| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08369458B2 |
Wireless receiving system with an adaptively configurable analog to digital converter
A circuit is disclosed that comprises a controller and an analog to digital converter (ADC) coupled to controller. The speed and/or the resolution of the ADC is configurable to provide optimum performance during the operation of the ADC. In an embodiment a wireless receiver with an adaptively configurable ADC for is provided. The speed and resolution the ADC is configurable depending on the operational mode of the receiver. Accordingly, through the use of an adaptively configurable ADC, power consumption and speed is optimized for each operational mode. |
| US08369456B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method and encoding device
A data processing apparatus able to start decoding at a timing earlier than the conventional timing and able to reduce the storage capacity required for a storing means for storing the encoded data until a decoding side decodes the input encoded data in comparison with the conventional storage capacity, which apparatus selects frame data from frame data f(5) having the last decoding order to frame data f(0) having the first decoding order for processing for calculating a delay time min_delay and calculates the delay time min_delay. It calculates the delay time min_delay indicating the delay time from when the decoding side starts to receive input of the frame data to when the data is decoded based on the specified size and the bit rate of the input of the frame data to the decoding side for each of the frame data for processing. |
| US08369455B2 |
Receiving apparatus, receiving method, and program
The present invention provides a receiving apparatus including: a capturing section configured to correct an error of a receive signal and capture the receive signal; a filtering section configured to remove a low frequency component of a signal indicative of an integrated value of an error of the receive signal; and a capture detecting section configured to monitor a signal outputted from the filtering section and, if the signal is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time, detect that the capturing section has captured the receive signal. |
| US08369446B2 |
Transmitter
An apparatus comprising a first circuit configured to receive a signal and output a first output signal, a second circuit configured to receive the same signal and output a second output signal with a phase delay compared to the first signal, and a combiner configured to combine said first and second output signals to provide a combined signal, wherein said phase delay is controlled such that an amplitude of said combined signal is controlled. |
| US08369443B2 |
Single-wire asynchronous serial interface
The present invention discloses a single-wire asynchronous serial interface, and a method for transmitting commands and data through one transmission wire, wherein the transmission wire is capable of transmitting signals of three level states. The disclosed interface comprises a signal level extraction circuit receiving signals transmitted through the wire and outputting logic or functional bits according to the received signals; a clock extraction circuit generating clock signals according to the functional bits, and a memory circuit controlled by the clock signals and storing the logic bits. The disclosed method comprises: using two of the level states to represent logic 0 and logic 1, and the third of the states as a functional bit; and determining whether a group of signals is a command or data by the existence of a functional bit within the group. |
| US08369441B2 |
Receiving apparatus and receiving method
A receiving apparatus includes a converting unit that multiplies first and second reception signal points for the respective first and second reception signals by a matrix and outputs resulting converted first and second reception signal points; a number-of-candidates determining unit that determines a number of candidates for at least first transmission-signal candidate points, based on a reception quality for the first and second reception signals; and an estimating unit that selects, based on the converted first and second reception signal points, the first transmission-signal candidate points and second transmission-signal candidate points, the number of first transmission-signal candidate points corresponding to the determined number of candidates, and that estimates, as the first and second transmission signals, the first and second transmission-signal candidate points with which distances between the selected first and second transmission-signal candidate points and the corresponding converted first and second reception signal points are smallest. |
| US08369440B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, and mobile station apparatus
A communication apparatus includes a plurality of transmitting units that transmit a signal stream from each different antenna; a scheduling unit being configured such that the number of outputs is set so as to not exceed the number of transmitting units capable of transmitting, and a combination of transmitting units corresponding to the number of outputs, to each of which one of the signal streams is to be input, is defined in the form of a precoding matrix; a codeword generating unit that generates, from data to be transmitted, a predetermined number of codewords to be transmitted out simultaneously; an encoder that generates, from the codewords, signal streams corresponding to the number of outputs; and a modulation unit that supplies each of the signal streams to a corresponding one of the transmitting units in accordance with the precoding matrix. |
| US08369439B2 |
Transmission of precoding codebook over an air interface
Embodiments of the present invention include a system for transmitting a precoding codebook over an air interface. The system includes a first station configured to signal a set of indicators via at least one antenna to a second station from which the precoding codebook is derived at the second station based on the signaled set of indicators. The set of indicators includes less information than the precoding codebook. |
| US08369436B2 |
Multiple-input multiple-output spatial multiplexing system with dynamic antenna beam combination selection capability
A spatial diversity receiver for wirelessly receiving a modulated RF signal and a method for wirelessly transmitting and receiving the modulated RF signal. The spatial diversity receiver includes at least two antenna arrays and an antenna beam selection control unit. Each antenna array of the spatial diversity receiver includes at least two fixed beam antennas with distinct radiation patterns, and combinations of the fixed beam antennas are selectable for wireless receipt of the modulated RF signal. The antenna beam selection control unit is configured to control at least one antenna switching and/or combining unit in order to select a specific combination of fixed beam antennas from each antenna array. |
| US08369435B2 |
Frame structure for a QAM system
A novel framing method for a variable net bit rate digital communications system that utilizes a set of different QAM constellations and punctured trellis code combinations, each combination designated as a mode. This frame structure has a variable integral number of QAM symbols per frame depending on the selected mode, but the number of bytes and Reed-Solomon packets per frame is constant. This is achieved even though the number of data bits per QAM symbol for some modes is fractional. Also the number of trellis coder puncture pattern cycles per frame is an integer for all modes. This arrangement simplifies the synchronization of receiver processing blocks such as the Viterbi decoder, de-randomizer, byte de-interleaver, and Reed-Solomon decoder. |
| US08369434B2 |
16k mode interleaver in a digital video broadcasting (DVB) standard
A data processing apparatus maps input symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of sub-carrier signals of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbol. The data processor includes an interleaver memory which reads-in the predetermined number of data symbols for mapping onto the OFDM sub-carrier signals. The interleaver memory reads-out the data symbols on to the OFDM sub-carriers to effect the mapping, the read-out being in a different order than the read-in, the order being determined from a set of addresses, with the effect that the data symbols are interleaved on to the sub-carrier signals. The set of addresses are generated from an address generator which comprises a linear feedback shift register and a permutation circuit. |
| US08369431B2 |
Peak-to-average power reduction method
A method of reducing peak-to-average power in a hybrid signal is provided. The method determines peaks in power by defining a sample point by way of a digital vector and an analog vector. The digital and analog vectors are added together to generate a hybrid vector which is used to compare the sample point to the maximum desired peak threshold. An error vector is used to correct the sample point to a desired power level. Once the sample point has been corrected it can be added back to the analog signal and transmitted. |
| US08369430B2 |
Method for detecting signal, device for detecting signal, and receiving device
The present invention relates to a method for detecting a signal, a device for detecting a signal, and a receiving device. A method for detecting a signal according to the present invention is a method for detecting a signal from a receiving device in a communication system including a multi-output multi-input antenna, including: estimating a channel matrix of a signal received from a plurality of receiving antennas; generating at least one channel matrix groups by aligning the channel matrix and generating at least one transmitting signal group by aligning a transmitting signal to be estimated to correspond thereto; determining a first candidate vector in consideration of all constellation points for a first layer of the at least one transmitting signal group; determining a second candidate vector in consideration of all constellation points for a second layer of the at least one transmitting signal group; generating a final candidate vector including the first candidate vector and the second candidate vector; and calculating a soft output using the final candidate vector. |
| US08369429B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting precoding matrix index in a wireless communication system using CoMP scheme
A method and apparatus for transmitting a Precoding Matrix Index (PMI) in a Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) communication system are disclosed. The method includes receiving signals in a same frequency band from Base Stations (BSs) included in a CoMP set, which operate in joint processing mode, selecting a first precoding matrix for each of the BSs using the received signals, generating a second precoding matrix by combining the first precoding matrices, and transmitting an index of the second precoding matrix to a serving BS among the BSs. |
| US08369424B2 |
Frequency selective and frequency diversity transmissions in a wireless communication system
Techniques for efficiently supporting frequency selective scheduling (FSS) and frequency diversity scheduling (FDS) are described. In one design, a first transmission for an FSS user may be mapped to a subband selected for this user from among at least one subband in a first frequency region of the system bandwidth. The first transmission may be mapped to a fixed portion or different portions of the selected subband in different time intervals. A second transmission for an FDS user may be mapped across multiple subbands in a second frequency region of the system bandwidth. The second transmission may be mapped to different subbands or different resource blocks in the second frequency region in different time intervals. Each time interval may correspond to a symbol period, a slot, a subframe, etc. The frequency hopping may be performed based on a fixed hopping pattern or a pseudo-random hopping pattern. |
| US08369421B2 |
Coding distortion removal method by selectively filtering based on a pixel difference
Mosaic-shaped block noise occurs when a compressed video signal is reproduced. This block noise is removed, but removing block noise from every block using a deblocking filter imposes a significant load on the deblocking filter. This load is therefore reduced by determining whether coding distortion removal (deblocking) is necessary, and applying a deblocking filter only when needed. |
| US08369420B2 |
Multimode filter for de-blocking and de-ringing
A multimode filter that is versatile for digital signal processing including in-loop processing (de-blocking and de-ringing), post processing (de-blocking and de-ringing), and overlap smoothing. A flexi-standard filter includes the multimode filter. An electronic device includes the flexi-standard filter. A process for digital signal processing includes in-loop processing (de-blocking and de-ringing), post processing (de-blocking and de-ringing), and overlap smoothing. |
| US08369417B2 |
Optimal denoising for video coding
An optimal denoising method for video coding. This method makes use of very few pixels and linear operations, and can be embedded into the motion compensation process of video encoders. This method is simple and flexible, yet offers high performance and produces appealing pictures. |
| US08369416B2 |
Error concealment method and apparatus
An error concealment method and apparatus are provided. The error concealment method includes determining a reference direction of a lost frame by determining whether a scene change between frames has occurred based on the lost frame; extracting concealment reference points for a pixel of the lost frame by using at least one frame except for the lost frame according to the determined reference direction; obtaining a concealment pixel value of the pixel of the lost frame by giving weight values to the extracted concealment reference points; and restoring the lost frame by performing a concealment of the pixel using the concealment pixel value. According to the error concealment method and apparatus, when a frame loss occurs in an appliance that receives/outputs compressed moving images, error concealment in the unit of a frame can be effectively performed, and the deterioration of picture quality due to the error propagation can be minimized. |
| US08369412B2 |
Method and system to improve the transport of compressed video data
A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn. |
| US08369409B2 |
Motion vector detection apparatus and method, moving picture encoding apparatus and method, and moving picture decoding apparatus and method
A motion vector detection apparatus that obtains, for each of the blocks of a predetermined size into which one frame is divided, motion vector information in units of a plurality of partitions of differing rectangular shapes and differing sizes, up to the size of the blocks, has a partition connector means (23) that, when motion vectors for a plurality of partitions are obtained for one of the blocks, decides whether or not to connect a plurality of the partitions for which the motion vectors are obtained, and if the partitions are connected, includes motion vector information about the resulting connected partition in the motion vector information output from the motion vector detection apparatus. The motion vector encoding rate can be reduced. |
| US08369408B2 |
Method of fast mode decision of enhancement layer using rate-distortion cost in scalable video coding (SVC) encoder and apparatus thereof
A method of fast mode decision of an enhancement layer using a bitrate-distortion cost in an SVC encoder includes: calculating a bitrate-distortion cost for a current macro block of an enhancement layer and a bitrate-distortion cost for a previous macro-block of the current macro block of an enhancement layer based on an optimal motion mode and an motion vector for a macro block of a base layer of a current frame; correcting the bitrate-distortion cost for the previous macro block calculated at the calculating by a correction value for reflecting relationship with the previous frame to calculate a final bitrate-distortion cost for the previous macro block; and comparing the bitrate-distortion cost for the current macro block calculated at the calculating with the final bitrate-distortion cost calculated at the correcting and selecting a motion mode that will be removed from the current macro block according to the comparison result. |
| US08369407B2 |
Method and a system for indexing and searching for video documents
A method of indexing a video document represents the video document in the form of a parallelepipedal volume obtained by juxtaposing, on a time axis, successive frames of the video document where each frame is represented by a matrix of pixels in a two-dimensional space. A space-time video slice of the video document is constructed by extracting a set of pixels for each frame of the video document in a same line defined relative to a first direction of the frames and juxtaposing the lines of pixels corresponding to the frames on a time axis to form a space-time video slice of a length defined by the juxtaposed lines of pixels and of a height equal to the length of the lines extracted from each of the frames. The length is a function of the dimension of the frames in a second direction and the orientation of the lines. The colorimetric values of the pixels of the lines of the space-time video slice are initialized on the basis of the content of the lines extracted from the frames of the video document. |
| US08369403B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
The present invention can suppress the decline in video quality during encoding. The present invention generates, for each of the nine intra image prediction modes preset according to the AVC standard, a difference image data item containing a difference value from pixels surrounding a process-target pixel. Then, an encoding device (10) ranks the intra image prediction modes depending on the sum of absolute difference (SAD), which is the sum of differences that is based on the sum of absolute values of each process-target pixel of the difference image data item and a preference order of offset[n] preset for the intra image prediction mode. |
| US08369402B2 |
Apparatus and method for prediction modes selection based on image formation
An image coding apparatus determines an image pattern of image data and, based on the determined image pattern, selects a prediction mode for generating predicted pixel values by predicting pixel values in a frame using pixel values in the same frame. Alternatively, based on photographing information concerning input image data, an image coding apparatus selects a prediction mode for generating predicted pixel values by predicting pixel values in a frame using pixel values in the same frame. |
| US08369393B2 |
Wireless in-band signaling with in-vehicle systems
This invention pertains to methods and apparatus for data communications from vehicles, to obtain emergency, concierge and other services, using a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network. Signaling is described for commencing data sessions after establishing a voice channel call. The call may be initiated from the vehicle automatically, and the call taker location may be unattended. Signaling methods are selected for traversing both newer and legacy vocoders for ubiquitous operation. |
| US08369388B2 |
Single-chip wireless tranceiver
Embodiments of a wireless transceiver are provided. Embodiments can be used in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless transceivers. In an embodiment, radio control signal bundles are provided as direct parallel interconnects between digital signal processing modules and the radio module of the wireless transceiver to enable a precise low-latency control of radio functions. In another embodiment, a separate physical line is provided to control each radio setting of the radio module, thereby enabling simultaneous real-time control of any number of radio settings. In a further embodiment, the various digital and analog components of the wireless transceiver are integrated within a single chip of the same process technology. |
| US08369387B1 |
Bit sync for receiver with multiple antennas
A receiver with multiple antennas, such as an 802.11b receiver may generate a magnitude signal for each antenna and add the results to determine a peak signal point in a received frame to provide a bit synchronization signal to a rake receiver component. The receiver may include one or more threshold switches that only pass individual or combined magnitude signals when the magnitude signals are above a certain level. The received frame may be dividing into segments using a switching circuit and registers. A comparator may then evaluate the registers to determine the segment with the highest magnitude signal. In one embodiment, values for adjacent segments may be added to a current segment when determining the segment with the highest magnitude signal. |
| US08369385B2 |
Cancellation of pilot and traffic signals
A method for removing selected signals from a received signal prior to decoding begins by receiving communication signals from a transmitter over a CDMA air interface. The received communication signals are input to a traffic signal cancellation system for canceling unwanted traffic signals, thereby producing an output (O). The received communication signals are input to a pilot signal cancellation system for removing a global pilot signal, thereby producing an output (Oadd). The output (Oadd) of the pilot signal cancellation system is subtracted from the output (O) of the traffic signal cancellation system to provide a cancellation system output. |
| US08369383B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting received signal processing delays as a function of channel dispersiveness
A method and apparatus provide for setting processing delay assignments in a CDMA receiver using a flat-channel placement or using a dispersive channel placement, in dependence on characterizing the channel as flat or dispersive. For example, a receiver maintains a logical flag reliably indicating the current channel state as flat or dispersive, and assigns or otherwise sets processing delays—e.g., for received signal demodulation—using a flat-channel placement algorithm or a dispersive-channel placement algorithm. The “flat-channel” placement algorithm generally provides better performance in flat-channel environments, and the “dispersive-channel” placement algorithm generally provides better performance in dispersive channel environments. Such processing may be regarded as “activating” a simplified processing delay placement grid that offers better performance if the channel truly is flat, with the underlying advantage of providing a reliable mechanism for detecting flat channel conditions. |
| US08369375B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device
Disclosed is a semiconductor light-emitting device including a package having a light outlet, a semiconductor laser diode disposed in the package and radiating a light having a first wavelength falling within a range of ultraviolet ray to visible light, and a visible-light-emitter containing a phosphor which absorbs a light radiated from the semiconductor laser diode and emits a visible light having a second wavelength differing from the first wavelength, the visible-light-emitter being disposed on an optical path of the laser diode and a peripheral edge of the visible-light-emitter being in contact with the package. |
| US08369371B1 |
Passivated semiconductor surfaces
The method of these teachings includes processing a semiconductor structure forming an active waveguide of a semiconductor laser in an environment free of contamination in order to provide contamination free mirror facets at the ends of the active waveguide, and depositing a single crystal passivation layer comprised of a semiconductor whose bandgap exceeds that of the active layer and the waveguide layers and that does not form misfit dislocations with the laser diode semiconductor, the deposition occurring at a temperature at which the semiconductor structure does not degrade. |
| US08369369B2 |
Systems, methods, and circuits for driving large off-chip loads
A method and system to drive large off-chip loads, such as, for example, laser diodes, wherein the system includes an integrated circuit coupled to an external differential diode load. Alternatively, the external diode load may be driven single-ended. The integrated circuit includes a data buffer device and a clock buffer device. The integrated circuit also includes a multiplexer device coupled to the clock buffer device configured to multiplex a data input signal and a clock input signal received at respective inputs of the integrated circuit. If the external diode is single-ended, the data input signal is transmitted to the data buffer device, which is then used solely to drive the diode load. If the diode load is differential, the data buffer device receives the data input signal. At the same time, the multiplexer device receives both the data input signal and the clock input signal and selects the data signal to drive the clock buffer device. For a diode load being driven differentially, the outputs of the two buffer devices are merged together externally through the use of a power-combining network, which includes external or off-chip transmission lines, which carry a respective output signal for the data buffer device and the clock buffer device. |
| US08369367B1 |
Tunable laser system
A tunable laser system utilizes a frequency shift compensated acousto-optic tunable filter. The wavelength accuracy and stability is achieved by a wavelength locker utilizing two separate intracavity light beams without the need to use beam splitters to significantly reduce the space typically needed by a conventional wavelength locker, and provide more stable operation and easy assembly. The acoustic optical tunable filter includes an acousto-optical crystal with a transducer coupled to the crystal to generate acoustic waves, and an optical mirror to reflect the diffracted light beam back to the acousto-optical medium again such that the frequency shift by two diffractions is compensated. By using different laser gain mediums, acoustic wave driving frequencies and acousto-optical crystals, this invention can be used to make tunable lasers in wide range of optical wavelengths for many different applications. |
| US08369366B2 |
Semiconductor laser excited solid-state laser device
To make it possible to use a type I nonlinear optical crystal or a quasi phase matching element as a third harmonic generation crystal there is provided a semiconductor laser, a solid state laser medium that outputs a fundamental wave, a second harmonic generation crystal that outputs a second harmonic wave from the fundamental wave, and a third harmonic generation crystal that outputs a third harmonic wave from the fundamental wave and the second harmonic wave. A quasi phase matching elements is utilized as the second harmonic generation crystal. It is possible to use a type I nonlinear optical crystal or a quasi phase matching element as the third harmonic generation crystal. |
| US08369362B2 |
Audio and video data processing device for multimedia communication via a local network set up within an asynchronous network
A device is dedicated to the processing of audio and video data for multimedia communication, via an asynchronous network, between first LAN audio and video terminals and second LAN audio and video terminals. This device includes i) a connector which establishes communications with the first LAN audio and video terminals and with other connectors installed in another device, ii) a first dating module which attaches a transmit time mark and an identifier to the audio and video data emitted by the first LAN audio and video terminals, before their transmission to the other connector and iii) a processor which determines a time difference representing the transmission time difference between the received audio and video data and presenting the same identifier. |
| US08369359B2 |
Communication device, communication method, and integrated circuit
A communication device for transmitting data to an other communication device via a transmission channel, includes a communication characteristic acquisition section which acquires a communication characteristic of the transmission channel, and a frame length control section which controls a frame length of a communication frame storing the data based on the communication characteristic of the transmission channel. |
| US08369357B2 |
System and method for providing simultaneous handling of layer-2 and layer-3 mobility in an internet protocol network environment
An apparatus for providing mobility in an Internet protocol (IP) network environment is provided that includes a cell site element operable to receive an address resolution protocol (ARP) signal from a base station. The ARP signal is associated with a selected mobile station that can roam between networks. In response to the signal, the cell site element evaluates a table that identifies a plurality of mobile stations and if the selected mobile station is not present in the table, then a mobility registration request is generated and communicated to a next destination. |
| US08369354B2 |
Method for synchronizing a transmission of applications data frames, corresponding sender and receiver devices and storage means
It is proposed a method for synchronizing a transmission of applications data frames provided to a sender device, the transmission being done between said sender device and at least one receiver device via a synchronous communications network implementing a clock that defines a network cycle.Upon detection of an event representing a start of an applications data frame, the sender device performs steps of: determining a piece of information on time offset between the instant of detection of the event and a reference instant of a network cycle as well as a piece of information on position of said first network cycle in a sequence of network cycles; transmitting the piece of information on time offset and the piece of information on position, during a first network cycle; processing for transmission, in a bounded lapse of time, a set of applications data starting from the start of the frame; transmitting, the processed applications data starting from a second network cycle subsequent to said first network cycle. |
| US08369353B1 |
Dynamic heterogeneous backhaul
A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. A first communication link of a first type is established to exchange communication traffic. A performance indicator for said first communication link is monitored. A second communication link of a second type is established. Based on the performance indicator, a portion of the communication traffic is moved from the first communication link to the second communication link. |
| US08369352B1 |
Scheduling access terminals via one or more wireless schedulers
A method, medium, and wireless system are provided for scheduling access terminals to prevent starvation of other access terminals connected to a communication network. The wireless system includes access terminals and base stations that are configured with a first wireless scheduler and a parallel wireless scheduler that select access terminals to communicate during specified time slots. The access terminals may measure channel conditions associated with communications to the base station and transmit requests that specify a desired communication rate to the base station. The first and parallel wireless schedulers on each base station receive the requests from each access terminal and select an access terminal to communicate during a subsequent time slot that may be based on, for example, the channel conditions and weighted average functions of the communication rates—corresponding to the access terminal—generated by the first and parallel wireless schedulers. |
| US08369351B2 |
Method and apparatus for collision avoidance
A wireless communication device, a wireless communication system and a method of avoiding collisions by transmitting a packet length field before transmitting a header of the packet. |
| US08369345B1 |
Multi-router system having shared network interfaces
A multi-router system is described in which hardware and software components of one or more standalone routers can be partitioned into multiple logical routers. The multiple logical routers are isolated from each other in terms of routing and forwarding functions yet allow network interfaces to be shared between the logical routers. Moreover, different logical routers can share network interfaces without impacting the ability of any of the logical routers to be independently scaled to meet the bandwidth demands of the customers serviced by the logical router. |
| US08369343B2 |
Device virtualization
Methods and apparatus for device virtualization and for communication between network devices are described. In one example, all devices on a first Local Area Network (LAN1) which are to communicate with devices on a second Local Area Network (LAN2) have a virtual presence on LAN2, and all the devices on LAN2 which are to communicate with devices on LAN1 have a virtual presence on LAN1, enabling these devices to communicate as if they were located in the same LAN. In another example, a device which uses different networking protocols to other devices on a network is virtualized on its own network, along with all the devices with which it communicates. In either example, the proposed virtualization technique may ensure that virtualized devices appear like physical devices to the other devices such that no modifications of the networking protocol is necessary to interact with a virtualized device. |
| US08369342B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for extending network with power supply
System, apparatus, and method for extending network with power supply are disclosed. The apparatus includes a processing unit, a signal and power integration unit, a power supply unit, a transmission rate regulation unit, a display unit, and a symmetric transmission control unit. The signal and power integration unit integrates the electrical power with the data packages, so that the normal data transmission line can also transmit electrical power alone with signals to the electrical devices which are connected to the network extending apparatus. Therefore, the electrical devices do not need any extra power transmission line or independent power supply for obtaining the requisite power. |
| US08369339B2 |
System and method of subscriber to content provider network access service management
A system and method are provided for subscriber to content provider network access service management which is requested by and paid for by the content provider to the network access provider. In response to the request from the content provider the network access provider invokes changes in bandwidth and/or quality of service for network traffic traversing between the web service provided by the content provider and the subscriber, either automatically or in response to a run-time request. The changes made in bandwidth and/or quality of service for the network traffic enables more robust and timely content and applications to be delivered to the specific subscriber from the content provider. |
| US08369337B1 |
Methods and devices for assigning a wireless communication device to a wireless coverage area based on early termination gain
Methods and systems for assigning a wireless communication device (WCD) to a wireless coverage are a based on early termination gain (ETG) are presented. In particular, a RAN may receive a request, from a WCD, for an assignment to one of a plurality of wireless coverage areas. In response to receiving the request, the RAN may select a wireless coverage area of the plurality that has a highest ETG, and assign the WCD to the selected wireless coverage area. Prior to selecting this wireless coverage area, the RAN may optionally remove one or more wireless coverage areas with high utilization from consideration. |
| US08369336B2 |
Method for requesting domain transfer and terminal and server thereof
A method, terminal and server for controlling a domain transfer operation, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes receiving, by a terminal, a domain transfer request from a network server, the domain transfer request including domain transfer related information; evaluating, by the terminal, the domain transfer related information when deciding whether or not to initiate a domain transfer; determining, by the terminal, whether to initiate the domain transfer of an ongoing call based on the evaluation result; and initiating, by the terminal, the domain transfer of the ongoing call when the evaluated domain transfer related information indicates that the domain transfer of the ongoing call needs to be initiated, wherein the domain transfer is for voice call continuity that is capable of transferring voice calls between a circuit switched (CS) domain and an (IMS) domain. |
| US08369335B2 |
Method and system for extending routing domain to non-routing end stations
A system is provided for facilitating assignment of a virtual routing node identifier to a non-routing node. During operation, the system assigns to a non-routing node coupled to a switch a virtual routing node identifier unique to the non-routing node. In addition, the system communicates reachability information corresponding to the virtual routing node identifier to other switches in the network. |
| US08369334B2 |
Internet real-time deep packet inspection and control device and method
A deep packet inspection and control device includes a first rule table unit for storing a rule table including a first set of rule entries which are pre-defined or generated dynamically; a first scanning unit for receiving a first real-time packet data stream from the internet, and scanning the first real-time packet data stream according to a scanning window defined by the first set of rule entries; a first analysis unit for matching the first real-time packet data stream with the first set of rule entries in the scanning window of the first scanning unit, and outputting a matching result; and a first rule linkage unit for performing linkage control on the first real-time packet data stream to be output back to the internet according to the matching result output from the first analysis unit. |
| US08369332B2 |
Server-side load balancing using parent-child link aggregation groups
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: establishing, at the network node, a first Child Link Aggregation Group (CLAG), wherein the first CLAG includes at least one link to a first downstream node; establishing, at the network node, a second CLAG, wherein the second CLAG includes at least one link to a second downstream node; establishing, at the network node, a Parent Link Aggregation Group (PLAG), wherein the PLAG includes the first CLAG and the second CLAG; receiving, at the network node, a packet including an address of a destination of the packet; determining that the destination of the packet is associated with the PLAG; and transmitting the packet over both the first CLAG and the second CLAG. |
| US08369330B2 |
Provider backbone bridging—provider backbone transport internetworking
An Ethernet virtual switched sub-network (VSS) is implemented as a virtual hub and spoke architecture overlaid on hub and spoke connectivity built of a combination of Provider Backbone Transport (spokes) and a provider backbone bridged sub-network (hub). Multiple VSS instances are multiplexed over top of the PBT/PBB infrastructure. A loop free resilient Ethernet carrier network is provided by interconnecting Provider Edge nodes through access sub-networks to Provider Tandems to form Provider Backbone Transports spokes with a distributed switch architecture of the Provider Backbone Bridged hub sub-network. Provider Backbone transport protection groups may be formed from the Provider Edge to diversely homed Provider Tandems by defining working and protection trunks through the access sub-network. The Provider Backbone Transport trunks are Media Access Control (MAC) addressable by the associated Provider Edge address or by a unique address associated with the protection group in the Provider Backbone Bridged network domain. |
| US08369325B2 |
Method and apparatus for packet classification and spreading in a virtualized system
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for packet classification and spreading in a virtualized system. The system can use information in a packet's header to determine a destination system-image in the virtualized system, and a packet-spreading policy for the destination system-image. The system can determine a key using the information in a packet's header. Alternatively, the system can hash the information in the packet's header to obtain an index value. Next, the system can use the key or the index value to perform a lookup in a table which associates keys or index values with system images and/or packet-spreading policies. Once the destination system-image and the packet-spreading policy are determined, the system can deliver the packet to a thread on the destination system-image according to the packet-spreading policy. |
| US08369323B1 |
Managing voice-based data communications within a clustered network environment
This disclosure relates to managing voice-based data communications within a clustered network environment using application-layer functionality, and more particularly to a primary network device within a cluster that manages transmissions related to a communication and synchronizes state information associated with the communication to other network devices within the cluster. One exemplary method includes receiving, by a network device in a cluster, information associated with a data communication between a first user device and a second user device, and analyzing, by the network device, the received information using application-layer functionality to identify a primary network device that manages the data communication. When the network device is not the primary network device, the network device forwards the received information to the primary network device. Upon receipt of the information, the primary network device provides updated state information for the communication with other network devices within the cluster for synchronization purposes. |
| US08369320B2 |
Multiplexing apparatus and cell discard method
An ATM multiplexing apparatus of the present invention is the apparatus for selectively performing cell discard processing in the case of congestion on the basis of a use state of the same connection formed by cells from the side of an ATM switching unit and subscribers without installing UPC units, and the ATM multiplexing apparatus, which is connected to the ATM switching unit and each of plural subscribers through ATM communication lines and performs multiplexing processing to ATM cells sent from the plural subscribers, comprises: detection means 118 for detecting a level of a congestion state corresponding to the received ATM 157 from the subscribers; and discard means (111, 115 and 117) for selectively discarding the received ATM cells from the subscribers on the basis of a communication state determined by the received ATM cells 155 from the ATM switching unit and the received ATM cells from the subscribers and a level value of a warning signal 129 indicating the detected congestion state. |
| US08369319B2 |
System and method for originating a call via a circuit-switched network from a user equipment device
Methods and apparatus for originating a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) call from a user equipment (UE) device in a network environment including a circuit-switched (CS) network and an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) network to a called party are disclosed. In one illustrative example, when the SIP call is originated by the UE device in the CS network domain, a SIP Invite message which includes a SIP Uniform Resource Indicator (URI) or Tel URI of the called party is sent from the UE device to the IMS network (e.g. to an application server (AS) node). At the AS node, a pool of E.164 numbers are maintained as IP multimedia routing numbers (IMRNs) which are utilized for mapping to or otherwise associating with called party URIs. Thus, the AS node dynamically allocates a select E.164 number with respect to the called party's URI received from the UE device, and returns it to the UE device in a SIP Response message, e.g., a SIP 380 (Alternative Service) message. Subsequently, the dynamically-allocated E.164 number is sent from the UE device in a call setup message for identification of the URI at the AS node, via the mapping, so that the SIP call may be properly routed towards the called party. |
| US08369315B2 |
Call connection method, equipment, and system in IP multimedia subsystem
A call connection method in an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) is provided. The method includes the following steps. An entrance network element (NE) of a called network receives a session request carrying called user identification (ID) information from a calling network. When determining that the called user ID information is incomplete, the entrance NE of the called network sends a response message indicating that the called user ID information is incomplete to the calling network. The calling network updates the called user ID information according to the response message, and sends the updated called user ID information to the entrance NE of the called network. An interface NE, a called network system, a call connection system, and a method of informing a call connection failure are also provided. |
| US08369314B2 |
Call control method and IMS CS control apparatus
A call control method and an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) circuit-switched (CS) control apparatus are disclosed. The call control method includes these steps: a terminal device and a second party set up a call through a CS call leg set up between the terminal device and an IMS CS control function (ICCF) and a second call leg set up between the ICCF and the second party; and the ICCF receives a media type change request, and rejects the change of media type for the call between the terminal device and the second party if more than one session is available on the terminal device. Embodiments of the present invention avoid call failure upon session transfer due to the change of media type in the prior art, thus improving the reliability and stability of session transfer. |
| US08369313B2 |
IMS and method of multiple S-CSCF operation in support of single PUID
A method for providing multimedia services to subscriber user equipment (UE) within an IP multimedia subsystem network (IMS) may include configuring the IMS to enable a single UE to fork register and cooperate with multiple serving-call session control functions (S-CSCFs). After obtaining IP connectivity, the single UE signals to register with the IMS and the IMS determines whether the UE is configured to fork register with multiple S-CSCFs. If the UE is configured, the IMS determines which S-CSCFs are eligible for the UE registration and fork registers the UE to multiple S-CSCFs of the eligible S-CSCFs. Consequently, incoming and outgoing calls to/from the UE are routed by the IMS to any of the multiple registered S-CSCFs. |
| US08369311B1 |
Methods and systems for providing telephony services to fixed and mobile telephonic devices
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications and in particular to systems and methods for routing telephone calls. A first address, such as a first phone number, can be associated with a telephonic terminal, such as a fixed or mobile phone. Incoming calls to the first address can be routed using an Internet Protocol, such as SIP, or other protocol to the telephonic terminal or to other destinations based on telephonic terminal status and/or based on a user instruction. |
| US08369310B2 |
Method for reliable detection of the status of an RTP packet stream
In a method for determining the status of a real-time transfer protocol (RTP) packet stream, several steps are performed. A time period elapsed since reception of the last RTP packet is determined, the content of the last received RTP packet is determined, and the status of the RTP packet stream based on the elapsed time period and the content of the last received RTP packet is categorized. The method is advantageous in that the risk of false detection of dead RTP packet streams is reduced. |
| US08369304B2 |
Methods to reduce power for asynchronous internet message protocols
A method for reducing power consumption in a mobile station is provided. The method includes holding data associated with a first polling message until a first scheduled RF wake-up of the mobile station. The method also includes sending the data associated with the first polling message at substantially the same time as the first scheduled RF wake-up of the mobile station. The method further includes holding a second polling message until a second scheduled RF wake-up of the mobile station. The scheduled RF wake-ups of the mobile station are determined according to a schedule established by a service provider of the wireless communication network. In certain embodiments, the polling messages are associated with an ActiveSync® Ping command. |
| US08369303B2 |
Techniques for uplink multi-user MIMO MAC support
An embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless station (STA), comprising a transceiver operable for communicating in a wireless network, wherein the transceiver is adapted for Uplink Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (UL MU MIMO) Medium Access Control (MAC) support. |
| US08369301B2 |
OFDM/OFDMA frame structure for communication systems
An OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology for communication systems is disclosed. The OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology comprises a variable length sub-frame structure with efficiently sized cyclic prefixes and efficient transition gap durations operable to effectively utilize OFDM/OFDMA bandwidth. Furthermore, the frame structure provides compatibility with multiple wireless communication systems. An uplink frame structure and a downlink frame structure are provided. |
| US08369296B2 |
Distributed link aggregation
Systems and methods to forward data frames are described. A particular method may include generating a plurality of management frames at a controlling bridge. The management frames may include routing information. The plurality of management frames may be communicated to a plurality of bridge elements coupled to a plurality of server computers. The plurality of bridge elements are each configured to selectively forward a plurality of data frames according to the routing information. |
| US08369293B2 |
Mobile router, home agent, and terminal position management method
In a mobile network system composed of plural mobile networks and a home agent, the home agent inquires mobile routers in a mobile network whether or not a terminal is connected, if detecting the absence of the terminal, when data addressed to the terminal arrives at a home network of the terminal in the mobile network. Responding to this inquiry, the mobile routers search whether or not the terminal is connected to the own mobile networks. If the terminal is connected, the mobile routers inform the home agent of the presence of the terminal. When receiving this notice, the home agent transfers data addressed to this terminal to a mobile router as a notice source. This process, even if a terminal moves to a mobile network having a same network prefix as that of the home network, allows transferring a packet accurately to the terminal. |
| US08369292B2 |
Method and apparatus for mobility management in communication networks
A communication network for use in mobile communications may include at least one mobile device configured to communicate with a corresponding host through the communication network. The communication network may also include a packet data gateway configured to detect an attachment of the mobile device roaming into a wireless local area network controlled by the packet data gateway. Further, the communication network may include a mobility server coupled to the packet data gateway to establish a call session between the mobile device and the corresponding host. |
| US08369290B2 |
System and method for supporting handovers between different radio access technologies of a wireless communications system
A system and method for supporting handovers between different radio access technologies is provided. A method for communications device operations includes sending a request to a controller of the communications device to change an operating mode of the communications device, and receiving a transmission responsive to the request. The method also includes in response to determining that the controller has granted the request to change the operating mode and that the communications device is operating in a border cell, changing the operating mode of the communications device, tuning at least one receiver of the communications device to an alternate radio access technology (RAT), and initiating a handover with the alternate RAT. |
| US08369287B2 |
System and method for balancing communication traffic loading between adjacent base stations in a mobile communications network
A mobile communication device measures a received signal strength indicator, RSSI, from a base station. An adjusted signal strength indicator, RSSI-ADJ, is calculated for the base station as a function of both the RSSI and a traffic indicator received from the base station. A determination is made, based on the calculated RSSI-ADJ, whether the mobile communication device should roam. |
| US08369286B2 |
Radio communication system and method
A mobile station determines, in accordance with reception quality of a radio signal from a base station, a measurement cycle of a predetermined measurement on a link status and/or on/off of the predetermined measurement and controls execution of the predetermined measurement based on the determination. |
| US08369285B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and radio communication method
A CIR measuring section 307 measures CIRs of all blocks received and a block selection section 308 makes a threshold decision based on the CIR measurement result and threshold information according to an amount of traffic in the own cell and neighboring cells. As a result of the threshold decision, blocks whose CIRs exceed the threshold are regarded as usable blocks. A CIR averaging section 309 averages the CIRs of the usable blocks and a CQI generation section 310 generates a CQI based on the CIR average value. The CQI generated and selected block numbers are reported to a base station apparatus. This allows the throughput of the own cell and neighboring cells to be improved. |
| US08369284B2 |
Method and system for maintaining multiple PDN network connection during inter-technology handover in idle mode
The present invention provides a method and system for supporting an optimized an idle mode handoff of user equipment from a 3GPP (EUTRAN) to a non-3GPP system (HRPD, cdma2000) where the user equipment washes to maintain connectivity with multiple PDN networks. Namely, during an idle mode registration of the user equipment with the non-3GPP system, the user equipment will provide an indication to the access node on the non-3GPP system so that the access point in that non-3GPP system contacts the appropriate entity (HSS or AAA) on the home network for the user equipment to download the addresses of the multiple PDN gateway addresses that are currently in use by the user equipment. This indication to the non-3GPP access node, the contact message from the access node to the home network, and the response from the home network to the access node on the non-3GPP system are novel features that are not shown in the prior art, and provide the access node with sufficient information to maintain multiple PDN connectivity to the user equipment during an idle mode handover. |
| US08369282B2 |
Ranging by mobile station in femto system
A ranging method in a mobile station of a femto system is disclosed. According to the present invention, a femto base station enables non-synchronized ranging channel (NS-RCH) information to be carried on S-SFH SP1. A mobile station receives S-SFH and then determines whether a base station is a femto base station. If the base station is the femto base station, the mobile station is able to perform a periodic ranging using the NS-RCH information within the S-SFH as well as an initial/handover ranging. |
| US08369281B2 |
Cell-to-WiFi switcher
Systems and methods that enable a user to seamlessly switch between networks and/or devices, during a content delivery session. The system comprises a network change detection component that can determine when the user switches from one network to another. Further, a context management component is employed that stores a context state of the content delivery session on the first network when a change in network is detected. The context state is employed to seamlessly resume content delivery on the newly connected network and continue the content delivery session. |
| US08369280B2 |
Control channels in multicarrier OFDM transmission
A base station transmits control information on a subframe of a first carrier starting from the first OFDM symbol of the subframe. The control information provides transmission format and scheduling information for data packets transmitted on a first data channel of the first carrier. The base station transmits a control message on the first data channel to a wireless device. The control message configures radio resources of a second data channel to start from the first OFDM symbol of subframes of a second carrier. The base station transmits data packets on the second data channel. |
| US08369274B2 |
Communication system, communication device, program and communication control method
There is provided a communication system comprising: a first communication device that senses a communication environment surrounding the first communication device; a second communication device that acquires sensed data sensed by the first communication device; and a third communication device that determines availability of usage of a second communication service using a part or whole of a spectrum assigned to a first communication service based on the sensed data transmitted from the second communication device. |
| US08369272B2 |
Apparatus and method for implementing configurable resource management policies
A resource management apparatus adapted to implement resource management policies for the management of resources of a system, being susceptible of being assigned to entities requesting services to the system. The resource management apparatus includes: a configuration interface adapted to receive resource management configuration data from a user, the configuration data including a resource management decision logic adapted to specify a resource management policy; a resource management policy implementation unit responsive to service requests from the requesting entities and adapted to manage the assignment of the resources of the system to the requesting entities based on the resource management decision logic. The configuration interface is adapted to receive, and the resource management policy implementation unit is adapted to manage resource management decision logic structured as a set of one or more decision rules, each decision rule including: a description of at least one service request intended to be governed by the decision rule; a description of a state of the system in respect of which the decision rule is intended to apply; and action to be taken by the apparatus in case the decision rule applies. |
| US08369270B2 |
Method and a mobile phone terminal enabling to merge telephony services over heterogeneous networks
A method to merge telephony services over a circuit switched network (3) and a packet switched data network (4), in a mobile phone terminal, comprises the steps of: receiving communication events arriving via a circuit switched network (3), receiving communication events arriving via a packet switched data network (4), storing communication events into a shared memory, and analyzing communication events arriving via the circuit switched network (3) and communication events arriving the via the packet switched data network (4), and then routing each communication event to a voice application, either directly or via said means for storing, in order to store it temporarily, so that all the events concerning a same call are synchronized when they are received by said voice application. |
| US08369269B2 |
Radio communication system, base station device, mobile station device, and random access method
A radio communication system includes a base station device and a plurality of mobile station devices which radio-communicate with the base station device. The base station device allocates random access signal identifiers for identifying random access signals to the mobile station devices and decides an allocation period for each of the random access signal identifiers used by the mobile base stations. During the allocation period, each of the mobile station devices transmits a random access signal corresponding to the allocated random access signal identifier. Thus, it is possible to suppress a delay until the random access procedure using a dedicated preamble is complete. |
| US08369266B2 |
Two stage mobile device geographic location determination
A system and method for mitigating the delay associated with using GPS technologies to determine the location of a mobile device. The system utilizes a two-stage location determination process. During the first stage, an estimated position of the mobile device is immediately provided based on the most accurate stored location information that is available to the system. If greater accuracy is still required, during the second stage a more accurate position of the mobile device is provided using GPS-based technologies. |
| US08369263B2 |
Geographical web browser, methods, apparatus and systems
A geographical web browser allows a user to navigate a network application such as the Word Wide Web by physically navigating in geographical coordinates. For example, a geographical web browser is implemented in a mobile unit such as a dashboard computer. The mobile unit includes one or more transducers such as antennas and is operative to receive locally broadcast signals or to operate a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As the mobile unit navigates into different physical localities, different web pages are displayed by the geographical web browser. For example, a user desiring to buy a house can set the web browser to a real estate web page. Instead of clicking on a hyperlink to access web pages of properties in an area, the user drives into a first area and automatically receives web pages relating to homes in that area. When the mobile unit crosses town and enters a second area, a new set of web pages is downloaded relating to properties in the second area. The geographical web browser, methods, apparatus and systems disclosed herein enable improved road-navigation and traffic management, advertisement, and related services. |
| US08369261B2 |
Method and apparatus for interference reduction
A method and apparatus for reducing interference caused by an interfering signal are disclosed for use in an access node, such as a base station, communicating with at least one mobile terminal in a wireless network, the method comprising the following steps: receiving information related to at least one data packet that is to be transmitted by a second access node to at least a second mobile terminal, receiving time-frequency information about the point in time when the at least one data packet will be transmitted from the second access node to the second mobile terminal, estimating the interfering signal based on the at least one data packet, cancelling interference based on the estimated interference signal at the point in time. This facilitates interference cancellation, especially in a network using distributed RRM. |
| US08369259B2 |
Network handover method, communications system, and relevant devices
A network handover method, a communications system, and relevant devices are provided, so as to implement handover between a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network and a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network. The method specifically includes the following steps. A user terminal determines a target network access point (AP) and acquires a tunnel destination address. A signaling transmission tunnel between the user terminal and the target network AP is established through a current network according to the tunnel destination address. The user terminal executes a network access operation with the target network AP through the signaling transmission tunnel. The communications system and the relevant devices are further provided. Thus, the handover between the WiFi network and the WiMAX network can be implemented. |
| US08369258B2 |
Scalable IP-services enabled multicast forwarding with efficient resource utilization
Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, a network switch module includes a memory and multiple processors partitioned among multiple virtual routers (VRs). Each VR maintains a data structure including information relating to multicast sessions handled by the VR and including a first pointer for each multicast session, a chain of blocks of second pointers and one or more TCBs. Each first pointer points to a chain of blocks of second pointers. Each second pointer corresponds to an OIF of the VR participating in the multicast session defined by the first pointer and defines how many times to replicate packets associated with the multicast session. The TCBs store control information relevant to processing or routing packets. Each second pointer points to a TCB, which identifies the OIF out which packets of the multicast session are transmitted from the VR. |
| US08369254B2 |
Network interface apparatus
An intelligent network interface apparatus to provide always-on, always-connected processing for call signals is described. One embodiment of the apparatus includes logic to selectively handle incoming call signals even when a computer to which the apparatus is operably connected is unavailable (e.g., asleep). The apparatus may also include logic for selectively waking up a sleeping computer upon determining that incoming call signals indicate that a communication with the computer is desired. The incoming call signals may be associated with a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communication. |
| US08369251B2 |
Timestamp quality assessment for assuring acoustic echo canceller operability
A voice communication end device provides echo reduction when operating in a full duplex mode using acoustic echo cancellation, which includes periodic audio queue adjustments to account for drift. The end device performs a quality assessment by calculating consistency statistics for the queue adjustments to determine whether acoustic echo cancellation would be ineffective, and if so falls back to a half duplex mode using voice switching. |
| US08369246B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending and receiving multicast packets on a multicast tree
The present invention relates to a solution for taking a network equipment in a communication network as a root node to generate a logical topology tree for a subscriber terminal which requests the sending of multicast packets, and then generating a multicast tree on the logical topology tree with the network device as the root node, so as to forward the multicast packets. With the solution of sending a multicast packet to the subscriber terminal, it can effectively save the network bandwidth resource and reduce the transmission delay of multicast packet. |
| US08369245B2 |
Communication apparatus having network interfaces and responding to device search, communication method, and storage medium
A communication apparatus that enables a device on a searching side to obtain a single search result, thereby reducing user confusion, even when the same search packet is received by network interfaces of the apparatus. The communication apparatus of a device on a searched side receives a search packet via one of a first and second NIC of the apparatus from a device on the searching side, and determines whether information that is same as information indicating the received search packet is stored. If the information is stored, one of the NICs to be used to respond to the search packet is selected, a response message is created, and the created response message is transmitted via the selected NIC to the device on the searching side. And if the information is not stored, the information indicating the search packet is stored. |
| US08369240B2 |
Wireless communication system, base station apparatus, mobile station apparatus, and communication method
TPC is appropriately operated in response to access method switching timing, an error is prevented from occurring in communication, and influence given to another cell due to transmission of unnecessary power is reduced.A base station apparatus which performs wireless communication with a mobile station apparatus while switching a plurality of kinds of communication method, transmits control information for performing transmit power control of the mobile station apparatus to the mobile station apparatus. The mobile station apparatus receives the control information for performing the transmit power control from the base station apparatus and determines a transmitted power according to the control information when switching the communication method. |
| US08369237B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving packet in dual modem mobile communication terminal
An apparatus and a method for transmitting/receiving a packet in a dual modem mobile communication terminal support data communication using both a host modem and a slave modem by additionally driving the slave modem when packet traffic is heavy. In the method for transmitting/receiving, at a host modem, a packet in a mobile communication terminal that includes the host modem and a slave modem, when a packet is received under a state where only the host modem is driven, it is determined whether a buffer count of the host modem is greater than a reference value. When the buffer count of the host modem is greater than the reference value, the slave modem is additionally driven and the received packet is provided to the slave modem. |
| US08369230B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining a direct measure of quality in a packet-switched network
A method and system for analyzing deficiencies in a packet-switched network is described. In one example, network measurement data pertaining to components within a packet-switched network are obtained. Reliability estimates of access networks and associated access links coupled to the packet-switch network are conducted. Lastly, an end-to-end direct measure of quality (DMOQ) is calculated from the network measurement data and network estimation data derived from the reliability estimates. |
| US08369229B2 |
Methods for monitoring delivery performance of a packet flow between reference nodes
In one of many possible embodiments, a method may comprise using one or more packet delivery monitoring packets to monitor packet delivery between a first reference node and a second reference node communicatively coupled to one another by at least one network path, each of said PDM packets comprising an Internet Control Message Protocol packet modified to include at least one packet delivery monitoring extension. |
| US08369227B2 |
Management system and information processing system
Provided is a management system for managing a plurality of management target information processing apparatuses including a plurality of network apparatuses and a computer. This management system determines the reachability of a route network apparatus as a network apparatus on a communication between the system and the computer, and calculates a certainty factor concerning the certainty on whether a prescribed network apparatus contained in a route network apparatus based on the reachability is the cause of unreachability from the management system to the computer. The management system subsequently displays information showing that communication from the management system to the computer is unreachable, and the certainty factor as the certainty that the prescribed route network apparatus is the cause of unreachability. |
| US08369223B2 |
Packet processing apparatus, interface unit and method thereof
A packet processing apparatus includes a plurality of communication connecting unit each connected with a communication partner apparatus using one of a work path and a protection path, connecting unit for connecting, using a data bus, the plurality of communication connecting unit with one another; determination unit for, when a packet sent from the communication partner apparatus is received by one of the communication connecting unit, determining whether the packet is a maintenance packet that is used for monitoring a connection state with the communication partner apparatus; and transmitting unit for, when it is determined that the packet is a maintenance packet by the determination unit, transmitting the maintenance packet to the plurality of communication connecting unit using the data bus via the connecting unit. |
| US08369219B2 |
System and method for managing bandwidth
A system for managing bandwidth use in a device. In a specific embodiment, the device is a network device that includes a first data scheduler that is adapted to initially share available device bandwidth among a first type of traffic and a second type of traffic on an as-needed basis. A traffic monitor communicates with the first scheduler and causes the first data scheduler to guarantee predetermined transmission characteristics for the second type of traffic. The first data scheduler includes one or more routines for prioritizing first type of traffic above the second type of traffic when the network device is in a first operational mode, and prioritizing the second type of traffic above the first type of traffic when the network device is in a second operation al mode. The minimum transmission characteristics include a minimum service rate and a minimum latency for the second type of traffic. |
| US08369217B2 |
Quality of service monitoring architecture, related method, network and computer program product
An architecture for monitoring quality of service in a telecommunication network having a set of terminals provides for the terminals of the set of terminals to house measuring agents able to be configured to interlace with processes selected among processes for managing the application sessions of the network and processes for measuring the operating conditions of the network itself. Also provided is a management and configuration sub-system having a module for scheduling quality of service measurement campaigns capable of involving respective sub-sets of terminals according to a set of characteristics identifying the measurement campaign. The scheduling module is capable of configuring, for the purposes of the execution of the measurement campaigns, the measuring agents housed by the terminals included in the related subsets according to the set of identifying characteristics. An additional sub-system for managing the collection of the measurement data has a database for storing the measurement data and a processing center for processing the data. |
| US08369214B2 |
Apparatus and method of transmitting and receiving data in soft handoff of a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method of transmitting and receiving data in soft handoff of a wireless communication system. According to an aspect of the present invention, in the method of receiving data in soft handoff of a wireless communication system, a mobile station receives a first sequence being generated by interleaving transmission data using a first interleaver pattern, and also receives a second sequence being generated by interleaving the transmission data using a second interleaver pattern. Then, the mobile station combines and decodes the first sequence and the second sequence before receiving an entire frame having the first sequence allocated thereto. |
| US08369213B2 |
Optimization of distributed tunnel rerouting in a computer network with path computation at an intermediate node
In one embodiment, an intermediate node computes paths for a set of tunnels that do not include a particular link (e.g., and possibly a scaled-down bandwidth for each tunnel), considering all of the tunnels of the set. The intermediate node informs head-end nodes of the tunnels of the computed paths (e.g., and scaled bandwidth) and/or a time to reroute the tunnels. |
| US08369211B2 |
Network distribution prevention when virtual chassis system undergoes splits and merges
A method performed by network devices that includes operating in a normal mode, where the network devices form a virtual chassis that corresponds to a single logical network device; detecting when a failure within the virtual chassis occurs; executing a splitting process to form one or more new virtual chassis in correspondence to the failure; determining whether one of the one or more new virtual chassis operates as a functioning virtual chassis based on whether at least one of a set of criteria is satisfied, where the functioning virtual chassis operates according to resources configured for the virtual chassis; and operating as a nonfunctioning virtual chassis when it is determined that the one of the one or more virtual chassis does not satisfy the at least one of the set of criteria, where the nonfunctioning virtual chassis operates in a pass-through mode. |
| US08369208B2 |
Fault-tolerant communications in routed networks
A method for providing fault-tolerant network communications between a plurality of nodes for an application, including providing a plurality of initial communications pathways over a plurality of networks coupled between the plurality of nodes, receiving a data packet on a sending node from the application, the sending node being one of the plurality of nodes, the data packet being addressed by the application to an address on one of the plurality of nodes, and selecting a first selected pathway for the data packet from among the plurality of initial communications pathways where the first selected pathway is a preferred pathway. |
| US08369207B2 |
Failure recovery method, computer system, and storage medium recorded failure recovery program for a stream data processing system
Provided is a failure recovery method for switching to a standby system if a failure occurs in an active system, which allows reduction of loads on the standby system and a network. A computer system, which receives data to which timestamp information is appended in a chronological order and processes the received data by registered queries, includes the active system for processing the received data and the standby system for processing the received data instead of the active system upon occurrence of a failure. The active system processes the received data by the respective queries according to a predefined sequence, and transmits results obtained from the received data by the respective queries to the standby system as intermediate data on a query basis at a predetermined timing. The standby system restores the data by processing the received data and the intermediate data if a failure occurs in the active system. |
| US08369206B2 |
Cell-specific shifting of reference signals in multi-stream transmissions
A base station is provided. The base station comprises a downlink transmit path comprising circuitry configured to transmit a plurality of reference signals in one or more subframes. Each subframe comprises one or more resource blocks. Each resource block comprises S Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. Each of the S OFDM symbols comprises N subcarriers, and each subcarrier of each OFDM symbol comprises a resource element. The base station further comprises a reference signal allocator configured to allocate the plurality of reference signals to selected resource elements of a resource block, and circularly shift the plurality of reference signals in a time domain of the resource block by an hshift value that is based at least partly upon a cell_ID of the base station. |
| US08369203B2 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having concave core at light entrance surface
An optical waveguide of the present invention is an optical waveguide in order to directly introduce light beams emitted from a light emitting element. In a core that is a waveguide through which light propagates, a concave part is formed that is a depression in a light incident end surface that is one side where light enters. Therefore, an optical waveguide is realized that can obtain a large optical coupling efficiency is possible by the operation of phase alignment in the concave part. |
| US08369200B2 |
Optical recording medium, and optical information device
An optical recording medium and an optical information device that improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. In the optical recording medium, when shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of a cover layer (42), a first intermediate layer (43), a second intermediate layer (44), and a third intermediate layer (45) are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) are equal to each other. Further, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm. |
| US08369199B2 |
Methods and systems for tuning at least one write strategy parameter of an optical storage device
A method for tuning a write strategy parameter of an optical storage device, includes: writing a segment of data according to a plurality of write strategies; reading the data back and detecting a plurality of lengths, each length corresponding to a pit or a land on an optical storage medium accessed by the optical storage device; performing calculations according to the lengths and a plurality of data types to generate a plurality of calculation results, each of the data types corresponding to at least a specific target pit length or at least a specific target land length; and utilizing the calculation results to determine a proper write strategy. |
| US08369195B2 |
Information storage medium and method and apparatus for recording/reproducing data on/from the same
An information storage medium and a method and apparatus for recording/reproducing data on/from the information storage medium. The information storage medium includes a plurality of recording layers, each having a user data area, on which data can be recorded by a pickup. Data is recorded in the order of recording layers from closest to farthest from the pickup, and a recordable region in a user data area of a recording layer on which data is to be recorded is smaller than that in a recording layer between the pickup and the recording layer on which data is to be recorded. Each recording layer contains a recordable region in a user data area and a optimum power control (OPC) area in order to maintain the same recording/reproducing characteristics between the plurality of recording layers. |
| US08369194B2 |
Optical disc device, optical disc recording method, and reproduction method
Even when recording data which is continuously inputted at a high speed, it is possible to correct a recording error and reproduce preferable AV data without a noise upon reproduction. A recording error detection circuit (14) detects an error generation upon recording according to the fluctuation of amplitude of a tracking error signal or a focus error signal. A recording signal processing circuit (6) again records (performs skip recording) the same data in a region subsequently adjacent to a region where a recording error has occurred. When performing the skip recording, address information contained in the recording data is rewritten into address information on a new recording region. Moreover, an identifier (skip mark) indicating that a recording error has occurred is added to the pattern of the link region of the recording data. |
| US08369190B2 |
Proximity sensing system
A data storage system for detecting a location of a head relative to a magnetic media is described. This system comprises arms, a preamplifier circuit coupled to the arms for controlling the arms, a proximity sensing system positioned within the preamplifier circuit, the proximity sensing system comprising: an input stage for transmitting an input sense signal; a programmable gain stage coupled to receive the input sense signal and operative for transmitting a gain signal in response to receiving the input sense signal; a multiplexer coupled to receive the gain signal and at least one control signal, the multiplexer operative for transmitting a multiplexed signal; a detector coupled to receive the multiplexed signal and a second control signal, the detector operative for transmitting an output signal; wherein an amplitude associated with the output signal enables detecting the location of the head. |
| US08369187B2 |
Warning device
The invention relates to a warning device, provided with an electronic warning unit, capable of generating warning signals at pre-programmed constant time intervals, embedded inside a body formed by a single piece of mouldable synthetic material, such as a plastic or silicone, which is provided with starting means for staring the warning device, which means can be actuated by means of the application of a pressure on a part of the outer surface of the mentioned body. |
| US08369186B2 |
System and method of increasing battery life of a timekeeping device
Methods and systems of extending battery life of remote battery-operated timekeeping devices by minimizing the number of required synchronizations per unit of time needed to maintain a predetermined accuracy of the devices. The number of synchronizations are minimized by first calculating a time error rate between the remote timekeeping device and a master device over a sample period. Then, a synchronization is delayed and the remote timekeeping device is compensated based on the time error rate. The compensation delays the need for a synchronization yet maintains the predetermined accuracy of the remote timekeeping device. In some embodiments, the remote timekeeping device is compensated and multiple synchronizations are delayed before a new synchronization is necessary to maintain the predetermined accuracy. |
| US08369184B2 |
Systems and methods with improved three-dimensional source location processing including constraint of location solutions to a two-dimensional plane
Systems and methods are disclosed associated with processing origin/location information of a source or event. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method of performing improved three-dimensional source location processing including constraint of location solutions to a two-dimensional plane. Moreover, the method includes obtaining a plane of constraint characterized as a plane in which the source is likely to occur, providing one or more virtual sensing elements each characterized as being located on a first side of the plane of constraint in a mirror image/symmetrical position across from a corresponding actual sensing element on an opposite side of the plane, and constraining possible origin locations to be located in the plane of constraint. Other exemplary implementations may include determining the origin location as a function of positions of the sensing elements and the virtual sensing elements as well as time-of-arrival and/or angle-of-arrival information. |
| US08369183B2 |
Analysis of fracture networks
A method of analysing the dynamic behavior of fracture networks in a seismic volume is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of seismic time lapse vintages of the same geological volume; identifying and parameterising fractures within fracture networks of each vintage; determining one or more distributions of fracture parameters for the fracture networks of each vintage; and identifying changes to the fracture networks by comparing corresponding distributions across the vintages. |
| US08369181B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device for controlling a sense amplifier
A semiconductor IC device includes a command decoder that provides internal read and internal write command signals in response to external command signals, and a delay control unit that is connected with the command decoder and provides an internal read command delay signal by controlling an activation timing of the internal read command signal in response to a test mode signal in a read mode. |
| US08369177B2 |
Techniques for reading from and/or writing to a semiconductor memory device
Techniques for reading from and/or writing to a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus including a first memory cell array having a first plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and a second memory cell array having a second plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of row and columns. The apparatus may also include a data sense amplifier latch circuitry having a first input node and a second input node. The apparatus may further include a first bit line input circuitry configured to couple the first memory cell array to the first input node of the data sense amplifier latch circuitry and a second bit line input circuitry configured to couple the second memory cell array to the second input node of the data sense amplifier latch circuitry. |
| US08369176B2 |
Multi-chip memory device
A multi-chip memory device includes a number of chips and a control circuit included in each of the chips and configured to generate an internal chip enable signal in response to set data stored therein and an external chip enable signal |
| US08369175B1 |
Memory elements with voltage overstress protection
Integrated circuits may include memory elements that are provided with voltage overstress protection. One suitable arrangement of a memory cell may include a latch with two cross-coupled inverters. Each of the two cross-coupled inverters may be coupled between first and second power supply lines and may include a transistor with a gate that is connected to a separate power supply line. Another suitable memory cell arrangement may include three cross-coupled circuits. Two of the three circuits may be powered by a first positive power supply line, while the remaining circuit may be powered by a second positive power supply line. These memory cells may be used to provide an elevated positive static control signal and a lowered ground static control signal to a corresponding pass gate. These memory cells may include access transistors and read buffer circuits that are used during read/write operations. |
| US08369172B2 |
Integrated circuits for providing clock periods and operating methods thereof
An integrated circuit includes a capacitor. A switch is electrically coupled with the capacitor in a parallel fashion. A comparator includes a first input node, a second input node, and an output node. The second input node is electrically coupled with a first plate of the capacitor. The output node is electrically coupled with the switch. A transistor is electrically coupled with a second plate of the capacitor. A circuit is electrically coupled with a gate of the transistor. The circuit is configured to provide a bias voltage to the gate of the transistor so as to control a current that is supplied to charge the capacitor. |
| US08369171B2 |
Reduced signal interface memory device, system, and method
A memory has a serial interface. The serial interface is programmable to either use separate dedicated input and output pads, or to use one bidirectional pad. When one bidirectional pad is used, the interface signal count is reduced by one. |
| US08369169B2 |
Sense amplifier and semiconductor memory device including the same
A sense amplifier includes a first inverter having an input terminal connected to a first line and an output terminal connected to a second line, and a second inverter having an input terminal connected to the second line and an output terminal connected to the first line, wherein an NMOS transistor of the first inverter and an NMOS transistor of the second inverter have well biases different from each other. |
| US08369164B2 |
Bimodal memory controller
A memory controller has a communication path which is coupled to an external, wired electrical path. The memory controller includes at least two alternative interface circuits to communicate with the external, wired electrical path using signals having one of two different formats. Each of the alternative interface circuits is electrically coupled to a corresponding signal connector, and only one of these signal connectors, in turn, is electrically coupled to the external path via an I/O pin or printed-circuit board connection (depending upon implementation). The remaining signal connector may be left electrically uncoupled from the external, wired electrical path, and, if desired, the corresponding remaining interface circuit may be left unused during operation of the memory controller. |
| US08369161B2 |
Semiconductor device and control method therefor
A semiconductor device includes an insulation layer (14) provided on a semiconductor substrate (12), a p-type semiconductor region (16) provided on the insulation layer, an isolation region (18) provided that surrounds the p-type semiconductor region to reach the insulation layer, an n-type source region (20) and an n-type drain region (22) provided on the p-type semiconductor region, a charge storage region (30) provided above the p-type semiconductor region between the n-type source region and the n-type drain region, and an voltage applying portion that applies a different voltage to the p-type semiconductor region while any of programming, erasing and reading a different data of a memory cell that has the charge storage region is being preformed. |
| US08369160B2 |
Data output circuit of semiconductor memory and related method
Various embodiments of a data output circuit of a semiconductor memory and related method are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a data output circuit may include a plurality of global lines, a sense amplifier block configured to output a plurality of data to the plurality of global lines at different timings, a pipe latch block configured to latch the plurality of data transmitted through the plurality of global lines at different timings, and a control unit configured to control output timings of the plurality of data from the sense amplifier block and latch timings of the pipe latch block using an address signal. |
| US08369157B2 |
Methods for programming a memory device and memory devices
Methods for programming memory cells and memory devices are disclosed. One such method for programming includes performing a program verify operation of a group of memory cells. A number of potential CS2 situations are detected. If the number of detected potential CS2 situations is greater than a threshold, programming compensation for a CS2 situation is used in a subsequent programming operation. |
| US08369156B2 |
Fast random access to non-volatile storage
Techniques are disclosed herein for efficiently operating memory arrays of non-volatile storage devices. In one embodiment, when reading data from an MLC block, reading is sped up by not discharging bit lines between successive sensing operations. For example, all even bit lines are charged up and odd bit lines are grounded to set up sensing of memory cells that are associated with a first word line and the even bit lines. Then, memory cells associated with the first word line and the even bit lines are read by, for example, sensing the even bit lines. Then, while the even bit lines are still charged, memory cells associated with another word line and the even bit lines are read. Because the even bit lines remain charged between the two sensing operations, time is saved in not having to re-charge the bit lines to an appropriate level for sensing. |
| US08369154B2 |
Channel hot electron injection programming method and related device
A nonvolatile memory device for reducing programming current and improving reliability comprises a memory cell array, a write circuit, and a verification circuit. The memory cell array comprises memory cells arranged at crossing points of a bit-line and word-line matrix of the memory cell array. The write circuit provides multiple variable pulses to each word-line for programming. The multiple variable pulses have predetermined amplitude for keeping gate injection current roughly maximum while lowering conduction current during programming operation. The verification circuit senses variation of the conduction current during the programming operation, and disables the programming operation if the sensed conduction current during the programming operation reaches a predetermined value. |
| US08369153B2 |
Semiconductor memory device including stacked gate having charge accumulation layer and control gate and method of writing data to semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, word lines, a driver circuit, and a control circuit. The driver circuit repeats a programming operation of selecting any one of the word lines, of applying a first voltage to selected one of the word lines, and of applying a second voltage to unselected one of the word lines, to write data to selected one of the memory cells connected to the selected one of the word lines. The control circuit, while the driver circuit is repeating the programming operation, steps up the first voltage and keeps the second voltage constant until the first voltage reaches a first threshold. The control circuit steps up the second voltage after the first voltage has reached the first threshold. |
| US08369151B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including regular memory cells and permanent memory cells and a control circuit. The regular memory cells are capable of switching between a first data storage state and a second data storage state. The permanent memory cells are fixed in a third data storage state that is read as the same logic level data as the first storage state. Data is stored in at least one of the regular memory cells and at least one of the permanent memory cells. The control circuit rewrites at least one of the regular memory cells from the second data storage state to the first data storage state at the time of data holding. The control circuit performs a reading operation after rewriting the regular memory cells from the first data storage state to the second data storage state. |
| US08369145B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting over-programming condition in multistate memory device
A system embodiment comprises a nonvolatile memory device, a memory, and a controller. The nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells. Each nonvolatile memory cell is adapted to store at least two bits. The memory is adapted to store a program when the system powers up. The controller is adapted to implement the program to provide instructions used to program and erase nonvolatile memory cells. A method embodiment comprises loading a program into memory upon powering up a memory system, and implementing the program using a controller, including programming and erasing multi-bit nonvolatile memory cells. |
| US08369144B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a device region which is isolated by a device isolation film, a first conductive layer provided on the device region via a gate insulation film, an inter-gate insulation film provided on the first conductive layer and including an opening on the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer disposed over the device region and the device isolation film via the inter-gate insulation film, a third conductive layer provided on the first conductive layer, isolated from the second conductive layer by a peripheral trench, and connected to the first conductive layer via the opening of the inter-gate insulation film, and source/drain diffusion layers provided, spaced apart, in the device region in a manner to sandwich the first conductive layer. |
| US08369143B2 |
Early detection of degradation in NOR flash memory
The embodiments of the invention in this disclosure describe techniques for early warning of degradation in NOR Flash memories by estimating the dispersion of the threshold voltages (VT's), of a set of NOR Flash memory cells during read operations. In an embodiment invention the time-to-completion (TTC) values for the read operation for the memory cells are used as a proxy for dispersion of the threshold voltages (VT's). If the measured TTC dispersion differs by more than a selected amount from the reference dispersion value, a warning signal is provided to indicate that the page of memory has degraded significantly. Higher level components in the system can use the warning signal to take appropriate action. Since every cell's VT position in an ideal distribution can be estimated, the data from each cell can have a confidence level assigned based on deviation from the mean of an ideal distribution. |
| US08369141B2 |
Adaptive estimation of memory cell read thresholds
A method for operating a memory (28) that includes a plurality of analog memory cells (32) includes storing data in the memory by writing first storage values to the cells. Second storage values are read from the cells, and a Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) of the second storage values is estimated. The estimated CDF is processed so as to compute one or more thresholds. A memory access operation is performed on the cells using the one or more thresholds. |
| US08369140B2 |
Systems and methods for programming a memory device
A multi-Level Cell (MLC) can be used to store, for example, 4 bits per cell by storing two bits on each of two sides. Each side can store, e.g., four different current level states that can be determined by the number of holes injected into, e.g., nitride layer, during programming. As more holes are injected the current decreases for a given voltage. The current can be low, therefore, it can be advantageous in one embodiment to use a current amplifier. The current amplifier can be a BJT, MOS or other type of device. |
| US08369137B2 |
Semiconductor memory device including a write driver to output a program signal
A semiconductor memory device prevents a faulty operation of a program operation, and increases the reliability of operation. The semiconductor memory device includes a unit cell including a memory element configured to have a different resistance value in response to data, and a write driver configured to output a program current and voltage for programming the unit cell in response to a test signal. |
| US08369132B1 |
Methods of programming and erasing programmable metallization cells (PMCs)
A method can include programming a selected programmable metallization cell (PMC) by coupling the anodes of a group of PMCs to a first power supply voltage and connecting a cathode of one of PMCs of the group to a second power supply voltage with a select device; and erasing a selected PMC by coupling the anodes of a group of PMCs to the second power supply voltage and connecting the cathode of one of PMCs of the group to the first supply voltage with the select device. |
| US08369130B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment comprises a memory cell array including plural mutually crossing first and second lines and memory cells arranged at intersections of the first and second lines, each memory cell containing a variable resistance element and a rectifier element connected in series; and a data write/erase circuit operative to apply a voltage required for data write/erase to the memory cell via the first and second lines. The data write/erase circuit includes a first current limit circuit operative to limit the current flowing in the cathode-side line provided on the cathode side of the rectifier element, of the first and second lines, at the time of data write/erase. |
| US08369127B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with transistor and variable resistor
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the present invention includes a memory cell array layer including a first line; a plurality of second and third lines that are formed below or above the first line and cross each other; and a plurality of memory cells arranged at each intersection of the second and third lines, the memory cell including a variable resistor and a transistor, which are connected to each other in series between the first line and the third line, the variable resistor being electrically rewritable and storing a resistance value as data in a nonvolatile manner, and the transistor being a columnar transistor having the second line arranged at its side face as a gate. |
| US08369125B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of securing gate performance and channel length
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of word lines extending parallel to one another on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of bit lines extending parallel to one another on the semiconductor substrate, arranged to cross with the word lines, and delimiting a plurality of crossing regions where the word lines intersect the bit lines and a plurality of unit memory cell regions with each cell region bounded by an adjacent pair of the word lines and an adjacent pair of the bit lines; and gate electrodes for the respective unit memory cell regions, each gate electrode electrically connected with any one of a pair of word lines which delimit a corresponding unit memory cell, and formed such that at least a portion of the gate electrode is bent toward a bit line direction. |
| US08369120B2 |
Methods and apparatus for sum of address compare write recode and compare reduction
Techniques are described for sum address compare (A+B=K) operation for use in translation lookaside buffers and content addressable memory devices, for example. Address input signals A and B are supplied as input to the A+B=K operation and K is a previous value stored in a plurality of memory cells. In each memory cell, a single logic gate circuit output and its inversion are generated in response to updating the memory cells, wherein each single logic gate circuit has as input an associated memory cell output and a next lowest significant bit adjacent memory cell output. In each of the memory cells, a portion of the A+B=K operation associated with each memory cell is generated in a partial lookup compare circuit wherein the corresponding address input signals A and B are combined with the associated memory cell output and the generated single logic gate circuit output and its inversion during a read lookup compare operation. |
| US08369115B2 |
Time domain voltage step down capacitor based circuit
A time domain voltage step down capacitor based circuit has an oscillating circuit for generating a clock signal. The circuit also has a capacitor based charge pump circuit for receiving the clock signal and an input voltage signal having an input current and generates an output voltage signal, less than the input voltage signal and an output current greater than the input current. The circuit further comprises a comparator circuit for receiving the output voltage signal, as a first input signal thereto, and a reference voltage signal as a second input signal thereto and compares the first input signal to the second input signal and generates a control signal in response thereto. Finally the control signal is supplied to the oscillating circuit to control the generating of the clock signal. |
| US08369103B2 |
Fixing structure and fixing method of multi-screen display device
A multi-screen display device forms a large screen by adjacently arranging a plurality of display devices on a frame by engaging a monitor fixing provided on a back surface of a display device with a bracket that is provided on the frame; the monitor fitting that includes a plate-like body that is provided so as to project out from the back surface of the display device and a long hole that is formed in the plate-like body along with a lateral direction of the display device, is arranged at corner portions of the back surface of the display device; and the bracket includes a plate-like body that is perpendicularly provided at a position corresponding to the monitor fixing and a pin member that is provided in a standing manner in a vertical direction on the plate-like body, and is inserted in the long hole of the monitor fixing. |
| US08369099B2 |
Electronics device module
Disclosed is an electronic device module including a module substrate having first and second electronic device pair portions. The first electronic device pair portion may include a first and a second contact pad area and a first via area between the first and second contact pad areas. The first electronic device pair portion may also include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may include a plurality of first lines connecting a plurality of contact pads in the first contact pad area on one side of the module substrate to a plurality of vias. The second layer may include a plurality of second lines connecting a plurality of contact pads in the second contact pad area to a plurality of vias in the via area. The second layer may also include a plurality of third lines connecting the first and second electronic device pair portions. |
| US08369098B2 |
Bracket for supporting motherboard
A bracket is used to support a motherboard. The bracket includes a framework, a first supporting element, and a second supporting element. The framework includes a front bar, a back bar, and two side bars, corporately bounding a receiving space. The first and second supporting elements are received in the receiving space and connected to the two side bars. A number of through holes corresponding to a number of through holes of the motherboard are defined in the framework, the first supporting element, and the second supporting elements to fix the motherboard on the bracket via a plurality of screw pillars extending through the plurality of through holes of the bracket and the plurality of through holes of the motherboard. |
| US08369096B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a wiring board, a main member to which the wiring board is fixed, a first component mounted rigidly on the wiring board and positioned with respect to the main member, and a second component mounted movably on the wiring board and positioned with respect to the main member, and a positioning portion provided on the wiring board to determine a position of the wiring board with respect to the main member, wherein a distance from the positioning portion to the first component is shorter than a distance from the positioning portion to the second component. |
| US08369092B2 |
Input/output and disk expansion subsystem for an electronics rack
An input/output (I/O) and disk expansion subsystem is provided for an electronics rack which provides expanded I/O and/or disk storage capabilities to electronic subsystems of the rack. The expansion subsystem includes a subsystem enclosure having first and second sides in opposing relation, with the first side accessible through a front of the rack and the second accessible through a back of the rack when the enclosure resides within the rack. A plurality of field-replaceable units reside within the subsystem enclosure, and are accessible and removable through the first or second sides of the enclosure without removing the enclosure from the rack. The field-replaceable units include an input/output adapter cage(s), a storage device cage, power and control supplies, fan assemblies, and a midplane connector assembly. The adapter cage, storage device cage, and power and control supply dock to and are electrically interconnected by the midplane connector assembly. |
| US08369087B2 |
Computer server system
A computer server system includes a server cabinet, and at least one server accommodated in the server cabinet. The server forms a fixing structure at each of four corners thereof. In addition, the server cabinet includes fixing structures which are correspondingly matched with the fixing structures of the server. The fixing structure of the server cabinet can be in the form of protrusions, mounting holes, and engagement holes. The fixing structure of the server can be in the form of ears and mounting grooves. The server is mounted in the server cabinet by means of the fixing structures thereof. |
| US08369084B2 |
Dustproof structure for laptop
A dustproof structure for a laptop includes a gate, a motor and a controller. The laptop includes a shell having an air vent defined therein. The gate is movably mounted on the shell. The motor is mounted on the shell and connected to the gate. The controller is installed inside the laptop and configured for controlling the motor to drive the gate to open the air vent of the shell when the laptop is powered on, and to close the air vent of the shell when the laptop is being powered off. |
| US08369082B2 |
In-wall dock for a tablet computer
In one embodiment, an in-wall dock for a tablet computer includes a rotatable receiving tray to which a tablet computer is secured. A housing of the in-wall dock is at least partially disposed within a wall cavity of a wall. The receiving tray is rotatably mounted to the housing. The receiving tray is configured to rotate from a first orientation disposed at an acute angle to a front face of the housing to permit engagement of the tablet computer with the receiving tray, to a second orientation that is substantially parallel to the front face of the housing and that prevents removal of the tablet computer from the receiving tray. A lock down mechanism retains the receiving tray in the second orientation. A removable bezel covers at least a portion of a front face of the housing and a front face of the tablet computer. |
| US08369080B2 |
Removable hard disk drive bay
A removable hard disk drive (HDD) bay has a casing, a door assembly and an extracting assembly. The door assembly has a pivoting member, a cover slidably mounted on the pivoting member, a retainer slidably mounted in the cover and selectively hooking the casing, and a driving member driving the retainer. The extracting assembly pivotally connects the door assembly to the casing. When the door assembly is opened relative to the casing, the extracting assembly extracts the HDD (AA) with a simple mechanism and the door assembly does not occupy any room in the casing. The casing does not have to reserve a room for the door assembly and a volume of the removable HDD bay is efficiently minimized. |
| US08369078B2 |
Locking apparatus
A locking apparatus of a CD-ROM drive includes a support and a transmitting wheel. The support includes a shaft and a clasp formed thereon. The support is arranged in a chassis of the locking apparatus. The shaft and the clasp are received in the transmitting wheel. The clasp is configured for clasping the transmitting wheel. |
| US08369075B2 |
Foldable electronic device
A foldable electronic device includes a foldable casing and a flexible display. The flexible display is disposed in the foldable casing, and is connected to the foldable casing through an elastic member, and the elastic member provides the flexible display the extending flexibility when being unfolded or folded together with the foldable casing, such that the flexible display is capable of being used as a display screen of the foldable electronic device. |
| US08369073B2 |
Systems and methods for connecting multiple hard drives
A multiple hard drive connection system includes a first backplane, a second backplane, and a card assembly. The first backplane includes a pass-through and a first socket, and couples to a control system such that the first socket is in electrical communication with the control system. The second backplane is adjacent to and spaced apart from the first backplane, includes a second socket aligned with the pass-through, and couples to the control system such that the second socket is in electrical communication with the control system. The card assembly includes a first edge card connected to the first socket and a second edge card extending through the pass-through and connected to the second socket. The card assembly couples to a hard drive such that the hard drive is in electrical communication with the control system via the first backplane, the second backplane, and the card assembly. |
| US08369070B2 |
Photostructured electronic devices and methods for making same
A photostructurable ceramic is processed using photostructuring process steps for embedding devices within a photostructurable ceramic volume, the devices may include one or more of chemical, mechanical, electrical, electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic devices, all made in part by creating device material within the ceramic or by disposing a device material through surface ports of the ceramic volume, with the devices being interconnected using internal connections and surface interfaces. |
| US08369065B2 |
Electric double layer capacitor
An electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) includes an electric double layer cell and first and second external electrodes. The electric double layer cell includes a separator and at least one first polarizable electrode and at least one second polarizable electrode. The first and second external electrodes are formed at first and second side surfaces of the electric double layer cell facing each other, respectively. The first polarizable electrode includes a first current collection layer and a first active material layer formed on either surface of the first current collection layer facing the separator and the second polarizable electrode includes a second current collection layer and a second active material layer formed on either surface of the second current collection layer facing the separator. |
| US08369061B2 |
Anti-ESD elastic plate and device
The present invention provides an anti-ESD elastic plate comprising a first conducting part, and a pair of second conducting part. The first conducting part has at least one projection structure. The two second conducting parts are connected respectively to the two lateral sides of the first conducting part. Each of the second conducting part further has a second conducting element and a press element, whereas the second conducting element is configured with a second projection structure and the pressing element is disposed aside the second conducting element. In another embodiment, the present invention further provides an anti-ESD device for conducting ESD by arranging the anti-ESD elastic plate as a conducting medium that is disposed at the boundary between an opening of a housing and a cover for sealing the opening. |
| US08369050B2 |
Circuit for protecting a DC network with DC loads against overvoltage
A circuit (S) for protecting a DC network having DC loads (1) and connectable to the circuit (S), the circuit (S) is suitable and configured to supply the DC network with electric power via a three-phase rectifier (G) and wherein the circuit (S) includes a means (2, 3, 4, TH1, LS, CS, DU, DV, DW) for detecting an overvoltage, wherein the means is suitable and configured to detect an overvoltage at the input of the DC network, and the circuit (S) includes a means (2, 3, 4, TH1, LS, CS, DU, DV, DW) for transferring a current, wherein the means is suitable and configured to supply current to one or several current-carrying thyristors (THU1, THV1, THW1) of the rectifier (G), wherein the current causes the thyristor or thyristors (THU1, THV1, THW1) to turn off as soon as the detection means has detected an overvoltage. |
| US08369049B2 |
Method for shutting down an electric machine in the event of a malfunction
A method for shutting down an electric machine having a pulse-controlled inverter in the event of a malfunction. Undesirable side effects during shut-down of the electric machine may be minimized and the regular machine operation may be maximized when the electric machine is first switched to a disconnect mode in which all switches of the pulse-controlled inverter are open and subsequently is switched to a short-circuit mode in which the switches connected to the high potential are open and the switches connected to the low potential are closed. |
| US08369041B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing repeatable runout in storage systems
A storage system includes a first buffer configured to store a first repeatable runout profile (RRP) for a sector of a rotating storage medium. A second buffer is configured to store a second RRP for the sector. A controller: controls a servo of the rotating storage medium based on the first RRP during a first revolution of the rotating storage medium; and learns the second RRP (i) while operating in a track-following mode, and (ii) during the first revolution. The controller ceases learning of the second RRP when one of (i) the controller is operating in a seek mode and (ii) the rotating storage medium is in an off-track state. Subsequent to the first revolution of the rotating storage medium and based on whether the learning of the second RRP was stopped during the first revolution, the controller replaces the first RRP with the second RRP in the first buffer. |
| US08369033B2 |
Method of manufacturing lens and lens manufactured using the same
There is provided a method of manufacturing a lens, including applying a second lens material to a first lens member made of a first lens material; aligning and fixing a light shielding member to the second lens material; and further applying the second lens material to the first lens member and performing curing thereon to complete a second lens member. |
| US08369029B2 |
Image capturing lens assembly
This invention provides an image capturing lens assembly in order from an object side to an image side comprising: a first lens group has only one first lens element with a positive refractive power, and a second lens group in order from the object side to the image side comprising: a second lens element with a negative refractive power, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element; while a distance between an imaged object and the image capturing lens assembly changes from far to near, focusing is performed by moving the first lens group along the optical axis and a distance between the first lens group and an image plane changes from near to far. By such arrangement and focusing adjustment method, good image quality is achieved and less power is consumed. |
| US08369025B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel capable of distributing, upon receipt of the impact of, e.g., dropping, a torque load so as not to concentrate on a particular linear movement key and groove for linearly moving a barrel member, thereby suppressing occurrence of a failure. The lens barrel has a fixed barrel (8) and a third lens group barrel (3). In a movement region of the third lens group barrel (3) moving in the optical direction relative to the fixed barrel (8), each of a set of a first linear movement groove (8c) and a first linear movement key (3c) and a set of a second linear movement groove (8d) and a second linear movement key (3d) has a mutually engageable region and a mutually disengageable region, and a set of a groove (8e) and a projection (3e) has not a mutually engageable region. |
| US08369021B2 |
Zoom lens system, optical apparatus equipped therewith, and method for zooming zoom lens system
A zoom lens system ZL installed in an electronic still camera 1 and the like comprising, in order from an object side: a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power; and a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power; the second lens group including at least two cemented lenses each of which includes a positive lens disposed to the object side and a negative lens disposed to an image side, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group varying upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, thereby providing a zoom lens system having excellent optical performance, an optical apparatus equipped with the zoom lens system, and a method for manufacturing the zoom lens system. |
| US08369019B2 |
Waveguides
A projection display (60) includes a first waveguide (64) incorporating a grating structure (74) and second waveguide (66) incorporating an exit grating (84). The first and second waveguides (64, 66) are arrange to expand an image in orthogonal directions. The second waveguide (66) includes a first layer (86) with a first predetermined refractive index and/or first predetermined thickness, a second layer (88) with a second predetermined refractive index and/or second predetermined thickness. The exit grating (84) is arranged to direct at least some impinging light out of the second waveguide(66) and to provide at least some beam splitting of light passing through the exit grating (84). The first and second layers (86, 88) are arranged to abut one another such that the exit grating (84) is therebetween. The first predetermined refractive index and second predetermined refractive index and/or first predetermined thickness and second predetermined thickness are arranged to vary the spatial periodicity of pupils of image bearing light radiated from the second waveguide (66). |
| US08369012B2 |
Discontinuous or variable thickness gain modification coating for projection film and method for making same
The present invention relates to projection films and methods of making the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a projection film whereby the microspheres exhibit improved alignment on the light exit surface and have alignment on the light entrance surface that varies according to the individual microsphere diameter. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a projection film that has the attributes of variable gain within the single projection film. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an exposed microsphere projection film construction that provides modification of the head-on and angular pattern of light transmission (gain). |
| US08369011B2 |
Observation optical system and microscope including the observation optical system
An observation optical system includes, in order from a sample side, an infinity-corrected objective, a first lens group having a positive power, a second lens group having a positive power, and a tube lens having a positive power. An intermediate image is formed between the first lens group and the second lens group, and at a front side focal position of the second lens group. A space along an optical axis between the objective and the first lens group is configured to be changeable, and a space along an optical axis between the second lens group and the tube lens is configured to be changeable. |
| US08369005B2 |
Fiber light source
A fiber light source includes an exciting light source to emit exciting light and an optical fiber to guide the exciting light. The optical fiber contains, in a portion in the longitudinal direction, phosphors that emit fluorescence in accordance with the application of exciting light. The optical fiber includes a high reflection film covering the outer surface of a portion through which fluorescence emitted from the phosphor travels. |
| US08369003B2 |
Wavelength tunable single-pass optical parametric amplifier
A single-pass optical parametric amplifier is provided. The single-pass optical parametric amplifier comprises a light source emitting a fundamental wave having a wavelength range; a nonlinear material, which the fundamental wave passes therethrough to form a second harmonic generation wave having a light path; a supercontinuum generator extending the wavelength range of the fundamental wave to form a supercontinuum generation seed; and an optical parametric wavelength transformer transforming the supercontinuum generation seed and the second harmonic generation wave into a signal wave and an idler wave. |
| US08369001B2 |
Compact high power terahertz radiation cell
A device for generating terahertz radiation using a phase matched optical rectification technique. The device converts laser radiation to terahertz radiation via a particular type of photonic downconversion. The device includes a crystalline material suitable for photonic downconversion of laser radiation, a first coupling component for coupling the laser radiation to the crystalline material and a second coupling component for coupling the generated terahertz radiation from the crystalline material to the environment. By sustaining the phase matching condition over a significant distance, the device is capable of providing terahertz radiation with high peak and average power. Also disclosed is a method for generating terahertz radiation including the steps of optically coupling laser radiation to a crystalline material suitable for downconversion of the laser radiation to terahertz radiation, downconverting the laser radiation to terahertz radiation and optically coupling the generated terahertz radiation from the crystalline material to the environment. |
| US08369000B2 |
Reflection-minimized photonic crystal and device utilizing same
A photonic crystal structure that is composed of a host media having periodic dielectric holes disposed in the media at a period of ah. Each dielectric hole has a radius rh. The host media has an absolute refractive index expressed as |nh| that is less than 0.2. The photonic crystal structure has at least one reflection minimization layer disposed at an air/photonic crystal interface. The reflection minimization layer has periodic dielectric holes disposed therein at a period am with each dielectric hole having a radius rm such that ah=am and rm>rn and a beam steerable device including the photonic crystal structure. The device having a scanning rate of larger than 1 KHz and a scanning angle up to ±25 degrees. |
| US08368989B2 |
Light amount adjusting device and optical device
A light amount adjusting device includes: a board including an opening; a linear moving blade linearly and movably supported by the board; and a swinging blade swingably supported by the board, wherein: the linear moving blade and the swinging blade are receded from the opening to form a fully opened state; the linear moving blade covers the opening to form a fully closed state; and the swinging blade has a small aperture opening with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the opening, and causes the small aperture opening and the opening to be overlapped with each other to form a small aperture state. |
| US08368988B2 |
Micro shutter device and method of manufacturing the same
A micro shutter device and a method of manufacturing the micro shutter device are provided. A transparent substrate is provided. A barrier is formed on the substrate to partition a unit pixel. A pattern layer is formed with a transparent material to have a transparent first pattern portion on the substrate in the unit pixel. A movable plate is arranged to face the pattern layer, has an opaque second pattern layer corresponding to a shape of the first pattern portion, and is configured to transmit light therethrough except the second pattern portion. An actuator is for moving the movable plate. Therefore, light leakage due to diffraction can be prevented, resulting in increasing contrast ratio and improving light efficiency. |
| US08368987B1 |
Optical processing device
Provided is an optical processing device including: a beam emission portion which includes a plurality of optical fibers; a dispersion element which disperses a beam emitted from one optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers; a condenser lens which concentrates the beam passing through the dispersion element; and an optical path conversion optical system which converts an optical path of the beam passing through the condenser lens so that the beam is incident to one of the other optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers. An optical axis of the condenser lens is inclined with respect to an optical axis direction from the beam emission portion to the optical path conversion optical system. The inclination angle is set so that a maximum difference in focal depth of a plurality of beams having different wavelengths obtained by the dispersion element becomes smaller. |
| US08368986B2 |
Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning device includes: a light source; a polygon scanner that deflects a light beam output from the light source; and various types of optical elements for focusing the light beam deflected by the polygon scanner onto a desired position on a surface to be scanned, wherein a hole or a thin-walled portion that is provided on an arrangement surface of an optical housing on which the polygon scanner and an optical element having power in a sub-scanning direction are arranged, wherein the hole or a thin-walled portion extends along a main-scanning direction, and is provided near to the optical element having power in the sub-scanning direction between the polygon scanner and the optical element having power in the sub-scanning direction. |
| US08368984B2 |
Pseudo bipolar MEMS ribbon drive
A pseudo bipolar method for driving a MEMS ribbon device reduces charging effects in the device. |
| US08368978B2 |
Linear processing in color conversion
Methods and systems herein provide for color conversion of image data to another color space, such as that of a printer. Such color conversion includes linearly processing the color conversions when using radial basis functions for the conversions. One color conversion system herein includes a modeling module operable to generate a numerical model according to a radial basis function for converting the color values in the image data to the color space. The numerical model includes error approximations operable to form the radial basis function into a linear process. The system also includes a color converter operable to convert the color values in the image data to the color space based on the numerical model. |
| US08368976B2 |
Automatic document feeding and scanning apparatus
An automatic document feeding and scanning apparatus includes an automatic document feeder and a flatbed scanner mechanism. The flatbed scanner mechanism includes a casing, a scanning module and a scanning platform. The scanning platform has a first scanning window and a second scanning window for fixing a first transparent plate and a second transparent plate, respectively. In addition, an inner periphery of the second scanning window and an edge of the second transparent plate have complementary profiles. |
| US08368973B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit configured to sequentially feed a plurality of documents loaded on a document positioning plate, a reading sensor arranged in a conveyance path configured to read a document of the plurality of documents fed by the sheet feeding unit, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an interval of the document between a trailing edge of a preceding document and a leading edge of a next document conveyed through the conveyance path, and a reading unit configured to execute a first reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a first conveyance speed, and a second reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a second conveyance speed that is lower than the first conveyance speed, wherein the reading unit executes the second reading mode after the first reading mode when the interval of the document is less than a predetermined interval. |
| US08368972B2 |
Surface-emitting semiconductor laser, surface-emitting semiconductor laser device, optical transmission apparatus, and information processing apparatus
A surface-emitting semiconductor laser includes a substrate, a first semiconductor multi-layered reflector of a first conductivity type, an active region, a second semiconductor multi-layered reflector of a second conductivity type, a columnar structure, a current-confining layer including a conductive area surrounded with an oxidized area, a first electrode defining a light-emitting window, a first dielectric film covering the light-emitting window, and a second dielectric film formed on the first dielectric film. The second dielectric film has an asymmetrical shape having a long axis and a short axis, the second dielectric film is located at a position overlapping with the conductive area, the second refractive index n2 is greater than the first refractive index n1, the thickness of the first dielectric film is an odd multiple of λ/4·n1 (λ: oscillation wavelength), and the thickness of the second dielectric film is an odd multiple of λ/4·n2. |
| US08368970B2 |
Image reader
Disclosed herein is an image reader. The image reader can include a reading unit receiving light reflected from a document to thereby read image of the document and an automatic document feeder configured to supply the document to the reading unit. The automatic document feeder can include a channel defined within the automatic document feeder along which the document is supplied to the reading unit such that the reading unit is able to read the image of the document as the document moves along the channel. The channel can include a component having a surface tension that is less than or equal to about 40 dyne-per-centimeter. |
| US08368969B2 |
Methods and devices for rasterizing transparent pages
A method for rasterizing transparent pages scans each transparent page twice. The first scanning syntactically interprets a page description file of the transparent page, divides it into page blocks, and writes information of image element objects and transparency parameters into intermediate files. The second scanning reads the image element objects and the transparency parameters from the intermediate files and builds a page bitmap in blocks. A device for rasterizing transparent pages includes interpreting, dividing, file storing and building units. The interpreting unit implements syntactical interpretation. The dividing unit divides pages into transparent and nontransparent page blocks. The building unit implements rasterization according to the transparent or nontransparent page blocks, the information of image element objects and the transparent parameters to build a page bitmap in blocks. The methods and devices herein improve the efficiency of building a page bitmap and decrease memory utilization during generation of the page bitmap. |
| US08368968B2 |
Imaging apparatus and image correction method
An image processing unit generates image data of an image based on an output signal from an imaging device, corrects the image data, and outputs corrected image data. An optical filter is structured such that an upper limit of a transmitting wavelength decreases as a distance from an optical axis of the imaging optical system increases on an imaging plane of the imaging device so that a light in an infrared region is transmitted on the optical axis and cut off at a position farthest away from the optical axis on the imaging plane. The image processing unit corrects the image data based on a correction equation corresponding to the upper limit of the transmitting wavelength. |
| US08368967B2 |
Scanning controller, scanning apparatus and method for performing the scanning controller
A scanning controller, a scanning apparatus and a method for performing the scanning controller are disclosed herein. The scanning controller includes an image data processing unit, a memory control unit, a dummy line control unit, a buffer condition control unit, a motor condition control unit, a motor controlling unit and a relation control unit. Based on at least one of several predetermined contrastive relationships among each stored data amount with regard to an image buffer and its corresponding motor move timing, the relation control unit controls generation of a motor move timing from the motor controlling unit to drive a motor with variance of a scanned data generation rate and simultaneously enable determination of the dummy line control unit on which part of scanned image data should be skipped by catching of the image data processing unit. |
| US08368962B2 |
Color look up table adjusting apparatus, recording medium on which a color look up table adjusting program is recorded and color look up table adjusting system
A color look up table adjusting apparatus includes: a color gamut acquisition unit that determines a color gamut from an image output by an image forming apparatus, and determines, from an image output by another image forming apparatus, a position of input color values in a color space as a target point; an interpolation process unit that calculates a point corresponding to the target point within the color gamut of the image forming apparatus as an adjustment point; a color value adjustment table generating unit that generates a color value adjustment table for converting the input color values into input color values corresponding to a position of the adjustment point; and a table organization unit that converts arbitrary input color values based on the color value adjustment table, and inputs input color values obtained after the conversion as input color values based on a color look up table. |
| US08368958B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program product for processing color and transparent images according to the same layout setting or not based the determined image type to output as one image
An image processing apparatus includes a setting unit configured to execute a layout setting on first image data, a determination unit configured to determine an image type of second image data, an image processing unit configured, if it is determined, as a result of determination by the determination unit, that the image type of the second image data is an image type for applying a layout setting set for the first image data, to execute image processing on the second image data according to the layout setting set for the first image data, and an output unit configured to form an image of the first image data on a printing sheet by using color toners, to form an image of the second image data on the printing sheet by using a transparent toner. |
| US08368957B2 |
Method for digital image adaptation for printing an image on a printing apparatus
An image dependent gamut mapping method for mapping source colors of an image to destination colors reproducible by a printing apparatus, each source color having a lightness component within a range between a source white point and a source black point, and each destination color having a lightness component within a range between a destination white point and a destination black point. A composed transfer function maps the source white point onto the destination white point and the source black point onto the destination black point, applying the composed transfer function on each lightness component of source colors of at least a part of the image. The transfer function is composed of linear mappings. The steepness of each linear mapping is determined by a mathematical optimization problem intended to preserve lightness and contrast in the image produced by the printing apparatus under the conditions of at least one constraint. |
| US08368954B2 |
Image processing method
A technology that enables accurate position specification on an image displayed on a screen to perform processing and correction of the image data is provided. When the image is printed on a sheet on which a dot pattern is printed, a reference point of the image on the display device is set and the reference point is printed in a visible mark together with the image. This mark is imaged with an imaging means, and calibration is performed in which position coordinates of the marks on the sheet and the reference points of the image are matched, thereby preventing variation in coordinates between designation made on the sheet with the imaging means and processing on the image. |
| US08368953B2 |
Image forming device and method thereof
An image forming device having a plurality of developing units is provided. The image forming device includes a control unit to determine whether to perform an auto color registration (ACR) with respect to one or more of the plurality of developing units, and a print engine unit to perform an ACR of the determined developing units. |
| US08368952B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method the same
A method of controlling an image processing apparatus, and an image processing apparatus to carry-out the method. The edge pixels of a black character may be evaluated to improve visibility of edge pixels and to enhance the blackening of the edge pixels when the evaluated edge pixels are determined to be the actual edge pixels of the original image and to correct the edge pixels to be suitable for original background pixel values and to brighten the edge pixels when the evaluated edge pixels are determined to be the actual background pixels of an original image. The black character may be enhanced so that the actual black character becomes blacker and that the background pixels become brighter to improve the visibility of the black character. The black character may be distinguished from a scanned image, the print thickness of the distinguished black character may be controlled, and the black character having controlled print thickness may be printed out using only a K color. |
| US08368946B2 |
Imaging device, information processing device, information processing system, recording control method thereof, and program for causing a computer to execute the method
An information processing system includes: an imaging device including a first recording medium recording a content file, and a management information storage unit storing management information for managing the content file in the first recording medium; an information processing device including a second recording medium recording a predetermined content file; and a control unit controlling so as to detect difference information relating to the storage state of the content file recorded in the first recording medium, based on the results of comparing present management information stored in the management information storage unit, with past management information which has been recorded before the present management information and is management information of the point-in-time at which the content file in the first recording medium was saved to the second recording medium, and record, in the second recording medium, the content file in the first recording medium, based on the detected difference information. |
| US08368945B2 |
Priority based printer setting
An information processing apparatus for outputting a document to a printer. Whether or not each of a plurality of set values set for one printing condition is a set value by which a print output can be performed in the printer is discriminated. If a plurality of set values determined to be the set values by the print output can be performed in the printer exists among the plurality of set values, by deciding the set value of the printing condition according to a priority added to each of the plurality of set values, a proper print result is provided according to the printing conditions set on a distributing source side of print content. |
| US08368944B2 |
Printing index images and file information together
An image forming apparatus is provided with a data retrieving unit that retrieves index image data and associating file information corresponding to files from a recording medium. The index image data and associating file information are allocated to a plurality of arrangement sections. The index image data and associating file information may be printed on a printing sheet in accordance with a predetermined layout. A judging unit is provided to judge whether the associating file information is less than or equal to a predetermined length. The associating file information which is longer than the predetermined length is normally printed incompletely so as to be printed within the arrangement section. A layout modifying unit is provided to modify the predetermined layout for the arrangement section if the associating file information is longer than the predetermined length so that the associating file information is printed completely on the printing sheet. |
| US08368941B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program for forming an image based on merged image data
An image processing apparatus is provided which includes an image obtaining member which obtains an original image and outputs data of the original image. In the image processing apparatus, unique additional image data is merged to the original image data. A memory stores the original image data and the merged image data, and an image is formed based on the formed merged image data. In a first image processing mode, the merged image data is formed before the original data is stored to the memory, and the merged image data is then stored to the memory and an image is formed based on the stored merged image data. In a second image processing mode, the original image data is stored to the memory before forming the merged image data. Then the merged image data is formed, and an image is formed based on the formed merged image data. |
| US08368939B2 |
Decoding image data for printing
In the conventional printing application, it is impossible to easily overview which image is printed in which page, so that there is a drawback that a user is required to perform the printing while imagining printing result. An idea for more quickly providing the printing result at the same time when the printing is performed by simple operation has not been sufficiently made. In order to solve the problems, a printing apparatus includes decoding means for, before the an instruction is given, decoding the image to be printed in at least a first sheet with the layout selected by layout selecting means among images selected by image selecting means and printing controlling means for effecting the printing of image data decoded by the decoding means, and a printing method includes steps to be executed in the printing apparatus. |
| US08368937B2 |
Print data processing apparatus, print data processing method, and storage medium
A print data processing apparatus includes a first processor configured to read print data and perform print data processing on the read print data, and a second processor which operates in parallel with the first processor and is configured to stop the print data processing if an instruction to wait is input during the print data processing, to execute processing different from the print data processing if an instruction to execute the different processing is issued by the time the wait is released, and to execute the print data processing if the wait is released. |
| US08368936B2 |
Conference system and image data management method
In order to facilitate printing of an image drawn on an electronic board while improving security, an MFP includes a portion to generate conference identification information in response to reception of a start instruction from an electronic board, a portion to associate the conference identification information with device identification information for the electronic board, a portion to associate image data received from the electronic board with conference identification information lastly associated with the device identification information for the electronic board, a portion to associate user identification information received from the electronic board with conference identification information lastly associated with the device identification information for the electronic board, a portion to authenticate a user, a portion to extract conference identification information associated with the user identification information for the authenticated user, a portion to extract image data associated with the conference identification information, and a portion to output the image data. |
| US08368931B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method of controlling the same, program, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus capable of defining each of a plurality of executable functions as one work item and executing a plurality of workflows each combining the work items includes a setting change reception unit which receives a setting change for a setting item of a work item that constitutes a preprocess workflow and reflects the contents of the setting change on an associated setting item of a work item that constitutes a post-process workflow, a data generation unit which generates data including the execution result of the preprocess workflow and the contents of the setting change, an analysis unit which analyzes, based on the generated data, whether a setting change has been done for the setting item of the work item that constitutes the post-process workflow, and a workflow execution unit which controls execution of the post-process workflow based on the analysis result. |
| US08368928B2 |
Electronic device system and control method in electronic device system in which a second device is controlled using a command from a first device
A printer system 100 includes a printer 10, a winding device 30, a color meter 41, and a color measurement driving device 80. A host communication section 81 of the printer 10 is communicably connected to device communication sections 82 to 84 of the devices 30, 41, and 80. In the device communication sections 82 and 84 of the devices 30 and 80, a printer class is set as a device class. Print data that includes commands for control the devices 30 and 80 is transmitted from a second printer driver 89 of the printer 10 to the devices 30 and 80. The printer 10 and the devices 30 and 80 are provided with an ESC/P analyzing section that can analyze print data. |
| US08368927B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program
Provided is an information processing apparatus which suitably collects information necessary for performing a cause analysis when a communication failure occurs. To accomplish this, when communication is performed between an information processing apparatus 102 and an external apparatus 101 through a network, determination is made as to whether or not the communication between the information processing apparatus 102 and the external apparatus 101 has properly been performed from the time the connection is established until the time the connection is disconnected. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the communication during the connection has not properly been performed, communication packets transmitted or received between the information processing apparatus 102 and the external apparatus 101 during the connection are stored. |
| US08368918B2 |
Methods and apparatus to identify images in print advertisements
Methods and apparatus to methods and apparatus to identify images in print advertisements are disclosed. An example method comprises computing a first image feature vector for a first presented image, comparing the first image feature vector to a second image feature vector, and when the first image feature vector matches the second image feature vector, storing printed-media information associated with the first presented image in a database record associated with the second image feature vector. |
| US08368917B2 |
Printing system and method thereof
A printing system, including an image data generator to generate at least a part of printing data as image data; a storage to store the image data and the printing data; a display part to display the image data stored in the storage; and a controller to make desired printing data selected by displaying the image data stored in the storage on the display part according to an input command. |
| US08368914B2 |
System, device and server for restarting a service stopped by occurrence of an error
A service providing system including a client device and a server is provided. The client device includes a function execution unit that executes one of the functions of the image reading and printing units in accordance with an execution command from the server, an error notification unit that notifies the server of occurrence of an error, a manner designation unit that requests a user to designate a manner of restarting, and a manner notification unit that sends a notification containing the manner of restarting to the server. The function execution unit restarts the execution of the function interfered by the error in accordance with a command requesting a restart of the function received from the server which has been notified of the manner of restarting. The server includes a service providing unit that sends the execution command, a phase identifying unit that identifies a phase in which the error interfering with the execution of the function arises, and a designation instruction unit that transmits the command requesting the designation of the manner of restarting. The service providing unit operates to send the command requesting restart to the client device to restart the execution of the service according to the manner of restarting notified by the client device when the server is notified of the manner of restarting from the client device that has received the command from the designation instruction unit. |
| US08368912B2 |
Image forming apparatus, print control method, and computer-readable storage medium storing program code for executing the control method
An image forming apparatus capable of both normal printing and special-purpose printing includes a first identification unit, a second identification unit, and a selection unit. The first identification unit identifies a type of print data. The second identification unit identifies a type of print material. The selection unit selects a print resource in accordance with a combination of the type of print data identified by the first identification unit and the type of print material identified by the second identification unit. The selection unit selects the print resource so as to prevent unauthorized printing from being performed when the print data is for special-purpose printing. |
| US08368905B2 |
Method and computer readable medium for printer driver and information processing device
There is provided a method for providing information from a printer driver. The method comprises the steps of: accepting a request for information concerning the printer driver; inquiring of at least one function filter about function information in accordance with configuration information containing a reference to the at least one function filter, in response to receipt of the request; obtaining, from the at least one function filter, the function information containing at least one current function of the at least one function filter, as a response to the inquiring; and providing the obtained function information for a requesting source of the request. |
| US08368904B2 |
Image forming device
A method for providing an image forming device with a user-friendly application program. A program of the image forming device includes a basic service program and a simple text language processing program. The basic service program has an operation panel control module, image input and image output modules. If a command string in a source code is a control string, the simple text language processing program passes a parameter of a button description included in the control string to the operation panel control module as an argument to cause a button to be displayed and pressing of the button when pressed. In response to the detection, corresponding modules are activated. Accordingly, different multiple modules can be easily processed. Additionally, any size of buttons can be displayed anywhere on the panel. The image forming device alone can realize the method to allow many more users to easily use the application. |
| US08368900B2 |
Lightwave interferometric distance measuring method and apparatus using an optical comb
The oscillation wavelength of a variable wavelength laser is measured by using an optical comb, and a feedback control is performed, whereby laser beams of plural predetermined wavelengths are obtained, or a variable wavelength laser is caused to oscillate at plural arbitrary wavelengths to obtain plural distance measurement values. The wavelengths (frequencies) of laser beams when the respective distance measurement values are obtained are measured by the optical comb, and used in calculation of the geometric distance. Plural lasers are used, and the geometric distance is obtained while the wavelengths of laser beams oscillated from the lasers are measured by the optical comb. |
| US08368898B2 |
Optical apparatus, optical detector, optical modulator, imaging apparatus, and camera
Provided is an optical apparatus having high durability, less optical absorption than a hole-type metal thin film filter, high transmittance and high reflectance, and variable optical characteristics. The apparatus includes: a dielectric substrate; a metal structure group including multiple metal structures two-dimensionally and discretely disposed at regular intervals; and a dielectric layer covering the metal structure group, in which: the metal structures have a first length equal to or shorter than a predetermined wavelength in a visible light region in one direction, and a second length equal to or shorter than the wavelength in a perpendicular direction; and the metal structures resonates with light entering the dielectric substrate or the dielectric layer, having a variable dielectric constant, to generate localized surface plasmon resonance on a surface of the metal structures to have a minimum transmittance or a maximum reflectance of the light having the wavelength. |
| US08368896B1 |
Measurement of sulfur trioxide via spectroscopy
Configurations herein include a novel process, system, etc., to measure a concentration of sulfur trioxide in a gas sample including sulfur trioxide, sulfur dioxide, and water. An example system can include an optical radiation source that generates an optical signal at a plurality of vibration-rotation transitions around at least one frequency selected from the group consisting of 1396.889 cm−1, 1396.908 cm−1, 1396.962 cm−1, 1397.003 cm−1, 1397.037 cm−1, 1397.047 cm−1, and 1397.052 cm−1. The optical signal is transmitted along an optical path through the gas sample. Based on adjusting a pressure of the gas sample, each of the plurality of vibration-rotation absorption transitions associated with the sulfur trioxide can be substantially isolated from interfering absorption by the sulfur dioxide and the water vapor in the gas sample. Based on a spectral analysis, the system generates a value indicative of a concentration of sulfur trioxide in the gas sample. |
| US08368893B2 |
Optical assembly and method
An optical apparatus and method comprising a light source, an array detector for area imaging and an optical cell assembly. The optical cell assembly comprises a chamber which is arranged to receive a sample of a material including an analyte, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet coupled to the chamber. A fluid dissolution medium stream passes through the chamber such that the sample can dissolve into the dissolution medium. The chamber is in at least one light path created between the light source and the array detector. The array detector comprises a two dimensional array of detector locations arranged to provide an output signal indicative of the light absorbance of the analyte within the chamber such that the output of the array detector is indicative of the concentration profile of the analyte near the surface of the sample. |
| US08368891B2 |
Device and process to measure water clarity and organic content
A method of using a sensor array that measures the long-term change in the organic content of the near-surface seawater by simultaneously comparing downwelling sunlight attenuation in the blue and green wavelengths over a significant vertical distance. |
| US08368887B2 |
Rotation detection kit
A rotation detection kit, comprising: a beam source; a receiver comprising at least one beam intensity sensor; a polarizer device for location in the path of a beam emitted from the beam source and received by the beam sensor; and a modulator. The modulator is configured to modulate at least one of i) the beam source and ii) a beam emitted by the beam source to create a discretely varying polarization orientation thereby defining first and at least second temporally spaced beam portions. The temporally spaced beam portions are incident on the polarizer device and the beam sensor and have substantially identical profiles and at least an initial common propagation axis toward the polarizer device. |
| US08368883B2 |
System and method for detection of analytes in exhaled breath
A sensor for detecting a drug substance (15) from exhaled breath of a subject in-situ. Its collecting surface has a Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-active layer (14) of a SERS-active material. The collecting surface is arranged as an outer surface of a waveguide (12) for contact with exhaled breath, such that at least traces of said drug substance (15) in said exhaled breath can contact said SERS-active layer for read-out of a Raman shift spectrum. |
| US08368880B2 |
Chemical imaging explosives (CHIMED) optical sensor using SWIR
A sample is illuminated to thereby generate a plurality of first interacted photons selected. The first interacted photons are assessed using a visible imaging device to thereby determine an area of interest in the sample. The area of interest is illuminated to thereby generate a plurality of second interacted photons. The second interacted photons are assessed using a spectroscopic device to thereby generate a SWIR data set representative of said area of interest. A database is searched wherein said database comprises a plurality of known SWIR data sets associated with an explosive material. The data sets comprise at least one of: a plurality of SWIR spectra and a plurality of spatially accurate wavelength resolved SWIR images. An explosive material in the area of interest is thereby identified as a result of the search. |
| US08368876B1 |
Calibration system and method for imaging flash LIDAR systems
Systems and methods for calibrating a LIDAR unit. In one embodiment, a system includes a light pulse detection unit, a delay unit and a two-dimensional target. The light pulse detection unit receives a light pulse from the LIDAR unit. The delay unit produces one or more delayed light pulses which are delayed by a known interval from the light pulse received from the LIDAR unit. The delayed light pulses are used to illuminate the target. Target illumination from each of the delayed light pulses returns to the LIDAR unit with a corresponding known delay. The delay of each delayed light pulse simulates a range that is greater than the actual physical distance from the LIDAR unit to the target. The delay of the light pulses from different parts of the target may be different to simulate different ranges for the different parts of the target. |
| US08368874B2 |
Beam irradiation device and laser radar system
A beam irradiation device includes: a laser light source for emitting laser light; an actuator which scans a targeted area with the laser light; a servo optical system which changes a propagating direction of servo light in response to driving of the actuator; a photodetector which receives the servo light to output a signal depending on a light receiving position of the servo light; an actuator controlling section which controls the actuator based on the signal to be outputted from the photodetector; and a laser controlling section which controls the laser light source based on the signal to be outputted from the photodetector. The laser controlling section controls the laser light source to emit the laser light in a pulse manner at a timing when the light receiving position of the servo light coincides with a predetermined targeted position. |
| US08368872B1 |
Method for determining planting ball number of camera module
A method for determining the planting ball number of a camera module is provided. The camera module includes a substrate and a chip. The substrate includes an opening and a plurality of contact pads. The opening of the substrate has four rims. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, an image pickup device is used to detect an average contact pad distance of the distances from four specified contact pads of the substrate to the image pickup device. Then, a smallest opening distance among four opening distances from the four rims to the image pickup device is acquired. Then, plural actual contact pad distances from all contact pads to the image pickup device are acquired. The planting ball number for each contact pad is calculated according to these distances. Consequently, the quality of assembling the camera module is enhanced. |
| US08368871B2 |
Lithographic fabrication of general periodic structures
A lithographic method related to Talbot imaging for printing a desired pattern of features that is periodic or quasi-periodic in at least one direction onto a substrate surface, which method includes providing a mask bearing a pattern of mask features, arranging the substrate parallel and in proximity to the mask, providing an illumination source having a central wavelength and a spectral bandwidth, forming from said source an illumination beam with an angular distribution of intensity, arranging the distance of the substrate from the mask and exposing the mask pattern to said beam so that each angular component of illumination exposes the substrate to substantially the entire range of lateral intensity distributions that occur between successive Talbot image planes for the illumination wavelengths, wherein the angular distribution of the beam is designed in conjunction with the pattern of features in the mask and the distance of the substrate from the mask. |
| US08368868B2 |
Lithographic apparatus with gas pressure means for controlling a planar position of a patterning device contactless
A lithographic apparatus includes a position controller configured to control a position of a patterning device in its planar direction by selectively pressing at least one of the side faces of the patterning device. The position controller includes a gas pressure supply and one or more outflow openings directed towards at least one side face of the patterning device so as to exert pressurized gas on this side face in order to control the position of the patterning device in its planar direction in a contactless manner. |
| US08368865B2 |
Display panel and method of manufacturing the same
A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a pixel disposed on either the first substrate or the second substrate. When an electrode is formed, a portion of the electrode is removed to form a spacer area and a droplet including a bead spacer mixed with a solvent is provided in the spacer area. Then, the solvent is vaporized to move the bead spacer to a center of the spacer area. The second substrate is provided to face the first substrate while interposing the bead spacer therebetween. The spacer area has a dimension equal to or greater than a diameter of the droplet. |
| US08368864B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with spacer in the sealant
In a seal portion of a liquid crystal display device, column spacers are formed on a counter substrate side, organic passivation films are formed so as to face the column spacers on a TFT substrate side, and the gap between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate is controlled by the column spacers and the organic passivation films. A sealing material covers the column spacers and the organic passivation films and is in contact with an inorganic film formed on the TFT substrate on the TFT substrate side. Therefore, the adhesive force of the sealing material is improved to ensure the reliability of the seal portion. |
| US08368863B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a photo-curable sealant, and a first light-shielding pattern is provided. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The photo-curable sealant is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the photo-curable sealant surrounds and is in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The first light-shielding pattern is disposed on the first substrate, wherein a portion of the sidewall of the first light-shielding pattern is substantially aligned with a portion of the sidewall of the first substrate, and the first light-shielding pattern is only overlapped with an outer edge of the photo-curable sealant or is not overlapped with the photo-curable sealant. |
| US08368861B2 |
Liquid crystal display device comprising periodically changed permutations of at least two types of electrode-pattern pairs
A liquid crystal display device comprises a plurality of pixels arrayed in a first direction and a second direction, each of the pixels having a reflective area in at least a portion thereof. The reflective area comprises a surface-irregularity film that is a film having a plurality of surface irregularities, a light reflecting film disposed as an upper layer over the surface-irregularity film, and an electrode group disposed as an upper layer over the light reflecting film. The electrode group in each of the pixels that are arrayed in at least the first direction comprises at least two types of electrode patterns having different layouts. |
| US08368859B2 |
Optical film, optical compensation film, polarizing plate and liquid crystal display
An optical film is provided and has retardations satisfying relations (1) to (3): 0≦Re(550)≦10; (1) −25 ≦Rth(550)≦25; and (2) |I|+|II|+|III|+|IV|>0.5 (nm), (3) with definitions: I=Re(450)−Re(550); II=Re(650)−Re(550); III=Rth(450)−Rth(550); and IV=Rth(650)−Rth(550), wherein Re(450), Re(550) and Re(650) are in-plane retardations measured with lights of wavelength of 450, 550 and 650 nm, respectively; and Rth(450), Rth(550) and Rth(650) are retardations in a thickness direction of the optical film, which are measured with lights of wavelength of 450, 550 and 650 nm, respectively. |
| US08368858B2 |
Optical film, polarizing plate, and VA-mode liquid crystal display device
The present invention relates to an optical film produced by stretching a film having a low residual solvent amount in a machine direction followed by heat-treating it at a temperature falling from the glass transition point (Tg) to the melting point (Tm) thereof, which is a cellulose acylate film satisfying the following relations (1) to (6) and containing at least one cellulose acylate and at least one retardation enhancer having an absorption maximum wavelength λmax of from 280 nm to 380 nm: (1) 35 nm≦Re(550)≦75 nm, (2) 85 nm≦Rth(550)≦140 nm, (3) 0 nm<ΔRe(630−450)≦40 nm, (4) −75 nm≦ΔRth(630−450)<0 nm, (5) 2.7≦A+B≦3.0, and (6) B≧0, wherein “A” means a degree of substitution with an acetyl group of said at least one cellulose acylate, and “B” means a degree of substitution with an acyl group having at least 3 carbon atoms thereof. |
| US08368857B2 |
Optical film
The present invention provides an optical film with functions of light collimating, light polarization for brightness enhancement and limiting viewing angle and a method for preparing the same. The optical film includes a plurality of layers of a cholesteric liquid crystal film bound together via an optical adhesive and a quarter-wavelength retardation plate bound with the cholesteric liquid crystal film via the optical adhesive. Therein, at least one layer of the cholesteric liquid crystal film has a polarized separated wavelength range covering the wavelength range of visible light of three primary colors of red, green and blue. |
| US08368854B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
An object is to provide a highly reliable liquid crystal display device which includes a liquid crystal layer exhibiting a more stable blue phase. Another object is to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device with high yield. Polymer stabilization treatment is performed as follows: a photocurable resin is added to a liquid crystal material exhibiting a blue phase, and the photocurable resin is selectively polymerized by scanning a liquid crystal layer provided between a first substrate and a second substrate with light in a certain direction. Thus, a first region where the light irradiation treatment is performed and a second region where the light irradiation treatment is not performed are formed in the liquid crystal layer. Since polymerization of the photocurable resin proceeds in the first region, the polymerization degree of the photocurable resin in the first region is higher than that in the second region. |
| US08368853B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal display panel including a first substrate and a second substrate is provided. The first substrate is provided at plural positions with a first scale pattern made of the same material as a scanning line, and extending in a row direction or a column direction, and a second scale pattern made of the same material as a signal line at plural positions, and extending in the row direction or the column direction. The second substrate is provided with a third scale pattern extending in the row direction and a fourth scale pattern extending in the column direction, respectively, at positions which are opposite to the first and second scale patterns. |
| US08368846B2 |
Two dimensional light source using light emitting diode and liquid crystal display device using the two dimensional light source
A two-dimensional light source includes a base substrate having holes, wires disposed on a lower surface of the base substrate, a light emitting diode (LED) chip disposed on an upper surface of the base substrate, plugs that connect two electrodes of the LED chip to the wires through the holes, a buffer layer covering the LED chip, and an optical layer that is disposed on the buffer layer and has an optical pattern formed at a portion of the optical layer corresponding to the LED chip. |
| US08368839B2 |
Optical adjusting member and illumination device and liquid crystal display device including the same
An optical adjusting member according to the invention includes a base member having optical transparency and a plurality of linear members provided on the base member and having optical transparency. A section of the linear member orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the linear member includes a triangular first sectional part defined by first to third sides and an approximately triangular second sectional part. The second sectional part has a smaller area than that of the first sectional part and defined by fourth to sixth sides. The first side of the first sectional part is in contact with the surface of the base member. The second sectional part is formed on the second side of the first sectional part, and the fourth side of the second sectional part is in contact with the second side of the first sectional part. |
| US08368838B2 |
Planar light-emitting device and liquid crystal display apparatus
A planar light-emitting device enabling more precise local dimming has a plurality of light-emitting units each including a lightguide plate and a plurality of light sources disposed successively in the lateral width direction of the light-entrance surface and adjacently facing a light-entrance surface of the lightguide plate to emit light into the lightguide plate through the light-entrance surface. The light sources are divided into a plurality of groups successively arranged in the width direction, each group including at least one light source. The lightguide plates of the light-emitting units are mutually adjacently disposed with their light-exiting surfaces being flush with each other. The planar light-emitting device has a light source output control unit that controls the outputs of the light sources for each group. |
| US08368837B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal display panel; and a backlight disposed to face the liquid crystal display panel, the backlight including at least a frame having a bottom surface facing the liquid crystal display panel, a reflector placed on the bottom surface of the frame, and a plurality of light sources disposed on the liquid crystal display panel side of the reflector and supported by the frame, wherein a recess protruding in the opposite direction to the liquid crystal display panel is formed in the bottom surface of the frame, the recess and the reflector constituting an air duct. |
| US08368835B2 |
Grounding mechanism for liquid crystal module
A grounding mechanism is used for an electronic device. The electronic device includes a liquid crystal module and a housing. The grounding mechanism includes a first conductive element, a second conductive element and an elastic member. The first conductive element is attached to the liquid crystal module. The second conductive element is attached to the housing. The elastic member includes a main base, a resisting portion and a latching portion. The main base is received in the housing. The resisting portion is electronically connected to the second conductive element. The latching portion is electronically connected to the first conductive element. |
| US08368829B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels each including a first subpixel and a second subpixel having liquid crystal layers to which mutually different voltages are applicable, and two switching elements that are provided for the first and second subpixels, respectively. The device further includes a plurality of storage capacitor trunks electrically connected to respective storage capacitor counter electrodes of either the first subpixels or the second subpixels of the pixels through storage capacitor lines. |
| US08368828B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device includes; a plurality of data lines disposed on a substrate, a plurality of gate lines disposed substantially perpendicular to the data lines, wherein the data lines and the gate lines together surround a plurality of pixel regions, a plurality of power supplying lines disposed substantially parallel to the data lines, a plurality of pixel electrode pairs, wherein each of the pixel electrode pairs includes a first and a second pixel electrode respectively disposed in each pixel region, and a pixel driving circuit including at least one transistor and a plurality of storage capacitors in each pixel region, wherein the pixel electrode pairs have portions where the pixel electrode pairs and at least one of the plurality of data lines and the plurality of power supplying lines are vertically aligned with each other, and the storage capacitors are disposed at the vertically aligned portions. |
| US08368824B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus and projector
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal device; a first dust-proof plate made of a birefringent material, and disposed on one of a light entrance side and a light exit side of the liquid crystal device; and a second dust-proof plate made of an isotropic refractive material, and is disposed on the other of the light entrance side and the light exit side of the liquid crystal device. |
| US08368823B2 |
On-vehicle display apparatus
A display apparatus for a vehicle includes a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit, and a control circuit. The liquid crystal panel has a screen constructed with pixels. A first portion of the pixels displays a speed image indicating a vehicle speed. A second portion of the pixels displays a warning image indicating a vehicle abnormal condition. The control circuit adjusts brightness of the screen by controlling intensity of colors in the speed and warning images in such a manner that brightness of the warning image is greater than brightness of the speed image. The luminance of the light supplied to the screen by the backlight unit is kept constant. |
| US08368820B2 |
Lighting device, display device and television receiver
A lighting device 12 of the present invention includes a light source 17, an external power source 21 arranged to supply drive power to the light source 17, and a relay connector 19 arranged to provide an electrical connection between the light source 17 and the external power source 21. The relay connector 19 includes a conductive resin layer 40 and an insulating resin layer 50 arranged on the periphery of the conductive resin layer 40. According to the construction, the conductive portion and the insulating portion of the relay connector 19 are both made of resin, and therefore can be formed by the same process, e.g., by two-shot molding. Further, the number of components can be reduced. |
| US08368816B2 |
Circuit and method for detecting motion pictures
A circuit for detecting motion pictures includes a first-stage motion picture detecting unit and a second-stage motion picture detecting unit. The first-stage motion picture detecting unit analyzes a current image frame and a previous image frame to calculate a first motion value associated with the current image frame. The second-stage motion picture detecting unit receives the first motion value, compares the first motion value against an adjusted motion value, and outputs and stores a larger one as a second motion value. The adjusted motion value is a value derived by adjusting an adjacent previous second motion value. |
| US08368815B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes: a calculating unit configured to calculate motion information relating to between two images that make up an imaged moving picture; and a selecting unit configured to select compositing target images serving as compositing targets from a plurality of images that make up the imaged moving picture based on reliability that indicates the likelihood of the calculated motion information. |
| US08368814B2 |
Visual processing device, display device, and integrated circuit for adjusting the contrast of an image
The invention achieves a visual processing device that can execute precise contrast adjustment on image signals that have been input and that does not cause discrepancies in the output timing of the image signals that are output. The visual processing device is provided with a gain-type visual processing portion that outputs a first gain signal having predetermined gain characteristics with respect to the input image signal, and a correction portion that corrects the input image signal based on the first gain signal. |
| US08368813B2 |
Generating device, generating method, and program for reproducing subtitles from a file in which subtitle data relating to subtitles is stored
A generating device includes: a subtitle encode unit for generating subtitle data by encoding the image data of a subtitle; and a determining unit for determining whether or not reproduction of the subtitle is in time for display thereof based on the size of encoded data obtained by encoding the image data, with the subtitle data being classified into display sets as display units, and with the determining unit obtaining processing time regarding the display set of interest from the size of encoded data of the display set of interest according size-time relationship between the size of the encoded data and the processing time, and determining that reproduction of the subtitle of the display set of interest is not in time for display thereof when the available time regarding the display set of interest is below the processing time regarding the display set of interest, to output error information. |
| US08368802B2 |
Automatic focusing method for camera performing additional scanning
An automatic focusing method for a camera, including scanning in a macro mode, scanning in a normal mode, and additional scanning. In the scanning in the macro mode, a region within a first distance is scanned if the macro mode is set by a user. In the scanning in the normal mode, a region beyond the first distance is scanned if the normal mode is set by the user. In the additional scanning, the scanning in the normal mode is performed additionally if it is determined that the position of the focus lens found in the scanning in the macro mode does not have the largest focus value, and the scanning in the macro mode is performed additionally if it is determined that the position of the focus lens found in the scanning in the normal mode does not have the largest focus value. |
| US08368801B2 |
Camera system and interchangeable lens
There are provided a camera system and an interchangeable lens that are compatible with a contrast detection method. A camera system (1) has an interchangeable lens unit (2) and a camera body (3). A lens microcomputer (40) changes the movable range of a second lens group (L2) via a focus lens drive controller (41) depending on whether a second holder (61) is driven by the focus lens drive controller (41) and a focus motor (80) on the basis of angle information inputted to a zoom ring (64) of the interchangeable lens unit (2), or the second holder (61) is driven by the focus lens drive controller (41) on the basis of contrast information. |
| US08368800B2 |
Image recognition device, focus adjustment device and imaging device
There are provided a focus detector detecting a focusing state of an optical system with respect to a plurality of focus detection positions that are set in an imagefield of the optical system; a recognizer setting a reference image with respect to an image to be a reference, and recognizing a position corresponding to the reference image of an image in the optical system; a selector selecting the focus detection position to be a target of focus adjustment of the optical system based on one of the focusing state and a position corresponding to the reference image recognized by the recognizer; and a controller executing at least one of resetting of the reference image and a retrying recognition of the position corresponding to the reference image when the focus detection position is selected based on the focusing state. |
| US08368797B2 |
View finder
A view finder includes: a screen portion provided with a display screen which can display images captured by a camera main body; a mounting portion that can be fixed to the camera main body; and an arm portion connecting the mounting portion to the screen portion and moving the screen portion with respect to the mounting portion. The arm portion includes right and left arm portions respectively provided on right and left sides of the screen portion. The right arm portion includes first and second right arms rotatably formed with the screen portion and the mounting portion. The left arm portion includes first and second left arms rotatably formed with the screen portion and the mounting portion. The first and second right arms, the mounting portion and the screen portion, and the first and second left arms, the mounting portion and the screen portion form four-bar rotation link mechanism. |
| US08368795B2 |
Notebook computer with mirror and image pickup device to capture multiple images simultaneously
A notebook computer with a multi-image capturing function is provided. The notebook computer includes an image pickup device and a mirror. The image pickup device is used for capturing a first image. The mirror is disposed beside the image pickup device and tilted by an angle with respect to the image pickup device. A second image reflected by the mirror is adjustable by changing the angle. The second image reflected by the mirror is also captured by the image pickup device, so that the first image and the second image are simultaneously captured by the image pickup device. |
| US08368791B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes: a pixel signal read out unit for reading out a pixel signal and a reference signal, and for holding the read out pixel signal or the reference signal in a holding capacitor; a selection switch for successively selecting signals stored row by row in the holding capacitor of pixel signal read out unit, and for outputting the selected signal to any one of a plurality of signal lines; reset switches for resetting the plurality of signal lines to a reset voltage; a multiplexer for selectively outputting the signals of the signal lines; and a control unit for controlling the multiplexer and the selection switch. The control unit performs control based on the reference signal read out according to a period longer than a period according to which the pixel signal is read out. |
| US08368782B2 |
Multiple exposure image pickup apparatus, multiple exposure image pickup method, program, and recording medium
An image pickup apparatus includes a frame operation unit configured to perform addition to or subtraction from a frame and a storage unit configured to store a result of an operation performed by the frame operation unit. A data bus including two channels, one for writing to the storage unit and the other for reading from the storage unit, is provided between the frame operation unit and the storage unit. |
| US08368776B2 |
Image recording apparatus, image reproducing apparatus, method of controlling image recording apparatus, method of controlling image reproducing apparatus, computer program, and recording medium
A system, method and computer program product for arranging digital data in a file in an apparatus-implemented system, is disclosed. One or more pages are generated, where each page includes: i. a mode field containing a camera operation mode, ii. an image data field containing image data, iii. an offset field containing an offset to a next page in the file, and a total size field containing a page size. Each page is recorded in the file using the same format. |
| US08368767B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device, optical apparatus, signal processing apparatus, and signal processing system
A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel unit configured to convert light into an electrical signal, an A/D converter configured to convert a signal read from the pixel unit into a digital signal, a light modulation unit configured to modulate an externally input light beam using the signal digitized by the A/D converter and output a signal light beam based on the signal read from the pixel unit, a timing generation unit configured to generate a synchronization signal used for synchronizing input and output of signals of the pixel unit, the A/D converter, and the light modulation unit, and a controller configured to control readout of the signal. |
| US08368761B2 |
Image correction method for camera system
Disclosed herein is an image correction method for a camera system, which minimizes the amount of data that must be stored by a camera system and which can conveniently correct mounting errors of cameras. In the image correction method for a camera system, image data about a reference ground, which is captured by a camera and on which at least one ground mark is indicated, is acquired. Coordinates of a captured ground mark are obtained based on the image data. A preset Look-Up Table (LUT) is corrected using errors between the coordinates of the captured ground mark and coordinates of a preset reference mark. The ground mark and the reference mark may respectively have four or more corresponding correction points. |
| US08368758B2 |
Imaging apparatus and lighting apparatus for imaging
An imaging apparatus for taking an image of a face includes an imaging element having sensitivity for a near-infrared range and a visible range, a first optical filter provided between the face and the imaging element to reduce an intensity of a visible light entering the imaging element and a near-infrared light irradiating portion for irradiating the face with a near-infrared light. |
| US08368755B2 |
Photographing apparatus, image signal choosing apparatus, driving assisting apparatus and automobile
Considering the locations of a self-vehicle and other vehicles changing from moment to moment, an image signal is chosen in relation to the location, orientation, viewing angle, and moving speed of a camera mounted on each vehicle, and information on a region to be a driver's blind spot is provided in real time by means of images and voice. When there is the other vehicles whose camera meets requirements such as the location, orientation, viewing angle, and moving speed for photographing a region to be the self-vehicle's blind spot, it is possible to provide information on the blind spot by the image picked up by the camera. However, since the other vehicle's location also changes with a lapse of time, it is not possible to keep photographing the blind spot with the same camera. Therefore, the image of the driver's blind spot is obtained in real time by constantly detecting the location, orientation, viewing angle, and moving speed of cameras mounted on the other vehicles running near the self-vehicle, choosing dynamically a camera capable of photographing the region to be the self-vehicle's blind spot, and switching image signals in succession. |
| US08368753B2 |
Controller with an integrated depth camera
A method for determining a position of a controller in a three-dimensional space is disclosed. The method includes an operation to calibrate a computer program to identify a group of recognized fixed points from a plurality of fixed points within the three-dimensional space using a depth camera integrated with the controller. Another operation activates use of the controller and depth camera during interface with the application. During use of the controller, image and depth data within the three-dimensional space is captured with the depth camera of the controller. In another operation the image and depth data is analyzed to find one or more of the group of recognized fixed points. In one embodiment, the previous two operations are repeated and changes of position of the controller are determined based on a change in position of the found ones of the group of recognized fixed points. The method also includes an operation to trigger an input command based on the determined change in position of the controller, wherein the input command causes an action by the application. |
| US08368750B2 |
Non-uniformity evaluation apparatus, non-uniformity evaluation method, and display inspection apparatus and program
A mura evaluation apparatus 100 includes: a mura detection unit 110 that acquires multiple images of a display mura present in a display area of a display device by scanning the display area while moving along a spherical surface with a preset radius; and an information processing apparatus 150 that generates a three-dimensional mura figure from the multiple images acquired by the mura detection unit, by associating a feature value of the display mura in each of the images with a position where the image is acquired, and generates a mura superimposed image in which the three-dimensional mura figure viewed from a designated observation angle is superimposed. |
| US08368749B2 |
Article inspection apparatus
An inspection apparatus can be operated to collect files during performance of an inspection. An inspection apparatus can associate metadata to a collected file. In one embodiment metadata associated with a collected file can include an article identifier. In one embodiment metadata that is associated with a collected file can include data input into an inspection apparatus by an inspector. In one embodiment metadata that is associated with a collected media file can include sensor output data. An inspection apparatus in one embodiment can include an application guiding an inspector in the performance of an inspection. |
| US08368746B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing image information captured over time at plurality of positions in subject body
An image captured by successive imaging over time by using a capsule endoscope is correlated with the imaging position and compiled into a database. The left side of a display screen of a monitor device displays a subject internal model, a trajectory path of the capsule endoscope, and a position mark indicating the imaging position. An image corresponding to the position of the position mark is displayed in an image display area on the right side. When a position mark on the trajectory path is designated by a mouse, the corresponding image is displayed. It is also possible to designate a section for which the image corresponding to the position mark is displayed or to designate a position mark where an unusual image is captured. |
| US08368745B2 |
Apparatus and method to concurrently display two and three dimensional images
An image display apparatus and method to simultaneously display two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) images with minimized visual 3D discomfort. The image display apparatus may include a lens unit to spatially separate images displayed in a display panel unit to thereby simultaneously form a 2D image viewing area and a 3D image viewing area, respectively, enabling the simultaneous displaying of the 2D images and the 3D images. |
| US08368742B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a display unit that displays predetermined information, an imaging unit that is installed on a right side or left side of a central portion of an upper frame of an outer frame enclosing the display unit to obtain a pickup image of a user, and a control unit that detects a face area of the user from the pickup image obtained by the imaging unit to cut out the face area containing the detected face area. |
| US08368738B2 |
Joining users to a conferencing session
Architecture for combining an outbound contact via multiple communications modes and the joining of an invitee to a communications session (e.g., conference call, web conference, etc.) without requiring substantial authentication of the invitee, if at all. The invitee can be automatically connected to the session using the communication method of choice, for example, conference call session or web conferencing session. An invitation can be sent to the invitee through multiple communication channels such as phone, text messaging, SMS, MMS, and email. The architecture facilitates the automatic creation of meeting resources (conference call session or web conferencing session). The meeting (or session) organizer can be treated as an invitee and be contacted by an application to request join in the meeting resource. Moreover, the ability is provided to mix audio/video of meeting resources. The invitee and/or the organizer can have an interactive conversation with the invitee-join application using the communication modes. The invitee-join application can parse and understand invitee responses. |
| US08368737B2 |
Smart remote control devices for controlling video call devices
Apparatus having corresponding methods and non-transitory computer-readable media comprise: a transmitter configured to transmit first wireless signals to a video call device, wherein the video call device has a plurality of operating states; a receiver configured to receive second wireless signals from the video call device, wherein the second wireless signals include contextual information describing a current one of the operating states of the video call device; and a user interface configured to display an indication of the current one of the operating states of the video call device. |
| US08368732B2 |
Thermal printer
A thermal printer includes a body detachably including a platen roller unit having a platen roller, and a cover element movable relative to the body between an open position and a closed position, detachably including a thermal printhead unit. The cover element further includes a claw protruding backward, a stepped pin extending downward, including a step portion at a bottom end, and a stepped pin adjuster element. The thermal printhead unit includes an exothermic element array, a supported portion to be hooked on the claw, and a notch portion to be hooked on the step portion. The platen roller unit and the thermal printhead unit include respective positioning elements which engage with each other to restrict a relative movement of the exothermic element array and the platen roller while the cover element is in a closed position. |
| US08368722B1 |
Cartographic display of content through dynamic, interactive user interface elements
An interactive user interface element makes content (e.g., images, news, standard indexed Web content) available to a user of online map services (e.g., virtual globe program). In some implementations, when zoomed out on a feature displayed in map imagery (e.g., virtual globe imagery), the user sees a non-interactive user interface element (e.g., a feature label). As the user expresses greater interest in the feature by, for example, flying (“zooming”) toward the feature, the non-interactive user interface element is replaced by (or morphs into) an interactive user interface element (e.g., a feature label including a clickable icon). In some implementations, a user's interaction with the interactive user interface element (or navigation actions in the imagery) launches a content access portal (e.g., a balloon) for presenting content (e.g., text, digital photos, video, audio) and/or providing access (e.g., links) to related content. |
| US08368717B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for comparing CAD drawings
Methods, apparatuses/systems, and software for comparing two drawings to create a compare drawing that includes options for highlighting added and deleted graphic objects, as well as unchanged graphic objects, and comparing one drawing to many or many drawings to many drawings, whether or not the drawings are similar. The invention includes a filtered zoom feature that enables the user to zoom in on a filtered set of graphic objects and to continue to zoom in until a single graphic object is depicted. Detailed information from selected graphic objects can be captured and placed in a list for generating schedule changes, bill of materials, and for other purposes. The invention further includes the ability to detect and report any variances between the drawings, including area differences between drawings depicting physical objects. |
| US08368715B2 |
Audio signal processing apparatus, audio signal processing method, and audio signal processing program
An audio signal processing apparatus includes an examining unit and a generating unit. The examining unit examines, in each frequency band and at each localization angle, volume of an audio signal of two or more channels. The generating unit generates, on the basis of the examination result supplied from the examining unit, display data for showing the volume value in each frequency band and at each localization angle on an area that displays a frequency and a localization angle. |
| US08368713B2 |
Figure drawing device and method
A figure drawing device includes; a device 2 for increasing/decreasing the number of pixels on a scanning line up to the final painting pixel by one pixel; a device 3 for increasing/decreasing the number of scanning lines for drawing by one line; a device 4 for outputting drawing pixel data based on the control by the devices 1 and 2; a stencil buffer 5 for holding figure data in an intermediate stage of sequentially drawing a figure; a device 6 for holding pixel data read from the buffer 5 and consecutive as plural pieces of pixel data; a device 7 for detecting the transit state of the data value in the device 6; and a device 8 for inverting/non-inverting the logical operation result of the output data of the device 4 and the data in the device 6 and writing a result to the buffer 5. |
| US08368708B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An image processing apparatus that enables to reduce needless consumption of memory band and control duplicated access to a main memory. A reading unit reads image data stored in a first storage unit and divides the image data into a plurality of rectangular areas of a predetermined size. A second storage unit stores image data in reference areas surrounding the rectangular areas, the reference areas having overlapped areas each of which includes a boundary between adjacent two rectangular areas. An image processing unit performs an image process based on the image data in the rectangular areas read by the reading unit and the image data in the reference areas stored in the second storage unit. A cache control unit controls to transfer the image data in the reference areas from the second storage unit to the image processing unit in response to a request from the image processing unit. |
| US08368693B2 |
Systems and methods for fast real-time rendering of multiple light sources
Example embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for the efficient rendering of multiple light sources, each controlled individually, in a single pass. An example embodiment encodes the light sources in a texture map, such as DXT. Each channel of the multi-channel texture map encodes data associated with a light source. The pixel shader then renders multiple light sources according to the multiple channels of the texture. Additionally, the pixel shader may render multiple textures, and thus render an even greater number of individual light sources. In a further embodiment, the rendering of a plurality of individually controlled light sources is accomplished in a single pass. |
| US08368689B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for radial functions and distributions of three dimensional object models
A system, method, and computer program product for determining a radial function and distribution of a three-dimensional object model. One method includes retrieving a three-dimensional object model in a CAD system and sampling random points on the surface of the object model. The method also includes determining a normal vector corresponding to each of the random points and determining a radial function corresponding to each normal vector and respective random point. The method also includes determining, by the CAD system, a radial distribution corresponding to at least two of the radial functions and storing the radial distribution and average values of the radial functions in the CAD system. |
| US08368688B2 |
Method for rendering fluid
A method for rendering fluid is provided. First, state information of a plurality of fluid particles is provided, wherein the state information records whether the fluid particles are located above or under a fluid surface and the interactions between the fluid particles and a terrain or the dynamic objects. Then, whether to render the fluid particles in a direction facing a viewer or in a direction parallel to the flow direction is determined according to the information that whether the fluid particles are located above or under the fluid surface. Next, the fluid particles are rendered as a plurality of two-dimensional metaballs according to the interactions between the fluid particles and the terrain or the dynamic objects, and these metaballs are stacked to reconstruct the fluid. |
| US08368686B2 |
Resource management for rule-based procedural terrain generation
Disclosed are systems and methods for rule-based procedural generation of terrain in real time for a virtual world. By describing the terrain with rules rather than storing the actual geometry data, a drastic savings in terms of memory and disk space is achieved by generating terrain procedurally on the fly in real time when it is necessary. Using the terrain editor tool, the terrain system allows defining and modifying the terrain height, color, shaders, textures, flora, and environment, for example. Additionally, generating the terrain procedurally allows for almost limitless detail by changing the parameters used to create the terrain geometry. These rules can also be added and removed dynamically, leading to terrain modification in real time. In addition, resources are managed for the terrain generation system, such as allocating memory for areas of virtual terrain; associating a priority level to each virtual terrain for memory management; and deallocating memory of the virtual terrain based at least in part on the priority levels of the areas of virtual terrain. |
| US08368684B2 |
Organic light emitting display device, method of driving the same and power saving unit thereof
An organic light emitting display device includes a pixel unit including data lines, a data driving unit providing data signals corresponding to first and second data to the data lines, a timing controlling unit controlling the data driving unit and supplying the first data from the outside, and a power supply for the pixel, data driving, and timing controlling units. A converting unit may receive the first data from the timing controlling unit, convert the first data into the second data, and transmit the converted second data to the data driving unit. When the first data supplied from the timing controlling unit has a digital bit corresponding to one of a first range for displaying white-related colors and a second range for displaying black-related colors, the converting unit converts the first data into the second data having a digital bit corresponding to one of the second and first ranges, respectively. |
| US08368682B2 |
Address driving circuit and plasma display device having the same
An address driving circuit includes a driving device unit and an energy recovery circuit. The driving device unit drives an address electrode to an address voltage or a reference voltage in response to driving control signals during an address period. The energy recovery circuit recovers a voltage charged to the address electrode in response to switching control signals such that a voltage of the address electrode transitions to the address voltage or the reference voltage via at least two intermediate voltages including first and second intermediate voltages during the address period. |
| US08368681B2 |
Image display apparatus and method of driving the image display apparatus
The present invention sets a scanning line to which a driving signal for power supply is output to a floating state in an entire period of pauses of threshold voltage correction processing or a partial period thereof. |
| US08368680B2 |
Start protection circuit for gate driver and liquid crystal display thereof
A start protection circuit of a gate driver, which is applied in a liquid crystal display, includes a detection circuit and a switch. The detection circuit monitors a gate low voltage to generate a control signal. The switch is electrically connected to the detection circuit and controlled by the control signal, for transmitting a gate high voltage. The detection circuit outputs the gate low voltage first and monitors if the gate low voltage has reached a predetermined level. When the gate low voltage has reached the predetermined level, the detection circuit turns on the switch to output the gate high voltage. |
| US08368679B2 |
Power supply apparatus, liquid crystal driving apparatus and display apparatus
A power supply apparatus of the present invention comprises: a constant voltage generation section (first DAC (21), second DAC (22), resistor (R2), resistor (R3)) that generates a positive constant voltage (Va); a pulse voltage generation section (pulse oscillator (23), amplifier (24)) that generates a positive pulse voltage (Vb); a capacitor (C1) of which one end is connected to the output terminal of the pulse voltage generation section; and a diode (D1) of which an anode is connected to the other end of the capacitor (C1), and of which a cathode is connected to the output terminal of the constant voltage generation section. A positive-negative bipolar pulse voltage (Vc) is outputted from the other end of the capacitor (C1). Thus, it is possible to generate a positive-negative bipolar pulse voltage with a simple and small-scale circuit configuration. |
| US08368671B2 |
Display device driving circuit with independently adjustable power supply voltage for buffers
A driving circuit for a display with display elements in rows and/or columns has a shift register, through which tokens are shifted. The shift register's parallel outputs are latched and enable switch cells depending on the tokens. Control signals are supplied to the switch cells which control the output signal in terms of pulse width and/or signal shape. Buffers output the signals to a connected display. Individual or groups of buffers are connected to different supply voltages. The shift register may have more than one input in order to allow for shifting tokens in parallel, e.g. to every second output, using only one clock cycle. Further, inputs are provided for inverting the travelling direction of the tokens, inverting the shape of the signal that is output or switching all outputs to a predetermined state. |
| US08368664B2 |
Device for providing improved access to the functions of human machine interfaces
A bezel positionable adjacent the outer periphery of a computer touch screen is provided. The bezel includes an elongated rim having a first side adjacent the computer screen and a surface. An identification marker positioned on the surface of the rim and identifying a predetermined area of the touch screen. A tactile indicium structure is on the surface at a location between the identification marker and the predetermined area of the touch screen. The tactile indicium structure includes an upper surface having tactile indicium thereon. |
| US08368661B2 |
Method for fabricating touch sensor panels
A method for manufacturing a patterned thin film layer on an uneven substrate is provided. The substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface. The method includes creating a cavity on the inner surface of the substrate, the cavity creating a cavity surface on a different plane as compared to the inner surface and a step between the cavity surface and the inner surface; forming a thin film layer on the inner surface of the substrate covering at least a part of the cavity surface, the step and the inner surface; performing laser ablation on the thin film layer to create patterns, at least some of which are created on the cavity surface, the step and the inner surface. |
| US08368657B2 |
Touch sensor panel using regional and local electrodes to increase number of sense locations
An input sensor for an electronic device which includes a touch sensor panel, multiple electrodes and a sensor circuit. The electrodes include multiple regional electrodes and multiple local electrodes. Each regional electrode covers a corresponding region of the touch sensor panel and each local electrode includes multiple pads including one pad located within each of the regional electrodes. The electrodes are distributed so that a touch anywhere across the touch sensor panel is detected by at least one regional electrode and at least one local electrode. A sensor circuit determines a value for each of the electrodes indicating relative change, and compares relative values of the electrodes to identify a location of a touch of the touch sensor panel. The regional electrodes are used to determine a region of a touch and the local electrodes are used to determine a more specific touch location within the determined region. |
| US08368647B2 |
Three-dimensional virtual input and simulation apparatus
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional virtual input and simulation apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus comprising a plurality of point light sources, a plurality of optical positioning devices with a visual axis tracking function, and a control analysis procedure. The invention is characterized in that the plurality of optical positioning devices with the visual axis tracking function are provided for measuring and analyzing 3D movements of the plurality of point light sources to achieve the effect of a virtual input and simulator. |
| US08368644B2 |
Operation feeling giving input device
An operation feeling giving input device includes an operation member that is displaced to an arbitrary operational position according to the operation of an operator, actuators that change the operational position of the operation member separately from the operation of the operator by applying an operational force to the operation member, operational position detecting means that detects the operational position of the operation member, storage means that stores information about display areas of buttons displayed on a predetermined display screen, and control means. The control means outputs a control signal for displaying a pointer on a display screen at an indicated position corresponding to the operational position of the operation member on the basis of the operational position of the operation member, and drives the actuators so that the operational position of the operation member is changed to generate a lead-in force that moves the pointer toward the inside of the buttons displayed on the display screen. If the length of a display area of the button in a vertical direction is different from the length of the display area of the button in a horizontal direction, the control means calculates the magnitude of the lead-in force on the basis of a relative relationship between the indicated position of the pointer and any one of vertical and horizontal virtual central axes extending in the longitudinal direction through a central position of the display area. |
| US08368639B2 |
Planar light source device, display device, terminal device, and method for driving planar light source device
A display device is provided including an optical waveguide, and a light source, and also a louver, a transparent/scattering state switching element, and a transmissive liquid crystal display panel, provided in order on the side of a light-emitting surface of the optical waveguide. The transparent/scattering state switching element switches between a state for scattering the incident light and a state for transmitting the light without scattering. The light source drive circuit causes the transparent/scattering state switching element to transfer from the transparent state to the scattering state, and when the viewing angle range of the display is switched from narrow to wide, the intensity of the light source is gradually increased in conjunction with the transition state of the transparent/scattering state switching element. |
| US08368630B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is described. The liquid crystal display includes a common voltage generation unit that swings first and second common voltages in opposite directions every a predetermined period of time using two voltage levels, a plurality of first longitudinal common lines that are formed parallel to data lines to supply the first common voltage input through first input units to first pixel common line patterns formed in first pixel units, and a plurality of second longitudinal common lines that are formed parallel to the data lines to supply the second common voltage input through second input units to second pixel common line patterns formed in second pixel units. |
| US08368628B2 |
Balanced LED backlighting for liquid crystal display (LCD)
Techniques for providing LED-based backlighting in liquid crystal flat panel displays are disclosed. In one embodiment, optical sensors are provided to sense illuminations from colored LED groups and provide feedback signals to a controller so that a desired ratio of the illuminations is maintained. As a result, true colors could be reproduced regardless of possible irregularities that may be happening to LEDs used in the colored LED groups to backlight an LCD panel. |
| US08368627B2 |
Adaptive feedback control method of FSC display
An adaptive feedback control method of a field sequential color display includes: a rearrangement step of converting gray-scale values of a three primary color field of an input image into gray-scale values of a new three primary color field and a dominated color field; a sampling step of performing a pixel sampling on a resolution of the input image in a sampling interval; a feedback control step of performing a pixel by pixel sum operation for each separated color on a color break-up value and a color value of the input image in a Lu′v′ color space to obtain a color difference sum, and performing a feedback control at a bit precision on the color difference sum; and a liquid crystal/backlight synchronization step of synchronizing a liquid crystal signal and a backlight grayscale value of the input image according to the minimum color difference sum. |
| US08368624B2 |
Display method with interlacing reversal scan and device thereof
A display method with interlacing reversal scan and a device thereof are provided. The scan mode is interlacing reversal scan. Thus, in time and space, each color frame with poor luminance response can be alternately distributed on up-side and the down-side region of the frame instead on low-side region of the frame. Then, during the period of continuous frame displaying, the present invention may balance color distribution between the up-side and the down-side region, and effectively reduce the flicker phenomenon of the frame. |
| US08368623B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes: a light emitting element; a driving transistor connected to the light emitting element, the driving transistor generating a current according to a data voltage; a switching transistor switching the data voltage according to a gate signal; a capacitor storing the data voltage; a data line connected to the switching transistor, the data line transmitting the data voltage; and a gate line connected to the switching transistor, the gate line transmitting the gate signal. The data voltage includes a first voltage corresponding to luminance information and a second voltage that is a modified voltage of the first data voltage, wherein an average of the first voltage and the second voltage over time is substantially constant. |
| US08368622B2 |
Display apparatus and driving method for display apparatus
The present invention provides a display apparatus, including: a display section including a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix and a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of scanning lines; and a horizontal driving circuit and a vertical driving circuit configured to drive the signal lines and the scanning lines of the display section to display an image on the display section; each of the pixels including a light emitting device; a signal level storage capacitor, a writing transistor, and a driving transistor. |
| US08368617B2 |
Display device and display unit
A display device capable of improving the view angle characteristics without deteriorating the outside light contrast and a display unit using it are provided. The display device includes a first electrode, an organic layer including a light emitting lay and a second electrode sequentially over a substrate, and having a resonator structure in which light generated in the light emitting layer is resonated between a first end and a second end. An end face of the first electrode on the light emitting layer side is the first end having a step shape. A distance adjustment layer that fills in the step shape and has a flat surface on the second electrode side is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, and thereby the second end is planarized, and an optical distance between the first end and the second end is varied according to the step shape. |
| US08368614B2 |
Antenna apparatus and wireless communication device
An antenna apparatus includes: a ground plane; a plurality of conductive elements arranged substantially in parallel to a surface of the ground plane; a plurality of linear elements configured to connect the conductive elements to the ground plane; and an antenna configured to radiate a radio wave, wherein a plurality of openings to reflect the radio wave radiated from the antenna are formed in the ground plane under an arrangement region of the conductive elements. |
| US08368612B2 |
Embedded antenna apparatus
An embedded antenna apparatus of a communication terminal is provided. The antenna apparatus includes a plate board having a feeding pad disposed on a side of the board; a device carrier mounted on a side of the board to expose the feeding pad; a radiation device including at least two radiation lines extending from the feeding pad to a surface of the device carrier along different paths, the at least two radiation lines radiating at a preset frequency band when electric power is fed through the feeding pad; and a ground plate having a flat plate shape mounted in an edge of the side of the board and disposed perpendicular to the side of the board, and contacting one end each of the at least two radiation lines to ground the radiation device. |
| US08368611B2 |
Enclosed antenna system for receiving broadcasts from multiple sources
The present disclosure is directed to enclosed antenna systems for receiving multiple different broadcast types. In one aspect of the disclosure, the enclosed antenna system comprises an enclosure including a satellite television antenna assembly, an off-air television antenna assembly and control electronics disposed on a motorized turntable. In another aspect, the off-air television antenna assembly comprises both UHF and VHF antenna assemblies. In a further aspect, the UHF and VHF television signals received by the off-air antenna assembly are combined, amplified and diplexed with the television signal received by the satellite television antenna assembly. A method of watching television broadcasts from satellite and off-air sources using a multi-antenna system contained within a single enclosure is also disclosed. |
| US08368602B2 |
Parallel-fed equal current density dipole antenna
Electronic devices such as handheld devices may have wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include a broadband antenna and circuitry that covers multiple communications bands. The broadband antenna may be formed from a parallel-fed dipole. The antenna may have first and second antenna resonating element regions on opposing sides of a slot. The slot may be an open slot that has one open end and one closed end. The slot may be formed from an opening in conductive housing structures in a conductive housing for an electronic device. The conductive housing structures may include sidewall structures, rear housing wall structures, and other conductive structures. The antenna may have a feed with a feed line that crosses the slot. An interposed dielectric substrate member may separate the feed line from the conductive structures. The feed line may have sections with different widths to minimize feed line length. |
| US08368599B2 |
Simply fabricable small zeroth-order resonant antenna with extended bandwidth and high efficiency
Provided is a simply fabricable small zeroth-order resonant antenna with extended bandwidth and high efficiency. The zeroth-order resonant antenna includes a feeding patch, a transmission line, and a pair of ground patches. The feeding patch is disposed on a top surface of a substrate having a mono-layer structure, and is configured to receive a signal from the outside. The transmission line includes a unit cell disposed on the top surface of the substrate and is configured to transmit a signal delivered from the feeding patch. The pair of ground patches is longitudinally disposed on the top surface of the substrate in the same direction as a longitudinal direction of the transmission line around the transmission line. The unit cell includes an upper patch and an inductor unit. The upper patch is disposed on the top surface of the substrate and is configured to receive a signal. |
| US08368595B2 |
Metamaterial loaded antenna devices
Techniques and devices based on antenna structures with a MTM loading element. |
| US08368591B2 |
GNSS signal processing methods and apparatus with ambiguity convergence indication
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of a GNSS signal from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites are obtained (2120). The observations are fed to a filter having a state vector comprising a float ambiguity for each received frequency of the GNSS signals (2140). The filter estimates a float value for each float ambiguity of the state vector and co-variance values associated with the state vector. Integer values are assigned to at least a subgroup of the estimated float values to define a plurality of integer ambiguity candidate sets (2160). A weighted average of the candidate sets is formed (2200). A formal precision value based on covariance values of the filter is determined (2205), the formal precision value being a measure for an achievable precision. An achieved precision value of the weighted average is determined (2210). The achieved precision value is compared with the formal precision value to obtain a convergence value (2215). A convergence of the determination of the state vector is indicated (2218). Ambiguities of the weighted average can be used in subsequent operations to aid in determining a position of the receiver or can be used to prepare data, e.g., in a network processor that can be used to augment position information of a rover. |
| US08368587B2 |
In-vehicle radar device and cover for in-vehicle radar device
An in-vehicle radar device which radiates electromagnetic waves and receives reflected waves, from an object, of the electromagnetic waves so as to detect a location of the object and which is mounted on a rear of a vehicle, the in-vehicle radar device including: a transmission-and-reception section that transmits the electromagnetic waves and receives the reflected waves; a detection section that detects the location of the object based on the reflected waves; and a cover member that is provided below a rear bumper of the vehicle and that covers the transmission-and-reception section in a manner that a rear surface of the cover member faces a transmission-and-reception surface of the transmission-and-reception section so as to be spaced apart therefrom. |
| US08368584B2 |
Airspace risk mitigation system
An airspace risk mitigation system includes a plurality of airspace input sources, an airspace data fusion and sensor coordination system, a communications link, and a risk mitigation support system. The airspace input sources includes a radar for generating radar data for an airspace, and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver for generating additional data for the airspace. The airspace data fusion and sensor coordination system is configured to receive airspace data from the plurality of airspace input sources, correlating airspace data with new or known objects in the airspace, fusing airspace data into a common airspace data set, and generating target and system status information. The risk mitigation support system is configured to calculate a risk associated with aircraft operation in the airspace as a function of the target and system status information. |
| US08368583B1 |
Aircraft bird strike avoidance method and apparatus using axial beam antennas
An aircraft avian radar is implemented using multiple axial beam antennas mounted on an aircraft. Target range is determined by radar range. Target azimuth and elevation position is determined by triangulation. An end-fire array antenna composed of a series of monopole antenna elements enclosed inside a long thin protective cover fashioned in the form of a stall fence is mounted on the wings, tail, or fuselage to produce a low drag axial beam antenna pattern directed ahead of the aircraft. Other axial beam antenna choices include helical, pyramidal horn, and conical horn antennas mounted on or inside various forward facing surfaces of the aircraft. |
| US08368582B2 |
Doppler radar apparatus and method of calculating doppler velocity
According to one embodiment, a Doppler radar apparatus includes a quadrature detection unit configured to quadrature-detect a received signal of a reflected pulse from an observation target, and generate time-series data including an in-phase component and a quadrature component, an interference judgment unit configured to judge whether an interference signal is mixed into the received signal based on the time-series data, a correction unit configured to correct a vector expressed by the in-phase component and the quadrature component such that variation with respect to time of a deviation angle of the vector continues when the interference judgment unit has judged that an interference signal is mixed into the received signal, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a Doppler velocity of the observation target based on an amount of variation with respect to time of the deviation angle of corrected vector. |
| US08368580B2 |
Electronic counter measure system
A tactical electronic counter measure system comprising a first retro-directional transceiver sub-system, receiving signals at a first frequency band, and first retro-directional transceiver re-transmitting a signal at least substantially toward the direction from which the sources signal was received, and first retro-directional transceiver sub-system including a plurality of blade antennas and a controller, coupled with and first retro-directional transceiver, and controller controlling the activity of and first retro-directional transceiver sub-system, and controller further managing the missions of and first retro-directional transceiver sub-system. |
| US08368570B2 |
Method and system for calibrating column parallel ADCs
Various embodiments of the invention include enabling, during a calibration phase, a counter to count one less than a number of clock periods associated with a determined offset. The counted number of the clock periods is stored in calibration memory. In a conversion phase, inverted outputs are loaded from the calibration memory to the counter, where the counter is enabled to count the clock periods to determine a digital equivalent value of an analog signal amplitude. |
| US08368568B2 |
Compression and decompression of numerical data
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for compressing numerical data comprising a structured set of floating point actual values. A floating point value is defined by a sign, an exponent and a mantissa. The method comprises computing a floating point predicted value related to a target actual value of the set. The computing includes performing operations on integers corresponding to the sign, to the exponent and/or to the mantissa of actual values of a subset of the set. The method also comprises storing a bit sequence representative of a difference between integers derived from the target actual value and the predicted value. Such a method is particularly efficient for reducing the storage size of a CAD file. |
| US08368564B2 |
Wireless keyboard having waterproof mechanism
A wireless keyboard having a water proof mechanism includes a signal processing module and a flexible keyboard connected to one side of the signal processing module. The signal processing module includes an upper casing, a lower casing located under the upper casing, a waterproof gasket located between peripheries of the upper casing and the lower casing, and a processing unit received between the upper casing and the lower casing to emit wireless signals to a computer host. The flexible keyboard includes an upper film, a lower film hermetically connected to the upper film, and a plurality of key units electrically connected to the processing unit, wherein one common side of the upper film and the lower film is sandwiched between the upper casing and the lower casing. |
| US08368563B2 |
Physical key interface
A physical keyboard interface for controlling a computer device and methodology of use. The interface includes a body having an upper side, a lower side, a left end and a right end, with each of the left and right ends including an ergonomic hand grip. A display is on the upper side of the body and at least four finger keys are adjacent to each ergonomic hand grip on the lower side of the body that are configured for inputting at least alphanumeric characters into a computer device based upon physical interaction with one or more of the finger keys. At least one thumb key located on the upper side of the body adjacent to one of the ergonomic hand grips, and at least one thumb key is utilized as an input for controlling a function of a program executing on a computer device. |
| US08368559B2 |
Network of traffic behavior-monitoring unattended ground sensors (NeTBUGS)
A Network of Traffic Behavior-monitoring Unattended Ground Sensors (NeTBUGS) is configurable to detect the passing of vehicles, determine when and where individual vehicles have stopped for a period of time that raises suspicion of illegal or dangerous activity, track the vehicles after the stop and to generate a location-tagged alert for the timely dispatch of a response asset to investigate the anomalous behavior of the vehicle. NeTBUGS sensors are small, camouflaged, easily concealed, and operate for long durations independent of the electrical grid or large, obvious power generators and thus well suited for operation in a hostile environment. |
| US08368558B2 |
Parking guide system, parking guide method and program
Every time a vehicle is parked in a parking lot, a CPU updates priorities of information stored in a parking lot learning table which is stored in a parking lot DB based on parking lot information related to the parking lot and information of an entrance wait time for each parking lot, a traffic jam in the vicinity of a destination facility, and so on, which are distributed regularly from a road traffic information center or the like. |
| US08368556B2 |
Method and system for providing data communication in continuous glucose monitoring and management system
Method and apparatus for providing a data stream generator that generates a data stream associated with a monitored analyte level, and a radio frequency logic portion operatively coupled to the data stream generator, the radio frequency logic portion configured to generate a radio frequency data stream based on the data stream generated from the data stream generator, the radio frequency logic portion further including one or more finite state machines and a plurality of discrete digital logic circuits, the one or more finite state machines configured to control the plurality of digital logic circuits to generate the radio frequency data stream for wireless communication are provided. Systems and kits incorporating the same are also provided. |
| US08368555B2 |
Utility network interface device configured to detect and report abnormal operating condition
A utility network interface device is provided for operation with a utility network. The utility network interface device includes a control unit configured to detect a tampering with a software component of a utility meter with which the utility network interface device is associated. The utility network interface device also includes a notification unit configured to output, external to the utility meter, a visual indication constituting notification of the tampering detected by the control unit. The control unit is configured to automatically control the notification unit to output the external notification of the tampering in response to the detection of the tampering. Also provided are a utility network including the utility network interface device, a method of operating a utility network interface device, and a computer-readable recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon for operating a utility network interface device. |
| US08368554B2 |
System and method for collecting information from utility meters
A method of communicating between a collector meter and back haul device is disclosed. The method provides the collector meter, the collector meter has a local communications means for communicating to a plurality of utility metering devices, the collector meter also has having a short haul communications means. The method further provides the back haul device. The back haul device having the short haul communication means and a wireless telephonic communication means. The method communicates information between the collector meter and the back haul device using the short haul communication means. The method further sends data from the back haul device to a utility receiving center using the wireless telephonic means. |
| US08368553B2 |
Fracturing monitoring within a treatment well
A method includes receiving a signal from a sensor that is positioned within a well bore during a hydraulic fracturing operation. A noise canceling operation is performed on the received signal to detect a microseismic event that is caused by the hydraulic fracturing operation. |
| US08368552B2 |
Manhole security device and methods thereof
A security device for detecting the position of a manhole cover includes a pinger device, such as an acoustic pinger, that transmits a signal in the direction of the expected position of the manhole cover. The device takes energy samples to determine if the signal has been reflected back by the manhole cover. If the device determines the signal has not been reflected, it determines that the manhole cover has been moved from the expected position. In response, the device captures an image of an area around the expected position of the manhole cover. In addition, the device can notify a remote security station via a network that the manhole cover has been moved. |
| US08368547B2 |
System and method for visually indicating unsafe handling temperature of an information handling system component
Systems and methods for indicating the unsafe service handling temperature of an information handling system component are disclosed. A method may include sensing a surface temperature of the component and comparing the surface temperature to a first and second threshold temperatures. The method may further include displaying various temperature warning by multiple temperature indicators if the surface temperature is above or below the threshold temperatures. |
| US08368545B2 |
Hospital bed computer system with pharmacy interaction
A point-of-care computer system is provided, including a display positioned in a point-of-care location. The point-of-care computer includes hardware coupled to a frame of a hospital bed. |
| US08368541B2 |
Method for memory mapping in a composite RFID tag facility
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a method of memory mapping disparate memories on a composite radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, where the RFID tag includes a plurality of individual RFID devices each having a memory store with a physical memory address range and mounted to a common substrate, where at least one of the individual RFID devices comprises memory configuration information, and where a memory addressing facility maps the physical memory address ranges of each of the individual RFID devices to a single logical addressing space and presents the address space as a single memory, where the memory addressing facility is included on a computing facility separate from the composite RFID tag. |
| US08368535B2 |
Intrusion detector
An intrusion detector comprising a passive sensor for detecting a person entering a space to be monitored, said intrusion detector comprising a housing provided with a window for said passive sensor, optical means for directing electromagnetic radiation from said person onto the passive sensor, alarm means connected to said passive sensor for generating an alarm in case the electromagnetic radiation from said person being detected by the passive sensor corresponds to a signal value that exceeds a maximum level or falls below a minimum level, a special feature being the fact that the optical means are provided with a mirror curved in two directions for forming at least one protective curtain extending in a vertical plane in the space to be monitored, wherein the passive sensor is disposed on the optical axis at the focus of the mirror, and wherein the mirror directs a beam of electromagnetic radiation from the person, rotated through at least 45°, preferably through at least substantially 90°, onto the passive sensor. |
| US08368534B2 |
Optical fiber systems and methods for monitoring remote door access
A remote door access monitoring system includes a central monitoring component and a remote monitoring component. The central monitoring component includes an optical source, an optical power level receiver, and a microcontroller. The optical power level receiver is in communication with the microcontroller. The remote monitoring component includes an optical switch that is operably associated with a door of a communications equipment cabinet. The communications equipment cabinet is located at a geographical location different from a geographical location of the central monitoring component. The optical source transmits an optical signal from the optical source to the optical switch and back to the optical power level receiver. The optical switch attenuates the optical signal in response to opening and closing of the door. The optical power level receiver is configured to detect an attenuated optical signal and then notify the microcontroller of the existence of an attenuated optical signal. |
| US08368529B1 |
Antenna circuit matching the soil conditions
A wireless sub-surface soil sensor having a tunable antenna that can be optimized for transmission through various soils is disclosed herein. The wireless sub-surface sensor preferably also measures the moisture and salinity of a material. The wireless sub-surface sensor preferably includes a cover for protecting circuitry of the sensor. The wireless soil sensor is designed to be buried underground and to transmit to above ground receivers. |
| US08368528B2 |
Configurable notification device
A notification device includes a processing module configured to determine a communication mode capability of an alarm panel. The processing module communicates with the control using the determined communication mode. The notification device also includes an output module that is in electrical communication with the processing module. The output module is configured to produce an output signal in response to a signal communicated by the alarm panel. |
| US08368526B2 |
Self-monitored home security system using mobile communications
A system and method for providing home security services may include receiving, at a local alarm controller, a cordless sensor signal indicative of an alarm sensor being triggered. The cordless sensor signal may be communicated over one of multiple cordless telephone channels. In response to receiving the sensor signal, a signal indicative of the cordless telephone channel may be communicated to a mobile telephone of a user to notify the user that a sensor associated with the cordless telephone channel was triggered. |
| US08368520B2 |
Notification system for timed power supply
The present invention is to provide a notification system for timed power supply, which includes a timed power supply device and a wireless notification device. The timed power supply device is able to receive a set time inputted by a user and stores the set time into a memory module, and then starts timing, providing power supply and generating an elapsed time, respectively. When the timed power supply device determines that the difference between the elapsed time and the set time reaches a threshold value, the timed power supply device issues a notification signal through a wireless transmitter module to the wireless notification device carried by the user, so as to ensure that the user will be notified, via an alert signal generated by the wireless notification device according to the notification signal, that the set time is coming to an end. |
| US08368519B2 |
Packaging a semiconductor wafer
Embodiments embed at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag into the mold. The mold may comprise a cavity adapted to the geometrical form of the RFID tag. In some embodiments, the cavity is marginally bigger than the RFID tag. In many embodiments, the cavity with the embedded the RFID tag is covered by glue. Thus, the mold, the RFID tag and the glue may be suitable for temperatures up to, e.g., 400° C. Further the mold and the glue may be resistant to concentrated sulfuric acid and formic acid. The serial number of the mold may be stored in the RFID tag. The RFID tag may detect characteristic data during the transfer of the solder from the mold to the wafer. In one embodiment, the RFID tag may detect the temperature. In another embodiment, a plurality of RFID tags may detect various temperatures for controlling the packaging process. |
| US08368516B2 |
Secure data exchange with a transponder
A method includes transmitting, from a base station, a first request and receiving, from a transponder, a first code transmitted responsive to the first request. The method includes transmitting, from the base station, first encoded transmission information comprising a base station code encoded using the first code and a first identification. The base station transmits a second request, and a second code, transmitted by the transponder responsive to receiving the second request and encoded using a base station code extracted from the first encoded transmission information using the first code and the first identification, is received. Second encoded transmission information, including a second identification encoded using the second code, is transmitted from the base station. The second identification information may be extracted using the second code, access to a transponder memory region provided based on comparing the extracted second identification information to a stored version of the second identification. |
| US08368515B2 |
Dual mode RFID communication device operating as a reader or tag
An RFID device, and more particularly to a RFID device which can be used in both a tag mode and a reader mode. There is provided an RF antenna transmitting and receiving wireless signals; a tuning circuit as a frequency filtering circuit connected to the RF antenna; a memory storing data; and a wireless communication card including antenna connection terminals connected to the RF antenna. |
| US08368514B2 |
Device for wireless operation and method for operating the device
An electronic device and a method of operating the device. The device receives a first signal having a first frequency and a predetermined signal strength and retransmits a signal after a latency period and during a time period. The device comprises an oscillation circuit operating in a sub-threshold area in a meta-stable, first mode of operation. When the first signal is received, the oscillation circuit is trigged and passes to an active mode in a second mode of operation, wherein the circuit oscillates. Finally, the device is reset to the first mode of operation. The device may have an identity, which is used for the purpose of the system, which may be an RFID system. |
| US08368511B2 |
Method for monitoring a package, sentinel indicator system and logistics system
There is provided a method for monitoring a package for storage and/or transport of at least one item. An exemplary method comprises receiving at a transmission unit measured data about properties of the item and/or about influences on the item via at least two sensors. The exemplary method also comprises executing via the transmission unit a decision of a logical node of a logistics system about a selection of data transmitted to a receiving unit. The exemplary method additionally comprises sending information about the desired selection of data from a control unit to the transmission unit. Finally, the exemplary method comprises enabling a user to make a selection relating to types of data to be transmitted. |
| US08368509B2 |
Apparatus and method for operating devices based upon vehicle detection
A movable barrier operator controls access to a secured area which houses vehicles. The movable barrier operator is operable to move a movable barrier from an open to a closed position. A sensor controls the operation of a service-providing device through the controller of a movable barrier operator or by direct communication to a controller for the service-providing device. The sensing device senses whether a vehicle is present in the secured area. The sensor is operatively connected to the moveable barrier operator and is used to control the operation of at least one service-providing device without necessarily effecting movement of a barrier by the movable barrier operator. Operation of the service-providing device is effected upon sensing whether a vehicle is present in the secured area to effect an operation of the service-providing device. |
| US08368508B2 |
Method of keying an identification code into a controlling member and into a function controller
To key an identification code of a controlling member to a code reader of a function controller for controlling a function, each controlling member is fitted with a card reader and is configured to adopt the code on the card as the identification code to be attached as the identification portion of any message imparted into a signal line. In similar fashion, each of the function controllers includes a card reader for reading a card bearing a code and the function controller is configured to adopt the code read from the card as being the identification code sought by the function controller as identifying a message as originating from its associated controlling member. |
| US08368505B2 |
Switch using variable resistance layer to control state
An electrical membrane switch that is actuated by applying a force against a layer of a variable resistance material that overlies and is in direct contact with switch poles that are applied to and supported by a substrate. A gap is provided between the switch poles, and the layer extends across the gap. The substrate can be a circuit board with electrical traces formed thereon to convey electrical current to the switch poles. As a sufficient force is applied to the surface of the layer of the variable resistance material, its resistance changes from a relatively high value, in which the switch is in a non-conducting state, to a relatively low value, in which the switch is in a conductive state. A protective sheet can optionally be included over the variable resistance layer and can include graphics/text to indicate the position of each switch in an array and its function. |
| US08368499B2 |
Disc winding
A disc winding of a power transformer or a choke is provided. The disc winding includes a plurality of parallel single strand conductors. The working time for bending the strand conductors of cross-overs is reduced by sharing the winding axially in plurality of sections, and the cross-overs within a section are identical twin cross-overs. The strand conductors are bent in two groups, and a standardized twin transposition cross-over is provided between the sections such that the strand conductors are being bent in two groups. The outermost strand conductor is in the first group, and the remaining strand conductors are in the other group. |
| US08368498B2 |
Coil and method for manufacturing the same
[Task] There are provided a coil that is simple in structure and excellent in high frequency characteristics and a method for manufacturing the same.[Means for Resolution] The coil includes a plurality of conductor patterns 11 formed at an interval from each other on a substrate 21, and metal wires 12 that electrically connect an end of one conductor pattern of conductor patterns adjacent to each other with an end of the other conductor pattern that is an end opposite to the end of the one conductor pattern. One or more spiral shapes are formed by two or more conductor patterns 11 and one or more metal wires 12. The coil includes a core material 13 that is arranged at least in a portion inside a space surrounded by one or more spiral shapes to cover the outer peripheries of the metal wires 12 at least over a predetermined range. |
| US08368495B2 |
System and method for defining magnetic structures
An improved field emission system and method. The invention pertains to field emission structures comprising electric or magnetic field sources having magnitudes, polarities, and positions corresponding to a desired spatial force function where a spatial force is created based upon the relative alignment of the field emission structures and the spatial force function. The spatial force function may be based on one or more codes. In various embodiments, the code may be modified or varied. The code may be combined with another code. One or more aspects of the code, including spacing and amplitude, may be modulated or dithered according to a predefined pattern. Multiple magnet arrays may be combined, each based on a different code or portion of a code, resulting in a combination spatial force function. Magnet structures having differing field patterns may be used to generate a desired spatial force function related to a cross correlation of the two field patterns. |
| US08368493B2 |
Linear solenoid
A plunger main body is fixed to a shaft to reciprocate together with the shaft in an axial direction within a predetermined range. An axial overlapped surface area between a rear stator main body and the plunger main body is reduced when the plunger main body is moved from a rear stator main body side toward a front stator main body side. A plunger projection radially outwardly projects from an outer peripheral wall of an end portion of the plunger main body, which is axially located on the rear stator main body side. |
| US08368490B2 |
Micro-electro-mechanical switch beam construction with minimized beam distortion and method for constructing
Disclosed is a micro-electro-mechanical switch, including a substrate having a gate connection, a source connection, a drain connection and a switch structure, coupled to the substrate. The switch structure includes a beam member, an anchor, an anchor beam interface and a hinge. The beam member having a length sufficient to overhang both the gate connection and the drain connection. The anchor coupling the switch structure to the substrate. The anchor beam interface coupling the anchor to the hinge. The hinge coupling the beam member to the anchor at a respective position along the anchor's length, the hinge to flex in response to a voltage differential established between the gate and the beam member. The switch structure having gaps between the substrate and the anchor in regions proximate to the hinges. |
| US08368484B2 |
High-frequency module
A high-frequency switch module includes an ESD device, a switch IC, and a SAW filter element that are mounted on the surface of a multilayer substrate. A ground-side land for the ESD device is connected to an external-connection ground electrode for the ESD device by via holes and plane electrode patterns. A ground connection land for the switch IC and a ground connection land for the SAW filter element are connected to a common inner ground electrode by via holes, and are connected to a common external-connection ground electrode by via holes and another common inner ground electrode. |
| US08368481B2 |
RF switchable balun
A handheld communication device having an RF front end module has a switchable balun comprising a primary winding having a first two port winding and a second two port winding where a low noise amplifier is operatively coupled to the first and second two port windings and a power amplifier is operatively coupled to the first and second two port windings. A secondary winding is operatively coupled to an antenna, and a transceiver is operatively coupled to the low noise amplifier and the power amplifier. When the switchable balun is in a receive state, the antenna is operatively coupled to the transceiver through the low noise amplifier, and when the switchable balun is in a transmit state, the antenna is operatively coupled to the transceiver through the power amplifier. The ratio of the primary winding to the secondary winding is greater than a one-to-one ratio. |
| US08368480B2 |
Phase locked loop circuits and gain calibration methods thereof
Phase locked loop circuits are provided, in which a phase locked loop module includes a voltage controlled oscillator to generate an oscillation signal with an output frequency according to a control voltage, and a gain calibration module triggers the phase locked loop module to induce a frequency variation characterized by a delta function in the output frequency and calculates a gain of the voltage controlled oscillator according to a phase error caused by the frequency variation in the output frequency. |
| US08368475B2 |
Oscillator circuit
A first capacitor is arranged such that the electric potential at a first terminal is fixed. A first discharging circuit discharges the first capacitor at a timing that corresponds to a cyclic synchronization signal received from an external circuit. A first comparator compares the voltage at a second terminal of the first capacitor with a predetermined threshold voltage, and generate a judgment signal that corresponds to the comparison result. A charging circuit generates a charging current the current value of which is adjusted according to the level of the judgment signal at a timing that corresponds to the synchronization signal, and supplies the charging current thus generated to the first capacitor. |
| US08368472B2 |
Oscillation circuit
A high-accuracy clock signal is generated even when the settings of the clock frequency are changed or there is a variation in power supply, temperature, or the like. A frequency-voltage conversion circuit includes a switch portion including switches, electrostatic capacitive elements, and other switches. The electrostatic capacitive elements have different absolute capacitance values, and are provided so as to cover a frequency range intended by a designer. For example, based on 4-bit frequency adjustment control signals, the other switches select the electrostatic capacitive elements having the electrostatic capacitance values thereof each weighted with 2 to perform the switching of a frequency. |
| US08368470B2 |
RF power amplifiers with linearization
Designs and techniques associated with power amplifiers for amplifying RF signals to provide variable power amplification and improved linearity in various RF amplification circuits, including power amplifiers operated under the power back-off conditions. |
| US08368467B2 |
Cascode amplifier with increased linearity
An amplifier circuit for current amplification. An input stage is adapted to receive an input signal. At least one current multiplication stage is connected to the input stage. The current multiplication stage is adapted to receive a current signal from the input stage and to produce a multiplied output current signal at an output of the amplifier circuit. The current multiplication stage includes at least two current multiplication circuits connected to each other. Each current multiplication circuit is adapted to produce an output current signal essentially equal to the current signal from the input stage, such that the output current signal at an output of the amplifier circuit includes a sum of the current signals received at each current multiplication circuit. A method of improving linearity in an amplification circuit. |
| US08368465B2 |
Power amplification apparatus
A power amplification apparatus includes a first amplifier turned on at a preset low input power; and a second amplifier connected in parallel with the first amplifier and turned off at a low input power due to a relatively low bias current. Output capacitors of the first amplifier and the second amplifier are compensated for by inductors or microstrip lines of dc power supply paths. An output matching circuit of the first amplifier includes a λ/4 transformer. An output matching circuit of the second amplifier has the phase of 0°. Input matching circuits of the first amplifier and the second amplifier include delay compensation circuits. The output matching circuit of the first amplifier, the output matching circuit of the second amplifier, and a final output matching circuit have the same impedance transformation rates. |
| US08368463B2 |
Voltage distribution for controlling CMOS RF switch
Disclosed are voltage distribution device and method for controlling CMOS-based devices for switching radio frequency (RF) signals. In certain RF devices such as mobile phones, providing different amplification modes can yield performance advantages. For example, a capability to transmit at low and high power modes typically results in an extended battery life, since the high power mode can be activated only when needed. Switching between such amplification modes can be facilitated by one or more switches formed in an integrated circuit and configured to route RF signal to different amplification paths. In certain embodiments, such RF switches can be formed as CMOS devices, and can be based on triple-well structures. In certain embodiments, various bias voltages applied to such a CMOS RF switch can be facilitated by a voltage distribution component. |
| US08368461B2 |
Second-order low-pass filter
A low-pass filter, including: between a first terminal and a second terminal, a series association of a first resistor, of a second resistor, and of a first amplifier; in parallel with the second resistor, a series association of a second amplifier and of a first capacitor; a second capacitor between an input of the first amplifier and a third terminal of application of a reference voltage; and a third capacitor between the second terminal and the third terminal. |
| US08368456B2 |
Fuse circuit with ensured fuse cut status
A fuse circuit includes a fuse information signal generation unit and an output driving unit. The fuse information signal generation unit is configured to precharge a fuse information signal in response to a precharge signal and drive the fuse information signal in response to a selection signal capable of cutting a fuse. The output driving unit configured to equally maintain potentials at both terminals of the fuse in response to a control signal. |
| US08368454B2 |
Temperature detection circuit
A temperature detection circuit includes, a first source follower circuit supplied with a first constant current, a second source follower circuit supplied with a second constant current, and a circuit obtaining a difference between an output voltage from the first source follower circuit and an output voltage from the second source follower circuit. Measurement errors attributable to transistor threshold voltages are canceled out by obtaining a difference between output voltages. |
| US08368453B2 |
Switch circuits
A switch can be implemented by a switch circuit, which can include a pair of NMOS transistors connected in series as pass-through transistors to transmit an input signal at an input terminal to produce an output signal at output terminal in response to an active state of a switching signal, and a pair of PMOS transistors connected in series as pass-through transistors to transmit the input signal at the input terminal to produce the output signal at output terminal in response to the active state of the switching signal. The switch circuit can also include a switch network connecting, in response to the active state of the switching signal, sources to bodies of the pairs of NMOS and PMOS transistors, and connecting, in response to an inactive state of the switching signal, the bodies of the pair of NMOS transistors to a first reference voltage, the bodies of the pair of PMOS transistors to a second reference voltage, and the sources of the pairs of NMOS and PMOS transistors to a third reference voltage. A capacitance-to-voltage converter can include one or more of the switch circuits. |
| US08368452B2 |
Delay circuit and schedule controller employing the same
A delay circuit used in a schedule controller includes a voltage detection unit, a timer, and a first electronic switch. The voltage detection unit receives an input voltage and compares the input voltage with a predetermined voltage. The timer is controlled by the voltage detection unit to calculate duration of an interval time. The first electronic switch is switched on or off under the control of the timer. When the input voltage substantially equals or exceeds the predetermined voltage, the timer calculates duration of the interval time, the timer generates and transmits a switch signal to the first electronic switch when the timing is reached, and the first electronic switch is switched on by the switch signal and provides an output voltage. |
| US08368450B2 |
Architecture for adjusting natural frequency in resonant clock distribution networks
An inductor architecture for resonant clock distribution networks is proposed. This architecture allows for the adjustment of the natural frequency of a resonant clock distribution network, so that it achieves energy-efficient operation at multiple clock frequencies. The proposed architecture is primarily targeted at the design of integrated inductors and exhibits relatively low area overheads. Such an architecture is generally applicable to semiconductor devices with multiple clock frequencies, and high-performance and low-power clocking requirements such as microprocessors, ASICs, and SOCs. Moreover, it is applicable to the binning of semiconductor devices according to achievable performance levels. |
| US08368440B2 |
Phase-locked-loop circuit including digitally-controlled oscillator
A phase-locked-loop (PLL) circuit is provided. The PLL circuit includes a phase/frequency detector, a digital filter, a digital low pass filter (LPF), a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO), and a frequency divider. The digital LPF performs a low-pass-filtering on least significant bits of first digital data in a digital mode and generates filtered second digital data. The DCO performs a digital-to-analog conversion on the second digital data and most significant bits of the first digital data to generate a first signal, generates an oscillation control signal based on the first signal, and generates an output clock signal oscillating in response to the oscillation control signal. |
| US08368438B2 |
Phase locked loop circuit and control method thereof
A phase locked loop circuit according to the present invention includes a selector that selects an input clock, a 1/m frequency divider that divides a frequency of the input clock, a 1/n frequency divider that divides a frequency of a feedback clock, a phase difference detector, a first voltage controlled oscillator that includes a first voltage holding circuit, a second voltage controlled oscillator that includes a second voltage holding circuit, and a selection circuit that outputs any output of the first and second voltage controlled oscillators as an output clock and outputs any output of the first and second voltage controlled oscillators as a feedback clock. The input clock is switched when the voltage controlled oscillator in a holding mode generates the output clock and the voltage controlled oscillator in a normal mode generates the feedback clock. |
| US08368436B1 |
Programmable frequency synthesizer with I/Q outputs
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, devices and method of frequency synthesis that generate in-phase and quadrature-phase clock signals at a programmable frequency. The generated frequency, which can range from a fraction to multiples of the input reference frequency, is generated by dividers following a phase-locked loop, thus avoiding the use of a low input reference frequency as well as frequency doubling. |
| US08368432B2 |
Interference-tolerant communication circuit
An interference-tolerant transmitter is provided. In accordance with various example embodiments, a transmitter circuit includes a control circuit configured to maintain the sum of current as applied to a load from respective high-side and low-side current sources at a target level (e.g., range). In some applications, clamp circuits are used to clamp current to high and low sides of the load respectively in response to changes at the low-side and high-side of the load. |
| US08368431B2 |
Pulse edge selection circuit, and pulse generation circuit, sample-hold circuit, and solid-state image sensor using the same
A pulse edge selection circuit includes an input stage which selects and passes one clock from among a plurality of clocks and an output stage which outputs the clock to an edge detection circuit. The output stage has a combination of a plurality of NOR gates and a plurality of NAND gates, which are connected alternately, both the NOR gates and NAND gates having a plurality of input terminals. If the edge detection circuit is a type which detects falling edges of clocks and generates a pulse which rises on the falling edge of a first clock and falls on the falling edge of a second clock, a NOR gate is used as an output gate which outputs the first clock and the second clock. On the other hand, if a pulse is generated on rising edges, a NAND gate is used as an output gate. |
| US08368429B2 |
Hysteresis comparator
According to one embodiment, a hysteresis comparator is provided with to first to third current sources, a comparison amplifying unit, a reference voltage generating unit, a current mirror circuit, first to fifth N-channel MOS transistors, and first to fifth terminals. |
| US08368426B2 |
Low voltage differential signal driving circuit and digital signal transmitter
A low voltage differential signal (LVDS) driving circuit and a digital signal transmitter with the LVDS driving circuit are provided. The LVDS driving circuit includes a positive differential output terminal and a negative differential output terminal and a transition accelerator. A differential output signal is provided by the positive and negative differential output terminals. When the differential output signal transits from low to high, the transition accelerator couples the positive differential output terminal to a high voltage source and couples the negative differential output terminal to a low voltage source. When the differential output signal transits from high to low, the transition accelerator couples the positive differential output terminal to the low voltage source and couples the positive output terminal to the high voltage source. |
| US08368424B1 |
Programmable logic device wakeup using a general purpose input/output port
In one embodiment, a programmable logic device such as an FPGA includes a programmable fabric adapted to operate normally and in a sleep mode, and a general purpose input/output port (I/O). The I/O port is adapted to function in conventional fashion during normal operation of the programmable fabric and as a wakeup control port during the sleep mode. |
| US08368422B1 |
System and method for testing off-chip driver impedance
A testing circuit for verifying the impedance of off-chip drivers includes: a plurality of off-chip drivers (OCD), each off-chip driver including a through-silicon via (TSV); an IREF test pad, for driving a current to the plurality of off-chip drivers; a plurality of pre-drivers, each respective pre-driver coupled to one of the plurality of off-chip drivers, wherein the plurality of pre-drivers are configured to turn on the off-chip drivers; a VREF test pad, for inputting a reference voltage to the testing circuit; a plurality of input buffers (IB) for outputting a plurality of comparison results, each of the plurality of input buffers configured to output the plurality of comparison results according to the reference voltage and the voltage at the TSV nodes; and a test pad, coupled to the plurality of IBs, for receiving the comparison results to determine whether the impedance of each OCD is within a desired range. |
| US08368421B2 |
Micromagnetic elements, logic devices and related methods
Micromagnetic elements, logic devices and methods of fabricating and using them to store data and perform logic operations are disclosed. Micromagnetic elements for data storage, as well as those providing output from a logic device, are at least partially covered with an optical coating that facilitates determination of the magnetic state. The disclosed logic devices perform one or more of AND, OR, NAND and NOR operations. |
| US08368417B2 |
Method and device for detecting bright dot or dark dot in liquid crystal display
A method for detecting a bright dot or a dark dot in a LCD comprising applying a first detection voltage to a color filter substrate common electrode and forming a first voltage difference between the color filter substrate common electrode and a pixel electrode on an array substrate; collecting a first luminance value of the bright dot or the dark dot after the bright dot or the dark dot is observed; switching the first detection voltage applied to the color filter substrate common electrode to a second detection voltage, and thus forming a second voltage difference between the color filter substrate common electrode and the pixel electrode; collecting a second luminance value of the bright dot or the dark dot; determining the difference between the first luminance value and the second luminance value, so that the bright dot or the dark dot can be determined to result from a liquid crystal cell defect or an array substrate defect. |
| US08368415B2 |
Multi-position probe circuit tester
A circuit tester having a multi-position probe is provided. The circuit tester includes a handle with a detent assembly that allows for positioning the probe at various angles for testing a device. Once a good connection is made with the device under test, an indicator such as a light is lit or a sound is emanated. The probe may be folded into a compartment within the handle once the testing is completed. |
| US08368412B2 |
Correction for gas entrained water analyzers
An apparatus for measuring a water content in a multiphase fluid flow stream is provided. The apparatus includes a measurement section configured to obtain a series of electrical measurements of the multiphase fluid flow stream over a first predetermined time interval, and determine a minimum electrical measurement Fmin_baseline from the series of electrical measurements. The measurement section also is configured to calculate a running average of the frequency (Fmin_gas_pattern) from the series of electrical measurements indicative of a change in a gas flow pattern of the multiphase fluid flow stream over a second predetermined time interval. The measurement section further is configured to calculate a corrected electrical measurement F_calc_WC for determining the water content in the multiphase fluid flow stream by subtracting the running average of the frequency. Fmin_gas_pattern from the minimum electrical measurement Fmin_baseline. |
| US08368405B2 |
Remote test point for electrical connector
A voltage indicating assembly for medium and high voltage systems includes a semiconductive cap configured for mounting on a test point, the test point including a test point terminal element configured to capacitively receive a voltage associated with a electrical component, where the electrical component is mounted in a first location. The semiconductive cap includes a contact element mounted therein configured to electrically communicate with the test point terminal element when the semiconductive cap is mounted on the test point. A cable is electrically coupled to the contact element. A remote test point assembly is electrically coupled to the cable in a second location remote from the first location, and the remote test point assembly includes a remote test point terminal element. |
| US08368399B2 |
Mode-scanning excitation magnetic resonance imaging method and system
A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium are provided for generating a specified transmit magnetic field profile in the presence of an object. In particular, further transmitted magnetic field profiles are obtained in the presence of the object, where the further profiles correspond to modes associated with an array of conductive elements. In addition, weighting factors associated with the modes are calculated using the specific profile and further profiles. Further, the specified profile can be generated by applying signals to ports associated with the conductive elements, where the signals are based on the weighting factors. |
| US08368396B2 |
Magnetic sensor element having multi-magnetic domain structure, and detection apparatus equipped with same
This invention provides a magnetic sensor element that can detect a detection target substance with high accuracy. The magnetic sensor element includes a multi-magnetic domain structure in which a plurality of magnetic domains extend in a row in one direction and in which the magnetic domains that are adjoining have easy magnetization axes in opposite directions to each other. The multi-magnetic domain structure has a surface region. Within the surface region, when counting from one end of the multi-magnetic domain structure, affinities for a magnetic particle or a substance that can be immobilized on the magnetic particle are mutually different at a first surface portion located at a boundary between a (2n−1)th (n is a natural number) magnetic domain and a (2n)th magnetic domain and a second surface portion located at a boundary between the (2n)th magnetic domain and a (2n+1)th magnetic domain. |
| US08368392B2 |
Magnetic encoder and method of detecting absolute rotational position
A magnetic encoder includes a multi-pole magnetic detecting unit having a multi-pole magnet. In the multi-pole magnetic detecting unit, first and second magnetic detecting elements that output sinusoidal signals having a 90° phase difference are arranged apart from third and fourth magnetic detecting elements at a mechanical angle of 180° . The first and third magnetic detecting elements are disposed at the same position represented by an electrical angle and output sinusoidal signals of a same phase. The second and fourth magnetic detecting elements are arranged at the same position represented by an electrical angle and output sinusoidal signals of a same phase. A sum signal of the output signals of the first and third magnetic detecting elements and that of the output signals of the second and fourth magnetic detecting elements are obtained, thereby eliminating or remarkably reducing error components of detection signals of the first to fourth magnetic detecting elements caused by the magnetic flux of a two-pole magnet and those of the detection signals caused by rotational run out of the multi-pole magnet. A rotational angle can be detected with high accuracy. |
| US08368387B2 |
Acceleration sensor
An acceleration sensor includes a substrate, first and second torsion beams, first and second detection frames, first and second detection electrodes, first and second link beams, and an inertial mass body. The first and second torsion beams are distorted around the first and second torsion axes. The first and second detection frames are rotated about the first and second torsion axes. The first and second detection electrodes detect an angle formed between the substrate and each of the first and second detection frames. The first link beam is on a first axis located at a position shifted from a position of the first torsion axis to one end side of the first detection frame along a direction crossing the first torsion axis. The second link beam is on a second axis located at a position shifted from a position of the second torsion axis in a direction identical to the direction of shift from the position of the first torsion axis. |
| US08368383B2 |
Method for testing a variable digital delay line and a device having variable digital delay line testing capabilities
A device and a method for testing a variable digital delay line that includes multiple taps. The method includes providing, an input signal to the variable digital delay line and finding, for each tap out of a group of tested taps of the variable digital delay line, a variable delay unit configuration that provides a delay that is closest to a delay introduced by the tap; wherein the variable digital delay line and the variable delay unit belong to the same integrated circuit. |
| US08368380B2 |
Devices and methods for electric field sensing
A stand-off sensor assembly is provided. The sensor assembly includes a plurality of electron state definers for generating resonant tunneling current in response to the electric field, wherein the electron state definers include at least one variable characteristic such that a change in the variable characteristic affects the tunneling current, and a monitor for monitoring a change in the tunneling current exiting an electron state definer based on a change in the variable characteristic of the tunneling device. |
| US08368377B2 |
Voltage regulator architecture
An integrated circuit includes a bandgap reference generator and a voltage regulator. The bandgap reference generator includes a first current path, and a first bipolar transistor with an emitter-collector path in the first current path. The voltage regulator includes a second current path, wherein the second current path mirrors the first current path; a resistor configured to receive a current of the second current path; a second bipolar transistor with a base and a collector of the second bipolar transistor being interconnected; and a third bipolar transistor connected in series with the second bipolar transistor and the resistor. A base and a collector of the third bipolar transistor are interconnected. |
| US08368368B2 |
System and method for improving inductor current sensing accuracy of a DC/DC voltage regulator
The DC/DC voltage converter comprises at least one switching transistor. An inductor is connected to the at least one switching transistor. A pulse width modulation circuit generates control signals to at least one switching transistor responsive to a current control signal. A current sensor connected in parallel with the inductor senses current passing through the inductor. The sensor comprises a resistor and an NTC capacitor connected in series with the resistor. Circuitry for monitoring the voltage across the NTC capacitor generates the current control signal responsive to the monitored voltage. |
| US08368364B2 |
DC-DC converter with snubber circuit
In order to achieve an object to reduce a surge voltage and suppress noise generation, the present invention provides a DC-DC converter with a snubber circuit, which boosts a voltage Vi of a DC power supply. The snubber circuit includes: a series circuit connected to both ends of a smoothing capacitor Co and including a snubber capacitor Cs and a snubber resistor Rs; a snubber diode Ds1 connected to a node at which the snubber capacitor Cs and the snubber resistor Rs are connected, and to a node at which a reactor Lr1 and an additional winding 1b of a transformer T1 are connected; and a snubber diode Ds2 connected to the node at which the snubber capacitor Cs and the snubber resistor Rs are connected, and to a node at which a reactor Lr2 and an additional winding 2b of a transformer T2 are connected. |
| US08368361B2 |
Switching power converter controller with direct current transformer sensing
A power control system includes a current transformer to step down a switch current of a switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the stepped down current is received by a switching power converter controller. Since the current is received by the controller, the current is not converted into a voltage prior to receipt by the controller in order for the controller to monitor an inductor current of the switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the controller compares the stepped down switch current with a reference current. In at least one embodiment, the controller includes a voltage converter to convert the switch current into a voltage within the controller. The controller compares the voltage representing the switch current with a reference voltage. The controller can use the current or voltage comparisons to control power factor correction and output voltage regulation of a switching power converter. |
| US08368360B2 |
Method and apparatus for regulating a field current for an alternator device
A regulator system for modulating a field current of an alternator device, comprises logic arranged to receive or generate a reference signal comparison logic arranged to compare a received alternator output indication to the reference signal; and generate a field current modulation signal at least partially based on the comparison of the received alternator output indication and the reference signal. The regulator system further comprises logic arranged to receive at least one temperature indication. The regulator system comprises thermal compensation logic arranged to determine whether an indicated temperature exceeds at least a first threshold, and upon determining that the indicated temperature exceeds at least the first threshold, to apply compensation to the reference signal, the amount by which the reference signal is compensated is at least partly dependant on the amount by which the indicated temperature exceeds the first threshold. |
| US08368359B2 |
Power management unit for portable electronic devices
A power management unit (PMU) for supplying electrical energy to a circuitry of a portable electronic device includes a power supply module, a power detection module connected to the power supply module, and a power control module connected to the power detection module and the circuitry. The power supply module includes a battery, a charge controller, and an adapter. The power detection includes a detection resistor connected to the battery, the charge controller, and the adapter. The battery or the adapter provides electrical energy to the circuitry. The adapter further charges the battery to charge the battery when it is used to provide electrical energy to the circuitry. The charge controller detects the current for charging the battery via the detection resistor, and regulates the current for charging the battery when the charging current exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US08368358B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing power for mobile device
An apparatus and method of managing power for a mobile device is disclosed, which can prevent an inflow of overcurrent to the device when the device is charged. The apparatus includes a state judgment unit to judge whether a battery of the mobile device is being charged, a voltage level detection unit to detect a voltage level of the battery if the battery is judged as being charged, and a control unit to control a driving of the mobile device in accordance with the detected voltage level. |
| US08368356B2 |
Battery residual quantity display method and electronic equipment
A battery pack detachably connectable to an equipment body to supply power to the equipment body, the battery pack including a battery cell, a microcomputer for communicating with the equipment body, a connection terminal connected to the microcomputer, a positive power supply input terminal connected to a cathode of the battery cell; and a negative power supply input terminal connected to an anode of the battery cell. After the power of the equipment body is turned on, the microcomputer alternately sends to the equipment body by serial communication via the connection terminal information to be used in authentication processing executed by the equipment body and information to be used in a battery residual quantity count executed by the equipment body. After the authentication processing is complete, the microcomputer sends to the equipment body information to be used in updating the battery residual quantity count executed by the equipment body. |
| US08368354B2 |
Charge control device for vehicle and electric powered vehicle provided with same
A monitoring unit outputs a first current detection value having a relatively wide measurement range and a relatively short detection cycle and a second current detection value having a relatively high resolution, to a charging ECU. When charging power calculated using the first current detection value exceeds a predetermined limit value, the charging ECU controls a charger to reduce charging power (protection control). Further, the charging ECU controls the charger such that a power storage device attains a predetermined fully charged state based on charging power calculated using the second current detection value (full charge control). |
| US08368353B2 |
Secondary battery device and vehicle
According to one embodiment, the power supply management portion includes a timer configured to output an ON signal every time set by the control circuit, an OR circuit configured to receive supply of an output signal from the timer, an external signal supplied from outside, and a switch control signal output from the control circuit, and a switch circuit configured to switch output of the power source voltage from an external power source according to an output signal from the OR circuit, and the control circuit turns on a switch control signal after confirming which of the output signal from the timer or the external signal has turned on the switch circuit and turns off the switch control signal when both of the output signal from the timer and the signal supplied from outside are turned off. |
| US08368349B2 |
Transmission line directional awareness for a charging station
Coupling a charging station to a power line segment that is terminated at a first end by a charging terminal includes: sensing a communication signal propagating on the power line and being coupled from multiple taps connected to the power line segment, and determining if the communication signal is propagating on the power line segment in the direction from the first end to a second end of the power line segment or in the direction from the second end to the first end. |
| US08368348B2 |
Automated recharging system
An automated recharging system to automatically recharge a vehicle is disclosed. A recharging device may be incorporated into the automated recharging system to perform the automatic recharge. The recharging device may include one or more sensors to sense the location of an electrical receptacle of the vehicle, an electrical connector to automatically connect to the receptacle to provide electrical current through the connection, and a controller to cause the connection to be made so as to automatically recharge the vehicle. |
| US08368344B2 |
Refrigerator and operating method thereof
A refrigerator and a method of operating the same are disclosed. In the refrigerator and the method of operating the same, a voltage of an electric power input is measured and rectified through the half wave rectification or the full wave rectification in correspondence with the measured voltage, so that the refrigerator can be used without a voltage converting device when a voltage of the input power is changed. Therefore, the change or the modification of the circuit is not needed in order to use the refrigerator in other regions. Since components are compatible and utility of the components is improved, manufacturing costs can be reduced. |
| US08368343B2 |
Motor control device
A motor control device of the present invention includes: target electric current value setting units (15 and 16) that set target electric current values that should be supplied to a motor (1), basic voltage value computing units (511, 521, 51a, and 52a) that compute basic voltage values for driving the motor, a rotation angle speed computing unit (23) that computes a rotation angle speed of the motor, correction value computing units (50, 512, 515, 516, 522, 525, and 526) that compute correction values for correcting the basic voltage values based on motor electric current values and a rotation angle speed of the motor, correcting units (513 and 523) that obtain voltage command values by correcting the basic voltage values by the correction values computed by the correction value computing units, and a driving unit (13) that drives the motor by using voltage command values. The correction value computing units include correction value smoothing units (50, 515, 516, 525, and 526) for obtaining smoothed correction values. |
| US08368342B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating electromagnetic torque in an electric machine
An apparatus for generating electromagnetic torque in an N-phase electric machine, N being a positive integer, includes N lines, each of the N lines including an input terminal, an output terminal, and a pair of thyristors, or of one thyristor and one diode pair. The N lines are connected between a mains and the electric machine. An apparatus is provided for repeatedly or continuously determining at least the sign of a voltage over the thyristor or diode-thyristor pair in at least one of the N lines, means are provided for repeatedly or continuously determining at least one parameter related to the electromagnetic field in the electric machine, and a control device is provided for controlling the operation of the thyristor or diode-thyristor pair of the at least one of the N lines. |
| US08368341B2 |
Head up display device for vehicle
A head up display device for a vehicle includes a display; an optical system having a reflecting mirror; a stepping motor; and a control system having a determining device, a micro-step control device, and a forcible control device. The determining device determines whether an adjustment command for micro-step control is given. The micro-step control device performs the micro-step control as long as the determining device determines that the command for the micro-step control is given. The forcible control device forcibly controls a drive signal such that an electrical angle changes to a stabilizing point. When determination made by the determining device switches from determination that the command is given to determination that the command is not given, the forcible control device forcibly controls the drive signal, provided that the electrical angle as of the time of the determination that the command is not given is shifted from the stabilizing point. |
| US08368340B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for a motor control system
Systems, devices, and methods for controlling a motor are disclosed. A method may include determining a rotational direction of a motor from a pair of quadrature signals sent to a microprocessor. The method further includes adjusting an internal count stored in the microprocessor at each edge of each of the pair of quadrature signals. The method further includes adjusting an external count stored in the microprocessor and transmitting an interrupt to a main controller after the first phase signal and the second phase signal have transitioned through each combinational logic state in one of a forward rotational direction and a reverse rotational direction. The method further includes transmitting a signal comprising the rotational direction of the motor and the external count from the microprocessor to a main controller. |
| US08368339B2 |
Robot confinement
A method of confining a robot in a work space includes providing a portable barrier signal transmitting device including a primary emitter emitting a confinement beam primarily along an axis defining a directed barrier. A mobile robot including a detector, a drive motor and a control unit controlling the drive motor is caused to avoid the directed barrier upon detection by the detector on the robot. The detector on the robot has an omnidirectional field of view parallel to the plane of movement of the robot. The detector receives confinement light beams substantially in a plane at the height of the field of view while blocking or rejecting confinement light beams substantially above or substantially below the plane at the height of the field of view. |
| US08368335B2 |
Optical shade controller system for controlling a roller shade using a variable linear velocity
Presented is a system for controlling a roller shade. The system includes a flexible shade material having a lower end, a roller tube windingly receiving the flexible shade material, and a reversible motor for rotating the roller tube to move the lower end of the shade material between a first and second position. The system further includes an optical sensor for capturing an image frame of the shade material at a plurality of linear positions as the lower end of the flexible shade material moves from the first position to the second position. The system further includes a motor controller for controlling the reversible motor to move the lower end of the shade material from the first position to the second position using a variable linear velocity profile in response to position information obtained from the plurality of captured image frames. |
| US08368334B2 |
Brushless, three phase motor drive
A control method for a brushless, three-phase DC motor. A voltage induced by rotation of a rotor may be sampled at a first expected zero crossing value to produce a first sampled voltage value. An average of a plurality of sampled voltage values, including voltage values sampled at a plurality of prior expected zero crossing values and the first sampled voltage value, may be calculated. The first sampled voltage value may be subtracted from the calculated average to produce a delta zero crossing error. A pulse-width modulation duty cycle may be adjusted based on the delta zero crossing error. The pulse-width modulation duty cycle may be used to control a rotational velocity of the rotor. |
| US08368332B2 |
Motor driving circuit
A motor-driving circuit includes: a plurality of output transistors; a first-comparator circuit to compare a voltage of each phase of driving coils of a plurality of phases in a motor, with a neutral-point voltage; a position-detecting circuit to detect a rotor position of the motor based on a comparison result of the first-comparator circuit; a switching-control circuit to supply switching signals to the plurality of output transistors according to the rotor position; and a current-limiting circuit to limit the driving currents to a first-current value so that the motor rotates at a target-rotation speed when the current-limiting circuit determines that the motor is rotating at a speed higher than or equal to a predetermined-reference-rotation speed, and limit the driving currents to a second-current value smaller than the first-current value when the current-limiting circuit determines that the motor is not rotating at the speed higher than or equal to the predetermined-reference-rotation speed. |
| US08368330B2 |
Energy-recovery device in a variable speed drive
The invention relates to a variable speed drive comprising a direct-current power bus having a positive line (16) and a negative line (17), and an inverter module (14) supplied by the direct-current bus in order to supply a variable voltage to an electric load (M). The drive comprises an energy-recovery device (10) comprising a first direct-current/direct-current converter (20), the output stage of the first converter (20) being connected in series to the positive line of the direct-current bus, a second direct-current/direct-current converter (30), the input stage of the second converter (30) being connected between the positive line and the negative line of the direct-current bus, and an electric energy storage module (Cs) connected in parallel with the input stage of the first converter (20) and with the output stage of the second converter (30). |
| US08368328B2 |
Method for operating a motorized roller shade
The present invention advantageously provides methods for manually and/or remotely controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor disposed within the shade tube and a microcontroller. One method includes detecting a manual movement of the shade using a sensor, determining a displacement associated with the manual movement, and, if the displacement is less than a maximum displacement, moving the shade to a different position by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube. Another method includes receiving a command from a remote control, and moving the shade to a position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube. |
| US08368326B2 |
Shakable lighting element
A shakable lighting element includes a main unit, an inner seat, a conductive rod, a spring, a swing block, an LED and an outer shade. The inner seat is latched into the main unit and is installed with the spring and the LED. The spring is connected with the swing block, an end of the conductive rod penetrates the inner seat to be in contact with a battery and the other end is transfixed in the spring. When the main unit shakes, the swing block drives the spring to swing and when the spring touches the conductive rod, the LED illuminates. |
| US08368322B2 |
Driving circuit for LED lamp
A driving circuit for an LED lamp including no more than 4 strings each having an input and an output terminals outputs a DC voltage of no more than 70V to the input terminals. The driving circuit includes constant current circuits each coupled between the output terminal of a corresponding string and ground. An on-off control signal controls whether the constant current circuits work to control whether the LED lamp works. A dimming control signal controls a duty cycle of working of to the constant current circuits to control a brightness of the LED lamp. The driving circuit further includes an overvoltage protection circuit and a switch. When a voltage at one input terminal is too high or a short circuit occurs in one string, the overvoltage protection circuit outputs an overvoltage control signal and accordingly the switch forces the on-off control signal to control the constant current circuits not to work. |
| US08368319B2 |
Multi-core light engine architecture
The present invention relates to a LED lighting system (100) comprising at least a central controller (40) for just controlling a communication databus (50) in broadcast mode, and a distribution of LED controllers (30R, 30G, 30B) for individually controlling each LED (10R, 10G, 10B) through a respective driver (20R, 20G, 20B). The central controller (40) broadcasts targeted setting values from an external user (60) to all the distributed LED controllers (30R, 30G, 30B) through the databus (50). The LED controllers (30R, 30G, 30B) convert the values using a shared calibration matrix into transformed values for each LED color (R, G, B). In the case that some of these transformed values cannot be rendered by the LED lighting system (100), the targeted setting values can be properly adjusted either externally through a feedback signal sent over a link (70) back to the user (60), or internally through a notification signal broadcast over the databus (50) back to the central controller (40). |
| US08368315B2 |
LED lamp color control system and method
An LED lamp color control system and method including an LED lamp having an LED controller 58; and a plurality of LED channels 60 operably connected to the LED controller 58, each of the plurality of LED channels 60 having a channel switch 62 in series with at least one shunted LED circuit 83, the shunted LED circuit 83 having a shunt switch 68 in parallel with an LED source 80. The LED controller 58 determines whether the LED source 80 is in a feedback controllable range, stores measured optical flux for the LED source 80 when the LED source 80 is in the feedback controllable range, and bypasses storing the measured optical flux when the LED source 80 is not in the feedback controllable range. |
| US08368310B1 |
System and method for distributed lighting device control
A system for distributed light control, including a light circuit, a first device associated with the light circuit, a second device associated with the light circuit, a network communicatively connecting the light circuit, the first device, and the second device, where the first device is configured to actuate the light circuit based upon a control command sent on the network and in accordance with configuration data stored at the first device, where the second device includes a shadow configuration comprising a copy of the configuration data, where the second device is configured to generate a shadow image of the light circuit based upon the control command and the shadow configuration, and where the shadow image comprises a computed status of the light circuit. |
| US08368307B2 |
Method for replacing a load control device of a load control system
The invention regards a system and method for using a handheld programming device to configure a lighting control system wirelessly. In one embodiment, at least one device configured with a processing section is installed in the lighting control system. A communications receiver that is operable to receive a signal from the handheld programming device is also installed in the lighting control system, wherein the signal includes an instruction for configuring the lighting control system. Further, the signal is wirelessly sent from the handheld programming device to the communications receiver, and the instruction is transmitted from the communications receiver to a device in the system. The instruction functions to configure the lighting control system. |
| US08368303B1 |
Gas discharge device with electrical conductive bonding material
Plasma-shells filled with ionizable gas are positioned on or within a rigid, flexible, or semi-flexible substrate. Each plasma-shell is electrically connected to one or more electrical conductors such as electrodes with an electrically conductive bonding substance to form an electrical connection to each electrode. The electrically conductive bonding substance may comprise a pad connected to the plasma-shell and/or an electrode. |
| US08368301B2 |
Light-emitting device, method for manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
The present invention provides a light-emitting device including a light-emitting element over a substrate, the light-emitting element is partitioned from an adjacent light-emitting element by a partition wall, the light-emitting element comprising a first electrode, a layer formed over the first electrode, a light-emitting layer formed over the layer and a second electrode formed over the light-emitting layer, the layer contains an inorganic compound, an organic compound and a halogen atom, the partition wall contains the inorganic compound and the organic compound, and the layer. The light-emitting device provides higher reliability and fewer defects. |
| US08368294B2 |
Brightness improving structure of light-emitting module with an optical film surface layer
A brightness improving structure of a light-emitting module with an optical film surface layer 12, wherein a light-emitting part 20 is provided inside a transparent envelop 10 and may emit ultraviolet or blue light, the said transparent envelop 10 has first wall and second wall, first inside wall 101 and second inside wall 103 are oppositely formed inside thereof, first outside wall 102 and second outside wall 104 are oppositely formed outside thereof. The first wall is partly or entirely provided with the optical film coating 12, the optical film coating 12 may at least reflect the ultraviolet or blue light exciting fluorescent/phosphorescent light, and may pass light rays comprising visible light. A visible light layer or both the visible light layer and a reflective layer are provided on the second wall, and the said light-emitting part 20 is placed at a setting location from the envelop 10. |
| US08368289B2 |
Nondestructive testing apparatus and method
A laser opto-acoustic apparatus and method is applied for nondestructive testing of defects and residual stresses in solids. A nondestructive testing apparatus may have a piezoelectric transducer for measuring oscillations in a solid. The oscillations or waves may be caused from longitudinal, shear, and/or Raleigh waves in the object to be tested. The nondestructive testing apparatus may also include a laser. The laser is capable of generating the longitudinal, shear, and/or Raleigh waves in the object. One method of performing nondestructive testing of materials may include creating at least one of a longitudinal, shear, and/or Raleigh wave in an object and measuring the speed of the wave in the object. The speed of the waves may be compared with the speed of waves in a material without defects to determine whether the object to be tested has defects. |
| US08368288B2 |
Actuator unit for an injection system of an internal combustion engine
In an actuator unit for an injection system of an internal combustion engine, the difference in the longitudinal extension when a change of temperature of the piezoelectric actuator element occurs affecting the actuator unit is equalized compared to the actuator housing due to different thermal expansion coefficient values in that a fastening element is arranged on the actuator housing. The fastening element is made of a different material than the actuator housing and thus affects a force acting counter to the change of length of the actuator housing. |
| US08368287B2 |
Ultrasonic motor mechanism
An ultrasonic motor mechanism includes an ultrasonic vibrator that includes a piezoelectric element; a driven member that is driven relative to the ultrasonic vibrator because of a frictional force generated between the ultrasonic vibrator and the driven member; a coupling member that is coupled to the driven member; a first urging member that urges the ultrasonic vibrator with the driven member; a base member that movably supports the driven member; and a spherical rolling member that movably supports the driven member with respect to the base member. By interposing a second urging member between the driven member and the coupling member, the driven member is urged in a longitudinal direction. The driven member and the coupling member are coupled to each other by causing the driven member to abut the coupling member. |
| US08368286B2 |
Resonant power converter comprising a matched piezoelectric transformer
The present invention relates to an electronic power converter comprising a piezoelectric transformer, a drive circuit arranged to generate and provide an input voltage signal to the piezoelectric transformer, said input voltage signal comprising a burst frequency and a substantially constant excitation frequency, and a rectifier module. According to the present invention the excitation frequency is selected among a plurality of excitation frequencies in such a way that an equivalent load resistance, Req, is matched to an output impedance of the piezoelectric transformer so as to minimize power losses in the piezoelectric transformer. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for configuring an electronic power converter. |
| US08368283B2 |
Stator for BLDG motor BLDC motor having double rotors/ single stator and vehicle cooler using the same
Provided are a stator for a brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor, a BLDC motor having a double-rotor/single-stator structure, and a vehicle cooler using the same, which uses a printed circuit board for an assembly that automatically sets an assembly position of stator core assemblies, to thereby secure waterproof, light-weight, and high power features. The stator includes a holder, a boss which has built-in bearings in order to support a rotational axis, and which enables the rotational axis to be rotated, a number of stator core assemblies which respectively enclose bobbins having inner and outer flanges at the inner and outer sides of a number of division type stator cores and in which coils are wound around the bobbins, and a printed circuit board for an assembly in which each stator core assembly is automatically position-set and then assembled and both end portions of the coil are mutually connected by each phase of U, V and W. After each stator core assembly has been temporarily assembled on the assembly PCB, the stator core assembly is insert molded using thermosetting resin to thereby integrally form the holder and the boss in the stator. |
| US08368281B2 |
Multilayer brush having a composite
A multilayer brush, which essentially contains a composite having a graphite component and having a copper component, and a layered structure, a first layer being furnished with a high copper component and a further layer being furnished with a comparatively low copper component. It is provided that the copper component of the first layer in comparison with the copper component of the second layer corresponds to a ratio of ≦3/2. |
| US08368278B2 |
Motor and electronic device comprising the same
A motor comprising a stator having a plurality of magnetic poles disposed in a circumferential direction along an outer periphery thereof, a rotor disposed rotatably around the outer periphery of the stator, and a magnet disposed in a circumferential direction along an inner periphery of the rotor. The stator is formed by laminating sheet-like plates. A plurality of the sheet-like plates including an outermost layer of this laminated body comprises a flat portion substantially perpendicular to the magnet, and an extended portion bent to a direction substantially parallel to the magnet. A part of the sheet-like plate having the extended portion disposed to the outermost side is formed into a thickness smaller than thicknesses of the other parts. |
| US08368277B2 |
Die cast rotor with steel end rings to contain aluminum
A rotor for an electrical inductor motor or an induction generator includes a core having spaces formed in the core. The rotor also has a first end ring. The first end ring has a first hub portion. A first ring is connected to the first hub portion by first spokes. The rotor also has a second end ring. The second end ring has a second hub portion. A second ring is connected to the second hub portion by second spokes. The first end ring is secured to the core. The second end ring is rotated a predetermined amount so the first spokes are misaligned with the second spokes. The second end ring is connected to the first end ring and the core. The core, the first end ring and the second end ring form a substrate. An aluminum conductor is cast to the substrate. The aluminum conductor fills in the spaces and around the first and second spokes to form a cast rotor. |
| US08368276B2 |
Polyphase electrical machine
A polyphase electrical machine, in particular, a polyphase generator, includes a stator which features a core body having a circumferential slot pitch, and a winding configuration having a plurality of windings. It is provided that each winding and each slot of the group of slots that extends over one pole pitch is assigned to one of the phases, and the windings have winding sections that lie in assigned slots and between which, in each case, a winding-head connection is formed, the winding-head connections of different windings being disposed radially in layers relative to each other, and the number of phases being five. A method for producing a polyphase electrical machine is also provided. |
| US08368275B2 |
Electric motor windings
A stator for a multi-phase electric motor comprises a plurality of teeth for each phase. The windings on two teeth from one phase are formed from a single length of conductor. The windings on a first one of the teeth being formed at least in part from two sections of the conductor spaced apart along the length of the conductor, and the windings on a second one of the teeth being formed from an intermediate section of the conductor between the spaced apart sections. |
| US08368272B1 |
Assembly and method for mass torque generation
An assembly and method for generating mass torque having a frame structure supporting at least one torque generating wheel coupled to a rotational load. The torque generating wheel has peripheral circumferential veins of spaced magnetic or non-magnetic keys which are driven by an electro-mechanical control system including a plurality of electromagnetic coils and a timing circuit. The timed activation of the electro-mechanical control system on the magnetic (or non-magnetic) keys accelerate the generating wheel to rotate at a high rotational speed to generate a high level of torque output. The wheel structure is a large diameter structure constructed of a plurality of radial segments, each segment formed of a strong, lightweight and reinforced material. |
| US08368270B2 |
Stator of electric rotating machine
The stator of an electric rotating machine includes a stator core constituted of a plurality of split cores joined to one another in a ring, a plurality of phase windings wound around the stator core, and an outer casing to an inner periphery of which an outer periphery of the stator core is fitted with clamping margin therebetween. The outer casing is provided with a brim including at least two brim portions at least at one of axial ends thereof. The brim portions are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction of the outer casing and project in a direction receding from a center axis of the outer casing. |
| US08368267B2 |
Power tool
A power tool includes a motor housing, a motor, a motor-side terminal, a switch block, and a switch-side terminal provided on the switch block to be connected to the motor-side terminal. A hollow tubular member is provided on one of the motor housing and the switch block and extends in a longitudinal direction of the motor housing, and a fitting member is provided on the other of the motor housing and the switch block and fitted in the tubular member. The motor-side terminal and the switch-side terminal are connected to each other within a hollow of the tubular member. As long as the motor-side terminal and the switch-side terminal are at least connected to each other, the tubular member and the fitting member are held in the fitted state so that a connection between the terminals is isolated from the outside of the tubular member. |
| US08368262B2 |
Motor
The present invention provides a motor (M) including a case (1) storing an armature (3) having a winding wire (2) wound thereon on the inner circumferential side, in which the case (1) includes an opening part (1a) for inserting a terminal (5) for connecting the winding wire (2) to an external power source, and the terminal (5) is integrated into a resin for forming a cap (6) for air-tightly closing the opening part (1a) by insert molding, with one end (5a) of the terminal (5) being protruded into the case (1) and the other end (5b) of the terminal (5) being protruded out of the case (1). |
| US08368258B2 |
Armature for linear motor
A linear motor armature in which pressure loss of a coolant flowing in a cooling conduit and possible significant non-uniformity in temperature distribution are reduced over the entire armature. A manifold 5, 6h and a pair of cooling conduits 7, 9 are configured such that a coolant is supplied from one connecting conduit 27 of the cooling conduit 7, and one connecting conduit 33 of the cooling conduit 9, and discharged from the other connecting conduit 29 of the cooling conduit 7 and the other connecting conduit 35 of the cooling conduit 9. |
| US08368257B2 |
Integrated linear brushless DC motor
A linear brushless DC motor uses a movable coil assembly, which includes at least one coil, an amplifier and a motor controller, that is configured to move relative to a stationary base assembly. The coil, the amplifier and the motor controller are assembled so that the coil, the amplifier and the motor controller are collectively displaced when the movable coil assembly is moved relative to the stationary base assembly. |
| US08368256B2 |
Voice coil motor
A voice coil motor (VCM) is disclosed. The VCM includes a base formed with an opening; a movable body including a bobbin arranged on the base and formed with a hollow hole and a coil arranged along a periphery of the bobbin; a stator including a frame-shaped magnet arranged on the base, the magnet being discrete from the coil and wrapping a periphery of the coil; and a case covering an upper surface and an outer surface of the magnet, the case being coupled to the base. |
| US08368254B2 |
Linear motor and component transfer apparatus
The present invention relates to a linear motor provided with a magnetic body and an armature and adapted to produce a force causing the magnetic body and the armature to be relatively displaced in a given moving direction by interaction of magnetic fluxes generated between the magnetic body and the armature during an operation of supplying electric power to the armature. The linear motor is provided with: a base plate adapted to set the moving direction on a base surface thereof; a movable section attached to the base plate in a relatively movable manner reciprocating along the moving direction with respect to the base plate; a mover provided on and along a lateral surface of the movable section on a one edge side in a widthwise direction of the base surface perpendicular to the moving direction, and formed as one of the magnetic body and the armature; and a stator provided on the base surface of the base plate to be disposed opposed to the mover from the one edge side toward the other edge side in the widthwise direction, and formed as other one of the magnetic body and the armature to extend along the moving direction. |
| US08368249B2 |
Power supply unit provided with AC/DC input voltage detection and power supply system incorporating same
Disclosed is a power supply unit provided with AC/DC voltage detection and a power supply system incorporating such power supply unit. The power control unit of the power supply unit can manipulate the first stage power circuit and the bypass switch thereof according to the form and magnitude of the first voltage which is inputted to the power supply unit in order to boost the overall operating efficiency. When the inventive power supply unit is applied to a high-level DC power supply system, the problem that the power supply unit can not output a rated output voltage due to an insufficient DC first voltage can be avoided. |
| US08368248B2 |
Active low-pass current filter
An active low-pass current filter apparatus and method reduces conducted emissions above a predefined cutoff frequency at high power levels. The apparatus and method use a bidirectional DC-DC converter to minimize current fluctuations on a power lead that may result in conducted emissions above the predefined cutoff frequency. The bidirectional DC-DC converter absorbs current from the power lead and feeds current to the load lead as needed to compensate for the current fluctuations on the power lead. Power to the DC-DC converter is provided by a separate auxiliary power source. A monitoring circuit compares the voltage level of the auxiliary power source to a reference voltage and compensates for variations in the voltage level of the auxiliary power source without interfering with the suppression of the conducted emissions. |
| US08368247B2 |
Semiconductor body and method for voltage regulation
A semiconductor body (1) comprises a first contact pad (2), a second contact pad (3), an integrated circuit (5) and an impedance (4). The integrated circuit (5) comprises a first terminal (6) which is coupled to the first contact pad (2) and a second terminal (7) which is coupled to the second contact pad (3). The impedance (4) additionally couples the first contact pad (2) to the second contact pad (3). |
| US08368246B2 |
Method and apparatus for resistive power distribution
An electrical power distribution method and apparatus are disclosed, the apparatus comprising a first power distribution member section receiving electrical power from a power supply and a second high resistivity power distribution member section, electrically connected to the first section for supplying the electrical power to an electrical device in electrical communication with the high resistivity section. |
| US08368242B2 |
Immersible energy generation installation
A submersible power generation plant includes a water turbine standing freely on a support structure in an ambient flow; an electric generator which is driven at least indirectly by the water turbine; at least one generator component of the electric generator is enclosed by at least one corrosion protection element which seals against ambient water, with cavities within the corrosion protection element each being filled with a heat-conductive medium; at least one pass-through duct being provided for dissipating waste heat from the electric generator, which the pass-through duct conducts the ambient water and leads through the corrosion protection element without entering into any material exchange with a region encapsulated by the corrosion protection element, and a growth protection system arranged on a flow input of the pass-through duct on an upstream side. |
| US08368239B2 |
Drive circuit and method for inverters of wind energy installations
A converter for a wind energy installation and a method. The converter includes an inverter which drives a generator via a plurality of phases and an intermediate circuit having an intermediate-circuit voltage between an upper and a lower intermediate-circuit potential. The generator is driven with phase potentials at a variable frequency. A shift value is calculated between an extreme phase potential and one of the intermediate-circuit potentials, a separation value is determined between a middle phase potential and the closest intermediate-circuit potential, and an additional voltage is generated using the separation value as amplitude. The phase potentials are shifted through the shift value and the additional voltage is added to the middle phase potential. Accordingly, the switching elements in the converter do not need to be clocked in every second half-cycle resulting in reduced switching losses and increased current load capacity of the converter. |
| US08368238B2 |
Wind turbine generator system
It is an object to provide a wind turbine generator system that can promptly restore the system voltage in the event of, for example, a low voltage phenomenon. A controller 21 detects the power factor state of a generator when a normal operation mode is switched to a low-voltage control mode and sets a condition for switching from the low-voltage control mode to the normal operation mode depending on the detected power factor state. |
| US08368236B2 |
System and method for generating an alternating current output signal
A system and device for providing AC signal. The system includes: an AC generator that outputs an AC output signal and includes an AC rotor that communicates with a shaft that is rotated at a rotation speed; a speed sensor for sensing the rotation speed; and a controller for controlling a magnetic field of the AC generator in response to the rotation speed; wherein the controller comprises a Field Exciter for providing a current to the AC generator so as to control the magnetic field of the AC generator. |
| US08368235B2 |
Resin sealing method of semiconductor device
A resin sealing method of a semiconductor device includes: positioning semiconductor devices at predetermined positions of an adhesive layer formed on a support body and adhering the semiconductor devices thereto, sealing a part of each of the semiconductor devices with resin by curing a first seal resin in a fluidization state so as to fix the semiconductor devices adhered to the predetermined positions of the adhesive layer formed on the support body, setting the semiconductor devices fixed to the predetermined positions of the adhesive layer formed on the support body in a mold and sealing the exposure parts of the semiconductor devices exposed from the first seal resin with a second seal resin, and removing the support body and the adhesive layer from the semiconductor devices sealed with the resin. |
| US08368231B2 |
Chipstack package and manufacturing method thereof
A method for manufacturing chip stack packages may include: providing at least two wafers, each wafer having a plurality of chips, and scribe lanes formed between and separating adjacent chips; forming a plurality of via holes in peripheral portions of the scribe lanes; forming connection vias by filling the via holes; establishing electrical connections between the chip pads and corresponding connection vias; removing material from the back sides of the wafers to form thinned wafers; separating the thinned wafers into individual chips by removing a central portion of each scribe lane; attaching a first plurality of individual chips to a test wafer; attaching a second plurality of individual chips to the first plurality of individual chips to form a plurality of chip stack structures; encapsulating the plurality of chip stack structures; and separating the plurality of chip stack structures to form individual chip stack packages. |
| US08368230B2 |
Electronic part and method of manufacturing the same
A multi-chip module includes a package board, a plurality of chips, and a wiring board. The plurality of chips are horizontally disposed on the package board. The plurality of chips are electrically connected with the package board, and respectively provided with via holes which penetrate through the plurality of chips. The plurality of chips are respectively provided with circuits at surfaces facing the package board. The wiring board is disposed on an opposite side to the package board across the plurality of chips. The wiring board includes a wiring pattern which is electrically connecting adjacent chips one another. The circuit is electrically connected to the wiring pattern through the via holes. |
| US08368220B2 |
Anchored damascene structures
An anchored conductive damascene buried in a multi-density dielectric layer and method for forming the same, the anchored conductive damascene including a dielectric layer with an opening extending through a thickness of the dielectric layer; wherein the dielectric layer comprises at least one relatively higher density portion and a relatively lower density portion, the relatively lower density portion forming a contiguous major portion of the dielectric layer; and, wherein the opening in the relatively lower density portion has a lateral dimension relatively larger compared to the relatively higher density portion to form anchoring steps. |
| US08368216B2 |
Semiconductor package
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package having at least one first layer chip, a plurality of first metal bumps, at least one second layer chip and a package body. The first layer chip includes a first active surface upon which the first metal bumps are disposed and a plurality of first signal coupling pads disposed adjacent to the first active surface. The second layer chip is electrically connected to the first layer chip, and includes a second active surface that faces the first active surface and a plurality of second signal coupling pads. The second signal coupling pads are capacitively coupled to the first signal coupling pads so as to provide proximity communication between the first layer chip and the second layer chip. The package body encapsulates the first layer chip, the first metal bumps, and the second layer chip, and the first metal bumps are partially exposed. |
| US08368215B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The semiconductor device includes a wiring substrate having connection pads and a semiconductor chip having electrode pads. The semiconductor chip is mounted on the wiring substrate, and the electrode pads are connected to the connection pads via solder bumps. An underfill resin formed of a cured thermosetting resin is filled in a gap between the wiring substrate and the semiconductor chip. The underfill resin has a glass transition temperature which increases accompanying growth of crystal grains of the solder bumps. |
| US08368213B2 |
Low fabrication cost, fine pitch and high reliability solder bump
A barrier layer is deposited over a layer of passivation including in an opening to a contact pad created in the layer of passivation. A column of three layers of metal is formed overlying the barrier layer and aligned with the contact pad and having a diameter that is about equal to the surface of the contact pad. The three metal layers of the column comprise, in succession when proceeding from the layer that is in contact with the barrier layer, a layer of pillar metal, a layer of under bump metal and a layer of solder metal. The layer of pillar metal is reduced in diameter, the barrier layer is selectively removed from the surface of the layer of passivation after which reflowing of the solder metal completes the solder bump of the invention. |
| US08368212B1 |
Semiconductor package with under bump metallization routing
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor substrate a semiconductor substrate having source and drain regions formed therein, an intermediate routing structure to provide electrical interconnects to the source and drain regions, a dielectric layer formed over the intermediate routing structure, and an under-bump-metallization (UBM) stack. The intermediate routing structure includes an outermost conductive layer, and the dielectric layer has an opening positioned over a portion of the intermediate layer routing structure. The UBM stack includes a conductive base layer formed over the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the outermost conductive layer through the opening, and a thick conductive layer formed on the base layer. A conductive bump is positioned on the UBM stack and laterally spaced from the opening. |
| US08368211B2 |
Solderable top metalization and passivation for source mounted package
A silver-containing solderable contact on a semiconductor die has its outer edge spaced from the confronting edge of an epoxy passivation layer so that, after soldering, silver ions are not present and are not therefor free to migrate under the epoxy layer to form dendrites. |
| US08368209B2 |
Semiconductor device
The problem of damage on an antenna or a circuit (electrostatic breakdown) due to discharge of electric charge accumulated in an insulator is solved; and the problem of NAKANUKE failure is solved. A pair of conductive layers, a pair of insulators provided between the pair of conductive layers, and a chip which is provided between the pair of insulators and includes an antenna, an analog circuit, and a digital circuit are provided, in which an opening is provided for at least one of the pair of conductive layers, and the opening is provided at a position which overlaps at least the analog circuit. |
| US08368208B2 |
Semiconductor cooling apparatus
In some embodiments, a semiconductor cooling apparatus includes a monolithic array of cooling elements. Each cooling element of the monolithic array of cooling elements is configured to thermally couple to a respective semiconductor element of an array of semiconductor elements. At least two of the semiconductor elements have a different height and each cooling element independently flexes to conform to the height of the respective semiconductor element. |
| US08368207B2 |
Pressure-contact power semiconductor module and method for producing the same
A pressure-contact power semiconductor module is arranged on a heat sink. The power semiconductor module is used with at least one substrate provided with conductor tracks and power semiconductor components. The module has a mounting body, on the underside of which the at least one substrate is arranged, and which is formed with cutouts. The module also includes a load connection element which is provided with contact feet that project away from strip sections and make pressure contact with the conductor tracks. The power semiconductor module additionally has a dimensionally stable cover, which covers the mounting body on all sides and is connected to the mounting body by means of snap-action latching connections. At least one pad element is restrained between the cover and the strip sections of the load connection elements. |
| US08368204B2 |
Chip structure and process for forming the same
A chip with a metallization structure and an insulating layer with first and second openings over first and second contact points of the metallization structure, a first circuit layer connecting the first and second contact points and comprising a first trace portion, first and second via portions between the first trace portion and the first and second contact points, the first circuit layer comprising a copper layer and a first conductive layer under the copper layer and at a sidewall of the first trace portion, and a second circuit layer comprising a second trace portion with a third via portion at a bottom thereof, wherein the second circuit layer comprises another copper layer and a second conductive layer under the other copper layer and at a sidewall of the second trace portion, and a second dielectric layer comprising a portion between the first and second circuit layers. |
| US08368192B1 |
Multi-chip memory package with a small substrate
Disclosed is a multi-chip memory package with a small substrate by using a die pad having an opening to substitute the chip-carrying function of a conventional substrate so that substrate dimension can be reduced. A substrate is attached under the die pad. A first chip is disposed on the substrate located inside the opening. A second chip is disposed on the die pad. An encapsulant encapsulates the top surface of the die pad, the top surface of the substrate, the first chip, and the second chip. The dimension of the substrate is smaller than the dimension of the encapsulant. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of tie bars physically connect to the peripheries of the die pad and extend to the sidewalls of the encapsulant to have a plurality of insulated cut ends exposed from the encapsulant. |
| US08368191B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor device of a multi-pin structure using a lead frame is provided. The semiconductor device comprises a tab having a chip supporting surface, the chip supporting surface whose dimension is smaller than a back surface of a semiconductor chip, a plurality of leads arranged around the tab, the semiconductor chip mounted over the chip supporting surface of the tab, a plurality of suspending leads for supporting the tab, four bar leads arranged outside the tab so as to surround the tab and coupled to the suspending leads, a plurality of wires for coupling between the semiconductor chip and the leads, and a sealing body for sealing the semiconductor chip and the wires with resin, with first slits being formed respectively in first coupling portions of the bar leads for coupling with the suspending leads. |
| US08368187B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming air gap adjacent to stress sensitive region of the die
A semiconductor device is made by mounting an insulating layer over a temporary substrate. A via is formed through the insulating layer. The via is filled with conductive material. A semiconductor die has a stress sensitive region. A dam is formed around the stress sensitive region. The semiconductor die is mounted to the conductive via. The dam creates a gap adjacent to the stress sensitive region. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die. The dam blocks the encapsulant from entering the gap. The temporary substrate is removed. A first interconnect structure is formed over the semiconductor die. The gap isolates the stress sensitive region from the first interconnect structure. A shielding layer or heat sink can be formed over the semiconductor die. A second interconnect structure can be formed over the semiconductor die opposite the first interconnect structure. |
| US08368185B2 |
Semiconductor device packages with electromagnetic interference shielding
Described herein are semiconductor device packages with EMI shielding and related methods. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device package includes a circuit substrate, an electronic device, an encapsulant, and a conductive coating. The circuit substrate includes a carrying surface, a bottom surface, a lateral surface extending between the carrying surface and the bottom surface, a conductive layer, and a grounding ring. The grounding ring is in a substantially continuous pattern extending along a border of the circuit substrate, is exposed at a lateral surface of the circuit substrate, and is included in the conductive layer. The electronic device is disposed adjacent to the carrying surface and is electrically connected to the conductive layer of the circuit substrate. The encapsulant is disposed adjacent to the carrying surface and encapsulates the electronic device. The conductive coating is applied to the encapsulant and the grounding ring. |
| US08368184B2 |
Silicon device structure, and sputtering target used for forming the same
There is provided a silicon device structure, comprising: a P-doped n+ type amorphous silicon film formed on a silicon semiconductor, and a wiring formed on the P doped n+ type amorphous silicon film, wherein the wiring is formed of a silicon oxide film which is formed on a surface of the P doped n+ type amorphous silicon film and is also formed of a copper alloy film, and the copper alloy film is a film obtained by forming a copper alloy containing Mn of 1 atom % or more and 5 atom % or less and P of 0.05 atom % or more and 1.0 atom % or less by sputtering. |
| US08368183B2 |
Nitride semiconductor device
A nitride semiconductor device is provided that prevents development of cracks, that has nitride semiconductor thin films with uniform thicknesses and good growth surface flatness, and is thus consistent in characteristics, and that can be fabricated at a satisfactory yield. In this nitride semiconductor device, the nitride semiconductor thin films are grown on a substrate having an off-angle between a direction normal to the surface of ridges and the crystal direction <0001>. This helps either reduce or intentionally promote diffusion or movement of the atoms or molecules of a source material of the nitride semiconductor thin films through migration thereof. As a result, a nitride semiconductor growth layer with good surface flatness can be formed, and thus a nitride semiconductor device with satisfactory characteristics can be obtained. |
| US08368182B2 |
Semiconductor devices including patterns
Provided are a method of forming patterns for a semiconductor device in which a pattern density is doubled by performing double patterning in a part of a device region while patterns having different widths are being simultaneously formed, and a semiconductor device having a structure to which the method is easily applicable. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of line patterns extending parallel to each other in a first direction. A plurality of first line patterns are alternately selected in a second direction from among the plurality of line patterns and each have a first end existing near the first side. A plurality of second line patterns are alternately selected in the second direction from among the plurality of line patterns and each having a second end existing near the first side. The first line patterns alternate with the second line patterns and the first end of each first line pattern is farther from the first side than the second end of each second line pattern. |
| US08368176B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A lower electrode includes a metal-containing oxide layer having a thickness of 2 nm or less on the surface layer. A metal-containing oxide layer is formed by oxidizing the surface of the lower electrode. A dielectric film includes a first phase appearing at room temperature in the bulk state and a second phase appearing at a higher temperature than that in the first phase in the bulk state. The second phase has a higher relative permittivity than that of the first phase. |
| US08368170B2 |
Reducing device performance drift caused by large spacings between active regions
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a first and a second MOS device. The first MOS device includes a first active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a first gate over the first active region. The second MOS device includes a second active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a second gate over the second active region. The method further include forming a dielectric region between the first and the second active regions, wherein the dielectric region has an inherent stress; and implanting the dielectric region to form a stress-released region in the dielectric region, wherein source and drain regions of the first and the second MOS devices are not implanted during the step of implanting. |
| US08368169B2 |
Semiconductor device having a device isolation structure
An example semiconductor device includes a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region, a filling dielectric layer provided within the trench, an oxide layer provided between the filling dielectric layer and the trench, a nitride layer provided between the oxide layer and the filling dielectric layer, and a barrier layer provided between the oxide layer and the nitride layer. |
| US08368164B2 |
Phototransistor having a buried collector
A phototransistor used for an image sensor is provided. The phototransistor can reduce a dark current that occurs in the phototransistor and improve sensitivity at low luminance without crosstalk with a neighboring pixel or an image lag by including a buried collector. In the phototransistor including the buried collector, since the collector is not directly connected to outside, the phototransistor has a low dark current and a high photosensitive characteristic at low luminance. Since each image sensor is isolated, crosstalk between pixels or an image lag does not occur. |
| US08368162B2 |
Laser power converter for data detection and optical-to-electrical power generation
The present disclosure provides a high-speed laser power converter (LPC). The LPC is able to be cascaded. The LPC has a high-speed photodiode (PD) performance even operated under a forward bias operational voltage. Thus, the present disclosure can generate power (instead of consume power) during high-speed data transmission in an optical interconnect (OI) system using 850 nano-meters (nm) wavelength vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). |
| US08368161B2 |
Solid-state image capturing device, method of manufacturing solid-state image capturing device, and image capturing apparatus
A solid-state image capturing device includes, in a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric conversion section which performs photoelectric conversion on incident light to obtain signal charges; a pixel transistor section which outputs the signal charges generated in the photoelectric conversion section; a peripheral circuit section which is formed in the periphery of a pixel section including the photoelectric conversion section and the pixel transistor section; and isolation areas which electrically separate the photoelectric conversion section, the pixel transistor section, and the peripheral circuit section from each other. The isolation areas in the periphery of the pixel transistor section each have an insulating section formed higher than a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A first gate electrode of a transistor of the pixel transistor section is formed between the insulating sections and on the semiconductor substrate with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. |
| US08368158B2 |
Image sensor having wave guide and method for manufacturing the same
An image sensor having a wave guide includes a semiconductor substrate formed with a photodiode and a peripheral circuit region; an anti-reflective layer formed on the semiconductor substrate; an insulation layer formed on the anti-reflective layer; a wiring layer formed on the insulation layer and connected to the semiconductor substrate; at least one interlayer dielectric stacked on the wiring layer; and a wave guide connected to the insulation layer by passing through the interlayer dielectric and the wiring layer which are formed over the photodiode. |
| US08368156B1 |
Dipole moment term for an electrically small antenna
The present invention relates to a method for designing an electrically small antenna, in one embodiment, within an enclosing volume. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of designing the electrically small antenna which has a general cross-sectional contour shape of an oblate spheroid from a top load portion to a stem portion below the top load portion. The oblate spheroid contour shape is represented by an antenna dipole moment algorithm which includes a dipole moment term. The method further comprises the steps of controlling the amplitude of the dipole moment term, including adjusting the amplitude of the dipole moment term to independently change the oblate spheroid contour shape, resulting in a change to the electric field outside the enclosing volume and a change to the electric field inside the enclosing volume. |
| US08368153B2 |
Wafer level package of MEMS microphone and manufacturing method thereof
A wafer level package of micro electromechanical system (MEMS) microphone includes a substrate, a number of dielectric layers stacked on the substrate, a MEMS diaphragm, a number of supporting rings and a protective layer. The MEMS diaphragm is disposed between two adjacent dielectric layers. A first chamber is between the MEMS diaphragm and the substrate. The supporting rings are disposed in some dielectric layers and stacked with each other. An inner diameter of the lower supporting ring is greater than that of the upper supporting ring. The protective layer is disposed on the upmost supporting ring and covers the MEMS diaphragm. A second chamber is between the MEMS diaphragm and the protective layer. The protective layer defines a number of first through holes for exposing the MEMS diaphragm. The wafer level package of MEMS microphone has an advantage of low cost. |
| US08368151B2 |
Semiconductor device
When MOS transistors having a plurality of threshold voltages in which a source and a drain form a symmetrical structure are mounted on the same substrate, electrically-symmetrical characteristics is provided with respect to an exchange of the source and the drain in each MOS transistor. A MOS transistor having a large threshold voltage is provided with a halo diffusion region, and halo implantation is not performed on a MOS transistor having a small threshold voltage. |
| US08368148B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device according to an aspect of the invention comprises an n-type FinFET which is provided on a semiconductor substrate and which includes a first fin, a first gate electrode crossing a channel region of the first fin via a gate insulating film in three dimensions, and contact regions provided at both end of the first fin, a p-type FinFET which is provided on the semiconductor substrate and which includes a second fin, a second gate electrode crossing a channel region of the second fin via a gate insulating film in three dimensions, and contact regions provided at both end of the second fin, wherein the n- and the p-type FinFET constitute an inverter circuit, and the fin width of the contact region of the p-type FinFET is greater than the fin width of the channel region of the n-type FinFET. |
| US08368146B2 |
FinFET devices
A finFET structure and method of manufacture such structure is provided with lowered Ceff and enhanced stress. The finFET structure includes a plurality of finFET structures and a stress material forming part of a gate stack and in a space between adjacent ones of the plurality of finFET structures. |
| US08368141B2 |
High breakdown voltage semiconductor device and high voltage integrated circuit
A high breakdown voltage semiconductor device, in which a semiconductor layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate across a dielectric layer, includes a drain layer on the semiconductor layer, a buffer layer formed so as to envelop the drain layer, a source layer, separated from the drain layer, and formed so as to surround a periphery thereof, a well layer formed so as to envelop the source layer, and a gate electrode formed across a gate insulating film on the semiconductor layer, wherein the planar shape of the drain layer 113 and buffer layer is a non-continuous or continuous ring. |
| US08368138B2 |
Non-volatile memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same
Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same. The semiconductor devices include a tunnel insulation layer on a substrate, a floating gate on the tunnel insulation layer, a gate insulation layer on the floating gate, a low-dielectric constant (low-k) region between the top of the floating gate and the gate insulation layer, the low-k region having a lower dielectric constant than a silicon oxide, and a control gate on the gate insulation layer. |
| US08368134B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
A nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same are provided. The method for fabricating the nonvolatile memory device comprises providing a substrate. A tunnel insulating layer and a first conductive layer are formed in the substrate. A trench is formed through the first conductive layer and the tunnel insulating layer, wherein a portion of the substrate is exposed from the trench. A first insulating layer is formed in the trench. A second insulating layer is formed on sidewalls of the first insulating layer. A third insulating layer is conformably formed in the trench, covering the first insulating layer on a bottom portion of the trench and the second insulating layer on the sidewalls of the trench, wherein thickness of the third insulating layer on the sidewalls is thinner than that on the bottom of the trench. A control gate is formed on the third insulating layer in the trench. |
| US08368129B2 |
Illumination device and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, an illumination device includes an anode, a metal layer, a cathode, an organic electroluminescent unit, first and second insulating layers, and a plurality of conductive piercing layers. The metal layer has an electrical resistance lower than that of the anode. The cathode is provided between the anode and the metal layer. The organic electroluminescent unit is provided between the anode and the cathode. The first insulating layer is provided between the cathode and the metal layer. The conductive piercing layers pierce the organic electroluminescent unit, the cathode, and the first insulating layer along a direction from the anode toward the metal layer to electrically connect the anode to the metal layer, and are separate entities from the metal layer. The second insulating layer is provided between the organic electroluminescent unit and the conductive piercing layers and between the cathode and the conductive piercing layers. |
| US08368121B2 |
Enhancement-mode HFET circuit arrangement having high power and high threshold voltage
A circuit includes input drain, source and gate nodes. The circuit also includes a group III nitride enhancement-mode HFET having a source, drain and gate and a voltage shifter having a first terminal connected to the gate of the enhancement mode HFET at a common junction. The circuit also includes a load resistive element connected to the common junction. The drain of the enhancement-mode HFET serves as the input drain node, the source of the enhancement-mode HFET serves as the input source node and a second terminal of the voltage shifter serves as the input gate node. |
| US08368117B2 |
III-nitride materials including low dislocation densities and methods associated with the same
Semiconductor structures including one, or more, III-nitride material regions (e.g., gallium nitride material region) and methods associated with such structures are provided. The III-nitride material region(s) advantageously have a low dislocation density and, in particular, a low screw dislocation density. In some embodiments, the presence of screw dislocations in the III-nitride material region(s) may be essentially eliminated. The presence of a strain-absorbing layer underlying the III-nitride material region(s) and/or processing conditions can contribute to achieving the low screw dislocation densities. In some embodiments, the III-nitride material region(s) having low dislocation densities include a gallium nitride material region which functions as the active region of the device. The low screw dislocation densities of the active device region (e.g., gallium nitride material region) can lead to improved properties (e.g., electrical and optical) by increasing electron transport, limiting non-radiative recombination, and increasing compositional/growth uniformity, amongst other effects. |
| US08368116B2 |
Apparatus and method for protecting electronic circuits
Apparatuses and methods for electronic circuit protection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a well having an emitter and a collector region. The well has a doping of a first type, and the emitter and collector regions have a doping of a second type. The emitter region, well, and collector region are configured to operate as an emitter, base, and collector for a first transistor, respectively. The collector region is spaced away from the emitter region to define a spacing. A first spacer and a second spacer are positioned adjacent the well between the emitter and the collector. A conductive plate is positioned adjacent the well and between the first spacer and the second spacer, and a doping adjacent the first spacer, the second spacer, and the plate consists essentially of the first type. |
| US08368115B2 |
Method of fabricating vertical devices using a metal support film
A method of fabricating semiconductor devices, such as GaN LEDs, on insulating substrates, such as sapphire. Semiconductor layers are produced on the insulating substrate using normal techniques. Trenches that define the boundaries of the individual devices are formed through the semiconductor layers and into the insulating substrate, beneficially by inductive coupled plasma reactive ion etching. A first support structure is attached to the semiconductor layers. The hard substrate is then removed, beneficially by laser lift off. A second supporting structure, preferably conductive, is substituted for the hard substrate and the first supporting structure is removed. Individual devices are then diced, beneficially by etching through the second supporting structure. A protective photo-resist layer can protect the semiconductor layers from the attachment of the first support structure. A conductive bottom contact (possibly reflective) can be inserted between the second supporting structure and the semiconductor layers. |
| US08368112B2 |
Aligned multiple emitter package
A multiple element emitter package is disclosed for increasing color fidelity and heat dissipation, improving current control, increasing rigidity of the package assembly. In one embodiment, the package comprises a surface-mount device a casing with a cavity extending into the interior of the casing from a first main surface is provided. A lead frame is at least partially encased by the casing, the lead frame comprising a plurality of electrically conductive parts carrying a linear array of light emitting devices (LEDs). Electrically conductive parts, separate from parts carrying the LEDs have a connection pad, wherein the LEDs are electrically coupled to a connection pad, such as by a wire bond. This lead frame arrangement allows for a respective electrical signal can be applied to each of the LEDs. The emitter package may be substantially waterproof, and an array of the emitter packages may be used in an LED display such as an indoor and/or outdoor LED screen. |
| US08368110B2 |
Side view LED package structure
A side view light emitting diode (LED) package structure includes a package housing, a side view LED chip and a thermal conductive member. The side view LED chip is enclosed by the package housing and an emitting direction of the side view LED chip is perpendicular to a thickness direction of a substrate. The thermal conductive member connected with the side view LED chip is disposed inside the package housing and a portion of which extends out of a dissipation opening of the package housing to be exposed so that heat of the side view LED chip is dissipated. |
| US08368106B2 |
Gradient composite material and method of manufacturing the same
Method of manufacturing gradient composite material comprises steps of providing plural surface modified inorganic nanoparticles with functional groups or oligomers with functional groups; transferring the surface modified inorganic nanoparticles or oligomers with functional groups into an organic matrix to form a mixture; performing a photo polymerization step or a thermo-polymerization step for polymerizing and generating a gradient distribution of the surface modified inorganic nanoparticles or oligomers with functional groups in the mixture; and curing the mixture to solidify the organic matrix and form a structure with gradient composite, wherein the organic matrix is transferred into an organic polymer after curing. |
| US08368104B2 |
Light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a semiconductor light emitting element to emit a first light, a mounting member, first and second wavelength conversion layers and a transparent layer. The first wavelength conversion layer is provided between the element and the mounting member in contact with the mounting member. The first wavelength conversion layer absorbs the first light and emits a second light having a wavelength longer than a wavelength of the first light. The semiconductor light emitting element is disposed between the second wavelength conversion layer and the first wavelength conversion layer. The second wavelength conversion layer absorbs the first light and emits a third light having a wavelength longer than the wavelength of the first light. The transparent layer is provided between the element and the second wavelength conversion layer. The transparent layer is transparent to the first, second, and third lights. |
| US08368103B2 |
Compound semiconductor light-emitting element and method of manufacturing the same, conductive translucent electrode for compound semiconductor light-emitting element, lamp, electronic device, and mechanical apparatus
The invention provides a compound semiconductor light-emitting element including: a substrate on which an n-type semiconductor layer (12), a light-emitting layer (13), and a p-type semiconductor layer (14) that are made of a compound semiconductor are stacked in this order; a positive electrode (15) made of a conductive translucent electrode; and a negative electrode (17) made of a conductive electrode, wherein the conductive translucent electrode of the positive electrode (15) is a transparent conductive film containing crystals composed of In2O3 having a hexagonal crystal structure. |
| US08368101B2 |
Arrangement for generating mixed light and method for producing such an arrangement
An arrangement and a method for producing such an arrangement serve for generating mixed light. In this case, a semiconductor chip that emits an electromagnetic primary radiation has a luminescence conversion element in the beam path of the primary radiation. Furthermore, the arrangement includes a connecting element and a carrier element, wherein the carrier element carries and shapes the luminescence conversion element and the connecting element. |
| US08368097B2 |
Light emitting diode package and method of manufacturing the same
An LED package comprises a frame having a concave portion formed in the center thereof; one or more LED chips mounted on the bottom surface of the concave portion; and a lens filled in the concave portion, the lens having an upper surface formed of continuous prismatic irregularities forming concentric circles. |
| US08368089B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, a transparent layer, and a fluorescent material layer. The transparent layer is provided on the first major surface of the semiconductor layer. The transparent layer is transparent with respect to light emitted by the light emitting layer and has a trench provided outside the outer circumference of the light emitting layer. The fluorescent material layer is provided in the trench and on the transparent layer. The fluorescent material layer includes a first fluorescent material particle provided in the trench and a second fluorescent material particle provided on the transparent layer. A particle size of the first fluorescent material particle is smaller than a width of the trench. A particle size of the second fluorescent material particle is larger than the width of the trench and larger than the particle size of the first fluorescent material particle. |
| US08368087B2 |
Light emitting device having vertical structure and method for manufacturing the same
A light emitting device having a vertical structure and a method for manufacturing the same, which are capable of increasing light extraction efficiency, are disclosed. The method includes forming a light extraction layer on a substrate, forming a plurality of semiconductor layers on the light extraction layer, forming a first electrode on the semiconductor layers, forming a support layer on the first electrode, removing the substrate, and forming a second electrode on a surface from which the substrate is removed. |
| US08368086B2 |
Light-emitting device having a gain region and a reflector
A light-emitting device has a first cladding layer, an active layer formed above the first cladding layer, a second cladding layer formed above the active layer, a gain region, and a reflecting part. The active layer has first and second side surfaces parallel to each other. The gain region has a first end surface disposed on the first side surface. The gain region also has a second end surface disposed inside from the second side surface and angled relative to the second side surface. The second end surface, the gain region and the first end surface are provided in a first normal direction relative to the second end surface. The reflecting part is disposed next to the second end surface. |
| US08368081B2 |
Metal thin film connection structure, manufacturing method thereof and array substrate
Embodiments of the invention relates to a metal thin film connection structure, comprising a first metal layer pattern; a second metal layer pattern which is separately disposed with the first metal layer pattern; a first insulating layer formed on the first metal layer pattern and the second metal layer pattern; a plurality of first via holes formed over the first metal layer pattern; a plurality of second via holes formed over the second metal layer pattern; and a plurality of third metal layer patterns formed on the first insulating layer, the third metal layer patterns being filled in the first via holes and the second via holes and electrically connect the first metal layer pattern and the second metal layer pattern through the first and second via holes. The embodiments of the invention also provide an array substrate comprising the metal thin film connection structure and a manufacturing method for the metal thin film connection structure. |
| US08368079B2 |
Semiconductor device including common potential line
To provide a semiconductor device in which a defect or fault is not generated and a manufacturing method thereof even if a ZnO semiconductor film is used and a ZnO film to which an n-type or p-type impurity is added is used for a source electrode and a drain electrode. The semiconductor device includes a gate insulating film formed by using a silicon oxide film or a silicon oxynitride film over a gate electrode, an Al film or an Al alloy film over the gate insulating film, a ZnO film to which an n-type or p-type impurity is added over the Al film or the Al alloy film, and a ZnO semiconductor film over the ZnO film to which an n-type or p-type impurity is added and the gate insulating film. |
| US08368076B2 |
Contact structure and semiconductor device
To improve the reliability of contact with an anisotropic conductive film in a semiconductor device such as a liquid crystal display panel, a terminal portion of a connecting wiring on an active matrix substrate is electrically connected to an FPC by an anisotropic conductive film. The connecting wiring is made of a lamination film of a metallic film and a transparent conductive film. In the connecting portion with the anisotropic conductive film, a side surface of the connecting wiring is covered with a protecting film made of an insulating material, thereby exposure to air of the metallic film can be avoided. |
| US08368073B2 |
Display device and electronic apparatus
A display device includes: a pixel array unit having pixels including a circuit configuration, in which a first electrode of an electro-optical element and a source electrode of a driving transistor are connected together, a gate electrode of the driving transistor and a source electrode or a drain electrode of a writing transistor are connected together, a holding capacitor is connected between the gate electrode and the source electrode, and an auxiliary capacitor is connected between the first electrode and a second electrode, disposed in a matrix shape. A signal line used for transmitting a video signal is disposed between adjacent pixels, and from one pixel of adjacent pixels to an area of the other pixel, the auxiliary capacitor of the one pixel is set to be disposed. One electrode of the auxiliary capacitor disposed on the signal line side is conductive with the second electrode of the electro-optical element. |
| US08368070B2 |
Antifuse structure for in line circuit modification
An antifuse structure and methods of forming contacts within the antifuse structure. The antifuse structure includes a substrate having an overlying metal layer, a dielectric layer formed on an upper surface of the metal layer, and a contact formed of contact material within a contact via etched through the dielectric layer into the metal layer. The contact via includes a metal material at a bottom surface of the contact via and an untreated or partially treated metal precursor on top of the metal material. |
| US08368069B2 |
Antifuse structure for in line circuit modification
An antifuse structure and methods of forming contacts within the antifuse structure. The antifuse structure includes a substrate having an overlying metal layer, a dielectric layer formed on an upper surface of the metal layer, and a contact formed of contact material within a contact via etched through the dielectric layer into the metal layer. The contact via includes a metal material at a bottom surface of the contact via and an untreated or partially treated metal precursor on top of the metal material. |
| US08368067B2 |
Oxide semiconductor device with oxide semiconductor layers of different oxygen concentrations and method of manufacturing the same
A phenomenon of change of a contact resistance between an oxide semiconductor and a metal depending on an oxygen content ratio in introduced gas upon depositing an oxide semiconductor film made of indium gallium zinc oxide, zinc tin oxide, or others in an oxide semiconductor thin-film transistor. A contact layer is formed with an oxygen content ratio of 10% or higher in a region from a surface, where the metal and the oxide semiconductor are contacted, down to at least 3 nm deep in depth direction, and a region to be a main channel layer is further formed with an oxygen content ratio of 10% or lower, so that a multilayered structure is formed, and both of ohmic characteristics to the electrode metal and reliability such as the suppression of threshold potential shift are achieved. |
| US08368066B2 |
Display device
A display device including an oxide semiconductor, a protective circuit and the like having appropriate structures and a small occupied area is necessary. The protective circuit is formed using a non-linear element which includes a gate insulating film covering a gate electrode; a first oxide semiconductor layer which is over the gate insulating layer and overlaps with the gate electrode; and a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer each of which is formed by stacking a conductive layer and a second oxide semiconductor layer and whose end portions are over the first oxide semiconductor layer and overlap with the gate electrode. The gate electrode of the non-linear element is connected to a scan line or a signal line, the first wiring layer or the second wiring layer of the non-linear element is directly connected to the gate electrode layer so as to apply potential of the gate electrode. |
| US08368065B2 |
Organic thin film transistor and method of manufacturing the same, and semiconductor device having the organic thin film transistor
There have been problems in that a dedicated apparatus is needed for a conventional method of manufacturing an organic thin film transistor and in that: a little amount of an organic semiconductor film is formed with respect to a usage amount of a material; and most of the used material is discarded. Further, apparatus maintenance such as cleaning of the inside of an apparatus cup or chamber has needed to be frequently carried out in order to remove the contamination resulting from the material that is wastefully discarded. Therefore, a great cost for materials and man-hours for maintenance of apparatus have been required. In the present invention, a uniform organic semiconductor film is formed by forming an aperture between a first substrate for forming the organic semiconductor film and a second substrate used for injection with an insulating film formed at a specific spot and by injecting an organic semiconductor film material into the aperture due to capillarity to the aperture. The insulating film formed at the specific spot enables formation of the organic semiconductor film with high controllability. Further, the insulating film can also serve as a spacer that holds the aperture, that is, an interval (gap) between the substrates. |
| US08368056B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and method for manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting diode display includes a display substrate including organic light emitting diodes and a pixel defining layer having openings for defining respective light emitting regions of the organic light emitting diodes, an encapsulation substrate disposed to face the display substrate, a sealant disposed along the edge of the encapsulation substrate and bonding and sealing the display substrate and the encapsulation substrate together, and a filling material for filling the space between the display substrate and the encapsulation substrate. The pixel defining layer is divided into a plurality of deposit regions having a relatively small height and that are uniformly distributed, and a diffusion region surrounding the plurality of deposit regions and having a larger height than that of the plurality of deposit regions. |
| US08368055B2 |
Display device including organic light-emitting transistor and a fluorecent pattern and method of fabricating the display device
Provided are a display device, which has a longer life and can be fabricated simply relative to conventional display devices, and a method of fabricating the display device. The display device includes a substrate which includes first through third subpixel regions, first through third organic light-emitting transistors which are disposed in the first through third subpixel regions, respectively, and are operable to emit light of a first color, and a first fluorescent pattern which is formed on the first organic light-emitting transistor and is operable to cause light of a second color to be emitted. |
| US08368054B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
In an organic light emitting diode display including a first pixel and a second pixel that are associated with respective different colors, each of the first and second pixels being for displaying its associated color, each of the first and second pixels includes: a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; and a light emitting member formed between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein the light emitting member of the first pixel includes: at least two light-emitting elements for emitting light of the color associated with the first pixel; and a charge generation layer between the at least two light-emitting elements; and wherein the second pixel has fewer light-emitting elements than the first pixel. |
| US08368045B2 |
Infrared photodetector
The infrared photodetector includes a contact layer formed over a semiconductor substrate 10, a quantum dot stack 24 formed on the contact layer 12 and including intermediate layers 22 and quantum dots 20 which are alternately stacked, and a contact layer 26 formed on the quantum dot stack 24. One of the plurality of intermediate layers, which is in contact with the contact layer, has an n-type impurity doped region 16 formed on a side nearer the interface with the contact layer 12. |
| US08368044B2 |
Electronic device comprising a convertible structure
An electronic device (100), comprises a first electrode (101), a second electrode (102) and a convertible structure (103) connected between the first electrode (101) and the second electrode (102), which convertible structure (103) is convertible between at least two states by heating, wherein the convertible structure (103) has different electrical properties in different ones of the at least two states, wherein the convertible structure (103) is curved in a manner to increase a length of a path of an electric current propagating through the convertible structure (103) between the first electrode (101) and the second electrode (102). |
| US08368038B2 |
Method and apparatus for intensity control of a charged particle beam extracted from a synchrotron
The invention comprises intensity control of a charged particle beam acceleration, extraction, and/or targeting method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Particularly, intensity of a charged particle stream of a synchrotron is described. Intensity control is described in combination with turning magnets, edge focusing magnets, concentrating magnetic field magnets, winding and control coils, and extraction elements of the synchrotron. The system reduces the overall size of the synchrotron, provides a tightly controlled proton beam, directly reduces the size of required magnetic fields, directly reduces required operating power, and allows continual acceleration of protons in a synchrotron even during a process of extracting protons from the synchrotron. |
| US08368036B2 |
Ion implantation method and ion implantation apparatus
An ion implantation method and the like by which a circular implantation region and a peripheral implantation region surrounding it and the dose amount of which is different from that of the circular implantation region can be formed within the surface of the substrate without the use of the step rotation of the substrate. The ion implantation method is forms a circular implantation region and a peripheral implantation region surrounding it and a dose amount of which is different from that of the circular implantation region within a surface of the substrate by making variable a scanning speed of the ion beam 4 within the surface of the substrate and changing a scanning speed distribution, in an X direction, of the ion beam within the surface of the substrate for each one-way scanning or each reciprocative scanning, according to a position of the substrate in a Y direction. |
| US08368035B2 |
3D imaging of live cells with ultraviolet radiation
A method for 3D imaging of cells in an optical tomography system includes moving a biological object relatively to a microscope objective to present varying angles of view. The biological object is illuminated with radiation having a spectral bandwidth limited to wavelengths between 150 nm and 390 nm. Radiation transmitted through the biological object and the microscope objective is sensed with a camera from a plurality of differing view angles. A plurality of pseudoprojections of the biological object from the sensed radiation is formed and the plurality of pseudoprojections is reconstructed to form a 3D image of the cell. |
| US08368034B2 |
Substance detection, inspection and classification system using enhanced photoemission spectroscopy
A handheld or portable detection system with a high degree of specificity and accuracy, capable of use at small and substantial standoff distances (e.g., greater than 12 inches) is utilized to identify specific substances and mixtures thereof in order to provide information to officials for identification purposes and assists in determinations related to the legality, hazardous nature and/or disposition decision of such substance(s). The system uses a synchronous detector and visible light filter to enhance detection capabilities. |
| US08368031B2 |
Inspection system by charged particle beam and method of manufacturing devices using the system
An inspection apparatus by an electron beam comprises: an electron-optical device 70 having an electron-optical system for irradiating the object with a primary electron beam from an electron beam source, and a detector for detecting the secondary electron image projected by the electron-optical system; a stage system 50 for holding and moving the object relative to the electron-optical system; a mini-environment chamber 20 for supplying a clean gas to the object to prevent dust from contacting to the object; a working chamber 31 for accommodating the stage device, the working chamber being controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; at least two loading chambers 41, 42 disposed between the mini-environment chamber and the working chamber, adapted to be independently controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; and a loader 60 for transferring the object to the stage system through the loading chambers. |
| US08368029B2 |
Methods and systems of combining magnetic resonance and nuclear imaging
A multi-modality imaging system for imaging of an object under study, e.g., a whole body or parts of the body of animals such as humans, other primates, swine, dogs, or rodents, that includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-family semiconductor, single-photon imaging apparatus within a magnetic field produced by the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus such that sequential or simultaneous imaging can be done with the two modalities using the same support bed of the object under study in the same, uninterrupted imaging session. |
| US08368027B2 |
Radiation detection apparatus and radiographic imaging system
A radiation detection apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels each including a conversion element which converts incident radiation into a charge, a switching element which transfers the charge, and an interlayer insulation film disposed between the conversion element and the switching element, a gate line to drive the switching element, and a signal line located to intersect with the gate line and configured to read out the charge transferred from the switching element, wherein Ca≧∈0×∈×S/d and 7d≦P/2 is satisfied, where P is a pixel pitch, Ca is a sum total of coupling capacitances between the signal line and the gate line, S is an overlapping area of the signal line and the conversion element, d is a thickness of the interlayer insulation film, ∈ is a relative dielectric constant of the interlayer insulation film, and ∈0 is a vacuum dielectric constant. |
| US08368026B2 |
Scintillator for an imaging device, scintillator module, imaging device with such a scintillator and method of manufacturing a scintillator
A scintillator for an imaging device includes a plate made of a material capable of emitting photons according to an incident radiation. The scintillator further includes at least one block of a second material capable of emitting photons according to the incident radiation. The plate and the block are assembled via the edge of the plate by connecting means that absorbs all or some of the photons emitted by the plate and the block. A scintillator module and an imaging device with such a scintillator, and a method of manufacturing a scintillator are also disclosed. |
| US08368022B2 |
Bolometer with heat feedback
A bolometer comprising an outer surface for the thermal absorption of incident radiation in thermal contact with a radiation measurement element having a variable resistance (R) depending on the temperature, the element being in a heat feedback loop comprising a corrector for applying a heating power to a resistive heating means in order to maintain the temperature of the resistor equal to a setpoint temperature (Tref). According to the invention, the resistive heating means comprises the element, the corrector is designed to generate a frequency component (S1) of the heating power, which is applied to a coupling means provided between the element and the corrector in order to apply a DC-free signal to the element, a coupling means, separate from the means, is provided between the element and a DC bias means in order to maintain the resistor at a prescribed continuous operation point. |
| US08368021B2 |
Method for an IR-radiation—based temperature measurement and IR-radiation—based temperature measuring device
In a temperature measuring device (1) an IR-radiation detector (2) and a reference element (3) are provided, connected to a surface (6) of an object (7) in a heat-conducting fashion, with a first area (4) with high emissivity and a second area (5) with high reflectivity formed at the reference element (3), and the IR-radiation detector (2) is equipped for a separate detection of IR-radiation (9, 10, 11) from the first and second areas (4, 5) and a surface area (12) of the object (7). A computer (13) in the IR-radiation detector (2) is equipped to deduct a temperature measurement for the object (7), corrected for emissions and reflections from the detected IR-radiations (9, 10, 11). |