| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08417293B2 |
Electronic device, method of controlling the same, and program
An electronic device that is accessible to a first storage medium that has no communication function and a second storage medium that has a communication function and is detachable to the device, including: an input unit configured to input image data; a designation unit configured to designate at least one of the first storage medium and the second storage medium as a storage medium serving as a storage destination of the image data input by the input unit; and a control unit configured to, if the first storage medium is designated as the storage destination of the image data and the second storage medium is not designated, store the image data in the first storage medium and store the image data in the second storage medium as well so as to transmit the image data to an external apparatus by the communication function of the second storage medium. |
| US08417292B2 |
Device-adaptive connection establishing method and system for a mobile terminal
A device-adaptive connection establishing method and system for a mobile terminal that is capable of identifying an external device based on a variation of signals exchanged between the mobile terminal and the external device and establishing an electrical connection adaptive to the external device is provided. A device-adaptive connection establishing method of the present invention includes detecting a connecting of an external device to the mobile terminal, detecting a signal transmitted between the external device and the mobile terminal, comparing the signal with previously stored reference values, and determining a type of the external device based on a result of the comparison. |
| US08417290B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus for displaying the multimedia information from wireless communication networks
Video signals for a mobile terminal are converted to accommodate reproduction by an alternative display terminal. The video signal is processed to provide a converted video signal appropriate for an alternative display terminal that is separate from the mobile terminal. This converted video signal is then provided for the alternative display terminal to accommodate the corresponding video display on a screen provided by the alternative (e.g., external) display terminal. |
| US08417287B2 |
Virtual gateway node for dual-mode wireless phones
In one embodiment, a virtual gateway mediates between a dual-mode subscriber device and an IP-based PBX. In particular, the virtual gateway includes a WLAN interface for communicating with the dual-mode subscriber device and a network interface (wired or wireless) for communicating with the IP-based PBX over the Internet. As such, the virtual gateway may relay voice and call control instructions between the dual-mode subscriber device and the IP-based PBX, and may provide the same call control functions to the dual-mode subscriber device provided by the call control processor in existing dual-mode phones. The embodiment further provides a dual-mode subscriber device suitable for operation with the virtual gateway. Because the dual-mode subscriber device does not require a call control processor, the battery life and cost of the device are significantly improved. |
| US08417286B2 |
Transmit-receive radio frequency front end integrated circuits for laptop computer applications
A radio frequency communications system with a first operating frequency band and a second operating frequency band is disclosed. There is a first antenna. A transceiver has a first transmission port, a second transmission port, a first reception port, and a second reception port. In a first front end circuit, a first port is coupled to the antenna, and a second port is coupled to the transceiver. The first front end circuit has a first low noise amplifier, a second low noise amplifier, a first power amplifier, and a second power amplifier. A switching circuit connects the first transmission port, the first reception port, the second transmission port, and the second reception port to the second port of the first front end circuit. The antenna is distant from the transceiver, while the first front end circuit is proximal to the antenna. The first switching circuit is proximal to the transceiver. |
| US08417285B2 |
Mobility management message analysis
A system that facilitates detecting, analyzing, and selectively enabling mobility management messages in connection with providing dual mode services comprises a receiver component that receives a mobility management message from an enterprise network. An analysis component communicatively coupled to the receiver component determines a type of the mobility management message and further determines whether or not to allow a mobility management transaction corresponding to the mobility management message based at least in part upon the determined type. |
| US08417278B2 |
Wireless communication system, communication terminal device, method of controlling transmission power thereof, and program
A de-spreading unit 104 de-spreads a path timing information after A/D conversion, using a specified code of a signal from an RF unit 102; a TPC judgment unit 106 makes a decision of valid TPC data, if the de-spread signal was found to contain a symbol data of a CPICH, for which channel estimation has been completed on the same time axis with a symbol data of a TPC for each base station, at a correct position; and transmission power control unit 107 controls transmission power of the RF unit 102 so as to attain transmission power adapted to the TPC result. |
| US08417276B2 |
Mobile station-centric method for managing bandwidth and QoS in error-prone system
A wireless transmission system for multimedia information having plural layers includes a base station (BTS) and a mobile station (MS) that can select which layers to transmit based on reported channel conditions, mobile location, and/or forward error correction (FEC) used for a particular layer. A respective FEC rate and/or power level can be dynamically established for each layer by a mobile station dependent on available bandwidth and/or reception and decoding capability of the BTS. |
| US08417272B2 |
Communications system providing automatic text-to-speech conversion features and related methods
A communications system may include at least one mobile wireless communications device, and a wireless communications network for sending text messages thereto. More particularly, the at least one mobile wireless communications device may include a wireless transceiver and a controller for cooperating therewith for receiving text messages from the wireless communications network. It may further include a headset output connected to the controller. The controller may be for switching between a normal message mode and an audio message mode based upon a connection between the headset output and a headset. Moreover, when in the audio message mode, the controller may output at least one audio message including speech generated from at least one of the received text messages via the headset output. |
| US08417267B2 |
System and method for managing short message service communications for a radio station hosted event
A system and method for communicating with an audience. The system includes a radio transmitter that transmits a first communication to a plurality of audience members. A server receives a plurality of short message service communications, wherein each of the plurality of short message service communications is transmitted from a portable communication device in reply to the first communication. A display operably coupled to the server automatically displays each of the plurality of short message service communications. |
| US08417266B2 |
Location based service system
Disclosed is a Location Based Service (LBS) system for providing location information of a target terminal for positioning. Such a LBS system can provide both a requester for location information as well as a third party specified by the requester with the location information by means of only one request message for the location information. The LBS system includes a requester terminal requesting location information of a specific terminal, and a LBS provider receiving a request for the location information from the requester terminal and providing the requester terminal with the location information. The LBS provider receives information on at least one terminal specified to simultaneously receive the location information, along with the request message for the location information, from the requester terminal, whereby the LBS provider delivers the location information to the at least one specified terminal along with the requester terminal. |
| US08417265B2 |
Wireless communication device with navigation functions for accurately detecting orientation by a geomagnetism sensor and displaying maps with the current orientation
A navigation device includes a measuring unit to measure the current position; a geomagnetism sensor that is provided on a predetermined main unit, and is to detect geomagnetism; an orientation calculation unit to calculate the orientation of the main unit, upon setting correction values for correction detection values of the geomagnetism, based on the detection values and the correction values; a presenting unit to present measurement results by the measuring unit and the calculation results of the orientation to a user; an operating state switchover unit to switch between a normal operating state that executes the presenting processing and a suspended state that maintains a portion of processing state while stopping at least the calculation processing of the orientation; and an initialization processing unit to initialize the correction values, in the case of having switched from the suspended state to the normal operating state by the operating state switchover unit. |
| US08417263B2 |
System and method for generating a recommendation on a mobile device
A system and a method generate a recommendation on a mobile device. The system and the method may use a time, a location, a venue and/or an event to generate the recommendation. Further, the system and the method may use an event database to determine current interests of the user. Still further, the system and the method for generating a recommendation on a mobile device may use a transactional history of the user and/or behavior of other users to generate the recommendation. The system and the method may recommend, for example, digital media, news and event information, editorial content and/or physical or digital merchandise. As a result, the system and the method may generate a recommendation that corresponds to the current interests of the user. |
| US08417254B2 |
Systems and methods for multiple radio access bearier traffic throttling
Various embodiments for data throttling are disclosed. One embodiment is a method performed by a mobile device for managing a voice call. The method comprises determining a voice call status. Based on the voice call status, a determination is made on whether at least one application executing on the mobile device is concurrently accessing data via the mobile device during an active call. In response to the occurrence of an active call and concurrent data access by the mobile device, the data access mode used by the mobile device for accessing the data is determined. Based on the determined data mode, data access by the at least one application is suppressed. |
| US08417252B2 |
Method and apparatus for interference reporting in a N-MIMO communication system
Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate interference measurement and reporting in a network multiple-in-multiple-out (N-MIMO) communication system. As described herein, a network device can measure and report interference corresponding to network nodes outside a designated set of nodes that can cooperatively serve the device. Respective interference reports can additionally identify dominant interfering nodes, correlation between transmit antennas of respective nodes, or the like. Subsequently, respective interference reports can be combined with per-node channel information to manage coordination and scheduling across respective network nodes. As further described herein, interference from a network node can be measured by observing reference and/or synchronization signals from the network node. To aid such observation, respective non-interfering network nodes can define null pilot intervals in which transmission is silenced or otherwise reduced. As additionally described herein, loading information broadcasted by respective interfering network nodes can be identified and utilized in connection with interference calculation. |
| US08417249B2 |
Mobile communication system, base station controller, base station, and base station state control method
A mobile communication system includes an association requesting unit provided in a base station and configured to request a base station controller, which is an upper node, to associate the base station with a tracking area; and a state control unit provided in the base station controller and configured to monitor entry or appearance and exit or disappearance of mobile stations in and from the tracking area associated with the base station, to cause the base station to transition to a serving state if at least one of the mobile stations enters or appears in the tracking area, and to cause the base station to transition to a radio-unit-inactive state if all of the mobile stations exit or disappear from the tracking area. |
| US08417241B2 |
Communications system
A mobile communications system is described in which a mobile communications device can register with a Macro RAN base station or with a home base station when in range of the home base station. The home base station may be an open access mode, a closed access mode or a hybrid access mode home base station. The home base station sends a gateway device information about its access mode so that unnecessary access control is avoided. This information may be signalled to the gateway device by the presence or absence of an optional element of a registration request or by the presence or absence of entries within a mandatory element within the registration request. |
| US08417240B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for using IMS communication service identifier
A method includes obtaining, by an HSS, information related to a user subscribed IMS communication service identifier, and sending information of a user subscribed IMS communication service identifier to a SID-requiring network entity according to the information related to the user subscribed IMS communication service identifier. |
| US08417231B2 |
Method and apparatus for programming a mobile device with multiple service accounts
Methods and systems enable mobile devices equipped with software defined radio based chipset modules to seamlessly re-program the mobile device to operate on any of a variety of service provider networks. By re-programming a mobile device equipped with software defined radio based chipset module, the mobile device can support communications over both GSM and CDMA communication networks. An environment is provided which allows a user to quickly and efficiently switch between service provider accounts supporting communications. |
| US08417227B2 |
Virtualized mobile communication device
Virtual handsets may be defined and downloaded to physical devices when desired. The use of virtual handsets may allow a user to have multiple different physical handsets or other devices, all of which can present a relatively consistent interface to the user. In one particular implementation, a profiles may be stored that define personal preference and usage information for the virtual handset. The profile may be downloaded a physical handset for implementation of a user interface at the physical handset based on the personal preference and usage information of the profile. |
| US08417226B2 |
Advertisement scheduling
Embodiments of the invention are concerned with a method and a system for scheduling the transmission of messages to a subscriber in a communications network on basis of communications events that are determined to have occurred from communications events generated by the communications network. The method includes identifying a communications event as one of a plurality of predetermined types of communications events on the basis of at least one said identified current or previous communications session, and, responsive to the identified communications event, triggering a scheduling process for scheduling transmission of a message to the subscriber, in which the scheduling process is dependent on the type of communications event.Thus in embodiments of the invention, the transmission of messages is determined on the basis of communications events associated with the subscriber; typical communications events include making calls, sending messages, switching off, switching on, roaming, cell to cell handover, answering calls, and trends relating thereto. The method can include reviewing call detail records so as to identify likely actions and availability of the subscriber, and using this information to ensure that messages are received by a subscriber at a time that is convenient to their actions and availability. |
| US08417224B1 |
Systems and methods for providing live voicemail to a mobile handset
The exemplary live voicemail functionality offers a user of a mobile station the ability to listen to a voicemail message in real-time, as the message is being recorded in a voicemail platform. The mobile communication network serving the user directs an incoming call intended for the mobile station to the voicemail platform, which records the audio for the incoming message. The network infrastructure also duplicates the audio and directs the duplicate audio to the mobile station for real time monitoring of the incoming message by the user, as the platform is recording the voicemail message. |
| US08417218B2 |
SIM based authentication
A method of authentication in a communications network, said communications network comprising a network authentication server, a local authentication entity and a user terminal, said local authentication entity comprising a subscriber application and an authentication application, said method comprising the steps of: sending a request from the local authentication entity to the network authentication server to authenticate the user terminal, said request comprising the identity of the user terminal; generating by the network authentication entity an authentication key in response to the request and generating by the subscriber application an identical authentication key; sending the authentication key generated by the network authentication server securely to the user terminal identified by said identity, then storing the authentication key at the user terminal; sending the authentication key generated by the subscriber application securely to the authentication application, then storing the authentication key at the authentication application; and authenticating the user terminal by verifying the authentication key stored at the user terminal with the authentication key stored at the authentication application. |
| US08417215B2 |
Method for positioning of wireless medical devices with short-range radio frequency technology
In a tracking method for tracking a local wireless device in a medical facility having a medical facility network (10), the local wireless device (50, 51, 52), which is not connected with the medical facility network (10), is detected based on local wireless communication. (54, 55, 56, 58) between the local wireless device and at least one nearby network device (12, 14, 16) that is connected with the medical facility network. A location of the local wireless device within the medical facility is estimated based on the local wireless communication and information indicative of a location of the at least one nearby network device. |
| US08417211B2 |
In-vehicle system (IVS) control of emergency data communications
An in-vehicle system (IVS) captures data such as location data and in an emergency automatically places a call to an emergency call taker or PSAP via a wireless telecommunications network. After a voice call session is established, the IVS system transmits a predetermined control signal through the voice channel. The control signal directs the call taker system to prepare to receive data. Preferably, the control signal comprises at least one audio frequency tone. This may be done without human intervention. In this way, emergency information is transmitted accurately and with minimum delay. After transmission of essential information, the IVS system may switch on audio connections for live human voice conversation. |
| US08417208B2 |
Systems and methods for suppressing radio interference from a noise source via active filtering
Systems and methods are provided for suppressing radio interference from a noise source having an operating frequency. In accordance with an embodiment, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle may include, but is not limited to, a communications bus having a delay, an electric motor communicatively coupled to the communications bus, the electric motor configured to transmit an operational frequency of the electric motor to the communications bus, a radio communicatively coupled to the communications bus, and an audio amplifier communicatively coupled to the communications bus and further configured to be coupled to the radio via the communications bus, the audio amplifier comprising a filter configured to selectively filter radio signals of the radio based upon the operational frequency of the electric motor and a maximum change in angular velocity of the vehicle over the delay. |
| US08417205B2 |
Antenna selection scheme for multiple antennae
Techniques to select an antenna from a plurality of antennae used for wireless communications are described. A first embodiment of the techniques is a method to select an antenna from a plurality of antennae. The method includes monitoring at least one antenna during a fraction of at least one preamble period of a frame to derive at least one quality indicator corresponding to the antenna; storing the quality indicator derived from monitoring the antenna during the fraction of the preamble period of a frame; and selectively switching to a selected antenna after a number of frames, based on the quality indicator. A second embodiment is another method to select an antenna from a plurality of antennae. These embodiments can be applied in several wireless communication applications using multiple antennae. |
| US08417204B2 |
Method and system for on-demand signal notching in a receiver
Aspects of a method and system for on-demand signal notching in a receiver. In this regard, signal strength measurements of a received signal may enable detection of unwanted signal component(s) and one or more filters in an on-chip receiver may be configured in response to the measurements. The filter(s) may additionally be configured based on power consumption of the filter(s). Signal measurements and/or the corresponding configuration may be performed real-time. The filter(s) may be configured such that a notch in a frequency response of the filter(s) is centered at or near the unwanted component. In this manner, the unwanted component(s) may be filtered out. The filter(s) may be configured, for example, by switching one or more filter stages and/or components into and/or out of a signal path and/or by tuning one or more variable circuit elements within the filter(s). |
| US08417199B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving efficiency in a power supply modulated system
A radio is presented that has a processor, memory, modulator and a power amplifier. An envelope of a signal to be transmitted is used by the processor to control modulation of the voltage of the power amplifier by the modulator between a desired minimum voltage and a desired maximum voltage. Using the memory, the desired minimum voltage is determined from the desired maximum voltage and these voltages are less than nominal minimum and maximum voltage, respectively. The desired minimum voltage is tailored for the radio and takes into account environmental conditions to optimize operating conditions for the radio. If the range of voltages would exceed the dynamic range of the radio, the modulation provided by the modulator is controlled by the processor in steps until the desired minimum and maximum voltages are achieved. |
| US08417198B1 |
Selection of closed-loop/open-loop power control in user equipment
A method for power control, including determining a need in a transmitter to perform a first output power update and then a second output power update. The method includes selecting a control mode for the first output power update and a control mode for the second output power update prior to performing the first output power update. The control modes are selected from a closed loop mode and an open loop mode, and the selection is based on a function of a current output power, a power to be applied at the first output power update, and a power to be applied at the second output power update. The method includes performing the first output power update using the first control mode, and then performing the second output power update using the second control mode, without measuring a power level applied responsively to performing the first output power update. |
| US08417195B2 |
Method and apparatus adapted to transmit data
The present invention relates to the field of data transmission. The invention has application to amplifiers, the transmission of data modulated signals, filters and/or matching circuits connected between an amplifier and a load, radio transmitters, the transmission of data modulated radio signals, filters and/or matching circuits used between a transmitter's power amplifier and an antenna and the field of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), such as in the transmission of data between a tag and an interrogator. The present invention enables the transmission of phase modulated signals, by adjusting a device's tuning to substantially match the instantaneous frequency of the phase modulated signal. |
| US08417194B2 |
Compensation device applied to power amplifier, method for determining pre-distortion of power amplifier, and method for compensating linearity of power amplifier thereof
A method for determining pre-distortion of a power amplifier includes the following steps: providing a first power input signal to make the power amplifier generate a first power output signal; receiving a first receiving signal, which is acquired according to the first power output signal; detecting a predetermined gain of the power amplifier by means of the first power input signal and the first receiving signal; providing a second power input signal to make the power amplifier generate a second power output signal; receiving a second receiving signal, which is acquired according to the second power output signal; determining pre-distortion amplitude values and pre-distortion phase values of the power amplifier by means of the predetermined gain, the second power input signal and the second receiving signal. |
| US08417192B2 |
Radio frequency (RF) transceiver
Systems and methods are disclosed for transmitting and receiving RF signals. An exemplary RF transceiver includes a signal generator, a frequency multiplier circuit, a receiver circuit, a transmitter circuit, and a switching device. The signal generator is configured to output a first signal and a second signal. The first signal comprises a local oscillator signal, and a frequency of the second signal is derived from a frequency of the first signal. The frequency multiplier circuit is configured to upconvert the output of the signal generator by frequency multiplication. The receiver circuit is configured to process a received signal using an upconverted first signal, and the transmitter circuit is configured to provide an upconverted second signal to a transmitter channel. The switching device is configured to provide the upconverted first signal to the receiver circuit and the upconverted second signal to the transmitter circuit. |
| US08417186B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating push-to-talk state to a communication device
Apparatus, which has a multilayer protocol stack for processing incoming messages, determines PTT state from messages received from a peripheral over a wireless serial communication channel. The apparatus: receives, from the peripheral, a sequence of messages comprising a plurality of data messages (e.g., RFCOMM messages), wherein each of the data messages provides an indication of a PTT state for the apparatus, and wherein the sequence of data messages is received over a short range wireless data path for exchanging priority data that comprises a wireless serial communication channel and that is different from a short range wireless data path for exchanging non-priority data. A pattern detector in the apparatus performs a pattern matching process, within the first two layers of the multilayer protocol stack, to determine the PTT state indicated by each of the data messages and sets the apparatus to have the determined PTT states. |
| US08417182B2 |
Excessive-signal prevention apparatus and method therefor
Disclosed is an excessive-signal prevention apparatus which includes a connection state judgment section and a zero-level signal insertion section. The connection state judgment section detects whether connection between a first device and a second device is normal or abnormal on the basis of a pattern of signals that are other than a transmission signal transmitted from the first device to the second device at normal time and are required for transmission of the transmission signal. The zero-level signal insertion section outputs the transmission signal output from the first device to a destination during a period of time when the connection state judgment section judges that the connection between the first and the second device is normal, and which outputs a zero-level signal to the destination during a period of time when the connection state judgment section judges that the connection between the first and the second device is abnormal. |
| US08417180B2 |
Methods and systems for mixing media with communications
A communications device may transmit a media item chosen by a user over a communication path also being used to transmit an established communications operation. The user may select a media item of any known type, including for example a musical selection, a video, a voicemail, a podcast, an image, or any other suitable media item. The user may select any suitable contact method for the communications operation, including for example, telephone, voicemail, email, text message, chatting, fax, or any other suitable method. |
| US08417179B2 |
Radio broadcast receiver
A radio broadcast receiver includes a broadcast reception and reproduction unit 1 for outputting a digital sound when being able to receive a digital signal included in a terrestrial digital radio broadcast, and for outputting an analog sound when being unable to receive the digital signal, and a control unit 3 for determining the broadcast type of the digital terrestrial broadcast received by the broadcast reception and reproduction unit 1 to carry out variable control of a transition time required to switch from an output of the analog sound to an output of the digital sound according to the determined broadcast type. |
| US08417177B2 |
Image forming apparatus having lowered image forming position and recessed sheet stacking portion
In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape. |
| US08417176B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a main conveyance path configured to convey a recording medium from a paper feeding unit to a sheet discharge unit; a double-side reversing conveyance path configured to switch back a recording medium, one side of which has an image formed, so as to reverse the sides of the recording medium for double-sided image formation; a sheet resending conveyance path configured to resend the recording medium reversed in the double-side reversing conveyance path to the main conveyance path; and a double-side reversing open-space unit configured to provide a space for switching back the recording medium on the double-side reversing conveyance path. The double-side reversing open-space unit also serves as a temporary tray for storing misfed recording media and remaining recording media left inside the image forming apparatus when a jam occurs. |
| US08417173B2 |
Powder recovery device and image forming apparatus
A powder recovery device includes a powder storage container and at least two powder conveying members. The powder storage container stores powder recovered from a recovery port. The at least two powder conveying members are disposed on upper and lower sides of the recovery port interposed therebetween in the powder storage container, and are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the powder storage container. The at least two powder conveying members are set so that the amount of powder conveyed near the recovery port is larger than the amount of powder conveyed to a back side which is on the opposite side of the recovery port in the longitudinal direction. |
| US08417172B2 |
Powder collecting container and image forming apparatus
A powder collecting container includes: a first chamber that is configured to store collected powder; a conveying unit that has a rotary shaft, and a powder conveying blade formed to be wound around the rotary shaft, the conveying unit being arranged along an upper-limit zone for accommodating powder in the first chamber and configured to convey powder which is contained in the first chamber and located at a position exceeding the upper-limit zone. A hollow member has an opening portion formed in a peripheral wall so that a powder conveying end of the conveying unit is located in the opening portion, and that the conveying unit passes through the hollow member. A second chamber has an inlet provided to face the opening portion so that powder conveyed by the conveying unit enters the second chamber from the inlet. |
| US08417165B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus which attains a high quality image by suppressing fluctuation in speed of an intermediate transfer belt generated when a leading edge of a recording material having high rigidity such as a thick sheet is brought into contact with the belt in a single color mode. The single color mode is switched between a first single color mode in which a toner image on one photosensitive drum is primarily transferred onto the belt with only the one drum being in contact with the belt, and the toner image on the belt is secondarily transferred onto the recording material, and a second single color mode in which a toner image born on one of drums is primarily transferred onto the belt with the drums being in contact with the belt, and the toner image on the belt is secondarily transferred onto the recording material. |
| US08417160B2 |
Toner cartridge including a toner flowing-out preventing valve
A toner cartridge includes a toner container for containing toner, a toner discharge section provided on one side part of the toner container and having a toner discharge port, an auger screw provided in the toner container, for conveying toner in the toner container to the toner discharge section, and a toner flowing-out preventing valve provided in a communicating part between the toner container and the toner discharge section to prevent flowing out of toner. The toner flowing-out preventing valve is configured to open and close the communicating part in conjunction with rotation of the auger screw. |
| US08417159B2 |
Powder container and image forming apparatus
A powder container includes: a cylindrical powder containing portion that contains a powder, and is able to be pulled out of an image forming apparatus; a covering member facing an outer surface of the powder containing portion, being provided to be movable on a movement route along an axial direction of the powder containing portion, the covering member, whose movement is regulated by a protruding portion of the apparatus, moving relative to the powder containing portion, thereby covering a specific portion on a lower side of the powder containing portion when the powder containing portion is pulled out of the apparatus; and a pressing portion provided between the outer surface of the powder containing portion and the movement route of the covering member, the pressing portion pressing the protruding portion when the powder containing portion is pulled out of the apparatus, thereby removing the regulation provided by the protruding portion. |
| US08417158B2 |
Image forming apparatus including toner transporting member and toner container including toner transporting member
An image forming apparatus includes: a feed portion that is fed with toner from above; a transport path that includes an inlet through which the toner fed to the feed portion enters, that allows the toner to be transported therethrough, and that is in a cylindrical shape; and a transporting member including: a rotary shaft provided to extend in the feed portion and the transport path; and a moving portion pressing toner with rotation of the rotary shaft to move the toner, and that transports along the transport path the toner fed to the feed portion, a part of the rotary shaft of the transporting member located in the transport path having a larger diameter than a part of the rotary shaft located in the feed portion. |
| US08417157B2 |
Developer storage container having a turn stop part
A developer storage container includes a container main body, an outflow port, an open/closed member and a turn stop part. The outflow port from which a developer flows out is formed in the container main body storing the developer. The open/closed member is supported to the container main body and, moves relative to the container main body based on a rotation of the container main body. The open/closed member opens and closes the outflow port. The turn stop part is formed on a wall face of the container main body, and has a circular arc shape being concentric with a rotation direction of the container main body. The turn stop part engages with a convex part which is provided in the attachment section and is formed at a different position in response to the image forming apparatus body. |
| US08417154B2 |
Image forming apparatus with connecting portion for shaft misalignment
An image forming apparatus is provided and includes: a rotating member; an engaging member to be removably engaged with the rotating member; a driving force transmitting member to be rotated and driven by a driving source; and a connecting portion that connects the engaging member to the driving force transmitting member so that the engaging member and the driving force transmitting member are movable in a misaligned direction and an axial direction. The connecting portion includes a connecting member, a pair of spherical members provided on respective ends of the connecting member, at least one of which is movable in the axial direction with respect to the engaging member and the driving force transmitting member, and a pair of fixing members that fix the pair of spherical members to the engaging member and the driving force transmitting member. |
| US08417148B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus and an image forming method are provided that realize both the use of a decolorizing toner and a non-decolorizing toner and miniaturization of the apparatus. |
| US08417147B2 |
Image forming apparatus with translation cam member
An image forming apparatus includes a detaching and pressing mechanism for releasing developing rollers of developer cartridges mounted in a drum unit from photosensitive drums and pressing the developing rollers on the photosensitive drums. The detaching and pressing mechanism includes a pair of translation cam members, intermediate members provided on the translation cam members, cam holders for holding the translation cam members in such a manner as to be linearly movable in an anteroposterior direction, and a synchronous movement mechanism for allowing the pair of translation cam members to linearly move in synchronization. |
| US08417145B2 |
Photoreceptor unit of image forming apparatus
A photoreceptor unit of an image forming apparatus includes an attachment body, a photoreceptor body, a first gripping portion, and a second gripping portion. The attachment body is attached to the image forming apparatus and is detachable from the image forming apparatus. The photoreceptor body is rotatably provided in the attachment body. The first gripping portion is provided in the attachment body. The second gripping portion is provided in the attachment body and is contactable with the photoreceptor body when the photoreceptor unit is gripped. The second gripping portion does not contact the photoreceptor body when the photoreceptor unit is attached to the image forming apparatus. The photoreceptor body is provided between the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion and is allow to be gripped by using the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion. |
| US08417144B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus has a tray, which is able to be drawn out of the apparatus and on which a plurality of cartridges of different sizes can be mounted. A cartridge, being the largest in size among a plurality of process cartridges, is detachably arranged at a location at which it is first exposed to outside when a cartridge tray is drawn out. A developer storage portion of the largest cartridge has the largest capacity and stores a developer of a black color. |
| US08417140B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes toner-image forming units, an intermediate transfer body, a controller, a detector, an instruction acceptance unit, and a memory. The toner-image forming units form toner images. The toner images are transferred onto the intermediate transfer body. The controller performs control of causing, among the toner-image forming units, one or multiple toner-image forming units to be used to form the toner images to contact the intermediate transfer body, and of separating the other toner-image forming units from the intermediate transfer body. The detector detects a test pattern formed by the toner forming units. The instruction acceptance unit accepts an instruction for performing a detection process with the detector. The memory stores, among forming modes indicating combinations of toner-image forming units to be used, a first forming mode for forming an image and a second forming mode for forming the test pattern. |
| US08417136B2 |
Image forming apparatus, fixing device, and image forming system using the same
Provided are an image forming apparatus, a fixing device, and an image forming system using the same, including: an image forming section for transferring a toner image onto a recording sheet; a first and second fixing rollers for thermally fixing the toner image on the recording sheet; a first and second temperature sensors each provided at a plurality of positions in a longitudinal direction of the fixing roller; and a rocking section for reciprocally shifting at least one of the fixing rollers in the longitudinal direction of the fixing roller, wherein the temperature gradient of each of the fixing rollers is detected, a central position of reciprocal shift of one fixing roller which can be shifted is set such that the temperature gradient of the other fixing roller is cancelled, and then the one fixing roller is reciprocally shifted by the rocking section. |
| US08417133B2 |
Apparatus and method for supplying charge voltage to organic photoconductor drum
Provided is an apparatus and method for supplying a charge voltage to an organic photoconductor (OPC) drum. The apparatus includes a storage unit for storing first service life information of the OPC drum according to a first supplying method, and second service life information of the OPC drum according to a second supplying method, a sensor unit for measuring information about conditions surrounding the apparatus, a control unit for selecting one of the first and second supplying methods according to the measured information and determining a charge voltage corresponding to the service life information according to the selected method, and a voltage supplying unit using the selected method to supply the determined charge voltage to the OPC drum. |
| US08417132B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an exposure section configured to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing section configured to supply developer to the electrostatic latent image to form a developer image, a first carrier configured to rotate while carrying thereon the developer image formed by the developing section, a second carrier configured to interpose a recording medium with the first carrier and configured to indirectly carry the developer image transferred from the first carrier to the recording medium, and a correction section configured to correct a formation position of the electrostatic latent image with using a correction value which is based on a use level of developer corresponding to at least one of an amount of developer and a coverage of developer in the developer image. |
| US08417131B2 |
Developing device
A developing device is provided. The developing device includes: a rotatable developer carrier which is configured to carry developer; a housing including a first resin frame which includes a pair of sidewalls supporting both end portions of the developer carrier in a rotational axial direction thereof, and a second resin frame which is connected to the first resin frame; and a receiving-side coupling member which is provided rotatably to one of the sidewalls and is configured to couple with a driving-side coupling member in the rotational axial direction to transmit driving force to the developer carrier. The receiving-side coupling member is overlapped with a connection part between the first frame and the second frame as viewed from the rotational axial direction. |
| US08417130B2 |
Image forming device having process unit that can be pulled out thereof
An image forming device includes a main body, a support unit, a driving unit, a developer cartridge, a moving member, a transmitting member, and a detection member. The support unit can be pulled out from the main body in a removing direction. The developer cartridge is detachably mounted in the support unit and has a driving member. The driving member is driven by the driving unit when the developer cartridge is mounted in the support unit. The moving member moves when the driving member is driven by the driving unit. The transmitting member is provided to the support unit and is rotatable about a rotational axis which extends perpendicular to the removing direction and a longitudinal direction of a photosensitive member. When the moving member contacts the transmitting member, the transmitting member rotates. The detection member detects a rotation of the transmitting member. |
| US08417124B2 |
Multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communication via multimode media
Multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communication systems and a method using multimode media are provided. A MIMO communication system includes an array of emitters that receives a data signal and outputs a plurality of signals (e.g., modulated light, or other signal types) representative of the data signal, a multimode medium (e.g., a multimode fiber, a fiber bundle, a bundle of cables) that receives the plurality of signals from the array of emitters and carries the plurality of signals in a plurality of modes, and an array of detectors that receives the plurality of signals carried by the multimode medium and outputs the data signal. The system can include a demultiplexer that demultiplexes a single high-speed data stream into the array of emitters as the data signal. The system can also include a multiplexer that multiplexes the data signal from the array of detectors back into the single high-speed data stream. |
| US08417120B2 |
Textile-typeinterface devices for optical communication in wearable computing system
Both ends of an interface may each be configured by an interface device including a light emitting unit that emits light into a textile, a light diffusion unit that widely diffuses the emitted light onto the textile and extends a light receiving range of a light receiving unit, and a light receiving unit for receiving an optical signal of the other party unlike the existing method using electromagnetic inductive coupling in the wearable computing system and a method of performing communication by using light such as infrared rays, visible light, laser, or the like as a medium is provided. |
| US08417119B2 |
Customer premises optical network unit and optical transmission system
An optical network unit according to the present invention is provided as comprising a configuration that component units built therein are grouped for at least two sheets of substrate modules and arranged thereat. There are provided individual embodiments: (a) arranging an L2 layer and a part of the component unit of an L1 layer at a first substrate module, meanwhile, arranging the left part of the component unit of the L1 layer at a second substrate module; (b) arranging the component units of the L1 layer and of the L2 layer at the first substrate module and the second substrate module individually by grouping therefor; and (c) arranging the component units of the L2 layer and of the L1 layer at the first substrate module and the second substrate module respectively. |
| US08417116B2 |
RoF system providing HD wireless communication service and signal control method for the same
Disclosed is an RoF system providing an HD wireless communication service. The RoF system includes the base station for transmitting and receiving each of the TDD/FDD individual signals and TDD/FDD combined signals, channel-combining downstream signals for a TDD scheme with downstream signals for an FDD scheme, and generating TDD/FDD mode control signals; a base station donor for receiving downstream RF signals from the base station, converting the resultant signals into downstream optical signals, outputting the converted signals, and delivering upstream optical signals, which are input to the remote station from the wireless terminals, to the base station; and the remote station for switching a corresponding duplexing mode operation according to wireless service channel states of the wireless terminals, converting the downstream optical signals transmitted from the base station donor into service RF signals, amplifying the converted service RF signals, and providing the amplified service RF signals to the wireless terminals through antennas. |
| US08417114B1 |
Apparatus, system and method for network monitoring
Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for monitoring optical communications between a managed location and a remote location. In particular, an optical signal is transmitted over an optical fiber and passed-through a test device. A portion of the optical signal is filtered from the original optical signal and passed to a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may instruct one or more switches in the test device to loop the optical signal back toward the managed location. Subsequently, testing and monitoring may be performed at the managed location. The device may provide a test output or may transmit the information to the managed location. |
| US08417113B1 |
Auxiliary network for fiber optic system health management
In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a switch configured to control bi-directional communication in a first channel of a fiber optic network between the switch and a number of devices and in a second channel of the fiber optic network between the switch and a number of health assemblies in the number of devices. The fiber optic network comprises a number of lines, each line connecting one of the number of devices to the switch. Each health assembly is configured to send and receive a number of optical signals in the second channel. |
| US08417105B2 |
In-vivo information display device, in-vivo information display system, and in-vivo information display method
An in-vivo information display device includes a communication unit that communicates with a receiving device that receives in-vivo information transmitted, at a predetermined time interval, from a body-insertable device that is introduced into a subject and acquires the in-vivo information regarding an inside of the subject; a transmission requesting unit that transmits a transmission request for the in-vivo information to the receiving device via the communication unit; and a display unit that displays the in-vivo information received via the communication unit from the receiving device in response to the transmission request. The transmission requesting unit transmits the transmission request to the receiving device at a first time interval smaller than the predetermined time interval, and the transmission requesting unit transmits the transmission request to the receiving device at a second time interval larger than the first time interval when one or more the in-vivo information is received. |
| US08417104B2 |
Zoom button structure
A zoom button structure including a zoom button, a first middle band and a second middle band is provided. The first middle band has a first lock portion and a first body portion. The first lock portion extends from the first body portion and is located at a side of the zoom button. The second middle band has a second lock portion and a second body portion. The second lock portion extends from the second body portion and is located at the other side of the zoom button. Herein, the first lock portion and the second lock portion lock together and form an annular accommodating space. And the annular accommodating space surrounds and accommodates the zoom button. |
| US08417103B2 |
Image stabilization apparatus, image sensing apparatus and image stabilization method
An image stabilization apparatus wherein a detection unit detects camera shake in first and second directions that are not parallel to each other and a calculation unit calculates first and second correction amounts for correcting the camera shake in the first and second directions, respectively, based on outputs from the detection unit. A control unit controls correction characteristics of the calculation unit so as to restrain correction of a movement corresponding to a panning operation in the first and second directions as the first and second correction amounts becomes larger, controls the correction characteristics of the second correction amount based on the first correction amount and controls the correction characteristics of the first correction amount based on the second correction amount and a correction unit corrects the camera shake based on the calculated correction amounts. |
| US08417102B2 |
Machine-implemented authoring method for a high definition digital versatile disc, and a computer readable storage medium for implementing the same
A machine-implemented authoring method for a high definition digital versatile disc includes: receiving a user-specified title; enabling a user to specify an initial playlist file and at least one application, the initial playlist file being one of a template-generated raw playlist file and a user-authored raw playlist file; and in response to a user-inputted command, modifying the initial playlist file to set corresponding relationship between the user-specified title and the at least one application such that, during playback of the user-specified title, the at least one application set to correspond to the user-specified title can be invoked and executed. |
| US08417101B2 |
Recording medium of stream data, and recording method and playback method of the same
Upon playback of stream data which is recorded while being appended with time stamp information in units of packets, time management is made using the time stamp information. A video playback time viewed from the user, which may be indicated by I-, B-, and P-picture display times, is different from the time of the time stamp information. For this reason, when time management for the stream data recorded on an information storage medium is made using only the time stamp information, display time control (video playback time control) for the user cannot be accurately done. In this invention, a time relationship table indicating the relationship between the time stamp information recorded in stream data at each I-picture start time position and display time information (PTS or field information) for the user is provided to a portion of management information. |
| US08417100B2 |
Apparatus and method of encoding and decoding audio signal
In one embodiment, the method includes receiving the audio signal having a plurality of random access units. The random access unit includes one or more frames and at least one of the frames is a random access frame. The random access frame is a frame encoded such that previous frames are not necessary to decode the random access frame. The embodiment further includes reading location information from the audio signal. The location information indicates whether random access unit size information is stored or not in the audio signal. If the random access unit size information is stored, the location information further indicates a location where the random access unit size information is stored in the audio signal. Random access unit size information is read according to the location information. The random access unit size information indicates a distance between random access frames in bytes. The random access units are decoded based on the random access size information. |
| US08417096B2 |
Method and an apparatus for determining a playing position based on media content fingerprints
A method for determining a playing position of media content based on media content fingerprints is described. In an embodiment, the playing of an advertisement may be detected by determining that one or more fingerprints of media content being played are associated with an advertisement portion of the media content. In an embodiment, an advertisement may be detected by identifying the persons associated with the faces in the advertisement portion of the media content and determining that the identified persons are not actors listed for the media content. In an embodiment, the advertisement may be enhanced with additional content pertaining to the product or service being advertised. In an embodiment, the advertisement may be automatically fast-forwarded, muted, or replaced with an alternate advertisement. In an embodiment, only a non-advertisement portion of the media content may be recorded by skipping over the detected advertisement portion of the media content. |
| US08417094B2 |
Apparatus for recording signals on disk recording medium
A recording apparatus of this invention detects the state of management information, which pertains to a recording address of an image signal, and which is reproduced from a disk-like recording medium having a first area for the image signal and a second area for the management information. On the basis of the detection result, management data is reproduced from the first area of the disk-like recording medium. On the basis of the management data reproduced from the first area, the management information reproduced from the second area is modified. A modify unit records the modified management information in the second area. |
| US08417093B2 |
Recording medium capable of interactive reproducing and reproduction system for the same
On an optical disk, video object sets (VTST_VOBS) to be reproduced and video title set information (VTSI) serving as management information on the video object sets have been stored. In each video object set (VTST_VOBS), many data cells, each containing video, audio, and sub-picture data, are arranged. Management information on programs chains, which are combinations of programs to be reproduced one after another, has been written in a video title set PGC table (VTS_PGCIT). By referring to the program chain table (VTS_PGCIT) according to the user's input, the playback order of program chains can be changed, enabling the program chains to be reproduced one after another in various modes. |
| US08417092B1 |
System, method, and program for recording presentable data accessed through interactive links displayed by an interactive television program
A system, method, and program product for recording presentable data accessed through interactive links displayed within an interactive television program are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, an interactive television recording device receives an interactive television signal containing one or more interactive links associated with presentable data. In response to receipt of a record command, the interactive television recording device records the interactive television program, and the presentable data associated with the one or more interactive links are accessed and recorded into a designated storage medium. In a preferred embodiment, the interactive television signal and the one or more interactive links are stored on a first data storage medium, while the presentable data are separately stored on a second data storage medium. If a play command is received, the interactive television recording device plays the interactive television signal from the first data storage medium. If the user activates an interactive link, the interactive television recording device retrieves and plays the presentable data associated with the interactive link from the second data storage medium. |
| US08417086B2 |
Data recording apparatus, data transfer method, data transfer program and recording medium, and data transfer system
While viewing and listening to AV data, other AV data is converted and transferred to a reproducing terminal. A recorder has two decoding parts as a decoding unit of AV data on a recording medium. AV data which was decoded in one of the decoding parts is supplied to a monitor device. When there is a transfer request for AV data, in accordance with a schedule which is formulated based on a transfer request list and a programmed picture recording list, AV data in the transfer request list is decoded in the other one of the decoding parts, encoded in an encoding part, converted into new AV data, and recorded in the recording medium. When a connection to the reproducing terminal is detected, the new AV data on the recording medium is transferred to the reproducing terminal. Since it has two decoding parts, it is possible to convert other AV data into new AV data while viewing and listening to AV data on the monitor device. |
| US08417085B2 |
Optical fiber termination holder and methods for using the same
Disclosed are holders for preparing one or more optical fibers for termination and methods of using a holder when preparing and/or making a termination using a mechanical splice connector. In one embodiment, the optical fiber holder includes a body having a longitudinal passageway for receiving an optical fiber and a retainer. The retainer fits into a portion of an opening of the body and has a first side with a resilient member for securing one or more optical fibers to the holder. A front portion of the holder may be inserted into one or more assemblies for perform operations to prepare the at least one optical fiber for termination and/or making a termination using a mechanical splice connector. |
| US08417084B2 |
Distributed optical pressure and temperature sensors
Disclosed herein is a carrier for an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors located thereon. The carrier has a test section comprising a cavity and at least one geometric discontinuity, wherein in response to a pressure applied to the test section, a stress concentration is formed proximate to the geometric discontinuity, and wherein the optical sensor is adhered to at least a part of the geometric discontinuity. The cavity may be filled with a liquid or a gel. A temperature optical sensor may also be provided adjacent to the pressure optical sensor. |
| US08417082B2 |
Strain relief for optical fibre cables and patch cords
An enclosure (10) for optical fibre cable or patch cord connections comprising a casing (20), an optical connection adaptor (80), a holder (90) for the connection adaptor, and cable or cord strain relief means attachable to the casing, wherein the holder is integral with or secured or securable within the casing and allows limited axial movement of the adaptor inside the holder over an axial distance (α) greater than the distance of flexural distortion of the casing which is caused at the point of strain relief attachment by manual traction on the cable or cord outside the casing. |
| US08417079B2 |
Method of producing a ferrule with an optical fiber
In accordance with a method of producing a ferrule with an optical fiber, a reinforcing pipe is adhered to a single-core fiber to form an adhesive portion that protrudes and tapers from a pipe end surface portion of the reinforcing pipe toward a front end of the single-core fiber. The single-core fiber includes an optical fiber and a coating. The coating is stripped from the front end of the single-core fiber to provide an exposed optical fiber portion and a coated optical fiber portion. The coated optical fiber portion has a coating end surface portion. The single-core-fiber is inserted in a ferrule provided with a first tapered hole and a second tapered hole until the coating end surface portion abuts against the first tapered hole and until the pipe end surface portion abuts against the second tapered hole. Thereafter, the single-core fiber is secured in the ferrule. |
| US08417078B2 |
Printed circuit board element including an optoelectronic component and an optical waveguide
The invention relates to a printed circuit board element (10) including at least one optoelectronic component (1) which is embedded in an optical, photopolymerizable layer material (13), and at least one optical waveguide (14) optically coupled thereto, which is structured in the optical, photopolymerizable material (13) by photon irradiation, wherein the component (1) comprises a curved deflection mirror (5) on its light transmission surface (3), which curved deflection mirror deflects the light radiation (15), for instance by 90°. |
| US08417077B2 |
Optical branching device and optical communication system including the same
The present invention provides an optical branching device and an optical communication system which are easy to connect with optical fibers. In the optical branching device, when light emitted from an optical fiber in a front stage is incident on an entrance port of a multicore optical fiber, the light propagates through a first core and then is distributed from the first core to four second cores by core-to-core crosstalk between the first and second cores. The light beams distributed to the four second cores propagate through the respective cores and are emitted to four optical waveguides optically coupled core-to-core thereto within a fan-out part at exit ports. |
| US08417076B2 |
Tunable photonic microwave or radio frequency receivers based on electro-optic optical whispering gallery mode resonators
Photonic devices and techniques based on tunable single sideband (SSB) modulation in whispering gallery mode resonators formed of electro-optic materials to construct RF or microwave receivers. |
| US08417075B2 |
Multi-channel electro-magnetic rotary joint using a trapezoidal metamaterial de-rotating mechanism
A multi-channel electro-magnetic rotary joint has been invented in which one or more electro-magnetic signals can be transmitted simultaneously from a rotating collimator array and a stationary collimator array in air and in other fluids. A metamaterial de-rotating mechanism is positioned in the path between said rotating collimator array and said stationary collimator array, and arranged tier rotation relative to each collimator arrays at a rotary speed equal to one-hall the relative rotational rate between said rotating and stationary collimator arrays. |
| US08417072B2 |
Light emitting device and optical transmission system
According to one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a substrate, a light emitting layer, a first conductivity type layer, a first and a second distributed Bragg reflector layer. The first conductivity type layer is provided between the substrate and the light emitting layer. The first reflector layer is provided between the first conductivity type layer and the substrate. First and second layers are alternately stacked therein. The second layers have refractive index different from that of the first layers. The first reflector layer has a center wavelength substantially same as emission wavelength of emission light. The second reflector layer is provided between the light emitting layer and the first reflector layer. Third and fourth layers are alternately stacked therein. The fourth layers have refractive index different from that of the third layers. The second reflector layer has a center wavelength longer than the center wavelength of the first reflector layer. |
| US08417068B2 |
Image processing apparatus
Provided is an image processing apparatus configured to preferentially extract an image with high user satisfaction when multiple images are automatically extracted from an image group. A user specifies the number of images to be extracted from the image group. The image group is classified into a first image group with high user satisfaction and a second image group with low user satisfaction. When the number of images extracted from the first image group does not reach the specified number, an image having only a dissatisfaction factor acceptable to the user is additionally extracted. |
| US08417065B2 |
Image processing system and method
This invention relates to an image processing system and method, the image processing system comprising an image capturing unit; a resolution conversion unit; a detection unit; an image conversion processing unit; an image compression unit, and a memory unit, the processing method comprising the steps of: capturing a first image data; transferring the first image data to the resolution conversion unit and the image conversion processing unit; converting the first image data into a second image data; detecting a plurality of position data from the second image data according to at least one detection rule; generating a third image data by mapping the first image data according to a mapping table; and compressing the third image data. This invention has image encryption function. |
| US08417062B2 |
System and method for stabilization of fisheye video imagery
A coordinate system mapping between each image and the reference image of fisheye images are computed and used to resample each image to align with the reference image directly in the fisheye image space. |
| US08417059B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and program
A motion vector calculation unit calculates inter-frame movement amounts. A masked region specification unit separates the entire edge image of frame feature data into (i) an edge image showing relatively large movement amounts and (ii) an edge image showing relatively small movement amounts. The masked region specification unit then specifies the edge image showing relatively large movement amounts as a region to be masked. This way, a correction parameter is detected from a region other than the masked region. When the correction parameter is a slang angle, a slant correction unit performs slant correction on a frame picture obtained by an image sensor. |
| US08417056B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus which includes an image processing unit and a system control unit, wherein this system control unit adds information for determining an image height reference position of an image before cropping processing is performed to an image cropped by the image processing unit, and records the resultant image in an external storage device. Alternatively, information for determining an image height reference position of an image before rotation processing is performed is added to an image rotated by the image processing unit, and the resultant image is recorded in an external storage device. |
| US08417054B2 |
System and method for optimizing camera settings
There is provided a recognition system. The recognition system is coupled to an image capturing device, and determines a first matching percentage by comparing a first live image with a first reference image, determines a second matching percentage by comparing a second live image with the first reference image, compares the first matching percentage with the second matching percentage to determine a direction of adjustment of a setting of the image capturing device, and generates a feedback signal to adjust the setting based on the direction of adjustment. The first live image and second live image are captured by the image capturing device. |
| US08417051B2 |
System and method for feature emphasis and de-emphasis in image processing
A system and method for emphasizing and/or de-emphasizing features in a digital image. In an embodiment of the invention, the image is processed by a series of filters, which decompose the image into a series of sub-bands. Each sub-band is then processed by an emphasis circuit. In an embodiment of the invention, the emphasis circuit is connected to an input representing a particular sub-band. Each filter, therefore, is connected to its own respective emphasis circuit. The result is a series of emphasis circuit outputs, which are then combined. The result of the combination is the processed image, containing one or more emphasized or deemphasized features. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the sub-bands are combined in a weighted fashion. The sum of the weighted sub-bands is then applied to a single emphasis circuit. The output of the emphasis circuit, in this embodiment, is a processed image having one or more emphasized or deemphasized features. |
| US08417050B2 |
Multi-scale robust sharpening and contrast enhancement
Embodiments of the present invention employ robust filtering at each of a number of scales, or resolutions, within a signal, such as a still image or video sequence. In certain embodiments of the present invention, robust filtering comprises or includes a non-linear neighborhood operation at each scale in order to produce both a denoised, sharpened and contrast-enhanced signal and a correction signal at each scale. Correction signals and sharpened and contrast-enhanced signals are combined to produce a denoised, sharpened and contrast-enhanced output signal. Scale-appropriate enhancements at each scale or resolution, including denoising, sharpening and contrast enhancement, ameliorate artifacts introduced by re-enhancement, at a second scale or resolution, features previously enhanced at another scale or resolution and inhibit over enhancement. |
| US08417046B1 |
Shadow and highlight image enhancement
Embodiments provide techniques for enhancing an existing image after image acquisition. These techniques include sub-sampling the original image, identifying and/or deriving local region brightness, and using the local region brightness to enhance the contrast of pixels within these regions in the original image. Sub-sampling is generally used to reduce the number of pixels and corresponding computational load. Local region brightness is localized brightness in an image determined based on the dark and light regions within the image by, for example, using a 2-D Gaussian filter. The use of the local region brightness to enhance the image may be accomplished using a lookup table that may be configured to implement a variety of techniques, for example, contrast overlay, Alpha blending, and the like, for contrast enhancement in the dark and light regions. |
| US08417044B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding image using adaptive distribution adjustment of differential values
Provided are an image encoding method and apparatus, in which a distribution of difference values included in an image unit is adjusted using a predetermined offset, an image unit including the adjusted distribution of the difference values is divided into an image plane corresponding to upper bits and an image plane for lower bits, and then the image planes are entropy-encoded. |
| US08417040B2 |
Image coding apparatus and image coding method
In a coding apparatus for performing motion-compensated coding, N (M>N≧2)-arized images are converted from a coding target image and reference image as M-arized images, and a motion search is conducted using the N-arized images. During this process, the coding apparatus applies low-pass filter processing to the coding target image and the reference image before conversion of the N-arized images. |
| US08417037B2 |
Methods and systems for representation and matching of video content
The described methods and systems provide for the representation and matching of video content, including spatio-temporal matching of different video sequences. A particular method of determining temporal correspondence between different sets of video data inputs the sets of video data and represents the video data as ordered sequences of visual nucleotides. Temporally corresponding subsets of video data are determined by aligning the sequences of visual nucleotides. |
| US08417034B2 |
Apparatus and method for separating foreground and background
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for separating a foreground and a background. The apparatus includes a background model creation unit for creating a code book including a plurality of code words in order to separate the foreground and the background, and a foreground/background separation unit for separating the foreground and the background using the created code book. The method includes the steps of creating a code book including a plurality of code words in order to separate the foreground and the background, rearranging the cord words of the created code book on the basis of the number of sample data that belong to each of the code words, and separating the foreground and the background using the code book. |
| US08417030B2 |
Method of image edge enhancement
A method of image edge enhancement comprises: determining the edge trend for an image in accordance with the second order gradient value of a center pixel in different directions; performing interpolation operation with the center pixel; calculating absent color component of pixels; performing edge enhancement for the image in the interpolation module in accordance with original color component of the center pixel and the image edge trend based on the Bayer data. The image edge enhancement process takes into account the influence of the green component values of different pixels surrounding the center pixel, and adopts a noise-resistant, self-adaptive edge enhancement algorithm, to suppress noise on the image edge. Thus, the resulting image has a clear image edge. In addition, the fact that the process performs image edge enhancement in the interpolation module based on the Bayer data can significantly reduce the consumption of memory space. |
| US08417028B2 |
Apparatus for automatically determining color/monochrome of document image, method of controlling same, program of same and image processing apparatus with same
Performance of the auto selection processing depends greatly on performance of an image reading apparatus. Since an image processing parameter set by assuming the possible strictest condition is applied to all the image processing apparatuses of the same product kind without variation, there occurs an event that some of the image processing apparatuses do not sufficiently effect the performance of the image reading apparatus. An apparatus of setting a parameter used at the time an image processing apparatus determines whether an image data read by an image reading apparatus is a colored image or a monochrome image, to the image processing apparatus, comprises a unit configured to obtain a reading characteristic of the image reading apparatus, and a parameter setting unit configured to set the parameter corresponding to the obtained reading characteristic. |
| US08417026B2 |
Gesture recognition methods and systems
Gesture recognition methods and systems are provided. First, a plurality of gesture templates are provided, wherein each gesture template defines a first gesture characteristic and a corresponding specific gesture. Then, a plurality of images is obtained, and a multi-background model is generated accordingly. At least one object image is obtained according to the multi-background model, wherein the object image includes at least an object having a plurality of edges. The included angles of any two adjacent edges of the object image are gathered as statistics to obtain a second gesture characteristic corresponding to the object image. The second gesture characteristic of the object image is compared with the first gesture characteristic of each gesture template. The specific gesture corresponding to the first gesture characteristic is obtained, when the second gesture characteristic is similar to the first gesture characteristic. |
| US08417025B2 |
Image processing apparatus and program recording medium
The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a local skin color level calculating section, a local brightness deviation calculating section, and a correction amount calculating section. The local skin color level calculating section calculates, as a local skin color level, a skin color level in a predetermined local region in an image. The local brightness deviation calculating section calculates, as a local brightness deviation, a brightness dynamic range in the predetermined local region. The correction amount calculating section determines whether the predetermined local region is a skin region or not by using the local skin color level and the local brightness deviation. |
| US08417020B2 |
Method for detecting the line broken fault of common electrode lines of LCD
A method for detecting line broken faults of common electrode lines of liquid crystal display comprising: loading detection picture to the liquid crystal display, wherein said detection picture comprises at least one detection picture for line broken of common electrode lines, wherein, in the detection picture of same frame, the voltage difference of storage capacitor corresponding to pixel electrode with one polarity is larger than voltage difference of a storage capacitor corresponding to pixel electrode with another polarity; when the detection picture for line broken of common electrode line is displayed on the liquid crystal display, detecting whether there is black line or white line gradually changed in horizontal direction in said detection picture for line broken of common electrode line, and determining line broken fault of common electrode line exists in the liquid crystal display when there is a black line or white line gradually changed in horizontal direction. |
| US08417015B2 |
Methods and system for validating sample images for quantitative immunoassays
A method and system for automatically evaluating quality of a slide-mounted tissue sample includes receiving a digital image of a magnified portion of the slide-mounted tissue sample. At least one quantitative quality indicator is automatically determined for at least one of the samples, and the digital image of the magnified portion of the sample. Each of the quantitative quality indicators is automatically compared to a respective minimum acceptable quality threshold. The quantitative quality indicators and associated quality thresholds are selected for suitability with an automated quantitative immunoassay. Failure of one or more of the quantitative quality indicators to meet its respective minimum acceptable quality threshold suggests that the sample is unsuitable for subsequent automated pathological evaluation. Results can be examined at a user interface allowing for user inspection of samples determined to be unsuitable, the user interface also having provisions for manual override of the determination. |
| US08417011B2 |
Colony detection
The present invention provides in one aspect a method for determining a production level of a polypeptide of interest by a cell or cell colony, comprising obtaining an image of one or more cells or cell colonies; and analyzing the image to detect a signal associated with the polypeptide of interest; wherein a signal level is determined for each cell or cell colony based on signal values from a predefined area surrounding the cell or cell colony, the signal level being indicative of the production level of the polypeptide of interest by the cell or cell colony. |
| US08417007B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit, a correction unit, a sorting unit and an image reconstruction unit. The data acquisition unit acquires data for imaging and projection data. The correction unit performs motion correction of the data using respiratory motion data obtained based on the projection data. The sorting unit sorts the data after motion correction into a cardiac time phase order based on electrocardiographic information. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs three-dimensional image data based on the sorted data after motion correction. |
| US08417001B2 |
Biometric authentication device, fake body judgment device, and biometric authentication method where biometric information value range is updated when subject is living body
A biometric authentication device includes a fake body judgment unit that judges whether a subject is a fake body by verifying whether a biometric information value that is input from the subject is within a biometric information value range that has been registered in advance; and a biometric information value range updating unit that, when the fake body judgment unit has judged that the subject is a living body, updates the biometric information value range such that a difference between the biometric information value that is input from the subject and an end of the biometric information value range becomes larger. |
| US08416994B2 |
Remote sensing analysis of forest disturbances
The present invention provides systems and methods to automatically analyze Landsat satellite data of forests. The present invention can easily be used to monitor any type of forest disturbance such as from selective logging, agriculture, cattle ranching, natural hazards (fire, wind events, storms), etc. The present invention provides a large-scale, high-resolution, automated remote sensing analysis of such disturbances. |
| US08416992B2 |
Device and method for creating a saliency map of an image
Detection of the salient points in an image enable the improvement of further steps such as coding or image indexing, watermarking, video quality estimation. The methods rely on the fact that a model is fully based on the human visual system (HVS) such as the computation of early visual features, and the methods compute a saliency map for video images taking into account motion and the velocity of the eye. |
| US08416988B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing facial expressions, identifying intent and transforming images through review of facial expressions
Methods of analyzing a plurality of facial expressions are disclosed that include: identifying a subject person, utilizing the subject person to create an image of a known target, removing at least one distracter expression from the target image to form a revised target image, and reviewing the revised target image with at least one third party participant to form a final target image. Additional methods of analyzing a plurality of facial expressions include: identifying a subject person, utilizing the subject person to create an image of a known target, digitizing the target image, removing at least one distracter expression from the target image to transform the target image to a revised target image, and reviewing the revised target image with at least one third party participant to transform the revised target image to a final target image. Software for implementing contemplated methods include: a set speed function, a pre-test phase function, an instruction phase function, a practice phase function, and a post-test phase function. |
| US08416987B2 |
Subject tracking apparatus and control method therefor, image capturing apparatus, and display apparatus
A subject tracking apparatus extracts a subject region which is similar to a reference image on the basis of a degree of correlation with the reference image for tracking a predetermined subject from images supplied in a time series manner. Further, the subject tracking apparatus detects the position of the predetermined subject in the subject region on the basis of the distribution of characteristic pixels representing the predetermined subject contained in the subject region, and corrects the subject region so as to reduce a shift in position of the predetermined subject in the subject region. Moreover, the corrected subject region is taken as the result of tracking the predetermined subject, and the reference image is updated with the corrected subject region as the reference image to be used for the next supplied image. |
| US08416984B2 |
Automatic tooth charting using digital images
A method for generating an electronic dental chart for a patient, executed at least in part by a host processor, obtains image data for each of a number of teeth of the patient and generates a template dental chart for the patient that represents the position of each imaged tooth with a symbol according to the obtained image data. The template dental chart for each imaged tooth symbol is populated to form the electronic dental chart by associating the obtained image data to the corresponding symbol in the template dental chart for the imaged tooth, analyzing the obtained image data to identify a condition of the imaged tooth, associating at least the identified condition with the symbol for the imaged tooth, and displaying the populated electronic dental chart, wherein the displayed electronic dental chart provides a visual indication of the identified condition. |
| US08416982B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program
An image processing method performs reduction processing on an input image to acquire a reduced image, extracts a feature point from a group of images including the input image and one or more of the reduced images, determines as a matched feature point the feature point extracted from a matching position in each of two or more images in the group of images, calculates a local feature quantity of the matched feature point determined by the determination unit, and registers the calculated local feature quantity as a local feature quantity of the input image. |
| US08416977B1 |
Combination helmet and speaker system and method
A combination helmet and speaker system has an audio media player and a pair of speakers removably mounted on a helmet using locking fastening materials. First and second locking fastening materials are adapted for removably mounting the audio media player on the helmet. The pair of speakers each have an electrical connector cord that extends to a plug that is adapted to operatively engage the output port of the audio media player. Two pairs of locking fastening materials are adapted for mounting the pair of speakers on the helmet. A method of mounting the audio media player and the speakers on the helmet is also disclosed. |
| US08416973B2 |
Electrostatic loudspeakers
An electrostatic loudspeaker comprises a multi-layer panel (1) incorporating an electrically insulating middle layer (2) sandwiched between first and second electrically conducting outer layers (3, 4). A signal generator is provided for applying an alternating electrical voltage across the outer layers (3, 4) to initiate vibration due to variation of the electrostatic forces acting between the layers, thereby serving as a loudspeaker. Furthermore at least one of the outer layers (3, 4) is permeable to air displaced by such vibration. Such a loudspeaker can serve as a low cost audio loudspeaker which can be made lightweight and flexible or large-area so as to render it suitable for a wide range of applications, for example to provide sound reproduction in a home environment without requiring any bulky enclosure, public-address systems, or in a notebook computer or mobile telephone. |
| US08416972B2 |
Transducer for vibration absorbing, sensing, and transmitting
A hermetically sealed actuator design for absorbing and reducing the effect of sound or vibration energy from a vibrating surface. The device comprises a body (1) containing a magnetostrictive core (2-6) a reaction mass (7) for energizing the actuator by compression, and a bearing or lever system to control the movement of the reaction mass. The actuator has a foot (11) for receiving the vibration from the structure into the device and a sensor (13) for monitoring vibration levels. The device can also function as an audio transmitter whereby it vibrates the surface onto which it is mounted and can be used for audio trans-10 mission through the structure or noise and vibration reduction by driving the surface out of phase with the vibration received from the structure. |
| US08416970B2 |
Condenser microphone array chip
A plurality of structures of condenser microphones is fabricated in a single condenser microphone array chip. The condenser microphone array chip includes a substrate having a plurality of openings serving as air cavities, a first insulating layer formed in the outer periphery of the openings, a first electrode layer stretched over each of the openings, a second insulating layer formed above the first electrode layer in the outer periphery of the openings, a second electrode layer formed above the second insulating layer relative to the first electrode layer via an air gap therebetween. The structures are connected via a plurality of bridges and separated via a plurality of channels therebetween. The channels circumvent the bridges so that at least the second insulating layer is partially removed from the channels. The bridges are formed using the second electrode layer serving as wiring for electrically connecting the structures of condenser microphones. |
| US08416967B2 |
Bidirectional, variable-impedance instrument-level to professional-level audio interface with signal splitters and balanced DC power
An audio frequency variable-impedance instrument-level to professional-level audio interface with balanced DC power, comprising a unique arrangement of electronic elements, consisting of the musical instrument-level signal splitter with professional-level audio output interface 10, the professional-level signal splitter to instrument-level interface 12 and the power supply with regulation, innovative new DC balancing and power distribution 14. The innovation of balanced DC power effectively cancels the unwanted power supply noise on professional audio electronics giving greatly improved distortion and lower noise specifications over previous designs. |
| US08416966B2 |
Method of automatic gain modulation and apparatus implementing the same
Provided is method for automatic audio gain modulation and a related apparatus. In order to prevent the unstable signals as continuously increasing or decreasing the gain when the signals hover around an upper threshold, it's featured that the method is to predict the signal intensity as pre-adding a predict gain in a hold time before outputting signals. By determining whether the prediction exceeds a predetermined threshold or not, the suitable and adjustable gains can be obtained without exceeding the predetermined threshold. In the automatic gain control mechanism, it's to decrease the gain gradually as automatically entering an attack time, or to increase the gain gradually as performing a conventional auto-gain control procedure including entering a release time. The claimed method can modulate the gain automatically by predicting the gain, and confine the signals under a threshold. In addition to avoid sawtooth phenomena, the method can stabilize the signals. |
| US08416963B2 |
System for providing a personalized driving sound
The present invention relates to a system for providing a personalized driving sound by using an active sound design. The system includes a sound design tool, a memory card, and an audio system. The sound design tool enables a user to create the driving sound. The memory card receives and stores the created driving sound from the sound design tool. The audio system outputs the driving sound stored in the memory card. |
| US08416959B2 |
Hearing enhancement system and components thereof
A circuit includes a microphone circuit, an audio processing module, a digital audio processing module, and an active noise reduction (ANR) circuit. The microphone circuit receives acoustic vibrations and generates an audio signal therefrom. The audio processing module generates a representation of the audio signal. The digital audio processing module compensates the representation of the audio signal based on hearing compensation data to produce a hearing compensated audio signal. The ANR circuit receives the hearing compensated audio signal and an ANR signal. The ANR circuit further functions to adjust the hearing compensated audio signal based on the ANR signal to produce an output audio signal, wherein the ANR signal is generated based on the output audio signal. |
| US08416956B2 |
Protected digital audio driver
A digital audio driver having a floating PWM input and for controlling a stage of high voltage, high speed high- and low-side MOSFETs series connected at a node. The driver includes a floating input interface circuit having a protection circuit to provide secure protection sequence against over-current conditions; and high and low side circuits for driving the high- and low-side MOSFETs, each high and low side circuit including a bi-directional current sensing circuit which requires no external shunt resistors that enables capture of over-current conditions at either positive or negative load current direction. The RDS(ON) of the high- and low-side MOSFETs is used as current sensing resistors, once the RDS(ON) exceeds a pre-determined threshold, an over current output signal is fed to the protection block to shutdown the MOSFET to protect the devices. |
| US08416952B1 |
Channel family surf control
An interface for an interactive television application includes a graphical representation of a channel changing apparatus and is configured such that in response to a channel change request a channel change event limited to a channel change within a designated family of television channels is initiated. The graphical element may be labeled so as to indicate the presently viewed family of television channels. In various embodiment, the channel content may be scaled to fit within a window or may be full screen, in which latter case the interface may be overlaid on top of the full screen video. In one example, the graphical representation of the channel changing apparatus resembles a pair of channel up/down buttons. |
| US08416950B1 |
Copy protection without non-volatile memory
An integrated circuit includes a fingerprint element and a decryption circuit. The fingerprint element generates a fingerprint, where the fingerprint is reproducible and represents an inherent manufacturing process characteristic unique to the integrated circuit device. The decryption circuit decrypts, using a decryption key that is based on the fingerprint, an encrypted data in order to extract data. In one embodiment, the propagation delay of various circuit elements are used to generate the fingerprint. In another embodiment, the specific frequency of an oscillator is used to generate the fingerprint. In yet another embodiment, a ratio of measurable values is used to generate the fingerprint. In another embodiment, differences in transistor threshold voltages are used to generate the fingerprint. In yet another embodiment, variations in line widths are used to generate the fingerprint. |
| US08416944B2 |
Servicing calls in call centers based on caller geo-location
Methods are disclosed for servicing incoming calls at a call center based on one or more of the following: the geo-locations of the calling telecommunications terminals; the direction of movement of the calling telecommunications terminals (e.g., north, south, toward a particular geo-location or area, away from a particular geo-location or area, etc.); the speed of movement of the calling telecommunications terminals; and the local time at the calling telecommunications terminal. For example, in accordance with the illustrative embodiments, a person who calls the Home Depot® call center from his or her cell phone while in a Home Depot® store might be given priority over another call that was received earlier but was not placed from a Home Depot® store. |
| US08416941B1 |
Method and apparatus for managing customer data
Embodiments of the technology disclosed herein provide an overall, or holistic view, of an enterprise's interaction with its customers. These embodiments can also provide a holistic view of other types of interactions. In one particular embodiment, a system collects and aggregates information related to user inquiries and/or response generated by different types of response systems. Such an embodiment could collect data about phone response system activities and aggregate that information with data about automated response system activities. Other embodiments collect and aggregate information related to customer information, contact resolutions and other information. Other embodiments of the disclosed technology generate reports based on aggregated information and/or generate recommendations to address problems with the individual response systems or the overall strategy for responding to customer inquiries. |
| US08416940B2 |
Subscriber accommodating apparatus, transfer control method, communication system, and program product
A subscriber accommodating apparatus which receives a call connection request from at least one subscriber terminal includes a control unit. The control unit compares a number of sessions under connection with a predetermined threshold value and controls a transfer of the call connection request according to the comparison result, when receiving the call connection request from the subscriber terminal. |
| US08416938B2 |
Programmable caller ID
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing Programmable Caller ID Screening services. One method monitors a telephone call for a call screening request for commercial, residential, and other identifiers of incoming calls. An action is taken in response to the call screening request. The action could be playing an announcement, terminating the connection, forwarding to voice mail, storing the ICLID information in a database, adding the ICLID information to a Do Not Call list, updating a subscriber's profile with the ICLID information, and/or storing the ICLID information in a subscriber's blocked communications list. The call screening request may comprise a Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency, a softkey entry, and/or a data message. Subsequent incoming calls from the calling telephone number are characterized as undesirable and are screened from alerting or otherwise establishing a communications connection to the called telephone number. |
| US08416935B2 |
Methods and systems for calling conference participants to establish a conference call
A conference call system comprising at least a gateway, a conference reservation agent and a multiport conference unit, can establish conference calls by calling conference call participants at a phone number specified by the conference call participants. When a user initiates a conference, an identifier is assigned to the conference and a URL referencing this identifier is transmitted to each conference participant. Upon clicking the URL, conference participants are presented with a web-form within which the participants can entered a preferred phone number and further join the conference. The multiport conference unit receives each participant phone number and calls the participants at that phone number. Upon establishing a telecommunication connection with each participant, the multiport conference unit bridges the multiple call legs to establish the conference call. |
| US08416929B2 |
Sharing solutions for a universal linking gateway between telephonic devices
A universal linking gateway interfaces between a local network of one or more local phones, such as analog phones or PBX phones, a plurality of cell phones and multiple service lines, including a public switched telephone network. Implementation of industry standard protocols such as hook flash signals enable a simplistic local phone to access enhanced calling features including answering calls on multiple service lines, to select and make calls on any desired service line as well as handle simultaneous calls on either an active service line or multiple service lines. Further, the gateway manages security and data transfer features between the gateway and the telephonic devices connected thereto. The gateway interfaces between a variety of other telephonic devices including PSTN, VoIP, and telephonic intercoms. Wireless communications are controlled by the gateway for proper pairing management. |
| US08416927B2 |
System and method for limiting voicemail transcription
Methods and systems for limiting voicemail transcription. The methods include answering a forwarded call from a caller to a subscriber of the voicemail transcription service, outputting an audio message to the caller prompting for the caller to leave a voicemail message, recording the voicemail message from audio of the forwarded call, and transcribing the audio of the forwarded call into text. The step of transcribing may be limited according to one or more of the following criteria: the duration of the recording, the number of characters transcribed, the number of text messages generated and filled from transcribed text, the caller ID of the call, the time the call is received, and the duration of the transcription. The systems include a call handler and a transcriber. At least one of the methods may be embodied by a software product including instructions for executing the steps of the method. |
| US08416926B2 |
Method and system for providing an audio representation of a name
A system and method for providing an audio representation of a name includes providing a list of a plurality of users of a network and respective presence information regarding each of the plurality of users; receiving a request from an endpoint to receive an audio representation of a name of a particular user of the plurality of users, and providing the audio representation to the endpoint. Moreover, the audio representation of the name at least generally approximates a pronunciation of the name as pronounced by the particular user. |
| US08416921B2 |
X-ray convergence element and X-ray irradiation device
An X-ray convergence element and an X-ray irradiation device including the X-ray convergence element are provided. The X-ray convergence element can extend a working distance from an exit-side opening end thereof to a specimen, and can perform analysis of the specimen with rough surface, a fluorescent X-ray analysis, and a X-ray diffraction analysis, regardless of a size of the specimen. An X-ray blocking member 23 is provided with three supporting members 233 for supporting the X-ray blocking member 23, which extend from an annular member 232 having approximately the same diameter as a diameter of an entrance-side opening end (outer diameter of a capillary 20) toward the center of the X-ray blocking member 23 to fix the annular member 232 to the capillary 20. The annular member 232, the supporting members 233, and the X-ray blocking member 23 are integrally formed of a metal that shields X-rays, such as tantalum, tungsten, or molybdenum. A dimension of the X-ray blocking member 23 in the axial direction (thickness) is set to be sufficient for blocking X-rays. |
| US08416920B2 |
Target for X-ray generation, X-ray generator, and method for producing target for X-ray generation
A target for X-ray generation has a substrate and a target portion. The substrate is comprised of diamond and has a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed to each other. A bottomed hole is formed from the first principal surface side in the substrate. The target portion is comprised of a metal deposited from a bottom surface of the hole toward the first principal surface. An entire side surface of the target portion is in close contact with an inside surface of the hole. |
| US08416912B2 |
Nuclear fuel assembly including an internal reinforcing device
The nuclear fuel assembly means a group of nuclear fuel rods disposed in a substantially regular array together with a support skeleton (5), the assembly having: two nozzles; guide tubes interconnecting the nozzles; and spacer grids secured to the guide tubes for holding the rods. The assembly includes at least one support skeleton reinforcing device disposed between two successive spacer grids and secured to guide tubes. The reinforcing device is disposed inside the group of rods and presents a transverse extent that is smaller than the transverse extent of the array of nuclear fuel rods. |
| US08416911B2 |
Nuclear reactor cavity arrangements for ice condenser plants
A pressurized water reactor nuclear containment radiation shield which surrounds the upper portion of a pressure vessel in an ice condenser containment. The vertical walls of the neutron shield are formed in vertical sections with the lower and upper sections operable during outages, to open to promote air flow cooling along the walls in the vicinity of the vessel head. |
| US08416909B2 |
Nuclear fuel cell repair tool
A method of repairing a nuclear fuel cell wall and tools useful for performing that repair are described. A repair tool may be used to align a jack near a region of a bent or distorted structural component of nuclear fuel cell and that jack may be used to apply a force to that structural component. Application of such a force may serve to bend the structural component of a nuclear fuel cell in a way to restore the structural component to its position before damage occurred. The repair tool includes a way of mounting that tool to a fuel cell, positioning elements to align the tool near a structural deformation or bent element and a jack that may be use to apply a force to at least one structural component in a fuel cell. |
| US08416905B2 |
Digital NRZI signal for serial interconnect communications between the link layer and physical layer
Systems and methods of operating a serial interconnect interface provide for generating a pulse in response to a state change in a data signal of the serial interface interconnect, and transmitting the pulse from a physical layer of the serial interconnect interface to a link layer of the serial interconnect interface. The duration of the pulse can be selected based on whether the state change corresponds to an end of packet (EOP) condition. In addition, the data signal may include a non return to zero invert (NRZI) encoded signal, wherein the pulse is part of a digital NRZI signal. |
| US08416898B1 |
Techniques for decision feedback equalization that reduce variations in the tap weight
A circuit includes a receiver circuit, a decision feedback equalizer circuit, and a control loop circuit. The receiver circuit receives a data signal and generates an input signal in response to the data signal. The decision feedback equalizer circuit includes a tap driver and a first current source coupled to the tap driver. The tap driver drives the input signal based on a tap weight. The control loop circuit varies a current through the first current source based on variations in the input signal to reduce changes in the tap weight that are caused by the variations in the input signal. |
| US08416897B2 |
Receiver for high-speed wireless communication system and control method thereof
An apparatus for reducing power consumption of a receiver in a high-speed wireless communication system and a control method thereof are provided. The apparatus for processing a signal in a receiver of a wireless communication system includes a carrier sensor configured to sense a carrier used in the wireless communication system, a decoder configured to decode the detected carrier signal to a signal and data, and a controller configured to control supplying power and a clock only to the carrier sensor during carrier sensing, and supplying power and a clock to an overall receiver when a carrier is sensed. |
| US08416894B2 |
Timing signal frequency management methods and apparatuses
Methods and apparatus are provided for use in devices operatively enabled to establish timing signal offset data and/or utilize such established offset data. |
| US08416888B2 |
Coding and decoding of 8-VSB digital television signals for mobile/handheld receivers
Modified systems for broadcasting M/H data employ two-dimensional coding of RS Frames that combines transverse RS coding with subsequent byte-error-locating block coding that generates codewords of a prescribed standard length. This prescribed standard length is chosen such that an integral number of codewords of the byte-error-locating block code fits exactly, or substantially so, into the portion of each RS Frame that is encoded in CCC for inclusion within an M/H Group. The byte-error-locating block coding is CRC coding by way of one specific example or is Reed-Solomon (LRS) forward-error-correction (FEC) coding by way of another specific example. M/H receivers are described in which codewords of this byte-error-locating block coding are decoded and used to influence the soft decisions concerning data bits. Then, these soft decisions are processed and used for locating byte errors for the transverse Reed-Solomon (TRS) codes on an individual basis. |
| US08416884B2 |
Digital RF transmitter optimized for linear quantized IQ up conversion
The digital RF transmitter includes a decoder for receiving the in phase (I) and quadrature (Q) digital baseband signals, a phase generator for generating eight waveforms at a carrier frequency where each phase is a multiple of 45 degrees, a first set of main amplifiers of fixed output power, a second set of auxiliary amplifiers of fixed output power such that the ratio of the voltage amplitudes at the outputs of the second set of auxiliary amplifiers to the voltage amplitudes at the outputs of the first set of main amplifiers is fixed at sqrt(2)−1, and a set of multiplexers for selecting one of the eight carrier waveforms, or an off signal, to transmit to each of the first set of main amplifiers and the second set of auxiliary amplifiers based on both the in phase (I) digital baseband signal and the quadrature (Q) digital baseband signal. |
| US08416883B2 |
Configurable load impedance for power amplifier pre-distortion calibration
An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor includes an integrated circuit radio transceiver operable to provide specified gain levels and transmit path filter responses to correspond with a selected power spectral density mask. Changes in gain may be provided solely digital gain changes or may include analog gain module gain changes. A transmitter selects from one of at least three masks to reduce or eliminate spectral regrowth out of band to satisfy EVM requirements. Circuitry is provided to allow a transceiver to determine in advance what pre-distortion compensation settings are required for the various gain settings. |
| US08416879B2 |
System and method providing signal combining to support multimode communication
A system and method providing signal combining to support multimode communication. Various aspects of the present invention may provide a first input adapted to receive a first baseband signal corresponding to a first communication protocol. A second input may be provided, which is adapted to receive a second baseband signal corresponding to a second communication protocol. A spectral placement module may, for example, be adapted to spectrally shift the first baseband signal. For example, the spectral placement module may be adapted to spectrally shift the first baseband signal to one or more frequency bands substantially distinct from one or more frequency bands associated with the second baseband signal. The spectrally shifted first baseband signal and the second baseband signal, which may also be spectrally shifted, may then be combined to form a composite signal. |
| US08416878B2 |
Method and system for achieving space and time diversity gain
Certain aspects of a method and system for achieving space and time diversity gain are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include modifying a generalization code of at least one pilot channel, to measure signal strengths for each of a plurality of received multipath signals. A portion of the plurality of received multipath signals may be combined based on the measured signal strengths. The signal strengths of the plurality of received multipath signals may be measured on a primary pilot channel by assigning its generalization code to zero. The signal strengths of the plurality of received multipath signals on a secondary pilot channel may measured by assigning its generalization code to a non-zero value. |
| US08416875B2 |
Diversity transmitter and diversity transmission method
The present invention concerns a diversity transmitter, comprising: transmit symbol input means (1) for inputting a symbol matrix (b) to be forwarded to a transmit processing means (2), said transmit processing means comprising supplying means (2a) for supplying columns of said symbol to a plurality of at least two branches, each branch being supplied to a respective one of spatial channels (A1, . . . , Am) for transmission to a receiver, a parallelization means (2b) adapted to provide within each branch at least two parallel channels allocated to a respective user, and weighting means (2c) adapted to subject the symbol signals on at least one of said branches to an invertible linear transformation with a fixed complex weight, the complex weight being different for at least two parallel channels. The present invention also concerns a corresponding diversity transmission method. |
| US08416874B2 |
Method of operating a block transmission based communication apparatus
A block of information is processed before transmission thereof in a block transmission based communication. This comprises inserting a cyclic prefix and a cyclic suffix into the block of information before applying a time reversal based prefilter prior to transmission to the data after cyclic prefix and cyclic suffix insertion, the prefilter being configured on the basis of knowledge of the condition of the channel over which communication is to be effected. Then, at the receiver, a removal operation is operable to remove the effect of cyclic prefix and suffix insertion, leaving a circulant shifted version of the original block. This can be decoded using a diagonal matrix containing frequency domain channel coefficients on its diagonal entries after FFT. For systems with more than two transmit antennas, this facilities the use of full rate OSTBC, regardless of whether real or complex signaling is transmitted. |
| US08416870B2 |
Automatic gain control for frequency-hopped OFDM
An automatic gain control method and system for use in signal processing of OFDM symbols at a receiver. Two stages of coarse and fine automatic gain control are implemented that adjust different gains in an analog RF processing stage of the receiver. Gain of a low noise amplifier and a mixer are adjusted during a first and coarse automatic gain control stage based on feedback from a digital baseband stage. During a subsequent fine gain control period, the gain of a programmable gain amplifier is adjusted separately for each frequency band used by the OFDM symbols based on a histogram bin that counts the number of output samples of an analog to digital converter whose magnitude falls within certain ranges. Coarse and fine gains are updated after each OFDM symbol. |
| US08416869B2 |
Peak-to-average power ratio reduction method for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems based on path finding
In a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) reduction method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system based on path finding, the method applied to the OFDM system uses an ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm and a PTS to reduce a PAPR value, and an area of a computing circuit. In a simulated result, the method can reduce the PAPR effectively, and can be executed by a lower level of complexity of the computation. To solve a large matrix of the PTS, an ant colony optimization algorithm is used for calculating phase rotation vectors of a better quality effectively to achieve the effects of improving the performance, overcoming the high level of complexity of the computing circuit, and reducing the large area of the computing circuit. |
| US08416868B2 |
Method and system for diversity and mask matching in channel estimation in OFDM communication networks using circular convolution
A mobile device in an OFDM system receives an OFDM signal comprising RS tones and data OFDM symbols. The received RS tones are extracted for channel estimation using a masking operation. Masking parameters are determined by matching channel time variance using corresponding time domain samples of the extracted RS tones. As approximated channel impulse responses of transmission channels, the time samples are masked to perform the channel estimation. The channel time variance comprising inter-carrier interference and delay spread are measured, respectively. A mean of differences in power between neighbor adjacent subcarriers of the extracted RS tones is used for the inter-carrier interference measurement. The delay spread measurement such as root-mean-squared (RMS) delay spread is calculated using the approximated channel impulse responses. Masking parameters are determined based on the inter-carrier measurement and the RMS-DS measurement for generating channel estimates by masking the approximated channel impulse responses. |
| US08416866B1 |
System and method for reducing phase errors in multiple sub-carrier communication systems
This disclosure is directed to systems and methods that compensate for a phase change that results from a change in RF gain, a “phase glitch,” that would otherwise degrade the performance of a multiple sub-carrier communication system, such as OFDM. Pilot symbols are used to estimate the phase change, allowing the pilot and data symbols to be compensated by the estimated phase change. Preferably, the compensated pilots are used to per form a second iteration of phase change estimation that determines residual phase glitch. Thus, following the second estimation of phase change, data symbols can be compensated for the estimated residual phase change. |
| US08416861B2 |
Fixed-point implementation of an adaptive image filter with high coding efficiency
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method comprising: representing coefficients of an adaptive image filter in binary words wherein the coefficients are restricted and the binary words have a maximum number of bits defined at least in part by a precision index; computing at least one of a convolution sum and multiple partial convolution sums of the adaptive image filter wherein the at least one of a convolution sum and multiple partial convolution sums having a constrained value range and having a binary representation with a fixed maximum number of bits; and generating the output of the adaptive image filter based at least in part on the at least one of a convolution sum and multiple partial convolution sums, is disclosed. |
| US08416860B2 |
Deblocking filter, image encoder, and image decoder
A deblocking filter, an image encoder, and an image decoder perform edge-filtering of moving-image data which can be divided into blocks, on groups of a predetermined number of pixels arrayed across edges between the blocks, and include: a processing unit concurrently performing column-direction-edge filtering on more than one first group of pixels which are arrayed in rows across ones of the edges oriented in a column direction, the ones of the edges belonging to a macroblock to be currently processed; and an rearrangement unit rearranging pixels being included in the more than one first group of pixels and the macroblock and having been processed by the processing unit, into more than one second group of pixels in respective columns. |
| US08416859B2 |
Signalling and extraction in compressed video of pictures belonging to interdependency tiers
In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a video stream, and providing information identifying compressed pictures in the video stream corresponding to respective picture interdependency tiers. |
| US08416855B2 |
Motion vector coding mode selection method and coding mode selection apparatus and machine readable medium using the same
A coding mode selection method for selecting a coding mode for motion vector estimation is disclosed. The method includes the following steps. First, a first coding mode is selected to perform motion vector estimation for a macroblock having M sub-blocks. M motion vectors corresponding to the M sub-blocks are separately calculated. It is determined whether correlations for the M motion vectors match to a predetermined condition. If not, the first coding mode is selected and the M motion vectors are utilized to perform a motion vector estimation; and if so, a second coding mode is selected and the N motion vectors corresponding to the second coding mode are utilized to perform the motion vector estimation, wherein the N motion vectors are generated by using the M motion vectors and 1≦N |
| US08416851B2 |
Motion detection for video processing
Various embodiments for performing motion detection for video processing are described. In one or more embodiments, motion detection may be performed by computing a temporal difference measurement, a local spatial complexity measurement, and a content dependent motion detection value based on the temporal difference measurement and the local spatial complexity measurement. In some implementations, the content dependent motion detection value may comprise a division of the temporal difference measurement by the local spatial complexity measurement. In other implementations, an approximated content dependent motion detection value may be computed without division to reduce computational complexity. The content dependent motion detection value may be used to perform various adaptive post-processing operations such as for de-interlacing, noise reduction, frame rate conversion, and so forth. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08416847B2 |
Separate plane compression using plurality of compression methods including ZLN and ZLD methods
Methods, medium, and machines which compress, enhance, encode, transmit, decode, decompress and display digital video images. Real time compression is achieved by sub-sampling each frame of a video signal, filtering the pixel values, and encoding. Real time transmission is achieved due to high levels of effective compression. Real time decompression is achieved by decoding and decompressing the encoded data to display high quality images. A receiver can alter various setting including, but not limited to, the format for the compression, image size, frame rate, brightness and contrast. In a Doppler improvement aspect of the invention, Doppler velocity scales are incorporated into grayscale compression methods using two bits. Variable formats may be selected and Doppler encoding can be turned on and off based on the image content. A separate plane compression aspect of the invention provides for distinguishing between regions of an image, separating and masking the original image into multiple image planes, and compressing each separated image plane with a compression method that is optimal for its characteristics. From a video stream, separate image streams can be compressed with different methods, and the separate image streams can be stored or transmitted at different rates. Alternatively, frame differencing can be applied to the separated streams. Regions may be distinguished by user input or by automated analysis of the characteristics of various regions of an image, such as the presence of Doppler enhanced pixels. |
| US08416845B1 |
Decision feedback equalization for variable input amplitude
Methods and circuits for automatic adjustment of equalization are presented that improve the quality of equalization for input signals with varying amplitudes. The methods and circuits may be used in Decision Feedback Equalization (DFE) circuits to maintain a constant equalization boost amplitude despite variations in input signal amplitude. The equalization circuitry measures the amplitude of the equalization input signal and computes tap coefficients to maintain a desired level of boost amplitude. Tap coefficients may be automatically adjusted by the equalization circuitry. |
| US08416844B2 |
OFDM receiving apparatus, OFDM receiving method, OFDM receiving circuit, integrated circuit, and program
A synchronization section specifies a position of a guard interval correlation's center of gravity based on a guard interval correlation value, and calculates a carrier-direction shift amount Fshift. An equalization section shifts the passband of a carrier interpolation filter of a carrier interpolation section by the carrier-direction shift amount Fshift calculated by the synchronization section. This shift processing causes the delay profile to be kept in the center of the passband of the carrier interpolation filter, for any FFT window position. This enables transmission path estimation without limiting a range of an FFT window position even if the passband of the carrier interpolation filter is narrower than a guard interval of an OFDM signal. |
| US08416843B2 |
Power back-off mode and circuit for 100BaseT
Generally, 100BaseT allows for the establishment of links on cables (such as Category 5 or CAT5 cables) up to 120 m or more in length. In a given industrial Ethernet system, many of the cables deployed will be less than 120 m in length, and, in fact, many of the cables are much shorter than 120 m. Yet, the transmission amplitude output from each unit is generally the same, regardless of cable length. Here, Power Back Off (PBO) circuitry is provided in a unit that operates in a PBO mode to passively estimate a cable length and adjust its corresponding transmission amplitudes to generally match the estimated cable length so as to reduce power consumption. |
| US08416842B2 |
Channel estimation method and apparatus for wireless communication system
A channel estimation method and apparatus using a self-tracking algorithm is provided for improving channel estimation accuracy. The channel estimation apparatus of a mobile terminal includes a receiver for converting a received radio signal into a baseband signal, a match filter for converting the baseband signal into a digital signal including at least two samples, a channel estimator for buffering the samples, for analyzing multipath signals to predict a maximum power position and multipath energy, and for estimating a channel by selecting a multi-tap at the maximum power position through a slew control, an equalization controller for calculating an equalization tap gain using the multi-tap selected by the channel estimator, and an equalizer for compensating for distortion in the samples output by the channel estimator using the equalization tap gain calculated by the equalization controller. |
| US08416834B2 |
Spread spectrum wireless communication code for data center environments
A technique for wirelessly transmitting management data without cables in a data center is provided. Management data is obtained at a device in the data center. A wireless management data signal is generated from the management data. The wireless management data signal is configured to be transmitted at frequencies matching an ambient electromagnetic noise emitted by the data center, such that the wireless management data signal is masked in the ambient electromagnetic noise emitted by the data center. The wireless management data signal is wirelessly transmitted to another device. |
| US08416830B2 |
Wavelength stabilized light emitter and system for protecting emitter from backreflected light
A gain module, operative to output a laser light coupled into a laser system, is structured with at least one gain element radiating the laser light and a spectrally-selective element. The spectrally-selective element includes a slab of photosensitive material and two parallel feedback and isolating Bragg mirrors recorded in the slab. The feedback Bragg mirror is operative to provide a wavelength-dependent feedback so as to cause the laser chip to generate the laser light at the resonance wavelength of the feedback Bragg mirror. The isolating Bragg mirror is automatically adjusted to retroreflect a backreflected signal light, which is generated by the laser system at a signal wavelength different from the resonance wavelength, upon positioning the feedback mirror orthogonally to the laser light. |
| US08416829B1 |
Corrosion-resistant multilayer structures with improved reflectivity
In one general embodiment, a thin film structure includes a substrate; a first corrosion barrier layer above the substrate; a reflective layer above the first corrosion barrier layer, wherein the reflective layer comprises at least one repeating set of sub-layers, wherein one of the sub-layers of each set of sub-layers being of a corrodible material; and a second corrosion barrier layer above the reflective layer. In another general embodiment, a system includes an optical element having a thin film structure as recited above; and an image capture or spectrometer device. In a further general embodiment, a laser according to one embodiment includes a light source and the thin film structure as recited above. |
| US08416823B2 |
Quantum well active region with three dimensional barriers and fabrication
The invention provides a quantum well active region for an optoelectronic device. The quantum well active region includes barrier layers of high bandgap material. A quantum well of low bandgap material is between the barrier layers. Three-dimensional high bandgap barriers are in the quantum well. A preferred semiconductor laser of the invention includes a quantum well active region of the invention. Cladding layers are around the quantum well active region, as well as a waveguide structure. |
| US08416822B2 |
Manufacturing method, surface-emitting laser device, surface-emitting laser array, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus
A manufacturing method for manufacturing a surface-emitting laser device includes the steps of forming a laminated body in which a lower reflecting mirror, a resonator structure including an active layer, and an upper reflecting layer having a selective oxidized layer are laminated on a substrate; etching the laminated body to form a mesa structure having the selective oxidized layer exposed at side surfaces thereof; selectively oxidizing the selective oxidized layer from the side surfaces of the mesa structure to form a constriction structure in which a current passing region is surrounded by an oxide; forming a separating groove at a position away from the mesa structure; passivating an outermost front surface of at least a part of the laminated body exposed when the separating groove is formed; and coating a passivated part with a dielectric body. |
| US08416820B1 |
Active laser guarding system
An active laser guarding system 1 comprises at least one screen 3 provided with at least two spaced apart conductors 7, 9 each defining a respective electrically conductive path that is electrically separate from the other. The screen 3 comprises material, at least between the two conductors 7, 9, which is arranged to carbonize when struck by a laser beam to form a further conductive path 19 which extends between, and electrically connects, the two conductors 7, 9. The system 1 further comprises a detector 15 operative to detect the further conductive path 19 so formed, the detector 15 being operative to generate a laser deactivation signal response to detecting the further conductive path 19. |
| US08416812B2 |
Network timing synchronization systems
A method and means synchronize timing of a follower system to a reference system. A Hierarchical CFF function (“HCFF”) is applied to a set of Correction Factor Functions types (“CFFs”) or a set of other HCFF. Each CFF type uses the same input data set specific to that type and generates at least one Correction Factor Solution (“CFS”) for each of the CFF, wherein the CFS consists of only CF or the CFS consists of both i) CF and ii) a SACF. The HCFF takes as input a set of CFS and generates at least one CFS, wherein the CFS consist of only the CF, or the CFS consists of both the i) CF and ii) a SACF. |
| US08416809B2 |
Apparatus for reporting reception result of packets in mobile communication system
Disclosed is a receiver for configuring a Block Acknowledgement (BA) frame in a wireless communication system for acknowledgement of a data transmission from a transmitter. The receiver receives a Block Acknowledgement Request (BAR) frame in the data transmission from the transmitter and determines an overall size of a bitmap for the BA frame from the BAR frame to acknowledge the data transmission. The receiver configures the BA frame of the response to include the bitmap having the determined overall size, and transmits the configured BA frame to the transmitter. The bitmap of the BA frame includes bits representing reception results of packets of the data transmission received from the transmitter. |
| US08416808B2 |
Packet indicator for RLC protocol
In a communication terminal implementing a radio link control (RLC) protocol, error propagation to higher layer protocols is mitigated by use of an additional length indicator, referred to herein as a new packet indicator, in the RLC data blocks to indicate the beginning of a new higher layer packet in addition to a conventional length indicator to indicate the last segment of a higher layer packet. The new packet indicator prevents the Logical Link Control (LLC) data segment at the beginning of an RLC data block from being concatenated with an LLC data segment in the previous data block even when length indicators in the previous data block are not received. |
| US08416807B2 |
Base station apparatus providing resource block allocation and method therefor
In a wireless communication base station device, a modulation unit carries out modulation processing for Dch data after coding to generate a Dch data symbol. A modulation unit carries out modulation processing for Lch data after coding to generate an Lch data symbol. An allocation unit allocates the Dch data symbol and Lch data symbol to each sub-carrier composing an OFDM symbol and outputs the allocated sub-carrier to a multiplex unit. In this case, the allocation unit allocates the Dch data symbol to a plurality of resource blocks where one Dch is arranged at an interval equal to integral multiples of the number of resource blocks composing a resource block group. |
| US08416806B2 |
Variable bandwidth communication systems and methods
A variable bandwidth communication system includes a first and a second communication station, coupled for continuous, bi-directional communication. The first communication station is capable of transmitting at a first and a second bandwidth, and is capable of receiving at a third and a fourth bandwidth. The second communication station is capable of receiving at the first and second bandwidth and is capable of transmitting at the third and fourth bandwidth. The transmitting bandwidth of each station is selectable by the user. The second bandwidth is greater than the first and the fourth bandwidth is greater than the third. Preferably, but not necessarily, the first and third bandwidth like the second and fourth bandwidth are about the same. The first communication system can display communication received at the fourth bandwidth at the first bandwidth, and the second communication system can display communications received at the second bandwidth at the third bandwidth. |
| US08416793B2 |
Method and apparatus for queue depth detection in a memory system
A method and apparatus for detecting a queue depth of a memory queue in a memory system is described. The method includes estimating a start position of the queue by examining a portion of a queue start identifier of the memory queue, estimating an end position of the queue by examining a portion of a queue end identifier of the memory queue, and utilizing the start position and the end position to estimate the queue depth of the memory queue. The apparatus applies the method. One embodiment of the method and apparatus may be suitable for implementation on look-up tables of field general programmable gate arrays. |
| US08416792B2 |
Networked computer telephony system driven by web-based applications
A networked telephony system and method allow users to deploy on the Internet computer telephony applications associated with designated telephone numbers. The telephony application is easily created by a user in XML (Extended Markup Language) with predefined telephony XML tags and easily deployed on a website. The telephony XML tags include those for call control and media manipulation. A call to anyone of these designated telephone numbers may originate from anyone of the networked telephone system such as the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone System), a wireless network, or the Internet. The call is received by an application gateway center (AGC) installed on the Internet. Analogous to a web browser, the AGC provides facility for retrieving the associated XML application from its website and processing the call accordingly. The architecture and design of the system allow for reliability, high quality-of-service, easy scalability and the ability to incorporate additional telephony hardware and software and protocols. |
| US08416791B2 |
Local break out in case of WiMAX roaming
A home agent is configured to be placed in a visited connectivity service network and configured to provide a possibility of a local break out of data. The home agent is configured to separate a first data traffic path and a second data traffic path. The first data traffic path is directly routed between the visited connectivity service network and the internet, and the second data traffic path is routed between the visited connectivity service network and a home connectivity service network, in order to minimize a number of hops and delay times. The home agent is configured to receive a routing policy from a home authentication, authorization and accounting server. The home agent is configured to route data traffic based on the received routing policy. |
| US08416786B2 |
Data transport container for transferring data in a high speed internet protocol network
The present invention relates to a data transport container for transferring a number n of different types of data in an Internet Protocol network. The number n is superior or equal to 2, and data is generated as Ethernet Jumbo packets, wherein the data transport container is an Internet Protocol packet. The invention also relates to a source device and to a destination device respectively for transferring and receiving such a data transport containers. At least, the invention relates to a method for transferring n different types of data being generated as Gigabit Ethernet RTP-UDP-IP jumbo packets. Both devices are to be used in a method as mentioned above. |
| US08416780B2 |
System and method for session initiation protocol header modification
A method for modifying the contents of session initiation protocol (SIP) messages is presented. The method includes receiving a SIP message. The SIP message may include a set of message header fields. The method includes receiving an application policy. The application policy may specify how to modify the SIP message based on a characteristic of the SIP message. Alternatively, the application policy may be retrieved from a database such as one provided by a home subscriber server (HSS) or an application server. The method includes using the application policy to modify the SIP message resulting in a modified message, and sending the modified message. |
| US08416774B2 |
Method and system for energy-efficiency-based packet classification
Aspects of a method and system for energy-efficiency-based packet classification are provided. In this regard, a network link for communicating a packet may be selected based, at least in part, on an amount of energy required to communicate the packet over the network link, and based, at least in part, on an energy efficiency class to which the packet is assigned. The energy efficiency class may be determined based on one or more fields of the packet, wherein the fields may comprise one or more of an Ethertype field, a type of service header of an IP datagram, and a field pre-pended or appended to a payload of the packet. In this regard, during or subsequent to generation of the packet, the packet may be marked such that a network path traversed by the generated packet may be determined based on the energy required to communicate the packet over the network path. |
| US08416773B2 |
Packet monitoring
Network devices, systems, and methods are provided for packet processing. One network device includes a network chip having logic and a number of network ports for the device for receiving and transmitting packets therefrom. The logic is encoded with application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) primitives to check header fields and payload content in the packets. |
| US08416770B2 |
Universal service transport transitional encoding
An apparatus comprising a switch fabric coupled to a plurality of interfaces and configured to switch a plurality of universal service transport (UST) multiplexing (USTM) data streams between the interfaces, wherein the USTM data streams comprise packet-switched traffic, circuit-switched traffic, and transitional signaling that indicates a change of state between the packet-switched traffic and the circuit-switched traffic, wherein the transitional signaling does not indicate the state in every octet of the USTM data streams. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor coupled to a memory and configured to receive a data that corresponds to a flow, identify the flow using a flow map, determine whether there is a change in a state of the flow, send transitional signaling on a USTM data stream that indicates the state of the flow if the state of flow has changed, and send the data on the USTM data stream. |
| US08416766B2 |
Method for implementing distributed voice functions into software applications
A system includes application software that issues voice function requests to one or more web services server. A web services server receives the requests from the application software. In response to the voice function request, the web services server selects at least one to perform one or more actions to provide the voice function request and issues implementation specific messages to the selected device or devices to perform the actions. |
| US08416757B2 |
Radio transmission device
To obtain maximum throughput in accordance with characteristics of a propagation path, a radio transmission device having a plurality of transmitting antennas (18a, 18b) for transmitting a transmission signal in units of sub-carriers by performing spatial multiplexing or without performing spatial multiplexing is provided that includes a sub-carrier modulation part 11 modulating the input transmission signal for each sub-carrier, a transmission signal allocation part 13 allocating the transmission signal modulated for each of the sub-carriers to each of the transmitting antennas, and a transmission control part 12 that determines a multiplexing number for performing spatial multiplexing for each sub-carrier based on information received from another radio communication device as an opposite party, and outputs the determined multiplexing number to the sub-carrier modulation part and the transmission signal allocation part. |
| US08416756B2 |
Power boosting in a wireless communication system
Method and apparatus for power boosting a portion of installments in transmission of a packet of data. The power boosting incorporates a power boost factor for each installment. On receipt of a negative acknowledgement after the power boosted portion of installments, transmission of the subpacket is terminated, and processing passed to a higher layer. |
| US08416754B2 |
Network location based processing of data communication connection requests
Responsive to receiving a request for a data communications connection, a data communications module of a receiver determines whether a sender of the request is local or remote with respect to the receiver. The data communications module also determines whether a location response flag indicates local or remote. If the relative location of the sender with respect to the receiver corresponds with the location response flag, then the data communications connection is allowed. Otherwise, the connection is not allowed. |
| US08416752B2 |
Communication system, communication terminal, and method therefor
A communication system includes a first communication terminal configured to comply with a plurality of communication methods, and a second communication terminal that complies with any one of the communication methods, wherein the first communication terminal includes a network creating unit configured to transmit a notification signal including information about a network to create a network that complies with any one of the communication methods, a checking unit configured to check history information about a communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal according to a notification signal including information about a network different from the network that has been created by the network creating unit, while the network creating unit has created the network, and a communication control unit configured to cause the first communication terminal to join the network created by the second communication terminal based on the history information. |
| US08416743B2 |
Method and apparatus for a station to operate within WLAN system
Methods and apparatuses for a specific station, operating as a non-AP (Access Point) station permitted to operate within available channels not used by a licensed device, to operate as an AP station in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) are disclosed. A specific protocol related to a registration of a station's location to operate within a white space id defined whose Information IDs comprises a registration request and a registration response. Using the defined registration request and registration response, the station can register its geographical location with a Registered Location Server (RLS), and operate as an AP STA within WS. |
| US08416733B2 |
Time tracking loops for a communication system utilizing a cyclic prefix
Techniques for performing time tracking in a communication system utilizing a cyclic prefix are described. In an aspect, a receiver may detect for large timing errors based on early and late received samples obtained with early and late FFT windows, respectively. The receiver may derive first and second channel impulse response (CIR) estimates based on the early and late received samples, respectively, determine an early channel energy based on the first CIR estimate, determine a late channel energy based on the second CIR estimate, compute an update amount based on the early and late channel energies, and update the FFT window position based on the update amount. In another aspect, the receiver may perform time tracking with an inner time tracking loop (TTL) and an outer TTL. The receiver may update the FFT window position in coarse steps with the outer TTL and in fine steps with the inner TTL. |
| US08416731B2 |
Transmission in a relay node-based wireless communication system
Methods, devices and systems for improved transmission in a remote node-based wireless communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of wireless communication comprises receiving a downlink signal from a first node, demodulating said received downlink signal, generating a channel quality measurement (“CQM”) value of said demodulated downlink signal, determining said CQM value exceeds a first threshold, modulating said demodulated downlink signal to form a processed downlink signal, and cooperatively transmitting said processed downlink signal with said first node to a wireless device. |
| US08416728B2 |
Flexible medium access control (MAC) for ad hoc deployed wireless networks
Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate wireless communication using resource utilization messages (RUMs), in accordance with various aspects. A RUM may be generated for a first node, such as an access point or an access terminal, to indicate that a first predetermined threshold has been met or exceeded. The RUM may be weighted to indicate a degree to which a second predetermined threshold has been exceeded. The first and/or second predetermined thresholds may be associated with various parameters associated with the node, such as latency, throughput, data rate, spectral efficiency, carrier-to-interference ratio, interference-over-thermal level, etc. The RUM may then be transmitted to one or more other nodes to indicate a level of disadvantage experienced by the first node. |
| US08416727B2 |
Communicating a group message packet over a wide area network
A method and apparatus is provided for communicating a group message packet among wireless communication devices (WCDs) over a wide area communication network that includes a first infrastructure device (ID), a second ID and a third ID. A first communication connection is established between an envoy packet duplicator module (EPDM) that is in communication range of a source wireless communication device (WCD) and a first envoy module implemented at the first ID that is in communication range of a first destination WCD. The EPDM is implemented at the third ID. The source WCD communicates a group message packet from the source WCD to a third envoy module implemented at the third ID, which forwards the group message packet to the EPDM. The EPDM generates a first copy of the group message packet destined for the first destination WCD, and communicates the first copy of the group message packet to the first envoy module. |
| US08416724B2 |
Dynamic selection of channel assignment for preserving power in a wireless device
A method, information processing system, and wireless communication system for dynamically assigning a communication channel to a wireless device. A request for a communication channel from a wireless device (108) is received. At least a current-drain profile (120) associated with the wireless device (108) is analyzed. The current-drain profile (120) indicates power consumption associated with the wireless device (108) for a plurality of channel frequency bands. A plurality of communication channels is analyzed with respect to the current-drain profile (120). A communication channel is selected from the plurality of communicating channels in response to the analyzing at least the current-drain profile (120). A communication channel assignment comprising the communication channel that has been selected is transmitted to the wireless device (108) in response to the selecting. |
| US08416722B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, method of controlling same and storage medium
Efficient selection of an access point is performed in accordance with quality of service of wireless communication required for a wireless communication apparatus. To achieve this in a wireless network system that uses a plurality of access points, the access point suited to the quality of service of wireless communication required by the wireless communication apparatus is selected automatically when the access point to which the wireless communication apparatus will be connected is selected. |
| US08416721B1 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing the power efficiency of wireless communication devices
Method and system for enhancing the power efficiency of a first wireless device that includes an energy receiver. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a transmitted signal at the first wireless device, converting the transmitted signal into power through the energy receiver, and providing the power to the first wireless device. |
| US08416713B2 |
Use of decision trees for automatic commissioning
A computer algorithm (36) employing decision trees in order to assign wireless communication nodes (12-19,39-43) in a derived spatial arrangement. In a first embodiment, the algorithm (36) assigns nodes to an array of positions corresponding to the positions of luminaires (2-9) in a lighting array (1) to enable the lighting array (1) to be commissioned automatically. In a second embodiment, the algorithm (36) assigns nodes to control groups (49-51) such that the member nodes of a particular control group (49-51) may be controlled by a single switch or sensor (46-48). The use of decision trees allows the final assignment of nodes to be delayed until more information has been taken into account, thus, the algorithm (36) is able to select the best overall configuration. |
| US08416711B1 |
Systems and methods for sharing availability status information between network nodes
A communication system, method and client program for communicating via a first network. The system comprises a first network and a router coupling the second network to the first network, the router comprising an address translator configured to map second-network addresses to a lesser number of first-network addresses identifying the second user nodes collectively to the first network. Each of the second user nodes is installed with a communication client configured so as when executed on the second user nodes to: compare the first-network addresses of two of the user nodes, and, if their first-network addresses match such that both are nodes of the second network, communicate an availability status of one of the two user nodes between the two user nodes directly over the second network without routing via the first network. |
| US08416710B2 |
Indoor competitive survey of wireless networks
System(s) and method(s) are provided to collect network operation data within a confined indoor wireless environment for generation of competitive intelligence and strategic network planning. Scanner component(s) survey and compare signals transported in a set of electromagnetic frequency bands, and in accordance with a set of radio technologies associated with competing networks. Collected data can be aggregated and delivered to femto gateway node(s), which can supply the data to an analysis component that generates network operations NetOp intelligence. A report component can manage received and aggregated network operation data and convey a portion thereof to planning tool(s) that can produce competitive intelligence and develop strategic network planning. Planning tool(s) can request specific network operation data or NetOp intelligence. Aggregated network operation data can be employed to identify service provider indoor coverage strengths or weaknesses relative to competitors to focus sales activities related to network services, and network improvement efforts. |
| US08416708B2 |
Method and device for controlling floor in push to service
A PT (e.g., Push-To-Talk, Push-To-View or Push-To-Data) service, and more particularly, to a method and device for controlling a floor (talk burst authority, permission to send media burst, etc.) in a PT service, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method for controlling a state of a Push-To (PT) server, includes starting, by a PT server, a stop talking (T2) timer which is a type of media burst control timer that operates with respect to a terminal having permission to send a media burst; checking, by the PT server on expiry of the T2 timer, whether a media burst release message was already received while the T2 timer was running; and entering, by the PT server, a media burst idle state if the media burst release message was already received as a result of the checking step. |
| US08416706B2 |
Apparatus and method for dual-cell high-speed uplink packet access
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which a plurality of uplink carriers are utilized in a cellular communications system. In an aspect of the disclosure, a wireless terminal configured for use in a cellular network transmits an uplink with a plurality of uplink carriers including an anchor carrier and a secondary carrier, and receives a downlink with a plurality of downlink carriers. Here, the wireless terminal provides feedback information, such as a channel quality indicator and an acknowledgment, corresponding to the plurality of downlink carriers, on an uplink channel on each of respective carriers in a subset of the plurality of uplink carriers. |
| US08416703B2 |
Network management
A computer program product comprises computer-readable instructions that cause a network management device (selected from one or more devices including one or more configured devices to which usage parameters necessary for using functions available via a network have already been set) to execute a process for managing the usage parameters comprising: a parameter acquisition step of acquiring one or more usage parameters already set to one of the configured devices from the configured device; and a candidate reporting step of reporting the usage parameters acquired in the parameter acquisition step as candidates for one or more usage parameters to be set to a setting target device which is connected to the network management device to be capable of data communication via a network and needing the setting of the usage parameters. |
| US08416698B2 |
Serial networking fiber optic inflight entertainment system network configuration
Serial networking dedicated fiber optic inflight entertainment (IFE) systems, methods therefor and components thereof, that exhibit improved configuration and failover attributes through implementation of novel network configuration protocols. In some aspects of the invention, such an IFE system comprises a plurality of head end line replaceable units (HE-LRUs) and a plurality of serial networking line replaceable units (SN-LRUs), wherein each of the SN-LRUs individually detects that a closed system network has been formed between the plurality of HE-LRUs and the plurality of SN-LRUs based on a plurality of packets sourced by at least one of the HE-LRUs and received on a plurality of ports of each of the SN-LRUs, and wherein in response to detecting that the closed system network has been formed one of the SN-LRUs blocks one of its ports based on further detecting that the SN-LRU is a middle SN-LRU. |
| US08416696B2 |
CFM for conflicting MAC address notification
In one embodiment, an aggregation device operating in a computer network may have a down maintenance end point (MEP) configured on certain of its user-to-network interface (UNI) ports. These down MEPs may then receive continuity check messages (CCMs) from down MEPs configured on customer edge (CE) devices, where each CCM has a media access control (MAC) address of a corresponding CE device UNI port from which the CCM is transmitted. In response to detecting conflicting MAC addresses between CE device UNI ports based on the CCMs, the aggregation device may notify the CE devices corresponding to the conflicting MAC addresses of the conflict. |
| US08416693B2 |
Errorless and hitless variable data rate communications
A variable data rate wireless transmitter configured to receive input of data from a plurality of input channels and transmit at least some of the data over a variable data rate wireless point-to-point communication link, wherein portions of the data are associated with priorities, and the wireless transmitter is configured to change transmission of at least some of the portions of the data, based, at least partly, on the priorities associated with the portions of the data, and on a data rate configured for transmitting the portions of the data over the variable data rate wireless communication link. A variable data rate wireless receiver configured to receive data over a variable data rate wireless point-to-point communication link, including a delay compensation buffer configured to maintain a substantially fixed delay between input of the data into a wireless transmitter transmitting the data and output of the data from the delay compensation buffer, by maintaining a suitable output rate of the data from the delay compensation buffer. Related apparatus and methods are also described. |
| US08416689B2 |
Meter-based hierarchical bandwidth sharing
Example methods and apparatus for hierarchical bandwidth management are disclosed. An example method includes, using dual-token bucket meters (two-rate three-color meters) to meter bandwidth usage by individual microflows and associated macroflows (combinations of microflows). The dual-token bucket meters are used to locally and finally mark the packets using a three-color marking approach. In the example method, forwarding and discard decisions for packets processed using such techniques are made based on the final marking. |
| US08416688B2 |
Automatic adaptive network traffic prioritization and shaping
A local area network includes computers and peripherals networked in a high-speed LAN with access to a WAN through a slower connection via a broadband modem. A LAN gateway device manages data traffic between the local computers and peripherals and between the LAN and the WAN. The LAN gateway device provides multiple features, such as wired or wireless links, security, firewall, NAT, DCHP, traffic management, and the like. Traffic management features include an automatic quality of service priority classification scheme. A quality of service module automatically assigns priorities to the data streams based on analysis of the data packets. A configuration access list can be provided with pre-configured priorities for some streams. Initially, all streams are given highest priority and subsequently the priority is automatically adapted to the results of the packet analysis. Traffic shaping techniques control the LAN gateway upstream output and enable IP fragmentation of TCP packets according to measured upstream channel conditions. |
| US08416686B2 |
Packet spraying for load balancing across multiple packet processors
A network device includes multiple packet processing engines implemented in parallel with one another. A spraying component distributes incoming packets to the packet processing engines using a spraying technique that load balances the packet processing engines. In particular, the spraying component distributes the incoming packets based on queue lengths associated with the packet processing engines and based on a random component. In one implementation, the random component is a random selection from all the candidate processing engines. In another implementation, the random component is a weighted random selection in which the weights are inversely proportional to the queue lengths. |
| US08416685B2 |
Flexible reservation request and scheduling mechanisms in a managed shared network with quality of service
Systems and methods for scheduling network communications in a managed network can include receiving in a Network Coordinator a submission from each of a plurality of network nodes requesting, for their respective flows, reservation of communication slots in a communication window, the submission including scheduling information such as latency tolerance maximum aggregation amount; the Network Coordinator checking available bandwidth in the communication window; and the Network Coordinator allocating the available bandwidth to a first flow from a first requesting node based on the first flow's scheduling information and the bandwidth availability, and deferring allocation of bandwidth to a second flow from a second requesting node until a later window based on the second flow's scheduling information and the bandwidth availability, thereby reallocating peak demand among the plurality of requesting nodes across a plurality of communication windows. |
| US08416682B2 |
Method and implementing apparatus for cooperative multi-hop routing in wireless network
The present invention relates to a method and an implementing apparatus for cooperative multi-hop routing in a wireless network. According to the method the diversity gains and the interrupt probabilities in a cooperative communication manner between master nodes in the route are obtained, and the segmenting mode for sending packet data is determined accordingly, thus implementing cooperative communication in a multi-hop route, where signals having same information are sent through different paths, and multiple independently faded copies of data symbols may be obtained at a receiver end, thus obtaining higher reception reliability and higher transmission capacity, and improving performance of a communication process. |
| US08416681B2 |
Network system
A network system having duplicate lines of a primary system and a backup system between a transmitter apparatus and a receiver apparatus is provided. Each of the transmitter apparatus and the receiver apparatus includes an arithmetic operator for conducting a BIP-8 arithmetic operation and a CRC arithmetic operation on an input signal and thereby detecting a bit error. The transmitter apparatus transmits data to both lines. The receiver apparatus includes a switcher. When a bit error is detected in received data of the primary system. the switcher switches control of the primary system and the backup system. Hitless protection switching of a VC path is executed. |
| US08416679B2 |
Systems and methods for transmission of alarm indication suppression messages in connection with failure of network element equipment
According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting an occurrence of a fault for a component of a network element having a maintenance entity provisioned thereon. The method may further include transmitting alarm indication suppression messages to components for which the maintenance entity was configured to transmit alarm indication suppression messages in response to detecting the occurrence of the fault. |
| US08416677B2 |
Systems and methods for high rate OFDM communications using first and second cyclic prefix lengths and first and second pilot tones
Messages transmitted between a receiver and a transmitter are used to maximize a communication data rate. In particular, a multicarrier modulation system uses messages that are sent from the receiver to the transmitter to exchange one or more sets of optimized communication parameters. The transmitter then stores these communication parameters and when transmitting to that particular receiver, the transmitter utilizes the stored parameters in an effort to maximize the data rate to that receiver. Likewise, when the receiver receives packets from that particular transmitter, the receiver can utilize the stored communication parameters for reception. |
| US08416676B2 |
Apparatus and methods for estimating and compensating sampling clock offset
An apparatus for sampling clock recovery (SCO) and methods for estimating and compensating SCO are provided. The apparatus comprises a symbol timing adjustment module for shifting forward or backward symbol timing of the transmitted OFDM symbols; a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) processor for performing DFT to an output from the symbol timing adjustment module; a channel estimator for undertaking a channel frequency response estimation based on a channel estimation sequence; a SCO phase rotator for receiving and performing phase shift on the transmitted OFDM symbols of a frame header and a frame payload; an SCO estimation stage for undertaking an SCO estimation based on a pilot-subcarrier-related output of the SCO phase rotator and the CFR estimation; and an SCO compensation distributor for dividing the SCO estimation into integer and fractional portions and then distributing them into the symbol timing adjustment module and the SCO phase rotator, respectively. |
| US08416674B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving minimum mean-squared-error in single-carrier frequency division multiple access system
A method and an apparatus for receiving a Minimum Mean-Squared-Error (MMSE) in a Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) system is provided. The method includes, transforming a signal in a time domain received through an antenna into a signal in a frequency domain, and discriminating between bands respectively allocated to terminals in a frequency domain, estimating a channel and computing a weight value from the signal transformed into the frequency domain, and detecting an MMSE, computing a time-domain bias from the weight value and a channel estimation value of the signal transformed into the frequency domain, normalizing the detected MMSE by using the computed time-domain bias, and transforming the normalized signal into a normalized signal in a time domain, decoding the normalized signal transformed to the time domain, and transmitting the decoded normalized signal transformed into the time domain to each of the terminals. |
| US08416672B2 |
Optical pickup, photodetector, and drive adopting the optical pickup
An optical pickup, photodetector, and optical drive adopting the optical pickup are provided. The optical pickup may include a light emitting system having a plurality of light sources corresponding to a plurality of mediums a light receiving system including a photodetector for converting light reflected from a medium into an electrical signal. The photodetector may include first and second light receiving sensors corresponding to the plurality of mediums, each of the first and second light receiving sensors comprising a plurality of regions, each region comprising a plurality of sectors. The plurality of regions of the first and second light receiving sensors may include shared sectors that are shared by the first and second light receiving sensors and exclusive sectors that are exclusively used in the first light receiving sensor or the second light receiving sensor. |
| US08416662B2 |
Optical disc drive and method for detecting vertical deviation thereon
An optical disc drive includes a disc holder, a pickup head, a focus servo, an S-curve identifying unit, a first counter, a second counter, a judging unit, a disc identifying unit, and a system controller. The optical disc drive can detect whether a disc exhibits vertical deviation. Upon detection, the optical disc drive restricts the maximum speed of data reading and writing. The judging unit determines whether the disc exhibits vertical deviation based on a comparison result of the number of the one or more S curves with a first preset value. |
| US08416658B2 |
Recording apparatus and recording method for data and file system information
Disclosed is a recording apparatus for recording data on a recording medium. The recording apparatus includes an assigning section for assigning a region that is part of a block utilized for a recording unit of the recording medium as a file system information region utilized as a region for file system information for managing the data on the recording medium. The recording apparatus further includes a recording section operable to record file system information for data that has been recorded in all blocks in the file system information region of each block until the file system information region in a block is filled and to record file system information for data in all blocks subsequent to the block having the filled file system information region in the file system information region of each subsequent block after the file system information region in a block has been filled. |
| US08416655B2 |
Optical pickup
An optical pickup includes an objective lens, a lens holder which holds the objective lens, a focusing coil attached to the lens holder having the winding axis directed at the optical axis of the objective lens, and a magnet provided opposite the side surface of the lens holder. A protruding portion is attached to the side surface of the lens holder at a side apart from the objective lens with respect to the optical axis direction of the objective lens farther than the focusing coil. |
| US08416654B2 |
Optical disc drive apparatus, optical pickup control method and program
An optical disc drive apparatus includes: a first optical pickup and a second optical pickup which record data on an optical disc and reproduce data recorded on the optical disc; a slide mechanism which has the first and second optical pickups mounted thereon to slide the first and second optical pickups in a radial direction of the optical disc; a seek command receiver which receives a seek command; a first optical pickup controller which causes the first optical pickup to perform a search on the basis of the seek command received by the seek command receiver; a slide mechanism controller which controls the slide mechanism on the basis of the seek command received by the seek command receiver; and a second optical pickup controller which turns off a tracking servo of the second optical pickup when the first and second optical pickups are slid by the slide mechanism. |
| US08416652B2 |
Operation device, video playback device, and operation information output method
An operation device includes a rotational operation element, an angular velocity detection portion detecting an angular velocity of a rotational operation on the rotational operation element, and a playback speed information computation portion calculating, when the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detection portion is in a first velocity range including an angular velocity of 0, playback speed information according to the detected angular velocity through a first functional computation and when the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity detection portion is in a second velocity range, which is a range higher than the first velocity range, playback speed information according to the detected angular velocity through a second functional computation, and outputting the calculated playback speed information. |
| US08416650B2 |
Method for detecting protrusion height of magnetic head slider having thermally assisted head
A magnetic head slider includes a near-field light generator, an incorporated heater is activated to thermally-expand the magnetic head slider so that a first protrusion is generated on the air bearing surface, and a second protrusion protruding from the first protrusion is generated by a thermal expansion of the near-field light generator. A standard signal is written to a recording medium with a predetermined magnetization. A relation between a residual magnetization of the standard signal and a power of the heater is obtained by lowering the magnetization of the standard signal by heating the recording medium with the near-field light while light output of laser light is maintained to be constant and the power of the heater is varied. Further, a relation between the first spacing and the residual magnetization is obtained. A value of the first spacing is obtained as a protrusion height of the second protrusion from the first protrusion when the second protrusion contacts the recording medium, the value of the first spacing being determined where an absolute value of a change rate of the residual magnetization is less than a predetermined standard value. |
| US08416643B2 |
Receive beamformer for ultrasound having delay value sorting
A method of processing ultrasound signals received from a plurality of data channels each associated with a transducer element. A sorted delay data table having sorted delay data is generated that includes a channel identifier, a fractional delay value, and integer delay value. The sorted delay data table clusters together channel groups including a first channel group having data channels with the first fractional delay value and a second channel group with data channels with the second fractional delay value. Control signals are generated based on the sorted delay data that implements data path combining by directing channel data from the first channel group for processing by a first interpolation filter that provides the first fractional delay value and channel data associated with the second channel group for processing by a second interpolation filter that provides the second fractional delay value. Summing signals output by the first and second interpolation filter forms the ultrasound beamformed signal. |
| US08416639B2 |
Multi-chip package and method of operating the same
A multi-chip package includes a plurality of memory chips for performing a content addressable memory (CAM) read operation in response to a command signal for the CAM read operation and an address signal for selecting the memory chips and a controller for outputting the command signal and the address signal to the memory chips and controlling the sequence of the CAM read operations for the memory chips. |
| US08416634B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a pad, an impedance calibration circuit configured to provide a first code value corresponding to an impedance value coupled to the pad, a PVT sensing control circuit configured to provide a second code value corresponding to a PVT variation, and an output driver configured to receive data and to pull up or pull down the pad in response to the first code value and second code value. |
| US08416631B2 |
Internal voltage generator circuit and semiconductor memory device using the same
An internal voltage generator circuit is disclosed. The internal voltage generator circuit includes a comparator configured to compare a first voltage with a reference voltage and to output a comparison signal. The circuit further includes an internal voltage driver configured to receive an external voltage and the comparison signal and to output an internal voltage at an internal voltage output terminal, based on the comparison signal. The circuit further includes a voltage divider circuit including first and second resistor units and a first voltage output terminal between the first and second resistor units, configured to receive the internal voltage, and configured to output the first voltage based on the resistance values of the first and second resistor units, the first and second resistor units connected in series, and the first voltage being output through the first voltage output terminal. The circuit further includes a control signal generator circuit configured to generate at least one resistor control signal for controlling the resistance value of the first resistor unit and at least one resistor control signal for controlling the resistance value of the second resistor unit, on the basis of the comparison signal and a precharge command. |
| US08416625B2 |
System and method for bit-line control using a driver and a pre-driver
In one embodiment, a bit-line driver has a first driver having a source terminal coupled to a high-voltage supply bus and a drain terminal coupled to the bit-line, and a second driver having a source terminal coupled to a high-voltage return bus and a drain terminal coupled to the bit line. The bit-line driver also has a first pre-driver coupled to a gate terminal of the first driver and a second pre-driver coupled to a gate terminal of the second driver. The first and second drivers use a first type of transistor, and the first and second pre-drivers use a second type of transistor. The first type of transistor is rated at a higher voltage than the second type of transistor. |
| US08416605B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array having plural electrically rewritable memory cells, each memory cell including a variable resistive element storing resistance values as data in a non-volatile manner, and a data writing unit having a voltage supply circuit which supplies a voltage needed to write data to the plural memory cells, and a resistance state detecting circuit which detects a resistance state of the variable resistive element at the time of writing the data. The data writing unit stops the supply of the voltage to the memory cell where a resistance state of the variable resistive element becomes a desired resistance state, among the plural memory cells, according to the detection result of the resistance state detecting circuit. |
| US08416604B2 |
Method of implementing memristor-based multilevel memory using reference resistor array
The present invention relates to a memristor, and more particularly, to a method of implementing a memristor-based multilevel memory using a reference resistor array and a write-in circuit and a read-out/restoration circuit for the memristor-based multilevel memory, in which a memristor can be used as a multilevel memory. In the present invention, a reference resistance value is written in a selected memristor of a memristor array by applying repeatedly the current pulses of which widths are proportional to the difference between the resistances of the selected memristor and the selected node of the reference resistor array. |
| US08416602B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory element in which a rate of charge discharge between two electrodes of the memory element differs according to a logical value of stored information; cell wiring connected to one electrode of the memory element; a sense amplifier having a sense node connected to the cell wiring, the sense amplifier reading the logical value of the information by comparing a potential of the sense node with a reference potential; and a readout control circuit capable of switching between a dynamic sense operation performing readout by precharging the cell wiring and discharging or charging the cell wiring via the memory element and a static sense operation performing readout in a state of a current load being connected to the sense node. |
| US08416598B2 |
Differential plate line screen test for ferroelectric latch circuits
Non-volatile latch circuits, such as in memory cells and flip-flops, that are constructed for reliability screening. The non-volatile latch circuits each include ferroelectric capacitors coupled to storage nodes, for example at the outputs of cross-coupled inverters. Separate plate lines are connected to the ferroelectric capacitors of the complementary storage nodes. A time-zero test of the latch stability margin is performed by setting a logic state at the storage nodes, then programming the state into the ferroelectric capacitors by polarization. After power-down, the plate lines are biased with a differential voltage relative to one another, and the latch is then powered up to attempt recall of the programmed state. The differential voltage disturbs the recall, and provides a measure of the cell margin and its later-life reliability. |
| US08416596B2 |
Switching power controller and system
A switching power controller circuit comprises a first terminal pin for a high potential of a power supply for the controller circuit, a second terminal pin for providing output of switch drive signals and for receiving feedback signals, and a third terminal pin for receiving external current signals and for a low potential of the power supply. The switching power controller further comprises a clock generator, a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator, a reference generator, a power switch driver, a feedback signal sampler, a PWM comparator and a floating sampler. |
| US08416595B2 |
Arrangement for exchanging power
An arrangement for exchanging power, in shunt connection, with a three-phase electric power network includes a Voltage Source Converter having at least three phase legs with each a series connection of switching cells. Each switching cell has at least two semiconductor assemblies connected in series and having each a semiconductor device of turn-off- type and a rectifying element connected in anti-parallel therewith and at least one energy storing capacitor. A control unit is configured to control the semiconductor devices of each switching cell and to deliver a voltage across the terminals thereof being zero or U, in which U is the voltage across the capacitor. The control unit is also configured to calculate a value for amplitude and phase position for a second negative sequence-current or a zero-sequence voltage or a value of a dc current. |
| US08416594B2 |
Power converter with a controlled current source and connected in single-phase mode
A control method implemented in a power converter, such as a variable speed drive, is disclosed. This control method is designed to make the power converter operate when the latter is connected to the network in single-phase mode. The power converter includes a controlled current source connected in series to its DC power supply bus. This controlled current source includes an electronic converter provided with two controlled switching arms. The switching arms are controlled by alternating a modulation phase with a saturation phase, the saturation phase being applied for a determined duration β in order to make the power converter operate in discontinuous mode. |
| US08416593B2 |
Switching power supply with over-current protection and electronic device using the same
A switching power supply includes a rectifier circuit, a converter, a detecting unit, a control unit, a switching unit, and a protection unit. The rectifier circuit is used for rectifying an input voltage into a first direct current voltage. The converter is configured for generating a first current according to the first direct current voltage. The detecting unit is used for generating a detected voltage according to the first current. The control unit is configured for generating a control signal. The switching unit is used for enabling the converter, and conducting the first current to the detecting unit when receiving the control signal. The protection unit is configured for shunting the first current with the detecting unit when the first current becomes a large current surge. The control unit stops generating the control signal when determining that the detected voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. |
| US08416592B2 |
Control method for soft switch circuit in switch power supply
The present invention relates to a control method for a soft switch circuit in a switch power supply, which controls first and second main power switch devices to be turned on and turned off constantly to generate an alternating main power filter current, and controls forward and backward auxiliary switch devices to be turned on and turned off to generate an intermittent alternating resonant current across a resonant branch in the same direction as the main power filter current to thereby achieve zero-voltage turn-on of the first and second main power switch devices; and further controls the forward and backward auxiliary switch devices to be turned on and turned off to generate compensation currents across the resonant branch in the opposite direction to the alternating main power filter current in at least a period of time during resting of the resonant current to thereby accomplish a charging and discharging process of resonant capacitors in a dead time. Thus, a freewheeling diode can be turned on normally, so that it is possible to avoid a damage to the devices due to an impact current and a spark voltage resulting at zero crossing of the current in the soft switch circuit. |
| US08416589B2 |
Method for operating a DC-DC converter in current-mode control
A method of operating a DC-DC converter according to the current mode control is provided. A current measuring signal for determining a turn-off time of a converter switching element is supplied to a PWM controller and a voltage that is proportional to the current measuring signal is compared by a comparator to a reference voltage. When the reference voltage is exceeded, the converter switching element is turned off. |
| US08416588B2 |
Control circuit and bulk DC/DC converter in constant on-time mode
Constant on-time control circuit includes a comparing circuit including a comparator including a positive input end for receiving a control voltage; a negative input end for receiving a feedback voltage from the output voltage of the DC/DC converter; and an output end for outputting a comparing signal; and a voltage adjusting circuit coupled to the output end of the comparator for adjusting the control voltage; and a pulse generator coupled to the output end of the comparator for generating a pulse signal to control a switch set of the DC/DC converter according to the comparing signal. |
| US08416586B2 |
Flyback converter with forward converter reset clamp
A power supply includes a first power converter having a first transformer coupled to an input of the power supply and to a first output of the power supply. A clamp reset circuit is coupled to the first transformer. The clamp reset circuit includes a capacitor coupled to the first power converter and a Zener diode coupled to the capacitor. A second power converter is coupled to the clamp reset circuit. The second power converter includes a second transformer coupled to the clamp circuit and to a second output of the power supply. The capacitor is coupled to store energy received from the first power converter and the second power converter. The Zener diode is coupled to prevent the energy received from the first power converter and the second power converter from exceeding a threshold. The Zener diode limits voltage on the capacitor. |
| US08416585B2 |
Power system with shared clamp reset
An example power supply includes a first power converter, a second power converter, and a shared clamp reset circuit. The first power converter is adapted to convert an input to a first output and includes a first transformer having a first primary winding. The second power converter is also adapted to convert the input to a second output and includes a second transformer having a second primary winding. The second primary winding of the second transformer is not the first primary winding of the first transformer. The shared clamp reset circuit is coupled to the first primary winding of the first transformer and is coupled to the second primary winding of the second transformer to manage leakage inductance energy within the first transformer and within the second transformer. |
| US08416584B2 |
Power supply with low power consumption hiccup standby operation
A power supply including a converter, a capacitance, and a hiccup control module. The converter converts an input voltage to both an output voltage and a preliminary standby voltage when in its active state. The capacitance stores the preliminary standby voltage which is charged to an upper voltage level when the converter is in its active state and which is discharged to a lower voltage level when the converter is in its inactive state. During the standby mode, the hiccup control module operates the converter in hiccup mode by toggling between placing the converter into its inactive state when the preliminary standby voltage is charged to the upper voltage level and placing the converter into its active state when the preliminary standby voltage is discharged to the lower voltage level. The hiccup mode of the power supply eliminates a need for a separate standby converter. |
| US08416581B2 |
Electronic apparatus and electronic apparatus wiring harness having a flat U-shape
An electronic apparatus wiring harness is provided that includes: a fixed-side casing and a moving-side casing, the moving-side casing being provided with a moving-side casing base which is rotatably journalled to the fixed-side casing, and a sliding portion which is provided so as to be slidable on a slide surface provided in the moving-side casing base. The circuit of the sliding portion and the circuit of the fixed-side casing are electrically connected together by an electric wire, which is a wiring harness having a flat cable portion having electric wire bodies arranged in parallel and formed in a tape shape having a jacket strip portion in which a number of the electric wire bodies are bundled; the flat cable portion is arranged in a bent manner so as to form a U shape on the slide surface of the moving-side casing base. |
| US08416580B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first housing comprising a first wall and a second wall located on an opposite side of the first wall; a second housing; a hinge configured to connect the first housing to the second housing so that the first housing and the second housing can be pivoted relative to each other; a component housed in a component housing portion formed at the first wall; and a fixing member comprising a housing fixing portion fixed to the first housing, a hinge fixing portion to which the hinge is fixed, and a supporting portion configured to support the component at a location close to the first wall, the supporting portion being located between the first wall and the second wall. |
| US08416578B2 |
Manufacturing method for an electronic substrate
The manufacturing method for electronic substrate includes: forming an active region on a first face of a substrate; forming a first part of an interconnection pattern as a passive element on a second face of the substrate; forming an insulating layer as a stress-relieving layer on the second face of the substrate; and forming a second part of the interconnection pattern as the passive element on the insulating layer. |
| US08416576B2 |
Integrated circuit card
An integrated circuit card includes a laminate, solder bumps, a die and a package. The laminate includes a core board sandwiched between two conductive layers. The conductive layers are connected to each other with solder bumps filled in apertures defined in the core board. The die is provided on one of the conductive layers. The package is provided on the die and an area of the conductive layer around the die. |
| US08416575B2 |
Electrical connection box
An electrical component is mounted a circuit board. A case covers the circuit board. The circuit board includes a plate-like metal core and an insulation portion. The insulation portion covers a surface of the metal core. The metal core is provided with a heat radiation portion exposed from the case. |
| US08416562B2 |
Mounting apparatus for data storage device
A mounting apparatus for a data storage device includes a bracket, a plurality of shock absorbers positioned between the data storage device and the bracket, a plurality of fasteners, and two elastic members. The bracket includes a bottom plate, and two sidewalls. Each of the plurality of shock absorbers includes a shock absorber pad, and a bushing protruding from an outer side of the shock absorber pad. The shock absorber pad defines a first through hole therein. Each of the plurality of fasteners includes a post and a head portion. The post is passed through the bushing, the first through hole of the shock absorber pad to engage one of a plurality of second mounting holes of the data storage device. Each of the two elastic members is fixed to the inner side of one of the two sidewalls of the bracket. |
| US08416559B2 |
Keyboard for slate personal computers
A computer system may comprise an upper housing, a processor, a display screen, a keyboard case, and a lower housing. The display screen may be attached to the upper housing. The processor may be disposed within the upper housing. The lower housing may comprise a keyboard and may be mounted to and pivotable with respect to the upper housing. The keyboard cover may be adapted to cover the keyboard. |
| US08416555B2 |
System for securely dechucking wafers
A system for chucking and de-chucking a work piece comprises a wafer stage having a chuck support for supporting a chuck. The wafer stage further comprises a chuck mounted on the chuck support for receiving and attaching the work piece thereto; a support lift means for supporting the work piece; a driving means coupled to the support lift means for gradually raising the support lift means to contact the work piece in response to a variable quantity; a controller for receiving the variable quantity; and a regulating means coupled to the driving means and to the controller, the regulating means for controlling the variable quantity going to the driving means when a predetermined variable quantity is detected. |
| US08416554B2 |
Multi-phase decontamination of aircraft cabin interior
A method and system are provided for decontaminating at least a portion of an object. A misting device is configured to discharge a cloud formed from a plurality of cloud droplets. At least some of the cloud droplets include a decontaminating agent. A spraying device is configured to discharge a stream including a plurality of stream droplets into the cloud. At least some of the stream droplets have an electrostatic charge. At least some of the cloud droplets are deposited on the portion of the object to facilitate decontaminating the portion. |
| US08416551B2 |
Starter for thermal engine equipped with electronic control device
A starter including a double contact electromagnetic contactor (10) having an electrically controllable micro-actuator of the micro-solenoid type and an associated electronic control device (ECC). The electronic control device includes a first transistor commutation (T1, T2, CZ2, RC1, RC3, SL) to control the excitation of a pull-in winding (La) of the contactor and a second transistor commutation (T3, CZ2, RC2) to control the excitation of the micro-actuator. The second transistor commutation controls the excitation of the micro-actuator (MS) for a predetermined duration after activation of the electronic control device. |
| US08416546B2 |
Method and circuit arrangement for detecting the state of a load device which can be connected to a switching connection
A method for detecting the state of a load device which can be connected to a switching connection, wherein the switching connection can be coupled to, and decoupled from, a predefined switching potential. A voltage drop across the switching connection is used as a basis for detecting whether the load device is connected to the switching connection, the load device is not connected to the switching connection or there is a short circuit between the switching connection and a first or a second switching potential. An additional current source is connected to the switching connection at the same time as the switching connection is decoupled from the predefined switching potential. |
| US08416544B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit including internal circuits and electrostatic discharge protection circuits
The disclosed invention reduces an increase in the number of electrostatic discharge protection circuits or the number of electrostatic discharge protection elements due to increases in the number of separations of power voltages and the number of separations of ground voltages. A semiconductor integrated circuit includes first, second, and third operation voltage supply terminals; first, second, and third internal circuits; first, second, and third electrostatic discharge protection circuits; and a coupling midpoint. The first, second, and third internal circuits operate at first, second, and third operation voltages supplied to the first, second, and third operation voltage supply terminals, respectively. The first, second, and third electrostatic discharge protection circuits are coupled between the first, second, and third operation voltage supply terminals and the coupling midpoint, respectively. That is, instead of the past Δ (delta) coupling, the first, second, and third electrostatic discharge protection circuits are Y (star)-coupled with respect to the coupling midpoint. |
| US08416541B1 |
Disconnect switch arc eliminator
A device that allows standard non-load break disconnect switches to become full load break disconnect switches in that they can interrupt high levels of their rated current with no arcing or burning when the switch is opened under load in direct current use on electric railways, electric trolley bus systems, mine operations and motor controls. |
| US08416540B1 |
Method for defining a magnetoresistive junction using multiple mills at a plurality of angles
A method and system define a magnetoresistive junction in a magnetic recording transducer. The method and system include performing a first mill at a first angle from a normal to the surface of the magnetic recording transducer. A second mill is performed at a second angle from the normal to the surface. The second angle is larger than the first angle. A third mill is performed at a third angle from the normal to the surface. The third angle is not larger than the first angle. |
| US08416538B2 |
Shaped shield for a magnetoresistive head
A magnetic shield that is capable of enhancing magnetic reading, such as in use as a data transducing head. A magnetic stack can have a read element with an air bearing surface (ABS). The read element may be positioned adjacent a shield layer with a continuously curvilinear sidewall and a shield feature may be positioned within the areal extent of the continuously curvilinear sidewall. |
| US08416534B1 |
Disk drive with asymmetric tolerance ring
Described herein is a tolerance ring for a disk drive that includes a substantially cylindrical body having outer surface. The tolerance ring can be positioned between a rotational bearing and an actuator for providing rotational movement of the actuator. The tolerance ring can also include a contact member, positioned along the outer surface, that protrudes outward from the outer surface. The contact member can be connected to the outer surface by first and second angulated arms that extend from the outer surface to the contact member at different angles relative to the outer surface. |
| US08416522B1 |
Disk drive with stepped motor hub
A disk drive motor hub includes a top cylindrical portion defining a longitudinal axis, a middle cylindrical portion proximate the top cylindrical portion, and a bottom cylindrical portion proximate the middle cylindrical portion. The middle cylindrical portion defines an upper mounting surface substantially normal to the longitudinal axis, the upper mounting surface extending radially beyond the top cylindrical portion, and the bottom cylindrical portion defines a lower mounting surface substantially normal to the longitudinal axis, the lower mounting surface extending radially beyond the middle cylindrical portion. |
| US08416518B2 |
Magnetic disk drive and method for rewriting data block
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk includes a disk, a controller and an indicator module. The disk includes a plurality of data sectors. The controller is configured to control data rewrite for reading a first data block stored in the disk and writing a second data block corresponding to the read first data block to a write destination on the disk. The indicator module is configured to embed an indicator indicative of an attribute relating to data rewrite in each sector data in the second data block written to the write destination when the each sector data is written to the write destination. |
| US08416515B2 |
Positioning unit and alignment device for an optical element
The disclosure provides a positioning unit for an optical element in a microlithographic projection exposure installation having a first connecting area for connection to the optical element, and having a second connecting area for connection to an object in the vicinity of the optical element. |
| US08416511B2 |
Imaging lens and imaging apparatus
An imaging lens is provided and includes: in order from the object side, a negative first lens, a negative second lens, a positive third lens, a stop, and a positive fourth lens. In the lens, each of the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens has at least one aspheric surface, and an Abbe number of a material of the third lens at the d-line is 35 or less. In addition, the imaging lens satisfies the following Conditional Expression (1): −0.2<(R3+R4)/(R3−R4)<0.2 (1) where R3 is a paraxial radius of curvature of the object side surface of the second lens, and R4 is a paraxial radius of curvature of the image side surface of the second lens. |
| US08416509B2 |
Optical apparatus
An optical apparatus for plasma includes a light collection lens provided to receive optical emission spectrum from plasma, a first aperture stop disposed between the light collection lens and the plasma to block out-focused light, a second aperture stop disposed between the light collection lens and an imaging area of the light collection lens to block in-focused light, and a pinhole disposed at the imaging area of the light collection lens to limit depth of focus. |
| US08416507B2 |
Zoom lens assembly
A zoom lens assembly includes a first barrel including a first lens group; a second barrel including a second lens group that is aligned with respect to an optical axis of the first lens group, the second barrel disposed in front of the first lens group so as to be position-adjustable along the optical axis with respect to the first barrel; and a first ray shielding plate disposed in front of the first barrel and between the first barrel and the second barrel, and whose position is varied to be close to a center of the optical axis or to be distant from the center of the optical axis so as to block a portion of incident light that enters into the first barrel according to relative positions of the first barrel and the second barrel. |
| US08416505B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus using the same
A zoom lens comprises in order from an object side, a first lens unit, a second lens unit, a third lens unit, a fourth lens unit, and a fifth lens unit having, respectively, a positive, negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive power. At the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first, third, and fourth lens units move toward the object side. A distance between the first and second lens units increase, a distance between the second and third lens units decrease, a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit changes, and a distance between the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit increases. The zoom lens satisfies the following expressions: 1.54<β4T/β4w<3.0 (1a) 1.0<β3T/β3w<5.0 (2) 1.0<β5T/β5w<3.0 (3). |
| US08416504B2 |
Optical device and housing
An optical device includes a first substrate which is transparent to incident light, a second substrate which is transparent to incident light, and a frame member which connects the first substrate to the second substrate. A lens chamber surrounded by the first substrate, the second substrate, and the frame member is filled with first and second liquids constituting a liquid lens. A region composed of an inorganic material and a region composed of an organic material coexist in the inner surface of the first substrate and the inner surface of the frame member. A first insulating layer composed of an inorganic material, an adhesion layer composed of an organic material, and a second insulating layer composed of an organic material are stacked in that order on the inner surface of the first substrate and the inner surface of the frame member. |
| US08416503B2 |
Electrowetting device
An electrowetting device includes: a substrate having a non-hydrophobic insulating layer; a surrounding wall formed on an upper surface of the insulating layer; a microchamber surrounded by an inner surface of the surrounding wall and formed over the upper surface of the insulating layer; a hydrophobic coating layer that is applied to the inner surface of the surrounding wall and the upper surface of the insulating layer and that covers a seam between the inner surface and the upper surface; and a liquid disposed in the microchamber and on the hydrophobic coating layer. |
| US08416501B2 |
Image display apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image display apparatus generates a first light beam and a second light beam corresponding to image signals for the eyes of an observer, and makes the first light beam and the second light beam incident on a reflection surface which makes a reciprocating rotation about a first axis, thereby generating first and second scanning light beams to scan in a lateral direction. Images observable by the eyes of the observer are formed based on the first and second scanning light beams. Control is performed to reflect the first light beam and generate the first scanning light beam while the reflection surface rotates in the first direction of the reciprocating rotation and reflect the second light beam and generate the second scanning light beam while the reflection surface rotates in the second direction opposite to the first direction. |
| US08416500B2 |
Device and method for beam forming
A device for beam forming includes at least two laser light sources capable of emitting laser radiation and an optical device capable of influencing the laser radiation such that the laser radiation has an intensity distribution in a working plane that at least partially corresponds to a top-hat distribution at least with regard to one direction. The laser beam may be at least partially overlapped by the optical device. The laser beam is a single-mode laser beam at least with regard to a direction perpendicular to the distribution direction. |
| US08416499B2 |
Printed lenticules for lenticular printing
Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for lenticular printing devices, wherein both a lenticular lens sheet and an interlaced composite image can be formed using an imaging device to provide a precise registration translated from a color-to-color registration. |
| US08416498B2 |
Master model of lens array and method of manufacturing the same
A master model of a lens array and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, which can make it possible to manufacture the master model in a relatively short time with a simple construction of an apparatus. In a master model of a lens array on which a plurality of lens portions is arranged, a plurality of members corresponding to lenses having curved surfaces formed in the same shape as lens surfaces of the lens portions is arranged in the same lines as those of the plurality of lens portions in the lens array and is connected in a body. |
| US08416497B2 |
Lens array unit, optical head and information apparatus
A lens array unit focuses the light emitted from light emitting elements on the photoconductive drum. A longitudinally extending lens array includes a plurality of lenses and projections. The lenses are aligned in a row substantially perpendicular to optical axes of the lenses. The projections are disposed on both sides of the row, and extend outwardly further than the lens surfaces to protect the lens surfaces of the plurality of lenses. A light shielding member includes a mounting portion that holds the lens plate and a light shielding portion that shields part light passing through the lenses. |
| US08416493B1 |
Optical systems
Optical systems are described that use one or more lasers to project images onto a screen or projection surface. The optical systems can be direct view optical systems or vision projection optical systems. The described systems reduce costs and power consumption compared to the use of optical systems that use LCD screens. In addition, the described optical systems permit the image to be displayed anywhere on the screen, which in turn allows the screen to have improved light transmission for enhanced target identification in the case of gun/weapon sights and other devices that are used for target recognition. |
| US08416492B2 |
Balancing apparatus for a surgical microscope
A balancing apparatus for a surgical microscope is suggested for balancing an optics carrier that is held via a pivot support at a stand. The apparatus comprises a Y displacement unit comprising a first slide for displacement of the optics carrier in a Y direction and a Z displacement unit comprising a second slide for displacement of the optics carrier in a Z direction. Both slides are driven by motors. A selector switch enables an operator to select powering either the first motor or the second motor; and a forward-reverse switch enables the operator to select either the forward or the reverse driving mode for the motor powered by the selector switch and consequently establish the forward or the reverse driving mode for the first or second slide, respectively. |
| US08416491B2 |
Method and system for three-dimensional polarization-based confocal microscopy
A method and system for three-dimensional polarization-based confocal microscopy are provided in the present disclosure for analyzing the surface profile of an object. In the present disclosure, a linear-polarizing structured light formed by an optical grating is projected on the object underlying profile measurement. By means of a set of polarizers and steps of shifting the structured light, a series of images with respect to the different image-acquired location associated with the object are obtained using confocal principle. Following this, a plurality of focus indexes respectively corresponding to a plurality of inspected pixels of each image are obtained for forming a focus curve with respect to the measuring depth and obtaining a peak value associated with each depth response curve. Finally, a depth location with respect to the peak value for each depth response curve is obtained for reconstructing the surface profile of the object. |
| US08416489B2 |
White light source with crystal fiber and method for color temperature tuning thereof
The present invention relates to a white light source, and particularly to a white light source with crystal fiber and a method for color temperature tuning thereof. The white light source of the present invention comprises a pumping source for providing a first-color light, and a gradient index lens for coupling the first-color light into a crystal fiber. The crystal fiber absorbs a portion of the first-color light and generates a second-color light and a third-color light, and a white light with high color rendering index can be obtained. The crystal fiber is made of a first rare earth element oxide and a second rare earth element oxide co-doped yttrium aluminum garnet. The color temperature of the white light can be tuned by adjusting the position of the focus of the pumping light on the end section of the crystal fiber. |
| US08416483B2 |
Optical deflector, optical scanning apparatus, and image forming apparatus
An optical deflector including a rotary member supported by a bearing shaft and rotatively driven by a motor for deflecting a plurality of laser beams separated from each other in a rotational axis direction of the rotary member is disclosed. The optical deflector includes a polygon mirror having four sides arranged about the rotational axis direction. Each of the four sides is a continuous plane having a plurality of effective reflection areas separated from each other in the rotational axis direction. |
| US08416479B2 |
Compact holographic display device
Holographic display device comprising a first EASLM and a second EASLM, the pair permitting independent modification of phase and amplitude, in which holographic reconstruction is visible through one or more virtual observer windows. An advantage is that an observer may view a holographic reconstruction through one or more virtual observer windows from a device housing a pair of EASLMs which permit independent modification of phase and amplitude. |
| US08416478B2 |
Image reading and transmitting apparatus and method that generates image checking data for a read image, and computer-readable medium storing a computer program therefor
An image reading and transmitting apparatus which is capable of permitting quick checking of image data read and stored and quickly transmitting the image data after the checking. An image reader 107 reads an image, an input device 104 receives an instruction to check the data of the image read by the image reader 107, and a central processing unit (CPU) 101 generates image checking data based on the data of the image read by the image reader 107, irrespective of whether the instruction has been received or not by the input device 104. |
| US08416473B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
To control the potential distribution generated in a well at the time of amplification and reduce a shading in a solid-state imaging device of amplification type, the amplification type solid-state imaging device of the present invention comprises a plurality of picture elements each including photoelectric conversion elements formed in a second conductivity type common well inside a first conductivity type substrate, wherein a plurality of well contacts are disposed inside a picture element array area. |
| US08416472B2 |
LED light guide with integral IR filter
Various embodiments provide illuminators and related scanner illuminating systems, wherein the illuminators can include one or more light guides with each including an IR filter and/or an IR-absorbing coating for removing an IR component from the light introduced in the light guide. |
| US08416469B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer program
Conventionally, in the case where multiple readings of a document are carried out in order to generate an output image, image processing to a super-resolution image has been started after waiting for completion of the multiple readings necessary for giving a target resolution to the image after super-resolution processing. Therefore, a lot of time has been required for processing. In an image processing apparatus including a document reading component configured to read a plurality of image data each having a different phase from a document by a single scanning, a super-resolution processing component is configured to generate super-resolution image data by using the plurality sheets of image data each having a different phase, so as to have a resolution higher than those of the plurality of image data, and an image processing component is configured to carry out multiple image processing to the super-resolution image data. Super-resolution processing is started at the time when image data necessary for obtaining a specific resolution associated with any of the multiple image processing is obtained. |
| US08416466B2 |
Image reading apparatus and mark detection method
An image reading apparatus includes an image reader, a storage unit, and a control unit, wherein the storage unit includes a command storage unit, and the control unit includes a mark detecting unit that detects at least one mark matching the characteristic information of the mark from the margin of the manuscript read by the image reader to acquire the characteristic information of the detected mark, a positional information determining unit that detects coordinates of the mark in the manuscript to determine the positional information corresponding to the detected coordinates, a command searching unit that searches the command storage unit for the command associated with the characteristic information and the positional information using the characteristic information and the positional information as search keys, and a command executing unit that executes the processing specified for the command searched for on the manuscript. |
| US08416463B2 |
Printing of a position-coding pattern
The present invention relates to a method in a computer for creating an electronic document to be printed, said document comprising a page description representing a layout of the document, said method comprising: retrieving a license from a database, said license defining a position-coding pattern, which is capable of encoding positions on a product when printed, selecting at least a portion of the position-coding pattern in the retrieved license to be associated with the page description, forming a sublicense from said license, said sublicense comprising a definition of the selected at least portion of the position-coding pattern, an indication of an origin of the sublicense to enable assuring that the sublicense stems from a trusted actor, and a data record allowing verification of integrity of the sublicense to enable assuring that the sublicense has not been tampered with, and associating said sublicense with said page description. The invention also relates to a method for verifying a sublicense to a portion of the position-coding pattern. |
| US08416460B2 |
Image processing apparatus and control method of image forming apparatus with exclusive or relative control over the trapping and edge smoothing processing
When edge smoothing is applied to a portion where trapping was applied, the two processes are applied to a small region, thus causing image deterioration. Hence, the invention is configured to exclusively set trapping and edge smoothing execution conditions. Then, even when application of both trapping and edge smoothing processes to an entire image is selected, one of these processes is applied to each individual pixel or region. Alternatively, an execution completion flag may be set for one of these processes, and the other process may be executed with reference to that flag. |
| US08416459B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, recording medium, printing system, image forming apparatus
An image processing apparatus for converting input image data into output image data for an image forming apparatus configured to output an image with the use of coloring material, which includes a unit configured to perform a coloring-material usage amount reduction process of converting the input image data into the output image data such that an amount of the coloring material used for color-printing the input image data becomes a target coloring-material usage amount defined based on a monochrome-printing coloring-material usage amount required for monochrome-printing the input image data. |
| US08416454B2 |
Method for generating personalized documents
A computer implemented method of producing personalized documents comprising the steps of inputting handwritten alphanumeric characters which are then mapped into at least one set of text characters. A textural document is entered into the computer and is transcribed into a set of text characters corresponding to the input handwritten alphanumeric characters. The document can be printed and will contain text in the handwriting of the person whose alphanumeric characters were used as input. |
| US08416453B2 |
Selecting blended regions of color space
A method for adjusting the color of an image is provided. The image includes a plurality of pixels. The method includes receiving a natural language command to adjust a selected color of at least a portion of the image; determining a selection value for a pixel of interest by comparing a location of a color of the pixel of interest within a color space to a plurality of planes defining a multi-dimensional boundary of a portion of the color space corresponding to the selected color; and adjusting, based on the natural language command, the selected color of the pixel or the pixels of at least the portion of the image determined to be within the portion of the color space corresponding to the selected color. The selection value is representative of whether the pixel of interest lies within the portion of the color space corresponding to the selected color. |
| US08416449B2 |
Form creation method and print control apparatus
A print control apparatus of a printing system, which performs overlay printing using a pre-created form, lets a user designate a field in the form for data to be inserted into the field in the overlay printing. In executing overlay printing of plural pages, the data to be inserted into the designated field is analyzed to determine whether or not one same data is repetitive. In a case where it is determined that the one same data is repetitive, the form is not created, but in a case where it is determined that the one same data is not repetitive, the form including the data is created. |
| US08416444B2 |
System for distributing and controlling color reproduction at multiple sites
The system provides for controlling color reproduction of input color image data in a network having nodes (or sites). The system distributes the input color image data from one of the nodes to other nodes, and provides data structures in the network. The system has means for providing color calibration data at each node characterizing output colors (colorants) of the rendering device of the node, and means for producing at each node, responsive to the color calibration data of the rendering device of the node, information for transforming the input color image data into output color image data at the rendering device of the node. The rendering device of each node renders a color reproduction responsive to the output color image data, wherein colors displayed in the reproduction at the rendering device of each node appear substantially the same within the output colors attainable by the rendering devices. |
| US08416442B2 |
Communication system, transmitter, receiver, and computer readable medium storing communication program for signal correction according to a physical quantity of the signal transmission path
The present invention provides a communication system including: a transmitter section that transmits a signal having a predetermined waveform; plural receiver sections that receive the signal via signal transmission paths; a physical quantity measuring section that measures a physical quantity of the signal transmission paths, based on the transmission time of the signal from the transmitter section to the receiver section; a correction section that corrects a signal received via the signal transmission paths, and corrects a signal transmitted from the transmitter section and outputs the signal to the signal transmission path; and a setting section that sets, in the correction section, a correction amount in accordance with the physical quantity for correcting a signal received via the signal transmission path, and/or a correction amount in accordance with the physical quantity for correcting a signal transmitted from the transmitter section and outputting to the signal transmission path. |
| US08416441B2 |
Scan data workflow processing
Systems and methods are disclosed for scan workflow processing to correctly and reliably generate a final output for a user. A workflow control service identifies capabilities of one or more devices for performing post processing steps defined in a scan workflow. An image scanner is utilized to scan a document to generate scanned document data. The workflow control service provides the post processing steps to the one or more of the devices based on the identified capabilities for each respective device. The devices then perform the post processing steps on the scanned document data to generate a final output. The workflow control service then transmits the output data to a device identified by the workflow to generate the final output. |
| US08416434B2 |
Communication terminal apparatus and facsimile communication method
A communication terminal apparatus includes a network facsimile device having network functions, and an SIP adapter device connected to the network facsimile device to enable communication based on Session Initiation Protocol SIP for communication control. The SIP adapter device has a first IP telephone number for use in first communication defined as communication performed between a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses and a second IP telephone number for use in second communication defined as communication performed by deeming a transmission signal as a voice signal. The SIP adapter device comprises a controller for causing the network facsimile device, according to a result of selection by the network facsimile device, to implement either the first communication by using the first IP telephone number or the second communication by means of a voice coder/decoder by using the second IP telephone number. |
| US08416432B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically establishing connection in wireless communication network and wireless communication network using the same
Provided is a method and apparatus for establishing a wireless connection between devices to enable wireless data communication in a wireless communication network. The method includes: establishing the wireless connection with default wireless setting values; receiving currently set wireless setting values of an external device from the external device; and establishing the wireless connection using the received wireless setting values of the external device. Accordingly, when a user wants to establish a wireless connection between two devices to enable wireless data communication in a wireless communication network, by automatically matching wireless setting values of the two devices to each other using pre-defined default wireless setting values, the inconvenience of a user having to personally match the wireless setting values of the two devices is avoided. In particular, by automatically establishing a wireless connection between a printer server and a printer remote control device, convenience can be provided to a user using a network printer. |
| US08416428B2 |
Detection Methods and Systems
A method for obtaining a measurement in an in-line system for detecting presence of an out-of-parameter part is provided. The method includes conveying a tubular member to a detection system comprising a laser sensor arranged and configured to direct a beam of light onto an upper end surface of the tubular member for obtaining a measurement. The laser sensor is offset from a center of the tubular member such that the beam of light is directed onto an outer side of the upper end surface. The beam of light is directed onto the upper end surface at the outer side of the tubular member and the beam of light moves from a front quadrant of the upper end surface to a rearward quadrant of the upper end surface. |
| US08416424B2 |
Laser self-mixing measuring device
A laser self-mixing measuring device is provided, comprising a laser with a laser cavity and a surface arranged along the optical path of the laser beam which redirects incident laser light back into the laser cavity. The surface comprises a periodic structure which diffracts the laser light into partial beams. |
| US08416417B2 |
Surface impedance imaging methods and apparatuses
Methods and apparatuses for imaging surface impedance. |
| US08416416B2 |
Measuring method for SPR and system thereof
The invention provides an SPR measuring method and a measuring system thereof. According to the measuring method, first, a linear-polarized coherent broadband pulsed light beam is incident onto a surface of a sample under detection of a SPR sensing device to cause reflection; next, a time-domain monotonous chirp is performed on the incident coherent broadband pulsed light and/or the SPR reflected light; finally, the time-domain monotonically chirped SPR reflected light beam is detected, and information of the SPR effect is obtained according to the detected signal. According to the invention, the spectrum detection method used in conventional slow wavelength interrogation is converted into the high-speed real-time detection of time-domain pulse shape signals. Thus, the procedure of the SPR reaction may be monitored closely, and dynamical curves with very high time resolution may be obtained, in that case, fast biochemical reaction procedures may be monitored. As each part of the measuring system may remain fixed during the measurement, a compact, miniature and portable system may be realized. The interrogation part of the sensing system is easy-to-realize, of low cost and compatible with various SPR devices and components. |
| US08416415B2 |
Gas turbine optical imaging system
A method and system for recreating a two-dimensional distribution of temperatures in an exhaust plane of a gas turbine engine. Light transmission and detection pairs may be arranged in the annulus of the exhaust of the turbine engine in such a way that the individual rays form a two-dimensional mesh of beams across a sector of the exhaust. Based on the absorption of the rays, the temperature of the sector of the exhaust thru which the ray passes may be determined. Based on these determinations, an image that corresponds to the operation of the turbine engine may be generated. |
| US08416413B2 |
Products and methods for identifying rock samples
Products and methods for identifying rock samples based on an average color value for each rock sample. |
| US08416410B1 |
Conjugate ratio adjustable lens system
A lens system which allows easy relative adjustment of the position of at least two elements therein to minimize the effects of aberration, having particularly relevant application in ellipsometers, polarimeters, reflectometers and spectrophotometers finite size source is imaged onto a sample. |
| US08416409B2 |
Method of ellipsometric reconnaissance
A method of obtaining information about a target by using an ellipsometric technique of illuminating the target with coherent light beams from moveable light sources and recording reflections from the target. By analyzing the reflections, the surface material refractive index or dielectric tensors may be classified to yield information about the surface material properties. The beams can be emitted at different polarities and/or different frequencies. Ultra-coherent lasers can be used to produce beams that illuminate targets up to 100 kilometers from the beam source. |
| US08416403B2 |
Method and system for high-speed, high-resolution 3-D imaging of manufactured parts of various sizes
A method and system for high-speed, high-resolution 3-D imaging of manufactured parts of various sizes at an imaging station having a measurement axis are provided. The part has a 3-D end surface and a length, a width and a part axis defined as being central to the part and parallel to its length. The system includes apparatus having a central axis substantially parallel to the measurement axis and a plurality of members having open and closed positions. The members have holding faces which are substantially equidistant from the central axis during movement between the positions to align a part disposed between the holding faces at the station so that the part axis is substantially parallel to the measurement and central axes. The holding faces releasably hold the aligned part in a holding position between the positions. The system further includes an actuator for moving the apparatus so that the end surface moves in a plane substantially perpendicular to the measurement axis. The system still further includes a controller for controlling the actuator to move the end surface along a 2-D trajectory within the plane. The system further includes at least one sensor for emitting a beam of energy along the measurement axis onto the end surface during movement of the end surface along the 2-D trajectory to obtain reflected energy and for sensing at least a portion of the reflected energy to obtain an output. The system still further includes a processor for processing the output to obtain information related to the end surface of the part. |
| US08416402B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspecting defects
To provide a defect inspection apparatus for inspecting defects of a specimen without lowering resolution of a lens, without depending on a polarization characteristic of a defect scattered light, and with high detection sensitivity that is realized by the following. A detection optical path is branched by at least one of spectral splitting and polarization splitting, a spatial filter in the form of a two-dimensional array is disposed after the branch, and only diffracted light is shielded by the spatial filter in the form of a two-dimensional array. |
| US08416401B2 |
Local dosimeter for measuring the ambient equivalent dose of photon radiation, and reading method
An area dosimeter for measuring the ambient equivalent dose of photon radiation with a diffuser, and a detector card with at least one pair of detection elements, preferably LiF-chips. A first of the two detection elements is positioned between two filters in order to spectrally filter the photon radiation. A second of the two detection elements is not positioned between such filters in order that the photon radiation arriving at the second detection element will have a different spectral distribution from the spectrally filtered photon radiation arriving at the first detection element. The two measurement values are used to obtain a weighted sum in order to achieve an optimized response characteristic. |
| US08416400B2 |
Wavefront imaging sensor
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wavefront imaging sensor (WIS) comprising an aperture layer having an aperture, a light detector having a surface and a transparent layer between the aperture layer and the light detector. The light detector can receive a light projection at the surface from light passing through the aperture. The light detector can also separately measure amplitude and phase information of a wavefront at the aperture based on the received light projection. The transparent layer has a thickness designed to locate the surface of the light detector approximately at a self-focusing plane in a high Fresnel number regime to narrow the light projection. |
| US08416396B2 |
Methods and apparatus for optical amplitude modulated wavefront shaping
The invention extends classical time-invariant optical design to include optical amplitude modulated light, using tools from communications theory. Effects of dispersion are derived from first principles. |
| US08416395B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and method
A substrate table is disclosed in which heaters are provided to account for a heat load which may be applied to the substrate. The heaters are grouped in segments to improve control. A temperature sensor per segment may be provided. The temperature sensor may be embedded in the substrate table. |
| US08416386B2 |
Conforming seats for clamps used in mounting an optical element, and optical systems comprising same
Clamps are disclosed for holding an optical element relative to a support. An exemplary clamp includes first and second arms and a member connecting the arms such that a portion of a mounting feature of the optical element is between the first and second arms. The first arm applies a clamping force toward a respective portion of the mounting feature, and the second arm includes a seat. The seat has at least upper and intermediate portions. The upper portion engages the respective location on the mounting feature. The intermediate portion is situated between the upper portion and the second arm and has a lateral thickness less than the lateral thickness of the upper portion. The intermediate portion exhibits elastic and plastic deformability sufficient for any moment applied by the clamp to the mounting feature to be limited to less than a designated peak moment, while maintaining substantially full engagement of the upper portion with the respective location. |
| US08416385B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method is provided in which exposure is carried out by projecting through a liquid having a pH of less than 7, the liquid being in contact with a substrate to be exposed. The liquid advantageously comprises an anti-reflective topcoat. |
| US08416377B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with birefringent layers
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that has a higher contrast ratio in a wide viewing angle and that can be easily produced at low cost. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device, including in the following order: a first polarizer; a first quarter-wavelength plate (nx>ny≧nz); a liquid crystal cell; a second quarter-wavelength plate having an Nz coefficient substantially the same as that of the first quarter-wavelength plate; a birefringent layer (II) (nx |
| US08416375B2 |
Process of producing light-reflective film and light-reflective film
A process for producing a light-reflective film is disclosed. The process comprises (a) applying a curable liquid crystal composition to a first film having a thickness of d1; (b) drying the applied curable liquid crystal composition to form a cholesteric liquid crystal phase; (c) carrying out a curing reaction of the curable liquid crystal composition and fixing the cholesteric liquid crystal phase to form a lower layer; (d) repeating the set of the steps (a)-(c) three or more times on the lower layer to form a light-reflective multilayer having four or more layers of a fixed cholesteric liquid crystal phase; and (e) transferring the light-reflective multilayer, formed on the first film, onto a second film having a thickness of d2 which is smaller than d1; wherein the first film, fulfilling the condition of formula (1), is used. ( d 1 ) 2 × ( Y 1 ) ( d 3 ) × ( 1 - P 1 ) ≧ 0.0002 ( 1 ) |
| US08416374B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display able to deal with high definition display and able to secure both of a transmission type display luminance and a reflection type display luminance, wherein light from backlights 71a and 71b are focused by a lens sheet 74, luminance of the backlights is improved, a transmittance can be set at 4 percent to 10 percent, a reflectance can be set in a range from 1 percent to 25 percent, and high definition display is handled while securing a display light luminance equivalent to that of a liquid crystal display performing only transmission type display and a reflection display light luminance required for the display without increasing a power consumption of the backlights. |
| US08416372B2 |
Display device
The display device according to the present invention has a pixel, a TFT, a BM, and a colorant. A plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix. The TFT is placed in the pixel. There are two kinds of positions of the TFT in the pixel. The position is common in each column. The BM has an aperture area and a TFT light-shielding part in the pixel. The TFT light-shielding part is placed to counter the TFT. The colorant is placed in the aperture area. Further, there are two or more kinds of the colors of the colorant. The color is common in each column. The shapes of the aperture areas in which the same color colorants are placed are the same. |
| US08416369B2 |
Polarizer protective film, polarizing plate and VA mode liquid crystal display
A polarizer protective film containing a cellulose acylate having a total acyl substitution degree of from 2.2 to less than 2.5 and a polymer prepared by polymerizing an acrylate ester or a methacrylate ester. |
| US08416368B2 |
Edge illumination of bezelless display screen
One or more embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus and method for producing an image on a display screen that extends to the pixels or image elements disposed at the edge of the display screen. The display screen has an optical element with a thickness and an index of refraction that are selected to direct light to pixels or image elements disposed at the edge of the display screen without passing through the portion of the optical element that is blocked by a support frame or other structural member disposed on the rear surface of the display screen. Positioning such display screens together into a single screen assembly produces a tiled display having a much less noticeable grid pattern visible to the viewer. |
| US08416367B2 |
Liquid crystal display module without bottom cover
A liquid crystal display module includes a liquid crystal display panel to display an image; a back light unit to irradiate light onto the liquid crystal display panel includes a luminescent lamp to emit light, a light guide panel to convert light emitted from the luminescent lamp into plane light and to emit the plane light, a lamp housing to fix the luminescent lamp to the light guide panel, the lamp housing condenses the light generated from the luminescent lamp, a reflection plate formed on the rear surface of the light guide panel to reflect light, and optical sheets formed on the front surface of the light guide panel; a main support to receive the liquid crystal display panel and the back light unit; and a reinforcing member formed on the rear surface of the light guide panel and overlapping the lamp housing and the reflection plate. |
| US08416363B2 |
Liquid crystal display backlight device and liquid crystal display
It is aimed to provide an LCD backlight device and liquid crystal display that can suppress light quantity loss and ensure uniform brightness.An LCD backlight device 101 has a laser light source 1 that emits laser light, and a light guiding plate 3 that transforms the laser light from the laser light source 1 into linear laser light, and transforms the linear laser light into a planar laser light, and emits the planar laser light, and the light guiding plate 3 has a third side face 6 that transforms the linear laser light into the planar laser light by reflecting the linear laser light by a plurality of reflection surfaces that are formed along the entrance direction of the linear laser light. |
| US08416360B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The invention relate to a liquid crystal display that can improve heat radiation properties as well as may comply with a slim trend of displays. The liquid crystal display including: a liquid crystal panel; a PCB for light source that mounts a plurality of light sources which generate light illuminating the liquid crystal panel, and supplies operation power to the light sources; a bottom cover that includes a receiving unit of which bottom surface is opened and a seating space of which bottom surface is not opened, receives the PCB for light source, and externally exposes a part of a rear surface of the PCB for light source through the receiving unit; a main PCB that supplies a driving signal to the liquid crystal panel and the PCB for light source; and a panel guide that includes a lamination unit receiving the liquid crystal panel and an insertion space receiving the main PCB in a direction perpendicular to the liquid crystal panel, wherein the main PCB is inserted into the insertion space to be positioned within the seating space of the bottom cover. |
| US08416359B2 |
Array substrate for liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
Array substrates for liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are formed on a substrate with first and second gate lines crossing a data line to define first and second pixel regions. A thin film transistor includes a source electrode and a drain electrode. A metal pattern overlaps a common line and makes up a portion of the drain electrode. A passivation layer is disposed on the source and drain electrodes and on the metal pattern. A first pixel electrode is connected to the metal pattern and a common electrode is connected to the common line. Various repair patterns are formed to define one or more repairing portions that enable connection of the drain electrode or metal pattern to a second pixel electrode of the second pixel region if the cut line is cut in the event the first pixel electrode fails to display an image. |
| US08416356B2 |
Thin flexible liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate which sandwiches a liquid crystal between itself and the first substrate, wherein the first substrate has thin film transistors and a wiring connection portion in which are formed terminals connected to the thin film transistors, a wiring substrate connected to the terminals is disposed in the wiring connection portion, the second substrate is a plastic substrate, and has an adhesive layer and an inorganic insulating layer formed on top of the adhesive layer, and the adhesive layer covers the wiring connection portion and one portion of the wiring substrate. |
| US08416345B2 |
Host computer with TV module and subtitle displaying method
A host computer includes a display and a TV module. The TV module includes an obtaining module, a network module, and a subtitle displaying module. The obtaining module obtains a TV program and details relevant to it by means of the TV module. The network module finds subtitle data via a network according to the program name and a selected language. The subtitle displaying module displays the subtitles synchronously with the TV program. |
| US08416341B2 |
3D image display device
A 3D image display device is provided. The 3D image display device can sense a posture change of a 3D display using a gyro-sensor and prevent an image for an LE and an image for an RE from being converted using a sensed posture change. The 3D image display device includes a main body a multi-view type display, a gyro-sensor, and an image-conversion controller. The multi-view type display provides a 3D image for an LE and a 3D image for an RE. The gyro-sensor is mounted in the main body to sense a posture change of the display and the image-conversion controller prevents conversion of a provided 3D image using the posture change of the display sensed by the gyro-sensor. Therefore, an image signal for an RE and an image signal for an LE are provided to viewing regions where an RE and an LE of a viewer are located, so that the viewer can view a 3D image properly. |
| US08416339B2 |
Providing multiple video signals from single sensor
A method for using a capture device to capture at least two video signals corresponding to a scene, includes: providing a two-dimensional image sensor having a plurality of pixels; reading a first group of pixels from the image sensor at a first frame rate to produce a first video signal of the image scene; reading a second group of pixels from the image sensor at a second frame rate for producing a second video signal; and using at least one of the video signals for adjusting one or more of the capture device parameters. |
| US08416335B2 |
Image processing apparatus that corrects deterioration of image, image pickup apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes a data storing portion configured to store coefficient data for reconstructing an optical transfer function of an image pickup optical system in accordance with a type of the image pickup optical system and an imaging condition, a tap number determining portion configured to determine a tap number of the optical transfer function that is reconstructed by using the coefficient data in accordance with a size of one pixel of an image pickup element, and a reconstruction portion configured to reconstruct the optical transfer function in accordance with Nyquist frequency of the image pickup element and the tap number in a frequency space. |
| US08416330B2 |
Solid state imaging device for imaging an object placed thereon
The solid state image pick-up device comprises a chip wherein an object to be photographed is put directly on the back surface of the chip, a light incident on the object enters the inner portion of the chip, signal electric charges generated in the inner portion of the chip by the light, the signal electric charges are collected in a photo detective region and the photo detective region has a barrier diffusion layer adjacent thereto so as to collect the signal electric charges effectively. The above-mentioned structure of the solid state image pick-up device can provide superior features that the chip of the solid state image pick-up device is protected from the deterioration of elements included in the chip and the destruction of the elements by Electro Static Discharge, resulting in the reliability improvement of the chip. |
| US08416325B2 |
Imaging apparatus and color contamination correction method
An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device which is provided with plural pixels arranged in two-dimensional array form on a photodetecting surface of a semiconductor substrate, pixels on even-numbered rows are shifted from pixels on odd-numbered rows by a half pixel pitch, color-filters are Bayer-arranged over the respective pixels of the odd-numbered rows, and color-filters are Bayer-arranged over the respective pixels of the even-numbered rows; and an imaging device driving section for reading shot image signals of the pixels of the odd-numbered rows and shot image signals of the pixels of the even-numbered rows divisionally in separate frames. A color contamination correction is performed on a shot image signal of a pixel of attention using shot image signals of plural pixels around the pixel of attention among shot image signals, read out divisionally, of the pixels of one of the odd-numbered rows. |
| US08416323B2 |
Noise reduction method and noise reduction apparatus
The present invention provides a noise reduction method and apparatus for use in reducing noise of a digital image. The noise reduction apparatus comprises a threshold value generating unit, a determining unit, and an adjusting unit. The threshold value generating unit generates a noise threshold value according to a target window and a first chrominance value and a second chrominance value of an input pixel of the image. The determining unit determines whether the input pixel needs to be adjusted according to the noise threshold value and pixel values of neighboring pixels of the input pixel. The adjusting unit adjusts the pixel value of the input pixel when the input pixel is determined as needing to be adjusted. Using the noise reduction apparatus of the present invention, not only noise of a digital image can be identified, but also the degradation caused by the noise can be reduced and thus the overall picture quality can be improved. |
| US08416322B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and imaging apparatus
A chromatic aberration of magnification is corrected by performing a coordinate transformation with respect to image data including chromatic aberration of magnification, which is obtained from a fisheye optical system, based on { X = x + ax Y = y + by where x and y represents coordinates of a transformation destination with a center of a screen as an origin, X and Y represents coordinates of a transformation source with the center of the screen as an origin, and a and b are coordinate transformation coefficients. |
| US08416321B2 |
Folder creation image processing apparatus and related control method for recording an image
An image processing apparatus captures an image in a shooting operation and records an image file in a folder of a recording medium. A user interface enables a user to set the units of date/time for automatically creating a new folder that can store image files. A first storage unit stores the units of date/time being set by the user through the user interface. A folder creation unit creates a new folder in the recording medium by the units of date/time stored in the first storage unit. And, a recording unit records the image file obtained by the shooting operation in the new folder created by the folder creation unit. |
| US08416318B2 |
Imaging device program and method for preventing the generation of flicker
A video camera includes an imager. An imager outputs an object scene image produced on an imaging surface. A detector detects a plurality of luminance change amounts respectively corresponding to a plurality of timings based on the object scene image outputted from the imager. A determiner determines generation/non-generation of a flicker by referring to a difference between a sine wave depicted along a time axis and the plurality of luminance change amounts detected by the detector. A first adjuster adjusts an angular frequency of the sine wave to a frequency corresponding to a drive system of the imager. A second adjuster adjusts an initial phase and an amplitude of the sine wave based on the plurality of luminance change amounts detected by the detector. |
| US08416315B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging apparatus control method
In image shooting using a self timer on an apparatus, the apparatus allows a user to control continuous shooting of a plurality of frames of images according to the user's desire. In image shooting using a self timer on the apparatus, the apparatus changes a timing of starting image shooting by self timer for a second image and beyond to be continuously shot according to detected faces of persons. The apparatus notifies the user that the timing for starting the image shooting by self timer is currently calculated. With this configuration, the user can control the timing of shooting images by continuous shooting. Accordingly, the user convenience in using the apparatus in shooting a plurality of frames of images of variable attitudes and objects is improved. |
| US08416314B2 |
Method and system for processing images
A method for processing images includes: obtaining video images or capturing a series of images in real time; detecting difference between two adjacent images, and reserving one of the images when the difference is less than a preset threshold; detecting feature information of the obtained images; and performing definition-related treatment for the images detected as having the feature information, comparing definition of each image with a preset definition criterion, and reserving clear images. |
| US08416312B2 |
Image selection device and method for selecting image
An image selection device including: a reception unit that receives a plurality of captured images obtained by rapid shooting one or more people as subjects; a face detection unit that detects human faces included in the captured images received by the reception unit; an eye detection unit that detects eyes in the human faces detected by the face detection unit; a blink detection unit that detects blink degrees of each of the eyes detected by the eye detection unit; an estimation unit that estimates statuses of the human faces based on the blink degrees detected by the blink detection unit; and a selecting unit that selects at least one of the captured images to be recorded on a recording medium from among the captured images received by the reception unit, based on the statuses of the human faces estimated by the estimation unit. |
| US08416311B2 |
Digital filter, analog-to-digital converter, and applications thereof
In one embodiment, the ADC includes a modulator configured to generate a symbol sequence, an operand generator configured to generate operands, and a selector configured to selectively output at least one of (1) a reference value and (2) at least one of the operands based on the symbol sequence. The ADC further includes an accumulator configured to accumulate output from the selector. |
| US08416310B2 |
Imaging device and imaging processing apparatus capable of recording and generating movie image data
Provided are: an imaging sensor that captures light from a subject; a first instruction unit that instructs to capture a still image by using the imaging sensor; a recording control unit that records a single movie image file containing a first movie image produced based upon an imaging signal output from the imaging sensor during a period from when the still image is captured by the capturing instruction by the first instruction unit until before a first predetermined time and a second movie image produced by using the still image during a period from when the still image is captured until after a second predetermined time, or recording a single movie image file containing the second movie image and a third movie image produced based upon the imaging signal output from the imaging sensor during a period from when the still image is captured until after a third predetermined time, in a recording unit; and a detection unit that detects movement information of the subject, and the recording control unit sets at least one length of the first predetermined time, the second predetermined time, and the third predetermined time, based upon the movement information detected by the detection unit. |
| US08416306B2 |
Mobile terminal with touch screen and method of capturing image using the same
The present invention provides an image capturing method in a mobile terminal equipped with a touch screen, and a mobile terminal for implementing the same. When a camera function is initiated, a preview image of an image to be captured is displayed on the touch screen. If a touch input is received on a specific position of the preview image on the touch screen, focusing of the image is performed on the specific position where the touch input has been received. When a photographing command is received, the image on which the focusing has been performed is captured. |
| US08416302B2 |
Low-light imaging augmented with non-intrusive lighting
In some implementations, invisible light is emitted toward a subject being imaged in a low-light environment. A camera having a first color image sensor captures an image of the subject. Image processing is used to correct distortion in the image caused by the invisible light, and an augmented color image is output. |
| US08416298B2 |
Method and system to perform optical moving object detection and tracking over a wide area
A method for moving object detection, comprising generating a time series of multi-exposures of scenes, each multi-exposure of a scene comprising a sequence of at least two at least partially overlapping images of that scene captured in rapid succession, wherein the time series of multi-exposures periodically revisits substantially the same scenes, detecting moving objects within each multi-exposure by comparing its sequence of overlapping images, and tracking objects by comparing moving objects detected within multi-exposures of substantially the same scenes. |
| US08416296B2 |
Mapper component for multiple art networks in a video analysis system
Techniques are disclosed for detecting the occurrence of unusual events in a sequence of video frames Importantly, what is determined as unusual need not be defined in advance, but can be determined over time by observing a stream of primitive events and a stream of context events. A mapper component may be configured to parse the event streams and supply input data sets to multiple adaptive resonance theory (ART) networks. Each individual ART network may generate clusters from the set of inputs data supplied to that ART network. Each cluster represents an observed statistical distribution of a particular thing or event being observed that ART network. |
| US08416295B2 |
Surveillance data recording device and method
A surveillance data recording device includes a display, a digital tuner, and a control mechanism. The display displays a received surveillance data signal over a first bandwidth. The control mechanism allows a user to select a frequency band of interest. The digital tuner truncates the received signal to produce a narrowband signal comprised only of portions of the received signal that are within the frequency band of interest. A digital storage unit, such as a fixed or removable hard drive or solid state storage device, stores the narrowband signal over a period of time. |
| US08416292B2 |
Defect inspection apparatus and method
In a defect inspection apparatus for inspecting a wafer provided with a circuit pattern for defects, the illuminating direction of illuminating light rays is selectively determined such that an area containing a defect that scatters light of high intensity coincides with the aperture of a dark-field detecting system, and such that regularly reflected light regularly reflected by a pattern, which is noise to defect detection, does not coincide with the aperture of the dark field detecting system. |
| US08416288B2 |
Electronic apparatus and image processing method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus configured to reproduce video data and additional data for displaying a sub-image, includes a first generator, an arrangement control module, a second generator, and a display control module. The first generator estimates depths of pixels in an image frame of the video data, and generates first left-eye image data and first right-eye image data which correspond to the image frame and have a parallax based on the depths. The arrangement control module sets a depth at which the sub-image is to be displayed, based on a foremost depth of the depths. The second generator generates second left-eye image data and second right-eye image data which correspond to the additional data and have a parallax based on the set depth of the sub-image. The display control module displays an image frame generated by using the generated image data. |
| US08416285B2 |
Stereoscopic image display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A stereoscopic image display apparatus includes an image display panel displaying an image for a right eye and an image for a left eye in a regularly mixed manner in a plane, a phase difference element including a right-eye image display portion corresponding to the image for the right eye and a left-eye image display portion corresponding to the image for the left eye to provide different polarization states, a light shield layer formed to project only in an area including a boundary between the right-eye image display portion and the left-eye image display portion of the phase difference element, and a binder layer interposed between the phase difference element and the image display panel to levelly coat and fill projections and recesses formed by the light shield layers, thus bonding the image display panel, the phase difference element, and the light shield layers together. |
| US08416282B2 |
Camera for creating a panoramic image
Methods and apparatus to create and display panoramic images on a mobile device are disclosed. Such a mobile device can be a mobile phone. Apparatus is provided to control the position of a lens in relation to a reference lens. Methods and apparatus are provided to generate multiple images that are combined into a panoramic image. A panoramic image may be a static image. It may also be a video image. A controller provides correct camera settings for different conditions. An image processor creates a panoramic image from the correct settings provided by the controller. A panoramic camera is applied in a computer gaming system. |
| US08416275B2 |
Camera capable of communicating with other communication device
A camera having communication ability can switch a mode between a communication mode and a shooting mode. The camera combines features of a communication device and a digital camera. The camera comprises a communication device, an imaging device, and a switching device. The switching device switches the communication mode to the shooting mode responsive to completion of communication. |
| US08416269B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
An LCD device and an LCD driving method select one among a plurality of threshold values provided along gray level regions of the pixel data as a threshold value for pixel data in a current frame interval. Accordingly, the number of times over-driving occurs due to noise when a still image is displayed can be minimized. |
| US08416265B2 |
Method and apparatus for image acquisition, organization, manipulation, and publication
An integrated system for the acquisition, organization, manipulation, and publication of digital images by amateur digital photography enthusiasts. The system of the present invention first acquires images from a number of different image sources. Images acquired in the same image importing session are marked as coming from the same conceptual film roll. Next, a user is empowered to organize and manipulate the acquired images. The images may be organized by tagging the images with informative keywords and grouping images together into conceptual photo albums. Furthermore, the images may be manipulated by rotating, cropping, and removing red-eye. Finally, the system of the present invention provides simple intuitive image publish systems. A selected group of images may be published in a photobook, published onto the World Wide Web, or published as individual image prints with minimal computer knowledge on the part of the user. |
| US08416264B2 |
Method and device for optimizing an image displayed on a screen
A method and electronic device is provided for optimizing an image displayed on a screen on the electronic device. The size of the image is maximized in relation to the size of the screen and readability of the text in the image is determined by using graphic parameters. |
| US08416261B1 |
Clock objects having visual graphical indicators with interactive time shifting
The embodiments provide a data processing apparatus including a graphics controller configured to obtain a subset of selected time zones among a plurality of available time zones and generate a plurality of clock objects. Each clock object may be a graphical representation of a different time zone of the selected subset, and each clock object may provide a visual graphical indicator for a respective time zone. The data processing apparatus may include a user interface configured to display an arrangement of the plurality of clock objects and receive a command shifting to a travel mode time. The graphics controller may be configured to update the plurality of clock objects according to the command including providing an updated local time corresponding to the travel mode time for each selected time zone and adjusting the visual graphical indicator according to the updated local time for each selected time zone. |
| US08416259B2 |
Image display apparatus and image display method
An image display apparatus that displays an image on the basis of input image signals corresponding to sub-pixels forming one pixel includes a shift-amount storing unit that stores shift amounts of display positions of the sub-pixels relative to given reference positions in a display image, an image-signal correcting unit that corrects the input image signals according to the shift amounts, and an image display unit that displays an image on the basis of the image signals corrected by the image-signal correcting unit. |
| US08416258B2 |
Method for adjusting the color of images
A method for adjusting the color of images is provided. In the method, firstly, an original hue-saturation-value (HSV) color coordinate is obtained from an original image signal. Next, the original HSV color coordinate is converted into an adjusted HSV color coordinate according to color adjusting data. Afterwards, the adjusted HSV color coordinate is converted into a corrected HSV color coordinate. Then, an output image signal is generated according to the corrected HSV color coordinate. |
| US08416256B2 |
Programmable dithering for video displays
In a liquid crystal display (LCD) driver circuit, harmonizing a pixel inversion pattern and a dither pattern is disclosed. The pixel inversion pattern and the cooperating dither pattern interact with each other in such a way that there is substantially no discernable video artifacts generated. The cooperating dither pattern can be selected from a plurality of dither patterns using a programmable dither block. |
| US08416253B2 |
Apparatus, method, and recording medium for detecting update of image information
When a processor, which transits from a first mode that causes a guest operating system to operate to a second mode that causes a virtual machine monitor managing the guest operating system to operate, when previously set transition condition is satisfied, transits to the second mode, a determining unit determines a cause or the transition. When it is determined that an execution of a process related to a completion of writing the image information in an image storage unit on the guest operating system is the cause, a detecting unit detects an updated portion representing an unmatched portion of the image information between before and after writing. |
| US08416247B2 |
Increasing the number of advertising impressions in an interactive environment
Increasing a number of advertising impressions in a system configured to facilitate user interaction with an interactive environment containing one or more advertising targets is described. A scene of a portion of the simulated environment is displayed from a camera point of view (camera POV) on a video display. The scene may change as the camera POV changes in response to movement of the camera POV along a camera path during the user's interaction with the simulated environment. By adding movement to the camera path that directs the camera POV toward one or more advertising targets encountered along the camera path advertising targets may be placed within the scene displayed on the video display to increase a likelihood a number of advertising impressions associated with the advertising targets. |
| US08416245B2 |
Creation of motion blur in image processing
Motion blur is created in images by utilizing a motion vector. Vertices are developed with each vertex including a motion vector. The motion vector is indicative of how far vertices have moved since a previous frame in a sequence of images. The vertices are converted to an image and motion blur is added to the image as a function of the motion vector for each vertex. |
| US08416243B2 |
Approximating font metrics for a missing font when substituting an available replacement
A method for rendering an electronic document (ED) using a page rendering device, including: identifying, within the ED, a text stream and a requested font for the text stream, where the text stream has a plurality of characters; identifying a resident font supported by the PRD as a substitute for the requested font; generating a plurality of scaled characters by scaling the plurality of characters in the resident font; and rendering, by the PRD, the ED by placing the plurality of scaled characters on a page. |
| US08416240B1 |
Determining 3D model information from stored images
Methods and systems are provided for determining and transmitting applicable lighting information, applicable viewing perspective, and a 3D model for an object in response to a search query. An example method includes receiving, at a server, a search query regarding an object. A 3D model for the object is determined. The 3D model includes three-dimensional shape information about the object. The method also includes determining, based on a plurality of stored images of the object, at least one applicable light field and at least one applicable viewing perspective. A search query result is transmitted from the server. The search query result may include the 3D model, the applicable light field(s), and the applicable viewing perspective(s). A server and a non-transitory computer readable medium are also disclosed that could perform a similar method. |
| US08416236B1 |
Calibration of devices used to generate images of a three-dimensional object data model
Examples are disclosed for calibrating devices used to generate images of a three-dimensional object data model (“3D model”). An initial 3D model that represents an object can be received. The initial 3D model can include a plurality of images aligned relative to one another. The plurality of images can be generated using a plurality of devices. A realignment of the plurality of images can be performed. An updated 3D model can be generated based on the realignment. At least one calibration of at least one of the plurality of devices can be determined based on a comparison of the initial 3D model with the updated 3D model. Calibration data can be provided to a computing device. The calibration data can be indicative of the at least one calibration. The computing device can be operable to use the calibration data to perform the at least one calibration. |
| US08416235B2 |
Method and system for providing transparent access to hardware graphic layers
A software application and an operating system may run on a computer, which includes a graphics card and a video display, where the graphics card is operable to render images to the video display, and the operating system includes a universal application programming interface (API) which supports hardware layers on graphics cards. The operating system may be operable to receive draw events via the universal API; determine what hardware layers are available on the graphics card, and what their parameters are; and respond to draw requests from the software application by rendering the draw requests selectively to any of the available hardware layers on the graphics card. |
| US08416232B2 |
Liquid crystal display capable of reducing number of output channels of data driving circuit and preventing degradation of picture quality
A liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a data driving circuit for converting digital video data into positive/negative data voltages to be supplied to the data lines and adjusting the horizontal polarity inversion cycle of the positive/negative data voltages, and a timing controller for generating the vertical polarity control signal and the horizontal polarity control signal, adding a FRC correction value to input digital video data to supply the input digital video data to the data driving circuit, detecting a predetermined weak pattern from the input digital video data and, when data having the weak pattern is detected, changing either the logic inversion cycle of the vertical polarity control signal or the logic of the horizontal polarity control signal and changing the position of the data to which the FRC correction value is added. |
| US08416228B2 |
Driving device, driving method and plasma display apparatus
In a plasma display panel apparatus, luminance when a display state of a panel is all-black is reduced. In a first period, in which a first ramp waveform dropping from a first potential to a second potential is applied to a plurality of scan electrodes, within a setup period, a second ramp waveform dropping from a third potential to a fourth potential is applied to a plurality of sustain electrodes in a second period in the case of not all-black, and a third ramp waveform dropping from the third potential to a fifth potential is applied to the plurality of sustain electrodes in a third period which is longer than the second period in the case of all-black. In addition, a scan pulse is not applied to the plurality of scan electrodes in a write period in the case of all-black. |
| US08416226B2 |
Adaptive method for acquiring color measurements
A system and method for measuring a color parameter values of a display for calibration purposes. An initial measurement of the color parameter value from the display is performed. Next, a number of additional measurements is determined in response to the value of the initial color parameter value. The color parameter value of the display is measured by the number of additional measurements in order to determine an average color parameter value of the display which will be used for calibration purposes. |
| US08416222B2 |
Driving apparatus
Disclosed herein is a driving apparatus for driving a pixel, including a first pMOS type transistor connected to a first potential a first nMOS type transistor connected in series to the first pMOS type transistor and connected to a second potential; and a control section configured to control the first pMOS type transistor and the first nMOS type transistor individually using a first on-signal for controlling the timing of turning on of one of the first pMOS type transistor and the first nMOS type transistor; a signal of a potential at a node between the first pMOS type transistor and the first nMOS type transistor being inputted as a driving signal for driving the pixel to the pixel. |
| US08416218B2 |
Cyclical creation, transfer and enhancement of multi-modal information between paper and digital domains
In a pen-based computing system, multi-modal data is transferred between a paper domain and a digital domain. Data initially generated in the paper domain is captured by a smart pen and a digital file including the captured data is generated. For example, a computing system coupled to the smart pen generates a digital file including the captured data. A paper representation of the digital file is subsequently generated. The digital file can subsequently be modified by editing the paper representation of the digital file using the smart pen. Edits to the paper representation of the digital file are captured by the smart pen and converted to the digital domain where they are used to edit the content of the digital file. |
| US08416214B2 |
Touch screen coupling having tactile response capability
The presently described technology relates to an appliance control panel system having a control panel interface comprising at least one capacitive touch key, and a circuit board assembly comprising at least one input receiver pad. The control panel interface and the circuit board assembly are not in direct contact with each other. The input receiver pad can be comprised of a conductive material. Certain embodiments also provide a control panel having at least one conductive extender. The extender can be situated between the control panel interface and the circuit board assembly. The capacitive touch key is in electrical connection with the input receiver pad. An method for controlling an appliance with a control panel is also disclosed. |
| US08416212B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device, which has a display area and a plurality of sensing areas for detecting capacitance in the display area, includes a black matrix that is provided in the vicinities of display pixels in the display area, pixel electrodes that individually form the display pixels, a common electrode, a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, a plurality of pixel circuits that individually drive the pixel electrodes, a capacitance detection element that is provided in a corresponding one of the sensing areas to convert a change in thickness of the liquid crystal layer caused by external pressure into a change in capacitance, and a sensing circuit that outputs a sensing signal on the basis of the change in capacitance obtained by the capacitance detection element. The capacitance detection element overlaps the black matrix in planar view. |
| US08416210B2 |
Image display that moves physical objects and causes tactile sensation
An image display including a touch-sensitive display, that creates tactile sensation and movement of an object (3-2) along its surface is provided. Actuators including conductive rods (4-111, 4-112) attached together may be used, such that each rod of the actuator (4-11) may increase or decrease in size when current is applied to that rod to cause the actuator to bend toward a specified direction. Also, an image display that includes ball bearings (1-10) whose rotation is controlled by driving magnets (1-21, 1-22) to cause an object to move is provided. Further, air holes (3-11) tilted in various directions to control object movement by air pressure may be provided. Moreover, rods (3-10) may be moved up or down as activated by driving magnets (2-20). The actuators, rods, ball bearing assemblies, or holes may provide touch sensitivity for the image display. |
| US08416207B2 |
Input device
An input device includes a plurality of detectors for respectively detecting a close approach of an approaching object, and a controller including a plurality of input channels. The plurality of detectors is aligned in a direction. Each of the detectors belongs to one of a plurality of groups each of which two or more detectors belong to. The plurality of detectors in each of the groups is connected in common to one of the input channels associated therewith in the controller. A permutation of the groups which at least three detectors, continuously aligned thus forming a set and arbitrarily selected from the plurality of detectors, respectively belong to is different by each set of at least three detectors. |
| US08416203B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing on-screen keys from being accidentally touched and recording medium using the same
A method and an apparatus for preventing on-screen keys from being accidentally touched and a recording medium using the same are provided. In the present method, when a mobile device enters a communication mode, a user interface of the communication mode, which comprises at least one on-screen key, is displayed on a touch screen of the mobile device. Meanwhile, a protective mask is displayed on the touch screen to cover the on-screen key, and a function corresponding to the on-screen key covered by the protective mask is disabled. Accordingly, users can avoid accidentally touching the on-screen keys to make the mobile device perform false actions when speaking on the phone. |
| US08416201B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling operation of the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes displaying a first image on a touch screen; and if a multi-touch input is detected from the first image and then a drag input for dragging the first image is detected, displaying the first image as being torn from one side of the touch screen and storing the first image. Therefore, it is possible to easily store an image displayed on the touch screen in response to a multi-touch input and thus to effectively use the image for various purposes. |
| US08416198B2 |
Multi-dimensional scroll wheel
A multi-dimensional scroll wheel is disclosed. Scroll wheel circuitry is provided to detect input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input. The scroll wheel can include a first plurality of sensor elements arranged in a first closed loop and a second plurality of sensor elements arranged in a second closed loop, the first and second closed loops being concentrically arranged about the center of the scroll wheel. |
| US08416196B2 |
Touch event model programming interface
One or more touch input signals can be obtained from a touch sensitive device. A touch event model can be used to determine touch and/or gesture events based on the touch input signals. The touch and gesture events can be associated with touch input signals generated from different regions of a web page displayed on the touch sensitive device. Access can be provided to at least one touch or gesture event through a programming interface. |
| US08416195B2 |
Hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs
A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs is disclosed. In order to operate within the limited space available on a hand-held electronic device, the present invention optimizes the placement and shape of the keys, preferably using keys that are oval or oblong in shape, and that are placed at angles designed to facilitate thumb-typing. The angles at which keys on either side of the keyboard are placed is complimentary. |
| US08416192B2 |
Concurrently displaying multiple characters for input field positions
For each of multiple user inputs, multiple keys of a keyboard that are touched as part of the user input are identified. Additionally, for each of the multiple user inputs, multiple characters that are to be displayed concurrently are determined based on the multiple keys that are touched as part of the user input. Both a character input field and the multiple characters determined for each of the multiple user inputs are displayed. One or more suggested inputs can also be displayed, and a user-selected one of the suggested inputs identified as an input to the character input field. |
| US08416190B2 |
Operation device, information processing system, and information processing method
There is provided an operation device that can be stably operated without taking up a lot of space when tilted by a user during the operation. The operation device includes: a support part (12) formed to be pressable against a supporting object in a state in which the user is holding the operation device; a pressing detection part (13) for detecting a state in which the support part (12) is pressed against the supporting object; and a tilt detection part for detecting a tilt of the operation device. The user changes the tilt of the operation device in a state in which the support part (12) is pressed against the supporting object to thereby implement the operation with respect to a connection apparatus. |
| US08416188B2 |
System for controlling movement of a cursor on a display device
A system for controlling movement of a cursor on a display device, the system comprising: a substrate having a position-coding pattern disposed on or in a surface thereof; a sensing device comprising: an image sensor for optically imaging the position-coding pattern; and a processor configured for: generating absolute motion data by determining a plurality of absolute positions of the sensing device relative to the surface using the imaged position-coding pattern; generating orientation data indicative of an orientation of the sensing device relative to the substrate; and using the orientation data to translate the absolute motion data into relative motion data, said relative motion data being indicative of relative motion of the sensing device from the perspective of a user; and communication means for communicating the relative motion data to a computer system; and the computer system configured for: receiving said relative motion data from the sensing device; interpreting said relative motion data as cursor movement; and generating cursor control commands for said display device. |
| US08416186B2 |
Input apparatus, control apparatus, control system, control method, and handheld apparatus
An input apparatus, a control apparatus, a control system, and a control method therefor, that are capable of solving a problem on gravity that affects an acceleration sensor of an input apparatus when tilted from its original position, and reducing a calculation amount are provided. An MPU of an input apparatus corrects angular velocity values by rotational coordinate conversion corresponding to a calculated roll angle to obtain correction angular velocity values (second and first correction angular velocity values) as correction values. Accordingly, even when a user moves the input apparatus in a state where the input apparatus is tilted with respect to an axis in a gravity direction (vertical axis) about a Z axis, effects of gravity acceleration components in X′- and Y′-axis directions that are generated by the tilt can be removed. |
| US08416184B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
An information processing apparatus capable of simultaneously executing a reproduction function of content data and a communication function with an, external apparatus includes a reproduction section configured to execute the reproduction function, a communication control section configured to execute the communication function using a communication section, an operation input allocation section configured to allocate an operation input from a first operation section to the reproduction function or the communication function, an operation input acquisition section configured to acquire an operation input from a second operation section, and a display control section configured to cause a display section to display information relating to the reproduction function or information relating to the communication function. |
| US08416180B2 |
Backlight modulation circuit and method thereof
A backlight modulation circuit includes an illumination controlling signal generating circuit, an illumination control signal separating circuit, and an illumination modulation circuit. The illumination controlling signal generating circuit is configured for receiving an modulation signal and generating an illumination controlling signal according to the modulation signal. The illumination control signal separating circuit is configured for separating the illumination controlling signal into a first modulation signal and a second modulation signal. The illumination modulation circuit is configured for modulating illumination of a backlight module according to the first and second modulation signals. |
| US08416173B2 |
Display system with frame buffer and power saving sequence
A method is arranged to process a frame for an LCD with a modified polarity pattern. The pattern employs a polarity reversal scheme that results in line inversion and/or dot inversion patterns that are observable by pixel locations within the frame. The drive polarity for the column drivers in the LCD is toggled according to the modified polarity pattern. The scanning sequence for each row on the display is modified for cooperation with the pattern. A first subframe is scanned during a first interval while applying a first set of drive polarities. A second subframe is scanned during a second interval that is non-overlapping with the first time interval. The application of the method enables the column drivers in the LCD to operate with reduced power while retaining the benefits of line and dot inversion techniques. |
| US08416170B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes a plurality of pixel groups. At least a pixel group is surrounded by a first scan line, a second scan line, a first data line, and a second data line. Each pixel group includes a first transistor, a first subpixel, a second transistor, a second subpixel, a third transistor, a third subpixel, a fourth transistor, and a fourth subpixel. The first transistor is electrically connected with the first scan line and the first data line. The second transistor is electrically connected with the first scan line and the second data line. The third transistor is electrically connected with the second scan line and the first data line. The fourth transistor is electrically connected with the second scan line and the second data line. |
| US08416167B2 |
Active matrix liquid crystal display device including a transition-nucleus formation section
A liquid crystal display device of an OCB mode includes a liquid crystal layer held between an array substrate and a counter-substrate, and a display section composed of display pixels arrayed in a matrix. The array substrate includes pixel electrodes which are disposed in association with the display pixels. The counter-substrate includes a counter-electrode opposed to the pixel electrodes. The substrates include a pair of alignment films which are disposed on the pixel electrodes and the counter-electrode, respectively, and are subjected to rubbing treatment to control an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules included in the layer. A transition-nucleus formation section, which generates an electric field for transitioning the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules included in the layer from a non-display state to a display state, is provided on a terminal-end side of a rubbing direction of each of the alignment films in each of the display pixels. |
| US08416161B2 |
Emissive display device driven in subfield mode and having precharge circuit
A display device, includes an active matrix display array including pixel circuits arranged in a matrix of columns and rows, each pixel circuit having a current-driven diode emissive element, and a plurality of thin film transistors for controlling the diode emissive element; a data line provided corresponding to each column of the matrix for supplying a data signal to a pixel circuit in the corresponding column; a data driver for controlling supply of the data signal to the data line; a select line provided corresponding to each row of the matrix for supplying a select signal to the pixel circuit in the corresponding row; and a gate driver for supplying the select signal to the select line; wherein the data signal is a digital signal indicating “1” or “0” as to whether or not to supply ON or drive current to the diode emissive element. |
| US08416158B2 |
Display apparatus
In a display apparatus that includes an active matrix substrate on which multiple pixel circuits are disposed, each having a light emitting element, a drive transistor, a capacitor element connected between a gate terminal and the source terminal of the drive transistor, and a selection transistor, and a threshold voltage of the drive transistor is corrected by causing the capacitor element to hold the threshold voltage of the drive transistor, reverse bias voltages, each having a magnitude corresponding to a preset initial threshold voltage and a drive voltage of the drive transistor, the magnitude of the drive voltage being dependent on the amount of emission of the light emitting element, are supplied to the gate terminal of the drive transistor. |
| US08416157B2 |
Organic light emitting display and driving circuit thereof
A driving circuit including a plurality of light emitting control drivers includes an input terminal coupled to an initial driving line or a light emitting negative control line of a previous light emitting control driver, a first clock terminal and a second clock terminal that are electrically coupled to a first clock line and a first negative clock line that are phase-inverted, or a second clock line and a second negative clock line, respectively, and an output terminal and a negative output terminal adapted to generate an output signal and a negative output signal when receiving an input signal, a clock signal and a negative clock signal via the input terminal, the first clock terminal and the second clock terminal, respectively. |
| US08416154B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing perceived color shift
An apparatus and method for reducing perceived color shift as a function of viewing angle is disclosed. One embodiment is a display device that includes a color light modulator and a color filter. The filter is configured to filter wavelengths of light that would be perceived as color shifted light when reflected by the modulator at an off-axis viewing angle. Another embodiment includes a color light modulator and a color light source configured to provide light having a spectral content that lacks the wavelengths that would be perceived as color shifted light by a view of the display at an off-axis viewing angle. Another embodiment are methods of making such display devices. |
| US08416153B2 |
Head mount display
A head mount display includes: an image display unit at which an image is displayed; an arm that supports the image display unit while allowing an orientation of the image display unit to be adjusted; a mounting unit that supports the arm and is used to attach the head mount display to a user; anda protective member extending from the arm to range on an outer side relative to the image display unit to protect the image display unit. The image display unit is positioned between the head of the user, to which the mounting unit is attached, and the protective member. |
| US08416151B2 |
Set of equipment for an aircraft including a video sensor and at least two head-up display devices and a processor for alleviating alignment discrepancies for the at least two head-up display devices
A set of equipment items for an aircraft including a video transducer and at least two head-up display devices, wherein the video transducer and/or each HUD device is/are capable of defining the image to be projected by the HUD device on the basis of the display field of the HUD device and of one or more HUD/transducer errors, each HUD/transducer error being defined as being the difference between the HUD error of the corresponding HUD support around a direction and the transducer error around this same direction, the HUD error of an HUD support around a direction being the angular difference around this direction between the line of sight of the HUD support and a measuring reference line, and the transducer error around a direction being the angular difference around this direction between the line of sight of the transducer support and a measuring reference line. |
| US08416150B2 |
Method and system for determining a position for an interstital diffuser for use in a multi-layer display
A method and system for determining a position for an interstitial diffuser for use in a multi-component display is disclosed. Embodiments utilize a camera to capture images of visual output from one or more display screens of a multi-component display, where each image may be taken with an interstitial diffuser at a different position between the display screens. The images may be used to analyze the Moiré interference and blur of the visual output at each position of the diffuser. Moiré interference values for each diffuser position may be determined by processing images captured of the visual output while each display screen displays a white image. Blur values for each diffuser position may be determined by comparing images captured of the visual output with a reference image. |
| US08416144B2 |
Reflector, an antenna using a reflector and a manufacturing method for a reflector
The present invention relates to a reflector 20; 30; 40 for use in an antenna 10; 50. The reflector 20; 30; 40 is arranged to be used as an earth plane of the antenna 10 and the reflector is corrugated to form current pockets. The reflector 20; 30; 40 comprises at least two separate parts 21, 22; 21, 22, 31, 32; 41, 42, and the parts are electrically coupled to each other to commonly form the earth plane of the antenna 10; 50. The invention also relates to an antenna including a reflector, and to a method for manufacturing a reflector. |
| US08416142B2 |
Dual-polarized group antenna
An improved antenna array has at least one first radiator device and at least one second radiator device and at least one third radiator device. The at least one first radiator device and the at least one second radiator device and the at least one third radiator device are arranged consecutively. The at least one dual-polarized radiator device radiates in both polarization planes (P1, P2). The at least one first radiator device radiates only in one polarization plane (P1 or P2). The at least one third radiator device radiates in one polarization plane (P2 or P1), which is aligned perpendicular to the polarization plane (P1 or P2) in which the at least one first radiator device radiates. |
| US08416141B2 |
Dual polarised radiating element for cellular base station antennas
The invention relates to a dual polarized radiating element for a cellular base station antenna, comprising a reflector surface for reflecting radiation energy, four radiating monopoles distributed around an aperture area, each radiating monopole comprising a footing protruding from said reflector surface and a flange located above the reflector surface and protruding from said footing radially towards the outside, the flanges from adjacent monopoles extending radially perpendicular to each other. The element further comprises four element feeds, each capacitively coupled to a respective monopole and protruding radially therefrom within the aperture area, and powering means connected to the element feeds. |
| US08416140B2 |
Integrated resonator and dipole for radiation of high power RF energy
An integrated resonator and dipole for generation of high power directional RF energy. |
| US08416132B2 |
Radio communication and GPS navigation device
A navigation device configured to connect to any type of communication device, such as a two-way radio or a cellular phone. The navigation device includes a LCD display and a user input device. The navigation device displays on the LCD the relative distance and direction of other navigation devices relative to the navigation device, as well as the speed, distance traveled, current location, altitude, temperature of the other navigation devices. Also, the user interface allows the user to scroll through different menu options and display options of the LCD. The navigation device is additionally configured to send text messages to other navigation devices. The navigation device transmits three NMEA sentences allowing text messages, waypoint names and locations, speed, course, direction and altitude to be sent between navigation devices. |
| US08416130B2 |
Land survey system
A method and system obtains precise survey-grade position data of target points in zones where precise GPS data cannot be obtained, due to natural or man-made objects such as foliage and buildings. The system comprises position measurement components such as a GPS receiver, together with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an electronic distance meter (EDM) or an image capture device all mounted on a survey pole. The system and method obtains GPS data when outside the zone and uses the other position measurement systems, such as the IMU, inside the zone to traverse to a target point. The EDM or the image capture device may be used within or without the zone to obtain data to reduce accumulated position errors. |
| US08416125B1 |
Radiative noise adding compensation for MMW sensor arrays
An imaging array for sensing scene energy includes a plurality of sensors, a radiative noise source for radiating noise energy, a modulator for turning the radiative noise source on and off, and a coupling device for combining a first portion of the scene energy and a second portion of the noise energy to form a combined scene and noise energy for sensing by the plurality of sensors. |
| US08416124B2 |
Frequency synthesizer for a level measuring device and a level measuring device
A frequency synthesizer for a time base generator of a level measuring device which works according to the radar principle, with at least one first output for output of a first frequency signal, with at least one second output for output of a second frequency signal, and with a reference oscillator for producing a reference frequency signal, the first frequency signal and the second frequency signal having a small difference frequency relative to one another, the first frequency signal being producible by interaction of the reference oscillator with a direct digital synthesizer. The first frequency signal and second frequency signal can be generated with especially low noise by the second frequency signal being derived from the reference oscillator without interconnection of a direct digital synthesizer and the direct digital synthesizer being operated such that only a noise spectrum is produced which is at least partially minimized. |
| US08416123B1 |
Radar system for continuous tracking of multiple objects
A non-scanning radar for detecting and tracking multiple moving objects. The transmit antenna continuously illuminates the entire surveillance volume, which can even be omni-directional (hemispherical). Multiple receive antennas are employed, each covering part of the surveillance volume. Receivers are used in combination to measure angles of incidence via interferometry on objects that are resolved in range and Doppler. Very long processing times are used to compensate for the reduced antenna gain compared to any radar that scans. By continuously illuminating the surveillance volume, there is no hard limit to the number of objects that can be simultaneously tracked. The primary application for this technology is detection and tracking of such objects as bullets, artillery projectiles, mortar shells, and rockets, and determining the location of the weapon that fired them. Numerous other applications are also described. |
| US08416121B2 |
Narrow-band wide-range frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) radar system
A frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) system includes a first memory receiving a clock signal and storing voltage digital values of I FMCW signals, a second memory receiving the clock signal and storing the voltage digital values of the Q FMCW signals, a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) connected to the first memory and receiving the clock signal for converting the voltage digital values of the I FMCW signal to a first analog voltage, a second digital-to-analog converter (DAC) connected to the second memory and receiving the clock signal for converting the voltage digital values of the Q FMCW signal to a second analog voltage, an I low-pass filter connected to the first DAC smoothing the I FMCW signal and a Q low-pass filter connected to the second DAC smoothing the Q FMCW signal. |
| US08416119B2 |
Weather radar apparatus and signal processing method thereof
According to one embodiment, a weather radar apparatus includes a transmitting/receiving unit configured to transmit a radar wave to an observation target and receive a reflected wave, a distribution unit configured to distribute a received signal of the reflected wave to a main path and at least another path, an extraction unit configured to extract, from a signal of the other path, an interference wave signal extracted from another radio station, and a removing unit configured to remove the interference wave signal extracted from a signal of the main path. |
| US08416118B1 |
Chaff cloud detection and centroid estimation
A method and system for detecting chaff is disclosed. The method includes receiving range profile data including a plurality of samples, determining an average power for a first group of samples of the range profile data and a second group of samples of the range profile data, comparing the average power for the first group of samples to a first threshold value and the average power for the second group of samples to a second threshold value, and identifying a chaff detection if an average power of at least one of the first and second groups of samples exceeds its respective threshold value. The system includes a computer readable medium and a processor in communication with the computer readable storage medium and configured to perform the receiving, determining, comparing and detecting steps. |
| US08416112B2 |
Circuitry and method for digital to analog current signal conversion with phase interpolation
Circuitry and method for digital-to-analog current signal conversion with phase interpolation. For an n-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC), the number 2n control bits normally required can be reduced to 2(n-1) by jointly controlling pairs of the current sources with one of the 2(n-1) current control bits and inverses of two other ones of the 2(n-1) current control bits. |
| US08416106B2 |
Calibration scheme for resolution scaling, power scaling, variable input swing and comparator offset cancellation for flash ADCs
In one embodiment, a comparator of a Flash analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is calibrated in the background by switching the comparator to a feedback loop, determining the comparator's current reference level, and adjusting the comparator's reference level to a target reference level by charging a reference capacitor coupled the comparator. |
| US08416096B2 |
System and method of controlling indicators of a property monitoring system
Property monitoring system and method of operating. Two signal lines are used to couple a master controller in series with a plurality of indicators. Each indicator has a visual display. Each visual display has a plurality of LEDs, or other type of lighting device. The master controller is configured to generate a multi-bit digital command message to be transmitted serially to the plurality of indicators over the second signal line upon receipt of an alarm condition message. Each command message has a predetermined time delay for activating each of the indicators, or a component thereof, so that all indicators activate in unison. |
| US08416093B2 |
Method for detection of a fluid leak related to a piston machine
A machine includes at least one piston and a pump shaft. A method for detecting a leak in the machine includes receiving a vibration signal from a vibration sensor disposed on at least one of an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe of the machine, receiving a rotational speed signal and an angular shaft position signal from a speed and position sensor disposed on the machine, calculating a rotational speed and an angular shaft position of the pump shaft, calculating at least one complex harmonic Fourier amplitude of the received vibration signal, low pass filtering the at least one complex harmonic Fourier amplitude, calculating a deviation amplitude as a magnitude of a complex difference between the filtered amplitude and a base amplitude, and monitoring the deviation amplitude to detect a leakage. |
| US08416092B2 |
Device for triggering functions in a vehicle
Two sensors (20, 30) which cooperate with one another are used in the interior of an activator (10) in order to trigger functions in a vehicle, said sensors (20, 30) being a proximity sensor (20) with a capacitive electrode (21) and a pressure sensor (30) with a pressure measuring element (31). The intention is that the pressure measuring element (31) will be acted on when pressure is applied manually (44) to an application point (43) on the outside of the actuator (10). It is proposed that in order to improve the method of functioning that the electrode (21) of the proximity sensor (20) be provided with a breakthrough (22) and that the pressure transmission between the application point (43) on the actuator (10) and the pressure measuring element (31) be lead through the breakthrough (22) in the electrode (21). The space between the application point (43) and the pressure measuring element (31) is spanned by a pressure transmitting means (50) which passes through the breakthrough (22). The functioning of the proximity sensor (20) is not hampered just as the functioning of the pressure measuring element (31) is unimpeded. |
| US08416091B2 |
Sniffing probe
An illumination device is provided at the handle-piece of a sniffing probe, in which the illumination device illuminates the region to be inspected. This incorporation considerably facilitates handling of the sniffing probe in difficult-to-access and poorly illuminated regions, for sniffing probes used for detecting gases, for example, for detecting a gas leakage in a cooling device of a motor vehicle. |
| US08416088B2 |
Active on-patient sensor, method and system
A sensor (which could be detachable) to sense a condition (including pressure from body weight or moisture from incontinence; applied by adhering to skin of a human body or by putting a diaper on the human body, for example), a signal processing circuit, a periodic or continuous transmitter, and a power supply (typically including a battery) are associated with a flexible substrate in low profile enabling disposition adjacent the human body. A transmitter antenna is on the substrate. Insulator film between battery contacts and a switch-and-transistor combination are two power-on techniques. A bedside monitor, a transceiver configured to receive signals from and transmit signals to the bedside monitor, and a computer connected with the transceiver can be included. Other features include: notification signaling; differently responsive antennas; unique identification; low battery detection; anti-collision transmission; patient protocol scheduling; local data transfer from the bedside monitor; and out-of-range transmission detection. |
| US08416085B2 |
Medical personnel alert rules based on grouping
A method, a system, and a computer-readable medium are provided for generating an alert based on a physiological characteristic of a patient. A user interface window is configured to allow a user to define a first alert value, an indicator of a physiological characteristic of a patient associated with the first alert value, and an application type indicator for the alert rule indicating a group for which to apply the alert rule. A value and a characteristic indicator of the physiological characteristic of the patient are received. A group indicator associated with the patient is received. The received first alert value is identified by comparing the received characteristic indicator to the indicator. The received value is compared to the identified first alert value, and the received group indicator is compared to the application type indicator. An alert is generated based on the comparison. |
| US08416076B2 |
Magnetic proximity sensor system and associated methods of sensing a magnetic field
A magnetic proximity sensor is attached to a ferrous object such that the sensor alerts a practitioner if a threshold of magnetic strength has been exceeded by bringing the ferrous object within a certain proximity to the magnet of an MRI scanner. The magnetic proximity sensor includes at least one magnetic field sensor for sensing a magnetic field strength. An alarm in communication with the field sensor alerts a practitioner that a threshold of magnetic strength has been exceeded. A battery powers the field sensor and the alarm. The field sensor may produce an output voltage corresponding to the sensed magnetic field strength, and a potentiometer may provide a reference voltage corresponding to a threshold magnetic field strength. A comparator compares the reference voltage to the output voltage, and triggers an alarm if the output voltage exceeds the reference voltage. |
| US08416072B2 |
Real-time method and system for locating a mobile object or person in a tracking environment while conserving electrical energy in a battery-operated tracking tag associated with the object or person
A real-time method and system for locating a mobile object or person in a tracking environment while conserving electrical energy in a battery-operated tracking tag associated with the object or person are provided. The method includes modulating a first carrier signal with a first packet including a first set of identification data having a first length to obtain a first modulated signal. The first set of data identifies the tag associated with the object or person. The method also includes transmitting the first modulated signal containing the first packet. Transmission of the first modulated signal consumes a first amount of electrical energy. The first modulated signal has a first precision and a first range within the environment. The method further includes modulating a second carrier signal with a second packet including a second set of identification data reduced in length from and based on the first set of identification data. The method still further includes transmitting the second modulated signal containing the second packet. Transmission of the second modulated signal consumes an amount of electrical energy reduced from an amount of electrical energy consumed if the second set of identification data was not reduced in length. The method further includes receiving and demodulating the first and second modulated signals to obtain the first and second packets. Finally, the method includes processing the first and second packets of the received demodulated signals to obtain location of the tag within the tracking environment wherein total transmission energy is reduced. |
| US08416070B1 |
Media tracker
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for tracking media history using a mobile device. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a notification indicating that a mobile device is in communication range of a first player device. First media context information specifying media content being played by the first device and capabilities for the first device is received. The capabilities indicate types of media content that can be played by the first device. The first media context information is associated with the first player device. A second notification indicating that the mobile device is in communication range of a second player device is received. Second media context information is received. The second context information is associated with the second device. A history of media content is generated from the first media context information and the second media context information. |
| US08416067B2 |
Systems and methods for utilizing telematics data to improve fleet management operations
According to various embodiments, a fleet management system is provided for capturing, storing, and analyzing telematics data to improve fleet management operations. The fleet management system may be used, for example, by a shipping entity (e.g., a common carrier) to capture telematics data from a plurality of vehicle sensors located on various delivery vehicles and to analyze the captured telematics data. In particular, various embodiments of the fleet management system are configured to analyze engine idle data in relation to other telematics data in order to identify inefficiencies, safety hazards, and theft hazards in a driver's delivery process. The fleet management system may also be configured to assess various aspects of vehicle performance, such as vehicle travel delays and vehicle speeds. These analytical capabilities allow the fleet management system to assist fleet managing entities, or other entities, in analyzing driver performance, reducing fuel and maintenance costs, and improving route planning. |
| US08416066B2 |
Active vibrations
Active vibration techniques are described. In implementations, a selection of a type of writing surface or a type of writing implement is received, the selection made through interaction with a user interface. The selected type of writing surface or type of writing implement is simulated using vibrations of a stylus or surface of a computing device that is configured to receive one or more inputs from the stylus. |
| US08416065B2 |
Overlay for electronic device and method of identifying same
An overlay includes a sheet corresponding to a plurality of keys that are associated with an application for a portable electronic device. An identifier is associated with the application. The identifier is identifiable by the portable electronic device, such that the application is opened upon identification of the identifier. |
| US08416063B2 |
Method and apparatus for stopping power supply in RFID system
Provided are a method and apparatus for stopping power supply to a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. The apparatus includes: a power supplier supplying power to a high RFID tag; an input unit rectifying and boosting an input predetermined frequency band signal and outputting a direct-current (DC) voltage signal; a wake-up determiner comparing a voltage of the DC voltage signal output from the input unit with a predetermined reference voltage and outputting a HIGH signal or a LOW signal; and a switch stopping power supply to the high RFID tag if the wake-up determiner outputs the LOW signal. |
| US08416061B2 |
Controlling radio frequency identification tag signal range
A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for controlling a range of a radio frequency identification tag signal. The process identifies an operative range for the radio frequency identification tag signal of a radio identification tag. The process then selects a set of conductive paths in the radio frequency identification tag corresponding to the desired operative range. The set of conductive paths controls the range of the radio frequency identification tag signal in the radio identification frequency tag. |
| US08416056B2 |
Entrance barrier
The present invention relates to an entrance barrier comprising a barrier element movable between an open and a closed position, driving means, by which the barrier element can driven from one position to the other position respectively, a control unit, by which the driving means are controllable, and a sensor unit connected to the control unit. The invention also relates to a barrier element for the entrance barrier and to method for operating the entrance barrier. To provide a possibility of further improving the safety of persons in the area of entrance barriers beyond the mere passive safety of the entrance barrier, the invention proposes for the sensor unit to include a capacitive sensor. |
| US08416054B2 |
Method and apparatus for training a learning movable barrier operator transceiver
A system and method for training a learning transceiver to a movable barrier system includes a learning transceiver that is configured for being trained to the movable barrier system. To provide ease of use to consumers, a user is able to train the learning transceiver to the movable barrier system without needing to push a button on a movable barrier operator or use a pretrained transmitter. To this end, a movable barrier operator is configured to transmit a transmission signal to the learning transceiver including a rolling access code, which is used to train the learning transceiver. To maintain the security of the movable barrier system and to restrict unauthorized users from accessing the movable barrier system, the movable barrier operator waits to transmit the transmission signal, including the rolling access code, to the learning transceiver until it has received an indication that a predetermined event occurred. |
| US08416051B2 |
Magnetic material and coil component using the same
A magnetic material constituted by a grain-compacted body comprising a plurality of metal grains made of a Fe—Si—M soft magnetic alloy (where M is a metal element more easily oxidized than Fe) and an oxide film formed on the surface of the metal grains; wherein there are bonding portions via the oxide film formed on the surfaces of adjacent metal grains and direct bonding portions of metal grains in locations where the oxide film is not present. |
| US08416048B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component includes overlapping coils in a rectangular laminate to form a substantially annular orbit. The orbit passes about an intersection of diagonal lines of an insulator layer of the laminate and is divided into a first orbit portion and a second orbit portion by a straight line parallel to a short side of the insulator layer. When an orbit obtained by the axisymmetric movement of the first orbit portion relative to the straight line is defined as a third orbit portion, a part of the second orbit portion overlaps with a part of the third orbit portion, and the non overlapped portion of the second orbit portion is positioned closer to the intersection than the non overlapped portion of the third orbit portion. A via hole conductor is provided in a region outboard an outer side of the non overlapping portion of the second orbit portion and inboard an outer side of the non overlapping portion of the third orbit portion. |
| US08416047B2 |
Inductive components for DC/DC converters and methods of manufacture thereof
An inductive component for a DC/DC converter is made by transferring a copper track (2) from a copper substrate (1) to a first ferrite plate (3). A second ferrite plate (5) is attached by glue to the first ferrite plate so that the track (2) forms an inductor coil sandwiched between the two ferrite plates (3,5). One of the plates has holes (4) in registration with the terminals of the coil, and these holes are filled with solder (5) to provide externally accessible contacts. |
| US08416046B2 |
Reactor
To provide a reactor with which resin can fully be packed between a core and a coil with ease, and in which the core can easily be handled when the reactor is manufactured. The reactor includes: a coil 10 formed with paired coil elements 10A and 10B that are made of a spirally wound wire, the coil elements being coupled to each other in a paralleled state; internal core portions 22 that are fitted into the coil elements 10A and 10B to structure a part of an annular core 20; and exposed core portions 24 that are exposed outside the coil elements 10A and 10B to couple the internal core portions 22 to each other, to thereby form the rest of the annular core 20. The reactor includes an external resin portion that covers at least a part of an assembled product 1A made up of the coil 10 and the core 20. In each of the exposed core portions 24, a cut-out corner portion 24g is provided to at least part of a joining portion of an inner end face 24f facing the end face of the coil and an adjacent face (side face 24s) that is continuous to the inner end face 24f, whereby the resin can easily be packed between the coil 10 and the core 20, and it becomes possible to prevent chipping off when handled. |
| US08416045B2 |
Magnetic power converter
A rare earth magnet is observed to function as a constant flux generator until coerced. To exploit this law, a Magnetic Power Converter is configured as a figure eight shaped balanced reluctance bridge where a rare earth magnet provides a source of constant flux employed as a working fluid. One side of the bridge drives an output coil and the other side is moderated by a toroid shaped control core acting as a variable reluctance shunt with respect to the magnet. Current in the control coil determines the rate and degree of flux variation across the bridge and therefore the resultant output voltage. Due to a mitigation of Lenz effect, full output loading is not reflected in the input; this property supports real power conversion efficiencies that may have wide applications in alternative energy and green energy generation. |
| US08416044B2 |
Reactor and method of producing the reactor
A reactor is composed of a coil and a core placed in the inside area and outer peripheral area of the coil in a container. The core is composed of magnetic powder, non-magnetic powder, and resin. The non-magnetic powder is composed of main component powder and low elastic modulus powder. The main component powder as a main component of the non-magnetic powder is made of one or more kinds of powder of a heat conductivity which is larger than that of the resin. The low elastic modulus powder is made of one or more kinds of powder of an elastic modulus which is smaller than that of the powder forming the main component powder. |
| US08416043B2 |
Powder core material coupled inductors and associated methods
A multi-phase coupled inductor includes a powder core material magnetic core and first, second, third, and fourth terminals. The coupled inductor further includes a first winding at least partially embedded in the core and a second winding at least partially embedded in the core. The first winding is electrically coupled between the first and second terminals, and the second winding electrically is coupled between the third and fourth terminals. The second winding is at least partially physically separated from the first winding within the magnetic core. The multi-phase coupled inductor is, for example, used in a power supply. |
| US08416040B2 |
Joystick device
In a joystick device, a rotation position detector for detecting a rotation position of a rotatable cylinder having one end coupled with a dial knob is provided between the cylinder and a case. The detector includes a drive gear provided around the cylinder, a rotary body which has a driven gear provided around its outer periphery and is in mesh with the drive gear, multiple magnets provided on the rotary body, and a magnetic sensor provided in the case to face one end portion of the rotary body to detect the rotation position of the cylinder based on positional change relative to the magnets along with rotation of the rotary body. Such arrangement enhances the degree of design freedom for arranging a magnetic sensor in the axial direction of the cylinder in detecting a rotation position of the cylinder by the sensor and reduces a necessary number of magnets. |
| US08416039B2 |
Solenoid with reverse turn spool hub projection
A solenoid arrangement for a starter motor includes a plunger configured to move in an axial direction and a coil positioned radially outward from the plunger. The coil is wound on a spool that includes a first end and a second end with a hub extending between the first end and the second end. A projection is positioned on the hub of the spool. The coil engages the projection in such a manner that a winding direction of the coil is reversed at the projection. |
| US08416036B2 |
Branching filter
A branching filter includes a longitudinally-coupled-resonator-type elastic wave filter having a balanced-unbalanced transformation function and the branching filter has excellent balance characteristics and a small size. The branching filter includes a ladder elastic wave filter chip and a longitudinally-coupled-resonator-type elastic wave filter chip. An antenna back-surface electrode and an antenna electrode pad are connected to each other via a first wiring provided in a wiring substrate. The antenna electrode pad and a longitudinally-coupled-resonator-type elastic wave filter are connected to each other via a second wiring provided on a piezoelectric substrate. The second wiring extends in a first direction and a first functional electrode and a second functional electrode provided on the piezoelectric substrate are axisymmetrically arranged with respect to each other about a central axis that extends in the first direction of the second wiring. |
| US08416023B2 |
System and method for compensating for changes in an output impedance of a power amplifier
System and method for compensating for changes in an output impedance of a power amplifier uses an impedance compensating circuit with an impedance inverter coupled to the power amplifier. The impedance inverter of the impedance compensating circuit is configured such that an output impedance of the impedance inverter is proportional to the inverse of the output impedance of the power amplifier to compensate for changes in the output impedance of the power amplifier. |
| US08416020B1 |
Switching amplifier and switching amplifying method
A switching amplifying method or a switching amplifier for obtaining one or more than one linearly amplified replicas of an input signal, is highly efficient, and does not have the disadvantage of “dead time” problem related to the class D amplifiers. Said switching amplifying method comprises the steps of: receiving and pulse modulating the input signal for getting a pulse modulated signal; switching at least one switch to get a pulsed voltage from a direct current voltage according to the pulse modulated signal; keeping the energy transmission to the output signal during the switching off period of said switching via using at least one free-wheeling diode means; conducting said pulsed voltage positively or negatively to a filter according to the polarity of the input signal via a switching power transmitting unit; filtering said pulsed voltage conducted from the switching power transmitting unit for outputting the output signal by the filter. |
| US08416018B2 |
Variable frequency amplifier
A variable frequency amplifier includes a main amplifier system 4 for amplifying one of signals into which an input signal is split by a directional coupler 3 to output the amplified signal, and an injection amplifier system 9 for adjusting at least one of the amplitude and phase of the other one of the signals into which the input signal is split by the directional coupler 3 according to a setting provided thereto from outside the variable frequency amplifier, and for amplifying the other signal and injecting this amplified signal into an output side of the main amplifier system 4. |
| US08416013B1 |
Core circuit leakage control
Circuits, and methods for reducing standby leakage power in Integrated Circuit (ICs) are disclosed. In an embodiment, an IC includes a core circuit, a first switch and a second switch, where the first switch is coupled between a power terminal of the core circuit and a power supply and the second switch is coupled between a ground terminal of the core circuit and a ground supply. The first switch and the second switch are configured to power ON and OFF the core circuit. The IC includes a first feedback circuit configured to control ON and OFF states of the first switch based on voltage at the power terminal, and a second feedback circuit configured to control ON and OFF states of the second switch based on voltage at the ground terminal of the core circuit during the standby mode for maintaining the logic state of the core circuit. |
| US08416011B2 |
Circuit and method for generating body bias voltage for an integrated circuit
A circuit includes a PMOS body bias circuit including a PMOS charge pump for generating a positive supply voltage, a PMOS reference voltage generator for providing a PMOS reference voltage, and a PMOS linear voltage regulator circuit for generating a PMOS body bias voltage upon receiving the positive supply voltage and the PMOS reference voltage. The circuit also includes a NMOS body bias circuit including a NMOS charge pump for generating a negative supply voltage, a NMOS reference voltage generator for providing a NMOS reference voltage, and a NMOS linear voltage regulator circuit for generating a NMOS body bias voltage upon receiving the negative supply voltage and the NMOS reference voltage. The PMOS body bias voltage and the NMOS body bias voltage drive bulk of PMOS and NMOS devices in the integrated circuit. |
| US08416009B2 |
Solutions for controlling bulk bias voltage in an extremely thin silicon-on-insulator (ETSOI) integrated circuit chip
Solutions for optimizing a bulk bias across a substrate of an ETSOI device are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for optimizing a bulk bias across a substrate of an ETSOI device is disclosed, including: a sensing circuit for sensing at least one predetermined circuit parameter; a charging circuit for applying a bias voltage to the substrate of the ETSOI device; and a processing circuit connected to the sensing circuit and the charging circuit, the processing circuit configured to receive an output of the sensing circuit, and adjust the bias voltage applied to substrate of the ETSOI device in response to determining whether the bias voltage deviates from a target amount. |
| US08416007B1 |
N channel JFET based digital logic gate structure
An apparatus is provided that includes a first field effect transistor with a source tied to zero volts and a drain tied to voltage drain drain (Vdd) through a first resistor. The apparatus also includes a first node configured to tie a second resistor to a third resistor and connect to an input of a gate of the first field effect transistor in order for the first field effect transistor to receive a signal. The apparatus also includes a second field effect transistor configured as a unity gain buffer having a drain tied to Vdd and an uncommitted source. |
| US08416006B1 |
Electronic device with gate driver for high voltage level shifter
An electronic device comprising a level shifter for performing a voltage shift of a low level input signal of a first voltage domain to a high level output signal of a second voltage domain, the level shifter having a high-side transistor in series with a low-side transistor so as to provide an output node between the channel of the high-side transistor and the channel of the low-side transistor for driving a load with the high level output signal of the second voltage domain. The level shifter being configured to have a first state in which the high-side transistor is conducting and the low-side transistor is not conducting, a second state in which the low-side transistor is conducting and the high-side transistor is not conducting and a third state in which the high-side transistor is not conducting and the low-side transistor is not conducting. |
| US08416005B2 |
Multifunctional output drivers and multifunctional transmitters using the same
A multifunctional output driver capable of transmitting signals of different interfaces in different modes is provided, in which first and second current sources are provided, and first to fourth switching devices are coupled between the first and second current sources, and the first and second current source and the first to the fourth switching devices act as a current steering circuit. In a first transmission mode, the first and second switching devices are turned off, and the third and fourth switching devices and the first current source act as a current mode logic circuit to provide an output signal compatible with a first transmission interface according to an input signal from a pre-driver. In a second transmission mode, the current steering circuit outputs an output signal compatible with a second transmission interface according to the input signal from the pre-driver. |
| US08416000B2 |
Clock signal generation circuit and semiconductor device
In a semiconductor device capable of radio communication, a stable clock signal is generated even if a reference clock signal for generating a clock signal has varied frequencies in each cycle. A clock signal generation circuit includes an edge detection circuit that detects an edge of an input signal and generates a synchronization signal, a reference clock signal generation circuit that generates a clock signal which functions as reference, a counter circuit that counts the number of edges of rise of the reference clock signal in accordance with the synchronization signal, a duty ratio selection circuit that selects a duty ratio of a clock signal from a count value, and a frequency division circuit that generates the clock signal having the selected duty ratio. |
| US08415999B2 |
High frequency quadrature PLL circuit and method
A method includes phase-shifting an output signal of a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit by applying an injection current to an output of a charge pump of a the PLL circuit. A circuit includes: a first phase lock loop (PLL) circuit and a second PLL circuit referenced to a same clock; a phase detector circuit that detects a phase difference between an output signal of the first PLL circuit and an output signal of the second PLL circuit; and an adjustable current source that applies an injection current to at least one of the first PLL circuit and the second PLL circuit based on an output of the phase detector circuit. |
| US08415994B2 |
Integrated circuit and standby controlling method thereof
The present invention is applicable to the field of electrics and provides an integrated circuit (IC) and a standby controlling method thereof. The IC comprises a reset device, a standby control device, a functional device and a power supply control device. The functional device at least comprises a functional unit that does not operate in a standby mode. The power supply control device is configured to supply power to the functional device, the standby control device and the reset device. The standby control device is configured to control the power supply control device to control a power supply voltage of the functional unit to be within a preset range below a normal operating voltage when a standby status signal is detected, and restore the power supply voltage into the normal operating voltage when a wake-up signal is detected; and the reset device is configured to reset the functional device when the system standby status signal is detected and release the resetting of the functional device when the wake-up signal is detected. The IC of the present invention reduces the time required by the IC to wake up from the standby mode while ensuring that the whole functional device has low static power consumption. |
| US08415993B1 |
Power-on reset circuit and method
The disclosed power-on reset circuit provides an indication of when and whether a supply voltage Vdd has reached a trigger voltage level Vtrig. The disclosed circuit includes a flip-flop circuit and a first comparator circuit. The circuit according to the invention has a D input node of the flip-flop circuit coupled to the supply voltage. The first comparator circuit outputs a clock signal, where the flip-flop circuit is clocked by the clock signal. A Q output node of the flip-flop circuit provides the power-on reset signal, where the power-on reset signal is in a LO state when the supply voltage is at a voltage level that is less than the trigger voltage level Vtrig. The power-on reset signal is in a HI state when the supply voltage is at a voltage level that is greater than the trigger voltage level Vtrig. |
| US08415992B2 |
Generator of a.c. signals, such as reference signals, and aircraft equipped with such a generator
An a.c. signal generator is provided with a first circuit (B1) capable of generating alternations of a first a.c. signal (S1) between a first potential (V+) formed by a first voltage source and a second potential (V−).A second circuit (B2) is capable of generating alternations of a second a.c. signal (S2), phase-shifted relative to the first signal (S1), between the first potential (V+) formed by the first voltage source and the second potential (V−).Such a generator can be used, for example, in a flight control calculator of an aircraft. |
| US08415988B2 |
Clock driver for a capacitance clock input
A circuit that produces a clocking signal for a low to medium capacitance input of a device includes a drive gate connected to a common-base bi-polar driver circuit. The output of the drive gate is connected to an emitter of an NPN bi-polar transistor through one coupling capacitor and to an emitter of a PNP bi-polar transistor through another coupling capacitor. The transistors are connected in a common-base configuration with the collectors of the transistors connected together. One voltage is connected to the base of the PNP transistor. Another voltage is connected to the base of the NPN transistor. A diode is connected in parallel with the base-emitter of the PNP transistor. Another diode is connected in parallel with the base-emitter of the NPN transistor. A damping resistor is connected between the collectors of the transistors and the low to medium capacitance clock input of the device. |
| US08415987B2 |
Tap switch with semiconductor switching elements
An on-load tap changer with semiconductor IGBT switching elements for uninterrupted switching over between winding taps of a tapped transformer, has two load branches connectable with the respective winding taps and each load branch is electrically connected with a common load output line through a respective series circuit consisting of two oppositely connected IGBTs. A diode is connected parallel to each IGBT, and the two diodes in each load branch are connected oppositely to one another. A respective mechanical switch is connected in series with the series circuit of IGBTs and parallel diodes in each load branch. A respective varistor is connected parallel to each parallel circuit of IGBT and diode, and the varistors are so dimensioned that the respective varistor voltages are lower than the maximum blocking voltage of the respective parallel IGBTs but higher than the maximum instantaneous value of the tap voltage. |
| US08415986B2 |
Voltage-mode driver with pre-emphasis
A voltage-mode driver circuit supporting pre-emphasis includes multiple resistors, and multiple transistors operated as switches. Control signals operating the transistors represent a logic level of an input signal to the driver circuit. To generate a pre-emphasized output, the transistors are operated to connect a parallel arrangement of the resistors between output terminals of the driver and corresponding constant reference potentials. To generate an output in the steady-state, the transistors are operated to connect some of the resistors across the output terminals of the driver, thereby reducing the output voltage. A desired output impedance of the driver, and a desired level of pre-emphasis are obtained by appropriate selection of the resistance values of the resistors. The current consumption of the driver is less in the steady-state than in the pre-emphasis mode. |
| US08415984B2 |
Electronic circuit system, track hold circuit module, electronic circuit operation control method, and program thereof
Provided is an electronic circuit system which facilitates skew timing adjustment while preventing increase of power consumption. An electronic circuit system includes: a track hold circuit module formed by a hierarchical tree structure of track hold circuits which can track-hold an analog value of an analog signal; and a control signal generation module which supplies an operation control signal to each of the track hold circuits in the hierarchical tree structure. In the hierarchical tree structure, the number of track hold circuits of each of the hierarchies is stepwise changed from the first hierarchy of the input side to which an analog signal is inputted, toward the final hierarchy of the final output side as the number of hierarchies is increased. |
| US08415981B2 |
Integrated circuit device, synchronisation module, electronic device and method therefor
An integrated circuit device includes at least a functional module arranged to receive a reference clock signal; a gating component configurable to perform gating of the reference clock signal; and a synchronization module. The synchronization module includes a trigger component arranged to receive a request for the functional module, the request being asynchronous with the reference clock signal, and to set an enable signal for the functional module in response to receiving the request therefor; and a synchronization component arranged to receive the enable signal, and in response to the enable signal being set to: configure the gating component to un-gate the reference clock signal; and synchronize an initial clock cycle of the reference clock signal received by the functional module following the reference clock signal being un-gated. |
| US08415977B1 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit in an embodiment includes a first circuit group that includes at least one first logic block and a second circuit group that includes second logic blocks. The number of the second logic blocks is greater than the number of the first logic blocks. The first circuit group includes a first switching block and a first power control circuit. The first power control circuit commonly controls a start of power supply and a stop of the power supply for the first logic block and the first switching block. The second circuit group includes second switching blocks and a second power control circuit. The second power control circuit commonly controls a start of power supply and a stop of the power supply for the second logic blocks and the second switching blocks. |
| US08415976B1 |
Optimized interconnection networks
A non-blocking routing network includes a plurality of external inputs and external outputs. Each row of a first plurality of routing rows provides a routing path from at least one of the external inputs to at least one of the external outputs and includes first through fourth multiplexers. Each row of a second plurality of routing rows provides a routing path from at least two of the external inputs to at least two of the external outputs. Each routing row of the second plurality of routing rows contains at least one less multiplexer relative to a routing row of the first plurality of routing rows, the one less multiplexer corresponding to at least two external inputs or two external outputs that are logically equivalent to one another. |
| US08415971B2 |
Transceiving circuit and transceiving circuit resistance calibration method
A transceiving circuit resistance calibrating method, which is applied to a transceiving circuit. The method includes: inputting a first current to a transmitter to generate a first output voltage, wherein the first current is generated according to a ratio between a predetermined voltage and an inner resistor of a chip; inputting a second current to a transmitter to generate a second output voltage, wherein the first current is generated according to a ratio between the predetermined voltage and a predetermined resistor; and adjusting a first adjustable resistance module according to a difference between the first output voltage and the second output voltage. |
| US08415968B2 |
Data tag control for quantum-dot cellular automata
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for data tag control for quantum dot cellular automata (QCA). An example method includes receiving data, associating a data tag with the data, communicating the data tag along a first wire-like element to a local tag decoder, reading instructions from the data tag using the local tag decoder, communicating the instructions to a processing element, communicating the data along a second wire-like element to the processing element, and processing the data with the processing element according to the instructions. A length of the first wire-like elements and a length of the second wire-like element are approximately the same such that communication of the instructions and the data to the processing element are synchronized. |
| US08415967B2 |
Wafer inspection apparatus
A wafer inspection apparatus that performs surface inspection and internal inspection of solar cells using a single apparatus. The wafer inspection apparatus includes a loading unit configured to allow a cassette to be lifted up or lowered by an elevator. A surface inspection unit includes a plurality of stages, thus performing surface inspection of each wafer using a first vision module. A wafer transfer unit has a rotatably installed center portion and has both ends provided with adsorption parts. An internal inspection unit is configured such that a conveyor is installed to allow the wafer to be transferred, thus performing internal inspection of the transferred wafer through a second vision module. An unloading unit enables wafers having completed the internal inspection to be sequentially loaded onto the unloading unit. A control unit controls a series of wafer inspection procedures. |
| US08415964B2 |
Probe card having a structure for being prevented from deforming
A probe card according to the present invention includes a support plate for supporting probes that contact an object to be inspected, a circuit board, a holding member for holding a lower surface of an outer peripheral portion of the support plate, and an abutting member disposed between the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of the support plate and the holding member and protruding upward to abut to the lower surface of the outer peripheral portion of the support plate. Accordingly, horizontal expansion of the support plate itself is allowed, and at the time of inspecting electrical characteristics of the object to be inspected, even though the temperature of the support plate is increased and the support plate expands, the support plate can expand in a horizontal direction, thereby suppressing vertical deformation of the support plate. |
| US08415963B2 |
Low profile probe having improved mechanical scrub and reduced contact inductance
A vertically folded probe is provided that can provide improved scrub performance in cases where the probe height is limited. More specifically, such a probe includes a base and a tip, and an arm extending from the base to the tip as a single continuous member. The probe arm is vertically folded, such that it includes three or more vertical arm portions. The vertical arm portions have substantial vertical overlap, and are laterally displaced from each other. When such a probe is vertically brought down onto a device under test, the probe deforms. During probe deformation, at least two of the vertical arm portions come into contact with each other. Such contact between the arm portions can advantageously increase the lateral scrub motion at the probe tip, and can also advantageously reduce the probe inductance. |
| US08415962B2 |
Transmission line based electric fence with intrusion location ability
An electric security fence. An electric signal generator generates an initial electric signal. The generated initial electric signal is transmitted through a transmission line. The transmission line will generate a reflected electric signal when the transmission line is disturbed by the presence of a human or animal at a disturbance area. A receiver receives the reflected electric signal and forwards it to a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit calculates the location of the disturbance area after receiving the reflected electric signal. In one preferred embodiment, the signal processing unit calculates the location of the disturbance area by determining the amount of time required for the reflected signal to travel from the disturbance area. In another preferred embodiment, the signal processing unit calculates the location of the disturbance area by determining the frequency difference between an initial Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave signal and the reflected Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave signal. In another preferred embodiment the transmission wire is utilized to send coded communication signals and distance information back to a base station for monitoring and information transmission. |
| US08415958B2 |
Single layer capacitive image sensing
A capacitive imaging sensor device includes a sensor substrate. A first set of sensor electrodes is disposed on a first surface of the sensor substrate, substantially in parallel with a first axis, and with at least two of its sensor electrodes extending for different lengths along the first axis. A second set of sensor electrodes is disposed on the first surface, substantially in parallel with the first axis, and in a common single layer with the first set. A processing system is coupled with the first and second sets and configured for: measuring a first capacitive coupling between a first sensor electrode of the first set and a sensor electrode of the second set; measuring a second capacitive coupling between a second sensor electrode of the first set and the sensor electrode of the second set; and determining a capacitance image using the first and second measurements of capacitive coupling. |
| US08415951B2 |
Upconverter
An upconverter has a two port parametric amplifier that has a first port to receive an input signal to be amplified and upconverted and a second port to receive a local oscillator signal and to output the amplified, upconverted signal at upper and lower sideband frequencies. The upconverter further has an antenna coupled to the second port and a power splitter inserted between the second port of the parametric amplifier and the antenna. |
| US08415948B2 |
Current sensor
A current sensor includes an annular magnetic core that includes a closed magnetic path including a void in a portion thereof, and a magnetic body for focusing flux of a magnetic field generated around a conductor that carries a measured current, and a magnetic detecting portion for detecting flux of a magnetic field generated in the void of the magnetic core. The magnetic core includes a plurality of pairs of stepped portions on a pair of opposing end surfaces that form the void, the stepped portions descending along a direction separating from the conductor. |
| US08415940B2 |
Temperature compensation circuit and method for generating a voltage reference with a well-defined temperature behavior
A temperature compensation circuit, comprises a temperature sensor circuit. The circuit comprises two or more temperature sensitive devices. In use, the devices are operated at different current densities and sense virtually the same ambient temperature. The devices provide temperature dependent signals having linear components with slopes of identical signs. The circuit further comprises one of more differential signal providing device for generating a difference of the signals generated by the temperature sensitive devices. A method for generating a voltage reference with a well-defined temperature behavior, comprises applying different current densities to two or more temperature sensitive devices of a temperature sensor circuit; sensing virtually the same ambient temperature with the two or more temperature sensitive devices. Each temperature sensitive devices generates a slightly different temperature dependent signal; and provide at least one differential signal based on said temperature dependent signals. |
| US08415933B2 |
Buck or boost DC-DC converter
A control circuit for controlling a DC-DC converter, with the converter including an inductor and associated switching circuitry, with the switching circuitry including a first transistor switch connected intermediate an input voltage terminal and a first terminal of the inductor, a second transistor switch connected intermediate the first terminal of the inductor and a circuit reference, a third transistor switch connected intermediate a second terminal of the inductor and an output voltage terminal and a fourth transistor switch connected intermediate the second terminal of the inductor and the circuit reference. Mode control circuitry responsive to separate buck and boost comparators and configured to cause the switching circuitry to switch among a pass phase where the first and second transistor switches are ON, a boost phase where the first and third transistors are ON and a buck phase where the second and third transistors are ON, with first selected switching periods beginning operation in the pass phase followed, in response to an output of the buck comparator, with operation in the buck phase and with second selected switching periods beginning operation in the pass phase followed, in response to an output of the boost comparator, to operation in the boost phase. |
| US08415931B2 |
Power supply device
A power supply device includes: a rectifier having a full-wave rectification circuit whose low side elements are made of MOSFETs; an electrical load supplied with DC power from the rectifier; and a control circuit having a load voltage detector and an AC voltage detector for detecting an input terminal voltage from a permanent-magnet generator; wherein when a terminal voltage across the electrical load is lower than a predetermined value, the control circuit operates the rectifier in full-wave rectification mode, whereas when the terminal voltage across the electrical load is higher than the predetermined value, the control circuit short-circuits input terminals of the permanent-magnet generator with each other, and when power for driving the control circuit is not secured, the control circuit retains the full-wave rectification mode even if the terminal voltage across the electrical load is higher than the predetermined value. |
| US08415929B2 |
Battery charging circuit
An example battery charging circuit includes a rectifier circuit for rectifying a three-phase AC voltage outputted from an electric power generator and generating a charge voltage for charging a battery. A voltage detection circuit detects that the voltage of the battery exceeds a predetermined voltage. A switching circuit, in an off-state, charges the battery through the rectifying circuit and, in an on-state, short-circuits the electric power generator through the rectifier circuit. A switch control circuit brings the switching circuit into the on-state, when it is detected by the voltage detection circuit that the voltage of the battery exceeds the predetermined voltage. A control circuit allows the switch control circuit to subsequently perform a control for bringing the switching circuit into the off-state. |
| US08415926B2 |
In-situ battery health detector and end-of-life indicator
Some embodiments provide a system that monitors a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system applies a pulse load to the battery and determines an impedance of the battery by measuring a voltage of the battery during the pulse load. Next, the system assesses a health of the battery based on the impedance. Finally, the system uses the assessed health to manage use of the battery in the portable electronic device. |
| US08415925B2 |
Method and apparatus for supplying power to a portable electronic device in an aircraft
Provided is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a power conditioning module. The power conditioning module includes an input that is operable to receive a first power from an aircraft. The power conditioning module includes electronic circuitry that is operable to transform the first power to a second power. The second power is different from the first power and is suitable for charging a portable electronic device. The power conditioning module includes a status indication mechanism that is operable to indicate a status of the power conditioning module. |
| US08415923B2 |
External battery charging unit
There is disclosed a mobile device comprising: a battery module configured to receive at least one rechargeable battery, a device circuitry module configured to communicate between the battery module and a charging circuit located on an external charging unit; and, a connector port configured to couple the external charging unit to the battery module for providing an electrical charge to said at least one rechargeable battery. |
| US08415915B2 |
Computer readable program code implementing modeling of a system comprising at least a linear motor and a block switching controller
An article of manufacture is provided having computer readable program code embodied therein which implements modeling of a system (e.g., an electromagnetic aircraft launch system) having at least a linear motor and a block switching controller. The computer readable program code implements the following steps: (a) generating a model of the system, the model having a plurality of sub-models, the plurality of sub-models comprising at least a sub-model of the linear motor and a sub-model of the block switching controller; (b) inserting at least one simulation artifact (e.g., a capacitive element) into the system model between two sub-models, the simulation artifact creating a virtual voltage state; and (c) simulating the operation of the system using the generated model. The insertion of a simulation artifact into the model between sub-models can enable the sub-models to be independently modeled in different reference frames (e.g., the stator abc-reference frame and the dq-reference frame). |
| US08415907B2 |
Motor control method
A motor control apparatus and a motor control method determine whether the motor is in a back-pressure area so as to provide different rotation-speed control signals. When the fan is in the low duty cycle, a first circuit loop is switched on, so that the fan has more accurate rotation speed. When the fan is in the high duty cycle, a second circuit loop is switched on, so that the rotation speed of fan does not be limited to a constant rotation-speed as the fan enters the back-pressure area. Thus, the fan has larger airflow quantity and higher airflow pressure. |
| US08415902B2 |
Door closer with calibration mode
A door closer with an automated calibration mode is disclosed. The door closer that can be self powered and includes a control unit to intelligently control a valve within the door closer to vary the operating characteristics of the door closer as needed. The control unit includes a calibration mode that can be invoked to match the control unit to the mechanical door closer assembly. A plurality of positional values being output encoders coupled to an arm of the door closer and the motor for the valve can be determined. The positional values from the encoders and the positions that they indicate can then be stored in a memory within the controller for use during normal operation of the door closer. |
| US08415901B2 |
Switch sensing emergency lighting device
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that employ a control component and/or power source integrated in an LED based light source to control and/or power the LED light source wirelessly. In embodiments, the LED based light source may take the form of a standard light bulb that plugs into a standard lighting socket or fixture. |
| US08415895B2 |
Lamp comprising a base and at least one light-emitting semiconductor component
A lamp with a base (1) and at least one light emitting semiconductor component (2) is disclosed. The base has at least two external electrical connections (11, 12) and at least two electrical connection parts (13, 14). The electrical connection parts are provided for electrically connecting the light emitting semiconductor component and are respectively connected to one of the external electrical connections in an electrically conducting manner. The light emitting semiconductor component is mounted on a carrier (3) and is electrically connected to at least two electrical contacting elements (31, 32), which are arranged and/or fixed on the carrier. Each of the electrical contacting elements is directly adjacent to one of the electrical connection parts and connected to it in an electrically conducting manner. |
| US08415886B2 |
Energy-saving street lighting control system
A lighting control system for controlling a luminaire includes detection module and a control unit. The detection module is configured to detect traffic flow of a road and ambient light along the road. The control unit coupled with the detection module is configured to receive a detection result of the detection module and generate a control signal according to the detection result and a preset data stored therein for controlling illumination of the luminaire. |
| US08415881B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A display device using an organic light emitting element is provided which is structured so as to ensure excellent display performance by avoiding dot defect and improve long-term reliability. The distance between an organic light emitting element and a sealing substrate is controlled using the top of a bank that is placed in a pixel portion and the top of an insulating film that is placed in a driving circuit portion. As a result, a gap is provided between the organic light emitting element and the sealing substrate and a damage to the organic light emitting element can be avoided. Furthermore, the sealing substrate can be as close to an element substrate as possible, thereby keeping the amount of moisture that enters the display device from its sides small. |
| US08415880B2 |
Organic light-emitting display device with frit seal and reinforcing structure
Disclosed is an organic light-emitting display device in which the substrate and the encapsulation substrate are attached to each other by using a frit. The organic light-emitting display device includes a first substrate including a pixel region in which an organic light-emitting diode is formed, and a non-pixel region. The organic light-emitting diode includes an organic light-emitting layer between a first electrode and a second electrode. A second substrate attached to the first substrate. A frit is provided between the non-pixel region of the first substrate and the second substrate to attach the first substrate and the second substrate. A reinforcement material of resin is formed outside the frit. |
| US08415877B2 |
OLED device having rear electrodes
An OLED device having rear electrodes. The device comprises a substrate whereon a light emitting region is provided, an anode layer wherein an anode terminal is formed on one side of the top of the light emitting region, an organic layer laminated onto the light emitting region of the anode layer, a cathode layer wherein a cathode terminal is formed on one side of the top of the light emitting region, a protective film which seals the light emitting region, a rear electrode for anode of which one side is connected to the anode terminal and the other side is formed from the upper surface of the cathode layer whereon the protective film is provided, and a rear electrode for cathode of which one side is connected to the cathode terminal and the other side formed from the upper surface of the cathode layer whereon the protective film is provided. |
| US08415876B2 |
Light emitting device and display comprising light emitting device
The luminance of different colors of light emitted from EL elements in a pixel portion of a light emitting device is equalized and the luminance of light emitted from the EL elements is raised. The pixel portion of the light emitting device has EL elements whose EL layers contain triplet compounds and EL elements whose EL layers contain singlet compounds in combination. The luminance of light emitted from the plural EL elements is thus equalized. Furthermore, a hole transporting layer has a laminate structure to thereby cause the EL elements to emit light of higher luminance. |
| US08415873B2 |
Organic light emitting display device including a light transmission adjusting unit
An organic light emitting display device that prevents distortion of the image by preventing the transmitting light from scattering, and by preventing the degradation of the brightness and color coordinates caused by external light transmitting through the organic light emitting display device. The device includes a transmitting region and separate pixel regions interposed within the transmitting region; thin film transistors, a passivation film covering each thin film transistor; a pixel electrode that is electrically connected to the corresponding thin film transistor; an opposite electrode that faces the pixel electrode and is able to transmit light; an organic light emission layer that is interposed between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode; a first electrode formed on a second surface of the substrate; a second electrode facing the first electrode; and a light transmission adjusting layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08415871B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus has a plurality of phosphor films two-dimensionally disposed on a substrate, a matrix-pattern rib formed on the substrate to partition between the phosphor films, a plurality of metal backs each covering at least one phosphor film, and resistance wirings having a sheet resistance higher than that of the metal backs for electrically connecting the plurality of metal backs to each other. The resistance wirings are disposed to the apexes of the matrix-pattern rib and composed of a plurality of column lines and a plurality of row lines, the metal backs have first portions for covering the phosphor films on the substrate and second portions formed along the rib to connect the first portions to the column lines. |
| US08415869B1 |
Fluorescent lamp with underlying yttrium vanadate phosphor layer and protective phosphor layer
A fluorescent lamp includes a glass envelope that is light transmitting. There is means for providing a discharge inside the envelope. A discharge-sustaining fill of mercury and an inert gas is sealed inside the envelope. An underlying phosphor-containing layer is disposed inside the envelope. The underlying layer includes yttrium vanadate phosphor. A protective phosphor-containing layer is disposed over the underlying layer at a location that is more distal from the glass than the underlying layer. |
| US08415868B2 |
High-pressure discharge lamp and a method of manufacturing a high-pressure discharge lamp
A lamp (10) for an automotive headlamp and a method for manufacturing such kind of a lamp (10) is provided, wherein the lamp (10) comprises a burner (12) for emitting light, a metal holder (20) connected to the burner (12) for supporting the burner (12), a first socket part (32) made from a heat-resistant plastic material, which is connected to the burner (12), and a second socket part (34), through which a part of the burner (12), which is connected to a first electrical pole (14), is led for connecting the burner (12) to a voltage source, wherein the second socket part (34) is arranged adjacent to the first socket part (32) such, that at least one insulating gap (42) for providing voltage resistance in mainly radial and/or axial direction is provided. Due to the first socket part (32) it is possible to receive the hot burner (12) by the socket without impairing the heat resistance, wherein the second socket part (34) may be made from a cheaper material. This leads to a reduction of production costs without impairing the heat resistance or the voltage resistance provided by the insulating gap (42) between the first socket part (32) and the second socket part (34). |
| US08415863B2 |
Vibrating piece manufacturing method and vibrator manufacturing method
A vibrating piece manufacturing method includes: (a) preparing a supporting body having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces defining a thickness while being directed toward opposite directions, the supporting body including a base and a plurality of arms, the arms extending side-by-side in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the thickness from the base, a lower electrode film being disposed on the first surface of each of the arms, a piezoelectric film being disposed on the lower electrode films, at least one upper electrode film being disposed on the piezoelectric film, at least a part of the second surface of each of the arms being an exposed area; and (b) etching the exposed area of the second surface so as to reduce the thickness to reduce flexural rigidity of the arms with respect to the thickness direction. |
| US08415860B2 |
Spring disc energy harvester apparatus and method
An energy harvesting apparatus and method that is especially well suited for harvesting low frequency broadband vibration energy from a vibrating structure is presented. The apparatus includes a pair of disc springs that are arranged in an opposing relationship. A threaded fastening member and a threaded nut extend through apertures in each of the disc springs and enable a predetermined preload force to be applied to the disc springs. The preload effectively “softens” the disc springs, thus heightening the sensitivity of the disc springs to low frequency, low amplitude vibration energy. A piezoelectric material ring is secured to each of the disc springs. Each piezoelectric material ring experiences changes in strain as its associated disc spring deflects in response to vibration energy experienced from a vibrating structure. The electrical output from each piezoelectric material ring can be used to power or activate various forms of electronic sensors and devices, or it can be conditioned and stored in a circuit for later use. |
| US08415859B2 |
Piezoelectric nanodevices
A piezoelectric nanodevice may include a first substrate having formed thereon a multiple number of nanorods and a second substrate having formed thereon a multiple number of piezoelectric nanorods. The first substrate associates with the second substrate to generate friction between the nanorods of the first substrate and the piezoelectric nanorods of the second substrate. |
| US08415858B2 |
Piezoelectric vibrating pieces and devices, and methods for manufacturing same
Piezoelectric vibrating pieces are disclosed having selectively roughened surfaces. An exemplary piece is made of a piezoelectric material configured as a piezoelectric substrate. The piece also includes at least one excitation electrode and at least one extraction electrode. The substrate has opposing main surfaces initially having low surface roughness. At least one main surface is formed in a mesa or reverse mesa manner, wherein the central region has a different thickness than the peripheral region. The central region has relatively low surface roughness (irregular unevenness), while the peripheral region has relatively high surface roughness. The excitation electrode is formed on the central region (mesa or reverse mesa) while the extraction electrode (connected to the excitation electrode) is formed on the peripheral region. |
| US08415857B2 |
Dynamoelectric machine
An insert member is placed on one end surface of an armature on one axial side. A rotatable shaft member is integrally molded into one piece from a resin material and includes a shaft portion, a flange portion and a boss portion. The shaft portion axially extends through the armature and the insert member. The flange portion supports the other end surface of the armature on the other axial side. The armature and the insert member are fitted to the boss portion. The urging member is axially placed between a bottom portion of a motor housing and the insert member and axially urges the armature against the flange portion. |
| US08415855B2 |
Brushless motor
A brushless direct current (BLDC) motor has a 3-phase winding 20 and six stator teeth 14, 15 with alternate stator teeth 14 being wound and the remaining stator teeth 15 being left unwound. The winding 20 has three legs, one for each phase and each leg has one coil 22 wound about one of the stator teeth 14. Each leg has a first end A,B,C, arranged to receive electrical power and a second end X,Y,Z, which is connected to the second end of the other legs to form a star connection 24. Selected stator teeth have grooves in a face thereof dividing those teeth into a plurality of stator poles. The motor may be used to drive a fuel pump for an internal combustion engine, typically for a vehicle. |
| US08415852B2 |
Motor stator
A motor stator includes a stator unit and at least one auxiliary unit. The stator unit includes a circuit substrate, and a plurality of spaced-apart induction coils embedded within the circuit substrate. The auxiliary unit includes an auxiliary coil attached to and disposed outwardly of the circuit substrate. |
| US08415845B2 |
Motor
In a motor, a stator with a three-phase winding set and a rotor are located in an operation region of a motor casing having a side wall. An inverter circuit constructed with power modules is located in a control region that is located on the opposite side of the operation region across the side wall in an axial direction of the motor. Each power module has a pair of transistors and a common terminal connected to the pair of transistors. A lead of a winding corresponding to one phase and a lead of a winding corresponding to another phase extend in the axial direction to cross over from the operation region to the control region and are connected together to the common terminal of a corresponding power module. |
| US08415841B2 |
Fan motor for circulating cooled air
A fan motor for circulating cooled air including: a stator assembly having a stator core having teeth ends protruded annularly outwardly and coils wound on the teeth ends of the stator core and molded out of resin to have a donut-like shape having a bearing insertion hole formed to be passed vertically through the center thereof; a bearing assembly adapted to be insertedly fixed into the bearing insertion hole of the stator assembly; and a rotor fan assembly having a rotor having a cup-shaped case, a rotor shaft formed in the center of the case in such a manner as to be passed vertically through the center of the case, and magnetic poles formed along the inner periphery of the case, and a fan having a hub coupled to the top end periphery of the rotor shaft of the rotor and blades disposed around the hub. |
| US08415840B2 |
Plastic package motor
A plastic package motor, including at least a plastic package stator (1) including at least a stator core, a stator winding, and a housing, a rotor (2), a rotating shaft (3), a bearing (4), and at least one end cover. The stator winding is wrapped on the stator core. The housing is disposed outside the stator core and the stator winding, and is made of resin. The rotor (2) is disposed in a cavity (5) of the housing. A bearing housing (9) is disposed at the center of the end cover and operates to receive the bearing (4). The bearing (4) operates to support the rotating shaft (3). A flanging (8) axially protrudes from an outer edge of the end cover. The flanging (8) is received in the cavity (5) and is fit with inner wall of the cavity (5) whereby implementing radial locating, and causing the bearing housing (9) of the end cover to partially enter the cavity (5). |
| US08415838B1 |
Linear motor with two magnets and a coil carrier having multiple winding areas with each area having a section of a coil wound with one continuous wire with the winding in opposite directions in spaced apart winding areas
A linear motor includes an assembly of two or more sets of magnets and pole pieces wherein the assembly is coaxially affixed inside of a housing, which results in an air gap therebetween. The magnets are positioned so that each magnet has opposite directions of magnetization relative to its adjacent magnet. The embodiment of the motor includes a coil carrier having a single electrical coil of two or more sections with each section wound in the opposite direction to the adjacent section and positioned into the corresponding winding areas of the carrier. The coil carrier is movably positioned into the air gap and further to surround the assembly, thereby moving along an axial direction of the motor when electricity is applied to the coil. |
| US08415832B2 |
Cable compensation
This invention generally relates to cable compensation, and is particularly applicable to cable compensation for an AC-DC voltage converter. In one embodiment, a cable compensation apparatus for compensating voltage drop of a cable connected between an electrical power supply and an electrical device comprises: a first capacitor; a timer circuit to time a predetermined time period; a current source to supply to said first capacitor during substantially said predetermined time period a first current substantially proportional to an output current outputted by the power supply to the cable; and a control circuit to adjust an output voltage outputted by said power supply to said cable dependent on a voltage on said first capacitor. The compensation in some embodiments is programmable by means of a discrete capacitor component. |
| US08415829B2 |
Transportable modular multi-appliance device
A transportable modular multi-appliance device comprises a container, a primary power source for producing AC power, a plurality of AC-powered functional modules, AC outlets, sensors, and a controller. The primary power source is inside the container, and the functional modules are removably mounted inside the container and removably electrically coupled to the primary power source to receive AC power therefrom. The AC outlets are also electrically coupled to the primary power source. The sensors detect conditions inside the container and associated with the functional modules, and the controller is coupled to the primary power source and to the sensors and configured to automatically control the primary power source and allocate the AC power among the functional modules and the AC outlets in response to inputs from the sensors. |
| US08415828B2 |
Power supply loading indicators and methods
Apparatus includes a segment loading indicator configured to be electrically coupled to a load segment output of a power supply, such as a UPS, and operative to provide an indication of a loading of the load segment output. For example, the segment loading indicator may be operative to provide an indication of a loading of the load segment output with respect to load rating of the load segment output. A UPS may include a loading indicator is coupled to a power output and operative to provide rear-panel indication of a loading of the power output. |
| US08415827B2 |
Electric power system
An electric power system in which a plurality of electric power suppliers and demanders are mutually connected via control devices is self-sustainable but also capable of coexisting with the known electric power system. Suppliers/demanders 11 to 15 are mutually connected via an electric power supply and demand line W and have power generation devices 101 and 151, electrical storage devices 102 and 152, a plurality of loads 103, and electric power supply and demand control devices 104 and 153 that detect an electricity shortage or surplus, receives or delivers electric power from or to other suppliers/demanders 12 to 15 accordingly, and automatically or manually controls the power generation devices including a co-gene in respective suppliers/demanders on the basis of a weather forecast, demand prediction, and the like. |
| US08415826B2 |
Power outlet apparatus with multiple sockets detection, and detection method thereof
A power outlet apparatus with multiple sockets detection, and the detection method and module thereof are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of socket groups, a plurality of current detection unit, a voltage detection unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. In which the current detection units are installed at the socket groups respectively, for detecting a current data corresponding to each socket group. And the voltage detection unit is for measuring a voltage data of the socket groups. The voltage data and the current data are processed by a processing unit for obtaining an electricity information of each socket group. |
| US08415822B2 |
Power booster for cable systems
Device and method for regulating voltage level at section of telecommunications network, the device including an input port, which receives input RF telecommunications signal with input AC voltage from a network portion, isolating circuitry, which isolates input AC voltage, a transformer, which receives the isolated AC voltage, relays, which provide selected voltage gain by selectively switching on connection from transformer secondary winding, thereby deriving regulated AC voltage at predetermined level, control circuitry, which monitors input AC voltage and selectively activates a selected relay while deactivating other relays to provide selected voltage gain, recombining circuitry, which recombines regulated AC voltage with isolated input RF telecommunications signal, and an output port, which provides recombined regulated AC voltage and RF telecommunications signal to another network portion. |
| US08415820B2 |
Wind dam and vertical turbine system
The present invention is a wind dam and vertical turbine system set on a ground surface that captures and directs wind to generate electricity. The system has a wind dam portion with a front opening, an airfoil above the front opening and a vertical turbine portion with a housing disposed on the dam portion's back side with a turbine slide door and actuator. There are also front outriggers with front wheels that are horizontally aligned to the front opening and back outriggers with drive wheels that are horizontally and movably aligned to each end of the back side of the dam portion. There is also a power drive assembly for the vertical turbine and exhaust doors and actuators to expel excessive wind. |
| US08415815B2 |
Fluid machine, rankine circuit, and system for utilizing waste heat from vehicle
A system for utilizing waste heat from a vehicle has a Rankine circuit, and the Rankine circuit includes a fluid machine. A generating unit of the fluid machine has a third rotating body that is disposed coaxially with a first rotating body of a pump unit and a second rotating body of an expansion unit. The fluid machine has a drive shaft that is integrally connected at least to the first rotating body, among the first, second and third rotating bodies, and a power transmission unit that is connected to the drive shaft and transmits external power to the drive shaft. |
| US08415814B2 |
Systems and methods for producing, shipping, distributing, and storing hydrogen
These inventions related to systems and methods for producing, shipping, distributing, storing and consuming hydrogen. In one embodiment, a hydrogen production and storage system includes a plurality of wind turbines for generating electrical power; a power distribution control system for distributing, and converting the electrical power from the wind turbines, and an electrolyzer unit that receive electrical power from the power distribution system and purified water from the desalination units and thereby converts the water into hydrogen and oxygen. After its production, hydrogen is used produce electrical power as and when required. The power can come from a new and/or retrofitted power plant that uses a gas turbine to consume the hydrogen. Secondary electrical generation, co-generation is accomplished when the gas turbine exhaust is used to generate steam to turn a steam turbine and electrical generator. |
| US08415813B2 |
Identification of dies on a semiconductor wafer
A semiconductor wafer includes multiple dies and a die identification region adjacent to or on each die. The die identification region can include a wafer indicator and a pattern of die locations representing die locations on the wafer. A die identification marker is provided in each pattern of die locations in the die identification region specifying a location of a respective die on the wafer. |
| US08415806B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method for manufacturing the same
The application discloses a semiconductor structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor structure comprises: a semiconductor substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; and a silicon via formed through the semiconductor substrate, wherein the silicon via comprises a first via formed through the first surface; and a second via formed through the second surface and electrically connected with the first via, wherein the first and second vias are formed individually. Embodiments of the invention are applicable to the manufacture of a 3D integrated circuit. |
| US08415804B2 |
Semiconductor chip, method of fabricating the same, and stack module and memory card including the same
A semiconductor chip, a method of fabricating the same, and a stack module and a memory card including the semiconductor chip include a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface is provided. At least one via hole including a first portion extending in a direction from the first surface of the substrate to the second surface of the substrate and a second portion that is connected to the first portion and has a tapered shape. At least one via electrode filling the at least one via hole is provided. |
| US08415802B2 |
Strip conductor structure for minimizing thermomechanical loads
A semiconductor chip device including a surface on which at least one electrical contact surface is provided. A foil from an electrically insulating material is applied, especially by vacuum, to the surface and rests closely to the surface and adheres to the surface. The foil, in the area of the contact surface, is provided with a window in which the contact surface is devoid of the foil and is contacted across a large area to at least one layer from an electroconductive material. In at least one embodiment, the layer from the electroconductive material is part of a flexible contact for electrically connecting the contact surface to at least one external connecting conductor. |