is configured to ionize the gas cluster beam to form the GCIB. The system also includes a gas supply that is in fluid communication with the inlet of the stagnation chamber, and which includes a gas source and a valve located between the gas source and the nozzle for controlling flow of a gas between the gas source and the nozzle. |
| US08338805B2 |
Reticle manufacturing method, surface shape measuring apparatus and signal processor
A reticle manufacturing method of the present invention comprises the steps of holding a reference mask blank by a reference chuck to measure a surface shape of the reference mask blank as a first surface shape, holding the reference mask blank by a reticle chuck of the exposure apparatus to measure a surface shape of the reference mask blank as a second surface shape, holding the electron beam drawing mask blank by the reference chuck to measure a surface shape of the electron beam drawing mask blank as a third surface shape, calculating a difference between the measurement values of the first surface shape and the second surface shape as a first deference value, calculating, as a forth surface shape, a surface shape of the electron beam drawing mask blank held by the reticle chuck on the basis of the first deference value and the measurement value of the third surface shape, and drawing the pattern on the electron beam drawing mask blank on the basis of the forth surface shape. |
| US08338797B2 |
Debris mitigation device with rotating foil trap and drive assembly
The present invention relates to a debris mitigation device for use with a radiation source (2) generating optical radiation, in particular extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV) or soft x-rays, and emitting undesired substances and/or particles which can deposit on optical surfaces in a radiation path of said radiation source (2), and to a corresponding drive assembly. The debris mitigation device comprises at least one rotating foil trap (5) and the drive assembly. The drive assembly comprises a driving motor (14) and a driving axis (10), to which the rotating foil trap (5) is fixed. The driving motor (14) and bearings (13) supporting the driving axis (10) are enclosed in a casing (20) having an aperture for the driving axis (10) and at least one outlet opening (21) for a sealing gas. The outlet opening (21) is connectable to a pump for pumping out the sealing gas. The aperture is designed to define a gap (23) between the driving axis (10) and the casing (20), wherein said gap (23) is connected to a supply pipe (19) for supplying the sealing gas through said gap (23) into said casing (20). The proposed debris mitigation device allows the use of conventional driving motors and oiled or lubricated bearings without the risk of contamination of the vacuum chamber in which the debris mitigation device is used. This results in an enhanced service life of the driving assembly. |
| US08338795B1 |
Method for improving the angular resolution of a neutron scatter camera
An instrument that will directly image the fast fission neutrons from a special nuclear material source wherein the neutron detection efficiency is increased has been described. Instead of the previous technique that uses a time-of-flight (TOF) between 2 widely spaced fixed planes of neutron detectors to measure scatter neutron kinetic energy, we now use the recoil proton energy deposited in the second of the 2 scatter planes which can now be repositioned either much closer together or further apart. However, by doubling the separation distance between the 2 planes from 20 cm to a distance of 40 cm we improved the angular resolution of the detector from about 12° to about 10°. A further doubling of the separation distance to 80 cm provided an addition improvement in angular resolution of the detector to about 6° without adding additional detectors or ancillary electronics. The distance between planes also may be dynamically changed using a suitable common technique such as a gear- or motor-drive to toggle between the various positions. The angular resolution of this new configuration, therefore, is increased at the expanse of detection sensitivity. However, the diminished sensitivity may be acceptable for those applications where the detector is able to interrogate a particular site for an extended period. |
| US08338794B2 |
Detection device
A detection device with at least one detector and a processing unit for processing signals of the detector is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the detection device includes at least one cooling unit for cooling the detector and the processing unit. A shielding is provided for the detector and the processing unit. The shielding includes at least two linked sections, of which a first section has a higher electrical conductivity than a second section, the second section being in thermal contact with the cooling unit. |
| US08338790B2 |
Radiation-sensitive detector with a scintillator in a composite resin
A radiation-sensitive detector includes a photosensor elements (122) and a scintillator (116) optically coupled to the photosensor element (122). The scintillator (116) includes a powdered scintillator and a resin mixed with the powdered scintillator. The refractive index mismatch between the powdered scintillator and the resin is less than 7%. In one non-limiting instance, the composite scintillator material may be used to form fiber optic leaves arranged as a high-resolution detector array in conventional or spectral CT. |
| US08338788B2 |
Method and system of optimized volumetric imaging
A system of performing a volumetric scan. The system comprises a surface of positioning a patient in a space parallel thereto, a plurality of extendable detector arms each the detector arm having a detection unit having at least one radiation detector, and an actuator which moves the detection unit along a linear path, and a gantry which supports the plurality of extendable detector arms around the surface so that each the linear path of each respective the extendable detector arm being directed toward the space. |
| US08338787B1 |
System and method for resin thickness measurement
A system for surface resin thickness measurement on a fiber reinforced polmer composite includes a holding fixture configured to match a contour of a composite part in which a resin thickness is to be measured, a plurality of infrared measurement sensors in the holding fixture which can be moved along the surface to create a map of the surface to be measured, a computer-based data acquisition system interfacing with the plurality of infrared measurement sensors and calibration software supporting the data acquisition system. |
| US08338785B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting aircraft icing conditions
An apparatus for detecting icing conditions on an aircraft includes a laser system configured to direct a light signal into a cloud, a lens component configured to collect echo signals from a cloud caused by the light signal directed into the cloud, a beam splitter component configured to redirect signals received and passing through the lens component into at least first and second paths and a supercooled large droplet (SLD) detector to receive the redirected signals. The SLD includes a first signal detector component configured to perform a first color measurement on the first redirected signal, and a second signal detector component configured to perform a second color measurement on the second redirected signal. The SLD detector is configured to use the first and second color measurements to determine liquid water content and droplet diameter distribution for the cloud. |
| US08338777B2 |
Apparatus and method for well logging utilizing associate particle imaging
An apparatus for performing an operation in a borehole penetrating the earth includes a borehole tool and a neutron source within the borehole tool that emits neutron-alpha particles pairs as the result of a nuclear reaction. The apparatus also includes an alpha particle detector within the borehole tool arranged to detect when an alpha particle emitted by the neutron source strikes it and a gamma ray detector to detect gamma rays produced as a result of interactions between neutrons produced by the neutron source and at least one material in an area of interest outside of the borehole. The apparatus also includes a processing system that determines a characteristic of the area of interest based on a time difference between when the alpha particle strikes the alpha particle detector and a time when one or more gamma rays strikes the gamma ray detector. |
| US08338771B2 |
Apparatus for tracking and condensing sunlight of sliding type
There is provided an apparatus for tracking and condensing sunlight of a sliding type which tracks a direction of sunlight according to variations of an altitude or orbit of the sun pivots a solar module plate to maximize condensing efficiency, and strengthens a fixing structure on an inclined ground or inclined building surface by suing a frame structure on the bottom without using a concrete base harmful to natural environment. |
| US08338768B2 |
Actuation assembly
An actuation assembly is provided. The actuation assembly includes a casing, a plurality of linear actuators coupled to the casing, each of the linear actuators having first and second components and being configured to move the second component thereof relative to the first component thereof along a respective first axis, and a plurality of translational member sets, each being coupled to the second component of a respective one of the linear actuators and the casing and being configured such that when the second component of the respective linear actuator moves along the respective first axis, a selected portion of the translational member set moves substantially along a respective second axis. |
| US08338767B2 |
Hinge mechanism for a home appliance providing door motion in a non-circular path
A cooking appliance includes a housing forming a food handling compartment, a door positioned at the front of the housing that is configured to rotate about a vertical axis, and a hinge assembly secured to the door. The hinge assembly includes a hinge pin extending along the vertical axis and a double slider-crank mechanism that is coupled to the hinge pin. As the door rotates about the vertical axis, the hinge assembly moves the vertical axis along an elliptical path. |
| US08338765B2 |
Microwave field director structure having vanes with outer ends wrapped with a conductive wrapper
A reusable self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material and an electrically conductive wrapper that wraps the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered and the radially outer end of each vane is wrapped by an electrically conductive material. The wrapper and the substrate are arranged in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane. |
| US08338764B2 |
Microwave field director structure having vanes covered with a conductive sheath
A reusable self-supporting field director for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a plurality of vanes, each vane extending radially outwardly from a central axis and being angularly adjacent to two other vanes. The vanes are attached to each other at their inner ends. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material, and an electrically conductive sheath encasing the substrate so that a portion of the first and second major surfaces are covered by an electrically conductive material. The sheath is arranged on the substrate in a laterally symmetric fashion so that thermal expansion effects due to heating are equalized across the thickness of each vane. |
| US08338762B2 |
Power control apparatus for high-frequency dielectric heating and power control method for the same
A power control method for high-frequency dielectric heating is provided. The method includes detecting input current and input voltage from an AC power supply. Input current waveform information and input voltage waveform information are acquired. It is determined whether the magnetron is being oscillated. If so, the input voltage waveform information is added to the input current waveform information until oscillation of the magnetron is detected, and the addition result is converted into the drive signal of a switching transistor of an inverter circuit. If not, the input current waveform, without addition of the input voltage waveform, is converted into the drive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit. |
| US08338761B2 |
Microwave heating device
A microwave heating device comprises a cavity arranged to receive a load to be heated and a feeding structure for feeding microwaves in the cavity. The feeding structure comprises a transmission line for transmitting microwave energy generated by a microwave source and a resonator arranged at the junction between the transmission line and the cavity for operating as a feeding port of the cavity. The dielectric constant of the material constituting the interior of the resonator and the dimensions of the resonator are selected such that a resonance condition is established in the resonator for the microwaves generated by the source and impedance matching is established between the transmission line, the resonator and the cavity. In addition, the present invention provides a microwave heating device comprising a plurality of feeding ports with reduced crosstalk. |
| US08338755B2 |
On-vehicle heater and its manufacturing method
An on-vehicle heater according to the invention includes: a heating body unit including a heater element; an electrode member overlapped in contact with the heater element; an insulating sheet enveloping the heater element and the electrode member; and a tube housing the heater element and the electrode member enveloped in the insulating sheet; a radiator unit stacked on the heating body unit; and a cap mounted on an end portion of the heating body unit, the electrode member having a terminal portion being led out of the tube from an end opening of the tube, bent to pass through the cap, and led out of the cap. |
| US08338753B2 |
Contact tip and diffuser
A contact tip includes a first threaded section and a first non-threaded section. The length of the first non-threaded section is at least a fifth of the length of the first threaded section along a longitudinal axis. The contact tip further includes a first contact surface. A diffuser includes a second non-threaded section and a second threaded section configured to mate with the first threaded section of the contact tip. The diffuser further includes a second contact surface. The first non-threaded section is configured to elongate along the longitudinal axis as the first threaded section is screwed into the second threaded section past a point where the first contact surface and the second contact surface have established contact. |
| US08338748B2 |
Tandem welding carriage with changeable wheel configuration and modular construction
An invention is provided which comprises a tandem welding carriage having at least two welding carriages coupled to each other. Each of the welding carriages having a base, rear wheel assemblies disposed at one end of the base, and welding attachment portions. The two welding carriages are coupled to each other using a coupling member, and each welding carriage is carrying an arc welding device and/or spool to allow for tandem arc welding. |
| US08338741B2 |
Ground indicating device
A device and method are provided for determining whether sufficient ground exists to perform processes such requiring the establishment of an electrical arc such arc welding or plasma cutting. The device is capable of fastening to at least one object placed in between a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The contact surfaces are composed of conductive material but separated by non-conductive material. The device further includes at least one light bulb coupled with an electrical circuit such that the electrical circuit coupled to the light bulb, broken only by non-conductive material separating the first contact surface and the second contact surface. A method of determining whether such sufficient ground exists by connecting an electrical circuit, coupled with a light bulb and broken only by the object, is also provided. |
| US08338730B2 |
Lighting guide keypad and lighting guide keypad assembly
The present invention relates to a light guiding keypad and a light guiding keypad assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light guiding keypad and light guiding keypad assembly which can reduce the number of components of mobile phones by forming line type or surface type of key character patterns on one surface of a light guiding plate of a mobile phone that receives lights through its side surface and thus making the light guiding plate perform as keypad. The key character patterns are formed by printing paste having diffusion and reflection features. |