| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08412141B2 |
LR polyphase filter
An LR polyphase filter implemented with inductors and resistors and capable of operating at high frequencies is described. In one design, the LR polyphase filter includes first and second paths, with each path including an inductor coupled to a resistor. The first and second paths receive a first input signal and provide first and second output signals, respectively, which may be in quadrature. For a differential design, the polyphase filter further includes third and fourth paths, which receive a second input signal and provide third and fourth output signals, respectively. The four output signals may be 90° out of phase. The first and second input signals are for a differential input signal. The first and third output signals are for a first differential output signal, and the second and fourth output signals are for a second differential output signal. Each inductor may be implemented with a transmission line. |
| US08412139B2 |
Methods of receiving multiple carriers using different RF mixer frequencies and related communications devices and receivers
Methods may be provided to simultaneously receive first and second RF (radio frequency) carriers over respective first and second RF carrier frequencies. More particularly, the first and second RF carriers may be provided at an RF mixer stage. During a first time period, the first and second RF carriers may be down converted through the RF mixer stage using a first RF mixer frequency to generate first downconverted signals, and the first downconverted signals may be processed to provide first and second DC carriers corresponding to the first and second RF earners. During a second time period, the first and second RF carriers may be downconverted through the RF mixer stage using a second RF mixer frequency to generate second downconverted signals with the first and second RF mixer frequencies being different, and the second downconverted signals may be processed to provide the first and second DC carriers corresponding to the first and second RF carriers. Related devices are also discussed. |
| US08412137B2 |
Radio transmitter
A radio transmitter includes a radio module, a battery from which power is fed to the radio module, and a metal plate. The radio module includes a transmission module generating a transmission signal and an antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the transmission signal. The metal plate is located so as to cover a part of the battery and a part of the antenna. The battery is electromagnetically coupled to the antenna. A main radiation direction of the antenna is parallel to a principal surface of the metal plate. |
| US08412132B2 |
Techniques for adaptive predistortion direct current offset correction in a transmitter
A technique for performing adaptive predistortion in a transmitter includes receiving, at a first input of an error signal unit, a delayed version of a baseband input signal. The technique also includes receiving, at a second input of the error signal unit, a power amplifier feedback signal from an output of a power amplifier. An input error signal that corresponds to a difference between the delayed version of the baseband input signal and the power amplifier feedback signal is then provided at an output of the error signal unit. The input error signal is then received at an input of a signal conditioner. An adjusted error signal that has a lower direct current offset than the input error signal is provided at an output of the signal conditioner. |
| US08412131B2 |
Down conversion filter and communication receiving apparatus
A down-conversion filter is provided, using first and second input terminals to receive signals that are differentially outputted by a preceding circuit, and using an output terminal to output a down-converted and filtered signal. An output capacitor is coupled to the output terminal. A first switched-capacitor network is arranged between the first input terminal and the output terminal. A second switched-capacitor network is arranged between the second input terminal and the output terminal. Each switched-capacitor network has capacitors, charging switches and charge-summing switches. The charging switches are designed to alternatively couple the capacitors to the first (or second) input terminal. The charge-summing switches are designed to couple the capacitors to the output terminal. |
| US08412115B2 |
Radio apparatus, and method and program for controlling spatial path
A PDMA terminal establishes communication by forming a plurality of spatial paths to another single radio apparatus. A plurality of antennas constituting an array antenna are divided into a plurality of subarrays corresponding to the plurality of spatial paths respectively. An adaptive array processing unit can perform an adaptive array processing for each of the plurality of subarrays. A memory stores in advance information on the number of antennas associated with the number of spatial paths that can be formed by the array antenna. A control unit controls a processing to transmit possible multiplicity information to another radio apparatus at a prescribed timing. |
| US08412113B2 |
Radio communication device, program, radio communication method, and radio communication system
Provided is a radio communication device including a reception unit that receives a radio signal, a measurement unit that measures a field intensity of the radio signal received by the reception unit, a determination unit that determines whether the radio signal received by the reception unit satisfies a predetermined condition for a noise component, and an estimation unit that estimates a distance from a transmission source device of the radio signal based on the field intensity of the radio signal determined by the determination unit to satisfy the predetermined condition. |
| US08412107B2 |
On-board communication device and cooperative road-to-vehicle/car-to-car communication system
An on-board communication device and a cooperative road-to-vehicle/car-to-car communication system that are adaptable to a road-to-vehicle communication system and a car-to-car communication system. The on-board communication device includes a car-to-car communication transfer service processing section, a car-to-car communication management service processing section, an application processing section, a transaction managing section, a transfer service processing section, a transmission/reception service processing section, and a transmission/reception service managing section, in which the car-to-car communication transfer service processing section and the car-to-car communication management service processing section include interfaces to the transfer service processing section that is an existing road-to-vehicle communication protocol. |
| US08412106B2 |
Directed wireless communication
In an implementation of directed wireless communication, a multi-beam directed signal system coordinates directed wireless communication with client devices. A transmit beam-forming network routes data communication transmissions to the client devices via directed communication beams that are emanated from an antenna assembly, and a receive beam-forming network receives data communication receptions from the client devices via the directed communication beams. |
| US08412105B2 |
Electronic devices with radio-frequency collision resolution capabilities
Electronic devices such as portable electronic devices contain electronic components. The electronic components may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry. The radio-frequency transceiver circuitry may be used for handling data communications and cellular telephone voice communications. One or more adjustable clock sources may be provided within the electronic device. The adjustable clock sources may be based on phase-locked-loop circuits. A clock manager may determine which frequencies are being used by the radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and other components in the electronic device. The clock manager may use this information to compute a list of safe fundamental clock signal frequencies. Based on the list of safe clock signal frequencies, the clock manager may dynamically adjust the clock sources to avoid collisions between harmonics of the clock signals from the clock sources and the frequencies used by the transceiver circuitry and other components. |
| US08412100B2 |
Wireless communication system using custom earmold
An apparatus for an ear of a user comprising a custom-fitted, in-the-ear earmold, receiver electronics detachably connected to the earmold and amplifier electronics detachably and electrically connected to the receiver electronics. In some embodiments, the amplifier electronics include a wireless communications module with wireless communications electronics disposed in the wireless communications module, wherein the wireless communications electronics support wireless communications between the user and a device. Such teachings in various examples are applied to occluding and non-occluding hearing device embodiments. Additional systems and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents. |
| US08412096B2 |
Bidirectional iterative beam forming
Bidirectional iterative beam forming techniques are described. An apparatus may include a wireless device having an antenna control module operative to initiate beam formation operations using an iterative training scheme to form a pair of communications channels for a wireless network, the antenna control module to communicate training signals and feedback information with a peer device via the transceiver and phased antenna array using partially or fully formed high rate channels, and iteratively determine antenna-array weight vectors for a directional transmit beam pattern for the phased antenna array using feedback information from the peer device. |
| US08412089B2 |
Image forming apparatus and guide therefor capable of reducing toner scattered on recording medium
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferor, a fixing unit, and a guide. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transferor opposes the image carrier to form a transfer nip and transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium at the transfer nip. The fixing unit fixes the toner image on the recording medium. The guide guides the recording medium bearing the toner image from the transferor toward the fixing unit and includes a surface portion directly contacting the recording medium. The surface portion includes a material for charging the recording medium to have a polarity opposite to the polarity of a toner forming the toner image. |
| US08412081B2 |
Belt meandering preventing device and image forming apparatus including the same
A belt meandering preventing device includes a belt displacement detection unit detecting the amount of displacement in a belt width direction of an endless belt rotatably stretched over support parts; and a belt meandering correction unit correcting the displacement in the belt width direction of the endless belt based on the amount of displacement detected by the belt displacement detection unit. The belt displacement detection unit includes a moving part moving in association with the displacement of the endless belt or an edge of the endless belt in the belt width direction and optical sensors outputting signals with output levels corresponding to the proportions of the moving part in optical paths of the optical sensors. The optical sensors are arranged such that the output levels of the optical sensors change as the endless belt is displaced in the belt width direction in a predetermined high-resolution detection range. |
| US08412080B2 |
Developing roller manufacturing method, developing roller, developing device, and image forming apparatus
A method of manufacturing a developing roller, including: a first rolling process for forming a first inclined groove which is continuous in a helical shape, by rotating a first die having blades inclined with respect to an axial direction and a circumferential direction, and a non-bladed die, and feeding an unprocessed developing roller between the first die and the non-bladed die; and a second rolling process for forming a second inclined groove which is continuous in a helical shape and intersects with the first inclined groove, by rotating a second die having blades inclined with respect to an axial direction and a circumferential direction in the direction opposite to that of the first die, and the non-bladed die in the same direction opposite to that in the first rolling process, and feeding the developing roller between the second die and the non-bladed die. |
| US08412079B2 |
Toner cartridge, image forming apparatus and image forming method
A toner cartridge includes a container body and a screw conveyer section. The screw conveyer section includes a rotation shaft and a toner conveying blade. The toner rotation shaft includes a first rotation shaft portion and a second rotation shaft portion concentrically communicated to the first rotation shaft portion and having a diameter smaller than that of the first rotation shaft portion. The toner conveying blade includes a first blade portion formed on the first rotation shaft portion, and a second blade portion formed on the second rotation shaft portion, a period of a spiral of the second blade portion winding around the second rotation shaft portion being smaller than a period of a spiral of the first blade portion winding around the first rotation shaft portion. |
| US08412076B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A toner pattern is detected by a color misregistration detection sensor to detect a duration of contact between a development roller and a photosensitive drum. A contact/separation motor for driving the development roller is accelerated or decelerated based on the detected duration of contact between the development roller and the photosensitive drum. This control enables shortening the duration of contact between the development roller and the photosensitive drum, thus reducing the shortening of their lifetime. |
| US08412075B2 |
Light deflector device and image forming apparatus
A light deflector device includes a light deflector having an oscillation system, a driving unit for driving the oscillation system and a drive controlling unit for supplying a drive signal. The oscillation system simultaneously generates a first oscillating motion of a first frequency and a second oscillating motion of a second frequency. The drive controlling unit supplies a drive signal formed by synthetically combining a first signal having the first frequency and a second signal having the second frequency to the driving unit and, at the same time, another drive signal for changing at least the amplitude of the first oscillating motion, the amplitude of second oscillating motion or the relative phase difference of the first oscillating motion and the second oscillating motion to the driving unit in order to correct an offset of scanning light deflected by the light deflector. |
| US08412072B2 |
Fixing device and image-forming apparatus
A fixing device for fixing a developed image of developer onto a recording sheet by heating and fusing the developer includes a heating roller, a pressure roller and a driving force input element. The heating roller is configured to be heated by a heat source, such as a halogen heater. The pressure roller is disposed adjacent to the heating roller, such that a recording sheet is fed and conveyed between the pressure roller and the heating roller. The driving force input element is fixed to the pressure roller for causing the pressure roller to rotate. A diameter Dp of the pressure roller and a nip width N between the heating roller and the pressure roller in circumferential directions thereof have a relationship represented by the following expression: 0.24 |
| US08412067B2 |
Laser fixing device and image forming apparatus
According to an aspect of the invention, a laser fixing device includes a laser beam generating device and an airflow generating unit. The laser beam generating device generates laser beams and irradiates a recording medium transported with the laser beams. The airflow generating unit generates airflow flowing between the laser beam generating device and the recording medium. A flow speed of the airflow in a transport direction of the recording medium in an irradiation position of the laser beams is higher than a transport speed of the recording medium. |
| US08412066B2 |
Test image print variations for print quality analysis
Methods and systems herein provide for printing a plurality of variations of a test image utilizing different values of a print quality parameter for print quality analysis of a printer. A print quality parameter is selected that modifies a print quality of the printer when printing a test image. A range of values for the print quality parameter is defined to utilize when printing the test image. A plurality of variations of the test image are printed based on the range of values defined for the print quality parameter, which allows for an analysis of the print quality of the printer by the user. |
| US08412060B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for performing image forming using an electrophotographic process
An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process includes an image forming unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit performs monochrome printing and color printing. The storage unit stores print ratio data that relates to printing in the image forming unit is measured over time. The control unit separately performs correction of monochrome toner density and color toner density based on a predetermined first condition. If the first condition in the monochrome printing is met, the control unit performs correction of the monochrome toner density if a predetermined second condition concerning an amount of variation in the print ratio identified from the print ratio data is also met. |
| US08412059B2 |
Image forming device and image forming method
In an image forming device, toner in a developing unit is efficiently utilized. A printing unit includes a developing unit, a toner cartridge, a photo-electronic sensor, a CPU and a counter. The toner cartridge replenishes toner to the developing unit at one time. The photo-electronic sensor detects toner in the developing unit. The CPU processes an output signal from the photo-electronic sensor to create comparison data, then compares comparison data with a predetermined threshold and issues an alarm when the comparison data exceeds the predetermined threshold. The counter counts the number of times that toner is replenished to the developing unit. The CPU changes the threshold to a level at which an alarm is hardly issued as the number of counts in the counter increases. |
| US08412046B2 |
In-service optical dispersion determining system and method
A system and method for in-service optical dispersion determination are provided. Optical dispersion is determined by splitting a first optical signal into two components, introducing a time delay between the two components such that corresponding pulses of the two components partially overlap, combining the two components to generate a combined optical signal comprising a first component and a second component, determining power of the combined optical signal while applying a plurality of dispersion compensation values, in order to determine a dispersion compensation value that results in a minimum detected power of the combined optical signal. Polarization Mode Dispersion is determined by adjusting the time delay that is introduced until the power of the combined optical signal is substantially equal for all of the plurality of dispersion compensation values. |
| US08412045B2 |
Propagation apparatus and dispersion value setting method
A propagation apparatus includes a plurality of dispersion compensation execution units which accept a signal of a single wavelength from a wavelength-multiplexed signal which is received and execute dispersion compensation on the signal by inputting the accepted signal to a tunable dispersion compensator with an adjusted dispersion value, and a dispersion value calculation unit which acquires each dispersion value adjusted by the plurality of the dispersion compensation execution units, approximates the dispersion value of the wavelength assigned to a newly built line by using the acquired dispersion values whose signal error rates are in a tolerable range, and sets the approximated dispersion value as an initial value in the tunable dispersion compensator of the newly built line. |
| US08412043B2 |
Optical communications network, power supply controlling method, station-side equipment, subscriber-side equipment, and semiconductor chip
An optical communications network that is composed of one station-side equipment being connected to plural subscriber-side equipments. The station-side equipment refers to downstream data signals and prepares transmission plans, and generates downstream control signals that include the transmission plans, and converts downstream signals, that include the downstream data signals and the downstream control signals to which identifiers indicating the subscriber-side equipments that are addressees are assigned, into downstream optical signals, and sends the downstream optical signals out toward the subscriber-side equipments. The subscriber-side equipment converts downstream optical signals into downstream electric signals, and refers to identifiers and extracts downstream electric signals addressed to itself, and reads the transmission plans, and generates timer control signals including information of receiving start times and receiving stop times, and, on the basis of the timer control signals, opens and closes a path connecting a receiving section and an electricity supply section. |
| US08412040B2 |
Method and apparatus for mapping traffic using virtual concatenation
A node comprising a packet network interface, an ethernet switch, an optical port, and a distribution engine. The packet network interface adapted to receive a packet having a destination address and a first bit and a second bit. The ethernet switch is adapted to receive and forward the packet into a virtual queue associated with a destination. The optical port has circuitry for transmitting to a plurality of circuits. The distribution engine has one or more processors configured to execute processor executable code to cause the distribution engine to (1) read a first bit and a second bit from the virtual queue, (2) provide the first bit and the second bit to the at least one optical port for transmission to a first predetermined group of the plurality of circuits. |
| US08412033B2 |
Image blur correction device, imaging lens unit, and camera unit
An image blur correction device includes: a tabular base (100) having an opening portion (101) opened in an optical axis direction; a tabular movable holding member (110) configured to hold a lens and supported to be movable within a plane vertical to an optical axis of the lens; a first drive mechanism (130) including a first magnet and a first coil so as to drive the movable holding member in a first direction vertical to the optical axis; a second drive mechanism (140) including a second magnet and a second coil so as to drive the movable holding member in a second direction vertical to the optical axis; and a detecting device (170, 180) for detecting a position of the movable holding member. The first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism are arranged at positions that are line-symmetric with respect to a first straight line (S1) perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens. |
| US08412028B2 |
Three-dimensional flame simulating electric fireplace
The present invention relates to an electric fireplace having a 3D flame simulating assembly, which comprises housing, an imaging light source, a light processing unit and a simulated charcoal disposed in front of the inner cavity of said housing. A translucent imaging screen is positioned against the back of the simulated charcoal and a second translucent imaging screen is positioned just in front of and parallel to the translucent imaging screen. The light emitted from the imaging light source is projected onto the imaging screen to form a primary simulated flame image after passing through the light processing unit, and portion of which is further projected onto the second imaging screen to form a secondary simulated flame image after passing through the image screen. If the distance between the imaging screen and the second imaging screen is kept to be enough, a visual effect of rising and leaping simulated flames with spatial depth is generated due to the different front to back positions of the flame images imaged on both screens. |
| US08412022B2 |
Information recording method, information recording medium, and information reproducing method, wherein information is stored on a data recording portion and a management information recording portion
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface. |
| US08412020B2 |
Data processing apparatus and its control method, program, and storage medium
This invention provides a disk playback apparatus which can shorten a time from when a power switch is turned on until a startup operation is completed. Even when the power switch of the main body is OFF, if exchange of a disk-like recording medium is detected, management data of the disk is read out and is stored in a buffer memory. When the power switch is turned on for the next time, the management data is read out from the buffer memory without accessing the disk-like recording medium. |
| US08412018B2 |
Large-area optical element
A large-area optical element is described. The large-area optical element includes a monolithic container fabricated from a transparent material, wherein the monolithic container has a plurality of optical surfaces. A liquid is positioned within the monolithic container, wherein the liquid has a density substantially less than a density of the monolithic container. |
| US08412017B2 |
Cable pulling assembly
A cable pulling assembly includes an enclosure that is adapted for enclosing a connector of a fiber optic cable. The enclosure includes a body having a base portion and a cover portion. The base portion includes a first axial end and a second axial end and defines a first connector cavity. The first connector cavity is adapted to receive a portion of the connector of the fiber optic cable. The cover portion includes a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. The second axial end is engaged to the second axial end of the base portion at a hinge. The cover portion defines a second connector cavity that is adapted to receive a remaining portion of the connector. The enclosure defines a hole that extends through the base and cover portions. The hole is adapted to receive a pulling member. |
| US08412016B2 |
Communication cable connection box with waterproof device of elastic rubber shrinking pipe
A waterproof communication cable connection box includes a protective cover, a cable pass-through end surface, a hollow cylindrical pipe formed on the cable pass-through end surface, an elastic rubber shrinking pipe, and a flexible hard plastic strip provided on the inner wall of the elastic rubber shrinking pipe. The plastic strip will be removed after a cable passes through the cable connection box so that the elastic rubber shrinking pipe closely covers the hollow cylindrical pipe and the cable part exposing outside of the hollow cylindrical pipe. |
| US08412006B2 |
Optocoupler
An optocoupler with optical transmitter and receiver dies attached to a single conductive pad is presented. One of the optical transmitter and receiver dies may be attached directly to the conductive pad, while the other one of the optical transmitter and receiver dies may be attached to the conductive pad by means of three layers of materials comprising an isolation layer sandwiched between two attachment layers. A multi-channel optocoupler with multiple transmitter and/or receiver dies is also presented, in which one of the optical transmitter and receiver dies may be attached directly to the conductive pad. The other optical transmitter or receiver dies may be attached to the conductive pad by means of three layers of materials comprising an isolation layer sandwiched between two attachment layers. |
| US08412001B2 |
Image processing device, method and program
In an image processing device, a transfer unit enlarges or reduces the image data at the transfer magnification by performing an enlarging or reducing process on the image data once, when the transfer magnification is equal to or smaller than an upper limit or equal to or greater than a lower limit. The transfer unit also repeats, by a plurality of times, a process of performing an enlarging or reducing process on an image data stored in a first region of a storage unit at a divided-transfer magnification equal to or smaller than the upper limit or equal to or greater than the lower limit and then storing the image data in a second region of the storage unit, when the transfer magnification is above the upper limit or below the lower limit. |
| US08412000B2 |
System and method for reducing motion artifacts by displaying partial-resolution images
A method for reducing motion artifacts and the systems for implementing the same are provided. The method includes receiving a full-resolution image at a first time point; extracting a first partial-resolution image from the full-resolution image; and calculating a second partial-resolution image for a second time point after the first time point. The first and the second partial-resolution images are complementary. |
| US08411998B2 |
Method and apparatus providing perspective correction and/or image dewarping
Methods and apparatuses for providing dewarping and/or perspective correction of an input image are disclosed. Described embodiments include processing that provides dewarping and/or perspective correction by associating pixel values identified by input pixel addresses corresponding to an input image with output pixel addresses corresponding to an output image. An image processor having a storage circuit and an address mapping unit for determining a corresponding input pixel address from an output pixel address is also disclosed. |
| US08411996B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating panorama
A method and an apparatus for generating a panorama are provided. In the present method, a plurality of raw images of a scene is captured. A coarse motion estimation is executed on the raw images to obtain a coarse motion estimation result of the scene. In the meantime, the raw images inside a window of interest (WOI) are cropped to obtain a plurality of cropped images, and a fine motion estimation is executed on the cropped images according to the coarse motion estimation result of the scene, so as to obtain a fine motion estimation result of the scene. The raw images are stitched and blended according to the fine motion estimation result, so as to generate the panorama. |
| US08411995B2 |
Deconvolution-based structured light system with geometrically plausible regularization
Systems and methods for processing images in a structured light system which may be used to determine the correspondences in a camera-projector system. Those correspondences can later be used to construct a 3D model, to calibrate a projector or for other purposes. The optical and geometric characteristics of the system are initially determined. The capability of establishing correspondences is affected by the limitations of the system and the properties of the surfaces. Once images of the patterns projected on the surface are acquired, they are iteratively segmented and deconvolved using the known characteristics of the system. The result is a set of correspondences with a reduction of artifacts introduced by the limitations of the system. The characteristics of the structured light system which may be used in the iterative segmentation and deconvolution may include the characteristics of a pattern projected on the scene or object, the physical characteristics of the structured light system, as well as the characteristics of the scene or object itself. |
| US08411994B2 |
Apparatus and method for image processing and computer-readable storage medium
An input pixel value setting circuit sets at least two different input pixel values in a subject area of an input image. A dynamic range transforming circuit performs a process for transforming pixel values of the input image using a dynamic range transformation function in which output pixel values corresponding to the two different input pixel values become set output pixel values. |
| US08411990B1 |
System and method for decomposing an image into reflectance and shading components
Various embodiments of a system and methods for decomposing an image into reflectance and shading components are described. An image decomposition module may represent an image as a product of the reflectance and shading components of the image. Data representing the image may be transformed into an image gradient containing both reflectance and shading component gradients. A normal vector perpendicular to the direction of the reflectance component gradient may be determined, based on a difference between the color channels of the image gradient. The image gradient may be modified according to the normal vector to eliminate the reflectance component gradient. The shading component gradient may be determined from the modified image gradient. The shading component gradient may be transformed into the shading component. The reflectance component may be determined by substituting the shading component into the representation of the image which is a product of the reflectance and shading components. |
| US08411988B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for managing margin data
An image processing apparatus partitions entered image data into first partitioned image data and appends margin data to the first partitioned image data. The image processing apparatus corrects the first partitioned image data other than the margin data to second partitioned image data and processes the second partitioned image data and the margin data. |
| US08411986B2 |
Systems and methods for segmenation by removal of monochromatic background with limitied intensity variations
A method for distinguishing a foreground object from a monochromatic background in a digital image depicting a foreground object in front of said monochromatic background. A outer edge intensity map is created of the foreground object to which a tracing process is conducted. A continuous edge map is created by utilizing the traced edges in the outer edge intensity map. By selecting a path on the continuous edge map based on average edge intensity, a final edge map is created. The pixels comprised within the final edge map are distinguished as the foreground object. Optionally, the final edge map may be refined utilizing certain techniques. |
| US08411981B2 |
Method of removing blur without ringing-artifact
Provided is an image processing method and apparatus for removing blur in a screen image, including detecting blur in an input image, segmenting the image according to an amount of the detected blur, performing a high pass filtering of the segmented image in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, detecting corresponding weights by using corresponding coefficients of each direction obtained from filtering; and restoring the image by applying the detected weights to one of: an iterative form or a closed form of an image restoration. |
| US08411980B1 |
Removing motion blur from unaligned multiple blurred images
Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for removing motion blur are disclosed. A homography is estimated for each of a plurality of images. Two or more images of the plurality are unaligned. An estimated latent image for the plurality of images selected for recovery of the latent image is deconvolved. A point spread function for the each of the plurality of images is calculated. The homography for the each of the plurality of images, the estimated latent image, and the point spread function for the each of the plurality of images are iteratively updated until the homography for each of the plurality of images stabilizes. The iteratively updating includes updating one of the homography for the each of the plurality of images, the estimated latent image, and the point spread function for the each of the plurality of images while holding the remainder constant. |
| US08411977B1 |
Audio identification using wavelet-based signatures
A method is described that includes producing an audio spectrogram from a target sample, generating a number of fingerprints based on the audio spectrogram, comparing the series of fingerprints to samples in a data repository using wavelet coefficients, and identifying the target sample based on the matches found in the data repository. |
| US08411976B2 |
Image data compression apparatus, decompression apparatus, compressing method, decompressing method, and storage medium
An image compression apparatus includes: a line memory unit for holding pixel values for at least one immediately previous line in the lines to be processed of an image to be compressed; a division unit for dividing pixels of the line to be processed into 2n-pixel blocks; a first estimation value calculation unit for extrapolation-estimating the 2n-1-th pixel and the 2n-th pixel in the blocks divided, and obtaining an estimated value in processing for the first hierarchical level; a second estimation value calculation unit for interpolation-estimating certain pixels and obtaining an estimated value in the processing for the second hierarchical level through the processing for the n-th hierarchical level; and an estimation coding unit for obtaining an estimation error from the estimated value, converting the estimation error into a quantization number, converting the quantization number into a variable length code, and obtaining a compression code. |
| US08411973B2 |
Image file processing method
A processing method for image file includes the following steps. An image file of an image is obtained, in which the image file includes a bit stream and an Exchangeable Image File (EXIF) data. A band indicator and a minimum coded unit (MCU) indicator are read according to an expanded range. A referential DC coefficient is obtained according to a hybrid direct current (DC) coefficient corresponding to a first MCU covered by the expanded range. A sub-clip of the MCU covered by the corresponding expanded range in the bit stream is decoded according to the read band indicator, the MCU indicator and the referential DC coefficient, so as to obtain at least one MCU. |
| US08411967B2 |
Constraint-based ordering for temporal coherence of stroke based animation
A renderer allows for a flexible and temporally coherent ordering of strokes in the context of stroke-based animation. The relative order of the strokes is specified by the artist or inferred from geometric properties of the scene, such as occlusion, for each frame of a sequence, as a set of stroke pair-wise constraints. Using the received constraints, the strokes are partially ordered for each of the frames. Based on these partial orderings, for each frame, a permutation of the strokes is selected amongst the ones consistent with the frame's partial order, so as to globally improve the perceived temporal coherence of the animation. The sequence of frames can then, for instance, be rendered by ordering the strokes according to the selected set of permutations for the sequence of frames. |
| US08411965B2 |
Image processing method and apparatus for detecting an edge of an object within an image
An image processing method and apparatus capable of easily detecting an edge of an object from an input image, in which the edge is detected using one step, without a pre-processing step, and a complicated trigonometric function is not used for gradient detection. The image processing method includes setting a window within an input image, analyzing the window to determine directions of edges of objects within the image included in the window, detecting edge information including the edge directions, and processing and outputting the window using the edge information. |
| US08411964B2 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing nudity of image using body part detection model, and method and apparatus for managing image database based on nudity and body parts
A method for analyzing nudity of an image using a body part detection model includes: extracting a skin blob from an image; calculating a first probability value, which indicates a probability of determination on harmfulness of at least one of the image and the skin blob, using a harmfulness detection model; classifying the skin blob as a specific body part using a body part detection model, and calculating a second probability value which indicates a probability of certainty of said classifying; and rating nudity of the image based on the first probability value and the second probability value. |
| US08411956B2 |
Associating optical character recognition text data with source images
A system and method for associating optical character recognition text data with source images are provided. In one embodiment, an association module of a computing system is configured to receive text data from an OCR engine; associate the text data with a source image; and output associated optical character recognition data including the source image, the text data associated with the source image, and a plurality of referrers. Each referrer of the plurality of referrers may indicate a different image reference. The plurality of referrers are configured to cause the viewer application to output the text data associated with the source image to each instance of the source image that is rendered as part of the fixed-layout document in accordance with the multiple image references. |
| US08411952B2 |
Method for segmenting an image using constrained graph partitioning of watershed adjacency graphs
A method for segmenting at least a pair of regions of an image, such method comprising: obtaining data of the image; computing watersheds of the image from intensity gradients of such image data; extracting a watershed region adjacency graph from the computed watersheds, such graph comprising a plurality of nodes corresponding to the watersheds and node interconnecting edges; assigning weights to the interconnecting edges; identifying each of the pair of regions in the image; identifying the nodes corresponding to the pair of identified regions in the adjacency graph; applying constrained graph-partitioning in the adjacency graph using the edge-weights to label unmarked nodes corresponding to each one of the pair of regions; and extrapolating the obtained label nodes on the graph to the image to segment each one of the pair of regions of the image. |
| US08411950B2 |
Image segmentation
According to one embodiment there is provided a method of selecting a plurality of M atlases from among a larger group of N candidate atlases to form a multi-atlas data set to be used for computer automated segmentation of novel image data sets to mark objects of interest therein. A set of candidate atlases is used containing a reference image data set and segmentation data. Each of the candidate atlases is segmented against the others in a leave-one-out strategy, in which the candidate atlases are used as training data for each other. For each candidate atlas in turn, the following is carried out: registering; segmenting; computing an overlap; computing a value of the similarity measure for each of the registrations; and obtaining a set of regression parameters by performing a regression with the similarity measure being the independent variable and the overlap being the dependent variable. |
| US08411949B2 |
Image rasterization processing apparatus using intermediate language form data, computer-readable recording medium storing program and image processing method
The image processing apparatus includes: a storage section including a region to be used when rasterization processing is performed with respect to intermediate language form data created by a band based on page description language form data; a plurality of operation sections; and a control section to perform the rasterization processing with respect to the intermediate language form data by using the operation sections. The control section generates a plurality of segmented regions by dividing the band constituting each pieces of the intermediate language form data into a plurality of pieces based on the number of the operation sections, and assigns a segmented region for executing the rasterization processing among the segmented regions to each of the operation sections. |
| US08411947B2 |
Video processing to detect movement of an object in the scene
A method of processing video comprising a succession of images of a scene to detect movement of an object in the scene, comprising storing a matrix of bytes each representing the difference in intensity of a respective pixel between temporally adjacent images, creating from those bytes a histogram of the frequency at each of a range of positive and negative values of the intensity difference, locating the limits of a central peak of the frequency distribution in the histogram so as to include in the central peak changes due to illumination change and repetitive motions in the background of the scene, determining the proportion of bytes in the remainder of the distribution that are in tails of the distribution on each side of the central peak, repeating the aforesaid process for each successive pair of temporally adjacent images, and providing an output indicative of a moving object and not indicative of illumination change or repetitive motions, in the event that that proportion meets a predetermined criterion. |
| US08411942B2 |
Method and apparatus for hybrid image compression
A Hybrid Compressor and method of compressing a tile of pixels within an image are disclosed. An Edge Processor of the Hybrid Compressor analyzes pixel runs of the tile and generates boundary data defining one or more regions comprising pixels of substantially identical color. A Palette Processor of the Hybrid Compressor generates data defining a color value for each region. An Image Processor of the Hybrid Compressor generates a representation of pixels not included in the one or more regions. |
| US08411941B2 |
Color processing apparatus and method thereof
A data division unit divides N components of N-dimensional vector signals to upper bit signals and lower bit signals. A vertex data read-out unit obtains output signals of a unit solid or unit hypersolid corresponding to a combination of the upper bit signals of the N components from a plurality of multi-dimensional LUT units used to divisionally store output signals corresponding to vertices of unit solids or unit hypersolids that configure a lookup table in eight-vertex units. An interpolation computing unit makes interpolation computations of output signals for N-dimensional vector signals based on the obtained output signals and the lower bit signals of the N components. |
| US08411936B2 |
Apparatus and method for color reproduction
A color-reproduction system is provided. The system includes an image-content-analysis unit that analyzes the color distribution of pixels that constitute an inputted image, a parameter-prediction unit that predicts scaling parameters based on the attribute information on the pixels, the color distribution, and the image size information, and a luminance-chroma-determination unit that determines the final luminance and chroma of the pixels using the predicted parameters. |
| US08411926B2 |
Calibration of a multi-pinhole SPECT system without pre-knowledge of point source markers 3D coordinates
A system and method is provided for reconstructing single photon emission computed tomography data acquired with a pinhole collimator without pre-knowledge of 3D coordinates of point source markers. The system and method include reiteratively applying a downhill simplex process to determine a first parameter and a second parameter, keeping a lowest vertex from a previous iteration, randomly resetting starting values for rest vertexes for a current iteration, wherein the lowest vertex is prevented from performing a last iteration, determining whether at least one of a first threshold and a second threshold has been reached, wherein the first threshold comprises a cost function value and the second threshold comprises a predetermined number of iterations of the downhill simplex process, acquiring projection data from the first parameter, determining locations of 2D data from the projection data of the first parameter; and estimating the second parameter by fitting the forward projected data locations to the measured data locations. |
| US08411915B2 |
Motion compensation in functional imaging
Medical images are collected in a plurality of cardiac and respiratory phases. The images are transformed into a series of respiratory compensated images with the plurality of cardiac phases, but all at a common respiration phase. The series of respiratory compensated images are transformed into one image at a selected cardiac phase and the common respiration phase. In some embodiments, a database of gated transform matrices is generated. The database may be based on specific patient information or on information generated from a pool of patients. The database may account for respiratory motion, cardiac contractile motion, other physiological motion, or combinations thereof. For a current image to be motion corrected, the transformation matrices collected in the database are used to estimate a current set of transformation matrices accounting for the motion in the current image, and a motion-compensated image is generated based on the current set of transform matrices. |
| US08411914B1 |
Systems and methods for spatio-temporal analysis
High resolution time sequences of 3D images that show the dynamics of a time varying changes are provided. The 3D time series of images representing an object that include time varying changes may be produced from lower dimensional image time sequences, such as 2D images. The 2D images may be generated using angiography and may include fluid flow information (e.g., arrival times). The fluid flow information may be provided, for example, by injecting a chemical into the fluid and analyzing its position in the object or body over time. A varying contrast model may be applied to determine the location of the chemical at different points in time which may assist in detecting an ailment. |
| US08411910B2 |
Computationally efficient feature extraction and matching iris recognition
A method and system for uniquely identifying a subject based on an iris image. After obtaining the iris image, the method produces a filtered iris image by applying filters to the iris image to enhance discriminative features of the iris image. The method analyzes an intensity value for pixels in the filtered iris image to produce an iris code that uniquely identifies the subject. The method also creates a segmented iris image by detecting an inner and outer boundary for an iris region in the iris image, and remapping pixels in the iris region, represented in a Cartesian coordinate system, to pixels in the segmented iris image, represented in a log-polar coordinate system, by employing a logarithm representation process. The method also creates a one-dimensional iris string from the iris image by unfolding the iris region by employing a spiral sampling method to obtain sample pixels in the iris region, wherein the sample pixels are the one-dimensional iris string. |
| US08411906B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image recognition apparatus, and image recognition method
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus including combination generating means for getting a first feature quantity of N dimensions, N being an integer of at least two, from first information prepared for execution of learning and use the first feature quantity of N dimensions to generate at least two of a first feature quantity combination that are not greater than N dimensions of the first feature quantity; and learning processing executing means for computing a correlation coefficient between the plurality of first feature quantity combinations generated by the combination generating means and a learning model feature quantity matching each dimension of the plurality of first feature quantity combinations and, by use of the first correlation coefficient, classify the first information, thereby executing learning processing for classifying predetermined second information. |
| US08411905B2 |
Generating agricultural information products using remote sensing
A method for generating a supplementary index raster file based on a plurality of primary index raster files that are associated with an area of interest (AOI) uses a computer coupled to a remote sensing device via a network, wherein the computer includes an input device, a display, and a memory. The method includes generating the plurality of primary index raster files including at least two independent vegetation index (VI) raster files and a soil brightness index (SBI) raster file, wherein each primary index raster file includes a plurality of pixel values. The method also includes combining the at least two VI raster files to generate a classified soil brightness (CSB) raster file, classifying each pixel value of the CSB raster file into one of a plurality of classes, storing the CSB raster file into the memory, and displaying the CSB raster file. |
| US08411899B2 |
Document processing methods
Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through us of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article. A variety of other features are also detailed. |
| US08411894B2 |
Transducer with deformable corner
A transducer generates acoustic energy. The transducer is suitable for incorporation into any device that needs sound reproduction capability, including devices with generally rectangular geometries such as cell phones, PDAs, and portable gaming devices. The transducer includes a displaceable membrane with a deformable corner. The deformable corner may extend the frequency range over which the transducer generates acoustic energy without distortion. The deformable corner may be part of a membrane periphery around the displaceable membrane. The membrane periphery may be square, triangular, or may take any other polygonal shape. |
| US08411887B2 |
Hearing aid, relay device, hearing-aid system, hearing-aid method, program, and integrated circuit
A hearing aid (51) includes: a sound collecting unit (500) configured to collect one of propagation sounds respectively output from external apparatuses; a radio wave receiving unit (560) that is an exemplary receiving unit configured to receive transmission audio signals transmitted from the respective external apparatuses; a comparing unit (550) configured to compare the propagation sound collected by the sound collecting unit (500) with each of the transmission audio signals received by the radio wave receiving unit (560), and select one of the transmission audio signals that corresponds to the propagation sound; and a sound output unit (520) configured to output, to the user, the sound obtained from the transmission audio signal selected by the comparing unit. |
| US08411885B2 |
Method for operating a hearing apparatus and hearing apparatus with a frequency separating filter
A method operates a hearing apparatus. The hearing apparatus contains a frequency separating filter characterized by a threshold frequency, which splits an input signal into a low-frequency signal component and a high-frequency signal component. The hearing apparatus further has a first device, which can be used to set the threshold frequency of the frequency separating filter so that artifacts in an output signal of the hearing apparatus are reduced. |
| US08411884B2 |
Audio reproduction device and audio-video reproduction system
An audio reproduction device and system are capable of realizing sounds having natural sound quality with no peculiarities, and provide an excellent audio-image ascending effect which is not varied due to differences among individual persons, thereby making audio images and images coincident with each other. A frequency characteristic correction portion forms a frequency characteristic such that a sound-pressure frequency characteristic of reproduced sound radiated to a viewing position from speakers has a first peak and a second peak, wherein the center frequency of the first peak falls within the range of 6 kHz±15%, and the center frequency of the second peak falls within the range of 13 kHz±20%. |
| US08411876B2 |
Preserving noise during editing of a signal
Techniques for introducing background noise segments into signal data are provided. The background noise segments are constructed from a background noise print extracted from the signal data. The background noise print may be user specified, or automatically identified by the signal editing tool. The background noise print may be stored with, and subsequently loaded as part of, the project associated with a signal. The background noise segments that are generated based on the background noise print may have different durations than the background noise print itself. |
| US08411874B2 |
Removing noise from audio
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for removing noise from audio that includes building a sound model that represents noises which result from activations of input controls of a computer device. The method further includes receiving an audio signal produced from a microphone substantially near the computer device. The method further includes identifying, without using the microphone, an activation of at least one input control from among the input controls. The method further includes associating a portion of the audio signal as corresponding to the identified activation. The method further includes applying, from the audio model, a representation of a noise for the identified activation to the associated portion of the audio signal so as to cancel at least part of the noise from the audio signal. |
| US08411873B2 |
Noise control device
A noise control device eliminates a possibility that a noise arriving at a control point is increased as compared to a case where noise control is not performed and has a reduced circuit scale. The device includes a controlling noise detector for detecting a given noise to output a controlling noise signal, a controlling filter section for signal-processing the controlling noise signal, by using a preset fixed filter coefficient, to output a control signal, and a control speaker for reducing the given noise, by emitting toward the control point a control sound based on the control signal. The device also includes a noise determination section for determining whether the given noise is a noise corresponding to the fixed filter coefficient, and an output control section for stopping output of the control signal from the controlling filter section when the given noise does not correspond. |
| US08411871B2 |
Echo cancellation
Implementations related to echo cancellation are depicted and described herein. |
| US08411869B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing a media signal
An apparatus for processing a media signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which the media signal can be converted to a surround signal by using spatial information of the media signal. The present invention provides a method of processing a signal, the method comprising of generating rendering information by using spatial information indicating features between multi-sources and filter information having a surround effect; and generating a surround signal by applying the rendering information to a downmix signal generated by downmixing the multi-sources, wherein a tab number of a filter used in applying the rendering information to generate the surround signal is variable. |
| US08411866B2 |
Distribution of group cryptography material in a mobile IP environment
In one embodiment, a Home Agent receives a Mobile IP registration request from a group member, where the group member is a Mobile Node. The Home Agent generates a mobility binding for the group member that associates the group member with a care-of address, wherein the group member is a member of one or more groups. The Home Agent generates a Mobile IP registration reply, where the Mobile IP registration reply identifies one or more key servers. Each of the one or more key servers serves at least one of the one or more groups and is adapted for distributing group cryptography material to members of each group that is served by the corresponding key server. The Home Agent sends the Mobile IP registration reply to the group member, thereby enabling the group member to obtain cryptography material for at least one of the one or more groups from at least one of the one or more key servers to enable the group member to use the cryptography group material to securely communicate with other group members. |
| US08411865B2 |
Key management method for broadcast encryption in tree topology network
A key management method for broadcast encryption in a tree topology network which includes a plurality of nodes is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of first node groups each of which includes a node at a second layer and nodes, which belong to the node at the second layer, at a first layer in the tree topology network; forming a plurality of second node groups each of which includes a node at a third layer, at least one node which belongs to the node at the third layer, and at least one node which belongs to the node at the third layer and which forms one of the first node groups, in the tree topology; assigning a plurality of first keys which are shared by subsets of the nodes of the first node groups at the first layer, to each of the first node groups, respectively; assigning a plurality of second keys which are shared by subsets of the nodes of the second node groups at the second layer, to each of the second node groups, respectively; and transmitting an update key which is encrypted using at least one key of either the plurality of first keys or the plurality of second keys. |
| US08411861B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods for checking if a receiver is on a revocation list based on SRMs of DVDs
An apparatus, system, or method for (i) processing a System Renewability Message (SRM) that includes first and second generation SRM portions that respectively comprise first and second lists of unique privilege-revoked identifiers for receiver devices; (ii) storing the first and second SRM portions based on whether a source device is a first generation HDCP device, (iii) processing an additional SRM that includes additional first and second generation SRM portions that respectively comprise additional first and second lists of unique privilege-revoked identifiers for receiver devices and a third generation SRM portion that comprises another list of unique privilege-revoked identifiers; and (iv) storing the additional first and second SRM portions and the third SRM portion based on whether the source device is a third generation HDCP device. |
| US08411859B2 |
Non-deterministic number generation
A method for determining the entropy of a noise source providing a bit flow, a method and a device for generating a bit flow, including parallelizing the bit flow to obtain first words over a first number of bits, applying to the successive words a compression function, and evaluating a second number of bits over which the compression function provides its results, the second number representing the number of useful bits in the first words. |
| US08411851B2 |
Determining HDCP source KSV support
Presented is a method for determining the maximum number of key selection vectors (KSVs) supported by an HDCP source. The method includes transmitting a number of KSVs to the HDCP source, determining whether the HDCP source has entered a failure mode in response to the transmitted number of KSVs, increasing or decreasing the number of KSVs in response to the HDCP source not entering or entering the failure mode, transmitting the increased or decreased number of KSVs to the HDCP source, determining whether the HDCP source has entered the failure mode in response to the transmitted increased or decreased number of KSVs, and repeating the increasing, decreasing, and determining steps until the difference between a lowest number of transmitted KSVs resulting in the HDCP source entering the failure mode and a highest number of transmitted KSVs resulting in the HDCP source not entering the failure mode is one. |
| US08411847B2 |
Acoustic echo canceller
Disclosed methods and systems measure acoustic responses to training signals activated prior to communication sessions. Profiles related to the acoustic responses are saved and adapted during communication sessions. Training signals may have uniform frequency distributions over a frequency range and may be in response to user inputs, timeouts, or predetermined events. In the next excessive divergence is detected, an adapted profile may be substituted by an original, trained profile. |
| US08411846B2 |
Echo path change detection in telecommunications networks
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for detecting an echo path change (EPC) in a telecommunications network. The method detects whether the effectiveness of echo cancellation of an echo canceller has decreased relatively significantly. Once a relatively significant decrease is detected, the method determines whether the decrease was an EPC or an inadvertent detection of double talk (DT). In particular, the method considers whether echo is effectively cancelled over a hangover period. Further, echo return loss (ERL) estimates are generated over the hangover period and compared to a lowest-possible ERL for the network. If both (1) echo cancellation is ineffective and (2) a sufficient number of ERL estimates are not below the worst-case ERL, then an EPC decision is made. If either (1) echo cancellation is effective or (2) a sufficient number of ERL estimates are below the worst-case ERL, then a DT decision is made. |
| US08411843B1 |
Next agent available notification
The present invention, in one embodiment, is directed to an agent available notifier 250 that (a) receives a request from the first customer, but not from the second customer, to be notified when the first contact is eligible for servicing by a selected resource so that the first customer is free to perform a desired activity and (b) in response to the first customer's request, provides the first customer with a selected notification that the first contact is eligible for servicing, wherein the second customer is not provided with the selected notification when the second contact is eligible for servicing. |
| US08411841B2 |
Real-time agent assistance
Some general aspects of the invention relate to systems and methods for improving contact center agent performance, for instance, by integrating real-time call monitoring with speech analytics to present agents with information useful to the handling of the current calls. In some implementations, phonetically based speech analysis techniques are applied to process live audio streams to identify key words and/or phrases of relevance, based on which knowledge articles can be selectively presented to agents to drive more efficient business processes. |
| US08411840B2 |
Method of unifying control of contact center system
A method and apparatus are provided for changing operating parameters within an automatic contact distribution system that includes a plurality of functionally similar but structurally different automatic contact distributor subsystems. The method includes the steps of a user selecting an operating parameter for use by each of the plurality of functionally similar but structurally different automatic contact distributor subsystems, a respective conversion program for each of the plurality of functionally similar but structurally different automatic contact distributor subsystems receiving the selected operating parameter from the user and incorporating the selected operating parameter into the respective subsystems. |
| US08411839B1 |
System and method for providing enhanced client satisfaction during phone interactions by intelligent automatic call routing
A system and method for providing enhanced client satisfaction during phone interactions by intelligent automatic call routings to a relevant client support agent. The invention includes methods to automatically determine and anticipate client needs based on the information the host has about the client. |
| US08411836B2 |
Forwarding apparatus, telephone server, forwarding method, and forwarding system
A forwarding apparatus includes: a transmission source acquisition part for acquiring a first telephone number of a telephone corresponding to a transmission source of digital information; a call destination receiving part for receiving, from the telephone server, a second telephone number of a telephone called through the telephone number acquired by the transmission source acquisition part; a forwarding destination identifying part for identifying a forwarding destination corresponding to a telephone having the second telephone number received by the call destination receiving part; and a forwarding part for forwarding the digital information to the forwarding destination identified by the forwarding destination identifying part. |
| US08411834B2 |
Device-to-device call disposition
Device-to-device call disposition is provided. When a call is received at a first telecommunications device, a determination may be made as to whether a second device has been designated to receive a notification of the inbound call and to allow for call disposition at the second device. At the second device, the user may be notified of the incoming call at the first device, and the user may be provided with a number of options for disposing of the incoming call. While the user is positioned at a location having a wireline or wireless communications device associated with the location, and the user receives a call on his/her personal wireless device, a call to the personal wireless device may be automatically routed to the wireline or wireless device associated with the user's location (e.g., home or office). |
| US08411829B2 |
System, method and device for managing messages
A system, method and device for managing messages. A caller dialing a particular line has a message managing device operatively connected to the line, that records a copy of the message to be recorded on the line, such as on a conventional answering machine. The MMD includes ring detection circuitry to detect an incoming call. The copy of the message recorded on the line can be communicated to the appropriate user by correlating the incoming call data with a contact list or other preferences selected by a user. The user/recipient of the message can also be manually selected by the caller. The MMD can also implement a virtual phone application for creating a plurality of distinct, unique rings for one line, based upon the caller information. |
| US08411828B2 |
Intuitive voice navigation
Call flow information can build ‘intent’ into call flows having a series of intended steps and one or more alternative steps for selected intended steps. Users can advance in the call flow based on any response other than one or more alternative valid responses for the one intended step that lead in the call flow to one or more alternative steps to the one intended step because every action in the call flow motivates the user to follow the predetermined ordering. A user can proceed from a first intended step in the series of intended steps to a second intended step in the series of intended steps based on a user's response or information known or discovered about the user. |
| US08411827B2 |
Method and system for implementing multimedia ring back tone service
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for implementing a multimedia ring back tone service. The method comprises: establishing a connection to a multimedia ring back tone platform when it is determined that either the calling party or the called party of a call is a user to the multimedia ring back tone service during call connection, and completing a media capability negotiation between a calling terminal and the multimedia ring back tone platform; acquiring a first media content and a second media content according to a multimedia ring back tone information of the user, and generating a streaming media from the first media content and the second media content; and playing the streaming media to the calling party. The present invention is capable of further improving existing multimedia ring back tone techniques to better meet the communication users' requirement for personalization. |
| US08411825B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for contacting intended customers
A method, system, and apparatus are used to contact an intended customer. In one embodiment, one or more notification details associated with an intended customer are received. The notification details may include at least a phone number and a name of the intended customer. Subsequently, a phone call to the intended customer is originated. One or more audio messages are played to a recipient of the phone call. Subsequently, one or more inputs from the recipient are received. Whether the recipient is the intended customer is determined based on the inputs provided. In one embodiment, the phone call is routed to an agent or an automated system if the recipient is the intended customer. In another embodiment, if the recipient is not the intended customer, the recipient may be prompted to provide availability information of the intended customer. |
| US08411824B2 |
Methods and systems for a sign language graphical interpreter
Systems and methods for displaying visual content to a user corresponding to sound captured at a user terminal are disclosed. After receiving over a network from a user terminal a request to convert sound into a visual content representing the sound, wherein the sound comprises one or more words, a translation server may retrieve text corresponding to the one or more words from a database. The translation server may then convert the text into one or more content phrases, wherein the content phrases represent the meaning of the one or more words, and convert each of the one or more content phrases into a new language. Finally, the translation server may send visual content to the user terminal representing the new language. |
| US08411822B2 |
Methods and systems for determining the average atomic number and mass of materials
Disclosed herein are methods and systems of scanning a target for potential threats using the energy spectra of photons scattered from the target to determine the spatial distributions of average atomic number and/or mass in the target. An exemplary method comprises: illuminating each of a plurality of voxels of the target with a photon beam; determining an incident flux upon each voxel; measuring the energy spectrum of photons scattered from the voxel; determining, using the energy spectrum, the average atomic number in the voxel; and determining the mass in the voxel using the incident flux, the average atomic number of the material in the voxel, the energy spectrum, and a scattering kernel corresponding to the voxel. An exemplary system may use threat detection heuristics to determine whether to trigger further action based upon the average atomic number and/or mass of the voxels. |
| US08411818B2 |
X-ray testing method and X-ray testing device
A first x-ray image of the circuit board that is equipped with components only on a first side with a first x-ray device (2) that produces transmission images and a second x-ray image of a circuit board that is equipped with components on both sides with a second x-ray device (4) that produces transmission images are recorded in an x-ray testing method for checking circuit boards that are equipped with components on two sides, in particular for checking soldered joints. A test x-ray image is then evaluated in a computer unit in which the second side that is equipped with components is displayed in enhanced form by forming a function from the pixel values of the first x-ray image and the corresponding pixel values of the second x-ray image. |
| US08411815B2 |
Grazing incidence collector for laser produced plasma sources
Grazing incidence collectors (GICs) for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and X-ray radiation sources, such as laser produced plasma (LPP) sources, are disclosed. Source-collector systems comprising GICs and LPP sources are also disclosed. A laser beam is directed along the collector axis to a fuel target to form the LPP source, and the collector is arranged to collect the radiation and reflect it to an intermediate focus. The collector may include one or more grazing-incidence mirrors, and these mirrors may be electroformed. lithography systems that employ the source-collector systems as disclosed herein. |
| US08411810B2 |
Receiving circuit with adaptive synchronization and method thereof
A circuit with adaptive synchronization and a method thereof is provided. The synchronous receiving circuit adaptively adjusts the timing of a clock signal generated therein for receiving data without accompanying a clock signal for synchronization. The synchronous receiving circuit includes a clock generator, an edge detector, a synchronization unit and a latch. The clock generator generates a first clock signal according to an input data signal. The edge detector detects edges to generate an indication signal. The synchronization unit is coupled to the clock generator and the edge detector, and adaptively adjusts the first clock signal according to the indication signal. The latch latches the input data signal according to the adjusted first clock signal. |
| US08411809B2 |
Variable time delay control structure for channel matching
A cosite interference cancellation system is provided for improved rejection of a signal coupled from a transmission antenna into a local receive antenna in the presence of local multipath. The cosite interference cancellation system and associated method advantageously provide improved signal rejection by continuously controlling (adjusting) a matching time delay to reduce cosite interference. |
| US08411808B2 |
Information processing device, receiving method, and wireless communication system
There is provided an information processing device, including a preamble detection portion, a sync detection portion, a storage portion, a storage control portion, a delay time imparting portion, a bias computation portion, a half sampling portion, an adaptive equalization portion an equalization performance determination portion that compares equalization errors for each one of the sync portion candidates for which the training equalization has been performed by the adaptive equalization portion, and that sets the candidate position with the least error, and a binary determination portion that decodes the Manchester code into NRZ code by subjecting to binary determination the received signal that has been adaptively equalized by the adaptive equalization portion. The storage control portion reads the received signal from the storage portion based on information about the candidate position with the least error that has been set by the equalization performance determination portion. |
| US08411802B2 |
Iterative estimator and method of channel and noise variance for multiple input multiple output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system
A reception apparatus including: a detection unit detecting extrinsic information based on an output of a tentative symbol decision unit, an output of a channel estimation unit, and an output of a noise variance estimation unit that are obtained from a previous iteration process; a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) aided channel decoding unit outputting an encoded and interleaved bit, or a posteriori information thereof based on the extrinsic information; the tentative symbol decision unit determining a tentative transmission symbol based on an output of the CRC aided channel decoding unit; the channel estimation unit estimating a channel based on an output of the tentative symbol decision unit or a pilot symbol; and the noise variance estimation unit estimating a noise variance or an initial noise variance based on the output of the tentative symbol decision unit and the output of the channel estimation unit is provided. |
| US08411799B1 |
Receiver with intermediate frequency error correction
A receiver having an intermediate frequency error correction circuit includes a mixer having a source input, a local oscillator input, and an IF output, an adjustable frequency local oscillator having an output coupled to the local oscillator input of the mixer, an IF filter having an input coupled to the IF output of the mixer and an IF filtered output, where the IF filter has an IF filter frequency response, and control circuitry coupled to the local oscillator such that the frequency of the local oscillator can be varied to at least: partially correct an IF frequency error. |
| US08411797B2 |
Frequency offset compensation in a digital frequency shift keying receiver
A digital nonlinear adaptive mechanism for frequency offset compensation for use in a digital Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) receiver such as a Bluetooth GFSK receiver. The mechanism is intended to aid in the recovery of a frequency-modulated signal in the presence of an unknown additive frequency offset, which could be greater than the peak frequency deviation and which must be suppressed to enable proper data recovery in the receiver. The mechanism utilizes a demodulator to convert the frequency offset into a digitally represented DC level. This level is extracted by a non-linear estimator based on peak detectors and filters. Active suppression of the DC level is achieved by feed-forwarding the estimated value into a subtractor that removes it from the digital signal. A gear shift mechanism incorporated within the DC estimation block enables the dynamic control of the DC estimation process. Charge and discharge coefficients are configured dynamically to provide fast frequency offset compensation during the reception of the redundant header at the beginning of a packet and relatively slow frequency offset compensation during the subsequent reception of the payload portion of the packet, thus minimizing both the acquisition time and the payload's BER in the receiver. |
| US08411794B2 |
System and method for arbitrary phase and amplitude modulation in an antenna
A system and method for arbitrarily switching phase and amplitude at an antenna. A Direct Spatial Antenna Modulation (DSAM) system makes use of the spatial characteristics of a radiating antenna structure to directly alter a signal transmitted or received by the radiating structure. A data stream maps a carrier to different spatial points of excitation in the antenna structure, where each chosen configuration has different radiating characteristics including phase, amplitude, and polarization, which can be used represent data symbols. The spatial points of a radiating structure may be mapped directly to In-Phase and Quadrature components of the output using two spatial feedpoints and amplitude control to the feedpoints. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this Abstract. |
| US08411793B2 |
Digital amplitude modulation
A transmitter using quadrature modulation includes a rectangular to polar converter for converting data symbols into a polar form, where each polar symbol has a magnitude signal and an angle signal. Digital phase modulation circuitry includes an all digital PLL circuit for generating a phase modulated RF carrier signal responsive to the angle signal frequency control word (FCW) and a carrier frequency FCW. A digitally controlled amplifier for amplifying the phase modulated signal is controlled by a digital amplitude control circuitry for controlling the gain of the digitally controlled amplifier responsive to the magnitude signal. |
| US08411791B2 |
Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion
Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion. Synthesis of one or more distortion terms made based on a digital signal (e.g., one or more digital codewords) is performed in accordance with digital to analog conversion. The one or more distortion terms may correspond to aliased higher-order harmonics, distortion, nonlinearities, clipping, etc. Such distortion terms may be known a priori, such as based upon particular characteristics of a given device, operational history, etc. Alternatively, such distortion terms may be determined based upon operation of a device and/or based upon an analog signal generated from the analog to conversion process. For example, frequency selective measurements made based on an analog signal generated from the digital to analog conversion may be used for determination of and/or adaptation of the one or more distortion terms. One or more DACs may be employed within various architectures operative to perform digital to analog conversion. |
| US08411787B2 |
Space-time block coding systems and methods
Althrough orthonormal space-time coding matrices provide for optimal communication system performance in that associated correlation matrices include no non-zero off-diagonal elements, unity code rate orthonormal coding matrices are difficult to identify for arbitrary communication network equipment. According to embodiments of the present invention, non-orthonormal space-time coding matrices, for which associated correlation matrices include non-zero off-diagonal elements, are used to encode data symbols. The non-orthonormal space-time coding matrices are more easily determined, and undesirable effects of the non-zero off-diagonal components are reduced by selecting a coding matrix from among a number of such matrices. For example, a particular space-time coding matrix may be selected from a number of generated space-time coding matrices based on a number of non-zero off-diagonal elements or a power of a trace of the associated correlation matrices. |
| US08411786B1 |
System and method of selecting a data detection technique for a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system
One or more communications parameters associated with a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) signal transmitted by a transmitter are identified. The one or more communications parameters include one or more of (i) a number of receive antennas via which the MIMO signal is received, (ii) a number of spatial streams in the MIMO signal, and (iii) a signal to noise ratio (SNR) corresponding to the MIMO signal. A particular data detection technique of a plurality of data detection techniques employed by a receiver is selected in accordance with at least one of the one or more communications parameters. |
| US08411784B2 |
Multi-configuration adaptive layered steered space-time coded system and method
The multi-configuration adaptive layered steered space-time coded (LSSTC) wireless transmission system utilizes Layered Steered Space-Time Codes (LSSTC), a recently proposed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system that combines the benefits of the vertical Bell Labs space-time (V-BLAST) scheme, space-time block codes (STBC) and beamforming. A multi-configuration transmission scheme based on LSSTC and V-BLAST systems uses threshold-based decision making to change the modulation type and the MIMO transmission scheme in order to optimize error performance. |
| US08411781B2 |
Method and system for operating a MIMO decoder
Varying embodiments of the present invention provide a MIMO apparatus, such as a transceiver and a method of operation thereof. In an embodiment, the transceiver employs a parallelized., two-stage pipeline architecture that reduces the overall latency of the system. This reduction in latency translates to cost savings and higher data rates for the same hardware clock speed. |
| US08411780B2 |
Estimating the ratio of traffic channel power to pilot power in a MIMO wireless communication system
Methods and apparatus for processing a received multi-stream (MIMO) signal, and in particular for estimating a per-code traffic-channel-to-pilot power ratio for the MIMO signal are disclosed. An exemplary method includes the calculation of an average symbol amplitude or average symbol power level from a plurality of de-spread traffic channel symbols received in a first transmission slot and the estimation of a corresponding pilot symbol amplitude or pilot symbol power level, based on an estimated propagation channel response and at least one of a plurality of precoding vectors used to generate the MIMO signal. A per-code traffic-channel-to-pilot power ratio for the first transmission slot is computed by dividing the average symbol amplitude or average symbol power level by the corresponding pilot symbol amplitude or pilot symbol power level. |
| US08411779B2 |
Communication system, transmitter, receiver and multiple access method
In a communications system including a transmitter for transmitting signals over a transmission channel and a receiver for receiving the signals, the transmitter includes: a filter for filtering a modulated signal to modify amplitude and phase characteristics of the modulated signal; and a first processor for performing interleaving process and/or scrambling process for the filtered signal. On the other hand, the receiver includes: a second processor for performing deinterleaving process and/or descrambling process for a received signal; and an inverse filter for filtering a signal supplied from the second processor. |
| US08411777B2 |
Complex vector quantization codebook for use in downlink multi-user MIMO mobile broadcast systems
A wireless communications device having a complex vector quantization codebook for use in a downlink multi-user MIMO (multiple-input-multiple-output) mobile broadcast system with feedback enables the interference between data simultaneously sent by the base station to a plurality of mobile terminals to be reliably minimized. The codebook contains many subsets of code vectors that are substantially mutually (i.e., pairwise) orthogonal, or almost orthogonal, to each other. With use of such a codebook, a base station can transmit simultaneously to subsets of mobile terminals associated with these subsets of code vectors with minimal interference therebetween. |
| US08411775B2 |
Iterative demapper
Demodulation and/or demapping of a signal (e.g., based on a constellation whose points have a corresponding mapping with associated labels) is performed such that each dimension is processed separately without accounting for influences from the other dimension. For example, the demapping process operates on each respective dimension separately and independently. In some instances, the processing operates iteratively, in that, information identified from processing one of the dimensions is employed in directing the processing in another of the dimensions. Such operation may be performed iteratively by updating/modified information associated with one or more of the dimensions as well. Moreover, decoding may operate in accordance with iterative demapping (e.g., error correction code (ECC) and/or forward error correction (FEC) code by which information bits are encoded) to make estimates of bits within a signal sequence, and those estimates may be used in a subsequent iteration of demapping. |
| US08411773B2 |
Simplified equalization scheme for distributed resource allocation in multi-carrier systems
In multi-carrier systems, distributed resource allocation of the resources of multiple user equipments (UEs) can result in better frequency diversity gain but can also induce Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) between UEs. This ICI can become quite serious in a high mobility environment. Based on a novel radio channel model for ICI cancellation in multi-carrier systems and an iterative channel estimation scheme for ICI cancellation in multi-carrier systems, the present invention provides a simplified equalization scheme in the frequency domain to determine and remove ICI of both a targeting UE as well as other UEs. |
| US08411769B2 |
Cancellation of burst noise in a communication system with application to S-CDMA
A communication system performs burst noise cancellation. A transmitter produces and transmits a spread signal that comprises at least one known-value symbol spread by a plurality of non data-carrying orthogonal codes and data symbols spread by at least one data-carrying orthogonal code. The transmitter transmits the spread signal across a communication link that introduces burst noise. A burst noise detector determines burst noise affected chips of the orthogonal codes. A weight computation functional block calculates a plurality of complex-valued combining weights based upon the burst noise affected chips. A vector de-spreader and a linear combiner operate in combination to use the plurality of non data-carrying orthogonal codes, the at least one data-carrying orthogonal code, and the plurality of complex-valued combining weights to de-spread the received spread signal to produce the data symbols with the burst noise substantially removed. |
| US08411761B2 |
Sub-channel acquisition in a digital television receiver designed to receive mobile/handheld signals
When a change in sub-channel selection is made after a mobile/handheld (M/H) Frame is begun, an M/H receiver is for some time unable to correct byte errors by transverse Reed-Solomon (TRS) decoding of turbo decoding results. Despite this, later stages of the M/H receiver are supplied data that cyclic-redundancy-check (CRC) decoding of Internet protocol (IP) packets does not find to be in error. Some of the IP packets comprise Service Map Table (SMT)-mobile/handheld (MH) data used to update SMT determining how the M/H receiver is operated. SMT-MH data that have not been subjected to TRS byte-error correction are kept from updating the SMT until those SMT-MH data are verified by later SMT-MH data subjected to TRS byte-error correction. Transmitting total number of Groups (TNOG) information for the currently received M/H Frame in all its sub-frames speeds up acquisition of Fast Information Channel updates by the M/H receiver. |
| US08411756B2 |
Method and system for generating block mode conversion table for efficient video transcoding
A method and system for generation of a block mode conversion table for use in online transcoding of a sequence of input images in a first format to a sequence of output images in a second format are described. The table is based on a sequence of training images and provides an effective mapping between the encoding block modes and respective candidate transcoding block modes used during the online transcoding. The method utilizes the encoding block mode, the motion vectors and the residual information extracted during the decoding of the training image to generate the block mode conversion table. A corresponding system is also provided. |
| US08411754B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for translating an element of a static encoded image in the encoded domain
A computer-implemented method for creating in the encoded domain one or more video frames from a compressed still video image wherein image content in the created video frames is translated in location by panning or scrolling or a combination thereof on a non-block basis (i.e. pixel-level). A new block formed from portions of two other blocks is created by processing the original two blocks with identity matrices based upon the shift amount. By performing the creation process in the encoded domain processing power requirements are reduced and image quality is increased. |
| US08411753B2 |
Color space scalable video coding and decoding method and apparatus for the same
A color space scalable video coding and decoding method and an apparatus for the same are disclosed that can adjust color components or color depth according to the performance of a decoder side. The color space scalable video coding method includes generating transform coefficients by removing the temporal redundancy and spatial redundancy of input video frames, quantizing the transform coefficients, generating a bit stream by entropy coding the quantized transform coefficients, and generating a color space scalable bit stream that includes the bit stream and position information of luminance data in the bit stream. |
| US08411746B2 |
Multiview video coding over MPEG-2 systems
A multiplexer may produce an MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Experts Group) System standard bitstream comprising views with nonconsecutive view order indexes. In one example, an apparatus includes a video encoder that encodes views of a scene, and a multiplexer that constructs a data structure for signaling that a corresponding MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Experts Group) System standard bitstream includes a first view of the views of the scene associated with a first view order index and a second view of the plurality of views of the scene associated with a second view order index. The first view order index and the second view order index are non-consecutive. The apparatus may further include an output interface that outputs the data structure. |
| US08411745B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding and decoding using bit-precision
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus of encoding/decoding by using a bit precision. In accordance to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to encoding and decoding an image or a video by using a bit precision. Accordingly, compression efficiency can be improved and the decoding complexity can be reduced by encoding/decoding video data by use of the bit precision. |
| US08411740B2 |
System and method for low bandwidth display information transport
To conserve communication channel bandwidth, video information must often be compressed in low bandwidth environments. To significantly reduce bandwidth usage, a first disclosed embodiment proposes transmits a reduced color depth image initially and then later transmitting additional color depth information when the image becomes static. In this manner, a reduced color image is displayed when an image is dynamic but a full color image is displayed when the image becomes static. Note that the additional color information is transmitted only when bandwidth is has become less utilized since updated image information is no longer being transmitted since the image has become static. The additional color depth information may be stored in the same buffer or within a different buffer in the receiving system. A second embodiment delays additional color depth information and also spatially reduces the additional color depth information. |
| US08411735B2 |
Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and program
A data processing apparatus that processes image data of a moving image includes: an acquiring unit acquiring variations representing degrees of change in the image data, in a unit of picture; a display-type determining unit determining, on the basis of the variations in pictures, display types, which represent display methods in displaying the pictures, in a unit of picture; a display-type acquiring unit acquiring a display type for a picture designated by a picture-designation operating unit operated in designating a picture to be displayed; and a display control unit causing a display to display a picture with a display method represented by a display type for the picture. |
| US08411734B2 |
Scalable multi-thread video decoding
Decoding tasks are identified for decoding encoded video. Decoding tasks may include entropy decoding tasks, motion compensation tasks, inverse frequency transform tasks, inverse quantization tasks, intra decoding tasks, loop filtering tasks, or other tasks. Task dependencies are identified for the video decoding tasks. For example, one or more decoding tasks may depend on prior completion of entropy decoding tasks. The decoding tasks are prioritized based at least in part on the task dependencies. For example, a higher priority may be assigned to tasks that must be completed before other tasks that depend on them can begin. Prioritized decoding tasks are selected to be performed by hardware threads. For example, a first hardware thread may perform a first decoding task that does not depend on any uncompleted tasks while a second hardware thread performs a second decoding task that does not depend on any uncompleted tasks. |
| US08411733B2 |
Signal equalizer for a signal transmission network
In an RF signal transmission network such as the reverse channels of a coaxial cable network, there is provided at least one adaptive equalizer for pre- or post-filtering inter-symbol interference in the transmitted signals, the adaptive equalizer having a series of coefficients for which values are required. In order to improve the transmission efficiency the preamble used in these channels is shortened by coarsely estimating the channel using a short “unique word’ placed at the beginning of the equalizer training sequence. The coarse channel estimate is crudely inverted to produce a set of equalizer coefficients which partially equalize the channel. By initializing the adaptive equalizer with these approximate coefficients, it is possible to reduce the length of the training sequence needed for the equalizer to converge. |
| US08411731B2 |
Device and method for processing a real subband signal for reducing aliasing effects
In order to process a subband signal of a plurality of real subband signals which are a representation of a real discrete-time signal generated by an analysis filter bank, a weighter for weighting a subband signal by a weighting factor determined for the subband signal is provided to obtain a weighted subband signal. In addition, a correction term is calculated by a correction term determiner, the correction term determiner being implemented to calculate the correction term using at least one other subband signal and using another weighting factor provided for the other subband signal, the two weighting factors differing. The correction term is then combined with the weighted subband signal to obtain a corrected subband signal, resulting in reduced aliasing, even if subband signals are weighted to a different extent. |
| US08411730B2 |
Semiconductor integrated communication circuit and operation method thereof
The semiconductor integrated communication circuit includes:a low-noise amplifier; a receive mixer; a receive VCO; a demodulation-processing circuit; a modulation-processing circuit; a transmit mixer; a transmit VCO; a second-order-distortion-characteristic-calibration circuit; a quadrature-receive-signal-calibration circuit; and a test-signal generator. The test-signal generator generates first and second test signals using the transmit VCO. In the second-order-distortion-characteristic-calibration mode, the second-order-distortion-characteristic-calibration circuit variably changes an operation parameter of the receive mixer thereby to calibrate the second-order distortion characteristic to achieve its best condition while the first test signal is supplied to the receive mixer. In the quadrature-receive-signal-calibration mode, the quadrature-receive-signal-calibration circuit calibrates IQ mismatch of a quadrature receive signal to achieve the best condition thereof while the second test signal is supplied to the receive mixer. The integrated communication circuit can minimize the increase in chip footprint of a test-signal-generating circuit used to perform calibrations of both the second-order characteristic and IQ mismatch. |
| US08411728B2 |
Method and system for a delta quantizer for MIMO pre-coders with finite rate channel state information feedback
A MIMO pre-coding system for a delta quantizer for MIMO pre-coders with finite rate channel state information feedback may include quantizing a change in channel state information in a MIMO pre-coding system onto a codebook, which comprises one or more unitary matrices, using a cost function. The codebook may be generated based on at least the channel state information. The channel state information may comprise a matrix V and the cost function f(A) may be defined by the following relationship: f ( A ) = ( 1 N ∑ j = 1 N a jj 2 ) where A is a matrix of size N by N and aij is element (i,j) of matrix A. One or more unitary matrices may be generated from at least a first set of matrices and a second set of matrices, where the first set of matrices may comprise one or more Givens matrices. A dynamic range and a resolution of the codebook may be modified. |
| US08411724B2 |
Sill and door jamb assembly for electric arc furnace
A sill and door jamb assembly providing an opening in an electric arc furnace, the sill and door jamb assembly having a sill block assembly and two jamb block assemblies. The sill block assembly having side-by-side sill blocks, each of the sill blocks being positioned side-by-side to form the sill block assembly and having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end of the sill block assembly is confined within a plurality of courses of the refractory bricks. Each jamb block assembly having a plurality of jamb blocks positioned side-by-side. Each of the jamb block assemblies having a lower end and an inner surface abutting the distal ends of the sill block assembly. The inner surfaces of the jamb block assemblies and the upper surface of the sill block assembly form the slag opening in the furnace. |
| US08411723B2 |
Support structure of heater
There is provided an electric heater support plate which is not likely to be softened or deformed during firing at a high temperature, even if a material to be fired contains an alkaline component or an Si component as a volatile component. A passage 2 for the material to be fired surrounded by a ceiling refractory 11, wall refractories 12 and a floor refractory 13 is provided with an electric heater 3 heating from above and an electric heater 5 heating from below. This electric heater 3 has at least its heating part 31 mounted and supported on a fire-resistant support plate 4, and this support plate 4 in this invention has a two-layer structure in which an insulating ceramic support plate 41 is laminated on an SiC-based ceramic plate 42. The two-layer structure support plates 4 are supported by refractories 14 installed in a furnace and are arranged in parallel in a plurality of rows in a longitudinal direction of the furnace, and the electric heater 3 mounted on the support plates is so constructed as to generate heat by an electric power supplied from an energizing terminal 32 exposed to the outside of a furnace wall. |
| US08411722B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes a cavity formed by a pair of reflectors on a substrate and an active region interposed in the cavity. In the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, at least one of the reflectors that form the cavity has a refractive index periodic structure produced by arranging a first medium and a second medium so as to make the refractive index change periodically in in-plane directions of the substrate and the cross sectional area of the first medium in the in-plane directions changes in the direction of the thickness of the first medium. The vertical cavity surface emitting laser has reflectors having a wide reflection band. |
| US08411716B2 |
Circuit assembly for controlling an optical system to generate optical pulses and pulse bursts
A circuit assembly controlling an optical system to generate optical pulses is provided. The optical system includes a seed light source optically coupled to an amplitude modulator. The circuit assembly includes a control circuit which generates a pulsed seed drive signal for driving the seed laser source, as well as logic signals defining successions of ON and OFF states and having a predetermined relative timing relationship. One or more of the logic signals is delayed by a corresponding programmable delay line to adjust the relative timing relationship between the logic signals. A logic gating module combines the logic signals according to one or more logical rule, thereby providing a modulator drive signal. Using this circuit assembly, the optical system outputs an optical pulse at each ON state of the modulator drive signal synchronized with the passage of one of the seed optical pulses through the amplitude modulator. |
| US08411714B2 |
Wavelength conversion laser light source, laser light source device and two-dimensional image display device adopting the same, and method of setting temperature of wavelength conversion element
A wavelength conversion laser light source includes an element temperature switching section that switches a temperature of the wavelength conversion element according to a harmonic wave output value as set in an output setting device, and the element temperature switching section for switching a temperature of a wavelength conversion element according to a harmonic wave output level as set in the output setting device. The element temperature switch section includes an element temperature holding section that holds the wavelength conversion element at the temperature as switched by the element temperature switching section. |
| US08411711B2 |
Semiconductor laser with low relative intensity noise of individual longitudinal modes and optical transmission system incorporating the laser
A semiconductor laser comprises an electrically isolated active section and at least one noise reducing section and operates on a ground state transition of a quantum dot array having inhomogeneous broadening greater than 10 nm. The laser preferably emits more than 10 optical modes such that a total relative intensity noise of each optical mode is less than 0.2% in the 0.001 GHz to 10 GHz range. The spectral power density is preferably higher than 2 mW/nm. An optical transmission system and a method of operating a quantum dot laser with low relative intensity noise of each optical mode are also disclosed. |
| US08411710B2 |
Laser apparatus
The present invention relates to a laser apparatus with a structure for realizing a fast response in carrying out a start and an end of output of pulsed laser light while effectively suppressing damage to an optical amplifying medium. The laser apparatus is provided with a seed light source, an optical amplification section, a pulse modulator, a pump power controller, and a main controller. The pulse modulator receives an output start instruction and an output end instruction fed from the main controller and controls a start and an end of output of seed light from the seed light source. The pump power controller receives a pump trigger signal fed from the main controller and increases or decreases a power of pump light supplied to the amplification section. The main controller decreases the power of the pump light supplied to the amplification section, on the occasion of ending the output of the pulsed laser light, and thereafter makes the pulse modulator end the output of the seed light from the seed light source. |
| US08411704B2 |
Method, device and system for generating a contribution data stream
A contribution system where the national services are not duplicated in the single stream. This single stream is transmitted in a mode not implementing burst transmission. Advantageously, the single stream is not protected by an FEC error correcting code, as present in the radio broadcast standard, for example DVB-H. Synchronization is provided by the insertion by the concentrator of synchronization packets comprising three synchronization stamps. A first stamp serves to synchronize the deconcentrators with each other and with the concentrator. A second stamp generates a first synchronization signal allowing synchronous generation of the period of the burst transmission mode necessary for generating the regional signal. The third stamp serves to generate a second synchronization signal for generating so-called “MIP” synchronization packets for synchronizing the various modulators. |
| US08411702B2 |
Virtual memory protocol segmentation offloading
Methods and systems for a more efficient transmission of network traffic are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is provided for performing transport layer protocol segmentation offloading. Multiple buffer descriptors are stored in a system memory of a network device. The buffer descriptors contain information indicative of a starting address of a payload buffer stored in a user memory space of the system memory. The payload buffers contain payload data originated by a user process running on a host processor of the network device. The payload data is retrieved from the payload buffers on behalf of a network processor of the network device without copying the payload data from the user memory space to a kernel memory space of the system memory by performing direct virtual memory addressing of the user memory space. Finally, the payload data is segmented across one or more transport layer protocol packets. |
| US08411701B2 |
Inter-working of EFM-OAM and CFM-OAM for mobile backhaul networks
On a first network element in a radio access network (RAN), supporting operations, management and administration (OAM) between network elements that support Ethernet in the first mile (EFM) and network elements that support connectivity fault management (CFM) in the radio access network by receiving an EFM message from a second network element that supports EFM, wherein the second network element is in the RAN and wherein the EFM message includes OAM data; converting the OAM data from the EFM message into a sub-type-length-value (sub-TLV) of a CFM message; and transmitting the CFM message including the OAM data in the sub-TLV to a third network element that supports CFM, wherein the third network element is in the RAN, whereby an end-to-end OAM sublayer is provided in the RAN by conversion of OAM data from EFM to CFM. |
| US08411696B1 |
Systems and methods for communicating with multiple distribution points of a network
The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for communicating data. In one exemplary embodiment, a system has a high-speed channel, such as an optical fiber, between a network facility, such as a central office (CO), and a first intermediate point between the network facility and a plurality of customer premises (CP). Digital communication links, such as DSL links, are used to carry data between the first intermediate point, such as a feeder distribution interface (FDI), and a second intermediate point, such as the Distribution Point (DP). Non-shared links may then carry the data from the second intermediate point to the CPs. The links between the two intermediate points are bonded to create a high-speed, shared data channel that permits peak data rates much greater than what would be achievable without bonding. In some embodiments, multicast data flows may be prioritized and transmitted across a set of connections to each of the intermediate points. In addition, it is possible to power components at the intermediate points from one or more of the CPs. |
| US08411693B2 |
Method for controlling electric power of electric power controller, LRWPAN-ethernet bridge and sensor node
The network configuration technology for controlling an electric power sensor node is disclosed. The method for controlling electric power includes transmitting an an Ethernet packet type command message to at least one electric power sensor node through an LRWPAN-Ethernet bridge in accordance with profile information related to an electric power control, the profile information being set by a user; receiving LR-WPAN packet type response messages transmitted from the at least one electric power sensor node in response to the Ethernet package type command message as Ethernet packet type response messages through the LRWPAN-Ethernet bridge; and providing a control result of an electric power equipment corresponding to the at least one electric power sensor node to the user based on the Ethernet packet type response messages. |
| US08411692B2 |
Multi-hop heterogeneous wireless device feature sharing
Available features of each of a group of wireless devices accessible over one of a group of different wireless communication protocol interfaces of a first wireless bridging computing device are registered for sharing. A request for use of an available feature of a first wireless device over a first wireless communication protocol interface is received from a second wireless device over a second wireless communication protocol interface. In response to the request, use of the requested available feature of the first wireless device by the second wireless device is facilitated over the first wireless communication protocol interface and the second wireless communication protocol interface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08411690B2 |
Preventing data traffic connectivity between endpoints of a network segment
Various systems and method of preventing data traffic connectivity between endpoints of a network segment are disclosed. One method involves receiving a segment protocol message from a first segment port within a network segment, which includes a plurality of network devices. In response to receipt of the segment protocol message, which can indicate whether connectivity is present between the segment endpoints via the network segment, a second segment port can be operated in a blocked state. Operating the second segment port in the blocked state prevents data plane connectivity via the network segment. |
| US08411684B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for determining a hop count between network devices utilizing a binary search
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining a hop count between network devices utilizing a binary search. In use, a hop count range is identified based on a maximum hop count value. Furthermore, a plurality of packets are sent from a source device to a destination device for determining a hop count between the source device and the destination device, each of the packets having a different hop count threshold configured based on a binary search applied to the hop count range. |
| US08411680B2 |
IP multicasting system and a method based on the mobile network
An IP multicast system includes: an IGMP proxy unit set in an access network which provides information of a multicast group to which a terminal belongs. The IGMP proxy unit receives data sent from a multicast data source, and sends the data to a base station which then sends the data to the terminal. The IGMP proxy unit simplifies IP multicasting in the mobile network and makes the transfer of multicast data transparent with respect to the core network of the mobile network. This system can support mobile communication networks as WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM and TD-SCDMA. |
| US08411677B1 |
Method and system for processing layered networking protocol packets
An adapter for decoding information packet of a layered information transfer protocol received over a link is disclosed. The information packet is arranged in one or more predetermined layered protocol format and includes a payload data. The adapter includes a receive filter bank configured to process a portion of the information packet and assemble the payload data in a predetermined interconnect format. An adapter for encoding a payload data and destination information for the payload data received over an interconnect is also disclosed. The payload data is arranged in one or more predetermined interconnect format. The adapter includes a send filter bank configured to process a portion of the payload data and assemble the payload data with the destination information in a predetermined layered protocol format. |
| US08411676B2 |
Reconfigurable compute engine interconnect fabric
A reconfigurable compute engine interconnect fabric includes a reconfigurable interconnect layer (24, FIG. 2) between an application layer (22) and a physical layer (26) which identifies the input and output pins for the engine and their functions. |
| US08411674B2 |
Method and device for session control in hybrid telecommunications network
Combinational networks may provide simultaneous connectivity over networks of different type between terminals. Communication sessions on different network types such as Circuit switched and Packet switched, belonging to the same user equipment can be correlated. In case a communication session on a circuit switched network is halted by a supplementary service e.g. at an event such as acceptance of Call Hold, a communication session on a correlated packet switched network should be halted as well. A user equipment that detects the event sends a halt message to the circuit switched network and a message to the packet switched network or a session state manager node. The session state manager node either forwards the halt-message to the packet switched network, or sends a halt-message to the packet switched network when the packet switched network does not notify that a halt has occurred. |
| US08411670B2 |
Reverse ENUM based routing for communication networks
A network and method of routing a call between communication networks includes a first step of establishing a reverse ENUM DNS server containing a table of NAPTR records that associate E.164telephone numbers with identifiers. A next step includes routing a call from an originating PSTN system to a first gateway. A next step includes sending an ENUM query containing an E.164telephone number to an ENUM DNS server, which returns an identifier associated with the E.164telephone number. A next step includes routing the call to a second gateway. A next step includes launching a reverse ENUM query containing the identifier to the reverse ENUM DNS server, which looks up an E.164telephone number associated with the identifier, and returns it to the second gateway. A next step includes routing the call from the second gateway to the returned E.164telephone number in the terminating PSTN system. |
| US08411669B2 |
Distributed transcoding on IP phones with idle DSP channels
Idle DSP channels of an IP phone can be used to respond to a request to transcode a codec of an incoming call in a distributed IP phone system but only if sufficient idle channels remain available to the phone to handle basic call functions and a possible non-basic call feature (such as conferencing) of the phone. |
| US08411668B1 |
Method and apparatus for staggering internet protocol teleconferencing calls
A method and apparatus for enabling providers of PSTN toll free services to stagger simultaneous transmission of call setup signaling messages into an IP based teleconference bridge, supported by a VoIP network, by suspending a subset of calls and placing them on hold while placing other calls to be connected to the conference bridge are disclosed. The PSTN network can stagger calls by limiting the number of call setup signaling messages to be sent to the VoIP network within a predefined period of time interval and spread all the calls over multiple of such predefined periods. Prerecorded announcements or music can be played while the calls that have been placed on hold are in queue. |
| US08411666B1 |
Location-based geographical routing
Methods are disclosed for routing data, such as a packet, from a source router to a destination router based on geographical information associated with a destination mobile device. A table is accessed to determine whether there is a destination router located in the list of routers that is located within the same geographical area as the destination mobile device. If there is a destination router that meets this criteria, the data is sent to the destination router. But if there is not a destination router that meets this criteria, the data is routed based on network topology. |
| US08411664B2 |
Random access preamble collision detection
A method (500) for a user terminal (120, 130) in a cellular system (100). The user terminal (120, 130) applies (505) a timing advance to transmissions to a controlling node (140). The user terminal (120, 130) requests (510) communication with the controlling node (140) by a special message (MSG 1), in response to which the user terminal (120, 130) receives (515) a message (MSG 2) which includes an updated value for the timing advance. The user terminal (120, 130) compares (520) the updated value with the value of the timing advance that the user terminal had prior to the reception of said response message. If the difference (Δ) between the prior value and the updated value is greater than a first predetermined threshold (T1) or below a second predetermined threshold (T2), the user terminal (120, 130) ignores (525) the response message (MSG 2) and renews its request for communication. |
| US08411661B2 |
Technique for SC-FDMA signal generation
A method and device for generating a Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) signal having a transmission bandwidth and a Constant Amplitude Zero-Autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequence of length NCAZAC. The SC-FDMA signal is presumed to have a time-domain formulation with a term representative of an Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) of length M, where M>NCAZAC. A frequency-domain representation of the CAZAC sequence is mapped to NCAZAC of MSEQ frequency points, where NCAZAC |
| US08411660B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing resource allocation and communication in a wireless communication system, and system using same
A method for allocating resources in a wireless communication system using Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA). The method includes dividing entire frequency resources into sub-bands each having a number of sub-channels, setting at least one sub-channel in each of the sub-bands as a wide-band resource, and providing the sub-band and wide-band information to mobile stations; and determining one of the sub-band resource and the wide-band resource as an allocated resource according to channel condition with a particular mobile station when there is a need for communication with the mobile station. |
| US08411658B2 |
Mobile terminal and network node
Disclosed is a technique for achieving reduction in processing load caused when a mobile terminal having two or more interfaces registers flow control information with a network and reduction in traffic of signaling for the registration. According to this technique, a mobile terminal (MN100) has two or more interfaces (IF1 and IF2), registers, with a home agent (HA200), binding information between care-of addresses (CoA1 and CoA2) assigned to each interface and a home address (HoA0) of the MN, and further acquires home addresses (HoA1 and HoA2) exclusively for each interface and to be set for the interface and registers, with the HA, binding information between the HoA exclusively for each interface and a CoA corresponding to the HoA. For a flow desired to be sent and received by using only a specific interface, the HoA and CoA exclusively for the interface are used. |
| US08411651B2 |
Media independent multi-rat function in a converged device
A communication device configured to facilitate a mesh network includes a media independent mesh function (MIMF) configured to exchange media independent mesh information between peer mesh entities. |
| US08411650B2 |
Method and system for providing virtual private network services through a mobile IP home agent
A method for providing a virtual private network by home agent in a mobile IP environment includes providing a home agent operable to receive a registration request from a foreign agent and negotiate conditions of attachment of a mobile node to the foreign agent and further operable to store an IP address of the foreign agent in response to the negotiated conditions. The method also includes receiving, at the home agent, from the foreign agent, a registration request for the mobile node. The method also includes determining, by the home agent, a virtual private network membership of the mobile node based on a characteristic associated with the mobile node. The method further includes mapping the mobile node to an identifier associated with the home agent and transmitting the mapping to the foreign agent. The identifier is indicative of the virtual private network membership of the mobile subscriber. The method also includes receiving packets containing the identifier from the foreign agent and, in response, directing the packets to an IP address associated with the virtual private network. |
| US08411647B2 |
Random access system for using multi-carrier structure in mobile communication system
Provided is a system of performing a random access between a base station and a terminal using a plurality of carriers. When using the plurality of carriers, an uplink carrier and a downlink carrier may be mapped to each other in 1:n or 1:1. The terminal may perform the random access based on mapping information between the uplink carrier and the downlink carrier. A random access success rate increases and thus a time used for the random access may decrease. A wireless resource may also be effectively used. |
| US08411641B2 |
Methods for controlling access domain switching, network nodes, user terminal and computer program product therefor
A technique for controlling an access domain selection is described. The technique is applicable to user terminals that are capable of switching from a first network access domain to a second network access domain while services are provided to the user terminals. According to a network aspect of this technique, a network node receives a request message from a user terminal. In response to this request message, the network node sends a rule set including one or more access domain switching rules to the user terminal. These access domain switching rules may be dynamically selected by the network node to control the access domain switching behavior of the user terminal. |
| US08411636B2 |
Method and system for autonomous channel coordination for a wireless distribution system
A method and system for autonomous channel coordination for a wireless distribution system (WDS) are disclosed. A wireless communication system includes a plurality of access points (APs) and the APs communicate each other via a WDS. A coordinated channel group (CCG) of a plurality of member APs is established. The member APs of the CCG camp on a WDS channel used for the WDS among the member APs of the CCG. One AP among the member APs of the CCG is designated as a master AP. The master AP coordinates with other member APs of the CCG for selecting and configuring the WDS channel for the CCG and addition and deletion of member APs. By allowing APs to define a CCG, changes of the WDS channel are performed autonomously while maintaining connectivity. |
| US08411633B2 |
Method and apparatus for indicating deactivation of semi-persistent scheduling
A method and apparatus for performing semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) deactivation in a wireless mobile communication system are disclosed. A base station (BS) transmits a downlink control channel to a user equipment (UE), and deactivates the SPS when a binary field indicating resource allocation information contained in the downlink control channel is entirely filled with ‘1’. |
| US08411632B2 |
Transmission protection scheme
A method, apparatus, and computer program for protecting transmissions are provided. A wireless communication apparatus receives a physical layer convergence protocol header of a transmission on a frequency band and determines from header information included in the header, whether or not there are further transmissions associated with the transmission and after the transmission on the frequency band. In response to determining on the basis of the header information that there will be at least one other transmission after the transmission on the frequency band, channel access of the wireless communication apparatus is suspended on the frequency band for a determined time period after the transmission, the determined time period including a transmission time interval of the at least one other transmission. |
| US08411629B1 |
Dynamic admission control of wireless video to a wireless network
Techniques are provided herein for computing a video admission control metric used to determine whether to admit a new video stream to a wireless network. The video admission control metric is computed using several measurable parameters of the wireless network. The dynamic nature of this process takes into account many real-time factors that affect admission control, such as traffic load, channel conditions, and overlapping basic service set (BSS) interference. |
| US08411620B2 |
Method of transmitting information for supporting legacy system and multi-carrier system
A method for transmitting information that supports a legacy system and a multi-carrier system is disclosed. The method for transmitting information supporting a legacy system includes constructing a frame structure for supporting the legacy system, and transmitting a frame header including allocation information of the frame structure to a mobile station. |
| US08411615B2 |
Power controlled adaptive modulation and coding scheme in satellite communications system
A power controlled adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) scheme in a satellite communications system includes: calculating, by a user terminal, a received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) through a packet received from a base station; removing a power control level applied to a packet received before the received packet from the calculated received SNR, and deciding the value obtained by decreasing the calculated received SNR by the power control level; deciding an AMC mode based on the decided received SNR; determining whether power control is required, and deciding a required power control magnitude depending on a channel state positioned in the AMC mode range; transmitting the decided AMC mode and the decided power control information to the base station through channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback; and applying the AMC mode based on information received, and increasing a power by a power control magnitude decided from the received information. |
| US08411613B2 |
Wireless communication network system
This inventive wireless communication system comprises a plurality of wireless communication devices (101) each including a radiating oscillator (1), a baseband signal generating unit (4) and a reception signal detecting unit (7). In this wireless communication network system, the wireless communication devices are arranged to face each other at a location where a pull-in phenomenon is caused, a signal transmitted from one of the wireless communication devices is an oscillation signal of the radiating oscillator (1) of the one of the wireless communication devices, the frequency of the oscillation signal varies with the baseband signal, the variation in the frequency is transmitted to the other ones of the facing wireless communication devices (102) by the pull-in phenomenon, the oscillation frequencies of the radiating oscillators (2, 3) of the other ones of the facing wireless communication devices (102) also vary, and the other ones of the facing wireless communication devices (102) extract the variation by receiving the variation in the frequency through the reception signal detecting units (8). As a result, the present invention can provide a less expensive wireless network system which comprises wireless communication devices having respectively a very simple structure, consumes less electric power and can secure high-quality signal transmission. |
| US08411609B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving multicast and broadcast service
A terminal receives a map scheduling interval that is set to be greater than a multicast and broadcast service map transmission cycle by a base station from the base station, and receives a multicast and broadcast service map from the base station according to the received map scheduling interval. |
| US08411605B2 |
Method and apparatus for discontinuously receiving packet in a mobile communication system
A method for receiving a packet by a terminal in a mobile communication system including a base station providing a packet, and a terminal that discontinuously receives a packet from the base station in Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycles each having an active period and a sleep period. The packet reception method includes receiving, from the base station, configuration information for a DRX service, including a DRX cycle length; setting, as a starting point of the DRX cycle, a point at which a first packet is received from the base station; receiving a packet from the base station for an active period at the beginning of the starting point; and transitioning to a sleep period and waiting for a next active period. |
| US08411604B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in facilitating access to aggregator services for mobile communication devices via wireless communication networks
In one illustrative example, a wireless local area network (WLAN) regularly broadcasts or otherwise communicates one or more aggregator service identifiers which identify one or more aggregator services made available via the WLAN. In addition, a mobile communication device has a memory for storing aggregator service information. During operation, the mobile device performs a scanning operation and receives, from the scanning operation, the one or more aggregator service identifiers from the WLAN. The mobile device compares a received aggregator service identifier with one or more stored aggregator service identifiers of the aggregator service information. When there is a match between the received and the stored aggregator service identifiers, the mobile device may connect with and receive the aggregator service via the WLAN. For newly-encountered WLANs, the mobile device may also automatically create and store a wireless network profile associated with the WLAN that provides the aggregator service. For each aggregator or aggregator service, the aggregator service information may include a service name of the aggregator or aggregator service, a security type for authentication, a first URL for obtaining service information for the aggregator service, and a second URL for subscribing to the aggregator service, all of which may be displayed or otherwise utilized for obtaining service. |
| US08411599B2 |
Methods and apparatus for timeslot teleconferencing
Methods and apparatus are provided for a timeslot teleconference. A meeting invite is created for a timeslot teleconference on a computer. Timeslots are created for the timeslot teleconference in the meeting invite on the computer. Participants are designated for the timeslots in the meeting invite on the computer, and the timeslots are different time periods during the timeslot teleconference, which can have variable start and end times, as determined by a host. Reach numbers are added for each of the participants in the meeting invite on the computer, and the reach numbers are contact numbers to call the participants for their respective timeslots. The meeting invite is transmitted to participants on the computer. To participate in the timeslot teleconference, the timeslot teleconference is configured for the reach numbers to be called for the participants to correspond to their respective timeslots and/or the participants to call in for their respective timeslots. |
| US08411593B2 |
Bifurcate space switch
A space switch includes a buffer having a plurality of serial inputs, a plurality of de-serializers, each coupled to a respective input, a plurality n of buffers and a media access controller having inputs coupled to the plurality of de-serializers, data outputs coupled to the buffers, and two control outputs coupled to respective buffers for buffering input data at a clock rate one-nth that of the input data and a switch fabric connected to the buffers for matching buffer data throughput with switch data throughput. Preferably the buffer is a bifurcate buffer. This space switch described ensures matching of buffer and switch fabric throughput. |
| US08411590B2 |
Mesh network remote control device
The mesh network remote control device is able to dynamically exchange information with other mesh network devices via a mesh network, partial mesh network, ad-hoc network or with an non-mesh network such as the Internet or an intranet. The mesh network remote control device controls devices connected to such mesh or non-mesh networks. The mesh network remote control device accepts commands from mesh network devices, non-mesh network devices, non-mesh communications networks (e.g., URLs, device commands, social networking logins, etc.), stores the original commands and transforms the original commands into simple display commands that are used by a user to control remote mesh network or non-mesh network devices. |
| US08411588B2 |
Methods and apparatus to manage wireless device power consumption
Example methods and apparatus to manage wireless device power consumption are disclosed. In accordance with a disclosed example method a data frame exchange is initiated with an access point of a wireless network. In response to not successfully completing the frame exchange with the access point, the access point is designated as providing the wireless terminal with fringe wireless signal coverage. |
| US08411587B2 |
System and method for configuring a network
A system and method for configuring a network are disclosed. A method may include storing identifying information associated with one or more network devices on a computer-readable medium in an information handling system prior to delivery of the information handling system to a user. The method may also include determining whether the identifying information stored on the information handling system is associated with the network access point. The method may further include automatically configuring network parameters for communication between the network access point and the information handling system in response to a determination that the identifying information stored on the information handling system is associated with the network access point. |
| US08411583B2 |
Method of performing polling procedure in a wireless communication system
A method of generating a data block for performing a polling procedure in a wireless communication system, a method of transmitting data and a method of performing a polling procedure are disclosed. A protocol layer performs the polling procedure for requesting a receiving side to transmit status report if there are no data to be transmitted to the receiving side in both a transmission buffer and a retransmission buffer. When determining whether there are no data to be transmitted to the receiving side in the retransmission buffer, it is preferable that a data block for which retransmission request information is not received from the receiving side is excluded. |
| US08411581B2 |
Method and system for medium access control (MAC) layer specialization for voice and multimedia data streams
Aspects of a method and system for medium access control (MAC) layer specialization for voice and multimedia data streams are presented. Aspects of the method include determining a number of attempts for transmitting one or more medium access control (MAC) frames. Aspects of the system may include a processor that enables determination of a number of attempts for transmitting one or more MAC frames. A maximum number for such attempts may be determined based on one or more priority levels associated with different portions of multimedia information being communicated via a wireless medium and contained within the one or more MAC frames. |
| US08411578B2 |
Systems and methods for proactive management of a communication network through monitoring a user network interface
Systems and methods for proactive management of a communication network through monitoring a user network interface are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to proactively monitor user network interfaces comprises obtaining first information related to operation of a physical port, determining that the physical port implements both a first user network interface and a second user network interface, combining the first information with second information related to operation of a first logical port implementing the first user network interface, but not implementing the second user network interface, to assess performance of the first user network interface, and combining the first information with third information related to operation of a second logical port implementing the second user network interface, but not implementing the first user network interface, to assess performance of the second user network interface. |
| US08411575B2 |
Multi-station physical layer communication over TP cable
Wired data telecommunications networks can make advantageous use of a communications capability between and among more than two network devices. Such capabilities may be utilized in providing redundancy of data and/or inline power capabilities from a pair of network devices to a third network device receiving the redundant capability. Impedance modulated communications are provided in a wired data telecommunications network among at least a first, second and third network device coupled together via a Y device. The Y device couples the three network devices (higher order Y devices could couple more than three devices) allowing monitoring of communications and inline power provision so that one of the network devices may act in response to monitored conditions by communicating via impedance modulated communications with one or both of the other network devices. |
| US08411572B2 |
ACM and fixed coding and modulation of hierarchical layers
A network access unit of a communications network includes: a source data receiver module to receive first source data representing video content and second source data; a network control module to receive link condition data and configuration data, calculate priority data based on the link condition data and the configuration data, use the priority data to generate a master schedule indicating a first coding and modulation scheme for a first layer of the first source data and a second coding and modulation scheme for a second layer of the first source data, wherein at least one of the coding and modulation schemes for a next sequence is fixed relative to a present sequence; a pre-coder module to pre-code the first source data using pre-coding schemes to generate sets of representation data; and an ACM module to associate the sets of representation data with the coding and modulation schemes. |
| US08411571B2 |
Video and data network load balancing with video drop
A network access unit includes: a source data receiver module adapted to receive multiple first source data representing respective video content and second source data representing broadband data content; a network control module adapted to receive link condition data and configuration data, calculate priority data based on the link condition data and the configuration data, and use the priority data to generate a master schedule including program data indicating that some but not all of the multiple first source data are to be transmitted; a pre-coder module adapted to pre-code respective first source data using respective pre-coding schemes to generate respective sets of representation data, if the program data is determined to indicate that the respective first source data is to be transmitted; and an ACM module adapted to associate, for each first source data indicated for transmission, the respective sets of representation data with respective coding and modulation schemes. |
| US08411569B2 |
Method of splicing encoded multimedia data streams
The present invention provides a method of splicing data streams flowing between an encoder and a decoder. The method includes accessing a first encoded data stream. The first encoded data stream is encoded by the encoder based upon a first buffer size associated with the decoder. The method also includes delaying the first encoded data stream by an offset determined based on a second buffer size associated with the decoder. The second buffer size is larger than the first buffer size. The method further includes splicing one or more second encoded data stream(s) into the delayed first encoded data stream. |
| US08411567B2 |
Swarm intelligence based methods to enable cooperative communication in a mesh network
A mesh network implements swarm intelligence for cooperative communication between nodes in the mesh network. In particular determination is made at a node in the mesh network, and cooperation occurs with other nodes in forwarding messages and packets in the mesh network in an independent and distributed manner without real time handshake. |
| US08411565B2 |
Broadband network for coaxial cable using multi-carrier modulation
A broadband local area data network uses coaxial cable wiring for interconnection of terminal devices. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with bit loading is used to overcome channel impairments and provide a path for terminal devices to transmit to and receive from other terminal devices. Probe messages are sent between devices to characterize the communication channel and determine optimum bit loading. The data network shares the cable spectrum with other services and uses frequency bands not used by other services. Adaptive power control can be used to maintain signal to noise ratio in a communication between terminal devices. Frequency coordination can be used to avoid interference between the LAN communications and other services transmitted on the cable. |
| US08411560B2 |
TCP selection acknowledgements for communicating delivered and missing data packets
One or more flow control modules, implemented on various types of network topologies, provide a number of functionalities for controlling the flow of IP packets (such as TCP/IP packets) over a network connection. The flow control modules may be implemented within a sender and/or receiver or may be deployed into a network as a separate device without requiring significant additional resources. |
| US08411558B1 |
Stateful home agent recovery protocol (SHARP)
A method and system for resilient mobile communications in a network when network elements are removed, upgraded or fail are provided. A mobile device communicates with an endpoint through foreign and home agents communicatively connected to the network. An active home agent stores communication information for the mobile node and multicasts the communication information to non-active home agents associated with the active home agent. When an active home agent is removed, upgraded or fails, the mobile device is able to maintain mobile communications with the endpoint through one or more non-active home agent. A non-active home agent having a high priority is transitioned to active status to maintain communication service between the mobile node and endpoint. |
| US08411555B2 |
Quality based handover procedure between co-located cells
The present invention relates to cellular system and especially to handover between cells on different frequency carriers in an OFDM system or between cells in 2 systems adopting different radio access technologies (RAT), at least one of them being OFDM technology. A problem is the intra-cell interference impact on the quality a connected mode terminal measures in the own cell and in neighbor cells. This is a problem for cells based on OFDM technology, because intra-cell interference has no impact as compared to the inter-cell interference on the quality provided by the cell to a connected mode terminal, whereas in UTRA the intra-cell and inter-cell interference have the same impact on the quality provided. The solution to the problem is based on the insight that for cells that are located on the same site, the eNode B possess information on the power transmitted on the respective frequency carrier, and can adjust the quality as reported from the terminal on co-located OFDM cells. The adjusted quality measure enables an improved evaluation of the quality of co-located cells, for a potential handover. The invention also relates to embodiments on a 2-step handover, wherein handover to inter-frequency, or inter-RAT cell on another site is made as a handover to co-located inter-frequency/inter-RAT cell and a handover to an intra-frequency cell located at the other site. |
| US08411553B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing mobile terminals in an OFDM system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing mobile terminals in an OFDMA system, in which all or part of available downlink radio resources in a cell are transmitted. A processing unit in a test apparatus splits the resources used for transmission into contiguous unities in the frequency domain such that one or more of said unities comprise resources allocated to one or more mobile terminals under test, and at least one of said unities comprise resources allocated to virtual users. |
| US08411549B2 |
Circuit for preventing destruction of semiconductor laser element, and optical disc device provided with the circuit
A circuit for preventing destruction of a semiconductor laser element of an optical disc device comprises a light-emission-directing circuit part for outputting a light-emission-directing signal for directing the semiconductor laser element to emit light; a voltage-monitoring circuit part for monitoring a light-emitting voltage and, when a judgment is made that the light-emitting voltage is normal, outputting a light-emission-permitting signal for permitting the semiconductor laser element to emit light, the light-emitting voltage being supplied from a power source for the semiconductor laser element to an optical-output-controlling circuit part in order to cause the semiconductor laser element to emit light; and a light-emission-permitting circuit part for using the optical-output-controlling circuit part to cause the semiconductor laser element to emit light only when the light-emission-directing signal and the light-emission-permitting signal are inputted. |
| US08411547B2 |
Information recording medium, information supply system, and optical information device
An information recording medium includes a first information recording layer and a second information recording layer. The first information recording layer is formed at a laser beam entrance surface, and is configured so that information can be recorded thereupon and/or reproduced therefrom using a first objective lens having a numerical aperture NA1 and laser beam of a wavelength λ1. The second information recording layer is formed so as to have a distance to the laser beam entrance surface of 0.05 mm to 1.2 mm and is configured so that information can be recorded thereupon and/or reproduced therefrom using a second objective lens having a numerical aperture NA2 and laser beam of a wavelength λ2. When a diffraction limit δ2, determined by numerical aperture NA2 and wavelength λ2, is taken as δ2=0.61×λ2/NA2, a track pitch Tp1 of a track formed on the first information recording layer is Tp1<δ2. |
| US08411545B2 |
Recording apparatus, master manufacturing apparatus, and method of manufacturing an optical disc recording medium
A recording apparatus includes a rotation driving portion that rotates and drives an optical disc master; and a recording portion that performs an information recording on the optical disc master, by performing a laser beam irradiation on the optical disc master, based on a recording waveform which has a land pulse of a first power, a recording waveform portion having a recording pulse of a second power higher than the first power, and a cooling pulse which has a third power lower than the first power and is inserted between the land pulse and the recording waveform portion. |
| US08411544B2 |
Optical disc reproduction apparatus
An instantaneous jitter information detection section detects, based on first and second digital values indicating different polarities relative to a predetermined reference value, an instantaneous gradient value corresponding to a difference value between the first and second digital values, and an instantaneous deviation value corresponding to a difference value between an intermediate value between the first and second digital values and the reference value. An information conversion section converts, based on an inversely proportional conversion table, the instantaneous gradient value to an inversely proportional value. An arithmetic section detects an instantaneous variance value by multiplying the instantaneous deviation value and the inversely proportional value together, and squaring a value obtained by the multiplication, and detects an integrated value by accumulating the instantaneous variance value. A standard deviation detection section detects a square root of a mean value of the integrated value as the absolute jitter value. |
| US08411541B2 |
Optical recording medium having read-only storage area and writable storage area and recording/reproducing apparatus and method therefor
An optical recording medium having a read-only storage area and a writable storage area and a recording/reproducing apparatus and method therefor. The optical recording medium is a hybrid disc having both the read-only storage area, which is suitable for mass production of information having the same contents, and the writable storage area on which data can be recorded, updated or added at a user's option. The read-only storage area has a structure that is completely compatible with a digital versatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM) specification, and the writable storage area is compatible with the recording/reproducing characteristics of a writable DVD specification so that an existing reproducing-only apparatus can read information from the read-only storage area, and data can be recorded in the writable storage area using an apparatus obtained by minimally changing an existing recording/reproducing apparatus while maintaining the physical recording characteristics of the existing recording/reproducing apparatus. |
| US08411539B2 |
Optical disc recording device
An optical disc recording device, wherein, during an OPC process addressing a write-once optical disc provided with only one or two recording layers, a recording power value of an optical pickup is changed within a range from (100−A) % of a reference recording power value to (100+B) % of the reference recording power value, and wherein, during an OPC process addressing a write-once optical disc provided with three or more recording layers of the same type as the aforementioned write-once optical disc, the recording power value of the optical pickup is changed within a range from (100−C) % of a reference recording power value to (100+D) % of the reference recording power value, D being set to be less than B. |
| US08411538B2 |
Optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus and control method of the same
In an optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus (10) for reproducing an optical information storage medium including a plurality of information recording layers each including a recording mark having a length shorter than an optical system resolution limit, reproduction laser power for reading an information recording layer closest to a reproduction-laser-incident surface of the optical information storage medium is set to be lower than reproduction laser power for reading an information recording layer farthest from the reproduction-laser-incident surface but not lower than minimum reproduction laser power that satisfies a reproduction signal characteristic that the optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus (10) requires. With the arrangement, it is possible to prevent that the information recording layer closest to the reproduction-laser-incident surface is irradiated wrongly with reproduction laser having high reproduction laser power, thereby making it possible to obtain successful reproduction quality. That is, it is possible to realize the optical information storage medium reproduction apparatus (10) that can set optimum reproduction laser power and perform stable super resolution reproduction. |
| US08411535B1 |
Electrical connection for a laser diode in a tar head
The present invention generally relates to electrically connecting a laser diode to a slider and head assembly of a TAR head in a HDD. The laser diode is coupled to a sub-mount. The laser diode and the sub-mount are coupled to the top surface of the slider and/or the head assembly. Either the slider, the head assembly or both have bond pads exposed through their respective top surfaces to provide an electrical connection to both the laser diode and the sub-mount. Both the laser diode and the sub-mount have electrodes thereon that are perpendicular to the bond pads and are in contact with the bond pads. Conductive bonding material is used to not only bond the laser diode and the sub-mount to the bond pads, but also to electrically connect the bond pads to the electrodes. |
| US08411533B2 |
Crystal-bezel assembly unit for a timepiece and process assembly
The invention relates to a process for assembly of a crystal and a bezel for use of the crystal as vibrating and radiating element, according to which unconnected junction zones are determined and form the only mechanical link for transmission of vibrations of the bezel to the crystal, on which zones the crystal is secured on the bezel to transmit to the crystal any vibration communicated to the bezel. Outside these zones the crystal is held without direct contact with the bezel.The invention also relates to a crystal-bezel assembly unit for a timepiece comprising junction zones that form the only mechanical link for transmission of vibrations from the bezel to the crystal to cause the crystal to resonate under the action of the vibrations, and outside said junction zones the crystal has no direct contact with the bezel.The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a unit. |
| US08411525B2 |
Memory circuits having a diode-connected transistor with back-biased control
A memory circuit includes at least one memory array. At least one sleep transistor is electrically coupled between the at least one memory array and a first power line for providing a first power voltage. At least one diode-connected transistor is electrically coupled between the at least one memory array and the first power line. A back-bias circuit is electrically coupled with a bulk of the at least one diode-connected transistor. |
| US08411521B2 |
System and method for controlling timing of output signals
The timing of output signals can be controlled by coupling a digital signal through a signal distribution tree having a plurality of branches extending from an input node to respective clock inputs of a plurality of latches. A phase interpolator is included in a signal path common to all of the branches, and a respective delay line is included in each of the branches. Each of the latches couples a signal applied to its data input to an output terminal responsive to a transition of the digital signal applied to its clock input. The delay lines are adjusted so that the latches are simultaneously clocked. The delay of the phase interpolator is adjusted so that the signals are coupled to the output terminals of the latches with a predetermined timing relationship relative to signals coupled to output terminals of a second signal distribution tree. |
| US08411518B2 |
Memory device with boost compensation
A memory circuit includes a memory cell configured to be re-writable. A write enable circuit is configured to enable writing a signal via a pair of bit lines to the memory cell depending on a write signal. A charge supply circuit is configured to supply a charge to at least one of the pair of bit lines. A charge supply controller is configured to control the charge supply circuit to supply the charge dependent on at least one of the temperature of the memory circuit and the potential difference supply of the memory circuit. |
| US08411516B2 |
Memory cell having reduced circuit area
The present invention relates to a memory cell having a reduced circuit area, which comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, and a fourth transistor. The first transistor is coupled to a readline and controlled by a wordline. The second transistor is coupled between the first transistor and a low-voltage power supply. The third transistor is coupled to the second transistor and controlled by a bitline. The third transistor controls turn-on and cutoff of the second transistor. Besides, the fourth transistor is coupled to the third transistor and a writeline, and is controlled by the wordline. Thereby, according to the present invention, four transistors form a memory cell, and the objective of saving circuit area can be achieved. |
| US08411514B2 |
Multi-chip package including output enable signal generation circuit and data output control method thereof
An output enable signal generation circuit includes a latency decoder, a latch unit, a latency multiplexer, and an enable setting unit. The latency decoder is configured to decode a mode register set code and generate first and second CAS latency information. The latch unit is configured to output the latched first and second latency information as first and second latency signals. The latency multiplexer is configured to output the first or second latency signal as an output CAS latency signal in response to a chip select signal. The enable setting unit is configured to set an enable timing of an output enable signal. |
| US08411513B2 |
Techniques for providing a semiconductor memory device having hierarchical bit lines
Techniques for providing a semiconductor memory device having hierarchical bit lines are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells and a plurality of local bit lines coupled directly to the plurality of memory cells. The semiconductor memory device may also include a multiplexer coupled to the plurality of local bit lines and a global bit line coupled to the multiplexer. |
| US08411512B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells; a bit line sense amplifier (BLSA) coupled to the memory cells in the memory cell array through a bit line; a plurality of local input/output lines coupled to the BLSA; and a switching unit coupled to the local input/output lines and configured to select a part of the local input/output lines. |
| US08411511B2 |
Reading data from memory cells including storing charges to analog storage devices
Methods of reading data from memory cells. Such methods include subjecting an analog storage device to a voltage level indicative of a threshold voltage of a memory cell to store a charge to the analog storage device, and generating an analog voltage from the stored charge. |
| US08411509B2 |
Memory and method for charging a word line thereof
A memory and method for charging a word line thereof are disclosed. The memory includes a first word line driver, a first word line and a first switch. The first word line driver is connected to a first operational voltage for receiving a first control signal. The first word line comprises a start terminal connected to an output terminal of the first word line driver. The first switch is connected to a second operational voltage and an end terminal of the first word line. The second operational voltage is not smaller than the first operational voltage. When the first word line driver is controlled by the first control signal to start charging up the first word line, the first switch is simultaneously turned on to provide another charging path for the first word line until the first word line is charged to the first operational voltage. |
| US08411505B2 |
Self-powered detection device with a non-volatile memory
The self-powered detection device comprises a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) unit (52) formed at least by a NVM cell and a sensor which is activated by a physical or chemical action or phenomenon, this sensor forming an energy harvester that transforms energy from said physical or chemical action or phenomenon into an electrical stimulus pulse, said NVM unit being arranged for storing in said NVM cell, by using the electrical power of said electrical stimulus pulse, a bit of information relative to the detection by said sensor, during a detection mode of the self-powered detection device, of at least one physical or chemical action or phenomenon applied to it with at least a given strength or intensity and resulting in a voltage stimulus signal provided between a set control terminal (SET) and a base terminal (SET *) of said NVM unit with at least a given set voltage. The self-powered detection device comprises a read circuit (56) or is arranged to be coupled to such a read circuit and further comprises a clamp circuit (54) located between the sensor and the NVM unit, this clamp circuit being arranged for passing said voltage stimulus signal on a set line connecting the sensor and the set control terminal of the NVM unit, this voltage stimulus pulse having a polarity corresponding to a set polarity of said NVM cell, and for blocking other voltage signals having approximately an amplitude corresponding to said set voltage or higher and an inverse polarity relative to the set polarity of said NVM cell, in order to avoid a possible erase of this NVM cell by such other voltage signals. |
| US08411504B2 |
Limitation of the access to a resource of an electronic circuit
A method and a circuit for controlling the access to at least one resource of an electronic circuit, in which a test of the value of a counter over at least one bit conditions the access to the resource, the counter being automatically reset after a time period independent from whether the circuit is powered or not. |
| US08411503B2 |
Method of operating semiconductor memory device
A method of operating a semiconductor memory device includes applying a program pass voltage to unselected word lines, applying a program voltage of a third level to a selected word line in order to raise threshold voltages of third memory cells, decreasing a level of the program voltage from the third level to a second level and discharging channel regions of second cell strings including second memory cells in order to raise threshold voltages of second memory cells, and decreasing a level of the program voltage from the second level to a first level and discharging channel regions of first cell strings including first memory cells in order to raise threshold voltages of first memory cells. The cell strings are disconnected from a bit line while a voltage level of the unselected word lines rises to a level of the program pass voltage. |
| US08411490B2 |
Sense amplifier for static random access memories
A sense amplifier for static random access memories is disclosed. The sense amplifier includes a pair of inverters cross-coupled to each other. The sense amplifier also includes means for equalizing the charges within the pair of inverters before performing a sense operation, and means for sensing a current difference between a bitline and its complement from a memory cell during the sense operation. |
| US08411486B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a nonvolatile memory device. In this method, a first voltage may be applied to a variable resistive element having a resistance value which is electrically rewritable in a high resistance and in a low resistance. In this method, a second voltage may be applied to the variable resistive element in a case where the resistance value of the variable resistive element to which the first voltage has been applied is greater than a resistance value of the low resistance and is not greater than a resistance value of the high resistance. Further, in this method, the applying of the second voltage to the variable resistive element may be repeated until the resistance value of the variable resistive element to which the second voltage has been applied falls within a range of the resistance value of the low resistance. |
| US08411485B2 |
Non-volatile variable capacitive device including resistive memory cell
A non-volatile variable capacitive device includes a capacitor defined over a substrate, the capacitor having an upper electrode and a resistive memory cell having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a switching layer provided between the first and second electrodes. The resistive memory cell is configured to be placed in a plurality of resistive states according to an electrical signal received. The upper electrode of the capacitive device is coupled to the second electrode of the resistive memory cell. The resistive memory cell is a two-terminal device. |
| US08411479B2 |
Memory circuits, systems, and methods for routing the memory circuits
A memory circuit includes a first memory array. The first memory array includes at least one first memory cell for storing a first datum. The at least one first memory cell is coupled with a first word line and a second word line. A second memory array is coupled with the first memory array. The second memory array includes at least one second memory cell for storing a second datum. The at least one second memory cell is coupled with a third word line and a fourth word line. The first word line is coupled with the third word line. The first word line is misaligned from the third word line in a routing direction of the first word line in the first memory array. |
| US08411477B2 |
Arrays of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells, methods of forming arrays of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells, and methods of reading a data value stored by an array of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells
An array of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells includes a plurality of horizontally oriented word lines within individual tiers of memory cells. A plurality of horizontally oriented global bit lines having local vertical bit line extensions extend through multiple of the tiers. Individual of the memory cells comprise multi-resistive state material received between one of the horizontally oriented word lines and one of the local vertical bit line extensions where such cross, with such ones comprising opposing conductive electrodes of individual memory cells where such cross. A plurality of bit line select circuits individually electrically and physically connects to individual of the local vertical bit line extensions and are configured to supply a voltage potential to an individual of the global horizontal bit lines. Other embodiments and aspects are disclosed. |
| US08411476B2 |
Charge mode control
An apparatus and a method for converting power from a power input to an DC output voltage or current, which apparatus has a serial resonance converter, where a first feedback circuit is connected from the output terminal to an error amplifier, where the apparatus further has a second feedback circuit with at least one first resistor that is connected to a coil and to ground, which second feed back circuit connects the line between the first resistor and the coil and towards an inverting integrator, the output of which is connected through a second capacitor to a second input at a control circuit. As a result, the oscillating frequency is under influence of a signal that depends on the voltage generated in the resistor connected in serial to the coil or transformer. |
| US08411474B2 |
System and method for protection of a multilevel converter
A three level neutral point clamped (NPC) converter includes a plurality of phase legs each having at least two inner switching devices, at least two outer switching devices, at least two clamping diodes, and a protection circuit. An inner component failure sensing circuit is employed in the protection circuit to detect a failure condition in any of the inner switching devices or clamping diodes. The protection circuit further includes a gating signal generation circuit configured to generate a turn ON signal for a respective outer switching device that is adjacent to the failed inner switching device or the clamping diode. |
| US08411468B2 |
Power converters
We describe a resonant discontinuous power converter including a magnetic energy storage device, and a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) switch having a collector terminal coupled to repetitively switch power from the input on and off to said magnetic energy storage device such that power is transferred from the input to the output. During an off-period of said BJT switch a voltage on said magnetic energy storage device and on said collector terminal of said BJT is at least partially resonant. The power converter includes a voltage clamping circuit to clamp a base voltage on a base terminal of said BJT during a resonant portion of said off-period to limit an excursion of a collector voltage on said collector terminal of said BJT towards or beyond an emitter voltage of said BJT during said resonant portion of said off-period, in particular to inhibit reverse bias of a base emitter junction of the transistor. |
| US08411463B2 |
Mounting apparatus for expansion card
A mounting apparatus includes a chassis, a mounting tray configured for being secured to an expansion card, and an expansion piece configured for securing the expansion card. The chassis includes a front plate. The mounting tray includes a front panel secured to the front plate, and a side panel connected to the front panel. A stopper piece is located on the front plate, and a clipping hole is defined on an end near to the front plate of the side plate. A flange and an inserting portion are positioned on opposite ends of the expansion piece, wherein the flange is secured to the stopper piece, and the inserting portion is inserted into the clipping hole. |
| US08411461B2 |
Mounting apparatus for expansion cards
A mounting apparatus for mounting an expansion card with a cover plate to a rear panel includes a retaining member fixed to the rear panel, and a pressing member slidably attached to the retaining member. The pressing member can be slid down to press the cover plate of the expansion card. The pressing member can be slid up to release the cover plate of the expansion card. |
| US08411454B2 |
Power converter
A capacitor module in which the structure of a connecting portion is highly resistant against vibration and has a low inductance. The capacitor module includes a plurality of capacitors and a laminate made up of a first wide conductor and a second wide conductor joined in a layered form with an insulation sheet interposed between the first and second wide conductors. The laminate comprises a first flat portion including the plurality of capacitors which are supported thereon and electrically connected thereto, a second flat portion continuously extending from the first flat portion while being bent, and connecting portions formed at ends of the first flat portion and the second flat portion and electrically connected to the exterior. |
| US08411452B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus comprises a body chassis to which a cabinet is fastened by a screw, the screw is screwed from outside of the cabinet into a boss made of synthetic resin on the body chassis to pass through the boss, the body chassis is provided with a component having a metal surface arranged thereon, and the screw includes a tip opposed to the metal surface of the component. The body chassis is provided with a grounded metal plate arranged thereon, on which a projection intervening between the tip of the screw and the metal surface of the component is formed, the projection includes a through-hole through which the tip of the screw can pass, and the smallest gap length between inner peripheral surface of the through-hole and the screw is set to be smaller than the smallest gap length between the metal surface of the component and the screw. |
| US08411450B2 |
Electronic device package, module, and electronic device
The present invention is directed to provide a semiconductor package and the like realizing reduced manufacturing cost and improved reliability by enhancing a ground line and/or a power supply line. A semiconductor package 50 includes: a semiconductor device 1 including a circuit face on which an external electrode is formed; an insertion substrate 2 forming a housing part in which the semiconductor device 1 is disposed; and an interposer substrate 5 including a wiring pattern 7 and whose both ends are bent along the insertion substrate 2. The insertion substrate 2 is made of a conductive material and is electrically connected to a ground line or a power supply line in the wiring pattern 7 in the interposer substrate 5. |
| US08411445B1 |
Enclosure for outside plant equipment with interconnect for mating printed circuit boards, printed circuit board device and method of repairing outside plant equipment
An enclosure for outside plant equipment includes a base unit and first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) carried by the base unit and having a circuit side and opposing component side on which electronic components are mounted. A heat sink is connected to the first PCB at the circuit side and configured to dissipate heat from any electronic components mounted on the first PCB at the component side. A cover is attached to the base unit and has an inside surface covering the enclosure. A second PCB has a circuit side and opposing component side on which electronic components are mounted. The second PCB is supported by the inside surface of the cover. A heat sink is connected to the second circuit board at the circuit side and configured to dissipate heat from any electronic components mounted on the second PCB. A PCB finger connector interconnects the first and second PCB's at the component side. |
| US08411444B2 |
Thermal interface material application for integrated circuit cooling
Techniques provide improved thermal interface material application in an assembly associated with an integrated circuit package. For example, an apparatus comprises an integrated circuit module, a printed circuit board, and a heat transfer device. The integrated circuit module is mounted on a first surface of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has at least one thermal interface material application via formed therein in alignment with the integrated circuit module. The heat transfer device is mounted on a second surface of the printed circuit board and is thermally coupled to the integrated circuit module. The second surface of the printed circuit board is opposite to the first surface of the printed circuit board. |
| US08411442B2 |
Vias in substrate between IC seat and peripheral thermal cage
With infrared (IR) sensors, repeatability and accuracy can become an issue when there are thermal gradients between the sensor and an underlying printed circuit board (PCB). Conventionally, a large thermal mass is included in the sensor packaging to reduce the effect from such thermal gradients, but this increase costs and size of the sensor. Here, however, a PCB is provided that includes an isothermal cage included therein that generally ensures that the temperature of the underlying PCB and sensor are about the same by including structural features (namely, the isothermal cage) that generally ensure that the thermal time constant for a path from a heat source to the thermopile (which is within the sensor) is approximately the same as thermal time constants for paths through the PCB. |
| US08411441B2 |
Power converter
A casing houses: semiconductor modules constituting a main circuit for power conversion; a capacitor electrically connected to the main circuit; drive circuits that provide the main circuit with a drive signal used in power conversion operation; a control circuit that provides the drive circuit with a control signal used to prompt the drive circuit to provide the drive signal. Within the casing, a cooling chamber including a coolant passage is formed, and a chamber wall of the cooling chamber is formed with a thermally conductive material. At least the semiconductor modules are housed inside the cooling chamber, and at least the capacitor and the control circuit are disposed outside the cooling chamber. |
| US08411437B2 |
Electronic device having fan duct
An exemplary fan duct includes a top plate, two sidewalls and a baffle. The sidewalls extend from opposite ends of the top plate. The baffle engages with the top plate and is located between the two sidewalls. The baffle includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end pivotably engages with the top plate, and the baffle rotates about the first end to make the second end engage with the top plate or one of the sidewalls. |
| US08411436B2 |
Heat sink assembly container
A heat sink assembly is packaged by placing the heat sink assembly in a container. The container is secured within a hard disk drive cage. |
| US08411432B1 |
System, apparatus and method for tiered shock solution
Embodiments of a tiered damping solution to protect a computer system from shock are disclosed. More specifically, in one embodiment at an external level the computer system may be protected from a shock and vibration by the use of dampeners which may be located on the chassis of the computer system to cover possible contact points. The devices are isolated from remaining shock or vibration by utilizing isolating materials at points where the device mounts to, or otherwise contacts, the chassis. Within the device itself another tier of protection may serve to protect components within a device by isolating the components from the points at which the component mounts to, or otherwise contacts, the device. |
| US08411431B2 |
Electronic device having heat dissipation airflow path
An exemplary electronic device includes a cover, a motherboard and a driving module both disposed at an inner side of the cover, an electronic component fixed on the motherboard, and a fan duct mounted on the motherboard and covering the electronic component. The driving module has a rotating shaft for supportively driving an optical disk rotating. The fan duct guides hot air therein toward the driving module. |
| US08411430B2 |
EMI shielding device and fixing apparatus for hard disk drive having same
An electromagnetic interference shielding device includes a frame, two first shielding members, and two second shielding members. The first shielding members respectively extend forwards from top and bottom sides of the frame. Each first shielding member includes an elongated first plate, and a number of longitudinally spaced first engaging portions protruding from an outer side of the first plate. The second shielding members are slidably and respectively coupled to front sides of the first shielding members. Each second shielding member includes an elongated second plate, and a number of longitudinally spaced second engaging portions protruding from an outer side of the second plate. The second shielding members are slid relative to the corresponding first shielding members, to allow the second engaging portions of the second shielding members to respectively align with or stagger from the first engaging portions of the corresponding first shielding members. |
| US08411423B2 |
Keypad assembly and electronic device using the same
A keypad assembly includes a keycap, fixing bracket, and at least one fixing member. The fixing member fixes the keypad to the fixing bracket. The fixing bracket includes a frame, a fixing portion located on a middle portion of the frame, and at least two resilient portions. The resilient portions interconnect the frame and the fixing portions. The keycap fixes on the fixing portion. The resilient portions are capable of elastically deforming and generating elastic restoring force to the keycap. |
| US08411421B2 |
Open-close type compact electronic device
An open-close type compact electronic device includes a first housing and a second housing connected so that they can move relative to each other. The first housing is provided with a first display on its front surface while the second housing is provided with a second display on its front surface. The first and second housings can move relative to each other between a closed state where a front surface of the first display is covered by the second housing while a front surface of the second display is exposed and an open state where the front surfaces of the first and second displays are arranged on generally the same plane to be exposed. The first and second housings include respective contact surfaces, which are pressed against each other in the open state, thereby maintaining a posture of the second housing relative to the first housing. |
| US08411420B2 |
Electronic device assembly with two-part bracket
An electronic device assembly includes an electronic device and a bracket holding the electronic device. The bracket includes a first supporting seat defined a first receiving groove therein and a second supporting seat defined a second receiving groove therein. The first supporting seat is disengagably attachable to the second supporting seat according to either of two selectable arrangements. In a first one of the arrangements, the first receiving groove and the second receiving groove cooperatively define a first receiving chamber having a first width for holding the electronic device in a first orientation. In a second one of the arrangements, the first receiving groove and the second receiving groove cooperatively define a second receiving chamber having a second width for holding the electronic device in a second orientation. |
| US08411416B2 |
Surface mount electronic component and method for manufacturing the same
A surface mount electronic component includes an element, an anode terminal, a cathode terminal, and an outer package body. The element has a configuration including an anode, and a cathode formed on a part of the surface of the anode via a dielectric substance. An anode terminal is electrically connected to the anode, and a cathode terminal is electrically connected to the cathode. The outer package body covers an element laminated body such that a part of the anode terminal and a part of the cathode terminal are exposed. The outer package body is made of a norbornene resin. Thus, an electronic component having high reliability can be achieved. |
| US08411415B2 |
Non-thermofusible phenol resin powder, method for producing the same, thermosetting resin composition, sealing material for semiconductor, and adhesive for semiconductor
Disclosed is a non-thermofusible phenol resin powder having an average particle diameter of not more than 20 μm and a single particle ratio of not less than 0.7. This non-thermofusible phenol resin powder preferably has a chlorine content of not more than 500 ppm. This non-thermofusible phenol resin powder is useful as an organic filler for sealing materials for semiconductors and adhesives for semiconductors. The non-thermofusible phenol resin powder is also useful as a precursor of functional carbon materials such as a molecular sieve carbon and a carbon electrode material. |
| US08411411B2 |
Thin-film capacitor
To provide a thin-film capacitor capable of preventing the degradation of electrical characteristics caused by direct contact between an adhesion layer of a terminal electrode and a dielectric layer, to increase the reliability. The thin-film capacitor comprises: a dielectric layer deposited on a base electrode; an upper electrode layer deposited on the dielectric layer; a terminal electrode including an adhesion layer, a seed layer, and a plating layer; a resin layer for wiring provided between the upper electrode layer and the terminal electrode for isolating the upper electrode layer from the terminal electrode; and a wiring layer provided so as to extend through the resin layer for wiring in contact with the adhesion layer for electrically connecting the upper electrode layer and the terminal electrode, wherein a composition of the wiring layer differs from that of the adhesion layer of the terminal electrode, and wherein a reducing power of the wiring layer to the dielectric layer is smaller than that of the adhesion layer. |
| US08411408B2 |
Electrostatic chuck
Provided is an electrostatic chuck (8) of self power supply type, which is capable of supplying power while generating power to be used by an attraction electrode (3) during processing of a substrate. The electrostatic chuck (8) attracts and holds a substrate in a substrate processing apparatus (11) that processes the substrate while generating optical energy. The electrostatic chuck (8) includes: an electrode sheet (5) including an attraction electrode (3); a metal base (1) having the electrode sheet (5) laminated on an upper surface side thereof; an internal power supply for obtaining power to be supplied to the attraction electrode (3); and a voltage boost circuit (7) for boosting voltage of the power obtained by the internal power supply. The internal power supply includes a solar cell (6), and converts the optical energy into the power during the processing of the substrate, to thereby cause the electrode sheet (5) to attract and hold the substrate. |
| US08411407B2 |
Reversible flow electrohydrodynamic fluid accelerator
Reversible flow may be provided in certain EHD device configurations that selectively energize corona discharge electrodes arranged to motivate flows in generally opposing directions. In some embodiments, a first set of one or more corona discharge electrodes is positioned, relative to a first array of collector electrode surfaces, to when energized, motivate flow in a first direction, while second set of one or more corona discharge electrodes is positioned, relative to a second array of collector electrode surfaces, to when energized, motivate flow in a second direction that opposes the first. In some embodiments, the first and second arrays of collector electrode surfaces are opposing surfaces of individual collector electrodes. In some embodiments, the first and second arrays of collector electrode surfaces are opposing surfaces of respective collector electrodes. |
| US08411405B2 |
Device for electrically discharging samples of an electrically nonconductive liquid
A device 10 for electrically discharging samples of an electrically non-conductive liquid includes an electrically conductive outer member 12, an electrically conductive inner member 14 disposed within the outer member 12, an electrically conductive rod 16 with upper and lower plugs 18 and 19 secured thereto to maintain a non-conductive fluid in the device 10, non-conductive handles 20 and 22 secured to the outer and inner members 12 and 14, and an electrically conductive ground cable 26 detachably secured to the rod 16 to ultimately remove or reduce static charge in the electrically non-conductive liquid via the liquid engaging the outer member 12, inner member 14 and rod 16, which are electrically grounded via the cable 26. |
| US08411402B2 |
Arrangement and a method for cooling
An arrangement for cooling a high voltage converter including a major loop with a pump for making a coolant liquid to pass power semiconductor devices of the converter and a heat exchanger for lowering the temperature of the coolant liquid before passing the power semiconductor devices again. An extra loop is connected to the major loop. The extra loop has a cooling apparatus containing a volume of a cooling medium and adapted to cool the medium to a temperature substantially lower than the temperature of the coolant liquid after having passed the heat exchanger in the major loop. A control unit is adapted to divert at least a part of the coolant liquid to flow through the extra loop when the need of cooling the power semiconductor devices of the converter is extremely high. |
| US08411393B2 |
Electrical lap guides and methods of using the same
An electrical lap guide having a first layer, the first layer including a material having a first resistivity, the first layer having first and second contact regions for electrically connecting the electrical lap guide to electrical leads; a second layer, the second layer including a material having a second resistivity, wherein the electrical lapping guide has a lapping axis and a layered axis, the layered axis being perpendicular to the lapping axis, the electrical lapping guide has an air bearing plane, the air bearing plane being perpendicular to the lapping axis, the second layer is disposed adjacent to a portion of the first layer in the direction of the layered axis, and the first layer extends farther in the lapping axis than does the second layer. |
| US08411388B2 |
Partial rib extending from a hub
A hard disk drive and a disk base are disclosed with the disk base including a first face configured to form a disk cavity for the spindle motor, disk(s) and a voice coil motor and a second face configured to couple with a controller Printed Circuit Board (PCB) including at least one integrated circuit. Both faces are include a hub for mounting the spindle motor and surrounded by an outer wall. The first face and/or the second face include at least one partial rib extending from the hub or the outer wall partway to the other. The partial ribs are configured to position the integrated circuit and stiffen the disk base and hard disk drive from mechanical shocks, such as dropping the unit including the hard disk drive. A handheld device is disclosed including at least one of the disclosed hard disk drives with improved reliability to mechanical shocks. |
| US08411381B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes a lens frame which is movable while supporting a lens; and a restriction portion configured to restrict movement of the lens frame by contacting the lens frame. The lens frame and the restriction portion contact each other at a plurality of points. |
| US08411379B2 |
Optical device and associated methods
An optical device includes a transparent substrate, a first replicated refractive surface on a first surface of the substrate in a first material, and a second replicated refractive surface on a second surface, opposite the first surface, and made of a second material, different from the first material. The material and curvature of the first replicated surface and the material and curvature of the second replicated surface may be configured to substantially reduce the chromatic dispersion and/or the thermal sensitivity of the optical device. |
| US08411378B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with same
A zoom lens includes a negative first lens unit G1 and a positive second lens unit G2. The second lens unit G2 includes first and second cemented lens components that are arranged adjacent to each other. The first and second cemented lens components are each made up of a plurality of lens elements having different refractive indices and different Abbe constants. The image side surface of the first cemented lens component and the object side surface of the second cemented lens component are both concave surfaces. |
| US08411367B2 |
Image forming optical system and electronic image pickup apparatus using the same
A zoom lens including, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens group including a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, an image side lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein the distance between the first lens group and the second lens group changes during zooming, and a refractive optical element A, which has a positive refractive power when its object side surface and image side surface are exposed to air, is provided in the first lens group and located closest to the object side in the first lens group, and the refractive optical element A is cemented together with an optical element B. The Abbe constant νd and the relative partial dispersion θgF of the refractive optical element A satisfies certain conditions. |
| US08411366B2 |
Optical probe and optical system therefor
An optical probe and an optical system therefor are provided. The optical probe is includes a housing configured to house the optical system and the housing has a transparent window therein. the optical system includes a light emitting unit, a collimation lens, and a focusing lens. A numerical aperture of the optical system is adjustable by adjusting a pupil diameter of the collimation lens and a focal length of the focusing lens. The pupil diameter of the collimation lens is adjustable based on a variable focal lens or by adjusting a distance between the collimation lens and the light emitting unit. |
| US08411365B2 |
Image-pickup display device having optical element provided with diffraction element portion
An image-pickup display device includes an optical system which guides lights from a display element 1 to an exit pupil 3 and from an external to an image-pickup element 2. The optical system includes an optical element 10 which is filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1. The optical element includes a first surface 7 at an external side and includes a diffraction element portion 13. The optical system guides the light from the display element to the exit pupil via reflection on a second surface 5 and the first surface and via transmission on the second surface, and diffracts the light from the external in the diffraction element portion to be transmitted through the first surface to enter the optical element, and is reflected on the second surface to be transmitted through a third surface 5 to be guided to the image-pickup element. |
| US08411363B2 |
Plastic sheets with lenticular lens array
A lenticular sheet, in one exemplary embodiment, includes a first surface having at least two portions, an opposing second surface, and a plurality of lenticular lenses formed in the first surface. Each portion of the first surface includes a number of lenticular lenses per centimeter that is different from the number of lenticular lenses per centimeter of an adjacent portion of the first surface. |
| US08411361B2 |
Zoom lens, and optical apparatus and method for forming an image of an object using the zoom lens
A zoom lens has a plurality of lens groups which are disposed in order from an object along an optical axis, wherein among the plurality of lens groups, a first lens group, which is disposed closest to the object, has a positive refractive power, and includes an optical axis bending element for bending the optical axis, and a plurality of lens components, which are disposed closer to the object than the optical axis bending element, and the plurality of lens components include at least one positive lens that satisfies a condition of νd>50, where νd is an Abbe number, with respect to the d-line, and at least one of the lens groups disposed closer to the image than the first lens group can move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis as a shift lens group or a partial lens component(s) constituting this lens group. |
| US08411360B2 |
Polarizing film for an organic electroluminescent (EL) display, a method of making the same and an organic EL display device having the polarizing film
Provided is a continuous web of polarizing film for an organic EL display device which has a thickness of 10 μm or less and exhibits high optical characteristics. The polarizing film for an organic EL display device is made of a polyvinyl alcohol type resin having a molecularly oriented dichroic material, and formed through stretching to have a thickness of 10 μm or less and exhibit optical characteristics satisfying the following conditions: T≧42.5; and P≧99.5, wherein T is a single layer transmittance, and P is a polarization rate. The polarizing film for an organic EL display device may be prepared by subjecting a laminate comprising a non-crystallizable ester type thermoplastic resin substrate and the polyvinyl alcohol type resin layer formed on the substrate, to 2-stage stretching consisting of preliminary in-air stretching and in-boric-acid-solution stretching. |
| US08411356B2 |
Catadioptric projection objective with tilted deflecting mirrors, projection exposure apparatus, projection exposure method, and mirror
A projection objective has an object surface and an image surface. The projection objective includes a plurality of optical elements arranged along an optical axis and configured so that during operation the projection objective images a pattern arranged in the object surface onto the image surface. The optical elements include a concave mirror a first deflecting mirror and a second deflecting mirror. The first deflecting mirror is tilted relative to the optical axis by a first tilt angle, t1, about a first tilt axis so that during operation the first deflecting mirror deflects light at a wavelength λ from the object surface towards the concave mirror or deflects light at λ from the concave mirror towards the image surface. The second deflecting mirror is tilted relative to the optical axis by a second tilt angle, t2, about a second tilt axis. For a pattern including a grating having a line width of 45 nm and a pitch, p, the projection objective images the pattern to the image surface such that for a first orientation of the pattern and a second orientation of the pattern a difference, ΔHV, between the imaged line width is 1.2 nm or less for 100 nm |
| US08411354B2 |
Carrier-envelope-phase stabilization of a master oscillator optical amplifier system
A laser and amplifier combination delivers a sequence of optical pulses at a predetermined pulse-repetition frequency PRF. An interferometer generates a signal representative of the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of the pulses at intervals corresponding to the PRF. The signal includes frequency components from DC to the PRF. The signal is divided into high and low frequency ranges. The high and low frequency ranges are sent to independent high frequency and low frequency control electronics, which drive respectively a high-frequency CEP controller and a low frequency controller for stabilizing the CEP of pulses in the sequence. |
| US08411353B2 |
Quasi-phase-matched wavelength converter
There is provided an optical frequency converter comprising: an optical guiding structure having an input and an output, and comprising: a first grating portion adjacent to the input; a second grating portion adjacent to output, and a third grating between the first and second grating portion to form an apodized step-chirped grating extending between the input and the output. Each grating portion comprises a plurality of sections each comprising a plurality of segments. Each segment has a segment width and comprises a poled region having a poled width at least equal to one micron and a reversely poled region. The segment width for all of the grating portions and a duty ratio of the poled width to the segment width are constant within each section. The duty ratio increases within the first grating portion, decreases within the second grating portion, and is constant within the third grating portion. |
| US08411351B2 |
Optical differential phase-shift keyed signal demodulator
A phase-shift keyed signal demodulator and method for demodulating is disclosed. An example demodulator includes N filters that receive inputs from a splitter and include transmission functions offset from one another. N pairs of photodiodes receive the transmitted and reflected beams from each filter and a decoder converts the outputs of the pairs of photodiodes to one or more data symbols. |
| US08411348B2 |
Highly electrically conductive transparent layer with a metal grid having optimized electrochemical resistance
An electroconductive layer (2) designed to be combined with a substrate having a glass function, said layer (2) being composed of a metal grid (9), characterized in that the metal grid (9) consists of a pure metal and in that it is coated with at least one electrochemical protection layer (10), especially a metal layer or a metal nitride layer. |
| US08411346B2 |
Gravity operated, rotatable lens curtain for thermal imager
A device for in-situ thermal imager calibration having a rotatable lens curtain with an aperture for the lens of a thermal imager to observe a scene. The lens curtain includes a balancing weight and blocking portion having a thermally uniform interior calibration surface that is rotatably disposed such that when the UAS is in level flight, the lens views the scene through the aperture. When the UAS is laterally rotated about its flight path, the lens curtain maintains its absolute position relative to the Earth by virtue of the balance weight and the lens rotates within the lens curtain for viewing a thermally uniform interior surface for calibration. |
| US08411344B2 |
Electrical control light valve apparatus having liquid metal
The present invention discloses an electrical control light valve apparatus having liquid gallium. The invention comprises the transparent glass as a substrate, ITO transparent conductive film as the electrodes, the liquid gallium as the valve located on the ITO transparent conductive film, and the partial-transparent glass is located on the top of the electrical control light valve apparatus. |
| US08411342B2 |
Light scanning unit and image forming apparatus
Provided are a light scanning unit and an image forming apparatus including the light scanning unit. The light scanning unit can include a source, a deflector, and an optical imaging system. The deflector can deflect the light generated by the source. The optical imaging system can form the deflected light into an image on a photosensitive medium and can have a first and second optical imaging lenses collectively configured: to have the functionality of an f-theta lens. The optical imaging system can be such that a first ratio (k/fm) is between about 0.81 and about 0.88, and a second ratio (fm/fm1) is between about 0.6 and about 0.91, where k is an f-theta scanning coefficient of the optical imaging system, fm is a main scanning focal distance of the optical imaging system, and fm1 is a main scanning focal distance of the first optical imaging lens. |
| US08411341B2 |
Actuator, optical scanner, and image forming device
An actuator includes: a first oscillatory system including a frame-shaped driving member and a pair of first axial members holding the driving member from both ends so as to allow the driving member to rotate around an X-axis; a second oscillatory system including a movable plate provided inside the driving member and a pair of second axial members holding the movable plate to the driving member from both ends so as to allow the movable plate to rotate around a Y-axis perpendicular to the X axis; and a driving unit including a permanent magnet provided on the driving member, a coil provided so as to face the permanent magnet, a voltage applying unit applying a voltage to the coil, and the permanent magnet has a relief section to avoid making contact with the movable plate. |
| US08411326B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for using selected correction table based on divided area of a recording medium
The image forming apparatus includes: an area tone setting device which sets an arbitrary tone correction table for each of image forming areas obtained by dividing a recording medium into a plurality of areas; a tone correction table storage device which stores tone correction tables set respectively for the image forming areas by the area tone setting device; an area judgment device which judges the image forming areas on which respective pixels constituting input image data are to be printed; a tone correction table selection device which selects from the tone correction table storage device one of the tone correction tables corresponding to the image forming area judged by the area judgment device; and a tone correction device which performs tone correction of each pixel constituting the input image data, using the tone correction table selected by the tone correction table selection device. |
| US08411324B2 |
Selection of exposure intensity and cleaning field intensity setpoints for optimum line width using sensor reading
Line width of images marked by an image marking device is adjusted by reading a calibration patch marked by the marking device, and then adjusting one or more settings of the marking device, such as exposure intensity or cleaning field intensity, independent of the digital control of the tone reproduction curve so that the line width of subsequently marked images becomes closer to a target value. A digital control may be implemented to compensate for the impact of the modification of the one or more settings on the tone reproduction curve. |
| US08411322B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing method and recording medium on which image processing program is recorded
An image processing apparatus that is capable of determining a document size with high accuracy, even when a device for detecting the document size is not placed therein and an input operation of the document size by a user is eliminated is provided. A page background determining section extracts candidates for page backgrounds from input document image data and determines the number of page background types. A white pixel counting section counts the number of white pixels from input document image data. A document size determining section determines the document size of the input document image data, based on the number of page background types determined by the page background determining section, a page background density value which is the lowest density value in one or a plurality of page background areas determined to be page backgrounds, and the number of white pixels extracted by the white pixel counting section. |
| US08411320B2 |
Image forming apparatus performing color shift correction process on binary data
In the image forming apparatus, a color shift correction execution check unit detects positions of density correction patches of respective colors according to binary signals of density detection outputs by a density sensor on the density correction patches. When distances corresponding to intervals of time from starts of image drawing of the density correction patches of the respective colors to the detection of the positions of the density correction patches of the respective colors and distances between the density correction patches of the respective colors are shifted from a value, the color shift correction execution check unit determines color shift correction processing is required to be executed, and it gives an instruction to a color shift correction control unit to execute the color shift correction processing. And the color shift correction control unit forms a color shift correction patch to execute the color shift correction processing. |
| US08411319B2 |
Methods and systems for concurrent rendering of graphic-list elements
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for rendering graphical objects in a printing system. According to one aspect of the present invention a graphic list may be partitioned, and the graphic-list partitions may be rendered “out-of-order” or concurrently. |
| US08411316B2 |
Method and apparatus for printing images comprising individual information corresponding to face recognition information on second side of sheet of printing paper
An apparatus and method of printing a personal image including at least one person, and individual information corresponding to the person or location information of a place in which the personal image was captured, on respective sides of a sheet of printing paper. The apparatus and method can print the image and individual information by providing an image file comprising a personal image including at least one person and face recognition information of the person to a printing apparatus, printing the personal image on a first side of the sheet of printing paper, and printing individual information corresponding to the face recognition information on a second side of the sheet of printing paper. |
| US08411314B2 |
Image forming apparatus for forming an image by transferring an image onto an intermediate transfer member, image forming method, and storage medium
Controlling an image forming apparatus includes transferring an image of a first page onto an intermediate transfer member, determining whether the image of a second page, which follows, can be transferred side by side with the image of the first page during a time period in which the intermediate transfer member is rotated to a transfer position for the image of the second page, controlling, if a result of the determination is negative and predetermined information has been received, the image of the second page to be transferred side by side with the image of the first page after rotating the intermediate transfer member at least one revolution, and controlling, if the predetermined information has not been received, the transferred image of the first page to be transferred onto the sheet, without transferring the image of the second page side by side with the transferred image of the first page. |
| US08411311B2 |
Image processor
An image processor is connectable with a storing medium storing at least one set of still image data each corresponding to a still image and at least one set of moving image data each including a plurality of sets of frame image data corresponding to a plurality of frame images. An extracting unit extracts at least one set of frame image data from the plurality of frame image data sets of each moving image data set. A layout order determining unit determines a layout order of still images each corresponding to the still image data sets and frame images each corresponding to the frame image data set extracted by the extracting unit according to a predetermined criterion. An output unit outputs an image list with the still images and the frame images laid out therein in the layout order determined by the layout order determining unit. |
| US08411310B2 |
Methods and systems for scanning and processing an image using the error diffusion screening technology
Disclosed is a method for scanning and processing an image using the error diffusion screening technology, comprising: (1) scanning each pixel Mi of an nth line in an original image one by one and then storing a scanning result of the pixel Mi to an ith storage location; and (2) processing the stored result of the pixel Mi by using error diffusion and scanning pixels of an n+1th line in the original image until all pixels of the nth line have been processed and all pixels in the n+1th line have been scanned and stored, wherein once processing for the pixel Mi is completed, a scanning result of a pixel of the n+1th line is stored to the ith storage location previously occupied by the pixel Mi. Based on the method, the capacity for storing is only required to be able to store the data of one line in an image in the scanning direction, which saves the storage for bidirectional scanning. The method can optimize the hardware used to implement error diffusion and improve the operating efficiency. Also disclosed is a system for achieving the method. |
| US08411304B2 |
Method and system for automatic sharing and custom user interface features in a fleet of multi-function devices
A method and system for enabling automatic service sharing and custom user interface features in a fleet of multi-function devices. EIP (Extensible Interface Platform) services can be registered via a peer-to-peer discovery subsystem associated with a multi-function device grid infrastructure. EIP service registration information can be submitted and stored in the grid infrastructure. The multi-function devices can be equipped with an enterprise EIP client, which can query the discovery subsystem and apply a corporate policy. The discovery subsystem detects the optimal instance of the service based on loading and availability factors and then returns a reference with respect to the services that allows access to enhanced services. Such an approach enables a fleet of multi-function devices to dynamically discover EIP services and auto populate service options to provide increased capability, reduced complexity, and improved speed. |
| US08411298B2 |
Methods and systems for printing device load-balancing
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for providing load-balancing in cluster printing environments. Embodiments may operate in conjunction with journalled print files, pre-processed, printer-ready print files and other file types. Some embodiments provide load-balanced cluster printing through a printer-independent, driver-independent print system component. |
| US08411293B2 |
Method and program for custom spool page printing
A method and a printer for post-submission and post-rendering custom spooled page printing of a raw print file sent directly to the printer without a printer driver or print application. Embodiments of the method and printer implement a process that includes the steps of sending a raw print file directly to a printer and the printer receiving the raw print file for direct printing, rendering the raw print file by the printer's interpreter, after all pages of the raw print file are spooled, pausing the printer's print engine, providing page printing options on the printer's control panel to allow a user to select pages to be printed, and after receiving the user's page selection, starting the print engine to print only the pages selected by the user. |
| US08411286B2 |
Device for measuring static tilt angle of voice coil motor
The present disclosure relates to a device for measuring a static tilt angle of a voice coil motor. The voice coil motor includes a movable part for coupling to a lens barrel. The device includes a laser transmitter and receiver, a fixture opposite to a surface of the laser transmitter and receiver, a reflective component on the movable part, and a processor electrically connected to the laser transmitter and receiver. |
| US08411285B2 |
Stationing an unleveled optical total station
A method of stationing an unleveled optical total station includes placing the unleveled optical total station at a first station. At the first station, positions of at least three non-collinear measurement points in an instrument coordinate system are determined using the unleveled optical total station. The method also includes obtaining positions of the at least three non-collinear measurement points in a local coordinate system. A transformation is computed between the instrument coordinate system and the local coordinate system using the positions of the at least three non-collinear measurement points in the instrument coordinate system and the positions of the at least three non-collinear measurement points in the local coordinate system. |
| US08411284B2 |
Method for simultaneous hue phase-shifting and system for 3-D surface profilometry using the same
The present invention provides a method for simultaneous hue phase-shifting and a system for 3-D surface profilometry, wherein a single structured-light fringe pattern with encoded multiple trapezoidal color fringes is projected on an object so as to obtain a color image having deformed fringe patterns and then a hue information extracted from a HSI color model associated with the fringe pattern is transformed into a hue phase-shifting information for restructuring the 3-D surface profile of the object. Since the color structured light is composed of a plurality of colorful light having phase shifts with each other in spatial domain, the single structured-light pattern comprises multiple hue phase-shifting information so that the phase shifting and unwrapping can be performed by one-shot 3-D surface reconstruction process without needs of traditional conventional phase wrapping and Euler's transformation procedures such that the efficiency of phase shifting and 3-D surface measurement can be improved. |
| US08411283B2 |
Method for the measurement of the stock of a gear
A method for the measurement of the stock of a gear with an axis of rotation which has to be finished in the hardened state, wherein the gear has a gearing with a plurality of teeth at its outer and/or inner circumference and wherein the teeth have, compared with the finished geometry, a stock on their tooth flanks. To carry out a reliable measurement of the stock the invention proposes that the position of the surface of the tooth flank with the stock is detected by using optical distance measurement by means of a distance sensor, wherein a light beam is directed by the distance sensor onto the surface, wherein the light beam is guided onto the surface in such a way that it is perpendicular to the axis of rotation or that it is parallel to this direction. |
| US08411282B2 |
On-chip phase microscope/beam profiler based on differential interference contrast and/or surface plasmon assisted interference
A differential interference contrast (DIC) determination device and method utilizes an illumination source, a layer having a pair of two apertures that receive illumination from the illumination source, and a photodetector to receive Young's interference from the illumination passing through the pair of two apertures. In addition, a surface wave assisted optofluidic microscope and method utilize an illumination source, a fluid channel having a layer with at least one aperture as a surface, and a photodetector that receives a signal based on the illumination passing through the aperture. The layer is corrugated (e.g., via fabrication) and parameters of the corrugation optimize the signal received on the photodetector. |
| US08411281B2 |
Fabry-perot interferometer having an increased spectral band
A Fabry-Perot interferometer includes a fixed mirror structure and a movable mirror structure. The fixed mirror structure has a fixed mirror in a spectral region. The movable mirror structure includes a membrane spaced from the fixed mirror structure. The membrane has a movable mirror in the spectral region and multiple springs arranged one inside the other around the spectral region. A spring constant of the inner spring is less than a spring constant of the outer spring. One of the fixed mirror structure and the membrane has multiple electrodes, and the other of the fixed mirror structure and the membrane has at least one electrode that is paired with the electrodes to form opposing electrode pairs arranged one inside the other around the spectral region. The number of the opposing electrode pairs is equal to the number of the springs. |
| US08411278B2 |
Measurement of small accelerations by optical weak value amplification
An accelerometer instrument is provided for measuring acceleration. The instrument includes a laser, a Mach-Zender interferometer (MZI), a mechanical spring, a detector, a camera, and an analyzer. The laser emits a coherent light beam of photons. The MZI includes first and second beam-splitters along with first and second mirrors. The first mirror has an established mass m and connects to the spring for vibrating substantially perpendicular to its reflection plane. The mechanical spring has an established spring constant k. The MZI has an established weak measurement Nw based on a known offset ε for the beam-splitters. The detector detects the beam beyond the second beam-splitter. The camera provides a pointer measurement shift δq of the photons. The camera is disposed after the detector. The analyzer determines the acceleration α based on a = ( k mN w ) δ q . |
| US08411274B2 |
Microelectronic sensor device for optical examinations on a wetted surface
A method and a microelectronic sensor device for making optical examinations in an investigation region at the contact surface of a carrier, wherein an input light beam is sent from a light source towards the investigation region, and wherein an output light beam coming from the investigation region is detected by a light detector. An evaluation unit that is coupled to the light detector is adapted to determine the wetting grade of the investigation region based on a characteristic parameter of the output light beam. The evaluation unit may be adapted to determine a change in the light intensity caused by a liquid contacting the contact surface. The wetting grade may be detected in a test region that is located adjacent to the investigation region and that has a higher roughness than the investigation region. |
| US08411266B2 |
Measurement of particles in liquid using reflected light
An improved cassette for detecting and quantifying particles in a liquid is provided. A sample volume of a liquid is held by a housing with an inlet and an outlet for the liquid. Light is emitted across the sample volume and reflected creating a doubled length of the optical path in the sample volume. The probability of detecting particles is increased and the measurement is improved. The housing reduces noise due to air bubbles and improves sensitivity of detection of particles in the liquid sample. |
| US08411264B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting defects
An apparatus for inspecting a substrate surface is provided, which includes illumination optics for irradiating the substrate surface linearly with rectilinearly polarized light from an oblique direction, detection optics for acquiring images of the substrate surface, each of the images being formed by the light scattered from the light-irradiated substrate surface, and means for comparing an image selected as an inspection image from the plurality of substrate surface images that the detection optics has acquired to detect defects, and another image selected from the plural images of the substrate surface as a reference image different from the inspection image; the illumination optics being formed with polarization control means for controlling a polarizing direction of the light according to a particular scanning direction of the substrate or a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. |
| US08411261B2 |
System for determining the length of an optical fiber unwound from/remaining on a storage reel particularly housed in an underwater weapon
A system is provided that determines the length of an optical fiber unwound from or remaining on at least one storage reel. The fiber is used as a medium for transmitting information between a weapon and an underwater vehicle, from which the weapon was fired. The determination system measures the backscattered light power in the fiber, analyzes this power signal in order to detect a backscattered light power discontinuity that corresponds to the location of the fiber where the fiber leaves the reel, localizes this location along the fiber, and determines from this localization and from the length of fiber initially wound on the reel, the length of fiber unwound from or remaining on the reel. |
| US08411258B2 |
Systems and methods for determining position using light sources
A positioning system and method for determining a coordinate of an object may comprise a positioning transmitter system and a positioning receiver system. The positioning transmitter system includes at least four light sources and a master anchor to modulate the light sources to emit modulated light signals each having a modulation frequency. The positioning receiver system comprises a lens to focus the light signals onto an optical sensor, an envelope detector to receive a signal from the optical sensors and provide output signals corresponding to the modulation frequency, and positioning detection circuitry. The positioning detection circuitry receives calibration data; determines at least four phase difference of arrival (PDOA) pairs based on the output signals from the envelope detector; determines at least four phase corrected PDOA pairs based on the calibration data and the PDOA pairs; determines at least four linear distance differences based on the phase corrected PDOA pairs; and determines the coordinate of the object based on the linear distance differences and the calibration data. |
| US08411255B2 |
Pattern forming method
A method of forming a pattern with dots or holes arranged in a two-dimensional period by illuminating, with illumination light, a mask having a light-shielding portion pattern on a translucent substrate, and performing projection and exposure of an object to be exposed through a projection optical system. The illumination light is an effective light source of multipole illumination. A first exposure process is performed with the mask placed at a first position relative to the object to be exposed, and a second exposure process is performed with the mask placed at a second position. The mask has line patterns having lines with a line width a [m] arranged in parallel at a pitch of P. The line patterns are arranged in a mesh such that the line patterns intersect one another at 60° in three directions, and the illumination light is an effective light source of hexapole illumination. The second exposure process is performed, after the first exposure process, with the mask placed at a second position displaced from the first position by 2P/3 [m] in a direction perpendicular to any line of the line patterns. A third exposure process is performed, after the second exposure process, with the mask placed at a third position further displaced from the second position by 2P/3 [m] in the direction, to thereby form a dot pattern in a two-dimensional period having a pitch of P/3 [m]. |
| US08411253B2 |
Computer readable medium and exposure method
A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which cause a computer to execute processing steps that calculate a light intensity distribution formed on an image plane of a projection optical system. When executed, the medium causes a computer to execute the steps of dividing an effective light source into the plurality of areas, generating, for each of the plurality of areas, a plurality of shifted pupil functions by shifting a pupil function in accordance with a position of each of divided point sources, defining, for each of the plurality of areas, a matrix including the plurality of pupil functions, calculating, for each of the plurality of areas, eigenvalues and eigenfunctions by performing singular value decomposition of the matrix, and calculating, for each of the plurality of areas, the light intensity distribution based on a diffracted light distribution from the mask and the eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions. |
| US08411251B2 |
Optical element and illumination optics for microlithography
The disclosure relates to an optical element and illumination optics for microlithography. The optical element can be configured to influence a nominal beam angle, preset over a beam cross-section, of a radiation beam hitting the optical element. Moreover, the disclosure relates to an illumination optics for the microlithography with at least one such optical element and an illumination system for the microlithography with such an illumination optics. |
| US08411248B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
An exposure apparatus is provided which can supply and collect a liquid in a prescribed state, and that can suppress degradation of a pattern image projected onto a substrate. The exposure apparatus is provided with a nozzle member (70) having a supply outlet (12) that supplies a liquid (LQ) and a collection inlet (22) that collects a liquid (LQ), and a vibration isolating mechanism (60) that supports the nozzle member (70) and vibrationally isolates the nozzle member (70) from a lower side step part (7) of a main column (1). |
| US08411247B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and positioning apparatus
A lithographic apparatus includes a movable first object, and a heat exchanger including a heat exchanging body, the heat exchanging body including a material with electro-caloric or magneto-caloric properties and configured to affect the temperature of the first object by exchanging heat with the movable first object, and a generator configured to supply an electromagnetic field to the heat exchanging body to change the temperature of the heat exchanging body in order to cool or heat the first object. |
| US08411243B2 |
Display device
A display device is provided and includes pixel electrodes, each including a plurality of electrode sections which are arranged parallel to each other. Each electrode section is bent approximately in the middle along its extension direction in plan view. The pixel electrodes include a center connection portion adapted to connect together the electrode sections at their bent portions, and include end connection portions adapted to connect together the electrode sections at their end portions, and include protruding portions each of which is formed by extending the end connection portion in such a manner as to protrude from the arranged electrode sections. The display device also includes a substrate on which the pixel electrodes are arranged, an opposed substrate provided to face the side of the substrate on which the pixel electrodes are formed, and a liquid crystal layer filled and sealed between the substrate and opposed substrate. |
| US08411241B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a sheet-like first electrode formed of a transparent conductive film, a first insulator formed to cover the sheet-like first electrode, a plurality of linear second electrodes formed by a transparent conductive film on the first insulator so as to overlap the sheet-like first electrode, and a second insulator formed on the first insulator so as to cover the plurality of linear second electrodes. The first substrate and the second substrate interpose liquid crystal therebetween and are arranged to be opposed to each other. The sheet-like first electrode, the first insulator, and the plurality of linear second electrodes are provided in a pixel region on a surface of the first substrate of a side of the liquid crystal. The second insulator is made of the same material as the first insulator. |
| US08411240B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of driving liquid crystal display device
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, scanning lines, signal lines, pixel switches, first electrodes, a scanning line drive circuit, a second electrode, a voltage supply wiring, a control mechanism, a first switching mechanism, a second switching mechanism, and an output timing switching mechanism. The output timing switching mechanism is configured to simultaneously output a second scanning signal of switching the pixel switch into conductive state to the scanning lines, based on the control signal. |
| US08411238B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and process for production thereof
To provide a liquid crystal display panel that has high contrast and reduced display deficiency, a liquid crystal display panel of the present invention includes: a pair of substrates (1) and (2) facing each other; and a liquid crystal layer (3) sandwiched between the pair of substrates (1) and (2), the pair of substrates (1) and (2) being provided with a pair of respective alignment films (4) and (5) formed thereon and facing each other, the pair of alignment films (4) and (5) being provided with respective polymer films (6) and (7) formed thereon and each made of a monomer in the liquid crystal layer (3), the pair of alignment films (4) and (5) containing a macromolecular compound having a functional group represented by at least one of General Formulae (1) through (5), the liquid crystal layer (3) containing a polymerizable monomer represented by at least one of General Formulae (6) through (8), the polymer films (6) and (7) each being (i) made of the polymerizable monomer represented by at least one of General Formulae (6) through (8) and (ii) bonded to the functional group represented by at least one of General Formulae (1) through (5). |
| US08411237B2 |
Liquid crystal device, method of manufacturing liquid crystal device, and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes display pixels corresponding to at least a color of white or non-coloring and one color different from the color of white or non-coloring. Each of the display pixels corresponding to one color have a transmissive region and a reflective region. Each of the display pixels corresponding to the color of white or non-coloring have only a transmissive region. Colored layers are provided in the display pixels that correspond to one color, and cell-thickness-adjusting layers are included in the reflective region of each of the display pixels corresponding to one color and the transmissive region of each of the display pixels corresponding to the color of white or non-coloring. For the display pixels corresponding to one color, a thickness of a layer crystal layer corresponding to the transmissive region is larger than a thickness of the liquid crystal layer that corresponds to the reflective region. |
| US08411232B2 |
Liquid crystal display with a reduced flexoelectric effect
A liquid crystal display with a first substrate and a first pixel electrode on the first substrate. The first pixel electrode extends along first and second directions and has a plurality of first pixel electrode strips arranged along a first direction. The display also has a common electrode on the first substrate that is spaced from the pixel electrode along a third direction. In addition, the display has a light shield extending along the second direction and positioned to overlap at least part of an outermost strip of the first pixel electrode along the first direction. |
| US08411227B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having air conditioner
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, a protection panel arranged a predetermined distant from the liquid crystal panel, and a flow control device to impart turbulence to an air flow in a channel, which is defined between the liquid crystal panel and the protection panel. |
| US08411220B2 |
Multi domain vertical alignment liquid display and a substrate thereof
A multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display and a lower substrate thereof are disclosed. The voltage provided by coupling electrode lines is swung between a high voltage level and a low voltage level. Therefore, with different coupling of a large pixel electrode and of a small pixel electrode that both receive the same color displaying data, the voltage on the large pixel electrode is different from that on the small pixel electrode. The tilt angle of the liquid crystal between the large pixel electrode and the upper electrode is different from the tilt angle of the liquid crystal between the small pixel electrode and the upper electrode for compensating the gamma value of the color. Besides, through adjusting the value of the voltage respectively on the coupling electrode lines to compensate the gamma values of different colors and the gamma values of different colors will tend to be uniform. |
| US08411219B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method of the same
The present disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display device having a protection element for semiconductor layer from externally intruding light and a manufacturing method of the same. The present disclosure suggests a liquid crystal display device comprising a substrate; a data line and a gate line crossing each other on the substrate; a thin film transistor formed at a crossing portion of the data line and the gate line; a passivation layer covering the thin film transistor; and an opaque protective layer forming on the passivation layer and covering the thin film transistor. The liquid crystal display device according to the present disclosure blocks the light intrusion into the semiconductor active layer of the thin film transistor to enhance the electron mobility in the active layer and the reliability of the elements. |
| US08411217B2 |
Active device array substrate with protecting electrostatic discharge circuit having switching devices
An active device array substrate including a substrate, a pixel array, pads, first switching devices, and second switching devices is provided. The pixel array is disposed on a display region of the substrate. The pads, the first and the second switching devices are disposed on a peripheral circuit region of the substrate. The pads and the pixel array are electrically connected. The first and the second switching devices are at the outside of the pads. Each first switching device is electrically connected to one of the pads and has a source, a drain, and a gate electrically connected to the source and the pad. Each second switching device is electrically connected to two adjacent first switching devices and has a gate, a source, and a drain. The source and the drain are electrically connected to the drain and the source of the adjacent first switching device, respectively. |
| US08411214B2 |
Variably transmittive, electronically-controlled eyewear
A system and method for flight training and evaluation of pilots comprises electronically activated vision restriction glasses that detect the pilot's head position and automatically darken and restrict the pilot's ability to see through the front and side windscreens when the pilot-in-training attempts to see out the windscreen. Thus, the pilot-in-training sees only within the aircraft cockpit, forcing him or her to fly by instruments in the most restricted operational mode. |
| US08411212B2 |
Display device
A touch electrode and a detection element are positioned in at least two of pixels. The touch electrode is formed in a first substrate, and is positioned so as to face a counter electrode. The touch electrode contacts the counter electrode and is electrically connected thereto when a second substrate is pressed and bent toward the first substrate. The detection element is connected to the touch electrode, and detects the electrical connection between the touch electrode and the counter electrode. |
| US08411211B2 |
Projection type video display device
A projection type video display device is provided, which is capable of displaying a plurality of kinds of input videos with different aspect ratios without requiring cumbersome adjustment operations. The device includes a light source (11), a display element (13) for displaying a display video in a display area based on a video signal and modulating illumination light (12) from the light source based on the video signal to form an optical image (14), a projection lens (17) which includes a zoom lens (16) and a focus lens (15), for projecting the optical image on a screen (2), a lens drive part (23) for adjusting the position of the zoom lens and the position of the focus lens, and a projected video control part (31) for controlling a projected video (3) projected on the screen, and the projected video control part drives the lens drive part in accordance with the aspect ratio of the input video, based on the lens position information regarding the zoom lens and the lens position information regarding the focus lens, determined by the aspect ratio of the input video in the video signal. |
| US08411207B1 |
Device for outputting luminance signal and method thereof
A device for outputting a luminance signal and a method thereof are disclosed. The device includes an image smoothing unit, a band pass filter unit, and a summing unit. The image smoothing unit receives a 2D luminance signal and decreases a signal intensity of a component of the 2D luminance signal within a frequency range with respect to a carrier frequency of a chrominance component. The band pass filter unit passes the component of the 2D luminance signal within the frequency range with respect to the carrier frequency. The summing unit sums the output of the image smoothing unit and the output of the band pass filter unit to generate a resultant luminance signal. The present invention is capable of avoiding the occurrence of saw-tooth or sparkling situation caused by inharmonious switching between a 1D comb filter and a 2D comb filter. |
| US08411206B2 |
Apparatus and method for decoding extended color space data
In one embodiment, an image decoding system for a YCbCr formatted signal includes a color space converter capable of representing an RGB image signal with one or two negative image signal components. The image decoding system further includes a degamma correction unit and an image signal formatter. An offset of the image black level from zero corresponding to the image signal offset produced by the color space converter is employed to perform degamma correction. In a further embodiment, gain, offset, and sign are removed from the image signal produced by the color space converter prior to degamma correction. The image signal formatter may utilize a one-dimensional and a three-dimensional lookup table to produce an image signal that may include secondary and white image components. The system advantageously accommodates decoding xvYCC-encoded image data in conventional as well as new hardware display system architectures. |
| US08411200B2 |
Video signal processing device, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing image processing program capable of producing an appropriate interpolation frame
A video signal processing device includes: a correction unit which performs correction such that when a first frame to be displayed at a first time includes a pixel different from a pixel to be included in the first frame, the pixel different from the pixel to be included in the first frame is corrected to the pixel to be included in the first frame, and when a second frame to be displayed at a second time prior to the first time includes a pixel different from a pixel to be included in the second frame, the pixel different from the pixel to be included in the second frame is corrected to the pixel to be included in the second frame; and a motion compensation unit which generates an interpolation frame to be displayed at a time between the first and second times by referring to the first and second frames. |
| US08411197B2 |
Image pickup device and production method thereof
An image pickup device is disclosed that has little deformation caused by thermal expansion of a transparent resin for sealing an image pickup element. The image pickup device includes an image pickup element having a light receiving surface, a micro-lens for condensing incident light to the image pickup element, a first transparent plate disposed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup element with the micro-lens in between, a transparent resin that seals the image pickup element and the first transparent plate, and a second transparent plate disposed on the transparent resin to face the first transparent plate. |
| US08411194B2 |
Methods for combining camera and projector functions in a single device
Described are handheld devices with combined image capture and image projection functions. One embodiment includes modulating and capturing a light beam along the same optic path. In another embodiment, the optical components are operable to switch between projection and capture modes. In yet another embodiment, the optical components may be formed on the same semiconductor substrate thereby increasing functionality. |
| US08411189B2 |
Multi-purpose architecture for CCD image sensors
A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes multiple vertical charge-coupled device (VCCD) shift registers and independently-controllable gate electrodes disposed over the VCCD shift registers and arranged into physically separate and distinct sections that are non-continuous across the plurality of VCCD shift registers. The CCD image sensor can be configured to operate in two or more operating modes, including a full resolution charge multiplication mode. |
| US08411187B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device, method for producing photoelectric conversion device, and image pickup system
A photoelectric conversion device includes a photoelectric conversion region having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a first MOS transistor configured to read a signal in response to an electric charge of each photoelectric conversion element; and a peripheral circuit region having a second MOS transistor configured to drive the first MOS transistor and/or amplify the signal read from the photoelectric conversion region, the photoelectric conversion region and the peripheral circuit region being located on the same semiconductor substrate, wherein an impurity concentration in a drain of the first MOS transistor is lower than an impurity concentration in a drain of the second MOS transistor. |
| US08411184B2 |
Column output circuits for image sensors
A pixel array in an image sensor includes multiple pixels arranged in rows and columns with each column of pixels electrically connected to a column output line. A sample and hold circuit is electrically connected to each column output line. In one embodiment in accordance with the invention, each sample and hold circuit includes one capacitor for receiving and storing a signal voltage and a second capacitor for receiving and storing a reset voltage. The sample and hold circuits are divided into distinct groups, with each group including two or more sample and hold circuits. A pair of buffers is electrically connected to each distinct group. One global bus receives the signal voltages from at least a portion of buffers and another global bus receives the reset voltages from at least a portion of the other buffers. The global buses can include one or more signal lines. |
| US08411174B2 |
Shielding black reference pixels in image sensors
An image sensor having an array of pixel cells, each including a photo-conversion device. The array has first, second, and third groups of pixel cells. The first group of pixel cells receives light and the second and third groups are shielded from light. Each pixel cell of the second group is configured to output a black reference signal for determining a black level of the array. Each pixel cell of the third group has at least one first transistor coupled to the photo-conversion device, and each transistor coupled to the photo-conversion device has a gate coupled to a power supply voltage. |
| US08411167B2 |
Titling apparatus, a titling method, and a machine readable medium storing thereon a computer program for titling
An apparatus for giving a title to a captured image includes a unit for storing a captured image group including a plurality of captured images, a unit for storing an image capturing time when each of the stored images is captured, a unit for judging an image capturing period and an image capturing season including the stored image capturing time, a unit for storing terms respectively related to a plurality of periods with different time widths each of which includes a period and a season, the term corresponding to the period and the season, and a unit for giving a title to the stored captured image group by using a term related to a period of a wider time width out of the stored terms as a difference between the image capturing time and either the image capturing season or the acquired output time, whichever is longer. |
| US08411166B2 |
Digital camera for recording still image with speech
An image pickup method includes determining a start timing and an end timing of obtaining the speech to have a photographing timing of the still image taken by the image pickup unit therebetween, in accordance with a period in which the speech stored in the temporary speech storing unit satisfies a predetermined condition, and cutting out the speech stored in the temporary speech storing unit for a period from the start timing to the end timing determined, and storing the cut speech in the storing unit in association with the still image taken by the image pickup unit. |
| US08411164B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for automatic geotagging
A mobile terminal and method for automatic geotagging are disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a camera for capturing an image and for generating image data, a location information module for determining location information of the mobile terminal, and a controller configured to concurrently operate the camera and the location information module in response to a user input and to store the location information with the image data. |
| US08411162B2 |
Image processing methods and systems for fine art reproduction
A method and system for processing images to, for example, capture artwork includes capturing a target image and an image of a reference. The reflectance functions of the target image are then measured. The target image is processed, using the measured reflectance functions and the captured image of the reference, to calculate a correction transform associated with the captured target image. |
| US08411158B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and storage medium
An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensing unit which sequentially generates still image data, a holding unit which holds a plurality of still image data, a display unit which displays the still image data, a setting unit which sets a predetermined state as the start timing of shooting by the image sensing unit, a determination unit which determines whether the predetermined state has been obtained, a shooting control unit which causes the image sensing unit to start shooting when the determination unit determines that the predetermined state has been obtained, a display control unit which causes the display unit to sequentially display, at a display speed lower than an actual time, the still image data, a selection unit which selects one of a plurality of image data displayed on the display unit, and a recording unit which records the selected image data. |
| US08411154B2 |
Image processing apparatus for calculating global motion vector of plurality of image frames
An imaging device performs a process for dividing each of a plurality of image frames constituting moving image information generated by an imaging unit into a plurality of blocks; a process for tracking predetermined ones of the obtained blocks in one of two image frames before and after the image frame of interest to calculate a plurality of motion vectors of the blocks, respectively; a process for comparing one of the calculated motion vectors with each of other motion vectors, the one motion vector serving as an evaluation target, thereby calculating a global motion vector of the one image frame; and a process for excluding blocks present within a predetermined distance from one block related to one motion vector serving as the evaluation target from comparison targets the motion vectors of which are to be compared with the one motion vector, when the global motion vector calculation unit calculates the global motion vector. |
| US08411151B2 |
System for, and method of, processing an image
A software development kit prioritizes certain aspects of an acquired image and introduces the prioritized aspects to a main processor. Alternatively, a coprocessor, or the coprocessor and the development kit, manipulate(s) the acquired image and introduce(s) the manipulated image to the processor. The reprogramming of either one of the development kit and the coprocessor may be initiated by either one of them or by the processor and the programming may be provided by the main processor. A central station and a gate array may also be individually reprogrammable by the main processor which sets up, programs and controls an intelligent imaging platform in accordance with the individual reprogrammings. A reprogramming of an audio acquisition stage may also be initiated by that stage and any of the other stages and the processor and may be provided by the processor. The audio information may be related to the acquired image. |
| US08411148B2 |
Auto iris lens calibration device and method
An iris calibration device includes one or more groups of light sources, a microcontroller (MCU), and a display. The MCU connects to a system on chip (SoC) of a digital camera device. The digital camera device includes an iris lens. The MCU receives an “on” command or an “off” command from the SoC. The MCU turns on or turn off a group of light sources according to the “on” command or the “off” command The SoC adjusts the iris lens according to an average luminance of the one or more light sources sensed by a sensor of the digital camera device. |
| US08411147B2 |
Method for eliminating chromatic aberration caused by an imaging environment and for testing stability of the imaging environment, and chromatic aberration calibration device for use with the same
A method for eliminating chromatic aberration caused by an imaging environment and for testing stability of the imaging environment, and; a chromatic aberration calibration device are disclosed. The method serves to detect errors resulting from environmental factors and human factors and, by using a specific measurement distance and angle, eliminate chromatic aberration caused by such factors. Environmental factors include variations of the image capture device itself; the hue, lightness, and chroma of external light; and the distance and angle between the chromatic aberration calibration device and the image capture device. Human factors include operator-related variations, focusing variations, and hand tremor during measurement. When the same chromatic aberration calibration device and imaging environment are used, the method can show color variations caused by the environmental and human factors in the image capture process and thereby determine whether the imaging environment has the expected stability. |
| US08411142B2 |
Intellectual surveillance system and monitoring method thereof
The present invention relates to an intellectual surveillance system and a monitoring method thereof. The intellectual surveillance system comprises a camera module and a terminal computer module, wherein the camera module is capable of monitoring and reacting various sudden situations, and then the camera module transmits images and messages of the situations to the terminal computer module through at least one BNC connector and at least one coaxial cable, further that, the terminal module is able to display the images and show a alert so as to complete a secure monitor without any RS-485 series communication port and digital IP camera. Besides, the intellectual surveillance system can control the actions of monitoring and reacting such situations automatically by using the monitoring method. |
| US08411133B2 |
Mobile terminal and panoramic photographing method for the same
A mobile terminal and panoramic photographing method for the same are provided. The panoramic photographing method includes displaying a preview image upon selection of a panoramic mode, successively capturing a first partial image and second partial image in response to input of a shooting start signal, setting a photographing direction through a comparison between the first partial image and second partial image, and producing a panoramic image in the set photographing direction. As a result, the user does not have to set the photographing direction to capture a panoramic image using a mobile terminal. |
| US08411130B2 |
Apparatus and method of video conference to distinguish speaker from participants
Disclosed are a system and a method that generates image data that represent a speaker to be distinguished, and enables a mobile terminal to provide a video conference service using the image data that distinguishes the speaker. A video conference apparatus may include a speaker distinguishing unit to distinguish, as a speaker, a participant who is speaking from a plurality of participants in the video conference and an image data generating unit to generate image data that represents the distinguished participant differently from other participants. |
| US08411129B2 |
Video conference system and method using multicast and unicast transmissions
A computer-implemented method includes receiving registration messages at a call control agent device via first unicast transmissions from at least three video conference terminals. The registration messages request set up of a video conference between the at least three video conference terminals. The computer-implemented method includes sending a set up message from the call control agent device to each of the at least three conference terminals via second unicast transmissions. The set up message includes at least an identification of a multicast control group, a send multicast group of each of the at least three conference terminals, and a default receive multicast group. In response to the set up message, one or more of the at least three video conference terminals join the default receive multicast group. |
| US08411126B2 |
Methods and systems for close proximity spatial audio rendering
Disclosed herein are multimedia-conferencing systems and methods enabling local participants to hear remote participants from the direction the remote participants are rendered on a display. In one aspect, a method includes a computing device receives a remote participant's image and sound information collected at a remote site. The remote participant's image is rendered on a display at a local site. When the local participant is in close proximity to the display, sounds generated by the remote participant are played over stereo loudspeakers so that the local participant perceives the sounds as emanating from the remote participant's location rendered on the display. |
| US08411123B2 |
Light scanning apparatus, latent image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus
A light scanning apparatus is provided in which a light source is controlled so that the total exposure energy density of when light beams are emitted to an image carrying member across light deflection scanning of a plurality of times becomes constant on the image carrying member, thereby high image quality, long lasting output images are obtained. Exposure energy density necessary when exposure is completed by light deflection scanning of one time is set to Ex1, the latent image electrical potential deepness of a latent image formed thereof is set to Vs1, total exposure energy density across light deflection scanning of a plurality of times is set to Ex_n, the latent image electrical potential deepness thereof is set to Vs_n, wherein Ex_n=Ex1−ΔEx and {(Vs_n/Vs1)^3−1.05}×Ex1<ΔEx<{(Vs_n/Vs1)^3−0.95}×Ex1. |
| US08411116B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for power saving backlight
A method and system for displaying an image on a liquid crystal display (LCD) that may reduce power consumption. The method and system can include calculating a luminance for pixels in an image in a LCD based upon a light spread function and brightness values of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The method and system can also include changing a brightness of an LED based upon a consideration of the gray value of the pixels and the distance of the pixels from a dominant LED. The method and system can further set the brightness of the LED units to a brightness or brightness value substantially greater than or equal to a gray value of each pixel of the image. |
| US08411113B1 |
Layered digital image data reordering and related digital image rendering engine
A digital image rendering system, such as a geographic map rendering system, receives image data from an image database, such as a map database, in the form of data having image features defined as sets of image objects arranged in a series of layers. The image rendering system processes the received data in a manner that allows for rendering the original layered data without rendering each original layer separately by reordering the original layered digital image data into fewer layers. |
| US08411109B2 |
System for delivering and enabling interactivity with images
A system, including apparatuses, software and methods, is disclosed for capturing and delivering images as to which various interactive functions are enabled for a user. The images introduced to the system can come from any one of a variety of sources, including from a digital camera. A graphical user interface permits a user to customize a set of interactive functions to be enabled for a given set of images. The interactively enabled images can be delivered via a webpage to a user, for example, via email, the Internet or downloaded from a disk or from disk drive on a computer on which the webpage is stored. Each image is delivered to a user in its own layer of software, which permits complex sets of images of relatively high resolution to be delivered to users without any appreciable delay associated with the delivery or the need for the user to have additional software, such as a plug-in to receive images and enable interactive functions with respect to the images. Whenever an interactive function is being carried out, a viewer perceives only one image layer at a given time, but the currently viewable image layer can be changed rapidly, so that the user can perceive the illusion of motion, including virtual rotation of an object depicted in a set of images. |
| US08411108B2 |
Rotational display system
The present invention provides a system which integrates unique lighting technologies, switching systems, mounting systems, information delivery systems and power supply systems within a support such as vehicular wheel to provide an advanced, high quality visual display apparatus in various surfaces of rotation. A displayed image may be three dimensional. These technologies, and their many unique applications, provide for a novel and useful series of video display devices that are small, lightweight, efficient and can have the capability of producing a clear, bright, high definition image that is equivalent to that of a modern day TV or high quality computer monitor. |
| US08411105B1 |
Method and system for computing pixel parameters
A method and system for computing pixel parameters is disclosed. In one embodiment, the rasterizing of a geometric primitive comprising a plurality of vertices wherein each vertex comprises a respective color value, is performed by a rasterization module of a graphics pipeline. The rasterizing includes interpolating a respective color value for each pixel of the geometric primitive, wherein the respective color value is of a first bit width. The rasterizing also includes transforming the respective color value to a second bit width to produce a respective transformed color value for each pixel. Additionally, the rasterizing includes altering the respective transformed color value using a screen-location based dither table to produce a dithered transformed color value for each pixel. After the rasterizing, propagating the respective dithered transformed color value of each pixel to downstream modules of the graphics pipeline is performed. |
| US08411101B2 |
Preview data generating apparatus, method to generate preview data, and computer usable medium therefor
A preview data generating apparatus to generate preview data, which is used to display a preview image representing an image to be printed on a recording medium, in reflection of a color of the recording medium, is provided. The preview data generating apparatus includes a base color input unit to input a base color being the color of the recording medium, a print data input unit to input print data in a printable format, which is used to print the image, a data conversion unit to convert the print data into a displayable format suitable for a display device, and a base color incorporated data generating unit to generate the preview data representing the image to be printed by incorporating the displayable-formatted data and the base color. |
| US08411099B2 |
Computer graphics processor and method of rendering images
Therefore, a computer graphics processor with a forward mapping renderer is provided. The renderer comprises a texture space rasterizer (TS) for rasterizing a primitive in texture space, a color generating unit (PS) for determining the color of the output of the texture space rasterizer (TS) and for forwarding a color sample along with coordinates, a 2 pass screen space resampler (SSR1, SSR2) for resampling the color sample determined by the color generating unit (PS), and at least one one-dimensional blur filter unit (1PB, 2PB) associated to at least one pass of said screen space resampler (SSR1, SSR2) for performing a one-dimensional filtering before performing said at least one pass. |
| US08411096B1 |
Shader program instruction fetch
Embodiments for programming a graphics pipeline, and modules within the graphics pipeline, are detailed herein. Several of these embodiments utilize offset registers associated with the instruction tables for the modules within the pipeline. The offset register serves as a pointer to locations in the instruction table, which allows instructions to be written to be instruction table, without requiring that the shader programs have explicit addresses. One embodiment describes a method of programming a graphics pipeline. This method involves accessing the shader program stored in memory. A shader instruction is generated from this shader program, and loaded into an instruction table associated with a target module graphics pipeline. The shader instruction is loaded into the instruction table at the location indicated by an offset register. |
| US08411095B2 |
Performance allocation method and apparatus
In accordance with some embodiments, a graphics process frame generation frame rate may be monitored in combination with a utilization or work load metric for the graphics process in order to allocate performance resources to the graphics process and in some cases, between the graphics process and a central processing unit. |
| US08411091B2 |
Image drawing system, image drawing server, image drawing method, and computer program
An image drawing system, an image drawing server, an image drawing method, and a computer program product that provides a three-dimensional world to a client-terminal. The method includes: providing a viewpoint in the vicinity of an avatar and creating a three-dimensional object; performing a perspective projection of a static object to create a two-dimensional panoramic image; overlaying the two-dimensional panoramic image, information on a dynamic object, and an image of the avatar; and storing the two-dimensional panoramic image. The computer program product tangibly embodies instructions which when implemented causes a computer to execute the steps of the method. The system includes: a three-dimensional object creation unit; a panoramic image creation unit; a drawing unit for overlaying; and a panoramic image storage unit. The server includes: a reception unit; a three-dimensional object creation unit; a panoramic image creation unit; and a transmission unit. |
| US08411090B2 |
Methods for flattening a 3D surface into a 2D piece
Disclosed is a method for flattening a 3D surface into a 2D piece. In one embodiment, the method is implemented by constructing a plurality of wire-patches by feature curves on a surface patch of the 3D surface, wherein each of feature curves comprises a plurality of wire-nodes; computing an optimal 2D angle for each of said wire-nodes of the constructed wire-patches; determining an optimal position for each of said wire-nodes based on the computed optimal 2D angles thereof, respectively; and laying out each of said feature curves in 2D based on the determined optimal position. A device to flatten a 3D surface into a 2D piece is also provided. |
| US08411087B2 |
Non-linear beam tracing for computer graphics
A non-linear beam tracing technique that supports full non-linear beam tracing effects including multiple reflections and refractions for computer graphics applications. The technique introduces non-linear beam tracing to render non-linear ray tracing effects such as curved mirror reflection, refraction, caustics, and shadows. Beams are allowed to be non-linear where rays within the same beam are not parallel or do not intersect at a single point. Such is the case when a primary beam bounces off of a surface and spawns one or more secondary rays or beams. Secondary beams can be rendered in a similar manner to primary rays or beams via polygon streaming. Beyond smooth ray bundles, the technique can also be applied to incoherent ray bundles which is useful for rendering bump mapped surfaces. |
| US08411086B2 |
Model creation using visual markup languages
A method and system for defining a model by analyzing images of a physical space. In some embodiments the images of a physical space contain distinctive visual features with associated semantic information, and the model is defined using image feature detection techniques to identify distinctive visual features and a rich marker-based markup language to give meaning to the distinctive visual features. In some embodiments the distinctive visual features are predefined markers, and the markup language specifies model aspects and rules for combining semantic information from a plurality of markers to define the model. |
| US08411080B1 |
Apparatus and method for editing three dimensional objects
A computer graphic editing or modeling system that automatically alters a computer graphic object based on a user sketch. The computer graphic object may be presented as an image space view of the object (proxy). The sketch is placed in proximity to some feature of the image space view. The system matches the sketch with the feature taking into account silhouettes, which may be derived by way of depth continuity and depth gradient similarity, of the object and matching the silhouette with the feature based on proximity and shape. The matched handle silhouette is transformed to associated handle vertices of a mesh of the graphic object. The system may then deform the mesh based on the user sketch by obtaining a dimensional relationship between the user sketch and the associated silhouette and applying the dimensional relationship to a region of interest, which includes the handle vertices. |
| US08411077B2 |
DC-DC converter and organic light emitting display device using the same
A DC-DC converter having low power consumption by reducing an input current and an organic light emitting display using the same. In one embodiment, a DC-DC converter includes a buck-boost circuit for generating and outputting a second power of a second power source by receiving an input voltage. The buck-boost circuit adjusts and outputs the voltage level of the second power of the second power source in response to the voltage level of the input voltage. A controller controls the buck-boost circuit. The buck-boost circuit includes a first coil coupled between a first node and a ground; a first capacitor having first and second electrodes, the first electrode being coupled to the first node, a first switch coupled between the first node and an input terminal; and a second switch coupled between the second electrode of the capacitor and ground. |
| US08411073B2 |
System and method for detecting display disconnection
A video processing device comprises a display interface coupleable to a display device and a display controller configured to transmit a video signal via an output node of the display interface. The video signal comprises an active segment comprising video information and an inactive segment comprising synchronization information. The video processing device further comprises a display detector configured to determine whether the display device is coupled to the display interface based on a comparison of a first voltage at the output node during transmission of the inactive segment to a second voltage. |
| US08411069B1 |
Touchscreen with a light modulator
A device with a touchscreen with a light modulator is disclosed herein. The device transitions from a netbook mode to a touchscreen mode. The device comprises a main unit and a touchscreen unit with a transparent display. The touchscreen unit is preferably separated from the main unit when in a netbook mode, and the touchscreen unit communicates wirelessly with the main unit. The touchscreen unit preferably has an outer screen display surface and an inner screen display surface on each side of a light modulating unit. The main unit preferably has a main unit display. |
| US08411066B2 |
High speed noise tolerant multi-touch touch device and controller therefor
A touch-sensitive device includes a touch panel, a drive unit, a sense unit, and a measurement unit. A touch applied to a node of the panel changes a capacitive coupling between two electrodes (a drive electrode and a sense electrode) of the touch panel. The drive unit delivers a drive signal, which may comprise one or more drive pulses, to the drive electrode. The sense unit couples to the sense electrode, and generates a response signal that includes a differentiated representation of the drive signal, which is then fed through a resistor. The amplitude of the response signal is responsive to the capacitive coupling between the electrodes, and is measured to provide an indication of a touch at the node. |
| US08411062B1 |
Adaptive drive system
An apparatus includes a down pump configured to generate a regulated voltage signal based, at least in part, on an input voltage and a reference voltage. The apparatus includes a level shifter configured to generate an activation signal having a voltage level corresponding to the reference voltage based, at least in part, on the input voltage and the regulated voltage signal. The apparatus includes a switching device configured to generate a drive signal corresponding to the input voltage in response to the activation signal. |
| US08411061B2 |
Touch event processing for documents
One or more touch input signals can be obtained from a touch sensitive device. If the touch input signals are associated with one or more regions of a web page displayed on the touch sensitive device, a touch event associated with the regions of a web page is processed by the web page. Otherwise, the touch events can be processed by an application (e.g., a browser). |
| US08411059B2 |
Integrated electromagnetic type input flat panel display apparatus
An integrated electromagnetic type input flat panel display apparatus is disclosed. The integrated electromagnetic type input flat panel display apparatus comprises a display panel, a control unit and a signal processing unit. The display panel has a display unit and an electromagnetic sensor unit, wherein the display unit and the electromagnetic sensor unit are integrated in to a substrate of the display panel. The signal processing unit receives and processes the signals from the electromagnetic sensor unit. |
| US08411058B2 |
Method and system for tactile display
A system and method for a touch display system. The a touch display system includes: a flat touch display assembly including a matrix of flat Braille pixels, wherein each flat Braille pixel is operable to be placed in one of two states. A heating source is selectively connected to each flat Braille pixel. A cooling source selectively connected to each flat Braille pixel. The flat Braille pixels are configured to represent images to touch by selective heating and cooling thereof. In one embodiment, the above described display can be used in combination with software that automatically converts text to Braille which is displayed using the flat touch display assembly. |
| US08411057B2 |
Protection-plate-attached electronic member
A protection-plate-attached electronic member including: a first electronic member including a first transparent substrate; an adhesion layer which overlaps with the first transparent substrate; a protection plate fixed to the first electronic member in a state in which the adhesion layer intervenes between the protection plate and the first transparent substrate; and a peeling auxiliary section which intervenes between the adhesion layer and one of the protection plate and the first electronic member so as to lower bonding strength between the adhesion layer and the one of the protection plate and the first electronic member, wherein the adhesion layer includes an overlapping section which overlaps with the peeling auxiliary section; and a nonoverlapping section which does not overlap with the peeling auxiliary section and which directly contacts with the one of the protection plate and the first electronic member. |
| US08411056B2 |
Apparatus and method for touch input in portable terminal
An apparatus and method for setting a control command in response to a touch area and controlling an application in a portable terminal through a simple touch input is provided. The apparatus includes a control command determination unit and a control unit. The control command determination unit detects a control command of an application corresponding to an area touched by a user when a touch input is sensed while the application works. The control unit controls an operation of the working application by using the control command detected by the control command determination unit. |
| US08411052B2 |
Touch panel, liquid crystal display screen using the same, and methods for making the touch panel and the liquid crystal display screen
A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate spaced from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate, a plurality of first transparent electrodes, and a plurality of first signal wires. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate, a plurality of second transparent electrodes, and a plurality of second signal wires. Both the second transparent electrode and the first transparent electrode include a transparent carbon nanotube structure, the carbon nanotube structure includes of a plurality of metallic carbon nanotubes. |
| US08411051B2 |
Liquid crystal display screen
A liquid crystal display screen includes an upper board, a lower board opposite to the upper board, and a liquid crystal layer located between the upper board and the lower board. The upper board includes a touch panel. The touch panel includes a plurality of transparent electrodes. At least one of the transparent electrodes includes a carbon nanotube structure. |
| US08411050B2 |
Touch interface having microphone to determine touch impact strength
A computing device receives position coordinates of a touch input region upon a user touching the touch input region. The computing device also receives an audio signal from an audio sensor upon the user touching the touch input region. An impact strength of the user's touch is determined based on the audio signal. The computing device performs an action that is associated with the determined impact strength. |
| US08411049B2 |
Information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes a display control unit that causes a display unit having a display screen to perform information display; a switching unit that performs switching between a touch input enable state, in which predetermined processing is performed in response to touch input, and a touch input disable state, in which the predetermined processing is not performed even when touch input is detected; and a detector that is disposed at a position different from a position of the touch position detector and that performs predetermined detection. The display unit can be switched between an inactive state and an active state. The switching unit includes a first controller that sets the touch input disable state when the display unit enters the inactive state, and a second controller that performs switching to the touch input enable state in accordance with the result of the predetermined detection. |
| US08411044B2 |
Touch panel, method for making the same, and display device adopting the same
A touch panel includes a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, and at least two separate electrodes. The substrate includes a first surface. The transparent conductive layer is formed on the first surface of the substrate. The transparent conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube layer, and the carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes entangled with each other. The electrodes are separately disposed on a surface of the transparent conductive layer and electrically connected with the transparent conductive layer. Further, a method for making the touch panel and a display device adopting the same are also included. |
| US08411043B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device including a casing, a touch display and a processor is provided. The casing has an opening, and the touch display is disposed inside the casing for receiving the operation of an input tool. The opening exposes a portion of the touch display. The touch display has a sensing surface. The processor is coupled to the touch display, and the user interface displayed by the touch display is determined by the processor. As a result, the convenience of operating the electronic device is increased. |
| US08411039B2 |
Computer keyboard
A computer keyboard comprises a touch control display panel comprising a display unit, a plurality of touch sensing units, and a display control unit. The display unit is utilized for displaying icons of control keys. The touch sensing units are utilized for sensing pressed status of the control keys, and transmitting pressure sensing signals and position signals to a host. The display control unit is utilized for receiving icons of the control keys from the host, and making the display unit display icons of the control keys. When an external force presses one of the control keys of the touch control display panel, a specific touch sensing unit senses pressed status of a position corresponding to the pressed control key, and make the host start or terminate an executable program according to link of the executable program corresponding to the pressed control key. |
| US08411036B2 |
Hardware accelerated caret rendering
Techniques for hardware accelerated caret rendering are described in which a system based caret is emulated using hardware acceleration technology. The hardware accelerated caret can be rendered using dedicated graphics processing hardware to look and feel like a system caret. This can involve using pixel shaders to produce the hardware accelerated caret and a employing a back-up texture to remove the caret after it is drawn and cause the caret to blink. In addition, rendering of the caret can be coordinated with other animations and/or other presentations of a frame buffer to piggy back drawing of the caret onto other drawing operations. This can reduce the number of times the frame buffer is presented and therefore improve performance. |
| US08411032B2 |
Loop member for pointing devices for computers, consisting of wires linked to each other as well as pointing device comprising such a loop member
Loop member 10 for pointing devices for computers, consisting of a number of axially extending thin wires 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, twined in each other in such a way that the wires 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 work as links that can rotate a small angle in relation to each other. The wires 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 together build up a tangentially bendable cylinder, the cross-section of which is stretched into an elongate shape via two supports. Between the supports, there is a thin plate on which the upper part of the cylinder rests. The upper surface of the cylinder can be reached by a user through an opening in an apparatus box and be moved in a two-dimensional way, the move being detected and giving rise to the corresponding move of a pointer or the like on a screen. Suitable embodiment for said supports and peripheral mechanics is also shown. |
| US08411031B2 |
Input device having magnetic button structure
An input device includes a cover and a base. The cover includes a button and a protrusion. The protrusion protrudes from the button. The base includes a processing unit and a button controlling module. The button controlling module includes a first magnetic member, a second magnetic member, and a movement sensing unit. The adjacent ends of the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member have the same polarity. The protrusion of the button contacts the first magnetic member. The movement sensing unit is for sensing the movement of the second magnetic member and for transmitting the sensed movement data of the second magnetic member to the processing unit. The processing unit determines the depressed button according to the sensed movement data of the second magnetic member. |
| US08411029B2 |
Gaming keyboard and related methods
A gaming keyboard and related methods are disclosed that provide features to enhance the computer gaming experience. A keyboard connection pod is disclosed that improves power capabilities of the keyboard thereby allowing for enhanced features that require more power. A panic mechanism is disclosed that can be triggered to cause one or more selected keys to change states. Keycap rim-lighting is disclosed that provides improved visual indication of key positions. A hand registration enhancement is disclosed including a spacebar having a thumb notch and/or WASD and spacebar keys with different tactile response than other keys. Function keys are disclosed that are positioned proximate to allow reduced movement of the left hand. An integrated cord wrap tray is disclosed for a peripheral such as a mouse. Other features and variations are also disclosed. |
| US08411026B2 |
Methods and devices for lighting displays
Various devices and methods of lighting a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, for example, a display device includes a transmissive display configured to be illuminated through a back surface and a reflective display configured to be illuminated through a front surface. A light source is disposed with respect to the back of the transmissive display to illuminate the transmissive display through the back surface. A light pipe is disposed with respect to the light source to receive light from the light source and is configured to propagate the light such that this light provides front illumination of the reflective display. |
| US08411024B2 |
Image display device
An image display device comprises a liquid crystal display panel, panel driving circuits, a backlight configured to include a plurality of light source blocks, and a controller configured to modulate input data to generate image data synchronized with N multiple frame frequency, control the panel driving circuits such that same image data are displayed every two consecutive frame periods, control the light source blocks to be sequentially turned on during a light source scanning period, and control the light source blocks to be simultaneously turned off during a light source blinking period between neighboring light source scanning periods. |
| US08411021B2 |
Display control apparatus and display control method for adjusting display luminance according to ambient brightness
A display control apparatus includes an external light detection unit configured to detect ambient brightness of a display apparatus, a variation detection unit configured to detect a variation of orientation of the display apparatus, and a control unit configured to adjust display luminance of the display apparatus according to the ambient brightness detected by the external light detection unit and the variation detected by the variation detection unit. |
| US08411018B2 |
Method and apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display device
A source driver comprising a first DAC with a positive polarity (PDAC), a second DAC with a negative polarity (NDAC), first and second operational amplifiers. Each operational amplifier is characterized with a 1st & 2nd stage and an output stage. The PDAC and NDAC are coupled to the first and second operational amplifiers through a first pair of switches. The 1st & 2nd and output stages of the first operational amplifier are coupled to the 1st & 2nd and output stages of the second operational amplifier through a second pair of switches. The first and second operational amplifiers are coupled to odd data lines and even data line through a third pair of switches. |
| US08411014B2 |
Signal processing circuit and method
A signal processing circuit includes: multiple digital-signal processing units operating in parallel each including a selecting unit for selecting one of multiple systems of input picture signals, a double-speed converting unit for writing the data equivalent to one field of the picture signal selected by the selecting unit in field memory, and simultaneously reading the data equivalent to one field from the field memory twice at double speed, thereby converting the frequency of the picture signal into double speed, a reading unit for reading the picture signal converted into double speed by the double-speed converting unit and temporarily stored in line memory, and a correction processing unit for subjecting the picture signal read by the reading unit to predetermined correction processing; and a control unit for performing the selection control of the multiple systems of picture signals, and the read position control of a picture signal from the line memory. |
| US08411010B2 |
Cholesteric liquid crystal display device including a voltage stabilization part surpressing variations in output voltage
A cholesteric liquid crystal display device in which a first step for applying a high voltage pulse to initialize a pixel and a second step for applying a low voltage pulse to increase a coexistence ratio of a focal conic state to the planar state in the initialized pixel are performed and a gradation value is determined by a cumulative time during which the low voltage pulse is applied, the device includes: a voltage generation circuit; and a driver circuit, wherein: the voltage generation circuit includes: a step-up part that generates a step-up voltage from a power source voltage; a voltage switching part; and a voltage stabilization part that generates the predetermined voltage in accordance with the voltage control signal from the step-up voltage, wherein the voltage stabilization part suppresses variations in output voltage; and the step-up part switches step-up ratios between the first step and the second step. |
| US08411008B2 |
Liquid crystal display having a plurality of common voltages applied during different driving time and driving method thereof
There is provided a liquid crystal display, which prevents a blur on a display image by periodically varying a common voltage of the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display comprises: a liquid crystal display panel having pixel electrodes for supplying data voltages and a common electrode for supplying a common voltage; a common voltage generator for generating common voltages of different potentials; and a common voltage supply unit for periodically changing the potential of a common voltage supplied to the common electrode by switching the common voltages from the common voltage generator. |
| US08411005B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus and driving method therefor
A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus includes an LCD section and a driving section. The driving section provides the LCD section with a compensated gradation datum based on a first gradation datum of an (n)-th frame, a second gradation datum of an (n+1)-th frame and a third gradation datum of an (n−1)-th frame. The driving section provides the LCD section with a sum total of a pre-tilt value that is varied in accordance with the gradation and the first gradation datum when the gradation of the second gradation datum is higher than that of the first gradation datum. The driving section provides the LCD section with the first gradation datum when a gradation of the second gradation datum is lower than that of the first gradation datum. |
| US08411004B2 |
Video processing circuit, video processing method, liquid crystal display device, and electronic apparatus
A video processing circuit for a liquid crystal panel, includes: a boundary detecting unit which detects a boundary between a first pixel whose applied voltage specified by an input video signal is below a first voltage and a second pixel whose applied voltage is equal to or higher than a second voltage which is higher than the first voltage; and a correction unit which corrects, for at least two second pixels one of which is adjacent to the boundary detected by the boundary detecting unit on the opposite side of the first pixel and which are successive in a direction opposite to the boundary, an applied voltage to liquid crystal elements corresponding to the second pixels from the applied voltage specified by the video signal to a voltage which is equal to or higher than the first voltage and below the second voltage. |
| US08411003B2 |
Liquid crystal display and methods of driving same
A liquid crystal display (LCD) and methods of driving same. In one embodiment, the LCD) includes a plurality of gate lines, {Gn}, spatially arranged along a row direction; a plurality of data lines, {Dm}, spatially arranged along a column direction perpendicular to the row direction, and a plurality of pixels, {Pn,m}, spatially arranged in the form of a matrix, where m=1, 2, . . . , M, n=1, 2, . . . , N, and M and N are positive integers. Each pixel Pn,m is defined between two neighboring gate lines Gn and Gn+1 and two neighboring data lines Dm and Dm+1, and comprises a first sub-pixel electrode, a second sub-pixel electrode, a first transistor having a gate electrically coupled to the gate line Gn+1, a source and a drain electrically coupled to the first sub-pixel electrode, a second transistor having a gate electrically coupled to the gate line Gn, a source electrically coupled to the source of the first transistor and a drain electrically coupled to the second sub-pixel electrode, and a third transistor having a gate electrically coupled to the gate line Gn+2, a source electrically coupled to one of the two neighboring data lines Dm and Dm+1 and a drain electrically coupled to the sources of the first and second transistors. |
| US08411002B2 |
Printed circuit board and display system including the printed circuit board
A display system includes a system module, a connector connected to the system module, and a display module connected to the system module through the connector. The display module includes a liquid crystal panel which displays an image, and a first printed circuit board (“PCB”) which drives the liquid crystal panel. The first PCB includes a ground layer having a first ground region electrically connected to the display module, and a second ground region electrically isolated from the first ground region and electrically connected to the connector. The system module is configured to transmit communication signals to the display module and/or receive communication signals from the display module. The system module is further configured to transmit a noise component, which is independent of the communication signals, to the display module through the connector. |
| US08411001B2 |
Display device with floating bar
A display device includes a plurality of pixels, a data line transmitting a data voltage to the pixels, and a floating bar crossing the data line and being divided into a plurality of pieces. By dividing the floating bar into a plurality of pieces, a delay of a data signal can be prevented so that excellent images can be displayed. Furthermore, by disposing a diode between the pieces of the floating bar, an effect of dispersing static electricity can be maximized. |
| US08411000B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes a light emitting diode, and first and second driving transistors connected between a driving voltage and the light emitting diode to supply driving electric current to the light emitting diode. A control voltage or control voltages differentiated in polarity from each other is/are applied to control terminals of the first and the second driving transistors. The first driving transistor has a control electrode located below a semiconductor layer of the light emitting diode while the second driving transistor has a control electrode located over the semiconductor layer. Two driving transistors are formed at each pixel, and an area occupied thereof within the pixel is reduced. Control voltages differentiated in polarity from each other are applied to the respective driving transistors, substantially preventing deterioration of the driving transistors. |
| US08410998B2 |
Device for driving a plasma display panel
The present invention relates to a device for driving a plasma display panel having a plurality of cells arranged in rows and columns, said device comprising row address means for selectively addressing the display cell rows and creating, where required, in cooperation with means for selectively applying data voltages to the display columns, an electrical discharge inside the cell disposed at the intersection of the row and column selected during an address phase, and sustain means (I3, I4, I5, I6) for sustaining the electrical discharges inside said cell during a sustain phase immediately following the address phase. According to the invention, the row address means and/or the sustain means are capable of allowing a bi-directional current to flow in the display cells during the address and/or sustain phases. The capacitive and light-emission currents appearing during these phases can thus flow freely and do not create electromagnetic interference. |
| US08410997B2 |
Driving circuit, driving method and plasma display panel having scan line groups receiving reset signals at different times
A PDP driving circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a scan driver divided into at least more than two groups, a logic controller generating scan driver control reference signals, which are used to generate scan driving signals of the scan driver, and a buffer block giving different delay times to the scan driver control reference signals, to apply them to the scan driver groups, respectively. |
| US08410989B2 |
Antenna structure including radiating conductor and magnetic material having dielectric property
An antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves in a desired frequency band, includes a radiating conductor and a ground conductor, a feeder part, a wavelength-shortening section, and a magnetic field applying section. The radiating conductor and a ground conductor resonate at a resonance point frequency. The feeder part is configured to feed the radiating conductor with electricity. The wavelength-shortening section in which a magnetic body having both a dielectric property and a magnetic property is disposed close to the radiating conductor shifts the resonance point frequency into a band lower than the desired frequency band by a wavelength-shortening effect obtained based on the dielectric property and the magnetic property. The magnetic field applying section is configured to apply a magnetic field to the magnetic body so as to reduce a magnetic loss due to the magnetic body. |
| US08410987B2 |
Method and device for measuring a radiation field
A method for measuring a radiation field in the direct vicinity of a measured object is provided. One or more antenna measurement probe(s) are moved in any desired fashion within the radiation field, and a number of high-frequency measurement points is thus recorded. During the movement of the antenna measurement probe, a position determination of a respective antenna measurement probe is conducted simultaneously with or in close temporal proximity to the capture of a respective high-frequency measurement point, in order to assign a position to each high-frequency measurement point so as to generate a spatially defined measurement point cloud. Finally, radiation patterns at any distance from the measured object may be determined from the spatial measurement point cloud by means of a field transformation method. |
| US08410986B2 |
Hybrid antennas for electronic devices
A portable electronic device is provided that has a hybrid antenna. The hybrid antenna may include a slot antenna structure and an inverted-F antenna structure. The slot antenna portion of the hybrid antenna may be used to provide antenna coverage in a first communications band and the inverted-F antenna portion of the hybrid antenna may be used to provide antenna coverage in a second communications band. The second communications band need not be harmonically related to the first communications band. The electronic device may be formed from two portions. One portion may contain conductive structures that define the shape of the antenna slot. One or more dielectric-filled gaps in the slot may be bridged using conductive structures on another portion of the electronic device. A conductive trim member may be inserted into an antenna slot to trim the resonant frequency of the slot antenna portion of the hybrid antenna. |
| US08410985B2 |
Mobile device antenna with dielectric loading
Mobile device antennas with dielectric loading are described herein. In one example, a mobile device includes a ground plane, carried within an enclosure. An antenna is connected to the ground plane. Dielectric loading material is provided within at least a portion of an area defined between the ground plane and the antenna. The dielectric loading material results in a shortening of a required antenna length, thereby creating a recovered area, i.e., valuable space within the enclosure “recovered” by the use of dielectric loading material. |
| US08410984B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes an antenna housing groove extending in an extension direction of one end surface of a housing; and the housing having a boss protruding in the antenna housing groove in a width direction of the antenna housing groove; and a metal plate member that is passed through the boss and is sandwiched between the housing and the antenna body to interact with the bearing member, that is locked in both locked positions of a housed position in which the antenna body is housed in the antenna housing groove and in a protruding position in which the antenna body is rotated from the housed position by a predetermined angle and protrudes from the housing so that the metal plate member holds the positions of the antenna body, and that releases the lock upon reception of a force in a rotational direction of the antenna body. |
| US08410982B2 |
Unidirectional antenna comprising a dipole and a loop
A unidirectional wireless antenna with a front-to-back ratio of 20 dB comprises a loop antenna and a dipole antenna interconnected by a metallic element and printed on a printed circuit board. The antenna is small in size but provides good unidirectional transmission. |
| US08410981B1 |
Managing dimensional error in a direction finding antenna array
An antenna assembly may include an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements generally arranged along an axis. The antenna array may include a first antenna element for receiving at least one signal from a signal source, and a second antenna element spaced a distance apart from the first antenna element for receiving the at least one signal from the signal source. The antenna assembly may also include a processor coupled with the antenna array for analyzing the at least one signal and utilizing the distance between the first antenna element and the second antenna element to determine at least one of a direction or a location of the signal source. The antenna assembly may further include a memory coupled with the processor for storing a correction factor, where the processor is configured to utilize the correction factor to determine the distance between the first antenna element and the second antenna element. |
| US08410972B2 |
Adder-embedded dynamic preamplifier
A method and apparatus for an adder-embedded dynamic preamplifier system with dynamic comparator and current mode adder including differential switches for precharging, a switch for evaluation; and reference, feedfoward input sections. When differential switches are closed, OUTN and OUTP are precharged. During the evaluation, discharging currents are proportionately determined by input and reference values. A following latch amplifies the discharging differences of OUTN and OUTP. |
| US08410971B2 |
System and method for configuring operation of a remote control by a display device
System and methods are provided for configuring operation of a remote control by a display device. In one embodiment a method includes detecting user selection of an input of the display device and determining a command for the remote control based on the user selection of the input, wherein the command identifies a configuration for the remote control. The method further includes transmitting the command to the remote control, by the display device, for configuration of the remote control, wherein the configuration specifies operation of the remote control with one or more devices associated with the input. |
| US08410969B2 |
Wide range charge balancing capacitive-to-digital converter
A capacitive-to-digital converter is provided which includes: sensor, offset and reference capacitors, an integrator circuit and a demodulation circuit. The sensor capacitor is switched according to a first clock and the offset capacitor according to a second clock, which has a higher switching frequency. The reference capacitor is switched according to a return signal from the converter's output. The integrator circuit includes an integrator capacitor, and has first and second nodes, with the sensor, offset and reference capacitors each being switched to the first and second nodes based on the respective first clock, second clock or return signal. The demodulation circuit receives and converts output of the integrator circuit into a digital output. The higher frequency clocking of the offset capacitor allows for a reduction in capacitance of the offset, reference or integrator capacitor, and the multiclocking of the converter allows for use of a multireferencing to the sensor capacitor. |
| US08410968B2 |
Track and hold circuit
A track and hold circuit includes an input, a first output configured to produce a first output signal, and a second output configured to produce a second output signal while the track and hold circuit is in a first mode. While the track and hold circuit is in a second mode, the second output signal is combined with the first output signal and output on the first output. |
| US08410966B2 |
Current DAC
A current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is disclosed. The current DAC includes a current reference circuit coupled between a voltage source terminal and a voltage node, wherein the current reference circuit includes a feedback node. A switchable resistor network is communicably coupled to the feedback node of the current reference circuit via a first feedback network that is adapted to equalize a first voltage across the switchable resistor network voltage with a second voltage between the feedback node and the voltage node. A current mirror includes an output node communicably coupled to the switchable resistor network via a second feedback network that is adapted to equalize an output current that flows from the output node with an input current that flows into the switchable resistor network. |
| US08410961B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
In combining an analog terminal of an A/D converter with a digital terminal, the effect of the noise from the digital terminal is reduced. A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a high-speed external terminal, a low-speed external terminal, a high-speed analog switch, a low-speed analog switch, and an A/D converter. The high-speed external terminal is coupled to an input of the A/D converter via the high-speed analog switch, and the low-speed external terminal is coupled to the input of the A/D converter via the low-speed analog switch. A plurality of inputs of a plurality of low-speed digital input buffer circuits and a plurality of outputs of a plurality of low-speed digital output buffer circuits are coupled to a plurality of low-speed external terminals. The output of any digital output buffer circuit is not coupled to a plurality of high-speed external terminals, but a plurality of inputs of a plurality of high-speed digital input buffer circuits is coupled to a plurality of high-speed external terminals. Between a plurality of low-speed external terminals and the input of the A/D converter, a low-speed separating resistor with a high resistance value is coupled, respectively. |
| US08410960B2 |
Method to linearize the output from an ADC
A method is disclosed of compensating the output of an ADC for non-linearity in the response of the ADC. The method comprises converting an analog input signal to uncorrected digital ADC output samples, applying a vector of correction variables to each of a block of uncorrected ADC output samples to provide a block of corrected ADC samples, and iteratively minimizing a measure of the spectral flatness of the block of corrected ADC samples with response to the vector of correction variables. |
| US08410951B2 |
Detecting a signal quality decrease in a measurement system
Techniques for detecting a signal quality decrease are disclosed. A sensor or probe may be used to obtain a plethysmograph or photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal from a subject. A wavelet transform of the signal may be performed and a scalogram may be generated based at least in part on the wavelet transform. One or more characteristics of the scalogram may be determined. The determined characteristics may include, for example, energy values and energy structural characteristics in a pulse band, a mains hum band, and/or a noise band. Such characteristics may be analyzed to produce signal quality values and associated signal quality trends. One or more signal quality values and signal quality trends may be used to determine if a signal quality decrease has occurred or is likely to occur. |
| US08410943B2 |
Bed exit lighting
A person-support apparatus includes a frame, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. The plurality of sensors are configured to determine a person's position relative to the frame. The controller is operatively coupled to the sensors. The controller determines whether an exit condition has been met. A light source is operatively coupled to the controller. The light source is activated by the controller when the controller determines that the exit condition has been met. |
| US08410942B2 |
Systems and methods to adjust an adjustable bed
A system and method provide for reducing the snoring of a person sleeping on an adjustable bed. The system comprises a device configured with at least a microphone and a speaker, the device configured to monitor for a noise consistent with snoring. The system further comprises a control unit communicably coupled to the device and configured to actuate at least one motor of the adjustable bed to adjust at least a portion of the adjustable bed, wherein the control unit is further configured to actuate the at least one motor in response to the device detecting a noise consistent with snoring. |
| US08410937B2 |
Two-part security tag
A security tag contains two parts. The contact (or lack thereof) of the two parts defines the operational state of the security tag. In one state, the security tag responds when a central control station runs a wireless security scan. In the other state, the tag does not respond. Thus the wireless security scan reveals the tag's operational state. If, for example, one part of the tag is affixed to a window, and the other part affixed to a flame of the window, then the two parts can be arranged so that they are in contact when the window is closed but not in contact when the window is open. A wireless scan of the tag thus reveals whether or not the window is open. In one embodiment, one part of the security tag includes an RFID circuit, and the other part includes an antenna. |
| US08410936B2 |
Contactless card that receives power from host device
A memory card compatible RFID card includes a smartcard controller that receives power from a host device. The RFID card also includes a small inductive device capable of inductive coupling with an RFID reader. The small inductive device is small enough to fit in the form factor of a memory card. Commands may be sent to the RFID card to keep the RFID card powered. |
| US08410934B2 |
Warning system, monitoring device and method for monitoring controlled device
A warning system includes a monitoring device and a controlled device, wherein the controlled device includes a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, a phase analyzer and a warning indicator. The wireless transmitter can transmit a detection signal, and then the controlled device responses to the detection signal and transmits a feedback signal. The wireless receiver can receive the feedback signal. The phase analyzer can analyze a phase difference between the detection signal and the feedback signal. The warning indicator can perform a warning action when the phase difference is greater than a preset value. Moreover, a method for monitoring a controlled device is disclosed in specification. |
| US08410933B2 |
Electronic device and theft warning method thereof
A theft warning system includes a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The first electronic device is configured for transmitting monitoring signals, wherein the frequency of the monitoring signals is capable of changing according to change in the voltage supplied to the first electronic device. The second electronic device communicates with the first electronic device by receiving the monitoring signals transmitted by the first electronic device, and generating alarms when a frequency of the received monitoring signals is changed. A theft warning method applied to the electronic device is also provided. |
| US08410929B2 |
Remote vehicle starting system providing an audible indication relating to remote starting and associated methods
A remote starting system for an engine of a vehicle includes a remote start handheld unit. A remote start controller may be positioned at the vehicle for starting the engine based upon the remote start handheld unit and causing the engine to run for a run time period before shutting off the vehicle engine. The remote start controller is resettable based upon the remote start handheld unit to cause the engine to run for an additional run time period while the engine is still running and before shutting off the engine. The remote start handheld unit includes an audible indicator for providing an audible indication to a user prior to expiration of the run time period to permit a user to use the remote start handheld unit to reset the run time period while the engine is still running and before shutting off the engine. |
| US08410927B2 |
Apparatus and method for finding a misplaced object using a database and instructions generated by a portable device
The basic invention uses a portable device that can contain a camera, a database, and a text, voice or visual entry to control the storage of an image into a database. Furthermore, the stored image can be associated with text, color, visual or audio. The stored images can be used to guide the user towards a target that the user does not recall its current location. The user's commands can be issued verbally, textually or by scrolling through the target images in the database until the desired one is found. This target can be shoes, pink sneakers, a toy or some comparable items that the user needs to find. |
| US08410923B2 |
Single MCU-based motion detection, local alarm and supervisory arrangement for alarm system
A device with single MCU-based motion detection, local alarm and supervisory arrangement for alarm system controlled by an alarm control panel (ACP) is disclosed. The device includes a sensor component to monitor environment, an output component to generate warning messages, a power supply component to provide power, and a microcontroller to communicate with sensor component, drive output component and monitor the status of ACP. The device can detect when intruders break in and make alarm warnings even when the ACP is destroyed. Plurality of devices and said ACP form a local warning matrix network (LWMN) to increase the detection area and scary effect to intruders. Each device of LWMN works independently when the ACP is destroyed. |
| US08410920B2 |
Proximity notification device, proximity notification program and method for notifying proximity of vehicle
A probability acquisition unit reads a collision probability that a pedestrian collides against a self-vehicle, from a data map, in which positions of a pedestrian are beforehand associated with collision probabilities, with reference to an obtained position of a pedestrian around a self-vehicle. A function control unit activates an alarm unit to cause an alarm to notify proximity of the self-vehicle to a pedestrian when the obtained collision probability is higher than a threshold. An obstacle acquisition unit obtains a detection result of an obstacle, which obstructs movement of a pedestrian. A path estimation unit estimates a traveling path of the self-vehicle on the data map. The probability acquisition unit decreases a collision probability in a region of the data map, the region being beyond the detected obstacle when viewed from the traveling path. |
| US08410919B2 |
Driving support apparatus
A driving support ECU comprises: a roadside object detection section for detecting, in a case where a lane marking WR on at least one of the right side and left side is detected by a white line detection section and another lane marking WL is not detected, a roadside object GL on the other of the right side and left side; a white line estimation part for estimating a position of a lane marking VL1 on the other of the right side and the left side based on the detected roadside object GL; and an information outputting section for determining a departure from the lane in which the vehicle VC is running, based on the estimated position of the lane marking VL1 on the other of the right side and left side. |
| US08410916B1 |
Refreshable tactile mapping device
A device and method are provided for creating a tactile picture by controlling gas flow through a plurality of through holes on a plate. |
| US08410911B2 |
RFID network system
A RFID network system which allows the use of simple and low cost, reduced functionality RFID readers/writers thanks to the use of a plurality of concentrators which allow to distribute the processing work related to the reading, writing and verification of each reader, thus optimizing the use of each system component and achieving high processing velocities. |
| US08410901B2 |
Assigning controlled access to securable devices
Controlled access to a securable device is assigned whereby a kiosk is operable to assign an authorized user an ability to access a securable device selected from among a plurality of securable devices located remotely from the kiosk. The kiosk associates a unique personal identification number (PIN) with the authorized user and with the selected securable device, and is operable to transmit the unique PIN to the selected securable device, inform the user of the unique PIN; provide the user with location information of the selected securable device. The selected securable device is adapted to accept entry, at the securable device, of a PIN, and permits access upon entry of the unique PIN. |
| US08410900B2 |
Method for processing received event message
Techniques for processing an incoming message from premises equipment at a monitoring location. In one embodiment, an event message, including digits with varying amplitudes, is generated at a premises (such as a home, office, factory, etc.) in response to an event at the premises. A communication channel is established between the premises equipment and the monitoring location and the event message is sent from the premises equipment to the monitoring location. The entire event message is evaluated based on the number of digits received compared to expected receiving parameters defined in a communication protocol. A number of possible interpretations of the event message is determined. One or more possible interpretations of the event message are eliminated based on the number of digits in each of the possible interpretations to create a subset of possible interpretations. Receipt of the event message is determined by selecting one possible interpretation from the subset of possible interpretations based upon the number of digits received by the monitoring location within a predetermined protocol time. |
| US08410899B2 |
Automobile keyless entry system having an RFID interrogator
A keyless entry system for an automobile is described. The keyless entry system comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that has been programmed to selectively unlock an automobile when the RFID tag is within a predetermined distance and, optionally, to lock the automobile when the RFID is outside the predetermined distance. An interrogator housed on or within the automobile comprises an actuatable RF signal generator for transmitting an electromagnetic signal and a time-out circuit. Regardless whether the programmed RFID tag is detected, or not, the RF signal generator transmits a first electromagnetic signal having a first limited total continuous transmit time, followed by an interim period of a defined length where the time-out circuit renders the interrogator incapable of transmitting the electromagnetic signal, followed by the RF signal generator transmitting a second electromagnetic signal having a second limited total continuous transmit time. |
| US08410895B2 |
Remote control and monitoring of barrier operators with radio frequency transceivers
Low cost, low power consumption radio frequency transceivers are incorporated in barrier operator control systems for transmitting signals between an operator control unit, one or more remote control units, a diagnostic or calibration device and an obstruction detector. Similar detector devices, including such transceivers, may be employed in loading docks for detecting the status of dock levelers and vehicle restraint devices. Radio frequency communication eliminates the need for hard wiring and also provides for transmission of commands and status information between various control units. |
| US08410890B2 |
Combination wire connector and current transformer
A transformer assembly for mounting a current transformer to an electrical apparatus. The generally toroidal current transformer senses electrical current in conductors of the electrical apparatus and has a housing. A mechanical lug for conductors of the electrical apparatus is mounted directly to the housing of the current transformer, within the central opening of the toroid. The mechanical lug has one or more conductor bores located within a main body of the mechanical lug for receiving respective conductor wires. |
| US08410889B2 |
Transformer construction
The invention relates to a transformer construction comprising a plurality of transformer cores configured to share magnetic flux paths and, as a result, at least one of the cores comprises a post and an associated sidewall having an effective cross-sectional area which is less than that of the post. Such a construction may be employed in a power conditioning unit, for example, for a photovoltaic module, which is configured to operate the cores out of phase from each other. Also described is a transformer winding comprising a longitudinal spine having a first turn emanating from a first portion of the spine in a first transverse direction and a second turn emanating from a second portion of the spine in a second transverse direction, wherein the second transverse direction is opposite to the first transverse direction. |
| US08410883B2 |
High voltage dry-type reactor for a voltage source converter
A high voltage dry-type reactor is series-connected via a first terminal to an AC supply voltage and via a second terminal to the AC phase terminal of a high voltage converter and includes a cylindrical coil of insulated wire. In order to protect the reactor from a damaging DC field, the reactor further includes a metallic or resistive electrostatic shield which is connected to a same DC potential as the converter. |
| US08410882B2 |
Field emission system and method
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function. |
| US08410880B2 |
Material magnetizer systems
A system for improved magnetization of flexible magnetic sheet material, such as magnetic rubber. More particularly, this invention relates to providing a system for magnetization of pre-printed flexible magnetic sheet material. |
| US08410878B1 |
Contact device and electromagnetic switch using contact device
The present invention provides a contact device capable of narrowing a gap between a fixed contactor and a movable contactor and reducing the number of parts and the production costs, and an electromagnetic switch that uses the contact device. The contact device has a pair of columnar fixed contactors (6a, 6b) which are fixed to a surface of an insulation airtight container (4) while keeping a predetermined space therebetween, each having at least a tip end contact surface protruding into the insulation container; a movable contactor (11) that is disposed so as to be capable of contacting with and separating from the pair of fixed contactors (6a, 6b); and a pair of arc extinguishing annular permanent magnets (9a, 9b) which is respectively attached to outer circumferential surfaces of the pair of fixed contactors (6a, 6b) and drives an arc outwardly. |
| US08410874B2 |
Vertical quasi-CPWG transmission lines
In one example embodiment, a coplanar waveguide signal transition element transitions high-speed signals between vertically stacked coplanar waveguide transmission lines. The signal transition element comprises one or more dielectric layers and a plurality of electrically conductive vias extending through at least a portion of the one or more dielectric layers. The vias include one or more signal vias and one or more ground vias that are configured to transition signals between the vertically stacked coplanar waveguide transmission lines. The signal transition element also comprises a ground plane disposed within the one or more dielectric layers and electrically coupled to the one or more ground vias. The ground plane has one or more openings through which the one or more signal vias respectively pass. |
| US08410873B2 |
Dielectric resonator having a dielectric resonant element with two oppositely located notches for EH mode coupling
Disclosed are a dielectric resonator having simple configuration applicable to a multiple mode with no electrical signal transmission loss, and a method of controlling a resonance state (coupling mode) in the dielectric resonator. The dielectric resonator includes a cylindrical or polygonal external conductor, and a dielectric resonant element arranged at the substantially center of the external conductor. A notched portion is formed at a part of the dielectric resonant element so as to control the resonance state of the dielectric resonator. |
| US08410871B2 |
Tunable resonator and tunable filter
A tunable filter is provided which includes a filter unit comprising a pair of microstrips which are disposed facing each other, a capacitor unit connected to one side of the filter unit, and an adjustment unit for regulating the length of each of the pair of microstrips to adjust inductance of the filter unit, the adjustment unit being connected to the opposite side of the filter unit. The length of the microstrips may thereby be regulated in order to vary the frequency band. |
| US08410868B2 |
Methods and apparatus for temperature control of devices and mechanical resonating structures
Methods and apparatus for temperature control of devices and mechanical resonating structures are described. A mechanical resonating structure may include a heating element and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may sense the temperature of the mechanical resonating structure, and the heating element may be adjusted to provide a desired level of heating. Optionally, additional heating elements and/or temperature sensors may be included. |
| US08410856B2 |
Method and apparatus for canceling balun amplifier noise
The noise figure of a low noise amplifier (LNA) is reduced without sacrificing performance such as gain, IIP3, and wideband impedance matching. Embodiments include configuring a control module of the LNA to sum and scale an output from a current-sensing branch of the LNA and an output from a voltage sensing branch of the LNA into one or more summed and scaled outputs. The control module also feeds the one or more summed and scaled outputs back to at least one of the outputs of the branches of the LNA. |
| US08410852B2 |
Drive amplifier
A drive amplifier having improved linearity while being characterized by low current consumption. The drive amplifier includes first and second transistors having a gate to which first and second differential Radio Frequency (RF) voltages are respectively input; a third transistor which has a drain connected to a drain of the second transistor and a source connected to the gate of the first transistor, and a drain-source current which increases with an increase in the second differential RF voltage; and a fourth transistor which has a drain connected to a drain of the first transistor and a source connected to the gate of the second transistor, and a drain-source current which increases with an increase in the first differential RF voltage. |
| US08410849B2 |
Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including blended control embodiments
Embodiments of the present invention enable a blended control approach to generate a desired output waveform in an outphasing-based system. Embodiments of blended control according to the present invention combine outphasing with bias and/or amplitude control to yield an accurate, practical, and producible system with substantially comparable performance to that of a theoretical ideal outphasing system, but without the isolation and accuracy requirements of outphasing alone. |
| US08410842B1 |
Power switch circuit
A power switch circuit includes a control circuit, and first and second detecting circuits. The control circuit includes first and second field effect transistors (FETs) and first and second sensing resistors. The first detecting circuit includes two input terminals connected to the first and second ends of the first sensing resistor and an output terminal connected to the first FET. The first detecting circuit controls the first FET to be turned on or turned off according to the voltages of the first and second ends of the first sensing resistor. The second detecting circuit includes two input terminals connected to the first and second ends of the second sensing resistor and an output terminal connected to the second FET. The second detecting circuit controls the second FET to be turned on or turned off according to the voltages of the first and second ends of the second sensing resistor. |
| US08410841B2 |
Input/output circuit
In some embodiments, an input/output (I/O) circuit sends and receives a high-level signal and a low-level signal via a coupling capacitance provided on a communication line. The I/O circuit includes a receiving portion including a first detection circuit arranged to detect one of the signals and a second detection circuit arranged to detect the other signal, a transmitting portion including a three-value output circuit configured to output one of signals consisting of a high-level signal, a low-level signal, and a high impedance signal, and a control circuit configured to control the receiving portion and the transmitting portion. The control circuit judges a level of an inputted signal depending on detection results of the first detection circuit and the second detection circuit in a receiving state and controls an output value of the three-value output circuit in a transmitting state. |
| US08410839B2 |
Systems and methods for driving high power states using lower voltage processes
A battery assisted level shifter comprises a pull up transistor pulling up an output when a received input signal is high, a pull down transistor pulling down the output when the received input signal is low, and a battery element to provide voltage offsets. The battery element can be implemented using one or more pull-up transistors for assisting with pulling up the output. The level shifter can be used in class-D amplifiers, DC-DC power converters and interfaces between circuits having different reference voltages. |
| US08410836B2 |
Phase locked loop
A phase locked loop includes a phase detector configured to compare a phase of an input clock with a phase of a feedback clock to produce a phase comparison result, an initial frequency value provider configured to detect a frequency of the input clock and provide a frequency detection result, a controller configured to generate a frequency control signal based on the phase comparison result and the frequency detection result, and an oscillator configured to generate an output clock in response to the frequency control signal. |
| US08410835B1 |
Leakage tolerant phase locked loop circuit device
Leakage tolerant phase locked loop (PLL) circuit devices and methods of locking phases of output phase signals to a phase of a reference signal using a leakage tolerant PLL circuit device are provided. Embodiments include a PLL circuit device comprising: a primary loop and a secondary correction circuit. The primary loop includes a phase detector, an error controller, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and feedback divider. The secondary correction circuit is configured to generate and provide a secondary error-frequency signal to the error controller. The secondary correction circuit is configured to generate the secondary error-frequency signal in response to detecting a particular edge of a divided VCO output signal. The primary loop is configured to control a frequency adjustment based on at least one of a first error-frequency-increase signal, a first error-frequency-decrease signal, and the secondary error-frequency signal. |
| US08410833B2 |
On-chip power-up control circuit
A power-up control circuit utilizes on-chip circuits, multiple voltages, a ring oscillator and counter, and edge and level detection circuits to guarantee reset during power-up conditions and continues the reset state with a variable length counter to guarantee a predictable reset. In addition, a clean start-up after a logical power-down condition is provided. |
| US08410830B2 |
Injection locked frequency divider and associated methods
An apparatus includes an injection locking frequency divider, which includes a first resonant tank that has a first resonance frequency and a common mode path that includes a second resonant tank, and has a second resonance frequency that is a harmonic of the first resonance frequency. The second resonant tank is adapted to receive a first signal having an oscillation frequency near the harmonic of the first resonance frequency to cause the first resonant tank to provide a second signal that is locked to the first signal. |
| US08410827B2 |
Transmitter, interface device, and car mounted communication system
A transmitter includes a capacitor from one end of which a charge voltage is derived; a first constant current source to generate a charge current for the capacitor; a second constant current source to generate a discharge current for the capacitor; a charge/discharge controller to perform charge/discharge control of the capacitor based on a logic level of a transmission input signal and a comparison result between the charge voltage and a reference voltage; an output stage to generate the transmission output signal, wherein a slew rate of which is set in response to the charge voltage, and wherein an amplitude of the transmission output signal is set in response to an output side power source voltage; a reference voltage generator to fluctuate the reference voltage depend on the output side power source voltage; and a constant current controller to fluctuate a current value of the charge current and the discharge current depend on the reference voltage. |
| US08410821B2 |
Output current detecting circuit and transmission circuit
An output current detecting circuit includes: a current detecting transistor having a size smaller than that of an output transistor and a control terminal, to which a voltage same as a control voltage of the output transistor is applied; a sensing resistor connected to the current detecting transistor in a serial mode; a comparison circuit comparing a voltage converted by the sensing resistor and a reference voltage to judge a magnitude of a current flowing through the output transistor; and a reference voltage generating circuit, wherein the reference voltage generating circuit includes a constant current circuit flowing a constant current and a resistance element having one terminal connected to a power source voltage terminal, the reference voltage generating circuit generating the reference voltage based on a power source voltage by the conversion of the constant current into a voltage by flowing the constant current through the resistance element. |
| US08410820B2 |
High speed latch comparators
In a latch circuit having a bistable pair of cross connected transistors of a first polarity and a third transistor of a second polarity, a current signal greater than a bias current is received at a latch circuit port, amplified with the third transistor, and applied to the latch circuit port. This decreases the time in which the latch circuit port receiving the current signal greater than the bias current reaches a steady state voltage. |
| US08410814B2 |
Receiver circuits for differential and single-ended signals
Receiver circuits for differential and single-ended signals are disclosed. In some embodiments, a receiver may include a first amplifier configured to receive a first signal of a differential pair of signals at a first input and a second signal of the differential pair of signals at a second input when operating in differential mode. The receiver may also include a second amplifier coupled to the first amplifier, where the second amplifier is configured to receive a reference signal at a third input and a single-ended signal at the first input when operating in single-ended mode. In some embodiments, several receivers may be used, for example, to process a differential clock signal and one or more single-ended data signals referenced to the clock signal and/or differential data signals referenced to a single-ended clock signal. In some embodiments, the delays of each signal propagating through each respective receiver may be independently adjusted. |
| US08410809B2 |
Under-voltage and over-voltage detection circuit and driving method thereof
A low-voltage and over-voltage detection circuit receives a power source voltage, generates a shift voltage by shifting the received voltage to a predetermined level, and fixes the shift voltage as a clamping voltage when the shift voltage is higher than a predetermined clamping voltage. The low-voltage and over-voltage detection circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor generates a regulator voltage that varies according to the power source voltage and performs a switching operation according to the shift voltage and the regulator voltage, and the second transistor is connected in parallel with the first transistor and generates hysteresis. The low-voltage and over-voltage detection circuit determines whether the power source voltage is a low-voltage or an over-voltage by using a drain voltage generated according to currents flowing to the first and second transistors. |
| US08410802B2 |
System including thermal control unit having conduit for dispense and removal of liquid thermal interface material
Systems and methods including testing of electronic components are described. One system relates to a system including a thermal control unit adapted to control the temperature of at least a portion of an electronic component during testing. The system includes at least one conduit extending through a portion of the thermal control unit, the conduit sized to permit the flow of a thermal interface material therethrough, the thermal interface material comprising a liquid. The at least one conduit is positioned so that the thermal interface material can be delivered through the conduit and onto the electronic component. The system also includes a device adapted to control the flow of the thermal interface material through the conduit, wherein the flow can be controlled to deliver the thermal interface material to the electronic component and to remove the thermal interface material from the electronic component. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08410799B2 |
Motion sensing device and electronic device using the same
A motion sensing device includes a housing defining a chamber that includes a number of sidewalls. A number of movable members are connected to the sidewalls and able to move toward the sidewalls. Each movable member includes a number of conductive grooves opposing the sidewalls and having a resistance layer. A number of conductive spring members are respectively fixed to the sidewalls and each include a free end movably received in one conductive groove. An inertial weight is movably received in a space defined by the movable members. When the motion sensing device is jerked, the inertial weight moves and is able to apply a pushing force to one of the movable members, causing one of the movable members to move and causing two of the free ends in the same conductive groove to move toward each other. |
| US08410797B2 |
Capacitive sensor and sensing method
A capacitive sensing method is provided. The capacitive sensing method includes the step of alternately charging/discharging a capacitive sensing electrode of a capacitive sensor for predetermined times under an active mode and charging/discharging the capacitive sensing electrode during a fixed period under a standby mode while an object is not coupled to the capacitive sensing electrode, in which the capacitive sensing electrode has a first capacitance while the object is not coupled to the capacitive sensing electrode. The capacitive sensing method also includes the step of generating a switch signal while the object is coupled to the capacitive sensing electrode under the standby mode such that the capacitive sensing electrode has a second capacitance larger than the first capacitance and the step of switching the standby mode to the active mode according to the switch signal. |
| US08410796B2 |
Method for calibrating apparatuses for determining the moisture content of products based on capacitive measurements, and device for stimulating the dielectric properties of products, such as wood, for use in this method
A method for calibrating apparatuses for determining the moisture content of products based on capacitive measurements comprises the following operating steps: Inserting a device (1) for simulating the dielectric properties of products in a measuring area of an apparatus (2) to be calibrated; taking a capacitive measurement with the apparatus (2) while the device (1) is inserted in the measuring area; modifying the device (1) settings at least once and taking the capacitive measurement again, for each different setting value; comparing each capacitive measurement taken this way with a corresponding known reference capacitive measurement; calibrating the apparatus (2) based on this comparison. In turn, the device used in the method comprises at least a first receiving antenna (3), at least an electric terminal (4), in practice electrically connectable to the apparatus (2), and at least one adjustable impedance (5) for modifying the settings of the device (1), and which is electrically connected between the first antenna (3) and the electric terminal (4). |
| US08410792B2 |
Resonator arrangement and method for analyzing a sample using the resonator arrangement
A resonator arrangement has a conductive, semi-open outer housing, at an interior of which a conductive bar is provided disposed coaxially to the housing. At one end of the bar in a direction of a housing bottom, the bar has a die and, together with a dielectric and the housing bottom, forms a capacitor. The bar is short-circuited to the housing at another end, so that the bar and housing together form an LC oscillator circuit. Also disclosed is a method for analyzing a sample using a resonator arrangement. |
| US08410790B2 |
Apparatus for testing transformers
The invention relates to a device for testing transformers, having a static frequency converter (2). The static frequency converter (2) comprises a plurality of outlets (21, 22, 23), which are connected to a filter device (6). The filter device (6) also comprises a plurality of outlets (31, 32, 33), which are connected to a matching transformer (8), and wherein the matching transformer (8) is connected to the transformer (15) intended for testing. The filter device (6) is a filter transformer (11). |
| US08410789B2 |
High voltage electric cable
An electric cable is provided having a conductor element, and successively around the conductor element an electrically-insulating layer; a metal screen and an outer protective sheath. The cable has an extruded outer layer surrounding the outer protective sheath, the extruded outer layer being directly in contact with the outer protective sheath, and being obtained from a composition containing more than 50.0 parts by weight of apolar polymer per 100 parts by weight of polymer in the composition, together with an electrically-conductive filler. |
| US08410785B2 |
Electrical power system phase and ground protection using an adaptive quadrilateral characteristics
A quadrilateral distance module may be used to detect faults in an electrical power system. A resistive coverage of the quadrilateral distance module may be defined by an adaptive resistance blinder. The adaptive resistance blinder may be adapted to certain power system conditions, such as forward load flow and/or reverse load flow. A forward adaptive resistance blinder may be calculated in parallel with a reverse adaptive resistance blinder. The forward adaptive resistance blinder may use a polarizing quantity adapted for forward load flow conditions, and the reverse adaptive resistance blinder may use a polarizing quantity adapted for reverse load flow conditions. Fault detection may be performed by comparing both the forward and reverse adaptive resistance blinders to power system stimulus and detecting a fault when the stimulus satisfy either blinder. |
| US08410779B2 |
Contrast agent-free MR angiography with SSFP sequences
In a method to generate an MR angiography image of an examination region of a subject without the use of contrast agent, a first MR image of the examination region is acquired with a first imaging sequence in which a gradient-induced phase development for unmoved and moved spins is essentially completely rephased at the end of a repetition interval TR, and a second MR image of the examination region is acquired with a second imaging sequence in which the gradient-induced phase development for unmoved spins is likewise essentially completely rephased at the end of the repetition interval TR and a rest phase φrest for moved spins remains at the end of the repetition interval TR. The second MR image is subtracted from the first MR image to generate the MR angiography image. |
| US08410778B2 |
Magnetic resonance method and apparatus to acquire multiple image data sets from a subject
In a magnetic resonance (MR) method and apparatus for the acquisition of a first image data set and a second image data set of an examination subject, a series of excitation pulses is radiated into the examination subject, and after each excitation pulse, a first echo signal is detected after a first echo time TE1 and a second echo signal is detected after a second echo time TE2, with TE2 greater than TE1, and the first echo signal is entered in a first raw MR data set and the second echo signal is entered in a second raw MR data set. A first image data set is acquired from the first MR data set on the basis of magnitude information contained in the first MR data set. A second image data set is acquired from the second MR data set on the basis of phase information contained in the second MR data set. The first and second image data sets are stored on at least one memory device.This manner of data acquisition and processing delivers results that typically are obtained from two different data acquisition and processing procedures, one for each desired image data set. |
| US08410775B2 |
Methods and apparatus to detect location and orientation in an inductive system
A base station (e.g., a central device including a transducer assembly of one or more orthogonal transducers) transmits a magnetic field at a known power level and direction. The magnetic field signal includes data information transmitted from the base station to a movable remote station. The remote station includes a transducer assembly of one or multiple transducer coils to receive the magnetic field generated by the base station. Location and orientation of the remote station (with respect to the base station) are determined based on the magnitude, amplitude, and/or phase of magnetic field signals received on each of the remote station's transducers. The remote station may transmit the location and orientation information (e.g., raw measured data or converted data) to the base station using the same coils as used by the remote station to receive the magnetic field generated by the base station. |
| US08410774B2 |
Electromagnetic motion sensor
An electromagnetic motion sensor includes a base, an electromagnetic induction layer, a block, and an emitting coil. The electromagnetic induction layer with a plurality of induction coils is arranged on the bottom of the base. The block is movably connected to the base by a plurality of elastic members. The emitting coil is fixed to a center of the bottom of the block facing the induction layer. A circuit inside the block provides current to the emitting coil. The block moves with the jerk of the motion sensor when the motion sensor is jerked, causing the elastic members to be distorted. The relative movement between the block and the magnetic induction layer causes more than one of the induction coils generate and output voltage signals according to the change of magnetic flux through the plurality of induction coils caused by the moving of the emitting coil. |
| US08410773B2 |
Surge current detection device
A protection element (e.g., an arrester) protects a piece of equipment to be protected, from surge currents line terminals and an earth terminal. Surge current detection devices are provided on respective conductors connected to the arrester. Each of the surge current detection devices is to detect the surge current penetrated into a conductor for a short period of time, and includes a magnetic flux concentration member by which a magnetic flux produced by the penetrated surge current is concentrated in a given detection area at a high density, and a ferromagnetic material sheet positioned on the given detection area. The ferromagnetic material sheet includes a recording layer which is able to record and erase the penetration state of the surge current. A plurality of microcapsules are arranged in the recording layer, and each of the microcapsules contains a suitable liquid, and a plurality of magnetic particles suspended in the suitable liquid. An orientation state of the magnetic particles is varied by the concentrated magnetic flux, and can be visually recognized. |
| US08410771B2 |
Method and apparatus for spectrum detection
A spectrum detection method, system and base station are provided, which relate to the field of communications technology, and improve the spectrum utilization in a cellular multi-hop network. The spectrum detection method includes: receiving an intermediate spectrum detection result sent by each node; and integrating the intermediate spectrum detection results to obtain a final spectrum detection result. The spectrum detection method, system, and base station are mainly applied to cellular multi-hop networks. |
| US08410770B2 |
Fast boost regulator
A boost regulator that comprises a capacitor adapted to couple in parallel with a load, a switch coupled to the capacitor and to a diode, a comparator coupled to the load and receiving a reference voltage, and a circuit logic component that receives an output of the comparator and an output of a duty cycle signal generator. An output of the circuit logic component couples to the switch and is capable of activating and de-activating the switch. |
| US08410767B2 |
Control circuit of DC-DC converter applying offset to coil current, DC-DC converter applying offset to coil current and control method of DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter or the like capable of generating a stable output voltage is provided. A control circuit 11 of a current mode step-down DC-DC converter 1 includes a slope compensation circuit SC and an offset circuit IF1. The slope compensation circuit SC adds an increase gradient m2 due to slope compensation to an increase gradient of a coil current waveform Vsense in a range wherein an ON period Ton of a switch SW1 exceeds ½ of an operating cycle T. An offset circuit IF1 applies an offset voltage Voffset which becomes smaller depending on the ON period Ton in excess of ½ of an operating cycle T, to a coil current waveform Vsense. |
| US08410763B2 |
Controller for buck and boost converter
A PWM controller for adjusting an output voltage of a buck and boost converter includes a first saw wave generator, which generates a first saw wave in accordance with the level of the output voltage. A first comparator coupled to the first saw wave generator compares the first saw wave with a first reference voltage and generates a first pulse. A peak hold circuit coupled to the first saw wave generator holds a peak value of the first saw wave. A second saw wave generator coupled to the peak hold circuit generates a second saw wave having a lower limit value that is the peak value of the first saw wave. A second comparator coupled to the second saw wave generator compares the second saw wave with the first reference voltage and generates a second pulse. |
| US08410762B2 |
DC-DC converter
The high-side switch has one end connected to the input terminal. The low-side switch has one end connected to other end of the high-side switch and other end connected to a ground terminal. The inductor has one end connected to the other end of the high-side switch and other end connected to the output terminal. The capacitor has one end connected to the other end of the inductor and other end connected to the ground terminal. The high-side switch controlling circuit generates and supplies a high-side switch controlling signal based on a target voltage of the output terminal, the output voltage of the output terminal, and a current flowing through the capacitor, to the high-side switch. The low-side switch controlling circuit generates and supplies a low-side switch controlling signal based on the high-side switch controlling signal and a current flowing through the inductor, to the low-side switch. |
| US08410760B2 |
Battery thermal system control strategy
A method and system for controlling temperature in an electric vehicle battery pack which preserves battery pack performance and longevity while maximizing vehicle driving range. A controller prescribes a minimum allowable operating temperature in the battery pack, where the minimum operating temperature increases as battery pack state of charge and remaining useful life decrease. During vehicle driving operations, the minimum allowable temperature is computed, and a thermal management system is used to warm the battery pack only if necessary to raise its temperature above the calculated minimum level. By minimizing use of the thermal management system to warm the battery pack, energy consumption is reduced and vehicle driving range is increased, while not adversely affecting battery pack performance or durability. The same strategy is employed during charging, which reduces the amount of energy consumed from the grid for warming the battery pack. |
| US08410759B2 |
Electrolyte for an electrochemical battery cell
Electrolyte for an electrochemical battery cell that contains sulphur dioxide and a conductive salt. The electrolyte is a gel that is formed with to the involvement of a fluorosulphinate. The invention is also directed to a battery cell that contains such an electrolyte. |
| US08410758B2 |
Systems and methods for bi-directional energy delivery with galvanic isolation
Systems and methods are provided for bi-directional energy delivery. A charging system comprises a first bi-directional conversion module, a second bi-directional conversion module, and an isolation module coupled between the first bi-directional conversion module and the second bi-directional conversion module. The isolation module provides galvanic isolation between the first bi-directional conversion module and the second bi-directional conversion module. |
| US08410756B2 |
Battery pack having a sensor activated off switch
A battery pack is provided with a plurality of battery modules; a pack main body that removably receives the plurality of battery modules; a movable member that prohibits the plurality of battery modules from being attached to and removed from the pack main body at a first position; at least one sensor that detects whether the movable member is located at the first position or not; and a controller that performs at least one predetermined processing based on detection by the at least one sensor. |
| US08410750B2 |
Method for solar power energy management with intelligent selection of operating modes
A method for solar power energy management with intelligent selection of operating modes classifies the power energy of a solar cell and an reserved power of a rechargeable battery into multiple power level ranges, and determine to supply power to a load in accordance with various combinations of the power level ranges of the solar cell and the rechargeable battery to avoid energy waste. When the solar cell is in a “sufficient” power level range, the power energy of the solar cell is simultaneously supplied to the load and stored in the rechargeable battery. When the solar cell is in an “insufficient” power level range, all the power energy of the solar cell is selectively supplied to the load or charged to the rechargeable battery. When being in a “poor” power level range, the power energy of the solar cell can still be charged to the rechargeable battery. |
| US08410748B2 |
Removable photovoltaic charging pack including a device compartment and container including a receiving compartment with a transparent panel to hold the charging pack
A portable container having an exterior surface and defining an interior compartment. The portable container includes a photovoltaic (PV) charging pack and a receiving device coupled to the exterior surface for detachably coupling the PV charging pack to the exterior surface. The PV charging pack includes a PV panel and defines a compartment for containing a portable electronic device. The PV panel is oriented away from the exterior surface when the PV charging pack is coupled to the receiving device. |
| US08410741B2 |
Servo motor control apparatus and control method
A servo motor control apparatus has a feedback loop. When an oscillation detection signal indicates no detection of oscillation, a parameter operating section gives an updating section an operational instruction to set a control parameter in accordance with a supplied set value. When the oscillation detection signal indicates detection of oscillation, the parameter operating section gives the updating section an operational instruction to set such a control parameter as to narrow a frequency band width of the feedback loop. |
| US08410739B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the operating condition of generator rotating diodes
A controller (500) in an electric drive system is used to determine the operating condition of array of rotating diodes (302B) within a generator (204). During operation, the controller (500) receives a set of generator inputs, a set of machine parameters, and a set of diagnostic values. Next, the controller (500) determines a set of expected operating values corresponding to the set of diagnostic values. The controller (500) then compares the obtained diagnostic values to one or more corresponding expected operating values. If the difference is greater than a threshold, the controller (500) provides a fault indication that one or more of the array of rotating diodes (302B) has malfunctioned. |
| US08410738B2 |
Semiconductor device
Multiple pads are provided to a semiconductor chip of a semiconductor device. A first pad is arranged on a path for a first signal set to a voltage that corresponds to a first level in the active state. The first signal is input to the semiconductor chip from outside the semiconductor device, or is output to outside the semiconductor device from the semiconductor chip. A second pad is provided in order to receive a setting voltage. A first pin is connected to a first pad via a connection member, and receives the first signal from outside the semiconductor device, or from the semiconductor chip via the first pad. A second pin receives, from outside, a second signal set to a voltage that corresponds to the first level or a second level which is the complement of the first level. |
| US08410735B2 |
Torque ripple suppression control device for permanent magnet motor and electric power steering system
A torque ripple suppression control device for a permanent magnet motor includes a current command conversion unit that outputs a current command value, a position detector that detects a rotational position of the permanent magnet motor, a current detection unit that detects a current at the permanent magnet motor, an induced voltage coefficient setting unit that outputs an information signal related to an induced voltage coefficient for an induced voltage at the permanent magnet motor, a torque ripple suppression operation unit that outputs a current correction command value for the permanent magnet motor, a current control operation unit that outputs a voltage command value based upon addition results obtained by adding together the current command value and the current correction command value and the current detection value, and a power converter that outputs a voltage with which the permanent magnet motor is to be driven. |
| US08410729B2 |
Special purpose modes in photonic band gap fibers
Photonic band gap fibers are described having one or more defects suitable for the acceleration of electrons or other charged particles. Methods and devices are described for exciting special purpose modes in the defects including laser coupling schemes as well as various fiber designs and components for facilitating excitation of desired modes. Results are also presented showing effects on modes due to modes in other defects within the fiber and due to the proximity of defects to the fiber edge. Techniques and devices are described for controlling electrons within the defect(s). Various applications for electrons or other energetic charged particles produced by such photonic band gap fibers are also described. |
| US08410728B2 |
Method of and device for controlling shed lighting
A method of, and a device for controlling a shed lighting, and a shed provided therewith. To support daylight, lamps are switched on, but only in the case when the measured intensity is too low and, moreover, the time in which the daylight intensity could become sufficient is too short to achieve a desired period of time with a minimum light intensity. This saves energy and service life of lamps. |
| US08410724B2 |
Lighting control console for controlling a lighting system
Various embodiments of the invention relate to a lighting control console for controlling a lighting system comprising wherein digital adjusting commands, which can be transferred to the lighting devices of the lighting system via data connections, are generated in the lighting control console, and wherein the lighting control console comprises at least one housing, in which the hardware components are arranged so as to be protected from external influences, and wherein the lighting control console comprises a plurality of operating elements, in particular pushbuttons, slide controls and/or rotary controls, which are arranged at the upper side of the housing and by means of which operating commands can be input, and wherein the lighting control console comprises at least one display device, at which a user interface can be displayed. |
| US08410722B2 |
Illumination system
In an illumination system (1) having a control unit (2) and at least one de-central lamp operating device (12, 22) for operating one or more associated lamps (LA), the lamp operating device (12, 22) can be operated in different operational modes. In accordance with the invention the central control unit (2) and the lamp operating device (12, 22) are so configured that the selection and setting of an operational mode for the lamp operating device (12, 22) can be carried out from or via the central control unit (2). |
| US08410706B2 |
Method of calibrating a daylight sensor
A wireless lighting control system comprises a daylight sensor for measuring a light intensity in a space and a dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to a lighting load in response to the daylight sensor. For example, the daylight sensor may be able to transmit radio-frequency (RF) signals to the dimmer switch. The system provides methods of calibrating the daylight sensor that allow for automatically measuring and/or calculating one or more operational characteristics of the daylight sensor. One method of calibrating the daylight sensor comprises a “single-button-press” calibration procedure during which a user is only required to actuate a calibration button of the daylight sensor once. In addition, the daylight sensor is operable to automatically measure the total light intensity in the space at night to determine the light intensity of only the electrical light generated by the lighting load. |
| US08410705B2 |
LED lighting system with bypass circuit for failed LED
A bypass circuit is provided for each LED in a series to permit continued operation with reduced lighting in the event of an LED failure. The bypass circuit is provided in parallel to the LED and comprises a Zener Diode provided in parallel to a thyristor. Upon LED failure, the voltage across the Zener Diode is increased thereby triggering the thyristor which is maintained in a triggered mode as long as current flows through the series circuit. |
| US08410704B1 |
Ionization device
Ionization devices that have at least two modes of ionization, and that can switch between these two modes of operation, are described. Illustratively, the ionization devices can switch between a photoionization (PI) mode and a combined mode of electroionization (EI) and PI (EI/PI mode). |
| US08410699B2 |
Heat dissipation enhanced LED lamp
A LED lamp which could directly replace an ordinary tungsten, halogen, or electricity-saving light bulb, includes a LED filament, a lamp base, a thermally conductive electric insulator, and a mask. The thermally conductive electric insulator is filled in a cavity of the lamp base, and includes a first portion mechanically contacting the LED filament and an electrode of the lamp base to provide a first thermal channel from the LED filament to the lamp base, and a second portion adhering the mask to the lamp base to provide a second thermal channel from the lamp base to the mask. By using the mask to enlarge the heat dissipation area, a better heat dissipation effect is achieved. |
| US08410693B2 |
Plasma display panel
A plasma display panel includes a rear plate and a front plate arranged as opposed to the rear plate. The rear plate has a vertical barrier rib and a horizontal barrier rib orthogonal to the vertical barrier rib. The front plate has a first transparent electrode in parallel with the horizontal barrier rib and a plurality of second transparent electrodes in parallel with the vertical barrier rib. The front plate further has a plurality of bus electrodes having the same width and arranged with the same interval. The plurality of bus electrodes includes a first bus electrode electrically connected with the first transparent electrode, and a second bus electrode electrically connected with the plurality of second transparent electrodes. The second bus electrode is formed in a position opposed to the horizontal barrier rib. |
| US08410689B2 |
Stacked body having a light emitting element and a light detecting element for measuring an amount of light, a light emitting device, and an image formation device
A stacked body comprising a light emitting layer and a light detecting element which detects light emitted by the light emitting layer. The light detecting element has a light detecting region which overlaps a light emitting surface of the light emitting layer as viewed in the thickness direction of the light emitting layer. |
| US08410681B2 |
Light emitting device having a refractory phosphor layer
A light emitting device and method of producing the same is disclosed. The light emitting device includes a transparent thermal conductor layer, a refractory phosphor layer provided on the transparent thermal conductor layer, and a light emitting semiconductor arranged to emit light toward the transparent thermal conductor layer and the refractory phosphor layer. |
| US08410679B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting devices with densely packed phosphor layer at light emitting surface
An LED includes a chip having a light emitting surface, and a coating of phosphor-containing material on the light emitting surface. Phosphor particles are arranged in a densely packed layer within the coating at the light emitting surface, and such that the light emitting surface is in contacting relationship with the phosphor particles. |
| US08410677B2 |
Blue phosphor, light-emitting device, and plasma display panel
The present invention provides a blue phosphor having high luminance and showing less luminance degradation during driving of a light-emitting device. The present invention is a blue phosphor that includes: an alkaline earth metal aluminate represented by a general formula aBaO.bSrO.(1−a−b)EuO.cMgO.dAlO3/2, where 0.70≦a≦0.95, 0≦b≦0.15, 0.95≦c≦1.15, 9.00≦d≦11.00, and a+b≦0.97 are satisfied; and 0.008 mol to 0.800 mol of MWO4 with respect to 1 mol of the aluminate, where M is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ba, Sr, and Ca. |
| US08410675B2 |
Thermionic electron emission device
A thermionic electron emission device includes an insulating substrate and one or more lattices located on the insulating substrate. Each lattice includes a first, second, third and fourth electrode down-leads located on the insulating substrate to define an area. A thermionic electron emission unit is located in the area. The thermionic electron emission unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a thermionic electron emitter. The thermionic electron emitter includes a carbon nanotube film structure. The carbon nanotube film structure includes a carbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotube film includes a number of carbon nanotubes joined end to end along axial directions of the carbon nanotubes by contacting with each other directly. |
| US08410668B2 |
Crystal oriented ceramic composite body, and piezoelectric/electrostrictive element
A crystal oriented ceramic composite body is provided, including a substrate that has a first surface and a second surface, and a {100} oriented ceramic film that is disposed to face the first surface. The {100} oriented ceramic film includes a first sectional surface. The first sectional surface is perpendicular to the first surface, and a 90 degree domain includes a domain wall within a range of ±20 degrees of a normal to the first surface and occupies a surface area of at least ⅓ of the first sectional surface. |
| US08410666B2 |
Ultrasonic probe and method of manufacturing the same
According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements, a first electrode, a plurality of second electrodes, a plurality of stacked flexible printed circuit boards, and a plurality of connection portions. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are arrayed. The first electrode is provided on the emitting surface side of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. The plurality of second electrodes are respectively provided on the rear surface sides of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. The plurality of stacked flexible printed circuit boards respectively include a plurality of terminals. The plurality of connection portions electrically connect the second electrodes to the terminals. At least one of the flexible printed circuit boards extends longer than the flexible printed circuit board serving as an upper layer. |
| US08410665B2 |
MEMS kinetic energy conversion
The present disclosure provides a micro device. The device has a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) movable structure, a plurality of metal loops over the MEMS movable structure, and a piezoelectric element over the MEMS movable structure. Frontside and backside capping wafers are bonded to the MEMS structure, with the frontside and backside capping wafers encapsulating the MEMS movable structure, the plurality of metal loops, and the piezoelectric element. The device further includes a magnet disposed on the frontside capping wafer over the plurality of metal loops. |
| US08410663B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator unit having a stress relieving layer and method for manufacturing the same
A piezoelectric actuator unit which undergoes less change in the amount of displacement and shows high durability in continuous operation under a high voltage and a high pressure over a long period of time is provided.The piezoelectric actuator unit including a multi-layer piezoelectric element having piezoelectric layers and metal layers with the piezoelectric layers and the metal layers being stacked one on another, and a case which houses the multi-layer piezoelectric element, wherein at least one of the plurality of metal layers is stress relieving layer which consists of a plurality of partial metal layers that are scattered throughout the entire region between two piezoelectric layers which adjoin the partial metal layers in the direction of stacking, and voids, and a peel-off section is formed at least in a part of the interface between the stress relieving layer and the piezoelectric layer that adjoins therewith. |
| US08410661B2 |
Method of generating electrical energy in an integrated circuit, corresponding integrated circuit and method of fabrication
A method of generating electrical energy in an integrated circuit that may include setting into motion a (3D) three-dimensional enclosed space in the integrated circuit. The 3D enclosed space may include a piezoelectric element and a free moving object therein. The method may also include producing the electrical energy from impact between the free moving object and the piezoelectric element during the motion. |
| US08410660B2 |
Acoustic devices embedded in photostructurable ceramics
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, electronic, 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. |
| US08410659B2 |
Electromechanical transducer and manufacturing method therefor
An electromechanical transducer includes a vibration membrane provided with a first electrode, a substrate provided with a second electrode, and a support member adapted to support the vibration membrane in such a manner that a gap is formed between the vibration membrane and the substrate, with the first and second electrodes being arranged in opposition to each other, wherein a part of the vibration membrane and a part of the substrate are in contact with each other at a contact region, and another region of the vibration membrane other than the contact region is able to vibrate; an overlap region is provided between the first electrode and second electrode in the contact region, and at least one of these electrodes has a through portion formed therethrough in at least a part of the overlap region, and a plurality of protrusions formed within the gap and on at least one of the vibration member and the support member, wherein the contact region is surrounded by the plurality of protrusions. |
| US08410636B2 |
Low AC resistance conductor designs
Described herein are improved configurations for providing a stranded printed circuit board trace comprising, a plurality of conductor layers, a plurality of individual conductor traces on each of the said conductor layers, and a plurality of vias for connecting individual conductor traces on different said conductor layers, the vias located on the outside edges of the stranded trace. The individual conductor traces of each layer may be routed from vias on one side of the stranded printed circuit board trace to vias on the other side in a substantially diagonal direction with respect to the axis of the stranded printed circuit board trace. In embodiments, the stranded printed circuit board trace configuration may be applied to a wireless power transfer system. |
| US08410635B2 |
Systems and methods for deactivating a matrix converter
Systems and methods are provided for deactivating a matrix conversion module. An electrical system comprises an alternating current (AC) interface, a matrix conversion module coupled to the AC interface, an inductive element coupled between the AC interface and the matrix conversion module, and a control module. The control module is coupled to the matrix conversion module, and in response to a shutdown condition, the control module is configured to operate the matrix conversion module to deactivate the first conversion module when a magnitude of a current through the inductive element is less than a threshold value. |
| US08410627B2 |
Self orienting vertical axis wind turbine
A vertical axis wind turbine includes a propeller assembly formed from a hub with downwardly and outwardly depending blades. The propeller assembly has a polygonal base with the blades forming the bases of a triangular surface meeting at a common vertex. The hub is mounted on a spindle which is connected to a shaft which is rotatable. A bendable joint is provided between the spindle and the shaft such that the hub and blades appear to face into the wind and spin. A lower end of the rotatable shaft is connected to a means for utilizing the rotation of the shaft. The angle that the blades make to the hub may be changed such that the blade swept area presented to the wind may be regulated to either speed up or slow down rotation. Struts may be provided between the blades such that longer blades may be used. |
| US08410626B2 |
Submersible power generating plant, driven by a water flow
There is provided a power generation plant for obtaining electrical power from a water flow. The power generation plant includes a revolving unit having a water turbine, a directly driven electrical generator having a coaxial configuration with a generator rotor and generator stator, a gondola housing having a housing part to form a cylindrical internal opening where the generator stator is situated, a support element for supporting the revolving unit which is situated coaxially and radially inside the cylindrical internal opening to bear the generator rotor, and a bearing configuration for the running of the support element in the cylindrical internal opening. The electric generator of the power generation plant is situated asymmetrically in relation to the longitudinal extension of the cylindrical internal opening in the gondola housing and is also displaced toward the support structure carrying the gondola housing. |
| US08410616B2 |
Method of processing resist, semiconductor device, and method of producing the same
A surface component film (2) is etched using a resist (3) as a mask, and the surface component film (2) is patterned according to the shape of an aperture (3a). This results in a step portion (4) having the same shape as the aperture (3a), with the sidewall (4a) of the step portion (4) exposed through the aperture (3a). The aperture (3a) is spin-coated with a shrink agent, reacted at a first temperature, and developed to shrink the aperture (3a). To control the shrinkage with high accuracy, in the first round of reaction, the aperture is shrunk by, for example, about half of the desired shrinkage. The aperture (3a) is further spin-coated with a shrink agent, reacted at a second temperature, and developed to shrink the aperture (3a). In this embodiment, the second-round shrink process will result in the desired aperture length. The second temperature is adjusted based on the shrinkage in the first round. With respect to a resist using short-wavelength light (short-wavelength resist) or a resist using electron beam (electron beam resist), a minute aperture can be obtained with stable shrink effect and accurate control of the length thereof. |
| US08410613B2 |
Semiconductor device having groove-shaped pattern
The semiconductor device has insulating films 40, 42 formed over a substrate 10; an interconnection 58 buried in at least a surface side of the insulating films 40, 42; insulating films 60, 62 formed on the insulating film 42 and including a hole-shaped via-hole 60 and a groove-shaped via-hole 66a having a pattern bent at a right angle; and buried conductors 70, 72a buried in the hole-shaped via-hole 60 and the groove-shaped via-hole 66a. A groove-shaped via-hole 66a is formed to have a width which is smaller than a width of the hole-shaped via-hole 66. Defective filling of the buried conductor and the cracking of the inter-layer insulating film can be prevented. Steps on the conductor plug can be reduced. Accordingly, defective contact with the upper interconnection layer and the problems taking place in forming films can be prevented. |
| US08410612B2 |
Interconnect regions
Some embodiments include interconnect regions. The regions may contain, along a cross section, a closed-shape interior region having an electrically conductive material therein, a first dielectric material configured as a liner extending entirely around a lateral periphery of the interior region, and at least two dielectric projections joining to the dielectric material liner and being laterally outward of the interior region. The dielectric projections may have an outer dielectric ring surrounding an inner dielectric region. The outer ring may consist of the first dielectric material and the inner dielectric region may be a composition different from a composition of the first dielectric material, and in some embodiments the composition within the inner dielectric region may be gaseous. |
| US08410604B2 |
Lead-free structures in a semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die and a plurality of lead-free solder bumps disposed on a surface of the semiconductor die. A substrate includes a plurality of metal layers and a plurality of dielectric layers. One of the metal layers includes a plurality of contact pads corresponding to the plurality of lead-free solder bumps, and one of the dielectric layers is an exterior dielectric layer having a plurality of respective openings for the contact pad. A plurality of respective copper posts is disposed on the contact pads. The respective copper post for each contact pad extends from the contact pad through the respective opening for the contact pad. The semiconductor die is mounted on the substrate with connections between the plurality of lead-free solder bumps and the plurality of copper posts. |
| US08410602B2 |
Cooling system for semiconductor devices
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a socket for a semiconductor package, where the socket has a frame with a segmented design, where socket streets are located between the segments. One or more of the streets may include a conduit to enable thermal transfer during operation of the semiconductor package. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08410600B2 |
Semiconductor device with protecting film and method of fabricating the semiconductor device with protecting film
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device, the semiconductor device including: a source trace, a drain trace, and a gate trace placed on a substrate; a transistor which is placed on the drain trace and includes a source pad and a gate pad; insulating films placed between the drain and source traces and between the drain and gate traces on the substrate so as to cover sidewall surfaces of the transistor; a source spray electrode which is placed on the insulating film between the source and drain traces and connects the source pad of the transistor and the source trace; and a gate spray electrode placed on the insulating film between the gate and drain traces and connects the gate pad of the transistor and the gate trace. |
| US08410598B2 |
Semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor package is formed having a substrate juxtaposed on at least two sides of a semiconductor die. Both the substrate and the semiconductor die are affixed to a conductive layer that draws heat generated during use of the semiconductor package away from the semiconductor die and the substrate. There are also electrical contacts affixed to the substrate and the semiconductor die. The electrical contacts facilitate electrical connection between the semiconductor die, the substrate, and any external devices or components making use of the semiconductor die. The substrate, semiconductor die, and at least a portion of some of the electrical contacts are enclosed by an encapsulating layer insulating the components. Portions of the electrical contacts not enclosed by the encapsulating layer are affixed to an outside device, such as a printed circuit board. |
| US08410597B2 |
Three dimensional semiconductor device
A 3D semiconductor device includes a conductive plate defining four sides and four recesses formed in the four sides, respectively. The conductive plate has first and second surfaces opposite to each other. A plurality of conductive leads are located in the recesses, respectively, and the conductive leads have first and second surfaces opposite to each other. A semiconductor die is attached onto the central area of the conductive plate. A plurality of conductive wires electrically connects the semiconductor die to the conductive leads. An encapsulant encloses, as in a capsule, the conductive plate, the conductive leads, the semiconductor die, and the conductive wires in such a manner that the first and second surfaces of the conductive plate and the first and second surfaces of the conductive leads are exposed to the outside. |
| US08410596B2 |
Semiconductor multi-package module including tape substrate land grid array package stacked over ball grid array package
A single metal layer tape substrate includes a patterned metal layer affixed to a patterned dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is patterned to provide openings exposing lands and bond sites on bond fingers on the land side of the metal layer. The metal layer is patterned to provide circuit traces as appropriate for interconnection with the die and with other elements. Interconnection with a die is made by wire bonding to exposed traces on a die attach side of the metal layer, and bond fingers and lands for access to testing the package are provided on the land side of the metal layer. |
| US08410592B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for producing the same
A semiconductor device includes a vertical transistor and an external contact plane. The transistor includes: a first side with a first load electrode and a control electrode, and an opposite second side with a second load electrode. The first side of the transistor faces the external contact plane. A dielectric layer extends from at least one edge side of the transistor as far as the second load terminal. An electrically conductive deposited layer is arranged on the dielectric layer and electrically connects the second load electrode to the second load terminal. |
| US08410577B2 |
Semiconductor device
The invention provides a semiconductor device which has a capacitor element therein to achieve size reduction of the device, the capacitor element having larger capacitance than conventional. A semiconductor integrated circuit and pad electrodes are formed on the front surface of a semiconductor substrate. A second insulation film is formed on the side and back surfaces of the semiconductor substrate, and a capacitor electrode is formed between the back surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second insulation film, contacting the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second insulation film is covered by wiring layers electrically connected to the pad electrodes, and the wiring layers and the capacitor electrode overlap with the second insulation film being interposed therebetween. Thus, the capacitor electrode, the second insulation film and the wiring layers form capacitors. |
| US08410576B2 |
Inductive structure and method of forming the inductive structure with an attached core structure
An inductor is formed on a wafer by attaching a first core structure to the wafer with a pick and place operation, forming a coil with one or more thick metal layers over the first core structure, and then attaching a second core structure to the first core structure with the pick and place operation after the coil has been formed. In addition, the pick and place operation can also be used to attach one or more integrated circuits to the wafer to form an integrated inductive device. |
| US08410575B2 |
High voltage semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same
High voltage semiconductor devices and methods of fabrication thereof are described. In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming first trenches in an insulating material. A trap region is formed in the insulating material by introducing an impurity into the first trenches. The first trenches are filled with a conductive material. |