| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08428152B2 |
Device, method and system of uplink communication between wireless video modules
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of wireless video communication. Some embodiments include an apparatus including a downlink receiver to receive a wireless downlink video transmission from a video source module, and an uplink transmitter to transmit to the wireless video source module a wireless uplink transmission. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08428151B2 |
DTV transmitting system and method of processing broadcast data therein
A digital television transmitting system includes a frame encoder, a block processor, a group formatter, and a multiplexer. The frame encoder forms an enhanced data frame and encodes the data frame for error correction and for error detection. The block processor further encodes the encoded data frame at a rate of 1/2 or 1/4, and the group formatter divides the encoded data frame into a plurality of enhanced data blocks and maps the divided data blocks into a plurality of enhanced data groups, respectively. The multiplexer multiplexes the enhanced data groups with main data. |
| US08428150B2 |
Digital television system
Disclosed is a digital television system carrying out modulation/demodulation by VSB (vestigial side band). A VSB transmitter includes an additional error correction encoder designed in a manner that a signal mapping of a TCM encoder is considered, a multiplexer (MUX), a TCM encoder operating in a manner corresponding to state transition processes of the additional error correction encoder, and a signal transmission part including an RF converter. And, A VSB receiver includes a signal receiver part receiving a signal transmitted from the transmitter, a TCM decoder, a signal processing part including a derandomizer, and an additional error correction decoder part. |
| US08428148B2 |
System and method for controlling bit rate of video signal and audio signal
A video and audio bit rate control system which controls a bit rate of a video signal and an audio signal input from a plurality of information sources is provided. The system includes a plurality of encoders for encoding the video signal and the audio signal, an encoder controller for controlling an audio bit rate used in each of encoders, and a statistical multiplex controller for controlling a video bit rate used in each of encoders. The encoder outputs a degree of difficulty in encoding the video signal based on an amount of the video signals. The encoder controller outputs a differential bit rate between a reserved audio bit rate and a total audio bit rate currently used when the total audio bit rate currently used is lower than the reserved audio bit rate. The statistical multiplex controller calculates the video bit rate for assigning to each of encoder based on the differential bit rate, an originally assigned video bit rate and the degree of difficulty in encoding. |
| US08428144B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding of a video signal
A method of decoding a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes determining whether to store a first partial picture when the first partial picture and a first full picture are corresponding to a first temporal point and storing the first partial picture for decoding a second full picture referring to the first partial picture, the second full picture being corresponding to a second temporal point, the second temporal point being located after the first temporal point, wherein a level of the first partial picture on a scalable domain is lower than a level of the second full picture on the scalable domain. |
| US08428142B2 |
System and method for transcoding data from one video standard to another video standard
A system and method transcodes an input video bit stream having a first encoding profile into an output video bit stream having a second encoding profile. The system includes a first module and a second module. The system further includes a memory module. The first module decodes the input video bit stream for generating pixel data and macroblock specifications. The second module encodes the pixel data and the macroblock specifications for constructing the output video bit stream. The memory module includes a first buffer module and a second buffer module. The first buffer module stores the pixel data and the second buffer module stores the macroblock specifications. |
| US08428141B2 |
Block error compensating apparatus of image frame and method thereof
An apparatus and method are provided for compensating a block error in an image frame. This may include a video codec decoder for decoding an inputted image frame, and outputting a decoded image frame. An error concealment block may detect an error-generated block in the decoded image frame and compensate the detected error block through a median filter, and output the compensated image frame. |
| US08428138B2 |
Motion vector encoding device and decoding device
A prediction error generating unit generates a predictive vector from the motion vectors of a plurality of adjacent blocks, and obtains a difference from a target vector. A plurality of variable-length coding units respectively encode the output of the prediction error generating unit with different encoding methods. A determining unit estimates the accuracy of the predictive vector generated by the prediction error generating unit based on the degrees of non-uniformity of the motion vectors of the plurality of adjacent blocks. A selecting unit selects one of the encoding results obtained by the plurality of variable-length coding units. |
| US08428135B2 |
Device and method for fast sub sample block-matching motion estimation in video encoders
Methods of using motion estimation techniques with video encoders to provide significant data compression with respect to video signals so that the video signals may subsequently be reconstructed with minimal observable information loss. Methods include a fast fractional motion estimation scheme. |
| US08428131B2 |
Video encoder and decoder using region based coding and decoding techniques with sequential refresh
A video encoder that encodes each of a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing an input image, includes: a definition unit configured to define a valid area which is allowed to be used as reference in a reference image in interframe coding; a detection unit configured to detect a reference area in the reference image for a target block; a predicted image generation unit configured to generate a predicted image by outputting an image of the reference area for the reference area belonging to the valid area and outputting a complementary image for the reference area not belonging to the valid area; and a coding unit configured to encode the input image using the predicted image, wherein valid area information indicating the valid area is transmitted to a video decoder, for each group of a plurality of blocks. |
| US08428130B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding a video signal
The method includes obtaining initialization information of a reference picture list for a random access slice, the initialization information representing a reference relation between a plurality of views, initializing the reference picture list for inter-view prediction by appending an inter-view reference index to an initialized reference picture list for temporal prediction based on the view number information and the view identification information, obtaining modification information for the initialized reference picture list, determining an assignment modification value for modifying the inter-view reference index in the initialized reference picture list according to the modification information, and modifying the initialized reference picture list for inter-view prediction using the determined assignment modification value. |
| US08428128B2 |
Method for prediction coding using scalable video codec
Provided is a method for prediction coding using scalable video codec, which can support various chrominance spaces. A method for prediction coding includes setting a target layer based on corresponding device information on a specific image service request, performing a chrominance space conversion on an image signal of a base layer using a chrominance space conversion equation preset in a scalable video codec selectively according to whether a chrominance space conversion is necessary in prediction coding between the base layer and the target layer, and performing inter-layer prediction coding through an additional signal conversion based on necessary any one of spatial scalability, chroma-format scalability and bit-depth scalability. |
| US08428125B2 |
Techniques for content adaptive video frame slicing and non-uniform access unit coding
Techniques for content adaptive video frame slicing and non-uniform access unit coding for improved coding efficiency are provided. An encoder and decoder are disclosed to process (encode or decode) a single non-uniform video access unit (VAU) employing flexible macroblock ordering (FMO) in conjunction with different slice coding types in response to global motion detection of a camera pan or a scroll within the single VAU. |
| US08428120B2 |
Method and apparatus of Bayer pattern direct video compression
Applying a mechanism of image signal processing and color-space-conversion to convert the captured Green components to be Y, luminance components for only those pixels having raw Green data without interpolation, and to convert the Blue components to be U, chrominance components for only those pixels having raw Blue data, and Red components to be V, chrominance components for only those pixels having raw Red data. These converted YUV components are input to a predetermined video compression codec for reducing the intra- and inter-frame redundant information. |
| US08428119B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-hypothesis decoder side-information coding
A computer-implemented method for decompression in data compression systems with decoder side-information including a plurality of signals each of which is correlated to a source, includes determining a conditional probability function of the source conditioned upon a subset of decoder side-information signals, wherein the decoder side-information signals include pre-stored and received statistical information, estimating an a-posteriori probability function based on the conditional probability function and extrinsic information, evaluating a stopping criterion for decompression, generating the extrinsic information based on the a-posteriori probability function, and determining a likelihood threshold for determining a most probable value of a quantized source signal based on the a-posteriori probability function and outputting the quantized source upon determining to stop decompression. |
| US08428118B2 |
Technique for transcoding MPEG-2/MPEG-4 bitstream to H.264 bitstream
A method/system of transcoding an MPEG 2/4 bit stream into an H.264 format, handles an input MPEG 2/4 bit stream in a decoder, and identifies certain data in the input bit stream for reuse in the H.264 format; and, reuses the identified data in a re-encoder with assistance from a mapping module in transcoding by converting the input bit stream into an output H.264 format. The identified data includes information at a macrolevel and information at a picture level. The information at the macrolevel might comprise additional stages incorporated in the re-encoder module including a Mapping Process stage, a Sub Pixel Refinement stage, a Mode Selection stage to choose from Intra, Inter or Skip modes, followed by the standard H.264 encoding loop and the Entropy Coding Block. The information at the picture level might include; a) average quantizer of frame, and, b) total bits per frame. |
| US08428114B2 |
Transmit equalizer compensation for probe receivers
Transmit equalization over high speed digital communication paths may be compensated in a receiver for a probe on that path. In one example, a probe input provides a signal from an electronic communications path, the signal having been processed by a transmit equalizer. A filter circuit processes the signal to compensate for the transmit equalizer, and a decoder decodes the processed signal and produces an output for use by test equipment. |
| US08428110B2 |
Pipelining and sub-rate operation for memory links
A system includes a memory hub chip including a Tomlinson-Harashima precoding (THP) equalizer portion operative to perform transmitter equalization at the memory hub chip and send data from to a memory chip. |
| US08428108B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, signal processing method, data display method, and program
In a signal processing apparatus a synchronizer acquires synchronization with the spreading code of an intermediate frequency signal converted from a signal received from a satellite in a global positioning system. A demodulator then demodulates a message contained in the intermediate frequency signal. A measuring unit outputs a primary signal to a predetermined signal line, the primary signal expressing positioning results for the apparatus as measured on the basis of the demodulated message. A secondary signal output unit attaches a predetermined header to a secondary signal and outputs the result to the predetermined signal line, the secondary signal containing at least the intermediate frequency signal, or a signal generated from the intermediate frequency signal. |
| US08428104B2 |
Permission-based multiple access communications systems
Systems (100) and methods (400) for selectively controlling access to multiple data streams which are communicated using a shared frequency spectrum and shared spreading codes. The methods involve generating a first product signal (FPS) by spreading first symbols of a first amplitude modulated (AM) signal using a first spreading code (SC). The methods also involve generating a second product signal (SPS) by spreading second symbols of a complimentary AM signal using a second SC. The FPS (124) and SPS 126 are combined to form a protected data communication signal (PDCS) including first data recoverable by a receiver (106). A global data communication signal (GDCS) is combined with PDCS (128) to form an output signal (140) having a spread spectrum format. The GDCS is generated using a digital modulation process and includes second data recoverable by a plurality of receivers (106, 108). |
| US08428098B2 |
Geo-locating end-user devices on a communication network
A scheme is provided for determining the geographical location of an active IP device coupled to an IP network. A network path to the user device is obtained to identify a last hop device having a known first geographical location. A last leg distance between the last hop device and the user device is calculated. The last leg bandwidth, propagation time, and propagation speed are also characterized to more accurately determine the last leg distance. By combining the known first geographical location and the distance of the last hop device and user device, a geographical location for the user device is obtained. To improve the accuracy of the geographical location of the user device, multiple last hop devices with known geographical locations are employed to obtain multiple geographical areas for the user device. The intersection or overlap of these geographical areas indicates a refined geographical location of the user device. |
| US08428097B2 |
Power efficient software receiver for spread spectrum signals
The present invention relates to reception and processing of spread spectrum signals to produce position/time related data. A proposed receiver includes a radio signal processing unit, which is at least partly implemented in software running on a microprocessor. The processor is also adapted to effect at least one separate software-controlled function. The receiver is adapted to operate the radio signal processing unit on at least two processing intensity levels each with different processing times. Thereby, when the radio signal processing unit operates on a low processing intensity level, a first amount of processing capacity is available for the at least one separate software-controlled function; and when the radio processing unit operates on a high processing intensity level, a second amount of processing capacity is available for the at least one separate software-controlled function. When the processor's over-all processing capacity is constant, the second amount is smaller than the first amount. |
| US08428096B2 |
Removable filler module
This invention relates to an industrial furnace roof filler element to allow replacement of a failed heat source during operation. The filler element can include a lower portion, a module, an aperture, a protuberance, a bore and/or a heat source. This invention also relates to a method of operation for an industrial furnace wherein a failed heat source is replaced during operation of the industrial furnace. |
| US08428094B2 |
Surface-emitting semiconductor laser
A surface-emitting semiconductor laser is described, with a semiconductor chip (1), which has a substrate (2), a DBR-mirror (3) applied to the substrate (2) and an epitaxial layer sequence (4) applied to the DBR mirror (3), said layer sequence comprising a radiation-emitting active layer (5), and with an external resonator mirror (9) arranged outside the semiconductor chip (1). The DBR mirror (3) and the substrate (2) are partially transmissive for the radiation (6) emitted by the active layer (5) and the back (14) of the substrate (2) remote from the active layer (5) is reflective to the emitted radiation (6). |
| US08428092B2 |
High-power laser unit wherein laser output can be accurately corrected
A high-power laser unit capable of accurately correcting laser output from low to rated outputs, even when the laser unit has a laser power monitor which may be affected by environmental factors inside or outside the laser unit, by effectively reducing environmental factors. The laser unit has a laser power monitor for measuring laser output, and a laser controller for correcting the laser output by correcting an amount of excitation energy to a laser power supply so that a measurement value coincides with a laser output command value. The laser unit has a laser output commanding part for generating a laser output command. When it is not necessary to correct the laser output command, the laser output command is converted into an excitation energy command value and sent to the power supply. Otherwise, an output correcting part of the laser controller corrects the laser output command. |
| US08428091B2 |
Tunable laser module
Provided is a tunable laser module emitting an optical signal having high speed, high power and wideband wavelength tuning. The tunable laser module includes a laser array configured to emit an optical signal having a plurality of different lasing wavelengths, a temperature controller configured to change a temperature of the laser array, and an optical integration device configured to modulate or amplify the optical signal at a side of the laser array opposing the temperature controller. |
| US08428090B2 |
Transmitting timing information for content in a data stream
The invention provides a method and apparatus that addresses and resolves the issues currently affecting the ability to offer Enhanced TV, in particular, those issues concerning timing and synchronization, interaction with other modules in the STB, and distribution. |
| US08428089B2 |
Location-based sharing of multimedia control resources
In one embodiment, a multimedia resource is shared among a plurality of devices based upon a physical location of an active wireless endpoint unit within a structure. Devices are associated with corresponding zones within the structure. Each device provides functionality within the device's corresponding zone. Using one of a number of techniques, the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit is determined to be within a particular zone. In response, one or more devices associated with the particular zone are provided with access to the multimedia control resources. Access is withheld to one or more other devices associated with another zone that is remote from the physical location of the active wireless endpoint unit. |
| US08428086B2 |
Transmitting data in a mobile communication system
The present invention is related to transmitting data in a mobile communication system. Preferably, the present invention comprises transmitting first data to a receiving side and receiving acknowledgment information for indicating whether the first data was successfully transmitted to the receiving side. If the first data was not successfully transmitted to the receiving side, the method further comprises determining whether an amount of available radio resources is sufficient for retransmitting the first data to the receiving side, retransmitting the first data to the receiving side if the amount of available radio resources is sufficient to retransmit the first data, reconfiguring the first data into at least one second data if the amount of available radio resources is insufficient to retransmit the first data, wherein the at least one second data can be transmitted to the receiving side using the amount of available radio resources, and transmitting the at least one second data to the receiving side. |
| US08428084B2 |
Cellular communication system and method for broadcast communication
A cellular communication system (100) is arranged to support a single cell identifier reuse pattern using a first communication. Management logic (146) comprises broadcast mode logic (150) arranged to support a common cell identifier reuse pattern for broadcast transmissions amongst a cluster of communication cells using a second communication. A plurality of wireless serving communication units are operably coupled to the management logic. At least one wireless communication unit comprises logic arranged to support a unicast communication using a first communication cell identifier and logic arranged to support broadcast communication using a common cell identifier (215) to be used by the wireless communication unit in receiving broadcast communication across the cluster of communication cells. |
| US08428083B2 |
Cellular communication system and method for broadcast communication
A time division duplex (TDD) cellular communication system (100) is arranged to support both uplink and downlink communication allocated for unicast time division duplex (TDD) communication that uses a single cell identifier reuse pattern. The TDD cellular communication system (100) comprises a plurality of wireless serving communication units operably coupled to management logic. The TDD cellular communication system (100) further comprises management logic (146) arranged to partition time domain physical resources such that unicast communication using the single cell identifier reuse pattern is supported in a first portion of the time domain physical resource and a broadcast communication using a common cell identifier (215) reuse pattern for broadcast communications is supported in a second portion of the time domain physical resource. |
| US08428073B1 |
Learning and unlearning in a network switch
A modified Ethernet packet includes a MAC address unlearn flag. A port receiving the packet unlearns the specified MAC address, i.e., removes the corresponding entry from its forwarding table. Unlearn packets may be generated by a switch CPU in response to detection of a port failure in order to remove entries associated with the failed port. The modified Ethernet packet may alternatively, or also, include an attribute learn field. An Ethernet switch is operable to learn the specified attribute in response to receipt of the packet. Attributes that may be specified include: copy-to-CPU; static; class-of-service; source-discard; destination-discard; and L3. The copy-to-CPU attribute is operable to prompt copying of subsequent packets observed with the same SA to the CPU. The static attribute is operable to prompt prevention of a specified MAC address from being removed from a forwarding table due to aging. The class-of-service attribute is operable to prompt override of a packet class-of-service value with a specified value for subsequent packets of a specified MAC address. The source-discard attribute is operable to prompt discard of subsequent packets having a specified SA. The destination-discard attribute is operable to prompt discard of subsequent packets having a specified DA. The L3 attribute is operable to prompt packets destined for a specified MAC address to be routed rather than switched. |
| US08428072B2 |
Methods and apparatus for advertising a route for transmitting data packets
Method and apparatus for advertising a route for transmitting data packets in a network. A first network element obtains a metric indicative of a cost for routing packets from the first network element to a second network element. The first network element compares the obtained metric with a metric received in a route advertisement message advertising a second route towards the second network element. The first network element sends route advertisement messages, advertising a first route towards the second network element through said first network element, only if the obtained metric indicates a lower cost than a received metric. When two or more network elements are advertising routes towards the same destination, the invention provides a solution allowing an optimized usage of transmission resources between these network elements and said destination. |
| US08428069B2 |
Stealth packet switching
Systems, methods, devices, and network architectures are disclosed for creating and implementing secure wireless, wired, and/or optical stealth-enabled networks using specially modified packets, cells, frames, and/or other “stealth” information structures. This enables stealth packets to have a low probability of detection, a low probability of interception, and a low probability of interpretation. Stealth packets are only detected, intercepted, and correctly interpreted by stealth-enabled network equipment. In its simplest form, stealth packet switching modifies the packet structure, protocols, timing, synchronization, and other elements through various rule-violations. This creates stealth packets, which normal equipment cannot receive correctly, and hence normal equipment discards the stealth packets.Stealth packets may be further enhanced with encryption techniques which focus on encrypting the packet structure itself, as opposed to merely encrypting the data. Using encryption to modify the packet structure itself adds an entirely new level of encryption complexity, thus making the stealth communications orders of magnitude more difficult to decrypt than standard decryption techniques.Combining stealth packets with time-based reservation packet switching enables total encryption of the packet (including header and preamble encryption) capable of routing through multiple hops without decryption of headers and preamble at each hop. Time-based reservation packet switching can also guarantee real-time stealth packet delivery through a network that is totally congested from data storms, virus caused congestion, and/or denial of service attacks. |
| US08428065B2 |
Group communication system achieving efficient total order and state synchronization in a multi-tier environment
A group communication service maintains synchronization limiting the group to the processing entities that receive a plurality of source message streams from sources outside the group and transmit delivery message streams to destinations that are outside the group. Synchronization of message ordering and other state synchronization directives are communicated from a leader exclusively to other group members. Once having declared themselves to be synchronized and active by a reply protocol message, which is an opaque object and is interpreted by an application layer, the processing entities independently process the source message streams in accordance with the order specified in the directives, without requiring additional sequencing information from another processing entity. |
| US08428064B2 |
Wireless communication device, mac address management system, wireless communication method, and program
A MAC address management system acquires code data obtained by encoding a temporary MAC address that can be temporarily used and decodes the acquired code data to perform wireless communication. The MAC address management system includes a MAC distributing server device in which a temporary MAC address which can be temporarily used is stored and a wireless communication device that acquires the temporary MAC address from the MAC distributing server device and performs wireless communication by using the acquired temporary MAC address, the wireless communication device acquires code data obtained by encoding the temporary MAC address from the MAC distributing server device, decodes the acquired code data, and performs wireless communication by using the decoded temporary MAC address. |
| US08428063B2 |
Access network architecture having dissimilar access sub-networks
A subscriber network architecture includes a packet processing node that communicates with a network backbone and with a plurality of access nodes. The access nodes communicate with a plurality of user devices. The packet processing node controls Quality of Service (QoS) levels for the subscriber devices, routes user data to devices via the access nodes and receives data from devices via the access nodes for forwarding across the network backbone. |
| US08428059B2 |
Network apparatus, edge router, and packet communication system
A network apparatus includes: a slot table storing a record including an identifier of a time slot which is assigned to packet transmission from a specific transmission source to a specific transmission destination, and identifiers of an input interface and output interface which are used for the packet transmission; and a unit, upon receiving a first control packet which includes an identifier of the specific time slot and represents a start of the specific time slot, to identify the input interface and output interface corresponding to the specific time slot from the slot table, and to send packets from the identified input interface to the identified output interface during a period until receiving a second control packet which includes the identifier of the specific time slot and represents an end of the specific time slot. |
| US08428054B2 |
Daisy chaining device servers via ethernet
A device server intended for attaching serial devices to a network includes Ethernet communications, an Ethernet switch, and serial communication capability so that multiple device servers are connected in a “daisy chain” or series pattern. Galvanic isolation of the power supply from the housing and communication ports, screw terminal and modular connections, DIN rail mounting, broad power supply voltage ranges or “Power-over-Ethernet” and operator visible indicator lamps with a pulse stretching feature greatly simplify installation and use. |
| US08428053B2 |
Presence based telephony call signaling
Methods and systems for presence based telephony call signaling are presented. An incoming call is received at a computer, where the computer includes a computer loudspeaker and computer display. A headset donned state or a headset doffed state is identified for a wireless headset, where the wireless headset includes a headset speaker and headset output user interface. A proximity between the wireless headset and the computer is determined. An incoming call notification is output to the headset speaker, the headset output user interface, the computer loudspeaker, or the computer display responsive to identifying the headset donned state or headset doffed state and determining the headset proximity. |
| US08428050B2 |
Radio communication system, radio access method, access point and gateway
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a radio communication system and a radio access method. In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, an AP with a PDP forward function unit forwards service traffic accessing an AS to a Packet Radio Service Gateway Support Node, and sends Internet service traffic to the Packet Radio Service Gateway Support Node or directly sends the Internet service data to the Internet via a configured forwarding interface according to the service property of the service traffic. Embodiments of the present invention further disclose an Access Point and a gateway. Therefore, the load of network elements of a mobile network is reduced; meanwhile, the control and the management of the high increment value services by operators can be guaranteed. The investment of the CS network can be protected by the gateway as a concentrator of Access Points and a forwarding node of CS services in the embodiments of the present invention. |
| US08428046B2 |
Wireless network access device with positioning function and method thereof
A wireless network access device for positioning a mobile device includes a distance acquiring module, an information receiving module and a position determining module. The distance acquiring module acquires an initial distance between the wireless network access device and the mobile device in an initial position and an intermediate distance between the wireless network access device and the mobile device in an intermediate position. The information receiving module receives a distance, angle and orientation of movement of the mobile device from the initial position to the intermediate position. The position determining module determines a current position of the mobile device according to the received distance, angle and orientation of the mobile device, the initial distance and the intermediate distance. |
| US08428044B2 |
Mobile apparatus
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile apparatus including: a first communication module configured to communicate with a first base station of a first mobile communications network through a first radio access method; a second communication module configured to communicate with a second base station of a second mobile communications network through a second radio access method, the second communication module configured to provide a circuit switching service; a memory; and a control module configured to control the memory to store information about the second mobile communications network when the first communication module carries out a waiting processing and the second communication module carries out a synchronization processing. |
| US08428043B2 |
Base station, mobile station, signal transmission method, and signal reception method
A base station for communicating within a system band including plural basic frequency blocks includes a signal generating unit configured to generate data and control signals; an intermediate signal generating unit configured to generate intermediate signals; a multiplexing unit configured to add one or more subcarriers such that center frequencies of signal bands for the respective basic frequency blocks are placed at predetermined frequency intervals, and multiplex the intermediate signals and data and control signals; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the multiplexed signals. |
| US08428041B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication device and wireless communication method, and computer program
Access control based on CSMA is favorably carried out with the RTS/CTS method used together.If the RTS/CTS procedure is used together, CTS information is transmitted in response to the reception of RTS information, and data is transmitted in response to the reception of CTS. The CTS transmitting station measures the quality of RTS receive signal, and thereby determines a transmission rate at which it can receive and notifies a station as the destination of CTS. The station as the destination of CTS transmits data in response to CTS information. As the transmission rate for this data, the transmission rate indicated in the RATE field in CTS is applied. |
| US08428032B1 |
System and method for providing selective voice call continuity
A method for selectively establishing a voice call continuity link between a mobile device and a voice call continuity application server includes the steps of receiving a request to establish a voice over IP call connection at the voice call continuity application server from the mobile device, the request including mobile device location information for the mobile device. The method determines at the voice call continuity application server whether the voice call continuity link is needed between the voice call continuity server and the mobile device responsive to the mobile device location information within the request and network location information stored within a database associated with the voice call continuity application server. The method establishes the voice call continuity link between the mobile device and the voice call continuity application responsive to a determination that the voice call continuity link is needed. |
| US08428030B2 |
Addressing scheme for a relay network system
According to one general aspect, a method may include collecting at least one Mobile Station (MS) Medium Access Control (MAC) Packet Data Units (PDUs), associated with at least one Mobile Station. In various embodiments, the method may also include generating at least one MS station identifier (STID) sub-header (MSID-SH), indicating for each MS MAC PDU (MPDU) a MS STID that is associated the respective MPDU. In some embodiments, the method may include packing the MSID-SH and the at least one of MPDU into a single Relay MAC PDU (RPDU). In various embodiments, the method may also include wirelessly transmitting the RPDU. |
| US08428026B2 |
Scheduling data transmissions in a wireless network
An apparatus and method for scheduling data transmissions in a wireless network is disclosed. A first value related to a buffer is transmitted to a user equipment (UE) by a network. The network also transmits an allocation message for an uplink transmission and receives data in response. The data is selected from the plurality of buffers of the UE in response to the transmitted first value and based on a second value. |
| US08428024B2 |
System and method for mobility with a split home agent architecture using MPTCP
A method implemented in a network element functioning as a home agent (HA) for a mobile node (MN) communicating with a corresponding node (CN) using Mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (MIPv6), the method including selecting by the HA a virtual home agent (VHA) to provide home agent services to the MN with a better quality of service than the HA based on pre-defined policies, sending a flow switch request (FSR) message to the selected VHA, the FSR message including transmission control protocol (TCP) parameters and the FSR message including a care-of address for the MN and an address of the CN, the FSR message to initiate a flow redirection at the VHA using multi-path TCP exchange, and receiving a flow switch acknowledgement (FSA) message from the VHA indicating that the VHA is receiving data packets from the CN and tunneling the data packets to the MN at the care-of address. |
| US08428022B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting positioning reference signals in a wireless communication network
A method (300, 500) and apparatus (200) that transmits and/or receives positioning reference signals in a wireless communication network using a mixture of cyclic prefix types. The method may include configuring (320) subframes in the wireless communication network as multicast broadcast single frequency network subframes. The method may include configuring (330) subframes in the wireless communication network as positioning subframes including positioning reference signals. The method may include determining (340) whether all of the positioning subframes are multicast broadcast single frequency network subframes. The method may include generating (350) extended cyclic prefix positioning reference signals for all of the positioning subframes if all of the positioning subframes are multicast broadcast single frequency network subframes. |
| US08428021B2 |
Architecture using inexpensive, managed wireless switching points to deliver large scale WLAN
Methods, apparatus and a computer program product provide for a network architecture implemented between a Wireless Switching Point and a remote Wireless Controller. The Wireless Switching Point contains only a first data plane portion. At least one incoming data packet is received at a respective port of the Wireless Switching Point. Based on data included within the at least one incoming data packet, the Wireless Switching Point determines a first current network interface utilized by at least one port of the Wireless Switching Point. The Wireless Switching Point uploads the first current network interface to a remote Wireless Controller—which implements a first control plane capability on behalf of the Wireless Switching Point. After uploading the first current network interface, the Wireless Switching Point receives an update, provided by the remote Wireless Controller, to the first current network interface. |
| US08428017B2 |
Channel quality reporting method and arrangement in a telecommunication system
When a high SIR can be achieved for downlink data transmission, for example in a MIMO system, or when higher order modulation, such as 64 QAM, can be used, it is desired to measure the instantaneous downlink channel quality indicator (CQI), and report the measured CQI to the network using the same number of bits as when a lower SIR can be achieved. In order to do this, a true CQI is derived based upon at least one network controlled parameter and a measured channel quality parameter; and the true CQI value is scaled to a new CQI value such that the new CQI will fall within a specified range of CQI values; so that the new CQI achieved by scaling the derived CQI value can be reported with every CQI value over the entire reporting range requiring the same number of bits. |
| US08428016B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating in a dominant interference scenario
Techniques for supporting communication in a dominant interference scenario are described. A user equipment (UE) may communicate with a first base station and may observe high interference from and/or may cause high interference to a second base station. In one design, the first base station may use a first frequency band, which may overlap at least partially with a second frequency band for the second base station and may further extend beyond the second frequency band. The first base station may send at least one synchronization signal and a broadcast channel in a center portion of the first frequency band for use by UEs to detect the first base station. The second frequency band may be non-overlapping with the center portion of the first frequency band. The first base station may also communicate with at least one UE on the first frequency band. |
| US08428013B2 |
Method of performing random access in a wireless communcation system
A method of performing random access in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method of performing random access in a user equipment of a wireless communication system which uses multiple carriers includes transmitting a preamble for random access to a network, receiving a random access response message from the network in response to the preamble, transmitting a connection setup request message to the network, the connection setup request message requesting connection establishment with the network, and receiving a first message from the network, the first message including connection setup information and contention resolution information in a random access procedure. If a user equipment identifier of the user equipment is included in the message, the user equipment determines that it has successfully performed random access and performs a next procedure in accordance with the connection setup information. If the user equipment identifier of the user equipment is not included in the message, the user equipment determines that it has failed in random access and transmits a random access preamble to the network again after the lapse of a predetermined time period. |
| US08428011B2 |
Resource allocation control method and device in mobile radio communications system
For radio communications between a base station and a mobile station, resource allocation within a resource block including control resources used for control signals (CQI, ACK/NACK) and reference resources used for a reference signal is performed. The base station measures the quality of a channel between the mobile station and the base station itself. Based on the measured channel quality, the base station sets a ratio between resources for the control signals CQI and ACK/NACK in the control resources, and notifies the mobile station of the set resource ratio. |
| US08428007B2 |
Resource allocation size dependent transport block size signaling
The invention relates to a method for providing control signalling associated to a transport block in a mobile communication system. Furthermore, the invention also provides a receiving apparatus and a transmitting apparatus that performs the methods proposed herein. In order to obtain a control signaling mechanism that is increasing the number of available transport block sizes that can be used for transmissions of a transport block, without increasing the control signaling overhead, the invention suggests to apply a partitioning to the transport block size indices defined over the entire range of applicable resource allocation sizes and modulation and coding scheme levels, wherein the transport blocks size indicator is selecting the transport block size index from a respective partition depending on the resource allocation size. |
| US08428006B2 |
Hierarchical control signaling for mobile clients in distributed wireless controller system
A system and method for a hierarchical distributed control architecture to support roaming wireless client devices. Access switches serve one or more Internet Protocol (IP) subnets that include plural IP addresses. The access switches are arranged in switch peer groups and store information about other access switches in that switch peer group and about locations of wireless client devices that are associated with any access switch in the switch peer group. The access switches are further grouped into a corresponding mobility sub-domain each including plural switch peer groups. Plural controller devices control access switches in a corresponding mobility sub-domain. Each controller device stores information about the access switches and about locations of wireless client devices within its mobility sub-domain. A central controller device communicates with the controller devices for the respective mobility sub-domains. The central controller device stores information about locations of wireless client devices in the mobility sub-domains. |
| US08428004B2 |
Wireless network facilitator and monitor
Techniques are presented for facilitating and monitoring wireless network connections. Clients and intermediate nodes are configured to interact with one another via network connections. Initially, the clients wirelessly connect to a select one of the intermediate nodes. Tests may be periodically issued to the clients and to the intermediate nodes to measure and track performance and quality of the network connections. Billing records may also be recorded and billing policies verified for client activities occurring during the network connections. |
| US08428003B1 |
Method and system for WiMAX R4 auto-discovery and configuration
A method is provided for the automatic discovery and updating of gateway peers within a WiMAX Access Service Network in order to control R4 intra-ASN mobility. In a preferred embodiment, When a WiMAX Access Service Network Gateway is added to the network, it propagates an AUTO-DISCOVER message using the Open Shortest Path First protocol's opaque Link State Advertisement. The received messages are used to establish connections to the sending peer based on data packaged in the Link State Advertisement. Once a connection has been established, UPDATE and CONFIRM messages are used by Access Service Network Gateways to exchange WiMAX R4 routing information. The message sequence number is used to correspond UPDATE and CONFIRM messages. The OSPF-based keep-alive mechanism is used to determine whether internal peers are reachable. |
| US08428001B2 |
Timing corrections in a multi carrier system and propagation to a channel estimation time filter
Systems and methods are provided for determining and applying timing corrections in a digital communications system. In an aspect, a timing correction method is provided for a multi-carrier system. This includes aligning two or more symbols with respect to each other from a symbol subset in order to account for timing differences between the symbols. The symbol alignment is first carried out to generate channel estimates for data demodulation. The channel estimates, thus generated, along with the timing alignment information are in turn used for determining timing corrections-to be applied to future symbols. |
| US08427998B2 |
Method of designing a multiplexing structure for resource allocation to support legacy system
New multiplexing UL structures for supporting legacy system are provided. A 16m system of diversity mode can be multiplexed with 16e system in PUSC mode in FDM manner with the same tiles/permutation rules. A 16m system can be multiplexed with 16e system in AMC mode in FDM and/or TDM manner. The time length of multiplexed 16e PUSC packets and/or 16m packets can be extended to more than two sub-frames for UL coverage. A PRU for 16m system may consists of 16 sub-carriers by 6 OFDMA symbols, 18 sub-carriers by 6 OFDMA symbols, or 20 sub-carriers by 6 OFDMA symbols when FDM is used. |
| US08427997B2 |
Access method and apparatus of multimedia broadcast multicast service on dedicated carrier
An access method of MBMS on dedicated carrier relates to MBMS access technology on dedicated carrier, including: synchronize a user equipment to a MBMS dedicated carrier; the user equipment detects a start-frame of system message on the MBMS dedicated carrier; and the terminal monitors the system message from the start-frame of system message. An apparatus of realizing the method is also provided. |
| US08427996B2 |
Method for selecting a channel in a multi-channel communication system
A method for selecting a channel for group communications in a conventional multi-channel communication system comprises receiving, for a plurality of channels in the multi-channel communication system, a talkgroup assignment list for the channels that identifies a set of talkgroups assigned to use the corresponding channels. A subscriber unit receives talkgroup assignment lists for multiple different channels, determines a desired talkgroup, and selects a channel assigned to the desired talkgroup using the received talkgroup assignment. The talkgroup assignment list is developed for at least one channel in the multi-channel communication system and identifies a set of talkgroups assigned to use the corresponding channel. The list is transmitted for the channel to a subscriber unit and is used by the subscriber unit to register with the system and affiliate with a talkgroup supported by the channel in the conventional multi-channel communication system. |
| US08427992B2 |
Power-efficient backbone-oriented wireless sensor network, method for constructing the same and method for repairing the same
The present invention discloses a power-efficient backbone-oriented wireless sensor network, a method for constructing the same and a method for repairing the same, wherein energy-rich nodes are used to form backbones linking to a server, and wherein regular nodes having limited energy storage link to the backbones. When one energy-rich node malfunctions, the energy-rich node, which is posterior to the malfunctioning energy-rich node, searches for and links to a linkable neighboring energy-rich node on the backbone. If there is none linkable neighboring energy-rich node, the regular nodes are used to form a temporary tunnel until the malfunctioning energy-rich node has been repaired. The present invention can relieve the influence of hot spots, increase the robustness of the wireless sensor network, and prolong the service life of the wireless sensor network. |
| US08427989B2 |
Method for improving discontinuous reception for a wireless communication system and related communication device
A method for improving discontinuous reception for a user equipment of a wireless communication system includes separately managing retransmission detecting timings of a plurality of downlink hybrid automatic repeat request (DL HARQ) processes when the discontinuous reception is used in the plurality of DL HARQ processes. |
| US08427981B2 |
System and method for recording and monitoring communications using a media server
A communication system including a media server through which communication packets are exchanged for recording and monitoring purposes is disclosed. A tap is associated with each communication endpoint allowing for cradle to grave recording of communications despite their subsequent routing or branching. An incoming communication is routed to a first tap and upon selection of a receiving party; the first tap is routed to a second tap which forwards communication packets on to the receiving party. The taps may be used to forward communication packets to any number of other taps or destinations, such as a recording device, monitoring user, or other user in the form of a conference. |
| US08427980B2 |
Methods and apparatus to determine and implement multidimensional network topologies
Methods and apparatus to determine and implement multidimensional network topologies are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises receiving an input parameter for determining a multidimensional network topology for a network interconnecting a plurality of devices, and determining a set of multidimensional network topologies, each multidimensional network topology of the set comprising a respective plurality of nodes to interconnect the plurality of devices, each node in each multidimensional network topology of the set being fully connected with all neighbor nodes in each dimension of the multidimensional network topology, and each multidimensional network topology of the set satisfying a first constraint based on the input parameter. |
| US08427978B2 |
System and method for information feedback in a wireless communications system with coordinated multiple point transmission
A system and method for information feedback in a wireless communications system with coordinated multiple point (CoMP) transmission are provided. A method for operating in a communications system, the communications system having a first communications controller and a second communications controller participating in a CoMP cooperation set, the method includes selecting a CoMP processing technique, and reporting channel information to the first communications controller. The channel information is based on the preferred CoMP processing technique. |
| US08427975B2 |
Out-of band radio for supporting compressed mode in a femto deployment
Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are described for using communications over an out-of-band (OOB) link to support compressed mode communications by user equipment (UE) in a femto deployment. Typically, UEs must tune away from an active communications channel to make inter-frequency and/or inter-RAT measurements. When making these measurements, data communications may be compressed to allow time to tune away for those measurements. Embodiments integrate an OOB proxy with the femtocell to provide OOB link capability to supplement WWAN link resources. According to various techniques, the OOB link is used to compensate for reductions in data rate and/or quality resulting from compressed mode operation. For example, the OOB link is used to communicate compressed mode signaling data, retransmissions, and/or other compensatory data. |
| US08427968B2 |
Communication data statistical apparatus, communication data statistical method, and computer program product
An apparatus has a receiver module configured to receive packets including multiple different identifiers, an aggregation module configured to classify each packet, which is received by the receiver module into a certain aggregate flow and generate aggregate statistical information including number of packets belonging to the certain aggregate flow, and a statistical processing module configured to perform an updating process arranged to classify the certain aggregate flow into a specific statistical flow and to update statistical information including number of packets belonging to the specific statistical flow based on corresponding aggregate statistical information, the statistical processing module repeating the updating process for multiple aggregate flows, into which packets are classified by the aggregation module, so as to update the statistical information in each of the multiple different statistical conditions. |
| US08427967B2 |
Method and apparatus for carrier identity determination in multi-carrier communication systems
Systems and methods are described that facilitate the determination and request of resources a node may wish to reserve. The resources include a plurality of carriers that are shared with other nodes. In an approach, the node determines a condition related to the plurality of carriers; creates an ordering of the plurality of resources; and transmits a resource utilization message (RUM) for one or more of the plurality of resources based on the ordering and the condition. |
| US08427965B2 |
Method to optimize the data stream between a router and a multimedia unit
Even if high speed are available between the router and the multimedia unit through the IP line (up to 24 Mbits/sec), this is still the bottleneck in term of data transfer. Indeed in practice the vast majority of IP users have access speed between 2 to 5 Mbits/sec and the development of other services (telephony, videoconference, push VOD, game) are bandwidth consuming. It is now an object of the invention to propose a solution to reduce the data flow between the router and the multimedia unit over IP line.This is achieved by a method to optimize the data stream between a router and a multimedia unit, the router receiving at least one data stream forming a service and comprising several sub-streams from which part of them are alternatively used by the multimedia unit, the method comprising the steps of: defining a set of data representing the multimedia unit's profile, transmitting this set of data to the router, filtering by the router the unnecessary sub-stream according the given profile, sending the remaining sub-streams to the multimedia unit. |
| US08427964B2 |
Method and apparatus for documenting network paths
Methods and apparatus for documenting network path connectivity are described that allow a network management system/revision management system (NMS/RMS) to determine what equipment and ports support a network path by interrupting and restoring Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) service on the network path. Upon detecting a loss of PoE service, communication active jacks that support network path connectivity may activate an internal switch that interrupts downstream connectivity. Each communication active jack along the network path may then begin broadcasting a unique message in the upstream direction that is addressed to the NMS/RMS. Upon receiving a unique active jack message, the NMS/RMS may record the information contained within and instruct the communication active jack to reestablish connectivity to the next downstream device. In this manner, as each device along a network path regains connectivity the network path information stored within the NMS/RMS is updated until a complete view of the network path is documented. |
| US08427963B2 |
Method and system for analyzing and qualifying routes in packet networks
Routes of a packet network are analyzed according to various transit delay metrics. Preferred packet network routes are selected between source and destination based on these metrics. In packet networks employing boundary clocks and transparent clocks, faulty boundary clocks and faulty transparent clocks are identified using the metrics. |
| US08427962B1 |
Control of inter-zone/intra-zone recovery using in-band communications
A method of communicating information regarding a failure is disclosed. The method includes generating failure information. The failure affects a virtual path, which is between a first node and a second node. A first zone includes the first node, and a second zone includes the second node. The failure information can include, for example, a zone identifier and/or an action code. |
| US08427960B2 |
Method and device for analyzing data
The present invention discloses a method for analyzing data, which comprises: judging whether the read of each multiplexing block in a media unit has been completed according to the total length of the media unit and the length of the multiplexing block when reading the multiplexing blocks in the media unit; the media unit is a video unit, an audio unit or a data unit. The present invention imposes the structural features of multiplexing blocks, when the receiving quality of the mobile media broadcasting terminal is well, which dispenses with judging whether the multiplexing block is the beginning multiplexing block or the ending multiplexing block according to the beginning ID code and the ending ID code, analyzing with type and data unit type field, and CRC. Therefore, the multiplexing block analyzer steps and the procedure of data process of the receiver are predigested. It performs quick analyzing. |
| US08427958B2 |
Dynamic latency-based rerouting
A switch creates and dynamically updates a latency map of a network to adjust routing of flows. Further, the network is monitored to detect latency issues and trigger a dynamic adjustment of routing based on the latency map. In this manner, a flow can be routed along a route (i.e., a faster route) that provides less latency than other available routes. The latency map can be generated based on latency probe packets that are issued from and returned to the source switch. By evaluating many such latent probe packets that have traveled along many available routes (e.g., corresponding to various ports of the switch), the switch or associated administrative logic can dynamically adjust the latency map to updated latency information of available routes. Therefore, responsive to a trigger, the source switch can dynamically adjust the routing of a flow based on latency issues discerned from the network. |
| US08427957B2 |
Communication terminal and communication method
Provided is a communication terminal that is capable of securing a route having the finest state while suppressing a bandwidth that is consume by a transmission of a control packet at a low level, when applied in an ad-hoc network which uses an electrical power line. The communication terminal included in the ad-hoc network acquires a plurality of route candidates at the beginning of a data transmission by conducting a broadcast transmission of a route creation packet, and acquires a route having the finest state by conducting an unicast transmission of a route estimation packet to each of the route candidates in each predetermined period. |
| US08427954B2 |
Automatic reverse channel assignment in a two-way TDM communication system
A method and apparatus for communication is disclosed. Information is received on a downlink channel in a time interval. On a condition that an explicit allocation of a first uplink channel is received, feedback information regarding the received information is transmitted on the first uplink channel, wherein the feedback information is transmitted with user data on the first uplink channel. On a condition that an explicit allocation of the first uplink channel is not received, feedback information regarding the received information is transmitted in a time interval on a second uplink channel, wherein an explicit allocation of the second uplink channel is not received, wherein the time interval on the second uplink channel is a pre-determined time period away from the time interval on the downlink channel. |
| US08427953B2 |
Tunnel provisioning with link aggregation and hashing
A method for processing data packets in a communication network includes establishing a path for a flow of the data packets through the communication network. At a node along the path having a plurality of aggregated ports, a port is selected from among the plurality to serve as part of the path. A label is chosen responsively to the selected port. The label is attached to the data packets in the flow at a point on the path upstream from the node. Upon receiving the data packets at the node, the data packets are switched through the selected port responsively to the label. |
| US08427949B2 |
System and method for adapting a source rate
A system and method for adapting a source rate are provided. A method for operations at a communications device, where the communications device is a sender of information packets over a packet stream, includes determining a source rate of the packet stream, and marking information packets of the packet stream, where the information packets are marked with a first marking pattern if the source rate is equal to a minimum source rate, or the information packets are marked with a second marking pattern if the source rate is greater than the minimum source rate. The first marking pattern has a period of M information packets, where M is a positive integer value greater than or equal to two, and the second marking pattern has a period of M information packets. The method also includes transmitting the marked information packets over the packet stream to a receiver. |
| US08427941B2 |
Redundant storage virtualization subsystem having data path branching functionality
Disclosed is a redundant storage virtualization subsystem (SVS) having branching functionality. The SVS comprises a first and a second storage virtualization controller (SVC) and a physical storage device (PSD) array. A first and a second data path are provided between the first SVC and the PSD array passing through a first and a second signal integrity enhancing device (SIED), respectively, and configured as a first pair of redundant data paths. A third and a fourth data path are provided between the second SVC and the PSD array passing through the second and the first SIED, respectively, and configured as a second pair of redundant data paths. In view of the PSD array, the first and fourth data paths form a third redundant data path pair for a PSD, and the third and second data paths form a fourth redundant data path pair for a PSD. |
| US08427939B2 |
MPLS tunnel identification method and device
According to an aspect of the invention, an MPLS tunnel identification method includes: establishing MPLS tunnels with an opposing node by distributing an MPLS tunnel label; and determining an MPLS tunnel to be associated with a pseudo wire corresponding to a pseudo wire label among the MPLS tunnels when the pseudo wire label is assigned from the opposing node thereby to notify identification information of the MPLS tunnel together with identification information of the pseudo wire to the opposing node. |
| US08427937B1 |
Bridging for SONET/SDH automatic protection switching
Bridging for Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET)/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) Automatic Protection Switching is disclosed. First and second apparatus in a redundant pair handle communication traffic that includes content for transmission on respective first and second SONET/SDH connections. Content received by each apparatus for transmission on a SONET/SDH connection is transmitted on the first and second SONET/SDH connections. Such content is also transmitted by each apparatus to the other apparatus in the redundant pair unless that content was received from the other apparatus. The content is thereby transmitted on both the first and second SONET/SDH connections even though the content is received directly by only one apparatus of the redundant pair. This avoids duplication of communication traffic that carries the content. Where the traffic is Ethernet traffic, the traffic may be bridged between the first apparatus and the second apparatus at the Media Access Control (MAC) layer. |
| US08427935B2 |
Reduction of out-of-band emitted power
OFDM signal transmission of reduced power emission outside a designated transmission bandwidth is disclosed. At least one subcarrier is allocated for an OFDM symbol for non-data. A weighting signal representation is determined based on an initial error signal representation, which is determined from at least part of a first OFDM symbol and part of a second OFDM symbol, the first and second OFDM symbols being consecutive in time. |
| US08427931B2 |
Recording/reproducing medium and method
A recording apparatus for use with a reproduction-only optical information storage medium, including: a recording unit which records data on the reproduction-only optical information storage medium; and a controller which controls the recording unit to form, on the reproduction-only optical storage medium, a plurality of areas and at least one transition area. Each transition area is located between two adjacent areas. The transition area allows data to be smoothly reproduced from the reproduction-only optical information storage medium at a low error generation rate. Also, since the optical information storage medium provides standards for the transition area, it is compatible with existing optical information storage media. |
| US08427927B1 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head, head gimbals assembly, head arm assembly, and magnetic disk unit
The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a magnetic pole; a waveguide allowing a transverse-electric (TE) wave oscillating in a cross-track direction to propagate toward an air bearing surface; and a plasmon generator having a tip portion near the air bearing surface, the tip portion being provided to overlap, in a down-track direction, with both the magnetic pole and the waveguide, and having a quadrangular cross-section substantially parallel to the air bearing surface. |
| US08427926B2 |
Optical pickup lens
An optical pickup lens for focusing a light beam from a laser light source on an optical information recording medium is a single lens. The optical pickup lens has two surfaces, and a surface R2 opposite to a surface R1 closer to the laser light source has a continuous shape. When the surface R2 has radii h1, h2 and h3 (h1 |
| US08427925B2 |
HAMR NFT materials with improved thermal stability
A near field transducer includes gold and at least one dopant. The dopant can include at least one of: Cu, Rh, Ru, Ag, Ta, Cr, Al, Zr, V, Pd, Ir, Co, W, Ti, Mg, Fe, or Mo. The dopant concentration may be in a range from 0.5% and 30%. The dopant can be a nanoparticle oxide of V, Zr, Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, Si, Ce, Y, Ta, W, or Th, or a nitride of Ta, Al, Ti, Si, In, Fe, Zr, Cu, W or B. |
| US08427923B2 |
Optical pickup device, optical disc device and focus adjusting method
An optical pickup device includes an astigmatism element which imparts astigmatism to laser light reflected on a disc, a spectral element which changes propagating directions of four light fluxes obtained by dividing a light flux of the laser light reflected on the disc to disperse the four light fluxes from each other, and a photodetector having a sensor group which receives the four light fluxes. The optical pickup device is further provided with a memory which holds a correction value for suppressing a DC component in a tracking error signal resulting from a positional displacement of the spectral element. The tracking error signal is corrected by the correction value to thereby suppress the DC component. |
| US08427922B2 |
Optical pickup device and optical disc device
An optical pickup device is so configured as to change the propagating directions of light fluxes in four light flux areas defined in the periphery of an optical axis of laser light, out of the laser light reflected on a disc, to separate the four light fluxes one from the other. A signal light area where only signal light exists is defined on a detecting surface of a photodetector. Sensors for signal light is disposed at a position in the signal light area to be irradiated by the signal light, and a tracking error signal is generated based on a signal from the sensors. A direct-current component of the tracking error signal resulting from positional displacements of the sensors is cancelled by adjusting a gain of the signal from the sensor. |
| US08427921B2 |
Light emitting device, optical pickup apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
In the present invention, to improve CD read/write characteristics having poor image height characteristics, a third light emitting source emitting a third laser beam for CD is disposed on an optical axis of an objective lens. Thereby, the third laser beam emitted from the third light emitting source travels along the optical axis of the objective lens, thus generating no coma aberration in the third laser beam. Furthermore, in the present invention, a second light emitting source emitting a second laser beam for DVD and a first light emitting source emitting a first laser beam for BD are disposed across the third light emitting source. Thereby the phase propagation directions of coma aberrations in the first and second laser beams coincide with each other. Adjustment of the coma aberration in one of the laser beams enables the coma aberration in the other laser beam to be adjusted. |
| US08427917B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus, integrated circuit, and method for controlling laser output of optical pickup apparatus
An optical-pickup apparatus includes: a first laser light source including a first laser diode to emit a laser beam having a first wavelength, and a back-monitor photodetector to receive the laser beam emitted in a backward direction, not being an optical-disc direction, and output a first monitor signal; a second laser-light source including a second laser diode to emit a laser beam having a second wavelength; a light-receiving circuit including a front-monitor photodetector to receive the laser beam emitted in a forward direction, being the optical-disc direction, and output a second monitor signal, and a switch circuit to be inputted with the first and second monitor signals, and output the first or second monitor signal according to a switch signal; and first and second drive circuits to drive the first and second laser diodes according to the first and second monitor signals outputted from the light-receiving circuit, respectively. |
| US08427915B2 |
Method and apparatus for recording information in optical storage medium, and multi-layer optical storage medium
To record information as an array of optically changed portions arranged along a track in an optical storage medium, a pulsed laser beam is emitted toward the optical storage medium while causing at least one of the optical storage medium and the pulsed laser beam to be moved relative to each other. A plurality of pulses of the pulsed laser beam are emitted during a time span in which one segment of the track having a length corresponding to a length of one optically changed portion is scanned with the pulsed laser beam. An intensity of light with which a segment of the track is to be illuminated to form each individual optically changed portion is adjusted by causing a shutter to selectively reduce the number of pulses of the pulsed laser beam with which the segment of the track is to be illuminated. |
| US08427914B2 |
Lens pull-in method for near-field optical accessing system
A lens pull-in method is used in a near-field optical accessing system. When a lens is in a far-field range, the lens is driven to approach a surface of an optical disc in an open loop control state. If the lens enters a near-field range, a first GES level is inputted as a set value and the lens is driven in a close loop control state. When the gap error signal decreases to the first GES level, the set value is changed to a second GES level, which is higher than the first GES level. When the gap error signal increases to the first GES level, the set value is changed to a target GES level, so that the gap error signal is maintained at the target gap error signal. |
| US08427913B2 |
Servo control signal generation device and an optical disk device using the same
A servo control signal generation device for discriminating a kind of an optical disk, changing over between top and bottom envelope signals of an RF signal, and generating a defect signal and a mirror signal includes an RF generator for generating the RF signal from reflected light of an optical disk, a disk discriminator for discriminating a kind of the optical disk from the RF signal, and a top envelope generator and a bottom envelope generator respectively for generating the top and bottom envelope signals of the RF signal. If the disk has reflectance after recording which is lower than that before recording, the defect and mirror signals are generated respectively from the top and bottom envelope signals. If the disk has reflectance after recording which is higher than that before recording, the defect and mirror signals are generated respectively from the bottom and top envelope signals. |
| US08427909B2 |
Timepiece dial, method of manufacturing a timepiece dial, and a timepiece
A timepiece dial has excellent transparency to electromagnetic waves (radio and light), and an excellent appearance, a timepiece dial manufacturing method enables manufacturing the timepiece dial, and a timepiece has the timepiece dial. The timepiece dial 1 has a substrate 2 that is electromagnetically transparent, and a dispersion film 3 containing a dispersion of metal powder 31 with an average particle diameter of 5 μm≦20 μm and an average particle thickness of 30 nm≦50 nm. The average thickness of the dispersion film 3 is 0.5 μm≦3.0 μm. The metal powder 31 is disposed with a specific gap therebetween in the through-thickness direction of the dispersion film 3. |
| US08427905B2 |
Optimum pseudo random sequence determining method, position detection system, position detection method, transmission device and reception device
To enable precise calculation of a propagation time of a direct wave which arrives fastest from an ultrasonic generation source without being affected by a reflected wave of an ultrasonic signal.A plurality of ultrasonic signals generated based on a plurality of M sequences different from each other are propagated from a transmission side to a reception side, whereby the reception side generates model waveforms of the plurality of M sequences, executes correlation processing between each model waveform and a waveform of each ultrasonic signal and detects a secondary peak of a correlation value which appears when both waveforms partly coincide with each other to determine an M sequence which generates a smallest secondary peak among secondary peaks detected by all the correlation processing as an optimum M sequence. The transmission side sends out an electromagnetic signal and an ultrasonic signal modulated by an optimum M sequence generated based on an initial condition of the optimum M sequence to the reception side. The reception side calculates a correlation value between the ultrasonic signal and a model waveform of the ultrasonic modulated by the optimum M sequence, detects a first primary peak of the calculated correlation value and calculates an ultrasonic propagation time from a time point of the reception of the electromagnetic signal and a time point of the detection of the primary peak. |
| US08427903B2 |
Method for monitoring a subsoil zone using a plurality of correlated traces, particularly during simulated fracturing operations
The invention relates to a method for monitoring a subsoil zone, wherein a plurality of receivers are arranged on a surface of the soil or near said surface, straight above a geological zone to be monitored, comprising the following steps: generating a set of reference seismic data recording seismic data by means of said receivers; correlating the seismic data recorded (52) with the reference seismic data; comparing each trace of the correlated data, with correlated traces located in a vicinity of said trace, in order to evaluate a similarity of each correlated trace with the adjacent correlated traces, detecting a microseismic event occurring in the subsoil zone by analysing said similarity. This method enables real-time monitoring. |
| US08427893B2 |
Redundancy memory cell access circuit and semiconductor memory device including the same
A redundancy memory cell access circuit includes a first control unit, a second control unit, and an accessing unit. The first control unit compares an unprogrammed fuse signal with an address signal to generate a first redundancy enable signal from the comparison. The accessing unit allows access to a redundancy memory cell corresponding to the unprogrammed signal when the first redundancy enable signal from the first control unit or a second redundancy enable signal from the second control unit is activated. Thus, the redundancy memory cell access circuit is tested simultaneously with testing of the redundancy memory cell for minimized testing and programming times. |
| US08427888B2 |
Word-line driver using level shifter at local control circuit
A representative circuit device includes a local control circuit having a level shifter, wherein in response to receipt of a first address signal the level shifter shifts the first address signal from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, providing a level shifted first address signal; and a word-line driver having at least one input for receiving a plurality of address signals, wherein the at least one input includes a first input that is coupled to the local control circuit to receive the level shifted first address signal, and an output that is electrically coupled to a word line of a memory cell array. |
| US08427883B2 |
Setting circuit and integrated circuit including the same
A setting circuit includes a selection unit configured to select one of a predefined code and an external code in response to a test signal, and a setting information generation unit configured to generate setting information in response to the code selected by the selection unit. |
| US08427877B2 |
Digital method to obtain the I-V curves of NVM bitcells
A calibration table (160) of reference current (Iref) values and associated digital register settings is used during user test/diagnostics mode by varying the Iref values by changing the digital register settings and searching the transitioning gate voltage (Vg) of each bitcell at each Iref value to obtain the bitcell I-V curve using a digitally tunable gate voltage control (117) and reference current circuit (123) under control of a test module or circuit (110). |
| US08427875B2 |
Method and memory controller for reading data stored in flash memory by referring to binary digit distribution characteristics of bit sequences read from flash memory
An exemplary method for reading data stored in a flash memory includes: controlling the flash memory to perform a plurality of read operations upon each of a plurality of memory cells included in the flash memory; obtaining a plurality of bit sequences read from the memory cells, respectively, wherein the read operations read bits of a predetermined bit order from each of the memory cells as one of the bit sequences by utilizing different control gate voltage settings; and determining readout information of the memory cells according to binary digit distribution characteristics of the bit sequences. |
| US08427874B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method with even/odd combined block decoding
A nonvolatile memory array is organized into a plurality of interleaving even and odd blocks. When a block is selected for operation, a set of word line voltages are delivered to the block of word lines by space-efficient decoding circuits and scheme. The plurality of blocks is organized into an array of pairs of adjacent odd and even blocks. A first voltage bus allows all even blocks access to the set of word line voltages. A second voltage bus allows all odd blocks access to the set of word line voltages. A decoder for selection is provided for each pair of adjacent even and odd blocks. Selecting a block is effected by selecting the pair of adjacent even and odd blocks containing the selected block, and supplying the set of word line voltages only to the selected block, which is one of the even or odd block in the selected pair. |
| US08427873B2 |
Read operation for non-volatile storage with compensation for coupling
Shifts in the apparent charge stored on a floating gate (or other charge storing element) of a non-volatile memory cell can occur because of the coupling of an electric field based on the charge stored in adjacent floating gates (or other adjacent charge storing elements). The problem occurs most pronouncedly between sets of adjacent memory cells that have been programmed at different times. To account for this coupling, the read process for a particular memory cell will provide compensation to an adjacent memory cell in order to reduce the coupling effect that the adjacent memory cell has on the particular memory cell. |
| US08427866B2 |
Magnetic storage element and magnetic storage device
There are provided magnetic storage elements capable of performing a high-reliability write operation by inhibiting erroneous reversal of data of the magnetic storage element put in a semi-selected state, and a magnetic storage device using this. A recording layer having an easy axis and a hard axis overlaps at least one of a first or second conductive layer at the entire region thereof in plan view. First endpoints of a first line segment along the easy axis and maximum in dimension overlapping the recording layer in plan view don't overlap the second conductive layer in plan view. At least one of second endpoints of a pair of endpoints of a second line segment passing through the middle point of the first line segment, orthogonal to the first line segment in plan view, and overlapping the recording layer in plan view doesn't overlap the first conductive layer in plan view. |
| US08427865B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
There is provided a semiconductor storage device which is capable of further reducing a size of a memory cell, and increasing a storage capacity. Plural memory cells each including a transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a variable resistive device having a resistance value changed by voltage supply and connected between source and drain terminals of the transistor are arranged longitudinally and in an array to configure a three-dimensional memory cell array. A memory cell structure has a double channel structure in which an inside of a switching transistor is filled with a variable resistance element, particularly, a phase change material. The switching transistor is turned off by application of a voltage to increase a channel resistance so that a current flows in the internal phase change material to operate the memory. |
| US08427864B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
To write information on a memory cell of SPRAM formed of an MOS transistor and a tunnel magnetoresistive element, the memory cell is supplied with a current in a direction opposite to a direction of a current required for writing the information on the memory cell, and then, the memory cell is supplied with a current required for writing. In this manner, even when the same information is sequentially written on the memory cell, since the currents in the two directions are caused to flow in pairs in the tunnel magnetoresistive element of the memory cell each time information is rewritten, deterioration of a film that forms the tunnel magnetoresistive element can be suppressed. Therefore, reliability of the SPRAM can be improved. |
| US08427860B2 |
Memory component, memory device, and method of operating memory device
A memory component includes: a first electrode; a memory layer; and a second electrode which are provided in that order, wherein the memory layer includes an ion source layer containing aluminum (Al) together with at least one chalcogen element selected from the group consisting of tellurium (Te), sulfur (S), and selenium (Se), and a resistance variable layer provided between the ion source layer and the first electrode and containing an aluminum oxide and at least one of a transition metal oxide and a transition metal oxynitride having a lower resistance than the aluminum oxide. |
| US08427859B2 |
Arrays of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells, methods of forming arrays of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells, and methods of reading a data value stored by an array of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells
An array of vertically stacked tiers of non-volatile cross point memory cells includes a plurality of horizontally oriented word lines within individual tiers of memory cells. A plurality of horizontally oriented global bit lines having local vertical bit line extensions extend through multiple of the tiers. Individual of the memory cells comprise multi-resistive state material received between one of the horizontally oriented word lines and one of the local vertical bit line extensions where such cross, with such ones comprising opposing conductive electrodes of individual memory cells where such cross. A plurality of bit line select circuits individually electrically and physically connects to individual of the local vertical bit line extensions and are configured to supply a voltage potential to an individual of the global horizontal bit lines. Other embodiments and aspects are disclosed. |
| US08427858B2 |
Large array of upward pointinig p-i-n diodes having large and uniform current
A circuit is provided that includes a plurality of vertically oriented p-i-n diodes. Each p-i-n diode is coupled to a resistivity-switching element and includes a bottom heavily doped p-type region. When a voltage between about 1.5 volts and about 3.0 volts is applied across each p-i-n diode, a current of at least 1.5 microamps flows through 99 percent of the p-i-n diodes. Numerous other aspects are also provided. |
| US08427857B2 |
Electrical fuse programming time control scheme
A circuit includes a fuse and a sensing and control circuit. The fuse is coupled between a MOS transistor and a current source node. The sensing and control circuit is configured to receive a programming pulse and output a modified programming signal to the gate of the MOS transistor for programming the fuse. The modified programming signal has a pulse width based on a magnitude of a current through the first fuse. |
| US08427847B2 |
Resonant converter
A resonant converter (10) comprising a voltage compensation circuit (72, 73) configured to generate a periodic compensation voltage signal (Vslopecompens) at a switching frequency of the converter such that conduction intervals (31, 32) are ended according to first and second voltage levels in combination with the periodic compensation signal. |
| US08427845B2 |
Electrical connectors for optoelectronic device packaging
Packaged optoelectronic device include a first barrier layer having a plurality of feedthrough apertures communicating with at least one electrode layer of the device, and a plurality of conductive patches disposed on at least one of the plurality of feedthrough apertures for electrically connecting the device to a power supply. Each conductive patch includes a conductive metal surface layer and a non-conducting surface layer having an opening exposing the metal surface layer. |
| US08427843B2 |
Mounting apparatus for expansion cards
A mounting apparatus is adjusted to selectively mount a first expansion card or a second expansion card. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket, a retaining member fixed to the bracket, and a pivoting member pivotably attached to the retaining member. The pivoting member defines a first locking slot and a second locking slot. The pivoting member is pivotable along a first direction to limit the first expansion card. The pivoting member is pivotable along a direction opposing to the first direction to limit the second expansion card. |
| US08427842B2 |
Communication module
An electromagnetic wave suppression material is fixed to a case of a communication module. The electromagnetic wave suppression material suppresses radiation of electromagnetic waves by coming into contact with a cage that is a module insertion portion of a chassis when the communication module is inserted into the cage. A piezoelectric element is provided on the case, and located between the case and the electromagnetic wave suppression material. When the communication module is inserted into the cage, the controller applies a voltage to the piezoelectric element to stretch it by the applied voltage, thereby increasing contact pressure between the cage and the electromagnetic wave suppression material. |
| US08427838B2 |
Electronic device with key mechanism thereof
An electronic device includes a main body defining an opening, and a key mechanism secured in the opening. The key mechanism includes a fixing mechanism, a circuit board and a key. The fixing mechanism includes a tab and a support. The tab protrudes from a sidewall of the opening. The support includes an elastic supporting rib connected to the tab. The circuit board is fixed on the support and includes a switch. The key is rotatably connected to the fixing mechanism actuates the switch to generate an input signal. The supporting rib applies a restoring force to the key. |
| US08427837B2 |
Thumbscrew for pluggable modules
In one example, a pluggable module comprises a shell, a module connector, and one or more thumbscrews. The shell defines a cavity within which a PCB and one or more components are disposed and includes a front, back, first side, and second side. The module connector is operatively connected to the PCB near the back of the shell and extends from within the cavity to outside the shell through an opening defined in the back of the shell. The module connector is configured to operatively couple the pluggable module to a host device. The thumbscrews are housed within one or more portions of the shell and are configured to threadably secure the pluggable module to the host device. Each of the thumbscrews comprises a torque limiter. The pluggable module can further comprise protecting means for protecting a portion of the module connector extending outside the cavity from damage. |
| US08427834B2 |
Rotatable latch for compressing thermal interface material between a heat generating electrical component and a cooling electrical component
Apparatuses are provided for compressing a thermal interface material between a heat generating electrical component and a cooling electrical component. Embodiments include a draw rod coupled at one end to the cooling electrical component, the draw rod passing through the heat generating electrical component; wherein the draw rod includes a pin on the end opposite the end coupled to the cooling electrical component; and a rotatable latch coupled to the heat generating electrical component, the rotatable latch including a hook at one end; wherein when the rotatable latch is in an engaged position, the hook of the rotatable latch engages the pin of the draw rod such that the thermal interface material adhered to the heat generating component is coupled to the cooling electrical component; wherein when the rotatable latch is in an unengaged position, the hook of the rotatable latch is not engaged with the pin of the draw rod. |
| US08427833B2 |
Thermal power plane for integrated circuits
A mechanism is provided for a thermal power plane that delivers power and constitutes minimal thermal resistance. The mechanism comprises a processor layer coupled, via a first set of coupling devices, to a signaling and input/output (I/O) layer and a power delivery layer coupled, via a second set of coupling devices, to the processor layer. In the mechanism, the power delivery layer is dedicated to only delivering power and does not provide data communication signals to the elements of the mechanism. In the mechanism, the power delivery layer comprises a plurality of conductors, a plurality of insulating materials, one or more ground planes, and a plurality of through laminate vias. In the mechanism, the signaling and input/output (I/O) layer is dedicated to only transmitting the data communication signals to and receiving the data communications signals from the processor layer and does not provide power to the elements of the processor layer. |
| US08427831B2 |
Server system with heat dissipation apparatus
An exemplary server system includes a server cabinet defining a space therein; a number of racks arranged in the space, a number of servers mounted in the racks, and a heat dissipation apparatus arranged under the racks. A channel is defined between the racks. Each of the servers includes a drawing fan. The heat dissipation apparatus includes a fan module and two heat exchangers respectively arranged at opposite sides of the fan module. The fan module is aligned with the channel for generating upward a flow of cooling air upward to the channel. During operation of the server system, the cooling air is drawn across the servers by the drawing fans to evacuate heat from the servers and becomes heated air, and the heated air flows down to the heat exchangers where the heat is dissipated from the heated air such that the heated air become the cooling air again. |
| US08427828B2 |
Printed circuit board module enclosure and apparatus using same
A modular electronic component includes a circuit board having disposed thereon one or more electronic components and an enclosure for housing the circuit board. The enclosure comprises a thermally conductive shell having front and back surfaces being substantially parallel to the plane of the circuit board and being disposed on opposite sides of the circuit board from each other, left and right surfaces being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board and being disposed on opposite sides of the circuit board from each other, and top and bottom surfaces being substantially perpendicular to the left and right surfaces and substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces and being disposed on opposite sides of the circuit board from each other. A thermal shunt comprised of a thermally conductive material is disposed between the circuit board and the front surface of the enclosure and provides a thermally conductive path between at least some of the electronic components and the front surface of the enclosure, where the front surface of the enclosure conducts heat to at least one of the top, left, and right surfaces of the enclosure. |
| US08427826B2 |
Computer docking station assembly
A computer docking station includes a wall having a first surface, a second surface, and an aperture extending through the wall. A securing member has a body portion configured to be positioned adjacent the first surface of the wall, and a securing projection coupled to the body portion. The securing projection is sized and configured to selectively extend through the aperture in the wall, beyond the second surface, and into a securement recess of a computer to secure the computer to the docking station. An adjustment mechanism is coupled with the body portion of the securing member and is operable to move the securing member relative to the wall between a first position, in which the securing projection is positioned to extend into a securement recess of the computer, and a second position, in which the securing projection is positioned to not extend into the securement recess. |
| US08427824B2 |
Card mounting apparatus
An exemplary card mounting apparatus is for selectively mounting either of two different types of peripheral component interconnect (PCI) cards. The card mounting apparatus includes a bracket member, a receiving member, and a latch body. The bracket member defines an opening. The receiving member engages with the bracket member. The latch body hinges the bracket member and the receiving member. The receiving member is slidable relative to the bracket member, changing a length of the opening of the bracket member to allow the bracket member to receive different types of PCI card. |
| US08427823B2 |
Mounting device for storage device
In a mounting device for disk drive, two HDDs are retained in an outer case that forms the mounting device, and an inner case with guiding grooves each including an oblique groove and a parallel groove formed thereon is provided. When the inner case is extracted, the HDD on the front side is caused to ascend in the vertical direction to a position where the HDD on the front side does not obstruct the extraction of the HDD on the back side. |
| US08427817B2 |
Handheld diabetes manager with touch screen display
A handheld diabetes manager having a blood glucose measurement engine comprises a housing having a blood glucose measuring engine and a printed circuit board disposed in the housing. A touch screen can be coupled to the housing. The touch screen can have a transparent portion surrounded by a non-transparent portion. The non-transparent portion can have adhesive thereon that seals the touch screen to the housing. A flexible connector can electrically connect at least two independent electrical leads between the touch screen and the printed circuit board. An antenna assembly can be disposed in the housing and comprise a molded carrier, a conductive portion on the molded carrier and a speaker. The conductive portion can be electrically connected to the printed circuit board and be configured to receive a radio signal. The carrier can include a recess that receives the speaker and is configured to project sound from the speaker. |
| US08427816B2 |
Low-voltage and high-voltage integrated junction box
A low-voltage and high-voltage integrated junction box includes a high-voltage distribution part, a low-voltage control board, and a control box. The high voltage distribution part includes a high-voltage relay for applying/cutting high voltage to an output terminal by distributing high voltage applied from a high-voltage battery and a bus bar for transmitting the high voltage applied through the high-voltage relay to the output terminal. The low-voltage control board controls low-voltage load and controls a breakdown of the high-voltage distribution part and operation of electric components of a vehicle. The control box accommodates therein the high-voltage distribution part and the low-voltage control board. With this integrated injunction box, manufacturing costs can be reduced. |
| US08427814B1 |
Mobile power distribution system
A mobile power distribution system for use in field operations requiring primary and secondary power sources wherein at least one of the power sources is a generator. The system includes primary and secondary power connections, an automatic transfer switch, a transformer, and a plurality of high and low voltage outlets. The entire system is mounted on a trailer or skid platform and fits within a standard 20-foot ISO container. |
| US08427811B2 |
Electrode for electric double layer capacitor and method for producing the same
An electrical double-layer capacitor electrode with excellent capacitance characteristics is obtained together with a manufacturing method therefor. Paper-molded sheet 2 of carbon nanotubes is integrated with etched foil 1 constituting a collector, by means of bumps and indentations 1a formed on the surface of etched foil 1 to prepare an electrical double-layer capacitor electrode. Alternatively, carbon nanotubes 4 grown around core catalyst particles on substrate 3 are integrated with etched foil 1 by means of bumps and indentations 1a formed on the surface of etched foil 1 to prepare an electrical double-layer capacitor electrode. To manufacture these electrodes, this carbon nanotube sheet 2 or substrate 3 with carbon nanotubes grown thereon is laid over bumps and indentations 1a on the surface of etched foil 1, and the sheet or substrate and the foil are pressed under 0.01 to 100 t/cm2 of pressure to integrate the carbon nanotubes with the etched foil. |
| US08427806B2 |
Control system and method for transmission solenoids
A current control output (CCO) system for transmission solenoids includes a current determination module, a current compensation module, and a current control module. The current determination module determines a desired current for the solenoids based on a desired pressure. The current compensation module generates a compensated current by adjusting the desired current based on a system pressure and a temperature of oil in the transmission. The current control module performs current-based control of and applies hysteresis to the solenoids based on the compensated current. |
| US08427803B2 |
Current transformer with integrated actuator
A system comprising a magnetic actuator, a current transformer and operational electronics in a dual-coil circuit breaker. The system includes an inline implementation of the primary and secondary coils to maintain a narrow width suitable for retrofitting in currently designed industrial rack mounted enclosures. The system further comprises network connectivity allowing interrogation of the components for operational data associated with the component. |
| US08427801B2 |
Rectifier circuit
Rectifier circuits which are usable, instead of diodes, for rectifying alternating voltages, and which, like diodes, form two-terminal networks having a cathode terminal and an anode terminal. The power loss of these rectifier circuits is clearly less that the power loss of silicon p-n diodes. These rectifier circuits also include voltage clamping functions. |
| US08427793B2 |
Switching power supply, control circuit for controlling switching power supply, control method of switching power supply and module substrate
A switching power supply includes: a first switch provided between a positive terminal of a DC power supply and a positive terminal of a load; a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch; a first capacitor provided between the second switch and a node of the first switch on a DC power supply side; a first inductor provided between the first capacitor and the positive terminal of the DC power supply; and a control circuit that turns off the second switch after the first switch is turned off and when or before a voltage across the first capacitor becomes zero. |
| US08427790B2 |
Thin film magnetic head having similarly structured resistive film pattern and magnetic bias layer
A thin film magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive element having a recording-medium-facing-surface which is to be faced with a magnetic recording medium; a magnetic bias layer located on a side opposite to the recording-medium-facing-surface of the magnetoresistive element, and applying a bias magnetic field to the magnetoresistive element in a direction orthogonal to the recording-medium-facing-surface; and a resistive film pattern having the recording-medium-facing-surface, the resistive film pattern being located side by side with the magnetoresistive element in a track-width direction. |
| US08427789B2 |
Magnetic head suspensions having a load bending portion, a load beam portion, and a balance mass member
The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion. |
| US08427785B2 |
Head-slider including a low-surface-energy film that prevents lubricant accumulation, head-arm assembly including the head-slider, and hard-disk drive including the head-arm assembly
The head-slider is configured to receive an air-stream produced by rotation of a magnetic-recording disk and is configured to fly in proximity with a recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk. The head-slider includes a trailing edge on an outflow side of the air-stream, and a disk-facing surface that is configured to face the recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk. A low-surface-energy film is disposed on a portion of a trailing-edge side of the head-slider that is in contact with a boundary between the trailing edge and the disk-facing surface. The low-surface-energy film has a lower surface energy than other portions of the trailing-edge side where the low-surface-energy film is not disposed. |
| US08427782B2 |
Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording
A magnetic layer for writing incorporates: a pole layer having an end face located in a medium facing surface and a lower yoke layer. A first magnetic layer for flux concentration is connected to the lower yoke layer at a location away from the medium facing surface, and passes a magnetic flux corresponding to a magnetic field generated by a first coil. A second magnetic layer for flux concentration is connected to the pole layer at a location away from the medium facing surface, and passes a magnetic flux corresponding to a magnetic field generated by a second coil. A nonmagnetic layer is disposed between the pole layer and the lower yoke layer. The lower yoke layer is connected to the pole layer at a location closer to the medium facing surface than the nonmagnetic layer. |
| US08427781B1 |
Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording having a main pole and a shield
A magnetic head with a main pole is provided. The main pole has a bottom end including an inclined portion. A write shield has a first inclined surface opposed to the inclined portion and a second inclined surface that is located farther from a medium facing surface than is the first inclined surface. The first inclined surface has a first end located in the medium facing surface and a second end opposite thereto. The second inclined surface has a third end connected to the second end and a fourth end opposite thereto. The second inclined surface forms a greater angle than does the first inclined surface relative to a direction perpendicular to the medium facing surface. The distance between the main pole and an arbitrary point on the second inclined surface increases with decreasing distance between the arbitrary point and the fourth end. |
| US08427777B2 |
Disk drive device provided with lubricant-filled fluid dynamic bearing
In a disk drive device, a hub has an outer circumferential wall portion configured to hold a recording disk. A base member has a cylindrical portion, whose central axis is the rotation axis of the hub, on a surface on the side of the hub. A fluid dynamic bearing holds a lubricant and rotatably supports the hub relative to the base member. A ring-shaped attraction plate including a magnetic material is fixed to the base member and faces a magnet in the axial direction. The outer circumferential wall portion is configured such that the outer circumferential wall portion surrounds the attraction plate and that the range of the outer circumferential wall portion in the axial direction overlaps with the range of the attraction plate in the axial direction. |
| US08427771B1 |
Hybrid drive storing copy of data in non-volatile semiconductor memory for suspect disk data sectors
A hybrid drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data sectors, and a non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM) comprising a plurality of memory segments. A read command is received from a host to read data from a first data sector. Data is read from the first data sector during a first read operation and a determination is made as to whether the first data sector is suspect. When the first data sector is suspect, the data is written to a first memory segment of the NVSM. |
| US08427769B1 |
Multi-stage Lyot filter and method
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a multi-stage Lyot filter comprises a plurality of prisms, a polarizing block, and a non-rotating, single-adjustment birefringent element. Each of the prisms is configured to receive light and to reflect the light. The polarizing block is configured to provide polarization discrimination of the light. The birefringent element is configured to tune the Lyot filter. The prisms are further configured to pass the light through the birefringent element multiple times. |
| US08427764B1 |
Lens system
A lens system with positive refraction power, in order from the object-side to the image-side, includes a first lens group with negative refraction power and a second lens group with positive refraction power. The first lens group includes a first lens with negative refraction power, a second lens with positive refraction power, and a third lens with positive refraction power. The second lens group includes a fourth lens with negative refraction power, a fifth lens, and a sixth lens. The lens system satisfies the following condition: 5 |
| US08427762B2 |
Optical system and optical apparatus including the optical system
An optical system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, an aperture stop, and a rear lens group. In the optical system, the rear lens group includes a second lens unit configured to move during focusing. The first lens unit includes n positive lenses (n is an integer greater than 1) and one or more negative lenses. With an order of an optical member counted from the object side towards the image side being indicated by i (i is an integer equal to or greater than 1), a refractive index and an Abbe number of a material of an i-th positive lens of the first lens unit with respect to d-line light (Ndi, νdi), maximum and minimum values of the Abbe number νdi (max(νdi), min(νdi)), a minimum value of the refractive index Ndi (min(Ndi)), a focal length of the first lens unit (fp), and a focal length of the entire optical system (f) are appropriately set. |
| US08427761B2 |
Image pickup optical system, image pickup optical device, and digital equipment
An image pickup optical system OP includes first and second prisms P1, P2 for bending incident light at an almost right angle. Optical axis AX at the incident surface of first prism P1 and optical axis AX at the outgoing surface of second prism P2 are almost parallel with each other. There is a lens element forming at least one power group on the optical path between first and second prisms P1, P2, wherein a power group closest to the incident surface of second prism P2 is a positive power group. The incident surface of second prism P2 has a concaved surface shape facing the object side, and the following conditional expressions are satisfied: −4.2 |
| US08427758B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus using the same
A zoom lens comprises in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, a third lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power. The second lens unit comprises in order from the object side, a positive lens, a negative lens, and a positive lens. At the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit moves toward the object side, and the fourth lens unit moves, and a distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit decreases monotonically, a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit increases monotonically, and a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit increases monotonically. |
| US08427752B2 |
Illumination apparatus and microscope having the same
An illumination apparatus includes a light source and a collimator optical system converting light emitted from the light source to approximately-parallel light. The collimator optical system includes, in an order of proximity to the light source, a first lens having a positive power and including an approximately-flat surface and an aspheric surface, and a second lens having a positive power. |
| US08427749B2 |
Beam combining light source
The invention relates to sources of optical radiation wherein polarized radiation from first and second rows of light emitters is first collimated and combined into two combined beam using first and second rows of collimating and beam re-directing elements, respectively, and then polarization multiplexed to form a polarization-multiplexed output beam. In order to reduce the footprint, emitters of the first and second emitter rows are disposed in an interleaved, staggered arrangement, and the second row of collimating and beam re-directing elements is disposed in a space between the first emitter row and the first row of collimating and beam re-directing elements. |
| US08427744B2 |
All-reflective relayed focal telescope derived from the first two mirrors of an afocal three-mirror anastigmat
An optical system includes a primary mirror of a positive-powered concave substantially paraboloidal configuration configured to reflect light incident thereupon; a secondary mirror of a negative-powered convex hyperboloidal configuration facing the primary mirror configured to receive the light reflected from the primary mirror and redirect the light reflected from the primary mirror; a positive-powered tertiary mirror configured to substantially reimage and reflect divergent light rays incident from the secondary mirror; and a powered quaternary mirror configured to receive the reimaged light rays from the tertiary mirror, and to relay the received reimaged light rays to a focal point. |
| US08427736B2 |
Illumination device, display device, and method of manufacturing light modulator
An illumination device is provided and has a light guide plate, a light source and a light modulator, wherein the light modulator has a pair of transparent substrates a pair of electrodes and a light modulator layer. The light modulator layer includes a first region being changed between a transparent state and a scatterable state depending on intensity of an electric field, and a second region being more transparent than the first region in a scatterable state at an electric field having a certain intensity, the electric field being applied when the first region is changed between the transparent state and the scatterable state, and an occupancy rate of the first region in the light modulator layer is increased with increase in distance from the light source. |
| US08427735B2 |
Electrophoretic display sheet, electrophoretic display, method for producing electrophoretic display, and electronic apparatus
An electrophoretic display sheet includes: a substrate; at least one kind of electrophoretic particles; an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing the at least one kind of electrophoretic particles; a microcapsule having a shell for enclosing the electrophoretic dispersion liquid therein; a microcapsule-containing layer provided on a surface side of the substrate to contain the microcapsule; and a binder having a function of retaining the microcapsule and having viscosity under room temperature, the microcapsule-containing layer including the microcapsule and the binder; and the electrophoretic particles being contained in the electrophoretic dispersion liquid in a ratio of 30% to 60% wt. with respect to a weight of the electrophoretic dispersion liquid. |
| US08427734B2 |
Three-dimensional image display device and electrochromic module thereof
A 3D image display device includes a display module, an electrochromic module, a control element and a sensing element. The display module is provided for generating a left-eye image and a right-eye image. The electrochromic module is comprised of a first transparent substrate, a first transparent conductive element, a plurality of first electrochromic elements, an electrolyte layer, a plurality of second electrochromic elements, a second transparent conductive element and a second transparent substrate. The second electrochromic elements are arranged orthogonally with the first electrochromic elements. The control element is provided for switching the voltage of the first and second transparent conductive elements. The sensing element is provided for sensing a rotating direction of the 3D image display device and transmitting a sensing signal to the control element to change the color of the first or second electrochromic element, so as to produce a parallax barrier. |
| US08427729B2 |
Light adjusting apparatus
A light adjusting apparatus including: first and second substrates, at least one of which has an aperture; a spacer which defines a distance between the first and second substrates; at least one incident light adjuster which includes a shaft member as a center of rotation and rotates between the first and second substrates in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis direction, a magnet being formed on at least part of the shaft; at least one driving device which includes a coil formed separately from the magnet, and drives the incident light adjuster; wherein the driving device rotates the incident light adjuster between a position at the aperture and a position to retract from the position of the aperture, further comprising a guide portion which is formed on the first substrate to restrict movement of the shaft member in directions other than a rotation direction thereof. |
| US08427726B2 |
Hollow reflecting optical element and scanning optical device
Provided are a resinous reflecting optical element that achieves high mirror surface precision by mitigating the warping effects associated with contraction during resin hardening and suppressing the distortion of a mirror surface that results from resistance to mold release, and a scanning optical device that uses said reflecting optical element. The reflecting optical element is characterized by having a long, tabular substrate (3), a mirror surface section (2) positioned on one surface of the substrate (3), and a hollow portion (4) positioned within the interior of the substrate (3), and is also characterized in that, as a result of configuring so that the hollow portion (4) is longer than the mirror surface section (2), warping and sink marks which form due to contraction during resin hardening are mitigated across the entire mirror surface section (2), and in that the entire mirror surface section (2) protrudes above the surface of the substrate (3), thereby suppressing the increase in resistance to mold release that occurs when a metallic mold is gripped by the molding during resin contraction, and preventing distortion of the mirror surface section (2) that is caused by resistance to mold release. |
| US08427719B2 |
Image reader
An image reader includes a loading unit including a first transparent member that has a loading surface on which a document sheet is placed, a reading unit that includes light receiving elements arranged in a first direction under the first transparent member and is configured to move in a second direction parallel to the loading surface and perpendicular to the first direction and to read an image from the document sheet placed on the loading surface by repeating an operation of scanning the document sheet in the first direction with the light receiving elements while moving in the second direction, and a black reference member including a black area that is disposed in a position lower than the loading surface of the first transparent member and higher than the light receiving elements and configured to be read in acquiring black reference data for black level correction. |
| US08427717B2 |
Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image reading method
A plurality of LED circuits are each configured having white LEDs serially connected therein, and the white LEDs are arranged in alternate main scanning direction positions for each of the LED circuits. When any of these LED circuits has failed, an output light power of white LEDs of LED circuits that have not failed is increased by a light power control section, thereby compensating an extinguished amount of the failed LED circuit. |
| US08427713B2 |
Document reader with an image sensor rotating in accordance with distance between a document surface and a platen surface
A document reader includes an image sensor. The image sensor is movable in a secondary scanning direction and rotatable about a rotational axis extending in a primary scanning direction, and obtains image information from a region facing a light-receiving surface. Rotation of the image sensor is controlled based on distance information about a distance between a document surface and a platen in such a manner as to make an image distance fall within a depth-of-field range of the image sensor. |
| US08427710B2 |
Communication device and method for rejecting to store data in a disabled database field
A communication device includes a storing unit, a first determining unit, a rejection unit, and a communication unit. The storing unit stores a database structured to have collection of records. Each record is configured from a plurality of fields including a contact name field for entry of a name of a contact and a data field set including a plurality of fields for entry of data in association with the name of a contact. The first determining unit is configured to determine whether a field included in the data field set is enabled or disabled. The rejection unit is configured to reject to store data in a field of the database that is determined to be disabled by the first determining unit. The communication unit is communicable with the contact based on data in the database. |
| US08427709B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus selects either an FCP system, an RT system or a WT system, acquires latest battery capacity information and storage capacity information of an AV hard disk device (AVHDD) using either the FCP system, RT system or WT system, and informs a user about conditions of a battery and a storage capacity of the AVHDD. By providing such an imaging apparatus, the user can recognize the conditions of the battery and the storage capacity of the AVHDD. |
| US08427706B1 |
Error diffusion halftoning techniques and configurations
Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and configurations for error diffusion halftoning of an image including receiving a signal that indicates selection of a first implementation or a second implementation of determining a threshold perturbation value for error diffusion halftoning of an image, and determining the threshold perturbation value using a table of programmable values according to the selected one of the first implementation or the second implementation, wherein the second implementation provides fewer threshold perturbation values for a larger region of the image than the first implementation. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US08427701B2 |
Image arrangement supporting device, image processor, image arrangement supporting method and computer readable medium
An image arrangement supporting device includes: a detection unit that detects a state in which plural images associated with drawing attributions different from each other are arranged on one virtual medium; and an output unit that outputs information indicating that at least one of the plural images is not formed on one real medium with a drawing attribution associated with the at least one of the plural images, in accordance with detection of the state by the detection unit. |
| US08427700B2 |
Printing system, data processing method, and program for the data processing method
A printing system stores image data obtained by scanning a document with scanning setting information set up at the time of the scan of the document, generates print settings for printing the stored image data by changing the default printing setting information set up for every user stored in the user information storing unit with the stored scanning setting information and transmits stored information for specifying the image data and the generated print settings to a browser device. |
| US08427697B2 |
Color separation into plural ink components including primary color ink and spot color ink
An ink set that includes a plurality of chromatic primary color inks that can reproduce achromatic color in combination with each other and at least one spot color ink having a hue different from any of the chromatic primary color inks is prepared. A color to be reproduced on a printing medium in accordance with a given input color is termed a reproduction color, and a combination of ink amounts for inks in the ink set to be used to reproduce the reproduction color on the printing medium is termed a color separation ink amount set. When a saturation parameter value that is correlated with the saturation of the reproduction color falls within a first range that is close to achromaticity, the ink amount of the spot color ink included in the color separation ink amount set is adjusted such that it decreases in accordance with a change in the saturation parameter value in the direction of lower saturation. |
| US08427694B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing program product generating processing data having consistent pixel density
An image processing apparatus configured to generate a printing image for printing document data by a printer, includes a first processing part configured to generate first processing data having resolution different from the resolution with respect to printing order for character data contained in the document data; a second processing part configured to generate second processing data having a pixel density consistent with the pixel density of the first processing data for image data contained in the document data; and a printing image generating part configured to generate printing data by synthesizing the first processing data and the second processing data. The second processing part makes the pixel density of the second processing data consistent with the pixel density of the first processing data by tone conversion of the image data. |
| US08427684B2 |
Resource conflict resolution mechanism
A computer generated method disclosed. The method includes receiving a print job including a plurality of print files, processing a first resource in a first print file by determining if the name of the first resource matches a name of a previously processed resource, determining if data within the first resource matches data within a previously processed resource if the name of the first resource matches the name of the previously processed resource and renaming the first resource if the data within the first resource does not match data within the previously processed resource. |
| US08427676B2 |
Image transmitting device
An image transmitting device for transmitting an image from an image source device to an image output device includes a second USB interface, an image receiver, a first memory, a wireless transmitter, a processor, and a switch. The image source device includes a first USB interface, and the image output device includes a wireless receiver. The second USB interface is connected to the first USB interface by a cable. The image receiver is used for receiving the image from the image source device. The first memory is used for storing the image received by the image receiver. The wireless transmitter is used for communicating with the wireless receiver and for transmitting the image from the first memory to the image output device. The switch is used for switching on or off the power voltage of the second USB interface and for driving the processor to switch on or off the image receiver. |
| US08427674B2 |
Information processing apparatus with template control of process flow in a print device
An information processing apparatus that reflects edited content in a process flow when the process flow has been created based on a template and the template forming the basis of the process flow has been edited. To accomplish this, the information processing apparatus, which executes processes in accordance with process flows, creates a process flow that describes the process content of tasks, based on a process flow template. At this time, the information processing apparatus edits the template used by the process flow when editing of the template is instructed, and changes a portion corresponding to the template of the created process flow into the changed content of the edited template. |
| US08427671B2 |
Image processing apparatus capable of timely notifying user of change in state, control method thereof, and image processing system
When a user (4201) requests display of a list of documents in a box, an embedded RSS reader (4210) receives the information. The RSS reader (4210) establishes communication with an HTTP server (212), and transmits an RSS feed acquisition request. The HTTP server (212) sends back an update information feed file stored in an image processing apparatus to the RSS reader (4210) as a response to the HTTP request. The RSS reader (4210) analyzes the acquired feed file, formats an entry which has not been read by the user (4202), and displays the entry on the operation unit of the image processing apparatus. If the user selects the anchor of a link contained in the entry displayed by the RSS reader (4210), the RSS reader (4210) causes an embedded Web browser (211) to format and display a resource specified by a URI. |
| US08427670B2 |
System and method for improving throughput in a print production environment
Systems and methods for increasing throughput of print jobs in a print shop environment are disclosed. A system may include a plurality of resources, a print job workflow management system that coordinates a flow of print jobs with respect to the plurality of resources, and a processor-readable storage medium in communication with the print job workflow management system. The processor-readable storage medium may contain one or more programming instructions that, when executed, direct the print job workflow management system to receive print job characteristics pertaining to a plurality of print jobs processed in the print shop environment. Data determined based on the received print job characteristics, including a form type utilized in the print shop environment for each job and a print volume associated with each form type, may be provided. The plurality of resources may then be assigned based on the print volume associated with each form type. |
| US08427669B2 |
Scanner control system and scanner driver program
A scanner control system is described. The scanner control system includes a first communication interface which communicates with a first device group, a second communication interface which communicates with a second device group, the first device group and the second device group each containing a scanner, the second communication interface being different in specifications from the first communication interface, a storage device which stores scanner information on at least one scanner contained in the second device group, and a system main unit that transmits an instruction from an application unit to-the to a scanner driver unit and transmitting data from the scanner drive unit to the application unit. |
| US08427668B2 |
Grid job submission using shared network filesystem
A method for executing a job using a remote file system that includes obtaining a plurality of job data files by the remote file system, wherein the plurality of job data files are created on the remote file system, detecting a job request for the job in an input directory to obtain a detected job request, wherein the job request is generated by a client, and executing the job based on the job data files and the detected job request, wherein executing the job generates an output file, wherein the remote file system is accessible using a local file system of the client. |
| US08427654B2 |
Spectral domain optical coherence tomography system
An optical coherence tomography device is disclosed for improved imaging. Reduced levels of speckle in the images generated by the device are obtained by forming a B-scan from a plurality of A-scans, wherein each resolution cell of the B-scan is generated through compounding of a subset of the A-scans and wherein at least some of the subset of A-scans are separated by at least half the diameter of a speckle cell both tangent to and orthogonal to the B-scan at that cell. |
| US08427650B2 |
Reconstruction of nonlinear wave propagation
Disclosed are systems and methods for characterizing a nonlinear propagation environment by numerically propagating a measured output waveform resulting from a known input waveform. The numerical propagation reconstructs the input waveform, and in the process, the nonlinear environment is characterized. In certain embodiments, knowledge of the characterized nonlinear environment facilitates determination of an unknown input based on a measured output. Similarly, knowledge of the characterized nonlinear environment also facilitates formation of a desired output based on a configurable input. In both situations, the input thus characterized and the output thus obtained include features that would normally be lost in linear propagations. Such features can include evanescent waves and peripheral waves, such that an image thus obtained are inherently wide-angle, farfield form of microscopy. |
| US08427647B2 |
Cavity ring-down spectrometer systems
Cavity ring-down spectrometer systems are described herein. One or more embodiments include a cavity having at least two mirrors, wherein a first mirror of the at least two mirrors is configured to permit light to enter and exit the cavity, a first detector configured to detect light exiting the cavity through the first mirror, and a second detector configured to detect light from the first mirror, wherein the first detector is separate from the second detector. |
| US08427645B2 |
Mueller matrix spectroscopy using chiroptic
An optical metrology device produces a broadband beam of light that is incident on and reflected by a sample and introduces multiple variations in the polarization state of the beam of light induced by an optical chiral element. Using the detected light, the Muller matrix or partial Mueller matrix for the sample is determined, which is then used to determine a characteristic of the sample. For example, simulated spectra for a Mueller matrix for a model is fit to the measured spectra for the Mueller matrix of the sample by adjusting the parameters of the model until an acceptable fit between the simulated spectra and measured spectra from the Mueller matrices is produced. The varied parameters are then used as the sample parameters of interested, which can be reported, such as by storing in memory or displaying. |
| US08427642B2 |
Two-dimensional optical imaging methods and systems for particle detection
The present invention provides methods and systems for particle detection and analysis using two-dimensional optical imaging to access enhanced detection sensitivity and expanded sensing functionality relative to conventional point and array detection-based optical particle counters. Methods and systems of the present invention provide a two-dimensional optical imaging-based particle sensing platform wherein system components and specifications are selected to generate reproducible and readily identifiable signals, including particle detection signatures, from optical scattering or emission from particles provided to the system. Systems and methods of the present invention are capable of accurately and sensitively detecting, identifying, and characterizing (e.g., determining the size of) particles in liquid phase or gas phase samples. |
| US08427639B2 |
Surfaced enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates
Manufacturing a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active structure includes exposing a substrate to produce an exposure pattern then etching the substrate based on the exposure pattern to produce a plurality of nanostructure cores having a plurality of sides extending from the substrate. Adjacent nanostructure cores are separated by core gaps. SERS active material is deposited onto the plurality of nanostructure cores producing a structure having gaps suitable for use in a SERS process. |
| US08427638B2 |
Optical measurement device including a multi-component sealing assembly
Optical measurement devices including one or more sealing assemblies are described. The sealing assemblies are configured for use at relatively high temperatures and pressures, such as temperatures over 200 degrees F. and pressures over 10,000 psi. The sealing assemblies can include a deformable seal element surrounded on each side by a backup seal element. In some examples, the deformable seal element is formed of a material selected from a group consisting of a fluoroelastomer or polytetrafluoroethylene, and the backup seal elements are formed of a material selected from a group consisting of flexible graphite or metal foil. Optionally, at least one additional seal element functioning as an extrusion barrier can be placed on the opposite side of one or both backup seal elements from the deformable seal element. The additional seal element can be formed of polyether ether ketone or flexible graphite, for example. Additional devices and assemblies are described. |
| US08427634B2 |
Defect inspection method and apparatus
A pattern inspection apparatus is provided to compare images of regions, corresponding to each other, of patterns that are formed so as to be identical and judge that non-coincident portions in the images are defects. The pattern inspection apparatus is equipped with an image comparing section which plots individual pixels of an inspection subject image in a feature space and detects excessively deviated points in the feature space as defects. Defects can be detected correctly even when the same patterns in images have a brightness difference due to a difference in the thickness of a film formed on a wafer. |
| US08427632B1 |
Image sensor with laser for range measurements
A method of image-based positioning is provided. The method comprises: (A) providing an image-capturing device integrated with a focused-radiation source and a processor; the image-capturing device further comprises an image sensor; (B) capturing an image of an object located in a field of view (FOV) of the image-capturing device by using the image sensor; (C) directing a focused ray of radiation generated by the focused-radiation source to the object located in the (FOV) of the image-capturing device; (D) detecting at least one return signal generated by reflection of the focused ray of radiation from the object located in FOV of the image-capturing device by using the image sensor; (E) characterizing the object located in a field of view (FOV) of the image-capturing device by using each return signal; and (F) processing each return signal in order to determine a distance from the object located in the FOV to the image-capturing device. |
| US08427631B2 |
Exposure apparatus, method of forming patterned layer, method of forming patterned photoresist layer, active device array substrate and patterned layer
An exposure apparatus is provided and adapted for exposing a photoresist layer on a layer to form a plurality of strip exposed patterns. The exposure apparatus includes a light source, a lens group and a mask. The lens group is disposed between the photoresist layer and the light source and includes a plurality of strip lens parallel to each other, wherein an overlapping region between any two neighboring strip lens is defined as a lens connecting region, and the other regions excluding the lens connecting regions are defined as lens regions. The mask is disposed between the photoresist layer and the lens group and includes a plurality of shielding patterns, wherein an outline of the shielding patterns corresponds to the strip exposed patterns, each shielding pattern has a strip opening, and an extension direction of the strip openings is substantially parallel to an extension direction of the shielding patterns. |
| US08427627B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and methods
A system for cleaning a limited area of a top surface of a substrate table or an object positioned on a top surface of a substrate table is disclosed. The optical system used during normal imaging is adjusted to limit the cross-sectional area of a radiation beam to form a cleaning radiation beam which impinges on the limited area. |
| US08427624B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In an IPS type liquid crystal display device, a light shielding film, a red color filter, an overcoat film, and an alignment film are formed in this order on a counter substrate. However, the alignment film is not formed in a seal portion. When the alignment film is subjected to photo-alignment with ultraviolet radiation, a portion of the overcoat film not covered with the alignment film is degraded by ultraviolet radiation. In order to prevent moisture penetrating from the degraded overcoat film from reaching the light shielding film to thereby alter the light shielding film and from causing the peeling of the light shielding film, the red color filter is disposed below the overcoat film to block the moisture. |
| US08427622B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel having a touch function
A liquid crystal display panel includes a lower substrate, a printed circuit board, at least one connection unit and a plurality of readout lines. The connection unit is adapted to connect the printed circuit board to a periphery region of the lower substrate, and has a driver. The readout lines are extended from the lower substrate to the printed circuit board through the connection unit having the driver. |
| US08427618B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel for liquid crystal display
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display capable of high quality image and bright display. Gate signal lines are curved at near switching elements of the liquid crystal display. A pixel area is defined by the gate signal lines and their intersecting data signal lines. Pixel electrodes and common electrodes are disposed along a longitudinal direction of a pixel. A pixel signal and a common signal line is connected to the pixel electrode and the common electrode respectively. A storage capacitor may be formed in the middle of a longitudinal direction of the pixel, or where generally a texture may arise during display. One half of the pixel may be symmetrical with the other half with respect to the storage capacitor. A common signal line may be parallel with the data signal line and be disposed nearer to the data signal line than a pixel signal line. The pixel may be disposed symmetrically with respect to the data signal line therebetween. The pixel shape may also be repeated in the direction of the gate signal line. |
| US08427616B2 |
Bistable chiral splay nematic mode crystal display device
A bistable chiral splay nematic mode liquid crystal display device including a first substrate; a first electrode on the first substrate, the first electrode having a plate shape; a first insulating layer covering the first electrode; a second electrode and a third electrode on the first insulating layer along a first direction; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a fourth electrode on the second substrate, the fourth electrode having a plate shape; a second insulating layer covering the fourth electrode; a fifth electrode and a sixth electrode on the second insulating layer along a second direction; and a bistable chiral splay nematic liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US08427612B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate at intervals with each other, and a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and configured to include a vertical alignment liquid crystal. When the interval between the pixel electrodes adjacent to each other is s [μm], the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is d [μm] and the pretilt angle of the vertical alignment liquid crystal is θ[°], a relation equation −1.6×s/d+4.4≦θ≦−2.6×s/d+5.6 is satisfied. |
| US08427607B2 |
Array substrate for transflective liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
An array substrate for a transflective liquid crystal display device comprising a common electrode over a third passivation layer substantially all over a substrate, the common electrode having first openings and second openings corresponding to a transmissive area and a reflective area, respectively, wherein the first openings are spaced apart from each other and are parallel to a data line, and the second openings are spaced apart from each other and are slant at a predetermined angle with respect to the data line, wherein first ends of the first openings overlap a second gate line, second ends of the first openings overlap the common line, first ends of the second openings overlap the common line, and second ends of the second openings overlap a first gate line. |
| US08427604B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a light source, an optical waveguide, a light-extracting portion, a liquid crystal dispersion layer and a drive circuit. The optical waveguide has two ends to guide light from one of the two ends to the other end. The light is emitted by the light source. The light-extracting portion is provided to a side face of the optical waveguide. The liquid crystal dispersion layer is included in the light-extracting portion and includes liquid crystal droplets whose mean diameter is 100 nm or less. The drive circuit applies a voltage to the light-extracting portion to generate an electric field in the liquid crystal dispersion layer so that the light transmitting through the optical waveguide is scattered to be extracted. |
| US08427600B2 |
Surface light source apparatus and liquid crystal display apparatus
The present invention employs a configuration described as follows, so as to realize a surface light source apparatus which attain a thinness and a further improved luminance uniformity without suffering a deterioration in luminance. Specifically, space maintaining sections (6) are provided on a substrate (4) onto which light sources (2) are mounted, so as to cause an optical sheet (5) and a light emitting surface made up of outputting surfaces (1c) to be away from each other by a given distance. The space marinating sections 6 are provided so as to protrude from respective gaps each of which occurs between adjacent two of light guides (1) which are juxtaposed so as not to overlap each other. |
| US08427594B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates and including liquid crystal molecules; a gate line which transmits a gate signal; first and second data lines which respectively transmit first and second data voltages, the first and second data voltages having opposite polarities; a first switching element connected to the gate line and the first data line; a second switching element connected to the gate line and the second data line; a first subpixel electrode connected to the first switching element; and a second subpixel electrode connected to the second switching element. The first and second subpixel electrodes overlap portions of the first and second data lines. The first and second subpixel electrodes include first and second branches, respectively, which are alternately arranged between the first and second data lines. |
| US08427592B2 |
Pixels having fringe field amplifying regions for multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal displays
A multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display that does not require physical features on the substrate (such as protrusions and ITO slits) is disclosed. Each pixel of the MVA LCD is subdivided into color components, which are further divided into color dots. Each pixel also contains fringe field amplifying regions that separate the color dots of a pixel. The voltage polarity of the color dots and fringe field amplifying regions are arranged so that fringe fields in each color dot causes multiple liquid crystal domains in each color dot. Specifically, the color dots and fringe field amplifying regions of the display are arranged so that neighboring polarized elements have opposite polarities. |
| US08427590B2 |
Laser based display method and system
The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US08427586B2 |
Tuner comprising an IF filter with a controllable damping stage and receiver comprising a respective tuner
The tuner comprises an RF input for receiving a high frequency signal, a downconverter including a mixer for downconverting the high frequency signal, an IF filter coupled to an output of the mixer, an SAW filter coupled to an output of the IF filter and a gain-controlled IF amplifier coupled to an output of the SAW filter for providing an amplified IF signal for a subsequent demodulator. The IF filter includes a controllable damping stage which is in particular usable for improving the noise performance of the tuner. The tuner is designed in a preferred embodiment for reception of analog and digital television signals and the controllable damping stage provides a damping in case of reception of an analog television signal for improving a signal/noise ratio of the analog television signal. The damping stage comprises for example a switching stage utilizing one or several varactor diodes as damping elements. |
| US08427584B2 |
Output device
An output device to output an image and/or a sound based on a signal input from one of a plurality of external devices connected to the output device, the external devices including an HDMI source device to input an HDMI signal to the output device. The output device is configured to instruct an adjustment of sound volume of the sound output from the output device; to adjust the sound volume of the output sound in accordance with an instruction from an instruction section; to judge whether a header of an Audio InfoFrame exists in InfoFrame data in the HDMI signal input from the HDMI source device or not; and to invalidate the instruction from the instruction section during a period from time when the header of the Audio InfoFrame is judged not to exist by the judgment section to time when the header is judged to exist. |
| US08427578B2 |
Method and system for frame rate adaptation
Described herein are a method and system for frame rate adaptation. There may be conditions that require the rate of a video sequence to be dynamically controlled, and a frame interval may be adaptively selected every frame. A frame within the video sequence may contain, for example, a time stamp that is transmitted to a decoder to indicate the change in temporal spacing between frames. |
| US08427576B2 |
Image sensor module and camera module
An exemplary image sensor module includes a plate, an image sensor, and a number of conductive wires. The plate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, an light passing through hole, and a number of conductive pads on the top surface. The sensor includes a first surface and a number of bonding pads corresponding to the respective conductive pads. The first surface opposes the bottom surface. The first surface includes a light sensitive region aligned with the through hole, and a light insensitive region surrounding the light sensitive region. The insensitive region is mounted on the bottom surface. The bonding pads are arranged on the light insensitive region. The wires pass through the light passing through hole, and respectively electrically connect the bonding pads to the corresponding conductive pads. |
| US08427571B2 |
Optical unit and imaging apparatus
An optical unit includes: a first lens group; and a second lens group, which are arranged in order from an object side toward an image surface side, wherein the first lens group includes a first lens element, a first transparent body, and a second lens element, which are arranged in order from the object side toward the image surface side, and the second lens group includes a third lens element, a second transparent body and a fourth lens element, which are arranged in order from the object side toward the image surface side. |
| US08427570B2 |
Focus position control apparatus and camera
A focus position control apparatus includes a lens for forming an image from light from a subject, an imaging element and an imaging controller for performing photoelectric conversion on the subject image, lights having at least two different wavelengths or wavelength bands, on an imaging plane to generate at least a visible-region image signal and an infrared-region image signal, a focus-position movement mechanism for moving the lens in a direction along an optical axis relative to the imaging plane, a focusing state evaluator for evaluating a focusing state in each wavelength or wavelength band based on the generated visible-region image signal and infrared-region image signal, and a movement controller for driving the focus-position movement mechanism based on the evaluation result from the focusing state evaluator. |
| US08427568B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device, method for manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup device, including a pixel, the pixel including: a light receiving section; a charge transfer path; a transfer electrode; a readout gate section; and a readout electrode. |
| US08427566B2 |
Pixel drive circuit, image capture device, and camera system
A pixel drive circuit including a plurality of pixel circuits, each including a photoelectric converting unit for converting an incident light into an electric charge and accumulating the converted electric charge, the plurality of pixel circuits being arranged in a matrix shape, an address decoder for selecting the pixel circuits to be controlled which are arranged on an identical line, a storage circuit for storing operation information to be executed by the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder, and a control circuit for controlling an operation of the pixel circuits selected by the address decoder in accordance with a storage state of the storage circuit. The control circuit controls a charge discharging operation of discharging an electric charge remaining in the photoelectric converting unit of each of the pixel circuits. The storage circuit holds the storage state until the charge discharging operation is completed. |
| US08427565B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus and imaging system
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a reference signal generating circuit for supplying, commonly to the plurality of A/D conversion circuits, at least two reference signals of which signal levels change toward different directions of electric potential, and the A/D conversion circuit includes an amplifier; an input capacitor having one terminal receiving the analog signal and the reference signal supplied from the reference signal generating circuit, and the other terminal connected to one input terminal of the amplifier; a feedback capacitor connected between the one input terminal and an output terminal of the amplifier; a comparator for comparing, with a comparing level, an output from the output terminal of the amplifier; and a connection capacitor having one terminal connected to the output terminal of the amplifier, and the other terminal connected to one input terminal of the comparator. |
| US08427563B2 |
Image sensor with multiple types of color filters
An image sensor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices formed in a substrate and first and second color filters. The first color filter is formed over a first photoelectric conversion device and comprised of an organic material. The second color filter is formed over a second photoelectric conversion device and comprised of a plurality of inorganic layers. With such different types of color filters, spectral characteristic of the image sensor are enhanced. |
| US08427560B2 |
Image processing device
An image capturing element of an image capturing section 2 has a color filter with a Bayer matrix, and interpolation unit 6 implements an interpolation process to an image signal for each pixel received from the image capturing element by using image signals of adjacent pixels to obtain an image signal of R, G and B for the respective pixels. High-frequency component extracting unit 7 extracts a high frequency component from the G signal; false-color reduced color signal generation unit 8 obtains, for the respective pixels, a false-color reduced color signal (R+B−2G) in which an effect of a false color is reduced; and, chroma signal generation unit 9 generates a chroma signal, which is an absolute value of the false-color reduced color signal. Suppression unit 10 suppresses the false color on the basis of the high frequency component extracted by the high-frequency component extracting unit 7 and the chroma signal for the respective pixels generated by the chroma signal generation unit 9. |
| US08427558B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
There is provided an image pickup apparatus comprising two-dimensionally arrayed pixels, a plurality of read-out channels each including a read-out circuit and an amplifier circuit, a parallel-serial conversion circuit which sequentially selects pixel signals output via the plurality of read-out channels and outputs a series of pixel signals, and a clamp unit which clamps the reset level included in an output signal from the read-out circuit in order to remove an offset generated in each read-out channel. |
| US08427556B2 |
Image pickup apparatus with controlling of setting of position of cropping area
A zoom magnification is calculated based on a focal length of a photographing lens obtained before zooming and the focal length of the photographing lens obtained after the zooming. Then, an object movement amount in an image pickup area of an image pickup element is calculated based on the zoom magnification and an object position obtained before the zooming. Thus, a change in the position of the cropping area is controlled. |
| US08427544B2 |
Control apparatus, control system, command transmission method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
A control apparatus that is connected to at least one image capturing apparatus by wireless communication transmits, by multicast or broadcast via the wireless communication, a command for instructing to start a prescribed operation to each image capturing apparatus, in response to detection of an operation for instructing to start the prescribed operation, and transmits, by unicast via the wireless communication, a command for instructing to end the prescribed operation to each image capturing apparatus, in response to detection of the operation for instructing to end the prescribed operation. Then, the control apparatus confirms a response to transmission of the command for instructing to end the prescribed operation, and retransmits, by unicast, the command to end the prescribed operation to each image capturing apparatus whose response is not confirmed. |
| US08427542B2 |
Image calibration method and image processing system utilizing the method
An image calibration method includes: (a) sensing at least one target pixel of a sensing row from an effective pixel region of an image sensor to generate at least one target pixel value; (b) sensing at least one reference pixel of a shading region in the image sensor to generate a calibration value, wherein the reference pixel and the sensing row do not belong to the same row; and (c) referring to the calibration value to calibrate and output the target pixel value. |
| US08427537B2 |
Optical method and device for detecting the movements of a solid in space
The optical method for detecting the orientation of an object in space, the object including a triple of notable and aligned points tied to the said object, whose relative positions are known, the three points defining a first straight line in space, optical detection means making it possible to determine the relative positions in its image plane of the projections of notable points in space, a computer making it possible, by means of the relative positions of the projections in the image plane of the three notable points, and of an identifiable characteristic of an external one of the points of the triples of points, to determine a direction vector of the straight line and of its orientation. |
| US08427530B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes an input unit, a computing unit, a determining unit, and a 3D image processor. The input unit receives filter width information indicating the vertical size of each line constituting a polarizing filter, as well as position correction information indicating positional misalignment of the polarizing filter. The computing unit computes determination regions for each pixel on the basis of the information. The determination regions are used to determine whether individual pixels constituting a 3D image to be output are contained in a right-eye or a left-eye image region. On the basis of the determination regions, the determining unit determines whether each pixel is contained in a right-eye image region or a left-eye image region. The 3D image processor creates a 3D image from a right-eye image and a left-eye image according to pixel positions determined on the basis of determination results. |
| US08427527B2 |
Autostereoscopic display
An autostereoscopic display 101, which provides a depth perception by providing a viewer's left and right eyes (104a, 104b) with two slightly different perspectives of an image to be displayed, is provided for ultrasound guided interventions with a surgical instrument (103). The surgeon watches displayed ultrasound data (102), rendered for at least two views. The plane at which those views (L, R) intersect is adjusted to correspond exactly with the tracked three-dimensional position within a displayed scene of the surgical instrument (103), which position can be extracted from the three-dimensional ultrasound data by means of, for example, 3D object recognition. Thus, the point of reconstruction of the image presented to the viewer can be dynamically adjusted to correspond with the position of the surgical instrument on which the surgeon's eyes are presumed to be focused. |
| US08427524B2 |
Message propagation-based stereo image matching system
A stereo image matching system includes an image processing unit for converting input images inputted from a first and a second image acquisition unit into digital signals to output first and second pixel data; and an image matching unit for computing at least two of an upward, a downward, a forward and a backward message of each pixel by using data values of the first and the second pixel data that are located on a same epipolar line to calculate a disparity value of each pixel by using the computed messages corresponding to adjacent pixel(s). The stereo image matching system employs a parallel pipeline VLSI configuration with a time complexity of O(N). Thus, a plurality of image lines are used for matching, so that correct distance image information is obtained regardless of the conditions of the surrounding environment. |
| US08427521B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a collaborative workspace
A method and apparatus for providing collaborative workspace are disclosed. The method receives a request to establish a video conference for two or more participants, and obtains information from historical information on the two or more participants to be used with the collaborative workspace. The method determines preferences for each of the two or more participants as to a presentation of the collaborative workspace. The method receives one or more live images of the two or more participants and presents the collaborative workspace to each of the two or more participants in accordance with the preferences for each of the two or more participants. |
| US08427520B2 |
Removing a self image from a continuous presence video image
Upon receiving a continuous presence video image, an endpoint of a videoconference may identify its self image and replace the self image with other video data, including an alternate video image from another endpoint or a background color. Embedded markers may be placed in a continuous presence video image corresponding to the endpoint. The embedded markers identify the location of the self image of the endpoint in the continuous presence video image. The embedded markers may be inserted by the endpoint or a multipoint control unit serving the endpoint. |
| US08427518B2 |
Image forming device
An image forming device includes a first device body, a second device body attached to the first device body, a photoconductive body provided in the first device body, an exposure unit provided to the second device body, the exposure unit having an exposure surface that exposes the photoconductive body and forms a latent image on the photoconductive body, the exposure unit being movable between an exposure position and an evacuation position, and a cleaning unit cleaning the exposure surface of the exposure unit. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning member cleaning the exposure surface, a supporting member supporting the cleaning member, and a guide member movably guiding the supporting member. The exposure unit is disposed such that the exposure surface is cleaned by the cleaning unit when the exposure unit is moved to the evacuation position. |
| US08427513B2 |
Display device, display device drive method, and computer program
A display device is provided which includes: a still image detection unit (122) which inputs video signals having linear characteristic and calculates an average value of signal levels of the video signals having linear characteristic per pixel; a storage unit (150) which successively stores the average values calculated by the still image detection unit (122); a still image judging unit (162) which judges whether a still image is displayed on a present screen based on a difference between the average value stored in the storage unit (150) and the last average value; a coefficient calculation unit (164) which calculates coefficients for reducing luminance of an image to be displayed when the still image judging unit (162) has judged that a still image is displayed on the present screen; and a signal level correction unit (128) which multiplies the video signals by the coefficients calculated by the coefficient calculation unit (164). |
| US08427512B2 |
Display drive systems
This invention generally relates to methods, apparatus and computer program code for improved OLED (organic light emitting diode) display drive systems, in particular to compensate for burn-in.A method of compensating an OLED display device for burn-in of pixels of the OLED display, the method comprising: measuring a first voltage drop across at least one test pixel of the display; measuring a second voltage drop across at least one other pixel of the display; determining, from said first and second voltages and a from value (V1) representing a drive voltage increase for a loss in efficiency of said display due to burn-in, an estimated reduction in efficiency of said display due to burn-in; and compensating a drive to said display using said estimated efficiency reduction. |
| US08427501B2 |
Method of calibrating a display device by iteration in order to optimize an electrical control voltage of the display device
The present invention relates to a method of calibration of a display device by iteration in order to optimize an electrical control voltage of the display device, the calibration method comprising a measurement of an optical contrast of the display device and a calculation of an electrical control voltage value, the optical contrast measurement and the calculation of the electrical voltage value being carried out once during each calibration step, the optimization of the electrical control voltage being carried out starting from an initial value of the electrical control voltage and ending with a final value of the electrical control voltage, the calibration method being carried out by means of an initial calibration step and by means of a calibration refinement step, the initial calibration step being carried out once during the calibration method, the calibration refinement step being carried out once or several times during the calibration method, the approximation of the final value of the electrical control voltage due to the initial calibration step being higher than the approximation of the final value of the electrical control voltage due to the calibration refinement step. |
| US08427493B2 |
Draw commands with built-in begin/end
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for reducing the overhead for transmitting explicit begin and explicit end commands that are needed in primitive draw command sequences. A draw method includes a header to specify an implicit begin command, an implicit end command, and instancing information for a primitive draw command sequence. The header is followed by a packet including one or more data words (dwords) that each specify a primitive topology, starting offset into a vertex or index buffer, and vertex or index count. Only a single clock cycle is consumed to transmit and process the header. The performance of graphics application programs that have many small batches of geometry (as is typical of many workstation applications) may be improved since the overhead of transmitting and processing the explicit begin and explicit end draw commands is reduced. |
| US08427492B2 |
Multi-platform optimization techniques for image-processing operations
An automated method of rendering image data using a multithread central processing unit (“CPU”) is described. The method retrieves a set of image processing instructions. The method determines an image section size to be processed by the CPU using the set of image processing instructions. The method iteratively: (i) retrieves a section of the image data that matches the image section size, and (ii) sends the section of the image data to a particular thread of the multithread CPU for processing using the processing instructions. |
| US08427487B1 |
Multiple tile output using interface compression in a raster stage
A method and system for interface compression in a raster stage of a graphics processor. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a graphics processor and rasterizing the graphics primitive at a first level in a coarse raster component to generate a plurality of tiles related to the graphics primitive. The method determines whether a window ID operation is required for the plurality of tiles. If the operation is required, a respective plurality of uncompressed coverage masks for the tiles are output from the coarse raster component to a fine raster component on a one coverage mask per clock cycle basis. If the operation is not required, a compressed coverage mask for the tiles is output in a single clock cycle. The tiles are subsequently rasterized at a second-level in the fine raster component to generate pixels related to the graphics primitive. |
| US08427481B1 |
Virtual tour on electronic maps
Techniques for providing interactive maps are disclosed. According one aspect, a method for navigating an electronic map comprises: displaying an electronic map in accordance with an inquiry from a user, the electronic map including routes from one point to another point, wherein each of the routes includes one or more hotspots; displaying a navigation of the map with a selected route by the user; alerting the user when a hotspot is being approached; accessing auxiliary data associated with the hotspot when the user selects the hotspot, wherein the auxiliary data is not part of the electronic map being displayed but is obtained from an external source; and subsequently displaying from the auxiliary data an visual effect about the hotspot so that the user understands more about the selected hotspot. |
| US08427477B2 |
Method and a system for graphic representation of dynamic information
The present invention relates to a method and system for graphic representation of dynamic information from a dynamic 2D or 3D object. In particular, the invention relates to a novel method of interpolating dynamic information having values of different signs. The method of the present invention is particularly useful for the graphic representation of dynamic information, in particular flow data which has been acquired with a color-Doppler-method. The method of the invention can be used for representing the flow of liquids, such as blood and is therefore useful for human and animal diagnostics. |
| US08427475B2 |
Silhouette blend rendering of anatomical structures
Systems and methods for rendering advantageous images/views of an anatomical structure, e.g., vessel structure(s), and surrounding anatomical features/structures are provided. The disclosed systems and methods combine conventional 3D x-ray rotational angiography (3DRA) with a diagnostic scan of the relevant anatomical region, e.g., a CT or MR scan, to yield a combined image/view thereof. The image includes silhouette rendering of structures and/or vessel anatomy below the CT/MRI slab, i.e., obscured vessel structures, thereby allowing clinicians and other medical/surgical staff to develop a better understanding of vessel morphology and relationships between vessel pathology and surrounding branches/anatomical structures. |
| US08427469B2 |
Receiving system and method of processing data
A receiving system that can receive and process 3D images and a data processing method of the same are disclosed. The receiving system includes an image receiving unit and a display unit. The image receiving unit receives a 3-dimensions (3D) image and system information including additional information of the 3D image (i.e., additional 3D image information), generates 3D signaling information based upon the additional 3D image information included in the system information, and transmits the generated 3D signaling information along with the 3D image through a digital interface. And, the display unit receives the 3D signaling information along with the 3D image through the digital interface, formats the 3D image based upon the receiving 3D signaling information, and displays the formatted 3D image. |
| US08427468B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving mobile display device
A mobile display device driving apparatus and method which can reduce power consumption are disclosed. The driving apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel a battery, a power saving mode signal generator that detects the remaining power of the battery and generates a power saving mode signal based on the detected power to set a power saving mode of the liquid crystal panel. A controller sets a gain value in response to the power saving mode signal, converts external three-color input data into four-color data based on the set gain value and generates a dimming signal in response to the power saving mode signal. A panel driver displays an image based on the four-color data. An inverter generates a lamp drive voltage based on the dimming signal, and a backlight unit generates light in response to the lamp drive voltage and irradiates the generated light to the liquid crystal panel. |
| US08427466B2 |
Image-processing circuit, related system and related method capable of reducing power consumption
An image processing circuit turns off the writing unit of the controller of the DRAM when the previous frame is identical to the current frame. In this way, the writing unit of the controller of the DRAM does not write the current frame into the DRAM, thereby reducing power consumption. |
| US08427465B2 |
Displaying device, its driving circuit and its driving method
Provided are a display device which may be capable of eliminating display irregularities due to the difference in the charging rate between lines, while preventing increase in heat generation and power consumption by the device, and a circuit and method for driving the same. In a liquid crystal display device employing both a 2-line dot-inversion drive method and a charge-sharing method, a charge-sharing period (TB) within a horizontal scanning period (2H period) in which the polarity of each data signal is the same as that in one horizontal scanning period previous thereto, is set to be longer than a charge-sharing period (TA) within a horizontal scanning period (1H period) in which the polarity of each data signal is different from that in one horizontal scanning period previous thereto. Thus, a charge period within the 2H period can be shorter than that within the 1H period. |
| US08427464B2 |
Display device
Provided is a display device including a photoreception unit on an active matrix substrate in correspondence with one or two or more pixels, and a driving unit that drives the photoreception unit. The photoreception unit includes a photodiode, a capacitor that accumulates a charge in accordance with the electrical signal from when a reset signal (RST) from the driving unit has switched from the high level to the low level to when a readout signal (RWS) at the high level from the driving unit has been applied, and a switching element that, while the readout signal (RWS) is at the high level, allows output of a photoreception signal whose output level changes in accordance with the amount of accumulated charge. In a row selection period, after writing of an image signal to pixel electrodes in the row selected in the row selection period has ended, the driving unit switches the reset signal (RST) applied to the photoreception unit in the same row from the high level to the low level. |
| US08427463B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device having an image input function capable of suppressing the degradation of image quality of a display image and a captured image caused by a parasitic capacitance is provided. The liquid crystal display device, which includes an active matrix substrate (1), a counter substrate (2), and a liquid crystal layer and performs inversion driving, includes a photodetection part provided on the matrix substrate (1) for each or at least two of the active elements, and a sensor drive part (5). The photodetection part includes a photodiode and a capacitance storing charge, and outputs a photodetective signal VSOUT whose level changes in accordance with the amount of the stored charge. The sensor drive part (5) outputs, to the photodetection part, a reset signal that resets the charge in the capacitance and a reading signal that causes the photodetection part to output a photodetective signal during a period in which the polarity is set to be a predetermined one, and a current supplied to the active elements does not vary after the completion of the inversion of the polarity. |
| US08427462B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus and liquid crystal display apparatus control method
A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present invention includes: a liquid crystal panel; a backlight provided on a rear face of the liquid crystal panel; a detector which detects RGB output light levels of the backlight; a first controller which controls backlight current for driving the backlight so that a prescribed luminance is attained based on the RGB output light levels detected by the detector; and a second controller which controls display signals supplied to the liquid crystal panel so that a prescribed chromaticity is attained based on the RGB output light levels detected by the detector. |
| US08427460B2 |
Flat display panel
A flat display panel is provided. The flat display panel includes a substrate, a first driving line, a second driving line, and an ESD protection circuit. The ESD protection circuit includes a first crossing line, a second crossing line, and a first ESD protection device. The first crossing line crosses over the first driving line in a first crossing place. The second crossing line crosses over the second driving line in a second crossing place. The first ESD protection device is electrically connected to the first crossing line and to the second crossing line. Therefore, the flat display panel can avoid current leakage occurring when the first crossing place or the second crossing place is damaged. |
| US08427457B2 |
Display driver and built-in-phase-calibration circuit thereof
A phase-calibration circuit including a pattern generator, a phase adjuster, a rotate register unit, a detector unit, and an optimization unit is disclosed. The pattern generator generates a clock pattern and a data pattern for a target circuit. The phase adjuster adjusts a phase between a first clock and a first data output from the target circuit according to a control data for outputting a second clock and a second data. The rotate register unit provides the control data to the phase adjuster. The detector unit detects phase relationship between the second clock and the second data for outputting a detection result. The optimization unit records the control data output from the rotate register unit in accordance with the detection result, and selects one of the control data as a calibration control data, and controls the rotate register unit to output the calibration control data to the phase adjuster. |
| US08427456B2 |
Flat display device and signal driving method of the same
A flat display device has a circuit configuration in which a division-driving system and an aspect conversion are integrated with each other, and performs driving appropriate to achieve higher resolution even in driving a display unit. The device comprises a memory circuit which includes n unit memories each storing unit data, a display unit of which the horizontal driver is supplied signals read from the memory circuit and of which the regions divided into a plurality of portions in a horizontal direction is division-driven, and a memory control circuit which divides a digital video signal of one line into n, supplies n pieces of the unit data to the n unit memories, selects each direction of write or read addresses of the n unit memories, and outputs the read addresses so that the arrangement order of the unit data for the adjacent regions is set in an inversion horizontal direction. |
| US08427449B2 |
Method for providing human input to a computer
The invention provides a method for providing human input to a computer which allows a user to interact with a display connected to the computer. The method includes the steps of placing a first target on a first portion of the user's body, using an electro-optical sensing means, sensing data related to the location of the first target and data related to the location of a second portion of the user's body, the first and second portions of the user's body being movable relative to each other, providing an output of the electro-optical sensing means to the input of the computer, determining the location of the first target and the location of the second portion of the user's body, and varying the output of the computer to the display based upon the determined locations for contemporaneous viewing by the user. |
| US08427443B2 |
Coordinate locating method, coordinate locating device, and display apparatus comprising the coordinate locating device
A coordinate locating device for a display apparatus is provided, which can have lower manufacturing costs and can locate the coordinates of a single or multiple objects. The coordinate locating device includes a light source configured to emit light, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting device, at least one reflector configured to reflect the light from the light source, and a detector configured to detect the light reflected by the at least one reflector, wherein the light source and the detector are disposed at different positions on the same edge of the coordinate locating device. |
| US08427442B2 |
Touch apparatus and touch sensing method
A touch apparatus including a touch panel and a touch sensing circuit is provided. The touch panel includes a first transparent substrate, a plurality of first conductive patterns, a second transparent substrate, a plurality of second conductive patterns and a plurality of spacers. The touch sensing circuit includes a first demultiplexer, a second demultiplexer, a first multiplexer, a second multiplexer, a third multiplexer, a fourth multiplexer, a fifth multiplexer, a sixth multiplexer and an analog/digital converter (ADC). The fifth multiplexer and the sixth multiplexer are used for modulating a signal receiving range of the ADC and thus the touch sensing circuit is easily judge a correctness of a sensing signal. |
| US08427438B2 |
Virtual input tools
A virtual input device, e.g., a virtual representation of a physical input device, is disclosed. In one aspect, virtual coordinates of the virtual input device correlate to real coordinates on the physical input device. Dimensions of the physical input device are proportional to dimensions of the virtual input device, and interactive objects are presented in the virtual input device. |
| US08427437B2 |
Wireless communication terminal and method for displaying image data
A wireless communication terminal is provided. The wireless communication terminal includes a display that includes a touch screen configured to recognize touch inputs; a memory configured to store image data; and a controller configured to communicate with the memory, the display, and the touch screen. The controller is further configured to display at least a portion of the image having a first scale in the display, wherein the controller defines a reference line associated with the displayed portion of the image and recognizes a first touch input to define a manipulation region associated with the reference line where a portion of the image in the manipulation region is gradually removed or reinstated in response to a movement of the first touch input relative to the reference line, while maintaining the same first scale of the image that is displayed outside of the manipulation region. |
| US08427432B2 |
Zoom control for a display screen of a mobile communication terminal
A user interface system for controlling size of content displayed on a display screen of a limited display device is provided. The user interface system comprises a first user interface for selecting a first point on the display screen; and a second user interface for performing a resizing operation on content displayed on the display screen using the first point as a center of reference for purpose of performing the resizing operation, wherein the resizing operation is performed in response to user interaction with the first user interface and the second user interface. |
| US08427430B2 |
Apparatus for and method of controlling digital image processing apparatus
An apparatus for and method of controlling a digital image processing device in order to reduce power consumption by automatically recognizing a state in which power of a display device can be turned off or the display device can operate in a power saving mode, and in that case, turning off the display device or operating the display device in the power saving mode. The apparatus for controlling a digital image processing device includes: a motion sensing unit sensing a motion of the digital image processing device; and a control unit operating the digital image processing device in a power saving mode when it is determined that the digital image processing device moves. |
| US08427422B2 |
Input device and method for protecting input information from exposure
An input device and method for protecting input information from exposure, in which the time of input of information is determined using a tactile output to protect the input information from being exposed. The input device for protecting input information from exposure includes a user-input module for receiving predetermined input information from a user, a control module for setting the information inputted in association with a tactile signal among the input information as user-input information, and a tactile-output-generation module for generating and providing the tactile signal to the user-input module under the control of the control module. |
| US08427418B2 |
Liquid crystal display and local dimming control control method thereof
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit including a plurality of light sources, the backlight unit providing light to a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel, a backlight driving circuit that individually drives a plurality of previously determined blocks each including the light sources based on a dimming value of each of the blocks, and a local dimming control circuit that calculates a pixel gain value compensating for a luminance reduction resulting from the dimming value of each block and corrects the pixel gain value based on a grayscale saturation level of each block. |
| US08427416B2 |
Display panel
A display panel is provided. A plurality of first shift registers of the display panel output a plurality of first scanning signals in sequence. A plurality of second shift registers of the display panel output a plurality of second scanning signals in sequence. The jth first shift registers stops outputting the jth first scanning signal according to the jth second scanning signal, wherein j is a positive integer. The jth second shift registers stops outputting the jth scanning signal according to the (j+1)th first scanning signal. Therefore, two scanning signals neighboring in clocking sequence are avoided from overlapping. |
| US08427406B2 |
Organic light emitting display and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display and a method for driving the same is disclosed. A pixel portion includes a plurality of pixels, which receive a plurality of scan signals, a plurality of emission control signals, and a plurality of data signals to display images. A data driver for generating and transferring the plurality of data signals to the pixel portion using video data. A scan driver transfers the plurality of scan signals and the plurality of emission control signals to the pixel portion. An optical sensor controls luminance of the pixel portion according to peripheral (or ambient) light. A current controller limits an electric current flowing through the pixel portion according to a sum of the video data input during a frame when the peripheral light sensed by the optical sensor has luminance equal to or greater than a predetermined value in order to control the luminance. |
| US08427405B2 |
Image display device and method of driving the same
Discussed is a method of driving an image display device including a plurality of pixel circuits having respective light emitting elements and arranged in a plane in a first direction and in a second direction different from the first direction; and a plurality of power source lines each connected in common to each column of pixel circuits which comprises the pixel circuits arranged in the first direction comprises (a) deriving a voltage drop expected to be generated in one power source line based on the wiring resistance of the one power source line and first image data supplied to a plurality of pixel circuits connected in common to the one power source line; (b) deriving second image data by correcting the first image data based on the voltage drop; and (c) causing the light emitting elements to emit light based on the second image data. |
| US08427403B2 |
Demultiplexer, display apparatus using the same, and display panel thereof
A display apparatus includes a data driver outputting a data current as image signals, a plurality of data lines for applying the data currents, and a plurality of pixel circuits coupled to the data lines At least one of the plurality of pixel circuits has a driving circuit outputting a current corresponding to the data current, a demultiplexer demultiplexing the output current of the driving circuit and outputting the output current to at least two output terminals, and at least two light emitting elements coupled to the at output terminals of the demultiplexer, and emitting light corresponding to an inputted current. |
| US08427400B2 |
Image display device
Provided is an image display device in which deterioration of a self-light-emitting element within a pixel is corrected accurately. A detection unit detects, within a detection period, a difference in characteristics between self-light-emitting elements of adjacent pixels. A first subtraction circuit outputs a differential voltage between a reference voltage and an image voltage to a self-light-emitting element that is determined by the detection unit as a deteriorated element. An amplifier amplifies an output of the first subtraction circuit with a gain [1/{1-(α/100)}]1/2 when a driver transistor is driven in a saturation region. The amplifier amplifies the output of the first subtraction circuit with a gain [1/{1-(α/100)}] when the driver transistor is driven in a linear region. A differential between the reference voltage and an output of the amplifier obtained by a second subtraction circuit is used as a corrected image voltage. |
| US08427399B2 |
Organic light emitting display device including signal processor for modifying image data and driving method thereof
A controller to reduced power consumption and/or improve outdoor visibility of an organic light emitting display device, and an organic light emitting display device includes the same. The organic light emitting display device including: a light sensor to generate light sensing signals corresponding to an external light intensity; an image judging unit to generate image judging signals, by judging whether images generated by the data signals are moving images or still images; a signal processor to compare the light sensing signals with preset reference values, to generate selection signals, and to modify image data accordingly; a frame memory to store the image data from the signal processor; and a reset signal driver to reset the frame memory according to the image judging signals and the selection signals. |
| US08427394B2 |
Shutter glass drive scheme for sequential-color displays
A method for driving at least one shutter glass lens having a property of light retardation that is variable at least according to the wavelength of the light passing through it, the shutter glass lens having an LC cell driven to a relatively “on” or a relatively “off” state according to a voltage applied across it. The lens is further operable to pass temporally modulated color display images of at least first, second, and third wavelengths being applied to a display surface, further including first, second, and third holding voltages to the LC cell in decreasing magnitude to stabilize the retardation of the lens for first, second, and third display image wavelengths. |
| US08427391B2 |
Configurable imaging system
An imaging system is provided. The imaging system comprises an image source providing a video data stream. The imaging system further comprises a plurality of microtile units for: generating respective portions of an image from the video data stream, each microtile unit connectable to a plurality of other microtile units in multiple geometrical configurations. Each microtile unit comprises circuitry for: communication with the plurality of other microtile units to control generation of each respective portion of the image; and sub-image capture from the video data stream. The imaging system further comprises a system control unit for: automatically detecting a configuration of connected microtile units to determine information indicating a portion of the image each individual microtile unit is to be responsible for; and relaying respective information comprising a respective portion of the image a respective microtile unit is to be responsible for to each the respective microtile unit in the sub-image capture. |
| US08427390B2 |
Space-dividing display apparatus
A space-dividing apparatus for a single-leaf section, a divider etc. A division plate section constitutes a single-leaf screen device and divides a space. On a front surface of the division plate section, nine TV receiving sets are arranged in a matrix shape and an attachable/detachable manner. On a back surface of the division plate section, nine image pickup elements are mounted to, for example, positions that correspond to the TV receiving sets respectively, when each are detached. An imaging direction of each of the image pickup elements can be automatically aligned with a line of sight of the user based on a position of the user (position of a remote controller). An image due to a video signal obtained by each of the image pickup elements can be displayed on the TV receiving sets, thereby permitting the user to observe the other side of the division plate section easily. |
| US08427388B2 |
Eight-shaped RF balun
Symmetrical eight-shaped balun (BALanced-to-UNbalanced converter) comprising a first and second eye, each eye comprising conducting tracks forming turns. The eyes comprise an equal number of primary turns that form a first conducting path from a first terminal to a second terminal, in which in operation electrical current flows in a first direction in a first eye and in a second direction in a second eye. Moreover, the eyes further comprise an equal number of secondary turns that form a second conducting path from a third terminal to a fourth terminal, in which in operation electrical current flows in a first direction in a first eye and in a second direction in a second eye. The geometrical and electrical middle points of primary and secondary turns are all superposed and further are located in the same plane. |
| US08427386B2 |
Method and circuit for transmitting and receiving radio waves with a single oscillatory circuit antenna
Output terminals (o1, o2) of a differentially excited transmitting circuit (TC) are connected through matching capacitors (MC1, MC2) to connecting terminals of the oscillatory circuit antenna (OCA) on the other side said connection terminals are directly connected to input terminals of a receiving circuit (RC). Each of the input terminals (i1, i2) of the receiving circuit (RC) is connected to an earthing terminal (m) of the integrated transceiver circuit (TRC) through a corresponding undervoltage-protection diode (UPD1, UPD2) determining a lower potential value of a received signal and a corresponding overvoltage-protection diode (OPD1, OPD2) determining an allowed upper potential value of the received signal exceeding said lower potential value by the highest possible voltage still allowable by the integrated transceiver circuit (TRC). The highest allowable voltage amplitude of the received signals supplied to the input of the receiving circuit (RC) practically equals the highest possible voltage, which is still allowed by the integrated receiver circuit, thus exceeds energization voltage. |
| US08427384B2 |
Communication system with broadband antenna
A communications system including an antenna array and electronics assembly that may be mounted on and in a vehicle. The communication system may generally comprise an external subassembly that is mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle, and an internal subassembly that is located within the vehicle, the external and internal subassemblies being communicatively coupled to one another. The external subassembly may comprise the antenna array as well as mounting equipment and steering actuators to move the antenna array in azimuth, elevation and polarization (for example, to track a satellite or other signal source). The internal subassembly may comprise most of the electronics associated with the communication system. |
| US08427379B2 |
Modular material antenna assembly
A modular material antenna assembly is provided that includes an antenna block having a portion with a shape that interlocks with a corresponding portion of an electrically non-conductive frame and secures the antenna block to the electrically non-conductive frame. The electrically non-conductive frame is attached to an interior of an electrically conductive housing so that the electrically non-conductive frame and the electrically conductive housing form an integrated structure. An antenna flex is then mechanically secured to the antenna block. The antenna flex may also be electrically connected to a circuit board. The frame is designed to support a cover glass for the portable electronic device and may be affixed to a housing. The dielectric constant of the antenna block is substantially less than the dielectric constant of the frame. |
| US08427377B2 |
Antenna system
An antenna system includes a dielectrically-loaded loop element electromagnetically coupled to a planar element. The antenna system exhibits uniform, broadband radiation and reception patterns. |
| US08427372B2 |
Array antenna
Disclosed is an electronic scanning array antenna which can be used as a UWB radar having an occupied band of not less than 500 MHz. An impulse generator is connected to each of a plurality of antenna elements constituting the electronic scanning array antenna, and a transmission trigger time to each of the impulse generators connected to the antenna elements is changed, whereby the phase of radio waves emitted from an antenna is equivalently changed. Moreover, a transmission trigger repletion interval is changed to thereby control a direction of a beam emitted from the array antenna. As means of changing a transmission trigger timing to each of the impulse generators connected to the antenna elements, a method of changing a frequency of a transmission trigger pulse and a method of changing a pulse position are adopted. |
| US08427364B1 |
Method and system for scanning a radar search volume and correcting for 3D orientation of covariance ellipsoid
A method and radar system for estimating a radar search volume, includes acquiring covariance information relating to a cued direction, the covariance information having an ellipsoidal shape, projecting the ellipsoidal shape covariance information onto a range-traverse plane and onto the range-elevation plane to produce a covariance ellipse on the range-traverse and range-elevation planes; and determining the maximum extents in each of the range-transverse and range-elevation planes wherein the azimuth and elevation extents define the search volume. |
| US08427358B1 |
Mitigating illumination gradients in a SAR image based on the image data and antenna beam pattern
Illumination gradients in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image of a target can be mitigated by determining a correction for pixel values associated with the SAR image. This correction is determined based on information indicative of a beam pattern used by a SAR antenna apparatus to illuminate the target, and also based on the pixel values associated with the SAR image. The correction is applied to the pixel values associated with the SAR image to produce corrected pixel values that define a corrected SAR image. |
| US08427355B2 |
Time-interleaved pipelined-SAR analog to digital converter with low power consumption
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit comprising two time-interleaved successive approximation register (SAR) ADCs. Each of the two time-interleaved SAR ADCs comprises a first stage SAR sub-ADC, a residue amplifier, a second stage SAR sub-ADC and a digital error correction logic. The residue amplifier is shared between the time-interleaved paths, has a reduced gain and operates in sub-threshold to achieve power effective design. |
| US08427352B2 |
A/D converter circuit including pulse circulation circuit with delay units coupled together in ring shape
An A/D converter circuit includes first to fourth pulse circulation circuits and first and second counters and configured to provide high conversion accuracy irrespective of a temperature change. The first pulse circulation circuit operates with a difference voltage of a specified voltage and an analog input voltage. The first counter outputs a difference of the number of pulse circulation in the first and the second pulse circulation circuits. The third pulse circulation circuit operates with a difference voltage of the specified voltage and a set voltage. The fourth pulse circulation circuit operates with the set voltage. The second counter outputs a difference of the number of pulse circulation in the third and the fourth pulse circulation circuits. When an output value of the second counter reaches a specified value, an output value of the first counter at that time is outputted as A/D conversion data. |
| US08427350B2 |
Sigma-delta modulator
A sigma-delta modulator (400) 400, 500, 600) for converting an input signal (X(s)) (X(s)) to a quantized output signal (Y(z)) (Y(z)), in which a feedback loop is provided between a filter (402) and a quantizer (403) of the modulator, the feedback loop configured to reduce quantization errors from the modulator by filtering and subtracting quantization noise fed back to an input of the quantizer (403). |
| US08427349B2 |
Digital correction techniques for data converters
A method and apparatus is disclosed to compensate for impairments within a data converter such that its output is a more accurate representation of its input. The data converter includes a main data converter, a reference data converter, and a correction module. The main data converter may be characterized as having the impairments. As a result, the output of the main data converter is not the most accurate representation of its input. The reference data converter is designed such that the impairments are not present. The correction module estimates the impairments present within the main data converter using its output and the reference data converter to generate corrections coefficients. The correction module adjusts the output of the main data converter using the corrections coefficients to improve the performance of the data converter. |
| US08427343B2 |
Methods and systems for generating data link air traffic control center menus
Methods and systems for generating a data link air traffic control center menu are provided. In one implementation, a method includes calculating a distance between each of a plurality of air traffic control centers and an aircraft during flight. The method further includes displaying a sorted list of the plurality of air traffic control centers, wherein the list is sorted by the calculated distance, from closest to the aircraft to farthest from the aircraft. The method further includes receiving an input, the input selecting one of the air traffic control centers. |
| US08427341B2 |
System and method for providing road information in advance
A system for providing a vehicle and/or the driver in advance with road information, the system including at least one message disposed at any point along the road, the message including information of at least one characteristic of an upcoming section of the road, at least one sensor mounted on the vehicle for reading the message, and a device coupled to the sensor for processing the message and providing the information to the vehicle and/or the driver in advance of the vehicle reaching that section of the road. |
| US08427340B2 |
Multi-mode safety system for spotter-assisted vehicle maneuvering
Apparatus and associated methods involve a handheld illuminated module to communicate safety information from a spotter to a driver during a vehicle maneuver. In an illustrative example, the spotter operates the module at a position from which to monitor a region in the vehicle's path. The spotter communicates to the driver that the path is clear by depressing a switch on the module. When depressed, the module switch indicates a “safe” mode that (1) illuminates the module, for example, with a green color, and (2) communicates to a vehicle safety module (VSM) on-board the vehicle. In response to the message, the VSM may transition from a warning mode to a safe mode and emit corresponding visual and/or audio signals to the driver. If the spotter releases the switch, the module illumination changes, and the VSM reverts to warning mode in which it prompts the driver to stop the vehicle. |
| US08427339B2 |
Information provision system and in-vehicle apparatus
An information provision system, which includes (i) a navigation apparatus in a vehicle and (ii) an information center, provides an occupant of the vehicle with information. The navigation apparatus and information center communicate via a wireless communication link. The navigation apparatus wirelessly acquires reception position information, which indicates several reception positions, from the information center. When determining that the vehicle reaches one of the reception positions, the navigation apparatus wirelessly acquires, in association with the reached reception position, display-related information containing (i) display position information indicating a display position and (ii) at-display-position window information indicating contents of a display window displayed at the display position. When determining that the vehicle reaches the display position, the navigation apparatus displays the contents of the corresponding display window indicated by the acquired at-display-position window information. |
| US08427337B2 |
Planar dipole antenna
A planar dipole antenna is described. The antenna may include a ground element, a feed point, a matching element, and first and second radiating elements disposed on a substrate, and a feed point. The ground element may have a substantially rectangular shape and the feed point may be arranged adjacent to the ground element. The matching element may be connected to the feed point and may include a central bar connected to a first and second arm. The first and second arms may be substantially symmetrically disposed on the substrate in respect to the central bar. The first and second radiating elements may have substantially trapezoidal shapes and may be extend from the first and second arms of the matching element, respectively. The first and second radiating elements may be substantially symmetrically disposed on the substrate in respect to the central bar of the matching element. |
| US08427334B2 |
Device for early registration of a closing state of a closure element for a compartment opening
A device is provided for early registering of the closing state of a closure element for a compartment opening includes, but is not limited to an inductive proximity sensor, a measuring plate and a movement path guide. By means of the movement path guide the measuring plate is guided parallel to the proximity sensor from a predetermined degree of closing to complete closure of the closure element. In this manner a precise early statement relating to the imminent closure of the closure element can be made, for example in order to activate a locking mechanism. |
| US08427333B2 |
System and method for detecting lightning
A lightning detection system is presented. The lightning detection system includes a plurality of sensing devices configured to generate sensor signals representative of one or more working state parameters of an object. The lightning detection system further includes a lightning signal processing subsystem configured to combine the sensor signals representative of the one or more working state parameters received from the plurality of sensing devices to generate a composite signal, extract noise signals from the composite signal, and compare the extracted noise signals with one or more lightning signal profiles to determine existence of lightning noise signals in the extracted noise signals, wherein the lightning noise signals are induced in the sensor signals in response to a lightning strike on the object. |
| US08427332B2 |
Energy-saving reminder circuit for computer
A circuit where a rotary push switch module with first and second switches are closed and first and second terminals of a NAND gate receive high level signals. An output terminal of the NAND gate outputs a low level signal. A light emitting diode (LED) is not lit. A voltage output terminal outputs a standby voltage. When the first switch is opened, and the second switch is closed, the first and the second input terminals of the NAND gate respectively receive a high level signal and a low level signal. The output terminal of the NAND gate outputs a high level signal. The LED is lit. The voltage output terminal does not output the standby voltage. |
| US08427321B2 |
Physiological sensor system with automatic authentication and validation by means of a radio frequency identification protocol with an integrated RFID interrogator system
This invention relates to a physiological sensor which acquires pre-programmed data from an electrode or an electrode array using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The source of the sensor may be authenticated by means of a wireless interface between an RFID transponder affixed to the electrode array, and an RFID interrogator embedded in the patient interface cable. The criteria for use are then verified to ensure that they are met by the electrode array before beginning signal acquisition. If the criteria are not met, a message is provided to the user via the monitor. |
| US08427319B2 |
System and method for real time theft detection
A method for tracking one or more portable devices in real time to detect theft of the one or more portable devices is provided. The method enables, firstly, interrogating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag via a RFID reader during successive sweep intervals. The sweep interval represents active state of the RFID reader. Secondly, the method enables receiving one or more pairing information from the RFID tag. Further, the method enables comparing the one or more pairing information with corresponding one or more pairing information stored in the RFID reader. Finally, the method enables generating an alert signal via the wearable-band or the one or more portable devices when the one or more pairing information does not match with the corresponding one or more pairing information stored in the RFID reader. |
| US08427317B2 |
Apparatus and method to electromagnetically shield portable consumer devices
An apparatus and method is provided to shield contactless portable electronic consumer devices such as radio frequency identification devices (RFID), tokens, mini-cards, key fobs, cellular phones, smartcards, etc. from wireless interrogation. In one embodiment, a contactless portable consumer device which includes a first antenna is shielded from unauthorized wireless interrogation with a radio frequency (RF) shield. The RF shield includes electrically conductive, non-ferromagnetic material and is configured to prevent unauthorized data transfer between a second antenna external to the portable consumer device and the first antenna. |
| US08427316B2 |
Detecting tampered with radio frequency identification tags
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for tracking tampered with RFID tags. In some implementations, an RFID tag includes a tearable substrate including at least a portion of an RFID circuit. The portion of the RFID circuit is substantially destroyable in response to at least an attempt to remove the tag from a surface. In addition, the RFID includes an adhesive layer adjacent at least a portion of the tearable substrate and configured to affix the tag to the surface. |
| US08427311B2 |
Lighting device and method for producing sequential lighting stimuli
The invention provides a lighting device (1) comprising one or more light sources (10) arranged to generate light, an accommodating device (5) having an external boundary (2) which is at least partly translucent and is arranged to accommodate the one or more light sources and a controller (40). The lighting device can generate two types of light. One or more lighting parameters selected from the group consisting of the first luminous intensity of the first type of light, the second luminous intensity of the second type of light, the color point of the first type of light and the color point of the second type of light can be controlled. This allows task lighting and atmosphere lighting. The invention is also directed to a method of providing a wake-up stimulus by means of such a lighting device. |
| US08427310B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for monitoring lamp circuits in a cab signal system
A fault detection system (10) and computer-implemented method for detecting a fault in a cab signal system (100), including: a plurality of sensors (12) in electrical communication with a cab signal display circuit (106), each associated with a respective one of a plurality of lamp circuits (108) and configured to sense or measure: presence or absence of voltage, voltage level, voltage drop, presence or absence of current and/or current level. A monitoring unit (14) is in communication with the plurality of sensors (12) and generates circuit data (16) representative of at least one condition of at least a portion of the cab signal system (100). A computer-implemented method for detecting a cab signal aspect of a train (T) is also disclosed. |
| US08427306B2 |
Article management system
The present invention is an article management system using a central management device with an interrogator and an alarm portion. Because the central management device and a central response device worn by a user of the system are provided separately, loss of the central management device can be prevented. The central response device is worn by a user. The central response device communicates with the central management device wirelessly and includes a detector that detects when the communication distance reaches or exceeds a given value and an alarm portion that notifies the user of this. The central management device communicates wirelessly with one or more articles in which a response device is installed. |
| US08427300B2 |
Transmission of power and data with frequency modulation
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a circuit coupled to a line, where the circuit may power a device, and where the power is transmitted to the device over the line as a pulse-width modulated signal. The circuit may set a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal in order to transmit a determined power level to the device. The apparatus may vary a frequency of the pulse-width modulated signal to transmit data to the device while the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal is fixed in order to continue to transmit the determined power level to the device. A variation in the frequency of the pulse-width modulated signal may be detectable by the device and represents at least a portion of the data. |
| US08427296B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the relative positions of connectors
In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of ports and a proximity detection circuit to detect the presence of a connector relative to at least one port of the plurality of ports, prior to engagement of the connector with the port. Alternatives include a position sensor to determine the general distance of the connector from the port, and an orientation sensor to determine the orientation of the connector relative to the port. The system further includes a signal generator to provide at least one user-detectable signal representative of one or more of the proximity, position and orientation of the connector relative to the port to assist a user in engaging the connector with the port. |
| US08427294B2 |
Seat buckle configured for security and safety and associated methods
A system is described for determining if two seat buckles are attached. The system includes seat belt portions and corresponding seat buckle members. The system also includes a sensing element located within a first seat buckle member and configured to output signals corresponding to one or both of attachment and non-attachment between the seat buckle members. A transmitter located within the first seat buckle member is configured to receive the signals from the sensing element. The transmitter transmits unique identification information, corresponding with a location of the seat belt, and data corresponding to the signals received from the sensing element. A display unit is configured to receive the unique identification information and data from the transmitter and provide a display indicative of an attachment status between the seat buckle members. |
| US08427289B2 |
Low latency inside/outside determination for portable transmitter
A method and system is disclosed for determining presence of a portable transmitter relative to a boundary. The presence may be determined according to whether the portable transmitter is interior or exterior to the boundary. The boundary may be defined as a wireless boundary that corresponds with an intersection or overlapping portion set by multiple antenna fields. |
| US08427285B2 |
Configurable control of data storage device visual indicators in a server computer system
A server computer system includes a set of visual indicators for representing status of one or more data storage devices that are connected to one or more nodes of the server system. Control circuitry has at least first and second bus interfaces and is configured to set the state of the visual indicators responsive to signals received through the bus interfaces, and to operate in at least first and second configurable modes. In the first mode, both of the first and the second bus interfaces communicate with a single node. In the second mode, the first bus interface communicates with a first node and the second bus interface communicates with a second node. |
| US08427278B2 |
Automation and security system
Methods and systems for an automation and security system including a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first sensor detects a signal from an identification device indicative of a first authorized person in an exterior area near a door. The second sensor is coupled to a handle on the exterior surface of the door to detect a touch to the handle. The controller is configured to operate one or more lighting devices and a lock associated with the door. When the controller receives a signal from the first sensor indicative of the identification device in the exterior area near the door, it initiates a timer and operates one or more lighting devices to indicate a condition detected by the automation and security system. When the controller receives a signal from the second sensor indicative of a touch to the handle after the initiation of the timer and before the timer expires, it unlocks the door and turns on one or more lights in an interior area. |
| US08427277B2 |
Remote control system configured for use with automobile remote keyless entry
A device remote control system configured for use with an automobile remote keyless entry is disclosed herein. The device is specifically configured for use in association with a remote keyless entry key fob. The key fob is operable to transmit at least one automobile instruction signal, such as a door lock signal, door unlock signal, trunk release signal, or other automobile instruction signal. The device comprises a receiver, a processor, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive the automobile instruction signal transmitted by the key fob and deliver the signal to the processor. The processor analyzes the signal and determines whether it is an appropriate signal indicating that a device such as a garage door should be opened or closed. The transmitter is configured to transmit a device operation signal in response to the processor when the processor indicates that the device should be operated. |
| US08427275B1 |
Autolocation of gray goods
A device is allowed to be used only in a specified location. The device has an automatic location detection part, and automatically determines its location, and whether that location is authorized. If unauthorized, or if no location detection signal is detected for too long a time, the device is deactivated. |
| US08427273B2 |
Resistor structure of phase change material and trimming method thereof
An embodiment of a resistor formed by at least one first portion and one second portion, electrically coupled to one another and with different crystalline phases. The first portion has a positive temperature coefficient, and the second portion has a negative temperature coefficient. The first portion has a first resistivity, and the second portion has a second resistivity, and the portions are coupled so that the resistor has an overall temperature coefficient that is approximately zero. |
| US08427271B2 |
Reactor part
A reactor part includes at least a winding and a magnetic substance core, in which the core includes a pair of winding portions around each the winding is wound, and a non-winding portion around which no winding is wound, wherein a cross-sectional area in a direction orthogonal to a magnetic path of the non-winding portion of the core is made smaller than a cross-sectional area in a direction orthogonal to a magnetic path of the each of winding portions. |
| US08427270B2 |
Chip-type coil component
A chip-type coil component capable of reducing the resistance of the coil while minimizing a decrease in the inductance of the coil includes magnetic layers composed of a multilayer body. The chip-type coil component further includes internal electrodes laminated on the magnetic layers. The internal electrodes are connected to each other to form a coil. The chip-type coil component further includes an auxiliary internal electrode laminated on each of the magnetic layers. Each auxiliary internal electrode is connected in parallel to the internal electrode laminated on the magnetic layer that is different from the magnetic layer on which the auxiliary internal electrode is laminated. |
| US08427268B2 |
Electromagnetic valve which can be operated with different operating voltages and method for its production
An electromagnetic valve is provided with at least one coil containing at least one coil former. The coil former is provided with at least two separate wire windings, of which, in each case, two are connected in series or in parallel with one another. |
| US08427264B1 |
Article made of an injected material with a built-in magnet and the manufacturing method
An article for use in various industries including for manufacturing toys, promotional articles, and decorative articles using plastic includes a body (1), a built-in magnet (3) and a receptacle (2) with side arms (21) embedded in the body (1). The receptacle (2) has a base (23), an opening (25) for introducing the magnet (3), and a closure lid (4) for closing the opening (25). |
| US08427260B2 |
Dual-band bandpass resonator and dual-band bandpass filter
A dual-band bandpass filter according to the present invention includes a plurality of dual-band bandpass resonators. The dual-band bandpass resonator includes a central conductor having a central axis aligned with an input/output direction, a pair of grounding conductors, a central conductor short-circuit part and a pair of stub conductors that are formed on a surface of a dielectric substrate. The pair of grounding conductors are disposed on the opposite sides of the central conductor with a space interposed therebetween. The central conductor short-circuit part short-circuits the pair of grounding conductors, and one end of the central conductor is connected to the central conductor short-circuit part. The pair of stub conductors are disposed in the spaces on the opposite sides of the central conductor symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the central conductor, extend at least partially parallel with the central conductor and are connected to the central conductor short-circuit part at one ends thereof. |
| US08427258B2 |
Surface acoustic wave device and communication device
An SAW device includes: a piezoelectric substrate 1; a first and a second SAW elements 2, 3 having three or more odd-number IDT electrodes 4-9 and reflector electrodes 10-13 arranged on the piezoelectric substrate 1; lines 16 which cascade-connect the first and the second SAW elements 2, 3; a first unbalanced signal terminal 14 connected to the IDT electrodes 4, 6 arranged at the both ends of the first SAW elements 2; and a second unbalanced signal terminal 15 connected to the IDT electrodes 7, 9 arranged at the both ends of the second SAW element 3. In each of the first and the second SAW elements 2, 3, one bus bar electrode 17 of each of center IDT electrodes 5, 8 is split into two, and non-split bus bar electrodes 18, 19 of at least one center IDT electrode of the first and the second SAW elements 2, 3 are connected to a reference potential electrode and the lines 16 are made to be balanced signal lines. |
| US08427257B2 |
Broadside-coupled transformers with improved bandwidth
A monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) compatible broadside-coupled transformer including (i) a first transmission line, (ii) a second transmission line, and (iii) a third transmission line. The first and the second transmission lines generally form the broadside-coupled transformer. The third transmission line is generally connected in series with the broadside-coupled transmission line forming a ground return path of the broadside-coupled transformer. |
| US08427252B2 |
Oscillators with low power mode of operation
A method and apparatus for configuring an oscillator circuit to selectively switch between a low power mode and a normal mode of operation. The oscillator circuit includes an oscillator core in parallel with a dynamically configurable gain circuit. The oscillator core is configured to generate a clock signal. One or more gain elements of the gain circuit can be selectively disabled to reduce the operating power level of the oscillator circuit during a low power mode. |
| US08427251B2 |
Temperature compensated oscillator including MEMS resonator for frequency control
Disclosed is an oscillator that relies on redundancy of similar resonators integrated on chip in order to fulfill the requirement of one single quartz resonator. The immediate benefit of that approach compared to quartz technology is the monolithic integration of the reference signal function, implying smaller devices as well as cost and power savings. |
| US08427250B2 |
Piezoelectric vibrator manufacturing method, piezoelectric vibrator, oscillator, electronic device, and radio-controlled timepiece
The piezoelectric vibrator includes: a package in which a first substrate and a second substrate are superimposed so as to form a cavity therebetween; outer electrodes which are formed on an outer surface of the first substrate; inner electrodes which are formed on the first substrate so as to be accommodated in the cavity; penetration electrodes which are formed so as to penetrate through the first substrate so that the outer electrodes and the inner electrodes are electrically connected; and a piezoelectric vibrating reed which is sealed in the cavity and electrically connected to the inner electrodes at the inner side of the cavity. The first substrate and the second substrate are bonded by a bonding film that is formed of a low-melting-point glass, and the bonding film is heated to a predetermined bonding temperature when the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded together, and is formed by being heated to a temperature higher than the bonding temperature before the bonding is performed. |
| US08427249B1 |
Resonator with reduced acceleration sensitivity and phase noise using time domain switch
A resonator comprising: a frame; a first oscillator configured to oscillate with respect to the frame; a first driver configured to drive the first oscillator at the first oscillator's resonant frequency; a first half of a first relative position switch mounted to the first oscillator; a second oscillator having substantially the same resonant frequency as the first oscillator, wherein the first and second oscillators are designed to respond in substantially the same manner to external perturbations to the frame; a second half of the first relative position switch mounted to the second oscillator; and wherein as the first oscillator oscillates there is relative motion between the first and second oscillators such that the first relative position switch passes through a closed state in each oscillation when the first and second switch halves pass by each other. |
| US08427247B2 |
Oscillators and methods of operating the same
An oscillator includes: a plurality of free layers and a non-magnetic layer disposed between the plurality of free layers. Each of the plurality of free layers has perpendicular magnetic anisotropy or in-plane magnetic anisotropy. Magnetization directions of the free layers are periodically switched such that a signal within a given frequency band oscillates. |
| US08427243B2 |
Signal generating circuit and signal generating method
A signal generating circuit includes: an operating circuit arranged to generate a first control signal according to a reference clock signal and a feedback oscillating signal; a controllable oscillator arranged to generate an output oscillating signal according to the first control signal and a second control signal; a feedback circuit arranged to generate the feedback oscillating signal according to the output oscillating signal and a third control signal; a control circuit arranged to generate the second control signal and the third control signal according to an input signal; and a calibrating circuit arranged to calibrate the control circuit to adjust the second control signal by detecting a phase difference between the reference clock signal and the feedback oscillating signal. |
| US08427233B2 |
Method and apparatus to linearize transconductors by predistortion
A transconductor for providing an output current that is linear in the input voltage (Vin) comprises a main output transconductor (Ms, Mc) and a model transconductor (Msr1, Msr2, Mcr1, Mcr2) is comprised in a predistortion circuit (A), which measures the output of the model transconductor and the overall voltage input (Vin) to provide a control signal (Vc, Vc′) for the transconductors that compensates for their non-linearity. |
| US08427228B2 |
System including adaptive power rails and related method
According to one disclosed embodiment, an adaptive voltage rail circuit for integrating low voltage devices with high voltage analog circuits is described. This adaptive voltage rail circuit includes a high voltage analog circuit having a common mode voltage. Further included is a first voltage rail having a first rail voltage which is based on and greater than the common mode voltage of the high voltage analog circuit. A second voltage rail having a second rail voltage which is based on and less than the same common mode voltage is also present. By connecting these first and second voltage rails across at least one low voltage device, an adaptive voltage rail circuit is able to safely integrate low voltage devices with high voltage analog circuits in the same system. |
| US08427209B2 |
Sampling phase lock loop (PLL) with low power clock buffer
A sampling phase locked loop (PLL) circuit includes a pull-up/down buffer configured to convert an oscillator reference clock into a square wave sampling control signal input to a sampling phase detector. The buffer circuit is configured to reduce power by controlling the switching of the pull-up and pull-down transistors (and thereby the transitions of the sampling control signal) so that the transistors are not on at the same time. |
| US08427207B2 |
Semiconductor device arrangement and method
A semiconductor device arrangement and a method. One embodiment includes at least one power transistor and at least one gate resistor located between a gate of the power transistor and a connecting point in the drive circuit of the power transistor. The semiconductor device arrangement includes a switchable element between the connecting point and a source of the power transistor. |
| US08427201B2 |
Local result processor
A system includes a register, a first logical function portion, the first logical function portion operative to receive a first numerical value from the register, perform a first logical function with the first numerical value, and output a second numerical value, a second logical function portion, the second logical function portion operative to receive the first numerical value from the register, perform a second logical function with the first numerical value, and output a third numerical value, and a control logic portion, the control logic portion operative to receive the first numerical value from the register, determine whether the first numerical value includes a code associated with either the first logical function or the second logical function, and responsive to determining that the code is associated with the first logical function, and direct the output of the second numerical value to an input of the register. |
| US08427200B2 |
3D semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first mono-crystallized semiconductor layer; and a second mono-crystallized semiconductor layer; wherein said first and second mono-crystallized semiconductor layers are overlaying one on top of the other, and wherein said first mono-crystallized semiconductor layer comprise repeating memory structure with sub structures defined by etching. |
| US08427198B1 |
Reduced quantization error I/O resistor calibrator
Calibration circuitry 42 for an off-chip driver circuit 4 and/or an on-die termination circuit 8 is provided using a parallel network of main transistors controlled by a N-bit calibration value. During the calibration operation, the N-bit calibration value is varied until a threshold impedance value is crossed by the combination of the main transistors. A rounding transistor 52 is then used to determine which of the N-bit calibration values produces a combined impedance closest to the designed threshold impedance. |
| US08427190B2 |
Power supply apparatus, power supply unit diagnostic apparatus, and method for controlling power supply apparatus
A power supply apparatus includes a power supply part including a plurality of power supply units, a first comparison unit comparing a first voltage of the power supply part with a first reference value, a directing unit issuing a voltage fall direction to one of the power supply units so as to lower a voltage setting value when the first voltage is higher than the first reference value, a second comparison unit comparing a second voltage of the power supply unit obtained after the voltage fall direction is issued with the second reference voltage value, and a determining unit determining that the power supply unit to which the voltage fall direction issued corresponds to a failure unit, when the second comparison unit detects that the second voltage obtained after the voltage fall direction is issued fell in the voltage level lower than the second reference voltage. |
| US08427188B2 |
Test apparatus
There is provided a test apparatus for testing a device under test, including a signal supply section that supplies a test signal to the device under test via a transmission line, and a comparing and judging section that receives a response signal from the device under test via the transmission line shared with the signal supply section, and judges whether the device under test is acceptable by referring to a comparison result obtained by comparing a signal level of the response signal with a reference level corresponding to a logic pattern of the test signal. |
| US08427187B2 |
Probe wafer, probe device, and testing system
There is provided a testing system for testing a plurality of semiconductor chips formed on a single semiconductor wafer. The testing system includes a wafer substrate, a plurality of wafer connector terminals that are provided on the wafer substrate in such a manner that one or more wafer connector terminals correspond to each of the semiconductor chips, where each wafer connector terminal is to be electrically connected to an input/output terminal of a corresponding semiconductor chip, a plurality of circuit units that are provided on the wafer substrate in such a manner that one or more circuit units corresponds to each of the semiconductor chips, where each circuit unit generates a test signal to be used for testing a corresponding semiconductor chip and supplies the test signal to the corresponding semiconductor chip to test the corresponding semiconductor chip, and a controller that generates a control signal used to control the plurality of circuit units. |
| US08427180B2 |
Multicontact tactile sensor with single-contact idle mode
A multicontact tactile sensor including a matrix formed of two transparent conducting layers, at least one exhibiting an array of fine conducting tracks, a control circuit including a power supply for one of the layers, and a mechanism detecting the other layer, the sensor having an operating mode of multicontact type corresponding to a sweep of supply to the lines of the corresponding layer, and an operating mode of monocontact type corresponding to a continuous and uniform supply over a whole of the sensor, each operating mode being activated as a function of the detection or nondetection of at least one contact. |
| US08427178B2 |
Detection circuit for use in various types of capacitive transducers and a transducer including such a circuit
A detection circuit for detecting changes in capacitance. The detection circuit includes a tuned ratio circuit and an alternating current (AC) source AC-coupled to the tuned ratio circuit. The tuned ratio circuit includes first and second tuned circuits that are tuned to, or close, to the frequency of the AC source. Output circuitry is coupled between the two tuned circuits. During use as a transducer, an active capacitive transducer is inductively coupled to the first tuned circuit. Changes in the capacitance of the active capacitive transducer cause changes in the tuning of the first tuned circuit. The output circuitry generates an output signal that is a function of the difference between the tunings of the first and second tuned circuits. |
| US08427177B2 |
Capacitance sensor
A technique in which a false detection and a wrong diagnosis can be suppressed in a capacitance sensor represented by an acceleration sensor is provided. A first capacitative element and a second capacitative element, which configure a capacitance detection unit, and a third capacitative element and a fourth capacitative element, which configure a forced oscillation generation unit, are electrically separated from each other. That is, the diagnosis movable electrode that configures the third capacitative element and the fourth capacitative element is formed integrally with the movable part. On the other hand, the diagnosis fixed electrode and the diagnosis fixed electrode are electrically separated from the detection fixed electrode and the detection fixed electrode. |
| US08427176B2 |
Pulsed waveguide sensing device and method for measuring a parameter
At least one embodiment is directed to a sensor for measuring a parameter. A signal path of the system comprises an amplifier (612), a sensor element, and an amplifier (620). The sensor element comprises a transducer (4), a waveguide (5), and a transducer (30). A parameter such as force or pressure applied to the sensor element can change the length of waveguide (5). A pulsed energy wave is emitted by the transducer (4) into the waveguide (5) at a first location. The transducer (30) is responsive pulsed energy waves at a second location of the waveguide (5). The transit time of each pulsed energy wave is measured. The transit time corresponds to the pressure or force applied to the sensor element. |
| US08427173B2 |
Open fuse detection by neutral point shift
Systems and methods are shown for detecting a blown fuse in a three-phase line by comparing neutral points in the line before and after the fuses. Diode rectifier circuits may be used to compare the neutral points and generate a DC output voltage when neutral points are off from one another, and photocoupler circuits may provide electrical isolation when signaling a neutral point shift. The neutral points compared need not be on immediate sides of the fuses, so intermediate components may exist, and in some embodiments one of the compared points may be within a load connected to the three-phase line. |
| US08427171B2 |
Battery connection failure detection system
A system and method of detecting battery connection failures relies upon measuring battery cell body temperature and battery connector temperature at a measured current. The difference between these two temperatures is calculated using a software driven comparator. The comparator compares the difference as measured against a predetermined safe difference for the measured current. If the measured value exceeds the predetermined safe value an alarm is given. In one embodiment of the invention the difference between the two temperatures is compared to a predetermined safe difference independent of current measurements. |
| US08427161B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating hyperpolarized materials
Methods and apparatuses for generating hyperpolarized materials are disclosed. In one embodiment, a flexible fluid path is provided for use in a polarizer system. In a further embodiment, a polarizer system is provided with an electromechanical assembly for controlling the movement of a fluid path, when present, within a sample path of the polarizer system. In a further embodiment, a polarizer system is provided having a sample path entry point at a convenient height for use by a user standing on the ground. |
| US08427157B2 |
Method to determine a predetermined signal amplitude in MR measurements
In a method and apparatus to determine a predetermined signal amplitude of an examination subject in an MR measurement in which multiple RF pulses are radiated into the examination subject in a pulse sequence in a pulse series with a repetition time TR that is smaller than the T2 times of the examination subject, a target magnetization is established for a predetermined point in time after radiation of the respective RF pulse for essentially all RF pulses from the pulse series, a target flip angle and a target phase are determined for different regions of the examination subject for essentially all RF pulses depending on the respective target magnetization, a respective amplitude and phase response is determined for essentially all RF pulses to generate the respective target magnetization after radiation of the respective RF pulse, and the RF pulses with the respective determined amplitude and phase response are radiated into the examination subject. |
| US08427153B2 |
Method for motion correction in magnetic resonance imaging using radio frequency coil arrays
A method for motion correction using coil arrays, termed “MOCCA,” is provided, in which coil-dependent motion-related signal variations are employed to determine information related to motion in two and three directions. With such a method, navigator echoes are not required, nor is the acquisition of additional data required to resolve complex motions in more than one direction. The motion estimation and compensation method provided by MOCCA is also applicable to applications of cardiac, respiratory, and other physiological self-gating techniques. |
| US08427152B2 |
Electromagnetic interference suppression device and MRI apparatus using the same
An electromagnetic interference suppression device and an MRI apparatus using such a device are disclosed. The MRI apparatus may include a main magnet, a gradient coil, an RF coil placed in a shielding chamber, a control system, and an electromagnetic interference suppression device. |
| US08427151B2 |
Method and apparatus for brain perfusion magnetic resonance images
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for brain perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique with the removal of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pixels. This invention utilizes a CSF/brain-contrast-enhanced image, wherein the CSF/brain-contrast-enhanced image is defined as the signal difference between CSF and brain matter divided by a standard deviation of air background random noise is larger than 3, acquired from the subject's brain, and applies a segmentation technique to remove the CSF pixels. After removing the CSF pixels on parametric images, the extent of brain tissue with delayed perfusion can be better identified. By using a good region of interest enclosing the correct delayed-perfusion region, the measurement on the tissue volume and perfusion parameters would be more accurate than the area contaminated by CSF pixels. |
| US08427145B2 |
System and method for emulating nuclear magnetic resonance well logging tool diffusion editing measurements on a bench-top nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer for laboratory-scale rock core analysis
A laboratory NMR methodology (and corresponding laboratory apparatus) defines a sample volume. The method stores downhole tool data corresponding to a hydrocarbon-bearing sample collected from a given subsurface formation. The downhole tool data includes parameters pertaining to magnetic fields used by a downhole tool during a suite of NMR measurements of the given subsurface formation. The sample is positioned in the sample volume of the laboratory apparatus, which applies a static magnetic field in the sample volume. Furthermore, the laboratory apparatus applies a suite of NMR measurements to the sample volume to thereby determine a property of the sample. The NMR measurements of the suite each include a pulse sequence of oscillating magnetic field in conjunction with a pulsed-mode gradient field. The pulsed-mode gradient field is based on the stored downhole tool data corresponding to the sample. A laboratory NMR methodology for optimizing downhole NMR measurements is also described. |
| US08427139B2 |
Dual pole magnet structure having two magnets 90 degrees out of phase for position sensing in an actuator
An increment sensor assembly includes a magnet structure having at least two dual pole magnets that are magnetized 90 degrees out of phase. The magnet structure is mounted to an output shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation. At least one Hall effect sensor is associated with each magnet to determined polarity change of the magnet structure per quadrant. |
| US08427138B2 |
Position sensor
The position sensor includes a moving member configured to be displaced in response to displacement of a measurement target, a resonant unit, an oscillation unit, a signal processing unit, an output unit, a signal absence detection unit, and a low-pass filter. The resonant unit includes a detection coil. The oscillation unit is configured to output an oscillation signal. The signal absence detection unit is configured to judge whether or not the oscillation signal is output from the oscillation unit. The low-pass filter is configured to have a cut-off frequency which passes the oscillation signal corresponding to the resonant frequency of the resonant unit in a normal condition, but blocks the oscillation signal output from the oscillation unit when the resonant unit sees an oscillation at an abnormal frequency. |
| US08427137B2 |
Magnetostrictive displacement transducer with suppression of switching power supply noise
A transducer senses repetitive pulses on a magnetostrictive element and provides transducer output bursts. A transducer circuit detects the transducer output bursts. An energy storage device couples to a power input of the transducer circuit. A switching power supply couples to the energy storage device and has repetitive suppressed states during which switching in the switching power supply is suppressed. A sequence circuit provides synchronization of the repetitive suppressed states of the switching power supply with the transducer output bursts. |
| US08427136B2 |
Magnetic displacement sensor
A magnetic displacement sensor, where, in order to achieve an improved measurement behavior, magnets are formed in a direction of an x-axis such that a z-component (Bz) of the flux density has an essentially linear characteristic curve in a region of travel and/or the magnets are formed in a direction of a y-axis such that the z-component (Bz) is essentially constant in a region of a transversal offset. |
| US08427132B2 |
Voltage detection circuit and method thereof
A voltage detection circuit comprises a plurality of even-number voltage detection nodes, at least one odd-number voltage detection node, a voltage differential generation circuit, a selection circuit and a computing circuit. The selection circuit is for controlling the coupling relationship between the voltage differential generation circuit and the even and odd-number voltage detection nodes, so that the voltage differential generation circuit generates a voltage differential between the nodes. The computing circuit knows a voltage of a first even-number voltage detection node being as a reference voltage or obtains the voltage of the first even-number voltage detection node on the basis of the reference voltage, and respectively obtains a voltage of the nodes on the basis of the voltage differential between two adjacent nodes and the obtained voltage of a first even-number voltage detection node. |
| US08427131B2 |
Voltage regulation at a remote location using measurements from a remote metering device
Regulation of a remote load center voltage from a local location of a voltage regulator and a voltage regulator control using voltage measurements from the remote load center obtained using a metering device at the load center in communication with the voltage regulator control. The metering device may obtain remote voltage information at the load center and communicate such to the voltage regulator control using a direct communications line, a wide area network, or the like. The communications may include electrical (e.g. copper cable), light (e.g. infrared over fiber optics), radio frequency, or the like. The voltage regulator control may be configured to use local measurements and a line drop compensation algorithm in the event that the remote voltage information becomes unavailable. |
| US08427128B2 |
Control circuit and method for reducing output ripple in constant on-time switching regulator
The present invention discloses a control circuit for reducing output ripple in a constant on-time switching regulator and a method thereof, for controlling a power stage. The control circuit determines whether a zero current period wherein an output current is zero is longer than a threshold period, and switches the on-time period to a shorter period if it is longer, whereby the power stage operates according to the shorter period while still in the discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). |
| US08427125B2 |
Window comparator with accurate levels for use in DC-DC converters
The present invention relates to a improved feedback circuit for generating a quantized control signal representing the relation of a signal to be controlled relative to predetermined limits of at least one error signal window, the circuit comprising signal detecting means, a detected signal connected to error amplifying means for amplifying the error between the detected signal and a first reference signal, the output error signal of the error amplifying means connected to at least a first comparator means and second comparator means each configured to compare the error signal with one of the upper limit and lower limit of the at least one error signal window. The invention provides a circuit and method by which only one accurate comparator is needed and for the error windows only simple, inaccurate comparators can be used. Thus, accuracy of the distance between the defined error window levels is much more fixed because it is primary determined by mismatch of resistors and not by the offset of the used comparators. Further, the capacitive load on the feedback node is smaller, which leads to a better response time. Furthermore, the current consumption is considerably less. Moreover, the circuit will be smaller. Finally, yet importantly, the overall offset of the output voltage is comparable to the offset in the standard solution. |
| US08427121B2 |
Multi-output DC-DC converter
A DC-to-DC converter generates multiple outputs from a single input supply using a single inductor. The inductor current can be changed rapidly by connecting the input voltage in either direction across the inductor using switches A to F. In use, current flows from the input supply through the inductor to an output during a charge phase, then current flows from ground through the inductor to the output in a discharge phase. The level of inductor current at the end of the discharge phase is stored. Before the next charge phase for the same output, the input supply is connected across the inductor in a slew phase to bring the inductor current to the stored level. This reduces crosstalk between outputs having different power requirements. Variable frequency noise in the converter is reduced by giving each output the same total time (slew phase+charge phase+discharge phase). |
| US08427119B2 |
Power source apparatus
A power source apparatus includes a first converter having a reactor L1, a switching element Q1, and a rectifier D1; a second converter connected in parallel with the first converter and having a reactor L2, a switching element Q2, and a rectifier D2; a capacitor C1 connected to output ends of the first and second converters; a current detector R1 detecting a resultant current of currents of the first and second converters; a controller 13 driving the switching element Q1 and the switching element Q2; and a selector. In a case where the resultant current indicates a first reference value, if one of first and second drive signals of the controller is active, the active drive signal is deactivated, and if both the first and second drive signals are active, one of the first and second drive signals that is active longer than the other is deactivated. |
| US08427118B2 |
Systems and methods for regulating power in renewable energy sources
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for regulating power in renewable energy sources. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for regulating active power produced by the renewable energy source towards an apparent power setpoint. The method may include selectively regulating voltage based on power factor foldback or voltage foldback associated with the renewable energy source. When power factor foldback is selected, the method may include regulating the power factor associated with the renewable energy source based at least in part on a power factor angle magnitude setpoint, and reducing the power factor angle magnitude setpoint towards zero when apparent power produced by the renewable energy source approaches or exceeds the apparent power setpoint. When voltage foldback is selected, the method may include regulating voltage of the renewable energy source based at least in part on measured VARs and an apparent power ratio, where the apparent power ratio is about equal to the apparent power divided by the apparent power setpoint. |
| US08427117B2 |
Electromechanical arrangement
Electromechanical arrangements are utilized widely whereby a prime mover in the form of a mechanical assembly such as a gas turbine engine is utilized to drive an electrical machine as an electrical generator. Unfortunately the loads applied to the electrical generator may vary creating oscillation across phases of the electrical generator. Such oscillations generally will be translated to the mechanical assembly in the form of torque oscillations which may cause stressing. Stressing of the mechanical assembly will reduce its life and may alter its performance as well as fuel consumption. By provision of appropriate mechanisms for balancing electrical loads across an electrical machine as well reducing the time decay period for stored charge within an electrical assembly associated with an electrical machine it is possible to reduce torque oscillations as presented to the mechanical assembly and therefore improve its operational performance. |
| US08427111B2 |
Battery, battery system and method for detecting abnormal state of battery
There is provided a battery system including a battery having a luminescent layer on surfaces of an exterior member [thereof], the luminescent layer containing a stress luminescent material that emits light in response to application of mechanical stress, a photodetector device that detects light emission by the stress luminescent material, and abnormality detection means for monitoring the light emission detected by the photodetector device and thus detecting an abnormality in the battery. |
| US08427108B2 |
Method for controlling an electric accumulator unit
A power system has a generator, a variable load, and an electrical accumulator unit. The electrical accumulator unit stores power when the generator generates excess power, and supplements power from the generator when the generator generates insufficient power. |
| US08427106B2 |
Dynamically reconfigurable framework for a large-scale battery system
A dynamically reconfigurable battery framework for management of a large-scale battery system systems is provided. The framework monitors, reconfigures, and controls large-scale battery systems online. The framework is built upon a topology-based bypassing mechanism that provides a set of rules for changing the battery-pack configuration, and a semantic bypassing mechanism by which the battery-cell connectivity is reconfigured to recover from a battery-cell failure. More specifically, the semantic bypassing mechanism implements a constant-voltage-keeping policy and a dynamic-voltage-allowing policy. The former policy is effective in preventing unavoidable voltage drops during the battery lifetime, while the latter policy is effective in supplying different amounts of power to meet a wide-range of application requirements. |
| US08427105B2 |
System and method for equalizing a battery pack during a battery pack charging process
A system and method for equalizing a battery pack during a battery pack charging process in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The method includes receiving total capacity estimates for all battery cells in the battery pack, and receiving state-of-charge estimates for all battery cells in the battery pack. The method further includes computing an equalization metric for all battery cells in the battery pack. The method further includes determining an equalization action for all battery cells in the battery pack, and initiating that equalization action. The method further includes executing a battery pack charging step. |
| US08427094B2 |
Method for controlling positioning of actuator comprising wave gear device
A method for controlling positioning of an actuator having a wave gear device uses an exact linearization technique to compensate effects relative to positioning control of a load shaft caused by the non-linear spring characteristics of the wave gear device. A plant model is constructed from the actuator, and linearized using the exact linearization technique; measurements are taken of non-linear elastic deformation of the wave gear device relative to load torque; the non-linear spring model τg(θtw) is defined using a cubic polynomial with the constant defined as zero to allow the measurement results to be recreated; and the current input into the model and motor position of the model when a load acceleration command is a command value are entered into a processor arranged as a semi-closed loop control system for controlling positioning of the load shaft, as a feed-forward current command and a feed-forward motor position command. |
| US08427090B2 |
Magnetic-drive-pulsation motor
To develop a motor which can directly drive a brushless motor using a conventional circuit for an inverter without smoothing circuit and a circuit for a matrix converter that are for a brushed motor that operates on single-phase 100 V. Magnetic cores are attached to a motor shaft to increase inertial force. A magnetic-drive-pulsation motor which modulates torque is realized using force of attraction and repulsion generated by outer magnets and magnetic cores. The magnetic-drive-pulsation motor can be driven using the inverter and the matrix converter on single-phase 100 V power supply. |
| US08427088B2 |
Apparatus for carrying out improved control of rotary machine
In an apparatus, a predicting unit uses, as an initial value of a controlled variable, at least one of a first measured value of the controlled variable and a second measured value of a physical variable expressed as a function of the controlled variable. The predicting unit predicts, based on the initial value of the controlled variable, a value of the controlled variable when a driving mode of a switching element of a power converter is set. A driving unit has an integral element and determines, based on an output of the integral element to which a deviation between the predicted value of the controlled variable and a command value of the controlled variable is inputted, an actual driving mode of the switching element to thereby drive the switching element in the determined driving mode. |
| US08427087B2 |
Control device for AC motor
An overmodulation PWM control unit includes a voltage amplitude calculating unit for calculating a voltage command amplitude of an original voltage command based on current feedback control, a voltage amplitude correcting unit for performing linear compensation on the voltage command amplitude so that a fundamental amplitude of a pulse width modulation voltage provided from an inverter may match the original voltage command amplitude, and a harmonic determining unit for determining presence or absence of superimposition of a three-order harmonic component on a phase voltage command. The harmonic determining unit performs switching between presence and absence of the three-order harmonic component based on transition of the original voltage command amplitude to avoid passing through a change point where discontinuity occurs in the voltage amplitude characteristics representing a relationship between a fundamental amplitude obtained in advance for each of the cases of presence and absence of the superimposition of the three-order harmonic component and the voltage command amplitude required for achieving the fundamental amplitude. |
| US08427086B2 |
Brake resistor control
An electric drive system comprises a generator, a traction motor, a brake resistor, a bus, and a control unit. The generator, the traction motor, and the brake resistor are coupled electrically to the bus. The control unit is configured to determine a pulse-width-modulation duty cycle for the brake resistor (“brake duty”) and control operation of the brake resistor according to the brake duty, wherein the brake duty can be a value intermediate of constant OFF and constant ON. A method of operating the electric drive system is also disclosed. |
| US08427085B2 |
Speed adjustment circuit for a plurality of fans
A speed adjustment circuit for a plurality of fans includes a voltage input terminal, a plurality of speed control modules, and a fan tachometer. Each of the speed control modules includes a fan connector, a speed adjusting unit, and a detector switch unit. The speed adjusting unit includes a switching control unit, a voltage adjusting chip, and a variable resistor. The detector switch unit includes a first switch. The voltage input terminal connects to the input terminal of the voltage adjusting chip through the switching control unit. The output terminal of the voltage adjusting chip connects to the power pin of the fan connector. The adjusting terminal of the voltage adjusting chip connects to ground through the variable resistor, and connects to the output terminal of the voltage adjusting chip through a resistor. The detection pin of the fan connector connects to the fan tachometer through the first switch. |
| US08427084B2 |
Digital pulse width modulated motor control system and method
A digital motor control system utilizes at least two variable pulse generators to produce two streams of pulse width modulated pulses to control the motor speed and direction of rotation of a motor. An input control signal may be compared with two reference signals, such as two waveforms which are inverted with respect to each other, to produce two streams of pulse width modulated signals. A logic circuit combines the two streams of pulses. |
| US08427081B2 |
Driving apparatus of light emitting diode and driving method thereof
A driving method of a light-emitting diode (LED) adapted to a driving apparatus is provided. The driving method includes detecting whether the driving apparatus performs dimming, and if the driving apparatus performs dimming, determining whether a predetermined requirement for dimming control is met or not. When the predetermined requirement for dimming control is not met, respective current magnitudes of a plurality of driving currents are regulated, and each of the driving currents is output for a full time of a period. Conversely, when the predetermined requirement for dimming control is met, each of the driving currents is output for a partial time of a period. |
| US08427080B2 |
Autonomous streetlight control
Applicant has disclosed a method for controlling on and off times for streetlights by synchronizing these intervals to recent local daylight conditions without any human intervention. The preferred method comprises: sensing, via a photocell, when dusk and dawn occurs; and then, timing or counting the dusk and dawn times per 24-hour cycle, recording that dusk and dawn data, calculating the average dusk-to-dawn interval for a plurality of preceding 24-hour cycles; predicting, the next dusk time; and turning on the streetlight for a preselected percentage of the calculated average dusk-to-dawn interval. Future “on” time periods are repeatedly calculated as a percentage of the dark periods determined on one or several immediately prior nights, and so varies with the seasons. Unlike the prior art, Applicant's streetlight control does not require field programming or field inputs from the installer or time knowledge. It also does not require any external or internal precision clock or calendar. |
| US08427079B2 |
Method and device for driving a multicolor light source
A lighting device (1) comprises a plurality of LEDs (11-14) producing light (21-24) of mutually different colors. The LEDs are driven in switching cycles (63) with a duty cycle controlled supply current of constant magnitude. In each switching cycle, each LED is first switched ON (61) and then switched OFF (62).In a measuring mode, during one switching cycle (63B), all ON phases of all LEDs are briefly interrupted, except for one LED (11), so that a light sensor (70) measures the light from this one LED. This measurement can be used to adapt the duty cycle of this one LED. In the next switching cycle (63C), the interruption of the ON phases is compensated by extending the ON phases of all LEDs except said one LED, the extension having a duration equal to the duration (τD) of the interruption. |
| US08427075B2 |
Constant current output sink or source
A constant current output sink or source eliminates a current limiting series resistor for a light emitting diode (LED) and maintains a constant light intensity from the LED for all operating and manufacturing variables of a digital device since the current through the LED is maintained at a constant value. The constant current output sink or source may be programmable for selection of a constant current value from a plurality of constant current values available. |
| US08427074B1 |
PLC controller and discharge lighting ballast receiver with high noise immunity
A power line communication system communicates a ballast dimming level to an electronic ballast over an AC power line. A power line controller is operable to generate the ballast control signal and to insert that signal on the AC power signal being transmitted over the AC power line. A power line receiver receives the AC power signal and extracts the ballast control signal from the AC power signal to generate the dimming level signal corresponding with the desired ballast dimming level. To insert the ballast control signal on the AC power signal, the power line controller has a transformer coupled to the signal pattern circuit. The secondary winding of this transformer is connected in series with the AC power line to insert the ballast control signal on the AC power signal. This AC power signal is then transmitted to the electronic ballast. To extract the ballast control signal out of the AC power signal, the power line receiver has a resonant circuit connected in series with the AC power line. The resonant circuit should be tuned to transmit the ballast control signal and to filter out the AC power signal. A dimming level sensing circuit then senses the signal pattern on the ballast control signal and generates a dimming level signal corresponding to the desired ballast dimming level. |
| US08427071B2 |
Light emitting diode driving device with a simple structure and an enhanced efficiency
An LED driving device includes: an LED circuit having an input side for receiving a driving current corresponding to an AC input voltage from an external power source when the magnitude of a driving voltage across the input side is greater than a predetermined value; and a clamp circuit coupled between the input side of the LED circuit and the external power source, and permitting the driving current to pass through for clamping the magnitude of the driving current to a predetermined current level and for clamping the magnitude of the driving voltage to a predetermined voltage level. |
| US08427068B2 |
Reference signal generator and PWM control circuit for LCD backlight
There are provided a reference signal generator and a PWM control circuit for LCD backlight. The reference signal generator and the PWM control circuit for LCD backlight may be configured to respectively include: a current control unit that controls generation of a variable current sequentially changing; a current generating unit that generates a variable current changing sequentially; and a reference signal generating unit that controls charging until a charged voltage charged by the variable current generated by the current generating unit reaches a first reference voltage level, starts discharging when the charged voltage reaches the first reference voltage level, controls discharging until the charged voltage reaches a second reference voltage level, and generates a triangular wave reference signal that has a frequency buffering interval in which a frequency sequentially changes when the initial driving completion signal or the protection signal is input. |
| US08427066B2 |
Digitally controlled current regulator for high power solid state lighting
A representative apparatus embodiment provides for controlling current supplied to solid state lighting, such as light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a memory adapted to store a plurality of current parameters, and a control circuit adapted to modulate an energizing cycle time period for providing a substantially constant DC average current to the solid state lighting in response to a selected current parameter from the plurality of current parameters. In a representative embodiment, the control circuit modulates a current provided to the solid state lighting in response to a predetermined minimum current level (IMIN) parameter and a predetermined peak current level (IP) parameter, such that the DC average current level (IO) is substantially proportional to one-half of a sum of a predetermined peak current level (IP) and a predetermined minimum current level I M ( I O ∝ I P + I MIN 2 ) . |
| US08427064B2 |
Electronic ballast circuit for fluorescent lamps
Disclosed is a single switch integrated electronic ballast circuit for a fluorescent lamp, comprising an input for receiving a rectified DC voltage; a power factor correction portion for shaping the input line current to substantially a sinusoidal waveform and in phase with the rectified voltage, wherein the power factor correction portion includes capacitors; an energy storage portion for storing energy during dimming operations of the fluorescent lamp, wherein the capacitors also form part of the energy storage portion; an inverter with a resonant tank forming a resonant circuit for converting the DC voltage to an AC voltage to be delivered to the lamp; and a single switch for: 1) shaping the input line current to a substantially sinusoidal waveform as part of the power factor correction portion; and 2) providing a square voltage waveform across the input of the resonant circuit resulting in a substantially symmetrical waveform across the output of the resonant circuit. |
| US08427055B2 |
High pressure discharge lamp
A high pressure discharge lamp comprises a pair of electrodes that face each other in an electric discharge container, wherein an electrode axis of each electrode is buried in a sealing portion, each electrode axis is joined to a metallic foil, two or more grooves are formed in an axis direction on a portion of the electrode axis, which corresponds to the sealing portion, an upper shoulder portion of each groove is formed in a shape of a curved surface, a diameter of the electrode axis is 0.3 mm to 1 mm, and a curvature radius of the curved surface upper shoulder portion is 5 μm-50 μm. |
| US08427049B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a light emitting layer configured to emit light in accordance with current; a first pixel separation film configured to define a first opening for providing a light emitting region when the light emitting layer emits light; and a second pixel separation film laminated on the first pixel separation film and configured to define a second opening that is restricted so as not to gradually become wider as apart from a surface contacted with the first pixel separation film. |
| US08427039B2 |
Optically controlled cold-cathode electron tube
In an optically controlled cold-cathode electron tube, the emitters 1, of nanometer and/or micron size and of elongate shape, have a structure comprising a first material (4) of sp2-bonding carbon type and a metallic second material (3), said first material being in contact with and surrounding said second material at its top and over the entire length of the emitter or at least part of said length starting from its top toward the base (b). The second material has a plasma frequency substantially equal to or greater than the frequency of the optical control wave. |
| US08427037B2 |
LED luminaire capable of increasing the view angle
A luminaire includes a lamp holder, a first light-emitting module, a second light-emitting module, a light guide, and a lamp cover. The lamp holder has a top portion. The top portion includes a first upper face and a platform projecting upwardly from the first upper face. The platform has a second upper face at a top end thereof. The first light-emitting module is disposed on the first upper face and around the platform. The second light-emitting module is disposed on the second upper face. The light guide is disposed around the platform and on the first light-emitting module. The lamp cover is disposed on the lamp holder for covering the first light-emitting module, the second light-emitting module, and the light guide. |
| US08427027B2 |
Brush unit for an electric machine, spring and seal arrangement for the same, and method for the production thereof
A brush unit for an electric machine has a simple and low-cost but robust design, and can be assembled at low-cost using simple process steps comprises four ring-shaped board elements are stacked on each other, namely two outer circuit boards, each of which is electrically conductively connected to one or more brushes. Two guide boards made of electrically insulative material disposed therebetween, comprise a shape having protrusions and recesses for forming radial guides for the brushes and receptacles for springs acting on the brushes. The springs are spiral springs wound around a mandrel, the flat ends thereof protruding past the springs being rotationally fixedly guided in a guide groove of each receptacle and able to engage behind a stop. In order to assemble the brush unit, the circuit and guide boards are stacked on each other in the axial direction and riveted, then the brushes are inserted in the guides in the radial direction and the springs are placed in the receptacles. |
| US08427020B2 |
Blower assembly with integral injection molded suspension mount
A blower assembly comprises a blower housing having a stator assembly integrally formed therewith. The stator assembly includes a stator bore having a rotor magnet rotatable therewithin such that the motor assembly is configured as a brushless D.C. motor. An impeller is mounted on a motor shaft of the motor assembly and has a plurality of vanes extending upwardly therefrom. Each one of the vanes has a vane height which is optimized to minimize the formation of fluid eddy losses during compression of air by the impeller. A bearing assembly rotatably coupling the rotor magnet to the stator assembly is sized and configured to maintain an air gap of approximately 0.0002 inches between the vanes and a housing interior surface of the blower housing during rotation of the impeller. |
| US08427019B2 |
Systems and methods for cooling and lubrication of electric machines
The invention provides systems and methods for cooling and lubrication of high power density electric machines with an enhanced fluid injection system. Multiple fluid flow passages may be provided within the electric machine, which may comprise a stator fluid flow pathway, a rotor fluid flow pathway, and a bearing fluid flow pathway. The fluid within the electric machine may be used to cool and/or lubricate internal components of the electric machine. |
| US08427016B2 |
Linear vibrator
A linear vibrator includes a casing defining an internal space of the vibrator, a bracket disposed under the casing and having a coil, to which electricity is applied to induce a magnetic field, an oscillator having a magnet received in a hollow portion of a yoke, one end of which is closed, and a cylindrical weight coupled onto the circumference of the yoke, and a spring member coupled with an upper portion of the casing to elastically support the oscillator such that the oscillator is movable in a linear motion, wherein the weight is provided with a plurality of circumferential recesses in which a rotary member is rotatably inserted while being in contact with a sidewall of the casing. |
| US08427011B2 |
Non-contact power transmission apparatus
A non-contact power transmission apparatus accurately determines the kind of object that is placed on the charging deck of the non-contact power transmission apparatus, and, only when a non-contact power receiving apparatus is placed on the power transmission apparatus, allows power transmission and data communication to take place, thereby accurately determining the state of the receiver side and efficiently controlling the transmission of power. In the power transmission apparatus, the power supplied to the non-contact power receiving apparatus is measured, and the output power of the wireless power signal output from two different cores is controlled, thereby allowing the charging operation to be stably conducted even if the non-contact power receiving apparatus is moved anywhere on the power transmission apparatus. The power transmission apparatus improves both the reliability of operation of the non-contact charging system, and the competitiveness of related products, such as portable terminals, battery packs and the like. |
| US08427010B2 |
DC-to-AC power conversion system and method
A system, in one embodiment, includes a photovoltaic power converter. The photovoltaic power converter includes one or more photovoltaic arrays configured convert solar energy into a DC signal and two or more N-level converters coupled to a common DC bus (N being an integer greater than 2). |
| US08427008B2 |
Electronic power supply circuit
An electronic power supply circuit for a load composed of at least two independent circuit branches connected in parallel to each other, where a first branch requires a different power supply voltage from the power supply voltage of a second branch. The circuit includes a step-up converter, a timer circuit connected to the step-up converter so that the converter generates, alternately, at least a first output voltage able to power the first circuit branch and a second output voltage able to power a second circuit branch, a regulation circuit able to regulate the overvoltages at the ends of an output capacitor of the converter during commutations between the different output voltages; and a commutation circuit able to activate the step-up converter, according to the timer signals coming from the timer circuit, when the output voltage at the ends of the output capacitor has reached the level needed to power the activated branch and regulate the current flowing thereto. |
| US08427007B2 |
Field replaceable management module
Aspects of the invention are directed to a power distribution unit including a removable management module and methods for providing power using the power distribution units. According to one embodiment the power distribution unit comprises a housing having a length, a width and a depth with a front face of the housing extending across the width and along the length with the length being substantially greater than the width and the depth, and wherein the front face of the housing defines an opening to a docking space in an interior portion of the housing, a plurality of power outlets disposed on the front face of the housing, a management module configured to detect current through at least one of the plurality of power outlets, the management module being further configured and arranged to fit within the docking space, a memory component contained within the housing and configured to store operational data for the power distribution unit, and wherein the management module and the housing are configured and arranged such that the management module is removable from the docking space through the opening in the front face. |
| US08427001B2 |
Electrically controlled frequency-based power system architecture for aircraft
An electrical power system and method utilizing a controlled frequency generator (CFG) that creates an electrical output with a constant frequency is disclosed. More specifically, an electrical power system and method utilizing controlled frequency to provide no break power to the various aircraft electrical power components as well as providing starting power to the main engine and the auxiliary power unit. An electrical power system in accordance with the present invention eliminates various unnecessary AC and DC conversions by generating a more user friendly electrical output at a constant frequency to be usable by various aircraft components such as the air compressor, electronics, hydraulic pressure, and air conditioning. Moreover, the current electrical power system architecture can also be used to provide main engine and auxiliary power unit starting power utilizing the constant frequency. |
| US08426996B2 |
Method for controlling wind turbines, and devices therefore
A wind turbine control master unit has a communication interface and a signal processing unit. The communication interface is configured to receive a rotor rotational speed of at least a first and a second wind turbine over a communication link. The signal processing unit is configured to determine a synchronized rotor speed value based on a mean value of the rotor rotational speeds. The signal processing unit is configured to calculate a synchronized azimuth angle value based on integrating the synchronized rotor speed value. Further, the communication interface is configured to send the synchronized rotor speed value and the synchronized azimuth angle value over a communication link. Also, a signal light control module and a wind turbine in connection with the control master unit are provided. |
| US08426994B2 |
Control of wind park noise emission
According to the present invention is provided a method of control of noise emission from a wind park in operation, the wind park comprising a plurality of wind turbines. The method comprises the steps of • providing measurements of at least one wind speed and of at least one wind direction to a park noise emission emulation module including for each of two or more of the plurality of wind turbines a wind turbine noise emission model being suitable for producing a prediction of noise emission from the wind turbine as a function of at least one operational characteristic, the geographical position of each of the plurality of wind turbines, and the geographical position of at least one noise immission point, • emulating the noise level at the at least one noise immission point as a result of noise emitted by the plurality of wind turbines, and • controlling the operation of the wind park from the result of the emulation so as to prevent the noise level at the at least one noise immission point from exceeding a predetermined threshold level. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wind park. |
| US08426990B2 |
Turbine apparatus
Turbine apparatus for a hydroelectric power station, with a turbine impeller, which is capable of rotating about a turbine rotary spindle, which is in particular arranged vertically, with turbine blades (4), which are fitted at an angle with respect to the turbine impeller (3), in particular a fixed angle, with a generator, which converts the mechanical rotation energy of the turbine impeller into electrical energy, wherein the generator is in particular an annular generator (5), with an annular rotor (6) and a stator (7), which is correspondingly arranged in annular fashion, wherein the turbine rotary spindle (2) is coupled to the rotor (6) in such a way that it is fixed against rotation, and the rotation about the turbine rotary spindle (2) takes place by means of a hollow shaft (8), with a pot-like receptacle (9), into which a fixed bearing journal (10) with movable bearings (11) arranged around it is inserted, in particular directly, and the turbine impeller (3) and the rotor (6) are capable of rotating about the bearing journal (10). |
| US08426988B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating power downhole
A downhole power generator has a substantially tubular body. A cover surrounds at least a portion of the body. At least one piezoelectric element is disposed in a cavity in the body, the piezoelectric element acting cooperatively with the cover such that motion of the cover relative to the body causes the piezoelectric element to generate electric power. A method for generating power downhole comprises disposing a cover around at least a portion of a substantially tubular body; disposing at least one piezoelectric element in the body; and engaging the piezoelectric element with the cover such that motion of the cover relative to the body causes the piezoelectric element to generate electric power. |
| US08426987B2 |
Misalignment detection devices
A misalignment detection device comprising a substrate, at least one integrated circuit (IC), and at least one detection unit is disclosed. The substrate comprises a first positioning pad and a second positioning pad adjacent to the first positioning pad. The integrated circuit is disposed on the substrate and comprises a first positioning bump and a second positioning bump adjacent to the first positioning bump. The first and second positioning bumps substantially correspond to the first and second positioning pads, respectively. The at least one detection unit is electrically coupled to the substrate, wherein the detection unit outputs a fault signal in response to a positioning shift occurring between the first and second positioning pads and the first and second positioning bumps. |
| US08426982B2 |
Structure and manufacturing method of chip scale package
A Chip Scale Package (CSP) and a method of forming the same are disclosed. Single chips without the conventional ball mountings, are first attached to an adhesive-substrate (adsubstrate) composite having openings that correspond to the input/output (I/O) pads on the single chips to form a composite chip package. Ball mounting is then performed over the openings, thus connecting the I/O pads at the chip sites to the next level of packaging directly. In another embodiment, the adhesive layer is formed on the wafer side first to form an adwafer, which is then die sawed in CSPs. Then the CSPs with the adhesive already on them are bonded to a substrate. The composite chip package may optionally be encapsulated with a molding material. The CSPs provide integrated and shorter chip connections especially suited for high frequency circuit applications, and can leverage the currently existing test infrastructure. |
| US08426976B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device and method of manufacturing the same
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device has a plurality of memory strings with a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells connected in series. Each of the memory strings includes: a columnar semiconductor layer extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate; a plurality of conductive layers formed at a sidewall of the columnar semiconductor layer via memory layers; and interlayer insulation layers formed above of below the conductive layers. A sidewall of the conductive layers facing the columnar semiconductor layer is formed to be inclined such that the distance thereof from a central axis of the columnar semiconductor layer becomes larger at lower position thereof than at upper position thereof. While, a sidewall of the interlayer insulation layers facing the columnar semiconductor layer is formed to be inclined such that the distance thereof from a central axis of the columnar semiconductor layer becomes smaller at lower position thereof than at upper position thereof. |
| US08426967B2 |
Scaled-down phase change memory cell in recessed heater
A semiconductor structure configurable for use as a nonvolatile storage element includes a first electrode, an insulating layer formed on at least a portion of an upper surface of the first electrode, and a pillar traversing the insulating layer and being recessed relative to an upper surface of the insulating layer. The pillar includes a heater formed on at least a portion of the upper surface of the first electrode and a collar formed on sidewalls of the insulating layer proximate the heater and on at least a portion of an upper surface of the heater. The structure further includes a PCM layer formed on at least a portion of the upper surface of the insulating layer and substantially filling a volume defined by the upper surface of the heater and at least a portion of an upper surface of the collar. A second electrode is formed on at least a portion of an upper surface of the phase change material layer. |
| US08426966B1 |
Bumped chip package
A method of fabricating a bumped chip package includes forming a first seed layer on a dielectric layer, the dielectric layer comprising a dielectric layer opening exposing a substrate terminal of a substrate, the first seed layer being formed within the dielectric layer opening and on the substrate terminal. A circuit pattern is plated on the first seed layer, wherein an exposed portion of the first seed layer is exposed from the circuit pattern. The exposed portion of the first seed layer is removed by laser-ablation. By using a laser-ablation process, a chemical etching process is avoided thus eliminating the need to treat or dispose of chemical etching hazardous waste. Further, circuit pattern width erosion and undercut of the circuit pattern associated with a chemical etching process are avoided. |
| US08426963B2 |
Power semiconductor package structure and manufacturing method thereof
A power semiconductor package structure includes a carrier, a first power chip, a second power chip, a first conductive sheet, a second conductive sheet and a third conductive sheet. The first power chip has a first surface and a second surface opposing to the first surface. A first control electrode and a first main power electrode are disposed on the first surface, and a second main power electrode is disposed on the second surface. The second surface is disposed on the carrier, and electrically connected to the carrier through the second main power electrode. The second power chip has a third surface and a fourth surface opposing to the third surface. A third main power electrode is disposed on the third surface, and a fourth main power electrode is disposed on the fourth surface. The fourth surface is disposed on the first power chip. The first conductive sheet is electrically connected to the first main power electrode and the fourth main power electrode. The second conductive sheet is electrically connected to the third main power electrode. The third conductive sheet is electrically connected to the first control electrode. At least a part of the first control electrode is non-covered by the second power chip along a projection direction, which is perpendicular to the carrier. |
| US08426960B2 |
Wafer level chip scale packaging
A method for making back-to-front electrical connections in a wafer level chip scale packaging process is disclosed. A wafer containing a plurality of semiconductor chips is mounted on a package substrate. Each semiconductor chip in the plurality includes one or more electrodes on an exposed back side. Scribe lines between two or more adjacent chips on the wafer are removed to form relatively wide gaps. A conductive material is applied to the back side of the semiconductor chips and in the gaps. The conductive material in the gaps between two or more of the chips is then cut through leaving conductive material on the back side and on side walls of the two or more chips. As a result, the conductive material provides an electrical connection from the electrode on the back side of the chip to the front side of the chip. |
| US08426958B2 |
Stacked chip package with redistribution lines
A chip package comprises a first chip having a first side and a second side, wherein said first chip comprises a first pad, a first trace, a second pad and a first passivation layer at said first side thereof, an opening in said first passivation layer exposing said first pad, said first trace being over said first passivation layer, said first trace connecting said first pad to said second pad; a second chip having a first side and a second side, wherein said second chip comprises a first pad at said first side thereof, wherein said second side of said second chip is joined with said second side of side first chip; a substrate joined with said first side of said first chip or with said first side of said second chip; a first wirebonding wire connecting said second pad of said first chip and said substrate; and a second wirebonding wire connecting said first pad of said second chip and said substrate. |
| US08426954B2 |
Methods of fabrication of package assemblies for optically interactive electronic devices and package assemblies therefor
Packaging assemblies for optically interactive devices and methods of forming the packaging assemblies in an efficient manner that eliminates or reduces the occurrence of process contaminants. In a first embodiment, a transparent cover is attached to a wafer of semiconductor material containing a plurality of optically interactive devices. The wafer is singulated, and the optically interactive devices are mounted on an interposer and electrically connected with wire bonds. In a second embodiment, the optically interactive devices are electrically connected to the interposer with back side conductive elements. In a third embodiment, the optically interactive devices are mounted to the interposer prior to attaching a transparent cover. A layer of encapsulant material is formed over the interposer, and the interposer and encapsulant material are cut to provide individual packaging assemblies. In a fourth embodiment, the optically interactive devices are mounted in a preformed leadless chip carrier. |
| US08426952B2 |
Stacked half-bridge package with a common conductive leadframe
According to an exemplary embodiment, a stacked half-bridge package includes a control transistor having a control drain for connection to a high voltage input, a control source coupled to an output terminal, and a control gate for being driven by a driver IC. The stacked half-bridge package further includes a sync transistor having a sync drain for connection to the output terminal, a sync source coupled to a low voltage input, and a sync gate for being driven by the driver IC. The control and sync transistors are stacked on opposite sides of a common conductive leadframe with the common conductive leadframe electrically and mechanically coupling the control source with the sync drain. The common conductive leadframe thereby serves as the output terminal. |
| US08426950B2 |
Die package including multiple dies and lead orientation
A semiconductor die package and method of making the package. The package may have four semiconductor dies with one or more internally connected switch nodes, and may form a dual output or phase synchronous buck converter. The package may have control leads at opposite sides of the package from each other. Furthermore, the package may contain high side semiconductor dies that are oriented perpendicular to low side semiconductor dies. |
| US08426949B2 |
Mesa type semiconductor device
A mesa type semiconductor device and its manufacturing method are offered to increase a withstand voltage as well as reducing a leakage current. An N−-type semiconductor layer is formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a P-type semiconductor layer is formed on the N−-type semiconductor layer. After that, a mesa groove is formed by etching the P-type semiconductor layer, a PN junction, the N−-type semiconductor layer and a partial thickness of the semiconductor substrate so that a width of the mesa groove grows from a surface of the P-type semiconductor layer toward the semiconductor substrate. Subsequent wet etching removes a damaged layer in an inner wall of the mesa groove caused by the preceding etching and transforms the mesa groove in a region close to a surface of the P-type semiconductor layer so that a width of the mesa groove increases toward the surface of the P-type semiconductor layer. After that, the semiconductor substrate and the layers stacked on it are diced. |
| US08426947B2 |
Laminated semiconductor wafer, laminated chip package and method of manufacturing the same
In a laminated semiconductor substrate, a plurality of semiconductor substrates are laminated. Each of the semiconductor substrate has a plurality of scribe-groove parts formed along scribe lines. Further, each of the semiconductor substrate has a plurality of device regions insulated from each other and has a semiconductor device formed therein. Further, an uppermost substrate and a lowermost substrate have an electromagnetic shielding layer formed using a ferromagnetic body. The electromagnetic shielding layer is formed in a shielding region except the extending zone. The extending zone is set a part which the wiring electrode crosses, in a peripheral edge part of the device region. |
| US08426943B2 |
Semiconductor device having e-fuse structure and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes: an e-fuse gate, a floating pattern between the e-fuse gate and an e-fuse active portion, a blocking dielectric pattern between the floating pattern and the e-fuse gate, and an e-fuse dielectric layer between the floating pattern and the e-fuse active portion. The floating pattern includes a first portion between the e-fuse gate and the e-fuse active portion and a pair of second portions extended upward along both sidewalls of the e-fuse gate from both edges of the first portion. |
| US08426941B2 |
Semiconductor chip comprising a directional coupler having a specific main line and sub-line arrangement
A technique capable of promoting miniaturization of an RF power module used in a mobile phone etc. is provided. A directional coupler is formed inside a semiconductor chip in which an amplification part of the RF power module is formed. A sub-line of the directional coupler is formed in the same layer as a drain wire coupled to the drain region of an LDMOSFET, which will serve as the amplification part of the semiconductor chip. Due to this, the predetermined drain wire is used as a main line and the directional coupler is configured by a sub-line arranged in parallel to the main line via an insulating film, together with the main line. |
| US08426936B2 |
Vertical Hall sensor and method of producing a vertical Hall sensor
Through a main surface (10) of a semiconductor substrate (1) of a first type of conductivity, a doped well of a second type of conductivity is implanted to form a sensor region (3) extending perpendicularly to the main surface. The sensor region can be confined laterally by trenches (5) comprising an electrically insulating trench filling (6). The bottom of the sensor region is insulated by a pn-junction (20). Contacts (4) are applied to the main surface and provided for the application of an operation voltage and the measurement of a Hall voltage. |
| US08426932B2 |
Apparatus and method for microfabricated multi-dimensional sensors and sensing systems
A universal microelectromechanical (MEMS) nano-sensor platform having a substrate and conductive layer deposited in a pattern on the surface to make several devices at the same time, a patterned insulation layer, wherein the insulation layer is configured to expose one or more portions of the conductive layer, and one or more functionalization layers deposited on the exposed portions of the conductive layer to make multiple sensing capability on a single MEMS fabricated device. The functionalization layers are adapted to provide one or more transducer sensor classes selected from the group consisting of: radiant, electrochemical, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, and thermal sensors for chemical and physical variables and producing more than one type of sensor for one or more significant parameters that need to be monitored. |
| US08426928B2 |
Device with microstructure and method of forming such a device
Disclosed is a device comprising a substrate carrying a microscopic structure in a cavity capped by a capping layer including a material of formula SiNxHy, wherein x>1.33 and y>0. A method of forming such a device is also disclosed. |
| US08426924B2 |
Area-efficient distributed device structure for integrated voltage regulators
An area efficient distributed device for integrated voltage regulators comprising at least one filler cell coupled between a pair of PADS on I/O rail of a chip and at least one additional filler cell having small size replica of said device is coupled to said I/O rails for distributing replicas of said device on the periphery of said chip. The device is coupled as small size replica on the lower portion of said second filler cell for distributing said device on the periphery of said chip and providing maximal area utilization. |
| US08426922B2 |
CMOS structure and latch-up preventing method of same
A CMOS structure includes a PMOS portion and an NMOS portion isolated from each other via a P-well region disposed next to the PMOS portion and an N-well region disposed between the P-well region and the NMOS portion, an insulation layer overlying at least the N-well region, and a pad structure disposed over the N-well region. The pad structure further includes: a pad body disposed on the insulation layer; and at least one contact plug penetrating through the insulation layer, having one end coupled to the pad body and the other end coupled to a contact zone in the N-well region; wherein the contact zone is interfaced with the N-well region with P-type dopants. |
| US08426921B2 |
Three-dimensional integrated circuits and techniques for fabrication thereof
Integrated circuits having complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and photonics circuitry and techniques for three-dimensional integration thereof are provided. In one aspect, a three-dimensional integrated circuit comprises a bottom device layer and a top device layer. The bottom device layer comprises a substrate; a digital CMOS circuitry layer adjacent to the substrate; and a first bonding oxide layer adjacent to a side of the digital CMOS circuitry layer opposite the substrate. The top device layer comprises an analog CMOS and photonics circuitry layer formed in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer having a buried oxide (BOX) with a thickness of greater than or equal to about 0.5 micrometers; and a second bonding oxide layer adjacent to the analog CMOS and photonics circuitry layer. The bottom device layer is bonded to the top device layer by an oxide-to-oxide bond between the first bonding oxide layer and the second bonding oxide layer. |
| US08426920B2 |
MOSFET and method for manufacturing the same
The present application provides a MOSFET and a method for manufacturing the same. The MOSFET comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a first buried insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate; a back gate formed in a first semiconductor layer which is on the first buried insulating layer; a second buried insulating layer on the first semiconductor layer; source/drain regions formed in a second semiconductor layer which is on the second buried insulating layer; a gate on the second semiconductor layer; and electrical contacts on the source/drain regions, the gate and the back gate, wherein the back gate is only under a channel region and one of the source/drain regions and not under the other of the source/drain regions, and a common electrical contact is formed between the back gate and the one of the source/drain regions. The MOSFET improves an effect of suppressing short channel effects by an asymmetric back gate, and reduces a footprint on a wafer by using the common conductive via. |
| US08426918B2 |
Semiconductor device
An object is to reduce the resistance of each member included in a transistor, to improve ON current of the transistor, and to improve performance of an integrated circuit. A semiconductor device including an n-channel FET and a p-channel FET which are provided over a single crystal semiconductor substrate with an insulating layer interposed therebetween and are isolated by an element isolation insulating layer. In the semiconductor device, each FET includes a channel formation region including a semiconductor material, a conductive region which is in contact with the channel formation region and includes the semiconductor material, a metal region in contact with the conductive region, a gate insulating layer in contact with the channel formation region, a gate electrode in contact with the gate insulating layer, and a source or drain electrode partly including the metal region. |
| US08426907B2 |
Nonvolatile memory devices including multiple charge trapping layers
A charge trap nonvolatile memory device includes a gate electrode on a substrate; a charge trapping layer between the substrate and the gate electrode; a charge tunneling layer between the charge trapping layer and the substrate; and a charge blocking layer between the gate electrode and the charge trapping layer. The charge trapping layer includes a first charge trapping layer having a first energy band gap and a second charge trapping layer having a second energy band gap that is different than the first energy band gap. The first and second charge trapping layers are repeatedly stacked and the first and second energy band gaps are smaller than energy band gaps of the charge tunneling layer and the charge blocking layer. |
| US08426905B2 |
Profile engineered, electrically active thin film devices
The present invention relates to electrically active devices (e.g., capacitors, transistors, diodes, floating gate memory cells, etc.) having dielectric, conductor, and/or semiconductor layers with smooth and/or dome-shaped profiles and methods of forming such devices by depositing or printing (e.g., inkjet printing) an ink composition that includes a semiconductor, metal, or dielectric precursor. The smooth and/or dome-shaped cross-sectional profile allows for smooth topological transitions without sharp steps, preventing feature discontinuities during deposition and allowing for more complete step coverage of subsequently deposited structures. The inventive profile allows for both the uniform growth of oxide layers by thermal oxidation, and substantially uniform etching rates of the structures. Such oxide layers may have a uniform thickness and provide substantially complete coverage of the underlying electrically active feature. Uniform etching allows for an efficient method of reducing a critical dimension of an electrically active structure by simple isotropic etch. |
| US08426904B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells (1). Each of the nonvolatile memory cells comprises a MOS type first transistor section (3) used for information storage, and a MOS type second transistor section (4) which selects the first transistor section. The second transistor section has a bit line electrode (16) connected to a bit line, and a control gate electrode (18) connected to a control gate control line. The first transistor section has a source line electrode (10) connected to a source line, a memory gate electrode (14) connected to a memory gate control line, and a charge storage region (11) disposed directly below the memory gate electrode. A gate withstand voltage of the second transistor section is lower than that of the first transistor section. Assuming that the thickness of a gate insulating film of the second transistor section is defined as tc and the thickness of a gate insulating film of the first transistor section is defined as tm, they have a relationship of tc |
| US08426900B2 |
Sensing device
Provided is a sensing device, which includes a reactive material layer (260) responding to a specific functional group in a fluid, a sensing capacitor (B) including first and second electrodes disposed on and under an insulating layer (230), the first electrode being disposed under the reactive material layer (260), and a field effect transistor including a gate electrode connected with the first electrode of the sensing capacitor. Here, the reactive material layer (260) is formed in a conductive three-dimensional structure to widen a surface area. Thus, the sensing device may have high sensitivity by maximizing a capacitor sharing effect and a change in voltage amount applied to a gate, which may be caused by widening a surface area of the conductive three-dimensional structure with respect to the fluid flow. |
| US08426899B2 |
Methods and apparatus for measuring analytes using large scale FET arrays
Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis. |
| US08426895B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor device capable of suppressing the occurrence of a punch-through phenomenon is provided. A first n-type conductive layer (2′) is formed on a substrate (1′). A p-type conductive layer (3′) is formed thereon. A second n-type conductive layer (4′) is formed thereon. On the under surface of the substrate (1′), there is a drain electrode (13′) connected to the first n-type conductive layer (2′). On the upper surface of the substrate (1′), there is a source electrode (11′) in ohmic contact with the second n-type conductive layer (4′), and a gate electrode (12′) in contact with the first n-type conductive layer (2′), p-type conductive layer (3′), the second n-type conductive layer (4′) through an insulation film (21′). The gate electrode (12′) and the source electrode (11′) are alternately arranged. The p-type conductive layer (3′) includes In. |
| US08426893B2 |
Epitaxial substrate for electronic device and method of producing the same
An epitaxial substrate for electronic devices is provided, which can improve vertical breakdown voltage and provides a method of producing the same. The epitaxial substrate includes a conductive SiC single crystal substrate, a buffer as an insulating layer on the SiC single crystal substrate, and a main laminate formed by epitaxially growing a plurality of Group III nitride layers on the buffer. Further, the buffer includes at least an initial growth layer in contact with the SiC single crystal substrate and a superlattice laminate having a superlattice multi-layer structure on the initial growth layer. The initial growth layer is made of a Ba1Alb1Gac1Ind1N material. Furthermore, the superlattice laminate is configured by alternately stacking a first layer made of a Ba2Alb2Gac2Ind2N material and a second layer made of a Ba3Alb3Gac3Ind3N material having a different band gap from the first layer. |
| US08426891B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor substrate according to one embodiment includes: a first transistor having a first gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a first gate electrode formed on the first gate insulating film and a first sidewall formed on a side face of the first gate electrode, the first gate insulating film comprising a high-dielectric constant material as a base material, a part of the first sidewall contacting with the first gate insulating film and containing Si and N; and a second transistor having a second gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a second gate electrode formed on the second gate insulating film and a second sidewall formed on a side face of the second gate electrode so as to contact with the second gate insulating film, the second gate insulating film comprising a high-dielectric constant material as a base material, a part of the second sidewall contacting with the second gate insulating film and containing Si and N, wherein at least one of an abundance ratio of Si—H bond to N—H bond per unit volume, an amount of Cl per unit volume and an amount of H per unit volume of the second sidewall is larger than that of the first sidewall; and a threshold voltage of the second transistor is higher than that of the first transistor. |
| US08426888B2 |
Vertical semiconductor device with thinned substrate
A vertical semiconductor device (e.g. a vertical power device, an IGBT device, a vertical bipolar transistor, a UMOS device or a GTO thyristor) is formed with an active semiconductor region, within which a plurality of semiconductor structures have been fabricated to form an active device, and below which at least a portion of a substrate material has been removed to isolate the active device, to expose at least one of the semiconductor structures for bottom side electrical connection and to enhance thermal dissipation. At least one of the semiconductor structures is preferably contacted by an electrode at the bottom side of the active semiconductor region. |
| US08426887B2 |
Light emitting device and light emitting device package
Provided is a light emitting device. In one embodiment, the light emitting device includes: a first conductive type semiconductor layer including a plurality of grooves; an active layer formed on a upper surface of the first conductive type semiconductor layer and along the grooves; an anti-current leakage layer having a flat upper surface on the active layer; and a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the anti-current leakage layer. |
| US08426883B2 |
Light emitting device, method of manufacturing the light emitting device, light emitting device package, and lighting unit
Provided are a light emitting device, a method for fabricating the light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting unit. The light emitting device includes a conductive support substrate, a protection layer on the conductive support substrate, the protection layer having an inclined top surface, a light emitting structure layer including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer on the conductive support substrate and the protection layer, and an electrode on the light emitting structure layer. A portion of the protection layer is disposed between the conductive support substrate and the light emitting structure layer. |
| US08426877B2 |
Backlight module
A backlight module comprises a back plate, a first light source module, and an optical component. The optical component includes a side surface and a bottom surface perpendicularly connected to the side surface. The first light source module comprises a plurality of first LEDs disposed on the back plate and at the side surface of the optical component for emitting light at a first wavelength toward the side surface of the optical component. The light is directed in a specific direction by the optical component and then sent out from an emitting surface. The backlight module further comprises a second light source module. The second light source module comprises a plurality of second LEDs disposed near the bottom surface of the optical component for emitting light at a second wavelength toward the bottom surface of the optical component. Light produced after the light at the first wavelength mixes with the light at the second wavelength becomes white light after passing through the optical component. |
| US08426874B2 |
Light emitting transistor
A main object of the present invention is to provide a static induction light emitting transistor having an organic EL element structure and a vertical FET structure which is possible to avoid a problem of the shielding of light and a problem of shielding of electric field by a gate electrode. The above object is achieved by providing a light emitting transistor 11 of a vertical FET structure comprising: on a substrate 12; a source electrode 13; a hole transporting layer 14 in which a slit-shaped gate electrode 15 is embedded; an equipotential layer 16; light emitting layer 17; and a transparent or semitransparent drain electrode 18, provided in this order. In this light emitting transistor, the drain electrode 18 provided on the opposite side of the gate electrode 15, viewing from the light emitting layer 17, is transparent or semitransparent. Therefore, light generated in the light emitting layer 17 can be taken out from the drain electrode side. An electron transporting layer 19 can be provided between the light emitting layer 17 and the drain electrode 18. |
| US08426870B2 |
Thin-film transistor array device, el display panel, el display device, thin-film transistor array device manufacturing method, el display panel manufacturing method
A thin-film transistor array device includes a passivation film above first and second bottom gate transistors. A source wire is below the passivation film. A gate wire and a relay electrode are above the passivation film. The gate wire is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the first transistor via a first hole in the passivation film. A conductive oxide film is between the passivation film and both the gate wire and the relay electrode and not electrically connected between the gate wire and the relay electrode. The conductive oxide film covers an end portion of the source wire that is exposed via a second hole in the passivation film. The conductive oxide film is between the relay electrode and a current-supply electrode of the second transistor and electrically connects the relay electrode and the current-supply electrode via a third hole in the passivation film. |
| US08426854B2 |
Display device
Exemplary embodiments of the described technology relate generally to display devices including dye-sensitized solar cells. The display device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a display element for displaying an image, and a dye-sensitized solar cell for converting light into electricity to offset the power consumption of the display element. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes a selective photo-absorption material for selectively absorbing light from at least one wavelength band. |
| US08426852B2 |
Transistors and electronic apparatuses including same
Transistors and electronic apparatuses including the same are provided, the transistors include a channel layer on a substrate. The channel layer includes a zinc (Zn)-containing oxide. The transistors include a source and a drain, respectively, contacting opposing ends of the channel layer, a gate corresponding to the channel layer, and a gate insulating layer insulating the channel layer from the gate. The channel layer has a first surface adjacent to the substrate, a second surface facing the first surface, and a channel layer-protection portion on the second surface. The channel layer-protection portion includes a fluoride material. |
| US08426849B2 |
Organic electroluminescent light source
An organic electroluminescent light source including a first organic electroluminescent device and a second organic electroluminescent device is provided. The first organic electroluminescent device is coupled to a first bias voltage to emit a first color light having a color temperature ranging from 2800K to 3500K. The second organic electroluminescent device is coupled to a second bias voltage to emit a second color light. The first color light and the second color light mix to generate a third color light having a color temperature ranging from 3500K to 6500K. |
| US08426848B2 |
Electronic device
The invention relates to an organic electronic (OE) device, in particular a transistor, comprising an interlayer between the gate insulator and the gate electrode, to novel processes for preparing the device, and to dielectric materials for use in the interlayer. |
| US08426846B2 |
Organic electroluminescent element, method of manufacturing organic electroluminescent element, lighting device, and display device
An objective in the present invention is to provide an organic EL element exhibiting high emission efficiency and long lifetime, together with a lighting device and a display device thereof. In the present invention, disclosed is an organic electroluminescent element comprising a support substrate provided thereon an anode and a cathode, the organic electroluminescent element comprising an organic layer containing a reactive organic compound between the anode and the cathode, wherein the reactive organic compound contained in the organic layer has nonuniform concentration at any point in time between termination of a process of preparing the organic electroluminescent element and a start of electricity application to the organic electroluminescent element. |
| US08426842B2 |
Doped graphene electronic materials
A graphene substrate is doped with one or more functional groups to form an electronic device. |
| US08426841B2 |
Transparent memory for transparent electronic device
The present invention relates to a transparent memory for a transparent electronic device. The transparent memory includes: a lower transparent electrode layer that is sequentially formed on a transparent substrate, and a data storage region and an upper transparent layer which are made of at least one transparent resistance-variable material layer. The transparent resistance-variable material layer has switching characteristics as a result of the resistance variance caused by the application of a certain voltage between the lower and upper transparent electrode layers. An optical band gap of the transparent resistance-variable material layer is 3 eV or more, and transmittivity of the material layer for visible rays is 80% or more. The invention provides transparent and resistance-variable memory that: has very high transparency and switching characteristics depending on resistance variation at a low switching voltage, and can maintain the switching characteristics thereof after a long time elapses. |
| US08426840B2 |
Nonvolatile memory cells having phase changeable patterns therein for data storage
A nonvolatile memory cell includes a substrate and a phase changeable pattern configured to retain a state of the memory cell, on the substrate. An electrically insulating layer is provided, which contains a first electrode therein in contact with the phase changeable pattern. The first electrode has at least one of an L-shape when viewed in cross section and an arcuate shape when viewed from a plan perspective. A lower portion of the first electrode may be ring-shaped when viewed from the plan perspective. The lower portion of the first electrode may also have a U-shaped cross-section. An upper portion of the first electrode may also have an arcuate shape that spans more than 180° of a circular arc. |
| US08426838B2 |
Phase-change memory
A phase-change memory element with side-wall contacts is disclosed, which has a bottom electrode. A non-metallic layer is formed on the electrode, exposing the periphery of the top surface of the electrode. A first electrical contact is on the non-metallic layer to connect the electrode. A dielectric layer is on and covering the first electrical contact. A second electrical contact is on the dielectric layer. An opening is to pass through the second electrical contact, the dielectric layer, and the first electrical contact and preferably separated from the electrode by the non-metallic layer. A phase-change material is to occupy one portion of the opening, wherein the first and second electrical contacts interface the phase-change material at the side-walls of the phase-change material. A second non-metallic layer may be formed on the second electrical contact. A top electrode contacts the top surface of the outstanding terminal of the second electrical contact. |
| US08426834B2 |
Method and apparatus for the generation of EUV radiation from a gas discharge plasma
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating EUV radiation from a gas discharge plasma. The object of the invention, to generate EUV radiation from a gas discharge plasma by with is optimized conversion efficiency of the EUV emission while locally limiting the electric discharge channel, is met in that a channel-generating beam of pulsed high-energy radiation is supplied in at least two partial beams which are focused in a pulse-synchronized manner into a superposition region along a spacing axis between the electrodes, and an electrically conductive discharge channel is generated along the superposition region due to an ionization at least of a buffer gas present in the discharge space, wherein the pulsed high-energy radiation of the channel-generating beam is triggered in such a way that the discharge channel is generated before a discharge current pulse has reached its maximum value. |
| US08426833B2 |
Gantry for medical particle therapy facility
A particle therapy gantry for delivering a particle beam to a patient includes a beam tube having a curvature defining a particle beam path and a plurality of superconducting, variable field magnets sequentially arranged along the beam tube for guiding the particle beam along the particle path. In a method for delivering a particle beam to a patient through a gantry, a particle beam is guided by a plurality of variable field magnets sequentially arranged along a beam tube of the gantry and the beam is alternately focused and defocused with alternately arranged focusing and defocusing variable field magnets. |
| US08426831B2 |
Radiation detector, method of manufacturing a radiation detector, and lithographic apparatus comprising a radiation detector
In one an embodiment, there is provided an assembly comprising at least one detector. Each of the at least one detector includes a substrate having a doped region of a first conduction type, a layer of dopant material of a second conduction type located on the substrate, a diffusion layer formed within the substrate and in contact with the layer of dopant material and the doped region of the substrate, wherein a doping profile, which is representative of a doping material concentration of the diffusion layer, increases from the doped region of the substrate to the layer of dopant material, a first electrode connected to the layer of dopant material, and a second electrode connected to the substrate. The diffusion layer is arranged to form a radiation sensitive surface. |
| US08426830B2 |
Focused ion beam apparatus, sample processing method using the same, and computer program for focused ion beam processing
A focused ion beam apparatus includes: a focused ion beam irradiating mechanism configured to irradiate a sample with a focused ion beam; a detector configured to detect a secondary charged particle generated by irradiating the sample with the focused beam; an image generating unit configured to generate an sample image of the sample; a processing area setting unit configured to set a processing area image including a plurality of pixels corresponding to positions of irradiation of the focused ion beam on the sample image; a position of irradiation setting unit configured to set coordinates of the pixels included in the processing area image; a beam setting unit configured to set a dose amount of the focused ion beam irradiated from the focused ion beam irradiating mechanism according to intensities; and an interpolating unit configured to perform an interpolating process on the processing area image. |
| US08426826B2 |
Combined ASG, cathode, and carrier for a photon detector
The present application relates to a combined anti-scatter grid, cathode, and carrier for a photon detector used in spectral CT imaging. The photon detector of the present application may include a cathode having at least one outwardly extending plate and at least one base plate, a substrate having at least one anode, and a converter material, such as for example, Cadmium Zinc Telluride (“CZT”) or Cadmium Telluride. The at least one outwardly extending plate of the cathode may extend above the other detector components to act as an anti-scatter grid for the detector. Further, the at least one outwardly extending plate of the cathode may extend below the other detector components and be fixed to the at least one base plate of the detector. The converter material may be attached to at least one side of the at least one outwardly extending plate of the cathode. |
| US08426825B2 |
Radiation image pickup device
A radiation image pickup device comprises temperature control means for maintaining the temperature of an X ray conversion layer to be substantially constant by performing a feedback process for controlling a voltage which is applied to the Peltier element based on the temperature of the X ray conversion layer. The temperature control means starts reading out an electric charge from each pixel (DU), then converts the electric discharge to voltage with a charge amplifier and in a period until an A/D conversion process for the voltage is completed, and restricts a variation in the voltage which is applied to the Peltier element. |
| US08426820B2 |
Image sensor system
An image sensor system includes a detector having a plurality of detector elements and optics having a beam path from an optical element on to the detector. Calibration of the detector can be rapidly effected where the image sensor system has a reference radiating device fixed within the beam path for illuminating the detector elements. |
| US08426819B2 |
Method for the non-invasive optic determination of the temperature of a medium
Disclosed is a method for the non-invasive optic determination of the temperature of a medium, preferably a water-containing medium, wherein the medium to be analyzed is illuminated by infrared and/or visible light in the region of an absorption line, the position of which depends on the temperature of the medium, and wherein absorption of the light in the region of the absorption line is measured and the temperature is determined from said measurement by comparison with calibration data. Said method is characterized in that the medium is illuminated with at least two discrete light wavelengths (λ1, λ2), which are in the region of the absorption line (B) on different sides of the absorption maximum, that at least one measured value (ΔA/Δλ) dependent on temperature is determined from the relationship of these two determined absorption values to one another, and that the temperature is determined from said measured value by comparison with the previously recorded calibration data. |
| US08426818B2 |
Post-supported microbolometer pixel
A post-supported bolometer pixel and a process for manufacturing it comprising the steps of depositing a sacrificial layer over a substrate with readout integrated circuit pads that connect to the integrated circuit; forming vias through the sacrificial layer to the metal pads connecting to the readout integrated circuit; filling the vias with metal and polishing said metal to the surface of the sacrificial layer; forming microbolometer pixel layers over the filled vias and sacrificial layer; and removing the sacrificial layer to leave a post-supported pixel. |
| US08426815B2 |
Bolometer pixel provided with a MIM integration capacitor
A thermal imaging microelectronic device including: a support, a plurality of metal levels for interconnecting electronic components formed on the support, an array of thermal detectors formed on the support, each detector including a membrane with which radiant energy may be absorbed and one or more electric signals may be provided depending on the absorbed radiant energy, and a readout circuit that reads out the electric signals from the membrane, the readout circuit being integrated to the support, and at least several of the detectors having a readout circuit provided with an integrator including at least one integration capacitor disposed facing the membrane, the capacitor having at least one upper plate made in a given interconnection metal level of the plurality of interconnection metal levels. |
| US08426814B2 |
Detector device
A detector device detects the penetration depth of a particle beam applied to a target volume. The detector device includes a first detection device and a second detection device. The second detection device is configured to detect photons that are formed in the target volume and is disposed behind the first detection device with respect to a direction of the particle beam. |
| US08426810B2 |
Method of planar imaging on semiconductor chips using focused ion beam
A method of planar imaging on semiconductor chips using focused ion beam includes the initial step of disposing at least a positioning symbol to designate a testing area. A metal membrane is positioned on the testing area. The testing chip is trimmed to form a first testing chip. A blind opening is cut proximate to the testing area on the first testing chip forms a second testing chip. The second testing chip is mounted on an inclinable platform. The mounted second testing chip is rotated with the inclinable platform. Ion beams are emitted into the opening at an angle of inclination. Ion beams are emitted in the direction of the incident ray to form planar images of different depths parallel to the metal membrane on the testing area. |
| US08426809B2 |
Apparatus and method for trapping charged particles and performing controlled interactions between them
An apparatus and a method for trapping charged particles and performing controlled interactions between them are provided. The apparatus includes a substrate and RF electrodes and dedicated DC electrodes arranged on the substrate and configured to generate a trapping potential for trapping the charged particles above the substrate. The RF and dedicated DC electrodes include at least one RF trapping electrode configured to be driven with an RF voltage for contributing to the trapping potential, an array of two or more trapping site DC electrodes configured to be biased with a DC voltage for contributing to the trapping potential, and a first individually drivable RF control electrode arranged between a first pair out of the two or more trapping site DC electrodes. The first RF control electrode is configured to be individually driven by an adjustable RF voltage such that the trapping potential above and between the first pair of trapping site DC electrodes forms separate charged particle traps adapted for trapping charged particles therein if the adjustable RF voltage takes a first value, and forms a charged particle interaction trap adapted for performing controlled interactions between charged particles if the adjustable RF voltage takes a second value. |
| US08426805B2 |
Method and apparatus for response and tune locking of a mass spectrometer
A mass spectrometer and a technique for operating it involve setting an operating parameter that influences a rate of flow of electrons from an electron source into an ion volume so that ions produced from a material in the ion volume in response to electrons satisfy an ion production target, performing a plurality of analytical runs using the mass spectrometer with the electron source while monitoring an operational characteristic, and adjusting the operating parameter in response to the monitoring to compensate for a change over time in the operational characteristic in a manner so that the ion production target remains satisfied. |
| US08426804B2 |
Multimode cells and methods of using them
A mass spectrometer is provided that is configurable for operation in both a Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) mode and a dynamic reaction cell (DRC) mode. To operate in the KED mode, a collision cell can be filled with a quantity of the inert gas, and an energy barrier can be formed between the collision cell and a downstream mass analyzer. To operate instead in the DRC mode, the collision cell can be filled with a quantity of gas that is reactive with the interferer ions. |
| US08426803B2 |
Mass spectrometer
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a quadrupole rod set ion trap wherein a potential field is created at the exit of the ion trap which decreases with increasing radius in one radial direction. Ions within the ion trap are mass selectively excited in a radial direction. Ions which have been excited in the radial direction experience a potential field which no longer confines the ions axially within the ion trap but which instead acts to extract the ions and hence causes the ions to be ejected axially from the ion trap. |
| US08426801B2 |
Shading member of rotator type optical sensing device
An optical sensing device includes a shell, at least one light emitting member, a rotator type shading member and at least one optical sensing member. The shell is formed with a black-body condition space having a light emitting chamber, a shading chamber and at least one optical sensing chamber. The light emitting member projects a light beam. The rotator type shading member is rotatably restrained within the shading chamber, and has a geometric center and a weight center offset from the geometric center. When the optical sensing device is lifted in a lifting azimuth or lowered in a lowering azimuth, the rotator type shading member is rotated by the geometric center to make the weight center located in the lowering azimuth with respect to the geometric center. The optical sensing member is arranged in the optical sensing chamber, and senses the light beam to accordingly send out a sensing signal. |
| US08426795B2 |
Image display apparatus with adaptive optics for adjusting an image size formed by a projecting light
An image display apparatus includes a screen, a reflection mirror, an adaptive optics, and a projection unit. The reflection mirror has a reflective surface facing a light incident surface of the screen, and is separated from the light incident surface by a space. The boundary of the space is defined by the edges of the reflective surface and the light incident surface. The adaptive optics is disposed on the boundary of the space. The projection unit is disposed outside the space. The adaptive optics has a light exit side facing the reflective surface of the reflection mirror, and a light incident side facing the projection unit. A projecting light is generated from the projection unit, passes through the adaptive optics for adjusting the image size formed by the projecting light, and then is projected to the reflective surface of the reflection mirror for being reflected to the light incident surface. |
| US08426793B1 |
Vision sensor
A vision sensor capable of generating an array of photoreceptor signals based on a visual field is provided. The vision sensor comprises an array of field circuits. Each field circuit comprises an array of pixel circuits capable of generating an array of potentials based on a visual field and a sample signal, and a control circuit capable of generating the sample signal based on the array of potentials. Each field circuit is also capable of generating an array of photoreceptor signals based on the array of potentials. |
| US08426792B2 |
Solar reflector apparatus with independently controlled bail-arms
A planar reflector is supported on a ball-and-socket joint and can be independently pivoted about X and Y axes by magnetic drives that propel corresponding bail arms hingedly connected to the reflector. Control is achieved using the outputs of a multi-axis magnetic field sensor closely positioned adjacent a spherical magnet embedded in the ball of a ball-and-socket joint that supports the reflector for pivoting motion. |
| US08426791B2 |
Solar photovoltaic support and tracking system with vertical adjustment capability
Installation of solar energy systems is made easier through the use of augur tubes. The base augur tube accommodates telescoping sections which enable these systems to exhibit a smaller footprint with enhanced power ratings. A tracking head is provided in which dual axis tracking is provided using a single drive mechanism. These features are employed either together or independently. |
| US08426781B2 |
Induction heater
Provided is an induction heater which induces an electric current in a metal utensil (e.g., a cooking utensil) using an electromagnetic force and can thus heat the metal utensil, and more particularly, an induction heater which can prevent electric devices sensitive to temperature from being overheated by forcefully blowing air to the front and the rear of an inverter circuit board. The induction heater is easy to be miniaturized, and a considerable number of devices can be integrated into the induction heater. |
| US08426775B2 |
Multi-purpose toy oven
The present disclosure provides a toy electric oven including an insulated housing containing a heating chamber, a door that latches to prevent access to the heating chamber while hot, a cooling system with a fan, a timer, and a window for viewing the heating chamber when the door is closed, the window remaining at a safe temperature for touching while the toy electric oven is operating. The window may be a double-paned structure wherein the vapor space between the windows is vented using the cooling fan. |
| US08426771B2 |
Method of monitoring machine condition
Various embodiments of a method for monitoring a machine condition are provided. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of monitoring a machine condition, comprising the following steps: modeling a normal signal model performed by detecting a signal for monitoring condition of a normal machine and converting the detected signal to a normal signal model in time domain using a hidden Markov model (HMM) algorithm; calculating a probability value data of the monitoring signal at a subject machine performed by detecting a signal for monitoring condition of the subject machine in real-time and converting the detected signal to the probability value data relative to the normal state signal model using the HMM algorithm; and determining a section having deficiency where the probability value data of the monitoring signal at the subject machinery is not maintained constantly relative to the normal signal model. |
| US08426769B2 |
Method and device for displaying and monitoring the profile of a weld bead inside a groove provided between two metal workpieces
The invention relates to a method of displaying and monitoring the profile of a weld bead (4), in which, placed inside the groove, there is an assembly (10) comprising, facing one another, an image acquisition means (11), a light source (12), the beam of which is directed towards said image acquisition means, and, between the image acquisition means and the light source, a mask (13); the optical axis of the image acquisition means (11) is oriented so as to be approximately parallel to the sidewalls (5, 6) of the groove (3); a light beam produced by the light source (12) is directed towards the mask (13) and the image acquisition means (11); a central shadow zone and a peripheral halo are formed by means of the light beam and the mask (13), said halo illuminating, approximately perpendicularly, the weld bead (4) and the sidewalls (5, 6); the profile of the weld bead (4) and the sidewalls (5, 6) are displayed on a display/monitoring means; and said assembly (10) is moved inside the groove (3) longitudinally and parallel to the sidewalls (5, 6). |
| US08426760B2 |
High-voltage circuit breaker having a switch for connection of a closing resistor
A high-voltage circuit breaker has an interrupter unit, a closing resistor and a switch which is connected in series with the closing resistor. The interrupter unit has a driven first interrupter contact which can move along an axis and interacts with a second interrupter contact, which is arranged on the axis in order to open and close the high-voltage circuit breaker. The switch has a switching contact which can rotate about a rotation shaft (D) and whose rotary movement is coupled by of a link control to the movement along the axis (A1) of the first interrupter contact. |
| US08426758B2 |
Medium voltage switch unit
A medium voltage switch unit comprising an interruption unit and a disconnection unit, wherein the interruption unit comprises a first and a second interruption contact and a first drive unit which moves one of said interruption contacts between a first position in which they are in electrical connection and a second position in which they are spaced apart. The disconnection unit comprises a first and a second fixed disconnection contacts couplable and uncouplable with respective first and second movable disconnection contacts mounted on the interruption unit and electrically connected to the first interruption contact. The interruption unit is mechanically supported by a first fixed conductor and the second interruption contact is electrically connected to said first fixed conductor. The disconnection unit comprises a second drive unit which moves the interruption unit, relative to said first conductor, between: a first disconnector position in which the first movable disconnection contact and the first fixed disconnection contact are coupled while the second movable disconnection contact is isolated from said second fixed disconnection contact; a second disconnector position in which the first and second movable disconnection contacts are isolated from the first and second fixed disconnection contacts; and a third disconnector position in which the second movable disconnection contact and the second fixed disconnection contact are coupled while the first movable disconnection contact is isolated from said first fixed disconnection contact. |
| US08426757B2 |
Keypad assembly and electronic device using the same
A keypad assembly includes a support member, a key switch, a rotation member and a resilient member. The key switch is fixed on the support member, and includes a triggering portion. The keycap is located opposite to the triggering portion. The rotation member is rotatably connected to the keycap. The resilient member includes resilient latching portions latching with the rotation member. The resilient member fixedly interconnects the rotation member and the support member. The rotation member is rotated relative to the resilient member at an angle when the key switch is not triggered, such that the resilient member provides an elastic torque to the rotation member. |
| US08426752B2 |
Electric connection box
An electric junction box having a casing and a circuit structure accommodated in the casing. The circuit structure includes a plurality of first bus bars arranged at intervals and synthetic resin members disposed between the adjacent first bus bars and firmly attached to the first bus bars. The synthetic resin members have heat conductivity higher than that of air. Since the heat generated from the first bus bars during electrical connecting can be transmitted to the synthetic resin members, the electric junction box can be prevented from being locally heated to a high temperature. |
| US08426750B2 |
Electromagnetic shielding structure having negative permittivity and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are an electromagnetic shielding structure and a method of manufacturing the electromagnetic shielding structure. The electromagnetic shielding structure shields an electromagnetic wave having a specific frequency band, is miniaturized, and includes a strip line, and a couple of plate structures facing each other and connected to both ends of the strip line. The method of manufacturing the electromagnetic shielding structure is simple. An electromagnetic wave having a specific frequency band is shielded, and variation in electromagnetic shielding performance according to the position of an electromagnetic shielding construction is prevented, thus constructing a reliable electromagnetic shielding concrete building. |
| US08426743B2 |
Electronic device assemblies including conductive vias having two or more conductive elements
Electronic devices include a substrate with first and second pairs of conductive traces extending in or on the substrate. A first conductive interconnecting member extends through a hole in the substrate and communicates electrically with a first trace of each of the first and second pairs, while a second conductive interconnecting member extends through the hole and communicates electrically with the second trace of each of the first and second pairs. The first and second interconnecting members are separated from one another by a distance substantially equal to a distance separating the conductive traces in each pair. Electronic device assemblies include a transmitting device configured to transmit a differential signal through a conductive structure to a receiving device. The conductive structure includes first and second pair of conductive traces with first and second interconnecting members providing electrical communication therebetween. |
| US08426740B2 |
Metal base circuit board
A metal base circuit board, having an insulating layer with a linear expansion coefficient of 60 ppm per degree C. or higher and 120 ppm per degree C. or lower, a metal foil provided on one side of the insulating layer, comprising a metal material with a linear expansion coefficient of 10 ppm per degree C. or higher and 35 ppm per degree C. or lower, a circuit portion and a non-circuit potion having a linear expansion coefficient of 10 ppm per degree C. or higher and 35 ppm per degree C. or lower, and a white film formed on top of the insulating layer, circuit portion, and non-circuit portion, the total sum of the areas of the non-circuit portion and the circuit portion on top of the insulating layer being 50% or higher and 95% or lower relative to the area of the metal foil and the relation between the linear expansion coefficients of each of the materials being: linear expansion coefficient of insulating layer>linear expansion coefficient of metal foil>linear expansion coefficient of circuit portion and non-circuit portion, such that Lifespan of LEDs can be lengthened, and the workability of the printed circuit board during circuit formation and during LED mounting can be improved. |
| US08426739B2 |
Printed circuit board and method for manufacturing the same, and panel for manufacturing the printed circuit board
Disclosed is a printed circuit board including an insulation member on which a first region and a second region are defined, a circuit pattern formed on the first region, and a support member formed on the second region. |
| US08426737B2 |
Electric connection box
The electric connection box includes a case main body; a lower cover to be attached at the case main body; a harness-through opening to be structured into a cylindrical shape with the case main body and the lower cover; a wiring harness to be passed through the harness-through opening; and a water-protect elastic sheet wound around the wiring harness to be arranged in the harness-through opening. The harness-through opening has a large diameter portion, which has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the part of the wiring harness wound with the water-protect sheet, and a small diameter portion, which has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the part of the wiring harness wound with the water-protect sheet. |
| US08426736B2 |
Maintaining insulators in power transmission systems
An electrical power transmission system includes electrical insulators arranged to electrically isolate live power lines. Surface reconditioning units are incorporated or integrated in the insulator structures. A sensor arrangement determines surface conditions of the electrical insulators in use to isolate live power lines. In response, the surface reconditioning units automatically recondition the surfaces of the in-service electrical insulators if appropriate for maintaining the electrical insulators in healthy state. |
| US08426733B1 |
Conduit management device
A gangable conduit management device includes a body for housing a conduit, the body having an interior portion for receiving the conduit, an exterior portion having a first connection device on a first side thereof and a second connection device on a second side thereof and retention means for retaining the conduit within the body. The first connection device includes a male connector portion and the second connection device includes a female connector portion. |
| US08426731B2 |
Photovoltaic battery module and junction box assembly therein
Disclosed are a photovoltaic battery module and a junction box assembly. The junction box assembly comprises a junction box and a base plate assembled with the junction box. The junction box comprises an insulated housing, the conductive terminals and the water-resistant members. The bottom of the junction box disposes the first openings. The water-resistant members disposed at the first openings have second openings whose areas are smaller than those of the first opening. The base plate disposes the third openings whose areas are smaller than those of the first opening. The third openings are assembled with the first openings and the second openings. Pairs of wing portions provided with a first preset distance, which is shorter than the width of the junction box, are aligned at both lateral sides of the base plate. The average width of the base plate is not greater than 50 millimeter. |
| US08426729B2 |
Wildlife guard assemblies, modular systems and methods for using the same
A wildlife guard assembly for an electrical insulator body includes at least three guard members serially connected to one another such that at least one of the guard members is moveable relative to the others. Each of the guard members has a respective shell body. The guard members are selectively movable between an open position, wherein the guard members are configured to receive the insulator body, and a closed position, wherein the shell bodies of the at least three guard members collectively form an enclosure defining a chamber to receive the insulator body such that at least a portion of the insulator body is enclosed by the enclosure. |
| US08426727B2 |
Organic photoactive device
The invention relates to an organic photoactive device, especially an organic photovoltaic cell, with a contact and a countercontact as well as with an organic region that is electrically connected to the contact and the countercontact, wherein a photoactive region with a photoactive bulk heterojunction or a flat heterojunction between an electron-conducting organic material and a hole-conducting organic material is formed in the organic region and wherein the hole-conducting organic material and/or the electron-conducting organic material is formed from oligomers according to any one of the following types: conjugated acceptor-donor-acceptor oligomer (A-D-A′ oligomer) with an acceptor unit (A) and a further acceptor unit (A′) that are each connected to a donor unit (D), and conjugated donor-acceptor-donor oligomer (D-A-D′ oligomer) with a donor unit (D) and a further donor unit (D′) that are each connected to an acceptor unit (A). |
| US08426726B2 |
Solar cell module and method of manufacturing the same
A wiring member is arranged to have a protruding portion extending beyond a bonding layer at its end in the extending direction |
| US08426724B2 |
Interdigitated back contact silicon solar cells with separating grooves
Interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells are produced by depositing spaced-apart parallel pads of a first dopant bearing material (e.g., boron) on a substrate, heating the substrate to both diffuse the first dopant into corresponding first (e.g., p+) diffusion regions and to form diffusion barriers (e.g., borosilicate glass) over the first diffusion regions, and then disposing the substrate in an atmosphere containing a second dopant (e.g., phosphorus) such that the second dopant diffuses through exposed surface areas of the substrate to form second (e.g., n+) diffusion regions between the first (p+) diffusion regions (the diffusion barriers prevent the second dopant from diffusion into the first (p+) diffusion regions). The substrate material along each interface between adjacent first (p+) and second (n+) diffusion regions is then removed (e.g., using laser ablation) such that elongated grooves, which extend deeper into the substrate than the diffused dopant, are formed between adjacent diffusion regions. |
| US08426722B2 |
Semiconductor grain and oxide layer for photovoltaic cells
Photovoltaic structures for the conversion of solar irradiance into electrical free energy. In a particular implementation, a photovoltaic cell includes a granular semiconductor and oxide layer with nanometer-size absorber semiconductor grains surrounded by a matrix of oxide. The semiconductor and oxide layer is disposed between electron and hole conducting layers. In some implementations, multiple semiconductor and oxide layers can be deposited. |
| US08426718B2 |
Simulating several instruments using a single virtual instrument
A media application for providing outputs (e.g., audio outputs) in response to inputs received from an input device is provided. The media application may connect input mechanisms of an input device with parameters of channel strips (e.g., which may define output sounds) using an intermediate screen object. The media application may first assign an input mechanism to a screen object, and separately map a screen object to a channel strip parameter. The media application may map a screen object to several channel strips simultaneously such that, based on the value of the screen object, the volume of each of the several channel strips changes. The media application may provide a graphical representation of available channel strips using layers. As the media application accesses a channel strip, the appearance of the portion of the layer associated with the channel strip may change. |
| US08426717B2 |
Discriminator for discriminating employed modulation technique, signal demodulator, musical instrument and method of discrimination
A signal modulator includes a discriminator for discriminating a modulation technique through which a carrier signal was modulated to a quasi audio signal and a signal demodulation module for reproducing a continuous data stream from the quasi audio signal through a demodulating technique corresponding to the discriminated modulation technique; the discriminator includes a sampling circuit for extracting groups of samples from the quasi audio signal during each period of the carrier signal, an integrator calculating an integrated value on each group of samples, a comparator comparing the integrated value with a threshold for a neighborhood of zero so as to determine the groups of samples with the integrated value less than the threshold and a determiner measuring the time period between the groups of two modulation period and discriminating 16DPSK when the time period is equal to the modulation period. |
| US08426715B2 |
Client-side audio signal mixing on low computational power player using beat metadata
A low computational power digital audio player achieves beat continuous transitioning between digital audio pieces based on beat metadata, which can be generated via offline processing on a higher computational power computer or via background or idle processing on the digital audio player. The digital audio player produces playlists of beat matching compatible songs based on the metadata, or pick lists of songs that are beat matching compatible with a currently playing song. By facilitating selection of songs with beat matching compatible tempos based on metadata, the beat continuous transitions can be achieved without altering the beat tempo of digital audio pieces, or with simple resampling. |
| US08426710B2 |
Plectrum and method of fabricating
A plectrum having a body made from an organic material having a desired shape, weight, and thickness, the body having a plurality of surfaces wherein opposing sides, a first and a second side, form an edge about the perimeter of said sides, wherein the perimeter forms a silhouette that is substantially scalene. |
| US08426708B1 |
Rice cultivar M-105
A rice cultivar designated M-105 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of rice cultivar M-105, to the plants of rice M-105 and to methods for producing a rice plant produced by crossing the cultivar M-105 with itself or another rice variety. The invention further relates to hybrid rice seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar M-105 with another rice cultivar. |
| US08426706B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH006910
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH006910. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH006910, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH006910 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH006910. |
| US08426704B2 |
Kernel productivity of plants through the modulation of glutamine synthetase activity
The invention relates to a method for improving the kernel productivity of a maize plant, wherein said method comprises overexpressing in said plant at least one glutamine synthetase isoenzyme, in order to increase the number and/or the size of kernels. |
| US08426702B2 |
Pepper hybrid PS 11446271
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid PS 11446271 and the parent lines thereof, such as inbred parent line HAP 114-1128. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid PS 11446271 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants. |
| US08426700B2 |
Garden bean SB4474
A novel garden bean cultivar, designated Ambition, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of garden bean cultivar Ambition, to the plants of garden bean line Ambition and to methods for producing a garden bean plant by crossing the cultivar Ambition with itself or another garden bean line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a garden bean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other garden bean lines derived from the cultivar Ambition. |
| US08426699B1 |
Soybean cultivar S110141
A soybean cultivar designated S110141 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S110141, to the plants of soybean cultivar S110141, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S110141, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S110141. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110141. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110141, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S110141 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08426697B1 |
Soybean cultivar S110135
A soybean cultivar designated S110135 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S110135, to the plants of soybean cultivar S110135, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S110135, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S110135. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110135. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110135, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S110135 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US08426695B2 |
Soybean variety XB008G11
A novel soybean variety, designated XB008G11 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB008G11, cells from soybean variety XB008G11, plants of soybean XB008G11, and plant parts of soybean variety XB008G11. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB008G11 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB008G11, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB008G11, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB008G11. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB008G11 are further provided. |
| US08426686B2 |
Polyunsaturated fatty acid production in heterologous organisms using PUFA polyketide synthase systems
Disclosed are novel acyl-CoA synthetases and novel acyltransferases, nucleic acid molecules encoding the same, recombinant nucleic acid molecules and recombinant host cells comprising such nucleic acid molecules, genetically modified organisms (microorganisms and plants) comprising the same, and methods of making and using the same. Also disclosed are genetically modified organisms (e.g., plants, microorganisms) that have been genetically modified to express a PKS-like system for the production of PUFAs (a PUFA PKS system or PUFA synthase), wherein the organisms have been modified to express an acyl-CoA synthetase, to express an acyl transferase, to delete or inactivate a fatty acid synthase (FAS) expressed by the organism, to reduce competition for malonyl CoA with the PUFA synthase or to increase the level of malonyl CoA in the organism, and in one aspect, to inhibit KASII or KASIII. Additional modifications, and methods to make and use such organisms, in addition to PUFAs and oils obtained from such organisms, are disclosed, alone with various products including such PUFAs and oils. |
| US08426685B2 |
Yield-related polynucleotides and polypeptides in plants
The invention relates to plant AP2 protein family polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having advantageous properties, including greater tolerance to freezing, as compared to a reference plant. |
| US08426682B2 |
Isolated polypeptides, polynucleotides useful for modifying water user efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, biotic/abiotic stress tolerance, yield and biomass in plants
Polynucleotides, polypeptides, plant cells expressing same and methods of using same for increasing abiotic stress tolerance water use efficiency (WUE), fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), biomass, vigor and/or yield of a plant. The method is effected by expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:33, 34, 30, 27-29, 31, 32, 35-52, 1401-1403, 1405-1435, 1437-1494, 1496-1542, 1544-1553, 1555-1559, 1561-1827, 1829-1866, 1868-2450, 2453-2458, 2460-2463, 2465-2481, 2483, 2485-2746, 2765-2769, 3052-3065 and 3067-3259, thereby increasing the water use efficiency (WUE), the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), the biomass, the vigor and/or the yield of the plant. |
| US08426680B2 |
S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase promoter and its use in expression of transgenic genes in plants
A constitutive plant S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase (SAMS) promoter and subfragments thereof and their use in promoting the expression of one or more heterologous nucleic acid fragments in plants are described. |
| US08426678B2 |
Polynucleotides and polypeptides in plants
The invention relates to plant transcription factor polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having advantageous properties compared to a reference plant. Sequence information related to these polynucleotides and polypeptides can also be used in bioinformatic search methods and is also disclosed. |
| US08426674B2 |
Method for production of TRACP5b
Silkworms which have (i) a DNA encoding a transcriptional regulator operably linked downstream of a promoter of a DNA encoding a protein specifically expressed in the silk gland and (ii) a DNA encoding TRACP5 operably linked downstream of a target promoter of the transcriptional regulator were produced. The result showed that active TRACP5b was produced from the silkworms. This means that TRACP5 produced from the silk gland of the silkworms undergoes processing in the silk gland that is similar to the processing taking place at bone resorption sites. |
| US08426673B2 |
Pathological animal model for pelvic pain syndrome
A pathologic animal model characterized in that a pain or discomfort behavior and urinary frequency are induced by administering a stimulative substance into the testes of a small-sized mammal, and a screening method for a therapeutic agent for pelvic pain syndrome, particularly non-bacterial chronic prostatitis, which comprises administering a test substance to the pathologic animal model and measuring pain or discomfort behaviors and/or urinary frequency. |
| US08426670B2 |
Absorbent structure, absorbent article, water-absorbent resin, and its production process and evaluation method
The present invention provides: an absorbent structure and an absorbent article, which are excellent in both liquid diffusion ability and liquid storage ability, and which are excellent in the dry feeling and the amount of wet back of the aqueous liquid, and which can realize the thinning and lightening more; and a water-absorbent resin fitly usable for the above absorbent structure and absorbent article. The absorbent structure, according to the present invention, comprises a liquid-diffusing member and a water-absorbent resin, with the absorbent structure being characterized in that when the capillary absorption index of the liquid-diffusing member at a height of 40 cm is referred to as A (A≧0.10), the capillary absorption index B of the water-absorbent resin at a height of 40 cm satisfies the following equation: B/A≧0.7 (equation 1). |
| US08426669B2 |
Absorbent article having a signal composite
An absorbent article comprises a signal composite comprising a carrier substrate layer, a first stimulation layer, a second stimulation layer, a first thermoplastic adhesive layer and a second thermoplastic adhesive layer. The carrier substrate layer is disposed as a bottom layer of the signal composite. The first stimulation layer comprises a first stimulation material and is disposed above and adjacent to the carrier substrate layer. The second stimulation layer comprises a second stimulation material and is disposed above and adjacent to the first stimulation layer to provide the body-facing surface of the signal composite. The first thermoplastic adhesive layer is liquid permeable or water-soluble and is disposed between and adjacent to the carrier substrate layer and the first stimulation layer. The second thermoplastic adhesive layer is liquid permeable or water-soluble and is disposed between the first stimulation layer and the second stimulation layer. |
| US08426665B2 |
Process and plant for producing hydrocarbons
When producing hydrocarbons from fatty acid esters contained in fats or fat oils, the fatty acid esters initially are split up by hydrolytic decomposition into a first stream containing crude alcohol and water and a second stream containing free fatty acids, and subsequently the free fatty acids of the second stream are hydrogenated with hydrogen to obtain saturated hydrocarbons. |
| US08426664B2 |
Process for producing ethylene
Process for producing ethylene from an ethanol feedstock A by (1) reacting the ethanol feedstock A in a vapor phase reactor wherein the ethanol is converted at a temperature between 160 and 270° C. and at a pressure of above 0.1 MPa but less than 4.5 MPa, into a product stream B containing ethylene, diethyl ethers, water and unconverted ethanol, (2) cooling the product stream B, (3) disengaging the cooled product stream B in a separation unit to give a first stream C containing ethylene and diethyl ethers, and a second product stream D containing water, diethyl ethers and unconverted ethanol, (4) feeding the product stream D to a dewatering unit wherein the water stream F is separated from the diethyl ethers and unconverted ethanol stream E, (5) recycling the stream E into the dehydration reactor of step 1, (6) cooling the product stream C, and (7) feeding the cooled product stream C to a purification unit wherein the diethyl ethers stream G is separated from the ethylene stream H. Optionally, the ethyl ethers stream G is recycled to either the dewatering unit of step (4) or directly to dehydration reactor of step (1). |
| US08426661B2 |
Dilute liquid phase alkylation
Methods of forming ethylbenzene are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes contacting dilute ethylene with benzene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene, wherein such contact occurs in a liquid phase reaction zone and recovering ethylbenzene from the reaction zone. |
| US08426660B2 |
Process for purification of ethylene-containing feedstreams
A method for purification of ethylene-containing feedstreams from steam crackers or fluid catalytic crackers (FCC), wherein the feedstreams further comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide, acetylenes, oxygen, nitric oxides, is disclosed. The method comprises contacting an ethylene-comprising gas stream with a Ru-based catalyst at reaction temperatures of at least 120°C. The process results in an ethylene-containing feedstream wherein the ethylene is essentially free of acetylenes, nitric oxides and oxygen. The purifying of the feedstream occurs with minimal loss of ethylene. |
| US08426659B2 |
Vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers and methods to produce thereof
This invention relates to higher olefin vinyl terminated polymers having an Mn of at least 200 g/mol (measured by 1H NMR) including of one or more C4 to C40 higher olefin derived units, where the higher olefin vinyl terminated polymer comprises substantially no propylene derived units; and wherein the higher olefin polymer has at least 5% allyl chain ends and processes for the production thereof. These vinyl terminated higher olefin polymers may optionally include ethylene derived units. |
| US08426651B2 |
Catalyst composition for hydroformylation and method for producing aldehyde using the same
The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for hydroformylation and a method for preparing aldehydes using the same, wherein the catalyst composition for hydroformylation comprises: a triaryl phosphine ligand; a phosphine oxide or phosphine sulfide ligand having a specific chemical formula; and a transition metal catalyst. The catalyst composition provides high catalyst activity and stability and selectivity to normal aldehydes when used in the hydroformylation for preparing aldehydes from olefins. |
| US08426650B2 |
Process for the manufacture of halogenated precursors of alkenones in the presence of a solvent
A process for preparing a halogenated precursor of an alkenone, which comprises reacting a carboxylic acid halide with a vinyl ether in a liquid reaction medium comprising an alkenone or a halogenated precursor of the alkenone, and a process for preparing an alkenone, which comprises (a) reacting a carboxylic acid halide with a vinyl ether by introducing vinyl ether into a liquid reaction medium containing carboxylic acid halide to form a halogenated precursor of the alkenone and (b) eliminating hydrogen halide from said precursor to form the alkenone. |
| US08426649B2 |
Cyclopropenones and the photochemical generation of cyclic alkynes therefrom
Cyclic alkynes (e.g., cyclooctynes such as dibenzocyclooctynes) can be photochemically generated from cyclopropenones as disclosed herein. The cyclic alkynes can be reacted (e.g., in situ) with materials having alkyne-reactive groups (e.g., azide groups in a “click” reaction). In preferred embodiments, the generation and reaction of the cyclic alkyne can proceed in the absence of a catalyst (e.g., Cu(I)). These reactions can be useful, for example, for the selective labeling of living cells that are metabolically modified with azido-containing surface monosaccharides, or for light-directed surface patterning. |
| US08426646B2 |
Process for the production of amines
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 is C6-C7 alkyl or a group (A1) wherein R2, R3 and R4 are each independently of the others hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl; wherein a compound of formula (II) wherein R1 is as defined for formula (I) and X is bromine or chlorine, is reacted with urea in the presence of a base and a catalytic amount of at least one palladium complex compound, wherein the palladium complex compound comprises at least one ferrocenyl-biphosphine ligand. |
| US08426643B2 |
Synthesis of cyclohexane derivatives useful as sensates in consumer products
The present invention provides synthetic routes for preparing various isomers of cyclohexane-based coolants, such as menthyl esters and menthanecarboxamide derivatives, in particular those substituted at the amide nitrogen, for example with an aromatic ring or aryl moiety. Such structures have high cooling potency and long lasting sensory effect, which make them useful in a wide variety of consumer products. One synthetic route involves a copper catalyzed coupling of a primary menthanecarboxamide with an aryl halide, such reaction working best in the presence of potassium phosphate and water. Using this synthetic route, specific isomers can be prepared including the menthanecarboxamide isomer having the same configuration as l-menthol and new isomers such as a neoisomer having opposite stereochemistry at the carboxamide (C-1) position. The neoisomer unexpectedly has potent and long lasting cooling effect. Preparation schemes for neoisomers of other menthyl derivatives which are useful as coolants, including esters, ethers, carboxy esters and other N-substituted carboxamides are also provided. |
| US08426641B2 |
Process for preparing formic acid
Process for preparing formic acid by hydrogenation of carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising an element of group 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table, a tertiary amine and a polar solvent at a pressure of from 0.2 to 30 MPa abs and a temperature of from 20 to 200° C. to form two liquid phases, separation of the two liquid phases, wherein the liquid phase (B) enriched with the tertiary amine is recirculated to the hydrogenation reactor and the formic acid/amine adduct from the liquid phase (A) enriched with the formic acid/amine adduct and the polar solvent is thermally dissociated into free formic acid and free tertiary amine in a distillation unit and the tertiary amine liberated in the dissociation and the polar solvent are recirculated to the hydrogenation reactor. |
| US08426640B2 |
Method for producing acrylic acid, and method for producing hydrophilic resin and method for producing water-absorbing resin using production method thereof
[Problem]There is provided, in a process for producing acrylic acid having a catalytic gas-phase oxidation reaction step, a condensation step, a collection step, a distillation step, a crystallization step, an acrylic acid recovering step or the like, a production method for acrylic acid, in which contamination of acrylic acid with protoanemonin without providing any additional purification treatment to the resultant purified acrylic acid can be reduced.[Solution]The problems described above can be solved by providing the production method for acrylic acid comprising A) a step obtaining an acrylic acid-containing gas by a catalytic gas-phase oxidation reaction of gas containing a acrylic acid raw material; B) a step of obtaining the acrylic acid-containing solution by introducing the acrylic acid-containing gas to the collection column or the condensation column and performing collection or condensation; C) a step of obtaining the crude acrylic acid by introducing the acrylic acid-containing solution to the distillation column or the crystallizer and performing distillation or crystallization, wherein a step of heat treating the acrylic acid-containing solution or the crude acrylic acid containing 100 ppm by mass or more of protoanemonin, under the condition of 100° C. or more of temperature, 1 hour or more of time and a step of introducing the heat-treated acrylic acid-containing solution or the crude acrylic acid to the collection column, the condensation column, the distillation column or the crystallizer, are included. |
| US08426634B2 |
α-keto peracids and methods for producing and using the same
The present invention provides α-keto peracids and methods for producing and using the same. In particular, α-keto peracids are useful as antimicrobial agents. |
| US08426633B2 |
Carbonylation process for the production of acetic acid and/or methyl acetate
Process for the manufacture of at least one of acetic acid and methyl acetate by carbonylating at least one carbonylatable reactant selected from methanol, dimethyl ether and dimethyl carbonate with carbon monoxide in the presence of a zeolite of structure type MOR. The zeolite has greater than 50% of its crystals in the size range to 3 microns. |
| US08426632B2 |
Crosslinking agent, crosslinked polymer, and uses thereof
There is provided a novel crosslinking agent for use in crosslinked polymer fabrication, specifically a crosslinking agent containing at least one compound selected from glyoxylate and a glyoxylic acid ester derivative represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and R3 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. |
| US08426629B2 |
Process for production of phosphine derivative from phosphine oxide derivative
Disclosed is a process for producing a phosphine derivative from a phosphine oxide derivative, which comprises the following steps: (I) mixing a phosphine oxide derivative represented by formula (1) with a chlorinating agent in a polar organic solvent to cause the reaction between these components; and (II-1) adding a salt of a metal having an ionization tendency equal to or lower than that of aluminum to the reaction mixture and carrying out the reductive reaction in the presence of aluminum or (II-2) subjecting the reaction mixture to electrolytic reduction, thereby producing a phosphine derivative represented by formula (2). ArnR3-nP═O (1) ArnR3-nP (2) In formulae (1) and (2), Ar represents an aryl group such as a phenyl group, a phenyl group having a substituent, a heteroaromatic ring group, and a heteroaromatic ring group having a substituent; R represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having a substituent; and n represents an integer of 0 to 3. |
| US08426628B2 |
Process for preparing alkylaminoalkylalkoxysilanes
A process for preparing an alkylamino-alkylalkoxysilane of formula (I) R—(NR′)—Y—Si(R1)n(OR2)3-n (I) in which R is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R′ is a hydrogen (H) or is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, Y is a bivalent alkyl group from the group of —CH2—, —(CH2)2—, —(CH2)3—, —(CH2)(CH(CH3))(CH2)— and —(CH2)4—, R1 and R2 groups are the same or different and are each a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is 0 or 1 or 2, by reacting an alkylamine, used in excess, distilling off excess free alkylamine, treating the remaining product mixture with the alkylaminoalkylalkoxysilane and working up. |
| US08426624B2 |
Activation of porous MOF materials
A method for the treatment of solvent-containing MOF material to increase its internal surface area involves introducing a liquid into the MOF in which liquid the solvent is miscible, subjecting the MOF to supercritical conditions for a time to form supercritical fluid, and releasing the supercritical conditions to remove the supercritical fluid from the MOF. Prior to introducing the liquid into the MOF, occluded reaction solvent, such as DEF or DMF, in the MOF can be exchanged for the miscible solvent. |
| US08426622B2 |
Process for production of fatty acids, fatty acid esters and sterolesters from soapstock
The invention relates to a process for production of fatty acids directly from soapstock generated in the alkali refining process including the steps of (a) adding a lipase directly to the alkaline soapstock to facilitate hydrolysis of glycerides without prior neutralization, (b) neutralizing and splitting the soaps with strong acids, and (c) separating the fatty acid phase from the aqueous phase by settling and/or centrifugation. A second embodiment is a process in which the soapstock is first neutralized and split with strong acids, followed by adding a lipase to facilitate glyceride hydrolysis, and separating the fatty acid phase. The fatty acids so obtained can be esterified with C1-C6 alcohols using a lipase that is selective for fatty acids and does not transesterify the sterolesters, and the fatty acid esters and sterolesters are separated by distillation.The sterolesters are useful as supplements for food, as pharmaceutical agents for lowering cholesterol and as biofuel and biodiesel. |